Franklin Delano Roosevelt Campfire, Monday Evening

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

There was a proper firepit! Of course this meant Merlin was outdoors, getting the fire going. Yes, even doing it the normal way.

Because he was simply far too excited for things that made sense again! If only a little bit.

Not that he wasn't fond of indoor plumbing, of course...

"Come on then," Merlin grumbled, blowing on the tiny, tiny embers he'd somehow--against all odds--had encouraged to spark to life.


[[Open like a campfire!]]

Comments

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"It's... been some times since I needed to do this," Merlin admitted a bit sulkily. He was simply lucky Arthur wasn't around for this.

[bitten_notshy]

"I don't have any matches, either," Jack said, with some sympathy. "Though the rain would make even those a bit useless."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Kneeling back, Merlin frowned at the wimpy little fire. "Those matches smell awful."

There was a beat as Merlin managed to remember his manners.

"Are you new here?

Or maybe not.

[bitten_notshy]

"I don't find them so bad. The ease makes up for the scent," said Jack, who had displayed a distinct lack of manners himself thus far. "And I am. My name is Jack Priest. It's a pleasure to meet you."

... there, etiquette located.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Ah, it was working for them both then!

"Merlin," He replied, offering a sooty hand. "Likewise, Jack."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack shook the hand, not especially bothered by the soot. Hands washed, after all.

"Oh, like the magician?" he asked. (He had gone through quite the Le Morte d'Arthur phase when he was 11 or so, much to Sebastien's dismay.) "I'll remember that name, then. Is this your cabin? Mine is a bit down."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin flushed, going back to working on the fire there. "This is my cabin, yes. Which oddly named one is yours?"

[bitten_notshy]

Jack made note of the flush, but quickly moved past it. No doubt the comment was something the boy heard all the time.

"Something Quincy Something," he answered. "I think they must be men's names, but that does me little good."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"They could have named them something a bit more recognizable," Merlin grumbled in agreement. Yes. Like kings from centuries ago.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack nodded in agreement. "Writers or artists or something," he said. (Though he wouldn't have done too badly with kings, either.) "So I take it you're also far from home."

The accents were clues, of their sort.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"A bit, yes," Merlin said with a grin. "How about yourself?"

[bitten_notshy]

"It was 1899 when I woke up Saturday," Jack said. "I didn't travel so far in distance, but only because we emigrated from Europe a few months ago."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"1899?" Merlin looked suitably impressed. "I'm not actually sure when I'm from," He admitted.

Because of the damn anachronisms in the show making pinpointing a time impossible. "Before they called England--er-- England is the most I can guess."

[bitten_notshy]

"Before the Danes?" Jack asked. Because clearly, Merlin would know that, yes. "That's a millennium ago, and much further back than I come from."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Probably?" Merlin said, nodding along with that. He'd have to ask Arthur if he'd read about the Danes. "Are they from the north?"

[bitten_notshy]

"North and East," Jack said, using one of the sticks in his hands to draw a rather neat map in the dirt. "If England is here and France is here, Denmark is here. They put a few kings on the British throne, at least in my world."

He gave a quick smile. "It may be different for you."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Very different," Merlin said quickly. "There's only one person who is about to take the throne if I have a say."

[bitten_notshy]

"Who would that be?" Jack asked.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Well. Prince Arthur," Merlin said, waving back toward the cabin.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack blinked, then looked somewhat irritated as what he assumed was a joke fell into place.

"You're having me on, aren't you?" he asked. "Merlin and Prince Arthur. Will you tell me Sir Lancelot is in the next cabin over, next?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Um."

Lancelot was back home.

"I can safely say Lancelot isn't here."

[bitten_notshy]

"Good," Jack said. If he'd thought about it, he would have been able to tell this wasn't a joke to Merlin, but he was mostly just wet and annoyed.

"That will spare us the fuss of him fighting with Arthur over Guinevere. What's your real name?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Why would Arthur fight him over Gwen?" There was a pause before he added. "...Merlin?"

[bitten_notshy]

"It tends to happen when someone cuckolds a king," Arthur said, watching Merlin more closely now. "You've honestly never heard this story."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merli staaaaared.

"Gwen?!"