laserbeamss

[laserbeamss]

this is fucking hilarious but also sir we need you to share that spreadsheet once it's done

Not my boyfriend inviting me to watch an old queer show he just discovered, and me agreeing only to find out the show in question is the 2008 BBC Merlin. I told him, “That’s not queer in any way, shape, or form,” as Merlin and Arthur are having the gayest interaction of all time. And he just goes, “Are you sure? 'Cause I used to look at you like that.”

So sorry, everyone I won’t be able to write for a while. I’m currently busy creating a spreadsheet cataloging:

- Every scene where Merlin and Arthur act super gay

- Every moment Arthur is shirtless

- Every single time one of them gets jealous of the other

Priorities.

[laserbeamss]

my first offering to the merlin fandom, good god i'm so obsessed. look at what i've done to my boy.

[laserbeamss]

my fav bbc merlin fics

Uhhh, I just wanted to compile them all as of May 2025. This list includes overwhelmingly Merthur, since I tend to get attached to a singular ship within a fandom.

1. And like the cycle of the year, we begin again - katherynfromphilly (Complete, 207k words, Mature, Merlin/Arthur): Set post-canon in the modern day and totally functions as the season 6 we all deserved: Arthur rises up from the Lake of Avalon, and Merlin, who has mostly adjusted to modern life, has to deal with ancient emotions resurfacing, all while teaching a disoriented and traumatised Arthur about the modern world. I devoured this fic in two days; the writing is beautiful, the pacing is genuinely the best that I've ever seen for such a large word count, and I felt every emotion under the sun.

2. Tributes - TheAvalonian (Complete, 87.5k words, Mature, Merlin/Arthur): A story with the characters of Merlin that is set in the Hunger Games universe, with the events taking place a few years before the trilogy. It's enemies to lovers and has a lot of hurt/comfort, and some of the subplots genuinely had me in a chokehold, along with the main plot, of course. Not for the faint of heart, though, since there is a lot of character death and injury, as can be expected from a Hunger Games story, but no major character death.

3. it'll be a cakewalk, as long as it's me and you - qigiined (Complete, 5.1k words, Mature, mainly Merlin & Arthur, but could be read as Merlin/Arthur): A short Arthur-returns fic with Merlin trying to deal with the fact that Arthur's immune system cannot sustain 21st century life, and also Arthur being himself despite not knowing a word of English.

4. Not In This Land Alone - torakowalski (Complete, 36.4k words, Teen And Up, Merlin/Arthur): Modern AU in which Merlin gets a job at Buckingham Palace, where Arthur is the newly appointed King of England, and they're not supposed to ever really have interacted but they do anyway, and also there's a plot to kill the king, as per usual. Featuring magic and sentient paintings. Very fun to read.

5. glow in grey - helloearthlings (Complete, 3.3k words, Teen And Up, Merlin/Arthur): Modern AU, outsider POV of Morgana and friends witnessing Arthur and Merlin's relationship for the first time, after Arthur having years of bad luck with partners. Short and very, very sweet.

6. Zero Gravity - Sorceressofdragons (Complete, 12.7k words, Teen And Up, Merlin/Arthur, only visible to people with an AO3 account): Basically, Arthur and Merlin get trapped together in outer space, and discover they really, really like each other. Genuinely one of the sweetest things I've ever read, and the space nerd in me was freaking out.

7. The Crown of the Summer Court - astolat (Complete, 24.3k words, Explicit, Merlin/Arthur): Merlin has to partake in a competition in order to fight for his rightful claim to the throne of the elves (he is half-elf), choosing Arthur as his champion. They only realise belatedly that this also means Arthur is now de-facto married to Merlin. The characters are all portrayed shockingly accurately despite the very non-canon plot, and some of the more descriptive parts blew my mind.

8. Emrys the Really, Truly Terrible - lindenwaverly (Complete, 15.2k words, Teen And Up, Merlin/Arthur): Arthur decides to appoint Emrys as his court sorcerer. Merlin... still hasn't told Arthur he's Emrys, because he doesn't want Arthur to feel betrayed. Also, basically everyone knows they're in love. The writing is wickedly funny, then there's a sucker-punch of angst, and then it's super funny again.

9. burn the page, my little dark age - lancelotdulac (mrcogito) (Complete, 33.1k words, Teen And Up, Merlin/Arthur, Gwen/Morgana): Modern AU with magic but also kind of a reincarnation AU, in which Morgana gets to become the person she deserves to be. Very found family, very whack plot, and the writing style is actually to die for, like it has me in a chokehold. Both the character study vibes and the interpersonal relationships between the characters were portrayed so beautifully that I tore through this story but also never wanted it to end.

10. You Have To Chase It - arthurandhisswordbros (Complete, 42.4k words, Mature, Merlin/Arthur): Heavily Arthur-centric; his life as he rises up from the Lake and adjusts to modern life, realises he doesn't have to be alone, that it's okay to feel emotions and make friends and have hobbies and feel alright. Also, he meets a mysterious wizard person online that he gets along swimmingly with and who reminds him all too much of the Merlin he used to know (and love). This fic made me so, so emotional. Arthur's journey throughout it was achingly lovely to follow along with, and the ending pays off so well.

11. the true physics of all things pathetic - deniigiq (Complete, 26.6k words, Teen And Up, Gwen/Arthur, sort of Merlin/Arthur, almost Merlin/Arthur/Gwen, sort of Lancelot/Merlin): Okay, I know the relationship tags are confusing, but to Merlin's defense he really doesn't want more people he loves to die, so he just kind of rejects everyone. In the beginning, it turns out Merlin had given up his heart in a magical transaction to save Arthur at Camlann, and in return, Arthur has had to give up his vision. Merlin cannot truly die, and his friends find him. This fic is a strange (but very beautiful) amalgamation of POV shifts, character dynamics, some plot, and slice-of life that comes together to make a gorgeous whole. The writing style is genuinely one of the prettiest things I've ever lain my eyes on, and I would await every update hungrily when it was still ongoing.

12. Lines in the Sand - Papysanzo, s0mmerspr0ssen (Ongoing, 49.2k words 12/25 chapters as of May 2025, Explicit, Merlin/Arthur): Set in a modern-day Camelot city that Arthur basically owns, and Merlin is homeless and needs employment so is semi-manipulated into becoming Arthur's live-in sub. This story is definitely NOT for everyone; the power dynamics are messed up and the consent aspect is extremely dubious, or even non-existent, in most cases. But that's why I like it -- the dynamics are explored very, very well from Merlin's perspective, and despite the extreme power imbalance, the characters still feel like themselves. I'm so upset this fic went on hiatus because of all the hate; I hope the author feels okay enough to come back to it someday, because even despite the fact that the future of this fic is uncertain right now, I love it so much that it has still made its way onto this list.

13. Wooden Dragons - CaffeinatedFlumadiddle (Ongoing, 78.6k words 15/20 chapters as of May 2025, General Audiences, Merlin/Arthur): In an attempt to save Arthur's life at Camlann, Merlin accidentally transports them both back to the time of their parents' youth. They try to navigate this world of familiarly unfamiliar people whilst also not giving their true identities away, whilst ALSO coming to terms with the secrets Merlin has hidden for so long and the shift in their dynamic. All the different character relationships and dynamics explored in this fic are so amazing, especially everything involving Ygraine. I love the fact that both Arthur and Merlin have to come to terms with the guilt of some of their actions because their past is now their future. I'm usually not even a fan of time travel fics, but this one was just too good to pass up.

I'm sure this list will grow.

[laserbeamss]

AHAHAAH SO REAL

Hiss with mama

[laserbeamss]

The four times Merlin & Arthur were called a love story after the series finale:

“To be fair, we did, very genuinely, think of the episode as a love story between two men. Which is what I think it is.” 

–Julian Murphy (creator)

“I think it’s a love story, it absolutely is a love story.” 

–Julian Murphy (creator)

“There’s much to recommend about this mythical hokum… but it’s the droll, sweet love story between Arthur and Merlin that compels in the BBC’s excellent fantasy series.”

– the ad for the official DVD set “Merlin: The Complete Collection (Series 1-5).”  

“You know, it becomes a brilliant love story between Arthur and Merlin. And it’s told in the right possible way and I think fans should be happy. I would be happy if I thought of it.” 

–Alexander Vlahos (actor)

[laserbeamss]

oh to have mcr sound like queen

I’m a little upset because my husband (stressed out little Englishman, old as balls) had never heard Welcome to the Black Parade. What do you mean you’ve never. Like never heard it ever. You’ve heard it, though?? and it turned out that - NO.

And he said: well i wasn’t an American child during the millennium or indeed at any point in my existence now was I? So of course I had to explain about welcome to the black parade, I mean, REALLY. Really? Really!

Anyway unbeknownst to me it CLICKED for him and he liked it in quite a normal, I-will-hear-that-song-again way and he added it to his playlist of what he fondly believes to be similar-sounding songs, which in context affected me like a blow to the back of the head. Sir; your brain. Explain it to me please.

And he was like wdym. Sounds like Queen.

And the thing is. If you are a virgin to MCR and don’t give a damn about anyone or anything and you’re a highstrung little guy who is not an American and is a million years old, and if you spent your ENTIRE teens in a healthy outdoors attitude of underage drinking and smoking and banging other teens on unsupervised hiking trips while being attacked by swans, and other worldly and mentally healthy adventures that did NOT involve being on the internet too young, so that you genuinely wouldn’t know who Gerard Way was if he leapt out from behind a mailbox and bit you suddenly;

If MCR means nothing to you at all, net zero context, net zero interest, genuinely no nostalgia or cringe or judgement or admiration because you are NORMAL,

fuck me. Sure. It DOES - fuck me: okay. You win this Dr Glass. It does - yeah actually you’re right. It’s - it sounds like Queen.

[laserbeamss]

So I've been rotating this idea in my brain since December. It is WIDLY out of season but I am posting anyway. Time has no power over me.

Dream as the boyfriend who gets dumped 90% of the way through the Hallmark movie. Dream is, even in his own mind, this arrogant, moody guy who's a little too obsessed with his job (very high up in the publishing industry). He's not entirely sure how he managed to convince Hob, who's this cheerful, bouncy extrovert and has essentially been Dream's personal Manic Pixie Dream Boy the entire time they've known each other, to go on a SINGLE date with him, let alone be his boyfriend.

And Hob always goes home to see his family for like two weeks at Christmas, it's super important to him. Dream can't afford to be away from work for that long but says Hob should go before him, he'll be there for Christmas itself. Only, the day before Hob's supposed to leave, Dream stands him up for a dinner date (he was at work) and they get in a huge fight about it. The air between them is still very frosty as Hob packs his things and leaves the next morning.

And then Dream spends the next few days with his social media being just. Flooded with pictures of Hob doing Hallmark Christmas activities. He's clearly having a great time. This woman keeps popping up in his photos, and they look so happy together, covered in snow from a snowball fight, sipping hot chocolate at a crowded bar, one video someone else must have taken of them chasing each other around a skating rink, laughing so hard they crash into each other and fall over. Between the photos and the fact that Hob's still texting Dream this whole time, Dream puts together that this is Eleanor, Hob's childhood best friend who he lost touch with when her family moved away unexpectedly.

Hob's talked to Dream about Eleanor before, how close they were and how horrible it was that he never got a chance to say goodbye, or figure out a way to stay in touch (she had super strict parents). Dream has always kinda suspected that there was a layer of 'mutual first crush, but neither of us were really sure where to go from there and the whole thing got brutally ripped out from under us before we could figure it out' to the whole situation as well.

And here they are. They've found each other again, against all odds, they're so clearly happy together, and Eleanor's doing all this fun exciting stuff with Hob that Dream would only be a huge grump about. By the time Dream goes to meet up with Hob, he's already got a whole story in his head of how this is going to go: Hob will tell him he's found someone much better for him and dump him, as Dream deserves.

So when he approaches Hob's parents’ house at like 7pm on December 23rd, and finds Hob and Eleanor talking quietly on the porch, he's just resigned, and fully expecting to end up standing there and watching while they have a Hallmark-movie snow-gently-falling kiss.

Instead, Hob looks up, notices Dream, and immediately just BARRELS into him and hugs him so hard his feet lift off the ground, and before he's really processed that he's the one getting the snow-covered, end-of-the-movie, I-missed-you-so-much kiss. Hob's incredibly enthusiastic and smiling too hard to kiss him properly, and eventually they both wind up in a snowdrift.

And Dream’s just. Not entirely processing as Eleanor greets him (and seems genuinely happy to meet him). And then Hob introduces him to his parents (and they seem happy to meet him, too). And everyone’s acting like he's a wanted part of this gathering, and they're so happy he was able to make it, and Hob's gotten them tickets for some community theater Christmas Carol thing because he knows how much Dream likes earnest-if-amateur art… And a few hours later Dream and Hob are cuddled together on a couch with coco doing some excessively cute Christmas Activity. Wrapping the last few presents while a Christmas movie plays quietly in the background or something. Eleanor has gone home, Hob's parents have gone to bed, so it's just them when Hob softly thanks him for being able to make it at all, and apologizes for the way he left things.

And none of this is how the story is supposed to go.

And I think Dream just breaks down, and Hob's eventually able to get the whole ‘I assumed you'd want to break up with me and date your obvious One True Love, I am terrible’ story out of him. 

And there is a certain amount of genuinely upset ‘ok it hurts that you think I think something so horrible about you’ from Hob. But he pretty quickly figures out that no, Dream’s self-esteem is actually that low; he genuinely thinks ‘so terrible that you'd be morally correct to cheat on him’ is just. An objective fact about himself. 

Which leads to Hob being like “You realize I'm dating you on purpose, right? I like how passionate you are about your job. I like your confidence. I like that you keep me grounded.” And basically just runs down all these traits Dream assumes are his own flaws, only Hob’s talking about them like they’re desirable. As though Dream is his happily-ever-after perfect love.

So, just for a moment, Dream lets himself believe that he could be. And it gets easier and easier to believe as the welcome he received from Hob’s family and friends just continues for the rest of his visit, as he’s easily brought in to assorted Charming Hallmark Christmas Activities and realizes Hob was specifically saving the activities he thought Dream would like for when Dream would be there, as he and Hob return to their normal lives in the Big City and Hob is still happy to be with him, still willing to resolve whatever conflicts come up instead of just giving up.

(And he finds it very easy to believe on New Year’s Eve, when Hob goes for an absolutely over-the-top grand gesture stroke of midnight proposal.)

[laserbeamss]

he does both, actually. i mean...

arthur: is there anything you're actually capable of doing?

merlin: ... putting up with you.

one of my fav merthur interactions and merlin was ABSOLUTELY serving cunt

[laserbeamss]

"see, you don't even laugh at my jokes anymore, seriously! i haven't seen you smile these past three days... ☹️☹️"

arthur "babe what's wrong?" pendragon

[laserbeamss]

i once had an afternoon nap on a mattress in the middle of my kitchen and it was the best i've ever slept

it's so weird to me that everyone on this website is a human person outside of their weird internet niche so rb this with a random bit of your lore

[laserbeamss]

and then merlin inquires about his neckerchief (he only has like three of them), and arthur pretends like he has no idea what's going on, like he as a king cannot spare the time to think about a mere neckerchief.

one day, though, he forgets to remove it from under his pillow, and merlin finds it and confronts arthur about it.

arthur tells him the story about his father as a response, too embarrassed to articulate how it corresponds to merlin's neckerchief, but merlin pieces it together very easily.

he steps forward towards arthur. they hug.

boom there i made it happy.

Headcannon - When Arthur was a kid he used to sneak into Uther’s room to steal shirts and wear them as nightwear.

He thought that a piece of clothing he wore to sleep, that smelled slightly like his father, is what a hug from Uther would feel like.

He never really found out if that was true because he had never experienced a real hug from the King.

Maybe, when he’s older and Arthur and Merlin are friends, but have obliviously feelings for each other, he steals Merlin’s neckerchief somehow. He doesn’t think or know to ask Merlin for a hug because he subconsciously thinks he’ll be rejected instantly.

So instead, he steals Merlin’s neckerchief and hides it under his pillow until night and while he’s sleeping he kind of just holds close it next to him.

[laserbeamss]

omg hello op!!

maybe i should provide some context: @trickytrick and i have a modern day merthur au that i yapped about to @theannoyingmosquitoinyourroom incessantly. the latter then saw your post and was reminded of the dynamic in that au.

i was then inspired by your post to recreate it within the au :D

Arthur: Merlin kissed me!

Leon: Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

Arthur: It was unbelievable!

Leon: Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

Gwaine: Okay, we wanna hear everything. Leon, get the wine and unplug the phone. Arthur, does this end well or do we need tissues?

Arthur: Oh, it ended very well.

Leon: Do not start without me! Do not start without me!

Gwaine: Okay, alright, let’s hear about the kiss. Was it a soft brush against your lips or was it like a, you know, “I gotta have you now” kind of thing?

Arthur: Well, at first it was really intense, you know? And then, oh God, and then we just sort of sunk into it.

Gwaine: Ohh... So, okay, was he holding you? Or were his hands on your back?

Arthur: First he started out on my waist and then they slid up and then he were in my hair.

Leon and Gwaine: Ohhh.

*meanwhile*

Merlin eating pizza in their house: And, uh, and then I kissed him.

Morgana: Tongue?

Merlin: Yeah.

Gwen: Cool.

[laserbeamss]

yeah no ur so right. sadly they arent that close in this au but u know what this means for the arthur returns au... we'll just have to bring her back too😭 give her the redemption arc she needed😌

Arthur: Merlin kissed me!

Leon: Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

Arthur: It was unbelievable!

Leon: Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

Gwaine: Okay, we wanna hear everything. Leon, get the wine and unplug the phone. Arthur, does this end well or do we need tissues?

Arthur: Oh, it ended very well.

Leon: Do not start without me! Do not start without me!

Gwaine: Okay, alright, let’s hear about the kiss. Was it a soft brush against your lips or was it like a, you know, “I gotta have you now” kind of thing?

Arthur: Well, at first it was really intense, you know? And then, oh God, and then we just sort of sunk into it.

Gwaine: Ohh... So, okay, was he holding you? Or were his hands on your back?

Arthur: First he started out on my waist and then they slid up and then he were in my hair.

Leon and Gwaine: Ohhh.

*meanwhile*

Merlin eating pizza in their house: And, uh, and then I kissed him.

Morgana: Tongue?

Merlin: Yeah.

Gwen: Cool.

[laserbeamss]

in the au it would go down something like this. (for context it would be over text)

arthur: Gwaine

arthur: What do I do?

gwaine: You'll have to be a bit more specific

arthur: Merlin and I kissed.

gwaine: FUCKING FINALLY

gwaine: Sorry

gwaine: Wdym what do you do? Make the babies I've been saying this for months!

arthur: Gwaine, I'm being serious.

gwaine: Kiss him some more. Confess your undying love i don't know?

gwaine: Oh look merlin just texted me about it too you two really are made for each other

-

merlin: freya omg i kissed arthur

freya: nooo come back i thought u were the loml

freya: happy for u though

merlin: no no i am the love of ur life dw

merlin: did i mention i KISSED ARTHUR

freya: YEEESSS how was it

merlin: *insert huge rant with lots of double texting AND huge paragraphs about how perfect it was*

@trickytrick do u agree

Arthur: Merlin kissed me!

Leon: Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

Arthur: It was unbelievable!

Leon: Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!

Gwaine: Okay, we wanna hear everything. Leon, get the wine and unplug the phone. Arthur, does this end well or do we need tissues?

Arthur: Oh, it ended very well.

Leon: Do not start without me! Do not start without me!

Gwaine: Okay, alright, let’s hear about the kiss. Was it a soft brush against your lips or was it like a, you know, “I gotta have you now” kind of thing?

Arthur: Well, at first it was really intense, you know? And then, oh God, and then we just sort of sunk into it.

Gwaine: Ohh... So, okay, was he holding you? Or were his hands on your back?

Arthur: First he started out on my waist and then they slid up and then he were in my hair.

Leon and Gwaine: Ohhh.

*meanwhile*

Merlin eating pizza in their house: And, uh, and then I kissed him.

Morgana: Tongue?

Merlin: Yeah.

Gwen: Cool.

[laserbeamss]

not to flex or anything but i AM merlin AND i can be a man if he wants me to this means he wants ME😌😌

[laserbeamss]

THE AU!!! i'm never actually on tumblr so thanks for tagging me bbg :,)

also YES the au IS in fact coming together amazingly!!!

some self indulgent merlin fanart for me and my friend's au 😭😭😭😭😭😭 I LOVE IT SM IT'S COMING TOGETHER SO BEAUTIFULLY!!!

[laserbeamss]

actually you know what you're so real for this because most of my merthur thoughts are also whump. you're forgiven

Season 1 Merlin singing Open Arms from the Epic: The Troy Saga to Arthur while teaching him the beauty of magic

Season 5 Merlin singing Monster from Epic: The Underworld Saga, sobbing as he realizes he must give up everything to protect Arthur