[RL with Merlin]

[archicheck]

As soon as class had been dismissed Ariadne hurried to her bicycle and road home to her new flat. Merlin had said he'd be there waiting, but she was still unsure if he'd really be there. Despite her many experiences with the community, and her time spent in dreams, the idea of world hopping still felt fairly strange and unbelievable

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[merlinastrice]

He had just arrived and opened his eyes in time to hear Adriadne call for him. Merlin turned around and gave her a weary smile. "So this is what a flat is," he remarked, taking in the surroundings. It was still far bigger than Gaius' labs and his room combined but smaller than Remus's home and Hikaru's ship.

[merlinastrice]

"I know. I don't know what I'd do without the community. It's so...refreshing to hear from others who don't care about my magic." As if to prove his point, Merlin's eyes glowed golden as the now empty water glass floated up and set itself in the sink. "I don't need to worry about suspicion just because my father was a dragon lord."

[archicheck]

As Ariadne watched the glass float over to the sink, she reflexively reached into her pocket and felts for her totem. She almost wanted to check it right there and then, but then there were bound to be questions from Merlin that she couldn't really answer. She was about 99% sure that she was awake, anyway.

"It's a shame that people with powers are persecuted in your world. I guess that's how humans work though. They don't like it when people are too different."

[merlinastrice]

"Everyone seems to believe that once Arthur becomes king, magic will be brought back to the land. It's...quite a responsibility to bear since the prat is always in trouble."

[archicheck]

"So, you're like his bodyguard. You watch out for him to make sure he does become king someday?"

[merlinastrice]

"Except no one can know about or it's my life at the pyre." Merlin shuddered. "Something wrong with me if I choose to believe in destiny like that."

[archicheck]

Ariadne looks more than a little worried at that though. "I hope it never comes down to that, but if it does tell the community right away. I'm sure someone could give you a place to stay. You could worldhop right out of there."

[merlinastrice]

He shook his head. "I can't. It's..." Merlin put his head in his hands, for once truly feeling the weight of all of it on his shoulders. "Because of what Uther has done, the laws he put in place, and all teh deaths that he's caused...there are many of those who use magic that want to kill Arthur. And Arthur's meant to unite Albion. He's a great warrior but ... he can't stand against magic. I can't just leave. Even if I ever get persecuted..."

[archicheck]

"It's okay," she said, smiling just a little. "I get it. We'll just have to hope that no one catches you, then."

Ariadne's quiet for a minute, then stands up, a bigger smile on her face. "But why don't we get out of here? I told you I'd take your around France, didn't I?"

[merlinastrice]

Merlin looked up at her. "I...really?" Her smile was infectious and Merlin slowly stands up as well. "I'd like to see France."

[archicheck]

"Really," she said with a nod. "There's a cafe nearby where we can stop for lunch and then we'll hit some of the sights."

[merlinastrice]

"That sounds...that sounds nice." He ran a hand through his hair. "Um...shall we go, then?"

[archicheck]

"Sure."

Ariadne grabbed her purse and headed for the door. She motioned for Merlin to follow her before heading out of the apartment and down the street. She glanced over at him, hoping he wouldn't look too out of place once they were in public. If anyone asked she could say he was part of a play or something like that.

[merlinastrice]

He followed her and stepped out of the flat, shielding his eyes against the sun. "Sun's very bright here." The loud honking of cars had him cover his ears. "What's that?"

[archicheck]

And suddenly Ariadne was remembering that Merlin's clothes were probably the least of her worries...

"Those are cars. They're like a carriage, but instead of an animal pulling them, there are machines inside that make it move. I prefer to walk or take my bike around here, though."

[merlinastrice]

"Carriages. Without animals to pull them?" he asked as he looked at them running up and down the roads. "Like how Hikaru's ship flies without wings?" Merlin shook his head. Future things were definitely something not to talk about when he went home but still...things seem...so different here.