#went off

But for me, it is strictly unrequited

Like Merlin, by the time Gwaine becomes a knight, has such tunnel vision for his king (ship, friendship, destiny, whichever version you like) that he wouldn't even bat an eye at Gwaine's advances. Especially since he knows that Gwaine is more loyal to him than to Arthur.

Oddly enough, I think he would be more likely to court someone like Lancelot, because he knows that, for Lancelot, the king and queen come first.

I don't think Merlin could bare to be with someone who didn't see Arthur as more valuable than him.

Because he is so overwhelmed by the need to see Arthur to fruition, that all other value of his life has been sapped away. He equates Arthur with Albion. His life, hell his comfort, is all that Merlin wants for, because if his destiny shan't have revolved around this one man, then the past handful of years was full of suffering and sacrifice for no reason. He has to commit to the idea that Arthur is the answer, and that he will come around to magic without getting hurt, because he's hurt so much already, and Merlin finds himself incapable to harming him, even to further the prosperity of Albion.

Because he's had the chance before! To hurt Arthur! To let him fester in the guilt or the betrayal in order to reach the conclusion that magic isn't the enemy. But Merlin stops him every time because he cannot bear to harm his king. So he lies about Ygraine's ghost. He hesitates to accuse Agravaine. But he just cannot do it. He can't stand for Arthur's pain, even for the sake of the whole kingdom.

At some point along the way, Albion became Arthur. Merlin's goal changed from 'bring magic back' to 'keep Arthur safe, no matter the cost'. And that's why he says to kill Mordred. He cannot see a future in which Arthur returns magic to the land but his destined killer still walks free. He just can't.

#2 Playoff Nate 🔥 - yuh he on x-games mode

“Amongst players who have played as many playoff games as Mackinnon has, he ranks third all-time in points per playoff game, behind two guys you may have heard of: Wayne Gretzky (1.83 points/game) and Mario Lemieux (1.6 points/game). Plenty of Connor McDavid fans probably raised an eyebrow at Makar’s “best player in the world” quote from last night, but when you keep company like that during the moments that matter most….it’s difficult to argue against the notion that MacKinnon is the best hockey player on Earth.” x

playoff season unleashes a whole different beast

+ this iconic toe drag

are you ever dreaming of me ? // ( myr&hotaru ! )

of longing & dreams. || selectively accepting

|| 蛍 || :: the KORYUU had never dreamed before.

                state of utter neutral, the balance of LIGHT & DARK, there was nothing her mind would be plagued by when those magenta hues closed for rest. it was stillness, emptiness, a heart that was honed to care for none, the MIDDLE GROUND and apathy — that was her entire existence represented. so why would the balance itself had a need to DREAM when she held no desire for anything in heavenly or mortal realm alike ?

                until she met him.

                it started with a sense of WARM, like flickering flames that threatened to consume. the hellfire licking over each surface they touched while burning down everything in its wake. it was a kind of EMBERS that would destroy and possess, one that would scorch your very hand upon contact. yet — those flames circled, enveloped, and trapped her in its embrace.

                — my king.

                what used to be plain white emptiness was replaced by a figure, a ROARING BEAST who was ready to set fire upon the very ground he stood, to rage and conquer with each step he took, but those blood-tainted claws and crimson colored fangs never brought HARM upon her skin. mane of BLACK, aureate orbs fuming VERMILION, and the golden dragon found her hand, her heart, her soul reached out for him.

                arms wrapped around his neck, lips barely ghosting over his jaw, dipping to his neck as FANGS sank into his skin to mark. not to HURT, or to harm, but to claim.

                “ myradéx ... my beloved. ” his DRAGONIC NAME sounded foreign to her tongue, yet it invoked something powerful from the GOLDEN DRAGON. it gave a sense of possession, of OWNERSHIP, like she was holding his soul as the name was tattooed upon her very tongue in a way no one else was allowed to repeat. he’s hers, and she was his. only his, only yours.

                “ if only you know ... how you occupy my very thoughts. my mind that was once empty, now is filled to the brim with the thought of you. ” is this what it’s like to have your VERY SOUL being claimed ? to feel as though her own thoughts, her own body, her own heart, no longer belonged to you ? and the KORYUU remembered countless nights she woke, hand outstretched, for the one who wasn’t by her side.

                was this what it’s like to dream ? to yearn ?

                to love ?

                lips hovered to his own, feeling the SCORCHING BREATH against her skin that she willingly inhaled. fingers caressed over the nape of his neck, ghosting over the freshly created mark she left upon him as though to make sure it stayed. gaze of melting magenta met LIQUID AMBER — from someone who had never dreamed, never felt, never adored.

                — how she would willingly abandon the HEAVENS above, all for him.

                the gap between them was, once more, gone in an instant. the taste of his LIPS burned over her own, and she called, called, called, the name of the true king. the only name she would utter in such a way, the one who took over her dreams, her thoughts, her very existence.

                dear king of mine —