Fic: Where the Pavement Ends (Arthur/Merlin, R)
Edited to add: Thanks to syrosis, the story is now hosted in a place that doesn't suck, which means that the link actually, you know, works.
What started as a small, fun idea back in October somehow turned into this 60'000 words multimedia monster that is utterly and completely self-indulgent. I don’t know how it happened.
Where the Pavement Ends
by zarah5
Merlin/Arthur (Gwen/Lancelot)
R
A modern day AU that delivers three well-worn tropes (university, strippers, businessmen) for the price of one. Consider this your warning.
>> When Merlin finished his A-levels, financing university by taking his clothes off didn’t exactly occur to him. <<
Thank you:
So many people had a hand in this that I really hope I won’t forget anyone. If I do, rest assured that I love you. Here it goes… Some of the initial plot discussions happened with inderpal, so in addition to her manips embellishing the text, her input shaped this story quite considerably. torakowalski was wonderful throughout the entire piece and helped me add a London flavour to this thing, and she also checked my Brit-speak, my plot holes and so much other stuff that needed fixing. syllic jumped in for a little something that you won't find out about until the end of January. snarkaddict’s enthusiasm for this helped me through a rough patch or two. icelandic_blues made sure the chemistry of the story was fine. Last but not least, discussions with pixie_pan about the general nature of stripper!fics certainly added to this.
The two soundtracks (linked at the end) were (mostly knowingly) inspired by a great many of you, which in turn inspired the story. Amongst others, bunnymcfoo, impasto, randomb33 and airgiodslv provided me with music to strip to, and I stole stuff from azewewish and the maker of a Merlin/Arthur mix by the name of Modern Mystery - unfortunately, I don’t remember anymore where I got that one from, but it’s awesome. (Edit: it's from derryere and can be admired in its full glory here.) And, and-Okay. Thank you to everyone who donated a piece of music; you have no idea how much you helped me put this thing together.
[Read the story]
...or
Download the soundtrack(s) - mild spoilers!
Where the Pavement Ends
(or: The actual soundtrack to the story)
Where the Pole Begins
(or: The stripping music that accompanied the writing and occasionally, vaguely fits the story)
1.
Stars - The Night Starts Here
(The night starts here, the night starts here / Forget your name, forget your fear // No one is spared, no one is clean // The ecstasy, the being free / The big black cloud over you and me / And after that, the upwards fall / And were we angels after all? / I don't know, I don't know...)
Thievery Corporation - The Shining Path
(Instrumental)
2.
Garbage - I Think I’m Paranoid
(You can look but you can't touch / I don't think I like you much / Heaven knows what a girl can do / Heaven knows what you've got to prove // I think I'm paranoid / And complicated)
Rogue Traders - Voodoo Child
(You're like voodoo, honey / All silver and gold / Why don't you tell me my future? / Why don't I sell you my soul)
3.
Face to Face - Disappointed
(I know you've tried your ‘very best’ / And I'm so glad / Thank you so much // Disappointment is what you've made this / Expectations overrated / Disappointment is what you've made this / My ambition is so deflated // Identity is insignificant / Or is it everything?)
Love Spit Love - How Soon Is Now?
(The Smiths cover)
(You shut your mouth / How can you say / I go about things the wrong way? / I am human and I need to be loved)
4.
Sentenced - Creep
(Radiohead cover)
(But I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo / What the hell am I doing here? / I don't belong here)
Adam Lambert - For Your Entertainment
(So hot out the box / Can we pick up the pace / Turn it up, heat it up / I need to be entertained // Let’s go, it’s my show, baby, do what I say / Don’t trip off the glitz that I’m gonna display)
5.
Air - All I Need
(All I need is a little time / To get behind this sun and cast my weight // All in all there's something to give / All in all there's something to do)
6.
Milow - Dreamers and Renegades
(Hey man, I’m tired of working all day / I’m turning into a daysleeping walking cliché / Hey man, let's wait until daylight fades / And we'll join the dreamers and renegades)
Röyksopp - Röyksopp's Night Out
(Instrumental)
7.
Phoenix - Everything Is Everything
(Don't know what it means to me / But it's hopeless, hopeless / Got to get you home / Could be with anyone // Since I always wanted / I always wanted you // Riding low, riding low, riding faster / The more I talk about it / The less I do control)
Sonic Youth - Kissability
(You've got twistability / You fly hard, don't you wanna / You've got kissability / You could be a star, it ain't hard // You're driving me crazy / I smell so sick / You're driving me crazy / Give us a kiss)
8.
Morcheeba - God Bless and Goodbye
(Questions are never answered / Glances you'll always miss / Too ready to push and pamper // Caught in a struggle / Goodness, I've tried / You're such a puzzle / I guess, God bless and goodbye)
Beth Orton - Central Reservation
(Running down the central reservation / In last night's red dress / And I can still smell you on my fingers / And taste you on my breath)
9.
Röyksopp - Go Away
(I don’t want nothing from you / I don’t wanna know you / I had time to find out / What you’re all about // Every time I turn around your face is in the paper / Your voice is on the air // It don’t mean shit to me / Just wanna make it clear / Just go away)
HIM - Wicked Game
(Chris Isaak cover)
(It's strange what desire will make foolish people do / I never dreamed that I'd meet somebody like you / And I never dreamed that I'd lose somebody like you // What a wicked game to play, to make me feel this way / What a wicked thing to do, to let me dream of you)
10.
Angus & Julia Stone - Just A Boy
(I bit my tongue in the awkward conversation / I don't know why // One kiss from you and I'm drunk up on your potion / That big old smile is all you wore / Girl you make me want to feel / Things I never felt before // Did I say I'm just a boy?)
11.
Plushgun - Just Impolite
(That seemed to take all day to make me angry 'cause I / Like you, maybe I'm just like you / Holding on to something that we know we cannot hold / Or fold it seems we just can't forget // Sunday came and went so quickly / Now you say you want me back / You will hold on, despite my cons / It seems we're meant to hate it // I called your line too many times / I'm not obsessed, just impolite)
Bush - Mouth
(Stingray Mix)
(You gave me this / Made me give / Your silver grin // All your mental armor drags me down / Nothing hurts like your mouth)
12.
Hooverphonic - Mad About You
(Are you the fishy wine that will give me / A headache in the morning / Or just a dark blue land mine / That'll explode without a decent warning // Can someone tell me if it's wrong to be / So mad about you)
Garbage - You Look So Fine
(Deep Drama Remix)
(You look so fine / I want to break your heart and give you mine / You're taking me over // It's so insane / You've got me tethered and chained / I hear your name / And I'm falling over)
13.
Semisonic - Who’s Stopping You?
(We're speaking in tongues / Both of us dumbfounded / Our brains have been impounded by our hearts // Life is so uncertain / Look at all the hurting that we've done / You said you had somebody better to become / Who's stopping you?)
Melissa Ferrick - Drive
(If you want this / If you want this / If you want this, you’re gonna have to ask / Nnicely please // Whatever you want / I’ll give it to you / I’ll give it to you slowly / ‘Till you’re just begging me to hold you // I’ll hold you up / In your office / Preferably during business hours / ‘Cause you know how I like it when there’s people around)
14.
Some Say Leland - No More Cars
(There’s nothing like a trip cross-country to find out / You’re someone you don’t want to be // And I can’t tell if you miss home or if you’re hating me // Let’s ride until we see no more cars)
Muse - Undisclosed Desires
(Trust me / You can be sure // I want to reconcile the violence in your heart / I want to recognise your beauty's not just a mask // You may be a sinner / But your innocence is mine // Please me / Show me how it's done / Trust me / You are the one)
15.
Sarah McLachlan - Elsewhere
(I love the time and in between / The calm inside me / In the space where I can breathe // I’m drunk in my desire / But I love the way you smile at me)
P!nk feat. Peaches - Oh My God
(I can sit and listen / Or I can make you scream / Kiss it and make it better / Just put your trust in me // Let me feel you, baby / 'Cause I understand)
16.
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Modern Mystery
(I've got a job that I can't keep working on / Yeah // And we may fight with each others shadows / But I'm so glad I don't hear you say no)
17.
Cowboy Junkies - A Common Disaster
(I had a long list of names that I kept in my back pocket / But I've cut it down to one and your name's at the top // Run away with me from a life so cramped and dull / Not worry too much about the happily-ever-after / Just keep the Caddy moving)
Portishead - Glory Box
(I'm so tired, of playing / Playing with this bow and arrow / Gonna give my heart away // For I've been a temptress too long / Just... / Give me a reason to love you // For this is the beginning of forever and ever)
[Download]
(the download comes with a file that fits text quotes to the lyrics,
so it should be easier to place the songs)
[Download]
(the download comes with a file that fits text quotes to the lyrics,
so it should be easier to place the songs)
...or leave a comment!