White collars go well with trolls.

[zarah5]

Dear f-list, you are obviously wise beyond words. Therefore, it comes as no surprise to me that you were right about the splendid thing that is White Collar. I did, however, not expect it to be quite this splendid. Especially - oh! Especially the chemistry between Neil and Peter (shoe sizes birthday cards!) as well as the loveliness that is Peter’s

Comments

[the_moonmoth]

Once he had, he even told Uther no, and as far as I remember, it was the first time

He said he wouldn't give the order to redistribute the grain to the army in Labyrinth of Gedref, which was a very similar scene to this one imo. So maybe character consistency starts here? *hopeful*

[zarah5]

Was it an outright "I will not"? Because I don't remember him as refusing quite this openly, this... finally. Is my memory failing me here?

[the_moonmoth]

It was something like "No, you'll have to give that order yourself", and then I think he walks off. Maybe not quite as forthright and final, but similar I think.

Also, I agree with your hug hypothesis. I can't see Uther ever being tactile with him, and maybe his nursemaids were too deferential. I really want to read the fic where Arthur suddenly starts seeing people hugging everywhere he goes, and obsessing about it :)

[zarah5]

I WOULD BE OVER THAT STORY LIKE SO!!! Because, yes. I mean, Arthur sees all those people hugging - friends, Gwen and Morgana, and it looks... nice? But it's not as if Arthur's been missing anything so far, so what's the big deal? Aren't words enough to show he cares, he's grateful? What's the difference?

I want Merlin to catch Arthur staring at himself in the mirror one day, sort of hugging himself with a nonplussed expression. "Are you cold?" Merlin asks, and Arthur sort of... startles and quickly drops his arms back to his side.

"As a matter of fact, I am," he says, but he doesn't quite meet Merlin's eyes. "Which isn't surprising, considering someone forgot to light the fire. Again."

[the_moonmoth]

Lol, yes, this! And then Morgana takes pity on him and sort of force-hugs him, and despite the fact he stands there like a rigid scarecrow the entire time, it's actually not so bad, sort of nice really, so then he has to convince Merlin to try hugging him again, without, you know, actually asking because that would be stupid, and really he doesn't care that much, he just wants to try it, you know? Because Morgana's alright, but Merlin's, well, he's Merlin, with his narrow shoulders and smooth skin and hair that smells of the wind and the forest, and Arthur's kind of interested in finding out more about that. Except that every time he tries Merlin just thinks Arthur's trying to wind him up, laughing knowingly with a "good one, Sire," and Arthur's found himself wondering when the next life and death situation will conveniently come along, and started dreaming about long limbs wrapping around his body.