Her brows rose, vanishing into her hair briefly.Morgan was, as she had always been, breathtakingly stunning.She wasn't a soft beauty, but one of sharp lines and hard edges.Her skin was a rich, dark brown, eyes a pale, golden brown, and her dark hair was currently in a beautiful fro, streaked with a vibrant red that matched her lipstick."That's me.How do you know Martin?I've never seen you around the house before."
"I've only been once, a couple of days ago," Lancelot replied."He talks about you a lot, thinks really highly of you.We're getting together to play a new video game again tonight, you joining us?"
Morgan scoffed."Do I look like I play video games?Anyway, I'm working late, getting ready for an expo."
It was only then that he noticed the badge pinned to her suit blazer."You work for Monmouth, but you don't play video games?"
"I don't work for Monmouth.I'm an event planner, high class affairs only, and I've been hired to plan several for Monmouth over the next year.I'm working onsite this week, what with that new game that's launched, all the luncheons and cocktail parties that go with something like this.Is that the game you're playing tonight?I know Marty was super excited about it.He never stopped begging me for insider information the whole time they were working on it."She rolled her eyes, but the affection in her voice, the smile twitching at her lips, were impossible to miss."Are you sure you're okay?You didn't look so good when I walked up, and you don't look great now."
"I'll be okay," Lancelot said."Don't suppose you've seen Mer—Martin around?We lost track of him in the museum."
"You actually went in there?Huh.No, haven't seen him, but I can ping him, hang on."She lifted her wrist, which lit up with the embedded interface there, tapping a series of buttons only she could see."He's on his way.Would you like some coffee or tea?"
"Something to drink sounds great," Lancelot replied.
She led them to a nearby food truck where she bought four iced coffees.By the time they'd gotten them and stood clustered around a small standing table, Merlin had arrived.
Morgan gave him a look."You're looking particularly mussed.Who were you fucking this time, and dare I ask why?"
"Some intern bored on her lunch break," Merlin said with a shrug."What brings you out of your office at this hour?"
"I just needed a break," Morgan said, staring at her iced coffee as she ran her fingers through the condensation."Why are you all downtown?You rarely leave the house before nightfall."
"We finally wanted to meet in person, all three of us," Merlin replied."Going to our house tonight to play moreEdge of Knight.You really should—"
"No," Morgan said.
"Please," Merlin replied softly, staring at her in a way that made Lancelot feel like he was intruding on something private."I know it's not your thing, but it's important to me.Important enough to cash in my chips if I have to."
Morgan froze, eyes widening briefly before she looked sharply away again, huffing softly."Fine.Whatever.I'll play your stupid game.I won't be home until late, though, and I'd better have dinner waiting for me."
"Yes!"Merlin cheered, thrusting a fist into the air."I could kiss you!"
"No, thank you," Morgan said, rolling her eyes again, but just like before, it wasn't hard to tell she didn't mean what she said.
So she must be feeling something of their past, of who she'd once been.Morgan le Fay, witch of the shadows, the woman who claimed Merlin and Arthur both, and called Arthur's wife her dearest friend.
Event planner.She and Guinevere had shared that duty for Camelot, and often drank themselves silly at the balls and feasts and solstice celebrations they so meticulously planned.Fuck, Lancelotmissedher, missed all of them.He hoped they were able to get her back tonight.
He drank his coffee, letting the chatter of the others wash over him, brooding helplessly over that brief glimpse of Gale.What might have happened if Gale had seen him?Merlin had cast spells on them, but Gale had once vowed he would know Lancelot no matter his appearance.
Then again, that obviously hadn't been true in the game, so he didn't know why might be different here in the real world.If Galedidsomehow recognize him in the game, the magic controlling him kept him from being unable to do anything about it.
After a little while, Morgan had to return to work, leaving the three of them on their own again.
"Fucking hell, she's still a whole lot," Dred said."Never shocked me it took two men to keep her satisfied."
"Oh, shut up," Merlin said with a laugh."At least she's agreed to join us tonight."
"What chip did you cash in?"
"I helped her out a long time ago, when she was young and fell into hard drugs, the kind that no modern detox submersion can easily fix.If not for me, she'd be pretty dead right now.Do you know how fucked we'd be without her?Vital circles would be broken.She's still with us, though, that's all that matters.Anyway, onto current matters."He waved a hand about."Didn't get much done before she pinged me, but I did clone the intern's badge, so we have limited access around the place should we need it.Morgan will have even more, if we can wake her up."Merlin worried his bottom lip."I don't like her being there right in the midst of the enemy, but—"
"But Morgan does as Morgan pleases, and if you try anykeep you safeorit's too dangerousnonsense on her, your bed will be cold until your next reincarnation," Dred finished.
Merlin laughed."Basically.Why were you crying, Lance?"
"We saw Galehaut," he replied quietly, and explained the brief encounter.
