#a spinoff-worthy character if ive ever seen one

[bisclavret]

cannot stop thinking about these lines and their respective expressions. merlin "cracking" what matters to gwaine the most and trying to tempt him with it. gwaine looking compelled but wary, almost betrayed? and later that same episode when gwaine retaliates by "cracking" merlin's deal he does so in a way that validates merlin instead of judging him (as this is more about gwaine seeing how much merlin loves arthur than anything else), leaving merlin speechless and cautiously elated. in both their reactions there's the vulnerability of "oh fuck i've been perceived" and being generally caught off-guard, but there's also an undercurrent of "why are you saying this? because you mean it? because you think it's what i want to hear? because you want to show me you've figured me out? all of the above?" a sort of mutual intrigue..... the mortifying ordeal of it all