Who: Lexi Branson and Merlin What: Merlin saves Lexi's magazine from coffee spillage When: Backdated: Beginning of August Where: Outside a coffee shop Rating/Warnings: Family Friendly Status: Complete
Lexi sipped her frappe as she sat at a table outside the coffee shop, flipping through a magazine. It was her day off and she planned on heading to the beach in a little while, wanting to enjoy the sun for as long as she could before she became a vampire. Of course, if she figured out how to get a daylight ring then she’d have no problems once she became a vampire, but as of right now, it didn’t look like she was gonna get one. Sure, Damon had mentioned that he knew a wizard, but she really didn’t want to be in Damon’s debt. He was the last person she wanted to have to owe anything to. Sighing, she flipped another page, the breeze blowing her blond hair over her shoulder.
Merlin was walking from work to Baxter Bakery with a bag of baby things in his hand, humming happily. He knew Audrey would probably tell him off for buying more stuff but he couldn’t resist. As he was walking he noticed a young man leaving a coffee house moving to the side to let him pass he knocked into another person whose coffee fell from their hand. Freezing the coffee he managed to stop it before it hit the young woman in front of him and he collected it all into the cup but hit her chair in the process. “Sorry about that. Guess we were lucky”
Lexi had been so into the article she was reading that she didn’t realize anything was happening until the guy knocked into her table and she looked up just as the coffee cup froze in mid air. “Woah. How did you do that.” She glanced up at the guy who had bumped into the table then at the other guy who had dropped the cup who seemed pretty shocked at what he was seeing.
Merlin looked somewhat flustered as the young man with the cup scurried off quickly, he hadn’t meant to frighten anybody. It had honestly just been an instinctive reaction. “Uh would you believe quick reflexes?” he asked with a kind of adorable grin.
Lexi’s lips turned up into a knowing smile and she crossed her arms on the table as she looked up at the man, “Partly. But I think it’s more than that.” She glanced around briefly before speaking again, “That was magic, right?” A year ago the idea of actual magic would have had her laughing, but after the things she’d seen and heard, she would believe anything.
Merlin looked around but nobody was taking any notice of them right now, “Yeah, a bit. I didn’t even think about it actually. It was instinctive, I didn’t mean to worry anybody” he told her, “Though you don’t seem too worried so that’s good”
“Well, considering I’m gonna be a vampire at some point in the near future, magic is the least of my worries.” Lexi shrugged and stuck out her hand, “I’m Lexi Branson. I’m assuming that you’re on Valarnet?” No one could ever say that Lexi beat around the bush. She didn’t usually worry about what she said, especially when she knew that she was right.
“Ah I see” Merlin nodded, he understood that. After all one of his good friends was a werewolf now thanks to the dreams. Taking her hand Merlin smiled, “I’m Merlin and yep I am indeed. And I’m a dreamer too. Or rather I was before they ended”
“Merlin? As in The Merlin?” After everything Lexi had seen, both in and out of the dreams, meeting the most favorite wizard of all time had her amazed. “Like of Merlin and Arthur?” She was sure she could come up with a number of different ways to ask, but she didn’t want him to think she was making fun of him or anything.
Merlin grinned, she seemed excited and he appreciated that. “Yep the one and only. Don’t let the no beard and younger age fool you” he told her, “But yes I am Merlin of Merlin and Arthur ‘fame’”
“Well I always figured Merlin had to be young once. Didn’t think he just popped into existence all old and beardy.” Lexi smirked, “And I have to say, young you is definitely better looking than an old you.” Yes, Lexi might have been flirting with him, but she had no shame.
Merlin blushed, even before he’d met Audrey and gotten married he’d not really been used to being flirted with. He’d just always been the geeky computer guy. “Oh well, thank you”
And sometimes geeky computer guys were hot; like in Merlin’s case. “You’re very welcome.” Lexi grinned up at him, dark eyes wandering over his face and body while she had the chance, “And thanks for saving me from what could have been a really unfortunate coffee stain.”
“Oh no problem” Merlin grinned, “Probably not what I should be doing with my magic but you know, damsel in distress and all that”
Lexi knew that there were witches in her dreams and had met some at various times, but meeting The Merlin was so much better than any of that. “So what should you be using your magic for?” She asked, still smiling at him then gestured towards the empty chair across from her, “Would you like to sit down?”
“Sure thanks” Merlin nodded with a smile as he sat down, “Oh I don’t know. Something grand or for the good of mankind. That noble sort of thing” In truth Merlin didn’t do an awful lot with his magic which was probably why it was so quick to jump in there. He’d helped Snape work on a few potions but it hadn’t really been taxing. Merlin had a feeling his magic was a little bored.
“What’s the craziest thing you’ve done with your magic in your dreams?” Most people probably wouldn’t have come right out and asked a question like that, but Lexi wasn’t most people, which had probably already been proven by her reactions to Merlin in general. “And have you saved many damsels in distress?” She smirked; her smile definitely flirtatious.
“Well I changed myself into an older bearded version of myself, a few times actually that was...different” Merlin grinned, “Not many damsels though. It’s mostly Arthur who I have to save, he seems to attract trouble”
Lexi’s brows rose slightly, “You can make yourself older? So how do I know this is your true form?” She asked, one brow rising a little higher in question, “Well now I’ll never think of King Arthur the same again. Now every time I hear someone reference him, I’ll just be thinking of him in a dress, tied up somewhere, waiting for you to save him.”
“Ah well when I’m older I have like a really white beard and I’m way crankier” Merlin grinned, “Oh you should totally think of him like that, it’ll be hilarious. And really, minus the dress, it’s pretty accurate”
Lexi laughed and took a sip of her drink, “Sounds like he was lucky to have you around. The stories might have been a lot different if you hadn’t been around.” It shouldn’t have been too strange, sitting there with the Merlin, considering she was going to become a vampire at some point, but even after a year of having and hearing about the dreams, there were still some things that surprised her.
“Oh yeah, Arthur would have been a goner pretty quickly” Merlin grinned, had he known Lexi was going to become a vampire at some point it wouldn’t really have thrown him. Strange things happened all the time, look at him he was straight out of legend. Yet also married with a baby on the way. It was odd. “So what about your dreams? Anything good?”
“My dreams are full of vampires.” Lexi certainly wasn’t looking forward to becoming one, “Which means, I get the pleasure of becoming one at some point.” She made a bit of a face, but tried not to show just how much she wasn’t looking forward to that. She didn’t want to burden others with things that she couldn’t control.
“Oh wow. I’m sorry” Merlin said, “I’ve not encountered anything like that in my dreams but I know there seems to be a few people around here who have. Have you been able to find anybody to help?” he asked in concern.
Lexi shrugged, “It is what it is. I mean, it sucks, but a handful of my friends are from the dreams as well, so I’m not alone.” That part did help; knowing that there were others close to her who would be going through the same thing eventually. “Although, they all suck cause most of them, are gonna get nifty daylight rings so even when they become vampires, they’ll still be able to go out during the day. I was never lucky enough to get one, in the dreams, so I’ll be stuck inside during the day, which will royally screw with my job and life in general.”
“Not being alone is good” Merlin said, though it didn’t sound good that Lexi would be the only one unable to leave the house. “Daylight rings? How are they made? Could you make one when the time comes? Or have one made?” he suggested.
“There’s a spell. Some vampires are close with witches and get them to make them for them. My best friend, the vampire who made him was friends with a witch and she had her make his ring. They’re usually lapis lazuli. They don’t always have to be rings. Some vamps have had bracelets or necklaces as long as they were lapis lazuli.”
“Well that doesn’t sound too difficult. You’ve got yourself a wizard right here. I have no doubt anything that can be done with a spell I could do” There was no bragging in his tone just simple facts. After all he was Merlin, if he couldn’t do something with magic chances were it couldn’t be done at all. “Then you’d get to chose whether you wanted a ring, a necklace or a bracelet” he added with a grin. Or one of each so she could alternate should she wish. Merlin was more than happy to be of service.
Lexi’s eyes widened slightly and a smile spread across her lips, “Really? You’re serious? You’d help someone you don’t even know?” Lexi almost couldn’t believe her ears. If Merlin actually made her daylight jewelry she’d totally owe him one or a million, “Would you need to see a piece from our world? To be able to emulate the spell?”
“Of course. And I do know you now” he added with a smile, “If I can help I’d like to. I said earlier my magic needs to be put to good use and I can’t think of anything better than helping out somebody in need” he explained. “That would work best I think” he confirmed with a nod.
Lexi thought for a moment about who had received daylight rings so far, “My friend Elena has one. I can try to see if I can borrow hers. Otherwise I’ll let you know when someone else gets one.” Lexi certainly wasn’t going to ask Damon if she could borrow his and she didn’t think Stefan had his yet. It was interesting that Stefan was so far behind her and everyone else. “Here. Give me your number.” She pulled out her cell phone and opened up a new contact then handed it to Merlin.
“I wouldn’t need it for long I’m sure. An hour or two, maybe not even that. It depends on the strength and complexity of the magic” he told her before taking the phone and entering his details.
Lexi nodded and took the phone back once he was done, “Awesome. I’m still a little shocked that you’re going to do this, but so incredibly grateful.” She couldn’t stop grinning like a fool, “I’ll let you know when I’ve got one for you to borrow.”
Merlin chuckled, “I like to restore faith in humanity every now and then. Besides I can help so why shouldn’t I? You’re a nice girl and it isn’t your fault this is going to happen” he told her kindly, “Just drop me a message whenever and we’ll get it sorted”