A million apologies! I can't apologise enough. It's been nearly three weeks and I'm so sorry. In my defence I had so many tests and important exams these past two weeks, and a lot- and I mean a lot- of homework.

This drabble was surprisingly difficult to write. I restarted it about ten times, and even now I'm not entirely sure about it...

Enjoy, and review- it'll motivate me to update quicker! (Blackmail? I do not know this thing of which you speak...)

unequivocal

Merlin groaned, and banged his forehead against the table, instantly regretting it as he felt the sticky traces of spilt beer. "Gwaine?" he said, grimacing in distaste, "why are we here?"

Gwaine chuckled. "Well, Gaius always says you're at the tavern whenever you're actually, you know, doing magic-" he broke off at Merlin's warning hiss, and glanced around. None of the rowdy, drunk patrons had even glanced in their direction, Gwaine's lowered voice entirely drowned out by the raucous laughter and occasional bursts of out-of-tune singing.

"No-one's listening, Merlin," said Gwaine gently. "You need to unwind sometimes. Otherwise you'll explode." Merlin looked down, eyelashes lowered.

"I know," he said. "I just..."

Gwaine smiled sympathetically. "I know, Merlin. I know. But look around! Everyone's drunk, or well on their way. Have a drink, relax. Like I said, you need to have been here at least once, the amount of times Gaius uses the tavern as an alibi for you. Arthur must think you're an alcoholic..."

Merlin smiled faintly. "I suppose one beer wouldn't hurt..."

Gwaine grinned, pushing a tankard across the table towards Merlin and raising his own in the air. "Cheers!"


Merlin let out a triumphant yell. "Haha! All in one! Take that, Gwaine!"

His friend chuckled. "That was okay, I suppose..." he said.

"Okay?" said Merlin, "that was an unequivocal success!"

Gwaine laughed heartily, shoving another flagon of beer into his hand. "You're not drunk enough if you can still use posh words, mate!"

Merlin took a big swig of the foamy drink, smacking his lips happily. "I should come out drinking with you more often Gwaine! It's great fun!" Gwaine smacked him on the back with a loud guffaw, and Merlin slopped his drink down the front of his tunic.

"Good on you! Next round on me!" Gwaine yelled, and the room erupted into cheers and applause.


"-go homeeeeeeee!" Merlin belted out the final note, sounding like a banshee. The patrons cheered and hollered, far too drunk to tell the difference between good and bad singing. He bowed, soaking up the applause, then jumping down from the table. He stumbled on the landing and crashed into a table, righting himself with his usual clumsiness.

Gwaine put an arm around him gently. "We should probably leave now," he said pointedly.

"But why?" slurred Merlin. "I'm having so much fun!"

Gwaine sighed. He was much more sober than Merlin, but still woozy. "Because... Because..." he floundered. "I don't know," he conceded. "Let's just stay!"

Merlin beamed, staggering over to the bar and picking up a new drink. "To a good time! To an unequiv-quivoc-cal-ally-ly... To a good time!"

Gwaine grinned, raising his own drink to his lips and downing it in one.


The next drabble is a follow-up from this- implode.