Friday Recs (The Best Week Ever Edition)
On Tuesday I read a story by sorrynotsorry (which is recommended below) and in comments said that, "this is shaping up to be, in my opinion, my best fic reading week in Inception fandom ever." I wasn't speaking in hyperbole. This week, ladies and gentlemen, BEST FIC WEEK EVER. Authors, give yourselves pats on the back, everyone contributed to this. Artists, throw those paintbrushes in the air (every week is the best week ever for y'all). *claps hands* Let's get to it.
Art Recs
Robert and His Pinwheel by johanirae -- I have a serious soft spot for watercolors. Like a serious one (I won't even front) and the colors here are so very lovely.
Tumblr Photo of Joe by weheartjosephgordonlevitt -- It's a photo of Joe. I know -- what's so special about that? Well, he managed to hit my holy trinity without even trying a) rolled up sleeves, which display most impressive forearms b) LOOK AT THOSE HANDS c) he's got his glasses folded up in his shirt pocket d) he's wearing jeans e) he's dressed up nicely but without going overboard (I can even overlook the skinny tie). In conclusion: this is my Arthur in his off hours. I felt inclined to share. Aren't I generous like that?
Yusuf Art by darthneko -- Yusuf is awesome. Yusuf should be loved by all. When this does not occur it makes for a cranky hackthis. Also? TATTOO!
Guide Rec
chn_breathmint put together a multi-part How to Write About Guns in Inception fandom guide. It covers everything: handguns, wounds, bullets, how to properly talk about guns, stances, why Hollywood is full of shit. Read it, learn from it.
Fic Recs
At some point this week the lack of Yusuf love made me a bit rabid. Actually it's been making me rabid all along, but this week just pushed me over the edge. So I set myself a task. Round up all the Yusuf fic. Find the Saito fic. Get thee to Robert Fischer hence. The results of that quest can be found here -- thank you to everybody who went above and beyond in pulling together links, especially silverotter, vanitashaze and johanirae. I am still working my way through the links, but I strongly urge everybody to go over and have a look. Read the stories, love the authors and artists, because this fandom needs more Yusuf and more Saito and more Fischer, because there would be no movie without them. NONE. Remember that. And without further ado:
The Billionaire and The Cat -- I managed to find the art by johanirae for this concept, before I even knew about zoi_no_miko's A Squeak in the Night. And if this doesn't manage to warm the cockles of your heart you are dead inside and there is no hope for you.
count to three and by figletofvenice -- Eames is dead. Except he's not. Now if that traumatizes you, imagine what the does to Arthur. Yeah, exactly. Poignant and evocative and beautiful all at the same time. *sniff* ♥
Dearheart by bauble -- Co-habitating is not for the faint of heart. Especially when it comes to sharing the bed. Especially when the person you are with has the internal body temperature of Satan. Seriously, nobody likes that part where you wake up soaked in your own sweat because somebody wanted to spoon. *shudders*
Deja Fucking Deja Vu by weatherfront -- People (myself included) don't talk about Nash much. Or if we do, we blame him for everything from the wars to the carpeting. He's incompetent. He's sleazy. He's not up to the standards of everyone else. Which, frankly, is sloppy writing on our part, because there is always more than one side to a story. Hell, there are always at least three, and weatherfront reminded me of that with this story that everybody should read. NOW. Frankly though, I don't think we'd have quite so much distaste for Nash if Lucas Haas wasn't so goddamn greasy. Does that boy ever take a shower? I mean imagine if Chris had made Cillian Nash and Lucas Robert -- I bet everybody'd be singing a different song, wouldn't they? It's a thought.
Dreams In Color by cmonkatiekatie -- Arthur dreams in black and white. I tend to be a very visual person. I like a story that I can see unfolding in my mind's eye and this... oh this is so very beautiful. One of the things I appreciate about cmonkatiekatie's writing is how she just manages to perfectly set a scene without bogging it down with too much stuff. It's a very fine art and she's very good at it. And the closing scene in this story is just exquisite. LOVE IT.
glow glow melt and flow by foxxcub -- A while back I posited the theory that the story you write in two hours will be better received than the story you spend all your time and effort working on. On Monday I poked foxxcub about a story she'd teased me with a week back, she said, "Yeah, I put that one aside and wrote something else in three hours." I knew what was coming. And lo, she sent me this and I fucking swooned. You ever swooned during a beta? Makes it hard to get the job done, but this story totally calls for it. I don't think I'll ever get tired of the Arthur has insomnia and needs Eames to help him sleep trope. *ponders* No, never.
i could be the thing you reach for in the middle of the night and to tell you the truth i prefer the worst in you by gyzym -- gyzym continues in her quest to make the other children look bad by churning out stories faster than most politicians can turn out lies and scandals. These two stories are the most recent in a series she's writing about being happy and what that means and what that takes. (I may have extrapolated a bit). One of the things that I am really enjoying in Inception fandom is that for the most part people don't feel the need to make everything all angst and suffering and people being in pain just to make things have "deep meaning" and "artistic merit". Whatever the fuck that is. There is nothing wrong with with writing about people being happy and in love; it's not illegal. It's not wrong. Happy-fic is not a goddamn curse. At least not in my journal.
I Feel That The Therapy Is Coming Between Us by sorrynotsorry -- This is the story I mentioned in the beginning of the post. The story that let me know that this week was indeed going to be the best fic week ever. This story is indicative of everything I Iove about Inception fandom: the humor, the banter, the sense of "wait, did you really just write that." Fabulousity.
Immaculate Dream by franticsga -- Let me tell you my feelings on zombies: if it is not 28 Days Later with naked Cillian Murphy (the film where we first met all those years ago) I am not fucking interested. This has long been a source of upset to people who know me (issaro even sent me a guide on avoiding the Zombie apocalypse), but zombies and I... just. *makes face*. And then along comes franticsga and is like, "I know what you want, you want Arthur and Eames doing 28 Days Later" and she was fucking RIGHT ! This is aces like playing that last hand of poker with a marked deck. Read it. Everybody read it. Love it. Appreciate the talent of the author. (Randomly, anybody else starting to type "arthur" when they mean "author"?)
In Between The Day And The Night by parka_girl -- Robert Fischer has insomnia. He goes to Yusuf for help. This just broke my fucking heart. I can so see this and parts of it just made me feel so hopeful and joyous and then that bit was over and I was back to being depressed.
Mr and Mr. Eames by jibrailis -- At some point last month an artist made Mr. and Mr Eames art and I was so excited I asked for permission to write about, but now I don't have to, because jibrailis wrote it and it is so much better than anything I ever could have done. Oh my god, you guys don't even understand. Badassery and mail order wives and brass bands and Eames working for MI5. It's like happiness in written form. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up, fine holiday fun!
Not Just Any Tourist by
white_aster -- Eames has some questions about Saito. This story, which is a month old, goes seamlessly with this art, which is about a week old. I don't believe that either one of these knows about the other but they should. I'm gonna go correct that right quick.
Pagina Uno by pyrimidine -- This week pyrimidine wrote/posted what I believe is my new favorite Inception story ever. This is not an easy slot to get and has been held for the last six weeks or so by weatherfront's The Greedyhearts, but Pagina Uno just... It's a story about books and libraries and Arthur and Eames and it's quiet and funny and utterly lovely and I cannot say enough awesome shit about it; it just makes me feel better.
Remember Your Training by mithrigil -- Oh my god, this story is so brilliant you all may never recover. lazlet decried to me the lack of gen fic, the lack of smart heist fic, I said, dude, if I find any I will let you know. And then I found this. SMART FIC IN THE HOUSE. God this story is so goddamn good... and it has, wait for it, Powerpoint. Oh just get thee hence.
Shit Arthur Says by gyzym -- Eames makes a twitter entitled "Shit Arthur Says." I don't even like twitter, unless your name is Kanye West. Or Cobra Commander. Or Shit My Dad Says -- but if Eames kept such a twitter in real life, I'd make a feed for it. For real.
Small Song by jibrailis -- A story about where Yusuf came from, about who he is and why he's more than just an adorable face and nice neutral clothes. jibrailis has a wonderful way with words and her Yusuf and Eames together just make me smile like a loon.
a town at the bottom of the ocean by liketheroad -- We have our first Desert Island fic! Seriously, you don't know how happy it made me to read this. maurheti and I had discussed sending Eames on holiday with Arthur, but my story idea wasn't very good and so I 86'd it and then this appears and all I can think is "SCORE!" There is an island and Arthur cooking very well (HA!) and knitting very badly and there are horses and goats and a helicopter. I won't lie, the helicopter pushed me over the edge into sheer bliss.
Video of the Week
And because this is such an awesome week and I am all about the motivation, I'd like to leave you this week with the scene that launched a million stories and caused a collective swoon from several thousand fangirl (and boy) hearts.
Remember: Like the art/vid/story, let the creators know. Everybody needs support. Everybody needs encouragement. Nobody likes an asshole. So, don't be one. Show some love.
Art Recs
Robert and His Pinwheel by johanirae -- I have a serious soft spot for watercolors. Like a serious one (I won't even front) and the colors here are so very lovely.
Tumblr Photo of Joe by weheartjosephgordonlevitt -- It's a photo of Joe. I know -- what's so special about that? Well, he managed to hit my holy trinity without even trying a) rolled up sleeves, which display most impressive forearms b) LOOK AT THOSE HANDS c) he's got his glasses folded up in his shirt pocket d) he's wearing jeans e) he's dressed up nicely but without going overboard (I can even overlook the skinny tie). In conclusion: this is my Arthur in his off hours. I felt inclined to share. Aren't I generous like that?
Yusuf Art by darthneko -- Yusuf is awesome. Yusuf should be loved by all. When this does not occur it makes for a cranky hackthis. Also? TATTOO!
Guide Rec
chn_breathmint put together a multi-part How to Write About Guns in Inception fandom guide. It covers everything: handguns, wounds, bullets, how to properly talk about guns, stances, why Hollywood is full of shit. Read it, learn from it.
Fic Recs
At some point this week the lack of Yusuf love made me a bit rabid. Actually it's been making me rabid all along, but this week just pushed me over the edge. So I set myself a task. Round up all the Yusuf fic. Find the Saito fic. Get thee to Robert Fischer hence. The results of that quest can be found here -- thank you to everybody who went above and beyond in pulling together links, especially silverotter, vanitashaze and johanirae. I am still working my way through the links, but I strongly urge everybody to go over and have a look. Read the stories, love the authors and artists, because this fandom needs more Yusuf and more Saito and more Fischer, because there would be no movie without them. NONE. Remember that. And without further ado:
The Billionaire and The Cat -- I managed to find the art by johanirae for this concept, before I even knew about zoi_no_miko's A Squeak in the Night. And if this doesn't manage to warm the cockles of your heart you are dead inside and there is no hope for you.
count to three and by figletofvenice -- Eames is dead. Except he's not. Now if that traumatizes you, imagine what the does to Arthur. Yeah, exactly. Poignant and evocative and beautiful all at the same time. *sniff* ♥
Dearheart by bauble -- Co-habitating is not for the faint of heart. Especially when it comes to sharing the bed. Especially when the person you are with has the internal body temperature of Satan. Seriously, nobody likes that part where you wake up soaked in your own sweat because somebody wanted to spoon. *shudders*
Deja Fucking Deja Vu by weatherfront -- People (myself included) don't talk about Nash much. Or if we do, we blame him for everything from the wars to the carpeting. He's incompetent. He's sleazy. He's not up to the standards of everyone else. Which, frankly, is sloppy writing on our part, because there is always more than one side to a story. Hell, there are always at least three, and weatherfront reminded me of that with this story that everybody should read. NOW. Frankly though, I don't think we'd have quite so much distaste for Nash if Lucas Haas wasn't so goddamn greasy. Does that boy ever take a shower? I mean imagine if Chris had made Cillian Nash and Lucas Robert -- I bet everybody'd be singing a different song, wouldn't they? It's a thought.
Dreams In Color by cmonkatiekatie -- Arthur dreams in black and white. I tend to be a very visual person. I like a story that I can see unfolding in my mind's eye and this... oh this is so very beautiful. One of the things I appreciate about cmonkatiekatie's writing is how she just manages to perfectly set a scene without bogging it down with too much stuff. It's a very fine art and she's very good at it. And the closing scene in this story is just exquisite. LOVE IT.
glow glow melt and flow by foxxcub -- A while back I posited the theory that the story you write in two hours will be better received than the story you spend all your time and effort working on. On Monday I poked foxxcub about a story she'd teased me with a week back, she said, "Yeah, I put that one aside and wrote something else in three hours." I knew what was coming. And lo, she sent me this and I fucking swooned. You ever swooned during a beta? Makes it hard to get the job done, but this story totally calls for it. I don't think I'll ever get tired of the Arthur has insomnia and needs Eames to help him sleep trope. *ponders* No, never.
i could be the thing you reach for in the middle of the night and to tell you the truth i prefer the worst in you by gyzym -- gyzym continues in her quest to make the other children look bad by churning out stories faster than most politicians can turn out lies and scandals. These two stories are the most recent in a series she's writing about being happy and what that means and what that takes. (I may have extrapolated a bit). One of the things that I am really enjoying in Inception fandom is that for the most part people don't feel the need to make everything all angst and suffering and people being in pain just to make things have "deep meaning" and "artistic merit". Whatever the fuck that is. There is nothing wrong with with writing about people being happy and in love; it's not illegal. It's not wrong. Happy-fic is not a goddamn curse. At least not in my journal.
I Feel That The Therapy Is Coming Between Us by sorrynotsorry -- This is the story I mentioned in the beginning of the post. The story that let me know that this week was indeed going to be the best fic week ever. This story is indicative of everything I Iove about Inception fandom: the humor, the banter, the sense of "wait, did you really just write that." Fabulousity.
Immaculate Dream by franticsga -- Let me tell you my feelings on zombies: if it is not 28 Days Later with naked Cillian Murphy (the film where we first met all those years ago) I am not fucking interested. This has long been a source of upset to people who know me (issaro even sent me a guide on avoiding the Zombie apocalypse), but zombies and I... just. *makes face*. And then along comes franticsga and is like, "I know what you want, you want Arthur and Eames doing 28 Days Later" and she was fucking RIGHT ! This is aces like playing that last hand of poker with a marked deck. Read it. Everybody read it. Love it. Appreciate the talent of the author. (Randomly, anybody else starting to type "arthur" when they mean "author"?)
In Between The Day And The Night by parka_girl -- Robert Fischer has insomnia. He goes to Yusuf for help. This just broke my fucking heart. I can so see this and parts of it just made me feel so hopeful and joyous and then that bit was over and I was back to being depressed.
Mr and Mr. Eames by jibrailis -- At some point last month an artist made Mr. and Mr Eames art and I was so excited I asked for permission to write about, but now I don't have to, because jibrailis wrote it and it is so much better than anything I ever could have done. Oh my god, you guys don't even understand. Badassery and mail order wives and brass bands and Eames working for MI5. It's like happiness in written form. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up, fine holiday fun!
Not Just Any Tourist by
white_aster -- Eames has some questions about Saito. This story, which is a month old, goes seamlessly with this art, which is about a week old. I don't believe that either one of these knows about the other but they should. I'm gonna go correct that right quick.
Pagina Uno by pyrimidine -- This week pyrimidine wrote/posted what I believe is my new favorite Inception story ever. This is not an easy slot to get and has been held for the last six weeks or so by weatherfront's The Greedyhearts, but Pagina Uno just... It's a story about books and libraries and Arthur and Eames and it's quiet and funny and utterly lovely and I cannot say enough awesome shit about it; it just makes me feel better.
Remember Your Training by mithrigil -- Oh my god, this story is so brilliant you all may never recover. lazlet decried to me the lack of gen fic, the lack of smart heist fic, I said, dude, if I find any I will let you know. And then I found this. SMART FIC IN THE HOUSE. God this story is so goddamn good... and it has, wait for it, Powerpoint. Oh just get thee hence.
Shit Arthur Says by gyzym -- Eames makes a twitter entitled "Shit Arthur Says." I don't even like twitter, unless your name is Kanye West. Or Cobra Commander. Or Shit My Dad Says -- but if Eames kept such a twitter in real life, I'd make a feed for it. For real.
Small Song by jibrailis -- A story about where Yusuf came from, about who he is and why he's more than just an adorable face and nice neutral clothes. jibrailis has a wonderful way with words and her Yusuf and Eames together just make me smile like a loon.
a town at the bottom of the ocean by liketheroad -- We have our first Desert Island fic! Seriously, you don't know how happy it made me to read this. maurheti and I had discussed sending Eames on holiday with Arthur, but my story idea wasn't very good and so I 86'd it and then this appears and all I can think is "SCORE!" There is an island and Arthur cooking very well (HA!) and knitting very badly and there are horses and goats and a helicopter. I won't lie, the helicopter pushed me over the edge into sheer bliss.
Video of the Week
And because this is such an awesome week and I am all about the motivation, I'd like to leave you this week with the scene that launched a million stories and caused a collective swoon from several thousand fangirl (and boy) hearts.
Click to viewRemember: Like the art/vid/story, let the creators know. Everybody needs support. Everybody needs encouragement. Nobody likes an asshole. So, don't be one. Show some love.