#So when they heard that same sex marriage might be legalised they all (the whole Hawkins gang incl Hopper and Joyce etc) sat together

[madaboutmerlin]

Merlin Writer Month: Round up

Hello Merlin fans! We hope you’ve had an amazing week and that you found some new fics to enjoy! 

Again, we want to remind you to use the hashtag: #MerlinWriterMonth2018, so that we may reblog all of your wonderful recommendations. Also, we noticed that some of you recommended authors instead of specific fics, so you’ll find them at the end after the GEN cut.

And without further ado, enjoy!

Arthur/Merlin

1. Rules For Roommates by Pickitup  Length: 41,235 Summary:  Modern AU. Arthur works in publishing and is ashamed to tell anyone he’s secretly editing erotica, and being bullied by one of his authors - the arrogant ‘Lake Anders’. He’s also just taken in a new roommate, the adorable Merlin Emrys, who is definitely Not His Type. Or is he?

2. The Oncoming Storm by  Diana_Prallon Lenght: 133,914 Summary: The only thing the Republic isn’t ready for, is war. Everything in their power is being done to appease the systems that have joined the Separatist Movement, to try and keep the peace among all. The Jedi Knights have been sent all over the Galaxy, trying to solve conflicts and stop more and more planets from leaving the Republic, with mixed success. King Arthur Pendragon of Camelot, however, doesn’t believe that avoiding war will be that easy and has devised a scheme to help boost the Republic’s defenses – if he can survive the many attempts on his life and remain hidden under the custody of Jedi Padawan Merlin long enough for his master, Mordred, to figure out who is behind the attempts.

3. Let’s Ruin The Friendship by silver_etoile Lenght: 24,564 Summary:  Desperate to get Merlin over his breakup with Lance, Arthur makes a suggestion that surely can’t backfire–sex with no strings attached. Arthur’s perfectly capable of controlling his own feelings, so why does this feel all wrong and more than a little bit right? 

4. Close Quarters by RocknVaughn Lenght: 3,948 Summary:  Albion University’s rather unique “Get to Know Your Roommate” exercise has Merlin seeing red…and blue, and yellow, and green. 

5. The Dreams Inside by winterstorrm Lenght: 9,959 Summary:  Arthur had always held back, not trusting himself. After all, he’d been in love with Merlin since he was eighteen years old—and Merlin had been with his sister. Now that Morgana was off the scene, could Arthur be blamed for taking his chance with Merlin?

6. Everything by beckybrit Lenght: 5,970 Summary:  Arthur wants Merlin to let go and hold nothing back. The result isn’t quite what he expected.

7. Arthur Pendragon and the Philosopher’s Sword by  a8csock (ladysockalot), ladysockalot  Lenght: 60,941 Summary: Arthur Pendragon was living a normal, mundane life, when he received a mysterious letter inviting him to the magical University of Camelot. Despite his scepticism before long he found himself being whisked of to a world of magic, mystery and destiny. His life would never be the same again.

8. Crisis Muffins by flowersheep Lenght: 2,334 Summary:  Merlin needs to stop having crises at ungodly hours of the morning.

9. Meant to Be Heard by jessicamdawn Lenght: 4,768 Summary: Arthur Penderson meets the eccentric Merlin Emrys when he is twenty. While getting to know him, Arthur happens to hear strange things coming out of Merlin’s mouth when he isn’t looking but can’t figure out what they mean. Reincarnation fic.

10. Clouds On The Horizon by Diana_Prallon Lenght: 49,975 Summary: The Golden Age has arrived.It’s been three years since King Arthur Pendragon legalised magic once again in Camelot. Side by side, magical and non-magical folk have worked to rebuilt the land that was torn in the war against magic just as the King and his sister try to heal the rift between themselves. In times of peace, Albions prospers. Prosperity, however, brings a new threat to the land, one that Camelot cannot face without the aid of its allies. Meanwhile, Arthur and Merlin have to figure out how to live with each other now that there are no more secrets between them.

11. Sail Thou Forth (The Untold Want Remix) by fifty_fifty  Lenght: 37,070 Summary: Trapped in a marriage of convenience, Merlin Emrys doesn’t believe in love at first sight - or true love at all, for that matter.That is, until he meets Arthur Pendragon, an extraordinary man whose courage inspires him to begin the career that he has always longed for, and in whose arms Merlin begins to hope for better things.But society isn’t kind to men like them, and both must overcome tremendous obstacles before they will be free to live the life they’ve been dreaming of.

12. Touch by autumdragon Lenght: 2,596 Summary: It’s not black. Not really. It’s more shades of blacks: constant silhouettes floating in and out of his vision. It’s all he’s ever known. Black. But then he meets Merlin. And he sees colour for the first time.

13. A Rose in Spring by daylighthour Lenght: 3,746 Summary: Merlin is fed up with doing all the hard work and getting none of the credit. When Arthur lashes out at him in a fit of anger, it’s the last straw.

14. Death Invades Camelot by yourrockyspine Lenght: 19,665 Summary: Camelot’s Police Dept. is facing a multitude of problems: A) A series of brutal murders in a small town. B) An exhausted DCI connecting said murders, much to the derision of his fellow officers. C) A homeless, petty criminal hoping to share his observations (and possibly land himself the DCI in question). D) The DCI’s half-sister, who senses someone is following her.

15. Silhouette by rotrude Lenght: 12,409 Summary: Though his father objects, Arthur wants to become a poet, not a lawyer. Moving from London to the country, he finds his muse, in more way than one.

16. The Sidhe Prince by Caite Roswen Lenght: 67,207 Summary: When Prince Merlin of Avalon visits Camelot, King Arthur is confident that everything will run smoothly. He does not expect to come face to face with a destiny that never was, or to find his most closely guarded secrets unravelling around him. Merlin disarms Arthur with his unexpected charm, lays bare his charade as easily as if Arthur’s whole kingship were made of glass, and accompanies him on a journey which will change Camelot forever.

17. The Door at the End of the Hall by tamerofdarkstars Lenght: 6,998 Summary: Sometimes, what the human mind perceives as reality is different than what is actually there. A debilitating virus has decimated the nation, turning people into vicious, bloodthirsty creatures, and for Merlin and Arthur, trapped in the complex they used to work in and racing together to find a cure before the worst befalls them both, the line between reality and perception is blurring. 

18. M.E.R.L.I.N. by Lunadeath02 Lenght: 30,666 Summary: Captain Arthur Pendragon mail orders for a companion robot to keep him company and provide him with sex while he’s exploring the galaxy for unknown worlds; he didn’t plan on getting MERLIN. 

19. Time’s Up by Detochkina * Lenght: 31,700 Summary: Is there anything in common between drugs and excellent grades? Or business and psychology?  The answer is simple – in the world of big money a lot can happen when you’re bored to tears. Under pressure from his father, Merlin becomes involved in a strange relationship. At first, he can’t get out of it; on second thought – he doesn’t want to. “When they ask me in court how I got into this,” Merlin said slowly, trying to recover from the initial shock, “I’ll just tell them I was too busy snorting crack to notice. Think that would move them to tears?” Gwaine tossed his head back and laughed.”

*You’ll need to log in to AO3 to read this work. 

20. To You I Pledge by beren Lenght: 45,009 Summary: Merlin lays his life on the line to save Arthur yet again, only this time there are witnesses, lots of them. Only Arthur prevents him going to the headman’s axe straight away, but Arthur alone cannot save him. That is up to both of them. 

21. Learning by Touch by Capriccio Lenght: 802 Summary: Arthur might be a simpleton, but he’s not stupid. He sees the look in Merlin's eyes: soft and fond and sad, like he wants something he can't have. (Set during 4x12.).

22. One Sheet to the Wind by Capriccio  Lenght: 753 Summary: Merlin is just a plain white sheet, happily drying on the clothesline, until a gust of wind tangles him with the arrogant blanket next door.

23. Where This Road May Go by batgurl88

Summary: Arthur is a royal who can’t remember his past. Merlin and Gaius are con-men, hoping to return Arthur to Uther for a hefty reward. Little do they know they have the real deal on their hands.

24. I Win. by Kitty_Kanneas Lenght: 4,476 Summary:  At the summer faire in Ealdor, Arthur tries his hand at what he terms a 'peasant' game. When he isn't pleased with the outcome, he makes sure everyone knows it's just not really the way things are.

25. The Untold Want by Cookie Lenght: 18,572 Summary: Arthur Pendragon was the down-trodden son of the Duke of Camelot. After a break-down he goes to Cascades, a sanatorium, and begins to learn how to live his own life. That becomes even easier when he meets aspiring architect, Merlin Emrys.

26. Cold as the Wind Blows by arthur_pendragon Lenght: 1,780 Summary:  Every year on the first day of spring, Uther lets Arthur and Morgana and the rest of the nobles and servants do as they please, just for the day - and this year, Merlin finds himself invited to the best picnic of his life.

27. Ydill by arthur_pendragon Lenght: 2,955 Summary: One serene day where they're all as happy as they can be.(In which Merlin and Arthur are abysmal at hiding their emotions, Gwen has a big heart for her friends, and Morgana does, too.)

Arthur/Gwen

1. Shatter into the Hope of Tomorror by Mara93 Lenght: 48,000 Summary: Arthur casts Guinevere out of Camelot for the treachery of his heart. When the true treachery begins, and his beloved Camelot is lit ablaze, he is forced away from his home. Without kingdom, his heart must face fate’s greatest fear.

2.  Sound and Smoke by sneetchstar Lenght: 27,129 Summary: The newly-crowned King of Camelot gets some assistance in his rule from an unexpected source. With unexpected consequences.

3. Striking a Balance by sneetchstar Lenght: 75,807 Summary: Princess Guinevere and Prince Arthur are promised to one another as toddlers, but never meet again until their wedding day.

4.  Growing Up with Benefits by scarlettpeony Lenght: 46,949 Summary: Arthur and Gwen have always been close. As children, they were secret playmates and as adults, they are secret bed-mates.

5. To You, An Admirer (Remastered) by sneetchstar Lenght: 6,376 Summary: When Guinevere and Arthur unwittingly exchange love letters not only do they fall in love but also their entire world is set to change forever as the Kingdoms of Albion teeter on the verge of war. Many obstacles stand in their way, especially once they come to the attention of King Uther Pendragon and Arthur’s aunt, the powerful Queen Anna Lothian. Elsewhere, Merlin tries to help Morgana decode a recurring dream prophesising imminent doom.

6. Be of Good Cheer by schweetheart Lenght: 935 Summary: Canon AU. Camlann is over, and Arthur reigns triumphant over Albion. Gwen basks in the beginning of Camelot’s Golden Age.

7. Here by loveandthetruth Lenght: 422 Summary:  It’s barely past midday and there’s not nearly enough shade here to hide them but Arthur just doesn’t care.

8. Plus ca change (plus c’est la meme chose) by loveandthetruth Lenght: 35,649 Summary: Merlin’s hopes to have left the past behind come under fire when destiny intervenes and history appears to be repeating itself. Chaos and adventure ensue as Merlin tries to stop this story ending in the same tragedy. 

9. The Moment I Saw You by sneetchstar  Lenght: 62,777 Summary:  “Hi, I’m Arthur. Will you marry me?”

10. Broken Shackles by AngryPurpleFire Lenght: 26637 Summary: An invasion on Camelot leaves everyone in shambles. Unlikely alliances unfold in hopes of rebuilding what has been lost.

11. Touch by sneetchstar Lenght: 7,259 Summary: After a car wreck, Arthur needs to see a massage therapist.

Gwaine/Merlin

1. Dust of Snow by AkakoDukes Lenght: 503 Summary: Merlin and Gwaine during the first snow of the season on their way to Ealdor. Fluff.

2. Discovery by Luthorchickv2 Lenght: 1,371 Summary:  Arthur follows Merlin on an herb picking trip and discovers the source of Merlin’s good mood.

3. Riversong by ViridianJane  Lenght: 402 Summary: Merlin’s hands are soaked in blood; poison seeps under his nails and turns his dreams against him. He’s killed with these hands. He’s held death between them and couldn’t bring himself to mourn when he felt nothing inside of him shatter.  But Merlin’s hands are also loving.

4. A Type of Heaven. by leashy_bebes Lenght: 2,685 Summary: Gwaine has to be off doing knightly things. Merlin pines. But then "Every parting is a form of death, as every reunion is a type of heaven.” Canon future-fic.

5. The Gravity of Love by VTC Lenght: 9429  Summary: Gwaine zeroes in on the burdens Merlin seems to carry on his shoulders, and embarks on a mission to discover them and alleviate them. It does not go as planned, but it is so much more.

6. This is Just To Say by Heronfem  Lenght: 4,510 Summary:  Merlin can track all of his relationships through the books on his shelves.

7. Time Enough by CanaryPaper Lenght: 738 Summary: “I always feel like we’re trying to conquer time,” Gwaine whispers into the soft shell of his ear. Darts his tongue out for a taste.

Balinor/Hunith

1. Back To Where It Began by LittensTinyMittens Lenght: 818 Summary:  After Kilgharrah has been sent away, Merlin takes his father back to Ealdor.

Gwen/Merlin 1. Kiss Me When I’m Down by sadpendragon Lenght: 937 Summary: We were each other’s first after all.

Freya/Merlin

1. The Love That Binds Us by rubberglue Lenght: 3,593 Summary: Camelot’s greatest strength was the love that connected her people. Nine snippets of love in Camelot.

Arthur/Gwaine/Merlin

1. Hidden Dragons by LittensTinyMittens Words: 103,388 Summary: When the Purge began, the Dragonlords fled to the mountains and created their own little society with the dragons. Merlin is born and raised with his family and his people, only learning of his destiny when he is 16 years old. No one knows how he will meet the Once and Future King, since these days leaving the mountains can be a death sentence.  Lucky for him, the Once and Future King finds him, but to everyone’s shock, it is Arthur Pendragon. Merlin can’t help but feel drawn to him and is then tasked with the mission of teaching the Prince all about magic and their people. Along the way, they’re joined by a handsome traveler named Gwaine, and Merlin feels the pull of destiny with him too…or is it really destiny?

Gwen/Mithian

1. A Delicate Thing by freezerjerky Words: 1,569 Summary: Mithian comes in person to give her condolences.

GEN

1. A Mother’s Eyes by SheWhoStumbles Lenght: 1,598  Summary: It had been three years since the messengers had brought news to Ealdor of King Arthur’s death. It had been three years since magic was restored to the land and Albion entered her golden age. And it had been three years since Hunith had last heard from her only son.

2. Don’t Drink if the Mead Tastes Funny by KaterinaRiley * Lenght: 7,155 Summary: It’s all Arthur’s fault! Merlin didn’t want to drink the mead -it tasted funny- but oh no, Arthur just insisted that Merlin quit acting like a girl. So what happens? They get kidnapped and Arthur’s about to be sold as a slave, that’s what! It’s all Arthur’s fault.

*Canon compliant pairing and hint of slash, but they’re not the focus of the fic.

3. Testament of Weapons by shamera Lenght: 3,569 Summary: Four years and Merlin still had a hard time keeping a sword in his hand for more than a minute in a fight.

12. Problems by MayGlenn Lenght: 40,216 Summary: “Gwaine’s sixth problem, which may have been and always would be the greatest, was his complete and utter refusal—nay, inability—to accept help from others. It tied into his hubris, yes, a bit, and also his pride—for Gwaine had a great deal of pride, contrary to popular opinion—it was shame he didn’t have, which was different."  Gwaine has had worse scrapes than this: he just can’t think of any right now.  A boar hunt with the knights goes terribly wrong, but as things progress, it turns out that that’s the least of his problems.

Writers

1.  AO3 user flammablehat 

2.  AO3 user triste

#merthur #arwen #merwaine #freylin #merwen #rare gems week #roundup #merlinwritermonth2018

[tripstations]

6 LGBTQ+ Friendly Places to Travel

Sometimes you can feel as if the world can’t be the easiest place to travel if you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, and while this can be true for certain corners of the world, it is surely not true for the whole of this planet. Let me take you on a tour of  some of the best places to travel for the LGBTQ+ community, from some of the golden oldies to some more interesting destinations that wouldn’t have normally been on your radar. And who’s going to be your tour guide? Well I’m Henry, one of STA Travel’s newest recruits, fresh from my travels in Hong Kong and far more of Asia!

Taipei – Taiwan

Taiwan can probably claim the spot as the most gay friendly destination in Asia, in fact homosexuality has never been illegal in Taiwan; and excitingly Taiwan legalised same-sex marriage in May 2019, the first Asian country to do so! In regards to Trans rights, the country still has a long way to go (as does our own to be honest), but there has been some good movement in the form of a ‘3rd Gender option’ on ID cards.

As with most nations in the world, the LGBTQ+ friendly areas are far more likely to be found in the metropolitan areas and Taiwan is no exception to this, with Taipei being the most LGBTQ+ friendly part of the country. The annual pride takes place every last Saturday in October, with over 80,000 attending normally, turning Taipei into one big party, reason enough to visit Taipei alone!

Away from being a safe destination or the LGBTQ+ community, what else does Taiwan offer? Well,  beaches, national parks, history and, one hell of a food scene. Do I really need say any more to whet the appetite?!

Check out our Travel Guide on Taiwan if this has got you interested: Travel Taiwan

  New Zealand

It might not come as a surprise to you that New Zealand has a great gay scene, I mean yes it is a bit far away from the UK, but if you’re going travelling you might as well really travel!

First things first, the Transgender community is nothing new in New Zealand, with the Maori having a long history of acceptance and inclusion of whakawāhine (trans women) and tangata ira tāne (trans men) in their society. And New Zealand had the first ever transgender MP in 1999 with the election of Georgina Beyer!

What to do for the gay traveller in New Zealand? Well first of all, gay or straight, New Zealand has some of the best landscapes the world has to offer, I mean we all know by now that the Lord of the Rings was filmed there, so there is of course Hobbiton for you Lord of the Rings nuts.

But if you fancy a true a unique gay experience then get yourself down to Queenstown for a Winter Pride on the slopes in September.

And, of course if you want to hit up the gay night scene then head for Auckland, which is New Zealand’s largest city and has an amazing selection of LGBTQ+ friendly places to stay, and great bars and clubs to enjoy a tipple or two (*ten) to help dance the night away.

Last but not least, you wouldn’t be getting a thorough New Zealand experience without going to a Rugby game, so get yourself to the NZ Falcons RFC team in Auckland, New Zealand’s only gay rugby team.

  Guadalajara – Mexico

Now I told you there might be some ones you weren’t expecting and I can probably guess that this is one of them?! Well let me tell you why you should be visiting Guadalajara if you’re embarking on some LGBTQ+ friendly travels.

Despite some high profile conservative politicians in the country, namely the President and the Mayor of the city; Guadalajara is a fairly safe space for the LGBTQ+ community, with many gay-owned and run places to stay and eat. Of course with all major cities is always worth keeping your wits about you when the sun goes down.

While in Guadalajara you must immerse yourself in the Mexican culture, and this means food. Mexico has one of the most intriguing cuisines in the world and Guadalajara is no exception to this, with street food and well priced restaurants a plenty make sure you fill those bellies with some Mexican munch.

And of course if you do manage to find yourself sampling some of Mexico’s liquid based treats, namely Tequila, then there is a great gay night scene around the Avenida Prisciliano Sanchez to dance the night away!

If this has got you excited some Mexican magic, then check out our Travel guide for the Latin American nation: Travel Mexico

  Berlin

From one of my more ‘out there’ suggestions to one of the most classic destinations for the LGBTQ+ community. Berlin is about as LGBTQ+ friendly as a city can get, in fact it has the oldest gay village in the world, Schöneberg, which dates back to the 1920s although it did temporarily stop for a while due to some historical events…

I suppose when it comes to Berlin, we cannot ignore the incredible Queer nightlife. There is of course the famous Berghain which of course I was refused entry to… I even had the full black clothing and panda eyes and still apparently wasn’t a fit for the club; but don’t let my sour grapes stop you from trying! There is KitKat as well, which might be the place to explore some of your more niche desires, shall I say. There are so many more amazing queer clubs in Berlin, I could write a whole blog on that alone, actually I might just do that one day!

Of course I must mention Berlin Pride which is one of the biggest Prides in all of Europe, probably the world actually! It takes place in the second half of July every year, with it falling on Saturday 27th this year, if you’re looking for a Pride to rival London then Berlin is the one for you.

Away from the incredible LGBTQ+ scene that Berlin has to offer you, there is so much more to explore in this great melting pot of a city. Whether that’s from sampling a fine Turkish kebab to learning about some of the darker times in the city’s history.

Must do in Berlin: Visit the Jewish Museum, even if you’re not a Museum person this is a must, one of the best things I have ever done on my travels.

  Austin – USA

Austin, the capitol of Texas?! Yes you heard me right, Austin has a thriving gay scene, so don’t let the idea of being out in Texas put you off this vibrant metropolitan hub.

For the best gay-friendly neighborhoods then get yourself to East Austin, South Congress and Downtown Austin.

This city has so much to offer in terms of history, head down to the ‘Texas State Capitol’ building to find out all about the history of Texas, an incredible area of North America which was part of Mexico at one point! Oh and I cannot forget to mention the fact that Austin is the live music hub of America, why? Because simply put, it has more live music venues per person than anywhere else in the USA. And you can’t ignore the amazing Austin City Limits’ festival, but be quick because it books up super fast.

If you want to escape the rat-race of the city and you’re feeling adventurous, then head to Hippie Hallow Park for the gay beach at Lake Travis, where clothing is not necessarily a requirement!

Something to think about: If you’re heading off to Austin in the November time, then you MUST get yourself to the Austin International Drag Fest!

Want to explore more about Austin: Travel Austin

  Montevideo – Uruguay

Frequently rated as one of the most gay-friendly cities in the world by Lonely Planet, this South American city should be a must on your LGBTQ+ travel list.

Did you know that the Tango was initially a dance between two men? No I didn’t either! So if you want to get yourself into the South American swing of things, then there are many a queer-friendly dance classes for you.

One of the best things to do in Montevideo is just walk… You’ll be mesmerised by the 12 mile wide city adorned by neoclassical architecture. Throughout your walks you will come across the Plaza Indepencia, a stunning square where there’s a 24-hour honour guard protecting the remains of Uruguayan Independence hero, José Artigas!

If you want to practice your newly found dance moves then Montevideo offers an incredible night life, with bars aplenty and some incredible gay-friendly clubs; just remember that things start a bit later in Uruguay so don’t be getting to the club any time before midnight!

Oh and I can’t forget to mention the amazing wine you can sample in Montevideo, so if you’re feet are hurting then sit back and grab a glass of Malbec.

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