weekly round-up 23
Thanks for the birthday wishes guys!!! *GROUP HUG*
Also. WHY DID THIS ROUND-UP TAKE ME ALL EVENING TO DRAFT?? Am I really that out of practice, what with the slimmer round-ups as of late?? *pops knuckles* Next week, I'll be ready for you. BRING IT.
Trend of the week: MYSTERIES, COOOOL
Weekly Round-Up
Titles in bold are extra-recommended ♥
Merlin recs
gone were but the winter by maleyka (PG-13, 8k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, First Time, H/C. Arthur's acting totally pissy, making everyone's lives miserable, and Merlin is the ONLY ONE who doesn't know why.
Notes: This fic is SO FUZZY. The first thing that'll grab you is the mystery of why Arthur's being a jerk, and the author does a good job fleshing it out through great pacing and smooth characterization. This is a total page-turner.
The Natural Progression of Such Things by marzilla (NC-17, 6k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, PWP. Somewhat by accident, Merlin finds his duty roster expanding.
Notes: Holy hell, this fic is SMOKIN'. I do love a good blowjob scene. Everything's detailed and hot without being cheeseball, and Merlin's quite cute as the backwater servant head over heels for his prince XD Also...6k words of PWP? That is stamina, dude. Sweet, sweet stamina.
four seasons, five years, and too many farewells by lefcadio (PG-13, 6k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, Arthur/Gwen in a not-gross way, Gwen/Lancelot, Future!fic, First Time. Morgana leaves, then Merlin leaves, and Arthur and Gwen are left in the dust.
Notes: Before you guys run away from the summary, THERE IS A HAPPY ENDING. This story's a total gem. It's ethereal. I loved the writing style--simple yet lyrical, tale-like with its omniscient narrator. The author whips up a very compelling mystery as to where Morgana and Merlin have gotten off to. The relationships are solidly crafted, backed by anecdotes instead of cumbersome narration, and it makes all the characters really believable. And the last scene? Pretty much doubles the awesomeness of this story in one go. THIS IS QUALITY STUFF, GUISE.
Princess!Arthur and maid!Merlin by newkidfan (art)
Summary: Arthur&Merlin, rated G, manip, CRACK
Notes: HA HA HA OH GOD. YOUR EYES WILL BURN, BUT YOU WILL KEEP LOOKING. And crack aside, I'm seriously impressed with the technical skillz involved in this manip.
Underwater Love by solanyxe (vid)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, PG. Arthur works out his attraction towards Merlin in his dreams. Done to "Underwater Love" by Smoke City.
Notes: solanyxe always comes up with solid vids. For this one, the kiss scene put it over top for me. It's so damned clever, what with all the creative editing. Non-Merlin footage is worked in seamlessly throughout the entire video via smart color manipulation. The only comment I have is that I wish she worked from HQ source videos. It makes a huge difference in presentation, and I don't want her talent and editing prowess to be brought down by something avoidable like low-res video. Then again, what do I know? I am no vidder D:
RPS recs
Don't Look Down by anna_zee (PG, ~2k)
Summary: Bradley/Colin. Colin's afraid of heights. Bradley wants to change this.
Notes: Fluffy, well-written. The romance is subtle but ADORABLE.
Let me be the street by spiny (NC-17, ~2k)
Summary: Bradley/Colin, UST. Sequel to Rain Wakes Me, NOW WITH HAPPY ENDING. Colin breaks it off, but Bradley begs to differ.
Notes: spiny kills me with her CRAZY WRITING SKILLZ. This two-parter is positively brimming with clever, evocatives lines that smack of originality. For example,
[Bradley] lets his mind drift with his fingers touching the braille of Colin's spine.
There's so much meaning packed into each sentence. It isn't just the occasional smart phrase, either; she works with every element in a scene for maximum impact, whether its setting or timing or wtv. Anyway, shoo already, I can't do this story justice by blathering.
A recap of my own (NOT recced) stuff this week:
ART: wake up + arthur + sketch
Looking for previous recs? Check the tag. For FAQ and list of all bolded titles, check the primer.
Also. WHY DID THIS ROUND-UP TAKE ME ALL EVENING TO DRAFT?? Am I really that out of practice, what with the slimmer round-ups as of late?? *pops knuckles* Next week, I'll be ready for you. BRING IT.
Trend of the week: MYSTERIES, COOOOL
Weekly Round-Up
Titles in bold are extra-recommended ♥
Merlin recs
gone were but the winter by maleyka (PG-13, 8k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, First Time, H/C. Arthur's acting totally pissy, making everyone's lives miserable, and Merlin is the ONLY ONE who doesn't know why.
Notes: This fic is SO FUZZY. The first thing that'll grab you is the mystery of why Arthur's being a jerk, and the author does a good job fleshing it out through great pacing and smooth characterization. This is a total page-turner.
The Natural Progression of Such Things by marzilla (NC-17, 6k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, PWP. Somewhat by accident, Merlin finds his duty roster expanding.
Notes: Holy hell, this fic is SMOKIN'. I do love a good blowjob scene. Everything's detailed and hot without being cheeseball, and Merlin's quite cute as the backwater servant head over heels for his prince XD Also...6k words of PWP? That is stamina, dude. Sweet, sweet stamina.
four seasons, five years, and too many farewells by lefcadio (PG-13, 6k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, Arthur/Gwen in a not-gross way, Gwen/Lancelot, Future!fic, First Time. Morgana leaves, then Merlin leaves, and Arthur and Gwen are left in the dust.
Notes: Before you guys run away from the summary, THERE IS A HAPPY ENDING. This story's a total gem. It's ethereal. I loved the writing style--simple yet lyrical, tale-like with its omniscient narrator. The author whips up a very compelling mystery as to where Morgana and Merlin have gotten off to. The relationships are solidly crafted, backed by anecdotes instead of cumbersome narration, and it makes all the characters really believable. And the last scene? Pretty much doubles the awesomeness of this story in one go. THIS IS QUALITY STUFF, GUISE.
Princess!Arthur and maid!Merlin by newkidfan (art)
Summary: Arthur&Merlin, rated G, manip, CRACK
Notes: HA HA HA OH GOD. YOUR EYES WILL BURN, BUT YOU WILL KEEP LOOKING. And crack aside, I'm seriously impressed with the technical skillz involved in this manip.
Underwater Love by solanyxe (vid)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, PG. Arthur works out his attraction towards Merlin in his dreams. Done to "Underwater Love" by Smoke City.
Notes: solanyxe always comes up with solid vids. For this one, the kiss scene put it over top for me. It's so damned clever, what with all the creative editing. Non-Merlin footage is worked in seamlessly throughout the entire video via smart color manipulation. The only comment I have is that I wish she worked from HQ source videos. It makes a huge difference in presentation, and I don't want her talent and editing prowess to be brought down by something avoidable like low-res video. Then again, what do I know? I am no vidder D:
RPS recs
Don't Look Down by anna_zee (PG, ~2k)
Summary: Bradley/Colin. Colin's afraid of heights. Bradley wants to change this.
Notes: Fluffy, well-written. The romance is subtle but ADORABLE.
Let me be the street by spiny (NC-17, ~2k)
Summary: Bradley/Colin, UST. Sequel to Rain Wakes Me, NOW WITH HAPPY ENDING. Colin breaks it off, but Bradley begs to differ.
Notes: spiny kills me with her CRAZY WRITING SKILLZ. This two-parter is positively brimming with clever, evocatives lines that smack of originality. For example,
[Bradley] lets his mind drift with his fingers touching the braille of Colin's spine.
There's so much meaning packed into each sentence. It isn't just the occasional smart phrase, either; she works with every element in a scene for maximum impact, whether its setting or timing or wtv. Anyway, shoo already, I can't do this story justice by blathering.
A recap of my own (NOT recced) stuff this week:
ART: wake up + arthur + sketch
Looking for previous recs? Check the tag. For FAQ and list of all bolded titles, check the primer.