Merlin ♟ Liam Gallagher (merlyn) wrote in mythologs, @ 2012-06-29 01:52:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | !zurvan, merlin, tecciztecatl |
[closed/complete]
Characters: Merlin [merlyn] & Tecciztecatl[rabbitembers]
Date/Time: Before the bunny post.
Location: Tecc's place.
Rating: PG
Warnings: None.
Summary: Merlin comes by to give his favorite ambassador slash PA a gift.
Tecciztecatl was still trying to fully wrap his mind around the duties of an ambassador. Really, he knew everything that was expected of him, which he found a little odd aside from perhaps he had just been exposed to such things as Merlin's PA. He certainly had no experience, and he was certainly naïve enough to never have noticed he was being trained for the job all along. Either way, he would not disappoint the people who had put so much trust in him, so he jumped at any chance that anyone wanted to speak with him about anything.
Of course, it was still too difficult for him to let go of his former position even after his promotion. With the happiest of smiles on his face, he was scurrying about Merlin's home preparing tea to go along with the sweet biscuits he had picked up from the baker prior to his arrival. They weren't the kind he normally bought, but the shape of them had caught his eye. Why? Well... he wasn't really sure. They were flower shaped and it was nice to have flowers in such rainy weather?
"So how have things been fairing?" The man began as he searched the cupboard for proper tea cups.
It probably didn't really help that Merlin treated Tecciztecatl as his PA despite the promotion. He liked having that kind of power over the man and thought it'd be rather useful when it came to needing his hand being - well heavy influence on events. He sat back on the comfortable armchair, a pipe in his mouth as he considered the question. "Things have been going as well as they can, we're not at war yet so that is always a plus." He took a long puff and let out a ring of smoke.
"I'm going to probably need to send you out soon." Perhaps to Niflheim, they were the strongest on land, if Camelot wanted to wield some more significant power- they needed them on board.
The whole thing was just peachy. "And you? How does your promotion suit you, ambassador?" At this Merlin smiled widely, pleased that things had worked in his favor. He didn't want to rule, he was happy pulling the strings behind.
Ah, there they were. As Merlin talked, Tecciztecatl hurriedly shuffled to place a few cups on the table so that he could finally pour the tea. Couldn't let it get cold before they drank it, after all. Not that he could tell much for temperature aside from the steam. As always, he poured Merlin's first, letting the other man choose how much sugar and cream he wanted even though he had that memorized to the side as well.
He finally got the chance to sit, but he was then doing his best trying not to show how meek his smile had turned at the note of future departures. The notion of traveling and dealing with matter on his own still frightened him a bit. He was a grown man who was more than prepared for his job. He was aware of that. However, it wasn't as if he had done it before. "Of course, I understand," he replied with a gracious nod.
Although he still really wanted to ask why he was chosen, he decided it was best not to question anyone's judgement. Especially not Merlin's or the Queen's. Instead, he kept his eyes down at this cup as he poured his own tea. "I'm...," he hesitated for a moment. "I'll do everything I can to do what you need me to do. If I can make any sort of difference for our Queen or you, then this suits fine, I should think."
Merlin took his tea with two sugars and plenty of milk. He stirred his teaspoon a little, looking at the empty space in front of him, lost in his thoughts for a moment. He wouldn't have noticed the meek smile on Tecciztecatl's face. "Thank you." He replied absently and then took a long swallow of his tea, pondering. "Thank you," He repeated himself, "I know you will, and right now I will need your help more than ever."
He needed to find Heimdall, and he couldn't afford to tell the queen, not because of treason but because he did not wish to implicate her if Merlin had to do something...well illegal. "You'll do just fine, remember what I've taught you and make sure you report to me, only me." The teacup was placed down, "The less others know, the safer they are, you understand, yes?"
Tecciztecatl was odd, but that was why Merlin liked him, on top of that, he was a creature Merlin had mentored, forged, trained- he was his. Merlin had no ambitions on the thrones, no need to betray his queen or anything, his duty was Camelot, by whatever means. Gwynevere sometimes didn't seem (in his opinion) ready to take underhanded actions. Which was fine, Merlin would take them for her.
One of Tecciztecatl's many benefits as an assistant was his complete lack of doubt that anything to come out of Merlin's mouth may have been less than true. He had suffered for this reason many times, and yet he still continued to firmly believe that Merlin had everyone's best interest at heart regardless of that that would put him through. Although Tecciztecatl was well aware at that moment that Merlin was asking him to possibly keep information from even their queen, he only blinked at the notion for a few seconds. Again, it would be another thing that he would not question.
"I understand," he answered faithfully. "Some information is a burden." That was true enough. The stress of knowing more than one needed to had never been something easy to deal with. He could tell others that from personal experience.
The man took his own tea black, and he was already sipping from his own cup to fill the short moment of silence. "What do you need of me for the moment then? What is the situation?" He knew most of it through close association with the people dealing with the matter, but he would never assume anything. It was always best to hear the details from Merlin himself.
In a way, Tecciztecatl was not wrong about Merlin, he did have everyone's best interests at heart, but he wouldn't necessarily act on that. He could see the different roads, the different scenarios, but his choices weren't dominated by kindness. At all. There was a mixture of selfishness and greed in what he did too. "It is, and our queen is very burdened already." He didn't want to add to that, but he also liked to know more than everyone else. Fatal flaw of his. "The situation is tense." Merlin replied earnestly, "I don't have enough information to really say what is or isn't going on but." A shrug. He would have everything he needed soon enough.
"I brought you a present too." He indicated towards a package he had left by the side, tossed aside as if it was of no importance, and frankly Merlin just did it to see Tecc's reaction to it. Yes, he was like that. Apparently whatever details Merlin had, they were not for Tecciztecatl's ears.
The lack of information left a lot to be desired. However, just as always Tecciztecatl accepted the situation without more questions. They would only be a bother if there wasn't really that much to divulge. Nodding, he simply enjoyed his tea, eyes drifting over to the package when it as brought to his attention. He had never been one that was good at accepting gifts. Always feeling a bit awkward, and not really sure ho grateful he could be. That didn't really change with Merlin, especially since he wasn't entirely sure if Merlin was the type to buy gifts.
"Oh! I-" He started with some surprise, looking back at Merlin. "But, sir, there's no occasion. My birthday isn't until October." Perhaps it was just a package full of laundry he needed to take to the cleaners? It was hard to tell.
That was the nice thing about Tecc, that he was so cheerful, so... innocent. It made Merlin like that innocence, appreciate it, and also trust him because of that. He lifted his hand and gestured as if to say that it was no big deal that he had done that. (It wasn't to Merlin). With his brother he picked up his cup of tea once more.
"Just have it, consider it a bonus for your hard work." Now he was looking over rather gleefully. Tecc never failed to amused. Merlin was eager to see the reaction to this gift.
Tecciztecatl still wasn't entirely sure of the whole thing, but he did give a decisive nod with a grateful smile. While he still didn't feel he really did that much to deserve it, he asked no more questions and went to pick up the package. With the greatest of care he opened it and paused quietly for a moment when he saw what was inside. And then he pulled it out.
It was a rabbit. A white one. Surely Merlin had mixed up his packages, though he had been told more than once that he was rather similar to the animal. However, he had never thought about owning one. Especially not... a stuffed one. Not sure of what to think of one grown man giving another a stuffed animal, Tecc simply did what came natural. He grinned from ear to ear as if he was denied any sort of toy as a child and had finally had a void filled.
"A rabbit!"
Merlin was watching with utter fascination the expressions on Tecciztecatl's face, it was like watching a child, yet there was something about his assistant that wasn't childish. Something more, maybe something a little darker than just 'unusual'. "Yes, yes it is. Just for you." Part of Merlin might have wanted to see if Tecc would've been offended by such a childish gift, but apparently not.
How interesting.
"I take it you like it then? You better take good care of it." He had it brought from Ryugu-jo, and it was a rather expensive toy for spoiled children, the rabbit was made of white silk, filled with feathers - more pillow than a stuffed animal.
Another happy nod. He was doing his very best not to seem overly excited, but he was failing miserably. He was all short of hugging it, as he did have enough self control to keep himself from that at least. By it's texture and softness, he could tell it wasn't just any other stuffed animal, too. However, he wasn't the type to ever sit and wonder how much a gift costed. It was something very special regardless of its monetary value.
"Thank you, sir," he said again, setting the rabbit down in his lap as he reached for his tea again. "I will, certainly! I never will be able to repay all of your kindness to me."
Merlin leaned back and smiled, as if he was the most magnanimous person ever for having given him this gift. (He was a little weird sometimes and a lot egotistical). "You're welcome, and I'm sure you'll find ways to repay me little by little." What Merlin liked the most was that Tecciztecatl's loyalty was his.
Whatever happened, he was his man first. Hopefully he wouldn't ever need to have this happen, but if it did... and Merlin needed someone else on his corner. He trusted Tecc to be there.
"Now you best think of a name for him." He hid his smile behind the cup of tea. that was a joke of course, who would name a stuffed rabbit, especially at his age, right?