(no subject)
Distance in the Afterlife by sevenfists (Gerard/Frank)
Gerard comes out. I've seen some debate about the fact that Gerard only comes to terms with his sexuality during Projeckt Rev in this story. I have no problem with that whatsoever, because I think it's not so much about an exact moment when Gerard discovers he's gay, it's more about Gerard struggling to reconcile his public image (the role model who's all for gay rights and recognition) with personal complex feelings about his sexuality, desires, addictions and faults. The story explores that really thoughtfully, and makes Gerard so human and complicated. Plus, the whole band interaction is great, the brotherly annoyance and love between Gerard and Mikey, how matter-of-fact and wonderful Ray and Bob are, how adorable Frank is.
Any Lucky Affection by gigantic (Pete, Patrick)
Ceej writes stories quicker than I can rec them. This is another awesome, wonderfully *real* fic, with such a natural rhythm of conversation and relationship. It's bittersweet in that way, because it manages to show both how lovely Pete and Patrick's friendship is as it holds through all the years, as well as the sadness in so many missed connections.
The Intricate Steps of Pickpockets by torturemysoul (Pete/Ryan, Pete/Brendon)
Oh, good triangulation fic. There's so much potential in bandom for this, the near-incestuous closeness within and between different bands. This is a great fic charts Pete's relationships - separate and intertwined - with Ryan and Brendon from the very start. The writing is lovely, lyrical and managing to show the tension in the relationships between all three boys, the desire and care that manages to hurt each of them somehow. The ambiguity of their motives is intriguing.
Brendon Goes Down by provetheworst (Brendon/Spencer)
The dialogue in this, ahahahahaha. I love it. They're such boys, it's got that jerky real tone to it all, and I like that it doesn't just stop at the sex, but looks at the way they draw back to each other afterwards. It's sweet and lovely and hilarious.
Bob Will Never Hurt You by 1001cranes (Bob/Frank)
Bob is a vampire. This is such a measured fic, it's got this low-key tone but it's really funny (Gerard's obsession with vampires is used really well here), and uh, I may have a teeny tiny blood kink, and Bob feeding off Brian, and Frank (separately, unfortunately), is just HOT, and captures that desperate yet comfortable intimacy in relationship between them so well.
Also, a non-bandom rec for obsessive24's awesome Britney vid: Piece of Me
It's a great song, it was obviously tailored to her, but the lyrics are much more suited to this kind of treatment. The actual video for Piece of Me is a weak version of this, because it doesn't dare to really look back into the trajectory of Britney's career, and point out how far she's gone from there to here, the really sad path her life has taken, how she both hates and courts the attention she's subjected to. But this vid is disturbing and brilliantly done, with the contrast between the grainy, ridiculous paparazzi footage and the ultra-glossy music video footage, the warp effect on those images.