eight >> audio

[awaitingalbion]

[Merlin clears his throat, steading the journal in front of him.]

I would like to say that the Lady Morgana has just arrived in Luceti. [He pauses, trying to begin again with less strain within his voice.] I would hope that people could try and help her adjust to captiv--life, here.

[It is perhaps a pointless formality, but Merlin is feeling guilty about a number of things. Chiefly, how he had last seen the Uther's ward before being dragged into this world. Luckily, it looked as though Morgana was from well before that day. But he was also feeling guilty about the kind of life Morgana was now thrust into--and without Gwen, although she had been here so recently.]

Also...[now more self-conscious than strained. Also, I was wondering if anyone could provide some kind of lesson or instruction for the devices that have recently appeared in the kitchen.

[He wants to provide a proper meal for the apartment's newest resident. Something beyond the bread and cheese that has been sustaining Merlin. He hasn't yet tried to conquer the stove.]

Comments

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[And somewhere else in Luceti, a snarky blonde is calling shenanigans. Merlin is glad to see Minato looking well, and gives him a firm nod.]

Good. Things haven't been so calm, lately. But I'm glad that you're doing well.

[emp3thy]

[Not everyone needs to put on a huge show to be happy, Buffy]

You found the wine?

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[Happiness is hard to come by in Sunnydale. You gotta flaunt it when you got it.]

I think so. I had a taste and it seems close enough to what they'd serve at the castle. [Which means he may have just picked up the foulest, dreariest wine in Luceti.]

[emp3thy]

That's fortunate. [As Minato doesn't know that.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

And--[Merlin shifts the bottle so that it's cradled in one arm, and he roots around in his satchel before pulling out a pair of thin silver goblets, held together by their stems]--see these? I found them earlier today.

[emp3thy]

[that's rather impressive, actually -] Very nice.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

I thought something familiar would be nice. Especially with all of the new additions to the apartment.

[emp3thy]

Probably. [...] Will you be able to keep using them?

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[Merlin began to walk back to the apartment.]

Do you mean the appliances?

[emp3thy]

[he nods.] They must look 'magical.'

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

I haven't really talked to her about them, yet.

[emp3thy]

I found a book on electricity. Fina-san's been reading it.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[He smiles as they walk.]

Right. I saw her outside the house, reading that.

[emp3thy]

She'd probably let you borrow it.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't want to take it from her before she's finished. [But he would consider asking her for it later.]

[emp3thy]

Maybe when she's done.

[they're probably approaching Merlin's apartment building soon.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[He can see the building's not far off and Merlin adjusts his grip on the bottle accordingly. Not long now.]

I'd like that. Perhaps it'll give Fina and I some more to talk about. [He smiles--mostly to himself.] Not that we don't have more than enough to discuss, already.

[emp3thy]

Probably.

[Your crush is showing, Merlin... Minato doesn't mention it, though. When they reach the door, he waits for Merlin to open it since his own hands are full.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[It's always showing. He's pretty rubbish at hiding it. Amazing that he's kept the magic secret for so long, really. Luckily, Arthur's mostly gullible.]

Is she enjoying the electricity, do you think?

[He grabs the door with a newly freed hand and holds it open for Minato.]

[emp3thy]

I think so. Cupil isn't.

[heading for the stairs now!]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[Merlin assumes they're headed for the kitchen, first.]

He wouldn't. I could see that. After all, he's a creature of magic--isn't he? Cupil was bound to dislike these science devices.

[emp3thy]

He just didn't learn what not to touch.

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

[Merlin sets the heavy bottle down once he enters the floor's kitchen.]

I think that might be an easy mistake to make. I was playing around with one of the...things earlier--just to test it out? I didn't realize the top of it would get so hot.

[emp3thy]

The stove's meant for cooking. [Merlin you didn't burn yourself did you.]

[awaitingalbion.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I eventually came to that conclusion, too.

[It was nothing that an excuse to go visit Fina couldn't clear up.]