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Guinevere (futurequeen) wrote in colligo_threads,
@ 2009-08-20 20:29:00

Entry tags:

!closed, guinevere, merlin

Who: Gwen and Merlin
What: Cheering Gwen up
When: Late afternoon
Where: His apartment...then Mini Golf.
Rating: Wont be High
Status: Incomplete

Gwen knocked nervously on Merlin's door, looking down at her clothing. Morgana had insisted on it when they went shopping, and she thought now was as good a time as any. The simple jeans, as the shop worker had called them, clung to her but in a nice way, showing off curves but not in a way that was far from tasteful. The cardigan and t-shirt served the same purpose, showing off what she had but in a respectful way. She had witnessed girls in far less about the streets and the thought of wearing the same thing shocked and thrilled her. She knew she would never be able to wear such things, but she wished she had the confidence too. It was probably to do with the way she had been brought up.

She brushed her hair back, for once letting it all hang loose with nothing to hold it back. It felt strange, but she had to get used to it. That was how most girls dressed these days. And she always wanted to just blend in. Knocking again, this time slightly louder, she waited for Merlin to answer. She knew she looked slightly tired, still not sleeping too well, but that didn't matter.

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youngmagician
2009-08-20 10:20 pm UTC (link)

Merlin might have questioned the blush if they hadn't come to the mini-golf place. There were hills and dips of fake grass, little ponds here and there, a large windmill, bridges, animal statues, and all other manner of colorful, moving objects zipping across the course. Quickly shelling out a bit of cash for the two of them, and taking the two golf balls and putters.

"Here you go!" He offered her one of the putters and a purple ball, keeping the blue for himself, and all but running to the first hole. Merlin was definitely acting a little like a kid in a candy shop. "You want to try first?"

There were a few things he wanted to ask. He was kind of curious about the whole attack, but that was pretty much off limits considering he was trying to make her forget all that. However, he still remembered that odd age switch a while back, and wondered how she felt about the whole marrying Arthur...He was also curious how she was getting along here. Morgana had seemed to embracing it all with almost as much enthusiasm as him.

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futurequeen
2009-08-20 10:33 pm UTC (link)

She made to tell him that she could pay herself, but something told her he would just ignore her. After all, he payed as quickly as he could and she knew he just wanted to start playing. She reached for the strange sticks and the ball when he offered it. She laughed a little at the excited way he was acting, grinning when he tried to be a gentleman.

"I have a feeling you want to go first."

She almost wanted him to go first, so she could see if he knew what to do. The explanation sounded easy enough, but looking around she was not so sure. So if Merlin went first, she knew she would be able to just try and copy what he did.

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youngmagician
2009-08-20 10:55 pm UTC (link)

"Alright!" He did try to be a gentleman, and it was the thought that counts right? But he really was ready to finally try the game. He watched a few people around them briefly before setting his golf ball on the little spot in the grass. His first swing was entirely too hard, completely missing the ball, and narrowly missing swing up to knock him in the head. He flushed a bit and glanced at her.

"So it's -- not like a sword. Swinging hard not a good idea." Merlin said sheepishly, lowering the putter and trying again lightly. It took about five tries for him to get his ball in the whole. A series of inching forward until he got into it. Of course, he still looked pleased with himself regardless. Afterwards he moved beside Gwen again.

"You're turn."

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futurequeen
2009-08-20 11:52 pm UTC (link)

She watched him as he made to swing it, stepping back a little when she saw how far the putter was coming. She couldn't help the grin when it nearly hit him, smirking slightly when he turned to look at her.

"I guessed that," she told him, laughing again.

After a while, he finally got the ball into the hole. She could not help the little clap she gave him, watching as he retrieved the ball, then stood next to her. When he said she was to go ahead, she instantly felt a little nervous.

"You wont laugh?"

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youngmagician
2009-08-21 12:14 am UTC (link)

Merlin's little blush spread to his ears as she laughed at him, but smiled all the same. It was good to see her laugh. He appreciated the bit of applause too, very proud of himself for succeeding. Merlin moved a little behind Gwen. She was obviously a little nervous, but there really was no reason to be. Merlin was certain she would do better then him, and even if she didn't -- he'd help her along.

"Of course not. You'll do fine. Can't be worse then me." Merlin grinned, encouraging her, and stepping back a bit. One or two hits, if her ball didn't go in he'd help it along.

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futurequeen
2009-08-21 12:34 am UTC (link)

"I hope not," she said in response to him, hoping that he really didn't mind such teasing.

She glanced around, seeing how other people held the putter before copying them. Glancing back at Merlin, she smiled when she saw the encouragement in his eyes. Looking back to the ball she had placed on the ground, she slowly hit it, watching it hit a protective barrier, making it roll back towards her. It happened a couple of more times and she felt a bit frustrated. What was she doing wrong?

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youngmagician
2009-08-21 01:00 am UTC (link)

Merlin watch the ball roll back a couple of times, before giving Gwen some magical encouragement. The next time she hit it the ball would roll, slowly but surely, right into the hole. He made a point to be as quiet as possibly so she wouldn't catch him egging her ball along. She was obviously getting a little frustrated with it, and there was no harm in helping out a little.

"Great!" He clapped when her ball fell into the whole. "Just takes a little practice." He suggested, smiling cheerfully, and continuing on to the next hole. It was a little intimidating when he saw a sign post saying 'hole 18' further ahead, and they only seemed to get harder, but they'd be better by that point. Gwen would be at least.

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futurequeen
2009-08-21 11:03 am UTC (link)

Gwen couldn't help the laugh as the ball went into the hole this time. She thought she would never get it in and clearly it just took some time. She grinned at Merlin before grabbing her ball from the hole and following him. This would have been a frustrating time, not at all fun, if one of them could not quite manage to play the game.

"Must do," she said with a grin when he mentioned practice.

She was rather thankful for Merlin right now, that he was so willing to distract and cheer her up. She understood why she had that slight crush on him when they first met, one that slowly disappeared to just a close friendship. She could be herself with him.

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youngmagician
2009-08-21 04:06 pm UTC (link)

Seeing her laugh and look thoroughly pleased made Merlin smile as well. She might be a little cross with him at first if she realizes that it's him helping her along, but even if she did find out -- Merlin imagined that Gwen would laugh it off and appreciate his effort afterwards. Not that he planned on letting her find out.

He all but skipped up to the next hole in his hurry to keep playing. The ball rolled back to him once, then half way there, right past the hole, bounced over the small wall to keep it in the course, and once he dropped it back where it had been he finally managed to make it in. He wasn't frustrated or bothered by how long it took, just pleased that he'd managed it. Merlin seemed to have plenty of patients, but then again -- he had to being Arthur's servant.

"So," He started, moving beside her again while she took her turn. "Arthur hasn't been too overbearing as he? It looked like we was getting very over protective. I can tell him to back off a little, if you want." Merlin suggested, even though he was pretty sure Gwen didn't mind Arthur's attentions. After all, they were going to get married sometime in the future right? He wasn't quite sure how he felt about that. He would be happy for them of course, but -- well, he wasn't sure what about that thought unsettled him. His older self hadn't quite liked the thought either, but he couldn't remember why.

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futurequeen
2009-08-21 04:17 pm UTC (link)

She watched him as he took his turn, glad that it was Merlin she had decided to have such an experience with. She did not mind if this went wrong with him, because he didn't get annoyed with her. He was willing to let her take her time and would just laugh along with her.

Just as she put her ball down, ready to take her shot, Merlin was at her side. Just as she made to swing her putter, Merlin was asking her a question, and she missed the ball as he mentioned Arthur. She could feel a blush come to her cheeks and she wasn't sure why. She could not tell if it was because of the name, or because of the fact she had missed the ball. She bit her lip lightly as he suggested to tell Arthur to back off, and she felt a little panic rise in her. She didn't want Arthur to back off, far from it. Not that she would admit that to anyone.

"No he's fine. He's not being too protective. Besides, it's how he acts with all of us, I doubt he would stop."

She could feel her stomach fluttering slightly, and she took a deep breath, focusing on the fall instead of Merlin. She often wondered how obvious it was that she was starting to warm to Arthur, but then again Merlin knew as well as she did about what happened with her in her future.

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youngmagician
2009-08-21 07:32 pm UTC (link)

Merlin watched her swing and miss as he brought up Arthur, not surprised by the blush. It was clear by her reactions that she didn't want Arthur to back off, and he wasn't all that surprised. Was she beginning to care for him? And more so -- Did Arthur feel the same way. Even after Gwen admitted to it, they all knew the prince was less straightforward about those he cared for.

"You -- that is," It really wasn't any of his business what she felt for him, but they were both his friends, and he was curious. "Are you starting to like him? I know he's a prat a lot, and sometimes he doesn't really express himself the best -- He's really a good guy though." Merlin was rubbish at this sort of topic. He was curious but obviously a little awkward about it. He was trying though.

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futurequeen
2009-08-21 07:54 pm UTC (link)

Her eyes never left the ball, not wanting to face Merlin just yet. She could hear the awkwardness in his voice, could feel the awkward tension between them. It was silly, they were both good friends and adults they could discuss such things. And yet she really found it difficult to. She could barely talk to Morgana about it, let alone Merlin.

"He is a friend, of course I like him," she said in a way that she hoped sounded like amusement.

She definitely wasn't laughing though. Gulping down that lump in her throat, she moved the putter again, this time getting it closer to the hole. Walking over to it she hit it again into the hole before picking it up. She had to act normally.

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youngmagician
2009-08-21 08:42 pm UTC (link)

"I meant as more then that..." He was trying to act as normal as possible, but he felt just as uncomfortable with the conversation as Gwen did. His ears and cheeks still had a small blush to them, and he didn't quite meet her gaze either. This was going to be even more awkward with Arthur though, so he figured he might as well get over that now.

"Obviously you're not going to get married or anything that that anytime soon, but you have feelings for him right?" This place was sort of a blessing, he supposed, in some regards. He was able to tell Arthur about his magic, and if the two of them did have feelings for one another there would be no reason to even think about social status here. Not that he thought that would be much of a problem regardless, but it was nice not to have Uther and Arthur wasn't expected to have the same responsibilities as a prince here.

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futurequeen
2009-08-21 09:25 pm UTC (link)

Gwen knew he meant more than that, but she had hoped that he hadn't. It would make this conversation far less awkward. But it looked like that was not going to happen any time soon. She let Merlin continue, her eyes looking back at him for a second when he mentioned the marriage thing. She had tried not to think about it, that she would marry Arthur. And the way she remembered acting around him when she had changed, that flirtation that made her blush as she thought about it.

"I guess you could say that," she mumbled quickly, before heading towards the next hole. However she knew the conversation was not going to end there.

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youngmagician
2009-08-21 10:40 pm UTC (link)

Merlin moved to the next hole with her, so distracted that he didn't even give much reaction to having made the shot in two hits. He was more focused on Gwen. For a long minute or so he was quiet, not sure how else to continue just yet.

"I think you would be good for him." He really believed that, for the most part. There was some nagging doubt, but he just tried to shrug it off as nothing. "You just got to stand up to him is all. He is too stubborn sometimes for his own good." Merlin said. When he thought it couldn't get any more awkward he tripped over a loose brick and landed flat on his face in the astro-turf in front of Gwen. Beet red by this point, he figured it be best just to stay put for a second.

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futurequeen
2009-08-21 10:55 pm UTC (link)

"He is stubborn," she muttered quietly before sighing and looking at Merlin. "It doesn't work, Merlin. A prince and a servant is not how it is meant to be."

It was the first time she had admitted it to herself out loud. She could not see how it would work. She already knew she ended up married to him, but in her mind right now it was impossible. A prince did not marry a servant.

But then Merlin wasn't next to her anymore, and she heard a slight bang. Looking at the floor, she couldn't help but burst out laughing, all the awkwardness disappearing for a second. Kneeling down, still laughing, she placed a hand on his arm.

"Are you all right?"

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youngmagician
2009-08-21 11:20 pm UTC (link)

Merlin was on the floor before he got the chance to respond, and was more then happy to remain there while Gwen laughed. There was no way his blush could get any worse, he was already sufficiently embarrassed, and really there was nothing left to do but laugh at himself as well. At least it lightened the mood, even if he had gone with a more painful way of doing so.

"No permanent damage." He eventually pushed himself up slightly and smiled up at her. Propped up on his elbows, Merlin considered what she'd said before he'd made a fool of himself and shook his head.

"And Gwen," Merlin started, in all seriousness, with a kind smile. "You're not just some servant. You're a good person. Arthur would be a fool not to see that, and trust me -- status wouldn't make the least bit difference to him." Standing up slowly, Merlin brushed himself off, and retrieved his ball and putter. Still grinning like a loon and flushed pink.

"Now, it's your turn."

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futurequeen
2009-08-21 11:49 pm UTC (link)

She grinned at him as he pushed himself up, his face red but his smile showed that he didn't mind so much. She would have apologised for laughing, but at the same time she felt slightly better for it. But then he was back to the previous topic and her smile faded a little as she bit her lip. At his words about her, she flushed a little but smiled at him.

"Thank you Merlin. It means a lot that you think so."

For once, she did not feel like she had to retract what she said. It was a moment between two friends that she did not want to taint by her constant worries. She stood as he did, brushing down her jeans.

"I hope you do not mean it is my turn to fall," she said with a small smile.

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youngmagician
2009-08-22 12:01 am UTC (link)

"No," Merlin chuckled and shook his head "Your turn in the game. I wouldn't recommend falling. This fake grass is not very soft." He pointed out, glad for the chance to put that awkward topic behind them. He'd leave those discussions to Morgana in the future, as she would surely be much better at it then him.

"Watch out for the loose stone too. That's what I tripped on." He pointed out, leaning casually on the putter as he waited.

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futurequeen
2009-08-22 12:10 am UTC (link)

"Good because I was not so willing to fall."

She placed her ball on the floor, careful not to fall over the same stone he had. She gave him a grateful smile after he pointed it out, before readying herself to hit the ball again. It took her quite a few swings until she managed to get anywhere near the hole, and then a few more to actually get it in. But she didn't mind, she was starting to loosen up a little and was more than willing just to let it happen. She would get better at this.

"Hopefully by the end of the game I will be slightly better."

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youngmagician
2009-08-22 12:53 am UTC (link)

Merlin watched as she hit the ball a few times, not appearing frustrated when it took a couple tries. She was slowly getting the hang of it, and as long as she was having fun that was all that mattered. She was doing fine without his help too, but he was ready to give it should she start getting annoyed with the game again.

"We have plenty of time to practice." He motioned to the number of holes still ahead of them.

"So have you gotten a job yet? That hundred dollars doesn't really last very long, I've noticed." Merlin started, trying to start up another line of conversation that wouldn't lead to any awkwardness.

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futurequeen
2009-08-22 12:02 pm UTC (link)

She looked at the holes as Merlin pointed them all out, frowning a little. They just looked harder and harder. Hopefully by the time they got to those more trickier ones, they would both be able to play without a problem.

She smiled at him when he asked about a job, knowing that the money she had when she arrived was slowly disappearing. Especially now that she had bought a few items of clothing with Morgana.

"I have. A man has set up some business and was asking. I offered to do some cleaning for him. I'm still surprised at the amount he said he'll pay me a week."

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