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[Normally, it's Merlin's job to come sulking over to someone else for comfort, especially with things as they are. But the past few days as a nymph have been... really good for all of them, so... maybe that's why Maya feels so confident going to Merlin first.

It's not like she doesn't trust Hanna for comfort, of course, but she needs to talk to a specific kind of person right now... and she knows already that Hanna thinks himself anything but heroic. So despite how much she absolutely wants to barge in, Maya knocks on Merlin's door and waits, not holding back her puffy-cheeked pout.]

Merlin... are you in there?

[God talk is always exhausting, even when people agree with him. He doesn't WANT to be right, Merlin would love nothing more than to march into Dyster and defeat the witch himself.

But he can't, and if he doesn't want to hurt people, he has to accept that. In a way, it does sort of feel like giving up, but he likes to think of it more like playing the long con. Anything can be solved with a little research, this research is just...going to take awhile.

And that's okay.

Still, it doesn't give him any sort of energy boost when he answers.]

I'm always in here. Apparently.

Can I come in?

[She bounces in place, impatient.]

It's important!

[Merlin rolls his eyes, gets up, and opens the door for her. This is either actually important, or more likely, only Maya important.

Still, seeing her in her nymph form, just sort of bouncing there...keeps him from looking annoyed. He still can't believe she and Hanna did this for him, and maybe it's just the plant brain talking, but he'd be lying if he said he didn't like it. If he had it his way, they'd both stay like that and they'd all live deep in the woods, communing with nature and leaving human life behind.

But...then he stops when he realizes those thoughts are probably just the fog trying to get her way.]

Please.

[He gestures for her to come inside.]

[She hurries in, closing the door behind her, and immediately heads to sit next to Merlin.

When she's settled in close, she leans a little toward him and looks up at him without lifting her face much, absolutely deliberately trying to make herself look as endearing as she possibly can.]

Tell me a story about you and your fancy hero team.

[...

Is she doing this on purpose?

He already feels helpless for not being able to go in and strike the fog god down, now Maya comes barging in demanding he tell her stories of when he used to be able to do such things? Seems pretty sus.]

Wwhhhhhhhhyyyyyy?

Because it's cool and you never tell me about it!

[she seems pretty adamant. how could it be more simple than that?]

I wanna hear about it.

...

[Merlin raises his eyebrows and tilts his head in a manner that can only say "fair enough" and begins tch-ing as he looks around his room.]

Very well, but if I'm going to retell anything, I might as well properly introduce you to our characters.

[He goes over to his desk, rummaging through notebooks before pulling out a specific one. It's nothing too spectacular looking, but he holds it close and carefully regardless.]

[If it helps to encourage him, Maya's eyes are so wide when he turns back to her. She's on the edge of the bed, practically bouncing in place, waiting for him to start.]

Give me the whole run-down! All your best pals, A-to-Z!

[Again, her excitement seems incredibly suspicious to him; she is FAR too interested. Especially compared to when they first met and she didn't seem impressed with him at all. Why the sudden change of heart?

So he clears his throat and takes back his seat next to her.]

Um...right, weeell...before you make fun of me, let's just get this out of the way. I did make this...book. A, uh...memory book...of sorts. I figured if I am to be here.....awhile, and possibly...occasionally die... then the best course of action would be to write and illustrate all the people who are...important to me. That way if I DO lose any memories, they'll all be right here, waiting for me.

It just so happens that it also doubles as a written introduction to everyone. Please don't make fun of my drawings.

[but Maya just nods eagerly, waiting for Merlin to finish before replying—]

That makes sense. I have one, too!

If I make fun, I'll just have to let you make fun of mine. And there's noooo way I'm doing that.

[That should be some good insurance, right? Even more than how she eyes that book like it's a tasty cake?]

............................

[She has one, too?

And here Merlin thought he had a completely original idea. Once again, Maya Fey throws him off, and his little preplanned dialogue falls apart as his gaze wanders to the side as if searching for the next thing to say.]

...right! Yes! It makes lots of sense! So...glad that you agree!

[To avoid talking about it further, Merlin flips open his book and already a few of his talismans pop out. They're in between pages with all sorts of symbols and calligraphy, but none of those are about people. Once he flips to his first page with a person actually sketched in it, he slams his finger down.]

Ah, here we go. We can start with Arthur, since everyone seems to know him already.

[Merlin's sketches are surprisingly accurate, not that Maya has anyway of knowing that. What she may notice is that he only draws him human, unlike the cute silly dwarf illustrations his museum book had.]

[Merlin might feel her tense beside him when he flips through those symbols— the glimpse she catches is so beautiful, but she knows well enough already that she is pressing hard for a reveal here. He's already being vulnerable, and she doesn't want to ruin it by asking too much.

She settles down when he shows her Arthur though, eyes scanning the page as she drinks in the information.]

Huh... Wait, I remember which one he is from the book! You got his hair perfect.

[She even mimes the flat plan4 of Arthur's hair swooping forward in that blunt cut.]

Yeah? You really think so?

[Alright, well, that compliment and the lack of any teasing certainly helps his confidence.]

I've actually known Arthur the longest, which I'm guessing isn't too surprising. I've known him WAY before we even started the F7, grew up together and all that. I know I tend to...dig on him quite often, but he's like a brother to me. ...Juuuuuuust a brother I tend to argue with. A lot.

See, Arthur is under the assumption that he's a better leader than I am. So to prove it, he's been obsessed with trying to pull out the magical sword Excalibur. It's just that Arthur doesn't seem to understand that being a leader requires things like...strategic thinking, or self awareness, or...a brain. He's, ummmm...a sword enthusiast, so I'm not really surprised he thinks having the fanciest sword would somehow automatically promote him in our eyes.

It did not.

[Maya can't help but giggle at this description, as quiet as she tries to keep it. She can picture Arthur perfectly... and she can also picture them butting heads.

...Come to think of it...

Arthur is under the assumption that he's a better leader than I am.

Maya looks at Merlin for a moment, as if something is connecting in her mind, like the answer to a question has just been stumbled upon unintentionally.

Well, that's interesting.]

The brawn over brains type, huh? The classic power balance of a real hero team...

[Apparently distracted from whatever she'd decided about Merlin in that moment, Maya gives a satisfied little sigh. She's quite happy imagining Merlin's little team already— and in her head, she's already drawing parallels between what Merlin's said about Arthur and what Horatio and Ben had said about Diego.]

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After White Lily's anon post

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WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, MERLIN. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 135.18.129.14 * Merlin has joined 135.18.129.14 <merlinofcourse> ⌁˚⊹ You have reached Prince Merlin ⊹˚⌁ <merlinofcourse>** I know how to use computers now~