Third Floor Common Room, Thursday Afternoon

[bitch_prince]

This close to graduation, this close to his last final, this close to Break Week, which might have been a relief to most, but to Arthur simply spelled empty days with nothing but himself to rely on to keep himself busy

Comments

[bloody_luck]

Mat wandered into the room in search of something that wasn't a book on battles.

"Arthur," he said, nodding his head before walking over to the fridge.

[bitch_prince]

"Mat," Arthur said, lowering the book with a speed that... well, he wasn't eager for conversation or distraction or something. Really. "Hungry, I take it."

[bloody_luck]

"And tired of staring at the four walls of my room," Mat admitted with a smile. "I was thinking of taking Pips out for some exercise. I think if I stuff another battle into my head they are all going to leak out."

[bitch_prince]

"Pips...?" Arthur replied, squinting for a moment.

Although dear lord, could he echo the sentiment. "Although outside sounds brilliant."

[bloody_luck]

"My horse," Mat replied with a smile, "not some unfortunate younger student. I haven't exercised him as much this week as I should."

[bitch_prince]

"I suppose my horses could do for a stroll as well," Arthur said, thoughtfully. "Maybe I'll whack Merlin about the ears and get him and the horses out into the fresh air for a change."

Not. Anxious.

[bloody_luck]

Mat's eyebrow went up. "It's always important to air out the servants, too, I suppose," he teased. He found a few apples and held one up as a silent offer to Arthur.

[bitch_prince]

Arthur took the apple with equal silence, and didn't bother to pay it much lipservice. Instead he took a bite of it. "I'm still trying to teach him how to hunt," he said, conversationally, "Though god only knows why."

[bloody_luck]

"Because starving to death is a nasty way to die," Mat said, snagging another few apples and juggling them in a neat circle as he leaned against a counter. "There have been a few lean winters at home in the past and if the heat doesn't break soon, it's going to get worse."

He made a face. Not something he wanted to think about.

[bitch_prince]

Arthur shot him a wary glance. "There's been no change in the harvests at all?"

[bloody_luck]

"The heat's bloody killing everything," Mat said flatly. "A horse goes for as much as a village these days, and not just for riding."

[bitch_prince]

Arthur pursed his lips. "You haven't," he hazarded, because he'd heard of Mat's trouble back home before, "accidentally killed anything mystical lately, have you?"

[bloody_luck]

Mat thought about it, then shook his head. "Not that I know of, assuming Darkfriends don't count."

[bitch_prince]

" ...Are they inclined to leave a curse if you kill them?"

[bloody_luck]

"Not at all," Mat replied. "They're inclined to try to kill me and die messy. I haven't missed that part of home."

[bitch_prince]

Arthur had to give that one a snort with some vague sympathy. "Can't be that, then," he judged, and slanted a look at him. "When did the heat start? Is it natural?" Or was it saucery sorcery?