Nightfox

Greetings my lovely flist! I'd like to take a moment to pimp out the paperlegends authors still in need of cheerleaders. I've been lucky enough to have plenty of support for my own Big Bang Odyssey but there are a lot of authors who could still use a bit of encouragement.

If you haven't already signed up, would you consider heading over to the Cheerleader Request post and volunteering to cheer on one (or more) of this year's participants? Every author has different needs and their individual posts reflect that. Check them out, someone needs what YOU have to offer <3

OK, so I said I was gonna get better about rec'ing stuff I love, and while I am still working on my next art rec post, I wanted to take a quick minute to rec The Other Half of My Heart.

It's an anon story written for camelotremix. It's a remix of corilannam's brilliant fic "The Pact".

This fic is a beautiful compliment to the original, taking Arthur's POV and giving us the backstory of these lovers-at-cross-purposes. If you loved the original, go check this out. If you never read the original, STILL go check this out, you won't regret it (then get your butt over to cori's story cuz it's all kinds of awesome.)

Summary: The Albion Pact demands that the Prince of Wales must take someone magic born as his soul-bonded consort by the time he is thirty or face death.

Prince Arthur Pendragon's thirtieth birthday has come and gone and he is getting sicker by the day. With little time left to act, Arthur knows what he must do to save himself: he has to call in a boyhood promise made by Merlin Emrys, his best friend and very talented Detective Inspector Warlock...the same best friend Arthur's been in love with for half his life.

But how can Arthur ask the man he loves more than anything to give up everything he's worked so hard for? Arthur is not sure that he can...and the indecision just might kill him.

OK, I am TERRIBLE about rec'ing things I like and that really needs to change. So here goes!

I have a HUGE fan-boner for art and the Merlin fandom has some of the BEST ART EVER. Right now, there are two incredibly cool fests going on that I'd like to bring your attention to.

First is merlin_art_fest which is an anon fest for-you guessed it-Merlin fanart!! I'd really love it if more people would head over there and leave the artists some well-earned praise for their efforts. Writers get so much attention and it's just not fair. I suspect many more of you look at art then actually comment on it. Please, these artists work their buns off, can you spare them a simple, "I love this!" Or an "Ooh! Pretty!" once in a while? Just a few seconds to express your appreciation goes a long, long way.

Next is camelotremix which is a fest where both artists and writers take a work created by another participating artist/writer and "remix" it. This entails taking the original idea and putting a new spin on it some how. It's produced some seriously excellent fic but I really want to focus on the amazing ART that's being done there.

OK, so, now that you know where to go for some seriously awesome art, I'll direct you to some of my favourites. I apologize in advance to each respective artist because my feeble words REALLY won't be doing you justice, but Imma gonna try!


merlin_art_fest Recs


Healing Gwaine [Gwaine/Merlin - PG] is a beautiful hurt/comfort piece. Why I love it-the gentle, sweet feel to it. The soft lines and texture, the tender expressions they are both wearing, the naked outdoor setting-no, I jest but I adore the setting, the transparent water & the sheltering grasses-yeah. Go check it out!


Arthur Arisen [Arthur/Merlin - PG-13] has already been rec'd all over the place but I can't leave it off my list just because others have loved on it. So damn gorgeous it'll simultaneously make you tear up and drool over your keyboard. What I love about this-What don't I love? The moon Arthur's arse, the water Arthur's back, the setting that very phallic tower in the distance, MERLIN'S FACE, his lovely tear-streaked face, so so relieved...yeah, go now!


Love and Magic [Arthur/Merlin - NC-17] is a really lovely sex-magic piece. Why I love it-What bowls me over every time I look at this is the COLOUR. I adore the vibrant, lovely hues the artist chose for this. The intimacy of the pose is gorgeous, the way they are so wrapped up in each other, eyes connecting, bodies entwined, magic enveloping them...and butterflies!! Yes, soo sooo pretty. Have a look-see!


Midnight Blue [Merlin - G] Merlin in a dress-Don't run away!! What I love about it-So many things! OK, first, what's gong to jump up and slap you in the eyes at first is the most amazing shade of BLUE that's ever graced your computer screen. Then the bold scarlet slash of Merlin's mouth is gonna draw your eyes to his face and while those gorgeous saturated colours will seduce you into looking, it's all the other little details that are gonna keep you staring. The knowing expression on Merlin's face, the play of light across his cheekbones, the sharp cut of his jaw, and the long strong column of his throat leading you down to the most unf!-worthy collarbones you ever saw. I love the way that Merlin is utterly masculine and strong despite wearing lipcolour, eyeliner and a blue velvet dress. The spray of hair across a hard-muscled chest, the sharp definition of muscle in the arm (no one does musculature like this artist) and that utterly stubborn chin-he's cross-dressed but he sure ain't girly! Go, let this one have it's wicked way with you!


Verbum sat sapienti & Libertas parta [Merlin/Arthur - G] If you didn't guess from the title, this rec is for a work in two parts. GLADIATORS-need I say more? Why, yes, I think I do! Why I love it-Not only is the art amazing, but it's got such an incredibly rich STORY as well! Arthur is so incredibly put out by a casually confident Merlin, ahhh! I love it! The pouty lip kills me! Merlin's pose is pure gold! Then when you get over the attitudes, let the amazing level of beautiful detail just astonish the shit out of you. Arthur's armour alone will keep your eyes stuck to the screen for a long time, searching out the tiniest things that add up to an incredibly complex piece of work. AND that's just the first part! Scroll down and check out the next part of the story. The light, the LIGHT blows me away! Also Arthur's big ole man hands gripping that sword with a humble (for once) Merlin kneeling before him, head bowed...oh yeah. Just...yeah. You who are about to art, I salute you! (Ignore my cheesy crap and go love this right now!)


First Sight [Merlin/Arthur - G] Modern Reincarnation! What I love about this-Love at first sight! Instant recognition! This is actually another dual-image work. We get to see Arthur gawping as he catches sight of Merlin for the first time (in this life) and then we get Merlin's sweetly arrested expression when he first beholds Artur. Both pieces are lovely and delicate with softly vibrant colours and gentle lines. I love the details around both of them, the busy window full of life behind Arthur and the table Merlin's sitting at. Really, really romantic feel to everything. Be prepared to be swept off your feet!


The Gentleman Barber [Merlin/Arthur - NC-17] Warning: This one might just make you stare for HOURS. Why I love it-Oh God, where do I start? I think I am going to start with Arthur's face-Sidebuuuurns! And the way you can tell he is looking at the most precious thing he's ever beheld in his life-perfect features aside, that absorbed, tender expression is breath-stealing. Then his HANDS OMFG, those beautiful hands! Grasping Merlin's chin in one and the razor raised in the other, you now know why his face is so intent-loving but utterly focused-determined not to harm a single whisker on Merlin's face that he doesn't intend to. Roam up over the soft hair and down the slope of his long, strong neck until you reach shoulders and arms round with perfectly sculpted muscle-let your eyes slide over the powerful chest, down the tight belly to where the cut of his hip will eventually draw you on to Merlin's hand grazes a truly glorious ass. Wander back up the equally beautiful line of Merlin's tight muscled body-slightly concave abdomen, flaring ribs, the light smattering of hair across his chest (clavicles!)-keep on til you reach the long line of his throat and the curl of one lovely ear before you finally reach Merlin's face (face fuzz!). The way his lips are parted and his eyes are zoomed right in on Arthur's, as if he can't catch his breath because Arthur is just that FUCKING beautiful-trust-he is baring his throat to the blade in Arthur's hand, trust and passion and excitement all at once...Yeah, so, if you aren't convinced by all this, click on it anyway, you won't be disappointed!


this hole where you and i will sing [Merlin/Arthur - G] Beware the accompanying fic-it will rip your guts right out. What I love about this- This gorgeous piece is a "comic". (If it were longer, it'd be a graphic novel.) This is painfully beautiful. Contrary to what the anon artist says, I found you DON'T have to read the fic for this to make perfect sense. I didn't and it did. Each drawing is amazing and emotion just bleeds from every panel. From the sweetness of happy memories to the bitter bite of a painful present, you really can't fail to be moved by every bit of the story told by this perfectly drawn comic. Prepare yourself for lots of FEELZ.


I think that's enough for one post. I'll be back with recs from the camelotremix later on!

PLEASE NOTE: If you LOVE the art you see and want to share it with your friends, that's fantastic! Do it! But, please share a link, don't repost anything. All the art belongs to the artists and they are the only one's who should be posting their art anyplace on the web. Thanks!

So, I got a Bingo already with my first card and here I am with a New one!



Note to self: S1E2 onwards (S1E1 used for card #1)