purpleandgray | (no subject)

"No, you really don't," Merlin corrected him with a small chuckle that sounded horribly nervous. Because they would eat Dean alive and Merlin would hate them for it. He'd have to get protective and quite possibly never see Dean again after he wouldn't want nothing to do with Merlin's amazing family. "Maybe my dad, one day." His dad could be sane, saner than the rest of them anyway. And Despil, Dean would probably like Despil. "And my little brother."

Merlin suffered from a condition that was quite lethal for a man of his status. He tended to fall for people, fast and hard. And then be hard pressed to move on. Julia was an old flame and they both knew it was done. She still didn't like him much more than she had when she had tried to kill him. Merlin had been at the receiving end of her temper enough to feel relieved thinking that they no longer were an item. Coral's case was a bit more difficult. First of all, she was married to Merlin's best friend and a queen of her own world. It was a messy, weird situation that he felt best left alone. And to be honest, he wasn't sure if he really had fell for her or something else. Never mind.

The point was that he already knew that Dean would walk away with his heart if he did. He'd get over it, eventually. But hopefully that wouldn't be happening any time soon.

"Yeah, you seem to be," he agreed and gave Dean's hand a last squeeze before he had to lean back and let the waitress place a tray with the bill in front of him. She took it away just a few minutes later with actual cash including a hefty tip. Merlin started to rise, peering outside where it seemed that the rain had actually stopped.

"Good timing."

With the bill settled Dean got to his feet. The rain was gone and it felt incredibly humid to him but it wasn't suffocating or uncomfortable. It was just more summer than he was used to in the middle of fall. He took Merle's hand as they left the restaurant.

"So, where are you taking me for drinks?" he asked as they walked through the French Quarter. It was just as lively and tourist as he imagined but it was fun. He smiled brightly and watched the people around him. Maybe he'd bring a little of this energy into his club. People were definitely willing to drink and party here. That'd be great to have all the time.

"Maison Bourbon," Merlin said as he nudged Dean around a corner and towards the Bourbon street. "It's not too big but loud, though." With live jazz bands playing in the reasonably sall venue. It was one of Merlin's favorite haunts. He liked the energy and the genuine feeling of art being produced. But it was also tactically close to his flat in the heart of the French quarter.

It felt mildly neurotic, the energy of the tourism laden French quarter around them. Merlin liked it though, it made it easier to just stay faceless in a crowd of people from day to another. And weirdly enough, just watching the constant partying from his window made him relax. Maybe he just felt right at home in the middle of the most chaotic situation possible.

Once they got closer to Bourbon street it got even ore hectic, different music pushing out from different venues, people carrying placates, dressed up as devils, walking in the middle of the street. Merlin easily steered them through the throngs of people and right into an old building in the corner of the street with a shrill sound of trumpet pouring out of the open doors and windows.

Once there was music there was a spring in Dean's step. He danced a little while walking, clearly having a good time and not giving a damn what anyone else thought when they saw him. When he said he loved music Dean wasn't kidding. It got under his skin, in his ears and wrapped around his heart. The music here was good and there was no way he was going to resist its siren call.

He twirled into Maison Bourbon and some of the music from outside faded. Dean grinned at Merle and wrapped his arm more securely around his waist. "I can see why you like it here!"

It was rare there was that good street music in New York. If there way, he had to go looking for it.

That high spirit had Merlin smiling widely as they walked in. He understood easily the way Dean felt about it. Even if music wasn't close to his heart like it was Dean's. Art of any kind tends to invoke the same sort of passion to create and to enjoy the creations. He knows people who are routinely annoyed by jazz, especially live jazz, calling it directionless and unpredictable and boring. Merlin can see some of that, but his personality yields to the conversational way the music is played, he likes the creativity instead of dedication to the original composing.

He steers Dean towards the bar first, sliding behind him as they manage to squeeze at the counter. "What're you drinking?" he asked rather loudly near his ear.

"Bourbon with ice," he said, turning his head just slightly to see Merle out of the corner of his eye. "Any recommendations for which brand?"

Dean knew what he served at Oddfellows, a mix of simple, straight forward alcohol and then the magical ones which he didn't expect to find here in New Orleans. Unless there was a magical club. Maybe he would ask later and see if there was one. He could find it if there was. Dean was good at that.

"Is there more than one?" Merlin asked curiously. Dean obviously knew more about drinks than Merlin ever would. He just ordered Bourbon or Jack and got exactly what he ordered. "This is your area of expertise," he continued with a laugh.

If there was a magical bar in New Orleans, it would be news for Merlin. Completely possible, though, he wasn't big on the after hours entertainment. He knew some of the practitioners in Nola but not necessarily their connections with each other.

"Oh, honey," Dean laughed and turned back to the bartender. He talked with him for a few minutes about what was available and ordered for them both. He got a decent brand, mid-range in price that wouldn't burn on the way down but be warm and slightly fruity.

He pressed the drink into Merle's hands. "Here, try this. It's a step above your usual I bet."

It was a little pricier but it wouldn't break the bank. A lot of people were scared to try things because of the price tag but he would introduce Merle to the world of alcohol at not unreasonable prices. It was going to be fun.

Merlin watched him discuss about the order with the bartender, a small smile pulled onto his lips. You could see that Dean knew what he was doing. Merlin had no clue honestly. He could maneuver his way through a demon joint, sure, but he mostly was just coasting along undetected in these situations.

Besides, back when he had spent more time on Shadow Earth, it hadn't been this complicated.

He took the drink and gave it a try, his brows arching in a positive surprise while a small sound, genuinely pleased, rose from his chest. "It's better," he confessed.

"Of course it is!" Dean laughed and took a drink of his own. It was good. He knew his business. "Do you want to see if there's a table or find a place at the bar?"

They were sharing a drink and listening to music which could be done on their feet but somewhere to sit and appreciate he figured they'd have a better time. It was hard to dance with drinks in their hands after all. Merle probably didn't know any modern dancing since he spent more time in his other realms.

"I'll let you know what the brand was so you can get it again."

Oh come now. Merlin spent a lot of time in shadow Earth during disco fever. But Dean might not want to see him dance like people did back then. Actually, that was much more Luke than Merlin. Merlin has been the one laughing his ass off while Luke swayed his hips to Village People.

He nodded at the question instead of trying to answer vocally over the loudness of the crowd and music. He would be interested to know this brand, definitely. It was a miracle how a few more bucks could make a difference. He let Dean lead the way but then nudged him towards a few standing tables near the band playing, right beside a series of open windows. The breeze kept the air pretty fresh and they could stand close to each other so talking would be easier.

"Do you keep your eye on the local bands in NYC?" he asked as they set their glasses on the table and Merlin was glancing at the men dressed in black suits on the small stage, just finishing with a piece. A young woman in a white dress was climbing on the stage with them, greeting her audience with a brilliant smile.

"I keep an eye on some of them," he said as he leaned his elbows on the table, shoulder brushing Merle's so he could talk close to his ear. "Usually ones with magical singers or bandmates. I'm fairly strict about the magic only rule or magically aware."

Oddfellows was meant to be safe for everyone magical. It was their place only. Normal people could come as long as they knew that magic existed and were brought in by someone properly magical.

"Usually, though, I've got a DJ," he explained. "Who does mixes and improvises. It's easier. Live bands take a lot of contract work and then the set up and crowd control." It was a thing.

Merlin sipped his drink while listening to Dean, his free hand reaching to land on the small of Dean's back. He nodded, smiling to indicate he heard what Dean was saying.

Yeah, it seemed like more trouble than it was worth.

"Do they include magic in their show?" he asked curiously while twirling his glass on the table, idly rolling it between two fingers. It was a fascinating concept. Merlin was more used to mages who would have found something so trivial to be an insult to their powers.

Which was total bullshit. There was no need to glorify magical powers to any religious state.

"I'll allow magical lights and special effects but nothing else," he explained, really pleased that Merle took such an interest in his club and what he did for a living. People thought it was all fun and games but there was real work involved. "Some people use magic to make themselves sound better or cast siren like effects. I don't allow that."

He leaned into Merle a little, shoulder to shoulder against the table. "It's neutral ground, you know. People can cast magic as long as its benign."

Anyone who broke the rule was immediately kicked out and banned from ever coming back in. Dean didn't fuck around when it came to his rules.

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oh no. That doesn't sound attractive at all. D:

it's mildly annoying

Do you do the mornings too?

yeah, but this training fell on a day off which made it doubly annoying

what're you training for?

A new science show for the museum I work at

nodnod

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