The Deck - Sunday Morning

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

A bleary-eyed Edmund made his way from his room on the fourth floor to the deck in front of the dorms early in the morning. He was considering a hike, but coffee instead seemed like a better idea for the moment. Normally he was a tea man, but coffee had somehow become his Fandom morning drink, terrible habit that it was.

So coffee it was, and a view of the lawn and town sprawling out in front of him. There were worse ways to spend a Sunday morning.

[OOC: Open decks are open. Open ducks, which I first typed, are messy.]

Comments

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

No, stealing cakes was terrible. Coffee was simply unfortunate.

Merlin peered on outside at who might actually be awake at this time of day. "Good morning, Edmund!"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Good morning, Merlin," Edmund replied. "I trust you're well after yesterday's debacle. Coffee?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I will die happily if I never have to sing in public again," Merlin replied with a nod. "Yes, please."

And he'd probably just doomed himself to a musical episode for Pudsey.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

He set his own cup down, poured one for Merlin and offered it. "At least you weren't alone. The embarrassment seems to be diminished with the factor depending on how many people were humiliated along with you."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

They made England frown at them for all this coffee drinking.

"Though the humiliation from gremlin bites rarely seems to fade. Even with extra people involved," Merlin replied, taking the offered cup.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund tried to think about how to word his response. "I've been bitten once. It wasn't something I would like to repeat, though the embarrassment is diminished because one person has left, the other two have graduated and I'm sort of dating one of them now. And if there are any gremlins listening, it's not an invitation for a repeat performance. It's important to say that. The island keeps taking what I say and thinking it's a challenge."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"You're dating one of them?" Oh, sure, Merlin picked up on that one. Because he was a massive girl.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"You had to pick up on that, didn't you?" He sipped his coffee as he thought of a diplomatic answer and managed not to blush. "Yes. Jo Harvelle. You might know her."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Because someone was a romantic here, damn it. It was allowed!

...and girly.

"I don't think we've spoken, but I've heard her name on the radio," Merlin ventured. "How did you meet then?"

Someone just give him a pair of ovaries already? Please?

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Er," he hesitated. He hadn't exactly talked to anyone about this, except for Rose, who was always trouble and on the verge of teasing him about something. Merlin, though, seemed actually interested and he wasn't sure how to respond to that. "I don't remember. We were in classes together and have been friends for a while. Then there was that fog and when my inhibitions were at an all time low, she was there and I somehow ended up asking her on a date." Edmund wasn't exactly the date-asking type.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Most of the royal types really weren't. "That's sweet though."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Embarrassing at the time, I assure you, but now that I think back on it, quite worth it," he admitted. "She's going home at the end of summer though. Speaking of which, when are you off?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Tomorrow. Arthur is about ready to go mad if we don't find our way back to Camelot soon."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"I can understand his need to go home," Edmund replied. "Will you be able to stay in touch with your friends, do you know?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I hope so! Chuck mentioned the phones ought to still work. I just need to see if I can make sure they keep power." He waggled his fingers as if to show that magic would be used there.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Right," Edmund gave a nod. "If that doesn't, there should be something like a hand-crank charger that could be sent to you. My sister-in-law manages with her electronics though there's no electricity at home. I'm sure you will too. Are you looking forward to going home?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I--" Merlin paused to consider his words. "I'll miss Fandom for the freedom here, but Camelot certainly is home."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"And home comes with complications." He understood. "It sounds as though you have an uphill climb ahead of you. I don't envy you, but Camelot is lucky to have you." And that was something.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin smiled and shook his head. "No, it's lucky to have Arthur."

Giiiirl.

"Are you planning to go home over the summer as well?"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Well, Camelot would be lucky to have Arthur one day, but not just yet. He kept that to himself. Edmund knew smitten when he saw it. "I'm here until Aslan says otherwise. Short trips home excepted, so I might be able to spend a few days in Narnia so long as it doesn't interfere with my classes. I've still another year until graduation." The 'unfortunately' was implied.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"At least you have the trips," Merlin replied. "And more time to spend with your Jo."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"Merlin, if you keep making that sound so sappy, I might have to punch you." He was teasing, of course.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"But it's cute!" Okay, now he was teasing.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"You're insufferable! And to think I shared my coffee with you."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I thank you for the coffee, though," Merlin replied, grinning and lifting his mug.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"You're welcome," Edmund replied, then snorted. "Cute. You couldn't have gone with romantic? At least that's somewhat respectable and more like in the books." Not the ones with Merlin in them. Or Arthur or that love triangle, no thank you.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Those were more tragic after all.

"Cutely romantic?" Merlin ventured.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

And Edmund's knights weren't human, so that would have made things a touch more awkward.

"I suppose it will have to do. Do you have anyone special you're leaving behind?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Here? Aside from perhaps Francine... no."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"But at home?" He caught the 'here?' question.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"My mum. Gaius..." Merlin shrugged. "They're the only family I have."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

Edmund nodded. "Something to look forward to. Everyone eventually has to leave here, but family is something dependable. I'm happy for you, that you'll be able to be with them again."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

Merlin smiled and lifted his mug as if to toast. "I hope you'll be able to join your family," he replied. "And perhaps one day you could visit Camelot as well!"

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

His inner fanboy wanted to explode. He settled for raising his mug back. "I'd like that. And you and Prince Arthur would be welcome guests in Narnia."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"I'm sure all the courtliness would put Arthur right at home."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"We do rather excel at courtliness," he nodded. "I suspect the postal service in Fandom would be able to deliver messages if Portalocity doesn't. Send word any time you'd like. If I'm not home, my brother and sisters would be happy to receive you."

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

And then the sheer amount of magical dork in one universe would cause everything to cease to be.

Fear it, Edmund. Fear it.

"Oh! Do you have one of the mobile phones? I can try to text you as well!" Poorly, poorly spelled texts after too much ale.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"I don't, but I should probably get one. Where does one find a mobile phone?"

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

"Well, Francine took us off island to get ours. But I think you might be able to get one on the internet."

You could get anything there.

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

He fished a pen out of his pocket and offered it to Merlin. "If I manage to get one, I'll contact you so you have my telephone number, if you'll give me yours." He didn't have any paper. His hand might have to do.

[bigdamndestiny.livejournal.com]

At least he wasn't asking for Merlin's autograph on a card with a strange old man who waved at him on the front.

Writing down his number, Merlin might have added the completely unnecessary :). Because he could.

"There. When you do get one, just make sure to say who it is when you call."

[once-a-traitor.livejournal.com]

"I will. And then if you're in need of anything, you can get in touch." No, they weren't close friends, but this was Merlin (or a version of him, anyway). As if Edmund wasn't going to offer.