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in-class-daydreams · 7 months

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Talking Terms (Sebastian Sallow x Reader)

Pairing: Sebastian Sallow x Fem!Reader Synopsis: Things are awkward between you and Sebastian after everything that happened with his uncle. You haven't spoken since before the holidays and this is the first time you've seen each other since the incidents. Your life is progressing with or without him, but you'd be a fool to deny that parts of you - all the important ones - remain with him. Notes/TW: Rich people. Also you're a member of the Black Family in this one. No use of YN. Unedited tho, ya girl ain't got attention span like that.

While families and lineage tended to hold a lot of weight where you lived, and everyone who wasn’t part of the main circle wished they were, money and status weren’t nearly worth the trouble, in your opinion. Late nights at tiresome soirees among the other pure-blood families tittering about how pure their blood is or whatever it is they talk about. You play the game, of course, just until you finally graduate from Hogwarts. As soon as that happens, you’ll never step foot in 12 Grimmauld Place again.

On the train to Hogwarts, you reach out to slide open a compartment door when a pale hand reaches past you.

“Please, let me get that for you,” your companion says, gesturing for you to enter first. Over the last several holidays, your family has been eager to introduce you to some other eligible pure-bloods your age. They were unsurprisingly heinous people, guilty of just about every prejudice in the book - against muggle-borns, against poor people, against women, it was like they had a checklist.

What was surprising was your odd fondness for Pollux Carrow, a fellow Slytherin you’d seen once or twice in the common room but never spoken to, hailing from the noble Carrow family. It would be a stretch to say you liked him. Growing up in a Sacred Twenty-Eight family of pure-bloods would always be a cauldron of generational trauma, and just because Pollux wasn’t a bad person, it didn’t mean he was the most saintly person, either.

The two of you enter the compartment and before Pollux can insist, you heft your bags into the overhead bin yourself. You sit, stretch out, and crack open the first book you grabbed on your way out the door that morning. The well-loved leather cover is soft beneath your fingers.

Goblets, Goblins, and Gobstones: An Anthology of Magical Folklore

Your heart clenches. You’d only received this a few months ago. You remember a flash of freckles and a boyish smile, telling you how he’d found it at a used bookstore and just had to get it for you. The tip of his nose was red from the cold, but he could not have cared less when you hugged him tightly and thanked him for the gift.

You’d gotten him a book as well, naturally, but you never got to give it to him.

“Merlin’s beard, that thing’s been through the wringer,” Pollux says from his seat.

You hum just to acknowledge him.

“Read it many times, then?” he asked.

The incident with Solomon Sallow happened not too long after. Since then, you couldn’t bring yourself to even open the thing. Not when you and the person you wanted to discuss it with the most weren’t speaking. You’d even given Ominis some space so as to not put him in a tight spot between his friends.

Finally, you reply, “It was a gift.”

Pollux eyes your book like it was diseased. “Interesting gift.”

This time you don’t deign to reply, knowing Pollux was one of those people who needed to have an opinion on everything.

Movement in the walkway catches your eye and you gasp when a shock of fluffy brown hair breezes past the window. Ominis’s unmistakable visage follows closely behind, visibly grabbing for the boy in front of him and steering him into your compartment.

“Do you have room for two more?” Ominis asks. His posh accent and soft voice were always pleasing to hear. “All the other compartments are full.”

You know very well that they’re not, but you play along anyway.

“By all means.” You move your legs and belongings out of the way and pat the seat beside you. With the other hand, you shove your book under your thigh.

Maybe it’s seeing him again after time apart or the leather tome that smells like him sitting just beneath your robes, but the words are out of your mouth before you can think better of it.

“Hi, Sebastian,” you murmur.

The boy in question looks confused that you addressed him at all. He opens his mouth, then snaps it shut before shaking his head and giving you a nod.

“Hello.” His voice is a tad deeper than you remember it and he looks more tired. He inclines his head towards your companion. “Carrow.”

“Hello, Sallow,” Pollux replied. What is it with boys and calling each other by their last names?

Sebastian quickly plants himself beside Pollux and busies himself in a book you’ve seen him read a hundred times before. He was reading it when you first met him in the common room, in fact. He buries himself in his reading, but his lips are pressed into a hard line and he’s squinting at the words.

Rather than stir up trouble, you turn to Ominis.

“How was your holiday?”

He laughs. “Of course it was,” then he seemed to remember Pollux, “fine. Good to see family again.”

Being in close proximity to the Gaunt family could never be described as ‘good,’ even for the more obedient members of the family, which Ominis was not.

Thinking quickly on your feet, you feign coughing into your fist.

“Are you alright?” Pollux asks.

“Yes, I’m fine.” You cough again. “My throat’s just a little dry.”

He jumps to his feet. “I’ll get you some water!” And with that, he’s gone. If your calculations were correct, he’d see some more Slytherins on the way to the beverage cart and get held up for at least ten minutes.

“Well, Ominis? How was it really?” you prod.

He rolls his milky eyes and scoffs. “As good as predicted, that is, not at all. My family has migrated to our country estate for the season and when it wasn’t contentious between us, it was terribly boring.” He shrugs tiredly. “And you? Does the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black have anything to do with your new companion?”

You cringe at the full title. “The social season is months away, and yet they insist that I meet the other pure-blooded hellspawn.”

“Unsurprising that they’d favor a Carrow for you,” Ominis sighs. “I think I’ve spent at least half my holiday in the presence of the Greengrass’ youngest.”

“She’s pretty, at least,” you comment before Ominis raises an eyebrow at you.

“I wouldn’t know.”

You desperately stifle your laughter.

“Besides,” he adds, “she takes great fun in making the house elves compete for sport.”

Wrinkling your nose, you ask, “Compete in what?”

“A better question would be what don’t they compete in?”

The two of you stare at each other in disgust before dropping the subject entirely. You steal a glance at Sebastian, who hasn’t turned the page since he opened his book and you know for a fact that he is an amazingly fast reader.

Ominis gives you a look that sends a shock of dread through you. He always made that face when he was planning something.

“Well, Garreth should be around here somewhere.” Ominis stood, stretching. “I have a book of his and I should pass it off to him now before I end up carrying it around for the rest of the day. I’ll be back shortly.”

You open your mouth to protest but he all but ran out the door. Sighing, you resign yourself to watching the landscape blur past through the window. Though, you note that Sebastian still has yet to turn the page. Part of you wants to say something, anything to fill the silence. Yet, what would you say? ‘I know you killed your uncle not too long ago, but how are you? Had a good holiday in an empty house?’ Or even ‘Remember how I prevented you from getting sent to Azkaban? So we’re good, right?’

Stealing another glance at him with his head nearly buried in the pages, you think about how the hardest part of being in this awkward place with Sebastian is that you don’t feel like you can talk to him. Before, you could sneak into the restricted section of the library and raid goblin camps and sit in the astronomy tower seeing who can invent the silliest new constellation.

Sebastian always won at that. It’s easy for smart people to be funny.

The two of you hadn't exchanged a single owl all holiday. Then, with all these memories in mind, you had to wonder: Did Sebastian miss you as much as you missed him? Of course, you had your bonds with Poppy and Imelda and Natty, but for all intents and purposes, Sebastian was your best friend. Being out of sync with him was like hearing a beloved song in the wrong key.

Even while your family paraded you around, introducing the different sons and daughters of the noble purebloods to you, you only thought of Sebastian. You’d never be fond of any of those bigots anyhow, but each of their flaws were in relation to him. They’d be too short or too tall, another lacking enough freckles, and then one wouldn’t laugh at a joke you made that would’ve had Sebastian rolling on the floor with tears in his eyes. They were all wrong on so many accounts.

Pollux was the best of them, which wasn’t saying much, but he wasn’t nearly as hateful as the rest of them. At the time, while you were missing someone, he was an acceptable stand-in.

Being alone with Sebastian was quickly becoming too suffocating. You stand and rush to the compartment door and in your haste you almost don’t register the dull thud behind you.

When you turn, you see Sebastian pick up the leather tome you forgot you had. He turns it over in his hands, his expression unreadable.

“Oh!” You exclaim nervously, reaching for it. “Thank you, I’m so clumsy.”

“You kept it?” Sebastian said quietly.

You were somewhat offended at the implication. When he turned, you forced yourself to look into his eyes when you replied, “Of course, I did. It was a gift and I wanted to know why you liked it so much.” By the time the words left your mouth, you wondered if you’d said too much.

Sebastian doesn’t look away. His grip on your book loosened and an array of emotions flashed across his face. The circles under his eyes had lightened since you last saw him, but they were still there.

He wordlessly passes the book back to you and your skin tingles where your fingers brush.

“I wanted you to know.” Sebastian broke eye contact, then seemed to catch himself and reestablished it. “I feel like you deserve to know that–”

You jump when the door slides open right next to you. Pollux stands on the other side holding two cups of water. He begins to speak when rush out the door, calling out some excuse about needing the restroom over your shoulder. Never mind that the restroom was in the opposite direction.

Just the next car over, you run into Ominis, who aims the red tip of his wand towards you.

“Why are you so upset? What did Sebastian say to you?” He demands, then his eyes widen in shock. “Did he give that to you?”

You nod, and adjust your grip on the book. “Yes, a while ago. He said he couldn’t wait until the proper holidays. But I haven’t gotten around to reading it. Not that I don’t want to, it’s just that it’s–”

“You’re rambling,” Ominis interrupts. You smile sheepishly and he looks solemn. “He loves that book more than life itself. Did he tell you that?”

The book is leather, with loose bindings and yellowing pages. “No? It’s just some folklore, I do tend to like stories like these,” you reply.

Ominis shakes his head. “It’s full of his old bedtime stories. His mother used to read it to him before she died. It’s one of the last memories of her he has.”

You stare at the book in disbelief, looking back and forth from it to Ominis. “You’re serious? I can’t take something like this! We’re not even on speaking terms!”

Ominis pats your shoulder on his way past you. “Impulsive as he may be, Sebastian doesn’t take this sort of thing lightly. If he gave it to you, he wanted you to have it. Perhaps talk to him about it? Or about anything for that matter. Honestly, the two of you would have significantly less problems if you just talked to each other.”

As he leaves, you stare after him, the book in your hand suddenly much heavier than it was before. Smiling softly, you find an empty compartment - you knew Ominis was lying earlier - and sit down. The smell of the old book is comforting when you turn the first page, and it reminds you of someone who smells just like it. For the first time in weeks, you relax and begin to read.

#hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x reader #hogwarts legacy imagines #sebastian x mc #ominis gaunt

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anxiousnerdwritings · 11 months

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obscurial!Reader gives himbo vibes and no one can tell me otherwise

like, yeah, maybe he’s incredibly book smart but people skills? right out the window. poor man has no survival instincts. he’s been beaten and broken so many times that the need to be good outweighs anything else even if it puts him in dangerous situations. and people think the kindness comes so easy to him when his laugh lights up a room but Merlin none of them know the truth.

I absolutely love this and I’m so totally down for Himbo!Obscurial!Reader!! Like, this poor guy has been through it, just so much; physically, emotionally, and mentally, that he just wanted one good thing in his life but never had it so he instead became that good thing himself. For the most part he hides what he went through and the severity at which he suffered extremely well, whether he does so consciously or not, and to those around him except a select few wouldn’t be any the wiser to any of it. But Albus and Minerva especially have picked up on or have knowledge of what Himbo!Reader has gone through, there’s little things that give it away. Maybe it’s the semi-obvious way he flinches when someone moves too fast or when there are loud noises, maybe it’s in how he must needs to constantly be reminded to take care of himself otherwise he won’t (strictly because he forgets to, not seeing himself and or his wellbeing as a priority by any means). Or how he goes into habits of shutting himself away from others only to act like nothing of it when he comes back, waving off anyone’s concern or questions about it. Himbo!Obscurial!Reader isn’t used to anyone worrying about him or checking up on him so it’s all new for him once he starts working at Hogwarts and has the students and other staff members sticking close to him and keeping an eye on him. Minerva especially is keeping a very close eye on the Reader and has a very deep fondness for him.

I imagine Himbo!Obscurial!Reader being muggle book smart but of course being completely clueless about the magical world and everything pertaining to it due to his growing up but I absolutely think that in his childhood he found solace in reading. Books were the only thing that allowed him to experience a vast variety of whatever he wanted to be a part of and that’s what helped him along the way, it was his way of escaping and it still is. I feel like Hermione and Percy would definitely stock the Reader up on books, both magical and muggle ones. I think the two of them would feel more connected to Himbo!Reader that way. And if the Reader were to recommend any or give either of them books from his own collection they would absolutely adore it. You can bet the books they get from the Reader will be so taken care of and loved. Also, I imagine that the books the Reader reads/has are strictly story books, nothing really educational unless it’s about baking/cooking or animals and or botany, just hobby/interest related stuff. I also like to think that Himbo!Obscurial!Reader formed his own personality and way of seeing the world through the books he read (and of course from the terrible treatment he suffered) and that’s why he is more generally naive about things and just blindly getting himself into situations. It also doesn’t help that now he’s being brought into the magical world after all this time and is still trying to figure things out but he’s got a good attitude about it and his happy to go on this adventure. Not to mention he has all these new people by his side which he’s even more happy about.

Speaking of which, I imagine that Obscurial!Reader didn’t have many friends, if any, growing up so whenever he meets someone new he automatically claims them as his friend, no matter who it is. Which down the line is definitely going to cause issues but what’s comin will come and he’ll meet it when it does (spoiler: it’s more yanderes!).

Imagine everyone else’s reactions when they find out what Himbo!Obscurial!Reader had endured for most of his life?👀 All hell would break loose and the people who hurt him will surely pay for all of it, slowly and painfully.

#anxious answers #yandere harry potter concept #yandere concept

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severusloveslily · 1 year

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potions & parchment || snamione AU

Severus stalked back into Hogwarts, a scowl on his face. He had just made the always lovely trek to the Ministry and had, yet again, been thwarted by the dunderheads that make up their government.

Since the Dark Lord’s downfall, he had spent a year or so recovering from his injuries. He was still trying to work out the odds of how the hell he’d managed to survive. Despite his best efforts, he was still alive, so he decided he ought to at least try and enjoy his freedom. Following his recovery, he dusted off many of his stalled research projects and had gone to work. Nearly a decade later, he was ready to present them to the Ministry.

However, he was hitting roadblocks at every bloody turn. Though he’d been awarded an Order of Merlin, First Class, they still didn’t particularly like ex-Death Eaters. He couldn’t say he blamed them, but it was frustrating. He didn’t want to be stuck teaching for the rest of his life. It was a means to an end at this point.

“Severus?”

The man stopped and turned to see his boss, Minerva McGonagall, approaching him. He waited for her to catch up, before he continued walking. “I’m not in the mood right now, Minerva.”

“How did the meeting go?” she asked. “Not well?”

“You astound me with your deduction skills,” he muttered. “I want to be alone.”

“Why did they turn you down?” she pressed, struggling to keep up with his long stride.

“You know why, Minerva,” Severus drawled. “In any case, I suppose I’ll just have to fund my projects personally. It will take much longer, but... one day, perhaps I’ll get there. Unless someone else beats me to it,” he muttered. He was trying to develop a serum to numb the effects of the Cruciatus curse. Though the Dark Lord was gone, his followers remained, and there were still people recovering from the war. It would also help Aurors on their mission.

He had also tweaked his Wolfsbane recipe and he found it was more effective than the one before. Though he wasn’t fond of Remus Lupin, it opened his eyes to the horribly lonely world of people stricken with lycanthropy. He was trying to help.

“You know,” McGonagall started, “Hermione will be here for her semi-annual visit next week. Why don’t you speak to her about it? That could be your way in. If you get the Minister for Magic on your side, they can’t say no. Right?”

Severus stopped walking and pondered that. He’d rather rip his hair out than ask a third of the Golden Trio for help, but he had his back against the wall at this point. “Perhaps,” he murmured. It wasn’t a bad idea, but she never really came to speak to him anyway. She hardly even observed him when she was here. He was glad she was taking such a proactive approach to the school, no other minister in his memory had done that. She was doing the world of good for their society, and fit the job to a tee. The country was better off with her at the helm.

#adultpara #potionsparchmentchapter1 #snamione

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sophie-hatter-jenkins · 2 months

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Chapter Update - Into The Hinnyverse

A collection of Hinny-centric drabbles, microfics and one-shots written for the Ginny Lovers Discord server 5-Year Ginnversary Bingo game.

Chapter 6 - The Takeaway

Harry’s too tired to cook, but Ginny’s mind is elsewhere.

Rating - Gen

Read on AO3 from the beginning or continue below the cut for the latest chapter (1125 words)

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Harry asked Hermione, as the two of them headed across the Atrium towards the Apparition point.

“Not at all!” Hermione reassured him. “You look exhausted. Tough day?”

Harry let his mind wander back through his shift. It began with a messy arrest in a particularly bleak Muggle industrial estate on the outskirts of Manchester, during which Harry not only sustained two cracked ribs and a broken thumb, but also got kicked in the nuts. Once he’d been cleared by the Auror office’s duty Healer, he’d then had to endure a three hour interrogation with the entirely uncooperative suspect, a mountain of dull-but-necessary paperwork that had to be completed in triplicate and finally, the frustratingly slow prisoner transfer process at the custody suite in the DMLE holding cells. All in all, it was the kind of painful (literally and figuratively) day that made him question his life choices.

“Yeah, you could say that,” he sighed.

Hermione shot him a sympathetic look. “Well, if half of what I heard from Gawain is true, I’m not surprised you don’t fancy cooking. We could cancel entirely if you’d rather just collapse on the sofa?”

“No, I don’t want to do that,” said Harry, firmly. “It feels like ages since we’ve been able to have a proper catch up - there are always so many people at the Burrow, aren’t there? And besides, if we order a takeaway, I still get to collapse on the sofa. What do you fancy?”

“I usually find it’s easiest just to let Ron choose. Less whinging that way.”

“Funnily enough, I have the same policy with Ginny,” laughed Harry. “Anyone would think they were related or something.”

Just a few minutes later, Harry pushed open the door of the flat he shared with his fiancee.

“Ginny!” he called. “Ginny? I’m home! And I’ve got Hermione with me.”

She didn’t reply, so he followed the sound of voices down the hall and into the living room. Ron seemed to be fiddling with the wireless, while Ginny was sitting on the sofa, looking irritated. Her hair, freshly washed after a day at training, hung loose down her back, shining burnished copper in the artificial light, and her nose was wrinkled in annoyance in a way that Harry found particularly adorable - not that he’d ever told her that; generally speaking, Harry preferred to keep his bogeys bat-free

“Hi, Gin,” he greeted her, dropping a kiss on the top of her head. “Change of plans, we’re just going to get takeaway. What do you fancy?” When she still didn’t respond, he gently nudged her. “Ginny?”

“Hmm? Oh, hi, love,” she murmured, absently. “I don’t mind, whatever you want is fine with me. No, Ron! Turn it left! No, the other left! And twist the aerial!”

“Okay, okay!” snapped Ron. “I still don’t get why I’m doing this. It’s your house, I’m the guest here, you know.”

Ginny’s eyes flashed. “Because you said you’d find the channel quicker than me. Merlin knows why I believed you. Come on! We’re going to miss it!”

“Is there a Quidditch match tonight?” asked Harry, casting an apologetic look at Hermione, knowing that a night listening to a Cannons match probably wasn’t what she’d had in mind.

“No, Harry,” chided Ginny, before uttering the words he had never thought he would hear her say. “This is far more important than Quidditch!”

“There’s a new episode of The Magical and the Magnificent on tonight!” agreed Ron. “The last one ended on a massive cliffhanger.”

Ginny nodded enthusiastically. “Katarina Volynka was about to get married, but then she found out that the man she was about to marry already has a wife and three kids!

“Wait, is this the woman who was horribly injured in the freak accident at the Gobstones tournament?” asked Hermione. “With the kelpie stampede?”

“No, that’s Mirabelle Cornemuse,” corrected Ginny. “But it wasn’t kelpies, it was kappas. She only survived because Bernardo Gaita, the dashing and mysterious Italian healer, managed to reattach her face using only syrup of asphodel and a fish slice!”

“Yeah,” added Ron, earnestly. “Katerina Volynka is the heiress to a cutlery empire. That’s why Roderick Dudelsack wanted to marry her. I reckon he was planning to bump her off on the honeymoon.”

“But at the end of the last episode, the wife and kids turned up at the church!” chipped in Ginny. “So it’s clearly all going to kick off, and I do not want to miss it.”

Harry looked between the three of them, absolutely mystified. None of the words made any sense at all. It was as though they were speaking an entirely different language. “So, uh - we’ll just order pizza then?” he asked, weakly.

Ginny completely ignored him. “Shhh! It’s starting!”

Harry and Hermione retreated to the kitchen. “What the hell was that all about?” he asked. Through the open door to the living room, he could see the Weasley siblings sitting side by side on the sofa, staring at the wireless in rapt attention. More important than Quidditch? Too vital to care about food? It was unfathomable.

Hermione rolled her eyes. “The Magical and the Magnificent. It’s a wizarding soap opera that’s been running forever. The plot lines are quite frankly ridiculous, but Molly’s been listening to it religiously for years. The whole bunch of them have been indoctrinated practically since birth. I bet the entire family is tuned in.”

Harry snorted, as he dug around in the kitchen drawer for a pizza menu. “Even Percy?”

Hermione smirked. “Especially Percy! He’s the biggest fan of the lot of them. He went to a convention in Hogsmeade last year and got photos taken with all the cast. Ron spent weeks trying to pretend he wasn’t jealous.” She gave Harry a curious look. “I’m honestly not sure how you’re only just finding out about this.”

Harry shrugged. “I didn’t have a clue.”

“Well, now that you know, are you absolutely sure you want to marry into this lunacy?” joked Hermione. She brandished her wedding ring at him. “I mean, it’s too late for me, but you could still save yourself.”

Harry gaze flicked towards his fiancee, perched on the edge of the sofa, leaning forward towards the wireless. Her eyes were wide and her cheeks flushed. Suddenly, something she heard made her gasp, clapping her hands across her mouth., and he smiled softly as he watched her. It amazed him that, after all this time, there was still more to learn about her, and every new thing that he learned just made her more fascinating, more beautiful. He hoped he’d never, ever stop learning more about her.

He turned back to Hermione, still smiling. “Is pepperoni okay? It’s Ginny’s favourite.”

#harry potter #ginny weasley #hinny #harry x ginny #harry potter fanfiction #romione #hermione granger #ron weasley #ginniversary bingo

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tenebrius-excellium · 1 year

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I’m reminded of just how good Trollhunters was but also of how it kinda peaked in the middle of Season 3 and went rapidly downward from then on. Those pure None Shall Live Scenes, just...every time the amulet powered up...Claire’s mystery arc of discovering magic and developing her skill without getting any instruction, unlike Jim who was tutored by both his friends and his enemies and who was able to profit from centuries of knowledge and tradition...like, the way she had to go in completely blind and find out...and the way she did so well considering the circumstances... just the top tier humor, the NotEnrique and Chompsky and Goblin bits, Angor Rot and Strickler as glorious, complex and entertainingly dangerous villains... Draal... Draal... Toby and Barbara both knowing they were not the main characters yet still doing such a great job with their respective roles... and Jim being consistently conflicted about doing what was right and wondering what it meant to be a human warrior serving non-human creatures...

...and then the parents found out.

Idk that’s when it immediately turned sour for me.

Like, Barbara never really took a stance on what the discovery of the reality of trolls meant to her - it sort of remained her son’s “thing”. But what about herself? Was it cool to her? Did it spark her curiosity, her desire to explore and research - regarding new ways of medical treatment, for example? Why’d she never comment about Strickler’s ability to shapeshift...and did she like his horns in the end? Was she ever anything else than afraid and worried for the normalcy she used to know, instead of rejecting or embracing the possibilities and the wonder of the magical world?

Then Merlin appears, and it’s fine in itself that he is the character he is. He’s quirky and iconic and doesn’t have to change. But what happened to “Master Jim was correct! We are stronger together!” (quote Blinky, from when Claire opened the giant portal at the end of Season 2)? Why did Jim continue to walk alone after so many experiences that supposedly taught him the strength of community? Heck, he taught that exact principle to a desperate Nomura who had given up on someone coming for her in the Darklands!!! Yet it’s like he fails to learn the same lesson over and over...he makes the mistake of going into a life-threatening situation by himself, is then helped by his friends, everyone including himself assumes that he will natually choose better next time and then... he keeps repeating the exact same pattern endlessly as if he has amnesia. I understand that it might take a fictional hero a couple times for a certain lesson to sink in, just like it would for a real life person. But Jim never learns (not even in Wizards, not even in Rott). It gets frustrating and boring. Don’t get me wrong, I quite like Troll!Jim now, he grew on me. But it shouldn’t have been Merlin’s influence that drove Jim to become a troll “because there was no other way”, but because Jim decided for himself that this was the best way. He should have rejected Merlin’s initial suggestion, then realized he wanted it himself. Because frankly half his life and over half of his friendships were in the troll world by then, he loved their species and there were obvious advantages to fighting Gunmar as a troll - if only to truly understand their ways. But Jim’s character development kept being dictated by outside parties and therefore, got ground to a stagnating halt. He never learned to think beyond the authority of the people who made the amulet or wore it before him. He stayed dependent on all of the destiny stuff they told him instead of considering that the amulet might have been a tool of its own mind, bound to him, helping him into the freedom of making his own choices. Of course there is the aspect of only one person being able of carrying Daylight. But Jim did not have to follow the preset course that Merlin intended it for. I wish he didn’t. And that’s why, even though I’m happy that he became Troll!Jim, the ending of Season 3 just wasn’t as good as it could have been.

Jim, sweet gullible Jim who was just a little bit too receptive for random people’s guidance because he lacked a father figure, did not learn what I was led to believe was his arc over 3 whole seasons of plot, (to discern which voices to listen to and to gather confidence in his own strength while following a destiny) and since that issue was never finished nor fixed, the creators never gave him a new arc beyond the original problem, and so... that’s why Jim grew ultimately redundant. Slowly in Wizards, at lightning speed in Rott. And that’s how we ended up with a repetitive, nonsensical cycle of plot.

While Jim’s physical action potential grew consistently without his character truly evolving, Douxie on the other hand made it a point to learn how to grow personally fast.

Love him for it. Still wish he had been the main guy in Rott. Perhaps all would have been well. :) My point is, I really miss the earlier days of Trollhunters, because they really were that enjoyable and good!!!!

#trollhunters #trollhunters analysis #analysis #wherethekiteflies #jim lake jr #claire #claire nunez

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imissthembutitwasntadisaster · 11 months

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Sorry sorry one more ask I’m rewatching Merlin a bit pls tell me if you will what you’d have done with Merlin and Morgana plotline I’d like to imagine it play out nicely

First of all I treasure and relish asks I love talking to you never apologize. Second of all. It's been a long long while since I watched it BUT you know what's so weird??? That Merlin didn't tell Morgana about his magic when he found out about his dreams! He told a lot of people frankly, Lancelot worked it out in SECONDS, so why not Morgana, Morgana who's clearly suffering and so totally alone and afraid. So Merlin tells Morgana and she believes him and for a while it helps that they share this secret.

But it isn't enough, because sometimes it just isn't. Uther is still so rabidly against it and Arthur too and the kingdom is so hostile and Merlin's just one boy, so Morgause still manages to win over Morgana even as Merlin pleads for her to stop. He still has to poison her to stop the sleeping spell (a sleeping spell she didn't know about and didn't cast on purpose! Even up until this she was still fairly innocent!!!) and she sees that as a double betrayal - not just Merlin the vague acquaintance, but Merlin her friend, Merlin the only person to share her secret, poisoned her.

So of course, she's furious and she turns against Camelot and fights against it over and over again. She sneaks back into the castle pretending to repent, as she did in the show, but continues to attempt to tear down its foundations. But because Merlin knows she knows about his powers, he doesn't try to hide them from her and so they keep meeting, they keep having individual fights, they keep arguing. And every time, Merlin asks her to come back, to be reconciled, to give up his quest. He begs forgiveness for poisoning her and for not seeing where it was all going wrong. He could kill her so many times in this version but he never does. Morgana's hatred and rage is slowly cooled and replaced with confusion, the confusion of a girl raised by an angry and bitter and unrelenting man faced now with mercy. She can hardly remember what that means anymore.

Let's say Uther starts another witch-hunt and Merlin needs help to get a friend out of Camelot. It wouldn't be too unlikely a storyline. He asks Morgana, because she's the only one he knows, because he gets desperate, because Uther is crueler and more twisted each day. Morgana in this, at least, can work with Merlin but she also plans to use it for her own means, to kill Uther, to take down the knights, and Arthur too. But the thing is that Merlin trusts her, he trusts her to follow the plan they make together to help people and remember that Morgana used to order food for those in need in defiance of Uther's wishes, remember she used to arm herself on behalf of small ravaged villages, remember that at her heart she was kind. So she chooses to go along with Merlin's plan, to let her revenge slip away for a moment, telling herself she can always do it again, and because of her a magic user makes it out of Camelot alive. This is the beginning.

Because, at the same time other dangers, other enemies, other darknesses are rising against the land and Merlin is tired and harried and stretched through. And he hates to do it, but he has to turn, on occasion, to Morgana. He has to fight her still, but somehow the fights become less frequent and the requests for aid more common. Every time Morgana swears she'll most likely kill Arthur in the morning and every time she doesn't. Merlin asks for her help in making small lives better, in lightening loads, Morgana isn't shaking the earth with thunder, she uses her magic now more and more often, she finds, for quiet sly spells to make things easier for others now every day.

But! Morgause is still her family, has still manipulated her so much that she does still choose to take over Camelot. She's much more conflicted about it though, more so when the people of the city refuse to swear loyalty to her, even more when Merlin returns and tries to convince her against it. Morgause attacks him as he speaks and as she does, Morgana chooses to tip over the cup of life herself, ending her own army because, she realises, she would rather lose the crown than see Merlin die (because he, of course, is what she could be, and the good in what she once was).

Either Morgause dies there as in the show, or she becomes a mutual enemy, but Morgana flees as she did before. She still lives in the wilds outside Camelot and a new legend springs up, that if you go a-searching in the woods, you might find a witch who can help you. It's still not an easy path, she's still filled with a lot of hatred, but Merlin helps, he visits a lot. They become very close mostly because they learn to trust each other (it takes a lot of effort from him, a lot of work, but he tries and it pays off). The ending could be dramatic or it could be simple. Perhaps one is in danger and the other realises they can't bear to let them go. Perhaps, instead, Morgana looks at Merlin over the table one day and discovers she doesn't want a life without him. No matter how it goes, they do fall in love.

Camelot falls, of course, as it must, as it always has and always will. Arthur dies and Merlin sends him off and awaits his return. But this time, he's not alone in the waiting.

i just think. They should have been in love. It's about how they are both what the other could have been.

Also I need to emphasise this doesn't really make clear how extremely angsty this would be. So much drama. So much pain. Only joy after a REALLY LONG TIME.

#merlin #ALWAYS happy to talk about this alwaysss

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arthursbubblebutt · 10 months

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Arthur is a Warlock and hides this from Uther, and the only reason he was not found out is because of Morgana.

Merlin is a prince of a conquered kingdom who was born without magic but grew to love it and protect his people who have it with a sword in hand.

Uther, while grieving his wife, almost never visited his son during his first 2 years of life. Servants took care of Arthur, and their hearts were taken by their golden prince. Morgana came into the picture only after Arthur had turned 5, and still, Uther had not given him the attention his son deserved.

Maybe it was for the best since the sorcery that his father prosecuted for would also be put into action if he found out his son had magic.

When Arthur turned 6, there was an incident with the horses being spooked and almost trampled a servant. Only Arthur could calm the horse with his magic before he had the skills to calm them without it.

Morgana had noticed, and Uther almost thought of sorcery but never Arthur, never him, Morgana made sure after that. The servants could hide his "Talents" but not for long. Morgana could indefinitely since it seemed Uther had gained a soft spot for his ward.

Over the years, Arthur desperately tried to please his father, becoming a knight and best swordsman in the kingdom and others, but his magic grew with him. His magic was a part of him and more instinctual as with a blade in his hand. He tried to reign it in, but it was like holding a feral animal in chains. Morgana had warned him the longer he kept pushing down his magic, the more teeth it would grow.

She tried to tell him to release it in the woods where no one would see, and he could finally have the release of holding something within and feel the earth beneath his feet, but Arthur was stubborn.

Masking it as discipline makes it only worse for himself.

A martyr Morgana called him. Then that is what he shall be for his father to finally see him as the worthy son.

Maybe then he wouldn't have nightmares of his father calling for his execution.

Whispers of an uprising seeped into Camelot. The true rulers of the crown, the ones which his father had dethroned long before he had Arthur and met his mother.

Arthur prepared for battle, for war, for his death. He marched to his horse and gave orders to his men and told them that many may not come back, but they still stood with him nonetheless.

Before he had climbed onto his horse, Morgana reached for his arm and told him of a vision she had.

Morgana, as they came to know it, is a Seer, with visions of some that became true while others were up to speculation when they were not as precise, but this one she told him was as clear as water.

They both had laughed when two of the kings children had turned out to have magic, but the cold press of a close death loomed over their shoulders, had them quickly coming back to reality-- which only made them laugh harder into the late hours and early rise of the sun.

"You will meet your match on the battlefield, but you will not die."

"That seems unlikely, but I thank you for your worry about me, Morgana." He says with a smirk on his lips

"Of you not dying or meeting your match?" She responded with an edge of amusement.

Arthur barked a laugh.

It was true, Morgana's vision was right, he thought, as the blade pointed at his throat drew higher under his jaw, he stared into eyes that was cold as ice and were flanked with hair as dark as coal that past rounded ears peaking under and shoulders that were broad as, or even more so, than his.

The man's face scrunched with emotions flying across his face that made his cheekbones more evident, and then soon, a look of realization dawned on him. Realization of what, Arthur could not say, for in the next second, an arrow lodged into his chest, and the last thing he saw was of frantic hands and blue eyes that were wide with fear.

The cold press of cloth against his brow and crackle of fire made him think it was a dream and even more so when he opened his eyes and saw the man thay had bested him in battle and pointed a sword at his throat the last his eyes were open.

He sits here, in a tunic, sinking a cloth in water outlined in a soft glow of warm light from the fire in the tent they are in. The way the white tunic hugs against his frame speaks of a sleek build, contrasting against Arthur's own, yet despite that the way the stranger holds himself is a sign of strength, as proven to him as to who won their match.

Arthur's eyes roam around the environment they are in when the mans back is still turned. They are in the man's tent, Arthur surmises, and he is in his captors bed.

"You have been asleep for a fortnight, Pendragon." Arthur's eyes slink back to his captor. The man's voice feels like a silk around his ears that makes his magic sing under his skin. It's makes his hackles rise, a man he barely knows, yet his magic is so easily tamed by him with a soft caress of cloth against his skin.

"Assuming you know my name, you must be planning for a hostage situation, or you were too much of a coward to finish the job." He tries to spit the insult, but in his weaken state, it comes out as choked resignation.

The raise of a brow and scoff is all he gets for a solid minute as the man chews on his bottom lip and closes his eyes as if asking for strength. "I do not want to kill you or any of your people, for they are mine as well," Arthur wants to ask what he means by that but the man stands and leans over Arthur as his hair that drips in waves whispers against his cheek has the words quickly dying in his throat before they even have a chance to form.

His eyes pierce Arthur in a way he can not describe, as if he is trying to see into him. He settles a wall of indifference over himself, a last defense. "The arrow that shot at me says otherwise," Arthur meets his eyes, for that is all he can do.

"It was not one of our own."

Arthur's brows lift, "and you think it ours?" An assassin in their ranks?

"No, I think it was from a third party neither of us knew about that was trying to kill one or both of us so we would not meet." His hand comes around behind Arthur's neck, his thumb sliding against his ear.

Arthur swallows his heart that feels as if it's going to climb out of his throat, "and what makes you so special and confident into thinking they have their sights set on you."

His gaze falls to the man's lips that part, which quickly closes and thins into a frown. In the next second, he thinks the stranger is going to give him a retort. Instead, the man's eyes glint with something Arthur feels like he recognized, but he isn't sure.

"I am the Once and Future King." Arthur's eyes widen when memories fly past his sight of books he has read, recording the history of the kingdom before his Father had conquered it. A kingdom that was nurtured with its culture of magic and prophecy. "And you are Emrys."

Arthur sucks in a breath and hears the final bell toll of execution taking place. Arthur had not dared acknowledged it, had not even humored the thought when he and Morgana had stumbled upon a druid camp when Morgana had wanted to practice her magic trying to get Arthur to release his own. The druids had greeted him as Emrys, and when they had asked why they had called Arthur that, they spoke of a prophecy. The Once and Future King and Emrys, together.

They are entwined by fate as they are the others half of a coin and pushed by destiny for they shall unite Albion in peace to the Golden Age.

"Why should I believe you," Arthur's eyes narrow as he grits his teeth, not wanting this man to be privy to his thoughts.

"Because your magic has not lashed out on me. In fact, it seems to like me." A corner of his mouth lifts in amusement as his thumb plays against his ear, and Arthur gasps against it when he feels his magic surrounding the man as if cooing at him. Arthur curses at it easily, trusts this man that Arthur barely knows. "But the fact that you have magic also means you are one of the people that I take most precedence over." The man's expression turns serious then. "How can you serve a king that would no sooner call for your execution?" His hand rests against his cheek, his eyes searching his with brows furrowed as if he can not fathom the idea. Arthur can't either, yet it still breaks him every time.

Arthur takes his hand in his and takes a breath, when he notices in all his years It comes easier when he is with this stranger in an unknown place away from his home. "And how could you not call me a traitor for going against my kind, how can you not hate me?"

"A half can not truly hate their other half," his thumb circles his cheek in an affectionate gesture, and Arthur feels his own walls start to crumble for this man with raven locks and eyes that are no longer cold as ice but soft as the blue sky.

"How did you know I--" he still doesn't have the will to acknowledge it yet much less say it.

"I felt your magic on the battlefield, but by the time I noticed it was you, I thought it was too late." He says in a low whisper that cracks at the end in grief.

"Now that I'm alive, you can still use me as a bargaining tool." He tries to keep on the indifferent mask, but the way the man's eyes narrow and soften makes him look away.

"In all honesty, Emrys, I don't think I can ever be apart from you now that we have finally found each other."

"Arthur." He looks back to the man that stopped the slow caress on his cheek. "My name is Arthur."

If it were possible, that man seemed to soften more from Arthur's words. He tries desperately to stamp down the spark that ignites in his chest when he brings his other hand to curl back a piece of hair that clung to Arthur's cheek from the sweat that was in no doubt started by the fever he probably had if the wet cloth was any indication.

"And mine is Merlin."

#i tried to shorten it bc i know i would make it into a full blown fic #but that would take ages to complete #and my adhd brain cant handle that rn im so sorry #merthur #bbc merlin #fic idea #no wait actually while writing these tags i just got an idea for a scene and its plaguing me #soooooooo #fic in progress #hyperfixation activated #dinner writes itself #arthur pendragon #merlin #merlin bbc

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lovable-bastard · 11 months

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BBC MERLIN HC

(hc's below the cut)

Pre-Purge

Hunith and Gaius are related, Gaius was born to a noble mum and dad, while Hunith was born to a peasant mum and noble dad. Gaius finds out that his father had another child (he found out when his dad was dying) and after sometime found Hunith and took her under his wing (like Merlin)

Igraine and Balinor met when they were teens (14-16)

Hunith hates, and I mean hates Uther

Hunith was born, raised and lived in Camelot for most of her life, only leaving 4 years before the purge

Gaius (as a kid) hated most of the noble kids

Balinor and Uther have a Gwaine and Arthur kind of relationship, but this time they actually hate each other

Igraine and Nimueh definitely dated for a while

To me Igraine & Nimueh have a Merlin & Arthur relationship if Arthur knew about Merlin's magic

Constantine III (Uther's dad) is the Arthur Weasley of the non-magical world

People think Uther and Balinor fucked at least once

Gaius had to deal with two generations of dumb gay ( + token straight) people

Gaius has always been the "old man"

Igraine is the second child (Agravaine is the oldest and Tristan is the youngest)

Hunith is besties with Gwen's mum

Balinor, Igraine and Nimueh the chaos trio of their generation

They also talk shit about everybody else

Hunith is very confused why Igraine likes her so much

Meanwhile Igraine kind of forms a crush on her and fully shows it

Balinor fell first and harder

Hunith is just as sassy as Merlin, Igraine and Balinor love her for that

I just had a realization that Hunith, Igraine and Balinor are just the love triangle of Gwaine, Merlin and Arthur

Like I already knew that I saw them like Gwaine, Merlin and Arthur, but not to this extent!!!!

Everyone had a crush on Hunith (can't blame them)

Igraine runs off on a daily basis (with Balinor and Nimueh, of course)

Balinor is more closer to the knights of Camelot than Uther is

Igraine is a gremlin child

Uther cheated on Igraine to have an heir, but got Morgana instead (Igraine and Morgana's dad don't know about this)

Igraine loves horse riding and getting away from the overwhelming castle life

Igraine never loved Uther, she liked him, thought he was a good person, but her heart always thought about her ex-husband (Gorlois)

Post-purge

(before the show started)

The longest time a servant stayed in Arthur's service was 3 months (they were on a mission, that's the only reason he didn't fire him then)

The norm for a person staying in Arthur's service is 1-4 weeks

Morgana the first week when she came to Camelot to live full time didn't come out of her chambers

Merlin one day just changed his bio s€x over night because he didn't like it

Hunith got gray hairs because of Merlin and Will, mostly Merlin

Merlin has been followed home by many animals (he wants to keep them, but Hunith says no, Merlin cried)

When Arthur came out to Uther (as in he told Uther he felt like a boy and asked if that was normal) Uther was overjoyed. He told everyone that Nimueh turned Arthur into a girl as revenge and he (Arthur) should be treated as a prince.

Leon has always been a babysitter for Arthur and Morgana

Uther hid every painting of Igraine because it hurt to much to look at her and store them in an unused room

Geoffrey hid every magical book, item, everything in a hidden room behind a bookcase that Uther had no idea about

Gaius helped a lot

Gaius also for a long time didn't stop doing magic, only 9 years later he fully stopped

Gaius tried to bring Hunith back to Camelot because she told him how much things have gotten worse

(during the purge) Magical people who wanted revenge for what Uther was doing strated attacking Camelot and during it someone lit the castle ablaze, thankfully it was only a small part of the castle, a part of the castle that Arthur was in. When Balinor saw what was happening (he was there to save whoever he could) ran into the burning castle and saved Arthur. He quickly after found Gaius and gave him Arthur. Till this day no one other than Gaius and Balinor know about what happened

Morgana saw Gwen one day, picked her up and has not put her down ever since

(During the show)

Merlin and Morgana gossip

Merlin has a new found hatred of poetry and the tavern

Gwaine has somehow removed almost all the doors off their hinges while drunk

Merlin gets all the sacrifices that the druids give him

Merlin: Hey, Gaius do you want beef for breakfast...and lunch...and dinner?

Gaius: Why do you ask-

Cow, dead laying in the middle of the room:

Gaius, deadpan: Why...?

Merlin, just as done with this: I don't fucking know...

He once woke up with two dead kids near his bed

That was a fun morning

Uther kind of likes Merlin, he thinks he would be a fantastic jester (it's a complement)

Lancelot goes along with everything Merlin does, so does Gwaine, but he thinks it's just for shits' n' gigs'

Merlin has seen things while being in Arthur's service, mostly Arthur doing ego shattering, pride reducing things

Leon and Merlin are the dad and mum of the group, I will die on this hill

Merlin can hide his emotions the best, not because of the fighting, but because Kilgharrah will just randomly start singing

When Merlin can't use his magic over a long period of time he gets the magic version of overstimulated

Everything feels like it's on fire, the lights are to bright, the noise is too much, you get the gist

Merlin takes the children out for an "adventure", when in reality it's him bringing them away from the latest burning for both the kids and himself

However there are times where he knows the kids know, just something in their eyes disappears

Those times he sits with them and let's them cry it all out

The noble kids adore Merlin because of how physically affectionate he is (thank hunith) and he shows them love so freely

As well as the peasant kids, every child see's Merlin as a brother/uncle/father/ect.

Gwen is the oldest, Elyan is the youngest

Gwaine has met Hunith while traveling (after he met Merlin) and absolutely adores her

Since magic is everything, especially in nature, Merlin is kind of mother nature

Merlin has always been able to hunt (since it wouldn't make sense for him not to) and he doesn't hate it

He does like it don't get me wrong, but he knows it's essential for survival

Merlin just doesn't like it when they hunt animals for sport

Merlin and Arthur have this deep understanding that scares both of them sometimes

Arthur fell first, but Merlin fell harder

Arthur has a crush on Merlin since s1/e4

And Merlin has a crush on Arthur since s2

Merlin grew his hair out one time and Arthur "band" him from cutting it

Merlin loves kids and is great with them, but doesn't know if he wants to have any

(post the show)

Merlin came back to Camelot, but did leave a few months after (he needed some space), but after two years (filled with letters) he came back with his mother

The gang (or what's left of it) found out that Leon's immortal. They all freaked out

When Gaius died, Merlin didn't come out of his chambers for weeks

Same goes to his mother

After Gaius retired Merlin became the physician

Everyone didn't know why Merlin didn't become the court warlock, but Gwen knew. He didn't tell her, but she just knew why

Gwen re-married for political reasons and after a while the gang excepted him, not fully, but mostly

After everyone died Leon and Merlin left Camelot and started traveling since they could never do it (merlin being poorer then poor and leon being a knight)

They became very close and considered each other their life partner (platonic)

When Leon and Merlin have a fight they just leave. No note. Nothing.

At first it scared them, but now they know their safe and they'll come back

Leon and Merlin call each other "grandpa"

They fucking hate it, but they will not stop

They also probably got married for tax or something

Like no romance, strictly platonic.

Just for some added benefits

When thing get rough (mentally) they just sit somewhere and hold each other, quietly, rubbing their thumbs over each others hand/arms/legs, play with each others hair. Just be there for the other

Merlin grew his hair out and will not cut it

There are periods of time he looks like a hermit and when he does Leon full on sword fights him into cutting his hair

He does eventually cut it, but it's still longer then normal

They definitely have a whole other language (think the whistling between merlin and arthur)

They travelled the the world together

They have been known as the forest wizard and knight (they find it fun)

Modern era

(pre-Arthur revival)

(post-Arthurs resurrection)

The first movie Merlin showed him was the Monty python and The Holy Grail and Disney's version of the story

Arthur despise both of them (mostly Disney's one)

Arthur definitely gets panic attacks and anxiety attacks

Merlin is always there to help him and comfort him

Same goes the other way around, but Arthur isn't that good at ✨emotions ✨

Merlin has an EpiPen on him at all times just in case

Arthur wears clothes that look like his old clothes, but they are made with modern fabrics (he does have normal clothes but only wears them when he has to)

Merlin is a ball of stress

Arthur is also a ball of stress but for completely different reasons

Merlin and Leon probably has a shit ton of money

Arthur fears going to sleep afraid he's not going to wake up (someone else's idea and i can't find them so i could give credit!!!!!!!!!)

Merlin has a ginger cat that he calls ginger

He just found him on a rainy day when ginger was a kitten and help them out

Now he kind of lives there

He's half indore cat, half outdoor cat

And he's an asshole

Leon is happy Arthur's back, but he's not happy that the tension and the staring is back

(That's it for now)

#just some headcanons i have compiled over the month #merlin headcanons #bbc merlin #the adventures of merlin #merlin #merlin emrys #arthur pendragon #merlin and arthur

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hihopelessromantics · 1 year

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The Learner Learns Nothing

In which the writing of Seven Deadly Sins expects us to believe that Merlin, the glutton for knowledge, is incapable of learning what really matters over the course of her 3,000 year journey.

I wrote this inspired by @zeldriszezinho‘s comment on how Merlin was able to reactivate Elizabeth’s curse. The implication that Merlin at some point during the 3000 years gained the ability to break the curse and could have done it AT ANY TIME from that point forward absolutely blew my mind.

If so canon Merlin is DEAD to me I swear that is so WRONG.

I've never seen a master manipulator character written like this before and I'm not even sure if this is a good way to write a trick villain or whatever the hell she was supposed to be. It sure is baffling so nakaba got that right. I was just as shocked and disbelieving as the sins were. Still am. Regardless of how well it fits her “canon” character and personality it is NOT consistent with the found family themes 😭 Plus it would make her RIDICULOUSLY overpowered... how would she have as much power as a god without serious consequences? And literately no one noticed, ever? Britannia started literately falling apart when Meliodas had that much magical power.

You know what I think I will jump on the hating canon Merlin bandwagon with you zeldriszezinho. I am stitching the Merlins from fanfictions together to make a better, healthier one as a present to the sins for all they've gone through together.

Merlin is just - ugh - it’s too sad. Everyone else gets to be, as the people who remember English class would say, a round character, including many of the antagonists! Tons of minor characters get memorable moments of growth, but Merlin, one of the major characters? She stays static for the most part. Trapped as a plot device until the very end. The narrative leaves her alone, torn away from her found family by an insane twist that I don’t quite understand.

It’s like Merlin never gave a second thought to how the sins are acting. Ten years out of 3,000 isn’t a lot but someone as smart and observant as Merlin should have seen the way the other sins treat her. They knew close to nothing about her, and she constantly isolated herself emotionally and physically from them, but they never made a move to exclude her from the group, or pry too much, or question her origins. They just loved her unconditionally even though she wouldn’t let them in. There was so much raw potential for her character to have a unique and complicated bond with the sins as a group. Maybe it should have been the wakeup call she needed that the unhealed child inside of her could still learn to receive love. That it wasn’t too late to have a life outside her chaos obsession. Canon left us with a pretty unsatisfying answer as to why she acted the way she has. Like hmmm. Really?

Canon Merlin, you had 3,000 years to decide whether to seek help for your childhood trauma and learn how to love in a somewhat healthy manner and you want me to believe you didn't even try that route??? And that on top of that you effectively prolonged the torment of the only two people shown to love you unconditionally? Whom you supposedly loved in return?? Uhhh heyo! I don't believe you. And also I am holding a sword to your throat getting your shit together is no longer optional.

Sure Merlin can be seen as a character study of how obsession can cause someone to forsake all other aspects of life. We saw it in Frankenstein - saw what became of that whole spectacle and how quickly the perpetrator learned that they didn't actually want [insert here], they were just looking for that basic hierarchy of human needs and weren't ready for the responsibility that comes when using the pursuit of scientific advancement as a substitute for, idk, I think in Merlin's case it would be coming to terms with essentially being treated as a weapon due to her abilities. (meliodas and Elizabeth parallel anyone?? We were robbed of three child soldiers learning to love together and be a family smh thanks a lot gods ) anyway back on topic. What Merlin and Frankenstein have in common throughout their story there are a lot of opportunities that they didn't take, and friends that they kept brushing off, never confiding in them until it was crisis time. Frankenstein's story is a tragedy - he keeps abandoning the rational thought and commitment to ethics that make a good scientist. Any second during his story, while he was neglecting correspondence from friends, neglecting to sleep and eat and pay attention to his needs as a person that the obsession had tossed in the trash bin, he was free to say “hey actually I CAN spare a second from my neverending workload to breathe and think about what's important to me. Why I'm doing this? And how I could do it better. Have I learned anything in this latest deep dive into knowledge?” Instead he is ruled by his emotions, which in the end, keep him from properly emphasizing with other people and actually achieving what he wanted to do. I don't even remember if Frankenstein KNEW what he wanted to get out of his experiments. Probably not considering this the way he immediately freaked out when it actually WORKED. And then it was crisis time, so he goes to his friends, but does he confide in them what really happened? What part he had in it and how he feels about the whole thing? Don't think so. So they just think he's depressed as fuck and going a little crazy. They're completely unable to help him in any substantial way.

We see this with Merlin. She has to have complete control of the situation at all times so she tells no one. If she can get this ONE THING right finally everything will fall into place. That must be what she thought. But what the hell? Knowledge is and has always been collaborative. We know she was never learning just to learn or for the love of it - it was a poor substitute for the love and attention a child needs to grow up with a good understanding of how to pursue fulfillment. So she was always aiming to accomplish something with her knowledge and all around her were people working together to accomplish something. Hell, she worked together with the sins to accomplish her goal. 3,000 years. She stopped her own time. Physically, right? Or was it mental too? The science there doesn't seem to work with the brain literately rewiring itself as it gets new experiences so. We're just meant to assume she spent 3,000 years trapped in the same mindset while traveling all over Britannia and interacting with God knows how many people. Just out of pure necessity to survive and obtain the information and tools she needs she would have to interact with a LOT of people. That's not even mentioning the people she did research on. And we're expected to believe she didn't learn anything that would make Merlin- smart, curious, motivated little Merlin who tricked two GODS on the OFF CHANCE that what they give her will satisfy the hole in her heart - didn't learn enough about human behavior to give abandoning love and true connection a second thought? Or even TRY to engage meaningfully with anyone? It's not like she had never made that connection with anyone before. What about Meliodas? What about 106 Elizabeths?

This twist that Merlin might have been manipulating the Sins all along, rather than blowing the reader’s mind with the clues and clever foreshadowing that were there all along, blows a hole in the overarching themes in the story. Merlin’s betrayal is a catastrophe of the highest proportions because it calls into question EVERYTHING they learned up until that point. What she did would cause extensive trauma to everyone involved - all this time they believed that hey, maybe fate brought us together, wasn’t it so good that we finally found people that could understand us? And now they are questioning all of it. So yeah, emotionally, the twist does what it is supposed to. It hurts. But... it doesn’t make sense. Being in the Seven Deadly Sins causes every other member to learn how to reconcile with themselves, their pasts, their feelings, and their relationships. Why is Merlin the exception? This feels like disappointing writing and a huge waste of character potential.

It's not like abandoning all emotion and other desires was remotely necessary for Merlin to achieve her goal. She's had fun along the way and that's shown to us. Why are we given ‘i used to have a crush on Meliodas’ as a reason why she would give up on connection or whatever? Merlin that was literally 3,000 years ago when you were 12(?). You didn't talk to anyone about THEIR childhood crushes in all that time? And it's not like Meliodas ever stopped loving or caring about her. Even after getting his emotions stolen bit by bit he only abandons her and the rest of the sins out of necessity. Here she's got a good friend to confide in. And he's EXACTLY the kind of friend she needs if she wants to resurrect an old god! Meliodas is trusting, supportive, willing to Go the Distance for anything he believes in, AND desperate enough to consider extreme courses of action in order to break his and Elizabeth's curses.

All Merlin has to do to potentially get Mel on board is say, "Hey, some of my personal research has turned up something I think you might be interested in. The existence of an old god that the Supreme Deity and Demon King locked away because they feared her power and didn't want her to interfere with their goals. I've been curious about rumors like these since I was a child, and now I have finally found enough solid evidence to confirm that this god exists. It stands to reason that such a god would be able and even willing to help with the curse on you and Sis-sis. Not a timely solution, but a good plan B or C. I'll be looking into it, and I'll let you know if I find anything that could help you."

What's Meliodas going to say to that? Probably, "Thanks, Merlin!"

He was not afraid of potentially starting an "age of Chaos" when his father told him that is what killing him would mean. Chaos is a mysterious entity of both darkness and light, good and evil, creation and destruction. Previously worshipped by goddesses and feared by the demons. Its agenda, if it even has one, is even more mysterious than Merlin's was before the big reveal. As far as I can infer, Chaos (without the influence of fantasy racism) seems just as likely to bring balance as it could bring upheaval. Something that Britannia desperately needs. And since Chaos is the mother of life in this universe, why would it destroy everything it has created?

It makes sense that if he had known, Meliodas would have been wary of this god, and warned Merlin to be careful, but in the end... wouldn't he have as much reason to help his friend as he would to stop her? Why continue on to release Chaos after the curse is already broken? Fair question. But why not?

Meliodas just wants to live in peace with his loved ones. If releasing Chaos means an "age of Chaos" will occur, well, that just means going back to the beginning, before the eternal game between the Supreme Deity and Demon King. So. The same unknowns that he's faced in his life thus far, except the two dictators manipulating everyone into an eternal war are replaced with the creator of life itself? That would actually sound pretty good to Meliodas, right?

Chaos is disappointed with the weakness of humanity but acknowledged it as, hehehe religious parallels my beloved, "the race most like itself, that embodies its values." Now, this could be 4+ years of religion classes talking but Chaos's previous goal before the Holy War seems to have been to create a race "in its own image." And it did. The question is, now what? I doubt this god is capable of being truly evil because why would evil create creatures with moral compasses? Evil cannot create good and vice versa. We the audience know what happened in Four Knights of the Apocolypse thus far regarding Chaos's preference to humans, but Meliodas and the other Sins have no reason to suspect the entity of chaos would ever go full genocide mode on its own creations. A god that creates all life according to a set of intricate rules (physics, etc.) tends to have patterns of behavior that make sense. Creating everything just to kill it all off doesn't really make sense.

Merlin could damn well have told the Sins, or even just Meliodas, that her goal is to resurrect the original god of their universe that was locked away by the Demon King and the Supreme Deity, who play with people's lives for fun and obviously freaking suck - without making herself look like she has a) gone off the deep end or b) working toward an evil goal that they should immediately put a stop to by any means necessary.

Instead, she just tricks Meliodas and the Sins outright in the most painful way possible. Wtf?

She doesn’t have a solid reason to hurt the people who love her like no one ever has. Who, in their own messy way, have treasured her like her own parents and her people never did.

The twist that her true goal all along was to release Chaos would still work, both as a plot mechanic and for shock value. What’s not shocking about your friend actually being serious about releasing an ancient god, and doing it so soon after Britannia was nearly destroyed by a Holy War? The Sins would have been shocked and hurt all the same with how she orchestrated them coming together, trained Arthur for this exact purpose, and prompted Meliodas to confront and kill his father - all things which were ultimately for the best for all of the races, but with Merlin’s questionable choices, involved a lot more trauma for everyone. Hell, if Merlin got a character arc like the others, the Chaos reveal would actually hurt the Sins MORE. Instead of realizing they didn’t really know her, they would be realizing that the sense of warmth and belonging and the bonds they had forged with each other hadn’t reached Merlin’s heart. That whatever effort they had put into bonding with her wasn’t enough, it didn’t help her the way she had - the way they thought she had helped them. That they had been oblivous to their friend’s suffering and emptiness, that she didn’t trust them the way they trusted her, etc, etc. A deeper and more cutting reveal if you asked me.

As it is, the reveal makes it so that they didn’t lose a friend and member of their found family. They lost a person who was just... there. Forgotten until it was strictly neccessary for her to be there. Who never truly cared (?). While that’s sad, it’s... not what it could be if she had gotten the chance to genuinely be a part of the sins, physically and emotionally.

It seems to me that in the moment, Meliodas doesn't seem overly concerned about Chaos. He's angry that Merlin would be willing to blindside and manipulate him, making light of a friendship that's spanned over 3,000 years, for the sake of something that might not even exist. He's angry she seems to value that over everything she already has. Is this the only thing she truly cared about? Was he and his loved ones nothing but pawns to her, just as he was a pawn to his father? Same with the other Sins - they don't know what's going on, but they are angry and hurt at the prospect that their friendship with Merlin was a lie.

THIS, Merlin could have avoided entirely! She is an intelligent, powerful woman - a genius according to some of the most powerful demons alive - and she has BETTER OPTIONS! Choices. By all means, she could have had wonderful, meaningful times with the Sins for all of their journey together, and kept them as friends afterward, maybe finding true fulfillment in the process. All without giving up her pursuit of releasing Chaos.

She could have learned. Why didn’t she?

#merlin nnt #merlin #nnt spoilers #sds spoilers #seven deadly sins spoilers #nanatsu no taizai spoilers #no disrespect to the author but WHY #ah yes the favorite manga - love it but also hate it!#Merlin in canon is literately the same as Merlin from the Seven Deadly Schmucks. we need to help her #I'm scared to see what nakaba does to merlin in four knights of the apocolypse

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hannahhook7744 · 19 days

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Merlin ask game: 8, 24, 34 :)

8. One off character you wish had a bigger part.

This is a hard one since I feel that way about most of the side characters but if I really have to choose and canon doesn't have a play in it?

Will.

Because for the longest time, Will was Merlin's first, only, and bestfriend.

He was there before Gwen. Before Arthur. Before Lancelot. And before Gwaine.

And unlike Arthur, Gwen, and Gwaine (at first anyway) he knew that Merlin had magic for YEARS before Merlin was forced to go to Camelot. I think it was implied they were children when he found out and yet, he never said a word. Even when they were in a time where he was probably made to think magic users were monsters.

He accepted Merlin as he was and didn't like that he had to hide, much like Lancelot. He died for Merlin like Lancelot did (and like Gwen, Arthur, and Gwaine would have). He was stubborn like Arthur. Mischievous like Gwaine. And was a ride or die like Gwen was.

He was just a big mixture of all of the people, people call Merlin's best friends. He was so important and played such a big part in Merlin's life.

Yet after his death, from what I remember, we don't hear about him again. Not in Merlin's childhood stories. Not in flashbacks. Nothing.

And I know it's probably because Arthur, Gwen, Morgana, and Leon (I can't remember if he was there but I have no doubt man knew) thought Will was a sorcerer.

That Will was never talked about because no one wanted to risk Uther finding out at first and later on, because they thought Merlin had healed from it.

But it just feels so WEIRD to me. Weird and wrong. Because how is it that we know so little about Merlin's first best friend? His first ride-or-die brother in arms!

So. Just Will. I wish we could have seen more of the effect he and his death had on Merlin. Both in the fandom and in canon.

24. Everyone knows that fandom doesn’t like Uther but what are your feelings about Gaius?

Oh boy.

So I created this question solely because while I love Giaus he frustrates me at times.

Not as badly as Uther or Kilgharrah does, mind you. But enough that it tanks how I feel about him a considerable amount.

So, I love him but he's an idiot at times (like several people in this show) and I just wish he would have used an excuse other than the Tavern lol.

34. Myth you wished had been adapted in Merlin?

Soooo many.

But like, in the myths, Lancelot was raised by the lady of the lake. So while that obviously couldn't work, I just think it would have been interesting had they replaced the lady of the lake with another magical creature/person instead as both a nod to the myths and a bit of lore.

Hope that makes sense.

Also the whole 'people kept faking Gwaine's death' thing someone pointed out on here once probably would have been a fun plotline.

Thanks for the ask!

#merlin #merlin ask game #ask game #prince william of ealdor #sir gwaine #sir lancelot #merlin giaus

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undermycoat · 1 year

Text

A Question That Has Never Been Posed Before

“There’s something about you, Merlin - I can’t quite put my finger on it.” Arthur's not an idiot; he can see the glimmer of gold in Merlin's eyes. But he's hesitant to call Merlin evil, and he's even more hesitant to call Merlin out on his sorcery. He won't lose any more than a night's sleep over the boy, however, and he certainly won't try to figure out what it is about the boy that has him so captivated. He won't. [A sort-of fix-it to 1x01.]

Rating: G

Word Count: 1.1k

Full text and author's notes under the cut.

Or, read on AO3.

A/N: Written for Merlin Watch 2023! I’ll try to do something for every episode, but no promises, LOL. Thanks for suggesting this little challenge/event, @bellamyblakru! ^_^

Title taken from episode one, too. Not beta'd.

...

Despite popular belief, Arthur is not an idiot. In fact, it may be that he’s the smartest of them all, and everyone else is bumbling, absolutely dumb.

Because here is this Merlin, some commoner – no, some peasant! – with zero muscle mass (Arthur is surprised he can even handle the flail), looking like a twig always one strong wind away from breaking, words lilted and movements clumsy, and Merlin may be the stupidest of all because, contrary to expectation, Arthur is not an idiot, and he can see the glimmer of gold in Merlin’s eyes when he stumbles back, when he trips on a rope, when his foot gets caught in a bucket. It’s a shaded area, for God’s sake! Arthur can appreciate a good romantic description, but even he knows blue eyes don’t turn gold in the sun, and most definitely not when they’re in the shade.

But also Merlin hasn’t actually tried to kill him, and Merlin is clearly more of a threat to himself than to Arthur or anyone else, and Arthur is still physically stronger than him, and he knocks that confidence out of him easily, leaving the patch-up process to Gaius. Arthur doesn’t know what to make of it, and he doesn’t know what to make of the old physician, who levels Merlin with a glare that says… something, that suggests he knows of whatever it is that may make Arthur softer on the boy. At least, as soft as not immediately having him executed for sorcery is.

✶ ‎

That night, he finds himself hopelessly awake, thinking of the fool. He meant what he’d said – there was something about Merlin. Not just the magic, but his fire, that spark that had him standing up to Arthur in a way no one else ever had. Arthur liked to think himself not so easily swayed, he was more than a moth and Merlin was not an actual flame, but he found himself caught anyway.

Logic said all magic is evil, and perhaps logic sounded an awful lot like Uther, but the man was king for a reason. Arthur rolls over, staring at the wall until the shadows all merge into one, a phantom figure dancing about the room. He squeezes his eyes shut, brows furrowing. He’d only met the boy a day ago. He’s met kings of distant lands, countless beautiful princesses dressed in the finest fabrics and draped with jewels, bards with tales of epic romance, of knights defeating dragons, knights whose descriptions tended to greatly match Arthur’s – Arthur has met a vast array of people, more than an ordinary man could hope of meeting, and none have captured his attention quite like Merlin.

God. He’d only met the boy a day ago!

Arthur grabs one of his many pillows and puts it over his face. He does nothing as undignified as yell into it, but he squeezes it rather tight and wonders if perhaps suffocation is the only solution to his insomnia. It would certainly put an end to his problems. If only for a little bit.

✶ ‎

Arthur’s not sure if it’s a sign of his intelligence or if it’s just another part of that something Merlin has that makes him hypersensitive to magic. Surely he hasn’t always been this aware of it? Then again, what magic has been performed around him before?

He can’t do anything about the Lady Helen – or not Lady Helen, he supposes, as his father would surely never invite the woman to Camelot, no matter how good a singer, if he suspected she so much as asked about magic – but as it turns out, he doesn’t have to. Merlin is there, still shadowing Gaius, still just in Arthur’s periphery, and Arthur doesn’t know if his eyes were blue or gold or if he said something to have the chandelier be up one second and down the next, but he does know – suddenly – his actions are not caught up with his mind.

He wants to look to Uther, to see if the king has any clue what sort of web they’re caught in now, but his eyes do not move, only his thoughts racing from one point to the next, and his muscles only catch up to his mind when he’s on the floor, tucked under one of Merlin’s twig arms, staring at the dagger embedded in the chair he’d just been in front of.

Arthur rolls away from the boy and pushes himself up from the ground. He does not help Merlin back up. Uther is saying something, praising Merlin in that roundabout way he does when someone is finally worthy of it, thanking the boy, but Arthur can’t give the exact words Uther uses because he knows Merlin has magic, he has felt Merlin’s magic, whatever it did to him and the rest of the hall in those agonising, extended seconds, and because he knows Merlin has just used magic to save him – magic saved him. He swallows, finally turning to his father, who seems completely unaware of just how exactly Merlin saved his son’s life. It’s hard to reconcile his father’s insistence in reward with the gold he’s seen in Merlin’s eyes, with the feel of his heart as it slowed its pounding in his chest.

It’s only when Uther gets to the specifics that Arthur’s ears register what they’re hearing. “You shall be awarded a position in the royal household. You shall be Prince Arthur’s manservant.” His father looks proud, like he doesn’t know what he’s just allowed inside, like he doesn’t know the turmoil he’s set off in his son’s still-pounding heart. Arthur’s voice cracks as he protests, so strongly opposed to the idea he is, but Uther only nods decisively and strides off, certain that he knows what’s best.

As Arthur has just learnt, been forced to learn very quickly, he does not always know what’s best. He turns to Merlin, who looks equally unamused and extremely ungrateful, and Arthur swallows down a groan. Magic is not something he’s ready to get acquainted with, but it seems he has no choice. Perhaps this could be a blessing in disguise – there’s that something about Merlin, only intensified after his sudden bout of heroism. This new role could help Arthur figure out what exactly it is. Arthur watches Merlin stumble over air on his way over to Gaius. Or… perhaps some questions, no one is quite ready for their answers.

...

A/N: Is this OOC and puts way too much faith into Series 1 Arthur? Yes. Do I care? Yes, but I'm being so brave about it. But, like, sorry, but all of y'all townspeople are insane if y'all can't see Merlin's obviously blue eyes go gold out of nowhere. Like... be serious. I say this all in good fun, though; I love you, BBC Merlin, my beloved little comfort show. Thank you for the laughs.

Also, I'd consider it completely AU'esque as canon has proven it very untrue, but still, I love the idea of Arthur's birth leading him to pick up on nearby magic users or creatures. Gaydar? Nah, Arthur only has mage-dar.

Anyway, again, this is also posted to my AO3, so please consider giving it a kudos and a comment there if you enjoyed! And if you're reading it here, it would mean the world if you not only liked this post but also reblogged it. ^_^ Besitos!

#merlinwatch2023 #merthur #bbc merlin #merlin #merlin fanfic #merthur fanfic #my fic #my writing

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xviruserrorx · 3 months

Text

Title: "Would We Be Caught Dead Here?"

I am oh so very late and I know I didn't do the interest check but I wanted to do the @elyan-fest so here is Day 1's for the prompt "Stop, coming back". Also 1. This fic seems really weird to me, I don't know what it is, I like the fic I really do, but there's something weird about it. And 2. From the get-go this was supposed to be Elyan/Merlin, like the situation, the image it was all merlyan... And then I wrote the dialogue and it was very much the way I normally write Mordred—but not they way I normally write Mordred's dynamic with Elyan though—but, but the situation, the actions are very Merlin (to me) but the dialogue is too much not-Merlin (how I normally write him) for me. And I can see Mordred doing the actions under a situation (the situation being this weird au). Okay... Yeah there's my weird dilema. This fic wrote itself, truly, it's not even the ship I originally wanted it to be which has never happened to me before. Anyways Enjoy! 😁

Elyan Fest - Tumblr | Ao3 - [-> Next]

Fandom: BBC Merlin

Prompt(s): "Stop, Coming Back"

Relationship(s): Elyan/Mordred

Character(s): Sir Elyan, Mordred

Important Tag(s): Canon Divergence, Post-magic reveal, Magic Reveal Gone Wrong

Rating: Gen

Warning(s): No Archive Warnings Apply, Mention of Blood and Death, Manhandling (kinda sorta)

Word Count: 1,659

“I'm risking it all just for you.” Elyan felt a shiver run down his body. Mordred's hand found his and he lifted the other to brush his fingers on his jaw. “I'm risking my capture just to say I love you,” Or After a long day Elyan returns to his chambers to find an unexpected person in wait for him.

Continue reading below or over on Ao3

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Elyan rolled his shoulders. His chainmail grew heavier with every move that even the weight of his cape seemed to make things worse.

He swatted his arm back, grabbing the feet of cloth from dragging behind him. All need for his appearance dropped. The halls were empty, only the sound of his shoes against the floor filled the silence of the night. His normal company of one of the other knights had faded slowly but surely over the months. Though, he could say that for many things of the Camelot that he knew.

Camelot's once strict laws against magic somehow had grown worse in such little time. The leniency of the death penalty for those with or through any association of magic was all but gone.

Gallows were built more often, the executioner consulted more often, and the smell of burning flesh had little remedy to remove the after trace it left on his clothes, skin, and the air of Camelot as a whole.

The king was no longer the king he had promised to protect and serve. It'd been far too long since he had seen his sister's smile. The one he'd once teased her about; love and everything more for what she held for Arthur. He'd hardly seen them glance each other's way in weeks.

Missions that before had them picking on one another were nothing the same. Gwaine had little energy to display his usual charm; he was Camelot's best swordsman after all. He couldn't remember the last time he had talked to Percival, more so even heard the other knight say anything. But perhaps it was Leon he saw take it all the hardest. Comparing Camelot's records to when Uther reigned, none of them could have ever imagined those records matching, even surpassing the older ones.

They had been happier once at the peak of war.

Instead they were sent on tasks—hunt after hunt. It was nothing more than the king using them as a hawk as they brought innocent people one after another to his feet.

All of them hesitated just the same to continue to perform each task they were ordered. Elyan knew it was out of fear. Fear none of them possessed before everything happened, as if everything was the proper word to cover it all.

Elyan let out a sigh of relief as he reached his room, his hand coming to undo his cape buckle around his neck. He yanked the leather free and felt the chill of the night come over him as he closed the door, the all too familiar presence partnered to close.

He'd done this before. Too many times before.

He pressed his eyes and edged the exhaustion further. “We can't keep doing this.” He turned around and tossed his cape to the side.

His window was wide open as he had suspected. The figure he knew too well was sitting on the window ledge; legs crossed, hands gripping the sill, cloaked over in moonlight and yet still completely hidden in darkness. As if Elyan didn't know all of him to recognize him with much less.

He let out a scoff. “And you know it too, Mordred.”

Gold lit in the dark, a rush of something he only could find desirable from him as flames erupted at the wicks of the candles.

Elyan felt some of the day's tension fall away. Even though It felt wrong to find such comfort in something he imprisoned day after day.

The soft glow from the candles lit Mordred's face as he stood up. He removed the black hood from over his head and let the light take over him. An expression of something somber yet unreadable was all he showed to him.

Mordred walked closer, his finger tracing down the exposed blade that laid on the table in his room. Elyan hadn't found the strength to properly clean it off since that morning, just the dried remnants of what they both knew, left there to be.

“Patrol has tightened,” he spoke. “More guards, more knights.”

Elyan nodded. “The king has things… different.”

His finger traced the bottom of the hilt where the name of his sword was branded. “Not different enough.” He pulled away, his cloak catching in a gust of wind through the window.

“I suppose not.” Elyan walked over, grabbing the empty scabbard from the other end of the table. “Still holes in our defense?”

Mordred cocked his head. “If you know where to find them.”

He sheathed his sword, placing it back on the rack with the rest of the weapons. Mordred watched.

“And how to make them,” Mordred continued.

Elyan stopped. He eased his shoulders to relax and to turn back towards Mordred. “Why are you here?”

He stood there, something mocking humor played at his lips. “You know why,” he said. He turned on his heal, looking around his room. “I've heard things have gotten worse around here since…”

That unspeakable incident. Perhaps they both wished it was all just some nightmare they were trapped in together.

“They have.”

“And Merlin?” he asked.

Elyan moved, following behind him. “He's been adjusting.” It wasn't a lie. It was all he knew. It was all both the king and queen had said about Merlin since they'd last seen him all those months ago.

Mordred scoffed. “The king's closest friend swears off magic. Sounds too familiar.”

He folded his arms across his chest. “Did Morgana tell you that?”

He turned to face him. He shook his head. “Morgana’s still in Ismere, has been for a fortnight. Didn't want to go.” He glanced down at his feet. “I've been with my people.”

He cocked an eyebrow.

Mordred all but rolled his eyes then loosened the laces of his cloak. His robes and talisman around his neck all the proof he needed.

“You didn't tell me that.”

He raised an eyebrow, sarcasm dancing across his face as he pulled his cloak back around. “Because you think me a murderer.” He fumbled with his laces.

Elyan closed the distance and nudged Mordred's hands away and took over. “I think, from what I've heard, you possess very powerful magic, Mordred. Magic you can use to protect yourself.” He pulled the laces into a knot.

“Protect. Kill. Defend,” Mordred said. “It's no use when you see it all the same.”

Elyan took a breath and dropped his hands to Mordred's shoulders, straightening out his cloak and fixing his talisman. “Not me.” He let them fall back to his side.

Mordred smiled. “Not you,” He emphasized

Elyan knew at the end of the day they would have Mordred killed, no matter if there was blood on his hands or not. History or not, he knew perhaps that might have made him all the more wanted for Camelot's gallows.

“I know you know.” Mordred stepped closer. “And you know too, but…” He tilted his head to the side, their noses brushed one another's. “I'm risking it all just for you.”

Elyan felt a shiver run down his body. Mordred's hand found his and he lifted the other to brush his fingers on his jaw.

“I'm risking my capture just to say I love you,” he continued.

Elyan turned his head away but felt that gentle touch deepen and pull his head back forward.

“And you're risking just the same.”

He swatted his hand away and grabbed Mordred's wrist in the same strike. Watching that facade of bravery crumble underneath his touch as Mordred's expression twisted. Pain infiltrated in the cracks, leaving the same scared boy who had fled Camelot months back right in front of him.

“I have a chance,” he spoke through his teeth. “You don't.”

Mordred twisted his hand but he only tightened his hold. It would bruise. They both knew it. The longer Elyan held and the more Mordred moved and struggled guaranteed it.

“Stop coming back,” he continued.

Mordred cocked an eyebrow, teasing him with that feigned innocent look that turned mischievous all too quickly. “If that's what you want.”

“It is.”

He held his gaze. Neither of them wanting to give in till Mordred lowered his head and looked away. “Fine.” He yanked his arm free as Elyan loosened his grip.

Elyan breathed out, staying in place as Mordred turned around back towards the window. Until he stopped.

“What?”

Mordred turned around. “You and I both know that if you really didn't like this—me coming here night after night. You would've told the queen or king already.”

“I wouldn't do that to you.”

He lightly chuckled, a grin forming on his face. “You wouldn't,” he agreed. “Keep your space. Keep me safe, keep you safe. Is that not it?” He took a step back.

Elyan shook his head. “Our love isn't worth your torture.”

He smiled, something of hope there too. “Isn't it?”

Elyan swallowed past the lump that formed in his throat. “Go. Camelot isn't safe for you anymore.”

He gave him a pitiful smile. “Was it ever?” Mordred continued to walk backwards.

Elyan looked down, seeing how close he was to the open window. “Mordred?”

The back of his knees hit the ledge. That smile changed. “I'll just risk it again.”

He watched as Mordred leaned back his weight and fell out the window.

“Mordred!” He lunged forward, scrambling to grab the ends of his cloak but was too late. He stuck his head out the window, exhaustion no longer a thought as he looked at the drop to the ground.

No Mordred. No body. No cloak. He looked up. The cloaked figure that was in his chamber was walking away.

Mordred turned around, still walking and looked up at him. He smiled one of his all too fleeting grins before he pulled the hood forward and turned back around.

Elyan watched as his cloaked figure walked on and disappeared without a sound on Camelot's grounds.

#bbc merlin #virusfanfic #elyanfest2024 #merlin fanfic #sir elyan #sir mordred #fanfiction #elyandred #????? i dont know their ship name #this fic feels so weird to me i dont know why i really like how it cane out i mean the au is kinda oddly placed but...#its fine im gonna sit on it for like a week and then come back to it and ill be like 'oh its fine now i was just being me'

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uniasus · 3 months

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Doing all the author interview questions courtesy of @rockinlibrarian so....here goes nothing.

How many works do you have on AO3? 205

What's your total AO3 word count? 1,242,624 (I've been around for awhile, okay?)

What are your top 5 fics by kudos? Herald of Winter - ROTG crack fic about Mother Nature not allowing Jack (the fall seasonal) to join the guardians. The Perfect Excuse - Mulan AU where when Shang tells her to go home, she does. There are...consequences. The Moon's Gift - ROTG angst fic where Jack view's his guardianship as a boon because now he can die. Defender - BBC Merlin fic where Merlin steps in to protect other servants and Arthur sees Merlin treating the resulting injuries. The Big Three In The Life Of Jack Frost - ROTG Jack Frost interacting with Mother Nature, Old Man Winter, and Peter Pan, setting up a series about how Jack is a seasonal experiment between Gaia and MiM to replace Old Man Winter.

Do you respond to comments? Why or why not? I try to! Comments make me happy, why not continue the joy chain? I want readers to know I appreciate them.

What fic has the angstiest ending? Uhhhh. My most common additional tag is Angst. But let's go with Vigil which has Merlin staying in his cell, waiting for Arthur to free him. Arthur keeps waiting for Merlin to bust out with magic. And then it ends with the Druids sacking Camelot and this really raw line:

Arthur burned with the ashes of his father and best friend scattered at his feet.

What fic has the happiest ending? Uhh. Maybe Perfect Excuse? Things are...corrected there. Grocery List Goals has an expected happy ending - Vanya's gotta get kidnapped first though. Did You Waste It? ends with the establishment of a found family for the Honor Without Thieves crowd!

Do you write crossovers? Previously answered.

Have you received hate on AO3? Eh. I've 100% had people drop into my comments that they don't agree with what I've written (they disagree with a ship, don't think something is logical) that I would call rude but not outright hate.

Do you write smut? Occasionally. Most recent was a post-S4 reunion between Yami and Yugi. It's over a year old, I don't do it often. I am working on a smutting sequel.

Have you had a fic get stolen? If I have, I don't know.

Have you had a fic get translated? If I have, I don't know.

Have you co-written a fic? No.

What's your fave ship? Cannot answer. There's so many....

What's a WIP you want to finish but never will? I'm so, so scared Veritas is the answer. I know a lot of people want that updated. I probably will also not finish ...And Then Came The Reaper. Sorry Jack, you will forever host the embodiment of death.

What are your writing strengths? Previously answered

What are your writing weaknesses? I'm often too subtle - I think I'm leaving clues for people, but I'm not. How many of you noticed the seeds I planted in Puzzlebox that Yami's soul room....isn't. Or in Hell's Secret that Crowley used to be Lucifer until I spelled it out? Sometimes I want to surprise people and reveal things at the right time, but I know I've had conversations with friends over my original stuff where they completely missed something that would have explained a part of the story.

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages on AO3? Do it if it's natural for the character.

What's the first fandom you wrote for? Technically I think Into the Land of the Unicorns. But that you can find on A03 - D. Gray Man.

What fandom/ship have you not written but want to? Previously answered

What's your fave fic you've written? I cannot choose. I have 200+ titles and they're all special.

#being social #ask games #fanfic #fanfic author #ao3

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justalittleobsessed · 6 months

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🧡 A Little Fanfic for You... Or My Fic Masterlist ✍️

Fandoms: Merlin, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (all iterations)

Total Fic Count: 29

Main Fic RN: I Get Knocked Down (But I Get Up Again)

All fics can be found on AO3!

*Last updated March of 2024!

Merlin:

How to Reveal Your Magic Because You Have No Sense Of Self Preservation Whatsoever: A Guide By Merlin Emrys

A series of unrelated one-shots and short stories about Merlin revealing his magic because both he and all his friends are idiots. Also, Merlin, for the life of him, has no sense of self-preservation at all and I try to embody that in these fics.

Series info as of November 2023:

Not completed

10 works (listed below)

Best + Bitter = Better (one-shot, 2,637 words, part 1 of How to Reveal Your Magic series)

This was actually happening. They were being serious. They were actually being completely, utterly serious.

“You can’t actually believe this.” He gestured wildly to the group of people in front of them. Well, as best as he could tied up. This was one of the most ridiculous things he had ever heard. This was… this was… he didn’t even know. “This is complete bullshit.”

“Emrys was clear in his instructions. You must be sacrificed in order to bring peace to Albion”

The one where Merlin has had enough of everyone's shit.

Ironically Alive (one-shot, 3,139 words, part 2 of How to Reveal Your Magic series)

Gwaine smiled that way he does when he wants to tick Arthur off. So really, it was his normal smile. “Seemed like a perfectly reasonable detail to point out.” He flipped his hair to the side, turning to face Arthur.

“Perfectly reasonable?!”

Behind Merlin, he heard some of the bandits shifting, whispering to one another. He was pretty sure it went along the lines of ‘what in the hell is going on’ and ‘there can’t actually be that many mysterious magical druids with blue cloaks that talk about destiny and give out magical red amulets to help stop enchantments that one sorcerer meets’, which, unfortunately, was sad and accurately true.

Merlin is never relaxing ever again. He was going to make sure of that after this shit.

Pick Your Poison (Literally) (one-shot, 2,469 words, part 3 of How to Reveal Your Magic series)

So. That… just happened. Leon, in his lifetime, had witnessed many strange, unbelievable, and frankly quite concerning things. When one lived in Camelot, and was friends with both Arthur and Merlin, one usually got into a lot of crazy and unbelievable situations. And Leon was no exception.

But this. This had to take the cake. “Merlin.”

He hummed in response. It was entirely too calm. “Why did you just drink poison?” Fire, no literal fire and chaos reigned around them.

“It seemed like the reasonable thing to do at the time.”

And yet, he found himself not surprised in the slightest.

Leon pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling the oncoming headache behind his eyes. Goddamn fucking stubborn idiot.

Merlin decides poisoning himself is the best way to prove a point. Leon is just tired. So tired.

Caves and Valleys and Magic, Oh My! (one-shot, 2,603 words, part 4 of How to Reveal Your Magic series)

Merlin stepped back. He was… appalled. Shocked. Angry. Slightly hungry. MAD. Who did they think they were?!

“Excuse me?!” Arthur screeched. “Merlin has magic?!”

“Yes.” Leon deadpanned. “Now please, Merlin.”

How did he get here? How did this happen to him? Why was his life like this? He just wanted to be in his nice warm bed and instead he was soaked, stuck in a magical cave, and made to listen to his friends reveal all his secrets.

Right. Sounded about accurate.

Merlin just wants to be home. Unfortunately, it seems like everyone else his different ideas. Typical.

Let's Do the Time Warp (Hopefully Not Again) (two-shot, 9,946 words, part 5 of How to Reveal Your Magic series)

“Merlin, mate. He’s not lying. I wish you two were married. I, for one, would be your best man, obviously.”

"Poetry," Leon mumbled behind him, "Goddamned poetry."

Merlin gave him another startled look-voice rising in distress. “You were my best man!”

Oh, how thoughtful. Too bad he doesn't remember.

Gwaine gave him a thumbs up. "Okay."

Gwaine is generally confused about everything that is going on. Merlin, on the other hand, just wants to go back to his NORMAL, totally STRESS-FREE life. Hahaha.

Just Another Tuesday (one-shot, 3,104 words, part 6 of How to Reveal Your Magic series)

Arthur… really didn’t understand what was happening here. Look, he was generally confused by Merlin most of the time - the man was a riddle wrapped in an enigma with a side of sass to boot. But this was too much, even by his manservant’s standards.

“No. I refuse to believe this. You,” He pointed at the woman, who had just been walking on water, and then to Merlin, who had just kissed the lady who was walking on water, “and you are not married.”

Merlin and Freya held out their hands. Rings that formed out of water moved onto their previously empty ring fingers.

“Oh,” Merlin said, like an ass, “I think we are.”

Arthur just wants to be in bed. It seems the entire world is against that idea.

Today Has Been Like... Torture (one-shot, 2,299 words, part 7 of How to Reveal Your Magic series)

“Wait a minute… Do you have a pit of fire?”

The shack they were in was very small. Very cramped, and very much smelling of blood. They both looked around the room as if a pit of fire would suddenly appear. Merlin hoped a pit of fire would suddenly appear. That would make getting kidnapped on a Sunday worth it.

Murder Man looked at the ground sadly. “No.” His voice was quiet, sad. So disappointing. A pit of fire would’ve really spiced things up.

Merlin is positively bored. Sounds like a great time to get tortured, of course.

Call It Like It Is (one-shot, 2,900 words, part 8 of How to Reveal Your Magic series)

“How do you…” Arthur wiggles his fingers, like he’s teaching magic to a five-year-old, “conjure the fire?”

“Oh, that’s easy,” Merlin starts, because what the fuck else does he have to do, and Lancelot just looks at him with that stupid look he always does when Merlin’s about to say something particularly stupid- “I call it forth from the deepest pits of hell.”

Everyone may know about Merlin's magic, but nobody knows what he's actually capable of. Merlin decides that this is a great advantage when your boyfriend is an idiot.

To Be a God (one-shot, 2,419 words, part 9 of How to Reveal Your Magic series)

“Bow before me,” The sorcerer announces from his perch atop a pile of rubble, “for I am the Mighty Emrys, and I am a god.” It’s not a very mighty perch for someone who claims to be a god. In fact, it’s a very sad, unremarkable perch. Or maybe he’s just a sad, unremarkable man.

“No, I’m Emrys.” Merlin bites back.

“Maybe… we’re all Emrys.” Gwaine breathes out. Gwaine, Merlin thinks, really needs to shut his mouth.

The one where someone claims to be Emrys, and Merlin decides to put him in his place.

Just a Minor Accident (one-shot, 2,431 words, part 10 of How to Reveal Your Magic series)

“I’m sorry... I must’ve misheard you. What the hell did you just say?” This can’t be real. This cannot possibly be real. He must be hallucinating. Hearing things. Maybe he’s finally lost it. That would make more sense than this.

Gwaine grins back at him with a somewhat manic smile. Merlin tries to sink deeper into his bed. “I said that we accidentally raised the dead.” No. He heard right.

The Knights raise the dead. Merlin just wants one full night of sleep, please.

The Once and Future Reign (one-shot, 7,034 words, part 1 of In Another Time series)

It started with Merlin. It always starts with Merlin.

Just One Yesterday (chapter story w/ 4 chapters, 24,076 words, on hiatus)

Merlin had waited a long, long, long time for the return of Arthur. Maybe even the knights or Gwen. What he wasn't prepared for was an ancient evil rising up to destroy the world. He certainly wasn't prepared for six new occupants in his house, who had no idea how to navigate the new world around them. But, he could handle it. After all, he was the most powerful being on the planet. How hard could it be?

Auribus Teneo Lupum (chapter story w/ 1 chapter, 5,691 words, on hiatus)

Morgana had unleashed something onto this world that had shaken Merlin to his core. Something cold and dark and not at all right. It swirled and settled inside of him, mocking his magic.

No matter what happened in the next few days, Merlin knew that nothing would ever be the same.

The Remnants of a Warlock (one-shot, 6,588 words)

Merlin sees everybody he has ever held close to his heart die off one by one. But he always moves on. He has to. So he locks it up and keep moving, because that's what he does. It's what he'll always do.

The one where Merlin watches as all his friends die. He might see them live, too.

TMNT:

Move Along

Mikey's got this bad habit of dying, and his brothers got this bad habit of not liking that. Mikey would appreciate it if his brothers would stop caring so much, and his brothers would appreciate it if he could start caring about it a whole lot more.

It's gonna be a wild ride.

Series info as of November 2023:

Not completed

2 works (listed below)

I Get Knocked Down (But I Get Up Again) (chapter story w/ 46 chapters, 120,944 words, updates every Monday)

Mikey lives, and Mikey dies. He’s been doing it for years, and yeah, sure it’s not his favorite thing to do, but it’s whatever. It’s nothing to worry about. He’s not worried about it. He just hopes his brothers never find out, ‘cause he has a feeling that they’d way overreact.

Mikey’s died a bunch of times and is totally Okay™ with this. His brothers? Not so much.

When the Thunder and Lightning Comes (I Know That You'll Be by My Side) (chapter story w/ 16 chapters, 44,731 words, updates frequently, side story to main fic)

Mikey lives, and Mikey dies. His brothers live too, although they don't die, and find it very concerning that Mikey continuously and worryingly continues to do so without caring. They'll get Mikey to understand that maybe that's not all that great... as soon as they figure out what's going on, that is.

Mikey keeps dying. His brothers would greatly appreciate it if he would stop doing that, please.

On Some Days (one-shot, 2,431 words, TMNT - All Media Types)

Sometimes, if he listened closely enough, he could hear their voices. Not often, not often enough, but sometimes.

It's too Quiet. He misses the Loud.

Life Could Be a Dream (chapter story w/ 9 chapters, 35,678 words, TMNT 2003, TMNT 2012, TMNT IDW, completed)

"Hey Raphie..."

"And that's another thing," he adds, narrowing his eyes, "since when do you call me Raphie?"

Since forever. He wants to say. But that was before, and this is now. He thinks he might kinda hate now.

Mikey, being Mikey, finds trouble. It's just that this trouble seems to involve him being human. It also seems to involve him not talking to his brothers, or having a dad, or being a ninja. So there's that. But all those things can be fixed, right? Something's telling him it's not gonna be as easy as it sounds.

Whumptober 2023

Michelangelo-centric whumptober fics!

Series info:

Completed

11 works (listed below)

If Only the World Could Stop Spinning (one-shot, 2,019 words, part 1 of Whumptober 2023, TMNT - All Media Types)

The world is spinning, and his head is hurting, and he's not really sure what's happening, but he thinks it'd be better if his brothers were here.

Day 1: Swooning, “How many fingers am I holding up?”

Denial Only Gets You So Far (one-shot, 1,569 words, part 2 of Whumptober 2023, TMNT - All Media Types)

Mikey is not feeling the best... no matter how much he tries to deny it.

Day 2: Thermometer

All That Burning (one-shot, 1,058 words, part 3 of Whumptober 2023, TMNT 2012)

Mikey is burning, and he is fire, and he is everything, and he is nothing. He just wants it to stop.

Day 3: "Make it stop"

Just a Flesh Wound (one-shot, 3,301 words, part 4 of Whumptober 2023, TMNT - All Media Types)

Mikey has an unfortunate night. You see, getting stabbed wasn't really a part of the plan, but here he is, bleeding out and all, and that might be a bit of a problem.

Day 4: Shock, "You in there?"

Under Pressure (one-shot, 2,965 words, part 5 of Whumptober 2023, TMNT - All Media Types)

It's just a normal patrol until it isn't. It's just a normal patrol until Mikey decides it would be fun to get himself caught up in a collapsing building. The it was not a normal patrol. Donnie should've guessed.

Day 5: Debris, pinned down, "it's broken"

A Survivor's Guilt (one-shot, 833 words, part 6 of Whumptober 2023, TMNT - The Last Ronin)

Michelangelo watches everyone around him die over and over again. Never able to save them. Never there in time. And the only thing he can think of the entire time as that it would be better if he was dead instead.

Day 6: Made to watch, "It should have been me"

Don't Go Silent on Me (one-shot, 2,846 words, part 7 of Whumptober 2023, TMNT - All Media Types)

Mikey is sick. His brothers aren't answering their phones. Well. Big brothers will always take precedent over fevers, so he'll just have to deal with that later.

Day 7: Alleyway, radio silence, "can you hear me?"

Actions Have Consequences (one-shot, 3,524 words, part 8 of Whumptober 2023, TMNT 2003)

Donatello is not having a very good day. And to top it all off, his baby brother is on the verge of death. And if he does... if he goes down... all they've done will be for nothing.

On the other side, Michelangelo is thinking the very opposite. Because if his enemy, the person that tried to hurt his family comes away with only a few scratches, then it'll all be for nothing.

Seems both brothers have some issues to work through.

Day 8: "It's all for nothing"

Something Old, Something Treasured (one-shot, 3,517 words, part 9 of Whumptober 2023, TMNT 2003)

In his pocket, Michelangelo carries around a picture. It has four brothers in it – orange, purple, red, blue – and smiling, laughing faces. It’s still glossy, even after a few years. Full of love. A reminder of heartbreak and pain. He keeps it around anyhow. It’s his most treasured item.

Day 9: Polaroid

Broken Promises (one-shot, 2,228 words, part 10 of Whumptober 2023, TMNT - The Last Ronin)

They keep leaving. They keep leaving him, abandoning him. They're not supposed to do that. His big brothers promised him, after all.

Day 10: "You said you'd never leave"

Not the Best of Days (one-shot, 3,926 words, part 11 of Whumptober 2023, TMNT - All Media Types)

Waking up in a cell is not the best place to wake up, nor is it the best way to start the day. He just needs to figure out how to escape, how to reach his brothers, and most importantly... how to not die at the hands of this psychopath.

Day 11: Captivity, "No one will find you."

#tmnt #merlin #bbc merlin #I can't believe it's take me this long to compile a masterlist #but anyhow #here's some fics for you :)#tmnt mikey #merthur #teehee my main focuses for you

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