weekly round-up 7

[aeroport_art]

Dinner at Crispo: portobello mushroom with buffalo mozzerella (appetizer), seared duck with pear and endives (entree) and a bottle of pinot noir. I LOVE FOOD. And while I don't like awkward dates (especially considering that we've done the song and dance and decided against it, and this is six months later, and there's always the elephant in the room of his being eleven years older than me), I DO LIKE FREE FOOD.

Ugh, TMI. On to other things: holy crappa, you guys were SPANKIN this week. I have no idea how THIRTEEN recs found their way here, but they did!! Round of applause for all our awesome artist/vidders/authors :D:D:D

Weekly Round-Up
Titles in bold are extra-recommended ♥


OTP Meme by oteap (art)
Summary: A series of one-panel comics. PG, crack.
Notes: The drawings are ADORABLE and the artist is obviously very talented. Better yet, the humor is incisive and slashy and just. Plain. Funny.

All I Have by jemzamia (G, vid)
Summary: Arthur and Merlin's passion and relationship reaches boiling point, causing them to spend time apart. This makes them realise that each other is all they have. Done to "All I Have" by The Veronicas.
Notes: The thing that strikes me most is the high-quality video footage; it looks great! The premise is straightforward; Merlin is "all [Arthur] has", and the vidder has no problem getting across a cohesive message through clever usage of clips that adhere closely to the lyrics. And besides, the video is 100% Arthur/Merlin (albeit canonical), which is what we're here for right!?

It's All About the Hair by anna_zee (PG-13, 2k)
Summary: I was bored at work one day and got to wondering how Merlin would look with long hair. And then I got to wondering what Arthur would think of Merlin with long hair.
Notes: HAIR!KINK to the max. I'm not usually one for long hair, but I can totally imagine Merlin with it--Colin Morgan (with lush, longish hair) in the Catherine Tate Show provides a visual:


(via colin-morgan.com)

Okay, that was just an excuse to post that picture :P In any case, this story is sexyhot. It's totally a guilty-pleasure read, all UST and hair!kink etc.

How Many Miles to Babylon by lyra_wing (NC-17, 5k)
Summary: A water nymph made them do it. No, really.
Notes: Another SPN author transplant, and one of the best to boot! lyra_wing does amazing, memorable stuff, and while I normally associate her skillz with beautiful imagery and surreal, vivid evocations, she takes an entirely different route here; namely, the awesome fandom cliche of compulsive sex. AND IT'S AWESOME. Somehow, by the end of this one-shot, the boys have shagged something like FIVE TIMES and it's hot and playful and ends on a sweet note. GOOD STUFF, FOLKS.

Remembrance by smokey2307 (PG-13, 1k)
Summary: Arthur remembers what he shouldn't. An Arthur-Finds-Out plot.
Notes: This fic is so simple and succinct and TRUE. Something about the omniscient voice lends the story such an authority that it just makes it sound epic.

The Curious Incidence of the Naked Servant in the Night-Time by ravenflight21 (NC-17, 3k)
Summary: Arthur keeps waking up to the sight of Merlin in this bed, only to have Merlin vanish right before his eyes. He thinks he's hallucinating, but we know better :}
Notes: This one's a simple story; there's a clearly presented mystery and it's so much fun to go along with it, following Arthur as he tries to figure out what the F is going on. Light-hearted and silly and cute.

Backfire by oxoniensis (NC-17, 8k)
Summary: In which there are giant ears, a curious cat, backfiring spells, a stick figure Arthur, some unfortunate truths and some very welcome ones.
Notes: THIS STORY IS ABSOLUTE MAGIC. God, the writing is so good, I could feel myself reading it slowly just to savor the words. The characterization is sublime, and I especially LOVE Arthur in this. He's just the right blend of arrogant and mushy, and Merlin is adorable as the mischevious sorceror. There were some real LOL lines as well, all of it evidence as to why oxoniensis is one of my favorite authors in this fandom.

The History of Two Conversations (On Paper) by takadainmate (PG-13, 11k)
Summary: Merlin jots notes in his magic book for his own reference. Until, that is, Arthur finds and confiscates the book. An Arthur-Finds-Out story.
Notes: GAH, this story is absolute adorablecakes! I LOVE the premise of the magic book being defaced and used as a way of passing notes. It makes the boys so playful and boyish, and Gaius makes a wonderful cameo in this story.

Whisper on the Wind by phantomjam (PG-13, 750)
Summary: Merlin is ever brought full circle back to Ealdor.
Notes: Beautiful writing. The author takes her time with her words, relishing and doling them out as she pleases. The characterization is so carefully built and even though this story made me sad to read--it's future!fic, and a bitter one at that--I'm glad I did.

This image killed me:
An image formed in Merlin’s mind: the four of them – Arthur, Merlin, Morgana, Gwen – lying in a sundrenched meadow, heads together, bodies angling out like the spokes of a wheel.

The Trouble With Unicorns by astolat (NC-17, 3k)
Summary: Arthur is a virgin. Merlin isnt, though. Bottom!Arthur.
Notes: HOT and sweet and I love their banter, and I love the reason given for Arthur holding out on sex. It's just a fun-as-hell premise, really.

It Was In Another Country, and Besides, the Wench is Dead by kageygirl (NC-17, 2k)
Summary: Bradley and Colin have sex on a train. The post is locked, must be member of merlinrpf to read :0
Notes: The writing is really good and reads easily, and the sex is so immediate and hot and tangible. It's hard to keep a porny sex scene interesting for this length, but the author did it with aplomb! The boys' banter is really great too, and Anthony Head makes an amusing cameo. In short: good porn. \o/

Getting to Yes by moonythestrals (NC-17, 4k)
Summary: Bradley and Colin get together, but gay sex is altogether a different obstacle. Still, they try. Often.
Notes: It's moonythestrals; was there ever a doubt this would be awesome? In particular, she brings her unique brand of characterization, wherein the boys are dorky and lovable and believable. RPS always requires some tiptoeing; there's more pressure to get the characters right or, at the very least, not totally OOC and/or creepy. The author easily sidesteps this potential pothole like it ain't even in the road. Oh, and as a bonus, THERE IS LOTS OF SEX. Or attempted sex. Whatever. SEX!!

Fun with Real Audio by maichan2 (spn, vid)
Summary: CRACKITY CRACK! CRACK! CRACK! Random audio clips set to footage from Supernatural. More fun with Sam and Dean.
Notes: I COULD NOT STOP LAUGHING. This is the highest calibur of crack, I kid you not. Plus, it references Flight of the Conchords A LOT, which I am totally totally down with. WATCH THIS; it's a gut-buster whether or not you could give a rat's ass about Supernatural. Now, I just want a Merlin video done in this style T__T

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

Comments

[osolone.livejournal.com]

Fantastic recs, thanks!

(oh and if you think that an 11 year age gap is a problem try it the other way around - when the man in your life is nearly 11 years YOUNGER than you (me: 37, him: 26) seems to work for us, we've been together 5 years and are married with a 2 year old son . . .) age isn't a problem unless you let it be, lol!

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Hee, thanks for the bit of advice!! I think in my case though, age is one of the lesser reasons why I'd never date him :0 Sounds like you landed a good deal though, awesome <3

[betsyli.livejournal.com]

Yay recs!
AND FOOD. YUM. The seared duck outta chase that elephant out of the room. *shoos*

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

hahaha it totally did shoo the elephant out. well, that, and the pinot didn't hurt either >.>

[lyra-wing.livejournal.com]

Gosh, I am so slow on the uptake. Thank you so much for the lovely rec, m'dear. :)

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Haha, not slow at all! Thank YOU for writing Merlin fic, it totally made my week.