Castle (the rules by which we live)

Castle (the rules by which we live) is a Merlin/Arthur AU by kickflaw (~16,000 words). It was written for the Merlin Whizzbang Challenge in 2010.
Summary: Merlin knows that getting off fastest when he’s got some BDSM porno playing loud on the computer doesn’t mean he’d really like to be that bloke, gagged and bent over and bound. Right? (Modern!AU. Brief mentions of rape (in the context of rape-fantasy), BDSM and all that entails, including D/s relationships, knifeplay, bondage, painplay, orgasm denial and so on.)
In 2011 the author wrote a sequel, Castle Extra: The Audition.Posted May 11, 2011. In this story Merlin and Arthur are already established as a couple (sort of) but it's their first time of public sex together. Includes bondage and fisting.
==Fanworks and Remixes==
The story cover is by yue_ix who created 8 images, 1 wall, and 10 icons as this fic's Merlin Whizzbang Challenge 2010 art collaborator. Content note: reference to bondage (held down and chains), BDSM context, collar (no leash).
File:Castle-Podfic.jpg|Podfic read by Itachitachi, cover by yue_ix
File:Castle read by Susan Voight.jpg|Podfic read by Susan Voight, cover by Cybel
For Podfic Big Bang 2010-2011, Itachitachi made a podfic of this story. The podfic is 1:53:59 hours long. Yue_ix created one new image to use as the podfic cover art. As the podfic's art collaborator,Podfic Big Bang. Merlin (BBC): Castle (the rules by which we live), 8 May 2011. (Accessed 28 May 2011) Martinius created an original soundtrack on a grand piano, edited with free of use sound clips:
Susan Voight repoded the story for kink bingo 2011.susan_voight. Castle (the rules by which we live) (Merlin (BBC)), 28 September 2011. (Accessed 29 September 2011) The new version is 1:50:12 hours long. Cybel turned the podfic into an audiobook and made a cover.Cybel. Merlin (BBC) Podbook: Castle… by kick_flaw, read by susan_voight, 28 September 2011. (Accessed 29 September 2011)
==Recs and Reviews==
* "My favourite kink fics always have smoking hot porn, but also a hefty dose of characterization and psychological insight, and this provides all of the above in spades. I love how Merlin's denial segues into resistance and then submission to Arthur, and Arthur's vulnerability at the end. Plus Morgana and Arthur as professional Dommes is just too perfect. Plus, the fic is accompanied by gorgeous artwork."woldy. Merlin recs, 18 September 2010. (Accessed 26 September 2010)
* "non-magical Modern AU – formal BDSM. [...] This fic! Merlin is just bloody fabulous. He’s awkward and nervous and not really comfortable in his own skin, yet full of attitude and self confidence in that crazy way that is very Merlin. [...] The author is absolutely brilliant in making this so believable. I understand this Merlin so well. And God, ARTHUR. I think the most brilliant thing about Arthur as a Dom is that I trust him immediately. I know that he’d be strong and controlled and a perfectionist and throw himself into the role in the same way he ‘plays’ at being the perfect warrior, the perfect Prince. This story left me wanting more, wanting EVERYTHING that these two characters in this setting could offer. Not because the story wasn’t complete. But I ache to let it go. I want to see the next time. I want to see them grow together and mess-up and fix things and become what I KNOW they will eventually become."marguerite_26. The Saturday Morning Kinkies... [Merlin/Arthur Rec], 18 September2010. (Accessed 26 September 2010)
* "This fic? This does everything right. The set up is delicious, full of pining, and curiosity and nearly audible frisson of tension that yanks you by your spine right the hell into the story. It has Morgana being awesome and basically frog-marching Merlin into the world of what he wants, and when kick_flaw describes Merlin's love of leather I sort of rolled around like a possessed dog who's lost their center of gravity. It's just so luscious, and the need in it. The sheer desperate, clawing need of it all could just drive you to distraction, and when it's finally sated it's like the world's airways have opened up and everyone can breathe again."skellerbvvt. Rec: Castle (the rules by which we live) by kickflaw, 23 September 2010. (Accessed 26 September 2010)
About the podfic:
==References==
Category:Slash Fanfiction
Category:Merlin AU
Category:2010 Fanfiction‎