marguerite_26 | Happy Holidays, snegurochka

This is the first gift that I wrote up this year because I was just that excited LOL, but I’ve been holding onto it because

snegurochka_lee wasn’t done writing all her hols fics until like 3 days ago and it wasn’t fair to rec her fics when she had to write.

So her request was complicated but so interesting!:
I would love a custom rec! Something you read that I don't read tonnes of? IDK. Draco/Hermione? Something you used to read before we met and started reading the same stuff? lol. OR, okay, go ahead and rec me the fic that will convert me to Merlin. :D In general I haven't got much into the AU stuff, so, let's say... knights? Round table? (IDK where canon is at). Merlin being magical? Arthur finding out and protecting him from persecution? Rope bondage? La, you know me.

Lee, I was tempted to rec you HP stuff... but really, I just email you that all the time without guilt. I do feel guilty (a little) when I rec you Merlin, so I’m going to take full advantage of your offer. ;)

I decided to give you a few recs for you to choose from or read them all. They are all under 15k because while I’d love you to read a 30k Merlin fic, I know that’s just not going to happen. ♥

Because you are closet romantic, I suggest:
PAVLOV PENIS by derryere [R] (7k)
Summary: In which Merlin is hot for Arthur's bed, Arthur's hot for the laundry and there's this big fucking heatwave all over the place.

Fabulous fic. Funny and sweet and full of this soft, gentle pull between Arthur and Merlin that just sits so right with me.

Because you are a kinky bugger, I suggest:
Until the Pieces Fit by anon [Nc-17] (14k)

This fic comes with warnings for dub-con and homophobia. Personally, I’d add humiliation and non-con to that list, just to be safe. I had to read this twice to enjoy it. It was overwhelming on the first read, hot and uncomfortable and very challenging for me. Second time through, I was able to see past my own issues with humiliation as a kink and really love what the author did here. Not necessarily a characterisation of Arthur I fully understand, but still an amazing read.

Because you have a wonderful sense of humour, I suggest:
Backfire by

oxoniensis [NC-17] (8k)
Summary: In which there are giant ears, a curious cat, backfiring spells, a stick figure Arthur, some unfortunate truths and some very welcome ones.

OMG! This fic is killer funny. There is something about the author's humour that just struck a chord with me and *brusts out laughing* yeah… this fic is just adorable. I giggled and snickered and guffawed my way through it.

And because I wanted to rec you one that was a great ‘magic reveal’ moment – because when I first got into Merlin that’s what I needed to read, I suggest:
Some of Us Look For the Way in Opium by

mellacita And the remix: Sometimes We Gamble (The Poppy's Not the Only Way To Nowhere Remix) by

itachitachi
Summary: There are two truths you should know about Arthur Pendragon. He does not do drugs, and he does not gamble. One of these truths is a lie.

I know I read the original fic back in that blur of first days of inhaling every Merlin/Arthur fic I could find and I don’t know if I comment or ever recced it, but it was damn brilliant. Lovely concept and a fun, fun story. The original is in Merlin’s POV and the author just nails his struggles at ‘handling’ a poppy-high Arthur for 7 nights straight. The remix is the mirror image of the fic through Arthur’s POV. Excellent premise as the POV completely changes the readers experience with the fic and ultimate build to the climax. I read them back to back and thoroughly enjoyed the comparison. The dialogue was naturally repetitive, but the fic being turned on its head more than made up for any ‘I just read this!’ feel. Regardless of how you choose to read them they are both fabulous reads. Enjoy.