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[futurarex]

[somewhere out beyond the city there begins the shakiest video post ever. it's clear that whoever handles this device is not accustomed to using anything like it--but eventually, it rights itself, with some muttering and swearing, and then hello, there's Arthur, in his full armor, standing in the barren outlands. there's a smudge of dirt and blood on his forehead, but otherwise he's very clean and presentable and princely (all indignity of technological unfamiliarity aside).]

I am Prince Arthur of Camelot, recently brought to this place. I do not take kindly to being pressed into service, but as our captors have said, they have no choice in our being here. [yeah right. even with his princeface on, he sneers a little at that. but.]

If we take what we have been told as truth--that there is a force that threatens all of our kingdoms--then our way is clear. We are not united, but this threat gives us common cause. [though the way his mouth tightens when he says that indicates how very not pleased he is by that.] I am not content to wait to be told what to do when my kingdom is threatened. So it falls then to us, to organize ourselves. The training sessions that this Initiative provides--I have found them to be wanting, yet they can be used to our purposes, should we chose to.

But we must first know what strength is ours, and what weapons we have been given. No force can be organized without this information. And if this United Earth presumes to steal resources from our kingdoms, we must know what it is that they would look to steal, so we can better protect against these threats when the time comes. And it had best come soon.

I have set the task of collecting this information to my servant, Merlin, wherever the idiot's gotten off to. He will ask each of you in turn, or else you may come to him.

[and you will answer, that's the message here, and with an imperious nod, he reaches to--fumble around with the device again, and the rest of this is muttering.]

Damn-- thing--

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[alwaysforhim]

[He responds quickly again, but it's ordinary human quickness, because he's getting the hang of this, and he's enjoying this-- and he grins, though his arms ache already.]

[futurarex]

[Merlin is actually a little quicker to pick up on this than maybe was expected, which is... weirdly cheering. if there's one thing Arthur can appreciates, it's someone that knows his way around a sword, and Merlin's always struck him as rather useless in that respect. but apparently not!

he moves him across for a few meters, and then stops, with a nod.]

Better than I thought. But you'll need to keep at it. [that's something like praise, right???] Now show me how you'd attack. Slowly again, please, I want to keep both of my arms--

[alwaysforhim]

[Arthur's praise-- grudging and a bit back-handed though it is-- makes Merlin smile grow quite a bit, and so it's rather cheerfully he lifts his sword.

And-- attacking, right, he remembers how to do a basic attack. He hefts the sword up, bringing to a fairly decent (fairly decent) offensive position and striking it slowly down.]

[futurarex]

[he snorts, sinking back to easily absorb that fairly decent strike.]

Oh, come on, now, Merlin, don't disappoint me. After you were doing so well. Put something into it--

[alwaysforhim]

You said softly!

[But he draws his arm back, narrowing his eyes as he focuses-- and then brings the sword down, finesse exchanged for blunt strength.]

[futurarex]

Better!

[and he might actually be smiling, slightly--he steps back to take another blow from Merlin, to give him a chance to practice--and then he steps back once more, but this time, he shoves up, pushing Merlin's sword from his.]

[alwaysforhim]

[But he's getting the hang of this now; with a little grin he yanks his sword back, pulling it away from Arthur's-- and then forward again, with as much force as he can muster, trying to slip past his lord's defenses--]

[futurarex]

[he jumps back, avoiding that slash--but only just, and he's quite pleased now. it's certainly better progress than he expected, especially so quickly, and he sinks back, ready to defend once more should Merlin try another attack.]

So you're not completely useless at something, anyway, well done!

[alwaysforhim]

Why is it--

[He sets his sword down instead, panting a little in exertion.]

Why is that-- that whenever you compliment me, it's inevitably-- inevitably an insult as well?

[futurarex]

Because, Merlin--

[And Arthur's actually smiling now, against all odds, and he braces his sword against the ground as he wipes his forearm over his face.]

That's exactly what you deserve. Compliments and insults both. Why would I offer you anything less than you deserve?

[A bit more briskly, he adds:] Keep up like that and perhaps it'll end up a bit more weighted toward one side.

[alwaysforhim]

What do you mean, weighted toward one side?

[--and then, with a little smile, teasing and delighted both:]

Is that to say I deserve compliments!

[futurarex]

[NOT ANSWERING THAT, thanks; he snorts, as if Merlin has suggested something perfectly ridiculous--though of course he's still smiling.]

Are you here to talk or here to learn to fight, Merlin?

[alwaysforhim]

Why not both? Yo'd get bored if it was just fighting.

[futurarex]

You can hardly manage to walk and talk at the same time, how am I to believe you're going to be able to fight and talk?