#theme: flatmates

[lionheartlibrary]

Ashes, Embers, Flames

Author: unpossible

Rating: Explicit

Setting: ModernAU

Word Count: 65k

Summary: Merlin sees him across a crowded living room and promptly spills his beer down the back of the couch and over some hapless stranger’s neck.

Reader’s Comment: This wonderfully angsty story of infatuation-at-first-sight, the “I’ve got a spare room you can rent” trope, obsessive home renovations and antique talking, deep longing, profound sorrow, overprotective!Arthur, stubborn!Merlin, and both idiots have one huge secret apiece they’re hiding from one another.

[lionheartlibrary]

Author: alby_mangroves, daroh

Rating: Explicit

Setting: ModernAU

Word Count: 42k

Summary: Merlin’s determined to find the best ex of his life; Arthur, the best sex. Arthur proposes a neighbourly arrangement to get them both what they want. What could possibly go wrong?

Comment: This story was so much fun, and a little heartbreaking with the classic misunderstanding and miscommunication, and I loved it from start to finish. My favourite ex-meetings were Percy and Gilli. I loved Merlin and Arthur’s dynamic and I really liked Arthur’s character. Great story.

[lionheartlibrary]

Author: supercalvin

Rating: Teen

Setting: ModernAU

Word Count: 4k

Summary: Merlin has just moved into a new flat, but his new roomie thinks he's a bit odd.

Comment:I thought this was really cleverly told and if they were real, I’d probably become just as invested as their followers!

[lionheartlibrary]

Author: nomical

Rating: Teen

Setting: ModernAU

Word Count: 12k

Summary: As a poor struggling PhD student, Merlin was used to a certain lifestyle. Then Arthur moved in across the hall and ruined everything.

Comment: This story was so fun and sweet. Their first interaction, and Arthur’s ‘funny tummy’ was hilarious, as was the misunderstanding between Arthur and Merlin concerning Mordred. I loved how co-dependent they became and they jealousy Arthur displayed. A lovely story.

[lionheartlibrary]

Author: kim47

Rating: Explicit

Setting: ModernAU

Word Count: 3k

Summary: The problem is that, despite his neuroses, and despite how he goes out of his way to annoy and exasperate Merlin at every turn, Arthur is a great player, a fantastic captain, and Merlin likes him. A lot. It’s kind of a problem.

Comment: I didn’t know what to expect when I started this story and it certainly wasn’t what it was but I thought it was really great. I found the plight of sharing a room with Arthur amusing, and it all paid off for Merlin in the end!

[merlinreadsalot]

The Soft Option by freudian_fuckup

Pairing: Merlin/Arthur

Rating: Mature

Length: 13,402

Summary: Modern AU. In which Arthur is busy and Important, Merlin is just plain busy, and everyone is perfectly content with the situation (except for when they aren't).

S’s Comments: I don’t know how many times I’ve read this fic but every time I read the scene of Merlin debating whether to rush Arthur his important papers and his ensuing panic, I can’t help but relate. And Arthur’s effusive gratitude is so heartwarming and sweet. Silly, silly boys who never let their hearts have what they want, until they do.

[lionheartlibrary]

Author: ingberry

Rating: Explicit

Setting: ModernAU

Word Count: 7k

Summary: Arthur just needed to know that he could take a good dick pic. He wasn’t going to do anything with it, obviously. It was just an experiment, just a test he had to prove to himself that he could pass. Drunk Arthur had other ideas, though. Who knew there were people online willing to review other people’s dick pics? And frankly, Arthur was never going to settle for anything less than an A+.

Comment: This is an amusing story; you can predict where it is going, but getting there is great fun! The story covers both Arthur’s attempts to take the “perfect” picture, and his relationship with his flatmate Merlin,with both worlds come together towards the end of the story.

[avalonslibrary]

title: The Illusion of Permanence

author: Thursday_Next

rating: teen+

word count: 3595

warnings: none

A's comments: SO SWEET OKAY. It's short, but you get so much about Merlin and Arthur's lives together in that time. It's wonderful, and Merlin's feelings through it all are palpable and intense. It's great.