Dear mods everywhere...

I would like to have all rules for fests told to me by cute bears from now on.

merlin_games for the rules told the ~old~ way.

Merlin Big Bang Rec

Worth Fighting For by dreamdustmama Arthur/Merlin [NC-17, warnings] (47k)
Summary: In a world where magic is on the brink of being banned and sorcerers are looked upon as second-class citizens, Merlin Emrys does whatever is necessary to protect his loved ones and help those who are like him. Arthur Pendragon, despite his father's open hatred of magic, has never had a reason to care one way or the other – until he discovers that his sister Morgana has powers, and is working underground to rescue those being targeted by the government. Merlin fights with words while Arthur is forced to face the truth about what is really happening to those who use magic, and despite an earlier encounter, it isn't until a chance meeting between them one night that their worlds truly collide.

First: This is a prequel to Echoes of Yesterday. It is not at all necessary to have read that first; this fic very much stands on its own. I loved Echoes and recced it enthusiastically back in day. This fic does stand nicely on its own, but having read Echoes, there are plenty of things that made my heart jump in that ‘oh! That’s where that comes from’ moments which felt like icing on the cake. For those who have not read Echoes – this is a compelling Magical!Modern AU, with magic currently legal, but the people who practice it are oppressed. The depth of the world building, the complexity of the cast of characters, the execution of a clever plot is some of the best I’ve read in this fandom. One of my favourite things about Echoes is BAMF!Arthur with a kickass gun. It’s an image I always have in my mind as I think back on the fic and I love how this sequel takes us through the journey of how pampered, rich, non-political Arthur becomes the man I fell in love with in Echoes. This is a brilliant prequel. Now I’m off to re-read Echoes.

Art for Worth Fighting For by amythystluna

This art is just stunning and so many wonderful pieces depicting the key moments of this story. I love this artist’s style, each piece really pops off the page to me. Also... EXCALIBUR!!!! ♥ I never thought of myself as a gun person but I love that gun.

As an aside: I loved Echoes, but I was wary about starting this one, worried about where it ended as Echoes begins in a bad place. This fic takes place 10 years before Echoes begins. Feel free to PM me or DDM about it if you want more info. I can tell you that this is not as angsty as the first fic, but as a prequel the ending leaves things...well waiting for Echoes to resolve the ‘big picture’ issues. It does stand on it's own, but I can't imagine finishing this and not wanting to then read Echoes.

FIC: California Dreaming (Bradley/Colin) PG-13

Title: California Dreaming
Author: marguerite_26
Pairing: Bradley/Colin
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2,300 words
Summary: Written for the prompt: During San Diego Comic Con, Bradley gets jealous over Colin's flirty interview with Cody Deal
Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction, nothing more than that.
A/N: Thank you to dysonrules for the quick beta. This was originally written for the Tin Hat Fest, re-posting with beta fixes.

( California Dreaming )