Once_and_future_tavern
Fandoms
- Merlin (TV) (7)
- Iron Lung (2026) (2)
- Project Hail Mary (2026) (1)
Recent works
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Summary
But Simon has always been good at surviving things he shouldn't.
But he's going to live.
No matter what.
Or: Simon experiences the Iron Lung, filtered through my headcanons and stuffed into a fanfic-shaped box. This isn't a crossover (though there's a tiny Halo reference tucked in there); it's more of a rewrite of Iron Lung's ending.
Can be read as a standalone!
Series
- Part 1 of On and on (Until you bleed)
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 4,190
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Kudos:
- 3
- Hits:
- 30
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Hunger by Once_and_future_tavern for Dllhouse
Fandoms: Iron Lung (2026), Project Hail Mary (2026)
12 Jun 2026
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Summary
Simon was hungry.
He was hungry for survival.
He was hungry for Ryland.
Hungry for forgiveness.Simon doesn't know how to want something without destroying it.
He's hungry.
Hungry to be seen.
And so he does. Even if he'll beg for forgiveness later.Series
- Part 2 of On and on (Until you bleed)
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Summary
Merlin is tired of sharing.
Arthur is tired of pretending.
And the crown of Camelot looks surprisingly good lying in the mud.
Or: Merlin leaves. Arthur follows because he will always choose his warlock, no matter what.
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Summary
Merlin is tired of councils, of crowns, of being expected to fix things simply by existing.
Nemeth is meant to be a brief stop, a political courtesy, nothing more.
Arthur Pendragon, naturally, complicates everything. -
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Summary
Mordred lost his mother. Merlin, his father, is doing his best not to fall apart.
Arthur is a child therapist. He’s dealt with grief before — just never his own.
He didn’t mean to care this much. Not about the boy. And certainly not about the boy’s tired, beautiful father.
Series
- Part 1 of Sexy dad Merlin
Recent series
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On and on (Until you bleed) by Once_and_future_tavern
Fandom Iron Lung (2026), Project Hail Mary (2026)
18 Jun 2026
Summary
This is a juncture of my theories about what really happened on Iron Lung.
A Motherless Child is a sort of canon divergence/fix-it. It's mostly a character study of Simon and a new ending where Simon lives for the sake of the plot. Can be read as a standalone, since it's just what happened to Simon before his universe collided with the Hail Mary.
Hunger is basically Simon's journey of self-acceptance and a close-up on how fucked his mind is after the horrors + he undertanding how to love Ryland.
Both works can be read separately. However, if you plan on reading Hunger, reading A Motherless Child can deepen Simon's character greatly.
The title is taken from "In on It" by Superheaven.
Check my BloodyMary playlist for the vibe Visit here
- Words:
- 27,561
- Works:
- 2
- Bookmarks:
- 1
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- Words:
- 38,550
- Works:
- 1
- Bookmarks:
- 3
Recent bookmarks
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Summary
As a supportive boyfriend playing squire on Arthur's big day at the Renaissance Faire tourney, Merlin comes up with his own ingenious idea of motivating Arthur before his final match — namely, servicing Arthur with his tongue and fingers while in his armour.
He's got to keep his knight's best interests in mind, though, which is why he isn't letting Arthur come.
Unless he wins the tourney.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 6,302
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Collections:
- 2
- Comments:
- 32
- Kudos:
- 1,190
- Bookmarks:
- 223
- Hits:
- 26,908
Bookmarked by Once_and_future_tavern
03 Mar 2026
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Summary
Arthur has always loved Merlin, the kindly old court physician. As he grows and begins to leave childhood behind, his feelings mature with him and it doesn’t take him long to realize that Merlin is changing too, affected by a spell that puts the two of them on a collision course with fate itself.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 118,975
- Chapters:
- 18/18
- Comments:
- 268
- Kudos:
- 1,293
- Bookmarks:
- 325
- Hits:
- 26,840
Bookmarked by Once_and_future_tavern
19 Dec 2025
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Summary
Where there is grief, there are things to be said. Sometimes there's no one to say them to. Sometimes they go unsaid, but the silence doesn't mean that they aren't waiting.
Bookmarked by Once_and_future_tavern
13 Nov 2025
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Summary
After ten years, Arthur thinks he has Merlin all figured out. But as he watches Merlin, he finds out that he has more questions than answers. The longer he thinks about it, the more uneasy he feels. So he pushes it aside. Except, he can no longer ignore the questions he has about Merlin.
Not your everyday reveal!fic.
- Language:
- English
- Words:
- 21,680
- Chapters:
- 1/1
- Comments:
- 446
- Kudos:
- 22,031
- Bookmarks:
- 4,149
- Hits:
- 254,360
Bookmarked by Once_and_future_tavern
15 Oct 2025
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Summary
What if Arthur has magic, too? What if he also has to hide his magic? And as if it isn't enough, he has a weird magical connection with other magic users too. Ah did I mention his crush on his manservant? Yes he is also in love with his idiot Merlin. What a confusing life indeed.
Bookmarked by Once_and_future_tavern
15 Oct 2025