How to make it through the week, Arthur/Merlin Style (Issue III)
Guys. YOU GUYS. It's over D: And we now need a deluge of fics to get past the wishy-washiness of series 2 and PREPARE OURSELVES FOR WHAT ABSOLUTELY MUST BE AN EPIC SERIES 3 OR I WILL THROW A FIT OR TWO OR FIFTY.
So. Hopefully I can manage this without any spoilers for those LAZY BUGGERS who haven't watched the last episode yet. Actually, you may want to head out immediately (OMG BUT MEM THIS FIRST /desperation) because the theme of this week's recs may clue you in on either something that happened in the ep or something that didn't happen in the ep. Heeee.
Previous Issues:
Master List
Issue I
Issue II
Dedicated, as always, to Mielle ♥ This is also for all the people who became lazy after series one ended and didn't bother to check their fanfic updates list (er...I'm included here) as well as for those who became fans right before series two arrived. The recs are from all over the timeline of fandom, so enjoy what you haven't read (and what you have).
How to make it through the week, Arthur/Merlin style
(Issue III)
TO REITERATE: THIS WEEK'S RECS ARE BASED ON THE MAGIC REVEAL. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.
the court was astonished on MONDAY when, after the prince's manservant saved the prince's life, the royal family broke out in song [crack fix]
(My claim to fame is to flame and to wangle
Magic is mine!)
Outing Merlin, With Feeling - A Tribute and Obvious Rip Off of Buffy's Once More With Feeling by selina_ [NC-17]
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Warnings: Singing about subtext, best read whilst listening to Once More with Feeling Soundtrack.
No summary provided.
AHAHAHA. Okay, so, lately there has been a revival of the musical in television (Glee), cinema (Nine), and anywhere else music can spring itself unexpectedly (ie. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog). Which makes this not-really-fic-but-awesome-anyway thing fit so well into the Merlin!verse. selina_ uses BTVS's musical episode (am I right? I tried watching Buffy but couldn't make it past the beginning of the second season even if it had the always amazing ASH in it) as the base for one of the most amazing things to cross this fandom.
Not only does this musical/fic address the reveal of magic, it also addresses the constant subtext that was rampant in series one and is the only thing keeping us all holding on to the show in series two.
Before you go off to read this, just prepare yourself for a fic within a musical. Read through all the lines (and maybe play the song while reading) because it's worth it, and the way everything melds together is brilliant and hilarious. I love it so much :D AND LOL. XENITES ARE MENTIONED. XENITES.
everything seemed to freeze around them as arthur breathed harshly, brokenly, staring at the fading gold of merlin's eyes on TUESDAY [angst fix] NO, TOO MUCH ANGST LATELY, WE NEED - meh, fine.
("Stay where you are," he said and Merlin stopped, his eyes going wide in panic.)
Treason to Us by janne_d [PG-13]
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Author's summary: Arthur finds out. And he does not react well.
I normally abhor stories in which Arthur finds out about Merlin's magic and acts in ways contrary to how I want him to act (with a "stfu Merlin, I already knew and I love you anyway and here's a whole kingdom I conquered just for you") but this fic rejects the sort of mainstream way the fandom generally wants the reveal of magic to go, and takes a good, long look at what Arthur would have to do if he found out.
While I adore Bradley's self-professed hope for how the magic reveal will go down, janne_d's idea works well, too. It's realistic, and it can totally fit into Bradley's view of it all. Even if you're like me and you normally don't like this kind of reaction to Merlin's magic, give the fic a chance and read it through. It's beautiful and true and very careful with characterising Arthur's struggle. This author constantly produces brilliant fics, especially the multi-parters, and - from what I can remember, it's been a while since I last read one of her older pieces - I believe it's because of her painstaking attention to truth in actions & reactions that makes her fics so enjoyable. She tends to stay under the radar since most of her fics are flashfics or drabble-ish even if they are amazing. But I could just be pulling this crap out of my cap since I'm having trouble remembering anything productive at the moment and most of what I've just written is adoring fluff that could very well describe the author. Oh well, all the more reason to spend another day doing re-reads.
"I hope you didn't forget that WEDNESDAY is our appointment," he murmured, fingers lightly teasing down his spine [kink fix]
("Arthur! Arthur, wake up, Prince Merlin wants to see you!")
You're A Mile Away And You Have Their Shoes by mad_maudlin [PG-13]
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Warnings: Crack, shovels, massive rupture of the fourth wall
Author's summary: Arthur wanted to know what was going on in Merlin's head. He just didn't mean it so literally.
Whoa, this isn't even rated R. Yet it's a fulfilment of a kink prompt, and I immediately thought of it as a great rec for Wednesday. OH WELL. I doubt you'll notice the lack of frottage given that this fic works on one of the greatest premises ever. Probably everyone and their mother has read this fic already, but I don't care, I love it and am reccing it anyway. mad_maudlin's Merlin is amazing even when he's not really Merlin, and discovering things through Arthur's eyes is brilliant. I love this fic to bits and you're going to love that it's in 3 long parts. There's not just absurd hilarity in this - there's a great passion and an amazing choice of how to let things unfold in this fic, and that's what makes it so much fun to read.
merlin couldn't help it, really, if every THURSDAY his magic decided that sending him back to when arthur was a child would be a very good idea [fluff fix] OH LORD I'M SAVING THIS PROMPT FOR MYSELF, DON'T TAKE IT
(Arthur would know that laugh anywhere...)
Bringing Up Baby by oxoniensis [G]
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Author's summary: One minute Merlin's there, riding (like a sack of turnips) next to Arthur. The next-
It's a very good thing Arthur has good reflexes.
First, LOOK AT THE ACCOMPANYING ART BY trolleys, LOOK AT IT - IT IS ABSOLUTE, BEAUTIFUL FLUFF TO THE MAX. Really, I don't even care that oxoniensis's fic is somewhat pre-slash, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS SO ADORABLE & AWW-GENERATING THAT IT'S FORGIVEABLE. Really, some of you may even have to sue me for reccing this kind of disgustingly, unashamedly cute stuff, but I CANNOT HELP IT. Guh. GUH.
Really, just - Arthur with babies. Arthur with MAGICAL babies. I truly can't resist. Anyone see that piece of amazing art recently with Arthur and his look-alike son w/the sword? THIS IS THAT LEVEL OF IRRESISTIBLE CUTENESS.
when FRIDAY burst into flames, arthur stared first at merlin, then at the calendar, and muttered, "that's a bit extreme" [AU fix]
(Arthur was probably going to be angry enough when he found out about the Enya thing.)
Destiny Calling by sophieisgod [PG-13]
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin, Gwen/Lancelot, Gwen/Morgana, Will/Sophia
Author's summary: [Film prompt - Empire Records] In which Merlin is guided by a force much greater than luck, Lancelot is excessively chivalrous, and Morgana is a very angry and confused young woman.
Guh, I love reel_merlin so much. This fandom is so full of awesome sauce that I can't even bear it. This particular fic is based on Empire Records, which I understand has a bit of a cult following (or, in other words, only a few oddballs have seen & loved it). I never watched the movie, but I did thoroughly enjoy the fic, in all its cracked out insanity and hilarious, heart-wrenching romance. I don't even know how sophieisgod managed to make it mesh so well with the Merlin universe, but she did and it is brilliant.
despite the fact that it was SATURDAY and the guards were on high alert, the druids still managed to brush past them and span into the courtyard, facing arthur and the king [epic fix]
("No," he yelled at the top of his lungs and threw out his hand.)
To You I Pledge by beren_writes [NC-17]
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Author's summary: Merlin lays his life on the line to save Arthur yet again, only this time there are witnesses, lots of them. Only Arthur prevents him going to the headman's axe straight away, but Arthur alone cannot save him. That is up to both of them.
I always love doing Saturday's recs, because I have to go through my mental list of epics and decide which one to rec each week. And then I get to re-read them, just to - you know - make sure it's really what I want & what I'm going to say in this rambling section right here. Does anyone even read this rambling section? BECAUSE HEY, PEOPLE, I checked the number of hits on the photos for these issues and whoa at the hit count. So - anyway - if you're reading the rambling sections, let me know which fics in particular have certain elements you love, etc., so I can know what other people like. 'Cause you can never tell if your own taste is a bit skewed. BUT ANYWAY BACK TO THIS EPIC PIECE OF SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO TAKE HOME AND TUCK RIGHT INTO BED BESIDE ME.
beren_writes is pretty well known across different fandoms, which is why when I accidentally stumbled on one of her Merlin fics I was more than ecstatic. AND SHE DIDN'T DISAPPOINT. What more do I like than a magic!reveal fic? One in which Merlin reveals it EPICALLY and then Arthur does the honourable thing and traverses the galaxy to find the magic hipporhinoflower that will enable him to displace Merlin into a different dimension until Uther finally kicks off and magic is allowed back into Camelot. Well. Maybe I got the plot points a little wrong and maybe I made up pretty much all of that, but YOU MUST KNOW THAT THIS FIC IS EPIC. THUS, IT FITS THE FIX YOU ALL CRAVE, YESS IT DOES. I mean, Jesus. That title itself is pretty epic, though I wonder what it is exactly that I'm being pledged.
By the way, to all you fruitcakes who keep asking merlin_finders for fics where Merlin reveals himself with a BANG, this is my Christmas gift to you.
SUNDAY dawned, and merlin thought of another endless list of ways that he could and couldn't tell arthur his secret [one-shot fix]
(Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all.)
A Thousand Different Skins by tarayith [NC-17]
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Author's summary: Merlin decides he wants to learn to fly. Only things don't quite go to plan.
I was torn between putting this in the fluff section or in the one-shot section, but I think this is the best fit. IT'S GREAT AND IT REMINDS ME OF THE HP FANDOM YAY. There's magic reveal in a very fun way, an innocent, hurt Merlin and PROTECTIVE, ANGRY ARTHUR, there's a great take on Merlin's character that makes you go aww but also oooh and there's a smashing good plot to pull everything together. The summary is excellent in giving you the feel for what this story is about and how it reads, and I like the way that the fic is unique even while it builds upon an oft-used premise. Knowing what this fic is about, I love the title - it fits so well and is pretty amazing. While it's a little long, it's thoroughly enjoyable and doesn't flag at any point.
So. Hopefully I can manage this without any spoilers for those LAZY BUGGERS who haven't watched the last episode yet. Actually, you may want to head out immediately (OMG BUT MEM THIS FIRST /desperation) because the theme of this week's recs may clue you in on either something that happened in the ep or something that didn't happen in the ep. Heeee.
Previous Issues:
Master List
Issue I
Issue II
Dedicated, as always, to Mielle ♥ This is also for all the people who became lazy after series one ended and didn't bother to check their fanfic updates list (er...I'm included here) as well as for those who became fans right before series two arrived. The recs are from all over the timeline of fandom, so enjoy what you haven't read (and what you have).
How to make it through the week, Arthur/Merlin style
(Issue III)
TO REITERATE: THIS WEEK'S RECS ARE BASED ON THE MAGIC REVEAL. YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.
the court was astonished on MONDAY when, after the prince's manservant saved the prince's life, the royal family broke out in song [crack fix]
(My claim to fame is to flame and to wangle
Magic is mine!)
Outing Merlin, With Feeling - A Tribute and Obvious Rip Off of Buffy's Once More With Feeling by selina_ [NC-17]
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Warnings: Singing about subtext, best read whilst listening to Once More with Feeling Soundtrack.
No summary provided.
AHAHAHA. Okay, so, lately there has been a revival of the musical in television (Glee), cinema (Nine), and anywhere else music can spring itself unexpectedly (ie. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog). Which makes this not-really-fic-but-awesome-anyway thing fit so well into the Merlin!verse. selina_ uses BTVS's musical episode (am I right? I tried watching Buffy but couldn't make it past the beginning of the second season even if it had the always amazing ASH in it) as the base for one of the most amazing things to cross this fandom.
Not only does this musical/fic address the reveal of magic, it also addresses the constant subtext that was rampant in series one and is the only thing keeping us all holding on to the show in series two.
Before you go off to read this, just prepare yourself for a fic within a musical. Read through all the lines (and maybe play the song while reading) because it's worth it, and the way everything melds together is brilliant and hilarious. I love it so much :D AND LOL. XENITES ARE MENTIONED. XENITES.
everything seemed to freeze around them as arthur breathed harshly, brokenly, staring at the fading gold of merlin's eyes on TUESDAY [angst fix] NO, TOO MUCH ANGST LATELY, WE NEED - meh, fine.
("Stay where you are," he said and Merlin stopped, his eyes going wide in panic.)
Treason to Us by janne_d [PG-13]
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Author's summary: Arthur finds out. And he does not react well.
I normally abhor stories in which Arthur finds out about Merlin's magic and acts in ways contrary to how I want him to act (with a "stfu Merlin, I already knew and I love you anyway and here's a whole kingdom I conquered just for you") but this fic rejects the sort of mainstream way the fandom generally wants the reveal of magic to go, and takes a good, long look at what Arthur would have to do if he found out.
While I adore Bradley's self-professed hope for how the magic reveal will go down, janne_d's idea works well, too. It's realistic, and it can totally fit into Bradley's view of it all. Even if you're like me and you normally don't like this kind of reaction to Merlin's magic, give the fic a chance and read it through. It's beautiful and true and very careful with characterising Arthur's struggle. This author constantly produces brilliant fics, especially the multi-parters, and - from what I can remember, it's been a while since I last read one of her older pieces - I believe it's because of her painstaking attention to truth in actions & reactions that makes her fics so enjoyable. She tends to stay under the radar since most of her fics are flashfics or drabble-ish even if they are amazing. But I could just be pulling this crap out of my cap since I'm having trouble remembering anything productive at the moment and most of what I've just written is adoring fluff that could very well describe the author. Oh well, all the more reason to spend another day doing re-reads.
"I hope you didn't forget that WEDNESDAY is our appointment," he murmured, fingers lightly teasing down his spine [kink fix]
("Arthur! Arthur, wake up, Prince Merlin wants to see you!")
You're A Mile Away And You Have Their Shoes by mad_maudlin [PG-13]
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Warnings: Crack, shovels, massive rupture of the fourth wall
Author's summary: Arthur wanted to know what was going on in Merlin's head. He just didn't mean it so literally.
Whoa, this isn't even rated R. Yet it's a fulfilment of a kink prompt, and I immediately thought of it as a great rec for Wednesday. OH WELL. I doubt you'll notice the lack of frottage given that this fic works on one of the greatest premises ever. Probably everyone and their mother has read this fic already, but I don't care, I love it and am reccing it anyway. mad_maudlin's Merlin is amazing even when he's not really Merlin, and discovering things through Arthur's eyes is brilliant. I love this fic to bits and you're going to love that it's in 3 long parts. There's not just absurd hilarity in this - there's a great passion and an amazing choice of how to let things unfold in this fic, and that's what makes it so much fun to read.
merlin couldn't help it, really, if every THURSDAY his magic decided that sending him back to when arthur was a child would be a very good idea [fluff fix] OH LORD I'M SAVING THIS PROMPT FOR MYSELF, DON'T TAKE IT
(Arthur would know that laugh anywhere...)
Bringing Up Baby by oxoniensis [G]
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Author's summary: One minute Merlin's there, riding (like a sack of turnips) next to Arthur. The next-
It's a very good thing Arthur has good reflexes.
First, LOOK AT THE ACCOMPANYING ART BY trolleys, LOOK AT IT - IT IS ABSOLUTE, BEAUTIFUL FLUFF TO THE MAX. Really, I don't even care that oxoniensis's fic is somewhat pre-slash, EVERYTHING ABOUT IT IS SO ADORABLE & AWW-GENERATING THAT IT'S FORGIVEABLE. Really, some of you may even have to sue me for reccing this kind of disgustingly, unashamedly cute stuff, but I CANNOT HELP IT. Guh. GUH.
Really, just - Arthur with babies. Arthur with MAGICAL babies. I truly can't resist. Anyone see that piece of amazing art recently with Arthur and his look-alike son w/the sword? THIS IS THAT LEVEL OF IRRESISTIBLE CUTENESS.
when FRIDAY burst into flames, arthur stared first at merlin, then at the calendar, and muttered, "that's a bit extreme" [AU fix]
(Arthur was probably going to be angry enough when he found out about the Enya thing.)
Destiny Calling by sophieisgod [PG-13]
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin, Gwen/Lancelot, Gwen/Morgana, Will/Sophia
Author's summary: [Film prompt - Empire Records] In which Merlin is guided by a force much greater than luck, Lancelot is excessively chivalrous, and Morgana is a very angry and confused young woman.
Guh, I love reel_merlin so much. This fandom is so full of awesome sauce that I can't even bear it. This particular fic is based on Empire Records, which I understand has a bit of a cult following (or, in other words, only a few oddballs have seen & loved it). I never watched the movie, but I did thoroughly enjoy the fic, in all its cracked out insanity and hilarious, heart-wrenching romance. I don't even know how sophieisgod managed to make it mesh so well with the Merlin universe, but she did and it is brilliant.
despite the fact that it was SATURDAY and the guards were on high alert, the druids still managed to brush past them and span into the courtyard, facing arthur and the king [epic fix]
("No," he yelled at the top of his lungs and threw out his hand.)
To You I Pledge by beren_writes [NC-17]
Pairings: Merlin/Arthur
Author's summary: Merlin lays his life on the line to save Arthur yet again, only this time there are witnesses, lots of them. Only Arthur prevents him going to the headman's axe straight away, but Arthur alone cannot save him. That is up to both of them.
I always love doing Saturday's recs, because I have to go through my mental list of epics and decide which one to rec each week. And then I get to re-read them, just to - you know - make sure it's really what I want & what I'm going to say in this rambling section right here. Does anyone even read this rambling section? BECAUSE HEY, PEOPLE, I checked the number of hits on the photos for these issues and whoa at the hit count. So - anyway - if you're reading the rambling sections, let me know which fics in particular have certain elements you love, etc., so I can know what other people like. 'Cause you can never tell if your own taste is a bit skewed. BUT ANYWAY BACK TO THIS EPIC PIECE OF SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO TAKE HOME AND TUCK RIGHT INTO BED BESIDE ME.
beren_writes is pretty well known across different fandoms, which is why when I accidentally stumbled on one of her Merlin fics I was more than ecstatic. AND SHE DIDN'T DISAPPOINT. What more do I like than a magic!reveal fic? One in which Merlin reveals it EPICALLY and then Arthur does the honourable thing and traverses the galaxy to find the magic hipporhinoflower that will enable him to displace Merlin into a different dimension until Uther finally kicks off and magic is allowed back into Camelot. Well. Maybe I got the plot points a little wrong and maybe I made up pretty much all of that, but YOU MUST KNOW THAT THIS FIC IS EPIC. THUS, IT FITS THE FIX YOU ALL CRAVE, YESS IT DOES. I mean, Jesus. That title itself is pretty epic, though I wonder what it is exactly that I'm being pledged.
By the way, to all you fruitcakes who keep asking merlin_finders for fics where Merlin reveals himself with a BANG, this is my Christmas gift to you.
SUNDAY dawned, and merlin thought of another endless list of ways that he could and couldn't tell arthur his secret [one-shot fix]
(Maybe this hadn't been such a good idea after all.)
A Thousand Different Skins by tarayith [NC-17]
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Author's summary: Merlin decides he wants to learn to fly. Only things don't quite go to plan.
I was torn between putting this in the fluff section or in the one-shot section, but I think this is the best fit. IT'S GREAT AND IT REMINDS ME OF THE HP FANDOM YAY. There's magic reveal in a very fun way, an innocent, hurt Merlin and PROTECTIVE, ANGRY ARTHUR, there's a great take on Merlin's character that makes you go aww but also oooh and there's a smashing good plot to pull everything together. The summary is excellent in giving you the feel for what this story is about and how it reads, and I like the way that the fic is unique even while it builds upon an oft-used premise. Knowing what this fic is about, I love the title - it fits so well and is pretty amazing. While it's a little long, it's thoroughly enjoyable and doesn't flag at any point.