Fifth Unused Utility Belt | Video and Spam, backdated to late last night

[hellofist]

[It's late, it's been dark for hours and she's pretty sure everyone else is sleeping, but Cass can't. It's not really a new thing, since generally crime fighters are out all night anyway, but the events of the port haven't helped much.

She's in her room when she turns the feed on, dressed in her Batgirl costume except for the cowl and gloves. She feels more like herself, dressed this way.]

What are... tips, for sleeping? Or... to do, to make tired? Don't say reading.

Is anyone else... even up?



[He said she could visit when she wanted. She even told him it might be at night and he said it was okay. That's why Cass is at Merlin's door in the middle of the night, not knocking before she just goes right in. The door was unlocked, so maybe he remembered she said she'd visit. She doesn't look around before she closes the door behind her because she's not really sneaking, so getting caught isn't exactly on her mind.

It's dark inside, which is good. It means he's sleeping instead of staying up all night doing magic things, or whatever it is Merlins do in their spare time. She makes her way to his bed, then climbs onto it to sit beside him and poke him in the shoulder.]

Hi, Merlin.

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[hellofist]

[When his shoulders drop like that, Cass transfers his hand into her other one and puts her arm around him, squeezes his shoulder gently in what she hopes is a comforting gesture.]

Have... little break, then help someone else? Don't have to go. [There's a pause and she's definitely not looking at him when she continues.] Don't... want you to go, for good.

[He doesn't want to leave, so she's allowed to be a little selfish about it too, right?]

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[takeyouapart]

I don't want to either.

[In lieu of eye contact he squeezes her hand gently, running his thumb over her knuckles.]

It's...it's not as if I'm in any great hurry. No-one can miss me at home, and there's still so much I can learn, and...I can't say goodbye to my friends here, yet. If I can help another Inmate then I want to try.

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[hellofist]

[Her eyes are on their hands, watching his thumb as it sweeps over her fingers and she smiles at the gesture, something so affectionate done absently and for no reason other than the desire to comfort. It's good, to remember there really are people out there who care so much and don't want anything in return. He gives her hope.]

Sometimes... where you're from, isn't home. Maybe, find one somewhere else? Is staying here... forever, allowed?

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[takeyouapart]

Maybe. But I can't - I don't want to. [And he does mean that.] I need to go home eventually. There's so much more I need to do, there's....there's so much that still needs to change.

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[hellofist]

Rules about magic?

[She understands that, if that's what he wants to go back for. It was wrong that Merlin had to hide his gift, but here it's okay. There's probably still so many people in Camelot who live in fear and she wishes she could help.]

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[takeyouapart]

Yes. And reconciliation - [He realises she might not know the word] - peace, with those hurt by the law. The kingdoms are destined to be united as one land, as Albion, under Arthur's rule...but that won't happen as long as Camelot itself is still divided from within, and those with magic still afraid. I won't let it stay that way for much longer, I can't.

[Oh, Merlin, if only you knew.]

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[hellofist]

Could... make that my deal.

[Fixing Bludhaven would have been her first choice, but Dick has that under control.]

Loki is... difficult. Won't be soon. [She says it like it's a failing on her part, that she can't instantly fix Loki and fix Camelot in the process.] But, won't give up.

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[takeyouapart]

I know you won't.

[He smiles softly and shakes his head.]

But what's gone wrong in Camelot isn't something a deal can fix. If it was - I have my deal with the Admiral, I could do it myself, but using magic to force the world to change against the will of the people is exactly what they're afraid of. Arthur will change the laws, but people's minds and hearts will have to change as well...and it'll take a long time, and it might not make everyone happy. But that's the way it has to be.

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[hellofist]

[He's right, of course, and it makes her slump in defeat. She's never been good at the kind of careful problem solving the situation in Camelot requires, it's her way to beat a thing into submission, to use force. She never had the words to reach a compromise before, so she never learned to try that route. Frustrated, she throws herself back onto his bed and rubs at her eyes with the heels of her hands.]

Too many problems. Not enough fixes.

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[takeyouapart]

[He watches her fall back, and a small voice in his head tells him there's a girl lying in his bed and this isn't really okay - but he shushes that voice, because in actual fact it's fine. It's not as if she has anything to fear from him, and - well, it's not like anyone even knows she's here.]

It's alright. The problems have to come first, don't they? Or we wouldn't know they needed fixing. [He touches her shoulder lightly, comfortingly.] What's Loki like?

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[hellofist]

[The hand on her shoulder does work, makes her relax and drop her hands away from her face again. By the time she can see him, he's already moved on from his uncertainty, so she doesn't pick up on anything other than him being curious, wanting to help her.]

He's... like a cornered animal. Get too close, get ripped open. Angry, and mean too. Calls me names. Thinks I'm dumb. Opens his mouth, lies come out. [She gives him a smile, but it's weak, barely counts. Not because of Loki, she can handle him. It's everything else that's got her down.] Difficult.

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[takeyouapart]

[He frowns, offended on her behalf. Maybe there's some cognitive dissonance going on here. He's had to fight women, kill women - or be killed - but magic is indiscriminate. Nonetheless, he would never insult a woman with the sole intent of hurting her. Society has rules, and anyway, his mother would take a deal with the Admiral just for the chance to cuff him over the head.]

More fool him. If he presumes so much about you so easily then he's the one who's....dumb.

[This isn't exactly an addition to his vocabulary, more the repurposing of a word he already knows by a different definition.]

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[hellofist]

[That gets real smile from her, both because it sounds funny when he says it and she knows he's only done it to make her feel better. She reaches for his hand, the one that's not on her shoulder, and links their fingers together.]

Luckily, can just... knock him out, if he goes too far. Right now, just waiting him out. More patient than him.

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[takeyouapart]

[Merlin nods. As much as he wishes his friend wasn't in this situation, he knows she has more than enough strength to rise to the challenge.]

If there's anything I can do - even if it's just being here so you can talk about it...you know I'll never turn you away.

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[hellofist]

I know. It's why... I came here.

[She could have spent another handful of hours in the training simulator, that was always the way she handled feelings she didn't like, didn't understand. Hit things until you feel better was all she knew until she came to the barge and started to make friends.

And maybe she could have gone to see Dean, or Tim, or even taken her chances with Steph's room and tried to wake her up, but her first instinct was to find Merlin.]

Lucky, to have you.

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[takeyouapart]

[Merlin smiles, and blushes a little, and for all he's wanted recognition he feels unworthy of this sort of honest affection. He trusts he doesn't have to tell her the feeling is more than mutual; it's written all over him, after all.]

Thank you. I'm honoured that you chose my room to break into in the middle of the night.

[And although it's wryly said it's completely true as well.]

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[hellofist]

[She smiles back and moves her hand to poke him in the cheek.]

Cute blush is back.

[And honored is a good word for it because really, lucky doesn't really cover exactly how she feels to have someone like Merlin around. When he mentions the breaking in, though, she has the grace to look a little sheepish.]

You said I could. Door was unlocked.

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[takeyouapart]

Honestly? I didn't actually think you'd try. Usually I, uh, keep it locked with magic. [And now it's his turn to look sheepish, for telling Cass she could do something she wouldn't be physically capable of.] Can't be too careful. But...from now on, I don't think I will.

[You know, for ease of trespassing.]

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[hellofist]

[And there is a bit of a drop in her mood when she finds that out, but he keeps talking and clears it up fast enough that it only shows in the slight dimming of her smile.]

Can you make... magic key, for me? Don't want you unprotected.

[Because that is a good point and she doesn't want just anyone to be able to go into his room whenever they want. It isn't safe and safe is definitely something she wants Merlin to be.]

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[takeyouapart]

[He gives this a moment's thought. He's gotten better at imbuing objects with magic - now he's safely somewhere that won't see him beheaded or worse for messing around with amulets - and something to overcome the wards he's placed on his own door should be straightforward enough.]

Yes. Absolutely. I will.

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[hellofist]

Promise not to... keep you up too much.

[He has to sleep at some point, after all. And she knows he'd probably like to get back to sleep before the sun comes up, that she shouldn't be keeping him up now, but it's hard to leave and she kind of would like to stay. It'd probably be weird to watch him sleep though, wouldn't it?]

Are you tired?

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[takeyouapart]

Not really. [It's more or less true.] Lifetime of having a lot more to do on a lot less sleep than I get here. I don't suppose you are, either.

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[hellofist]

Nope. [Much more at ease, but tired? No way.]

Know any games? Might as well... do something, since we're up.

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[takeyouapart]

Games?

[He clicks his tongue thoughtfully.]

What sort of game? I mean - I think I have a chess board somewhere.

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[hellofist]

You'd have to... teach me. Don't know what chess is.

[Anyone else and she wouldn't go that far, she'd just leave it at she never learned. Merlin, though? He'll probably get the whole truth for the rest of his life whether he wants it or not.]