Excalibur :)

Our Japanese class found it funny that in common terminology "food" isn't very distinguished from specifically "rice" until it was pointed out to us that in English "meal" is "loose roughly ground grain"

Ted Nasmith

Another Merlin sketch

I am once again on my soap box about @camlannpod

The heroes of this podcast are actively running from their fate, from the myths and stories attached to their names. They are trebucheted into a world of royalty, knights, monsters, enchanted forests and magic. But the thing about our heroes is they are irredeemable nerds and even while trying to escape the narratives laid out for them, they:

Get excited about the prospect of historical reenactment clothes/costumes

Enjoy being able to exercise their nerd-knowledge in this new world (e.g., Perry and how the iron in the electric fence repels the Fair Folk)

Talk about how the mythical names they were either given or chose are still special to them.

But there's more.

On my fourth listen, it really stuck me how much this podcast is about defying the path laid out for you, especially when it comes to who you love.

It's also about the complicated beauty of families of choice, the communities of love and support we build with people who we don't share blood with.

And lastly (but certainly not leastly) it's about the power of names, what it means to take, keep or let go of them.

Might have to go back and give it a fifth listen.

Camlann Pod is just a little over halfway to its goal! If you're looking for a fresh, queer Arthurian story this is for you. Check it out and donate to their Ko-Fi because you're going to want a season 2!

LIVESTREAM MARATHON - THIS SATURAY 30TH NOVEMBER!

Come help us raise money for season 2 of Camlann by tuning in to our twelve hour marathon on the @tincanaudio Twitch channel!

There'll be 27 prizes available, including the only Camlann merchandise currently in existence: 9 posters with our show art, and 9 custom campfire patches made by our very own Ross McFarlane, as well as 9 hardback copies of Ella's TTRPG Upriver, Downriver thanks to the generous support of @macguffinandco.

Plus! We're going to be joined by amazing guests from all across the podcast landscape, joining us to chat about folklore, mythology and much much more. These guests will include: Motzie from @hinaypod, @laurenshippen, Eira from @hangingslothcentral, Cat from The Call fo Cthulhu Mystery Programme, Gabriel and Sarah from Wolf 359, Marc from Archive 81, Steve from Old Gods of Appalachia, Joe from Midnight Burger, Richard from Visionaries, and Eleanor and Martin from the Three Ravens podcast!

And of course, the cast and crew will be there to chat and joke along as we relisten to series one of Camlann, with an episode on the hour every hour from 3pm GMT.

So please - come say hi, tell a friend, and consider donating to help us make season 2. We can't wait!

Keep the fires burning.

alas, poor knight

Merlin/Arthur | Mature | No Archive Warnings Apply | Word Count: 100

Rescue | Angst and Hurt/Comfort | Merlin's Magic Revealed

For @merlinmicrofic with the dialogue prompt "I promised"

Arthur saves Merlin from the pyre

☾ ☾ ☾

Arthur cared not for the blistering flesh of his arms, only Merlin blackened and coughing in his lap.

Voices, hooves came.

He covered his mouth.

They died away, leaving just the wind in the leaves.

Arthur’s whispered agonised apologies as Merlin wheezed for air.

“Go back, Arthur,” he pressed out. “You’re supposed to-”

“I don’t care what fate or your dragon has to say! I promised.”

Tears tracked through soot. “…Please.”

Arthur smeared them away. “Merlin… I can't manage without you. We’ll run.” 

Merlin laughed brokenly. “And if I can’t run?” 

A kiss, all ash and salt. “Need you ask?”

They should invent research that you never have to actually design or propose, they just release you like a wild animal who's been temporarily placed in captivity and everyone stands around and watches you escape off into the sunset

They should invent an essay where you just do research forever and then you never write anything

women keep coming up to me giggling and blushing and running their finger along the edge of my mighty greatsword like STOP theres literally evil afoot