#actor arthur

A hand landed on his wrist. “Why don’t you let the rest of us pass, mate?”

“As if I’d be mates with an arse like you,” Merlin spat back. “What gives you the right?” He whirled around, and nearly swallowed his tongue. “Oh.”

Arthur Pendragon — film icon, Albion magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive for four years running, and the occasional secret star of Merlin’s most private fantasies — met his eyes. “So I see you’re not as stupid as you look,” Pendragon drawled.

“Erm.” Merlin felt his lips purse in embarrassment. “Right, yeah, but it’s only that —”

“Of course. How about you just let the people through, and sort out your difficulty later? Some of us have places to be.” He waggled his eyebrows, somehow manhandling Merlin to the side, and motioned for people to resume moving through the barrier. 

Indignant, Merlin huffed at him. “I have places to be! A place, that is. I mean, I have —” 

Pendragon snorted, and Merlin told himself not to be charmed by it. “Yes, I’m certain your regulars at the coffee shop will die from lack of caffeine if your shift starts late.”

“I’m not a barista!”

With an arch of an eyebrow, Pendragon dropped his gaze to Merlin’s chest. “Just like to wear your coffee for fun, then?”

Why are the gorgeous blokes always wankers? Merlin thought, before glancing down at himself and realising he’d worn one of his permanently stained t-shirts from the not-so-long-past days when he had, in fact, cobbled together a living working in various cafés and restaurants so he could write in his spare time. He fought to keep spots of colour from his cheeks. “I mean, I was a barista — not that there’s anything wrong with that, mind. Just because you’ve never worked a job a day in your life, is that it?”

Pendragon’s lips twisted, whether in amusement or consternation, Merlin couldn’t tell. “I’m a classically trained actor.”

“How long did you train to be a prat, then?”

“You really shouldn’t address me like that.” 

“Right, sorry. And how long did you train to be prat, my lord?” Merlin shot back, mimicking a half-bow. “You don’t own the Tube — or were you cast as the head of London transit in your next film?”

“Ha!“ Pendragon barked out, then cocked his head to examine Merlin again, and Merlin decidedly didn’t let himself feel hot and shivery at the gaze. “Bit clever, for an idiot.”

“Er.” Merlin felt wrong-footed. “Yeah.”

After a moment, the queue had cleared. Pendragon moved back slightly. “Close and re-open your app,” he suggested, and with a nod he stepped through the gate himself, disappearing into the crowd.

Gawping a bit, Merlin scanned his mobile at the turnstile again, throwing a two-fingered salute at the barrier as it opened easily this time.

He made his way onto the platform. Whilst he waited for the next train, his mobile dinged with an email from the director.

From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Subject: Absolute score for the lead!!!!

He opened it, and his stomach promptly fell through the floor. “Buggering fuck,” he muttered.

1. Like-Hate-Love by Imagined (@burglarhobbit)

When Arthur drunkenly kisses a stranger at a party, he doesn’t expect to ever really see him again.

That is, until two years later, when he accidentally likes a picture on Instagram and somehow starts an online rivalry with him.

Or: In which Arthur is a bit of a prat (and, worse: a prescriptivist), Merlin has no issues at all calling him out on it, Morgana is the world's least-sympathetic sister, and Uther is no help whatsoever.

~~~

dhfjkadlf 173/10 realistic representation of how they would meet in real life

2. The Narcissist’s Thirst Trap by MerthurAllure (Kirbymatsu) (@apple-juice-dreams)

Arthur Pendragon is an up and coming actor. He wouldn’t consider himself a famous celebrity by any means, but he has quite a few dedicated fans. One of which happens to run a thirst blog all about him. Bad decisions are made and risks are taken, but the payoff is definitely worth it.             

~~~

you can’t not post this on this hell site

3. How (Not) to be a YouTuber: A Comprehensive Guide by Idiots by Imagined (@burglarhobbit), Scarlet_Ribbons (@silk-scarlet-ribbons)

Arthur has a gaming channel. Merlin has a gardening channel. The only thing they have in common, it seems, is the fact they're both successful YouTubers, and that their followers want them to do a collab in spite of how different their content is.

Or: In which Arthur and Merlin flirt (despite Merlin’s mysterious fiancée), Morgana dishes out the hottest gossip, Gwaine keeps trying to fight the entire internet, and their fans are maybe just a little too overbearing.

~~~

1. your words are the lifeblood rushing through my veins (your shine burns brighter than a hollywood star)  by stolenstars

This is wrong, this is so, so wrong. He needs to tell Merlin who he really is. He shouldn’t be doing this – whatever it is that this is – when Merlin doesn’t even know the half of what he’s getting into. When Merlin doesn’t know who Arthur really is. When Arthur can feel himself falling in love with a man who knows him better than anyone else in the world yet doesn’t know him at all.

But Merlin’s hand in his feels like everything he’s ever wanted, and there’s always tomorrow to tell him. Everything was too perfect, too earth-shatteringly wonderful to risk.

Until it wasn’t.

~~~

ahhhh i love them!!

2. The Tales of Camelot by starkidpatronus (@thewriternotthemuse)

A night of glamour, reporters, cameras, and rehearsed banter. All here, at the sixty--eighth annual BAFTAs!

~~~

ack i love their banter!!!

3. Big Shot by orphan_account                

Merlin watches Arthur's rise to fame, from the beginning of his acting career in dog food commercials, to his peak in big-shot Hollywood movies.

~~~

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.

~~~

1. Second Choice by chibifanwriter (@chibiblogger)

It is always Gwen whom Arthur chooses first. It doesn’t matter if she’s taken, married, engaged, widowed or single. It is always Gwen whom Arthur chooses first. And it is Merlin whom Arthur turns to when that relationship goes, as it inevitably does, rotten.

Or

Merlin gets sick of seeing Gwen and Arthur together and runs away. Then comes back.

~~~

ughhhh the angst in this fic is superb. im pretty sure this is a fandom classic at this point but im gonna put it down here anyways just in case you haven't read it. 

2. Alterations by lamardeuse

Merlin is starting a promising career as a costume designer and doesn't need action hero Arthur mucking it up.

~~~

the pining and misunderstandings tropes are so strong in this one. i love the way it’s written and the time skips are done so well.

3. Speak up (I'm losing you) by greatdumbking

When Arthur sets out to seal the veil, he knows he won't be coming back. He struggles to tell Merlin how he feels before the end, first with the sigil, and then later when he tries to come to terms with Merlin once again attempting to give his life for him. (Or, what if Arthur actually tried to say goodbye? How did Arthur react to Merlin jumping in front of the Dorocha? What if he told Merlin what the sigil meant?)

~~~