shroudedinsecrecy | INBOX (IC)

[ Yes, really Merlin. ]

I still have fruit and stuff, it's not as though everything I eat is bad. [ But moooooom!!! ] Really it's just nice to not be stuck starving or eating rat honestly.

[ r a t ]

[. . .]

Alright. If you insist.

[She certainly couldn't force him to accept a home cooked meal any more than she could apparently convince him otherwise regarding his own diet. Besides that--]

Ah, this is it. That little shop up ahead.

[It was a quaint building with even quainter decor. A small awning covered the entrance and a little bell ran each time someone opened the door. Inside were only a handful of small tables, but most were vacant.]

Well I'm not turning it down either, but it... wouldn't be the only thing I'd eat? A mix of everything is better right?

[ Though he does make a beeline for the small cafe now, pushing all his bags into one hand so the other can reach for her hand to lead her along until they make it to the door. Once inside, he looks around in awe for a moment, before smiling towards her. ]

Do you have a favourite seat?

[As a matter of fact...]

I've been enjoying sitting by the window. The light from outside is always so much nicer than the ones inside.

[Even up at the temple, with the occasional artificial lighting, priorities were always given to either natural sunlight or else fire as a source.]

Really? That sounds perfect. That one, then? [ He points with his hand that's full of bags, almost knocking over a chair but it's fine. It's fine. ]

It looks really peaceful. Do you people watch or just look at the sky?

[They're fine! ...once Iris reflexively reaches out to steady said chair, placing it back in its proper place.]

The sky, mostly.

It's not quite as clear as I remember up in the mountains, but the clouds are so calming. I could watch them for hours, letting my mind wander about...things.

Well it isn't real from what I know. So that would make sense. [ Though he does look at her once he takes a seat, tucking his bags under the table to his left. ]

What things would those be, exactly? [ Suspicious....... ]

[Why so suspicious, Merlin?]

Oh, nothing in particular. I suppose...whatever comes to mind at the time. Thoughts of home...or the job they gave me here...the people I've since met...or...the ones I've been able to reconnect with.

[ Because he's expecting the last thing she says, of course. ]

Those are all pretty good things to think about. Though... what do you do here?

You mean, for work?

I was...very fortunate. They assigned me to the local gym, as a meditation instructor. It's something very familiar to me, thanks to my years of training back home.

For work, yes. That does seem lucky though. They're pretty good at offering jobs that suit people, aren't they? It's... a little worrying actually.

[ He glances out of the window then, looking towards the "sky" before finally turning his attention back to her. ]

At least it's something you're comfortable doing though. There are some really... weird jobs here.

[She...hadn't really thought of it as worrying. Even if it meant such a placement without consulting her first meant that...perhaps their abductors knew a little more about her than desirable....]

Yes, so I've heard.

May I ask...which job you accepted?

Me? [ He leans back then, tapping the table before he reaches for the small menu that's in a holder to the side. ]

I work at a magic shop and as a magician for hire. I... [ He laughs then, giving her a smile. ] I ended up working up at the cosplay cafe because of Athena as well.

[ And he's a shady poker dealer that cheats for extra $$ but Iris doesn't need to know about that. ]

[He and Phoenix should definitely get together for shady poker matches that they both cheat at. Because that would go oh-so-well.]

That's nice that you two get to work together.

But...um...what's...'cos-play'?

[ They truly should, though his cheating involves magically changing the cards so ... it's a little meaner. Sorry, Phoenix. ]

Yeah. [ He... clears his throat. Mostly because. ] Costume play. It's a cafe where... the people that work there dress up and pretend to be someone else. I mean honestly it isn't that bad but--

--you've really never gone to visit her before?

[That sounded...quite, interesting, actually! Dressing up and playing pretend? She wondered what kind of outfits were involved.]

I haven't, actually. Should I?

[ It is pretty fun sometimes, actually. Sometimes distracting. Really he just seems to have fun gossiping with the alien ladies that come in at times. ]

You should. I'm sure Athena would appreciate it at least. Though she doesn't spend as much time there as she used to. [ Because she's an idiot overworking herself all the time... ]

[Ah, and that was where they differed. Iris ~~almost~~ never gossiped. ~~And when she does, it's only by accident okok~~]

That's...a good thing, though, right? If she's not working so hard.

I know...she was having money trouble for a little while. Mr. Mosley...he told me what he did to her. [Taking her money for that little 'prank'] I offered her some of mine if she were to get in trouble, but I hope that means she's doing better now.

No, she's still working hard. [ He reaches up to rub his temple. ] It's just across 4 different places.

[ And now his mouth twitches. ] She told me about that. Apparently Mr. Wright paid her back though, but I honestly don't know why he didn't just ask you to begin with. [ Speaking............ of gossip. ] She never has money though, I doubt that's going to change anytime soon.

I told him the same thing.

[In fact, she's gotten quite upset over it at the time. Wondering what she could have possibly said or done that would lead him to think it would be better to ask her under false pretenses. Or, for that matter, to have to ask at all.]

How can she never have money if she works that much?

[This wasn't gossip, shh. It was friendly concern over poor Athena's perpetual financial woes.]

Love makes you do strange things though, you know. It makes you insecure. Makes you doubt yourself.

[ And he's seen as much heartache from it as he has happiness, so... ]

She spends it just as quickly, really.

[ No no the ... thing about what Phoenix wanted to ask was the gossip!! Because Athena told him everything... ]

[Love.]

Yes. I...suppose it does.

[ Are you saying it's otherwise?! ]

Don't worry about it too much, I can't say I haven't done something similar-- [ a pause ] --I'm just better at being direct.

[ And rude..... ]

[. . .]

[Does...does that mean Merlin basically admitted he loves Athena? How sweet! If slightly surprising, from Iris' perspective, given how...fast they seemed to be moving. ~~Then again, any relationship seemed fast compared to hers~~]

...what did you do?

[ Iris......... he's still under twenty and hasn't really been in love before, who knows for sure--but he has told her that, yes. ~~Seriously Iris, up your game~~ ]

Honestly it's probably better I don't say, I don't think either of us looked good that night. [ He's talking about a fight though really, Iris. ] It's a lot harder when you're from two entirely different timelines as well as worlds.

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