Issue #14
Because we are both very busy and because there are generally fewer stories published during the summer, katernia_black and I will be publishing these rec lists every other week or so for the foreseeable future. We appreciate your understanding and patience. ♥
Picks of the Week from eosrose
[art] An Eternal Bond by isinuyasha | WS | 1 works
Summary: The boys share an intimate moment.
eosrose says: Gorgeous. I love the way Arthur caresses Merlin's cheek and how Merlin gazes down at Arthur like he's the most amazing thing in the world.
Themes: era - camelot, established relationship
[fic] Courting the Court Sorcerer is a Dangerous Task by nyxelestia | R | ~8,200 words
Summary: Because he is a powerful sorcerer, Merlin is being courted by other people. Merlin has no idea what to make of all this and Arthur is jealous.
eosrose says: nyxelestia, will you marry me? I adore Arthur with a touch of darkness. This story isn't as intense as many of nyxelestia stories, but it still touches on some adult relationship issues.
Themes: abuse of power, arthur knows, infidelity, dark!arthur, era - camelot, established relationship, insecure!arthur, jealous!arthur, king arthur, queen guinevere
[fic] Gift of the Beast by beren_writes | R | ~3,600 words
Summary: When Merlin is bitten by a wolf in the woods he finds himself becoming very possessive of Arthur.
eosrose says: As outsiders looking in, we know very well what's causing all the strangeness around Merlin after his encounter with the wolf--but Merlin has absolutely no clue! The buildup is amusing and the conclusion fairly unexpected. I'm a great big softy for werewolves and vampires and beren_writes does them very well.
Themes: arthur finds out, dark!merlin, era - camelot, first kiss, first time, jealous!merlin, magical accident(s), werewolves
[fic] Lions and Pebbles and Penguins, Oh my! by fuzzytomato02 | PG-13 | ~10,300 words
Summary: Sitting at the top of "Uther's All Time Parenting Backfires" is Arthur's fellow colleague and clumsy best friend - Merlin Emrys.
eosrose says: I was stalking this story on kinkme_merlin as it was being posted. Now I'm compelled to share the cute! fuzzytomato02 has a witty style of writing that anyone who enjoys heaps of fluff will grow to love as I have.
Themes: animals, au - no magic, courtship, era - modern, first kiss, hurt/comfort, injury, jealous!arthur
[fic] The Most Unnatural of the Sexual Perversions by freudian-fuckup | NC-17 | ~2,300 words
Summary: Uther fitted Arthur with a chastity belt/cage to insure he does not accidentally get a woman pregnant. Merlin though would love to be fucked by Arthur. How horny does Merlin need to get to reveal his magic to Arthur in order to free him of the chastity belt?
eosrose says: I feel like I spend a lot of time recommending stories from kinkme_merlin, but people have the most interesting ideas over there! This story is sweet, amusing, light-hearted, and absolutely hot. Angst-free zone, people!
Themes: arthur finds out, bottom!merlin, era - camelot, first kiss, first time, insecure!arthur, virgin!arthur
[fic] Pretending by rotrude | PG | ~8,700 words
Summary: Arthur has known for a while; Merlin isn't aware of this. One big cliché and a few adventures.
eosrose says: For those of you who, like me, find yourselves dubious as to how Arthur hasn't figured things out yet, this is a must read. A fix-it, if you will.
Themes: arthur finds out, era - camelot, friendship, protective!arthur, vampires
[fic] This is Why (the Dictionary Invented the Word No) by morcalivan | R | ~22,200 words
Summary: In order to win back the affections of an ex, Arthur has gotten himself caught up in a bet to transform the socially awkward into the socially acceptable. Features evil!Sophia, clueless!Merlin, hippy!Hunith and bit-of-a-tart!Will (in short: the highschool!AU that steals the plot from the She's All That movie)
eosrose says: I love teen movies. This story may claim to steal the plot from the plot of She's All That, but it's different enough to be interesting and the way Arthur pushes his way into Merlin's life is absolutely brilliant. You just can't help but love him (and want to strangle him). Poor Merlin never stood a chance.
Themes: au - no magic, drunkenness, era - modern, experienced!arthur (girls only), experienced!merlin (girls only), first kiss, first time
[fic] Velvet Underground/Camouflage Nights by ohwhimsy | R | ~1,200 words
Summary: Arthur wished that for once, just once, Merlin would stay through the night. That's all he wants, all he would need, to get through it - to go to sleep feeling Merlin beside him, to wake up to the sight of Merlin in his bed in the morning. Just once...that's all. Is it asking too much?
eosrose says: This is absolutely heartbreaking. Lack of communication and false assumptions lead to a miserable situation for both the boys as they struggle with their feelings for one another.
Themes: era - camelot, established relationship, unrequited love Picks of the Week from katerina_black
[fic] Nineteen by kick_flaw | NC-17 | ~2,000 words
Summary: Arthur is too old for this.
katerina-black says: This fic was a beautiful take on the Merlin who is immortal and ageless, and how he and Arthur must deal with that. This grabbed at me on a visceral level, but I was left with hope and a happy ending, which made it all the better.
Themes: era - camelot, king!arthur, age-difference, arthur knows, bottom!merlin, first kiss, first time, uther finds out, immortal!merlin, insecure!arthur
[fic] Prove All My Hypotheses by minor-hue | Nc-17 | ~13,600 words
Summary: Written for this kinkme_merlin prompt: Merlin is an emo/scene kid. Arthur is a jock with a secret kink for emo/scene kids. They meet in a club and chaos ensues. Privately referred to as, "Merlin and Arthur are full of feelings."
katerina-black says: The boys in this one are just too dysfunctional for words, and it is AWESOME. And I have to admit, Merlin with eyeliner might be a bit of my kink as well. ^_^
Themes: au - no magic, era - modern, first time, first kiss, courtship, experienced!merlin, experienced!arthur, insecure!merlin Mutual Pick of the Week
[fic] Not an Act, But a Habit by mellacita | NC-17 | ~18,000 words
Summary: Arthur is a spoiled university student. After one transgression too many, Arthur's father makes him spend a night at a hostel for homeless youth to give him a reality check. While there, he meets a tough-talking kid who is more than he seems. In spite of themselves, they become inseparable.
eosrose says: Merlin may live on the street, but for all his vulnerability he's neither weak nor pitiful. He maintains that same strength I so love in the original series-just as Arthur remains a White Knight in search of a cause. The author develops the boys' feelings for one another quite naturally.
katerina-black says: I really liked how spoiled Arthur is in this fic, which I think he would be in a world where the pressures of being Uther's heir were removed. But just like in the series, with pushes from Merlin and Gwen, Arthur comes into his own. And the two of them are adorable together, even as they struggle to figure out how they fit.
Themes: era - modern, au - no magic, first kiss, first time, experienced!merlin, experienced!arthur, courtship, bottom!merlin, insecure!arthur, drunkeness, drug use Classic of the Week
[fic] Three Castles by rageprufrock | PG-13 | ~4,600 words | Podfic
Summary: It’s a perfectly wretched day in Camelot when Uther Pendragon announces Arthur’s betrothal.
eosrose says: This is a classic fairy tale. When Arthur finds himself suddenly engaged to marry a strange prince, he finds an unlikely ally in his future spouse. Totally endearing! I loved it enough to create a podfic for it a while back.
katerina-black says: I'm not sure I have words for how much I love this fic. It's complete fluff, and the premise is cracktastic, but I love that Merlin and Arthur are still so very much themselves. They squabble, and don't particularly like each other, but they *love* eachother. I also especially love the dry humour that runs throughout, as I desperately require snark in my fic. ^_^
Themes: au - with magic, drunkenness, era - camelot, first kiss, marriage, protective!arthur
Don't forget to vote in the Merlin/Arthur Drabble Awards! Deadline is May 25th!