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I am still the same person.

And it's just hitting me so hard— how as an incredibly closeted person, one of my fears is the reaction of the people in my life if they knew the whole me. How they would be shocked and disbelieving, thinking surely I'm not the person they know. But I am. With all my secrets, I am still the same daughter, the same teacher, the same friend they know.

I am still the same person.

And it's exactly what Merlin ached to tell Arthur at that moment; how his magic was just another part of him, how it doesn't change anything, how Arthur still knew him, how god it hurt to see Arthur think of him so differently when all he's ever done was live and breathe for him.

And that's what makes Arthur's resolution so incredibly important, telling Merlin I don't want you to change. It's everybody's dream words, and for Arthur to be aware enough to say them— to convey to Merlin that he loves and accepts him as he is— is probably the best thing he could have possibly said after processing Merlin's secret.

And if I stressed on Arthur realising in my post-dotd fic how much I thought I knew you must have broken Merlin, well, I was only doing my job decreed by god.

Morgana would be petty towards Merlin and Arthur still, but whenever she says something about Merlin killing her, Gwaine just rolls his eyes like: “Oh no. The horror. I can’t even begin to imagine what torture you must’ve suffered.” Completely deadpan followed by “go fish, witch.” Or “uno, fuckers!”

Arthur makes Merlin constantly skip turns. Merlin gets annoyed but Arthur says he can’t cheat if he’s missing turns. (He’s more salty about Merlin cheating at dice with his magic than anything else)

Elyan and Leon gang up against Gwaine as revenge for all the tavern tales he told on long patrols.

Leon changes to colours he knows Merlin or Arthur don’t have and just says “Poetry” to explain why he’s upset. Merlin starts playing the ghost busters theme on his phone and Arthur is stuck between being traumatised and wheezing on the floor. Leon’s just wondering if that’s worse because at least ‘poetry’ would’ve meant they’d gotten over the pining. Whatever Merlin’s talking about with ghost busters means he didn’t walk into anything Merthur happening but also means he’s got another reason he was underpaid.

Gwen makes Morgana +16 and Morgana complains that they’re friends. Gwen looks her dead in the eyes and says “We were friends. Want a reminder of what happened?” And Morgana silently counts 16 cards. (They’ve made up about it all, but it’s still used as ammo to be petty and competitive on game nights)

Lancelot and Merlin have their own thing going on, no one can tell if they’re working together or trying to destroy each other. They all know better than to question it.

Percival wins because everyone always forgets about him.