Gwaine: It’s Like Merlin Always Says: If At First You Don’t Succeed, It’s Only Attempted Murder.

bbc merlin - 03x12 The Coming of Arthur, Part I/03x13 The Coming of Arthur, Part II

never gonna be normal about this

Jejejjeje I saw this in tiktok and wanted to draw this

generative AI literally makes me feel like a boomer. people start talking about how it can be good to help you brainstorm ideas and i’m like oh you’re letting a computer do the hard work and thinking for you???

Every king eventually brings out their own money. The Pendragon crest is naturally on one side, but the King's face normally goes on the other.

And Arthur does that, or intends to. But when he talks to the guy who is meant to get his profile, Arthur can't help but ask what kind of other symbols he could use. At first, he asks if he could put other people on it, then he figures that it would probably be too controversial if he put a face on the coin that isn't his own.

Then he asks if it could be a bird, like his mother's sigil. Originally, he wants to honor her, but then Merlin walks in to gather his clothes and it suddenly strikes him that Merlin has done so much for him, and never gotten any reward.

And Arthur doesn't mean his servant work, Merlin is rubbish at that. But what about his council? His advice? The fact that Merlin always speaks his mind, yet always has Arthur's and Camelot's best interest at heart. The fact that Merlin always goes out of his way to fight alongside Arthur, despite not being a knight.

In an emotional outburst, (after Merlin left again) Arthur orders the coin guy to make the other side of his coin a Merlin.

Right after that, he realizes what he's done and drowns his embarrassment in wine.

A couple weeks later, the money is created and put out into the kingdom. And everyone immediately connects the dots. The symbol is only on the golden one.

The day Merlin finds out is a normal day at first. Only that everyone is staring holes into his head and whispers about him. Merlin has been send to get Arthur's new shirts and hands the tailor a golden coin. He hands it to him, then stops and stares at the crest.

....

Merlin: Arthur???? What the fuck is this?

Arthur: *sweats* your salary?

The rest of B-Shift hearing about Ravi committing domestic terrorism for the sake of Chimney even after Bobby offered to take the fall and just thinking, “Oh God, they finally got him. They roped Ravi into their sick little co-dependent work family. We’re never getting him back.”

but also imagine you've spent 30+ years successfully repressing any trace of homosexuality from your outward persona and then the second you leave town everyone you know starts calling you a faggot behind your back when you can't defend yourself against the allegations. I'd be so pissed

Gwen having terrible gaydar for 4 minutes 'straight'

I posted this on my tiktok but I thought I'd chuck it here as well. enjoy

I wanna push you around

So merlin is trending, huh? Here are 5 fics you should read about those immortal idiots

1. and it will set you free series by @andiwriteordie. Arguably my favourite fix-it from so, so long. The way the author introspected about their entire lifetime was unbelievably powerful. And the way they gave Arthur agency to have had a say in the whole "destiny" debacle from the very beginning.. oh my. So creative and so incredibly loving. Honestly, all of this author's works are works of art and it's a crime against the fandom how very underrated they are.

2. Smile and Pretend by Fulgance. Yes fine I know I can't keep on recommending this author's Beauty in the Ashes of Our Lives every time I get the chance. But really, this one was just as amazing. My soft heart flutters for any and all Arthur-Finds-Out fics. Especially those where he lets Merlin come to him with it instead. aaaah. This fic is definitely one of the top tiers of the category.

3. To you I swear my solemn oaths by @regulusrules. Again, yes I know I should stop flouncing around My heart is readily yours every time I get the chance. It's my hyperfixation on fics that hyperfixate over Arthur, forgive me. TYISMSO was my first ever fic in the fandom, and I always look back at it with pride of how much faith I tried to breathe between them. They were in love, your honour. God I love those two idiots so much.

4. Fathom Me Out by @supercalvin. I don't know about you, but to me this is a requirement for our fandom. If you haven't read this fic, you haven't read anything. It is absolute brilliance— in writing, in the plot, in their characterization.. absolutely everything.

5. Still I Surface in Morning Light by @queerofthedagger. Scar reveal, but make it so good that you never stop thinking about it. I can hands-down say it's one of the best scar reveal fics I've read in this fandom. It's so intricately written and their conversations are otherworldly. The despair and love you see here.. a masterpiece.

Because Merlin is still trending and because I love to be as annoying as possible, here is a list of horsecrazy fics to read and why you should read them

The Book of Merthur

The show rewrite that will clear your skin and add 20+ years to your life

Will literally alter your brain chemistry; if you need references I can provide many

Excellent characterisation, lots of Arthurian mythology, very epic and cinematic, and will have you laughing out loud and crying your eyes out pretty much every chapter

All Things Loved & Lovesick

Gay pining and cute animals

What other reason do you need

And None But Fools

Totally Platonic and Heterosexual Roadtrip

Jealous Arthur my beloved

Friends with benefits (the “benefits” do not include functional braincells)

Fools By Heavenly Compulsion

The best texting/social media fic of all time

Morgana’s texts to Arthur in this fic are reason enough to read it

More pining idiots. Chef’s kiss