scribblinlenore: (Fall Out Boy: True Love)
scribblinlenore ([personal profile] scribblinlenore) wrote2008-09-29 05:15 pm

Zigging when everyone else is zagging; Or my adventures in bandom

I've been in a weird place fannishly for a little while now. I have shows I love, and I still have warm, fond, fuzzies for my favorite couples, Jeter and A-Rod, John and Rodney, Mal and Simon, Sam and Dean, Peter and Nathan, etc. But I feel kind of tuned out to fandom, which makes me sad. Part of it is being busy at work. When I get home, what I really don't feel like doing is focusing on the computer. Not fun! And also, I've been going through this thing where I find writing really tiring, even if it's not fiction, even if I'm just trying to write, say, a post or an email. This probably goes hand in hand with being busy at work. I get all written and thought out at the office, and then even squeeing about, say, Supernatural feels like too much work. That is SO SAD. I seriously need a vacation.

Anyway, please know that I am squeeing, even if it is quietly and by myself.

There is one thing, though, that is bringing joy to my tired heart. So much joy that I'm making myself focus long enough to write this post. Okay, yes, this new enthusiasm is bandom. Specifically Pete/Patrick. (They're from Fall Out Boy, for the many non-bandomers on my flist.) And I refuse to be ashamed of it! Because they are so cute they fill me with "awwwwwwww!"



Of course, as [livejournal.com profile] swanswan says, you never know when you get a new fannish enthusiasm how long the inspiration will last. So I may be done with bandom next week. Who knows? So far, I've made it to the stage of involvement where I've read tons of stories, watched tons of clips on YouTube and bought two Fall Out Boy CDs and two My Chemical Romance CDs and watched the "I Don't Care" video until my eyes almost dropped out of my head. More commitment to bandom than I ever imagined I'd have!

'Cause, you know, sometimes you just need something to get you through your day. I listen to my new music with my noise canceling headphones on, and writing feels like less of a chore, and people don't interrupt me every five seconds, which is always a bonus. And then the other day, I had to go to the editor's and work on this little video piece for this pitch I'm involved in, and...I gotta be honest. Going to the editor's bores the crap out of me. And we had WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE giving direction on this itty bitty two-minute video. And it's just chaos, and I can't pay attention. So I spent much of the afternoon reading Pete/Patrick porn on my laptop, and it was the BEST TIME I'VE EVER HAD AT THE EDITOR'S.

So, yes, bandom is my crutch.

Which is kind of embarrassing, given all the times I thought, even if I never actually said aloud, "bandom? seriously?" I was quietly full of scoff. And now I'm having this big old deja vu about SGA and how I had the same resistance to it and privately bemoaned that my favorite writers were deserting my fandom for it and then discovered how absolutely awesome it was and was a little sheepish about my newfound love. I would resolve not to quietly scoff ever again, but I know myself too well.

So, as usual, I'm totally trailing along after everyone else in the new fannish enthusiasm department, but, hey, I wouldn't be me if I weren't at least a year late to the party. I really, REALLY want to talk about what I find so utterly endearing about Pete and Patrick, even though I know it's old news to people who are in bandom and not likely to persuade my "bandom? seriously?" friends. But...this is my new toy! I HAVE to talk about it. *bg*

Okay, here's the thing...they are SO CUTE. I like them both separately and even more so together. (Of course, everything I know about them I've learned from fan fiction, so really what I'm saying is that I like them as characters.) Patrick who's down to earth and has this sweet, innocent face and this sometimes fiery temper and all this ridiculous talent. And Pete who's brain never stops buzzing and can be kind of an asshole but in an endearing way and is just over-brimming with affection and need and prank-playing, and I'm not sure there's ever been a more entertaining character than Pete Wentz in the history of EVER.

And then the two of them together! Words + Music. Totally meant to be. It's similar to what I love so much about Jeter and A-Rod. They have this incredibly romantic friendship, even if they're not sleeping together. Although it's totally better if they ARE sleeping together. And there's plenty of real-life fodder for the slash making. Thank you, Pete Wentz!

Also, also, and this is very important. They met when Patrick was only 16! And Pete was 22. Or 23, I'm not entirely sure. Whatever. Details don't matter. What matters is...sweet, sweet Patrick-y innocence. You guys know how much I love that! It's like the good old days of Smallville have come back to me. But with this pair, it's not just the dirty-wrongness of it that I love so much. (Although, let's not kid ourselves, I DO love it.) It's also that Pete RECOGNIZED Patrick when he went to hear him play, recognized who he was going to be. I mean, there's this kid in a sweater vest and black socks, and Pete really SEES him, knows he's a tiny musical genius. I sometimes feel that Pete's truest talent is his ability to spot talent. Although possibly it comes in third after his ability to media whore and merchandise. :)

Okay, and here's one more thing that I love about this pair. Pete and Patrick have very particular personalities and a very particular dynamic that translates well to AUs of all kinds, to both different retellings of their actual history and to complete recasting. It's like SGA in that way, which has always been one of the things I most love about SGA. Pete as the devil, the boys in film school, the entire cast of bandom works in an office, yay!!!

Also, did I mention that Patrick was only 16 when they met???? Yay for besmirching!

Which leads me to story links. I wanted to celebrate some of my favorite, favorite stories that I've read so far. No doubt there is nothing new here for bandom peeps. But non-bandom peeps, seriously, if you're into the besmirching of innocence as I am, or fun fanfic cliches, or cool AUs, you'll enjoy these stories. You really don't need to know anything about the characters. I usually don't believe that when people say it to me, but it's totally true in this case, I swear!


Besmirching:

the last good thing about this part of town by [livejournal.com profile] just_katarin
This story made me more giddy with happiness than anything has in a long, long time. Patrick has a new Government teacher, who didn't learn in teacher school that you're not supposed to let one of your students become your best friend and your favorite person in the whole entire world. Guys! It's just so...charming and real-feeling and endearing and sweet and hot and angsty. Pete is the kind of cool teacher I wish I'd had in school, who really cares about what he's teaching, really wants his students to get involved. And Patrick...well, if you ever had an aching crush on someone when you were young, a teacher or just someone you thought was unattainable, you'll ache along with Patrick in this. Nothing is simple, and there are consequences, and so much love and so much hope. I really could not adore this story more!!

it may be a side effect of the exposure, but i am thinking it's meant to be by [livejournal.com profile] thirdonebetween
Patrick's stuck in high school, and Pete's supposed to be going to college, and Pete texts Patrick about four thousand times a day. This one wins my heart for the most likely way their early friendship went.

Patricksitting (Call It A Love Song) by [livejournal.com profile] adellyna
Pete housesits while Patrick's parents are away. Oh my God, I am so dirty. And this story is so dirty. And I really, really like it that way!

There's also the one where Pete is Patrick's soccer coach that I couldn't find the link for, but trust me when I say that it was delightfully besmirchful (yes! that is a word, I swear it is!).


Other high school adorableness:

thnks fr th mmrs by [livejournal.com profile] rain_dances
This story makes me want to draw flaily hearts all around it! It's an AU in which Pete and Patrick are the same age and in high school together. It's yearbook signing time, and Patrick is so not into it this little year-end ritual, but Pete has something important he wants to tell him. If you find stories where young love is finding its way, and it's confusing and fumbling and intense and nothing is more important and there's all this want and all this fear and does-he-or-doesn't-he...and then he does! Well, this is the story for you.


Fandom cliches/kinks:

I have been in fandoms where fanfic cliches don't make much sense or they're just not very popular, but I really prefer fandoms where they're embraced and loved and used to their fullest. (Thank you, SGA!) And bandom does not disappoint in this regard.

Asking to be born by [livejournal.com profile] longtime_lurker
Okay, okay, MPreg fans? This is the Mpreg story you've been waiting all your life to read! It's long, and takes its time unfolding, and is filled with very intense and real emotions. Uncertainty and fear and joy and anger and a delicate, delicate hope. Few MPreg stories, or at least among the ones I've read or...written for that matter, make you really feel the danger of a man carrying a child, make you confront the consequences of the decision to try to bring this unlikely life into the world. But this one does, and it gave me this huge lump in my throat. I mean, seriously, I was worried! It was a beautiful, beautiful thing. And then there's babybabybaby finally born, and I wasn't worried anymore, but that lump was still in my throat.

Woman like a man by [livejournal.com profile] longtime_lurker
This author writes fanfic cliches just EXACTLY the way I want to read them. I adore genderswap, and she makes Pete turning into a woman so totally white hot you feel singed by it. I love that Pete not only wants to try out this new body, but a womanly identity too, because of course he would. And Patrick's reaction--oh so jealous! oh so possessive! oh so ready to please!--just made it all so much hotter. And then it all ends the way genderswaps should, and I was a happy, happy woman.

Act As A Clever Medicine by [livejournal.com profile] ficbyzee
Fandoms without sex pollen make me sad! Patrick getting doused with something that makes him unremittingly horny for Pete makes me happy! With bonus Patrick feeling bad about taking advantage of his best friend. Although I'm not sure you actually can take advantage of Pete Wentz.

King Of The Boudoir by [livejournal.com profile] giddygeek
Fuck-or-die. Seriously, what's not to love about a story in which a teenage girl obsessed with Pete discovers via the Internet that Pete loves Patrick more than anyone else and she's so upset and jealous that she tells her voodoo-hillbilly father, who puts the horny spell of doom on Pete, so that he either has to get Patrick to fuck him or die. And...Pete doesn't die!

Better with a pen by [livejournal.com profile] bluejbird
I will admit that writing on skin is a personal kink of mine. Pillow Book anyone? And there's just something about Pete scribbling all over Patrick's pale, unmarked skin that...uh, yeah. I like it. Let's leave it at that! *g*

Every aching old machine by [livejournal.com profile] longtime_lurker
Perhaps this isn't an official fanfic cliche, but I just adore stories where our pair grows old together. I'm a fool for it in SGA, and I'm a fool for it when it comes to Pete and Patrick. This story just charmed the socks off me. Seriously. Both socks!


AUs:

Concatenation, the Birth of Babel, and Other Acoustic Rebellions by [livejournal.com profile] swanswan
Music should belong to everyone, but in this world it doesn't. Until the boys become a band. This story illustrates my point about being able to transplant Pete and Patrick into any other circumstances. This is a cool sci-fi-ish AU. The world is fascinating, and the sex is so freakin' HOT!

One Day, Robots Will Cry by [livejournal.com profile] lordessrenegade
Patrick's a robot, but not a bad robot, so I don't have to be scared of him. In fact, I want to hug him. Poor little sweet!

repair anything sold, bought, or processed by [livejournal.com profile] misspamela
What is a fandom without a good hooker AU? The thing I like most about this one is that the author doesn't soft pedal the danger or the consequences that come from Pete's decision to finance his future in music by selling his ass.

Must Have Excellent Oral Skills by [livejournal.com profile] souldiers
Patrick's a phone sex operator, and Pete is the client who tracks him down. Never has phone sex been so sweet! And Pete's stalkery side is incredibly charming in this.

This is my rifle, this is my gun by [livejournal.com profile] stereomer
Gay bounty hunter Pete + Wrongly Accused Patrick = Awwwww! Although there isn't any sex, and I do feel that a gay bounty hunter/wrongly accused guy story should have lots of dirty-hot sex. It's like a rule or something. But the story is still incredibly delightful.


So, in conclusion, I love Pete and Patrick!

[identity profile] elucreh.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Everybody had that initial reaction to bandom, don't worry. You could probably find the lj entry where I asked people to hit me with a ruler because I was enjoying myself. ^_^
ext_15689: art by trevor brown, a small fairy with bleeding eyes (Default)

[identity profile] ix-tab.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 10:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I've been in bandom for over a year now, and that's an excellent rec list.

Also, for the besmirching part, may I recommend Let The Record Show (http://adellyna.livejournal.com/350184.html) by [livejournal.com profile] adellyna and [livejournal.com profile] wishpaper.

And for early FOB fic, though it's older and less canon-friendly, I really recommend Pancakes and Blowjobs, Hashbrowns and Blood (http://www.valerielewis.net/badbadbadbadman/pancakes.html) by [livejournal.com profile] valerie_z.

Oh Pete and Patrick. They really are the best thing ever.

[identity profile] swanswan.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
I know EXACTLY that feeling of fandom fatigue! I get it so easily - that's why I'm such a ficslut and will pounce into all kinds of fandoms for the pretty stories. Still, sometimes you hit one that just works for you and that's what happened for me with bandom.

Have you looked at Shrift's picspams? They are AMAZING.
http://shrift.livejournal.com/tag/patrick+stump

Also this one is fab:
http://femmequixotic.livejournal.com/274835.html

It helps to have VISUALS, I always feel! Are the NY posse rolling their eyes at you for the bandom obsession? They have no legs to stand on!!! Baseball is TOTALLY as bad. And Pun likes Harry/Hermione!!! (ok not really) (no one is that sick)

[identity profile] swanswan.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 10:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, and thank you for recommending my story! I do love a rec.

[identity profile] chopchica.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 10:39 pm (UTC)(link)
NOOOOO, LENORE, NOT YOU TOO!!!!!
ext_37410: (Default)

[identity profile] anansigirltoo.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 11:00 pm (UTC)(link)
*g* fic I haven't read before! Excellent!

Pete/Patrick is the gateway drug to all of bandom, I swear it's true...

[identity profile] shaggirl.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
The best thing about bandom (besides the lovely boys) is the AU's. They are so much fun!

[identity profile] murklins.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 11:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Unsurprisingly, I have read all these! But, okay, probably you have read it already and maybe just not loved it as hard as I did? But This story's going somewhere (http://jamjar.livejournal.com/99731.html) (42,000 words) by [livejournal.com profile] jamjar was my Pete/Patrick gateway story. I loved it so much that I made it part of a special, non-Delicious recs post, where I said:

Have read it 4 or 5 times. This is the story that sold me on bandom. I was drowning in confusion and despair, until I read this ageswap that places Pete in high school with Joe, and Patrick in college with Andy. Pete is his brash, confident, emotional trainwreck self and when he meets Patrick he thinks Patrick's not at all cool, even if he is older and in a band. He steals Patrick's orange juice and goes off to have sex with the bassist who just came off stage. But Joe is convinced that Andy and Patrick would be perfect for the band he and Pete are planning, and when Pete hears Patrick's voice, he's all in. Soon he's Patrick's best friend, with a hatred for Patrick's girlfriend that is *totally* justifiable (yeah, right). The self-delusion in this story kills me every time, and though it's told all through Pete's painfully young and tangled POV, you can read Patrick's reactions so clearly, it almost makes my heart explode. A Patrick POV remix of this story would probably do me in for real. So someone should write that.

Sometimes when I reread it I catch little technical problems, but -- Pete's young and obliviously in love! Patrick is trying to Do The Right Thing! OMG aslfkjdsflkjsaggsj;

Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed my Delicious account. After I linked you to it, I sort of got stuck there myself for a few hours, rereading old favourites. *happy sigh*

[identity profile] murklins.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 11:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Also, FYI: I'm an editor for the bandom newsletter, [livejournal.com profile] dotcoms_refresh, and that means that public bandom-related posts on my f-list (like this one!) inevitably get linked there. If you ever embark on, for example, a rage-fueled rant about Pete Wentz that you'd rather not see linked around, you can ward me and my fellow editors off by putting "Please do not link this in newsletters" at the top of the post. :)

[identity profile] fragilistikal.livejournal.com 2008-09-29 11:59 pm (UTC)(link)
I found bandom to be *excellent* therapy when I was down and overworked last year. It's...so ridulous! How are they *real*? I found myself saying that a lot. :)

Tips? Look up My Chemical Romance interviews on youtube. They do great interviews--funny and earnest and greatly amusing.

[identity profile] iamtheenemy.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 12:48 am (UTC)(link)
The way that Pete talks about Patrick! And Patrick! Did you watch that MTV interview that came out recently where Patrick talks about Pete's lyrics and how Pete doesn't realize just how awesome he is? Ugh, they kill me. They'll always be my favorite. Always. Did you know that Patrick was Pete's best man, even though Pete has a brother? And how in interviews, Pete's like, "I wrote the lyrics to showcase Patrick's voice" while Patrick's like, "I wrote the music to showcase Pete's lyrics." Just...eeee!

Frank/Gerard and Ryan/Brendon are fantastic too, but my ultimate bandom OTP will always be Pete/Patrick.

[identity profile] iamtheenemy.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
Like this (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OmCNekO7gA) one? :) :) :) Baby!MCR, so precious! They like Dungeons and Dragons! And drawing Orcs!
athenejen: iAthena (Default)

[personal profile] athenejen 2008-09-30 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
There really is something strangely compelling about Pete/Patrick that makes them the perfect gateway drug. Frank/Gerard was actually my original hook in, but Pete/Patrick quickly became a secondary favorite -- there's just this distinctiveness to their interaction that infuses the fics about them...

So yes! Hooray for Pete/Patrick!

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 01:31 am (UTC)(link)
LOL! It's good to know I'm not alone.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 01:38 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you, thank you! New besmirching recs are exactly what I need. Yay!!

I just finished watching the recent MTV interview that Patrick did, and it has made me want to draw sparkly hearts around them both all over again. Oh, boys.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the links! Visuals are very, very important. And so are adorable interviews! I just watched the interview that Patrick did with MTV, and I was filled with adoration for him all over again, and he said such sweet things about Pete and his talent as a lyricist. Adorablecakes!

The NY posse hasn't really had a chance to roll their eyes at me yet, but I suspect they will. Lin was over this weekend, and I tried to get her to watch the "I Don't Care" video, but she refused. Sadly it seems I don't have your powers of persuasion!

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
My pleasure! I love your story. :)

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 01:45 am (UTC)(link)
I know, I know, but they're just so adorable. I can't HELP IT!!! *g*

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 01:48 am (UTC)(link)
Hey, cool! I'm glad I could rec something you haven't read.

Pete/Patrick is the gateway drug to all of bandom, I swear it's true...

I've heard that from so many people! And I totally, totally understand why this is true. *g*

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 01:50 am (UTC)(link)
How can I resist a fandom with lovely boys and lots and lots of fun AUs? Those are two of my favorite things!
ext_15689: art by trevor brown, a small fairy with bleeding eyes (Default)

[identity profile] ix-tab.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 01:52 am (UTC)(link)
This (http://community.livejournal.com/bandom_ships/1945.html) is an awesome Pete/Patrick primer including fic recs, pics and media, which you may enjoy.

Also, smooshy OTP stuff, which Pete/Patrick are so very good at: Better off as Lovers (http://alex-boylove.livejournal.com/12149.html) by [livejournal.com profile] alex_boylove. It's wedding fic, which I don't know how you feel about, but it's delightful.

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
Okay, when I was putting this list together, I kept thinking: I'm forgetting something, what am I forgetting? And it was "This Story's Going Somewhere." Thank you for reminding me! Because, oh my God, I loved that story so much. Young Pete just makes me ACHE. And your idea for a remix from Patrick's POV is sheer brilliance! I hope, hope, hope someone does that. I wish I were reading it right now!!

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 02:02 am (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the heads up! I didn't know that the newsletter existed, but yay, I will friend it. I was wondering how I could get the latest word on bandom. And I'll also make sure to use a disclaimer in the extremely unlikely event that I suddenly stop finding Pete Wentz utterly cute and funny and adorable. *g*

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
It really, really is therapy! Promising myself that I could read a story if I just finished what I was working on helped me get through this big project that I had going on (that I didn't want to do).

Thanks for the tip! I'll check out those interviews. Funny and earnest and greatly amusing is exactly what I'm after!

[identity profile] scribblinlenore.livejournal.com 2008-09-30 02:19 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you, thank you for bringing the MTV interview to my attention. I hadn't seen it, so I went to check it out, and eeeee! If I hadn't already adored Patrick, this would have made me fall hard. I loved his commentary on our current culture (so very true), and what he said about Pete was just so...awwww! I draw sparkly hearts all around them.

You know, I just got started in bandom, but I'm pretty sure that Pete and Patrick will always be my favorite, too.

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