#mfbc reads

[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)

[worldsmostcasualmpregfan]

A haunted house with a picket fence

Merlin pretends Arthur’s smile isn’t the sweetest thing he’s ever seen. And he pretends he’s not more than vaguely attracted to the ghost that haunts his shitty, overpriced flat.

Rating: E

Word Count: 490 (2/2)

Written for MFBC's Fall Challenge! (One week of it, at least.)

Full text and author's note on Archive of Our Own.

Read on AO3.

[ao3feed-merlin]

12 Days of Christmas

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3m0bS5Z

by a_written_dream

A collection of Christmas ficlets and drabbles, for MFBC server's 12 Days of Tropemas prompts!

Trope 1: Coffee Shop AU

Words: 2013, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English

Fandoms: Merlin (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Additional Tags: 12 Days of Christmas, 12 Days of Tropemas, Coffee Shops, Modern Era, Post-Canon, First Kiss, Reincarnation, Light Angst

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3m0bS5Z

[nolitethoughts]

❄️Winter is here❄️ 

My new background photo for my website is here and I'm full of desire and hope for the next year. 

Not just about books but about life in general. I am trying to squeeze more things into my life which gives me joy and just helps me to generate positive thinking and more positive vibes.

 I also want to start new reading challenges; like reading all the winners of the International Booker Prize and with @carriesaurus_rex now we have a new book club called: My Favourite Book Club, MFBC for short. 

So there are loads of things to be excited about, and grateful for even though winter is hitting hard on all of us.

I wish Happy Christmas for everyone and for hope and persistence. And for more books. Many, many more books.

 The books in the photo are the following: Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by @gabriellezevin @tri.northern hands down one of the best books I have read this year. 

The End Of Astronauts; Why Robots Are the Future of Exploration by Donald Goldsmith and Martin Rees. A non-fiction book about the possible future of space exploration. I love and adore robots so it had to be here. @harvardpress

Északról ​hegy, Délről tó, Nyugatról utak, Keletről folyó by Krasznahorkai László or in english; A Mountain to the North, a Lake to the South, Paths to the West, a River to the East. “A quiet, poetic, and exquisitely gorgeous novel describing a wandering mythic figure in a Kyoto monastery, by the National Book Award winner” One of the most intriguing Hungarian writers out there. Translated by @ottiliemulzet 

君たちはどう生きるか How Do You Live? by 吉野 源三郎 (Genzaburou Yoshino) The book was written in 1937. It follows a 15-year-old boy who is trying to navigate life and make sense of it. The movie about the book is currently in production by Hayao Miyazaki, Ghibli Studios. This book is a holy grail. A healing ointment. A cool soft hand on a fever-burning forehead.

[ao3feed-merlin]

Rescue me

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3lXtyQG

by paintedpigeon

One of the knights meets his eye and sneers. "How does Prince Arthur put up with such a disobedient brat for a servant?" Merlin suppresses a shudder, annoyed with himself. He thought he was getting over that word, that feeling, over the Incident.

Merlin has a run-in with some ill-intentioned knights.

Words: 499, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of MFBC Birthday Week challenges

Fandoms: Merlin (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen

Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Original Characters

Relationships: Merlin & Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Additional Tags: Ficlet, Implied/Referenced Abuse, Protective Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Hurt/Comfort

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3lXtyQG

[ao3feed-merlin]

The Band

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2VyjyT9

by TheCourtSorcerer

Arthur pulled on the hoodie, narrowing his eyes at Merlin. “This isn’t my first gig as a spy, Merlin.” 

Words: 100, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 3 of MFBC Birthday Week Challenges

Fandoms: Merlin (TV)

Rating: General Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Modern Setting, Spies & Secret Agents, Bands, Undercover Missions, Established Relationship, Drabble, Prompted Writing, Spy Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Spy Merlin (Merlin)

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/2VyjyT9

[ao3feed-merlin]

So The Story Goes

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3jHjFnc

by TheCourtSorcerer

“Who am I to wed?”  

Balinor and Hunith shared a nervous glance. Balinor knew this would be the hardest part—he wasn’t the most pleased about it either, but it was the best idea he had and, well, at least he knew his son would be marrying into a good family.

Even if he held his own biases against the patriarch.

Merlin stared on, expectant—arms now crossed over his chest in perhaps the least princely manner Balinor could picture. Hunith pulled her hand from his knee, and he braced himself, head high and shoulders back.

“Arthur Pendragon,”

or

Balinor & Uther have a deep mistrust of each other due to a petty feud in their past friendship, and therefore the only way to bring their kingdoms together is through marriage--the only way they'll trust one another to not destroy their kingdom is if they are united.

Words: 10045, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Series: Part 1 of MFBC Birthday Week Challenges

Fandoms: Merlin (TV)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: M/M

Characters: Merlin (Merlin), Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Hunith (Merlin), Balinor (Merlin), Uther Pendragon (Merlin), Ygraine de Bois (Merlin), Morgana (Merlin), Gwen (Merlin), Aithusa (Merlin)

Relationships: Merlin/Arthur Pendragon (Merlin)

Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Royal Merlin (Merlin), Arranged Marriage, Marriage of Convenience, Getting Together, canon AU, Fluff, idiots to lovers, Minor Gwen/Morgana (Merlin), Ygraine Lives (Merlin), Arthur Knows About Merlin's Magic (Merlin), No Magic Ban (Merlin), Queen Hunith (Merlin), King Balinor (Merlin), Canon Era, Love Confessions, minor miscommunication, Oblivious Arthur Pendragon (Merlin), Oblivious Merlin (Merlin), no beta we die like arthur, POV Alternating

read it on the AO3 at https://ift.tt/3jHjFnc