ic contact;

[psycholawgy]

You've reached Athena Cykes. I'm currently unavailable, but leave a message and I'll get back to you pronto. Danke! (voice/call → text → video → action)

Comments

[psycholawgy]

[ WHO KNOWS IF THEY'RE ONLY 5 CREDITS. YOU DON'T KNOW THAT, MERLIN. what if they're actually 500 credits?! stop talking like you know everything, jeez!

wheezes.

she does grab her bag of sweets. fortunately for them, the credits seem to start rolling. that was some oddly good timing. ]

Ready.

[sortileges]

[ WHATEVER!!!!!!!!! He doesn't care, he already spent like 200 credits on the cinema with how much they ordered anyway.

Though as soon as she has her handbag and sweets he reaches for her hand, leaving his used up box and everything there. They're going to make a run for it.

He pulls her up once he's sorted too, running down the centre while avoiding people and pulling her along, there's probably an angry robot somewhere because of these dumb teenagers running through a packed cinema probably looking incredibly suspicious. Thankfully, when one robot seems to find their rubbish it's less inconspicuous and they won't end up on a CERES bulletin but still.

It doesn't look good for a lawyer, does it Athena?! ]

This way-- [ He makes a dive for the exit, laughing about this whole thing once they're outside and out of view. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ it doesn't at all, but nobody ever said athena was a do-good lawyer. she's tried to beat up cops before and even emotionally blackmailed one--she's beyond what people would call a good lawyer.

though of course, her work is good. and she means well. and she'll defend her clients 'til the end.

she's laughing as they run and exit, too. she doesn't pant or anything because she doesn't feel at all tired from that run, but what she does do is let out a loud "woo!" that was so much fun, and she can still feel the thrill of it in her bones. ]

We're going to own the night, Merlin! Let's do something that we'd never normally do!

[sortileges]

[ She's a hardworker, and that's what matters--though he doubts the robots will want to listen to that. He pulls her a little further into the hiding place they've snuck into for the time being, peering around the corner first to check all is safe.

That said and done, he looks at her with his eyebrows raised. ]

Something that we'd never normally do? [ She sure is fired up now, isn't she? ] Like what exactly?

[ His hand is still curled around hers, so he uses that to pull her into himself, leaning against the wall so they can stay hidden even if the cinema bothers to do a search for them. They should be alright, though. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ a hand ends up resting on his chest. she can feel his heartbeat; his chest move up and down. his breathing is fast, but it's to be expected after the rush that they just experienced.

as for her own... it's probably the same—no, it's just the same. but for entirely different reasons. ]

I don't know-- [ she laughs. ] There's a lot we haven't done together. We-- We can sneak into the planetarium since I bet it's already closed.

[ wow, breaking the law, athena? that's okay. it's all for merlin, anyway. ♥ ]

[sortileges]

[ Look, it isn't causing damage to anyone and is simply for a bit of fun... What a bit of breaking and entering? (He's clearly done this too often for the Greater Good). ]

Which way? [ He isn't saying no....... ]

[psycholawgy]

This way...

[ it's as if she's going to move outwards the alley and into the street, but instead she stays where she is and pulls merlin by the collar to kiss him again. ]

I want to continue where we left off.

[ thank god it's dark where they are.

and once she's let go, she pulls him out into the streets. it sure is late now and there aren't a lot of establishments open. the trains have stopped ( ?? probably ?? ) so they have to get there by foot. but at least things are quiet and peaceful. and all she can hear is the sound of his heart. ]

[sortileges]

[ He'd been prepared to be pull forward, not down towards her, which is why he almost falls into her when she pulls him down. He catches himself, though it isn't without his heart racing even more than before.

"Where we left off" -- what is that even supposed to mean? Though he only makes a small noise of recognition, choosing to instead not let himself sound like an idiot and instead lets himself be pulled along. It is really late at this point, so it makes sense that it's a journey by walking. He steps a bit faster to keep up with her, not like it's hard. ]

Is it far from here?

[ He'd worked out his way to the cinema, not the planetarium. ]

[psycholawgy]

It's probably a ten minute walk?

[ it's started to get chilly too, which is why she lets go of his hand and pulls out his leather jacket to put it on quickly. the planetarium's close to where the gardens are, so the route they're taking should at least be familiar to him. ]

It's going to be so much better than stargazing, I can promise you that.

[ especially when there's machinery to be handled. and she knows how to operate them, too. ]

[sortileges]

Not that far then. [ He zips up his own jacket when she pulls on his leather jacket, hooks his thumbs through the holes in the sleeves properly to keep some warmth there. ]

Are you sure about that? [ Stargazing is when things Happened, Athena. Even with the downs on that night it'll be hard to top it. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ is that a trick question? athena's oblivious to what he means now, especially when they barely found any good stars or constellations that night. that's what she's focusing on...

poor girl. ]

I can't promise anything, but I can try to make it better, anyway.

[sortileges]

[ He isn't as focused on stars as much as Space Child, here, that's why. He's grounded to the earth, to listening to the sounds of wildlife and to the smells of wood and dirt. It's a complete flip, a complete contrast, but the real focus isn't entirely on that anyway. They can have both at once if they watch the stars in the gardens, for example.

But he doesn't want to explain what he means either, how special things feel in comparison to before, now that they can spend time with sweet kisses as well as the handholding and shared warmth. ]

I have no doubts about that.

[psycholawgy]

[ then again, it's always been her... she's quiet when they walk, hands swaying because that's how athena prefers it. she's childish in this way, which merlin has probably already noticed.

but-- while she can be wrapped up in her own thoughts and ideas, her top priority is to not make him uncomfortable. not when their relationship's turned this way. if it ever flipped, she'd want to rip her heart out from the pain. ]

Was there anything else you wanted to do? I don't- If you don't want to-- [ she can't continue it, mostly because she doesn't want to sound too selfish. ]

[sortileges]

[ He's fine with it though, mostly because it only seems to concrete the fact that their hands are joined. He doesn't watch their hands this time, mostly so he can focus on the route there so he can find this place again in the future.

Of course, that means he's even more lost by what she's saying. ] What do you mean?

[psycholawgy]

[ does she have to repeat herself twice? it seems like she has to. but no matter, it's nothing offensive, but she does repeat it in a more affectionate tone. ]

You. If you wanted to do something else.

[ a pause. ]

I just don't want things to always go my way, you know? [ she looks down at her feet now, feeling slightly insecure. ] It—whatever this is—won't work if it's just me... [ who keeps getting what she wants. ]

[sortileges]

[ He doesn't really know where it's coming from (why are girls so confusing) but hopefully the confused look he gives her is telling of how she's just being insecure. ]

What if I make you a deal? [ His free hand reaches out, to tap under her chin. ] Once I'm more familiar with what the possibilities are, I'll start making suggestions. At the moment I'm still learning about what there is here, it's a bit difficult to say. Though maybe one day you can go riding with me.

[psycholawgy]

[ shut up merlin. if you were a girl, you'd be hella confusing too.

she looks up at him when he does that, and immediately feels... something. it's not remorse by all means, but she does feel bad for not even considering at this point that he still is new and is still adapting to the new environment. ]

Alright. Deal.

[ about that riding thing though-- ]

And I'm sure we can find some CYbuddy horse stables here. I bet some aliens consider racing a sport, too.

[sortileges]

[ ah so it's just a dna thing after all.

But really it's already a good thing that she's realising, even if it's easy to forget given how he never really seems overwhelmed in a bad way, everything is met with openness, too. ]

Good. [ He swings their hands together then. ] Though I already have a horse, you don't really have to worry about that.

[ 2 MONTHS IN AND I GOT THERE ]

[psycholawgy]

[ they're not supposed to be waking up the neighbourhood like this, but-- ]

You have a what?!

[sortileges]

Forgot to mention that, did I?

[ He's trying to not laugh, but yeah... that had been a confusing morning when he went to leave his apartment and it was just waiting patiently outside (thank got the horses at the castle were always so well trained.....) ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she starts poking at her earring as they walk. she supposes it makes some sense to have a horse with him. he's a servant to the prince, after all... but-- ]

Is the horse also in your apartment? What's its name?

[sortileges]

Do you really think I have room for a horse in there? [ Athena?????? ] Though I actually haven't named him yet.

[psycholawgy]

If your apartment is really big... I mean, I've never been there, so I wouldn't know.

[ she shrugs her shoulders. ]

Name him Arthur.

[sortileges]

Would you want to? [ He doesn't look at her as he asks that, looking ahead instead, though he does laugh a little at that. ] And risk him coming here to find I named a horse after him? Not likely.

[psycholawgy]

I could visit Shigeru and get to know him! I mean, you know Ai and all...

And, ah. . . maybe that is a bad idea.