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birdsofshoreLo, it is the natal day of that most beauteous lady, ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
alby_mangroves. Yes, this is me trying to talk mediaeval because, *cough*, Merlin, OK?
Right, this is the thing. Alby and I don't really share a fandom. My love for her is like a hand reaching out across the barricades. And so it's very hard for me to give her a proper present on her birthday. So, instead, I present, thealby_mangroves Birthday Crushy Love Fest Explosionathon. (Good name, hmm? ;-)).
I want everyone toworship at her feet enjoy her talents as I do. You don't need to like Merlin to enjoy hot m/m art, do you? No, you don't. Nor to appreciate some joyful and unashamed celebration of the male form. So let me show you around some pretty, pretty things, from one of the most gorgeously nice people on LJ.
And maybe you H/D fans will be seeing MORE of her work very soon *gloating cackle*
OK, I'm going to ease you in gently with some gen. I don't want to upset any delicate sensibilitiesbefore I show you a lot of cock.
Quiet Moment.
Fandom: Merlin RPF
Characters: Colin Morgan
Rating: G
Media: Conte, Charcoal, Pastels
Summary: In which Colin reads a book.
This is such a gorgeously captured quiet moment, just as the title promises. I love his expression and the concentration on his book. All of the details in the drawing bring the scene to life and make me wish I was in this pub, maybe sitting at a nearby table shooting sneaky glances at the divine young man so engrossed in his book. And I want to ruffle his hair, which is maybe slightly squashed and rumpled from wearing the woolly hat which is lying on the table.
This next one is apparently G-rated. Seriously? I'm of the opinion that Merlin's arse is rated NC-17 here just by its existence.
Title: The Eagle and the Raven
Fandom: Merlin
Characters: Arthur Pendragon, Merlin
Rating: G
Media: Charcoal and conte on paper. Photoshop tint applied to background, and also to Merlin's body art.
Summary: Arthur Pendragon is an imperial knight and a soldier of the realm. Merlin is a painted warrior of a tribe from the north. Shit will get real.
Well, there's more or less something for everyone, here. On one hand you have a delightful beefy guy in armour. On the other hand there's all this hair and braids and body paint and HELLO, ARCHERY KINK, and omg, the trousers of gravity defying-wonderment. And somehow, there's this look being passed between them, even though it's two separate images. It's quite a thing. Enjoy.
And then, there's this. It's like a warning shot, fired to let you know that alby can totally melt your heart with the power of her mighty art supplies:
Title: Art for The Hangover Cure
Fandom: Merlin
Characters: Arthur Pendragon, Gwaine
Pairing: Arthur/Gwaine
Rating: PG-13
Media: Conte and charcoal on paper. Photoshop tint applied to background.
Summary: Illustration for The Hangover Cure, aka: The one where a case of mistaken bed identity leads to the best hangover cure Arthur's ever had. Because Gwaine's awesome like that.
I am rather taken with Gwaine, and his smile here is especially divine. He warms my heart and some other places along the way. I always want to touch all of the hair in Alby's pictures. God, she really gets hair. It's always got a wonderful texture to it and, yup, delicious. But this also kind of sums up the warmth and sweetness and connection that comes across so well in her stuff.
And then, sod it, let's go for the smut. Then, there's this (really NSFW, unless you work somewhere more interesting than I do):
Title: Good Clean Fun
Fandom: Merlin
Characters: Arthur Pendragon, Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Media: Conte and charcoal on paper. Photoshop tint applied to background.
Summary: Prince Arthur takes an active hand in Merlin's hygiene.
Well, really. Do I need to say much about this? It's just some really spot-on, intimate, soapy, wanking-him-off-in-the-bath smut. With adorable body hair. Gorgeous poses. And, yup, that's a beaut of an erection right there centre stage.
Or what about Room With a View AU?
Title: Art for "The View From The Mountain"
Fandom: Merlin / A Room With A View
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Characters: Arthur Pendragon, Merlin, Aithusa
Rating: NC-17
Media: Conte Crayon and charcoal on paper, watercolour paints and pencils
Story Summary: Historical AU. It's 1910 and what is left of the once powerful magical ruling class is a tired, conventional aristocracy who have let their magic slip. Merlin Emrys, pressured by expectations, travels to Italy and Switzerland to find himself. Instead he finds Arthur Pendragon, but in the end that may amount to the same thing.
The hair. I'm whimpering. THE HAIR. You know how I feel about Room With a View, and then there's ALL THIS HAIR and then there's smoking, and Italy, and mirror-wanking, and in-a-pond kissing. HNNNNNNNGH.
And finally, there's this:
Title: The Gentleman Barber
Pairing/Characters: Arthur/Merlin
Media: Conte and charcoal
Rating: NC-17
I'm always reccing this, but, holy fuck, I love it so. *rests chin on hands happily* My shaving kink is PURRING. I think this was the first thing I ever saw of alby's and I have been her joyful slave ever since.
She also draws femslash (NSFW, all the pretty HAIR again!), stunningly-coloured incesty het (NSFW, but so gorgeous) and there are some threesomes and character studies and a bundle of different fandoms in there as well. Just have a roll around on her LJ. You'll come out looking dazed and wearing nothing but charcoal and a happy smile.
Alby also writes, and does it so well that it makes me think there is no justice in the world.
Title: Starting Something
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: M
Word Count: 4700
Summary: One would think that a silent man is incapable of causing much trouble in a library. One would be wrong.
I'm going to rec this AU because I think this story will appeal to ANYONE who likes M/M fiction. You don't need to be into Merlin or even know who the characters are to enjoy this heavenly slice of "let's get together by passing flirty and bantering notes to one another in the library". It's got UST in spades, excellent snarking via post it note, and some wildly hot kissing.
Well, I could carry on quite happily. But I need to occasionally eat and sleep, so I suppose I'll leave it there for now. Please let me (and alby) know if you looked and saw something you liked. ♥
So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Alby, you angelic creature! \o/ The boys dressed up smart specially for you.
alby_mangroves. Yes, this is me trying to talk mediaeval because, *cough*, Merlin, OK?Right, this is the thing. Alby and I don't really share a fandom. My love for her is like a hand reaching out across the barricades. And so it's very hard for me to give her a proper present on her birthday. So, instead, I present, the
alby_mangroves Birthday Crushy Love Fest Explosionathon. (Good name, hmm? ;-)).I want everyone to
And maybe you H/D fans will be seeing MORE of her work very soon *gloating cackle*
OK, I'm going to ease you in gently with some gen. I don't want to upset any delicate sensibilities
Quiet Moment.
Fandom: Merlin RPF
Characters: Colin Morgan
Rating: G
Media: Conte, Charcoal, Pastels
Summary: In which Colin reads a book.
This is such a gorgeously captured quiet moment, just as the title promises. I love his expression and the concentration on his book. All of the details in the drawing bring the scene to life and make me wish I was in this pub, maybe sitting at a nearby table shooting sneaky glances at the divine young man so engrossed in his book. And I want to ruffle his hair, which is maybe slightly squashed and rumpled from wearing the woolly hat which is lying on the table.
This next one is apparently G-rated. Seriously? I'm of the opinion that Merlin's arse is rated NC-17 here just by its existence.
Title: The Eagle and the Raven
Fandom: Merlin
Characters: Arthur Pendragon, Merlin
Rating: G
Media: Charcoal and conte on paper. Photoshop tint applied to background, and also to Merlin's body art.
Summary: Arthur Pendragon is an imperial knight and a soldier of the realm. Merlin is a painted warrior of a tribe from the north. Shit will get real.
Well, there's more or less something for everyone, here. On one hand you have a delightful beefy guy in armour. On the other hand there's all this hair and braids and body paint and HELLO, ARCHERY KINK, and omg, the trousers of gravity defying-wonderment. And somehow, there's this look being passed between them, even though it's two separate images. It's quite a thing. Enjoy.
And then, there's this. It's like a warning shot, fired to let you know that alby can totally melt your heart with the power of her mighty art supplies:
Title: Art for The Hangover Cure
Fandom: Merlin
Characters: Arthur Pendragon, Gwaine
Pairing: Arthur/Gwaine
Rating: PG-13
Media: Conte and charcoal on paper. Photoshop tint applied to background.
Summary: Illustration for The Hangover Cure, aka: The one where a case of mistaken bed identity leads to the best hangover cure Arthur's ever had. Because Gwaine's awesome like that.
I am rather taken with Gwaine, and his smile here is especially divine. He warms my heart and some other places along the way. I always want to touch all of the hair in Alby's pictures. God, she really gets hair. It's always got a wonderful texture to it and, yup, delicious. But this also kind of sums up the warmth and sweetness and connection that comes across so well in her stuff.
And then, sod it, let's go for the smut. Then, there's this (really NSFW, unless you work somewhere more interesting than I do):
Title: Good Clean Fun
Fandom: Merlin
Characters: Arthur Pendragon, Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: NC-17
Media: Conte and charcoal on paper. Photoshop tint applied to background.
Summary: Prince Arthur takes an active hand in Merlin's hygiene.
Well, really. Do I need to say much about this? It's just some really spot-on, intimate, soapy, wanking-him-off-in-the-bath smut. With adorable body hair. Gorgeous poses. And, yup, that's a beaut of an erection right there centre stage.
Or what about Room With a View AU?
Title: Art for "The View From The Mountain"
Fandom: Merlin / A Room With A View
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Characters: Arthur Pendragon, Merlin, Aithusa
Rating: NC-17
Media: Conte Crayon and charcoal on paper, watercolour paints and pencils
Story Summary: Historical AU. It's 1910 and what is left of the once powerful magical ruling class is a tired, conventional aristocracy who have let their magic slip. Merlin Emrys, pressured by expectations, travels to Italy and Switzerland to find himself. Instead he finds Arthur Pendragon, but in the end that may amount to the same thing.
The hair. I'm whimpering. THE HAIR. You know how I feel about Room With a View, and then there's ALL THIS HAIR and then there's smoking, and Italy, and mirror-wanking, and in-a-pond kissing. HNNNNNNNGH.
And finally, there's this:
Title: The Gentleman Barber
Pairing/Characters: Arthur/Merlin
Media: Conte and charcoal
Rating: NC-17
I'm always reccing this, but, holy fuck, I love it so. *rests chin on hands happily* My shaving kink is PURRING. I think this was the first thing I ever saw of alby's and I have been her joyful slave ever since.
She also draws femslash (NSFW, all the pretty HAIR again!), stunningly-coloured incesty het (NSFW, but so gorgeous) and there are some threesomes and character studies and a bundle of different fandoms in there as well. Just have a roll around on her LJ. You'll come out looking dazed and wearing nothing but charcoal and a happy smile.
Alby also writes, and does it so well that it makes me think there is no justice in the world.
Title: Starting Something
Fandom: Merlin
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: M
Word Count: 4700
Summary: One would think that a silent man is incapable of causing much trouble in a library. One would be wrong.
I'm going to rec this AU because I think this story will appeal to ANYONE who likes M/M fiction. You don't need to be into Merlin or even know who the characters are to enjoy this heavenly slice of "let's get together by passing flirty and bantering notes to one another in the library". It's got UST in spades, excellent snarking via post it note, and some wildly hot kissing.
Well, I could carry on quite happily. But I need to occasionally eat and sleep, so I suppose I'll leave it there for now. Please let me (and alby) know if you looked and saw something you liked. ♥
So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Alby, you angelic creature! \o/ The boys dressed up smart specially for you.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2014-09-21 08:26 pm (UTC)*swoons* This is adorbs. I completely ship your friendship :)
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Date: 2014-09-21 08:35 pm (UTC)That's right, it has an epic tragedy about it. Because we all know the Harry Potter and the Merlin fandoms are SWORN ENEMIES. So Alby and I have to meet in secret, in Teen Wolf fandom. We'll probably be rounded up and shot now that I have given away my true feelings with this post.**
** this could possibly be a complete lie. Sorry. I got carried away.
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Date: 2014-09-21 09:11 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-09-21 09:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-09-21 09:21 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-09-21 09:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-09-21 09:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-09-21 09:55 pm (UTC)It's not like you to be quiet, though, dear. Were you struck dumb by the
awesome rimmingprettiness?eta phones and html don't mix...
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Date: 2014-09-22 01:24 pm (UTC)I don't think I'd better look at the art at work in case I come over all peculiar :DDD
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Date: 2014-09-22 01:39 pm (UTC)I fucking love you, you know? I swear I had a heart attack when I saw my inbox this morning and then I had to sit on my hands and just ACHE because I was at work and couldn't see what you'd done!!! Oh my god, best. You're the best! <333
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Date: 2014-09-22 05:22 pm (UTC)That's so funny you were sitting at work trying to see what had been going on in your LJ. I'm so glad it gave you a smile. ;-)
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Date: 2014-09-22 05:23 pm (UTC)That library fic is so lovely! And I hope you might enjoy all the revoltingly beautiful art when you are safely at home.
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Date: 2014-09-22 08:34 pm (UTC)Cute boys should always pass each other cute notes in libraries. I decree it!