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

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

realy? i can hardley be held responcibal for you trompign thru leaves

There was a pause and then:

prat

[bitchprince]

The state of my boots is your responsibility, Arthur shot back, tartly.

He added, "And your spelling is truly atrocious, Merlin!" out loud.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

i will cleane them later then. iff you cant keep them clean it isnt my fault!

[bitchprince]

"It is your fault," Arthur called after him, good-naturedly. "You're getting slower every day!"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin... totally knew that (http://community.livejournal.com/fandomhighdorms/1687667.html?thread=142999667#t142999667). Really.

*kiss* that was rathere easy!

Oh Merlin, no.

[bitchprince]

Arthur pulled up the text message and... stared.

And then at Merlin. "What?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin stared back in confusion.

"That's hardly the worst thing I've said to you before."

[bitchprince]

This was Arthur's disbelieving face.

"Merlin, I realise I'm absolutely irresistible, but..."

Oh, that ego.

That confused face.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"What? Have you gone barmy?"

Oh, cue the internal freak out that Arthur bloody knew about the stupid crush.

[bitchprince]

"Have you?" Arthur demanded, holding up the phone. "Really, Merlin." It'd be hilarious if it wasn't mildly confusing on his already brow-beaten emotional centres, thank you.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"What?" Merlin was more than a bit confused now.

"I thought that was acceptable still."

Oh, Merlin.

[bitchprince]

"Acceptable?"

Arthur stared some more.

"I would go as far as to say that this is--" What, was Merlin messing with him? "--worthy of the bloody stocks."

Maybe a bit of an overreaction.

"If I could be bothered," he added, quickly.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

The stocks? Arthur was being more than a bit extreme there. "I thought you stopped caring so much after the first few times. And if you think I'll stop when I think you deserve it, you're sorely mistaken!"

[bitchprince]

"Oh. I'm sorry," said Arthur. Why, yes. It was that tone again. "Here I was, thinking you were out to treat me like some kind of fool, when you were just exercising your good right. Nevermind me, then!"

Arthur, your not-so-straight is showing.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I've always called you a prat! What changed?" Merlin asked, ears feathers ruffled now.

[bitchprince]

"...What are you talking about?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"The text? The one you're so upset about?" Merlin prompted.

[bitchprince]

This? Was Arthur's Blackberry being shoved in Merlin's face, yes. "I'm not upset," he said, patiently. Really. "I'm simply wondering if you've finally given in and lost what remained of your mind."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin gaped for a moment or five before meekly admitting, "That was, um, meant for Francine."

[bitchprince]

"Ah." Arthur pulled his Blackberry away, feeling like an idiot, but certainly not being about to share that fact. Instead, he settled for the much more comfortable, "Tell me, Merlin, how many syllables does 'Arthur' have in common with 'Francine'?"

It was an idle question. It wasn't like he cared.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I was texting you both at the same time! I--" Well this was horrible. "--at least it wasn't sent to Dinah?"

Haha. Funny, right?

[bitchprince]

Hilarious.

"At least," Arthur intoned, rolling his eyes as he pulled away. "Now Dinah might have failed to appreciate it."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Yes." Merlin cleared his throat. "Silly mistake, after all."

He laughed at himself a bit awkwardly, desperately hoping Arthur would as well.

[bitchprince]

Arthur just eyed him.

"Reread the manual. You may have heard of it."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"It wasn't as though I did it on purpose!" He insisted. "It's not--er--it won't happen again."

Don't think about the dance. Don't think about the dance.