The Salle, Monday Morning (before classes)

[bitchprince]

After several months, there were few things as comforting as the Monday morning routine of heading into the salle for practice, if Arthur was going to be brutally honest. While he was in here, with his students, he could sort of pretend the world was working the way the world usually did back home; and back home was troubling enough.

So the first Monday morning of the new term found him back there, same as always, going through his drills while Merlin did his chores and kept an eye on things from his corner of the room. Normal.

Although Arthur was contemplating sending him another text message. Or two.

[[ open salle is open as per usual! ]]

Comments

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

Fiona made her way there that morning, as was her habit and obligation. She'd spent plenty of time practicing despite the two moves she'd been made to do this weekend, and she was proud of her progress. As such, while she wasn't quite the factory of bouciness that she'd been a few times, her steps were light and her smile was pleasant enough. Fake, but it was early yet.

"Morning."

[bitchprince]

"Morning," Arthur greeted in turn. He shot her an idle look, but didn't much care on the whole. "Ready?"

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"As soon as I've gotten my sword," she said, slipping over to the practice weapons to grab it. She was back in a flash, ready and in the first stance some distance from him.

"When you say."

[bitchprince]

"We'll see how your practices have done you this weekend," he said, assuming that she'd done then as per ordered by now.

She was frustrating, but at least you could rely on that bit.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

She had. She'd done it for quite a few days, and the results were as he probably expected.

By the time she finished, there was a bit more of a smile on her face, but not a smug one. Just a satisfied little grin.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Perfectly normal, thank you.

Merlin was busy with Arthur's armor again this week. You'd think without regular use it wouldn't need so much polishing, but nooo.

[bitchprince]

You've got that the wrong way around.

Yes, the harassment would continue.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin shot him a dryly amused look.

if youve gonne blind yes

[bitchprince]

There was no answer from Arthur's side.

Except when Merlin's phone went some weird brand of plonk, serving up a very lopsided picture of him handling the armor.

WRONG

By the practice dummies, Arthur was smirking.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Oh, the eyerolling now. It might have helped if he hadn't laughed there, though.

howe long did you waitt for taht to work?

[thatsamilkshake]

Oh look, it's an incoming text message that isn't being sent from ten feet away.

Good Morning! *kiss*

...Yes. Yes, they were becoming That Couple.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

francine! how do you make thosse dots?

[thatsamilkshake]

Francine... may have tracked down a copy of the iPhone manual online, since she had the feeling she might be trying to answer a lot of questions like that.

Symbol key. Looks like this: #+=

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

youre such a prat.

Merlin rolled his eyes as he hit send, certain Arthur would only be encouraged by it.

* this was, of course, meant for someone completely different.

[puppy_fair]

Zack sauntered into the salle today with his sword on his back and a grin on his lips.

So many new people out there! So many opportunities to make best friends forever out of them all.

So, so delusional.

"Good morning!"

[bitchprince]

"Morning, Zack," Arthur returned, glancing up from where he'd been considering his practice sword. "Looking sullen, but I know you're not capable of anything else."

There were boundless ways you could amuse yourself when Zack came into the picture.

[puppy_fair]

And Zack was totally fine with any number of them, including but not limited to playing with swords of varying sizes, broomsticks, and umbrellas!

"That's me alright," he laughed. "The very picture of solemnity."

It was a wonder that he actually knew the word, really.

"How have you been getting by, with all of the new people coming onto the island? I hope you haven't been giving them all too hard a time."

[bitchprince]

"I've given them all exactly as hard a time as they deserve," said Arthur. Which wasn't really particularily encouraging, Arthur. "I hope you haven't solemned any of them to death."

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

As soon as it wouldn't be troublesome, Fiona made her way over to Zack.

"Hey," she said mildly, "been a while."

[puppy_fair]

Zack grinned and gave her a nod.

"It has! Been keeping busy, Fiona?"

The highlight of Zack's week thus far had been meeting new people. Oh, and almost getting killed by a rickshaw. That had been exciting.

[cutsthestrings.livejournal.com]

"Practicing," she said in answer to that, "and working on a new language. Not to mention brushing up on Latin."

...she still liked studying sometimes, after all.

"You?"

[thatsamilkshake]

On the plus side, Francine was now completely out of huffy and into confused. And a little amused.

+++++If you kissed me, I'm pretty sure I'd remember it.+++++

On the minus side...



Oh, Francine.

[bitchprince]

Arthur blinked at his phone.

...

Of course you would, but I hardly think that's appropriate.

[thatsamilkshake]

Well, that was kind of out of the blue.

Of course I would what? Hi, Arthur!

[bitchprince]

Remember it. Don't tell me you've lost your mind as well.