weekly round-up 43
RL has been busy times.
Trend of the week: AU.
Weekly Round-Up
Titles in bold are extra-recommended ♥
Merlin recs
The One Where Arthur Sells Tongue B/C Being Rich Is Hard by derryere (NC-17, ~5k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, modern!AU. Arthur sells lessons on kissing for money (despite being filthy rich already). Merlin tries out his services.
Notes: This has a bit of the naughty, illicit nature of boarding school AUs along with the equally endearing plot device of kissing lessons. The boys are young and fresh-faced--Merlin is ADORABLE while Arthur is blithely hot and arrogant. Watching him lose his composure over Merlin is fun indeed :)
Something Fragile (When You Hold Your Breath) by ras_elased (NC-17, 8k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, modern!AU, stripper!Merlin. Arthur is trying to recover from a breakup with Sophia so, to help, his coworker buys him a lap dance. At a gay bar.
Notes: The characterization is ELECTRIC. Arthur is so hot as the straight-but-corruptible male lead. Merlin is cheeky and adorable and sweet, feeling too much and putting himself out there for Arthur...much like on the show (but with less clothing, thank you Ras). There's yearning and guilt and porn, as well as sweetness and romance. The fic is pretty much perfect, but I must warn you guys: the ending is a cliffhanger. UGH, I DON'T DO WIPs. Even so, I HAVE to rec this because it's absolutely genius.
Miles From Nowhere by zarah5 (PG-13, 2k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, future!fic, epic. King Arthur spots a familiar face while he and his men stop at an inn.
Notes: Two words: SO ROMANTIC. Arthur hasn't seen Merlin in years and their reunion is just as dashingly epic as it sounds. The author supports this demanding plot with great setting descriptions, full of tangible things like howling wind and cold weather, etc. It's a short story but it sure pulls on the heartstrings.
In Lieu of Flowers Please (a Be Resigned Snippet) by franticsga (NC-17, ~2k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, modern!AU, established relationship. This snippet belongs to the Be Resigned universe, where Arthur and Merlin are part of the army as weather guys (I totally just butchered franticsga's line of work, but wtv. It's confusing D:). Gay marriage has just been legalized in Iowa and Arthur and Merlin each have their own takes on it.
Notes: HOTNESS. That's about, really. This is very well-written porn and that should be enough of an incentive for you guys. I know how y'all work ;)
Different Perceptions by gonrie (G, ~2k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, outside!POV. Arthur&Merlin as told by third-party witnesses.
Notes: Heartwarming. There's no outright slash or conclusion to these vignettes, but outside POVs are simply enjoyable to read.
RPS recs
Lucky Knickers Will Get You Everywhere by hijapaloma and franticsga (R, ~6k)
Summary: Bradley/Colin, kink. When the subject of rimming comes up between Katie, Angel, Colin, and Bradley, Colin admits to loving it. Suddenly, Bradley can't think about anything else. Featuring idiot!Bradley, out!Colin, and lots of sexual fantasizing \o/
Notes: I've never been especially enamoured by rimming, but this fic is so damned GOOD that it makes it sound AMAZING. The fic is hot hot hot, full of sexual tension and yearning and all that build-up really pays off at the end. I always love idiot!Bradley (or idiot!Arthur, for that matter) and Colin is totally lovable here as the patient, silently crushing boy.
Looking for previous recs? Check the tag. For FAQ and list of all bolded titles, check the primer.
Trend of the week: AU.
Weekly Round-Up
Titles in bold are extra-recommended ♥
Merlin recs
The One Where Arthur Sells Tongue B/C Being Rich Is Hard by derryere (NC-17, ~5k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, modern!AU. Arthur sells lessons on kissing for money (despite being filthy rich already). Merlin tries out his services.
Notes: This has a bit of the naughty, illicit nature of boarding school AUs along with the equally endearing plot device of kissing lessons. The boys are young and fresh-faced--Merlin is ADORABLE while Arthur is blithely hot and arrogant. Watching him lose his composure over Merlin is fun indeed :)
Something Fragile (When You Hold Your Breath) by ras_elased (NC-17, 8k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, modern!AU, stripper!Merlin. Arthur is trying to recover from a breakup with Sophia so, to help, his coworker buys him a lap dance. At a gay bar.
Notes: The characterization is ELECTRIC. Arthur is so hot as the straight-but-corruptible male lead. Merlin is cheeky and adorable and sweet, feeling too much and putting himself out there for Arthur...much like on the show (but with less clothing, thank you Ras). There's yearning and guilt and porn, as well as sweetness and romance. The fic is pretty much perfect, but I must warn you guys: the ending is a cliffhanger. UGH, I DON'T DO WIPs. Even so, I HAVE to rec this because it's absolutely genius.
Miles From Nowhere by zarah5 (PG-13, 2k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, future!fic, epic. King Arthur spots a familiar face while he and his men stop at an inn.
Notes: Two words: SO ROMANTIC. Arthur hasn't seen Merlin in years and their reunion is just as dashingly epic as it sounds. The author supports this demanding plot with great setting descriptions, full of tangible things like howling wind and cold weather, etc. It's a short story but it sure pulls on the heartstrings.
In Lieu of Flowers Please (a Be Resigned Snippet) by franticsga (NC-17, ~2k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, modern!AU, established relationship. This snippet belongs to the Be Resigned universe, where Arthur and Merlin are part of the army as weather guys (I totally just butchered franticsga's line of work, but wtv. It's confusing D:). Gay marriage has just been legalized in Iowa and Arthur and Merlin each have their own takes on it.
Notes: HOTNESS. That's about, really. This is very well-written porn and that should be enough of an incentive for you guys. I know how y'all work ;)
Different Perceptions by gonrie (G, ~2k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, outside!POV. Arthur&Merlin as told by third-party witnesses.
Notes: Heartwarming. There's no outright slash or conclusion to these vignettes, but outside POVs are simply enjoyable to read.
RPS recs
Lucky Knickers Will Get You Everywhere by hijapaloma and franticsga (R, ~6k)
Summary: Bradley/Colin, kink. When the subject of rimming comes up between Katie, Angel, Colin, and Bradley, Colin admits to loving it. Suddenly, Bradley can't think about anything else. Featuring idiot!Bradley, out!Colin, and lots of sexual fantasizing \o/
Notes: I've never been especially enamoured by rimming, but this fic is so damned GOOD that it makes it sound AMAZING. The fic is hot hot hot, full of sexual tension and yearning and all that build-up really pays off at the end. I always love idiot!Bradley (or idiot!Arthur, for that matter) and Colin is totally lovable here as the patient, silently crushing boy.
Looking for previous recs? Check the tag. For FAQ and list of all bolded titles, check the primer.