my moral standing is lying down

All those pics of Bradley's charity football match are lovely, but what I wanted was a bit of context. Which jhava provides in her awesome recap here. BRADLEY IS PARTICULARLY BENDY AND ADORABLE. Especially with fans! (Adorable, that is... not bendy?) Looks like he really went out of his way to sign autographs and be accessible. Which is just-- really wonderful. It makes me so happy when celebs acknowledge and interact with their fans this way.

This one is my fave. (Whaaaat, I have a weakness for pretty people in this position? Ahahahaha...?) And mmmm, he looks all tired-but-relaxed.



I don't read RPF all that much, not because of any "moral" protestations or anything like that (hahah, please), but just because I don't feel like I really have a handle on, you know, their "real" personalities. Though I suppose the cast's video diaries and plethora of behind-the-scenes stuff Merlin's producers have provided us means there's a greater chance of getting the cast's personalities close(r) to reality...?

In any case, I came across this fucking amazing epic RPF fic that basically YOU NEED TO READ RIGHT NOW, if you haven't already done so (which you may have since it was posted for merlinbb_rpf in September 2010).

junkshop_disco's The Colour of Cartoon Sunshine.

I'm absolutely in love with JD's inclusion of what seem like frivolous detail but really add to the depth of the character and flesh out the character's quirks and thought processes and reflexive (panicked/under-pressure) reactions. It's so wonderful and realistic and really makes her stories a pleasure to read.

In this particular fic, I was just completely pulled in by Colin -- how self-aware he is about his own issues, and yet how blind he is to some of his own feelings; how much he recognizes Bradley's brand of charisma and yet how unfathomable Bradley's motives are to him. I love Bradley's persistence, and patience, and god, his niceness. Nice can be such a vague and sort of backhandedly-insulting way to describe someone. But really, I LIKE PEOPLE WHO ARE NICE, OKAY.

It felt like a lot of the advancements of plot were actually staggered with emotional realizations/advancements -- which made it fell all the more realistic because you know, life happens, even when you're not emotionally ready for it. I never wanted the fic to end, but I love how when it did-- I didn't feel like it was too soon; I didn't feel like it was all wrapped up neatly.

One of the reasons this fic struck me so hard is because, in so many ways I AM EXACTLY LIKE COLIN, the way he is, here.

Please go read it.

How did I forget how good this episode is? That moment when Arthur tries to tell Merlin that he actually thinks of him as a friend! "If I weren't a prince, and you weren't a servant.... I think we'd get along." lasjkdflasjflsdjflsdfj It makes me want to reall ALL THE FIC.

I HAVE SO MANY ~FEELINGS~.


ETA: How does Colin Morgan have such an expressive face? alsjfklasfjlsajfdlasdjf;

ETA2: OHMYGODDDDDDDD I don't know how Merlin can keep attributing these amazing feats to conveniently-unconscious!Arthur. POOR MERLIN.

ETA3: AHAHAHAHAH I'm watching the audio commentary with Colin & Bradley for 2x04 "Lancelot and Guinevere" -- in which Bradley basically says he ships Lancelot/Gwen HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAH

ETA4: This many edits is kind of ridiculous but it's all just Merlin-related squee anyway; better than spamming the flist with it, right? Anyway, awesome Bradley James picspam and archaeologist_d's photos of the knights photoshoot at Raglan.

I am... not getting LJ notifications right now, it seems. So if I don't reply to your comment, I swear I am not ignoring you!

In other news, I am leaving work in an hour to get on a bus to Philly for EXTREME FANGIRLING FUN at minimerlin!!! I am excited and also (pointlessly) nervous, but also filled with squee because I spent the morning watching/listening to Bradley and Colin singing You're the Voice again.

WHY ARE THEY SO ADORBZ?!

I did this just before going to Toronto, too, WTH? It's going to end up being my travel song or something.

AHAHAHAHAHAHA I HAVE JUST SPENT THE LAST HOUR AND A HALF WATCHING BEHIND THE SCENES VIDEOS FROM BBC'S MERLIN. OH MY GOD, THEY ARE ALL SO FUCKING CUTE AND ADORABLE AND FUNNY. WHYYYYYYYYYYY.

( videos what kept me laughing hysterically when i really should've been packing for toronto )

Apparently Bradley sings an awful lot on set.

ETA: AHAHAHAH ANTHONY HEAD LAUGHS SO MUCH; I CAN'T DEAL! I CAN'T DEAL!