weekly round-up 42
When did everyone decide to write long, multi-chapter epics and post them within a week of each other??? I mean boy, I will NOT complain, but on the other hand I'm fallin a bit behind...whatever. This beefy post should be enough to tide you guys over for awhile XD
Trend of the week: FUTURAMA. Whether it's future!fic set in Camelot or modern!AU set about 700 years after that, prepare for the boys being in a new time and place this week.
Weekly Round-Up
Titles in bold are extra-recommended ♥
Merlin recs
Directional Convergence by cherrybina (PG, 3k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, modern!AU. Merlin tutors Arthur in Calculus, so naturally Arthur sneaks in through Merlin's window so they can make out.
Notes: This is like DawsonsCreek!AU, pilot! It's short and sweet but not overly sappy. There's fun to be had with teenage angst here, and the fic encapsulates all the reasons why we love a good high school romance.
Interruption by byaghro (NC-17, 1k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, future!fic, established relationship. Merlin decides King Arthur needs a break from his meeting. Wall!sex ensues.
Notes: Wham, bam, thank you ma'am! RIDICULOUSLY hot.
My Fair Arty by batgurl88 (PG-13, 52k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, Anastasia!AU. Arthur is royalty but he lost his memory at an early age. Merlin and Gaius are con-men, hoping to return Arthur to Uther for a hefty reward, but little do they know they have the real deal on their hands.
Notes: This story is absolutely, breathtakingly epic. It's AU done PERFECTLY, where the boys are in such a different world yet wholly recognizable. I love how confident and naturally noble Arthur is, and how scrappy and resourceful Merlin is--both true to their canon characters. The romantic build-up is deliciously drawn out and enticing until the very last drop. As for the setting descriptions and historical backdrop, it's obvious this was a labor of love for the author and the research pays off in spades.
modern!AU + chibi hug by oteap (art)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, G. Two computer illustrations.
Notes: oteap is generally an insta-rec on the Weekly Round-Up. Her art produces involuntary squee, we just can't help it! In this case, the cast ensemble (Merlin, Arthur, Gwen, Morgana) is seriously lovely.
Doodle Dump of Gigantitude by littlewolfstar (art)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, G. Several computer illustrations.
Notes: As if the above art rec wasn't enough to make your heart explode, this TOTALLY WILL. Click and observe kitty!Merlin, or woobie!Merlin getting shielded by Morgana from a woobie!Arthur. IF YOU AREN'T DEAD FROM CUTE BY THE END OF THIS ART POST, YOU HAVE NO HEART.
Merlin 2x05 Episode Reaction/Picspam by ifyouweremine (recap)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, recap of 2x05, crack.
Notes: WUT, WHY IS THIS RECAP BOLDED? you may ask. To be frank, it's the little smidge of boardingschool!AU snuck inside a tangent that made me fall for this post, hard. I'm a giant fan of ifyouweremine's fic as well as a giant fan of highschool!AUs (see relevant rec above, haha). So yeah, click the link and enjoy the comedy, then prepare to get slammed by screencaps of naked!Arthur accompanied by brilliant, world-rocking porn.
RPS recs
Think Less and See it Grow by hulubululu (PG-13, 32k)
Summary: Bradley/Colin, boardingschool!AU. Colin starts at his new school in England. Bradley is an asshole footie player, Dempsie (Will on Merlin) is Colin's roommate, and Colin doesn't like Bradley all that much either. Only, fate has other ideas when Colin is assigned to be Bradley's English Lit tutor.
Notes: The shortcomings first: you can find better writing elsewhere, the characterisation is a little off as it borrows attributes from both the actors and their Merlin counterparts, muddling them into unfamiliar people and relationships. Also, this is cheesy in the detracting way, not the (preferred) fluffy way.
With that out of the way...OMG BOARDINGSCHOOL!AU. Colin has a crush on a jock who's way out of his league! Bradley falls hard for the geek! It's all so DELICIOUS and ADDICTIVE. I totally stayed up late devouring this fic and had an exhausting day at work because of it, but WTV. TOTALLY WORTH IT. Go read, b/c you will. Not. Regret.
If We Sleep Together (Will You Be My Friend Forever) and Love Made Visible by chibirhm (R, ~12k, ~12k)
Summary: Bradley/Colin, Bradley!POV (for the first fic), Colin!POV (for the sequel), established relationship (for the sequel). First fic is comm-locked (Join for this fic! So worth it.) First, it's just a bromance. Then it turns into friends with benefits. Then it turns into something else entirely...
Notes: The dialogue and banter! The stupid boys! The jealousy and epicness and palpable love between them!!!! I don't know what to say other than that If We Sleep Together is pretty much perfect. I think you'll recognize the genre--cozy, intimate scenes within an anecdotal framework. Bits of real life (eg Colin and Neil being in NYC) mixed in with the author's artistic license (eg Bradley being on that NYC trip as well). The pacing is really stand-out though, full of angst and yearning but tempered by fluffy Bradley&Colin scenes. The first fic is totally sublime.
The sequel is written with the same structure, but from Colin's POV instead. Unfortunately, the main conflict of the boys getting together has already been resolved in If We Sleep Together so I didn't enjoy the sequel nearly as much. It's just schmoop and established relationship and not the kind of stuff I normally read. On the other hand, chibirhm
is extremely deft at building great chemistry between characters, whether it's Bradley/Colin or the rest of the cast like Richard, Katie or Angel. Hell, even the makeup people and PAs have personalities!
She's new to this fandom, but chibirhm is definitely one to watch out for.
Looking for previous recs? Check the tag. For FAQ and list of all bolded titles, check the primer.
Trend of the week: FUTURAMA. Whether it's future!fic set in Camelot or modern!AU set about 700 years after that, prepare for the boys being in a new time and place this week.
Weekly Round-Up
Titles in bold are extra-recommended ♥
Merlin recs
Directional Convergence by cherrybina (PG, 3k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, modern!AU. Merlin tutors Arthur in Calculus, so naturally Arthur sneaks in through Merlin's window so they can make out.
Notes: This is like DawsonsCreek!AU, pilot! It's short and sweet but not overly sappy. There's fun to be had with teenage angst here, and the fic encapsulates all the reasons why we love a good high school romance.
Interruption by byaghro (NC-17, 1k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, future!fic, established relationship. Merlin decides King Arthur needs a break from his meeting. Wall!sex ensues.
Notes: Wham, bam, thank you ma'am! RIDICULOUSLY hot.
My Fair Arty by batgurl88 (PG-13, 52k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, Anastasia!AU. Arthur is royalty but he lost his memory at an early age. Merlin and Gaius are con-men, hoping to return Arthur to Uther for a hefty reward, but little do they know they have the real deal on their hands.
Notes: This story is absolutely, breathtakingly epic. It's AU done PERFECTLY, where the boys are in such a different world yet wholly recognizable. I love how confident and naturally noble Arthur is, and how scrappy and resourceful Merlin is--both true to their canon characters. The romantic build-up is deliciously drawn out and enticing until the very last drop. As for the setting descriptions and historical backdrop, it's obvious this was a labor of love for the author and the research pays off in spades.
modern!AU + chibi hug by oteap (art)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, G. Two computer illustrations.
Notes: oteap is generally an insta-rec on the Weekly Round-Up. Her art produces involuntary squee, we just can't help it! In this case, the cast ensemble (Merlin, Arthur, Gwen, Morgana) is seriously lovely.
Doodle Dump of Gigantitude by littlewolfstar (art)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, G. Several computer illustrations.
Notes: As if the above art rec wasn't enough to make your heart explode, this TOTALLY WILL. Click and observe kitty!Merlin, or woobie!Merlin getting shielded by Morgana from a woobie!Arthur. IF YOU AREN'T DEAD FROM CUTE BY THE END OF THIS ART POST, YOU HAVE NO HEART.
Merlin 2x05 Episode Reaction/Picspam by ifyouweremine (recap)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, recap of 2x05, crack.
Notes: WUT, WHY IS THIS RECAP BOLDED? you may ask. To be frank, it's the little smidge of boardingschool!AU snuck inside a tangent that made me fall for this post, hard. I'm a giant fan of ifyouweremine's fic as well as a giant fan of highschool!AUs (see relevant rec above, haha). So yeah, click the link and enjoy the comedy, then prepare to get slammed by screencaps of naked!Arthur accompanied by brilliant, world-rocking porn.
RPS recs
Think Less and See it Grow by hulubululu (PG-13, 32k)
Summary: Bradley/Colin, boardingschool!AU. Colin starts at his new school in England. Bradley is an asshole footie player, Dempsie (Will on Merlin) is Colin's roommate, and Colin doesn't like Bradley all that much either. Only, fate has other ideas when Colin is assigned to be Bradley's English Lit tutor.
Notes: The shortcomings first: you can find better writing elsewhere, the characterisation is a little off as it borrows attributes from both the actors and their Merlin counterparts, muddling them into unfamiliar people and relationships. Also, this is cheesy in the detracting way, not the (preferred) fluffy way.
With that out of the way...OMG BOARDINGSCHOOL!AU. Colin has a crush on a jock who's way out of his league! Bradley falls hard for the geek! It's all so DELICIOUS and ADDICTIVE. I totally stayed up late devouring this fic and had an exhausting day at work because of it, but WTV. TOTALLY WORTH IT. Go read, b/c you will. Not. Regret.
If We Sleep Together (Will You Be My Friend Forever) and Love Made Visible by chibirhm (R, ~12k, ~12k)
Summary: Bradley/Colin, Bradley!POV (for the first fic), Colin!POV (for the sequel), established relationship (for the sequel). First fic is comm-locked (Join for this fic! So worth it.) First, it's just a bromance. Then it turns into friends with benefits. Then it turns into something else entirely...
Notes: The dialogue and banter! The stupid boys! The jealousy and epicness and palpable love between them!!!! I don't know what to say other than that If We Sleep Together is pretty much perfect. I think you'll recognize the genre--cozy, intimate scenes within an anecdotal framework. Bits of real life (eg Colin and Neil being in NYC) mixed in with the author's artistic license (eg Bradley being on that NYC trip as well). The pacing is really stand-out though, full of angst and yearning but tempered by fluffy Bradley&Colin scenes. The first fic is totally sublime.
The sequel is written with the same structure, but from Colin's POV instead. Unfortunately, the main conflict of the boys getting together has already been resolved in If We Sleep Together so I didn't enjoy the sequel nearly as much. It's just schmoop and established relationship and not the kind of stuff I normally read. On the other hand, chibirhm
is extremely deft at building great chemistry between characters, whether it's Bradley/Colin or the rest of the cast like Richard, Katie or Angel. Hell, even the makeup people and PAs have personalities!
She's new to this fandom, but chibirhm is definitely one to watch out for.
Looking for previous recs? Check the tag. For FAQ and list of all bolded titles, check the primer.