#continued thread.

While Robin did want Moana out of the way, it wasn't right to just tell her to hide somewhere. If she forgot where the chief was during the ensuing battle, that could prove a deadly mistake.

It was better to have an act to follow, a role to play. A soldier being given a task was better than one marching mindlessly in the yard.

"Good." Offering a warm smile, Robin allowed herself to calm, if only a little. "If you or your people are in any danger while hiding, I want you to signal to me like this."

Holding her hands up, she whistled sharply, two notes going up and down.

"Got it? You better get going."

Careful now, Mr. Ragnvindr, or you'll really set the girl's head spinning.

Gifted as she was for gab, Honey was equally accustomed to the polite nods and sometimes-glassy eyes of listeners when she did get off on one of her usual tangents; even well-meaning friends and strangers, alike, struggling to keep pace for as long as she could carry a thought. Far less familiar, then, was his sincere engagement– and a not-insonsiderable helping of praise in turn.

Flagrant praise! Not even thinly veiled behind the typical upper-class subtlety of others in his station! Hell, he even snuck a bit of humor in there— hello? What is happening right now?

❝ ...Oh! Wow, uhm... Thank you? I mean: thank you, for sure— not a question– I'm... just not used to such a big compliment! ❞ Emphasized by how she bashfully raises one hand to cover a flushed cheek (Honey! bashful! what is the world coming to), and gets lost in another moment, smiling to herself as she carved the compliments into memory. Wow, indeed. Snapping back to it, though, she softly clears her throat: ❝ Well, I have been known to make the rare batch of soju and some other spirits from home... but you know I would never dream of making a rival out out of you, Mr. Ragnvindr~! Personally, I think some sort of formal 'long-term partnership'–  ❞ ("possibly legally binding and also possibly matrimonial" is implied), ❝ –would be so much more beneficial. But, anyways, ❞

Honey brushes past her teasing before it can simmer too long and possibly earn the usual wearied expression; reaching back into the display cabinet and lifting out the rest of the "winning" pastry, quickly nestling it into its own pretty to-go box. A paper charm– one for "good health," in this case– is popped along the edge, to seal it closed; officially ready for travel; then she scoops up the returned plate with one hand, and places the box in the same spot with the other.

Arthur nodded. It had been hard to even admit what his plans were, but he’d been thinking them for some time now. He didn’t fit in anymore. This place, not only had it changed so much, but the memories still lingered and it hurt to remain where everyone he had once knew had once thrived. And then there was Merlin, whom made him feel guilty half the time he looked at him. After all this time Merlin had been waiting on him and what for? What grand destiny did he have to come back? He felt useless these days and he didn’t know what he was supposed to be doing.

Slumping into the nearest chair, Arthur replied, “I don’t know. Just…away.” He didn’t have any plans and he had a feeling he wouldn’t get very far, but he could do it. He could pack what little belongings he had and go. “What point is there for me to be here? It’s just a constant reminder of everything that’s been lost.” Flickering his gaze over to Merlin, he added, “I don’t know how you’ve done it, staying here. I wasn’t worth it, Merlin.”

“Are you sure you don’t need help with him? Does he need his bottle or anything?” He’d summon anything; all Alec had to do was ask. “Why don’t you lay here with him? Maybe he’ll sleep better with the two of us nearby.” He patted the empty spot on the bed ext to him, hopeful that Alec would listen to him and lay there. “What do you say, Max? It’d be better to lay with us, huh?”

Unlike wolves, cats were solitary creatures. They could live completely fine on their own, choosing their own company should the desire for such pleasures come upon them.

Wolves needed companionship. Needed to be in the support of the pack, to be made strong by love and loyalty. In the worlds where the club was able to avoid tragedy for the first few days of June 1983, Robin felt her strongest.

Hope. It was what kept her going, especially in those loops, to know that the problem hadn't laid directly at the feet of the games club. Rather, something outside of the school had killed them. Robin had to remember. She had to find a way.

Which was why she was certain this witch had come to her... Brought forth by such strong will, that hope and desire to have power to remember previous loops... The face of who had killed them all...

The amount of years only made the shifter flinch, her hands trembling still. She made them into fists, bones within her hands crackling.

"I'll wait, but only if you make the gameboard more even." Head tilts, curls sliding along her sweat dotted forehead. "You're one of the most powerful witches in the realm, I can sense that much. So grant me a boon, mighty witch. In return I can promise you an enchanting kabuki play, a ritual kagura to slay the demon."

    Merlin had hoped that Arthur would like the kitten, but the look on his face told him he was probably wrong in that assessment. He gave him his best pout and hoped that he would change his mind. Yes, he’d picked up the stray, but the kitten was so small and helpless. He wasn’t about to leave her on the street. Then he heard Arthur’s words and while he was about to tell him he should learn to take care of something for a change, he beamed anyway. “It won’t ruin your wardrobe. You do that enough yourself. And it’s not an it, it’s a she.”

    The kitten nudged at Arthur’s foot, clearly itching for his attention. “And look, she likes you. Though I can’t fathom why. You’ve already been a been rude to her. I bet she’ll expect you to be the one to take care of her.” He clicked his tongue and the kitten walked over to him instead and he scooped her up into his arms. “I’ve been calling her Minnie. You know, since she’s so small. What do you think? We could call her Minerva when she’d older. Or Millicent.” He lightly pet the kitten between her ears, which he already knew she liked best.

Merlin laughed softly and shook his head. “No, not that’s not what I meant was. What I mean is…well,” he swallowed and rubbed the back of his neck. Gaius was going to be angry if he found out he told her. But ever since Lancelot left, he missed having someone to talk to besides the physician about his magic. He lifted a brow at Ella, wondering if she’d seen something that she shouldn’t have.

“That’s a relief to know. Well, what I am to tell you, it’s serious and you have to keep it a secret. No one is supposed to know. But we….,” they were friends. Best friends. And sometimes….well, he was not going to go there. “I’m a warlock.” Warlock sounded better than sorcerer, less dangerous and more friendly. At least he’d always thought so. “I was born with magic. That’s why I said I’m not who you think I am.”