Warning: Tentacles

Claiming for hs_merlin is now open! YAY!


Can't Buy Me Love by shes_gone Arthur/Merlin [Team Historical AU] [NC-17] (20k)
Summary: In which it's 1964, Camelot is an advertising agency with a budget problem, Merlin is a copywriter who loves to twist, and Arthur is a junior partner who loves to shout. More or less.

One of the best things about Historical AU’s is the ability to lose yourself in the setting and feel that moment in time. This fic does this with the politics of a large corporation in the mid-1960s. Merlin writes the copy for ads, and Arthur is fighting with his father’s old ways of doing business and the new customers demands for more modern approaches. The fic is filled with questionable morals, infidelity, ‘working your way through’ all the office secretaries as if it’s acceptable (expected) social behaviour. But Merlin stands in the place of the reader, seeing the ways of the ‘office boys’ for what they are. And yet that is just one aspect of this fic, there’s the controversy of tobacco advertising, the ‘magic’ of Merlin’s copy, and of course the incredible UST between Merlin and Arthur. Great read, all around.

Macho Boys With Swords Dice by anon @ merlin_games Arthur/Merlin [Team Reincarnation] [PG-13] (2.4k)
Summary: Arthur wants Merlin to play a wizard. Merlin wants to play anything but. Everyone else wishes they'd get a room.

A fun fic. I don’t know anything about the gaming world the author depicted here, but I really enjoyed the interactions between the whole gang and Merlin’s absolutely pathetic luck at every player he chose.

Warlock by scatterglory Merlin/Arthur [NC-17] (2.6k)
Warnings: Bondage/restraints (consensual), D/s (consensual)
Summary: After a humiliating day at work, Merlin knows just how to unwind.

This is a a hot D/s fic written for Kinkspiration’s Roleplay theme. It has Merlin by day a lackey for a demanding boss (Arthur) and by night, a well known, well respected Dom in a BDSM club. Merlin has an unexpectedly good night when said boss ends up in the club and give Arthur everything he's asking for. I’m not above begging for more of this verse. This was delicious, but I would really love to see more.

ugh... I'm pretty sure today is going to suck, so I'm cheering myself up by doing recs.

OH! and before I forget, Kinkspiration Round 5 posting on THURSDAY. (not sure why I told my betas Friday... /o\ Anyway! Last one so I hope we get... something. :P


A few merlin_games recs:

[ART]
Mae'r Defodol (The Ritual) by bamphigoury [Team Canon] Arthur/Merlin [NWS]
Summary: A wounded Arthur spies in on a Druidic ritual featuring a painted, naked warlock.

Every time I click on this art (and it’s been a few times since it was posted) it never fails to get my heart racing and make my breath catch. Erotic and powerful.

[FIC]
The Room With A View by anon @ merlin_games [Team Reincarnation] [G] Arthur/Merlin (2.5k)
Summary: "He's not like us, Arthur. They live on the other road, on the other side. You shouldn't mix with people like them."

Based on the summary I expected this to be a pretty ordinary Modern AU. It was not. This fic is heart wrenching and absolutely beautiful. It’s the slow, lonely journey of Arthur’s life as he grows up watching from his bedroom window as the boy next door grows up too, in a life Arthur doesn’t understand and isn't allowed to be a part of. It’s a soft and quiet fic, told like a fairytale, with a wonderful happily ever after.

Looking Glass (Darkly) by anon @ merlin_games [Team Canon] [NC-17] Arthur/Merlin and various (1.5k)
Summary: Merlin's evil, lecherous doppelganger appears in Camelot and leaves a trail of broken knights behind him.

Another fic that fooled me by the summary (and title). While yes, this fic has evil!Merlin, this isn’t a dark fic. It’s pretty hilarious... if you like goateed not!Merlin seducing half the castle until they are all left both stunned and sated.

Soul Pieces by anon @ merlin_games [Team Modern AU] [G] Arthur/Merlin (1.6k)
Summary: As a young boy, Merlin breaks an enchanted mirror and his soul is trapped inside the pieces, which then vanish. He has regained all but one piece- I'll give you three guesses about who has it, and the first two don't count.

To borrow itzcoatl’s comment on this fic: It's like a slashy, romantic, adult Dr Seuss. ... YES! Exactly. Lots of fun and very original. And I do adore Dr. Seuss.

Stamboul Train by anon @ merlin_games [Team Reincarnation] Merlin/Arthur [PG] (8k)
Summary: In 1924, the Orient Express rolls across Europe. In the high places, something waits.

This was just posted a couple hours ago and NOM NOM NOM I devoured it. Clever and lovely plot, a wonderful reincarnation piece and the setting of the Orient Express was so well used. It played out as a mystery, Merlin just not quite right and you are left wondering how 'wrong' is he? Is he sick? Is he suffering PTSD from WWI? And one mystery leads to another, and you a left wondering who really knows what? Great fun. Spot on characterisations all around.

merlinreversebb Recs:
[ART]
I haven’t had a chance to read many of the fics in this fest, but the art... ah, man. The art has been really stunning. I don’t even know where to begin reccing the art other than to say, go through the entire fest and click everything.
[FIC]
Turning Page by mightypretty Arthur/Merlin [NC-17] (25k)
Summary: When Merlin, best loved singer/songwriter in the UK, tragically loses his parents in a car accident his life is turned upside down. Depressed and alone he's ready to give up and leave it all behind, but then he hears a voice.

This fic has warnings for: Mentions of depression, self-harm and suicide. The fic begins with Merlin already deep in depression over the death of his parents. I find grief hard to read, and this was no exception. There was no quick fix for Merlin’s issues, but healing does come with the help of Arthur – who has his own painful past to deal with. It was a beautiful story, heartbreaking but a good journey through it all and it left me happy and not wrung out. This fic was inspired by the beautiful graphic by sallyna_smile

[VID]
Art Prompt Title: # 2001 by mangacat201
Characters/Pairings:Merlin, Arthur, Morgana, light Arthur/Merlin
Summary: Morgana discovers Merlin's magic in a dream and, in revealing him, changes the course for Camelot.

merlin_games recs:
Note about my merlin_games reccing: I am entirely neutral in the competition aspect of this fest. All the anon entries of this fest are anon to me as well. I was not involved in modding, writing, betaing or cheerleading any of the entries, if that matters to anyone reading.

[ART]
Masquerade Ball anon @ merlin_games [Team Canon] Arthur/Merlin [WS]
Summary: Merlin needs something to wear to a masquerade ball. Gaius finds him a costume that Balinor once wore to a ball when he was still a member of Uther's Court.

Memorable Mustang by anon @ merlin_games [Team Modern AU] Gwaine/Merlin [WS]
Summary: A comic page without words - Merlin and Gwaine's first date starts off poorly, but in the end they seem don't care.


[FIC]
Knowing by anon @ merlin_games [Team Modern AU] Arthur/Merlin [Nc-17] (3.7k)
Summary: Merlin's had a funny feeling for weeks now. He's about to find out why.

I really enjoyed this little adventure with Merlin the thief, and his role slowly being revealed together with the mystery of Merlin’s magic acting up. Also a nice splash of porn (voyeurism and loo sex! Two of my favourite things) to make the whole thing delish.

The Seventh by anon @ merlin_games [Team Historical] Percival/Merlin [PG] (4.5k)
Summary: Nobody ever knew how Percival felt about Merlin. But he made sure to show the sheriff in whatever ways he could.

A nice period piece, set in the old west. The fic is a character study of both Merlin and Percival far more than a fic that follows a plot. The author did a great job drawing both, but Percival especially so not only did he feel very real (more real than we get from canon, even) but also using the time period and setting as a way to understand the characters and the complexity of their feelings.

The Spirit of Familiarity by anon @ merlin_games [Team Reincarnation] Arthur/Merlin [G] (5.8k)
Summary: In each of his incarnations Merlin has magic but untamed magic requires guidance and in Merlin's case that comes in the form of a more than Familiar Spirit.

Reincarnation fics never fail to break my heart. They are full of hope, naturally because there is always a second chance, yet it’s still hard ‘living through’ the ache of lives gone by. That said, I really liked this interesting look at Merlin and Arthur finding their way to each other time and again in so many different situations, both the form that they took and they reason for their lives.