Video

[servant]

-really can't thank you enough for this.

[There's only Merlin's back to be seen at first. But Gwen, Camelot's other finest servant (true, in her case) soon joins him, taking the few tunics and trousers from Merlin's arms.]

I don't understand it. Our clothes look perfectly fine to me.

It seems everyone dresses differently here. [ She gives him a soft, encouraging smile.] But I can see what I can do, maybe copy the fashion. Then perhaps we'll blend in a bit more. [ Since she constantly feels a little out of place in her two dresses, where others seem to have many outfits and variations.]

Yes!

[There's excitement in his voice, because she says exactly what he's hoping for.]

I know if anyone can do it, it's you. Oh, do you need this one too?

[After a moment Merlin pulls off his own shirt, pale and kind of scrawny beneath it. But it's fine, because it's just Gwen.]

Do you want me to help you with your dress?



[ Gwen takes that shirt with a shy sort of smile, although it's brief because it's really just Merlin. And when he offers to help with her dress, she nods, turning her back to him as she pins up her hair quickly.] We'll have to get the fastenings undone. Can you handle that or should I?

Erm. I think I can manage. Feel free to tug on my ear if I tear it.

[ She laughs at his instruction.] I trust you'll be careful. But don't close your eyes or anything, you have to be able to make sure it doesn't tear, the fabric is delicate.

[They both disappear for a moment, and there's the sound of rustling fabric. Merlin's bare upper half didn't have much to offer anyone, but Gwen - Gwen's would be quite a different story, wouldn't it?]

I know I needn't mention it, but Arthur can never find out about this.

Oh, trust me, I don't think he'd be very pleased to hear that we're doing this together.

[Merlin steps back into view, totally pulling Gwen's other dress on over his head. Gwen follows, still competely clothed, pulling on the hems on the dress to help it smooth over Merlin's frame.]

You know, the color quite suits you.

[Merlin sighs at the compliment.]

Yeah. That's what worries me.


OOC: Merlin is in blue, Gwen in purple. Replies to come from one, the other, or both!

Comments

video.

[prince]

[ what. ]

[ arthur stares at the screen after it goes dark, not sure whether he should be laughing or furious. either way, they don't even seem to realize they're being recorded, so he mostly feels intrusive. and horrified. and — arthur scrubs a hand over his face because he can't deal. ]

[ it's merlin's number, at least, so that's who he addresses. quietly, smoothly, and all right, perhaps a little amused. ]

Merlin. Are you involving Gwen in your hobbies, now?

video - voice

[servant]

Did you hear that?

[Merlin lifts his head, the question directed to Gwen. It sounded like Arthur's voice. But dear gods, why would he be hearing-]

[And then he realizes why.]

Arthur! This isn't what it looks like. Any of it!

voice;

[chambermaid]

[ cue flusterness!] Is that Arthur?

video.

[prince]

Merlin.

[ now with bonus disbelief, because he can't possibly be going to try to get out of it. ]

You're wearing a dress.

video;

[impitoyable]

[ her amusement, she can't even. ] Trust the both of you to put on such display.

Best have some answers, I'm sure Arthur will want to know exactly what you were doing.

[ not her, though, nope. not really even going to touch this with a lance. just going to gloat at such a questionable show. ]

video;

[chambermaid]

Morgana-- [ this is more awkward by the second.] Arthur can see that nothing was going on.

video;

[impitoyable]

Oh no, certainly not. You were simply helping Merlin into your dress.

[ she's milking the moment, sorry. ] Arthur may get jealous.

voice

[servant]

Trust me, he's already figured it out.

[Which is almost as bad as what he could've assumed. Almost.]

video;

[51stcentury]

You know, I'm sorry to be the one to say this but I'm just gonna lay it out there. I can't be the only one who watched this and thought that something completely different was going on. [eyebrow waggle. he doesn't know who either of you are, exactly, maybe you are the types to get undressed with each other on camera in front of the entire network. probably not though.]

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say that you didn't know that this was recording for the entire network to see, yeah?

video;

[chambermaid]

No. [ she's so embarrassed right now.] No, we did not. I must apologize.

video;

[servant]

Like what?

[But then he plays it through in his mind; the dress and undressing and-]

Oh! Oh no, Gwen's my friend. She was just trying to help me and I wanted to return the favor.

video

[mansuetus]

Gnaga!

[ she says it with delight; though she had not thought Merlin to be one of them but you learn something new every day. ]

Are we preparing for a festival? I can lend Merlin some of my shoes.

video

[chambermaid]

Oh, no! Lucrezia. It's... Erm--Merlin was only wearing my dress so I could alter the hem. It's not that-- He doesn't wear dresses, normally. [except in season five.]

video.

[disheartening]

[ r e a l l y.

Regina judges and she's going to be very clear in her judgment. ]

With all due respect to the polygamy between the pair of you and -

[ how did you call him? oh yes. ]

-- Arthur. Children are watching this. Matters of bedding should be kept to the bedroom.

video.

[servant]

[Well he's just gotta go and ask it:]

What's polygamy?

video.

[chambermaid]

Polygamy? [ she's asking too. but she's completely flustered--]

It wasn't a bedding, my lady, he is helping me with my mending.

video

[doggedly]

[ah yes, there's nothing quite like the dim prospect of maybe seeing a topless girl--or at least in a state of undress, or at least being happy for Merlin getting some even if it's weird that it's the future queen of Camelot (probably)--that then turns into the very real and unfortunate sight of one of the greatest wizards who ever lived and the founder of basically everything and one of everyone's personal heroes wearing a dress. it's like someone murdered Christmas.]

Wow. No. Don't worry. The colour definitely doesn't suit you. Or the cut. Or anything.

Why are we watching this?




[seriously this is like. the most confusing and unfair thing ever why.]

video

[chambermaid]

[ sorry sirius, no topless girl or gwen, just topless your childhood hero.]

It was an accident, I apologize, Sirius.

video

[servant]

[If you look closely, you can even see a little bit of chest hair peeking above the bodice.]

I'm wondering the same thing myself. I didn't...I didn't turn it on.

[Merlin's suffering is the most legendary thing of all.]

video;

[suddenlycaptain]

Dresses aren't very practical on a spaceship no matter who's wearing them.

[ It is a nice color for him though. ]

video;

[chambermaid]

You do not wear dresses? Do you wear trousers all the time?

video;

[servant]

[Thank you for being more equal about it, Carolyn.]

I have noticed that a lot of ladies aboard the ship don't wear them. Where do they get their trousers though?

video;

[coffeeking]

It could be worse. I once had to buy a wedding dress for a friend, but she couldn't be there. You might be able to imagine what the clerk thought.

video;

[chambermaid]

Did you wear the dress in the shop? [ she's trying not to sound too amused at the idea.]

video;

[servant]

I wouldn't have thought that so unusual. You could've been picking it up for your bride. As long as you didn't take a peek at it.