[ It might be surprising that rather than running to a Certain Someone's apartment, he comes here first. Rei has, over the past few months, been a good friend. A great friend, even. Someone who understands a lot more than others. Not only that, but there was something she saw before that has come to pass now, that he can actually explain and tell her the end result of.
There's a lot he can say, but at the same time it's too much for the time he has now, first he just needs to know what he's missed in the past few days.
He doesn't press the buzzer for the door and knocks instead, not trusting it to work after how this morning has gone.
[Of course Rei is in. She's in the midst of dealing with the vertitable nightmare that is Cerealia right now, and she's barely slept a wink but that's fine. This is all fine. It's not like her hair dryer didn't try and melt her face off, and she definitely had to slay her bed like a dragon before sleeping in it.
And more importantly than that, she's in because she's feeling a familiar presence. An omen, more than anything, of things to come. Of changes, and of a man who is actually worthwhile. She'd known the minute he left, and knew when he'd returned. Merlin was, in her mind's eye, a stormcloud on par with any thunderhead she'd seen Jupiter conjure. He was one of those people that, once you knew him as Rei did, was impossible to miss.
Not that she isn't surprised, of course, that he's coming to her first. That's actually a huge deal to her, after having taken care of Athena off and on since he'd vanished. It means he's either got something important to say or he's a coward. And she's never really considered him the latter.
She shoves the door open, metal groaning in protest. Signs of a fight...dents and scorch marks mostly, mar the panel, but the apartment behind is as neat and tidy as ever. Just don't look under the sink where the blender is currently confined.]
Hello Merlin. Won't you come in?
[If he will, the door slams shut the second she lets go...of it's own accord.]
[ Well, things are certainly going Down in CERES, that's for sure. He missed the announcement from the CEO, but he can Tell. He breathes a little heavily from running most of the way here (which is why the number on his wrist keeps going Down right now) but really he isn't sure how she'll react either. She's a calm and steady minded person though, which is what he needs while he tries to get thoughts in line.
He does glance at the door though, then back at Rei as if to say "damn gurl" because it really is a mess. ]
Melt the door?
[ Because it's the only thing he can assume when the door slams itself back into place. Ah. ]
[There's a lot of things that she could say, and ways she could react, yes. But Rei, when it comes to someone who's already proven himself reliable and trustworthy, will always err on the side of hospitality. Which is why she immediately goes over to the stove and starts a kettle. With her fingertips. The stove, battered into submission, wheezes but doesn't protest.]
It keeps trying to shut on people as they pass through. I started using the windows more yesterday for a reason.
[Kettle started, Rei crosses the room and looks him more squarely in the face.]
Are you alright? First, foremost, tell me you're alright.
[Even machines think twice after a tussle with her, Merlin. She'd definitely defeated her stove the previous day and shut it's mouth up with that reinforcement trick she learned from Archer.
Rei huffs a laugh and reaches out to give him a quick hug, pushing him towards the couch.]
I think it's you that you should be worrying about. I mean, what happened happened, and that's all there is to it. You can't change it, even if you want to.
[She'll sit even if he doesn't.]
I'm glad to see you though, even if I wish you were safely at home.
Though he does move towards the couch when nudged in that direction. It's nice to be back in a way, even if things did end well back home too. Things are optimistic enough. ]
[ But that isn't the main point really, he wrings his hands together awkwardly. ]
At first... I was disappointed. Uther had driven him to living in a cave. Chased away from my mother to the point that he would have been unrecognizable to her but-- he agreed to help.
I didn't know before, anything about him. My mother would never say anything. It turns out that he was a Dragonlord. The last one, actually. But then...
[ He trails off, and the use of past tense, of stopping and his eyes dropping to the floor probably says it all. ]
Morgana turned against the King and he's... Well, Uther's bad enough now that Arthur is taking charge. He isn't officially the King yet but... [ Shrugs ] He knighted Lancelot, Gwaine, Elyan... right before the battle with Morgana and Morgause.
[She returns a moment later with a tea tray laden with steaming kettle, cups, and various teas and additives he can sort out on his own. All she does is pour the water, and give him an expectant nod.]
[ He watches her quietly while she sorts out the tea, not moving just yet though. His hands twitch, and it's clear he's deliberating over something. Finally, he asks: ]
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08/16: action
There's a lot he can say, but at the same time it's too much for the time he has now, first he just needs to know what he's missed in the past few days.
He doesn't press the buzzer for the door and knocks instead, not trusting it to work after how this morning has gone.
Hopefully Rei is in to answer. ]
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And more importantly than that, she's in because she's feeling a familiar presence. An omen, more than anything, of things to come. Of changes, and of a man who is actually worthwhile. She'd known the minute he left, and knew when he'd returned. Merlin was, in her mind's eye, a stormcloud on par with any thunderhead she'd seen Jupiter conjure. He was one of those people that, once you knew him as Rei did, was impossible to miss.
Not that she isn't surprised, of course, that he's coming to her first. That's actually a huge deal to her, after having taken care of Athena off and on since he'd vanished. It means he's either got something important to say or he's a coward. And she's never really considered him the latter.
She shoves the door open, metal groaning in protest. Signs of a fight...dents and scorch marks mostly, mar the panel, but the apartment behind is as neat and tidy as ever.
Just don't look under the sink where the blender is currently confined.]Hello Merlin. Won't you come in?
[If he will, the door slams shut the second she lets go...of it's own accord.]
I'm going to melt that stupid thing next time...
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He does glance at the door though, then back at Rei as if to say "damn gurl" because it really is a mess. ]
Melt the door?
[ Because it's the only thing he can assume when the door slams itself back into place. Ah. ]
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It keeps trying to shut on people as they pass through. I started using the windows more yesterday for a reason.
[Kettle started, Rei crosses the room and looks him more squarely in the face.]
Are you alright? First, foremost, tell me you're alright.
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Sorry I didn't grow wings while I was gone.
[ It's an attempt to lighten the mood a little, at least. His hand moves to rub his ear before scratching his cheek. ]
As alright as I could be. It's... weird. Coming back like this. But really... [ A shrug. ] It isn't me I should be worrying about, is it?
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Rei huffs a laugh and reaches out to give him a quick hug, pushing him towards the couch.]
I think it's you that you should be worrying about. I mean, what happened happened, and that's all there is to it. You can't change it, even if you want to.
[She'll sit even if he doesn't.]
I'm glad to see you though, even if I wish you were safely at home.
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Though he does move towards the couch when nudged in that direction. It's nice to be back in a way, even if things did end well back home too. Things are optimistic enough. ]
I wouldn't say safely at home.
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[Rei remembers and she has to ask, just...because it's important. She never forgets a reading, and she has a guess about his logic for coming here.]
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[ Which is telling on how much time has passed for him. ]
More complicated than I thought it would be. [ A beat, then: ] I met my father.
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[Rei seems really intent on that point, sitting up straighter and focusing entirely on him.
At least until he says the word father. That makes her flinch a little.]
What was...that like?
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[ But that isn't the main point really, he wrings his hands together awkwardly. ]
At first... I was disappointed. Uther had driven him to living in a cave. Chased away from my mother to the point that he would have been unrecognizable to her but-- he agreed to help.
I didn't know before, anything about him. My mother would never say anything. It turns out that he was a Dragonlord. The last one, actually. But then...
[ He trails off, and the use of past tense, of stopping and his eyes dropping to the floor probably says it all. ]
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[She understands the feeling, and she can sympathize. AT least, if her first guess is probably right.]
he passed, didn't he?
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But it's... passed on. [ He glances up at her then, hands moving to rest on his legs instead. ] Making me... the last Dragonlord.
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[Rei reaches her hand out, setting it on top of Merlin's hand.]
Sounds like a hefty responsibility. I'm sorry.
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Not really, Kilgharrah's the last dragon in existence. It means I can control him now though, that's how eventually he stopped attacking Camelot.
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[Rei understands power and the temptation to use it. All too well, in fact. But, he's a better person than she is, most of the time.]
How long ago was that, for you? It sounds like things have changed a lot.
[He feels a little older, at least, as she settles in and leans slightly on him.]
I think you put on a little weight.
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[ Meaning he has done before. Ah. ]
Long over a year. A lot happened.
[ Though he does shift a bit to pull her into a half hug, looking at her offended when she says that. ]
What are you trying to say?
[ Though he has been eating better now ]
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[whereas she isn't]
What else happened? Camelot is alright, yes?
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[ Please... CERES fattened him up enough. ]
Morgana turned against the King and he's... Well, Uther's bad enough now that Arthur is taking charge. He isn't officially the King yet but... [ Shrugs ] He knighted Lancelot, Gwaine, Elyan... right before the battle with Morgana and Morgause.
That was before I came back.
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So you're coming back on the eve of a big battle?
[That's hard, but then not unexpected. Morgana is....not well liked by the stories.]
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[ True that... but he hadn't been prepared for it. ]
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Is there anything I can do for you?
[The kettle whistles and she hops up, annoyed that she'd forgotten.]
Just a moment, but...yes, question. I'm listening still.
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He pauses, picks at his trousers at his knee. ]
Not exactly, but... I wanted to ask you something.
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Anything, Merlin.
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Have you ever been back home since you got here?
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