hackthis_archive ([personal profile] hackthis_archive) wrote2010-10-07 02:42 pm

Friday Recs (Yes, it's still Thursday)

Yes, these are Friday recommendations. Yes, it's still Thursday. Yes, I am sure because I'm sober. Why am I doing them today? a) Because I fucking can b) Because it's been that kind of week and c) See a & b.

Before we get to the Inception Recs, however, there are three other things that I'd very much like to draw your attention to:

a. Flowers for a Girl by [livejournal.com profile] yahtzee63, which is season five Mad Man about Joan and Peggy and Don. This story fit so seamlessly between last week and this week that when it was over I was pretty sure I'd just seen a scene from the TV show. Sharp, visceral writing of which even Matt Weiner himself would be like "That's what I'm talking about."

b. Bloodbuzz by [livejournal.com profile] wearemany -- Southland fic. Oh Southland how I love you. How I miss you. How nobody ever seems to write you. Why is that? I suppose because it's so dense. So complete on its own. And yet, there's always a tiny thread that you can tug on. [livejournal.com profile] wearemany tugged on the Ben Sherman Sr. thread. And man did the rug unravel. Ben/John, NC-17. With suits.

c. You all know how I feel about film recs. You only get one a year and I spent that vote on Inception this year. However. If you feel like I steered you in the right direction with that one, if you feel like maybe I know what I'm talking about sometimes, then listen to me now when I tell you: Go see The Social Network. I detest Facebook. I couldn't give a shit about Aaron Sorkin. The last good thing David Fincher did was Fight Club. Every time this movie trailer came on I wanted to slit someone else's throat. The only reason I think I got suckered into going is because they used an a cappella version of Radiohead's Creep and Kayne's Power for the previews. But you know what? The movie was extraordinary clever. And smart. And human. And you will leave there amazed by the power of just wanting to belong. Two very very enthusiastic thumbs up. (And there's a special treat for LJ people. No, for real). Go. See. It. When you get back you can write me fic about you know who (or you will once you see it).

And now, to that other stuff.


Art Recs

Get The Fuck Out Of My Head_2 by tatarnikova -- The artist gave this a much more poetic title than I did. I think of it as, "OMG that drawing where Arthur's in the shower!"

Hard Candy#1 and Version #2 by Sofie Hallor -- If you suspect I'm a tad picky about my Arthur/Joe art, you have no idea how I am about the Eames/Tom art. When I looked at this, all I could think, apart from "That is how you use color, people!", was, "Oh, look, it's Tom." I should also point out that version #1 is the artist-preferred version, because she didn't like the way the eyes looked (but I do, which is why you also get version 2).

Mal & Eames by smilevintage -- The artist put this together as a push for Mal/Eames. I'm including it, not because I am interested in the pairing, but because this Mal? This is my Mal. Smiling and happy and mischievous and loved. There seems to be a segment that believes that Mal is some how manipulative and mean and harsh, that Dom was her victim or whatever, but I don't buy into that shit at all. I think Dom betrayed her love and her trust when he incepted her. I think she gave him everything and he turned out to be a selfish ass. If anybody's a manipulative prick it's Dom. My Mal is Arthur's Mal, and we both think, "she's lovely."



Fic Recs

Believe Me if You Can (The House at Pooh Corner) by [livejournal.com profile] gyzym -- See. This. What. I can't even. Tee. Eye. Double Guh. Err. That's what this story is about. You have been warned. Also, Rabbit's growing pot in his garden. In the last three weeks my childhood has been utterly besmirched by [livejournal.com profile] angelgazing, [livejournal.com profile] aredblush and [livejournal.com profile] gyzym I need to go cry somewhere.

Beni Asla Bırakma by [livejournal.com profile] atomicskull -- This is the Yusuf fic of my heart. No, that's not hyperbole, that's the truth. [livejournal.com profile] atomicskull knew what I needed and wrote it without me even needing to ask and I am eternally grateful. Yusuf is smart, and kind, and falls in love and his friendship with Eames is built on the firmest foundations. There is a life pre-Inception and there's one post-Inception.

Childish Thoughts, Adult Minds by [livejournal.com profile] sekkritbandlj -- You would think my Kryptonite would be wee!Eames. I thought my Kryptonite was wee!Eames. Turns out it's wee!Arthur. And Eames with wee!Arthur. On the slide. And at the ice cream parlor. And tiny Arthur. You don't understand. I was defenseless. I blame [livejournal.com profile] johanirae since she made the art for it that showed me its existence

Eames Character Study by [livejournal.com profile] temperance_k -- There are all kinds of Eames characterizations in this fandom. Everyone sees something different. Some people believe Eames comes from some sort of abusive home, that it's all rag-tag gutter living and that he's unspeakably dim. I don't see that. I don't buy it; you couldn't sell it to me on a naked man. Then again, there are people who don't believe that Eames planned the entire fucking Inception job. I can only assume that anti-monopolistic sentiments are being discussed on the back of a can of Carlsberg. Doesn't make it any less valid. Just means it doesn't work for me. My characterization tends to come from the idea of Eames being a public school boy, from money, from his clear military background and the fact that he uses an endearment once, ostensibly to get Arthur's head back in the game; [livejournal.com profile] lazlet insisted he was firmly middle class. She only capitulated to me when she found an interview where Tom and Chris admit that Eames is old money, but you know, it's like I said before. Everybody sees things differently. And this story. The one that [livejournal.com profile] temperance_k wrote. I buy this story. I believe this story. So will you.

A Piece of the Plate (Got Stuck In My Heart) by [livejournal.com profile] jibrailis -- IRON CHEF AU FTW! Run, scurry, flee, read it now!

Plate Tectonics by [livejournal.com profile] indysaur -- Arthur moves in with Eames when his ex-fiancee tries to kill him. Like you do. But this story isn't really about that. This story is about living together and making room in your life for somebody else. But really, this story is about the awesome that is Yusuf. \o/ I love the Yusuf in this story. I want to take him home and make tea for him and give him biscuits

Plus One by [livejournal.com profile] someidiothasice -- I found this story last week through [livejournal.com profile] foxxcub and I'd give her a pony as a thank you, but I already gave her a pony. I can't have her running around taking other people's ponies. This is a story about Arthur in his off hours, about what he potentially gets up. This is about what happens when Eames comes along. It's the kind of thing you'll want to smoke something after, whether that's incense or a cigarette is up to you.

Put Your Hands On Me by [livejournal.com profile] meiface -- Arthur likes to be touched more than he thinks he does. This is yet another one of those things that is just kind of bulletproof for me. I know everybody's shocked. But I love the way [livejournal.com profile] meiface explores it here. The way Arthur thinks it's all about Eames when it's really all about him.

And before I go...

Upon my most recent viewing of Inception I am firmly convinced of the fact that Arthur is not a cold fish, that he's anything but repressed. That he's sensitive and emotionally aware. If you look a) at the scene where Ariadne wakes up after being stabbed and Arthur immediate runs to her side, b) when he talks about Mal being lovely c) when Dom is yelling at him, and Arthur's upset -- yes, because he fucked up but also because Dom is furious with him and d) where he drops down to Eames' side in the hotel room, that conversation. They'll run you down. Go to sleep, Mr. Eames. That shared smile. It's all there.

Arthur is astute. He is emotionally aware. He picks up on other people's cues. Whatever he is. He is not a fucking robot. Whatever he is, he feels things and he feels them deeply. Do not discount that.

Also, while I'm on my soapbox I'd just like to say that, "I love Eames clothes." I think they show a lot of fucking character and personality. I don't think they're tacky or gauche. They may not be bespoke suits and whatever, but the man fucking has style and he owns it. It's easy to wear something that comes preassembled from the same cloth. It's easy to stack black with black. It's a lot harder to decide who you want to be and let your clothes say that. Whether you spend an hour getting dressed or two minutes it all makes a statement, what do you want your statement to be?

And on a final note: if Eames were an animal, he'd totally be an otter. Adorable, self-absorbed, quick on the paw and unable to be denied at all.


And with that, you'll have to excuse me, I have to go back to my life being utter shite.
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[identity profile] causeways.livejournal.com 2010-10-07 09:38 pm (UTC)(link)
I just got home from seeing The Social Network, and wow, what a fucking fabulous movie. So clever and SO well done. They really nailed EVERY PART of that movie, and there were multiple scenes (in particular, the opening scene and the scene where Eduardo's back in NYC and his girlfriend visits) that made my jaw actually drop with how fantastic they were.
Edited 2010-10-07 21:53 (UTC)

[identity profile] msloserrific.livejournal.com 2010-10-07 09:40 pm (UTC)(link)
And you sort them by category, link both the fic/art/etc AND the user, plus you go into a little description of them all. Ku-dos.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-07 10:08 pm (UTC)(link)
Word, bb. Word!

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-07 10:12 pm (UTC)(link)
I love Eames clothing; they're these beautiful bright spots of color when everything else is so muted. The cities, the buildings, the rooms, the other people. He stands out everywhere. It's lovely. And quite helpful, you know, so my eyes know where to go ;-)

It's high quality stuff, but kind of strangely mishmashed because he's seen it all, worn it all, and at this point, he only wants to wear what he loves. As soon as I started reading this I imagined that photo. Not all men can lean like that. Unf again, indeed.

Word and double word. What I love the most about Arthur and Eames and all the characters are the chances they give me to figure our who and what and where and why. It's like I told [livejournal.com profile] atomicskull, "So Arthur's a snappy dresser, and what else? What side of the bed does he sleep on? What's his favorite book? Color? Does he cry at movies? Does he even like movies? What about TV? Does he cook? What's his favorite food? His favorite place? I can only speak for myself, but what I love about writing is a chance to expand, to create. I don't ever want just one thing, I want to see everything, to discover. People are nebulous, ephemeral and inconsistent. Maybe he loves tomatoes today and hates them tomorrow, that's how I write. But that's just me."

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-07 10:13 pm (UTC)(link)
I said besmirched. Not ruined. Maybe just sullied a bit like. Also, I know you'd all do it again in a heartbeat. You don't fool me! ;-)

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-07 10:17 pm (UTC)(link)
So, Edouardo and Mark, totally star-crossed lovers or what? I mean Mark does all of this for a girl, on some level to prove to Edouardo that he can be cool too, and Edouardo gives Mark all his money to run across the country and shack up with that floozy. Err, you know what I mean. And then he shows up and his man is spending his money on somebody else. Totally broke his heart. And then when they're in the offices and Edouardo found out they cheated him, his face, and Mark finally finally gets it. Man, that was one hell of a love story. All that just to be liked. /o\

You know the girlfriend was jealous because Edouardo was coming when he was called. Yet again. In.san.i.ty.

Okay, but seriously? Brilliantly done. Engaging and smart and thought-provoking and I was even able to over look Justin Timberlake for the most part.

And then there were the twins. Egads.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-07 10:20 pm (UTC)(link)
I can easily picture Arthur be affectionate and passionate in his private life.

Me too. Also with this thought in mind, I think you'd definitely enjoy Put Your Hands on Me. :)

[identity profile] pearljamz.livejournal.com 2010-10-07 10:23 pm (UTC)(link)
In my eyes, Eames went to Rugby (hence the body built), then Cambridge (read Classics), then Sandhurst (that uniform..*swoons*).
During his Cambridge years, he spent all his pocket money on poker with people that you did not want to mess up with, and got into a lot of trouble. Got expelled in his final term during his 3rd year, became a disgrace to the family, drifted around doing nothing for a while. Then realised he could do better so he redeemed himself by enrolling to Sandhurst (Daddy's connections).

/end of rant


also, Arthur acts like a robot, but he is just a very sensitive kid.
(When people write him as a Jew, does it mean he has a circumcised peeeen? /sorry, pretty clueless)

[identity profile] theravenwrites.livejournal.com 2010-10-07 10:27 pm (UTC)(link)
OTTERS FTFW! Haha, agree one hundred percent with your Eames and Arthur diagnoses, their backgrounds and characters and clothes. I adore Eames's clothes so, so much. Paisley? My dream come true. I don't know why, but I love it, not gonna lie. (And can I just admit that I think the plaid shirt Arthur wears one level down is atrocious?!) It's not that Arthur is a much better dresser than Eames, it's that he's much more classic and toned down, whereas Eames goes all the way to eleven.

The only thing I would add with Mal would be that I feel like she was just as enthusiastic as Dom about going deeper and exploring. I totally agree that he did the wrong thing by incepting her, and breaking her trust like that, but I feel like she went into that situation in the first place because she honestly wanted to be there.

[identity profile] angelgazing.livejournal.com 2010-10-07 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[livejournal.com profile] gyzym and I were actually talking about that the other night. Inception fandom: defiling your childhood, one story at a time.

Sigh. I'm a terrible liar, it's true. I really can't be sorry for it at all. I mean, I got adorable Care Bear Inception art out of it! How could I resist? Also, I'm pretty sure I am doing it again, so... I'm blaming the other two, from now on. It is no longer my fault.

[identity profile] faekitten9.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 12:12 am (UTC)(link)
Add my voice to the choir of, "HELL YES, & AMEN!!!".

I am in complete agreement with your preferred characterizations of Arthur (So NOT an anal-retentive prissy robot!) and Eames (smart, well educated, old money family, military training, fabulous personal fashion sense).

Eames would be the world's most BAMF otter, in the history of ever.

But, it just may be my personal fashion failings that engender warm fuzzy feelings in my breast when consideringe Eames' sense of style...my favorite pair of loafers in college were PAISLEY PRINT on pewter metallic finish leather by Esprit de Corps. Um, yeah. It was the 80's. *hides*

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
We can agree to disagree on the robot thing, but yes, if you're writing Arthur as Jewish (and his family as practicing) then he's been circumcised. The Jewish faith has a bris (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bris) for a male baby eight days after he's been born.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 12:31 am (UTC)(link)
I'm a little confused about where the fanon 'Arthur the robot' trope even really came from. I never saw him that way...

I dunno, dude, there's all kinds of fannish stuff that makes me go WTF? But that's part of what makes fanon fanon, innit?

And yes! Eames totally looks like an otter. It's the stubble.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 12:33 am (UTC)(link)
It's not that Arthur is a much better dresser than Eames, it's that he's much more classic and toned down, whereas Eames goes all the way to eleven.

YES! THAT! And you are totally right about Mal there. Mal wanted it, Dom wanted it. My issues with Dom lie in how he handled the aftermath; you'd think he'd be better in a crisis. But being good professionally does not make you good personally.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 12:34 am (UTC)(link)
You know now I want an otter named Eames right? OMG! *want*

my favorite pair of loafers in college were PAISLEY PRINT on pewter metallic finish leather by Esprit de Corps. Um, yeah. It was the 80's. *hides*

I am not laughing at you, I am laughing with you. Everybody's taste was questionable in the 80s. And 90s. And frankly the new millennium has quite a bit to answer for as well, to be honest.

[identity profile] faekitten9.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
The 80's were a horror. I wore a lot of Esprit and Benetton.
My daughters now participate in "80's Dress-Up Day" during high school homecoming week, and it makes me CRINGE..."Duct Tape Day" was more attractive.

Can you house an otter in your bath? Just a thought.

[identity profile] hackthis.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
I could put him in the bath, but I need to use the bath. More importantly though, if he was in there I'd probably never leave. Could make that whole life business a bit difficult. But look at that face!

[identity profile] lunaysol.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
I agree x1000 that Arthur is not a cold fish. I knew it the moment he said "She was lovely." JGL played that moment so well. He said a lot about their backstory with a simple sentence and one look.

And not to be a Yes Woman (ha ha) but I too agree that Eames' clothes aren't hideous or tacky. The first time I saw Inception I could tell that his clothing wasn't cheap by any means. I thought he was sophisticated, but also fun.

[identity profile] frabjously.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
I am so so so with you on Not-a-Robot-Arthur. I don't mind Eames clothing really either.

[identity profile] lifeinyouryears.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 03:25 am (UTC)(link)
The first time I saw Inception was in the IMAX theater and even on the largest screen possible (or so the ad said), I didn't find anything wrong with the way he was dressed. Well, not until later that is. After seeing more of Tom Hardy I realized Eames should have been naked the entire movie. I just took the long way in telling you I completely agree with you about Eames' clothes! Same for the Arthur, but I have always been partial to JGL.

Also! I kind of look to you to tell me what's up in Inception fandom. I don't really keep up and then you bust out the recs every week and it's fabulous. Are we allowed to suggest things to you? Because I really enjoyed the Inception/White Collar crossover (http://windswept-fic.livejournal.com/38329.html) that [livejournal.com profile] windswept_fic. I dunno man, I just felt the need to share.

[identity profile] theravenwrites.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I think you're so right about Dom. I feel for him, I really do, but he messed up. I think that because he's the protag, audiences tend to gloss over his culpability in a way, especially since there is such a moving scene where he forgives himself. Or at least accepts his actions? And of course really almost all we see of Mal onscreen is of her being scary as all get out.

Also, I was reading through the comments and I noticed a couple people talking about how american men have no fashion sense and I couldn't agree more! I get so bummed out by all the boring men's fashion around me so much that I even find myself applauding the at least colorful choices of bros (I'm thinking pink shorts with whatever on them from j crew) but even that doesn't compare to just a sense of style. I think men in america just don't have the mindset of bothering to think about what they put on their bodies beyond the bare minimum (for the most part).

I recently spent a bunch of time in Europe and the difference just day to day is astounding. The idea that you don't have to wear sneakers and jeans with everything? Could revolutionize America, just saying. Although we'd still be pretty far behind.

[identity profile] kriari.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you so much for these. I don't say it every week, mostly because it'd quickly get tiresome. I keep sticking them in my bookmarks and intend to drown in an avalanche of fic once I can.

Also...

Upon my most recent viewing of Inception I am firmly convinced of the fact that Arthur is not a cold fish, that he's anything but repressed.

I agree with this so very much. Is he professional? Absolutely. Concise? Clearly. But as you've already said, he's also incredibly emotionally aware. I'd even add to C) that he shows awareness in his reaction to Dom's anger. Arthur knows Cobb and understands his state of mind well enough to understand that (regardless of fault) what Dom needs is an apology and not the acres of justification he could provide. I read meta (http://zanzando.dreamwidth.org/12803.html) earlier this week that addresses that moment in part, and how Arthur would be well within his rights to snap back at Dom that he's not omniscient. Not that he would, though everyone has a breaking point.

I love Eames' clothes too. I guess I'm still in my own little world enough that I didn't realize that some people didn't. They say a lot about him, tbqh. I'd think someone with his particular skill set would need to define themselves very clearly so as not to lose the "Eames" in amongst all the other people he's impersonated over the years. To me, his clothes are an anchor for that core self, but I may be reading too much into it.

[identity profile] shaney.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 08:51 am (UTC)(link)
I agree with you re: Arthur. With his attention to details, he can't be cold. Not expressive, but definitely not cold.

You are the second person on my flist to say that Dom is a prick lol. I did not start off thinking it this way, but ya you and my friend are right: the inception on Mal is overwhelming evidence of his selfish nature. I think that's also partly why Eames is rather standoffish with him, and there are other instances of his selfish nature creeping through in the movie, but I would not ramble in your journal haha.

[identity profile] pearljamz.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 11:38 am (UTC)(link)
Ah, sorry I realised my comment on Arthur-robot-or-not was a bit vague. I was going to elaborate more, but my brain seemed to have stopped me from doing so. I was just going to say that he puts on a cold facade to appear less weak, because when you're at 'war', you can't let your emotions overcome you. I was actually agreeing with you but I reckoned my wording was a bit off.

Anyway, thanks for the info! :)

[identity profile] alostcorner.livejournal.com 2010-10-08 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
It's Thanksgiving this weekend in Canada, so I'll actually get some time to read these! Thanks for taking the time to put these posts together <3

Throwing in another "hell yeah" re: Arthur and Eames's clothes. And oh my goodness, yes yes yes, my biggest problem with the movie is that I have no sympathy for Cobb. We definitely need more of the lovely Mal in this fandom.

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