Bandom outreach campaign #738: pimping through porn
~RECS RECS RECS~
This is
lomedet, in my role as the person who kinda-sorta accidentally pimped
roga into Bandom in the first place. The thing about Bandom (one of the things about Bandom) is that there are just so many utterly awesome stories, and an astonishingly high percentage of them are a) blisteringly hot and b) don't actually require any background knowledge of Bandom to enjoy them.
So, without further ado, here are five SIX of the bandom stories we think everyone* should read :
*everyone = fangirls who like some (or a lot of ) power exchange in their porn.
(BTW HI THIS IS
roga AGAIN. This was... written over a week ago when I was actually at
lomedet's place, it just took a long time to post. Apparently I have a lot to say about this stuff.)
1. Need You Wild by fallintosilence and boweryd, aka the werewolf fic. 105,000 words, Brendon/Spencer, OH MY FUCKING GOD THIS FIC.
One hundred thousand words of awesome, awesome fic, that include no less than 35k (they counted) words of really (no, really) hot sex. You would think that it would get boring at some point, because how much not-even-all-that-kinky sex can one write before it gets repetitive? BUT NO. IT DOES NOT. It just keeps getting better and better. And werewolf fic, I mean, I was never really a huge fan of that, but WOW AM I NOW. THIS FIC, JUST. REALLY.
Aside from the hot hot hot sex, this fic has also got awesome dialogue and plot and characterization and is hilarious, and these authors know how to reach this perfect balance of funny and hot that I find, like, ideal, that I do not even aspire to because I don’t think I can ever get there. If you want to read a long, funny story about two characters being in love and having lots of fun and sex? This is the story for you. I love Brendon and Spencer so much in this fic, and Ryan and Jon's background commentary had me actual out loud cracking up.
If you do not know Bandom at all, all you need to know for this fic is that it takes place during that time when Panic at the Disco (Brendon, Spencer, Ryan and Jon) were living in a cabin in the mountains for a few months (YES THAT HAPPENED) trying to write a wolf musical their second album (LOL, oh, Panic. Yes, the wolf musical happened too).
…aaand that was the one non-BSDM rec in this bunch. It is fantastic. ONWARDS.
2. Tell Me To Stop by airgiodslv, ie the one I've heard referred to as "the quintessential BDSM Bandom fic", which is pretty apt. Brendon/Spencer, 30k, AU.
While I love Brendon and Spencer's relationship in this fic, I think the story definitely exceeds this particular fandom; looking through the delicious bookmarks to find ways to describe it, I found a lot of people saved it with a disclaimer of "BDSM usually isn't my thing, BUT" or "I'm not into Bandom at all, BUT".
The fic is a college AU, where Spencer wants to learn about BDSM and Brendon teaches him. Other than the fact that this fic is blindingly hot and sweet and really, really beautiful, I really love the dynamic between Brendon and Spencer here, with Brendon being the sub but also the mentor/teacher in their relationship (but not in a creepy way! they're the same age!), and it's all about communication and trust and being comfortable and trying new things, and. So awesome.
LOL, I just went through the delicious bookmarks for this fic again, basically reading all the descriptions and nodding with agreement. It is everything everyone has written about it.
What you need to know about Bandom for this fic: NOTHING :D
Oooh, also: it's worth mentioning that this is pretty much the fic that I used to drag
marina into Bandom, and that as she is one whose tastes I consider far more refined than my own, especially when it comes to what she will or won't rec, I'll also link to the rec she posted of this fic.
3. Second Circle by
stele3, oh HOLY JESUS CHRIST, this fic. 110k, Spencer/Ryan, ♥__♥.
Okay, the first thing I need to say about this fic is that it's extremely important to read the warnings, because as the author's notes state, guys, this story is DARK. The second thing I need to say is that I read those warnings and they freaked me out and actually got me to not read the fic, until finally, about 5 months later, I went back and read it, and it is now one of my favorite pieces of fanfiction I have ever read. I actually reread it last week (on the road, as I was), trying to think of the proper way to rec it, and finding myself struck dumb all over again as the story unfolded before me.
This is an AU, and I really don't think any prior knowledge is required to enjoy this fic - you only need to know that Spencer and Ryan grew up as best friends, and I guess it helps knowing that Ryan's childhood was pretty crappy and his dad was an alcoholic and Ryan himself is an artsy-hipster-writer type.
Okay, this story. So: Spencer and Ryan had a BDSM relationship in highschool, and Ryan pretty much bailed for LA, and this story starts a few years later, when Ryan shows up on Spencer's doorstep with a suspected case of HIV, a collar around his neck, and too many mysteries.
Instead of reinventing the wheel, I'll just quote from the comment I posted on that fic:
"Holy shit. I seriously don't have the words to leave a coherent comment for this fic. It was -- it took my breath away. I put off reading it for so long because the warnings scared me, and I am so, so, so happy I clicked after all. It's actually not as dark as the warnings make it out to be -- I mean, it is in an amazing-thriller-that-deals-with-dark-subjects way, but not in a here-are-100k-words-of-mental-and-physical-torture-porn, which is what I was afraid of. And then I started reading, and it was clear pretty much from the start that no -- this was a story about Spencer and Ryan, about this incredible, intense, complicated relationship they have. I don't always like BDSM fics, but reading fics like this one make all the trial and errors worth it -- where it's all about the characters and not just the kink, about their very particular dynamics, and most of all, about the trust. (I pretty much died in the [fic spoiler] scene ♥. Heart, stopped.) I love how self aware this fic is, how self aware Spencer is -- that nothing is taken for granted, he has his own issues that he's messed up about and keeps examining in himself, because accepting yourself is not always that easy. And I love Ryan so much in this fic, god, I want to hug him forever.
And that's just Spencer and Ryan. Greta and Jon and the entire office environment (Gabe!) were made of pure concentrated love and happiness (and kittens and kink). Greta in particular was a really awesome character, with her mentoring of Spencer. Spencer's parents = <333, Zach = <33333 x infinity. I even loved Spencer's shrink. And the plot itself, the way you built the story with slow, gradual revelations -- about Spencer and Ryan's break up, about what happened to Ryan in LA, and eventually about the truth behind the murders. This was such a gripping story, like, edge of my seat flailing; when Spencer found the [fic spoiler] I actually texted a friend mid-flail and in all caps "ho shit fucking gun in the first act, that was masterful".
ANYWAY I love this story REALLY REALLY REALLY A LOT, so thank you so much for writing it, and I will be reccing it, guaranteed."
I really don't know what to say beyond that. This fic was a roller coaster of emotion, which surprise surprise, I now want to reread again. (For the record, it is technically a sequel to a fic that I have not read and is absolutely not necessary for enjoyment of this fic. Also for the record - unlike the other fics, this one doesn't actually have that much porn in it. I mean, when it does it's great, but there's a bigger emphasis on their relationship, including the sado/maso aspects of it, than on actual porn scenes. BUT IT'S AMAZING OKAY? Okay.)
4. All We Fear is All that Can Save Us by hidingoutside, Brendon/Ryan, 27k.
Oh, this fic ♥. Okay, so imagine there's a band that's made of four guys who are really close to one another, and the lead vocalist/musician and the lyricist/songwriter kind of clash sometimes because they have different personalities but they also love each other a lot but they can get under each other's skin, and then the band splits into two bands where they're each on opposite sides, and they're both really pissed off at the other, and then one day a few months after the split they accidentally meet at a BDSM club, which they didn't even know the other was into, and end up sleeping together.
So, yes, this is a Brendon/Ryan post-split BDSM fic ♥ ♥ ♥. It is hot. It is angsty. It is full of so much tension, and surprising (mostly to the characters themselves) tenderness, and so much trust and love and complicated emotions.
I mean, post-split Brendon ordering Ryan around in bed, just thinking of the concept makes me wish I didn't know half this fic by heart so I could read it again for the first time. I kind of suck at articulating why I love this one so much, but here is an excellent (and hardly spoilery) comment review of it that I fully agree with.
Since I'm reccing this, I feel like I should mention that there are a few typos in the fic, but you know, that happens sometimes even to the best of them, and this really is a gorgeous, gorgeous, hot, well-written story.
5. I Know This Hurts (It Was Meant To) by dancinbutterfly, Pete/?, 68,000 words.
Okay, for this fic I'll just quote what
lomedet said about it after reading it for the first time, because I agree with every word:
"I had this story open in a tab for a couple of days before I got around to reading it, and I'm glad I waited until the weekend because it ATE MY BRAIN and I couldn't really do anything but keep reading it once I'd started. (well, I did have to click away a few times, both because it got intense and I needed a breather, and because I didn't want it to end.)
It was written by dancinbutterfly for this year's Bandom Big Bang. It's Pete/?, and does a really good job depicting most of the crew from the Fall Out Boy side of bandom. And all of that is just icing, because what this story really is is one of the best fictional explorations of hard-core BDSM I have ever, ever read, while at the same time being a hits-me-right-where-I-live-without-being-in-any-way-saccharine love story. And the best part? The sex, while being central and amazing and OMG SO VERY HOT, does not fix anything. It is, at most, a catalyst."
So, yes. I don't think this fic really requires too much prior knowledge of Fall Out Boy; the band is comprised of Pete (slightly messed up lyricist & bassist), Patrick (vocalist, songwriter & BFF), Joe and Andy, and it's set during a time when the band's on hiatus.
(Note: this fic depicts the kind of D/s relationship where phrases like "Yes, sir"/"Good boy" are used, and as kinks go that is not really my kink, but I found the story totally worth it.)
ETA: 6. Amateur Cartography by fictionalaspect. Brendon/Spencer, 42,000 words.
This fic is so amazing. Where Brendon and Spencer discover they're into the same things, and navigate their way through a D/s relationship that doesn't include sex -- or does it? Takes place while Panic is on tour, so there is awesome band interaction and banter (LOL RYAN x infinity), and most of all Brendon and Spencer. I can't really explain why I love her dialogues so much except that they feel so real and natural, and if you love BDSM or humor or boys falling in love, you should really really read this. (For the record, most of my beta included leaving "MY HEART" at the end of every other paragraph until I forced myself to stop. But, my *heart*.) The BDSM scenes are beautifully written, and the development of their relationship is just -- amazing and organic and <333333 forever.
General notes about these recs:
--So, just a reminder, four of these are Panic at the Disco (Brendon, Spencer, Ryan, Jon) and one is Fall Out Boy (Pete, Patrick, Joe, Andy). I really do think these can all be enjoyed in a "stories in a fandom I don't know with really hot sex and good plot" kind of way.
--For warnings/kink descriptions, read the fic headers.
--All of the pairings and relationships in these fics (not counting past experiences characters might have had in some of the fics with former partners) are completely consensual, and it is very clear that both partners are enjoying the sex and getting what they want from it. No consent issues! There is lots of love and trust because at the end of the day I am a HUGE SAP and this is what I like to read. Also, it's worth mentioning that one of my favorite tropes is when characters actually use their safewords when they're uncomfortable with something, and when it happens in some of these fics - I'm not saying where, because that's a spoiler in itself, but I basically melt, okay, they are the most awesome scenes ever and they make my heart want to explode.
--Reeeeeeeeeeead :D
comments on Dreamwidth.
This is
lomedet, in my role as the person who kinda-sorta accidentally pimped
roga into Bandom in the first place. The thing about Bandom (one of the things about Bandom) is that there are just so many utterly awesome stories, and an astonishingly high percentage of them are a) blisteringly hot and b) don't actually require any background knowledge of Bandom to enjoy them.
So, without further ado, here are five SIX of the bandom stories we think everyone* should read :
*everyone = fangirls who like some (or a lot of ) power exchange in their porn.
(BTW HI THIS IS
roga AGAIN. This was... written over a week ago when I was actually at
lomedet's place, it just took a long time to post. Apparently I have a lot to say about this stuff.)
1. Need You Wild by fallintosilence and boweryd, aka the werewolf fic. 105,000 words, Brendon/Spencer, OH MY FUCKING GOD THIS FIC.
One hundred thousand words of awesome, awesome fic, that include no less than 35k (they counted) words of really (no, really) hot sex. You would think that it would get boring at some point, because how much not-even-all-that-kinky sex can one write before it gets repetitive? BUT NO. IT DOES NOT. It just keeps getting better and better. And werewolf fic, I mean, I was never really a huge fan of that, but WOW AM I NOW. THIS FIC, JUST. REALLY.
Aside from the hot hot hot sex, this fic has also got awesome dialogue and plot and characterization and is hilarious, and these authors know how to reach this perfect balance of funny and hot that I find, like, ideal, that I do not even aspire to because I don’t think I can ever get there. If you want to read a long, funny story about two characters being in love and having lots of fun and sex? This is the story for you. I love Brendon and Spencer so much in this fic, and Ryan and Jon's background commentary had me actual out loud cracking up.
If you do not know Bandom at all, all you need to know for this fic is that it takes place during that time when Panic at the Disco (Brendon, Spencer, Ryan and Jon) were living in a cabin in the mountains for a few months (YES THAT HAPPENED) trying to write a wolf musical their second album (LOL, oh, Panic. Yes, the wolf musical happened too).
…aaand that was the one non-BSDM rec in this bunch. It is fantastic. ONWARDS.
2. Tell Me To Stop by airgiodslv, ie the one I've heard referred to as "the quintessential BDSM Bandom fic", which is pretty apt. Brendon/Spencer, 30k, AU.
While I love Brendon and Spencer's relationship in this fic, I think the story definitely exceeds this particular fandom; looking through the delicious bookmarks to find ways to describe it, I found a lot of people saved it with a disclaimer of "BDSM usually isn't my thing, BUT" or "I'm not into Bandom at all, BUT".
The fic is a college AU, where Spencer wants to learn about BDSM and Brendon teaches him. Other than the fact that this fic is blindingly hot and sweet and really, really beautiful, I really love the dynamic between Brendon and Spencer here, with Brendon being the sub but also the mentor/teacher in their relationship (but not in a creepy way! they're the same age!), and it's all about communication and trust and being comfortable and trying new things, and. So awesome.
LOL, I just went through the delicious bookmarks for this fic again, basically reading all the descriptions and nodding with agreement. It is everything everyone has written about it.
What you need to know about Bandom for this fic: NOTHING :D
Oooh, also: it's worth mentioning that this is pretty much the fic that I used to drag
marina into Bandom, and that as she is one whose tastes I consider far more refined than my own, especially when it comes to what she will or won't rec, I'll also link to the rec she posted of this fic.
3. Second Circle by
stele3, oh HOLY JESUS CHRIST, this fic. 110k, Spencer/Ryan, ♥__♥.
Okay, the first thing I need to say about this fic is that it's extremely important to read the warnings, because as the author's notes state, guys, this story is DARK. The second thing I need to say is that I read those warnings and they freaked me out and actually got me to not read the fic, until finally, about 5 months later, I went back and read it, and it is now one of my favorite pieces of fanfiction I have ever read. I actually reread it last week (on the road, as I was), trying to think of the proper way to rec it, and finding myself struck dumb all over again as the story unfolded before me.
This is an AU, and I really don't think any prior knowledge is required to enjoy this fic - you only need to know that Spencer and Ryan grew up as best friends, and I guess it helps knowing that Ryan's childhood was pretty crappy and his dad was an alcoholic and Ryan himself is an artsy-hipster-writer type.
Okay, this story. So: Spencer and Ryan had a BDSM relationship in highschool, and Ryan pretty much bailed for LA, and this story starts a few years later, when Ryan shows up on Spencer's doorstep with a suspected case of HIV, a collar around his neck, and too many mysteries.
Instead of reinventing the wheel, I'll just quote from the comment I posted on that fic:
"Holy shit. I seriously don't have the words to leave a coherent comment for this fic. It was -- it took my breath away. I put off reading it for so long because the warnings scared me, and I am so, so, so happy I clicked after all. It's actually not as dark as the warnings make it out to be -- I mean, it is in an amazing-thriller-that-deals-with-dark-subjects way, but not in a here-are-100k-words-of-mental-and-physical-torture-porn, which is what I was afraid of. And then I started reading, and it was clear pretty much from the start that no -- this was a story about Spencer and Ryan, about this incredible, intense, complicated relationship they have. I don't always like BDSM fics, but reading fics like this one make all the trial and errors worth it -- where it's all about the characters and not just the kink, about their very particular dynamics, and most of all, about the trust. (I pretty much died in the [fic spoiler] scene ♥. Heart, stopped.) I love how self aware this fic is, how self aware Spencer is -- that nothing is taken for granted, he has his own issues that he's messed up about and keeps examining in himself, because accepting yourself is not always that easy. And I love Ryan so much in this fic, god, I want to hug him forever.
And that's just Spencer and Ryan. Greta and Jon and the entire office environment (Gabe!) were made of pure concentrated love and happiness (and kittens and kink). Greta in particular was a really awesome character, with her mentoring of Spencer. Spencer's parents = <333, Zach = <33333 x infinity. I even loved Spencer's shrink. And the plot itself, the way you built the story with slow, gradual revelations -- about Spencer and Ryan's break up, about what happened to Ryan in LA, and eventually about the truth behind the murders. This was such a gripping story, like, edge of my seat flailing; when Spencer found the [fic spoiler] I actually texted a friend mid-flail and in all caps "ho shit fucking gun in the first act, that was masterful".
ANYWAY I love this story REALLY REALLY REALLY A LOT, so thank you so much for writing it, and I will be reccing it, guaranteed."
I really don't know what to say beyond that. This fic was a roller coaster of emotion, which surprise surprise, I now want to reread again. (For the record, it is technically a sequel to a fic that I have not read and is absolutely not necessary for enjoyment of this fic. Also for the record - unlike the other fics, this one doesn't actually have that much porn in it. I mean, when it does it's great, but there's a bigger emphasis on their relationship, including the sado/maso aspects of it, than on actual porn scenes. BUT IT'S AMAZING OKAY? Okay.)
4. All We Fear is All that Can Save Us by hidingoutside, Brendon/Ryan, 27k.
Oh, this fic ♥. Okay, so imagine there's a band that's made of four guys who are really close to one another, and the lead vocalist/musician and the lyricist/songwriter kind of clash sometimes because they have different personalities but they also love each other a lot but they can get under each other's skin, and then the band splits into two bands where they're each on opposite sides, and they're both really pissed off at the other, and then one day a few months after the split they accidentally meet at a BDSM club, which they didn't even know the other was into, and end up sleeping together.
So, yes, this is a Brendon/Ryan post-split BDSM fic ♥ ♥ ♥. It is hot. It is angsty. It is full of so much tension, and surprising (mostly to the characters themselves) tenderness, and so much trust and love and complicated emotions.
I mean, post-split Brendon ordering Ryan around in bed, just thinking of the concept makes me wish I didn't know half this fic by heart so I could read it again for the first time. I kind of suck at articulating why I love this one so much, but here is an excellent (and hardly spoilery) comment review of it that I fully agree with.
Since I'm reccing this, I feel like I should mention that there are a few typos in the fic, but you know, that happens sometimes even to the best of them, and this really is a gorgeous, gorgeous, hot, well-written story.
5. I Know This Hurts (It Was Meant To) by dancinbutterfly, Pete/?, 68,000 words.
Okay, for this fic I'll just quote what
lomedet said about it after reading it for the first time, because I agree with every word:
"I had this story open in a tab for a couple of days before I got around to reading it, and I'm glad I waited until the weekend because it ATE MY BRAIN and I couldn't really do anything but keep reading it once I'd started. (well, I did have to click away a few times, both because it got intense and I needed a breather, and because I didn't want it to end.)
It was written by dancinbutterfly for this year's Bandom Big Bang. It's Pete/?, and does a really good job depicting most of the crew from the Fall Out Boy side of bandom. And all of that is just icing, because what this story really is is one of the best fictional explorations of hard-core BDSM I have ever, ever read, while at the same time being a hits-me-right-where-I-live-without-being-in-any-way-saccharine love story. And the best part? The sex, while being central and amazing and OMG SO VERY HOT, does not fix anything. It is, at most, a catalyst."
So, yes. I don't think this fic really requires too much prior knowledge of Fall Out Boy; the band is comprised of Pete (slightly messed up lyricist & bassist), Patrick (vocalist, songwriter & BFF), Joe and Andy, and it's set during a time when the band's on hiatus.
(Note: this fic depicts the kind of D/s relationship where phrases like "Yes, sir"/"Good boy" are used, and as kinks go that is not really my kink, but I found the story totally worth it.)
ETA: 6. Amateur Cartography by fictionalaspect. Brendon/Spencer, 42,000 words.
This fic is so amazing. Where Brendon and Spencer discover they're into the same things, and navigate their way through a D/s relationship that doesn't include sex -- or does it? Takes place while Panic is on tour, so there is awesome band interaction and banter (LOL RYAN x infinity), and most of all Brendon and Spencer. I can't really explain why I love her dialogues so much except that they feel so real and natural, and if you love BDSM or humor or boys falling in love, you should really really read this. (For the record, most of my beta included leaving "MY HEART" at the end of every other paragraph until I forced myself to stop. But, my *heart*.) The BDSM scenes are beautifully written, and the development of their relationship is just -- amazing and organic and <333333 forever.
General notes about these recs:
--So, just a reminder, four of these are Panic at the Disco (Brendon, Spencer, Ryan, Jon) and one is Fall Out Boy (Pete, Patrick, Joe, Andy). I really do think these can all be enjoyed in a "stories in a fandom I don't know with really hot sex and good plot" kind of way.
--For warnings/kink descriptions, read the fic headers.
--All of the pairings and relationships in these fics (not counting past experiences characters might have had in some of the fics with former partners) are completely consensual, and it is very clear that both partners are enjoying the sex and getting what they want from it. No consent issues! There is lots of love and trust because at the end of the day I am a HUGE SAP and this is what I like to read. Also, it's worth mentioning that one of my favorite tropes is when characters actually use their safewords when they're uncomfortable with something, and when it happens in some of these fics - I'm not saying where, because that's a spoiler in itself, but I basically melt, okay, they are the most awesome scenes ever and they make my heart want to explode.
--Reeeeeeeeeeead :D
comments on Dreamwidth.