Burns Too Bright, Lives Too Fast

Arthur had underestimated what being back in Fandom would have been like.

For that matter, he'd forgotten more about it in a few months' worth of being back home than he had of Camelot in a year and a half. But then Merlin and he had crossed the damned causeway - an easier stop on the way home from Mat's godforsaken place, as it suddenly occurred - and a lot of it had come flooding back.

He wasn't sure what to do with that.

So, while elsewhere Mat might have availed himself to the hotel, he'd pulled Merlin along into the preserve. To stare up at the still-far-away walls of the castle with bitter-sweetness on his tongue and in his belly. It was no longer a prison - he could easily make his way out - and now he had no idea how to feel about the island. And he'd never been good about feeling feelings to begin with.

Give or take a few hours, and he'd make his way to the Arms for a hotel room, strangely relieved that he wouldn't have to sleep in either of his old dorm rooms. He didn't feel like facing the carnival yet, either. But for now...

"It's like nothing's changed." Except that wasn't really true.

[[ for merlin! ]]

It was time for Merlin's owl to learn how to fly. Clearly Merlin's technique - being 'let's wait until he's ready!' - wasn't exactly an effective one, so Arthur simply had to get himself involved before the whole spectacle got out of control and left Merlin (and his owl) looking like more of an incompetent nit than he usually did.

It was only a little bit of an excuse to spend some time with him. Not that he needed to. But he had a lot of time on his Saturdays, and, well.

The owl really needed his help.

"I think this is far enough," Arthur announced, stopping in a clearing well away from the castle proper. The sun shone down through the cracks between the branches, and he could hear something like water up ahead: it would do.

[[ for the ears ]]

After the magical reserve broke off, Arthur decided to take something of a stroll through the woods before actually making his way back. The trees still weren't much like home, but at least it was a little more calming than the constant noise of the dorms building or the town proper.

Which is to say, it had been his intention to go for a long, long stroll on his own; as of right now, he was merely walking away from the meeting, his hand hovering lightly over his sword for both reasons trained-in and, if he was fully truthful about it, related to the wizards he was leaving behind.

A few more steps and he'd be fully out of sight, and the afternoon would be his own.

[[ for the other woman girl who loves the milkshake ]]

Arthur woke up to the depressingly familiar taste of something rotten in his mouth (bloody Gaius) and a strange, distant whizzing in his head that really should be familiar by now, as well. He didn't recognize that, however.

He also did recognize the distinct feel of someone warm and flush against him, but he was having trouble remembering who. Forcing his eyes open the faintest bit, he made fuzzy note of black hair (which was good, dark hair was good) and something pressing against him.

All was good with the world, that not-familiar-thing-that-really-should-be-Arthur thing whispered into his mind, especially when he found himself struck by just who it was.

"Mrghbl," he said, and patted what he felt had to be a shoulder.

[[ for the girl ]]

The cacaphony of worry in Arthur's mind had moved past his initial concerns into matters such as there's an awful lot of wizards on the island and I might need to find allies in case something goes wrong, which were quickly shunting him off towards a looming idea he wasn't sure he was willing to recognise just yet. So Arthur did as Arthur did when he'd been out brooding for too long...

Well. Everyone needed a hobby to relieve stress. Arthur's was killing things.

He sneaked around the preserve. With his crossbow, at long last. Active hunting. He ducked his head behind his cover, brushing some leaves aside for a better line of sight. Ah. Terrific.

"I think I've spotted one of those deer."

[[ for the ears and possible SP! anything Merlin-y magical NFB, please ]]