Take your Fandom to Work bunny

[aeroport_art]

I posted yesterday (under f-lock cause it had RL deets) about a Merlin AU set in the lingerie industry, which is where I work. And it sounds like a PERFECT MARRIAGE--Arthur/Merlin amidst bras and thongs and dirty jokes for pay--but I figured out why the plot bunny won't bite!

While I love crack like any good crack addict fangirl, I'm also a sucker for UST and first time fic. And no matter how hard I try, I absolutely can't figure out a situation where being gay would be the cause of any sort of angst in the fashion industry :P There's more angst-potential in a het story. TRUST ME, I LIVE IT.

*watches the plot bunny die*

UNLESS. Anyone have a good idea for how to bring in some good old-fashioned "HOMG I'M GAY NO ONE CAN KNOWWW" UST into an industry and city that just don't care?

I'M SO JEALOUS OF PEOPLE WITH HOMOPHOBIC WORK ENVIRONMENTS RIGHT NOW

Comments

[eppic.livejournal.com]

Maybe the angst could be not about the gay, but have Arthur have spent so much time and energy fussing with the other employees about how "I AM STRAIGHT AND NOTHING WILL CHANGE THAT, ALRIGHT? BACK OFFF." and then Merlin comes along and Arthur is all like "D: oh noes I really am kind of gay and everyone is going to say I told you so forever."

[bououou.livejournal.com]

That's what I was thinking too!

And then he could say in his defense: "Sexuality is fluid! I'm only gay for Merlin the same way everyone is gay for Adam Lambert!"

Because everyone is.

*I got up from bed for this! Because I thought it was funny and had to be shared now.*

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Hahaha it's a good idea! It definitely has potential <3

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, that's a very intriguing idea :O *toddles off to brainstorm*

[leviticus-lied.livejournal.com]

ARTHUR'S DISAPPROVING FATHER. He said, "Welcome to the world of fashion. If you sink to their level and let them turn you gay, you've lost the game."

IDK WORTH A SHOT.

(Side note - I just lost the game. I'm sorry.)

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Hahaha that's a good point!! Maybe I can work in Uther's disapproval somehow o_o Thanks babe!

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Oh yes. Either way this story would be full of cliched jealousy and miscommunication because IT IS MY FAVORITE.

[halfshellvenus.livejournal.com]

The job is perfect-- it's everything he ever dreamed of, and he knows this will launch his career as an independent designer.

Until the day he discovers that his boss is in love with him, and that the job and his future success come with strings attached.

The boss could be male OR female, depending upon which you think the world would care less about "fixing" (prosecuting) from a sexual-harrassment angle. Make the business small enough, and there's virtually no recourse for the harrassed employee.

Never thought I'd be flashing a \o/ over that, but yet... this scenario totally works for me!

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Ooooh that sounds intriguing *__* Maybe I can work some of that in.

[yue_ix]

Could the tension come from another angle than the gay issue? For instance, other suitable well-done plots:

- Arthur could totally forced into a engagement with Sophia for the sake of saving his industry and going all "cannot let my people down just to fuck Merlin", not realizing they got True Predestined Love;

- Both worked on different floors/different companies and never actually saw each another but now they do and they are having eye-sex all over the place, except one is needed at across the country/offered a great promotions, and they are going to be physically apart for a while, so is the one night worth the separation? Should they just bite down and back off and not know what to miss? ;

-They work for rival companies. One specializes in panties, the other in bras (is that possible?), and are in fierce competitions to get the same model/add campaign/catch phrase at the same time.

On another hand, Bring Your Fandom To Work doesn't specify both partners have to be doing the job, so, say - 'Arthur is actually only there as the representative of the Pendragon company that does computer software. Merlin's boss is interested in having something made for them to develop their catalogue/products easier. They meet over a conference table and that's where they end up, too.' - is perfectly still within theme.

*shouldn't be offering ideas at 2am*

[yue_ix]

So you know, I really really want to read this, if only just because it is bound to end up having one of the boys, if not both, wearing girls underwear. (It will, right? Right?)

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

dude, you have awesome ideas. *nodnod*

Both worked on different floors/different companies and never actually saw each another but now they do and they are having eye-sex all over the place,

VERY INTRIGUING. Especially the eye-sexing \o/

They work for rival companies

This one too. There are totally factions at work, lots of office politics. Hmmmm...

Anyway THANKS HON. And yes, if I do write this there will be BOYS IN LINGERIE.

[yue_ix]

Glad I could be of help. =D

PANTIES. That makes me so happy.

[eruminator.livejournal.com]

That one straight guy you were talking about? Is Merlin. And he'd really be getting so much booty from work if only the women didn't think him so adorable. He's also in love with fashion-model Morgana. Who's evil in that: She tells him that her assistant, Gwen, is in love with him. (He likes her, but she doesn't do anything for him.); She continually encourages the attentions of Accounting's creepy Will (who's so in love with Merlin it would be pathetic, really, if only he wasn't a... oh what was it? Oh yeah, a CREEPY STALKER!); and... AND THINK'S MERLIN'S GAY! Merlin would be so 'WTF?!' if saying WTF, even in your own mind, wasn't a sign of gayness.

It's either the most brilliant thing ever (*cough* if I do say so myself *cough*) or a clear sign of impending insanity completely stolen from Ugly Betty.

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

HAHAH WILL AS A CREEPY STALKER. If I write this, do not be surprised if I gank that.

And I like the idea of Merlin being "straight" and a total chick-magnet. HE TOTALLY WOULD BE.

[eruminator.livejournal.com]

total chick-magnet

Oh, yes! With the neck and the lips and the EARS! *fans self*

Just not at work because those women are deranged. They don't see the hotness that is Merlin in his artsy neckerscarf. Plus all they seem to do is give him cookies and give him advice on his love-life, prefacing with the words "When you're older." Merlin is 21 dammit!

[luisadeza.livejournal.com]

But there can still be UST without the whole closet thing. I like what people suggested so far.

Making them competitors should work as well. Or since, in case they work under Uther, he could either pressure his son to hide his homosexuality or prohibit workplace relationship (of course inofficially, but the last couple found themselves fired for really strange reasons).

Yes, I just want to read something about the boys in women's underwear. And I'm not afraid to admit it.

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I do like the competitors idea!

Yes, I just want to read something about the boys in women's underwear.
Is it totally weird that I hadn't even thought of that?? When it's work, lingerie becomes the most unsexy thing ever :P But you're right! If I write this, there will HAVE to be some crossdressing <3