Kingsman: Merlin's Downfall

Breaking And Entering

Harry Heart was anything but amused. 

"Merlin, remind me again why I'm currently staking out some bloody college professor's house, when I could be at home enjoying a perfectly decent port?" he grumbled under his breath, knowing that the microscopic mike in the patch taped to the side to his throat would translate the acoustic vibrations and relay them to Merlin, who was infinitely more comfortable in the Operations Room back at Kingsman HQ.

"Because my contact at MI5 said there was nothing they could do without more evidence of any wrongdoings, so they can't get involved" Merlin's voice came from Harry's earpiece, loud and clear "But she told me that the guy sounded genuinely spooked, and when she mentioned  Seirene Enterprises I thought we might check it out"

"She?  Merlin, don't tell me I'm sitting out here in the dark just so you can impress some foxy lady that's caught your fancy?" Harry complained, rolling his eyes as he kept an eye on the house across the street. So far he'd seen nothing of interest.

"Of course not Harry! I'd never do something so unprofessional, and I should take offense that you think me capable of such a thing" Merlin said with mock seriousness. Truth be told, the lady in question had caught his eye, although with his job and godawful schedule he didn't have much time for a social life or romantic pursuit "Although....You wouldn't say it in such a manner if you'd seen her, my friend. She's whip-smart and quite easy on the eyes, that one"

"Well you better hope this pans out into a credible lead, or I'll make sure that you're stuck with the graveyard shift for an entire week the next shitty surveillance job we get" Harry quipped back, wondering if if perhaps there was still time to call it quits and head back home.

"Yer head's full of mince if you think that'll happen anytime soon" Merlin countered casually, leaning back in his chair and clasping his hands behind his head. He certainly enjoyed the banter the two of them tended to share on stakeouts like this, when there really wasn't much else to do but keep an eye open and hope that something interesting would happen. Their jesting and teasing helped pass the time, and they both knew the other wasn't entirely serious in their threats.

"Warre's Otime 10-year Old Tawny....does that mean anything to you at all, Merlin?" Harry continued as if Merlin hadn't spoken at all. 

"That's some fancy kind of port, innit?" Merlin replied casually, watching his screens that showed the live feed from the camera in Galahad's glasses. 

"Fancy port....you've got some nerve, Merlin" Harry muttered, but his displeasure was mostly for show. He usually enjoyed going on missions, the thrill of the chase, the adrenaline rush that came with a successful operation. It was almost worth the countless hours spent in stakeouts and long waits of information gathering, hoping to come up with a lead "It's from the oldest British Port House, which was founded in Portugal in 1670, mind you. Vibrant and ruby-coloured, it has quite an intense hint of orange-peel, followed by a little taste of burnt sugar, and then comes this hit of berries, finishing with some savoury, pastry-like, bready notes... its absolutely smashing"

"I know what to get ye for Christmas then, old boy"  Merlin said teasingly, his fingers dancing across the keyboard in front of him as he watched the specs of the house come up on one screen, the other still relaying the live feed of the camera.

The house itself didn't look like anything fancy. The grey house was a blur behind the rain-washed window of the car, the rain outside having abated to a slight drizzle. It was large, certainly, almost intimidatingly so. Adjusting the light, Merlin enhanced the image, the house taking a more detailed form, natural grey stone with all the hues mother nature could provide. The paintwork on the trim was brilliant white, flawless and the path wound to a double oak front door in loose pea shingle. The windows weren't the large ones that were so fashionable now, but more the size he was used to see in old country cottages, and like them they were mullioned. But that's where all the old world charm ended, for he glanced at the specs and assessed that once across the threshold it was technology and modern design all the way. Reading the electrical grid he wondered what the inside would look like, because from where he was standing it seemed like there had been some significant remodeling going on, specifically in the basement area. That could mean anything, from a science lab to a man-cave, depending on the inhabitants tastes and preferences.