two >> audio/action

[awaitingalbion]

[The sound of a throat-clearing cough.]

Can anyone tell me about a blue-haired girl who calls herself a soldier?

[But earlier this day--before he makes the voice post--Merlin is out picking up fresh ingredients for Arthur's evening meal. He is in the shop, picking through some vegetables. He looks...confused.]

Comments

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

By the people? How do the people manage that?

[emp3thy]

Elections.

[taking the food off the stove now.] You vote for a representative. Representatives vote on laws.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

Voting? [He looks...amused. Impressed and amused. By both the concepy and the stove. He had been wondering where the roasting pit was.]

And that's how it works in your world?

[emp3thy]

In my country. [he sets it aside and retrieves some bowls] The Emperor's power is ceremonial.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

It sounds like a fantastic place. I mean, not that Camelot's bad. Sure, King Uther can be a very strict leader but quite a lot of the subjects are happy and looked after.

[emp3thy]

That's good.

[here, Merlin, have a bowl of okayu.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[He accepts it with a smile, wrapping his fingers around the bowl. It looks good.

His free hand reaches out for...a spoon? He recognizes this implement, at least.]

[emp3thy]

[A spoon, yes. Minato won't force him to try using chopsticks.

He waits for Merlin's verdict.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[He scoops up a spoonful and shoves it (inelegantly) into his mouth.

A pause for judgment. Hmm. Different, but not bad.]

Hey--[he begins, swallowing the first mouthful]--not bad!

[emp3thy]

Thanks.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[A few more shoved mouthfuls.]

So much better than Arthur's left-overs. [Which isn't all he eats. Just...what supplements his otherwise less impressive meals at Gaius'. And by leftovers it's more like what he steals from Arthur's plate even before he brings it to him.]

[emp3thy]

[...poor Merlin.] That's pretty simple. I can teach you other things.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

Where did you lean these things?

[His enthusiasm suggests that he probably would like to learn more.]

[emp3thy]

Cookbooks.

[then he may replace Fuuka as his chef apprentice.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

Book! About cooking? [Merlin likes books, but--] Those must be dear. Books are such rare and expensive things. [Oh, how he misses his one cherished book.]

[emp3thy]

[not at home... but saying that would probably get to discussions of printing presses and derail the conversation] There's a library here.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

With a whole book on cooking? I suppose, it's like like a sp--[spell book, but he can't exactly say that]--special book. Just for this. [He holds up the bowl.]

[emp3thy]

Lots of books on cooking. [...] I'll show you sometime.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

That's be...fantastic.