milliways_bar | (no subject)

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In light of the latest wave of new arrivals (Random has spotted the pattern, have you?) the King of Amber is out on a couch, doing his paperwork and whistling, ready to give directions or explanations, or just generally be normal at anyone who comes by looking new.

He has a lot of fun playing the comforting, friendly type.

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Random glances at her and smiles, and then looks properly and doesn't change his expression even a little, because he's a very good poker player and this could be funny.

"Afternoon. I think."

"Afternoon it is then." She's making no attempt to act any differently than she normally would, albeit with a different face.

"Drowning in paperwork?"

"Beating it into submission, more like."

Mwahaha!

"Taking my wife away next week, so if I can get all this done then I'll be able to go with a clear conscience."

If Random had any doubt who the woman was, it is now erased with a 'two thumbs up' gesture.

"Good. She works as hard as you do. Take her somewhere romantic."

"We've been talking about India since back in the cell," he admits, "there's no question, really. And I really, really owe her for all that, back then. There hasn't quite been time to do anything huge for her since. But you do know that bit of history?"

Merlin wrinkles her nose.

"Taking her somewhere romantic because you owe her? Take my advice, uncle dearest, because I am thinking as a woman right now... and save India for a spur of the moment holiday. Years from now, when she thinks you've forgotten."

Beat.

"Try somewhere you have to cuddle."

"Well, not because I owe her, Merlin, it's not a tally and point system. And it has practically been years since then."

His face has closed down a little. Things with Vialle are complicated, and as much as he'd like to woo her and everything... it's a not that easy.

"She loves the ocean, and says she wants to feel the sun. There are beautiful beaches in Goa."

"I see."

There is a nod; Merlin is very sensitive to the change of mood in this form.

"Then I wish you both a pleasant and uneventful holiday."

"I did tell you the story about the time I tried to murder Eric?"

Heh, fun times.

Merlin shakes her head.

"No, the small bit I know was what Dad told me. Aunt Vialle came to live with you in prison, then you became king and didn't set her aside. That is the sum of my knowledge.

"He missed the really exciting part where I tried to murder Eric. Eric had, you know, captured your father and had his eyes put out, and imprisoned him down in the dungeons, occasionally dragging him out for show and tell."

Random's dislike of Eric can still be heard in his tone.

"So, I decided the thing to do was to go for the nice direct approach. Namely, a knife to the eye. Usually when I'm doing the assassination thing, I prefer the subtleties, but I was irritated and in a hurry, and didn't have much to lose."

Merlin visibly flinches, something dark settling in her gaze. She is in complete agreement with the offing of Eric. Luckily, he is now deceased.

"Too bad. His head would have looked nice on a pike."

"That's what I thought at the time. Anyways, it was close, but I lost, fair and square, and he hurled me downstairs too. Vialle joined me soon thereafter, bless her soul."

"Someday, I will find someone who loves me like that."

It's only a comment, they both know the depth of Vialle's devotion to her husband. For once, Merlin is not trying to suggest anything.

"You will."

Random doesn't even sound mildly uncertain.

"You're a good man.

Woman.

Ish."

"Or we'll go with choice 'C', all of the above."

She grins.

Random snorts.

"No one in our family could ever make things simple, could they?"

"Simple is for normal people, Random. You know that."

Pause.

"Want me to change back?"

"Nah, I'm teasing. I don't mind."

He shrugs.

"It's six of one half dozen of the other."

"Alright, then."

She looks relieved.

"Or option C."

"Now, bar is known to occasionally flop someone's gender sideways for a laugh, but I'm thinking this is something of your doing, and not hers."

"It is. I have long held this form as my alternate. It aids in my pursuit of knowledge. Everyone should spend a day in the shoes of another gender - very eye opening."

"Well, I've done drag before. But mostly for theatre."

Loooong story.

"All I really learned was the high heels weren't that difficult."

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