WHO: Merlin and Methos WHAT: Strange Encounters between the feminine enchanter and the barbaric immortal WHEN: Friday WARNINGS: TBD STATUS: Closed and Complete when posted
Merlin was out shopping at the outdoor market, wearing a sundress and feeling rather festive today. She was bouncy, and smiling to all she met, buying a few things here and there. It was a nice day to enjoy such weather and she was determined to do so. Having this kind of day was not normal in the oddness of Madison, and she hoped more such days would come.
As she wandered, she felt an odd sensation, as of being watched, and glanced around. Someone was watching, she was sure, but she did not quite make them out. Hmm. Perhaps a little peekaboo was needed. Taking her basket, she headed into the outskirts of the market, wandering closer to the darker alleys, eyes curious, but not seeming, openly, to look for intruders or trouble. Instead, she was, well, walking like she was looking for something else entirely. Years of life had taught her when to fall into such habits, and her walk lengthened, her legs moved languidly, and her hips rolled with a slow assurance as she moved.
Merlin was on the hunt.
***
Methos was trying to observe and learn more about this place he’d found himself in. The easiest way to do that was to watch what people did. He was also doing his best to learn some of the language. That might sound unrealistic but immortals were good at picking up things like languages because of their memory. The problem was this one didn’t seem to have anything in common with the ones he spoke so he wasn’t making much progress.
The woman caught his attention. Not just because of her looks...which didn’t hurt...but he was used to watching for things outside of the ordinary. There was something different about her than everything else.
For now he stayed in the mouth of the alley and just continued to watch.
***
Merlin smiled as she spotted him out of the corner of one eye and wandered in that direction, then, abandoning pretense, simply stepped into the alley, and faced him. Her voice had an old lilt as she spoke.
“Seeing what you seek, stranger?” Her voice resonated with a magical tone, giving the meaning beyond the words.
***
The long knife he’d taken was tucked into his palm with the blade going up the back of his arm as Methos faced the woman. Old habits of keeping alive made him trust very little but there didn’t seem to be any attack coming.
”Who are you?” Methos had felt the sense of what she’d been saying but he couldn’t respond in kind.
***
Merlin canted her head, then nodded, heating those words, and figuring out their meaning, then her hands, gently and slowly rose. “I am a wizard, good sir, and a friend. Fear not, handsome one.”
And as she spoke, her hands moved lazily, as a spell flowed, and by the end of her speech, the man would be able to understand her words as a translation spell settled over them both.
“Magic is my gift. And my calling.”
***
“Magic?” Methos’ grip on the knife tightened but it was obviously something he didn’t understand since he suddenly understood what was being said. “Wizards more often than not are killed as charlatans. That doesn’t seem to be the case with you.”
The woman was suddenly interesting for a lot more than her looks.
***
“I’m no charlatan, and those who might wish to kill me would have to catch me first.” She smirked at him, cocking her head to the side as she eyed him.
“Are you new here, good sir?” She knew not this man, nor of him. She moved a little toward him a little, padding slowly.
***
“Just arrived really.” It was good to be able to understand what someone was saying. It would make things so much easier if he could tell his captives exactly what would happen to them if they didn’t behave. He had managed to get the point across for the most part but it was good to be 100% clear how bad defiance could be.
“And has anyone ever tried to catch you?” Methos smirked slightly watched the way that she moved.
***
“This place must be very confusing to you, then, gorgeous.” She smiled at him, reaching out to gently tap his chest, unless he moved.
“Some do, but unless I let them, it doesn’t happen.” She smirked back, moving closer.
“Sometimes, I like the idea of being… caught.” The look in her eyes was probably obvious, but if not, the fact that she was none-too subtly bending slightly forward, her shirt dipping and giving him more of a view probably delivered her interest as a clear message.
***
He let her touch his chest but there was the sense around him of being coiled and ready to move until he knew that all she was doing was the tap. “It is extremely different from what I am used to.” Methos was tempted by what was being offered but in the situation he was in it was probably a bad idea to be distracted. He had to keep his eye on things.
“Maybe I’ll catch you some day.”
***
Merlin nodded, stepping back. “Be careful out there. The world possesses many dangers.” She was not particularly telling him.
“And this place is a community.” She nodded, eyes on him. She had a feeling that this was going to be… interesting. Chaos had come to town.
“What do they call you?”
***
Communities were only as strong as you allowed them to be. So far every one Methos had walked into with his brothers had failed and fallen, leaving nothing but destruction behind.
The question made Methos smile. For once someone in this absurd place didn’t know who he was when he didn’t know them. “I am Death.”
***
One delicate eyebrow raised and she nodded, a wide bow. Nothing was mocking in her tone or eyes as she spoke.
“Well met, Death. Some call me Merlin, but older beings know me as godkiller, and the Defensor Hominum.” It was a title, really, one of old and ancient meaning. Defender of humanity.
“Walk softly Death, there are those here impervious to your power.”
***
“There always are those that Death can’t touch. But thank you for your warning. And for the gift of understanding.” Giving him the ability to understand what was being said put Merlin on his list of tentative allies at the moment. His brothers weren’t here, he might need new people to ride beside him soon.
***
Merlin nodded to him. “You are welcome. This place is new to us all, at one point or another.”
She smiled wryly. “It can be a dangerous place. But it is also a good one. Hopefully you will find a place you can call home.”
***
“I don’t need a home. I have myself, I have all I need.” Methos nodded and took a step back intending to cut back through the alleyway. Now that he could understand and be understood he should probably check on his captives again.
***
Merlin chuckled. “Then good luck, good sir, and watch your back.” She winked and then a moment later, there was a hawk hovering there where she had been. It cried at him, a loud sound, and her voice echoed to his ears.