The Park, Saturday Morning

[bitchprince]

If Merlin's owl was to be any use at all, it was going to need to learn specific skills that Merlin didn't have a chance in hell to impart on it. For example, Owain needed to learn how to walk, an ability that Merlin, if you asked Arthur, had never really managed to master.

Brynmor, on the other hand, needed to learn how to walk without begging for treats every few steps. It only made sense in Arthur's head that they both be taken out for this purpose at once (it wasn't like Bryn had the hunting instincts to go after the owl if the idea as much as even skimmed her deluded head).

So there was an owl, being called to, occasionally waddling through the snow in the park. And there was a dog, clomping through selfsame snow like a deranged avalanche of fur.

If Arthur spent a few long moments scritching the dog behind the ear or wrapping an arm around her neck, well, it wasn't like either of them were going to tell.

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[future_sandworm]

Leto had given up on complaining about the snow. That didn't mean he didn't look vaguely uncomfortable as he walked through the park, and he didn't even bother to hide it. The cold he could deal with - desert nights could be painfully chilly and his Bene Gesserit training offered him ways to deal with that. It was just the cold and wet that wasn't very comfortable.

Of course, he knew it was mostly missing home. Others went to see their families, and he was lucky to have his family here, but returning to Arrakis in his own timeline would be complicated.

He noticed Arthur, and debated with himself whether to avoid him or not, but decided not to. Perhaps a conversation might actually be entertaining.

"A new pet?" was all Arthur got as a greeting. Leto nodded towards the owl.

[bitchprince]

"A hunting bird, actually," Arthur said, idly, pulling himself up out of the squat he'd been in while tending to Owain's training. "Leto. Good morning."

[future_sandworm]

"Good morning," Leto returned. "You use birds for hunting, then?" He studied the animal. "An owl, right?"

[bitchprince]

"An owl," Arthur affirmed. "He's young yet, but he'll grow into it." He patted the snow off of his gloves. "Give it a few months, and he should be very useful with small game." Provided Merlin would stop whining about training his bird to kill.

[future_sandworm]

Leto nodded, seeing no reason to question this. "And how is the dog doing?" he asked, watching Brynmor. The animal didn't look particularly aggressive.

[bitchprince]

"She needs more training," he said, casting the animal a look, himself.

She was panting up at him; apparently returning her look was prompting enough for her to launch herself at Leto's ankles.

[future_sandworm]

Leto wasn't sure what to expect, and with a fast sudden move was standing a few feet away from the dog. It was probably unnecessary though, he noted. The animal just seemed to want to play, but he wasn't really in the mood for that.

"We rarely domesticate animals on Arrakis," Leto said. "But I'm still curious about those birds from Reno's home."

[bitchprince]

The sudden movement still earned a quick narrowing of Arthur's mind, but it wasn't like he didn't know by now. It was, however, yet another in a long line of reminders as to why the holiday season currently had him more troubled than he was inclined to admit.

"So am I," he said, forcing his tone light and away from any potential brooding on the topic. "I asked Reno about hunting them a few weeks ago, but I haven't had the pleasure of visiting his world."

[future_sandworm]

By now, Leto was used to Arthur's moods and paid little attention to it.

"Hunting them?" he said. "They seem more useful for transportation. But then I guess with enough of them both could be an option."

[bitchprince]

Arthur shrugged a shoulder. "It sounds like good sport," he said, "It's always worth a try. They don't sound much like horses, anyway. Not quite the same sense of elegance about it, riding a bird."

[future_sandworm]

Leto had to laugh at that. "A matter of taste and tradition, I would assume. So, was the holiday here celebrated similarly to at your home?" In the Dark Ages, you know.

[bitchprince]

Arthur snorted. "You must be joking," he said, "I don't know what's worse - the elves, or the mad preoccupation with trussing up trees. Christmas is a day to go to church and have a big dinner, nothing more."

[future_sandworm]

"Oh? The version celebrated here seems more focused on material goods," Leto said. "But there is a church here, at least." Not that he had been there. "Did they offer a religious ceremony?"

Perhaps he should have attended, but ceremonies like that might remind him too much of the priesthood in Arrakeen worshipping his father.

[bitchprince]

"The Angel Castiel hadn't been planning on one, but I convinced him otherwise," Arthur said, kneeling down to beckon Bryn back towards him again.

She got a pat on the head. "He went a bit... classical, but I suppose that's only for the best." He glanced up. "How about yours?"

[future_sandworm]

"He's an angel?" Leto said, raising an eyebrow. "And I didn't celebrate much, apart from the dinner. It's not a holiday in my time."

[bitchprince]

"So they say," Arthur said, with a shrug. "He's... particular enough that the story sounds plausible." Beat. "For as much anything in this place is anywhere near plausible."

[future_sandworm]

"Particular?" If this Castiel really was an angel perhaps he would be worth talking to.

"So in your time Christmas is all about celebrating the birth of your Messiah?" A slight emphasis on 'your' here, with a hint of amusement. "That seems a little lost here."

[bitchprince]

"More than a bit," Arthur said, dryly. "Though I suppose any reason to pass gifts around..."

[future_sandworm]

"Yes, although gifts here doesn't seem to come with too many debts to repay," Leto replied. "I believe people just enjoy buying things."

[bitchprince]

"That's what you get when everyone is fed properly without too much labour required," Arthur said, thoughtfully. "No doubt there's a lot of excess coin headed into the markets."

He wouldn't know. All he'd bought for Christmas was an all-expenses-paid trip to the Caribbean for two girls. Small change, that.

[future_sandworm]

For once, Arthur had a point. Of course, Leto didn't know about the girls going to the Caribbean.

"I believe their economic system requires this," Leto said. "If someone should create a widespread religious movement which looked down upon material consumption, the stability of this society would be threatened."

He seemed oddly interested in this.

[bitchprince]

Well, when it came to matters of state, Arthur wasn't exactly a moron. He couldn't afford to be.

He pursed his lips in thought. "I suppose," he allowed, "It'd lead to some troubling dissent within the people. Possibly even an uprising."

[future_sandworm]

"And that could always be made use of," Leto replied. "Of course, once released, the powers of religious fervour can be hard to control."

[bitchprince]

Arthur shot him a troubled look. "It could also lead to a lot of people dead."

Of course, it was a similar blast of religious fervour spurred on by guilt that had caused the mass killings of magic users back home, but shhh.

[future_sandworm]

"Occasionally that is the price of politics," Leto pointed out. "And I'm only speaking hypothetically, of course."

He had suspected that something like that was happening in Camelot, from what Arthur had told him about the laws on magic.