3 Swords in the Stone

[reigne]

[It's a long time, before he says it. His conversation with Merlin, and Igraine after their absolutely awful introduction to each other. It's primarily, the factor that she's dead, as his own mother is, and that this is the only opportunity she shall have, to know any form of her son...That gets him to give in]

My mother, Igraine Pendragon, has recently arrived within the castle. I trust you will all treat her kindly.

[It would seem like an odd thing to announce, if it weren't for the fact that he's making a gesture; to her, and perhaps to Merlin. But he's still not entirely pleased about it, which is precisely why he's decided to venture into the stables. It's quiet here, and a ride will help him clear his head...His favourite hobby, next to hunting.

Except he can't seem to move past idly holding on to the reigns with one hand, and leaning his head on the horses neck and just breathing, trying to steady himself. He hopes if his own mother, from his world, ever learns of this...That she'll not take offence. That she would forgive him.

His father would not have]


[ooc: backdated to Christmas day, for over the journal, or in person for last minute smooches, if you would like]

Comments

[workaphilic]

[Quiet that's bound to be interrupted eventually.

Wintering his bees takes careful attention, and it has Sherlock out on the castle grounds nearly every day. Occasionally he'll pop into the stables on his way back, if he thinks there's a newly arrived animal, or if he's bored. Today it's a bit of the latter plus a bit of deducing.

He exhales loudly to announce his entrance, and knocks his boots against the door frame to dislodge the snow.]

Ah. Hello. Hope I'm not interrupting.

[yes he is]

[reigne]

[He stands up properly, and shakes his head briefly. Interrupting? Hardly. At least, Arthur is so often in thought, so often wallowing in his mistakes, going over where it might have been that he'd failed Morgana...The meaning of this place and all that he's forgotten here...

It's hard to interrupt it. It's as constant as breathing. Still...He thinks he was better off thinking further on the ride, rather than in here.

He realizes a minute later, that he's let the silence drag on for far too long]

You're not. I was only getting used to the horse.

[workaphilic]

Of course.

[He needs a reason to be here. He reaches out to the horse that looks the most receptive to strangers, and pats its neck over the door of the stall. He stays like that for a few moments, quietly.

Then, without looking over:]

Suppose I should reintroduce myself, then?

[reigne]

[Oh, so one you're one of THOSE people, are you? And he was just beginning to think you wouldn't be too much of a bother. It's not exactly that he dislikes the idea of reconnecting with people he'd known before, it's simply that...He doesn't enjoy being on uneven ground. Doesn't like the idea of being compared to a man he isn't, at least, not any more.

Still, except for the slight tightness around the edges of his mouth, brief, he remains utterly polite]

That would be appreciated, yes. Though, I suppose I'm meant to apologize for forgetting you.

[workaphilic]

[He waves his free hand dismissively.]

You're not the first, and you'll hardly be the last. Don't see the need to apologize over an acquaintanceship.

[He pats the horse's nose and glances over.]

Sherlock Holmes.

[reigne]

[It does a lot to put him at ease. An acquaintanceship is not much to mourn over, though he still finds himself disliking the uneven footing]

How very pragmatic of you. [A beat] It's a pleasure.

[workaphilic]

[He shrugs.]

Place like this, no reason not to be. [Pragmatic, that is.] Saves energy.

[reigne]

Yes, I suppose it does.

[It probably also saves on the whole castle wide stupidity adventures] Thank you for making yourself known to me.

[You could have pretended you'd never known him at all, and that's even worse]

[workaphilic]

Normally wouldn't have bothered, to be honest. But it was interesting enough, our acquaintanceship. [And that's the truth, if not the whole of it.] I thought it worth revisiting.

[reigne]

Was it? Do you feel like informing me why?

['Interesting' doesn't really have the best connotations, all by itself without context] I suppose I should be flattered.

[workaphilic]

Hard to say. Still, been here long enough that I know not to pass up an opportunity not to be bored when I see one.

[Now that, that's a load of bullshit.]