#lance has gwen and really merlin and arthur

[lolazoel]

Merlin's Titles!

(How accidentally revealing your status as a king and god may help you marry your boyfriend)

Perchance I read too many fanfics but, consider, if Arthur and the knights have found out about Merlin's magic but unaware of the extend. Let's say... they know he's a warlock and dragon lord. You know what? For the fun of it, let's make it Merthur too.

Imagine a scene, Arthur's at a banquet, already king, not married to Gwen, Lancelot is alive. The knights are joking around, drinking, Lance goes up to Gwen and Merlin who lean against a wall, chatting. Lance asks Gwen for a dance. She blushes and lets herself get dragged away. Gwain takes her place, flirting with Merlin who snickers. The song ends, Lance and Gwen return, grinning and in love. Gwain pushes himself off the wall.

Gwaine: Well, now that Gwen is back she can take care of your tasks for a moment, right?

Merlin: *nods*

Gwaine: *bows* allow me this dance, Lord Merlin?

Merlin: *blushes* That's not my title...

Arthur (who came up to them because he got jealous and also wants to ask Merlin to dance): Oh? What is your title then?

Merlin: *blushes harder* really?

Gwaine (who orchestrated the entire situation): of course, Merls, you gotta tell us the full title. How else would we know how to address you?

The room: *slowly getting quieter as more and more people listen in on the king's conversation*

Merlin: *groans* i hate you

Arthru: spit it out. Don't pretend to be interesting.

Merlin: Fiiiiineeee... Well, we got Merlin Ambrosius, Lord of Dragons... I think after Nimueh I also got Master of Life and Death... according to prophecy also Emrys, King of Druids, God of Magic... *he smiles at Arthur* and completion to the once and future king

The room: *blue screening, buffering, very silent*

Arthur: *kisses Merlin*

Gwain: Lance... did you know Merlin's a god?

Lancelot (very glad he made friends with the kid who almost got eaten by a griffon): I didn't even know about the Life and Death part... though it makes sense... his mortality was always unsure

Geoffrey Monmouth: *frantically searching for laws that make hurting Merlin illegal and make a marriage between Arthur and Merlin legal.*

According to the law loopholes define Merlin as a genderless entity, therefore marrying a god is actually legal. Attacking a noble, especially a Lord and King, is super illegal, making Merthur legally supported and haters imprisoned or dead.

I just really like the thought of Merlin revealing his titles like a collection of scout badges... especially because I hc Arthur to have a competency kink, so finding out his boyfriend technically outranks him is a turn on. Don't tell me i'm wrong, you all saw the show. Arthur definitely has a thing for powerful people

[overlyspecific]

Part 2 of Merlin as Robin Hood

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

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

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

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

Noble: what did you say?!

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

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

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

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

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

Gwaine: yeah merls?

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

Gwaine: on it!

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

Lance: on it.

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

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

Merlin turns to face the servant.

Servant: Who ARE you?

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

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

Merlin: only what we need to survive

Servant: wow that’s really-

Merlin: amazing, honorable, selfless?

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

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

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

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

Gwaine: *mock outrage* you dont mean THAT

Servant: so can I go or…

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

Time jump. The throne room of the castle.

Uther: he said what?!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Arthur: yes, father. we will leave at once

[likecommonpeople]

Absolutely gnawing at the bars of my enclosure here but while Merthur makes sense in terms of what’s most realistic to canon, I do think that Merwaine would be much better for Merlin, like, mental health wise.

I’m not really sure how to explain this but while Merlin and Arthur do have this natural banter between the 2 there is this imbalance of power that I truely don’t think could ever go away - because while there is already the distinction of class, there is Merlin’s magic, which if we follow canon as it stands (after Arthur was made king but before his death) is still illegal. Even presuming that if Merlin revealed his magic earlier and Arthur removed the laws on magic, I still think there would be this expectation that Merlin “owes” something (further servitude even if not as a formal role, debt, ect) to Arthur for decriminalising magic.

(And even if it was decriminalised, I do not think it is realistic that Arthur would give the same punishments for crime done naturally and crimes done with magic. Like I cannot see him giving the same punishment to a murder with a sword compared to a murder done with magic.)

So theres this innate power imbalance between both Merlin and Arthur that even if Arthur were to promote Merlin to a noble role (court sorcerer?) I think Merlin would be very aware that if Arthur were angry enough with him he really could take that away, much the same away Uther did. Because the existence and legality of magic is very much dependent on the whims of a man who operates almost exclusively on emotion (Agravaine, banishing Gwen, ect) so I think it would place a very heavy burden on Merlin to maintain Arthur’s happiness to ensure that the rights of magic practitioners are not placed in Jeopardy.

Compare this is To Merwaine where sure there are class differences, but the way they interact almost renders them nonexistent. Gwaine never (as far as I remember) holds his status over Merlin over him, I cannot recall almost a single instance of Gwaine using his power over Merlin the way Arthur does. I think Gwaines dislike of nobility is actually very important because it shows an active desire to be placed on the same level of commoners (i.e. Merlin), and I think that his want for equality almost immediately distinguished him from Arthur, like while Arthur definitely lets Merlin get away with a lot, it is really only so far as he allows, but with Gwaine Merlin can pretty much talk freely without fear of consequence because he knows that Gwaine would not do that.

And on a romantic level, Gwaine does not have many of the prejudices that Arthur has when it comes to commoners (or magic?? I can’t really remember tho). Which would also make Merlin more comfortable, because while yes I do believe Arthur would try to unlearn many of the prejudices that were practically forced upon him since he was born, I do not think it is the best thing to start unlearning those prejudices while dating someone who fits into those prejudices as it often puts the burden onto the partner to do the educating and leaves them bearing the brunt of this attitudes. So frankly I do think that if the primary concern is “what is best for Merlin’s mental health and self respect?” Then Gwaine (or Lanc lol) would be much better suited to Merlin than Arthur.

Thank you for coming to my Ted-talk

[insane-ohwhyfandoms]

The Cake Is A Lie by @thepolomonkey | Merlin/Arthur, 3.5k, G | Cake Shop

Merlin and Will pretend to be engaged to get free wedding cake samples. Obviously this backfires on Merlin when the baker turns out to be the gorgeous Arthur...

It Goes On and On by IambicKentameter | Merlin/Arthur, 3.2k, T | Flower/Tattoo Shop

Arthur was perfectly content to just live his life, helping Gwen out at the flower shop they co-owned and eating at the same little restaurant every night.

He was not, however, content to let the idiot tattoo artist next door kill his flowers every morning in what was probably a vague attempt to flirt with him.

Not Mine to Keep by Stelle_loves_reading | Merlin/Arthur, 996, G | Flower Shop

"And 'I wish to spend more time with you.'" Arthur looked at Merlin for the first time since he had entered the shop that day. Merlin wished he wouldn't. "And..." Please, enough, go tell those things to her yourself. I don't want to hear them! "'I love you.'"

Something In You (lit up heaven in me) by @invisibility-superiority | Merlin/Arthur, 15.3k, T | Book/Coffee Shop

Arthur has been coming to Merlin's bookshop-slash-coffee shop for a few months now, under the guise of studying but really just so he can stare at Merlin. He hasn't mustered up the courage yet to ask Merlin out, but he'll get there.

When Merlin accidentally transports the both of them into the world of the book he recommended to Arthur, they need to find a way out of there. Arthur finds out Merlin's not all he seems, but that might just be a good thing for them.

Fuck You Flowers by Fwufferson | Merlin/Arthur, 3.7k, NR | Flower/Tattoo Shop

Arthur had a very delicate ecosystem he'd created within his shop and Merlin had to go and fuck it up. But Arthur found he didn't mind too much.

Wake Up Your Saints by lostlenore | Merlin/Arthur, 6.8k, NR | Drugstore

It's hardly Arthur's fault that small town witches attract big city trouble.

One-Across Four Letters Starts With 'L' by Emjayelle | Merlin/Arthur, 6.9k, T | Coffee Shop

In which Freya owns a coffee shop, Arthur hates his job, but loves coffee, Merlin has smooth moves and a knack for words, and there's an unfair amount of caffeine-fuelled flirting happening over crossword puzzles.

Possibly Maybe I'm Falling For You by @theladyragnell | Merlin/Arthur, 13.7k, T | Coffee Shop

Merlin walks into his favourite coffee shop one morning to find the Prince of Wales behind the till. His life only gets more surreal from there.

Something Yellow This Time by @gigi-gigi | Elena/Gwaine, Merlin/Arthur, 3.8k, G | Flower Shop

Merlin owns a flower shop. Arthur is a frequent customer with a tragic love life.

Red Card by @believenthlie | Merlin/Arthur, Gwaine/Percival, 5.8k, T | Sports Shop

The only reason, and Merlin meant *only reason, he was standing behind the counter in a shop filled from floor to ceiling with sport’s equipment was because his bank account was in the negatives and Gwaine had promised all he would have to do was work the register.*

In which Arthur comes into the shop and tries to (unsuccessfully) wheedle free stuff out of a stubborn Merlin.

Roast-Impressionism and Other Latte Art by @burglarhobbit | Merlin/Arthur, 12.8k, T | Coffee Shop

“Right,” the stranger says, and nods sagely. “So you’re a bit of an arse, then?”

“I’m not,” Arthur says, strangled.

“Clearly,” says the stranger in an oddly cheerful tone, and sticks out his hand. “I’m Merlin. I can keep this very short. I’ve spent four years as a barista in another coffee shop, then went to art school, failed utterly and horribly, and now I’m back to being a barista. I’m a hard worker and am immune to people shouting at me, because I’m a starving artist, which means I know how to deal with negative feedback very well. So. That’s me. I didn’t bring a CV, sorry.”

Or: In a final bid to find happiness after leaving his job at his father's company, Arthur opens a coffee shop. Merlin just wants to make latte art.

The Booth in the Corner by ambrosius | Merlin/Arthur, Gwen/Lancelot, 22.2k, T | Coffee Shop

When Merlin befriends the lonely man he always sees in the morning at his local coffee shop, the last thing he expects to happen is to fall for him. Let alone find out the man is actually Arthur Pendragon, the Prince of Wales.

It's Not a Homeless Life For Me, It's Just I'm Home Less Than I'd Like to Be by @destinyspoon | Merlin/Arthur, Mithian/Morgana, 11.4k, T | Charity Shop

Am considering donating 2/3 of my belongings to a charity, he texted Morgana as he got into his car. When he slammed the car door, having parked it haphazardly somewhere along his driveway, and made his way to the house, she had answered.

As if. The day you do anything that's not self-serving is the day I will swim naked in uncle Agravaine's duck pond.

Well, that settled that.

Or: Arthur's a bit of an arse, but Merlin fixes him in less than three months.

The Confectioner by Camelittle | Merlin/Arthur, 5.9k, T | Candy Shop

Having banished Merlin for doing magic, Arthur becomes a sulky grumpyguts of a king. At the end of her tether, Gwen encounters a mysterious confectioner who has opened a shop in the lower town. The shop's sign bears the message “Magical sweetmeats to sweeten the sourest of tempers”. Surely it must be worth a try?

Smoking Habits by hermestheghost | Merlin/Arthur, 4.4k, NR | Coffee Shop

Prompt: “I’m a med student who has a huge crush on the hot guy who works at the coffee shop who always gives me free drinks when I’m stressed and calls me princess, even though I pretend I think it’s annoying. I’m concerned about him because he always smells like smoke so I give him lectures about how terrible cigarettes are. I may have made a PowerPoint, which is probably excessive, but lung health is extremely important. Oops it turns out he’s part-dragon or something oops.” AU

Merthur AU.

lovely, lonely blooms by ashamedbliss | Merlin/Arthur, 9k, M | Flower Shop

Merlin, in this lifetime, owns a flower shop that only opens at night.

Arthur is his customer, with no idea that his local florist is a vampire.

You Swiped Right by xancredible | Merlin/Arthur, 22k, E | Book Shop

Pendragon Books is to London's bookselling industry what Sauron is to Middle-Earth: Bad fucking news.

Merlin could also compare them to the White Witch and Narnia, but no matter what analogy he picks, the point remains the same: Wherever Pendragon Books pops up with a new shop, existing businesses die a painful death, robbing their city of more and more personality and character. Therefore it comes as a bit of a shock when they're settling in right across the street from Merlin's bookshop, and Merlin finds out that Arthur Pendragon himself is gorgeous and unreasonably easy to talk to, and - worst of all - a bit of a nerd.

However, not only is Merlin most definitely not fraternising with the enemy, he's also already sort of dating someone. So what if it started on Grindr, and is only through text messages?

see you next month! 💞💞💞 (if you want your @ added or removed, just let me know! i just went off of what I found on ao3 profiles!) (interested in reading along? join @merlin-fic-server's discord)

[gabstriessomethingnew]

Ok I just need to write this down somewhere! Here is my take on bbc Merlin's characters love languages (I don't really truly believe in love languages all that much but I'm here for fun):

Merlin: Gift giving and acts of service. Feels like fairly obvious. The man kept trying to make strawberries for Freya and yes it was the first time he truly got to show of his magic to someone but I believe he would have brought her things like that anyway. And he enjoys doing things for those he loves, there are far too many examples for me to put here but look up your favorite ship and I guarantee there is an example

Arthur: Words of affirmation and physical touch. My man never had love a second of his life. He needs constant reassurance in words as well as touch. He's always grabbing at those he cares for (again legit just look up your favorite ship with him I'm sure there's examples) but my headcannon is that he's just a little guy and he needs the words as well. Even if he's not good at giving the words in return. He needs to hear that he's loved.

Gwen: Quality time and gift giving. She just adores being around those she loves. She needs the quiet moments much more than the grand gestures. The little time just spent in each others presence, not really talking, not even touching, just there. And she loves giving things in much the similar way that Merlin does. See: all the times she brought flowers to people in s1

Lancelot: Physical touch and quality time: Alright here's where the true headcannons start coming out. Lance needs the touches, the soft rub of the back of someone's hand against his, the gentle feeling of someone brushing away his hair, the harsh grab to get him away from something they perceive as trouble. But he also needs the time with someone. Their eyes locking across the room, the only noise in their chambers being soft breaths, the moments spent doing nothing in particular. I have very few examples to go with this one so my source is trust me bro.

Gwaine: Physical touch and words of affirmation. Ok. So yes, the physical touch is in that sense of the word as well. But my man needs the feather light graze of a thumb across his cheek. He needs to feel the love of others through his skin. And he also needs to feel it through their words. He is a man that has never really had anyone and he needs to be constantly reminded of who he has now. In every language, in every word, in every look, in every touch.

Leon: Acts of service and quality time: Leon needs to be doing something for the person he loves. All the time. He doesn't know how to show his love in any other way. Yet he needs the calm, slowed down moments to prove that you're in love with him, that you'll be there for him when the chaos of the day is but a distant memory.

Elyan: Physical touch and quality time. This one was harder so I'm putting more my own spin on Elyan's character than what we get in the show. He needs to be held tightly and very rarely is he ever seen not holding hands with whoever he loves. He needs to touch them like he needs to breath air. And much like Gwen he needs to be around that person, like all of the time. Doing the mundane with them, just experiencing them as often as he can.

Percival: Physical touch and acts of service. Much like Elyan, he needs to be touching the person he loves but it comes from much more of a protecting angle. He lost everyone he ever loved in Morgana's rein, he needs to know they are there. But not just there, also well fed and taken care for. He brings the person he loves fruits and water and takes them on walks to make sure that they'll always be there with him.

Ok this is super long and I know I missed Morgana but I don't really have a good idea for her. This was just my little writing exercise so I could understand how my characters would interact in love.

[the-pen-pot]

Hello BF! I've been reading your new fic, King&Court and obviously I'm loving it- it's not even a question anymore for me, you publish and i read it right away BUT! ANYWAY! I digress. The reason I'm in your inbox rambling is because of the following question: have you ever thought of writing a short(?) Merlance?.

It's just that you're sooo good at writing them as friends and then make Arthur misunderstand their relationship that it makes me wonder (every single time) how it would be, in a fic written by you, if Arthur were with Gwen like in canon but Merlin with Lancelot. How would you write Arthur- his reactions to them being in love (watching as they slowly fall in love) but without him feeling any sort of romantic feelings towards Merlin. And then how would their every other interaction be? Would Lance be somehow jealous? Would Merlin still be completely devoted to Arthur? And if it were to come down between Lance vs Arthur for some political or perilous quest, what would he do? What would Lance, do? And ..what if Merlin is in love with Arthur, a type of love that's lawless, universal, souldeep, fated- mean to be- but not really of romantic origins, would Lance understand? Know that he loves someone who's half soul (heart?) will always be with/for another? And what about Gwen? If it's like this for Merlin then maybe it's the same for Arthur.

That's it. Apparently it's more than one question. Sorry about that. You can completely ignore this message too.

*ahem*

Thank you for "agreeing" to this interview BF, it's been an honour to have you here.

Hey nonny!

Thanks for the questions. I am a Merthur girly through and through, so I doubt I will ever write Mercelot. That's said I adore their friendship and utterly ignore what happened to Lancelot in canon.

If I were to write Arthur's platonic reaction to such a relationship, I feel like it would be quite protective, just because Arthur thinks Merlin is a soft hearted man and he would hate the idea of him getting hurt (this would apply to any relationship Merlin had, I feel)

I don't think Lancelot would be jealous from what we have seen in canon. That man turns "honourable" into a character flaw and probably has some deep seated self esteem issues, when you get right down to it. I think he would tolerate Merlin's devotion to Arthur, but I don't think it would be good for him, if that makes sense.

(All this is obviously just how I see Mercelot. It is by no means a critique of the ship itself, which can be interpreted and portrayed in a dozen brilliant ways ❤️)

Thanks for the question question, and I'm glad you're enjoying Kimg & Court

[ellllsia]

What is really ironic is that the episode "Lancelot du Lac" is one I just can't get myself to watch, even though one of my most adored characters is coming back from dead. But the episode where the insufferable Uther comes back brings me actual joy.

They really brought Lance back to paint as this dishonourable homewrecker who would kiss the knigdom's soon to be queen literally the night before the wedding, ruining his reputation forever. They also made Gwen appear as a cheater who would betray her soon to be husband literally the night before her wedding day. The scene in which her and Arthur fight in the courtroom broke my heart. They don't explain that the monster was sent by Morgana as a shade version of our beloved Lancelot or even that Gwen was drawn to him because of the enchanted bracelet. Also, the fact that Melrin had to say goodbye to his friend again. The way I sobbed when Merlin performed the spell to free Lancelot from Morgana's control. The way Lance said "Thank you" broke my heart for he at least got to die as himself, next to his friend and peacefully.

Now for when Uther comes back, I just really like the fact that Arthur finally realises that his father has always been and will always be an abusive piece of $h!t, as well as a murderer. Arthur gets to let go of those expectations he had set for himself thinking that he could get his father's approval, that he would finally make him proud. He decides to set his own path, as he himself says "You've had your turn. Now it's mine.". Camelot is his to rule now and to command as he sees fit. He knows he can't please his father and has to be true to himself. What is also great is Merlin ,later on, says that Uther did what he thought was best for the kingdom (which i believe in his own twisted mind could be true) mainly trying to appease his friend, but Arthur just deadpans "It doesn't mean he was right." And I believe it stuck with me because it felt like the first time Arthur truly acknowledges his father's faults, especially in front of another person. I truly loved it. This episode is also so precious because of the poetry scene iykyk lol.

[theroundbartable]

Okay, if you were asked who are in Merlin BBC & Voltron that you can see based on canon that are gay/bi/pan/demi, which characters are they? Why?

What a fun ask I'm totally not doing to procastinate on cooking... XD

BBC Merlin

Arthur Pendragon is, in my head, demiromantic and bisexual... It sort of depends on the circumstances/episode. Arthur needs a very long time to really feel connections with people and only starts to consider love after he really gets to know them, hence his constant search for true love in the show. With Merlin I'm not entirely sure if he was attracted to him instantly, strangely enough feeling a connection from the moment they met, or if it takes him till the end of the series when Merlin confesses his magic and finally shows his true self to realise the depth of his feelings.

Merlin is, well... Bi Bi Bi. A disaster bi in fact. With a preference for sweaty men in metal boxes, he's not very peculiar. However, Merlin is a one person hyperfixation kind of guy. Most people are convinced that Merlin's gay.

Gwen: I feel like most people in BBC Merlin are bi and Gwen is no exception. Like Merlin, she prefers the hero type in metal uniforms. But she also had a thing for Morgana in the beginning.

Morgana: lesbian. I have never seen a woman so disinterested in men, I'm not surprised that they casted Katie McGrath in supergirl as supergirls love interest. I might settle for homoromantic and asexual. But definitly in love with Gwen in the very beginning.

Sir Leon, my beloved, the immortal, the one and only, the eternal suffering aro/ace. I don't have to explain this one. The only counter moment is the Lamia episode where Leon suddenly develops interest in women out of nowhere. My personal take is that anyone could be fallen under a Lamia's spell, this one just had a taste for men (and male presenting).

Sir Elian: once upon a time I clocked them as nonbinary and sadly that's as far as I thought into this character. Pretty sure he's aromantic. He/they pronouns. I dunno, I don't think Elian would conform to anything if given a choice. Aromantic too, I think. Like Leon, there is no interest there, but he does play around with Percival and Gwaine quite often, so I'd take that as allosexual.

I am excluding Gwaine because I think canon Gwaine is written as a straight oblivious fuckboy. Albeit a kind one XD fanon Gwaine is often poly/ pan... Or into apples. Lmao XD and I'm not sure about Percival because the man has a dead wife and kids.

Voltron

Keith: with his lack of interest in women, he can only be gay. That man looks at no one quite the same as he looks at Lance. what the hell was the whole bonding thing if not a hint for post canon klance? Sorry, not sorry XD rivals to best friends to lovers.

Lance: *bi bo bi* bisexual lighting Lance. Doesn't matter if you prefer klance or shallura, this man is a walking bi flag. I don't know what you mean by proof, just look at this wiggly boy with the fingerguns. He can't even sit straight! Can't do math either. He's perfect!

Shiro: probably the only character in my entire history of shipping that I would unqueer without feeling bad about it. I know he's gay, I just don't really see it in the writing. Of course there aren't always clear signs that someone is gay which is why this is good rep actually (+he's married), but you asked me for proof in the show and all I see is that this man is a dad. That's his gender and his orientation and that's all I really need to know.

Pidge: aro/ace because I love my aroaces and this child loves robots and robots only. Also nonbinary/genderqueer. Pronouns: fuck/off XD

I think Lotor should have been bi. Pre-canon Lotor had us Langsters ship Lotor x Lance and it was so much fun :D

Bob: gender: evil, orientation: villain. I hate this guy

Coran: the georgous man is either gay or pan. More likely pan because I vaguely remember he had a son?

I hope I answered your question reasonably enough XD thank you for the ask, anon :3

[saxifactumterritum]

Merlin fic. This was the start of some great epic but it was the start a while aho it got buried I have fully forgotten and it can be called finished. I just found it it made me laugh three times. Merthur and lance. Alcohol and rubbish communication and dumb new years.

Merlin has a new year's tradition. It started when he got in at a stupid hour of the morning one too many times, back home for what used to be the school, sixth form, uni holiday, out with back-home mates, drinking away the culture clash of anyone he's brought home. His mother greeted him at the kitchen table and told him she'd been worrying about too long, reminded him he was not a child, and suggested he consider that she might like a new year celebration too instead of having to sit worrying while he got drunk enough to need a stomach pump. He never had got quite that drunk but since then he invites everyone, including his mother, to wherever he's washed up and they play boardgames and do quizzes and have a 'best and worst of the year' trying to top one another for tall tales. This year he's at Arthur's, because Arthur has a really nice flat with so much space and proper heating that he can pay to run. It also means that Arthur is there, sitting awkwardly at the kitchen counter, handing out drinks when people drift in, sending them out with snacks and booze and carafes of water. 

"Arthurrrrr why are you doing an impression of a pez dispenser?" Merlin calls, leaning back in his chair to watch Arthur load Lance up, who'd just gone to the kitchen to see if Arthur would join his quiz team. "Get in here." 

Arthur comes through, ears pink, and huffs and puffs and sits primly on the box the Christmas tree was on until yesterday, legs crossed, black jeans stretched over his strong thighs. Merlins a bit fizzy, he hums happily and Arthur's ears go redder, his cheeks joining the glow. Lance give Merlin a little head scruff to tell him off and goes to squeeze onto the box with Arthur. 

"Now Lance has finally found someone daft enough to agree to be quiz partner to him, shall we begin?" Gwen says, master of ceremonies for any and all quizzes since she began doing  the local pub one. "As always! These questions are chosen by me with a special though to being as unfair as possible! There are no right answers, only wrong answers. The losers will duel. To the death." 

They roar and cheer and stamp their feet and merlin catches Lance kindly demonstrating for Arthur how to stamp along, grabbing Arthur's knee to encourage him. Arthur looks quite alarmed, he has been alarmed since Merlin explained he'd be filling his home with his friends. He's trying to gently extricate himself and it sort of works, Lance slings an arm around his shoulders instead as everyone starts singing Auld Lang Syne in a synchronised spontaneous burst.

Merlin goes to top up Arthur's glass and quietly tells Lance to be gentler with Arthur's left shoulder. Arthur looks hopeful, but Lance just adjusts his grip and carries on, determined Arthur will have the full Emrys new year experience. Merlin wants to squeeze on he box with Arthur too, but his mum's his quiz partner and she's competitive. He goes back to his kitchen chair set next to the armchair she's got, the best chair for the guest of honour. Gwen reads the first question as the singing tails away and they're off. 

There's nothing quite like the new year quiz. Gwen wasn't lying about no right answers, the questions are subjective, things like 'what is your favourite colour' and the goal is to remember why Gwen is asking (a very dramatic announcement that orange should be banished when autumn came. She works in retail) and avoid putting the verboten answer (orange). But not just that. If two teams gave the same answer, Gwen docked points. And if you were caught lying (if you for example said white and a text message was found where you stated you hated white) you lost points). Lance was very bad at the new year quiz and Arthur had a disadvantage of not having known the mess of them for ten plus years. Merlin had inducted him into one group chat but not all of them. He was starting slow. Merlin is okay at it, Hunith is the unopposed champion.

Merlin catches a sly smile start at the corner of Arthur's mouth after the fifth question. It's getting noisy as Elyan keeps shouting to drown out Gwaine who whispers too loudly and Gwen tells them off for anything she feels like and Percy and Leon start making out instead of answering so everyone starts throwing things at them. Merlin feels a sense of foreboding as he sees Arthur leaning to whisper in Lance's ear and Lance looks delighted. Merlin may have miscalculated; he forgot two key facts. One, Arthur is very strategic, and these quizzes could be won on strategy as well as the deep magic. Lore. And two, Arthur's desire to win far outweighed his shyness. Merlin focuses up and gives his intelligence to his mother and watches the grim determination blaze in her eyes.

By the time the last question comes Hunith and Arthur have a fierce, unspoken rivalry going. Arthur sits back pretending relaxation, Hunith smiles like a cat in cream. Merlin has do many regrets. Gwen starts in on the answers. It goes well until Arthur clears his throat and begins 'ah, but Gwenevere, you have forgotten that right after I sent you that text, I rescinded my statement verbally. And you texted my good friend Lance to complain about my fickleness' and made Lance dig out the text message. After that things disintegrated. Usually they just declared Hunith the winner after the arguing was over but tonight Arthur is set on winning and he is a mulish, determined, loud man who trained as a provincial solicitor. Pettiness is Arthur Pendragon's mettier.

"Can't we just call it a draw and move on?" Gwaine groans, half an hour later.

"I don't mind doing that," Arthur says, graciously. "I am happy to let Merlin and Hunith join us in first place." 

"Let us!" Merlin roars. "LET us!" 

He is definitely a bit tiddly. He grins at Arthur, who wiggles his eyebrows. And then they're debating. Headetly. It's how they met, bickering over stupid things until Merlin shut Arthur up by kissing him because it was raining and he was getting wet and wanted to be dry and couldn't see a better way to win the fight. He can't even remember the specific fight. He gets in his stride now, pulling out minutiae until Arthur is cowed. Only Arthur refuses to cow. They're on their feet and then drifting and then the hall is becking and Arthur's pushing Merlin into the wall and kissing him and Merlin is trying to remember Arthur's bad shoulder and then he's forgetting everything except the taste of Guinness and blackcurrant cordial in Arthur's mouth.

A cheer goes up from the living room, music starting up, and Merlin hears Lance telling everyone that he won the quiz, delighted with himself, and Arthur's leaning on the wall hand by Merlin's head panting, eyes blurry. His face is flushed. Merlin strokes his cheek. 

"Bit carried away," Arthur admits, and Merlin laughs at the understatement. "Your parties are- what are they doing now?" 

"Musical statues," Merlin says, not needing to look. 

"Are there special Emrys new year rules?" Arthur asks. Merlin nods. "Are they going to break things?" Merlin thinks, and shakes his head. "Okay. Come on." 

He giggles as Arthur pulls him through to the bedroom and they make out like teenagers, sneaking away at a house party. Arthur forgets his own bad shoulder and lets Merlin thump him into a wall and gasps, makes Merlin kiss him silly until the adrenaline washes away the pain, and tugs Merlin to the bed, straddling him. They're kissing slow and deep when the door opens. 

"Oops. Merlin, Leon says I'm out for musical statues but it isn't fair, I was only in for four minutes," Lance says, "come make him let me back in." 

Arthur sits up, lips swollen, tousled, breathless with arousal and affection and booze. And competitive adrenaline. He twists up and off the bed and stalks over to Lance, catching his head in one hand, pulling him in to kick the door closed and driving him over to the bed, keeping on until he's sat. Then Arthur remembers to ask anyone for permission. Merlin barely waits for Lance to swallow and nod dumbly before kissing him, kissing Arthur. 

They end up in a sweaty tangle, Merlin and Lance too drunk to get far beyond kissing and getting hands everywhere, Arthur falling asleep. Merlin gapes at Arthur, and starts writing a good solid rant about how ridiculous and uncultured it is to fall asleep in the middle of an accidental threesome. Arthur starts to snore. 

"Merlin," Lance whispers, "is this okay?" 

"Yes," Merlin says.

They hear people chanting down in the living room and at midnight Lance kisses him.

[mythmerth]

guys I’ve disappeared for many reasons but one has been because I decided to challenge myself to watch all six seasons of lost as fast as I possibly can and let me tell you my brain is COOKING a merthur plot in this setting. Arthur as Mr hero save everyone Jack, Merlin being the sort of S1 spiritual Locke character, Gwen as Kate (everyone cheered), gwaine as SAWYER con man… Lance as Sayid my fave... I’m thinking of so many ways you could diverge the lost plot to make this work and it’s really rattling around in my head. anyways I still have some 20 hours left of lost to scheme this up

[like-sands-of-time]

All right heres the thing that's been bugging me since I watched season four.

I love morgana in season one. I find her introduction absolutely fascinating. She feels like a very important character, but we don't know how yet. I love that we see her picking fights with Uther from the first, for it to all culminate in her attempting to kill him by the first season finale, all in a way that is so believable and sympathetic to me (and Merlin) that I was honestly hoping Merlin would just, slip on one of those hills and watch her kill him, because we now know three characters who wouldnt mourn the loss of the king. Who are angry at him for the unforgivable things he's done even recently. At that point arthur is most willing to work with magic and common men, and morgana (with Merlin) have had a clear impact on his growth as a man. I love that.

I... Don't see the rest of the shows arc (s3 and on) as believable for who she was then. I'm sorry but either she was caring about the citizens of Camelot and their suffering, or it was all a lie, that doesn't go away just because you're angry at one guy. I'll leave that alone, it's for another time. BUT. even if they wanted to show that dragons have free will and could befriend who they wished, regardless of dragon blood, I still don't think the entirety of that season makes any sense.

Why would Merlin have hatched the egg right then if he wasn't willing or able to raise the hatchling? They said multiple times the egg would last. And if Kilgharrah wasn't willing to raise the egg why did he convince Merlin to do it. It what world would the characters of Kilgharrah and Merlin as we know them at this point just leave an infant dragon to do it's own thing anyway? Let alone go work with a sorceress they believe to be evil consumed. That.... Doesn't make sense. Not even in a tragic but realistic way, it just simply doesn't make sense to me. Merlin could have safely put the egg where Kilgharrah used to be imprisoned if no one visits there, or Kilgharrah could have found another cave or safe place to keep it. Those make sense. Hatching it only to both leave and forget about the child doesn't really make sense for either of them?

The writers wanted morgana to have a dragon ally, be an equal to Merlin visually in their ultimate fight, and I get it....... but make Aithusa choosing morgana make sense. Develop their relationship in any way..? And while we're at it make morgana trying repeatedly to kill Arthur make any sense because it the show I watched I never saw any reason for her to want anything other than 1) uther dead and 2) magic free in Camelot once more. MAKE IT MAKE SENSE. You can't have characters just Do Things because you want them to happen lmao that's not how people work.

This show loves to tell me instead of showing me. I know what they want me to think because they make it glaringly freaking obvious but I'm sorry .. you have to actually develop character arcs or relationships (whether it's between a dragon and the main villain, or Arthur and Guinevere, because sunbursts and cute music isn't doing anything for me lol. They didn't even develop lance either. She had two love interests shown to us and we just have to use our imagination I guess.

Idk, write morgana to be the darkest, cruellest, most insane bitch you want that's fine with me. It's all medieval fanfiction but ... It has to be plausible. Give me any reason at all why bbc morgana hated Arthur or Camelot or Gwen or anything. Do tragic, do.. "she was always meant to be against him" if you must, but also? It's all fanfiction so have morgana being Arthurs sorceress .. powerful just like Merlin but in her own way and they're both loyal to Arthur.

[sword-wielding-sapphic]

Jumping off the tags of the post I just reblogged, here is my vision for a Merlin reboot (I know it's not gonna happen but shhh a girl can dream)

Merlin has to be played by Joe Locke, obviously. He's got the cheekbones, the ears, the sassy twink aura, it's him or nothing.

I'm envisioning a tone similar to Doctor Who. I want the silly monster-of-the-week, bordering on camp, fantasy shenanigans that we know and love. But intercut with good character development that fans can go feral for.

Lean in to Merlin and Morgana as narrative foils, with Merlin being corrupted by his love for Arthur and Morgana being corrupted by her resentment for her family.

If it's going to be a tragedy, make it intentionally a tragedy. I want it to be unclear who we're supposed to be rooting for.

Give me a magic allegory that doesn't explicitly condone the oppressors. Make it a cautionary tale of Merlin becoming disillusioned with a system that promised him acceptance through conformity. (Although a happy ending would be nice too).

obviously, Merlin and Arthur should end up together, but make it real slow burn. And give Arthur consistent character development so that he actually accepts and values Merlin.

I want Morgana and Gwen to date at the start and then have a messy breakup that spurns her villain arc. Gimme goth Morgana in full jealous ex-gf mode.

Gwen should actually cheat on Arthur with Lancelot. Don't be afraid to give Gwen and Lancelot character flaws. She can feel alienated from high society and neglected by Arthur. Lance can have a self righteous streak and believe that he deserves Gwen more than Arthur does. And he does, let them be happy together.

I generally hate dark gritty reboots that feed off of nostalgia, but I genuinely think that the premise and themes of Merlin have the potential to be explored in a really interesting and fresh way (à la the Shadow and Bone tv adaptation, rather than Riverdale or some shit)

[wutheringheightsfilm]

I love all your Merlin thoughts, especially your point about Merlin being a seer! I can even imagine Merlin and Morgana being opposites, where Merlin has visions of Arthur and Camelot's eventual greatness, which makes him protective and invested in Camelot. Whereas Morgana has visions of the past, Uther's reign, and becomes jaded by Camelot's bloody history, deciding to burn it to the ground instead. I didn't mind Morganna as a villain, though the "radical activist who is ideologically in the right but goes Too Far with it" is such a tired trope. But Katie McGrath played her unhinged villain era beautifully. I almost wouldn't want Gaius to die (right away); I want Merlin to eventually confront him, his treatment of Morgana, his betrayal of his peers. It'd be such a huge moment for Merlin to break away from the prophecy and Gaius's protective but stifling and harmful rhetoric, to go back to his first instinct to connect, help, and empathize with people, especially magic users. The Edwin episode made me double take on a rewatch like all he was going to do was kill Uther and do a better job than Gaius as Court Physician like sorry is that supposed to put me off lol? Sure he comatized Morgana but only for like a day. Also hot take and I myself have a fondness for merthur but tbh! Arthur was not the king he needed to be, the show frequently backtracked on any emotional growth he was afforded, and he stayed kind of annoying until the end. That's just my personal opinion. I'm glad multiple characters became obsessed with Gwen, like I understand why, I wish she had known about Merlin's magic early because they would be such fun undercover magic besties. And Gwen/Lance was my first OTP (...next to Gwen/Merlin), I think it'd be fun if both she and Lancelot knew about Merlin's magic as Merlin's inner circle. Also, I agree the magic reveal was way too late. It makes zero sense that it didn't happen earlier, like there were opportunities that make Merlin seem anti-magic to downright deranged not to take. At one point, Arthur goes to kill Uther for all the right reasons, with full knowledge of his crimes...and Merlin stops him by lying and justifying the massacres? Hello? It was jarring the way Merlin cries afterwards like he's so shattered that he had to do that and it's like, but you really didn't. But it comes across as really so fucked up how warped and self-hating Merlin is in later seasons, like Gaius has molded him to be so ashamed and terrified to the point he's willing to allow mass violence against people just like him, and support the people committing it, to the point where he's actually occasionally sabotaging political change! Gaius should have been shamed, abandoned, had a brief redemption arc that culminated in him finally dying for his crimes/to save someone else. Uther should have died knowing Morgana killed him on purpose.

YESSS ALL OF THIS!!! Anon you are literally so right 😭

I can even imagine Merlin and Morgana being opposites, where Merlin has visions of Arthur and Camelot's eventual greatness, which makes him protective and invested in Camelot. Whereas Morgana has visions of the past, Uther's reign, and becomes jaded by Camelot's bloody history, deciding to burn it to the ground instead.

^ This is actually excellent. Like genuinely so fucking excellent your MIND!!!

Also yes Arthur's character never truly gets to grow and it's so frustrating!! Honestly he should've fucking killed Uther that day I'm sorry then they would've been forced to have his character change 😭 Also the fact that Arthur ASKED MERLIN if he should allow magic and Merlin said NO is deranged. Season 1 Merlin would have never said no. Merlin just became a bootlicker at the end it was so sad to see like what the fuck!!

You're so right in that the magic reveal should have happened waaaayyyy earlier. In my planned fic, Merlin's magic gets revealed to Arthur incredibly early on, and even THEN he's still the last out of the main 4 (Merlin, Morgana, Gwen, Arthur) to know, because it just makes more SENSE for them to know!!

And god... Gwen/Lancelot were so cute honest to god I loved them and also Gwen/Merlin... absolutely. absolutely

[existentialcrisisallthetime]

So with Speak Now TV dropping, I'm obviously back on my Merlin x Taylor Swift bs, so some thoughts:

Castles Crumbling: Instant Pendragon siblings vibes; it works so well for both of them + some sprinkled Merlin failing fulfilling his destiny in the middle for extra angst

Timeless: It's giving Merthur Reincarnation au through the ages. idk how else to describe it (it would actually be really cool to have a fic showing snippets of them through the decades based on the lyrics and merlin returning to the antique shop)

Long Live: It's already a given at this point, but always worthy of mention (it's perfect on its own, even without the merlin association, which is just an added bonus in this case)

Enchanted: Obviously this works for a lot of different ships (but the answer is always merthur)

Innocent: Merlin speaking to/about Arthur OR someone talking abt Merlin (although, it could honestly work for most of the characters considering no one's innocence survived, so final answer is it works for any redeemable character, aka not uther)

Speak Now: I've read a few fics based on this one, and I love the concept (go check out All Eyes On Me by TheCourtSorcerer it's one of my favorites)

Back to December: If you haven't figured it out already, my first response is always going to be merthur, but I also think this could work really well for Lancelot and Gwen (more specifically, Lance talking about Gwen. Gwen has no reason to grovel)

Haunted: This is a Morgana song, that's just the vibe I'm getting. OR Merlin's grief and pain at losing Arthur. Alternate thought: Arthur's grief and pain at losing Merlin (temporarily or not) right after a magic reveal

The Story of Us: Could go a lot of different ways, but I'm feeling Morgana & Merlin maybe

Mean: I think a chaotic montage of all of Merlin fighting all his enemies would be funny

[slantedknitting]

Had a very productive 4-day long weekend! Got about halfway through my @ficreadingchallenge bingo card. 13 fics below, mostly Merlin & Merthur fics.

new (to me) pairing: people we’d be together by lyryk BBC Merlin | featuring Freya/Gwaine | Mature Summary: names of poisons, names of handguns, names of places we’ve been together, names of people we’d be together

lyric title: Feel It In My Fists by thesongistheriver BBC Merlin | Merlin/Arthur | Explicit Summary: Merlin felt strong arms lift him. He wanted to protest, to stay and hear what else Gaius might say, but the knights were already carrying him off the training field, and he sank into oblivion. ~*~ An assassination attempt on Arthur leaves Merlin seriously injured. In fact, he shouldn't survive ... but he does. And that brings a lot of other questions to the fore.

BFFs: The Best Thing by lancelitttle BBC Merlin | featuring Merlin & Gwen | General Audiences Summary: The castle servants have a secret that they won't share with Merlin.

fix-it fic: And Tomorrow by pumpkabitch BBC Merlin | Merlin/Arthur | Teen + Summary: After he dies, Arthur wakes up ten years in the past

future AU: Telekinesis by cassan_astaroth BBC Merlin | Merlin & Arthur | General Audiences Summary: Arthur wasn’t sure what he had expected when he finally met Merlin again, but watching him destroy a whole solar system of planets in a bout of anger certainly wasn’t it. -- In which Arthur gets reincarnated only a few moments before Earth is swallowed by the sun, and has to adjust to a new life in space. He is sure everyone he knew is gone, but are they really?

rarepair: In the Cave by paintedpigeon BBC Merlin | Merlin/Leon | General Audiences Summary: Merlin and Leon cuddle for warmth in a cave full of Uther's knights, and Leon has something he wants to share.

inspired by another fanwork: I will show you how to dance by (currently anon) BBC Merlin | Merlin/Lance | Teen + Summary: For a few weeks now, Merlin had been attracted to a human home. At first, he had strayed in this direction accidentally, following the wind and sounds, only coming close to the property. Then, he had realised to whom this house had once belonged to.

oldest fic in the fandom: Compass by missdeviant Raven Cycle | Gansey/Blue, Adam/Ronan | Mature Summary: It was one thing to see the women of 300 Fox Way bare-breasted in a pagan rite. It was something else entirely to do the same with boys.

author’s oldest fic: Secret Release by fifty_fifty BBC Merlin | solo Merlin | Mature Summary: He didn’t often do this, in truth he tried to do it as little as possible. But sometimes, sometimes… he just had to. He was only human after all. A sheepish smile crossed his lips as he remembered with embarrassment the first and only time he’d attempted it at home in Ealdor. His mother was out at a neighbour’s for the evening. He shook his head, no never inside again. The broken crockery, the carpet of grass, the newly grown tree in the house... Only outside from now on, as far as away as possible from others and only when he was desperate and he had to admit after a day like today, he was desperate.

time travel: Finding the Right Time by Diamond_Raven BBC Merlin | Merlin/Arthur | Mature Summary: Following a hostile takeover of the time travel agency, Agent Arthur Pendragon is left stranded with Agent Merlin Emrys in the distant past. While waiting to be rescued, he and Merlin have to figure out how to live as flatmates in the 20th century and cope with the thought that they’ll never get home again, all while figuring out what the word home really means.

newest fic in the tag of your choice: Day 2 – Heat by EmptyBucketOfFucks BBC Merlin | Merlin/Arthur | Mature (tag of my choice was “wet dream”) Summary: Summer is approaching, and the heat gets to everyone.

small fandom (<1k fics): Lazy Mornings by Geekygirl24 Shades of Magic | Rhy/Alucard | Teen + Summary: Rhy sighed fondly, shaking off the lethargy, reaching over to brush a thumb across his lover’s cheek, easing him awake.

unhappy/bittersweet ending: Fly away, my Merlin by raimosorsa BBC Merlin | Merlin/Arthur | Not Rated Summary: "Fly away, but remember to always come back home."

:)

[adhd-merlin]

I would like to humbly suggest the Gwaine/Lancelot rarepair. I just think they’d make a good friendly rivalry situationship over who would be Merlin’s favourite knight/best friend or over who would be the knight second in command under Arthur (the answer is obviously Leon for that one but Leon just looks like an old man to them)

Also their chaotic energies would fit & enable each other rly well I think. Like Gwaine trying to get Lance drunk over in the tavern so that he lets loose & gets to see the chaotic side in him. Lancelot could be like a role model for Gwaine for what an honourable knight looks like (that isn’t nobleborn like Arthur) & he would definitely roast Gwaine into next dimension

(THEYD MAKE A CUTE PAIR OF DRINKING BUDDIES too)

That’s another thing they have in common too! They’re both commoners & have to get used to Camelot so it’d me nice to have each other, wouldn’t it?

And Lancelot would totally be the one to bodily hold Gwaine back when he lost his temper over smth someone said but would just go „let loose, Gwaine!“ if it was an insult abt Merlin. Like Lance would be holding the guy down & Gwaine would be punching him. Full on Merlin Protection Squad. And they’d be in that weird limbo together where they’re saying „yeah, I think Arthur’s a good guy but I was originally here for Merlin oops“

I just think these two would be fun. They are like the Benvolio & Mercutio duo just ribbing each other & vibin in the background while Romeo (cough cough Arthur) has his big dumb monologue.

And maybe Lance would also have like „easier access“ to Gwaine bc Gwaine is like one of the only knights who openly says like sassy/sometimes even anti-Arthur things abt Arthur. And like with Lance OF COURSE he has some pent up resentment against Arthur bc he got Gwen & Merlin is so willing to suffer for him too (I know Lancelot says he & Arthur are gucci & there’s no bad blood. BUT COME ON. Let Lancelot feel some human emotion expect for boyfriend perfection). And Gwaine would just be effortlessly joking abt Arthur & not let it sour his loyalty, and Lance could learn that it is perfectly fine & normal to not have noble & honourable knightly thoughts 24/7. that you aren’t judged by the worst thoughts you have abt somebody

Okay, word vomit over :)

YES. I haven't read any actual Gwaine/Lancelot fic but they'd make a great pairing.

They are Merlin's two favourite knights! They have such different temperaments but they have the same values! They care about the same things and the same people.

And yeah, Gwaine was a nobleman actually, but he's been acting for a commoner for so long that it hardly matters. (Actually he was a noble disguised as a commoner, while Lancelot was a commoner trying to pass himself off as a noble... THE PARALLELS BE PARALLELING.)

And Gwaine would just be effortlessly joking abt Arthur & not let it sour his loyalty, and Lance could learn that it is perfectly fine & normal to not have noble & honourable knightly thoughts 24/7.

I LOVE THIS. YES! He holds himself to such impossibly high standards, someone needs to tell him not to be so hard on himself 😭😭😭

And they both care about Merlin a lot so you could add him to the mix, if you wanted. Make yourself a nice OT3.

I think it's a crime that we didn't really get any scenes with Lancelot and Gwaine interacting in canon. A crime against me personally.