The Salle, Monday Morning

[bitchprince]

Not that Arthur would admit it, but yesterday had helped to calm him down from the state of introverted confusion he'd been in since Thursday. He was no longer showing signs of such, or at least nothing that was as easily, visibly sedate.

He was, however, very focused on his own swordwork that morning. He'd asked Merlin to stand guard come with him into the salle, but now that what bothered him worst had gotten out, he was free to focus on his movements to ward off the rest of it. Slowly, carefully, and with full concentration, he lapsed into familiar patterns that were as easy as breathing by now.

[[ open salle, but I'll be SP in bursts until the evening ]]

Comments

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah nodded enthusiastically, face alight. "I know it's short notice, but I forgot the date 'til last night. Tony turns eighteen tomorrow. So! Ice cream at Chilly Boulder for all!"

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I'm always up for icecream," Merlin replied, beaming.

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah grinned happily at him, then asked, "What are you doing here today, anyway? Not that I'm not glad to see you."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Oh, the usual," Merlin said with a casual roll of his eyes. "Keeping an eye on Arthur."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"You need to get more hobbies," Dinah scolded him, mouth quirking. "Or a back-up. Or something."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"It's not a hobby!"

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I know!" Dinah responded, sorry she'd tried to joke about it. "Although why you're here now, when you haven't ever been before..." She shook her head. The back-up idea was better, but she didn't think Merlin would go for that either. "You worry me, that's all."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Arthur and I have been talking." Merlin rubbed a breast plate more determinedly. "Things were a bit strained before, but it's better now, so I thought perhaps to try to be more active around him."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"After you told him about the magic?" Dinah guessed, even though that was a while ago, then thought of two other things that might have been made awkward. "Oh." Because what was okay to talk to Francine about because she'd needed someone to talk to, was most definitely not something she wanted to clue Merlin in that she knew about. Awkward. Especially when she wasn't sure of any details. "Okay. That's... good, right?"

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Yes." Merlin nodded soundly. "I think it's much better now."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

And whatever the cause, that was a good thing. "Yay." Dinah gave him a bright smile. "And thus, armor-polishing in the salle. Which the squirrels will make jokes about. But we don't care."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"At least it's not Emmett's night," Merlin pointed out sagely. "Or that bizarre man with the scratchy voice."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Emmmmmett," Dinah said in mild exasperation, then paused, "Mr. Deadpool, you mean? The Vice Principal? Oh, wow, does he make up weird stuff."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Is he a madman?"

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Have you met him?" Wait. Easy answer. "If you had, you'd know. He wears a bright red crimefighting costume all the time. With a mask. And he told me he likes to beat up ninjas. Which, okay, who doesn't? But maybe he shouldn't have told me that my first day here."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"..." The look Merlin gave her was priceless.

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"So that's a yes?" Dinah said, biting her lip. "But also, remember: Vice Principal. So I just nod a lot around him."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I think it best we both never meet the man again."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Kinda easy to spot and all," Dinah offered. "So maybe not a problem. Since I don't want to protest I'm not kissing girls again."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

That earned her a double take.

"You were kissing girls?"

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah facepalmed. "Just Turtle! Since that last time in January! And it was only because of all that aphrodisiac or hormones or whatever!"

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin gave her another look. "I thought--" Well, that may not be the best to share, Merlin. "Never mind."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"What?" Dinah said with trepidation. "No, really. What?"

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I thought it only happened with people you were already--you know."

Re: NFB, Squirrels shhhhh!

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"The hormones?" Dinah turned even redder, but managed to stay with some steadiness, "Turtle. Priestly. And George." She cleared her throat. "Over three or so days. Just kissing!" she added very quickly. "And one mental flash from someone who *so* didn't mean to think about me in a tub."