HC Bingo March Challenge - 15 Recs
Author: clea2011
Fandoms: Merlin, Primeval
H/C: Loss of home/Shelter, Group Support, Skeletons in the closet
These were the prompts I was given for the March hc_bingo challenge.
loss of home / shelter
group support
skeletons in the closet
The idea was to find and rec 15 fics that incorporate one or more of these prompts. The results are below - all 15 are by authors I enjoy, the rest of their fic is well worth checking out as well.
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/167156
Title: Finding Home
Author: Riventhorn
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 7857
Summary: When Gaius retires a new physician takes over and quickly kicks Merlin out of his room and takes it for himself. Arthur finds Merlin sleeping in the stables...and it's winter.
Why I’m Reccing This: This is one of my favourite Merlin fics, and one I go back to again and again. It fits the loss of home prompt perfectly, starting off wonderfully angsty with poor Merlin turfed out of his room with nowhere to go, and suffering horribly in the cold, and then Arthur finds him and it all turns into perfect hurt/comfort.
Prompt: Group Support, Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/314685
Title: Rag Water, Bitters and Blue Ruin
Author: leashy_bebes
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Gwaine/Leon
Rating: Mature
Word Count: 12450
Summary: Modern AU. Written for the following prompt at kinkme_merlin: Gwaine's drinking starts to spiral out of control taking over his life. Leon grew up with an alcoholic father (or other relative if you prefer) and recognises the signs and intervenes.
Why I’m Reccing This: This one actually fits two of the prompts, aside from the obvious skeletons of Leon’s background, you also have the group support with Gwaine’s friends all doing their best to support him despite how difficult it becomes. I have a huge soft spot for Leon/Gwaine, because they’re great fun together, but this is a more serious piece and is one of the best fics I’ve read for that pairing.
Prompt: Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/131252
Title: The world forgetting, the world forgot
Author: copperiisulfate
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Teen and Up
Word Count: 39257
Summary: In which Morgana erases memories for a living, Merlin and Arthur meet for (what they believe to be) the first time, and Gwen remembers everything. AU based loosely on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Why I’m Reccing This: This is such an excellent fic. It’s based on the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which basically involves memory erasure. What more deeply hidden skeletons could there be than huge parts of your past that are totally hidden from you? It’s well written and engaging, angsty and plotty. My kind of thing.
Prompt: Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/239764/chapters/368363 and http://archiveofourown.org/works/246856
Title: Not Exactly Wedding of the Year/Meeting the Family
Author: Fringedweller
Fandom: Primeval
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Becker/Jess
Rating: Teen and up/Explicit
Word Count: 17705 and 20741
Summary: “So, let me get this straight,” Jess said, trying to wrap her brain around the bombshell that had just been dropped. “Your parents are both new age, hippy-type people who founded a commune. You were born in a commune. You have sisters called Rainbow Starborn and Poplar. Your grandmother is the only person in your family that doesn’t live the commune, but she lives in a gatehouse. Becker, are your family posh hippies?”
Why I’m Reccing This: These two fics are a little series of their own (though sadly not marked as such on AO3). They’re both hugely entertaining reads, and when I went to look for recs for this challenge amongst my favourites I realised they both dealt with skeletons in the closet in some way. In the first, these tend towards Jess’s sister’s fiancé, but in the second there is a hugely entertaining reveal about the reserved Captain Becker’s background. Lovely feelgood fics.
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/217228
Title: The Valley in my soul
Author: Seren_CCD
Fandom: Primeval
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Becker/Jess
Rating: Mature
Word Count: 7566
Summary: They are rescued on day ninety-nine. This is what happens on days zero to ninety-eight.
Why I’m Reccing This: Because it’s one of the first Primeval fanfics I ever read, and it remains a firm favourite. Probably a little bit responsible for me thinking ‘ah yes, I want to write about this pair too.’
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter, Group Support, Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/921453/chapters/1789640
Title: Counterpoint
Author: PlaneJane
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 56481
Summary: Twenty years after The Great Purge and the continuing effects of a High Priestess’s curse, Albion is a nation on the brink of collapse. Not even High Chancellor Uther Pendragon’s Compatibility Regime can curb the plummeting population. To add to his troubles, his wayward son, Arthur, makes no disguise of his unwillingness to wed. With good reason. Arthur is secretly leading the Movement, a covert organisation plotting to overthrow the government and return magic to Albion. Not to mention, it’s been foreseen that Arthur’s future, his destiny, is an indomitable union with a warlock-not marriage to the farm-boy matched to him by Uther’s Compatibility Machines.
Why I’m Reccing This: Firstly, it fits all three of the prompts. Poor Merlin is taken away from his home to be married to Arthur, Arthur has all kinds of secrets, and without wanting to reveal too much of the story so does Merlin, and Gaius, and Gwen… And Arthur already has a network of friends supporting him before the story starts. It’s a brilliant story, one I go back to again and again.
Prompt: Loss of home/shelter, Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/317898/chapters/511232
Title: Ashes, Embers, Flames
Author: Unpossible
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 65453
Summary: Merlin sees him across a crowded living room and promptly spills his beer down the back of the couch and over some hapless stranger’s neck.
Why I’m Reccing This: Fits two of the prompts as Merlin is about to lose his home at the start and moves in with Arthur. However, it’s mostly about the secrets both of them, particularly Arthur, are hiding from the other. It’s a lovely slow burn romance, with lots of mutual pining and denial, but there’s also the back story of what Arthur is hiding and why. Very well-written, an enjoyably long read.
Prompt: Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/1413676
Title: Danger Zone (The Being Safe is Overrated Remix)
Author: ZairaA zairaalbereo
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 12238
Summary: Starting his final year of high school, Arthur doesn't expect much excitement coming his way. But that changes when he realises that the new boy in his class is actually a sorcerer. Merlin's casual use of magic and rather blatant advances make Arthur quite a bit uncomfortable, and yet he can't help feeling drawn to the mysterious boy. Then Arthur finds out about Merlin's past, and a literal storm breaks loose.
Why I’m Reccing This: I suppose I’m a bit biased with how much I enjoyed this one because it’s an amazing remix of one of my drabbles, but ZairaA has taken that little tiny bit of nothing and created a wonderfully satisfying and well-rounded story. The skeletons in the closet element of course belongs to Merlin, and Arthur’s slow discovery of the truth behind the apparently cocky individual he first encounters. Really interesting and enjoyable story.
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2741171
Title: Desert Places
Author: Cookie scotscookie
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Teen and up
Word Count: 7337
Summary: Merlin and Arthur are both alone, and life looks bleak - but who knows where a chance meeting will take them.
Why I’m Reccing This: Merlin loses his home following the death of his mother, but then finds Arthur. I’m hoping there are going to be some sequels to this one. It was a lovely little piece of hurt/comfort.
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/198142/chapters/292714
Title: A Binding Contract
Author: Eldee
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 99285
Summary: In a society where people with magic are considered to be dangerous, are labelled as freaks, and have their powers cut off from them, Merlin does whatever he can to survive the hard life he’s faced with. When he’s in desperate need of money, Merlin’s landlord Aredian arranges and offers a magically binding contract in which Merlin is to become a ‘companion’ to Uther Pendragon’s son, Arthur. And when Merlin feels compelled to accept it, he never would have imagined that one man could change his life so completely.
Why I’m Reccing This: It fits the prompt several times over, poor Merlin loses any real home and shelter at the age of 8 and after that his life is pretty grim, at least until he meets Arthur. This is an epic fic, heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time.
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/508248
Title: Shelter from the Storm
Author: Scatterglory
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 7895
Summary: Merlin's life on the street is made bearable by Arthur, his trusted food bringer. He comes everyday, rain or shine. They never talk, but their daily appointment is something neither of the two misses. Then one day a storm comes to town and Merlin thinks it will be impossible for Arthur to bring him food...
But as it turns out, that's the night Merlin gets more than a warm meal.
Why I’m Reccing This: This is a gorgeous angst-ridden piece. As is obvious from the summary, Arthur saves poor Merlin, but it’s the way it’s written that gets to you.
Prompt: Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2593055
Title: The Yule King
Author: Gwyllion gwylliondream
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Mature
Word Count: 10015
Summary: Yule time has come to Camelot, but Merlin isn't feeling well. When he discovers the reason for his illness, he fears his secrets will be exposed. Not only is he the king's bed-mate, but he also has magic. He wants to flee Camelot to keep Arthur from losing the respect of his people. Fortunately, Arthur's cooler head prevails and the men find a happy ending together.
Why I’m Reccing This: Merlin has a pretty big secret in this one, and it’s not his magic (although his magic has caused it). This is a very sweet holidays fic, angsty and warming. (It was written for me with so many things that I enjoy in it, naturally it’s going to be one I would recommend!)
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter, Group Support
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2598050
Title: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
Author: Celeste9
Fandom: Primeval
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Becker/Jess
Rating: Teen and up
Word Count: 2684
Summary: Jess used to enjoy reading apocalyptic fiction, but that was before. (Apocalypse AU)
Why I’m Reccing This: I love post-apocalypse fic, and also Celeste’s fic. This one is short but it’s a great look at Jess as she struggles to survive with Emily’s support, and never loses faith that Becker will find her.
Prompt: Group Support
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2597747
Title: Show Me
Author: Deinonychus_1
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: General
Word Count: 6391
Summary: He had known this moment would come sooner or later.
Why I’m Reccing This: Group support hasn’t done too well on my rec list, it’s not as easy to find fills for as the other two. This is a nice example of it in a fic where Arthur and the knights find out about Merlin’s magic, and their different reactions to it. They’re all supportive in their way, but have different ways of showing it. And I love the ending.
Prompt: Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://ruby-caspar.livejournal.com/14232.html
Title: Everybody wants to be a cat
Author: Ruby_Caspar
Fandom: Primeval
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Becker/Jess
Rating: PG
Word Count: 6000+
Summary: When Becker calls in sick Jess knows for sure he's hiding something...
Why I’m Reccing This: Well, this is a nice, fluffy skeleton. Becker has a secret at home and it’s not something anyone would expect. Cute and fluffy fic in all ways.
And this was the challenge banner I got:
Fandoms: Merlin, Primeval
H/C: Loss of home/Shelter, Group Support, Skeletons in the closet
These were the prompts I was given for the March hc_bingo challenge.
loss of home / shelter
group support
skeletons in the closet
The idea was to find and rec 15 fics that incorporate one or more of these prompts. The results are below - all 15 are by authors I enjoy, the rest of their fic is well worth checking out as well.
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/167156
Title: Finding Home
Author: Riventhorn
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 7857
Summary: When Gaius retires a new physician takes over and quickly kicks Merlin out of his room and takes it for himself. Arthur finds Merlin sleeping in the stables...and it's winter.
Why I’m Reccing This: This is one of my favourite Merlin fics, and one I go back to again and again. It fits the loss of home prompt perfectly, starting off wonderfully angsty with poor Merlin turfed out of his room with nowhere to go, and suffering horribly in the cold, and then Arthur finds him and it all turns into perfect hurt/comfort.
Prompt: Group Support, Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/314685
Title: Rag Water, Bitters and Blue Ruin
Author: leashy_bebes
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Gwaine/Leon
Rating: Mature
Word Count: 12450
Summary: Modern AU. Written for the following prompt at kinkme_merlin: Gwaine's drinking starts to spiral out of control taking over his life. Leon grew up with an alcoholic father (or other relative if you prefer) and recognises the signs and intervenes.
Why I’m Reccing This: This one actually fits two of the prompts, aside from the obvious skeletons of Leon’s background, you also have the group support with Gwaine’s friends all doing their best to support him despite how difficult it becomes. I have a huge soft spot for Leon/Gwaine, because they’re great fun together, but this is a more serious piece and is one of the best fics I’ve read for that pairing.
Prompt: Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/131252
Title: The world forgetting, the world forgot
Author: copperiisulfate
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Teen and Up
Word Count: 39257
Summary: In which Morgana erases memories for a living, Merlin and Arthur meet for (what they believe to be) the first time, and Gwen remembers everything. AU based loosely on Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.
Why I’m Reccing This: This is such an excellent fic. It’s based on the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which basically involves memory erasure. What more deeply hidden skeletons could there be than huge parts of your past that are totally hidden from you? It’s well written and engaging, angsty and plotty. My kind of thing.
Prompt: Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/239764/chapters/368363 and http://archiveofourown.org/works/246856
Title: Not Exactly Wedding of the Year/Meeting the Family
Author: Fringedweller
Fandom: Primeval
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Becker/Jess
Rating: Teen and up/Explicit
Word Count: 17705 and 20741
Summary: “So, let me get this straight,” Jess said, trying to wrap her brain around the bombshell that had just been dropped. “Your parents are both new age, hippy-type people who founded a commune. You were born in a commune. You have sisters called Rainbow Starborn and Poplar. Your grandmother is the only person in your family that doesn’t live the commune, but she lives in a gatehouse. Becker, are your family posh hippies?”
Why I’m Reccing This: These two fics are a little series of their own (though sadly not marked as such on AO3). They’re both hugely entertaining reads, and when I went to look for recs for this challenge amongst my favourites I realised they both dealt with skeletons in the closet in some way. In the first, these tend towards Jess’s sister’s fiancé, but in the second there is a hugely entertaining reveal about the reserved Captain Becker’s background. Lovely feelgood fics.
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/217228
Title: The Valley in my soul
Author: Seren_CCD
Fandom: Primeval
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Becker/Jess
Rating: Mature
Word Count: 7566
Summary: They are rescued on day ninety-nine. This is what happens on days zero to ninety-eight.
Why I’m Reccing This: Because it’s one of the first Primeval fanfics I ever read, and it remains a firm favourite. Probably a little bit responsible for me thinking ‘ah yes, I want to write about this pair too.’
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter, Group Support, Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/921453/chapters/1789640
Title: Counterpoint
Author: PlaneJane
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 56481
Summary: Twenty years after The Great Purge and the continuing effects of a High Priestess’s curse, Albion is a nation on the brink of collapse. Not even High Chancellor Uther Pendragon’s Compatibility Regime can curb the plummeting population. To add to his troubles, his wayward son, Arthur, makes no disguise of his unwillingness to wed. With good reason. Arthur is secretly leading the Movement, a covert organisation plotting to overthrow the government and return magic to Albion. Not to mention, it’s been foreseen that Arthur’s future, his destiny, is an indomitable union with a warlock-not marriage to the farm-boy matched to him by Uther’s Compatibility Machines.
Why I’m Reccing This: Firstly, it fits all three of the prompts. Poor Merlin is taken away from his home to be married to Arthur, Arthur has all kinds of secrets, and without wanting to reveal too much of the story so does Merlin, and Gaius, and Gwen… And Arthur already has a network of friends supporting him before the story starts. It’s a brilliant story, one I go back to again and again.
Prompt: Loss of home/shelter, Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/317898/chapters/511232
Title: Ashes, Embers, Flames
Author: Unpossible
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 65453
Summary: Merlin sees him across a crowded living room and promptly spills his beer down the back of the couch and over some hapless stranger’s neck.
Why I’m Reccing This: Fits two of the prompts as Merlin is about to lose his home at the start and moves in with Arthur. However, it’s mostly about the secrets both of them, particularly Arthur, are hiding from the other. It’s a lovely slow burn romance, with lots of mutual pining and denial, but there’s also the back story of what Arthur is hiding and why. Very well-written, an enjoyably long read.
Prompt: Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/1413676
Title: Danger Zone (The Being Safe is Overrated Remix)
Author: ZairaA zairaalbereo
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 12238
Summary: Starting his final year of high school, Arthur doesn't expect much excitement coming his way. But that changes when he realises that the new boy in his class is actually a sorcerer. Merlin's casual use of magic and rather blatant advances make Arthur quite a bit uncomfortable, and yet he can't help feeling drawn to the mysterious boy. Then Arthur finds out about Merlin's past, and a literal storm breaks loose.
Why I’m Reccing This: I suppose I’m a bit biased with how much I enjoyed this one because it’s an amazing remix of one of my drabbles, but ZairaA has taken that little tiny bit of nothing and created a wonderfully satisfying and well-rounded story. The skeletons in the closet element of course belongs to Merlin, and Arthur’s slow discovery of the truth behind the apparently cocky individual he first encounters. Really interesting and enjoyable story.
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2741171
Title: Desert Places
Author: Cookie scotscookie
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Teen and up
Word Count: 7337
Summary: Merlin and Arthur are both alone, and life looks bleak - but who knows where a chance meeting will take them.
Why I’m Reccing This: Merlin loses his home following the death of his mother, but then finds Arthur. I’m hoping there are going to be some sequels to this one. It was a lovely little piece of hurt/comfort.
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/198142/chapters/292714
Title: A Binding Contract
Author: Eldee
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 99285
Summary: In a society where people with magic are considered to be dangerous, are labelled as freaks, and have their powers cut off from them, Merlin does whatever he can to survive the hard life he’s faced with. When he’s in desperate need of money, Merlin’s landlord Aredian arranges and offers a magically binding contract in which Merlin is to become a ‘companion’ to Uther Pendragon’s son, Arthur. And when Merlin feels compelled to accept it, he never would have imagined that one man could change his life so completely.
Why I’m Reccing This: It fits the prompt several times over, poor Merlin loses any real home and shelter at the age of 8 and after that his life is pretty grim, at least until he meets Arthur. This is an epic fic, heart-wrenching and heart-warming at the same time.
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/508248
Title: Shelter from the Storm
Author: Scatterglory
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Explicit
Word Count: 7895
Summary: Merlin's life on the street is made bearable by Arthur, his trusted food bringer. He comes everyday, rain or shine. They never talk, but their daily appointment is something neither of the two misses. Then one day a storm comes to town and Merlin thinks it will be impossible for Arthur to bring him food...
But as it turns out, that's the night Merlin gets more than a warm meal.
Why I’m Reccing This: This is a gorgeous angst-ridden piece. As is obvious from the summary, Arthur saves poor Merlin, but it’s the way it’s written that gets to you.
Prompt: Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2593055
Title: The Yule King
Author: Gwyllion gwylliondream
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: Mature
Word Count: 10015
Summary: Yule time has come to Camelot, but Merlin isn't feeling well. When he discovers the reason for his illness, he fears his secrets will be exposed. Not only is he the king's bed-mate, but he also has magic. He wants to flee Camelot to keep Arthur from losing the respect of his people. Fortunately, Arthur's cooler head prevails and the men find a happy ending together.
Why I’m Reccing This: Merlin has a pretty big secret in this one, and it’s not his magic (although his magic has caused it). This is a very sweet holidays fic, angsty and warming. (It was written for me with so many things that I enjoy in it, naturally it’s going to be one I would recommend!)
Prompt: Loss of home/Shelter, Group Support
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2598050
Title: Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground
Author: Celeste9
Fandom: Primeval
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Becker/Jess
Rating: Teen and up
Word Count: 2684
Summary: Jess used to enjoy reading apocalyptic fiction, but that was before. (Apocalypse AU)
Why I’m Reccing This: I love post-apocalypse fic, and also Celeste’s fic. This one is short but it’s a great look at Jess as she struggles to survive with Emily’s support, and never loses faith that Becker will find her.
Prompt: Group Support
Link: http://archiveofourown.org/works/2597747
Title: Show Me
Author: Deinonychus_1
Fandom: Merlin
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: General
Word Count: 6391
Summary: He had known this moment would come sooner or later.
Why I’m Reccing This: Group support hasn’t done too well on my rec list, it’s not as easy to find fills for as the other two. This is a nice example of it in a fic where Arthur and the knights find out about Merlin’s magic, and their different reactions to it. They’re all supportive in their way, but have different ways of showing it. And I love the ending.
Prompt: Skeletons in the closet
Link: http://ruby-caspar.livejournal.com/14232.html
Title: Everybody wants to be a cat
Author: Ruby_Caspar
Fandom: Primeval
Medium: Fic
Pairing: Becker/Jess
Rating: PG
Word Count: 6000+
Summary: When Becker calls in sick Jess knows for sure he's hiding something...
Why I’m Reccing This: Well, this is a nice, fluffy skeleton. Becker has a secret at home and it’s not something anyone would expect. Cute and fluffy fic in all ways.
And this was the challenge banner I got: