Attention!!!

i love taking the idea of “the serum gave steve better muscles and better senses” and just pushing it just that little bit into uncanny valley territory. he can see very slightly into the ultravioliet and infared spectra, moves/thinks quicker than normal people (hes conciously slowing himself down a LOT bc he knows it freaks people out) and is just. really strong. all of him is very strong. he can open a can of beans with a fingernail. 

New to your blog, I was wondering if you have a Merlin fic rec list that's just your favorites. I unfortunately missed the Merlin fandom back when the show was airing so I always feel like I'm just missing the greatest stuff from other people

Hello friend! Welcome to my humble abode of a blog (which resembles more of a Merlin waste disposal). Like you, I missed the show when it was airing, but honestly when you stay as long in this fandom as I have, you will constantly be exposed to wonderful creative energies that give their all. It's a timeless fandom, one of the very few, and no matter when you enter it you will always feel fulfilled. :)

So, favourite fics! Gosh, how can I fit 2K+ bookmarks in one ask. When it comes to this fandom, I admit: I have no life. I've read a real huge number of fics throughout the years, but with that comes the issue of forgetting. I try to bookmark as much as I can to remind myself, but sometimes it's inevitable for fics to get lost in a sea of bookmarks. So to make things easier, I'll write you some canon fics that immediately come to my mind for how unforgettable they were.

No order; each one has its own chamber in my heart.

Short fic recs (1K-50K)

1. Our broken pieces by @aramblingjay. 10K, T, Canon Era, Hurt/Comfort.

Am I purposefully putting this one on top this time so that everyone who stumbles across this ask could check it out? Yes. Yes I am. Is it my personal mission for the fandom to give this fic the love and kudos it deserves? You bet it's a big overbearing yes. And yes I want you to cry and feel your heart twist with agony because of how beautiful it is. My eyes never shed tears for a fic before this one, and never will after it. There is something in the way the author broke Arthur that just resonated in my innards. And the way Merlin was there for him, not a placebo "I'm here" but there, in all actuality, doing so with every fiber of his love, made it something else. I like to believe that this fic was crafted so perfectly in a parallel universe, and sent to us as a blessing we never knew we needed.

2. Beauty in the Ashes of Our Lives by Fulgance. 21K, T, Canon AU, Magic Reveal.

This is probably the umpteenth time for me to recommend this fic, but I won't stop. I can't stop. This fic ruined me so slowly, and healed me even slower. All my Merlin friends do not believe why this would be one of my favourite fics of all time with what Arthur did, but honestly, it's the fact that the writer wrote it so convincingly that makes me crumble internally. It isn't easy to write angry Arthur, and it's even harder to write him grief-stricken, but here, the author blended both elements so perfectly. It's impossible to forget this fic. It's worth your every second.

3. Linger On Your Pale Blue Eyes by supercalvin. 18K, T, Canon Era, Touch-Starved.

Will this fic linger in your heart? It sure as hell never leaves mine. Every once in a while, I have to go back to this fic and read it like a morning paper. Some fics sustain you.. this is definitely one of them. Most of @supercalvin's fics are of sustaining material. They are made with such depth and broad understanding to the characters that you should take notes. There's this one line that everytime I cross this fic I instantly remember and I go to the nearest pillow to just AAA a little bit. When you reach it, I'm sure you'll recognise it, and I'll be waiting for you to come AAA with me.

4. Dower the Stars by RurouniHime. 40K, E, Golden Age, Pining Arthur, BAMF Merlin.

I don't think anything levels the levels of intimacy in this fic. It is one of the best Arthur characterizations I've ever read. His boundless love and pining for Merlin— oh my heart. Also, the world building and amount of research that must have been done for this fic is astounding. I was this close from following the author's footsteps and, idk, writing an entire research paper about Arthurian lore or something. The moment I read it I immediately wanted to contact the author and just tell them WHY ARE YOU BLESSING US WITH ALL THIS INSTEAD OF PUBLISHING IT?? It was amazing. I reread it a month ago for the third (fourth?) time and found myself gasping and aweing as if I never read it before. It keeps being an experience every time, one so worthwhile.

5. To the point of fear by Imagined. 10K, T, Canon AU, POV Mordred, Magic Reveal.

I found this fic through this gifset by the very talented @theedorksinlove, and let me tell you, my thumb almost fell off searching so quickly for it. And it didn't disappoint. It didn't do anything but make my heart cry for the beauty of these two characters that I keep loving over and over from the introspections of such creative souls in our fandom. This was a window to their relationship, so tender and to the point. If anything, it makes you love them to the point of obsession.

6. Chain of Secrets by @remuscariad. 4K, G, Canon AU, Magic Reveal, Hurt/Comfort.

Earthshatteringly-poetic isn't a made-up word powerful enough to describe the beauty of prose here. There are fics that you open and immediately know that you're sold: this was one of them. Its summary alone dropped my jaw down to my neighbour's floor. The dialogue is so meticulously crafted it feels like reading a piece from a past era. Genuinely beautiful.

7. Half of my soul by marvelxpendragon. 2K, G, Post-Canon AU, King Arthur/Court Sorcerer Merlin.

This fic is half of my soul, as the poets say. So what if I reject the canonic ending and resort to pain myself with fics like this instead? I sometimes feel we, as a fandom, try to up the angst of the finale so that we forget how painful it was by bringing even MORE pain. But it's pain that I delight in, because it's pain that MAKES SENSE. Yes give me MCD but with a freaking beautiful life like the one this author gave us. Make me believe it was all worth something. Make me believe they lived.

8. whisper to the flame by @missfaber. 16K, E, Canon AU, Wounded Arthur, Hurt/Comfort.

*clears throat* *prepares for a mental scream*TELL ME HOW YOU LIGHT YOUR FIRESSSSS *clears throat once more and pretends I'm okay*

So, as the author wrote, this is indeed a love letter to the two characters we love more than anything. More than anything, I loved the fact that the author gave Arthur agency to think and act and be a king, even when he was still a prince. Even in most fics where Arthur already knows, this isn't common. So whenever I find a fic that has Smart!Arthur and a lovesick one at that, I would vouch my life and soul for it. Also Protective!Knights is the best thing in the world, ok? I would die for this discourse for real.

9. As a Sea Shell by bathilda bagshot (wellthengameover). 12K, T, Canon AU, Slow Burn.

Okay, so this fic is only bookmarked "Agony until 7 AM", and with that, a rush of drowning memories always come crushing my soul. I lost sleep and SANITY over this fic. I was thrown from a cliff and kept hanging in the air without a respite until the very END. I read it a couple weeks after the finale and it broke me even FURTHER. I was promised growing old together, and it was a big LIE. And yet I love it so, so dearly.

Honourary biased mention:

10. My heart is readily yours by yours truly. 11K, T, Canon AU, Protective Arthur, Hurt/Comfort.

Sometimes I don't believe I had it in me to write this. Like.. what, dearest self, the hell were you thinking. With tyismso, I somehow balanced fluff and angst— a solid magic reveal fic. But this one? I only knew ✨pain✨

.. and I don't regret a thing.

[Long fic recs]

Ok ok but what if Klaus started a tv show or YouTube channel where he talked to various ghosts? Everyone gets these halfway conversations that he somehow manages to make hilarious. He interviews famous dead people. Ben and Ronald Regan get in a fist fight.

OMG SO MUCH YESSSS

Imagine his collabs though? James Charles would be doing his makeup and Klaus spilling the tea about a ghost that’s been causing drama with Ben 

Steve Rogers did, in fact, realize that something was off when he saw the outline of the woman’s odd bra (a push-up bra, he would later learn), but being an officer and a gentleman, he said that it was the game that gave the future away.

I have never laughed as much while watching a drama as that one moment in Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung episode 13 when one of the translators asks the Western man “waarom ben je naar Korea gekomen?” (why did you come to Joseon?) in the BEST and funniest accent I’ve ever heard.

Then, the answer “I don’t speak Dutch” made it 10 times funnier. I would never have even imagined to hear people talk about the Netherlands in a kdrama, but a historical drama?? Set in the Joseon era?? I was completely blindsided. I must’ve replayed that scene at least 5 times.

I don’t know if people know it on here BUT I’m actually from the Netherlands and Dutch is my first language!! It’s such a small country so whenever someone even mentions it I’m amazed. So the MOMENT he said that sentence I completely lost it. Well played, Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung.

“Hey, mom?” Diego asked, peeking into the kitchen where Grace was humming, mixing a bowl of cookie dough.

“Yes, Diego?” she said without looking up.

“Um…” he stepped into the kitchen, taking a few steps towards the counter, “c-can I help make cookies?”

Grace paused, looking up with a bright smile, “Of course. I needed a pair of strong arms to help me mix this together. Why don’t you finish and I’ll prepare the pans?”

Diego walked around the counter and took her place, taking the spoon from her. He struggled a bit at first to mix together the dough before he got the hang of it.

His face was scrunched up in concentration and Grace gave him a fond smile, starting to hum again.

The cookies turned out perfect. And Diego remembered the way Grace ruffled his hair, handing him one, still warm from the oven.

“Well done, Diego.”

-

Diego felt it coming on. The panic, the tightness of the throat, the rapid beating of his heart, the overwhelming anxiousness that seemed to blanket him.

He squeezed his eyes shut, humming the familiar tune. The same one he’d heard Grace hum hundreds of times before. And he thought of that time, the delicious cookies, and how happy he was to make Grace proud.

Slowly, his anxiety faded enough for him to relax.

He missed his mom. But she would always be with him. No matter what.

Do you have a list of favorite zosan fics? Sorry if someone's asked this before x.x

Hooo boy, this is going to be challenging because there's simply a lot of fics that I like and it's kind of all over the place depending on my mood, but I'm going to make a general list of some of my favorites and a short summary of why I like them.

This is going to be a little long so I'm going to put them under read more!

Sketches of Life (and Love) by Fledgling — An exploration of a headcanon where Sanji likes to draw in his free time. This fic always leaves me with a warm feeling every time I read it because how endearingly sweet it is. It's basically a domestic fluff story about both ZoSan and the Strawhats crew in general.

green with envy blues by adietxt — A cute fic about Zoro being jealous. Jealous!Zoro has been one of those tropes that make me screech like a feral animal every time I come across it and this fic does exactly that. It's pretty short and simple but it captures the characters very well. It's set during pre-timeskip which makes it even better to me because pre-TS Zoro possesses that boyish quality that post-TS Zoro doesn’t necessarily have anymore. 

Old Men Blues by postmoderne — Quoting directly from the fic's summary, “Sanji and Zoro: two ancient fucks (in love).” because this is exactly that, a story about old men ZoSan. Old Zoro and old Sanji are both still as stubborn as ever and it's endearing.

Meet me under the orange tree by candelina — A canon divergence AU where Zoro and Sanji met as kids, as Zeff opened up Baratie in Zoro's hometown. It's an adorable and heartwarming story of little Zoro and little Sanji's friendship. There's also a part two which is also worth reading.

Other fics from candelina: The whole world will know, another fic about old men ZoSan, this one involves Zoro deliberately showing himself to the Marines for god knows what. It's sweet, it's beautiful, and it shows that Zoro is as reckless and idiotic as he is a loving, devoted husband.

Zoro's Boyfriend, Who Lives In Canada by donutsandcoffee — Modern AU, where Zoro's friends try to stop him from believing that his imaginary, totally made-up boyfriend actually exists. Of course Zoro's boyfriend doesn't actually exist, because with the way Zoro describes him he's way too perfect to exist and how can anyone so perfect actually exist? A hilarious story of misunderstandings. 

Other fics from donutsandcoffee: My other favorite stories would be Prison Blues and it’s a long way forward, which serve as both a ZoSan story and a great Sanji character study. 

The Three of Swords by 8ball — A medieval AU with knight Zoro and prince Sanji, a concept that starts to really grow on me after I begin to read this fic. In this story, Zoro is a cursed knight appointed to serve Sanji, a deeply kind-hearted prince whom Zoro eventually pines over. It's a beautiful take of prince and knight AU; devoted knight Zoro is something that I didn't know I need. It also has a sequel. 

Steady, As She Goes by auspizien — I've always loved auspizien's fics and this is the one fic that made me fall in love with their writing. This is a modern AU story where Zoro is an ex-agent with PTSD who meets and befriends Sanji, a paramedic. It's a multi-chapter fic filled with humor, angst, pining, action, and good ol’ slow-burn. 

The Tribulations of Tempation by SweetyGreeny — Zoro accidentally sees Ace and Sanji doing... the do, and then spends days after that feeling shocked, confused, angry, and disappointed.  A simply delicious story of pining and jealous Zoro. There's a slight AceSan in the beginning but the endgame is still ZoSan.  

Other fics from SweetyGreeny: A Siren's Sinking Song, a canon-divergent AU where Sanji is a siren who one day meets a peculiar swordsman from a wandering ship; this story is beautiful and I love the idea of siren!Sanji, but please note the major character death TW. The Burden of Blondes, Sanji finds out that Zoro has a thing for blondes, and for some reason he feels uneasy. A fun story with some good smut. 

(I Want) Someone to Love Me by three_days_late — Sanji is about to turn 17, so he hopes that he can get his first kiss before that. A cute high school AU that involves everyone wanting to kiss Sanji (honestly, who doesn't) but only one person gets to actually do it. 

Other fics from three_days_late: Blood Red - this might be a little biased because this fic is inspired by my comic, but that's also a perfectly good reason why I must add it here; this fic is able to capture the spirit of the comic perfectly. If you want to read a short exposition of Zoro showing his protective side, then this fic is worth the read. The Christmas Swap, a modern AU in which Sanji and Reiju switch partners during Christmas so they can attend their family gathering without having to come out as queer. It’s a wonderful story about family, relationships, and what it feels like to be closeted. The Only Way Out (Is Through), a beautiful Prince Sanji and Knight Zoro story, where circumstances forced them to be unable to be together - and it also has a side Nami/Vivi. 

Curly Angel by APTX (translated to English by NMTD) — In this alternative canon universe, everyone has a guardian angel, and Zoro's just happened to be Sanji. Hilarity ensues. I have to admit that I absolutely love all of APTX's ZoSan fics, but since most of them are in Chinese, if you're like me and doesn't mind reading some really botchy translations of said fics, then you can try using Google Translate to read them.

Let me be your Inspiration by TheWanderers — College AU where Sanji is an artist/painter - another fic that explores Sanji as someone with an artistic streak, but also so much more. It's a beautiful story that starts out with Zoro having to model for Sanji's painting but ends up falling in love with him. I love the way the author adapts the characters' canon backstory into this universe.

Thy Fearful Symmetry by Harubo — A modern AU where Sanji is a tourist visiting a tiger reserve during a family vacation and Zoro is a detective investigating a poaching ring. All of Harubo's fics are godsend but I particularly love this one because the setting reads like a perfect rom-com drama movie about a stressed, overworked chef meeting a handsome detective. There's also a nice tidbit where the Vinsmoke siblings are trying to get along with each other.

Retrogade by Hazel_Athena — Sanji got badly injured after a fight, and ends up losing a big chunk of memories - he doesn't find it too bothersome until he notices how weird Zoro starts to act around him. It's a really good temporary amnesia fic with some really delicious pining!Zoro material.

Done Dirt Cheap by Balderdashfromafool — Basically a Western ZoSan AU, where Zoro is an outlaw and Sanji is a small town chef. This one is fun and lovely, and as someone who doesn’t read a lot of Western-themed stories, I love the way the author describes the Western setting in this fic. 

Each A Love Song by Shadowcatxxx — Sanji is frustrated because Zoro's surprisingly popular with women when he doesn't even like them back. A story of a confused Sanji trying to find love and being the World’s Most Oblivious Man. 

And that's all for now! It got way longer than I initially thought....there are some fics that I exclude, mostly the more explicit, PWP-type of fics, as well as Omegaverse fics, because my taste on them tend to be more specific and self-indulgent as ever. I might need to make a separate post for that, and also like feel free to ask me about them anytime. 

I really hope I've done these fics justice with my summaries. I can't overstate how talented these authors are, so please shower them with love, kudos, comments, attention, etc etc if you have time.

IT IS VERY REAL!! ALWAYS BE AWARE.

Don’t take them off when you immediately see it. Wait until you get to a different destination bc they’re trying to distract you by getting it off then abducting you. Same thing goes if you find something on your windshield, it’s a distraction so they have time to get you.    

My Favorite Merthur Fics (Part 3)

Part 1 I Part 2

*******************

Soulmates

* Fundamentally Flawed by QueenofCamelot

”Growing up without a soul mark was never easy for Arthur. According to science, to the universe, he wasn’t meant to be loved.”

* Missing Mark by violentincest

“Everyone is born with a soul-mate tattoo except for Arthur.”

* Tally Mark by supercalvin

“When someone falls in love, a red tally mark appears on their wrist. When the love is returned, the mark turns black. When someone falls out of love, the mark fades, but never entirely. When the person you love dies, the mark turns into a scar.”

* Thousand Times Worse. Or Better? by elirwen

“Forced by Morgana’s nagging, Arthur visits soulbond guidance office. Merlin Emrys is asigned to be his guide. That’s where the simple ends and complicated begins.”

* Strike of Lightining (Canon Era) by helloearthlings

“Uther’s commandment was very simple: If there should come a day when Arthur met his soulmate, he would drive a sword through their chest and kill them on sight.”

* The Secrects We Hide on Our Skins (Canon Era) by Michaelssw0rd

“Merlin had a penchant for wearing ugly neckerchiefs, and Arthur had a tendency to become obsessed with everything related to his manservant. It didn’t help that they both had secrets they wanted to keep hidden more than anything else.“

* Deeds (Canon Era) by the5leggedCricket

“Arthur is coming of age, and that means he’s about to get Deeds—marks on his body telling him of his soulmate’s greatest accomplishments. But as he tries to find his soulmate, he also makes some worrying discoveries about the kind of person his soulmate is.“

* Rings of Fire, Dragons and Swords (Canon Era) by Guardian_Rose

“It wasn’t that he was ashamed of it or that it was ugly like the other children in the village had whispered behind his back or that it wasn’t there at all. The problem was that Merlin had magic, always had and always would, so his mark changed. Not often. Not every week or even every month. But it would transform into something new and Merlin would feel an inkling of the burns his soulmate must have felt when they were first claimed. Arthur’s mark hadn’t changed for years when he met Merlin. Not since a golden dragon had wound it’s way up and around his shin and leg with blue fire just to top it off.“

[It has a 2nd part that it’s still a WIP but looks amazing: New Century, New Mark, New Start]

* One Soulmate to Go by TsingaDark

“In a world where soulmates exist, Arthur still hasn’t found his other half.”

Virginity

* Wicked Game by winterstorrm

“Arthur’s the King of Camelot…nightclub.  He can pick and choose who he wants, and he does – often – no promises and absolutely no repeats.  The night he chooses Merlin might just be his undoing.“

* Seven Long Years by winterstorrm

”Arthur and Merlin are both eighteen, and the both of them are still virgins. One night, they’re a little drunk, and create a pact to lose their virginities to one another if they haven’t lost it by the time they’re twenty-five.”

* Virgin Territory by ingberry

“Gwaine’s parties are legendary. It’s mostly because of the orgy in the basement where people offer themselves up for the greater good. Merlin figures that’s a smashing way to get rid of his virginity, mostly because he’s never seen anyone from his high school at Gwaine’s. The idea seems a lot worse when he’s on his knees, naked and blindfolded. Thank fuck for the guy who grabs him and hauls him back up the stairs.“

* Virginity for Sale by teprometo

“Arthur’s just dicking around on Craigslist London when he sees that a university student is selling his virginity to the highest bidder. He has no logical reason to believe it’s Merlin, but he does, and after some ethically questionable snooping, he discovers that he’s correct. A series of bad decisions ensues.“

* Taking it Slowly (Canon Era) by et_cetera55

“Prompt: Can we have some shy, virgin, scared Merlin fics with gentle and tender Arthur?”

Transgerder

* Summer is Late, My Heart by Polomonkey

“It’s the hottest day of the year and Arthur meets an old friend at the beach.Then it’s sun and sand and love, as usual.“

* Little Wooden Boy and the Belly of Love by new_kate

“Arthur moves to a a different city to start a new life and become a new man. On a whim he decides to share a flat with an attractive stranger, and quickly gets drawn into Merlin’s odd little world.“

A MESSAGE FROM THE THE TEAM + FIXED MASTERPOST OF MERLIN 6: KINGDOM COME EPISODES

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

This Christmas marks five years since the finale of BBC’s Merlin aired, and this spring will mark three years since we created this account and posted the first episode of our sixth season to share with Merlin fans around the world. Still we continue to receive messages of gratitude and praise for the scripts, and we are humbled as ever by the effect it has had. It is fans like you who keep the magic alive.

It has come to our attention that some of the links on our blog have not be working for everyone. Here is a redo of our masterpost for those who have had trouble with the first. The anniversary of Merlin’s finale seems an appropriate time to pass these scripts around again for those who would love to re-experience the adventure, or those who have not joined in on the journey.

IMPORTANT: On our youtube account, we have edited and uploaded soundtracks to accompany your reading of the script. Soundtracks will be indicated by the red numbers in brackets that appear at various points in the text (example: [1] means play soundtrack #1 on the episode playlist). We strongly recommend using this prepared playlist while you read, as it helps to complete the experience of watching a real episode on TV (really, it makes all the difference in the world!). Everyone’s reading pace will be different, but we did our best to time each track to the pace of each scene.

Summary of Merlin 6: Kingdom Come Fifteen hundred years after his death, the Once and Future King finally returns. But he finds himself confronted with a new world that is entirely unfamiliar. What’s more, centuries of waiting for Arthur’s return have rendered Merlin traumatized and struggling with inner demons. Aided – and opposed – by familiar faces from their past, the King and his trusted warlock must face a cabal of adversaries led by an ancient Judge who intends to undermine any attempts to fulfill Arthur’s final destiny. But how will they secure a promising future when history is fighting to repeat itself?

Episode 1. “Rise and Shine” Playlist

Episode 2. “A King Without a Kingdom” Playlist

Episode 3. “The Madness of Merlin” Playlist

Episode 4. “Their Sound Shall Reach the Stars” Playlist

Episode 5. “The Witching Hour Part 1″ Playlist

Episode 6. “The Witching Hour Part 2″ Playlist

Episode 7. “The Servant King” MID-SEASON FINALE Playlist

Episode 8. “The Good Knight” Playlist

Episode 9. “The Sole Equality” Playlist

Episode 10. “Witch Hunt” Playlist Episode 11. “Slings and Arrows” Playlist Episode 12. “Judgment Day Part 1″ Playlist

Episode 13. “Judgment Day Part 2″ Playlist