(Untitled)

[merlinianblood]

The relatively scrawny young man who shuffles into the bar looks very much like he's just rolled out of bed. His hair is tousled, his Pac-Man tee is rumpled, his boxers are... well, boxers, and he's only wearing one sock.

He looks around, blinks, and decides that this is somehow Bennet's fault.

"Dude," he sighs, turning to face the door through which

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[777thdegree]

Glucose imbalance. That's right, Dave.

That's why your hallucinations have re-occcuring themes.

Like a lanky-haired sorcerer with an odd taste in clothing.

Like that one at the bar with a cinnamon roll half the size of his head (only half, because he's already made his way through the other half).

[777thdegree]

Suddenly he realies that he's still holding Dave's wrist, and probably scaring the boy. And while he is angry, he's not angry at him.

"My apologies." It's probably nothing he's ever imagined Balthazar saying, and the subdued sorcerer releases Dave, taking a step back.

[merlinianblood]

Dave's quick to pull his wrist away once Balthazar relinquishes his grip. "It's..."

It's not okay. In no way is any of this okay, but at this point, Dave's not sure he can do anything about it.

"Yeah, whatever. It's fine. I'm pretty sure this is kind of my fault, anyway. I shouldn't have said anything."

[777thdegree]

That earns him a side-long look, 'are you kidding' sort of not-quite-disbelief.

"Hasn't anyone stepped forward to train you?" If this boy managed to get Merlin's ring, and then news got out that Merlin's apprentice died trying... well, he hopes succeeding in defeating whatever Morganian came to end the possibility of the Prime Merlinian destroying Morgana, there should have been a rush of lesser sorcerers looking to claim Balthazar's place.

[merlinianblood]

He opens his mouth and, before speaking, closes it again.

Does he really want to have this conversation right now?

Or, a better question: Does he have a choice?

"Um. No. After you gave me the ring you kind of... disappeared or something, I don't know. And I tried to tell people what happened, but everyone thought I was crazy, so I had to go see some doctors. And I kind of just... put the ring away and stopped thinking about it."

At this point, Dave can't really remember what Balthazar told him; he's pushed it so far back in his memory that even if he tries, he can't recall.

"That was ten years ago. To the day."

[777thdegree]

That phrase reminds him of something, but he can't remember what off the top of his head. Something he was recently working on. Of course, in his life, recently could also include something done a couple decades ago, so that's not very helpful.

"But you still have it, the ring - you've kept it with you." And that? Is good.

[merlinianblood]

"I do."

Dave hasn't really thought much of it until now.

Later, he will claim he kept it with the intention of selling it on eBay.

"But you... don't really seem like you remember any of this. Or recognize me. And you were pretty quick to talk to me that day I got the ring, so what's up with that?"

[777thdegree]

"Simple: I haven't met you yet." He will, one day, that Dave just hasn't learned all the rules of physics yet - everything they do can be explained.

Eventually.

This may be complete bullshit to keep the physics nerd calm.

But this one he can back up - he reaches into the pocket of his waistcoat, and pulls out a small metal dragon, its tail curled around its feet.

[merlinianblood]

"Oh, pfft, yeah. That explains everything in such a simple way."

Messing with reality was bad enough. Now they're messing with time, too?

Check, please.

When Balthazar pulls the dragon out, though, Dave can't help but feel himself drawn back in. "Hey! That's it! ...oh."

Oh.

[777thdegree]

Oh, indeed. Whether or not this boy is trained, he's only a half step away from being hooked.

"Ten years, and you haven't even touched it?" The dragon stays curled in his palm, its metallic scales gleaming in the bar's light.

[merlinianblood]

"Only to move it around," he says, fingers twitching restlessly at his sides. "Everyone thought I stole it, so I had to lie and hide it."

Hiding spots have included a hollowed-out spot under a loose old floorboard, the bottom of Tank's water dish (in hindsight, not the best spot), the dirt of a potted plant, and now, a sock drawer.

Even though its current hiding spot isn't exactly safe, Bennet never touches Dave's stuff, so he's not worried.

And anyway, even if his friend did find it, he'd probably just be mocked for hoarding "weird D&D stuff."

[777thdegree]

Lie and hide it, rather than give it away, throw it away, surrender it to the first person who asked for it - anyone might, getting rid of anything connecting them to a battle between to very determined (and, if it took him out, skilled) sorcerers.

"Do you want to hold it?" He asks, ignoring the thought that one boy in boxers is hardly his mental image of the Prime Merlinian. We all half off days.

[merlinianblood]

Dave doesn't think he looks like the heir to ancient powers, either.

"I probably shouldn't," he mumbles, though he can't immediately come up with a good reason why. It's certainly not the threat of doctors and therapy; been there, done that, and it really wasn't so bad.

It's probably the thought that this all might actually be real that's holding him back, the thought that he's been lying to himself for the past decade.

Still, he finds he's offering Balthazar his hand.

[777thdegree]

He's not sure it's such a wise idea either - he's going to have to take it back, if he's going to give it to the boy ten years in the boy's past. Missing details like that could make headaches for all of them... even if not giving the boy the ring means he would survive.

But he's still tipping the dragon into the boy's hand, because he has waited for centuries. He can't not see it. It just might kill him to not see the dragon find its master.

[merlinianblood]

It happens exactly as Dave remembers: The dragon shakes itself to life, searches for Dave's index finger and, finding it, curls its tail around the digit and settles.

There's no fear this time, though. Dave's more awed by the sight than anything, and pleased to find that it fits much better now than it did ten years ago.

He looks at Balthazar, expression unsure. "What does this mean?"

[777thdegree]

Perhaps it was not easy to read as a child, but almost stunned relief is blatant on Balthazar's face. The ring finally, finally chose someone. There is a someone for it to choose. It is almost too much goodness, all of his missed birthday and Christmas presents given all at once. He knows it isn't just this place - the ring failed to respond to Rae (though she certainly responded to it!), and if it would respond to just anyone magical here, surely the heir of Merlin's master would have been a good choice.
"It means," He unconsciously echoes himself, his voice strained with emotion, "That you will be a very important sorcerer one day. Provided we can get you the necessary training."