Title: The Very Important Quest
Author: ?? (not revealed yet)
Rating: NC-17
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Word Count: ~25,000
Warnings: Veg*n warning: Gory death of animals within. Also taxidermy. (These two warnings are unrelated.)
Summary: On a Very Important Quest, Arthur and Merlin share clothes, beds, bathwater and secrets.

This is an absolutely delightful reveal fic. ♥ The bantering feels very canon, with less of the mean-spiritness that sometimes seems to leak into the show. Merlin needs to undertake a quest and Arthur invites himself along to help. Sweetness and angst and feelings ensue.

Excerpt:

“You intend to travel alone?” he asks Merlin, skeptical. “To the Northern Mountains. In the snow.”

Merlin’s gaze is shifty; it darts from Arthur to Gaius to the door, and then back to Arthur. “If it’s that dangerous, I thought maybe I could take someone with me. Perhaps Lancelot, or Gwaine—”

“No, that won’t do at all,” Arthur cuts him off abruptly, and then begins to pace; he hadn’t meant to speak so quickly, so he distracts them from it with the purposeful movement. “Lancelot is needed here, and Gwaine is the reason he’s needed here—no, he certainly couldn’t be trusted on such an important mission.” Merlin doesn’t say anything, just watches as Arthur strides and blusters. “No, there’s nothing else for it.” Arthur stops in front of Merlin again. “You can’t be expected to undertake such an important mission on your own, Merlin; you’d be a block of ice on a hillside and half of Camelot dead in their beds. No, the only option is for me to accompany you.”

Merlin’s mouth twitches, and as expected, his expression turns put-upon. “There’s no discouraging me,” he declares before Merlin can even open his mouth. “Pack my bags and ready the horses.” And he jogs out of the room before Merlin or Gaius can say another word.

Title: For the Good of the Kingdom
Author: magog_83
Rating: PG13
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin
Word Count: 12,650
Summary: Merlin returns from his sojourn with the druids in the company of a man who is criminally handsome. Arthur reacts in the mature and reasonable fashion you would expect.

*laughs* This is just...hilariously cracky. Merlin's spent time with the Druids and comes back only for Arthur to think Merlin's fallen for the criminally handsome Druid and, in fact, wants to move to the woods with said Druid. In point of fact, the Druids are there for a ritual which Merlin has failed to informa Arthur of and cracky hilarity ensues as Arthur attempts to give Merlin a reason to stay.

Excerpt:

“Much as I enjoy helping Merlin haul your drunken arse to bed, you might want to give it a rest if you intend to lead training in the morning.”

Arthur blinked blearily at Gwaine who had sprawled on the bench next to him and ignored all references to his Royal duties for the more pertinent matter at hand. “Merlin’s going to live in the woods.”

“Oh Christ,” said Gwaine, and without further ado reached for the flagon of ale and poured himself a generous measure.

“See, even you think so,” said Arthur, feeling like the most tragic King who ever lived.

Gwaine took a hearty gulp of his ale. “I’m going to take a wild stab in the dark and assume this has something to do with a tall, dark and handsome druid?”

“No,” said Arthur, scowling. Then, “Why? Do you notice anything—”

“Merlin is not going to go and live in the woods,” Gwaine interrupted, looking far too amused.

Arthur put his tankard down with great dignity. “Of course he isn’t, I knew that.”

“Unless...” Gwaine went on, eyeing Arthur with a smirk. “Unless that Aelfgar is very persuasive.”

“What?” Arthur twisted on his chair to scan the hall for Merlin and Aelfgar and nearly sagged with relief when he spied them talking with Gaius and Branwen by the fire, Branwen’s falcon in its usual perch on her shoulder. Merlin caught his eye immediately and then pulled a ridiculous face that was clearly meant to be apologetic as Branwen tugged his sleeve to draw his attention back to a dusty looking scroll.

Arthur turned back to Gwaine, whose smirk seemed to have grown. “See, the way I see it, your royal obliviousness, it’s not about Merlin leaving, it’s about you giving him a reason to stay.” Gwaine waggled his eyebrows, then just sighed when Arthur looked confused. “You have to show him that you, you know, appreciate him.”

“I do appreciate him,” Arthur said crossly.

Gwaine snorted. “Believe me, we know.”

So it's been ages since I posted anything here, but real life has made sure I've not really had time to read any fic. However, now being finished work for the season I've spent the last three weeks delving into Merlin fanfic again and finding a ridiculous amount of utterly, utterly adorable and wonderful fics (something I was beginning to feel I would never find!) So I'll be posting several recs here over the coming weeks, all Merlin (since it's the only thing I'm reading). *G*

Title: Neither fish nor fowl
Author: adelagia
Fandom: Merlin
Summary: Trusses of flowers, personalised letters and whole roast chicken had always been sure-fire ways to win a person's heart, at least in Arthur's experience. Merlin's heart, however, was an entirely different story.
Pairing: Merlin/Arthur (Gwen/Arthur, Gwen/Lancelot)
Rating: PG-13
Warnings/Spoilers: General references to episodes through S2
Word count: ~11,400

It's quite possible that I strained something grinning so much with this fic. It's set post Arthur becoming King, after he's married Gwen, and has made Merlin Court Sorcerer.

I don't even know how to describe this fic other than to say it's just sweet and adorable and funny and READ IT. If you need a pick me up, this is totally the story for it. ♥

***

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Title: Fools of Us All
Author: adelagia
Fandom: Merlin
Summary: Merlin accidentally makes everybody in Camelot fall in love with him. Everybody except Arthur, that is.
Characters/Pairing: Merlin/Arthur
Rating: NC-17
Warnings/Spoilers: If the rating didn't tip you off, there are swears and sexytimes in this fic. Also, a very minor reference to 1x07 The Gates of Avalon.
Word Count: ~11,300

Again, this is just face splittingly adorable. Arthur pining, Merlin pining, both oblivious to the other's pining. Merlin accidentally covering himself in love potion that has everyone in Camelot, even the animals, fall head over heels for him much to Arthur's frustration and jealousy. *laughs* Just...yeah. ♥ Deliciously sweet and funny.

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Title: Catch-19
Author: Chelle
Fandom: Stargate Atlantis
Pairing: John/Rodney
Rating: R
Summary: A romantic comedy written for Team Romance during McShep Match. The prompt was "catch-22."

--

This is just adorable. Adorable is the only way to describe it. But, trying to give a little more description... It's a sweet, gorgeous story about the IOA trying to replace John as the head of Atlantis' military because they don't want the US to have quite so much influence in Atlantis (something I always totally thought should have been a part of the show - FAR too many Americans considering it was an international expedition) and so are planning to send him back to Earth. Rodney comes up with the idea of John marrying someone from another country in order to be able to stay. When John refuses to use any of the women in the expedition like that (regardless of Rodney's assertions that they wouldn't mind), Rodney suggests John marry him instead. Thus ensues the planning of the wedding, and John and Rodney trying to prove their undying love to the other members of the expedition and Woolsey and the IOA more specifically, the wedding and John and Rodney finding out that what they thought they knew wasn't anything close to the real truth.

Romance fic at its best!

--

"Marry me," Rodney said.

John's head snapped toward him. "What?"

"Marry me. You don't want to take advantage of some poor woman, then don't. I'm volunteering. Unlike your backward country, Canada recognizes gay marriages."

"Hey--" John said, instinctively protesting Rodney's slam of the good ol' US of A. Then he noticed Elizabeth looking at them speculatively. "You can't think this is a good idea." She simply smiled. "Rodney and me, no one would believe it."

"Why not?" Rodney demanded, sounding genuinely offended which, knowing Rodney, he probably was.

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because neither of us is gay, or maybe because you've been panting after Colonel Carter for years."

"Maybe it was a cover story, designed to hide my feelings for you. Feelings we never acted on because we were afraid you'd be sent back." Rodney stood, moving across the room as he talked. "But now that you're going to be sent back anyway, we have nothing to lose, so you've decided to resign your commission and marry me, put an end to all that pining."

"This could work," Elizabeth said.

John looked between them, shaking his head in disbelief. Rodney shot her a grateful look. "Pining. I've been pining for you," John muttered.

"I'm pineable," Rodney said.

Title: 1930
Author: Nixa Jane
Fandom: Psych
Pairing: Shawn/Lassiter
Rating: PG13
Summary: See a penny, pick it up (and all the day you'll have good luck).

--

Yet another amazing story by Nixa Jane. In this one, Shawn's Uncle Jack comes back and once again brings trouble Shawn's way. Characterization is great, there's bonus Shawn/Lassiter and this really feels like it could be an episode (again, ignoring the slash *g* but, don't ignore cause it's hilariously awesome!).

Jack comes back, looking for something that, Shawn being psychic and all, is the one who can find it...or so he hopes.

There's crack and humor, angst and hurt/comfort and slash and all of it culminates in a truly awesome ending!

--

Excerpt:

"I've got plenty of secrets from you," Lassiter snapped.

"Name one," Shawn says.

"I--that would entirely defeat the purpose, Spencer," he says. "If you don't know I’m certainly not telling you."

"Is it that you used to have a pet bunny named Snowflake?" Shawn asks. "Because I already know that."

"How did you--" Lassiter breaks off. "Look, for your edification, it was Mrs. Snowflake," he says, and hangs up on him.

Shawn stares down at the phone in disbelief, before hitting the speed dial again. "I can't believe you hung up on me," he says. "And Mrs. Snowflake? Really? That's even worse. That's almost as bad as that time you worked at the Weinerhouse and wore the hot-dog costume for three weeks in April of 89."

The other end of the line goes silent for a moment. "That never happened," Lassiter says after a moment. "I never did that."

"I've got pictures," Shawn says. "I'm telling you, Lassie, you don't have any secrets from me."

"Then why am I following you?" Lassiter asks. "If you know everything, you shouldn't have to ask."

Shawn snaps his phone shut, annoyed because he doesn't know why Lassiter is following him around looking like a cross between Chaplain and Eastwood in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Not yet. He's just contemplating sneaking out the back to lose him when his phone rings. "Did you decide to go with the bowler hat?" he asks.

"Shawnie?"

Shawn freezes at the sound of the voice, and leans back on his couch. "Jack," he says, wary and still a little hurt. It's the first time he hasn't called him Uncle Jack in as long as he can remember, but he can't bring himself to do it now.

"Hey, kid," Jack says. "I wanted to apologize about what happened, and I'm sorry I didn't meet you--but god you're clever, Shawnie. You always were."

"I didn't even need to be psychic to know you were going to double-cross me, Jack," Shawn tells him. He sits up straighter, watching Lassiter outside. Suddenly Lassiter's presence makes a whole lot of sense. "Let me guess," Shawn continues, "you just got off a flight back into Santa Barbara."

Jack laughs. "You know, I half-believe you really are psychic. Yeah. I'm back. I thought I'd come see you."

"I wouldn't recommend it," Shawn says. "The police are watching my apartment."

These are a series of stories written by Deastar. I've read all but the first as men dressed as women just is not my thing at all. But, I don't feel I missed anything by skipping the first one so I am going to rec the other four because they were snarky, sweet, fun and, I felt, pretty in character over all (obviously here and there totally not but that goes for most fanfiction, I think).

Title: Confidence Man (This is the only one that is rated NC17)
Author: Deastar
Rating: NC17
Summary: “So we were investigating this warehouse,” Neal begins, and this is the easy part of the story to tell. “And there was this suspicious shipping container. And Peter insisted that he be the one to go in first, like he does.”

Neal swears he can hear Elizabeth rolling her eyes over the phone.

“And he got sprayed with this chemical. It’s not poisonous!” he adds quickly.

“Then what is it, Neal?”

Neal really wants to say this part so fast that it’s unrecognizable, so he makes himself say it slowly and enunciate very clearly.

“It’s some kind of aerosol aphrodisiac. He’s not in danger, per se, but we don’t know what the effects are, and he’s pretty miserable right now. So, Elizabeth, I really hate to ask this, but would you be willing to drive or fly to Buffalo so that you can… perform your conjugal duties?”

Silence reigns on the other end of the phone.

Title: Just Like in the Movies
Author: Deastar
Rating: PG13
Summary: Peter gives him an exasperated look. "I've heard you tell that story three times now, and each time is more ridiculous than the last."

Neal affects shock and hurt. "Ridiculous? Peter, that's our love story, and every word of it is true!"

"That's what terrifies me," Peter mutters, and Neal grins.

Title: Pay Grade
Author: Deastar
Rating: PG13
Summary: Peter stares dumbly at the front door, then down at the suitcase, then finally at the pair of specially-designed, custom-made titanium/steel blend Israeli Military Police handcuffs (the key to which is somewhere at the bottom of the Hudson River) linking his right wrist to Neal's left.

Then he looks up at Neal.

"You've been suspiciously quiet for the last five minutes," he observes, narrowing his eyes.

"Oh, don't mind me," Neal says. "I'm just basking in the irony over here."

Title: Blind/Dates
Author: Deastar
Rating: PG13
Summary: Elizabeth is staying late to supervise the clean-up, so Peter takes Neal home alone. As he turns onto the street that will take him to June's front door, he says mildly, "My wife says you were shilling me like a used car all night."

Neal rolls his eyes. "It wasn't like that. I just wanted her to know that I… that I properly appreciate you. That's all."

"You mean she couldn't tell just from how you make fun of what I wear all the time and laugh at me behind my back with my subordinates?" Peter asks dryly.

"Exactly," Neal says, unruffled.

The sidewalks are covered with ice, so Peter parks on the street and walks Neal to the door of the house, to make sure he doesn't slip and fall.

On the porch, just outside the door, Neal turns to Peter and smiles. "I had fun tonight," he says, and Peter, his throat strangely dry, says, "Me, too."

Peter only has time for a vague thought that Neal is leaning awfully far toward him – then suddenly, he's being kissed. Shocked, Peter barely notices the details, his brain still trying to deal with the concept of being kissed by Neal Caffrey. He gets a fleeting impression of the warmth of Neal's hand on his cheek, the spicy scent of Neal's cologne, and the softness of Neal's lips, before Neal is leaning back, giving Peter an uncertain smile.

"What the hell was that?!" Peter asks, staring at Neal, dumbfounded.

Neal rolls his eyes. "We've been dating for months, Peter, I don't think I was too forward."

Title: The Crown of the Summer Court
Author: astolat
Rating: NC17
Summary: "The king sent me to get you," Merlin said, with a tone that implied strongly that he wasn't rolling his eyes where Arthur could see, but just wait until his back was turned. "He said you're to get changed into formal clothes and meet him in the Great Hall, there's a delegation coming from the Summer Court."

--

Wonderful! Such an interesting spin on what exactly Merlin is, who he will eventually become, with Arthur by his side.

There is one scene however that both disturbed and disappointed me. Arthur at one point is sentenced to 6 lashes by Uther and accepts this punishment, despite Merlin declaring he would kill anyone that touched Arthur. As much as I hated the idea of Arthur being lashed, his reasons are good and noble ones. Instead of letting it be something nobel though, the author turns it into ridiculous (and disturbing) porn when Merlin is the one that lashes him, and Arthur gets hard and comes from it. I will NEVER understand how someone can get off on pain (and even the convenient explanation that Merlin was using magic to make the pain go away as quickly as it came didn't work for me) and this scene that could have been so poignant is stripped of any real substance by it being turned into pointless porn.

--

Excerpt:

"The Summer Court is come to Camelot," he said, "and all candidates of the king's bloodline three times removed are now called hence, to stand before the Summer Throne, and contest their right to the crown. I call Ardhiel of the House of Rhehan, Prince of Night Without Stars—"

As he began listing the names, there were suddenly a bloody lot more elves in the hall. Arthur couldn't even see where they were coming from—half of them seemed to be just appearing from behind pillars and coming out of doors that hadn't been there a moment before. The whole damned room seemed bigger.

A tall man with green hair was coming forward in answer to Eldren's call, apparently this Prince Ardhiel; he smiled at Sir Dianys, and took up a position at the start of a line that gradually grew to six people—all of them odd-looking in one way or another, and three of them weren't even men. Morgana glanced over at him with a raised eyebrow, and Arthur tried hard not to roll his eyes at her. If a woman actually won this, he was sure he'd never hear the end of it, even if it was all over in a week and he lived to be a hundred.

As the last woman joined them—hair all pinned away under some sort of veil, except beneath the veil it seemed to be moving—Eldren paused in his recitation. He said, "There is one other candidate to be named," and the six already there turned and stared at him. There was a rustling of surprise among the other elves.

Eldren looked up at Uther and swept out a hand and said, "You asked why your kingdom: it is here alone the final candidate may be called before the Throne. I call the natural-born son of King Taranis—" and there was a roar of noise and protest among the elves, but Eldren's voice rose above it all, "—the natural-born son of King Taranis, named Emrys by the Summer Throne—"

A clatter and a smash behind him like two jousters coming together made Arthur jump. He turned to glare furiously at a stricken, white-faced Merlin, who'd just dropped a tray covered with goblets and a jug now spilling red wine everywhere across the floor, and so Arthur was looking right at him when Eldren finished, "— called among mortal men Merlin son of Hunith, to stand before the Throne."

Title: Onfindan
Author: astolat
Rating: R/NC17
Summary: Arthur didn't speak to him for a week after he found out.

--

Arthur finds out about Merlin.

Good character voices and a realistic (as realistic as is possible with Merlin AND slash *g*) look at what would happen after Arthur found out and how Merlin being able to be himself around Arthur would change their relationship and Arthur's view of just what Merlin is to him.

--

Excerpt:


"Don't be stupid, you think I mind not having Uther know?"

"It's not right," Arthur said. "I don't deserve the credit. I couldn't have done any of this without you, and with you, another knight might have."

"Right, because there are a load of knights out there that would fight ridiculous monsters for no reward and not get killed on the first pass," Merlin said. "Honestly, you and Lancelot—"

"What?" Arthur said, looking up.

"I enchanted his spear, so he could kill the griffon," Merlin said, "and then he insisted on leaving Camelot just so he couldn't take the credit! You're both utter—what? Why are you—" His chair skittered back a little bit as Arthur came up out of his chair.

"Lancelot knew before I did?" Arthur said dangerously.

"Er," Merlin said.

"You'd known him a week!" Arthur said.

"I didn't tell him!" Merlin said, getting out of his chair and putting it between him and Arthur. "He got a little suspicious when he heard me yelling magic words and then his spear burst into blue flames."

"Where the hell was I at the time?"

"Unconscious and half-dead on the ground?" Merlin said, backing away. He looked at the door. "I'm sure you're tired, I should—"

Arthur shoved him up against the door instead, almost hard enough to hurt; there was something hard and bitter seeping into his voice. "So you really trust me so little?"

Merlin shoved him back, which didn't work very well but made him feel better, starting to feel the anger catch in him, too. "Your father chops people's heads off for brewing false love potions—the first day I got here, I saw a sorceror executed. What did you expect me to do, write you a letter? 'Dear Arthur, have been using magic since I was two, please don't burn me at the stake?' "

"I expected you to be honest with me!" Arthur said. "I expected—I thought you—that you—"

And it was so bloody unfair it nearly stopped Merlin's breath—when there wasn't anything Arthur couldn't have of him—when there was no way Arthur couldn't know—"You are a complete blithering idiot!" he yelled. "Of course I do! Look around!"

Arthur stopped, staring at him. Then slowly he let go just enough to turn and look back into the room behind them. The armor and the clothing was laid away, wine glowing red in goblets by the fire; swathes of velvet curtaining the bed, held back with golden chains, rich sable and samite within. His swords gleamed with a burnishing edge of yellow flame, a drift of fresh-fallen snow on the window's sill but the air as crisp as spring.

Arthur's hand was still clenched in Merlin's shirt, holding on. The light was behind him, limning him, so Merlin could see his throat work as he swallowed. Arthur's voice was still a little raw and unsteady as he said, "You are a complete girl, I knew it," and turned back and kissed him.

Title: Despoiled
Author: astolat
Rating: NC17
Summary: In which various people become various things they weren't before.

--

Arthur thinks Merlin has despoiled Morgana...and that he has bedded several members of the kingdom, leaving him fuming and jealous.

Lord Tunaine has been entertaining visitors from a rival kingdom, leaving him a threat that must be dealt with...delicately.

Uther comes up with a plan.

Hilariously cracky in the beginning but with a heartbreaking side of Arthur and what he thinks is expected of him.

--

Excerpt:

"You should not be alone with a man in your rooms, and you know it," Arthur snapped.

"Oh, what utter nonsense," Morgana said. "I am perfectly capable of defending myself if Merlin went suddenly mad one night and tried to make an assault on my virtue." And then, because Merlin was surrounded by people who couldn't leave well enough alone, she added, with a glint in her eye, "Unless I wanted him to succeed."

Arthur went red again and glared. "He's a servant!"

"And still more of a gentleman than you," Morgana said sweetly. "Also, he's taller. I suppose that's why you've locked him up? Feeling outmatched?"

"Feeling—" Arthur's voice went up so high it cracked in his throat. "By him? Just because you're evidently fond of slumming—"

"Excuse me," Merlin said. "But can I please be let out of the dungeon now before the two of you kill each other? I'm sure I'll get blamed for it if someone finds your bodies and I'm the only one here, even if I'm in the cell."

"You aren't going anywhere!" Arthur said. "The honor of the king's ward is the honor of Camelot."

"It's my honor and mine to defend, not yours!" Morgana said.

"But I didn't do anything to her honor!" Merlin said.

"Don't say another word, Merlin, I refuse to even defend myself against such accusations," Morgana said.

"Yes, but, I'm the one in the dungeon," Merlin said.

"You might as well save your breath," Arthur said, still glaring at her. "I wouldn't believe anything you said anyway."

"I'm queer!" Merlin said.

Title: The World Under Heaven, Here All Is Lent
Author: takadainmate
Pairing: Arthur/Merlin
Rating: PG13
Category: Hurt/Comfort
Summary: Arthur and Merlin survive.

--

Another long and wonderfully in character story. LOTS of Hurt/Comfort *glee* and saving of each other's lives *double glee* and adorkableness *triple glee*. ;)

--

Excerpt:

"Uh," he said, and wondered at why his throat felt raw and his stomach felt heavy and it hurt to breathe. "What happened?" he tried to ask and was not a little bit disturbed to hear his own words slurred and stuttered.

"You fell in the river, you idiot," Arthur replied, then he paused and leaned in closer to Merlin, his brow drawn in a frown. "You don't remember?"

Merlin remembered: lots of water. Which, he supposed explained why his hair felt flat and drenched against his skin, dripping down his face and into his eyes. Also: he was so cold it hurt, and now that he thought about it he noticed he was shivering and he couldn't seem to convince any of his limbs to move. The muscles in his arms and legs and back felt bunched together, drawn tight like a tanner's skins stretched between poles. His fingers and toes felt as though the cold was burning into them, and Merlin wondered if this was what fire felt like against skin.

"Remember..." he said, and grimaced at the way his teeth chattered together. "Didn't want to though." Arthur looked like he was torn between laughing and frowning even more, but instead he just shrugged, and Merlin was confused for a moment when he felt the movement himself. Then he realised, he was still hanging onto Arthur's jacket, and he was lying, half-curled up, in Arthur's lap.

"What...?" Merlin tried to pull himself up, but only managed to slump even more closely against Arthur's chest. Arthur shifted his legs, his arms tightening around Merlin, drawing his cloak more snugly around him.

"You were, and possibly still are, freezing to death," Arthur sniffed, looking away. And it really was as luxurious a coat as Merlin had imagined; soft and fluffy against his bare skin. "I don't know what else to do," Arthur was saying to the floor, looking decidedly put upon. "You were as cold as a dead fish when I dragged your sorry carcass out of the river. I thought you were dead."

"At least," Merlin breathed, trying desperately to lighten the mood because it was just too weird to see Arthur like this; worried and unsure of himself and fidgeting uncomfortably and didn't he realise Merlin could feel that? "You didn't bury me." He tried a smile. "Wouldn't have helped."

Arthur shook his head and said, "Of course I wouldn't do that."

He looked back at Merlin, eyes fierce, then looked away again at something in the distance. "I'm not a physician though," he said. "You have to tell me what I can do to make you better because we can't stay here forever and I'm not going to let you die."

"Not a physician either." Merlin tried to move again, managed to get his legs to shift a bit and felt the soft wool under his legs, only then realising he wasn't actually wearing very much. And he would have been embarrassed or annoyed if he hadn't been intensely grateful that Arthur hadn't left him wearing his certainly ice-cold waterlogged clothes. "Clothes off is good," he said, trying to sound encouraging and not realising what he'd said until Arthur choked a laugh and looked at him with an amused grin and a raised eyebrow.

"Not what I meant!" Merlin protested feebly, and hated that he felt so weak he couldn't even argue back properly. "Gaius said."

"That just makes it sound worse, you realise," Arthur laughed. Merlin chose to ignore him.