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)

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[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.

[sortileges]

He might have asked if I wanted you to come by one day. For dinner. I didn't exactly say who... though. [ This may be a hint that he hasn't told Shigeru yet....... ]

And that's definitely a bad idea, I'll think of one eventually.

[psycholawgy]

Wow! I already have an invitation! [ athena, that's not what he meant. ]

Can I name the horse?

[sortileges]

[ Baby Jesus please save Shigeru... ] He's... different though. [ He chews his lip, not entirely sure if he should say the rest but-- ] He can't speak, so you have to be patient with him while he types things to you. I can just... [ He taps his head ] but with you it'd be different.

And he, uh, really is finicky about personal space.

[ What kind of picture is he painting here ]

...Though I think that depends on what you'll call it, doesn't it?

[psycholawgy]

[ smh... the image she's thinking of shigeru isn't that bad, don't worry, merlin. . . ]

I'm very patient! [ no you're not, athena, just shut up. ] And I can just stay a few feet away from him. That's fine, right?

[ anyway... ]

As for the horse, how about Cheval?

[sortileges]

[ Good........ he's just an utterly pure cinnamon roll. ]

Well if you're a few feet away you can't read his CereVice. Just enough that it isn't uncomfortable. [ Says the one who tries to give him half hugs at times... but it's different when you're living with someone. ] He's also very particular about being clean? I had to research it but ... it's a phobia or something? I haven't really spoken to him in detail yet, but don't bring up how clean everything is.

[ ... How is Merlin the one living with him tbh ]

And shouldn't you meet him before randomly saying names? He can wait until then. [ Get a connection with him first, Athena... let the horse tell you his name etc etc ]

[psycholawgy]

Oh! [ duh, that's a good point... ] Then I'll just be close enough. Does he know that he can type things and the CereVice will recite the words he's typed? It's one of the features of the device.

[ she gets the clean thing, though. she's studied phobias before! ] And at least it's better than being afraid of water. Do you know what it would be like if you're afraid of water? You can't take baths, Merlin.

[ and that's grim as fuck. ]

I don't need to! Cheval means Horse in French. So it's a very, very good name.

[sortileges]

I don't know actually, he hasn't had to use it with me for weeks now. We just ... talk in our heads. [ She'd be better off asking him that, actually. ]

People are afraid of water though? In fact, nevermind... I'll take your word for it. [ How traumatic... what would you even drink?! ]

I don't even know what French is. [ That's a no, Athena. ]

[psycholawgy]

Then you can tell him. [ ... not that merlin would probably know how to use it... ah. . . ] Nevermind. If I visit, then I'll teach him.

[ and she just nods at that. people fear so many questionable things, and their reactions to it are crazy. it's insane, merlin. you don't want to know. ]

French is the language in France. It's a country in Europe. I've been there before to study.

[sortileges]

...If he doesn't know already, he'll probably be grateful for that. [ He gives her a smile, before giving her arm a nudge. ]

That doesn't really help me that much, but I'll look it up later. [ England doesn't even exist in his time, Athena... and the boundaries were a lot more complicated. ]

[psycholawgy]

Hey, over there!

[ she points to a dome-shaped building just a few feet away. they're almost at the planetarium already!

sorry, merlin. were you saying something? because her attention has totally gone to outer space. she pulls him to the entrance where the doors are locked, and then looks at him expectantly. :) :) :) ]

[sortileges]

[ He's relieved when they're finally there, though sneaking in undetected might be a problem. Breaking the lock (or at least just jarring it open) is easy. A glance, a flash of gold, and it's clicking open as if he used a key. He pushes it open after, pulling her inside with him, and closes the door right after. ]

Which way now?

[psycholawgy]

[ she looks up and around for any cameras, and while there are some installed up there, she decides that they should be as sneaky as possible.

she remains close to the walls, whispering a "come on" as she tugs on his hand. there aren't any cameras by the stairs where the main entrance to the actual main attraction is (whatever it's called), so they enter it without any problems.

everything is dark at first, but athena approaches some kind of machine until the dome above them lights up... and shows them the galaxy.

this is definitely better than stargazing. ]