Thank You

For future reference and enjoyment

Merlinktober Day 19 (on day 23): Scales

A celebration of some Dragon!Merlin fics I’ve enjoyed! (close-ups and fic links under cut)

In a World of the Same, You're Different by @thepenguinclub

Rating: Gen | Word Count: 8,058 | Chapters: 1 “You know,” the prince started, and Merlin grunted in frustration, turning away. Princes were always the same, “I don’t appreciate you talking about my father like that.” Merlin stopped and narrowed his eyes, before slowly looking back at the prince. He studied the prince's face intently. “And who, exactly, would your father be?” he asked, fury crackling through the calm sounding words. He was not in the mood to be played with by a prince. “Uther Pendragon,” the prince said calmly. Merlin’s tail lashed so hard against the rock next to him a large piece of it chipped off, rocketing through the air and over the edge of the mountain. --- Merlin was cursed to be a dragon, which was fine. It was fine, he was fine, he was happy, thank you very much. Everything was great. Except for all these knights and princes that kept bothering him. That, that was not fine. It was annoying. It definitely wasn't the only human interaction he ever got, he was fine. So if this odd group of knights and their king would leave, that would be wonderful.

A Dream of Dragons by @slantedknitting | with Art by LFB72

Rating: E | Word Count: 40,640 | Chapters: 1 Merlin, a fierce dragon, is captured and held prisoner in a deep cave under a castle. He believes he will perish, miserable and alone… until a second prisoner arrives. The man is small and annoying at first, but gradually they get to know each other, and soon enough the cave is almost tolerable. Then the man escapes, and Merlin realises his whole world has been changed.

running back home by @sourw0lfs | with Art by @kokoshka67

Rating: M | Word Count: 25,126 | Chapters: 7 With another growl, the monster surges forward, pressing its full weight into Arthur and toppling his footing. They both go down hard with just the damaged sword as a barrier between them. Arthur’s arms shake with the effort to keep it that way, pressing upwards with all the strength he can muster to free himself. The monster barely budges, lips pulling back in a snarl that reveals a mouthful of half-sharp, half-dull teeth. Through his panic, Arthur finally realizes why this monster seems so different from the attacks in the past. His gaze trails from the jagged teeth snapping angrily at him to the side of the creature’s face that isn’t covered in scales, to the side that’s so obviously and glaringly human. Because the monster isn’t a monster at all. It’s something else entirely, some kind of cursed hybrid never before seen. Worst of all, though, Arthur finds that he recognizes the human face beyond the scales and fangs. “Merlin?”

Tales of a Dragon and His Prince by @0hheytherebigbadwolf

(Summary for the first in the series) Rating: Gen - E | Word Count: 42,121 | Works: 15 They cannot have even one hunt without something going wrong on some level. A horse throws a shoe. A crossbow string breaks. A storm blows in. A giant beast attacks. Merlin turns into a dragon. The usual things.

(and also With the roar of the fire my heart rose to its feet because it's a similar dragon design and both fics are so very fun)

Yes

My people! I just read what had got to be one of the most incredible merlin fics out there: Teach a man to fish and he'll never run out of ale by Doctor959 on ao3.

Merlin? Powerful, skilled, sassy, traumatised, knows his way around a tavern and isn't useless in a fight (without magic!) either. Let me introduce GWAINE his friend, brother and father figure(!?!?!?), he basically adopts Merlin after he had to flee Ealdor and got himself in a bit of a pickle.

And the chemistry between Merlin and Arthur is screaming crying throwing up good.

And the cherry on top of all that is good Morgana bonding with our boi Merlin.

OH AND UTHER GETS BULLIED A LIL

Passing this holy text on

hot artists don't gatekeep

I've been resource gathering for YEARS so now I am going to share my dragons hoard

Floorplanner. Design and furnish a house for you to use for having a consistent background in your comic or anything! Free, you need an account, easy to use, and you can save multiple houses.

Comparing Heights. Input the heights of characters to see what the different is between them. Great for keeping consistency. Free.

Magma. Draw online with friends in real time. Great for practice or hanging out. Free, paid plan available, account preferred.

Smithsonian Open Access. Loads of free images. Free.

SketchDaily. Lots of pose references, massive library, is set on a timer so you can practice quick figure drawing. Free.

SculptGL. A sculpting tool which I am yet to master, but you should be able to make whatever 3d object you like with it. free.

Pexels. Free stock images. And the search engine is actually pretty good at pulling up what you want.

Figurosity. Great pose references, diverse body types, lots of "how to draw" videos directly on the site, the models are 3d and you can rotate the angle, but you can't make custom poses or edit body proportions. Free, account option, paid plans available.

Line of Action. More drawing references, this one also has a focus on expressions, hands/feet, animals, landscapes. Free.

Animal Photo. You pose a 3d skull model and select an animal species, and they give you a bunch of photo references for that animal at that angle. Super handy. Free.

Height Weight Chart. You ever see an OC listed as having a certain weight but then they look Wildly different than the number suggests? Well here's a site to avoid that! It shows real people at different weights and heights to give you a better idea of what these abstract numbers all look like. Free to use.

Mandatory reblog

Tumblr Code.

If I ever see any of you in public, the code is “I like your shoelaces”

that way we know we’re from tumblr without revealing anything

I’m just going to say this to strangers until i find a tumblr person

Do you have any recs for druid king!merlin fics? Like, fics that Have merlin owning the role and meeting Arthur for diplomacy and all that jazz

1. and you held me tightly ('til the morning) by Imagined (@burglarhobbit)

Merlin ducks forward, grabbing Arthur’s hands. His are cool and soft, and Arthur is surprised by the feel of Merlin’s palm over his own rough knuckles. “Arthur,” he says pointedly. “I know my duty, and I don’t need you to remind me. Are you always like this?”

“Like what?”

“Annoying,” Merlin says, and leans back, appraising him more thoughtfully than his tone suggests. “So concerned with your honour.”

Or: Arthur must marry Lord Emrys for a year to create an alliance between their people. Except it isn't Emrys who comes to marry him, but the young druid Merlin, who soon turns all of Camelot upside down—and Arthur with it.

~~~

this is kind of fits your ask? like merlin is the leader of the druids and he gets into an arranged marriage with arthur for diplomacy reasons

2. At Arm’s Length by sirencalls (@naydran)

“I’m sorry, there must be a mistake.” Uther furrows his brows. “That is my son’s manservant.”

“This is Emrys, the most powerful sorcerer who will ever walk the earth. It is our deepest honor to be able to offer his hand to your son.”

“Merlin?” Arthur asks, looking across the hall. Merlin looks the palest and the smallest Arthur has ever seen him. He looks like a scared animal that knows it’s about to be trapped, and that’s when it clicks for Arthur that no part of this is a joke. None of it. “Merlin, what are they talking about?”

~~~

merlin is lowkey like druid royalty here? and also getting into a very angsty arranged marriage with arthur

3. Maybe This Time by Funkie_Moon

Three days before the time limit, King Arthur learns of an agreement. He must unite with, which he soon found out meant ‘to marry’, the Leader of the Druids, or the Old Religion would reclaim the magic that protects Camelot.

The problem is that the current Leader of the Druids is Emrys, a man he has never met. And this man seemed to be seeing Merlin, his old flame with whom he parted on poor terms but still had affections for.

~~~

ok so no negotiations happening here, but we have oblivious!arthur

Always reblog the philosophical blind dog post

it's really weird having a first dog be blind and then getting a second who can see...like how was I supposed to be prepared for this.

this creature can perceive when I put the treats up on the high shelf. or when I hide stuff behind my back. I can't fool her!! she's always watching me and she shouldn't have this much knowledge!!!

I walk around at night and I shine my flash light directly into her eyes and I'll just be standing there staring at her weird blue orbs for like 5 seconds until I realize it's probably extremely annoying to her, because she has eyes!! I'll turn on the light in the room and she gruffs and grumbles like ?? oh right!! light wakes you up!! the fuck??

For safe keeping

Witcher ficlets 2022

Look. It turns out I write a lot…… xD  And tumbl have link limits, so it’s probably just ….. easier to start a second one….  For both finding and keeping them! 

Please enjoy this new year of fics and ficlets <3

-Rough hands makes for soft songs  Jaskier is teaching Ciri how to play lute, and Geralt is weak

-A great excuse  Jaskier and Geralt hiding in a bathhouse and shoulderkisses

-Shards  Season 2 MCD, where the witchers have signs to protect them, but Jaskier does not….

-Perfect dissonance It takes some time, but Geralt finally realizes it was Jaskier missing all along (modern au) 

-Her weddingday It’s her weddingday, and she doesn’t understand why the witcher is telling her to go to rest (noonwraith pov)

-In the light of the stars Jaskier just wants to celebrate his birthday for once, with the people he cares about. But it doesn’t seem like anyone notices

-Like onions and Sad Silktraders Just Jaskier making Geralt smell his shirt, and Geralt pretending he doesn’t like it. Like normal people.

-Falling Where Geralt follows Jaskier to Oxenfurt and finally tells him how he feels. Cuddles and tracing of lips.

-Sun and stars Cuddling in a patch of sunlight, where Geralt kisses and explores Jaskier’s back.

-Promise? Promise. “I love you, I love you, I love you.”  Geralt is saying it like he is terrified out of his mind, like he is mourning, like he is alone in the entire world.

-The art of recovering Where Jaskier kisses Eskel for cover, but then it is really hard to stop kissing

-Burn butcher burn An observation about s1 and s2, and how the butcher burned

-That happy ever after The before and after Ciri came into Geralt’s life and helped him heal and remember that not all emotions are bad, a modern au. 

-Tease (Nsfw) Just Geralt’s hips against Jaskier’s inner thighs. That’s it.

-Neither petty nor possesive, but…. Jaskier saves Geralt from a flirty group of women by pretending to be his partner… until it is hard to pretend anymore (modern au)

-Cold fries Modern au where Bartender Geralt falls for lead singer Jaskier

-Under the stars Where Geralt and Dandelion watches each other and the stars

-Belleteyn and Birthdays Because it is both Ciri and Yennefer’s birthday and they celebrate with gifts and cakes

-Witcher mine Where Dandelion struggles to sleep and Geralt helps by being a human…witcher.. wheighted blanket

-Bittersweet Modern au, FWB but it’s bad for their friendship. (Geralt fixes it in the end I promise)

-If I kiss you tomorrow Belleteyn and Geralt is smitten with his bard

-Kelp forest and trinkets Mer!everyone where Geralt attempts to court Jaskier

-Ikea… Just Ikea Lambert and Aiden moves in together, that calls for a shopping trip!

-Turmoil Jaskier’s mind is so incredibly loud, but Geralt is there to comfort him

-Someone to you Jaskier sings something more personal that he intended, and Eskel soothes him

- Handshandshands Jaskier is but a humble mastermind with a plan to touch Geralt’s hand

-It is summer Where Jaskier is living his best summer life, despite the weather fighting him

-Tusks Monster!Geralt gifts Dandelion his tusks as daggers as a gift for affection

- Dance floor kisses Where geraskier … kiss on the dance floor

- War drama or cowboys? Where geraskier slowdances in the kitchen at 2am

- Scent of spring Where Eskel tried to court Jaskier, but he didn’t get it, and they reunite after winter

-To trust and to hold Where Jaskier gets very, very hurt, and Geralt’s only way of saving him is through a bonding bite 

- You always can Where Jaskier gets silly drunk, and good flat mate Eskel gets a little more than he bargained for

-Oh how his heart trembles Where Geralt comes back to winter with Dandelion in Oxenfurt

-The challenge of you Geskel in a competative cooking show falling head over heals for each other

-Back to you Eskel getting beat up by an arch griffin and Jaskier is there to pick him up.

-Lean against me Jaskier staggering away after Blood Origins, and Geralt looking for him

Thank you for reading! <3

Steve is staring. That in itself is nothing new, he does that sometimes, and Eddie just lets him. He knows that Steve sometimes lets his mind wander off into a quieter existence, especially when they hang out together.

Secretly, Eddie likes it when Steve stares like that. In that quiet way of his, the safe way, projecting comfort and calm. It’s endearing. Eddie will read or grab his guitar and strum a few gentle chords, plucking at the strings in search for a new melody.

And then Steve will always come back and smile at him.

So, really, Steve staring is nothing new.

What’s new is that he’s staring at Eddie, his eyes far from unseeing, his mind not at all zoned out into another dimension where none of the bullshit happened.

He’s not even sure Steve is aware of it, but when Eddie meets his eyes for the fifth time in the past few minutes, he can’t help himself as he starts to squirm.

“What?”

And Steve just smiles. It’s hidden, like most of them, but Eddie can see the exploring wonderment in his eyes make way to affection and fondness. It makes his heart fucking flutter.

“Just thinking.”

“Uh-huh,” Eddie says, putting away his book and facing Steve properly where they’re both sitting on opposite ends of the couch. “And you need my face for that?”

Instead of an answer, Eddie only gets more staring, though Steve’s eyes are wandering now. Slowly. And decidedly non-sexual. Like he’s looking. Watching. Seeing.

The idea of being seen has always made Eddie uncomfortable, because no one ever had. No one ever tried.

And here Steve is. Staring.

Eddie looks away.

“Have you ever…” Steve begins, then stops. Tries again. “Do you ever just meet someone and they… They somehow make your entire life make sense? Like, your life never sucked or anything, and you never even knew there was anything missing, but then they’re they are where they weren’t before, and you just think to yourself. This is it. This is how my life is getting better, this is how everything, everything, will make just a little bit of sense. And you were never quite whole, and maybe you’re not whole now, but being a little bit broken is suddenly okay now because they get it? And they’re there. And just…”

Steve stops and shrugs like Eddie’s heart isn’t beating a mile a minute, like he isn’t saying what Eddie is pretty sure he’s saying right now. Like his voice hasn’t grown more and more tender with each word.

Steve swallows and finally, finally stops staring even though Eddie never wants him to stop.

“And then you realise this is it. This is it. You don’t want change anymore, you don’t want life to move on. You just want them. And suddenly nothing matters because they’re everything. And they’re here. With you.”

Silence falls, and an eternity passes before Steve meets his eyes again.

A small smile tugs at his lips and he adds, “Even though you never liked heavy metal.”

The laugh that bubbles out of Eddie might be more of a sob, but he doesn’t care. Now he’s the one staring, his eyes wet and his heart somewhere between heavy and light, beating as though it were trying to escape him and nestle itself inside Steve’s chest instead. It already has, months ago.

And for once in his life, Eddie doesn’t have words. Not on his mind, not on his tongue, not in the air between them.

There is only Steve. Steve, Steve, Steve. And his adorable little smile as he keeps looking at him, keeps seeing.

Eddie just nods. Slowly, haltingly, he nods. Because yes. Yes, he has met this person. Is looking at him, finding beauty where he should be terrified, finding hope where there should only be trauma, and finding love where there should be too much history.

“Stevie,” he says at last, voice nothing more than a whisper. “I am going to kiss you now.”

A full smile now, a grin, a laugh. “Yes please.”

I love you, Eddie thinks. Even though you never liked heavy metal.

Saving them for later

merthur fic recs: jealous!arthur

1. Our Drunken Misunderstanding by InkThroughHerVeins       

Arthur and Merlin awake after a night of heavy drinking, jealousy and fun, but they don’t remember a thing including why Merlin’s wearing Arthur’s ring.

~~~

the whole thing lowkey starts bc of arthur’s jealousy, so i think it counts

2. Our Breach of Etiquette by InkThroughHerVeins               

“Are we married?” Merlin asked as he burst through the door of Arthur’s chambers.

Arthur looked up from his parchment. “What?”

“Are. We. Married?”

~~~

the sequel to the fic above, where man really went “ah yes, let me marry my fiance without his knowledge to mark my claim”

3. Charting Stars On A Stained Glass Ceiling by mornmeril (@mornmeril​)

Merlin leads a relatively content life - or as content as is possible under the rule of a magic-hating King. When the arrogant son of said magic-hating King starts becoming a regular at his coffee shop, Merlin is a little puzzled. When said Prince prat then proceeds to ingest a love potion on Merlin’s watch that results in him having to move into the Royal Palace as Prince Arthur’s (fake) boyfriend, Merlin wonders which deity he has angered. Things only get more complicated from there.

“Welcome to The Drip and Grind, what can I get for you?“ “The same thing I always have,” Prince Arthur says, sounding vaguely disdainful and unbearably posh. “One would think you’d remember my order by now.” Merlin scowls. He remembers His Haughtiness’ order perfectly well, but sees no reason to inflate an already unbearably large ego. “You’re not my only customer,” Merlin keeps his voice coolly polite; barely. “You realise that’s not the proper way to address me?” And is that a smirk at the corner of the stupid prat’s, stupidly gorgeous mouth? “Apologies, your High-and-Mightiness. Now do you think you can tell me your order or must I divine it from my crystal ball?”

~~~

gahhh the mutual pining!11!11!!! jealousy plays a massive role in a scene to get the plot moving forward, which is just what i like

Me

yippee!!!!!!