TheDrow

Title: A Coin With Two Faces By: TheDrow Gift for: hamsterfish Rating: Explicit Word Count: 16,247 words Warning(s): Suicide, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Major Character Death Creator Notes: First things first, please heed the warnings on suicide, suicide attempts, aftermath, etc. This is a fairly strong theme throughout this story, and if this is triggering for you, please take care of yourself. <3

Second, I picked up this prompt for hamsterfish because I read it and at first glance thought it could be interesting to dive into. As some of you know, I truly love to create stories that are rooted in some very intense and sometimes dark themes and flushing them out in a way that I hope makes those themes still somewhat beautiful. So when I read the prompt, my first thought was to be horrified, and then I went… There’s a truly powerful story here… and then I set to writing a quick outline that found a mind of its own and became a 5k word grammarless, colourless rough draft. Summary: Arthur wakes to find a black serpent coiled on his bed, which is frightening enough. But then Merlin bursts into his chambers and magics the creature out of existence. Magic is outlawed in Camelot, and the reveal of Merlin’s magic leaves Arthur with no choice but to sentence his loyal and once-trusted friend to death. Which goes somehow worse than what one might expect for it to go. And then Arthur wakes up; and there’s a black serpent coiled on his bed. And then Merlin is bursting through the doors…  

Mostly thanks to @emilyelizabethfowl (their reblog contains many of the fic links!! thank u sm) and a few deep dives into my ao3 history, the sources of the quotes have mostly all been recovered! I apologise for not posting them all with proper credit originally, I truly didn't think the post would blow up so much, but the lesson is very much learned :) enjoy!

- number 1 is from merthur fic called Destiny Ordered You To Die, But I Willed You To Live by ironfamjam

-number 2 is from a klance fic called reach out for you (break these walls) by Paladin-Pile (UserFromPluto)

- number 3 is a batman fic called Home (jason centered) by Daisybirb

- number 4 is a zukka fic by I'm Not Angry Anymore by team_avatars_eyebags

- numbers 5 and 9 are from The Art Of Burning by hella1975, an amazing ongoing atla following zuko

- number 6 is a hualian fic called No paths are bound by cataclysmic_calamity (originally a thread fic but also fully uploaded on ao3)

- number 7 is a merthur fic called tell me every terrible thing you ever did (and let me love you anyway) by Stardustwrites17 (the quote is also originally from a poem apparently)

- number 8 is from a batman fic called Nature and Nurture by lurkinglurkerwholurks

- number 10 is from a steddie fic called let me know (everythings alright) by bexiguess