Loaded March by Footloose was started on the 5th August 2011. Well, thatâs when Radioman was published at any rated.
Loaded March is absolutely fantastic. Itâs got character development which makes you feel as if you know each character inside out. Whatâs brilliant is that youâre not dropped in at the deep end, trying to figure out all the characters at once. You start with a few members of Excalibur, and the detail grows and sort of spirals out to encompass more and more of them. It feels such a unique way of doing things. The first few parts are slow, but not in a boring way, in a getting to know the characters way and it works so well. So well, in fact, that by the time you get into the proper action, you care so much for the characters that you are genuinely worried. You care about these guys.
Itâs the fact that not only do we get Arthur and Merlin so perfectly characterised, so full as characters, but everyone is a fully developed character. The best part, for me, is that Footloose does not rush giving us characters. The characters get brought in bit by bit, so we know each character in depth, before another one is brought to the limelight, so we remember each individual as just that: an individual. They are all written as real people. I have such attachments to them that there are a few characters that I would get into a physical fight over. I was reading the part with Kayâs backstory at school once and a mate tried to say something about it and I just growled at them that they were not allowed to say anything against Kay. Also, Gwaine and Perceval are amazing. And Will. And Morgana. And the  Gs. AND EVERYONE. Seriously, if anyone doesnât like a character, I wonât yell, but I will write a full bloody dissertation explaining why they are wrong. Unless the unloved character is Cedric/Gilli/Aredian. In which case we shall become fast friends. (Though I should point out that different Hive members have different characters they like so some people like those characters)
The story arc is amazing as well. You have the magic aspect, the army aspect, Arthur and Merlinâs relationship, the other romantic relationships, the platonic relationships, the backgrounds, the several levels of NWO, the several levels of everything. Every single bit of plot has been given time and care and nourished to its full potential. All parts are balanced out so no one plot takes too much away from the rest, and some parts are told with such subtlety, you might not pick it up until the third or fourth re-read. Trust me, there shall be re-reads.
Warnings about this fic:
1) It is long. It is so very worth it, but it is long. It currently at just over one million words, not including Extras, and with one part remaining.
2) It will rip your heart out. You will love every moment of it, but you will care about the characters and it will hurt.
3) Â The UST. We always always always warn for the pain and the tears and the hurt and the panic and the addiction. Seldom do we really, truly warn for UST because holy fucking shit there is UST. Honestly. By the time the boys get it together, you donât know whoâs more relievedâyou or them.
It was a big part of my life for a long time, and this fic still one of the best Iâve read.
origamiaround
tangentwithtanner
gummygunk
gamechangershow
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theartofmadeline
