8 david archuleta fanwork recs
Still for davidxdavid's Post-A-Day Fest :)
Since the theme is Archuletas FTW! or Family, I decided to list some of my favorite stories with postive (or at least non-evil) characterizations of David's family. This is actually much harder than it ought to be, because the press for David's family, specifically for David's dad Jeff, had been horrific during American Idol.
(Rant: I mean, okay, people can write whatever they want, but Jeff hiring someone to rape his son? Seriously?!)
I've also included one delightful gen ficlet, because David genfic is like the rarest of all magical sparkly fic ponies in all the land that is Livejournal, and four non-fic fanworks!
Just so you know: almost all of the stories I'll be listing pair David with David Cook. They are taken from my del.icio.us, where I tag stuff I like. I tend to skim the comms once in a while rather than look at every entry, so my reading & tagging are erratic and sporadic. I take gossymer's approach to reccing: I rec the stuff I like. It may be fabulously well crafted in terms of writing style or drawing abilities. Then again, it may not. Nevertheless, if I'm reccing it, then it struck a chord with me on a personal level.
Bright Light City by solacedoll (PG-13)
Author's summary: His dad'd suggested Vegas for his eighteenth, and his mom's eyes had nearly popped out of her head, but his dad had said, in a firm sort of voice, "for tourist attractions," and Claudia's smirk had dug into her cheek.
Quote: "Cook!" he says, at the same time as Cook, peering over his shoulder, said "David Archuleta, is that a drink?"
David twists in the embrace to look at Cook, and the drink sloshes. "No!" he squeals in horror, and lowers his voice to a more appropriate level. "No, I was trying to find a place to pour it out."
"Is that someone else's drink?" Cook says, titling his head, and David is indignant. "No," he says, voice muffled against Cook's shirt, and he feels Cook's laugh more than hears it.
Why I like it: This story is about David's 18th birthday, and the setting -- Las Vegas -- is entirely perfect for showing his hesitant wobbling on the precipice of adulthood. It starts out with delightful ~wacky hijinks~ with Claudia and Amber and Air Force Amy, but it isn't just about David getting drunk and being able to enter casinos legally. Being an adult is also about acknowledging some things that you, as a kid, hadn't even thought about, and here David has to confront them, in the form of David Cook. The writing is sharp and honest and so good.
Oh, and this story 'ships Jeff and Lupe Archuleta, which. Um. Moar plz? I know, I know, special hell is pretty this time of the year, I've heard.
Promised by ficangel (PG)
Author's summary: (none)
Quote: “I’m the younger generation,” David felt compelled to point out, only for Cook to answer, “Archie, you have not been the younger generation since you were ten. You’re seventeen going on thirty-five, I swear to God,” at the same time that Michael shoved at Cook’s shoulder and said, “Go shake your cane at them, Grandpa.”
Why I like it: It's a story about PROMISE RINGS and it's not soppy or ridiculous as you might think. In fact, it is sweet and utterly hilarious and with lovely scene-stealers featuring non-David characters such as Chikezie and Neal Tiemann. And David's dad!It had been too long since he had heard Cook laugh; it made David laugh, too, the bad experience at the stupid photo shoot falling away. Kate and his father both looked up from where they were speaking in low voices a few yards away. Kate looked concerned, but his father just waved a hand and said something that David didn’t catch, but he was pretty sure ran along the lines of, “They’re always like that.”
To quote my earlier rec of Promised: do you know how long I've longed for a version of David's dad who's not an asshole but a guy who loves his son in a perplexed but indulgent sort of way? TOO LONG. I think that says it all :)
Still Standing and untitled extra scene for still standing by etsu_88 (PG)
Author's summary: So David has these superpowers, right.
Quote: Archie freezes, then turns, very slowly, to look at Cook. He frowns-- And suddenly Cook realizes how exhausted he is. It's been such a long day, gosh, and he really needs to rest. He makes an about turn and heads back to his own room, and doesn't think too deeply on why Archie would be wearing a mask and a cape.
Why I like it: The most perfect explanation ever why David smiles all the time. This is one of those times where I wish I could pick just one scene where I can point to and say, "This. This right here." to explain how much this story has won me over, but I can't, because there is way too many. From the concept alone, to the slow unraveling of the exact nature of David's power, to how Cook copes with this new knowledge -- I savored every word.
I requested the extra scene "the bank robbery event in still standing from David's dad's POV" for a meme on etsu_88's LJ and, well, my feelings can be succintly summed up with this: you! you honest-to-god get it, how jeff can let go of his son who can do wonderful and powerful things, but when it comes to things like guns and realizing that your son is still just a kid, your precious kid, i mean, ohmygod i am rambling, (flails)
I WISH EVERYONE WHO EVER WRITES JEFF (and the rest of David's family) HAS THIS STORY PINNED TO THEIR FINGERS. I WILL PERSONALLY STAPLE THIS MYSELF.
untitled fic thing where david archuleta gets wings by evilgeniusmouse
Author's summary: (none)
Quote: His breath catches in his throat. There he is - David James Archuleta, seventeen years old, wild-eyed and pale - but behind him, arching gracefully over his head, is a pair of majestic, blindingly white wings. He extends one of them cautiously (and it's so easy, as natural as moving his arm), and his reflection does the same. Fully expanded, the wings easily take up the entire room, and they rustle appreciatively as David brushes a hand reverently across the downy feathers.
"Oh," David whispers, spellbound. "Gosh."
Why I like it: David Archuleta wingfic. The world is a much more better place now that I have typed those words down. All of the characters present in this sadly unfinished ficlet are pitch-perfect -- David with his wonder, Michael Johns being goofily irresponsible and Cook, who'll be the one to make everything better (once he wakes up, of course).
untitled manips for an Idol AU by starafar (unrated; SFW)
Description: David Archuleta, Michael Johns and Carly Smithson as doctors.
Why I like it: I am not a very huge fan of manips. I've had so many brain-bleaching experiences that only the most intentionally horrible or the brilliantly put-together can make me click on links. Thankfully, these manips fall firmly into the latter spectrum.
untitled Olympics!AI 7 drawings by beanrice (unrated; SFW)
Description: This is David Archuleta, the US team's archery boy wonder. Before a game, he smiles at you so nice and friendly and say "Good luck!" in this earnest way, the proceeds to beat you so bad you lose your will to live.
Why I like it: I often wish I had the power (and the East Asian Language Packs for Windows XP) to read Japanese, so I can force Yahoo! Japan to cough up the Japanese American Idol fanart sites I know exist. (That I have not seen the oekaki art where David is wearing a cowsuit and sitting on a daisy is an unspeakable travesty.) For now, I will satisfy myself with this delightful AU that combines the best of American Idol 7 with the magic of the Olympics.
Best Days and Hero by lavitaestbella (unrated; SFW)
Description: Two vids looking back at David Cook and David Archuleta during American Idol. (Note: the video for Best Days on YouTube has a different song due to copyright trouble; download to view the video with the original audio.)
Why I like them: lavitaestbella is hands down the best vidder for DC/DA. Great song choice and such perfect use of clips & editing & timing that it makes me want to watch Season 7 again, just to relieve everything. Well, almost.
I had to delete and repost this three times because my pinky kept slipping on the Enter key. Not to mention LJ is being fiendishly uncooperative :|
Since the theme is Archuletas FTW! or Family, I decided to list some of my favorite stories with postive (or at least non-evil) characterizations of David's family. This is actually much harder than it ought to be, because the press for David's family, specifically for David's dad Jeff, had been horrific during American Idol.
(Rant: I mean, okay, people can write whatever they want, but Jeff hiring someone to rape his son? Seriously?!)
I've also included one delightful gen ficlet, because David genfic is like the rarest of all magical sparkly fic ponies in all the land that is Livejournal, and four non-fic fanworks!
Just so you know: almost all of the stories I'll be listing pair David with David Cook. They are taken from my del.icio.us, where I tag stuff I like. I tend to skim the comms once in a while rather than look at every entry, so my reading & tagging are erratic and sporadic. I take gossymer's approach to reccing: I rec the stuff I like. It may be fabulously well crafted in terms of writing style or drawing abilities. Then again, it may not. Nevertheless, if I'm reccing it, then it struck a chord with me on a personal level.
Bright Light City by solacedoll (PG-13)
Author's summary: His dad'd suggested Vegas for his eighteenth, and his mom's eyes had nearly popped out of her head, but his dad had said, in a firm sort of voice, "for tourist attractions," and Claudia's smirk had dug into her cheek.
Quote: "Cook!" he says, at the same time as Cook, peering over his shoulder, said "David Archuleta, is that a drink?"
David twists in the embrace to look at Cook, and the drink sloshes. "No!" he squeals in horror, and lowers his voice to a more appropriate level. "No, I was trying to find a place to pour it out."
"Is that someone else's drink?" Cook says, titling his head, and David is indignant. "No," he says, voice muffled against Cook's shirt, and he feels Cook's laugh more than hears it.
Why I like it: This story is about David's 18th birthday, and the setting -- Las Vegas -- is entirely perfect for showing his hesitant wobbling on the precipice of adulthood. It starts out with delightful ~wacky hijinks~ with Claudia and Amber and Air Force Amy, but it isn't just about David getting drunk and being able to enter casinos legally. Being an adult is also about acknowledging some things that you, as a kid, hadn't even thought about, and here David has to confront them, in the form of David Cook. The writing is sharp and honest and so good.
Oh, and this story 'ships Jeff and Lupe Archuleta, which. Um. Moar plz? I know, I know, special hell is pretty this time of the year, I've heard.
Promised by ficangel (PG)
Author's summary: (none)
Quote: “I’m the younger generation,” David felt compelled to point out, only for Cook to answer, “Archie, you have not been the younger generation since you were ten. You’re seventeen going on thirty-five, I swear to God,” at the same time that Michael shoved at Cook’s shoulder and said, “Go shake your cane at them, Grandpa.”
Why I like it: It's a story about PROMISE RINGS and it's not soppy or ridiculous as you might think. In fact, it is sweet and utterly hilarious and with lovely scene-stealers featuring non-David characters such as Chikezie and Neal Tiemann. And David's dad!It had been too long since he had heard Cook laugh; it made David laugh, too, the bad experience at the stupid photo shoot falling away. Kate and his father both looked up from where they were speaking in low voices a few yards away. Kate looked concerned, but his father just waved a hand and said something that David didn’t catch, but he was pretty sure ran along the lines of, “They’re always like that.”
To quote my earlier rec of Promised: do you know how long I've longed for a version of David's dad who's not an asshole but a guy who loves his son in a perplexed but indulgent sort of way? TOO LONG. I think that says it all :)
Still Standing and untitled extra scene for still standing by etsu_88 (PG)
Author's summary: So David has these superpowers, right.
Quote: Archie freezes, then turns, very slowly, to look at Cook. He frowns-- And suddenly Cook realizes how exhausted he is. It's been such a long day, gosh, and he really needs to rest. He makes an about turn and heads back to his own room, and doesn't think too deeply on why Archie would be wearing a mask and a cape.
Why I like it: The most perfect explanation ever why David smiles all the time. This is one of those times where I wish I could pick just one scene where I can point to and say, "This. This right here." to explain how much this story has won me over, but I can't, because there is way too many. From the concept alone, to the slow unraveling of the exact nature of David's power, to how Cook copes with this new knowledge -- I savored every word.
I requested the extra scene "the bank robbery event in still standing from David's dad's POV" for a meme on etsu_88's LJ and, well, my feelings can be succintly summed up with this: you! you honest-to-god get it, how jeff can let go of his son who can do wonderful and powerful things, but when it comes to things like guns and realizing that your son is still just a kid, your precious kid, i mean, ohmygod i am rambling, (flails)
I WISH EVERYONE WHO EVER WRITES JEFF (and the rest of David's family) HAS THIS STORY PINNED TO THEIR FINGERS. I WILL PERSONALLY STAPLE THIS MYSELF.
untitled fic thing where david archuleta gets wings by evilgeniusmouse
Author's summary: (none)
Quote: His breath catches in his throat. There he is - David James Archuleta, seventeen years old, wild-eyed and pale - but behind him, arching gracefully over his head, is a pair of majestic, blindingly white wings. He extends one of them cautiously (and it's so easy, as natural as moving his arm), and his reflection does the same. Fully expanded, the wings easily take up the entire room, and they rustle appreciatively as David brushes a hand reverently across the downy feathers.
"Oh," David whispers, spellbound. "Gosh."
Why I like it: David Archuleta wingfic. The world is a much more better place now that I have typed those words down. All of the characters present in this sadly unfinished ficlet are pitch-perfect -- David with his wonder, Michael Johns being goofily irresponsible and Cook, who'll be the one to make everything better (once he wakes up, of course).
untitled manips for an Idol AU by starafar (unrated; SFW)
Description: David Archuleta, Michael Johns and Carly Smithson as doctors.
Why I like it: I am not a very huge fan of manips. I've had so many brain-bleaching experiences that only the most intentionally horrible or the brilliantly put-together can make me click on links. Thankfully, these manips fall firmly into the latter spectrum.
untitled Olympics!AI 7 drawings by beanrice (unrated; SFW)
Description: This is David Archuleta, the US team's archery boy wonder. Before a game, he smiles at you so nice and friendly and say "Good luck!" in this earnest way, the proceeds to beat you so bad you lose your will to live.
Why I like it: I often wish I had the power (and the East Asian Language Packs for Windows XP) to read Japanese, so I can force Yahoo! Japan to cough up the Japanese American Idol fanart sites I know exist. (That I have not seen the oekaki art where David is wearing a cowsuit and sitting on a daisy is an unspeakable travesty.) For now, I will satisfy myself with this delightful AU that combines the best of American Idol 7 with the magic of the Olympics.
Best Days and Hero by lavitaestbella (unrated; SFW)
Description: Two vids looking back at David Cook and David Archuleta during American Idol. (Note: the video for Best Days on YouTube has a different song due to copyright trouble; download to view the video with the original audio.)
Why I like them: lavitaestbella is hands down the best vidder for DC/DA. Great song choice and such perfect use of clips & editing & timing that it makes me want to watch Season 7 again, just to relieve everything. Well, almost.
I had to delete and repost this three times because my pinky kept slipping on the Enter key. Not to mention LJ is being fiendishly uncooperative :|