This is just a post to say moonlightwish continues to be the best and most awesome friend ever. Look, she bought me the pirate userhead! fuckyeah

I AM HAPPIER THAN A SEAGULL WITH A FRENCH FRY.

I love people here start to get ready for spring, and seem so surprised when winter proves it's not done yet. It's like they magically forget that for the past couple of years, all of our major snowstorms have hit around this time. *sigh* Let's just see what people are freaking out about this time, shall we?

"Expecting 6 to 10 inches."

...Really, Maryland? Really? I can't even with you.

Anyway, here's that Merlin meme that's been floating around:
I first started watching Merlin because...: Back when it first started, someone advertised it in a download community I was part of. I watched the first one and was hooked, but didn't really get into the fandom until February of last year.
Favorite season of Merlin: Hrmm, I really need to rewatch them all to know for sure. Either one (they were such babies, and OT4!) or three (Gwaine! Before he had a personality re-haul. :()
Merlin OTP: This is hard, because I'm a multi-shipper, but Arthur/Merlin has to be the top. (Which is funny, because for the longest time I didn't see it, and then it finally clicked.)
Merlin second favorite ship: It's a tossup between Merlin/Morgana and Arthur/Gwen/Merlin (what, threesomes count, right?)
Favorite knight: DON'T MAKE ME CHOOSE! *sob* I really do love them all, and I wish we got more for them.
Favorite female character: It used to be Morgana, but then she just...ugh.
If I were a character on Merlin, I would be... Probably a mix of Percival and Gwaine (omg, unf)
Merlin fic I recently read & loved: For the Good of the Kingdom (sdjdhjkJKHDFJK THIS IS SO ADORABLE!)
Merlin fanart I recently viewed & loved: THIS ONE OMG GO LOOK SO FREAKING ADORABLE I CAN'T EVEN AHHH
Merlin comms that are improving my life: kinkme_merlin, mxa_news, and paperlegends
Three Merlin LJ friends I recently made: Oh man, I made a lot at asya_ana's meme, I can't even remember.
Last Merlin LJ post I wrote: FIC: hey good lookin' (whatcha got cookin') , Help me Fandom-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope..., and a couple of Merlin recs here.
Latest cast news that had me flailing: Ade has a twitter!
My feelings about Colin Morgan performing in the Tempest: I had to do anything in my power to resist cutting out a kidney to sell for plane tickets. *sigh*
Here's a gif:
(Because I'm that immature.)

To-do list:
- Make sure CD and FMF are up to date
- Finish scene in Perverse Bang
- Write outline for PL and maybe get some words down
- Try out Scrivener and see if it's worth paying the $40 for

^ My face when I found out Colin Morgan won the NTA 2013 Award for Best Male Actor. I was out all day so I wasn't able to watch the ceremony live, but I kept checking posts on my phone and squeeing over it.



LOOK AT HOW ADORABLE HE IS! I CAN'T EVEN

AND BRADLEY HUGGING HIM WHEN HE WON, AHHHH.

I really wish Merlin would have won as well, but oh well, I'm really happy. Then again, I'm really sad, because who knows when the cast will be together again like this? :(

WHATEVER, I CAN'T MAKE MYSELF SAD NOW

Also, random meme yoinked from dante_s_hell:
I know very little about some of the people on my friends list. Some people I know relatively well. But here's a thought: why not take this opportunity to tell me a little something about yourself. Any old thing at all. Just so the next time I see your name I can say: "Ah, there's Parker ...she likes money and cereal." I'd love it if everyone who's friended me did this. (Yes, even you people who I know really well.) Then post this in your own journal [only if you feel inclined]. In return, ask me anything you'd like to know about me and I'll give you an answer.

DAMN IT, MORDRED! STOP MAKING ME LOVE YOU!

And Merlin is one sassy flamboyant bastard.

(Conversation I had with my family before we went to see Rise of the Guardians)
Me: ...And I'm going try not have a crush on Jack Frost, even though the boy is fine.
Mom: Yeah, the boy is fine.
Sister-in-Law: Wait, let me look up what he looks like on my phone... Wow. Yeah.
Brother: ...Yeaaaaaaaaaah.

SO I DIDN'T EVEN GET FIVE SECONDS INTO THE MOVIE BEFORE GIVING INTO THE INEVITABLE.

( Cut because of FEELINGS~!!11 And spoilers!Collapse )

Okay, now that I'm done freaking out about 5x05 (actually I'm not done, just going to keep my thoughts to myself, haha), I want to thank everyone who gave me pumpkin cookies! (And in Lauren's case, an evil pumpkin...that doesn't look evil?) *hugs* Sorry I didn't give any in return. Why is it that I never get the memo that it's gift giving season? :(

So magnolia822 rec'd this, and I figured I'd post the signal, because this series is amazing:
Check and Mate (Series)
Summary: (Arthur/Merlin, NC-17, 36,221 [current total]) The first encounter Arthur had with Merlin Emrys was entirely unexpected.

Goddamn, I love historical AUs, and the set up of this one is fantastic. Merlin is a captain in the Navy, Arthur is a lord involved with Parliment, and if it's not enough that they have to hide their relationship, there's times where they don't know if the other is still alive. This series can be sweet, hot, and loads of angsty, but the perfect thing to curl up with on a rainy day. PREPARE TO HAVE YOUR FEELS BOARDED.

SPEAKING OF HISTORICAL AUS:
Ich Hatt Einen Kameraden
Summary: (Arthur, Merlin, Uther, Hunith, Will, R) A fateful encounter between two enemies during the Liberation of Holland.

Pretty sure this is my first fanart rec (talking about it for paperlegends doesn't count), and I'm thinking I should have picked a cheerier one, haha. If that's not a clue, holy hell, mind the warnings, seriously. I always adore amphigoury's unique sense of style, and the grittiness and realism of the art fits the story perfectly. It goes from banter reminiscent of canon, then BAM! Angst ahoy. Seriously, ow, but lovely all the same.

NEED SOMETHING HAPPY AND FLUFFY AFTER ALL THAT?
The Advent of Coffee
Summary: (Arthur/Merlin, Gwaine/Percival, 11559, PG-13) Merlin's daily visits to Castle Grounds for his coffee fix have become something of a habit, so when everyone else goes home for the semester, he keeps them up. The baristas seem to like him, for the most part, and as Christmas approaches, things start to get interesting.

Yes, another coffeeshop!AU (DON'T JUDGE ME), and this one is just as sweet as you might expect. Merlin is adorable in quest to get Arthur to listen to his suggestions about coffee (the part where he just writes "MORE MILK" on a suggestion card made me giggle), and it turns out Arthur has a secretly adorable side to him as well. Gwaine and Percival are a hoot, and Lance thinking Merlin's name was Mark was a great running gag.

And finally, a pairing only I might like, but oh well!
Boyfriends and girlfriend
Summary: (Arthur/Gwen/Merlin, 1355, NC-17) Arthur is naked and Merlin is just about to peel off his boxers. Gwen still has panties and a bra on. She laughs as Merlin's cock bounces up as the elastic band hitches over them.

There is so much story given for this group of friends in so few words, it's amazing. I love how sweet they are with each other, and how much they need each other, including Gwen. Plus, the three of them together is hot as hell.

A QUICK DRIVE BY POST!

1. I made a few icons for Halloween (as you can see by my default), so take some if you want. Or not, I don't care, lol. ( Read more...Collapse )

2. magnolia822 is holding a Merlin S5 comment fest HERE, so come join in! I might have written Arthur/Merlin spoon porn.

3. merlinmpreg has started posting, and so far the fills are adorable! *squishes them all* I totally would have done something if I had the time. *still might do something later*

4. camelot_drabble is having a poll on what prompt they should do next. Even if you don't write there, please vote for what you'd like to see!

5. Someone filled my KMM prompt for a story about Agravaine and Morgana! SQUEE! Seriously, it's short, but just perfect, guh. *is one of the few people that actually LIKED Agravaine*

6. In case you haven't heard, fuckyeahmerlinfanfic on tumblr might be closing if it doesn't get new mods soon. Considering about tossing my hat in the ring, but I don't know how great of a mod I'd be for a project that huge.

....I think that's everything. Well, I hope it is, considering I kind of lost track halfway through this post, lol.

Thank you so much to those of you who sent PMs, vgifts, messages, and emails after my last post. While my situation hasn't changed much, it means a lot to me to know people care. *hugs*

My mood has also been brightened by the fact that Merlin starts up soon, and the fandom has suddenly been flooded after what seemed like such a long drought. The Radio Times photoshoot, the behind the scenes pics, the new trailer, THEIR FLAT OMG THEIR FLAT--I can not WAIT for tomorrow. In the mean time, to cheer me up I've been watching QI episodes back to back, so much to the point where my mother is constantly worried about me choking because I'm laughing so damn hard. Also, is it just me, or is Alan Davies adorable?

When it works, I've been playing the closed beta of the Merlin game on Facebook (a few of you might have seen the snippets I've posted on tumblr), and I was wondering if anyone would be interested in a review?

Speaking of reviews, here is TWO PL recs, because I'm trying to catch up, really.
The Dragon Within (Story by gfeather, art by altocello)
Summary: (Arthur/Merlin, PG-13, 51k) In the aftermath of the Great Dragon’s attack on Camelot, the city is left with the enormous task of recovering from all it has lost. Left a broken man by the loss of Morgana and Kigharrah’s fiery rampage, Uther’s rule begins to fail. Arthur finds himself struggling to hold the kingdom together while Merlin slowly begins to discover all that becoming a Dragonlord entails.

KLJSDKLJdkl I adore stories that talk about Merlin's Dragonlord powers, and this one delivers while putting its own unique spin on it. I have such a wing kink, it's not even funny. But not only that, it cleans up a lot of problems I had with canon (concerning a magic reveal and dealing with Morgana) so nice and neat, it's impossible not to fall in love. The art itself is beautiful, and I love the texture and shading to it all.

This Tangled Web (Story by hms_seth, art by ko_no_yo)
Summary: (Arthur/Merlin, PG, 36k) As Prince of Camelot, Merlin Pendragon has always felt like he just can’t match up with the things expected of him. His needs are simple—his lifestyle is lavish. He wants to be a good son—his father ignores him. He was born with magic—magic is banned. One day, things will change, he was told. And after his twentieth birthday, they do. But Merlin is pretty sure it wasn't supposed to be like this. Faced with secrets of the past that have been long buried, Merlin doesn’t even want to think about his apparent “destiny” with Arthur, Son of Hunith (except for the part where he can’t really stop thinking about Arthur).

Role reversal stories have been done before, but I can't remember actually seeing one for this fandom, so this was a wonderful example of that idea. Throughout the story I find myself actually going, "Awwwww!" to either what Merlin or Arthur was going through. A fun, adorable story (though with some dark and adult themes) with equally squishable artwork. This is the kind of fic that just makes you place your chin on your hands and sigh.

OH SNAP RANDOM REC!
The Devil's Table by kriadydragon
Summary: (Gen, PG-13, 28k) Arthur and Gwaine rescue Merlin from the clutches of slave traders only to find themselves trapped in a strange castle whose residents have up and vanished. There's something in the castle that's after them, and to make matters worse, Merlin is already injured and can't use his magic.

Ooh, I am a sucker for whump!fic, and this author excels at it. Mind the tags that say horror, because they do mean horror, unless you think raising hellbeasts with sacrifices is nothing to be scared about. But huzzah for badass Merlin, even if he's injured.

...Oh fuck yes, I actually have a three day weekend. *A* Considering I usually get only a one day weekend, having three days off means I'm over the moon. So even though a bunch of shit happened at work, I can't be mad about it. Main manager making snide comments about us not getting our work done? Doesn't matter, three day weekend. Having to stop what we're doing every five minutes as people push through our workspace without a care? Doesn't matter, three day weekend. Being yelled at because someone is too lazy to do the fucking job themselves and they know we're swamped but they're going to ride on us anyways? THREE. FUCKING. DAY. WEEKEND.

Ahem, I am a bit excited. :B

The family *might* go to the Renaissance Festival on Monday, depending on my brother's schedule. But for the rest of my weekend, I'll probably laze about. Perhaps get ready for my Florida trip, which I completely forgot about is coming up on the eighth and omg I'm not packed at alll wtf wtf wtf--

Why am I so stressed about getting ready for a vacation?

Anyways, here is your PL rec for the day:
Coming Up (Story by xthursdaynextx, Art by anoracle)
Summary: (Arthur/Merlin, NC-17, 40k) 90s high school AU. Merlin can think of a billion reasons why moving to Camelot-on-Sea in the middle of his A-levels is a terrible idea. He would much rather play his guitar than work in his uncle's chip shop and he has no intention of making friends. Until he joins head boy Arthur Pendragon's wannabe-Britpop band and finds himself falling head over heels for the stuck-up prat.

Eee, this fic warmed the cockles of my 90s loving indie heart. But even if you don't know the bands/songs to hum along, it's a great high school AU brimming with wonderfully crafted emotion and characters. This is great telling of what it's like to be a teenager, especially one in a new place, and how you can connect through a simple mix-tape. It's hard to explain how the art fits so well with the piece except it just does; it often reminds me of the art you would find on a lot of 90s albums.