Ficrecsinc II
Frank/Gerard
King And Country by tabulaxrasa: http://archiveofourown.org/works/219740
A fantastic piece from the bandom big bang, this is a huge squishy chocolate cake of a fic that hits all the right places despite being a faintly totally ridiculous premise. Basically, Gerard is the heir to the throne of a small mid-European country in the 1800’s and Frank is the ex-stable boy he falls in love with. And then Gerard’s father dies. What I like about this fic is the way that she’s not written the parts where they get together, which is where I think most writers would have started, but jumps right in with Gerard’s sudden ascent to the throne. Naturally there are some suspend-your-disbelief moments, but it’s completely adorable and frequently hot and the supporting characters are great.
Might I Have A Bit Of Earth by theopteryx: http://no-tags.livejournal.com/44420.html
If there’s anything better than an awesomely well built action packed AU where Gerard and Mikey are pirates, it’s an awesomely well built action packed AU where Gerard and Mikey are pirates IN SPACE! I really love the ‘show don’t tell’ writing style of this - you really do pick up the details of the slang and the universe as you go along, which I find very satisfying. Gerard kicks serious ass, Mikey is fabulous and Frank is kind of a jerk, but a really well written and awesome jerk. There’s also some great Mikey/Alicia, which is always good as a background pairing, and an even more fantastic sequel: http://theopteryx.livejournal.com/33725.html
Anti-Sex by cimorene: http://cimorene.net/cimorene/band/antisex.html
Bwahah. I love the set up to this - Frank has a sex dream (sex nightmare?) about Mikey, and gets all creeped out about it because obviously Frank would much rather be dreaming about Gerard. It’s non-AU, and there are some great lines that make me laugh. Mikey is fabulously laid back about events - mainly because he’s far too busy with Pete - and Frank’s POV is just awesome to read with some great turns of phrase.
Buy Handmade by jjtaylor: http://jjtaylor.livejournal.com/307825.html
This is one of those fics where you can see the plot coming from a mile away - I guarantee you’ll be able to tell what’s going to happen from about a quarter of the way in. Having said that though, I don’t care about it mainly because it’s still a very well written piece. There’s a lot to like in this fic where Frank is unsatisfied with his boring job and has dreams of doing something he loves. Fortunately he meets Mikey - and I seriously love him in this - and therefore Gerard the slightly strange artist. There are some great scenes in this that make me smile every time I read it, and all the character’s relationships are well written and wonderfully realistic.
Not So Secret Admirer by roxy-palace: http://roxy-palace.livejournal.com/66232.html
Yeah, yeah, this is one of the most clichéd fics in the universe, but by god, if you’re ever in the need for pure unadulterated schmoop and Mikey Way being generally awesome then this is the fic for you. Frank falls in love with Gerard at first sight and Mikey can see right through the pair of them. There’s some lovely writing here, and some brilliant lines - Gerard’s ramblings are especially fun to read. Basically, if you have five minutes and just want to feel better about life in general, this is the fic you should read.
Wrock Band by zarathuse: http://zarathuse.livejournal.com/50269.html
Hilariously ridiculous semi-AU where Gerard realises his ambition to become the world’s biggest Wizard Rock band. Yes, he’s been inspired by the Harry Potter books and nothing’s going to stop him! Bwahah. Seriously though, I especially like Frank’s POV in this, and the way that he makes it clear that even though he’s not quite as obsessed with Gerard’s idea as Gerard is, he’s willing to go along with it simply because it makes him happy. The fic does a good job of following the band’s IRL timeline and there are some great little HP fandom references scattered throughout the fic.
Pete/Patrick
Patrick Stump Emergency Procedure (capitals obligatory) by mistresskat: http://archiveofourown.org/works/92519
A wonderfully fresh non-AU fic about the things Patrick does when Pete takes things one step too far. Written in a brilliantly original style that works perfectly with the plotline, with an ending that’s just totally adorable. I love Patrick in this - his thought processes are just spot on, and I always get the feeling that (ending aside) this could be a pretty realistic interpretation of their IRL relationship where Pete is an irritating - but lovable asshole - and Patrick finally cracks.
Hope He Is A Gentleman by dancinbutterfly: http://dancinbutterfly.livejournal.com/361371.html
Unique AU fic where Pete never continued with his musical career but concentrated on designing clothes. Bill Beckett invites Pete (along with Ryan the bitchy sales clerk) to join him backstage at a Patrick Stump concert. You really get the impression that Pete has been partway in love with Patrick for years in this fic, and it’s something that could really last. Weirdly, the only porn that happens is between Ryan and Bob Bryar from My Chem, but really, there doesn’t NEED to be anything more between Pete and Patrick for the story - and their relationship - to be well developed and immensely satisfying.
This Love Is Not Obedient by flash_indie: http://flash-indie.livejournal.com/26071.html
For a fic with four chapters, I’m always surprised to remember how much very little actually happens in this. (If that makes sense…) This is a Good Thing though, because it’s perfect just the way it is. Written in a wonderfully empty style, Patrick spends his working life hiding under his desk and thinking deep thoughts about things that happen around him - and occasionally about the shirtless mechanic that he works with. With bonus Ryan/Brendon and some superb lines, this is one of those dreamy fics that tend to stay with you long after you’ve finished it.
There and Gone by ladyfoxxx: http://archiveofourown.org/works/168139
This… this is one of those fics that manages to be horrendously clichéd, yet completely original at precisely the same time - and yes, I’m aware that that doesn’t make much sense. Basically, Pete the super spy seduces TopSecretScientist!Patrick for nefarious purposes but accidentally falls in lurve with him along the way. It’s totally adorable and fabulously hot and the ending always makes me smile. Read it twice in the same sitting - it’s totally one of those fics that gets better on the second go-round.
Panic! Fic
Let Each Who Is Worthy by moku-youbi: http://moku-youbi.livejournal.com/33219.html
A Not-Quite-Totally-AU fic that runs with the idea that Brendon never joined Panic! and instead went along with his parents wishes. He therefore ends up (in true a true it-could-only-happen-in-fanfic way) on his Mormon mission in Chicago and living in the flat underneath Ryan and Spencer. This is another fic that truly tugs at your heartstrings as you get the feeling that the universe is simply trying to correct itself by bringing the band together. I love Brendon’s emotional journey throughout this fic, and it never gets too… judgemental - which some fics can do when dealing with Brendon’s religion - as it finally, and inexorably reaches it’s adorable gsf conclusion.
Miguel Sanchez's Grand Slam of Love by arctic_grey: http://beggarsnotes.livejournal.com/71203.html
Two words for you: Tennis AU. Brendon and Ryan are both international tennis players who fall in love. That’s pretty much most of the plotline right there, with a little bit of pining and Ryan being bitchy. I know nothing about tennis, but you don’t really need to know much beyond the basics to get into the fic. There are some great cameos from both people in bandom and actual tennis players, and I especially like the way she hasn’t wimped out on the ending. The characterisation of both Ryan and Brendon is well written and very consistent - I get the feeling that I know what they’re both going to do or say about a situation before I read it.
You Can Sit Beside Me When The World Comes Down by sunsetmog: http://sunsetmog-fics.livejournal.com/43459.html
Following on from Brendon and Ryan the tennis players, I give you Spencer the high school rugby player… Very satisfying HS!AU with a Spencer/Brendon main pairing, but mainly I’m reccing this for her version of Spencer. He’s absolutely fantastically well written, with some amazing lines and a wonderful sense of total self confidence that sometimes causes him to act like a complete tool, but mostly just works so well that he practically leaps off the page. I adore his relationships with his family, Ryan and Brendon and this is honestly one of the best works of characterisation in the fandom
But You Can’t Be Missed by eleanor_lavish: http://ink-like-blood.livejournal.com/23754.html
I generally like Movie!AU’s, but sometimes they can be disappointing because I prefer them to bring something new to the storyline rather than being a straight re-write of the script with only the names changed. Fortunately this is one of the ones that works really well. It’s a Panic! version of the 80’s film ‘Flight of the Navigator’ where Brendon vanishes without trace while the boys are in the cabin. No time passes for him, but for everyone else eight years go by before he reappears. The pairing is Brendon/Spencer, and she’s done a wonderful job in capturing the relationship between the two of them and the ‘history’ that Brendon misses is nicely realistic for the original set-up. Also, massive bonus points for the Gabe cameo.
Flux by fiddleyoumust: http://bandomstuffsit.livejournal.com/7941.html
Who doesn’t like a faintly ‘Time Traveller’s Wife’ type fic? (Don’t even pretend - I KNOW you do!) There are several of those floating about in bandom, and several are awesome... I especially like the one where several Gerards turn up to do the nasty with Frank and each other… But, ahem, this is adorable for the fact that it’s not just a massive excuse for just porn. Brendon is the one that timetravels, and he meets Spencer at several points during his life. The actual time travel is slightly wonky, since Brendon… Uh, maybe I shouldn’t give it away… Whatever - It’s well written and interesting and hot and I like the characters. And it’s short enough that you don’t get bored.
Everyone else:
Sound Tracking by turps: http://archiveofourown.org/works/178227
Sort-of Gen fic, with implied Frank/Mikey and okay-maybe-if-you-squint Bob/Gerard. Also totally AU. By which I mean it’s set in space. Personally, I like to think of this as the ‘what happened at the end of the Desolation Row video’ fic, but I don’t actually think it’s supposed to be... Eh. Lovely set up to this - Bob is a lonely space pilot who can hear the rhythms of the universe and has been flying solo since his old crew died. He finds Gerard hiding out on a planet where music is illegal and together they head off to find the rest of the band. I am apparently a giant sucker for space!AU, and this one is awesome. I adore Bob in this - who really doesn’t get enough love in fics sometimes.
Tick, Tick, Boom by airgiodslv: http://no-tags.livejournal.com/21046.html
An adorably ridiculous Gabe/Bill preslash AU that takes the idea of McGuyver and applies it to bandom. I love this fic for the interplay between Gabe and Bill, both of whom spend this fic kicking ass and taking names. You get the feeling that the author has done at least SOME research for this. In a better world, this fic would be the pilot episode to a action-packed comedy drama that I would watch religiously every week… but unfortunately, the universe doesn’t work that way, so it’s a wonderfully easy to read, short piece of RPS fanfic that makes you want to email the author and demand the rest of the series.