#merlin is mistreated

[pants-rants]

ANOTHER MERLIN RANT. ok i have to admit there are a few plot holes in merlin, the cgi would give you nightmare and they have never heard of historical accuracy and somethimes that characters act in ways whih i think are out of character. However, i love it.

There was one example os such a thing where is season 5 merlin was ledt alone in these tunnels, unconsious and hurt. Arthur was wounded and unconsicous also so he isnt to blame. In fact before he got hurt he was looking for merlin but what about the other knights?? Gwaine especially who said in the past merlin is his one true/only friend. He has protected merlin even when he got banished for it. The other knights are also his friends, why would they leave him? After dedicating everything to his Kingdom? Granted they dont know that but he lived there for 10 years!

I struggle to believe why he was last seen in the caves with everyone leaving and then there was a cut scene to Camelot! Ok it could be a filming error where they didnt realise they made it appear as if they left him but it rly doesn't seem that way! Imagen you risked ur life to save ur friends. You have traveled days in snowy mountains with barley any food and water, u were captured by bandits, escaped, broke into a castle of a dangerous enemy (morgana and her men) fought ppl and went back as a distraction, then u saw ur friend (arthur) threatened so u run to help him and u get throw into a rocky cave wall. Ur now fading into unconsiousness and the last thing u see is ur friend being threaten with a knife.

This is what must of happened after. You wake up. There is no light and bodies all around you. It is deathly quiet. U have a possibly bleeding head and are all alone. All the ppl u risked ur life for have left u. In enemy territory. Imagen the betrayal and sadness. Except merlin doesnt do anything. He is back in Camelot in the same episode. NO ONE, remarks on his being left. Did they not notice or just not care? What would feel worse. He travelled all the way back, days, all alone. How loyal he is, how sad he must be. I don't think his closest inner circle will have left him. No matter how they sleem slightly to have drifted apart in the last season or two.

Its horrible, not even mentioning one of the next episodes where Gwen, one of his closest friends previously (again drifted apart) accused him of Murdering Arthur and everyone just .... went along with it? Belived it? The pain that no one belives u, trusts u. He served arthur for 10 years, he has publicly risked his life on numerous occasios. he is the only one to speak plainly to arthur without a filter and trys to get him to show emotions (except gwen his wife, but even she is more respectful and timid in this way). How could his closest friends belive he would hurt arthur and condem him to death. If Arthur hadn't woken, merlin would have been executed by his friends. Gwen, who he has saved and risked his life for on multiple occasions.

Fair enough, shes possessed but why wouldnt the others refuse, stop her?? Its too out of character or, merlins friends rly dont trust him enough or are gullible. I lean more towards gullible/oblivious cause no one in merlin seems to see his obviously golden eyes and accept Merlin's or Gaius's excuses. Thats a horrible feeling for merlin, actually for anyone. That the ppl u would die for wouldnt do the same for u, they would infact do the opposite. Again arthur is in a coma cause of the poison he could do nowt.

[deuteragonist1]

Wait a damn minute Merlin is an actual nightmare of a servant. Imagine you're the Prince and all of a sudden and only two seconds after surviving an assassination attempt you're stuck with this scrawny, clumsy fucking dude with a really shifty air about him who spends literal days in the tavern with zero notice, steals your food, tried to spy on a guest, doesn't let you hunt, can never fucking be found when you need him even though he is the literal manservant to the prince, which you would think should be a priority but apparently he has better things to do, and is always talking like he's the only thing standing between you and certain death???? Then he gives you attitude? Literally I would throw things at him too. Arthur is misunderstood he's actually being too nice

[dont-let-me-eat-pears]

me to me: girl, don't do it.

me: *imagines an au where the show didn't practically forget about merlin and gwaine's friendship after series 3, and gwaine found out about his magic sometime in series 4, and merlin got to have a friend again who knew everything about him and who he could be his true self with and tell everything to and share sneaky, knowing looks with when he secretly performed magic and—*

me to me: well, now you've done it. enjoy the pain.

[overlyspecific]

Part 2 of Merlin as Robin Hood

Part 1, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12

A noble is traveling through the woods and Merlin sees him mistreating his servants.

Noble: come on, move faster! we need to get to Camelot before sundown. I don’t want to spend any longer in these words than I have to.

servant: *under his breath* well maybe if you gave me a horse i would be able to go a little faster

Noble: what did you say?!

the noble brings his arm up to strike the servant, but is suddenly thrown back against a tree. ropes spring up to tie the noble down.

Merlin: he said if you gave him a horse things would go faster. i happen to agree. what do you think, should i give him your horse?

Noble: Magic! You are using magic! The king will have your head for this!

Merlin: Oh he has certainly tried…several times. Anyways, its been a great chat but I actually have places to be so why don’t we speed things up? Lance? Gwaine?

Lance and Gwaine appear from behind the trees. The servant jumps back at their entrance.

Gwaine: yeah merls?

Merlin: take the excess from the cart for that village in famine we visited a couple days ago.

Gwaine: on it!

Merlin: Lance, make sure Gwaine doesnt take the ale.

Lance: on it.

Gwaine: oh come on, Merlin. whats the point of being an outlaw if we can’t benefit from it just a little?

Merlin: we’re not outlaws. we are just working outside of the law.

Merlin turns to face the servant.

Servant: Who ARE you?

Merlin: the names Merlin but some call me emrys and one calls me an idiot but i dont listen to him much.

Servant: and you steal from the rich…but you dont take anything for yourself?

Merlin: only what we need to survive

Servant: wow that’s really-

Merlin: amazing, honorable, selfless?

Servent: -a total rip-off of that guy in sherwood forest.

Gwaine: *from the cart, unloading boxes of jewelry and gold* that’s what I told him, but he didn’t listen

Lancelot: two people can do good in a similar way.

Merlin: thank you Lance, thats why you’re my favorite

Gwaine: *mock outrage* you dont mean THAT

Servant: so can I go or…

Merlin: yes you are free to leave, but you have to do one thing first…

Time jump. The throne room of the castle.

Uther: he said what?!

Servant: he said ‘tell the prince i appreciate the fancy jewels but i look better in blue’

Morgana hides a laugh behind her hand and Arthur glares at her. his anger isnt enough to hide his blush, and Moragna laugh harder.

Uther: Arthur, you are to go after him at once!

Arthur: but father, he has magic and seems to always be three steps ahead.

Uther: I don’t care! I will not have my kingdom be accosted by a sorcerer who taunts us at every turn

Morgana: *under her breath to Gwen as she fills her cup* he really only taunts arthur

Uther: Arthur, you will find him and make sure he burns on the pyre. we will make an example of him. no one is above the law!

Arthur: yes, father. we will leave at once

[dollopole]

Merlin is the embodiment of “I quit.”:

“I should resign… I said I should resign.”

“Do you think I sit around all day doing nothing?! I haven’t had the chance to sit around and doing nothing since the day I arrived in Camelot! I’m too busy running around after Arthur, and when I’m not running around after Arthur, I’m doing chores for you, and when I’m not doing chores for you, I’m fulfilling my destiny. Do you know how many times I saved Arthur’s life? I lost count. Do I get any thanks? No. I’ve fought Griffins, witches, bandits; I have been punched, poisoned, pelted with fruit, and all the while, I have to hide who I really am, because if anyone finds out, Uther will have me executed! Sometimes, I feel like I’m being pulled in so many directions, I don’t know which way to turn!” (a classic)

“I think it was a bird.” “That? That was definitely… A woman, screaming.” “Why couldn’t it have just been a bird?” “It’s never just… A bird.”

“No, I don’t really fancy it.”

“Yes, and maybe one day you will magically transform into a prince. But since magic is outlawed, that will probably never happen. Come on, let’s go.”

“SOME PEACE AND QUIET!”

“A man who’s alright does not pace, Gaius.”

“Nothing ever good happens in the Valley of the Fallen Kings. No one in their right mind would go there.” *get attacked by bandits* “NOT SO SECRET, AFTER ALL!”

“Maybe we should wait until it’s light.” “Or we could do it now, whatever it is that we’re doing. In the dark, when it’s incredibly scary and dangerous.”

“Not every day a servant gets to write the prince’ speech.” “*leaves*”

“Go ahead, I’m probably going to die anyway.” “Right, so that gives me, what? A one in forty chance of making it?” “So I’m not probably going to die. I’m definitely going to die.”

“Oh, and you… I’ve heard of how you—MISTREAT YOUR SERVANTS! THEY DO EVERYTHING FOR YOU, DO THEY EVER GET ANY THANKS?!”

“Percival! That is a sword, it does hurt!”

“I take it you didn’t come all this way just TO SMASH MY FAVOURITE POT!”

“Say that again!” “WHY?! HAVE YOU GOT ALE IN YOUR EARS?!”

“So… Your step-mother’s a troll.”

“You’re threatening me with a spoon?🤨”

“Yes, it’s almost like having to work😁.”

“I’m enhancing it… For comfort, and ease of use.” “I’m just saying that… The belt is… One hole shy of perfection!”

Give my man a break, or another job💀.

[the-colourful-witch]

⚡️Harry Potter⚡️

On August 2nd 2023 I posted the character lineup for Harry, our main character, most underrated in his own series... I started with a sketch for Tonks, then did a version of Hermione, Ron and Harry and it just changed my life :) I'm so grateful for each of you and I can't wait to make so much more art with you guys! 🥹💛 Now, to celebrate that one-year (!!!) anniversary, I redrew Harry. I got to experiment a lot the past year with this series and I wanted to use some of my newfound experience for Harry, Merlin knows he deserves a little love. He is so underappreciated in his own series. He's the main character, yet we all love the side characters. It's nothing bad, but we shouldn't be so hard on our hero. This is a kid with a hero complex. He feels it is his responsibility to fix things and save his friends, because his entire childhood, he has never had anyone to rely on. The adults in his life did not help him or fix things for him, or make him feel taken care of. Harry had to take care of himself. So, yes, he always thinks it is his job to solve problems or save people. He never had anyone to show him there was another way, which is pretty sad, actually.

I liked playing around with this sketch, because there are many versions of Harry... There is the Harry at Hogwarts, who is this celebrity, but not really in a good way. Everyone always gossips about him and they love him one moment, only to despise him the next. No wonder the boy hates being famous. There is also Harry during the summer when he stays with the Dursleys and gets mistreated. He wears Dudley's hand-me-downs and has to make them work. He doesn't have any friends there and he feels abandoned by the magical world. The neighbours all think he's a criminal and his aunt and uncle started that rumour. How sick is that?! We overlook Harry's abuse quite a bit in the books... But it explains a lot of Harry's character. His awkward social skills and rebellious spirit, his snarkiness and longing for family. Finally, we have Harry the teenager. The normal kid he wishes to be all the time. The one who loves Quidditch, eating candy and playing games with his friends. Who just wants to enjoy himself. Can you imagine how it must have felt when Harry found out he was good at Quidditch? A boy who never once in his life got praised for something finds out he has a natural talent for a sport and people want him to play with them. It must have felt amazing! I like Harry a lot. He's a great protagonist and makes the books great. Yes, the side characters are all colourful and wonderful, but Harry carries the show on his back. I applauded him for it ⚡️

To end this post, here's the version of Harry from 1 year ago:

[witchmd13]

old merlin is such a mood. love how he didn't think of a proper insult for arthur except that he mistreats his servant and looks like a toad. he just finished accusing uther of being the most evil man alive but then turns to arthur and the worst he could come up with is that.

[needsdean]

Remember how Merlin was mistreated, punished unjustly, how he had to live in fear, pretend to be someone else, hear all the horrible things they said about magic and sorcerers, find out his father was betrayed and persecuted by Uther, forced to live in isolation and in pain after leaving his family, and then killed just to help the kingdom of a man that made his life a living hell? Remember how Merlin lived in this whole mess, and instead of letting anger and pain consume him, he put all of his attention on the amount of love he had for this man? I often do. Painful moments.

@greatscottimafangirl

[supercap2319]

In Merlin Academy’s central courtyard, where Uliana and crew of misfit villains, gods, and pirates circled around Bridget of Wonderland. It was so much fun to pick on the pink haired girl because she was such an easy target, and Uliana knew for a fact that Bridget's bodyguard: Ella wasn't around to protect her.

Uliana faced Bridget. "Look at you, Bridget. Always so sweet and nice. It's sickening. No wonder you don't have any friends outside the peasant girl."

"I don't think that's a very nice thing to say about Ella. I’m just trying to fit in. Please, leave me alone." Bridget said.

"Or what, pinkie? You'll make us some cupcakes?" Hades asked, a smirk on his face.

Before she could answer, Elson, son of Elsa, stepped in front of Bridget. He pushed his cloak down his shoulders. "That’s enough, Uliana. Bullying isn’t going to solve anything.

Uliana scoffed. "And who do you think you are to tell me what to do?"

"Oh, look, someone’s trying to be a hero. How quaint." Maleficent said.

Hades looks at Elson and smirks. "You sure you want to pick a fight with us, ice boy? We’re not exactly known for being easy to handle."

"Yeah. Leave, ice boy. This isn't any of your business." Morgie said.

"I’m not looking for a fight, but I won’t stand by and watch someone be mistreated."

"Aren't ye a noble laddie. Defending this here, lassie." Hook smirks for his position by a nearby wall as he walks towards them, golden hook glinting in the sunshine. "Noble hero. I dare say I'm smitten."

[vinylfoxbooks]

July 6 - Limb | @jegulus-microfic | wc: 1139 Part 3 of Medium James AU Previous Part | First Part

“I hate the ghosts in the Slytherin common room.” James hums, watching as the door to the Slytherin dungeon shuts behind Regulus. It’s not often that they go down there to pick Regulus up for one reason or another, but everytime they do, they get a peek into the common room -- dark, dreary, and absolutely haunted -- but this is the first time that they’re mentioning it to Regulus.

“Ghosts, plural? How many are there?”

James shrugs, “Dunno. I’ve seen three or four different ones but they all creep me out.”

“For any specific reason?” 

“They’re… I hate using ‘creepy’ for things like this but, they’re creepy. The way they move and look at people is off putting. One of them also has their limbs bent at wrong angles.”

Regulus balks at that, “What?”

“I don’t know what happened to them, and being honest, I don’t really want to find out.” James hums, guiding them down one of the hallways that leads towards the kitchen, “One of their feet looks like it's one backwards, there’s a bone sticking out of their elbow, and their other leg looks like it's hyperextended. It’s actually really disturbing.”

“Oh Merlin.” Regulus grimaces, “Do you see them everytime?”

“It’s like they’ve decided that their job is to guard the entrance to the dungeon. They stand by the door and glare at me whenever I look in. Or whenever I’m talking to your friends outside it. They’ve never left the common room either, so I think they just like it there.”

“That’s…”

“I don’t like it.” James shakes their head, “Something that my mum was always insistent on was that I don’t… discriminate, I guess, against ghosts by judging their appearance but I’m just put on edge when I see something like that, especially when they glare at me all the time.”

“I don’t blame you.” Regulus hums, “Where are we going?”

“To the kitchens, I want snacks and Remus asked that I grab him some chocolate puff pastries since I was coming down here anyway.”

“You can get things like that from the kitchens?”

James shrugs, “If you ask nicely. A lot of the house elves in the kitchen actually love cooking and offering us treats when you treat them right. They also let me cook sometimes when I’m missing home.” Regulus hums but doesn’t say anything else. James gets them into the kitchen by whispering something to one of the unassuming portraits in the hallway. They head inside and are greeted by one of the house elves. 

“Hello Coopey.” James smiles.

“What can Coopey get for Master Potter?”

“Do you have any welsh cakes that I can have?”

Coopey seemingly takes a moment to think before he shakes his head, “Coopey doesn’t but he will make some for Master.”

“If it’s not trouble.”

“Never! Anything else for Master Potter?”

“Remus was wanting some chocolate puffs, if you don’t mind.” Then they turn to Regulus, “Did you want something?”

Regulus shakes his head, “I’ll just have some of your welsh cakes.” 

James nods then looks back at Coopey, “That’s all, thank you.” Then the house elf is bounding off further into the kitchens, and they sit down on some stools by the entrance.

“Thank you.” Regulus murmurs.

“Hm? For what?” James tilts their head.

“Being nice to the house elves. They’re so often mistreated, it’s nice to see someone actually care about them and treat them right.”

“Of course, I mean… they deserve to be treated kindly, especially since they’re doing things for us in our everyday lives.” “Do you have house elves at home?”

“No, my mum grew up in a muggle household and loves taking care of the house herself. We keep our house and make food the muggle way because we like it.”

“I’m sure that was weird for Sirius.”

James snorts, “He’s still not allowed in our kitchen from when he almost burned it down the first time he tried to make himself food.” 

“I’d expect nothing less from him.” Regulus shakes his head, smiling at the thought of his brother, “He was always dependent on our house elf, though he didn’t treat him very well.”

“Kreacher, right?” James asks, shocking Regulus.

“Yeah… how did you know that?”

James hums, looking off into where Coopey had disappeared, “Sirius has mentioned him a couple times, never talked about him fondly but he’s said his name a couple times, and that you always really liked him.”

Regulus nods, “He was one of the only people that I could confide in when it came to the house, even more so when Sirius started distancing himself from me, he was the only one that was kind to me. That’s… it’s part of the reason that I haven’t taken you up on your offer to leave. I don’t want to leave Kreacher alone in that house.”

“I see.” James hums, opening their mouth to say more, but they don’t get the chance to before Coopey is showing back up with a basket in his hands.

“Here, Master Potter.” The house elf says, offering the basket to James, who takes it gratefully.

“Thank you so much, Coopey, these smell amazing.”

“Of course! Now shoo, shoo!” He scolds, starting to push the two of them out of the kitchens.

James laughs, “Alright, we’re going. Have a good night, Coopey.” And with that, James is guiding Regulus out of the kitchens. The painting slams shut behind them and James jerks their chin, “They don’t like us staying in their space longer than we need to.”

“Most house elves don’t. They like their room to do their work, or so Kreacher has told me.”

“To be fair, my mum also shoves people out of the kitchen when she’s cooking and we’re just standing around,” James laughs, opening the door to the empty classroom that they’ve started to use, “You’d like her a lot. I think she’d like you, too.” Regulus swallows, not wanting to let on how much their words get to him. Nervous as he might be about meeting the Potters, some of the stories that both Sirius and James have told him have almost created a sense of yearning. 

“Maybe I’ll try to come over for Christmas break.”

“That’d be great.” James smiles, and Regulus swears that it genuinely lights up the entire room, “We’d love to have you.” 

“I’ll…” Regulus clears his throat, having to look away from James, blindly reaching for one of the welsh cakes that James has in the basket Coopey gave them, “I’ll try to convince them to let me stay at the castle over winter hols, then I can go with you and Sirius.” 

“I’d love that.” Regulus absolutely prays to whoever is listening that James isn’t able to see the way his cheeks have tinged with what is likely bright red.

Next part

[maxdibert]

It’s exactly 9 AM, I’m at the dentist, and I can’t stop thinking about how much I hate time-travel fanfics about Severus. Not because I dislike the trope itself, but because I hate how he always goes back in time to fix things with everyone—whether it’s Lily or the Marauders.

I just want a fanfic where he ignores everyone and focuses solely on finishing Hogwarts or even leaves Hogwarts to attend another magical school. It’s so frustrating to see fanfics where Severus goes back in time, humiliates himself for Lily’s forgiveness, works for the “greater good,” or apologizes to the Marauders and becomes their friend like nothing ever happened—or worse, ends up in a relationship with one of them. The man has been through enough for one lifetime; let him rest, for Merlin’s sake.

Also, I’d love to read a fic about Severus at Beauxbatons.

Ugh, fix-it fics. Yeah, I can’t stand them either. Those fics where Severus becomes young again and suddenly decides he’s the bad guy? It’s like he’s admitting or accepting that he deserved the bullying? Like… what? Why should he apologise or befriend people who not only mistreated him but who, based on what he knows from the future, never regretted their actions? Ridiculous.

I wish there were a time-travel fic where Severus, with all the knowledge and skills of his adult self, chooses to take revenge on every single one of them instead of apologising. Choosing to torment them to the point of making them cry publicly and beg for mercy. I wish he’d make them suffer by exposing everything he knows about them, humiliating them, and destroying them completely.

I wish he’d tell Dumbledore where he can shove his “greater good,” tell Voldemort to piss off, graduate from Hogwarts, and leave Britain to live a peaceful new life far away from all that rubbish and those awful people. That is the only fix-it fic I’d accept.

[nothankyoudear]

When Arthur was crowned the King of Camelot, and Merlin the royal consort immediately after, it was only normal for the servants to expect one of them to be assigned to the newly titled consort. After all, what is a royal without a servant?

However, months pass without a new assignment and switches in positions, and the entire castle is left more or less confused when Merlin can still be seen picking up tomatoes from the market, and sweeping up floors while humming a tune.

Because not only has the new royal consort not been assigned a servant, he is still acting as a servant.

When asked why he's still doing duties of a lowly servant, Merlin simply answers with how he likes doing the work.

But that obviously can't be true with his continuous grumbles about filling up the bath, or murmurs about how stupid clotpole should just learn how to shine his own bloody armour, so Camelot soon becomes ripe with theories.

Tragic tales of abandonment, sly murmurs of infidelity, and cruel narratives of betrayal and anger, all begin emerging.

Whispers begin to spread in the kitchens about the indignities that Merlin must have committed to be faced with such a fate as a royal. Young maids gossip about possible affairs Merlin is having with one of the knights, and rumours pass from stall to stall in the markets on how the king has already grown sick of the new consort, and has simply distanced himself by quietly assigning Merlin back to his previous duties.

After all, Merlin was the king's manservant before he was his consort. And kings are never serious with servants.

Time pass. Arthur never acknowledges the rumours, and Merlin simply answers with the same answer every time he is asked the question of why. And without fuel for the fire, the people and their whispers soon calm.

Then, on one fateful morning, as the king and the royal consort return from their hunting trip, the consort's boot falls off.

The crowd can only watch in shock as, seemingly by reflex, Arthur Pendragon—The King of Camelot, ruler of Albion—kneels at his consort's feet, and begin putting his boot back on.

He murmurs something about Merlin being careless and dimwitted, and yet still cradles the back of Merlin's ankle as he ties the laces of the boot. He then promptly gets up, and simply walks into the castle with Merlin behind him like nothing had happened.

The crowd explodes into noise.

In the king's chambers, the door is shut behind them before Merlin asks:

"What was that?"

"That, was so that they know I'm actually a great husband who doesn't mistreat you, and you're just a stubborn idiot who like complaining about things you asked to do."

A laugh echoes through the room.

"You love me."

".... Go away."

And with that, rumours about the king and his royal consort never appeared in Camelot again.

[bunnybird-afk]

i actually have a few ideas in mind for a modern au for the graveborns :D

Niru

• A military doctor (based on his lore) that constantly works day in and day out, becoming the dad who went to get the milk (body counts) to the point where he just sleeps at the hospital if so desired.

• He's also obsessed with the anatomies of a human body to the point where he had intrusive thoughts of wanting to.. 'inspect' on it more

Viperian

• Goes by Victor in this AU, a college professor who teaches biology/chemistry for foundation students, you could say that he's very great at explaining the concepts as he goes VERY into details, which makes him one of the profs that the students go for if they have any questions, despite his creepy appearance

• Little did they know that he has been having a secret past time of kidnapping people and experiments on them at midnight... (He also does this with Niru when they got the time, theyre practically besties)

Cecia

• An opera singer (based on her beta lore) that went viral on socials due to her beautiful voice and pretty appearance, guys and gals would be head over heels for her, if she were to be in any opera stages, tickets would sold out quickly

• Though, she's kinda a brat, she's too arrogant to the point where she would mistreat her butler, Mr. Carlyle (not that he mind, he's devoted to her) and takes her fans for granted

Ludovic

• Rich man in Whiteridge, holding a high title as he owns the place, fancy clothed, looks very serious and stern, with a hint of sadness in his eyes

• Though that sadness goes away when you see him painting a very beautiful landscape or portrait based on his self-grown flower field and his family... He looks the happiest in there. He would also give flowers occasionally to his people! Ah, such a great heart at a young age

(Also he's the type of person to watch a streamer/hear music while painting I don't make the rules)

Igor

• Works as a daycare attendant (and a good one at that) since he likes to play with children, the other workers there said that he has a himbo energy when they met him, his mind may be empty but his care for the children is very devoted. Their first impression of him is quite different though,,, (they crapped themselves seeing him because of how ridiculously tall he is + he has a menacing look)

• At night I'd imagine he'd become a faceless streamer (based on Ranboo), where he'd engage in horror content and silly goofy games, might also chat about funny things that happened during his life. (And yes his Vtuber is a zombie knight like in AFKJ. Again i dont make the rules)

Yeah that's all I could think off atm, i'll write the other characters if I got time

I love the idea of the graveborn nobles lowkey being from like, old money families. Especially Cecia, Thoran and Ludovic.

Also, if this was a mystery thriller/dating sim like the arcana, bodies going missing from morgues and hospitals would be one hell of a plot point. Especially if we work with @twilight-melodys lore about Hogan being a former FBI agent and Valen being his subordinate. Like imagine Hogan asking his old friend (former work partner?) for help investigating a case because he can't actually get involved in an official capacity but he trusts their abilities.

Cue Merlin and Valen investigating and realizing that this conspiracy goes way deeper than they initially thought. The local Forestry Department (the Wilders) reporting weird things happening to the local fauna, some Maulers going missing inexplicably, the local gang boss (Sonja) coming forward about what happened to her sister, and realizing the corruption that runs deep in the towns upper-class socialite society. You could go absolutely insane with this idea. At that point a romance sub-plot is probably the least of Merlin's worries (though personally I'm going a little feral over the idea of Valen in an FBI uniform).

Also, love the idea of Igor just minding his own damn business and not getting involved with all the drama. Hydrated (he's a gamer so probably not) , staying in his lane and thriving, as it should be.

[victimsofyaoipoll]

Round 1

Propaganda Under Cut

Alana Bloom

she kissed will graham in s1 and dated hannibal in s2 so you can imagine how bad the fandom is to her. fun fact she's in a canon lesbian relationship now tho <3

The show literally does the yaoi treatment of victimisation for the benefit of the male leads to her. And then the fandom mistreats her

I'm not sure if this even counts but...Literally a victim of Yaoi along with several other characters in-series, but she got it almost the worst. The entire show is just people dying because the two male leads are OBSESSED with each other and can't be normal about anything. Alana Bloom, actual PhD of psychology and consultant to the FBI, got kissed by one guy, fucked and fed people-meant by the other, and pushed out a window by the murder husbands' forced-surrogate daughter. Like. Actual victim of several crimes caused by yaoi. She's probably one of the few examples of a Yaoi Victim overcoming and evolving past her yaoi-related trauma into a stronger person/character, though: She gets an entire character overhaul and a hot, millionairess for a wife. She kills a man with an eel. She becomes head of the BSHCI, effectively putting her in complete power over her jackass cannibal ex-bf. She does quite well. Unfortunately, the rest of her screen time is spent trying not to get killed in the ongoing fallout of Hannibal and Will's fucked up courtship, but hey. Can't have everything. I don't even know if I'm saying anything valid here: the fandom loves her, but I supposed her position outside of the Hannigram relationship relegates her to a non-subject in a lot of Hannigram-focused fanwork. She's an 'obstacle' to their relationship only in the sense that Will had a crush on her once that went nowhere and Hannibal started an actual relationship with her SPECIFICALLY to piss off Will. I guess she's also a more literal obstacle as Hannibal's jailer and Will's friend who's constantly pointing out to him that Morals exist and he should try having some of those, maybe.

Gwen

She stands in the way of Merthur, by far the most popular ship in the fandom. I haven’t seen it as much in recent years, but back in the days of fanfiction.net she got slut shamed so badly for having been romantically interested in three of the male characters over the course of the show, which is just... normal straight woman behavior, meanwhile Merlin crushed on pretty much every woman who even looked at him in the early seasons of the show and got no hate for that whatsoever. I barely even read Merthur fics (not because it’s m/m, just because certain aspects of their relationship don’t appeal to me) but the “Gwen is a slut” attitude was so pervasive across the fandom, even fics that weren’t explicitly anti-Gwen would “jokingly” call her a slut. I even saw a few fics demonizing her for having an affair with Lancelot despite the fact that SHE WAS ENCHANTED when that happened, and surprise surprise, Lancelot (who was also under the influence of magic) got none of that hate, and neither did Arthur, who got enchanted to fall in love with multiple women over the course of the show.

Canonically Arthur Pendragon's love interest and an important and interesting character in the show who's completely shoved aside and ignored in favour of the medieval bbc yaoi ship. At best they put her and Morgana in Lesbian Timeout (ie make them get together and then reduce them to wingwomen at best because god forbid we focus on the medieval bbc yuri). Justice for Gwen right now!

She is prince Arthur's love interest (eventually wife). Arthur is MADLY in love with her. He tells his tyrannical father he would give up his crown to be with her (she's a servant in the series). He forgives her cheating on him with Lancelot (!), which in the show is caused by an evil enchantment, but the characters never find out about it. He chooses her time and time again. His love for Gwen is literally never put into question. Many fans insist to this day that there was no chemistry between Gwen and Arthur compared to Arthur and Merlin. Arthur isn’t even particularly nice to Merlin most of the time! The funny thing is that Merlin himself ships these two so hard and does everything he can to help them get together!! Gwen & Arthur are adorable and too many fans were drunk on the yaoi fumes to see it. ARTHUR WAS A SIMP FOR GWEN.

[merlingenrecs]

The truth comes out—and things go terribly. Perhaps Arthur doesn't take the news well and draws his sword. Perhaps Uther finds out and Merlin is strapped to the pyre. Perhaps Merlin has to escape from Camelot and leave all he loves behind. Can there be a happy ending? A hopeful one? Or will things forever fall apart?

Today's gen fic rec theme: Magic Reveal Gone Wrong!

↓ Find the list of fanfic recs under the cut! ↓

⚬ I don’t know you anymore by cynthia1314, 1k, rated T https://archiveofourown.org/works/49552066 summary: Arthur felt his blood turned cold. Was this a dream? He wondered frantically. There was no way Merlin just killed his uncle without even touching him. That was magic, but Merlin couldn’t have magic, could he? Or perhaps that was an unknown creature who wore his friend’s face.

⚬ The Lies that Break Us by Fulgance, 2k, rated T https://archiveofourown.org/works/934566 summary: Arthur reacts badly.

⚬ A Blessing in Disguise by s0mmerspr0ssen, 20k, rated T https://archiveofourown.org/works/42762729 summary: After Camelot is almost lost to Agravaine and Morgana, Merlin is about ready to reveal his magic to Arthur. But when he finds out Gwen is pregnant, Merlin’s priorities shift. Soon, he is focused on keeping little Prince Amhar safe from harm, no matter what. Merlin sets out to invoke a blessing on Arthur’s son, hoping to keep evil forces at bay, but things quickly spiral out of control…

⚬ Confirmations by DollopheadedMerlin, 12k, rated G https://archiveofourown.org/works/46113418 summary: Merlin feels overburdened and under the weather, but he doesn't want to add stress to Arthur's efforts in revitalizing his kingdom after recovering the throne from Morgana, so he tries not to take it personally when Arthur gives him a hard time. But when reports tell of a dragon within Camelot's borders and Merlin gets dragged along on a mission against his nature, the king only seems to double down on his mistreatment of his servant, making protecting the royal clotpole a lot more difficult as he fights off an untreated fever.

⚬ Let Me Die, Let Me Drown, Lay My Bones In The Ground by quotidian_void, 40k, rated M https://archiveofourown.org/works/56036113 summary: The storm that had passed through Albion didn't only bring devastation to Camelot.It also brought a party belonging to the king, queen and princess of a distant land on the edge of Albion's maps. As per propriety and courtesy, the king of Camelot was required to hold a feast and provide accommodation for them. The feast started off smoothly, the royals of Camelot getting along quite well with the royals from Harden.But a single questioned changed everything. Including the destiny and future of Arthur and Merlin.

⚬ The Magic In Your Blood by Aimael, 68k, rated M https://archiveofourown.org/works/24527002 summary: "Arthur had to wonder, whether he should not feel something, anything at all, that would hint at him being controlled by Merlin. Even as he tried, he still felt nothing." Merlin is heard saying things that he shouldn't have said, and Uther is determined to do whatever it takes to free Arthur from the sorcerer's influence - which might be more difficult than expected.

⚬ Refined by Fire by wryter501, 155k, rated T https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11306307/1/Refined-by-Fire summary: It began, as any shift in destiny did, with a choice - run and hide, or stay and fight. And because Merlin chose to stand still, his destiny and Arthur's - and others' - took a sharp right turn. Discovered by the knights, arrested by Arthur, Merlin faces Uther's questioner and judgment... Gold is, after all, refined in the flames... Mid-season 3 in-canon reveal.

⚬ Learning Curve by VikingSong, 14k, rated G https://archiveofourown.org/works/52184794 summary: Arthur and Merlin each face steep learning curves when Arthur experiences an unexpected language immersion. Miscommunications abound, things are lost in translation, and—unsurprisingly—chaos ensues in the court of Camelot. When painful secrets come to light and the definition of loyalty is called into question, Arthur and Merlin must work past linguistic and interpersonal barriers to reach an understanding. Or: In which Arthur speaks the language of the Old Religion, Merlin pulls research all-nighters, and the council members discover they don’t remember nearly as much Latin as they thought they did.

⚬ Rend and Rebuild by PeaceHeather, 100k, rated T https://archiveofourown.org/works/14866667 summary: One wrong move in the heat of battle changes everything. Merlin is a sorcerer, and Arthur has stabbed him.

⚬ New Beginnings by nsowlwrites97, 33k, rated T https://archiveofourown.org/works/31863937 summary: The words seemed to lose their meaning the more Arthur tried to make sense of them, bleeding in and through each other like ink dissolving in water. The only fact he knew to be true – absolutely, permanently, irrevocably true – was that Merlin was dead.

⚬ Beauty in the Ashes of Our Lives by Fulgance, 20k, rated T https://archiveofourown.org/works/934780 summary: After Merlin is executed for Uther's murder, Arthur's world falls apart.

⚬ Atlas by ParadiseAvenger, 10k, rated T https://archiveofourown.org/works/34723003 summary: In pursuit of a sorcerer, Arthur and his knights stumbled into a cave. As the ceiling collapsed on them, Merlin had no choice except to reveal his magic or let all his friends die. That choice was not a choice at all.As Merlin's magic began to run out and tensions with the knights run high, it seemed he might have made the wrong choice after all.

⚬ Is this resolve? By kyrakaryanne, 1k, rated T https://archiveofourown.org/works/47559634 summary: Arthur could kill Merlin, for this. Not because the law would justify it, but because Merlin would never stop him.

⚬ Help Thou Our Host by signy1, 22k, rated T https://archiveofourown.org/works/53393428 summary: One way the battle of Camlann could have gone. On the night before the battle, Merlin only has one request for Gwaine." When I'm dead, I want you to remember me for who I was, rather than what I was. If you can."

⚬ Whatcha Say by darkbluedark, 3k, rated T https://archiveofourown.org/works/46337155 summary: The roof caves in and the truth comes out.

⚬ The Goose, the Bad, and the Ugly by sinivalkoista, 3k, rated G https://archiveofourown.org/works/38503747 summary: Arthur is turned into a goose, and Merlin tries to catch him and turn him human again before Camelot is destroyed.

⚬ Whispering Your Name by CaffeinatedFlumadiddle, 22k, rated T https://archiveofourown.org/works/19874179 summary: The Dorocha. They are the voices of the dead, my child. And, like the dead, they are numberless. Or: A different take of the dorocha. Instead of them being faceless screams that attack you, they are actually figures of the dead. Merlin doesn't quite realize how much death affected him until him and the knights go to close the veil. ⚬ Because It Was by Gingeraffelene, 4k, rated K+ https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13607047/1/Because-It-Was summary: Arthur reacts badly to Merlin's revelation and quickly regrets it, but not quick enough. How does one find an all powerful warlock who doesn't believe he deserves to be found?

[larluce]

Nearly laughed myself sick at the latest Time Travel post. Merlin going "no rebellion -> Arthur can have a little rebellion as a treat -> wait fuck rebellion is still bad" was so good.

Also. I hate Uther, and I'm so glad to see him get called the fuck out on being a shitty, abusive father. He was so awful to Arthur, I can definitely see him killing Arthur's dog because he loved it too much.

Thank you! Comedy aside, I believed necessary to show Merlin's line of thought to remind us he is from the future. Merlin went through shit, so obviously Merlin, while he's worried about the rebellion and is pretty aware of the consequences it could lead, he's not as escandalized or horrified as he should be. He even considers it fit when he finds out how abusive Uther actually was with Arthur if only for a moment, which also shows Merlin didn't know Arthur as well as he thought and that he also missed some things. In canon Merlin is only aware of one time Arthur was sent to the dungeons (when Arthur went to look for the Mortaeus Flower to save him) and one time Morgana was (In "To kill a King" when Merlin overhears Morgana talking to Tauren about how Uther chain her to a dungeon wall), but besides that, Merlin wasn't really present when Uther mistreated his children (like when Uther holded Morgana by the neck in anger) and I doubt Arthur told Merlin, not because he didn't feel comfortable to tell him exactly but rather the topic never came up. Other thing is that Merlin does notice Arthur is acting differently to the Arthur he remembers, on more than one occassion, the only thing keeping him from noticing Arthur's feelings for him is his eternal denial.

About Uther getting called out what he is, I would say the most gratifiying thing was Arthur realizing it himself. Rewatching Merlin's rant to Gaius about "not doing nothing" we all know well in the show, I thought "It would be great if Arthur had one too" so I made one. It's not as good as Merlin's but I think it matches the feeling. This Arthur is mentally forty, has been king for 15 years and has learned of all his father's wrongings in the past decade. This doesn't mean he doesn't love him, Uther is still his father, but he doesn't respect him anymore.

Also I love how the knights were like:

Knights: The Prince wants to overthrow the King! this is outrageous!😱

Arthur: He killed my dog.🥺

Knights: That is unforgivable. We must rebel!😤

Anyways, thank you for sharing your thoughts. It keeps me going 😊

If anyone else wants to make me and ask just do, I'll be more than glad to answer ❤️