Concordia Discors

Updated March 24, 2012. This post is a work in progress. It has not yet been completely organized and sorted, and it's not in alphabetical order (yet). Links may lead to LJ posts, AO3 or to my website, as indicated. Story links will indicate pairing (if slash), gen or het (if not slash), word count, and approx time when the story is set (when applicable, for instance in SG-1 fandom). Story summaries are on the individual posts, along with warnings and all other notes/info. Vids I've made or collaborated on are not yet listed, for the most part.

( Merlin (BBC) )
( The Eagle )
( Hawaii Five-0 )
( White Collar )
( King Arthur )
( Fast and Furious Movies )
( Southland )
( Tron and Tron: Legacy )
( The Outsiders )
( Iron Giant )
( Mad Men )
( Band of Brothers (2) )
( Kings )
( Stargate: Atlantis )
( Brokeback Mountain )
( Rome )
( Batman Begins )
( Tigerland )
( Alexander )
( Deadwood )
( Stargate: SG-1 )
( Supernatural gen )
( Supernatural Sam/Dean )
( Supernatural Dean/Castiel )
( Supernatural J2 and J3 RPF )
( Supernatural het (one sad lonely story) )
( The Sentinel )
( Star Wars and The Phantom Menace )
( Smallville )
( Miscellaneous other fiction: due South, ER, Lord of the Rings, Horatio Hornblower, Master and Commander, Queer as Folk US, Hard Core Logo, X-Files, The Matrix, Highlander, Angel, Farscape, Homicide: Life on the Street, Gladiator, OZ )

This episode was downright brilliant.

( wow )

I ordered a (rather pricey) used copy of Rosemary Sutcliff's Blood Feud from a seller on Amazon. As it turned out, the book came to me from the UK. It's an Oxford University Press edition (1976), and in its former life, it was a library book - from the Tredegar Branch of the Gwent County Library, which Google has helpfully informed me is in Wales. It was last checked out on 22 May 1987. I know this because the stamp sheet is still inside, as well as the card pocket and check-out slip. Also a pasted-in warning which reads, "If there is a notifiable disease in the house, i.e., scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhoid fever, measles or chicken pox, do not return your books to the library until the Local Health Authority has visited the house." Living history, in my hands, in perfect condition. Even the vintage 70's shrinkwrap plastic cover thing is still perfectly intact, if a bit shrivelly. The library geek in me is very happy.

On the subject of semi-related things that came in the mail today: this week's Entertainment Weekly with Channing Tatum being hot on the cover was in the mailbox. When I opened the cover flap, Channing and his movie stripper friends were beneath, in various stages of undress, looking very delicious. Matt Bomer, you are HOT. And then there's a hilarious interview with Matt and Channing, plus Matthew McConaughy (sp?) and some other not-quite-as-hot dude who I think is on True Blood and whose name I already forgot. (Obviously, I am not too concerned about the details of this movie. I am concerned only with the amount of naked manflesh. And apparently there will be plenty.)

I almost had to put toothpicks in my eyelids to stay awake until SPN, but it was so worth it.

( below the cut )

All I want in the world is snuggly, warm, comfortable Merlin/Arthur comfortfic. *flops over and starts poking at bookmarked Merlin fic* SO TIRED NOW.

Hey, have some Merlin recs. I meant to post these a long time ago, but, well. Life. All of these are modern AU. I know, I know! Crazy, right? And yet, here we are. I like domesticity and stupid boys who are emotionally clueless, and also vast maturity and noble sacrifice. I contain multitudes.

would i, yes by m_frantic - in which Merlin and Arthur become friends who want each other, and Arthur is already in a relationship with Gwen, and it's complicated. Gorgeous turns of phrase in this - really beautifully written. Lovely emotional depth, too.

Burning for Burning also by m_frantic - in which Arthur suggests they allow Merlin's no-good cheating boyfriend to catch them screwing each other, and that entire plan goes sideways because they "practice" and practice makes a little too perfect (HOT), and then there's just a lot of emotional devastation as they figure it all out.

Not In This Land Alone by torakowalski - in which Merlin the commoner works at the palace, and Prince Arthur is very royal and in danger, and it's all very awesome.

Lord Drake's Bequest by pennyplainknits - yes, it is true: everyone in the freaking fandom -- nay, the entire world -- has read this, except me. And I avoided it because I thought it was some kind of awful Regency romance pastiche thing, based on the title. But it's not, at all; it's modern AU, in which Arthur has to marry someone to preserve his inheritance, and naturally he chooses his best mate, Merlin. You know where this is going.

this fast, unreasonable spring by i_claudia - in which Arthur is a high-class rentboy, and Merlin buys him once, and then, you know, true love takes its course.

The Things That Want to Let Go by giselleslash - oh, my god, this story. Arthur is afraid to be who he is, and then he meets Merlin, and he finds himself in the course of a weekend with Merlin. (Please note, this description is lame, compared to the level of awesome in the story.)

Being With You by ella_bane - Arthur isn't out, and there's no way he can possibly have fallen for Merlin on sight. Right? ANGSTY GOOD TIMES in the realm of self-discovery. A really lovely story.

This is really all my iPad's fault. Once I was able to read my Nook library on my iPad using the app, I began reading a great deal more in my short spare moments. For one thing, the iPad is backlit. For another, I can swipe or tap to turn the page. (Poor first-gen Nook. How I hated its clicky-clicky page turning. I read so fast that I was clicking incessantly, and it annoyed me so much I stopped reading.) And even more important: larger font for my tired eyes. Enough said. Anyway, I have a book rec! - The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. The book is told from Patroclus' POV. At its heart, this book is the love story of Achilles and Patroclus, and it's lovely. I enjoyed it greatly. If you are a fan of Mary Renault, or of classics slash, this is going to be right up your alley. I picked it up due to sineala's recommendation. This is why book recs are awesome.

After I read that in one day two weeks ago, I went on to the Hunger Games trilogy, which I read in three days. I enjoyed those books a great deal, except for parts of the last one. Which I won't get into here, because, spoilers. But someday I'll write a post about all that.

When time permits, I'm a fast reader, which is inconvenient because I'm always on the prowl for new things. Also, sometimes books really fail to grab me in the first chapter and I have to move on to others. (Life is too short to waste time on boring books.) So: here's the list of unread or only-just-started books currently on my Nook. (I have numerous print books in my library unread, but the likelihood of me reading them is somewhat less than the chances of me reading the ones I've downloaded to the iPad. Backlit! Larger font! Joy!!) If you have any recs for me based on the types of things I have listed here, please let me know, or point me to your Goodreads page.

Side note: I am not really very interested in YA books that have angsty and yet entirely predictable hetero girl/guy/guy or girl/girl/guy triangles. Especially if they involve vampires, werewolves, angels, or demons. It shocks me that I liked Hunger Games, but maybe that's because it's dystopian SF, which is a thing I love unto itself. So there you have it. Side note part 2: I don't really enjoy most SF or its sub-genres. In fact, it bores me to tears. So recs for that are lost on me, UNLESS it has a character-driven, post-apocalyptic and/or dystopian foundation.

( booooks )

those who will not see
The Eagle, Marcus/Esca, about 2650 words, PG
Summary: Marcus and Esca may be oblivious to their own feelings, but old Aquila is not.

( below the cut )

For my money, that was one of the best and most satisfying hours of TV I've seen in ages.

( HUGE SPOILERS below the cut! )

Well, I told myself I wouldn't post anything until I finished answering comments, but.

( Spoilers through Balance )

Delirium
Merlin/Arthur, G-rated, about 1350 words, canon-era futurefic and self-indulgent hurt/comfort
Prompt: delirium and a worried Arthur.

( under the cut )

H50: If you've been wondering why Alex O'Loughlin looks like hell on the show lately, here's the answer. At least he was smart enough to go to rehab before the meds took over his life.

Merlin: Only three people gave me h/c prompts when I asked about them, so I was able to write snippets for all three of you. I might post those tomorrow. I need to finish up the two porn battle mutant stories and post those, and then I have to get started on paperlegends, eep.

The Eagle: I have recs!!! There have been new Marcus/Esca canon-era stories posted in that fandom in the last few weeks! Oh, happy day.

In Borcovicus by isiscolo - One of my favorite things is Esca tending to Marcus. It never gets old. Here it is, written beautifully, and with book-canon leanings.

Roman Principles by rebeccaann08 - Marcus is filled with frustrated longing; Esca clues him in. *g* (And a second story by this writer, Haven, because a Marcus who suffers for love is one of my favorite things.)

Fervet Olla, Vivit Amicitia by songbird - Marcus cooks while Esca works. Adorable non-sappy domesticity.

Spartacus: I <3 THIS SHOW. ( So let's go under a cut. Spoilers for Chosen Path. )

You know, I haven't been posting about Spartacus this season because I think there's only one other person on my flist that's into it. (kuwdora WHERE ARE YOU OMG!) But I'm still completely baffled why fandom is not all over this like a big fluffy blanket. Fierce, fascinating women who scheme and plot and fight and are awesome! Men who love other men, both platonically and really REALLY not platonically! Amazing characters! IDEK. Is it because it's on Starz? Is it because people have a negative impression of this show and what it's about? Is it violence-aversion? I don't get it. I had to retreat to Tumblr to find people who are excited about it. And that made me die a little inside, not gonna lie. Because for me, Tumblr is like a trip to the dentist's office: painful, but sometimes necessary.

ANYWAY. Below is a lot of nattering about everything, plot and characters and speculation and EVERYTHING.

( Spoilers for the entire series thru ep 5 of this season, Libertus )

WOW, so that post is totally tl;dr. Short version: I love this show.

You know, 4x03 is the episode which sealed my fate, because the last five minutes of it sucked me into Merlin completely. I had no choice in the matter. That scene with Arthur and Merlin mashed every button I have, about devotion and responsibility and loyalty and friendship and KINGLINESS. So here's some stuff about the visuals used in the scene.

( destiny ahoy! )

eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! My profile page is filled with pink sparkly hearts and messages of love and joy! :D The last couple months have been a daily slog, and I can't even tell you guys how much all the love has brightened my day. Thank you to everyone who has sent them - I will put the list behind a cut, just to spare flists. <3 <3 <3!

( thank you!! )


And now, a Merlin poll, because I have a big exam tonight and I'm so so so so tired of studying. Just four questions. 'Tis a poll of silliness, mostly. And I will put it behind a cut, because one of the questions is about Servant of Two Masters, which just aired in the US last Friday. *g*

( poll! )

Diamond in a Black Sky
Arthur/Merlin, 1994 words, adult
Written for Porn Battle XIII, for the following prompts: candle, possessive, goodbye, return, future, king, serve, magic.
Notes: Canon-era futurefic. This is for lolafeist, because she's awesome. I meant for it to have more angst/porn and less romance, but. *sigh*

( below the cut )

Because I like them, and I want them here - two recent numbers from Glee. YT video embeds are below the cuts.

( Naya Rivera and Ricky Martin: La Isla Bonita )

( Kevin McHale and Harry Shum Jr.: Scream (waaaay better than MJ and JJ's version) )

Wager of Battle
Merlin/Arthur, adult, 12,150 words
See part one for summary and notes

( continue with part two )

Merlin fandom, I promise someday I'll post a story under 12,000 words that's not based on one of my favorite tropes...but today is not that day. *g*

Wager of Battle
Merlin/Arthur, 12,150 words, adult
Summary: When a knight-in-training mistakes Merlin for a common servant, Arthur is Most Displeased. Trial by combat ensues...but it's not Arthur who takes up the sword.
Notes: Takes place in season 4, at some point after 4x09. Huge thanks once again to corilannam and nu_breed for outstanding beta and cheerleading and general awesomeness. :D

( beneath the cut! )

Ooooh, it's Superbowl Sunday, and that means chips, dip, men injuring one another with astounding viciousness (aka FOOTBALL on my TV, YAY), and ridiculously expensive commercials. And waiting to see if Kelly Clarkson will butcher the lyrics to the national anthem before the game, since that seems to be the trend lately. There will be Madonna at halftime! I can do homework and write Merlinfic during the game, since I turned down all parties in service to my craving for some sweet, sweet solitude. Sounds like a perfect day to me.

oxoniensis is running the 13th Porn Battle. You know, I've never participated, because I suck at writing porn outside of context. But this year I looked at all the Merlin prompts, and I'm so tempted, because: KNIGHT PORN. I'm not sure, tho, about the culture of the porn battle. Is it just supposed to be filthy porntastic pornyness? Is plot discouraged? Is it supposed to be story-free and as short as possible? What if the porn devolves into ~feelings~ and whatnot? What if Arthur just cuddles Merlin a lot and pretends not to be misty-eyed because it's all so beautiful?

In conclusion, I think I fail at porn. *hands in fangirl credentials*

Have two random yet lovely Merlin recs:

Resting On Your Laurels by thevinegarworks - 1401 words. A gorgeously written character study of Arthur, through Merlin's eyes. Really beautiful.

Burning Our Minds in Solitaire by lozenger8 - 3,370 words. Futurefic. This is a bit of Merlin through Arthur's eyes, as they overcome trust issues and find their way to each other.

The term "problem" is so subjective. *g*

( cut because it's 90% Merlin-related )

So. HI. What's new out there? *peeps in your kitchen windows*