#actor!merlin

1. No Flash Photography! by TheCourtSorcerer (@tcs-main)

“Oh, oh! Look at this one!” Arthur snorted, staring at his phone as he sat next to Merlin on the couch in the living room of their flat that evening. Merlin tore his eyes away from the movie they were supposed to be watching and raised an eyebrow at his boyfriend.

“What is it now?” He almost didn’t want to ask. When Arthur used that voice, it was almost always some bogus gossip story trying to either make them look bad, create a crazy affair for them, or somehow do both at the same time. He grimaced slightly, wondering which one of them and what it would be this time.

Arthur scooted closer and wrapped an arm around him, holding his phone between them so they could both read the screen. “Looks like you’ve got a secret girlfriend I didn’t know about! Who is this Freya Waterson, Merlin? I’m simply heartbroken!” He feigned distress, almost immediately killing the ruse by grinning stupidly.

-OR-

Arthur & Merlin, well-known actors who play leading characters Brenin & Gwyn in popular show Once & Future, have been together for eight years, everyone knows it! Well... They thought everyone knew it.

~~~

kind of random but that scene where they were acting as brenin and gwyn made me squeal. i adore that subtle reference to the actual merlin show. their interactions with eh once and future fandom is also really cute and it made me smile soo hard.

2. world looks better by helloearthlings

The next night, there were already flowers in Arthur’s dressing room when he returned from offstage – daisies this time, a little classier than grocery store flowers. The note inside them was just signed –M but it made Arthur smile. When he got home, he added them to the slightly upturned bowl of water that was holding the last night’s bouquet.

The next night, they were daffodils. The night after that, they were tulips. The night after that, Arthur finally bought a vase.

~~~

i adore this fic so much. it’s so cute and fluffy and “you can’t possibly think i’m still asking about the part” made me squeal.

3. Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies by rageynerd (@rageynerd)

Arthur Pendragon, coined the prince of film, is more than unimpressed with Hollywood's latest rising star Merlin Emrys. He comes in with naivety and a chip on his shoulder and, when they're cast as co stars in the same movie, he is sure that Merlin won't last long.

Merlin can’t stand that absolute tosser, Arthur Pendragon, that everyone seems to love. But he must learn how to make peace with him if he can star alongside him for this many months— in a romance, no less.

They both plan on leaving each other alone and focusing on work until the fans decide they love them together, and in an act of good publicity, Arthur and Merlin must spend way more time together than either of them want.

~~~

1. No Business Like Show Business by lady_ragnell

In which Merlin is promoted from production intern to talent, is easily mortified, and has Post-It arguments with Arthur while the art department watches in glee. Also, there are gay dragons.

~~~

this work is part of a series and it made me laugh terribly hard. i love how the whole plot was set up and executed.

2. You're headed for a breakdown, be careful not to show it by Camelittle

He sidled along row H to his chair, and then stopped abruptly. Because the seat was already occupied; some dude in a baseball cap was sitting there, studiously avoiding eye contact by examining his program.

Frowning, Merlin glanced down at his ticket. Yes, H3. The guy definitely was sitting in his chair.

~~~

this fic is soo cute. i love the story of how they first met and sassy!gwen in this fic is super cute too.

3. one more night by cominupforair

Arthur is going to break up with him.

Scratch that.

Merlin is going to break up with Arthur before Arthur can break up with him.

There, that’s better.

~~~

1. The Most Important by Shana_Rose

“Arthur, you have like five fan clubs. You were named sexiest man alive two years in a row. You are an action film star, who also does romcoms. You were John Constantine in that Justice League film, a part if you remember, that was supposed to be a minor role but you were so brilliant, they made a spin-off movie about you! You’re one of the hottest names in the industry, of course, they are going to make a big deal about this.”

“So, you think I’m hot?” Arthur teased with a smirk.

Merlin groaned and pushed him away. “You are literally the worst.” - Arthur is a famous actor and finds out the world thinks he's straight despite being in a serious relationship with a man for ten years.

~~~

i loooove this fic. it’s so cute and so good. i love how arthur and merlin’s relationship was written and portrayed. like you can tell that they’ve been together for a long time from how they’re written and it doesn’t need to be said, which is fantastic.

2. a question to which the answer is not by ctimene

It’s been three years and they’re still asking.

Of course, Arthur will tell almost anyone, it was an honour — is still an honour — to have been part of something that touched so many people this strongly, that three years since the film opened, fans continue to approach him, politely breathless, with notebooks and phones and cameras, and ask.

“Was it true? That you didn’t notice what Merlin Emrys was doing?”

~~~

arthur’s pining!! the heartbreak!! i adore this fic. the three act structure is done marvellously in this, which is no mean feat.

3. Brushes and Blushes by clotpolesonly

By the time Merlin began tracing color onto Arthur’s mouth, Arthur was certain he was standing closer than he needed to. The drag of the brush against his parted lips was torture when Arthur had a sudden and intense desire for something else to take its place. From the way Merlin was biting his own lip again, he didn’t think he was alone in that.

~~~