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

[bitchprince]

Don't take it personally?

"Dinah, it's Priestly," Arthur assured her, leaning back as he watched her work, "He's really not worth the effort of taking personally."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah glared at him for that, but simply said, "That's not true." Slice. Careful cut, arms straight. Feet following along, like a dance. "He had questions I couldn't answer. Maybe you can." Cut. Downward slice. Block, block, block.

[bitchprince]

If Arthur took Priestly personally, their last few encounters would've been markably bloodier. "It's true," he said, "But if he has any questions, then by all means."

He made a grand gesture.

"Tell him to come bother me."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I will," Dinah paused, guiltily remembering. "When he's... up for it."

[bitchprince]

Arthur paused in kind. "What, does he need time to work up the courage to talk to me?" Keep flaunting that tiny ego of yours, Arthur.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Um. No. He's just... not himself at the moment," Dinah muttered, trying to distract Arthur by moving into the more aggressive drill.

[bitchprince]

Arthur's brow curved into a frown.

Then his mouth curved into something else. "What did he turn into, Dinah?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah's shoulders hunched, and her cheeks turned pink. Stupid euphemisms. "I didn't-- um." She moved into another block, step, slide. "No laughing at him to his face?" she tried.

[bitchprince]

Arthur considered that. "Only behind his back," he promised.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Not on Radio!" Dinah quickly said, because maybe Arthur knew about podcasts now, and maybe he didn't, but no reason to be the one to give him the info if he wouldn't agree.

[bitchprince]

"Fine," Arthur said, with a roll of his eyes, "Not on radio. Now spit it out." He could use a laugh; he'd just die before he told anyone besides Merlin why.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"A chameleon," Dinah finally admitted. "A blue one. With red bits. It's a kind of lizard that can change its color and blend in with its surroundings." She pointed at him. "You promised!"

[bitchprince]

"A chameleon," Arthur repeated, and promptly cracked up.

If there were edges of desperation to the laughing, well, he figured he could trust her not to ask.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Arthur was in a weird mood again. Dinah waited tolerantly, after rolling her eyes once and promising herself to make it up to Priestly.

"...not that funny," she muttered, going into the last set of moves.

[bitchprince]

"Tell him to seek me out after he turns back," Arthur said, once he got a handle on himself, and shook his head. "And for the last time, watch your elbow."