Merlin RPF Big Bang Challenge

Challenge
Name:	Merlin RPF Big Bang Challenge
Date(s):	2010 - 2012
Moderator(s):
Founder:	moonilicious
Type:	Big Bang challenge
Fandom:	Merlin RPF
Associated Community:	merlinbb_rpf
URL:	screencap of the merlinbb_rpf community
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Merlin RPF Big Bang Challenge was a Big Bang challenge that ran for three years from 2010 to 2012. It focused on the actors in Merlin fandom because the focus of the previous year's Box of Magic Big Bang Challenge lay with the characters of Merlin and only allowed RPF in the form of crossovers.

The minimum story length for the Merlin RPF Big Bang in 2010 was 20,000 words and posting started on September 7, 2010. In 2011, the minimum word count remained at 20,000 words with one exception: "Writers who are also doing paperlegends [Merlin Big Bang Challenge] may make use of the reduced minimum word count of 15,000." The minimum word count was reduced to 10,000 words for the 2012 challenge.

Challenge Entries 2010

Anything worth doing (is worth overdoing) by slowdead (Bradley/Colin). Word count: 31,000. Art by sandrainthesun.

Summary: Colin's a baker who makes cupcakes by day, and takes care of his pet hedgehog by night (which sounds a lot more exciting than it is. Or scratch that. It doesn't really sound all that exciting, now does it?) Well, that is until he falls in love with a clown (no, really - an actual guy dressed like a clown. A guy called Bradley.) After that Colin basically spends his days thinking about Bradley, and his nights thinking about Bradley some more. It's still not all that exciting; but it's really all the excitement Colin needs.

The Colour Of Cartoon Sunshine (on AO3) by junkshop_disco (Bradley/Colin). Word count: 35k. Art by lkaet.

Summary: As filming for the second series draws to a close, Colin thinks his biggest problem is evading one of Bradley’s goodbye hugs. It isn’t. It’s that he’s about to do something that’s fourteen different kinds of stupid: fall in love.

in a little while… surely you’ll be mine by Mrs Leary (Colin/Richard slash; Bradley+Colin friendship; Bradley/Katie het).

Summary: It is February 2008 and the cast of Merlin are meeting for the first time. Colin and Bradley don’t get along at first, but a connection is finally made once Colin comes out to Bradley. Bradley's feelings of friendship for Colin grow and grow until a hitherto straight Bradley finds himself in love with the man. But in the meantime, Colin – who tends to go for older men, and who appreciates a calmer home life than most young people – has set his sights on Richard, even though Richard is significantly older than his previous serious boyfriend. While Richard can’t help but love Colin, he does all he can to resist, knowing that such a relationship would be next to impossible. Meanwhile, Katie is drawn to Bradley and his good heart, but bides her time as she watches Bradley’s feelings for Colin play out.

Irish Gothic by Mrs Leary (Colin/Bradley). Word count: 23,270.

Summary: The story is set in 1815. Colin Elliot and Captain Bradley Wentworth have been living together for a year now, in a quiet village in Shropshire. Everyone except Bradley’s brother Edward assumes they are two bachelor friends, but they are actually lovers – a relationship that puts them in grave danger, as a conviction for sodomy carries the death penalty. While they are happy together, they are very aware of their fragile safety. Colin is contentedly established as the village schoolteacher. Bradley hasn’t had a posting all year, and is growing restless. At last he receives orders to take command of a new ship. But in Bradley’s absence, Colin is even more vulnerable – particularly when his cousin Aidan (Viscount Dalrymple) arrives, determined that Colin will go to Ireland with him as his companion…

Leatherstrap Wonderpants by (Angel/Katie, Bradley/Colin-ish). Word count: 22K. Art by followthehorse.

Summary: Light Steampunk AU. It's basically about the cast hanging around Pierrefonds during the filming of series 2 & 3, from Emilia Fox's POV. There is no central plot, aside from the progression of relationships on the set, including crossover w/Doctor Who stars.

Man, Rearranged (on AO3) by calliglad (Bradley/Colin). Word count: 20.5k. Art by gwyntastic.

Summary: After 'Merlin', Bradley's career skyrockets. Amidst his growing fame and budding relationship with Colin, he starts having strange dreams and begins to wonder what is real and what isn't.

Something Kind of Wonderful (on AO3) by dreamdustmama (Bradley/Colin). Word Count: 22,300. AU. Art by roguemouse.

Summary: In which Colin has writer's block, Katie is helpful, Bradley makes coffee, Angel is awesome, and along the way something kind of wonderful happens.

the stupidest of ideas (can lead to something brilliant) by han_corrupted (Bradley/Colin). Word count: 30 000+. Art by Emily.

Summary: AU. Working in the theatre was not what Bradley had pictured himself doing. Cue a little play called "Merlin", and the nine months that changed his life. Playing Arthur Pendragon made sense. That Bradley found a new family, and Colin, in the process was just a bonus.

There Was a Plan. Really. by giselleslash (Bradley/Colin). Word count: ~22k. Art by glaringcandle.

Summary: Bradley isn't at all sure of Colin at first so he hatches what he thinks is a brilliant plan to study him. There may even be science-y stuff involved, like research and observation, it's all very clever and well-planned. (And totally not weird and borderline stalkerish, no matter what Katie and Angel say.) That couldn't possibly go wrong. Right?

To think that nothing's wrong is a problem (on AO3) by leviathans_moon (Katie/Colin). Word count: +24k. Art by spikessire.

Summary: He gets her and she gets him, except they somehow don’t get each other. Broken hearts, broken pride and minds dominating over feelings stand between them. Climbing and being pushed over those obstacles takes time and needs some help from their friends.

Challenge Entries 2011

Stranded by bananahater336 (Bradley/Colin). Art by glenien.

Summary: American AU. It's a late August morning, and Colin's car has just run out of gas on the side of Interstate 55. While desperately trying to reach anyone who would be willing to give him a hand (and it's increasingly clear to him that there aren't many), he must come to terms with the things about himself that have isolated him so much and the fact that he drove away the only person he ever wanted to spend his life with.

you're all a part of me by somerdaye (Bradley/Colin, Eoin/Katie). Word count: 20,297. Art by lkaet.

Summary: Merlin is finished, and despite their vehement protests, Colin and Katie are whisked off to Italy with some of the other young cast members before they have to say goodbye and move on with their lives. Problem is, Colin thinks he might possibly be in love with his (straight) on-set best friend - and neither of them are terribly good at communicating.

Two weeks of misunderstandings, blanket forts, sofa-sleeping, and way too much alcohol leads to something pretty close to happiness.

The Beefcakes and the Mole Person (on AO3) by slantedknitting (Bradley/Colin, Colin/OMC). Word count: 26,500. Art by gwyntastic.

Summary: During the first series, Colin makes friends with a crew member and starts keeping a lot of secrets from Bradley, who keeps prying and prying until he gets what he wants.

Arrangements by Mrs Leary ("various combinations of Richard/Colin/Bradley"). Word count: 16,042. Art by yue_ix.

Summary: Richard and Colin are 'friends with benefits'; when Colin attempts to renegotiate their arrangement, Richard resists making it into anything more than what it is. And he seems to be justified in his wariness. As Richard directs Colin and Bradley in a production of Edward II, it becomes clear that the two young men are in love. Richard refuses to stand in their way, but now Colin is the one reluctant to change the existing arrangements.

Maybe The Seaside Is The Place (on AO3) by junkshop_disco (Bradley/Colin). Word count: 25,000. Art by somewhereminako.

Summary: Colin’s unbreakable rule about not doing anything romantic with his co-stars leads to a heart broken into pieces around his Merlin boots. Years later, an unexpected reunion with Bradley gives him another chance -- assuming he can make room in his schedule between jobs and existential crises for love, that is.

I only wish that I could hear you whisper down... by freakgeeknation (Bradley/Colin). Word count: 20,055. Art by altocello.

Summary: After Colin is killed in a tragic car accident during the filming of the 5th series of Merlin, Bradley begins on a long and torturous self destructive downward spiral. Unable to escape the haunting memories of their relationship and when nothing seems to end the pain for him, he takes his own life. But what he finds on the other side as he searches for Colin, is something he never expected or thought he'd ever need.

Challenge Entries 2012

Every Version of You by phys_nut (Bradley/Colin, "hints of Eoin/Katie"). Word count: 17,538. Art by emerish.

Summary: Bradley ends up being sent to a parallel universe after a spell during filming actually works. When the guys get him back, Colin notices there’s something wrong, and he’s determined to find out what happened.

The Fairy of Shalott (on AO3) by MarInk (Bradley/Colin). Word count: 25,500. Art by helva2260.

Summary: Colin works in a bookstore and harbours a dream. An unusual customer comes in one day, and before Colin knows it his neatly organized life goes downhill. Or, maybe, uphill, even if there is no such phrase. He can’t really decide which one.

Colin's List by junkshop_disco (Bradley/Colin). Word count: 18,500. Art by alby_mangroves.

Summary: Insomnia does strange things to people. It makes Bradley lose his mind. It makes Colin make lists.

Once More, With Feeling (on AO3) by alby_mangroves and rufflefeather (Bradley/Colin, Colin/OMC). Word count: 26,000. Art by Ibrahil.

Summary: Bradley has spent years cultivating an image which feels as hollow as his Hollywood victory. Colin, in moments of weakness, thinks he might have left his soul behind on the set of Merlin. Sometimes, running gets you nowhere except full circle.

It's Complicated by Mrs Leary ("various twosomes involving Bradley/Colin/Richard/Rupert"). Word count: 13,750. Art by altocello.

Summary: A bemused Colin finds that it’s generally assumed Richard is in love with Colin – and Rupert later suggests that, really, just about everyone is at least a little in love with Colin… But if he’s so spoiled for choice, why does it take him the whole second season to work out who he most wants to be with?

Take Me By The Tongue (Kiss Me 'Til I'm Drunk) by stevie23 (Bradley/Colin). Word count: 12,500. Art by emerish.

Summary: At first, when Colin starts skipping their Friday Night Movie Nights, Bradley thinks he's done something wrong. Then he thinks Colin's dating someone. Then he thinks Colin's dating Katie, and then the truth is revealed. Features pining!Bradley, motherhen!Katie, Angel and Bradley being bro's and Bradley and Colin being eejits (as usual.)

The Waiting That Happens In The Space Between by Nympha Alba (Bradley/Colin). Word count: 11,300. Art by mushroomtale.

Summary: There had been a time when Merlin and Arthur were teenagers and the actors who played them were still trying to figure each other out. There had been a time when they had been inseparable. But all that was long ago, and when Merlin wraps, Colin finds himself waiting for something that may never happen.

Gold in the Shadows by ingberry (Bradley/Colin). Word count: 12,600. Art by aarins_rou.

Summary: Bradley and Colin get stranded in France for a night and somehow it changes everything. Or, well, maybe it doesn't change everything so much as it brings out what's been there all along. In fact, nothing much changes at all except Colin stops pretending that anyone else can ever be as important as Bradley.