realityshifted | (no subject)

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merlin (d2) arthur pendragon

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[in that great Plane tradition, Arthur has brought a table with him, covered with papers. He's trying to read through some of them, sign others, and he looks completely annoyed and frustrated]

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It is not a compliment to Merlin and it would fall deaf on Sir Humphrey's ears. We should deploy him to some area in need of aid. It is what knights are for, and bad knights don't return. [Cranky cranky cranky.]

While nothing would make me happier, he does in fact serve some function. One I'm not entirely clear on at the moment, but there was a reason my father kept him around. I can't dismiss him that easily. We just have to find a way to work with him, as unpleasant as that prospect might be.

Perhaps your father simply couldn't find a way to get rid of him. [No, who is she kidding? Uther would just burn him at a stake. She settles across him, ill at ease. Then she pauses and glances over at him.] When you trained the knights, did you find it dangerous to have a knight who did not know how to use his blade?

Of course. He not only endangered himself but all the other knights around him. What does that have to do with anything?

[Morgana smiles a smooth queen's smile, a lie] Only that perhaps it is not so wise to send Sir Humphrey where knights are needed.

[he gives her a look and rolls his eyes as he suppresses a laugh] What would you have me do with him?

Perhaps we should distract him. Surely there is some work we can find that will have him away from us. We can force him to do battle with one thing and so win the fight we have true interest in.

Morgana, that is incredibly underhanded.

[he shuffles some of the papers to the side, to leave just one sheet of paper and something to write with between himself and Morgana]

Where would you propose we start?

[She considers this, a hand on her chin.] What does Sir Humphrey value the most? Other than obstructing us. There must be some thing that is truly dear to him, dear enough that he'd sacrifice all his other battles to protect it.

It's unfortunate that we can't take away a title.

Surely we can. The honour is given by the crown, and the crown can take whatever it gives.

[he looks at her, honestly surprised] We couldn't. Despite how infuriating it can be working with him, he has not committed any offense that warrants such a harsh punishment.

[That's cruel and unusual, Morgana. Knighthood is super important honour and bro-hood for life, even if the bro is Sir Humphrey]

We don't have to. We do not even need to say we might. We only need make him think his knighthood is threatened.

[uncertainly, as even the threat seems cruel] If we were to do that, we would have to be careful. The knights would be justifiably unhappy if they thought I would honestly consider revoking the title so easily.

[the last thing he needs are his own knights revolting, protesting, or resigning on top of everything else]

[She puts a hand over his.] Trust me, Arthur. I will go to Geoffrey's library, and I will find a way to put it forward so that no one will believe Sir Humphrey if he dares to speak on it.

[he looks down at their hands, and then at her] Morgana, I...I don't think that's a wise idea. It would make us no better than him.

[he pulls his hand away, grabbing the pile of paperwork he set aside so he can begin working on it again]

I do appreciate what you're trying to do, but I'm sure there's a way to accomplish things without stooping to his level.

[Morgana gives a great big 'you are stupid with your stupid honour code and your stupid obsession with your stupid football team' sigh, then gets to her feet.] Then you are free to think of it, but an assassin's war won't ever be won on the open field.

[looks up at her seriously] You're not going to do anything stupid.

[it's a command, not a question. He tries to avoid seriously commanding Morgana, as it leads to arguments and gossip and it's just not something he thinks to do, but he is right now.]

[she scowls at him] Your father wouldn't have allowed any man, knight or not, to--[Oh. She is being unfair. Morgana looks down and coughs.] I only mean that Uther had some control over this man. We must find how he did it.

[he visibly flinches, and then clenches his jaw and focuses on the paperwork in front of him and doesn't look at Morgana]

I'll keep that in mind.

[Morgana moves closer, but stops at the edge of the table.] I... I'm sorry, Arthur. I didn't mean...

Should I leave you to your work?

[exhales, and then looks up at her] Why are you apologizing? I'm not so weak that I can't handle your criticism. And if you thought I was, it has never stopped you before.

[looks away and back at the paperwork in front of him] Go home. I'm sure there's a new mirror you've been meaning to try out.

[Morgana's temper flares. She takes her knife from the where it embedded in the table and she leaves him to her sulk. In her hissyfit.

The Pendragons will not be winning any awards for maturity any time soon.]

[most mature kids ever. Arthur is just going to act like he isn't bovvered, even if he has to keep rereading the same thing over and over because he's distracted by his sulkiness]

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