weekly round-up 32

[aeroport_art]

Omg don't laugh at me when you see Drastically Redefining Protocol on here. It totally flew under my radar! Which brings me to two things I ask of you, dear readers:

1. NAME YOUR ALL-TIME FAVORITES. Because what if I missed moar!?
2. Should I compile a list of all the regular recommendations alongside the bolded titles on the Round-Up Primer, or is that excessive?

Dire questions, ain't they? *nodnod* In other news: OMG I BUTCHERED MY HAIR AND LOOK LIKE A BOY NOW. I was trying to get Agyness Deyn's old cut but I'm neither thin nor blonde enough to look that cool =..= Oh well. At least it's new! I was so sick of my bob.

Trend of the week: HODGE PODGE. Three different stories for One True Pairing.


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

Merlin recs

Something Beautiful by cherrybina (NC-17, 5k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, underage. King Arthur meets his new manservant, a 16-year-old boy named Merlin.
Notes: Seeing as how this is one of my hugest, most sordid kinks, I think it's pretty safe to say I friggin' loved this. Lolita!Merlin is SO SMEXY and I love how torn Arthur is about giving in to the relationship. In general, I love age differentials because of their inherent power plays and mega-angst. So much fun. On the other hand, if underage is a squick of yours then this story probably isn't for you. BUT JUST YOU TRY AND STOP ME FROM BOLDING THIS.

Looking After You is a Full-Time Job by toestastegood (PG, 2k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, established relationship, future!fic. Arthur and Merlin have to sail across the sea on a quest.
Notes: I don't even like established relationships but this fic was just cute, cute, cute. Seasick!Arthur! Mild hurt/comfort!! Gotta love it.

Drastically Redefining Protocol by rageprufrock (NC-17, 46k)
Summary: Arthur/Merlin, modern!AU. Arthur is the Prince of Wales and Merlin is a medic who's had a crush on Arthur his entire life.
Notes: HAHAHA OH MAN, AM I LATE TO THE PARTY. This has long been established as a fandom classic and I DIDN'T GET THE MEMO. Oh well, I am only human. As for the story, it's long, sappy, and satisfying. On the other hand, the boys get together early on so I began to lose interest about 80% into the story, only to skim the rest. PLEASE DO NOT HANG ME, I IS ONLY BEING TRUTHFUL. I think you guys probably know by now anyway, I have the attention span of a gnat so if you can do plotty and you can do established relationships, then don't mind me and (re)read this classic.

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

Comments

[leviticus-lied.livejournal.com]

Tell me you're reading this. http://zarah5v2.livejournal.com/40654.html#cutid1

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Hey toots. I don't follow WIPs but thanks for the link because this fic is TOTALLY ON MY RADAR NOW. It looks awesome.

[puckling.livejournal.com]

HAHAHA OH MAN, AM I LATE TO THE PARTY

Oh dear god, you are.

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

*headdesk*

SO WHERE IS YOUR FAVORITE ARTHUR/MERLIN CLASSIC THAT I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE READ, HMMMMM??????

[puckling.livejournal.com]

The Tale of the Sea Serpent (http://seperis.livejournal.com/703417.html#cutid1) by seperis always absolutely kills me. When I finished this fic I went dear god, I want Arthur to be my king.

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Ah, I remember that story! *nodnod*

[derryere.livejournal.com]

AAH, have no idea what my all time favourite is. No idea. I have love for so many great fics out there, it all gets muddled in the emotion of 'jdhgdfjhg!'

BUT! I will give you the VERY first M/A I've ever read. EVER. And the funny thing is, even after reading it, it took me like--another good two, three months to get into the fandom. I was out of HP fics you read (HAHA OR I thought I was. I didn't know the actual meaning of actually having read EVERY SINGLE FIC in a fandom at the time), and had watched two or three eps when there was nothing else on TV? YEAH SEE MERLIN AND I got off to a very indifferent start. Obviously I did not get the last laugh in this one. Anyway! I read paperclip's Next Time I'll Remember This And jhsdglongtitlegoeshere, which made me go DHDKJFH! because it was funny and cute and hot, but I still kept on messing up A and M's faces in my mind so I couldn't get into it? I don't even know, man.

ANYWAY! I didn't even realise which fic that was, and who'd written it until WAY later when someone mentioned it and I was like OOH A FIC I HAVEN'T READ! AND BY PAPER, TOO! And so I started reading and about two paragraphs in stopped and went, SHIT, BATMAN. I read this! I READ THIS BEFORE I EVEN KNEW THE EXTENT OF THE MERLIN AWESOME!

So yes. That is my story. It has no point, and yet I told it anyway.

:D

(html fail, don't mind me :3)

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

YES. I REMEMBER THAT FIC. IT WAS A GOOD TIME, HURR HURR. And I love that your comment is 5000 pages long. IT WAS A GOOD STORY. AND IT'S GOOD TO GET EXCITED ABOUT PORN \o/

[meewunk.livejournal.com]

Oh my god, I love that there are fandom classics xD That makes me glee for some reason. I think I'm going to go re-read DRP because it was aweeeesome <3

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Ahahah who knows if they're "fandom classics", I just like calling them that *__*

OMG YOUR ICON HAHAHA I LOVE

[toestastegood.livejournal.com]

Squee, thank you! And I totally, completely fell in love with Something Beautiful as well. Arthur's characterisation in it was so wonderful. Although, oddly enough, the one time I tried to read DRP I couldn't get into it and quit. :(

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Something Beautiful *___* Totally guilty-pleasure reading, haha.

As for DRP, don't sweat not getting into it. I always feel like there's something wrong with me when I'm not into a fandom classic, but it actually happens all the time o_o And yeah like I mentioned in the post, I didn't even read DRP all the way through. Kinda skimmed the last 20% or so >.>

Thanks for your awesome fic, babe!

[cherrybina.livejournal.com]

I just pretend that I am doing my duty to provide guilty pleasure reading for the fandom and not that I am really just a giant perv :D

Also: why are we not friends yet? This should be remedied immediately, y/y?

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

WOT, WE'RE NOT FRIENDS YET? WHAT KIND OF A SICK JOKE IS THIS??

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Yes, I did read! And omg hahah I have a horrible memory, I totally don't remember if I recced it or not. Secret fun fact: one of the main reasons I started reccing was because I can never remember which stories I liked and why. And so I made notes and opened them up to the public. Ha!

[christycorr]

*snerk* DRP, really? Hee.

Okay. My Delicious is a bit messy, and you'll see some bizarre tagging if you pay any attention, but here:50 favourite fics. Or, if you prefer, my top 7 favourites.

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

I KNOW. I FAIL AT FANDOM LIFE.

oooooooooooh top 7 favorites! *trundles over*

[thepersephone.livejournal.com]

Omg don't worry, I only found DRP like 2 weeks ago. :o :o

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

OK WHEW NOT JUST ME

[azdaja-dafema.livejournal.com]

Favourite favourite Merlin fics? Hmm. I can't tell you, but I can say the most recent thing that has broken me:
Those Fictions In Your Facts (http://skellerbvvt.livejournal.com/47647.html) by Skellerbvvt because it's just beautiful and perfect and a future!fic that's got the sadness from the legends and just oh.

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

OOOOH this i have not read. *bookmarks* THANKS

[nahara.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh... favourites?

Well, the first thing I ever read in this fandom was janne_d's And None But We Can Be Such Kings. It's already seems to have established itself as a classic. (I should probably check if you have this down already but um... I haven't.) I remember really liking it at the time but it's been so long since I read it and I've done a lot of Merlin/Arthur reading in the meantime, so I don't really remember it much. =/ I should probably go and reread it now. I wouldn’t call it my fave but it got me into the fandom in a big way, so for that I am ETERNALLY GRATEFUL ETC.

Anything by derryere or paperclipbitch makes me pretty happy (plus loads of other stuff that isn't coming to mind) but I has a sneaking suspicion that you've read their stuff. Call it a woman’s intuition.

(And LOL at missing DRP. Bless your cotton socks.)

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Fics that get me into a fandom always have a soft spot for me too ;__; Thanks for the link!!

And your woman's intuition is right ;) I ADORE derryere and have definitely read paperclipbitch. And you blessed my cotton socks!! YOU'RE ADORABLE.

[nahara.livejournal.com]

AND I'D BLESS THEM AGAIN!

[epictimesthree.livejournal.com]

DRP is a thing of beauty. Though I had some problems with it as well - the treatment of Merlin's magic, for one - just the sheer size and cohesion of it, with all the sexy spin-offs, are really impressive.

Coronation, another one of rageprufrock's, is quickly becoming one of my favorites as well. It's just sweeping and majestic, while still retaining snarky, irreverent moments that keep it from becoming melodramatic. This is rageprufrock at her best in my opinion.

Another one I revisit is Doubled Over with the Hunger of Lions by nightanddaze. Takes the cliched "fuck-or-die" genre and turns it into a thing of beauty. I love her Merlin here.

Another is Marwnat by ignipes. I basically am a sucker for fics that feature Arthur as/becoming King, and this might be one of the best.

Haha, it's quite possible that I might have found these through your recs in the first place, though I tried to avoid that.

Also, also! I saw your post above about friends-locking your Merlin Big Bang review post. Would you be willing to accept a friend request? (Don't be scared by the zero friends thing - I use my lj solely for fandom pursuits, so have contented myself with commenting and community lurking so far).

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

APPARENTLY I HAVE NOT READ ANY RAGEPRUFROCK. WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME and dude, am I retarded? Bc I can't figure out where all her fic is D: This just might require some more digging/link-surfing... in the meantime *bookmarks Coronation*

As for Double Over, I may or may not have read it before BUT I TOTALLY DON'T REMEMBER FROM THE FIRST FEW PARAGRAPHS. *bookmarks Double Over*

And then there's Marwnat, which I've actually read! Finally, right? o_o

How are we not friends already!? You're awesome. Thanks for all these links!!

[epictimesthree.livejournal.com]

God, it's the least I could do after all the fantastic stuff you've helped me read. Also, as far as all rageprufrock's Merlin work goes, I think you can find most of them here.

You are more awesome! I can't wait to read your BB reviews. Thanks so much for undertaking that task, by the way. I can't even imagine - I've been absorbing BB fic at the rate of 1 every 3 or 4 days.

[virginhuntress.livejournal.com]

Dude, it's cool. I'm ALWAYS finding fic that came out AGES ago, and I always get embarrassed about it too, haha.

By the way, if you haven't read the sextras to DRP, then get your ass over here, and here and here and finally here right now. Because they're so hot your eyebrows will catch fire and your insides will MELT. NNNGGGGGH.

Sorry, just had to add that in b/c she's in my top 5 fave when it comes to Merlin authors. :D

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

OH. I TOTALLY SUCK AT FIGURING OUT WHERE RAGEPRUFROCK KEEPS HER FICS. *clicks all the links*

[virginhuntress.livejournal.com]

I had to search on google for like, 10 minutes one day just to find them. I've since remembered to bookmark the SHIT out of that page. ;)

[http://users.livejournal.com/_pinkchocolate/]

*butts in* SWEET JESUS THERE ARE EXTRAS? *pounces*

[virginhuntress.livejournal.com]

Oooooooooooh yes, there are MANY sextras. And they are RIDICULOUSLY porny. And filthy. AND SOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOD they make my face melt. ENJOY!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_pinkchocolate/]

jlfkjdlkajal; I've never read Drastically Redefining Protocol but OH MY GOD THAT WAS GOOD.

My absolute favourite Merlin fic is still Fame and Fortune (http://melusinahp.livejournal.com/473720.html) by melusinahp, but I also love Until the Pieces Fit (http://merlinkinkmeme.livejournal.com/2672.html) by anon(D:), Next Time, I Will Remember This And I Will Say 'No' (http://paperclipbitch.livejournal.com/102740.html) by paperclipbitch, so are they all, all honourable men (http://seperis.livejournal.com/697936.html#cutid1) by seperis, Quickening Days (http://mercurial-wit.livejournal.com/45235.html) by mercurial_wit, Older and Far Away (http://community.livejournal.com/the_sparkhouse/4496.html) by shinybug, No Magic Necessary (http://mskatej.livejournal.com/287983.html) by mskatej, and everything ever written by astolat, but especially The Crown of the Summer Court (http://www.intimations.org/fanfic/merlin/The%20Crown%20of%20the%20Summer%20Court.html).

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

omg your links are amazing o_o *BOOKMARKS ALL*

[virginhuntress.livejournal.com]

Every single one of those is a fucking WINNER. Seriously.

[betsyli.livejournal.com]

LOLOLOLOLOL. YES YOU ARE SO LATE!

Hah, when I read lolita!Merlin I thought to myself "Fo' sue Li's gonna rec this!". XD

My faves are long and plotty. And for some reason I love established relationships. And I also loooooooovve AU's. And basically anything by rageprufrock (DRP and sextras FTW!), astolat (just...everything, oh god), hackthis (Kingdom of Blaggers = entourage AU!) and seperis (sea serpents and towers and <3) makes it onto my list. Not to mention syllic (Easy There!boys!Cambridge!rowing!!!). Plus paperclipbitch (Teacup-verse!) for angst. And derryere for crack. And cherrybina and ifyouweremine for the smut. And many, many others. Like moonythestrals's fratboys!AU, franticsga's army-meterologists!AU, and oh, oxymoronic's stuff and...gah. I LOVE THIS FANDOM AND ITS AUTHORS ARE BRILLIANT. THE END. *fails at compiling fave lists*

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

OMG AM I SO PREDICTABLE??????

I guess the answer to that is "yes". HAHAHA *FAIL*

And your rambly reccage is so shinnnyyyy *___* imma go click on oxymoronic, i can't remember what stuff she's done now.

xoxoxo

[smartie1685.livejournal.com]

I just had to thank you for this post, I just started reading Merlin fic and I didn't know where to start. Now I have a lot to read. Thanks and I hope you don't mind that I friended you.

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

I'm just glad you're finding these useful!! They're especially meant for people new to the fandom *__* So yes, welcome. Merlin is awesome.

[aeroport_art.livejournal.com]

Haha YOU'RE TOO SWEET. *hugs your FACE*