weekly round-up 11

[aeroport_art]

My good friend's singing in a recital tonight! But ugggh, it takes almost two hours to get that far uptown, and two hours back down. I just want to loll about at home =_=

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


Time is Running Out by solanyxe (vid)
Summary: Arthur's mind is messed up, so don't expect to find many coherent thoughts in there. Instead you'll find his lust and lots and lots of Merlin. In short, Arthur is frantically trying to resolve his UST. Done to "Time is Running Out" by Muse.
Notes: I think by now you guys have figured out that song choice is a HUGE factor in whether or not I rec a vid :P I can't help it, I'm only human!! And luckily for this vid, I LOVE MUSE. That being said, there are other (better) reasons why this is here: this piece is wonderfully high-energy, with tons of blink-and-you'll-miss-it shots and montages. There's great, sexy footage that's creatively framed (ie Uther stroking Arthur's face when he's sick is NOT so sexy, but perceived-Merlin stroking Arthur's face most definitely is), which gives the whole thing a fresh take on the tried-and-true Arthur/Merlin UST.

Wasting Your Emotions by analyst_1 (vid)
Summary: When Arthur sees Gwen kissing Merlin he realises that if he's going to have Merlin all to himself, he's gonna have to watch out for the ladies and monitor Merlin's interaction with EVERYONE. Done to "Lay All Your Love On Me" by ABBA.
Notes: This vid is pure, simple fun to watch! There's a cohesive storyline here, and I like that the vidder sticks to the premise (jealous!Arthur <3) while all the footage and lyrics just build on it. Clean and well-done.

privileges of rank by seperis (NC-17, ~7k)
Summary: Merlin, after drinking himself silly, loses the key to his room and Gaius locks him out. He's got no choice but to crawl over to Arthur's...
Notes: Okay, so I didn't actually finish reading this. This will go into the category of "didn't ping my radar but got a ton of response", and hence I'm linking it here to be fair. Also, I like the discussion :) The reason why this didn't capture my interest is that while the storyline is cute, and the tone light and fun, the overwrought sentences buried a lot of the humor. Stuff like this:

"It's cold," Merlin explains, trying not to move so as to not touch any non-body-warmed space.

--and constant instances of it just became too much to sift through after awhile. Anyway, that's just me. Somebody tell me why you loved this, I'm keen to know!

job orientation by seperis (PG-13, ~2k)
Summary: In the not so distant future, Merlin builds a tower. That's not suspicious at all.
Notes: This story is so, so satisfying. I love how well-written it is--the dialogue and half-formed thoughts are so true to real life, the way they mimic people's conversations. The unsaid things are incredibly strong in here, and Arthur and Merlin are relaxed and at peace and it's just heart-warming to read. It'll put a smile on your face. ...and funny, I just noticed this is the same author who received the above review. At least I'm considering these stories as standalones, and not off author biases, right?? Bueller?

(Self-)Preservation by esohpe (PG, 3k)
Summary: It’s a gradual realisation. But a month after the attack, five days after the fever breaks and his mind is finally his own, Arthur realises Merlin is long gone.
Notes: Okay, I take back the comment about author biases. I have favorites. esohpe is one of them. Her writing is sublime. I can't even pinpoint why, but she constantly weaves these entrancing tales, and the pacing and dialogue and characterization--effortless. This story totally broke my heart, but in the good way that's all achy and bittersweet (and hopeful, if you squint!).

Sweet Dreams Fly by themegaloo (PG, 2k)
Summary: AU!Futurefic, wherein Merlin never ages and Arthur is born over and over again.
Notes: This is such a fascinating concept, it makes you want to reread it several times just to get the full effect. I love these types of epics where the characters are so destined to be together that they make it through multiple lifetimes. It's normally a difficult genre to get right--a requirement for success basically mandating that the story feel EPIC--but the writing is good enough to pull it off. Certainly a refreshing addition to the Merlin fandom.

The Path Was Invisible but Still I Jumped by bemycasualty (NC-17, 4k)
Summary: Secrets haunt Morgana's dreams. Merlin agrees to help, but fears the final price. In short, a Merlin-Tells-Arthur (about the magic) plot, with the added layer of Morgana's prodding.
Notes: Angsty, evocative, and I like Morgana in this as a crazy Seer, a la season finale. Rich language.

Let's Call the Whole Thing Off by solarcat05 (R, 1k)
Summary: In retrospect, Merlin's ridiculous concerns about being executed make a lot more sense. Sequel!fic.
Notes: Finally, a bit of humor on this week's rec list! This story is GLORIOUS. I'll let the quotes speak for themselves:

Merlin finally stands, wiping a shining stripe of fluid from the corner of his mouth and staring at Arthur with dark eyes.

or

Also, Merlin likes to cuddle, and Merlin knows the spot to lick on Arthur's neck that makes him shiver, and Merlin likes slow, lazy sex in the morning, and Merlin likes to be kissed.

Oh wait, I totally just pulled out the smutty and fluffy bits. I promise, the rest is utter hilarity.

RPS DOESN'T GET TO HAVE A TITLE by derryerre (NC-17, 16k)
Summary: HA HA HA you expect so much of me. BUT OK. Behold my RPF, in which Bradley thinks people should call him to hang out and do stuff. Bradley/Colin.
Notes: Ahahaha this story will make you pee your pants from giggling. I would've bolded the title but it needed a serious beta (the typos were glaring, some superfluous paragraphs), and then derryere said it probably will get one later on, so YAYS. At any rate, this is, as she puts it, THE RPS OF DOOM. It's massive and wonderful and the boys are so stooopid, just the way I like 'em!! On a more intelligent note, the structure is nicely planned, with the beginning and ends paralleling each other to make the whole thing feel really intact and complete. It hit every one of my buttons--there's jealousy and angst, there's great day-to-day details that completely enrich the story (Angel walking by eating cereal? So believable). And above all, there's boys being boys. HAPPY-MAKING. The end.

One Way or Another by analyst_1 (vid)
Summary: Possessive Arthur is back! Only this time he's a little bit more stalkerish. Done to "One Way or Another" by Blondie.
Notes: Let's finish this week's round-up with a lovely dose of CRACK. I won't say the video is particularly meaningful, or even polished at that, but it's PURE AND UTTER FUN. The footage is really, really creatively used to make Arthur look like a total STALKER NUTCASE, and that was enough to get it on here.

Finally, I just wanted to link back to a story I finished up this week after working on it for SIX MONTHS. How are people in this fandom so prolific!?? I want whatever they're having. And just to be clear, this is in NO WAY a recommendation, just a link:

an arse is an arse, of course, of course by aeroport_art (NC-17, 13k)
Summary: Arthur's having recurring dreams that involve fucking his manservant, and it's kind of throwing him off his game. Oh, and Merlin walks in on him having sex with a guy. Whoops.

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

Comments

[rejeneration.livejournal.com]

Hah. -kiss- Thank you for the rec, sweetie. You do realize 'bemy' is me, right? =D

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

WHAT? I DID NOT REALIZE.

...Oh my god, how did I NOT KNOW THAT!? Well, no wonder I liked the story then. It all makes so much sense now.

*is sheepish*

[penguingeek.livejournal.com]

Yay! I like to check out your recs every week, just so you know. I bookmarked a bunch of these to read when I am NOT WORKING IN AN HOUR. D: I like how you HONESTLY portray fic -- you don't just prattle on how good it is and ignore its errors.

:)

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Aww, that is the nicest thing to hear ;__; *iz weepy* Thank YOU for being a mature enough audience to handle a little tough love!

[windtossed.livejournal.com]

hello, i just wanted to say that i love being able to read your recs each week -- it's always a refreshing point of view on various fics. also, i think you may have gotten the summary incorrect on (self-)preservation, because i've read a fic recently with that summary, and i'm pretty sure the fic you've linked (which i've also read) isn't it. mostly because arthur doesn't go blind in (self-)preservation.

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Gyah, it's been corrected! THANKS for pointing it out. I swear, every single week there's something I miss and it gets published all wrong >.> You guys are my editors <3

[green-grrl.livejournal.com]

Somebody tell me why you loved this, I'm keen to know!

I'll take a stab at it .... First of all, I've been reading seperis through many fandoms and love her brain. She does get complex with her sentences sometimes, but I'm used to it and like her style. In particular I love Privileges of Rank because she takes a piece of canon--"Arthur derides Merlin as a terrible manservant/Merlin chafes that Arthur doesn't understand his work"--and turns it 90 degrees by the end, making the reader go, "Oh. OH!" Plus she weaves in castle politics in a way that makes total sense, even though the show hasn't gone there. (I don't know how far you got in the story, so I'll not be more specific.) But I just love when fanfic adds more depth and dimension to canon.

BTW, I love your weekly recs roundups, as well as your fics. :-)

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Hey you!

Yaaay thanks for your explanation! It makes a lot of sense. If you're used to the language and aren't having to re-read sentences just to get their gists, then I can see the rest falling into place. After all, "job orientation" was recced as well, with good writing as one of the main plaudits. Maybe if I catch onto seperis' sense of humor, I can join the massive following *_*

Somebody tell me why you loved this, I'm keen to know!

[ender24]

basically, what green_grrl said: I have read seperis for a couple of years now , uhmm, something about 6 or 7 years, and while I did not follow her into all her fandoms (basically I adore her SV and merlin fics), i guess, yeah, in the beginning, I found her fics difficult to read as well.
but once you get use to the writing style, or rather more comfortable, its damn brilliant, because there are layers and twists, and she has me feared for the characters, and tied me all in knots... and its like really hard to explain, sometimes, it takes you a while and a break, and you read her again, and then its like. yup.
(I know the first two years, i thought, huhh, what is all the fuss about her writing?)

also, her stories dont always follow linear logic, its like sometimes, you get the ending, and she is telling the story backwards :)

Re: Somebody tell me why you loved this, I'm keen to know!

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, very compelling stuff. I find it interesting that you were once in my position about not quite seeing the hullabaloo, but maybe I just need to let it sink in after a couple years as well! *rubs hands in glee* I look forward to it.

[betsyli.livejournal.com]

GUESS WHICH MUSE SONG WAS MY FIRST? TIME IS RUNNING OUT, UH HUH UH HUH!

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

I think "Time is Running Out" popped a lot of(Muse) cherries. *sleazy tone* Uh huh, uh huh.

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

oh and your icon. IT'S ADORABLE I CAN'T CONTAIN MYSELF. GOD. THE COLORS!! COLIN!FAAAACE!!!!!!!!!!

[betsyli.livejournal.com]

He's just too adorable for words. Nggggh.
And to paraphrase Bradley: CHEEKBONES!!!

[b-b-banana.livejournal.com]

And just to be clear, this is in NO WAY a recommendation,

But it damn well should be. :)

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

You're just being a charmer, now. *blushy*

Re: Privileges of Rank

[scaramouch81.livejournal.com]

I think what I liked most about this story is protective!Arthur being mad in a low key way about how Merlin is being taken advantage of in his naivety and ignorance of everyday servant life. Plus the concept of Arthur having more of an idea of what is involved in being a servant than Merlin does tickles my funny bone!

Re: Privileges of Rank

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Those are plenty good reasons for liking a story

the concept of Arthur having more of an idea of what is involved in being a servant than Merlin does tickles my funny bone!

So true!!

[ender24]

the fic by solarcat is just.............glorious humor :D
great recs!

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Isn't it!? She's great.

[analyst-1.livejournal.com]

wow thanks so much for putting two of my vids on your rec! *smiles* never been recced before, new to LJ so this has made my day :D

I'm gonna go check out all the other stuff on here now :)

iZ~

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Heh, you just started pumping out all these fanvids and I was like "whoa, I need to check some of these out" and they were so much fun!! Thanks for all the contributions, can't wait to see more of your stuff <3

[analyst-1.livejournal.com]

aw thank you ver much =D

I'm working on a couple atm ^__^ lol. Love the whole weekly roundup thing :) I'm gonna go check out your fic in a minute (:

Iz~

[analyst-1.livejournal.com]

*very o_o i cant spell XD

[doomcanary.livejournal.com]

I manage extreme prolificness by using fanfic to avoid real work.

It's not as helpful as it sounds...

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

What? Sounds plenty helpful!! Hahaha.

[doomcanary.livejournal.com]

Well, in my role as a fan critic - Privileges of Rank has two things calculated to make a fangirl melt. One, a classic romance-hero Arthur who is all keen to make underdog Merlin's life happier and easier, oh and incidentally to shag him blind but only in an honourable way and once he's done all the chivalrous stuff first. And second, a classic romance hero Arthur who then comes over all toppy and dominant and wants to make Merlin his uberbitch second-in-command. As a set of traits it's a marvellous mix of romance and power fantasy; Merlin gets basically raised up from his lowly status to be Arthur's equal (if this was a Mills and Boon novel there'd be a wedding), *and* he gets to be Arthur's evil co-top and have royal sanction for his revenge on the nasty people who screwed with him before.

Plus I think this fandom is really developing a bit of a thing for top!Arthur. Random faintly kinky stuff is turning up all over the place in fic just now.

I do agree that would have been a better fic for a ruthless edit, though. Run-on sentences ruin impact, I wind up killing a lot of them off myself before I post.

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Yaaay I always enjoy your thoughtful input. I do agree, the story had great plot and fandom-favorite elements as the one you mentioned. I just didn't find the response all that proportional. But then again, WHAT DO I KNOW? I think it just really turned out to be one of those personal preference things for me, like if that brand of humor translated for the reader or not. I would've found it much funnier if all the sentences were gutted to their core meaning, but honestly...I am being SUCH a hypocrite right now because one of my biggest problems when I write is keeping things succinct :P

Anyway, like I said. I love discussion with people mature enough to not freak out on me <3

[doomcanary.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, you are *looking* at Aunty Tough-love. I'm supposed to be a professional writer, so giving (and taking) proper critiques is something that's part of my job :)

I would've found it much funnier if all the sentences were gutted to their core meaning, but honestly...I am being SUCH a hypocrite right now because one of my biggest problems when I write is keeping things succinct :P

I don't think you're alone there. I find that the more I care about something I'm writing, the more I *really* want to make it raw and powerful and punch-in-the-gut, the more I sit there going over and over it and trying to make it good. And what I'm doing every time I touch it is taking stuff *out*. Modifying words like 'almost' and 'sort of' go first; I break sentences up, make them shorter and sharper, especially in action stuff; and I spend a lot of time thinking carefully about imagery and trying to get something that's powerful and yet at the same time fresh. I did a *hell* of a lot of that with the kink series I've just finished posting and it's getting a great response. Pure's a bit the same, especially the last chapter, although in true d00m style *that* one is a crossdressing one and it's really not everyone's bag :) I can't write normal to save my life...

With fanfic it's really really easy to just braindump and post, and it gets a great response anyway because fans are fans, but it's a personal pride thing with me to say what I really want to say, and I do find I write far more powerful stuff when I pay close attention to giving it impact.