Merlin Recs

[ART]
You're my everything by tindu Bradley/Colin [WS]
Absolutely stunning piece.

[FIC]
All my fic recs come with warnings today!

In the Dust and the Shadows by lolafeist [NC-17] (~34k)
Arthur/Merlin, Uther/Merlin. [Read others at main post]
Warnings: non-con, dub-con, genre typical violence, prostitution, character death (not Arthur or Merlin). [Read additional warnings at main post]
Summary: When Sheriff Arthur Pendragon returns to his home town of Camelot, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to a young man who works at the Avalon Inn and Saloon. What is Merlin hiding, and what does it have to do with his father?

This is a Western, a true, gritty Western with everything that the genre holds dear. It leaves you raw and chaffed, and at times breathless. Mind the warnings – there were some hard bits, but I found myself skimming the non-con (as I must) while still being able to thoroughly enjoy everything this fic had to offer. Brilliant writing -- the language, the entire feel of this fic was spot-on for the genre and the plot was interesting and perfectly executed.
Spoilery warning: *** The main 'non-con' is Uther/Merlin but the header for this fic implies there is no M/A non-con, but there a moment with clearly non-consensual touching that would have likely gone further if drunk!Arthur hadn't been stopped. ***

A Binding Contract by eldee Arthur/Merlin [NC-17] (99k)
Warnings: sex trade work; authority figures (control over magic); some violence; mentions of minor character death; attempted suicide
Summary: In a society where people with magic are considered to be dangerous, are labelled as freaks, and have their powers cut off from them, Merlin does whatever he can to survive the hard life he’s faced with. When he’s in desperate need of money, Merlin’s landlord Aredian arranges and offers a magically binding contract in which Merlin is to become a ‘companion’ to Uther Pendragon’s son, Arthur. And when Merlin feels compelled to accept it, he never would have imagined that one man could change his life so completely.

The author does a great job of immersing the reader into this Modern AU, with the existence of magic acknowledged but not accepted. People with magic are 'clipped' and they become easy targets for those that would abuse them. Merlin, clipped since he was 8, gets caught in a web of manipulation and human trafficking. While Merlin's situation is heartbreaking it never overwhelmed me with angst. A wonderful, long, plotty read with some great sex (all consensual).

The Prince Regent of Camelot by onelittlesleep Arthur/Merlin [R] (~15k)
Warnings: underage (non-sexual) spanking/belting, character death, agnst, spanking
Summary: So this is the weirdest thing I've ever written. It started off as a crackfic and then got plotty. What is this about? It's canon AU. Merlin starts the fic underage (14), but nothing happens overtly sexual until he's much older. Arthur is...a hobbyist?

I loved this Arthur. Loved his struggles with his kingdom, the politics he faced, the hardships of having the 'grow up' and deal with the massive responsibilities of being king and be very alone in it all. I love his odd, unspoken relationship with Merlin that was backwards and tense when Merlin was young and even more so when Merlin was older. It completely worked for me. Regarding the warnings: I hesitated in reading this because of the summary. I've read stuff that had 'nothing happens overtly sexual until he's much older' and found myself disagreeing with the author's definition of 'overtly sexual', however I didn't have that problem in this fic. There was a definite line between 'when Merlin was a boy and Arthur disciplined him' and 'when Merlin was suddenly A MAN and there was sexual tension.' The author never once had Arthur's mental meanderings about 14 yr old Merlin in any sort of sexual way and that really worked for this Arthur in this fic. I did find the corporal punishment hard to read, but I'm a wuss like that.

And don’t forget…

merlequin Week 5 – Uther/Morgause - GO VOTE

HP Art Rec

Some gorgeous HP art posted lately! Here’s a sampling:

[please note, I’m assuming that men kissing (possibly topless) is WS. Let me know if you are like DUDE, no.]

By Heart by stellamoon Snape/Harry [WS]
Summary: Just a breathless moment.........

Forbidden Fruit – Regulus by anon at wankfest Regulus/Sirius [NWS]

Morning Kiss - Harry/Draco by wincest_drarry Draco/Harr[WS]
Summary: Just another lovely morning in Harry's flat.


Red doesn't suit you by mijeli Draco/Harry[WS]