Woods Outside Camelot, Friday Sometime Fandom Time

[bitch_prince]

So apparently Karla 'wasn't feeling too well' and 'needed some time away from it all' and whatever other rubbish Merlin had been spouting. Arthur still thought this was the worst bloody idea since that time he shot that unicorn. No good would come of it.

In the end, Merlin had insisted, and in the end, Arthur had very grudgingly capitulated, but

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[glacial_witch]

"While I appreciate the compliment implicit in the idea that I am some kind of smouldering temptress who has to wear a sack to avoid carnal notice," Karla said, still going through the list, "I assure you I have no intention of flirting with anyone here in Camelot."

A) She still had a boyfriend. B) Why would she want to?

"I assume I'll be spending the other fourteen hours somewhere with Merlin?" she added, not even bothering to hide her amusement. "Or should I spend it aimlessly wandering the town unsupervised and unchaperoned?"

[bitch_prince]

"I removed the sack rule because I realised no man would be able to tolerate you for more than a moment once you opened your mouth," Arthur said, cheerfully. Being back home had made him so much better company! Really!

"Merlin can show you about. Same as Gaius. Or Francine, if you must."

He was not suggesting Katchoo. The thought gave him nightmares.

[glacial_witch]

"What about Katchoo?" Karla asked with a wide smile. "She and I have bonded, you know. She knows just as much about Camelot as Francine does. I'm sure we could have lots of fun together."

Those nightmares are what you get for that 'opening her mouth' crack, Pendragon. It's hardly Karla's fault that Camelot males can't appreciate a female with spirit.

[bitch_prince]

"Katchoo has her own duties to attend to," Arthur lied like a lying thing. "Stick with the aforementioned. You're in my kingdom now, Queen. Allow me to look after you."

That was not entirely sincere. (Well, it was sincere in the 'looking after you' sense. It was just also heavily sarcastic.)

[thismaskiwear]

Katchoo tried to sneak a look at the list at the first opportunity.

"Good frikkin' god, Arthur. About the only thing you didn't list on there was breathing." She gave him a look that was half amused and half horrified.

[bitch_prince]

"Well, God knows even Karla can't cock things up just by breathing," Arthur said.

Then paused.

And reconsidered that thought. You'd better stop him before he finishes reconsidering, Katchoo.

[thismaskiwear]

Katchoo crossed her arms over her chest and raised one eyebrow in a very deliberate, sardonic gesture. "Anyone ever told you you were up for an award for having confidence in other people, Pendragon?"

No?

Quelle surprise.

[bitch_prince]

"It's Karla!" Arthur replied, sounding at least moderately offended.

[thatsamilkshake]

Francine's experience with these issues involved the need for sugar and leavened wheat products. So, um.

At least it was a giant box of cupcakes this time, and not one single cake?

[bitch_prince]

"Francine!" Arthur called, sounding pleased.

At least she was less of a pain in his arse than the other women who had just arrived. ...Well, at present. The past was a different matter.

"Good to see you. I see you've brought more baked goods..."

[thatsamilkshake]

"When do I ever come without baked goods?" Seriously, there'd been travel-cookies even that first time when they'd portaled by accident.

[bitch_prince]

"Fair enough, fair enough," Arthur granted her, reaching for one. It was tradition by now, after all. "How are you, and all that lot?"

[bigdamndestiny]

And there was a Merlin there too. Not the bird kind, though. Just the human kind, waiting cheerfully for people to arrive.

[glacial_witch]

"Thank you," Karla said, coming up to give him a tight hug. "I needed to get away from the island for a bit. I really did."

[bigdamndestiny]

"Hey," Merlin replied softly, hugging her back. "Anytime."

A beat.

"As long as you promise not to turn anyone into something horrible here because Arthur will shout."

[glacial_witch]

"I don't even know how to turn people into horrible things," Karla said, clinging just the tiniest bit before she let go. "And I've already promised to be on my best behavior. Did you see his list for me?"