Fic Plot Discussion (fandom cliches)

[aleathiel]

Since I am now actually almost functioning as a human being again (and therefore can contemplate the idea of fic), and because mariamme and I have been talking about it:

What fandom cliches do you feel are ignored/under-represented in the Merlin fandom?

(I'm thinking I might write a few short fics while working on my boxofmagic fic. And they might be a bit silly, to counter the serious fic)

Ideas I've had so far:

wingfic (WHY? I DON'T LIKE WINGFIC, BUT BUT BUT... this cliche as been beautifully done by fortassetu with Arthur as an avenging angel, and there's that lovely drawing by draykonis, but both were back in the fandom's youth and it might be time to get this cliche out again...)

Forced to be together/bound together.

Stuck in a small space together.

Pretending to be a couple for some reason.


(Also have been talking about AUs. HIGHWAYMEN and Memoires of a Geisha. So feel free to weigh in on that too)

Basically I want to generate ideas for discussion. Anyone who wants to is free to steal an idea too, obviously.

What's that slightly ridiculous fic/cliche that you just wish someone would write?

PS: YES I am still writing all those other things I've talked about. I'm just a bit of a butterfly about projects. Flower to flower and all that

Comments

[fortassetu.livejournal.com]

I always love the Merlin-as-a-girl cliches.

BUT THEN I WROTE THAT. FAILPLZ.

I shouldn't even be online. D:

[aleathiel.livejournal.com]

I believe every author in this fandom needs to write a genderbending fic at some point. I am plotting mine.

[fortassetu.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a plan. Mine just confused virtually everyone when I posted it. I think most were wise enough to avoid it, lol.

[aleathiel.livejournal.com]

Oh dear! I must have missed it (haven't been around much recently). Will have to have a look.

[fortassetu.livejournal.com]

(really, don't worry. alkdnsakd I feel like a self-pimp now :S) I don't really like it that much; I should have made it into a longer fic.

[highlyeccentric.livejournal.com]

I still have your EPIC sketch, but other stuff got in the way and now my computer is as dead as a norwegian blue parrot. I'll get onto it when the computer is re-animated ;)

[highlyeccentric.livejournal.com]

Also, there is not enough ARTHUR-as-a-girl fic. Just sayin'.

[aleathiel.livejournal.com]

You're right, there isn't (two, I think?). We should do something about that.

[highlyeccentric.livejournal.com]

I have plans. It ticks me off that all these mysteriously genderswapped blokes instantly figure out how to work their new anatomy and go around having multiple keywords I shouldn't be seen to use at work.

I just need some kind of workable PREMISE for arthur's anatomy to be re-arranged, and then we can enjoy a couple of thousand words of Arthur really wishing he had his simple plumbing back again.

[aleathiel.livejournal.com]

OH YES PLEASE DO THAT

(I was thinking of a scene in a Merlin-as-girl fic, which probably wouldn't work for Arthur because of his ego, in which Morgana has to explain to him how women work...)

[highlyeccentric.livejournal.com]

I MIGHT JUST DO THAT BY HAND THIS WEEK WHILE MY COMPUTER IS DEAD

because I stupidly didn't email anyone or print out the story I was writing. *headdesk*

[aleathiel.livejournal.com]

YAY!

I hope that the computer recovers soon. You must be so annoyed.

[highlyeccentric.livejournal.com]

OR NOT. I am now writing the end of the Susan fic, which is good, because the middle was dragging ON AND ON FOREVER FOR NO REASON on the computer.

Dell are replacing the MoBo and graphics card for me. <3 Dell.

[aleathiel.livejournal.com]

Oh, there's no hurry!

[green-grrl.livejournal.com]

I've already asked for invisible!Merlin, traveling through the multiverse, and beauty pageant fic at the bigbang prompts.

Plus we could always use more: Rentboy fics!!! Phone sex operator. Strippers. Police detectives. Amnesia. Slaves. Kid!fic (especially de-aged to/time travelled to kid age). Mpreg (I love Xaritomene's WIP, but it's stalled). Multiple Arthurs or Merlins. Robots. Telepathy.

And I totally agree on more wingfic, bound, stuck, and forced-to-appear-married (or forced-to-get-married! :-).

I want a My Own Private Idaho Merlin fic, except the ending of that movie breaks my heart, so "fixed." The Wedding Date. The Full Monty. Bladerunner. Tarzan.

[aleathiel.livejournal.com]

*g* OOooooh I forgot our discussion about travelling through the multiverse. YES YES.

You have provided a great list :D

[green-grrl.livejournal.com]

I am ALL about the fanfic tropes! :D

[selfinduced.livejournal.com]

the forced/bound together is kinda canon, but i don't see it capitalized on used in fic at all, and it makes me sad. WHERE ARE THE MAGIC BRACELETS/INVISIBLE CHAIN THAT MAKE THEM UNABLE TO GO BEYOND 20 FT OF EACH OTHER? WHERE IS THE SPELL THAT MAKES ARTHUR SERVE MERLIN? WHERE IS THE DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO A COURT WHERE IT IS ASSUMED THEY'RE SLEEPING TOGETHER AND WHEN IT'S DISCOVERED THEY'RE NOT MERLIN IS PROPOSITIONED BY ALL AND SUNDRY AND ARTHUR IS FORCED TO BE LIKE "NO, MY MANSERVANT!" ...

i imagine it would have an expanded version of this scene:
"Your Merlin--"
"He's not--my manservant, yes."
"Ah, yes, your manservant, Merlin..."

...which leads me to the other two cliches: pretending to be a couple, and thereby stuck in the same bedchamers, using the same bed, and bedroll during hunting trips. (because obviously this other court would have those to entertain guests, right?) and of course, Arthur is being noble and doing this to protect (poor innocent!) Merlin (who is not really that innocent but Arthur will be delightfully surprised by this later) and would never put Merlin in the position to have to refuse to his Prince.


any of the above in a modern!au setting is also brilliant--this is actually written a few times, but i can never have enough of everyone-thinks-they're-together-but-really-Arthur-is-just-pining-and-Merlin-has-no-idea fic. in fact, pining!Arthur is my favorite del.icio.us tag.

um, yeah i think i just covered the what i wish someone would write bit... /tl;dr

[aleathiel.livejournal.com]

YES.

WHERE IS THE DIPLOMATIC MISSION TO A COURT WHERE IT IS ASSUMED THEY'RE SLEEPING TOGETHER AND WHEN IT'S DISCOVERED THEY'RE NOT MERLIN IS PROPOSITIONED BY ALL AND SUNDRY AND ARTHUR IS FORCED TO BE LIKE "NO, MY MANSERVANT!" ...

WHY DOES THIS FIC NOT EXIST YET?

but i can never have enough of everyone-thinks-they're-together-but-really-Arthur-is-just-pining-and-Merlin-has-no-idea fic.
Yes. This.

[mercymydarling.livejournal.com]

Pretending to be a couple for some reason.

AH! I love that almost as much as high school/university AUs! ♥

[aleathiel.livejournal.com]

:D:D:D:D It seems to be a popular choice!