So like, story concept:
Arthur finally returns to Albion. It’s the modern world and nobody is there whom he remembers. He realized soon that over a thousand years had passed and everyone he loved had died.
Broken and frustrated, he seeks shelter with a couple of monks or nuns or something.
He griefs for a few years, then he decides he has to build up a life here. And he manages to do so. Pretty well, actually. The nuns/monks he’s been living with, love him like their own son and he finds a business partner whom he can sell…. something something with. Or invent in bankings or some shit.
The catch is, this business partner is inheritantly homophobic.
Now, Arthur lived with nuns here, and back in Camelot, people didn’t really talk about such things. Or at least the word wasn’t invented yet.
So he assumes, this homosexuality thing is just like magic was back then. A threat to his “kingdom”.
Though, after remembering last time he completely believed a friend or family member on a thematic he didn’t understand, he refuses to make comments on it.
All he sees, are riots, where HIS allegedly friends and partners fight colorful people on the street with shouting at each other.
In public, especially on TV, Arthur holds back his opinion on the LGBT+ community. In private, he still has trouble understanding the internet and search functions.
One day, the fights and riots got really really bad. So bad in fact, that Arthur has to be accompanied by bodyguards to retreat to a building.
(Arthur had at this point already been marked as homophobic on twitter, because a) he’s not on social media, so he can’t even defend himself, b) someone of his own company had posted a wrong quote with his name underneath it.)
Arthur is shoved through crowds of all different kinds of people (the press is actually the worst part), and THAT’s when he sees a familiar figure.
He blinks a couple times, certain he was mistaken.
But there he is, mouthing his name, just as much in shock as Arthur was. Dressed in a rainbow flag and the pan pride flag painted to his cheeks.
Merlin.
Arthur cannot believe it. He turned around again and shouts his name. And he sees Merlin’s eyes widen in realization that yes, this was real.
Arthur shoves the press out of his way, his bodyguards as well and especially his business partner who asks: “Do you know this guy?”
And of course, Arthur doesn’t care, doesn’t give a DAMN, because Merlin is ALIVE and THERE and HERE and of course he hugs him.
Even when the camera’s flash up with a promising new title for tomorrows magazine.
And when his business partner shouts: “Are you NUTS? Do you even know who that is? That is Merlin Emrys! A known something something, who is known for doing something something-”,
Arthur just yells back.
“Who the hell cares? He’s my best friend and I thought he was DEAD.”
“I cannot do business with a guy who supports gays.”, his partner replies.
“First of all, he’s not gay.”
“Arthur-”; Merlin intervenes.
“He’s pan. It’s written on his T-Shirt. Secondly, if THAT is your biggest concern, you should really start looking into your accounts, because I do know a few people who care a lot more about tax evasion than people who color themselves with spray paint to celebrate who they are.”
