weekly round-up 1

[aeroport_art]

Dude, have you guys noticed how prolific the Merlin fandom is getting? I'm gonna start a weekly recs list (Arthur/Merlin, of course) because it's getting kinda crazy in here.

Titles in bold are EXTRA recommended :D

Just to get the backlog out of the way, here's some older stuff:

November
Fire Sign by moonythestrals (R, 3k)
Summary: Merlin is rather unsure about the direction in which his destiny seems to be taking him, and the Dragon is completely unhelpful. Watch for unexpected sap.
Notes: Hilarious and romantic. The best, crackiest characterization of the Dragon one could ever hope for. This is a totally feasible setup for canonical Arthur/Merlin :D One thing to note--the author's journal is f-locked so you'll have to ask to be friended before reading.

MERLIN by moonythestrals (AU, R, 12k)
Summary: Arthur, Merlin, frat brothers, the Dragon, Arthur's BlackBerry, script writing, shitty hip-hop music, Dogma, FATE & DESTINY - oh God I wish I were joking.
Notes: This girl writes some GOOD CRACK. Isn't this a fandom favorite already? Fratboy!Arthur and indie!Merlin make for an adorable, adorable couple. The story's littered with inside jokes that poke fun at the show and it's overall just a lovable, laugh-out-loud ride.

Three Castles by rageprufrock (PG-13, ~6k)
Summary: It’s a perfectly wretched day in Camelot when Uther Pendragon announces Arthur’s betrothal.
Notes: Adorable and crackilicious. Uther betrothes his son to a man...and you can probably see where this is headed. The Merlin fandom, as far as I can tell, does swimmingly in crack due to the show's inherently humorous nature, and this is as a great an addition as any.

Got Your Tongue by nightanddaze (PG, 6k)
Summary: Merlin stares at the cat for a few seconds. The cat stares back.
Notes: Cat!Arthur would be the best way to describe the plot. As for the rec, it's silly and sweet and full of fluff...which I'm usually not that big a fan of, but c'mon. Cat!Arthur. Can it get any more precious than this?

Owning Up by thehoyden (PG, ~4k)
Summary: Merlin finds himself temporarily taking care of a baby and Arthur gets roped into helping out.
Notes: Another fine addition to the fandom's growing library of fluff. The story is engaging from the start, and as adorable as it sounds. I love Arthur's characterization in this.

Bookends by lo0o0ony_lauren (G, ~1k)
Summary: A character study of both Arthur and Merlin, with vignettes from their pasts (and the present).
Notes: Oh wow, I cannot recommend this enough. 2nd-person narratives are usually hard to read and even harder to get right, but this is a prime example of how it's done. Quiet and contemplative, the story gives you a great sense of Arthur when he was younger and the exploration of his relationship with Morgana is truly original. A few lines in there are totally killer--lines about Merlin that are subtle but SO TRUE. Anyway, it's a short read. Go now.

the problem we all live with by green_postit (NC-17, 6k)
Summary: Arthur saves Merlin's life. Merlin's magic is revealed.
Notes: Well-written--it's gorgeous and lyrical with angst abounds.

Today We Are Victors by nightanddaze (NC-17, 5k)
Summary: The first thing Arthur Pendragon ever learned was that he could have almost anything he wanted. The history of Arthur's need.
Notes: Good writing. Long, satisfying story with great character study on Arthur. The author gives credence to the Arthur/Merlin pairing that goes way beyond "they're both hot", thanks to the attention to detail in their personalities and needs.

vides et taceo by thisissirius (NC-17, ~1k)
Summary: A coda to "A Moment in Truth", but with Arthur finding out about Merlin's magic.
Notes: This is simply beautiful; the emotions in this story are running on high and the author does a really great job capturing the need and the intensity between them two.

Manservant by phentalon (NC-17, ~1k)
Summary: PWP. Mild bondage and bloodplay.
Notes: It's hard to get hard Arthur/Merlin sex right, because of their lighthearted characters on the show, but this PWP is smoking.

August by rageprufrock (NC-17, ~9k)
Summary: Merlin looked uncertainly to Arthur. “Have you ever made bread?” he asked. / “How hard could it be?” Arthur said. Arthur goes back to Ealdor with Merlin for awhile.
Notes: This is such an adorable, satisfying story. I love how it takes place in Ealdor; the whole yarn feels rural and sweet, full of baked bread and pumpkins and other nostalgic things. I love Arthur's voice in this--especially the bits where he gets jealous, because jealousy is always SO much fun to read--and Merlin is utterly endearing. You fall in love with the boys in this.

Hunting Merlin by exlibris_tenisu (PG-13, 3k)
Summary: Arthur POV wherein he tries to seduce Merlin.
Notes: Adorable!! The premise is so straightforward and the fic is enjoyable, plain and simple.



This week's recs:

Quickening Days by mercurial_wit (R, 22k)
Summary: In which dragons & ghosts & prejudices are confronted, Merlin wears a hat (twice) and a dress (once), Arthur breaks some crockery (lots), there are more pranks than pillowfights but at least one of each, and many secrets are revealed.
Notes: The first Arthur/Merlin epic. GO READ. It's so enjoyable and the boys are great together near the middle-end; they're lovable and the author's characterization of them comes alive. She tells us, methodically and with nothing rushed, why Arthur and Merlin are DESTINED to be together. In short: funny, sweet, romantic, with a full cast of all the characters we know and love.

so magical by snakevsladder (PG-13, ~2k)
Summary: in which merlin accidentally turns himself into a girl for a few days, because sometimes these things just happen.
Notes: Love the writing style. It's very matter-of-fact, a la Vonnegut, and hilarious and entertaining for it. Great dialogue, with lines like this: "Will you stop? With the staring, and the. The staring. No wonder Morgana is always so bloody annoyed with you, if this is what you're like!"

The Weight of Words by waldorph (NC-17, 7k)
Summary: Arthur's in love and he's the last to know it.
Notes: Very well-written, it reads like a dream. The whole lead-up to the smexing is shivery and intriguing, and the smexing itself is absolutely erotic. We get a great look into Arthur's personality as well.

Looking for other recs? Check the tag. For FAQ and list of all bolded titles, check the primer.

Comments

[gallifaerie.livejournal.com]

I really have to say thank you for these recs! I decided to go back to your first Merlin rec post before I started reading the weekly posts, and I read the fics with bolded titles (although it has taken me far longer than it should have). You must have impeccable taste, because they were so excellent! Some of my favourite fics in the fandom in fact, and I wouldn't have read them had it not been for this post, so thanks again! :D

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Wheee, I'm so happy you actually went through the backlog! My favorite fics are buried in here, yo. I'm just happy to spread the Arthur/Merlin love.