Archive:
Cover-Up

Very cute and sweet. Just perfect. ♥

Archive:
Prickly Pear

OMG, this was amazing. I love the feel in this fic and Ryan’s characterization and how comfortable Ryan and Brendon were with each other. There were so many hilarious moments, like wanting to call Shane to ask the time, LOL, or Brendon going splat, and just everything about Ryan kind of going over everything in his stoned mind. XP And Ryan thinking about asking Jon why his cable isn’t working is too amazing, seriously. XD Also, hot 69-ing! And the last line!!! Oh boys, they are too precious!

Archive:
The Genetic Predisposition to Love

I love how the society in this fic was developed, how everyone is so cinical about sexual orientation and having to apply to be in a relationship. A part of me kind of cringes at the idea of government dictating such a personal aspect of life, but it’s an amazing idea to explore.

I love the reactionsand the subtle devestation to the results, because it was hard and oh, my heart clenched (even though I knew what was coming). And then there was Ryan and Brendon and they were wonderful.

He sees Jon in the line of a model’s shoulder, in the way a man’s fingers are wrapped around another’s arm, a cock, the strong, stable planes of a back, and he wants so much that he’s dizzy from it, and irrevocably smitten. He wonders if it hit Ryan like this too, this overwhelming tsunami of desire and affection and love, and then thinks of Brendon and guesses it probably did.

This was wonderful. ♥

Archive:
Home on the Range

OMG THIS FIC! I kind of LOL’d because it’s just so ridiculous yet awesome. XD Loved cowboy!Ryan and not-a-cowboy!Brendon and their epic love, hahahah.

Brendon Urie lived on a farm with only one milk cow, and said farm was kind of in the way of the cattle herding Ryan got up to all the time, and every now and then Brendon would feed him beans and give him milk from that one milk cow (despite the fact that Ryan had many cows available to him on a cattle drive).

Brendon, you are so cute! Beans and milk — it is so random, yet awesome! And then cowboy!Jon! Oh, he is as useful as Spencer! XDDD And then this little exchange between Ryan and Brendon….

“Don’t sleep with Jon Walker,” Brendon said.

“I won’t.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

It kind of made me smile because Brendon, you big dork! XD

Archive:
01 | 02

This fic is ridiculous — I APPROVE SO HARD! XD Just everything about this is 100% amazing, LOL. And, okay, I’m a sucker for high school boy-pretending-to-be-a-girl fics, so this kind of kills me in the best way. XD Love Ryan being pretentious in the beginning and his awesome idea and Spencer, going along with it (because Ryan is a freak but his best friend, obviously) and getting to know dorky Brendon and crushing and OMG sexual identity crisis! And all the supporting characters! Ashlee! Vicky-T! BOB! There is too much awesome here! Seriously, love this.

Archive:
Oh Doctor Doctor

Seriously, how can you deny this fic after that summary? XD But yes, I am kind of a sucker for pining!fics and Brendon is totally pining in this for Ryan and I kind of love it. XP

Despite all that, Brendon never really got around to falling out of love with Ryan. It wasn’t as though he had any amazing love affairs waiting for him to just notice them, and anyway, Brendon thought that Ryan was pretty amazing all on his own, in a hopeless, never-going-to-happen kind of way. He had a feeling that falling out of love with Ryan might be considerably harder than falling in love with him. Brendon was content to pine from afar.

Oh Brendon!

I loved Brendon with Lucy and him getting attached to his patients because I could totally see that happening. And gosh, poor Brendon trying so hard with Ryan and Ryan just being totally oblivious and douche-y. =(

He moved to the couch in sweatpants minus underwear and an old t-shirt with his dinner, and flicked around until he found an old episode of House. Spencer sometimes wondered in disbelief how Brendon could bear to work all day in a hospital and then go home and watch TV about working all day in a hospital, but Brendon liked the humour of it, and a little bit of the glamour. When people died, a sad song played and then the credits rolled. Besides, Hugh Laurie was awesome. He did not remind Brendon of anyone, Jon was a filthy rotten liar.

I really liked this for some reason, LOL. It’s just kind of cute. XP

And then there was Ryan at his door and he just couldn’t resist because it was Ryan and he’s been in love for six years and I just felt so bad because you know that something had to have happened. =(

Brendon kneeled in the middle of the bed, and Ryan crawled towards him, face shadowed in the dim light. “Hi,” Brendon whispered. Ryan gave him a confused look and Brendon flushed red and leaned in so as to sweep past that particular moment.

Poor awkward baby. =( Then the shoe dropped afterwards when Spencer called and oh. And then the next morning — GAH! MY HEART!

“I haven’t slept,” Spencer declared, with no small amount of pride, “in thirty hours.”

Not really relevant to anything except it reminds me of college and how people are so proud of all-nighters — at least in architecture they are, haha. XP

But anyway.. Ryan is so cute with his little gifts and it kind of makes up for his overall douche-ness because it’s just so sweet. XD

Ridiculous and weird as it was, Brendon had kind of gotten used to the hot chocolate that he liked best appearing magically around the place. Generally it was left in his office, but sometimes he’d find one on the main desk in the clinic when he emerged from one of the examination rooms, a post-it note with For Brendon neatly attached to it. Less frequently, two or three times a week, there would be meals, too, always vegetarian, always hot, always yummy. Once, there was a refill of jellybeans for the jar that sat on his desk. Brendon had only just noticed that he was almost out.

“I don’t know whether to be creeped out or charmed,” Brendon told Jon in the cafeteria line one day. “I mean, it is pretty weird. They know all my orders.”

“Stalking is the highest form of flattery?” Jon suggested, and Brendon laughed.

“Could be,” he agreed, and then said, “It’s sort of stupid to get a crush on someone you don’t even know, right?”

Oh stalker!Ryan… *heart*

Hello, dickface (Ryan), he wrote. This is a non-anonymous note from me, Brendon (Boyd) Urie. I like you, too. If you are interested, I’m free on Friday (tomorrow) night. A date would be nice. Here is my cellphone number. After a moment’s consideration, Brendon added his address, too, and his email address. It was the least anonymous note ever. He was pretty proud of it.

Best note EVER, lol. But I was kind of thinking, he put his address when Ryan already knows it, obviously, haha. But it was meant to be non-anonymous, so I guess it’s okay. XP

Such an awesome fic. *heart*

Archive:
And Some You Do For
Coda #1: Wager All
Coda #2: Will Be King
Coda #3: Baby’s First Earthquake
Coda #4: Hazards of Love
A Clover Bed

OMG THIS FIC SO AWESOME! I love Ryan’s shop and the “No Crickets Allowed” sign and how Ryan is just so weird and absentminded and charming. *heart*

“Hey,” he said. “I haven’t got anything planned tomorrow.”

Ryan looked up. “Yeah?” he said, and smiled. “You could come around again, if you wanted.”

“Are you open on Sundays?” Brendon asked.

Ryan’s smile got bigger. “You can come around,” he said, “whenever you want.”

Seriously? My heart kind of melted!

It was unfair to be angry, Brendon knew, scuffing his foot along the ground. It was unfair, and not very friendly of him, and he should be glad that people were being nice to Ryan. It was just – it had been good, Brendon thought, to have someone who met his gaze, looked at rather than past him. Brendon had almost forgotten how nice it was to have someone to hang out with, and it was almost certainly coming to a close now. It was only a matter of time before somebody told Ryan about Brendon, and once they did, he would be on his own again. Jon was ridiculously well-liked around the town, Brendon knew, though he’d never really spoken to Jon himself; probably he would soon be deemed a much more suitable friend for Ryan than Brendon could ever hope to be. Brendon wouldn’t mind so much except it hurt to know that Ryan might end up thinking it, too.

Oh Brendon, you break my heart! GAH!

“Um,” Brendon said, staring. “Dude, what are you doing?”

“I forgot to have breakfast,” Ryan said, sadly. “I’m having this for lunch.”

Brendon blinked at him. “Ryan, we ate dinner, like, fifteen minutes ago.”

Seriously, this part was kind of amazing, I don’t even know why. XP

Occasionally, Spencer Smith would wait outside for him, peering in curiously when he thought Brendon and Ryan weren’t looking. One day, Ryan confessed, “I think I might have scared him off.”

“How?” It was a lazy kind of afternoon, both of them sprawled out on the floor of the shop. Ryan was making the dust motes form clouds and dance Swan Lake in a distracted sort of way.

“I.” Ryan turned a little pink, and Brendon propped himself up on his elbows to study Ryan’s embarrassed face all the better with delighted disbelief. “I think I started talking about unicorns. I forgot that I wasn’t… that this is Thornton Hill.”

“And that that was Spencer Smith,” Brendon said, and cackled. “Dude, I – his mom and my mom used to be friends, he totally used to come around to my house when we were kids? He’s like, the most down-to-earth dude ever. He told me – when we were four – that Santa Claus didn’t exist. It was pretty traumatic.”

It’s kind of weird that Ryan and Spencer don’t know each other, lol.

“Don’t you need, um… to give notice?” Ryan looked anxious. “I saw a documentary, once.”

“I work at a smoothie café, Ryan,” Brendon said. “I think they’ll deal.” He stopped, mind catching up properly, and stared, bemused. “Wait, you saw a documentary about quitting your job?”

“It was nice,” Ryan said earnestly. “The boss and the girl fell in love at the end. It was a bit weird, but sweet.”

Brendon blinked. “Ryan?” he attempted, the sick feeling in his stomach dissipating and giving way to glee. “Did this documentary happen to be called Two Week’s Notice?”

“Yeah!” Ryan beamed. “Have you seen it, too?”

“Oh my God,” Brendon said, “Hugh Grant would be so proud,” and promptly burst into laughter.

OH GOSH, RYAN ROSS! You slay me! XD

Okay, I think I really need to stop with the C&P. But yeah, this is pretty awesome, even if it gets a little hurt-y in the middle (but you know you were expecting it, haha).

Also, don’t forget to read the Codas to the fic (all in that comm) — they are awesome, even the sad #4 one. =(

The best one, though, is A Clover Bed because OMG CUTENESS MUCH?! I love the apple blossom and the hand and the kiss and OMG WHAT! And Ryan was so happy and Brendon didn’t know why, and he introduced Brendon to the trees, and then GAH! ANGST! But it ended perfectly — I love it so! *heart*

Archive:
For Other Meanings Of Tsunami

O.M.G! THIS FIC! Seriously, it kills me with it’s awesomeness! I absolutely LOVE Brendon’s voice in this — he’s just so dorky and his mind is all ramble-y and it’s just awesome.

He stopped blowing kisses and noticed that the others were staring at him. Well, Spencer and Ryan were; Jon was drawing lopsided little hearts and squiggly little cats into the margins of the notebook.

Spencer and Ryan exchanged those serious, lengthy glances that they used when other people, normal people, actually had a conversation, and then Ryan said slowly “That’s – that’s actually a good idea, considering.”

“Yeah,” Spencer said, “they’ll love it, and it’ll cost less than hiring a matador.”

“What?” Brendon demanded, “love what?”

“G-A-Y,” Jon scribbled down obediently, and added with a flourish of sharpie, “KISSING!!!”

Oh boys! What dorks! XD

And then there was Brendon being “confused” and wanting to make out with Ryan and being following Ryan around all the time and being super obvious and seriously, CUTE (YET DORKY) MUCH?! XD

I loved the boyscout!Jon conversation with the switchblade and “I’ll cut you, bitch” and Brendon asking around for advice (William! Pete’s text!) and super awkward and bad first kisses and how their together time just keeps getting interrupted, lol. And OMG, don’t even forget about the RESTROOM SCENE AT THE GAS STATION! SERIOUSLY, I WAS DYING WHEN BRENDON THREW OUT HIS NECK! OMG, WHAT! Seriously, it was 1:30 in the MORNING and I was trying not to burst out laughing! And the second attempt! OMG!

“Oh my god,” Brendon splutters, “Oh fuck, oh god, that’s disgusting, oh my god!” He frantically paws at his face. “This is the vilest taste that has ever been in my mouth!”

Ryan stares down at him. “I think that’s like the worst thing you could possibly say. In this situation. Ever.”

“Oh god,” Brendon continues, “I think you got some in myeye. Oh god, it stings. I’m going to go blind – ”

Ryan continues to stare as Brendon scrambles into the bathroom, where the sounds of frantic gargling and “my eyes, oh god, my burning eyes!” float out clear and distinct even over the white noise of running water.

Oh Brendon, you total MODE-KILLER! But yeah, seriously, you would think the amount of secondhand embarrassment in this fic would throw me off, but it totally doesn’t, lol.

And then there was how absolutely dense Brendon was. Seriously, he just came off as so douche-ish because obviously Ryan is in love with him and he just didn’t get it and I felt bad for Ryan because Brendon was just so SLOW. At least it was a happy ending. XP

Archive:
Every Night You Stray

OMG, THIS FIC! I was trying not to laugh SO MUCH and I was grinning the whole time because Ryan Ross, you are such a creeper! XD Seriously, I was having secondhand embarrassment for him the whole time, but it was just so hilarious. *heart* I love pining!Ryan and his ridiculously creepy plan to get between the Jon/Brendon-ness, haha.

Spencer blinked at him. “Okay,” he said, carefully. “Can you explain exactly how this makes sense in your crazy little head without using the phrase ‘I found him first’?”

“Yes!” Ryan said indignantly.

There was a long pause.

“Well, go on, then,” Spencer said.

Ryan let out an explosive breath, folded his arms, tapped his foot, and glared at Spencer. Then he said, “I found him first!” and stormed out of the room.

OH RYAN! I love Ryan’s cunning plan and his lurring Jon into a false sense of security and the creepy staring because obviously it’s a good idea! XD

You can’t kick Jon out of his bunk,” which was how Ryan found himself listening like a creep for Jon to start snoring. Then he pushed the curtain aside and carefully manoeuvred himself through until he could sit cross-legged on Jon’s feet and make sure that nothing untoward took place.

Later, he would admit that he possibly hadn’t thought the plan out properly, as after about an hour Jon blinked his eyes open, smiled sleepily at Ryan, and then let out a most unmanly shriek, sitting bolt upright and banging his head against the bottom of Brendon’s bunk. Spencer yelled, groggily and seemingly automatic, “Shut up!” and Brendon mumbled something in his sleep. Jon stared at Ryan with wide, terrified eyes.

“Oh my God,” he said. “Oh my God, what are you doing?”

“Um,” Ryan said, and wondered whether watching you sleep was a better or worse answer than making sure you don’t have sex with Brendon.

“You know what, I don’t even want to know,” Jon whispered. “You stay here, you creepy fuck, I’m going to go sleep in your bunk. And if you follow me again, I swear to God, I’ll burn my contract tomorrow.”

OMG, BEST PART EVER! Seriously, seriously, I kind of DIED OF LAUGHTER when I read this part! Oh Ryan, you are such a CREEP, I LOVE IT. XP

Ryan had given up on trying to be subtle. The time for indirect action was past (Spencer would probably argue that Ryan had never been great at the whole indirect action thing, but Spencer was a traitor to the cause and should not be listened to). Ryan sat with his knees pulled up to his chest and his back against the wall and didn’t even pretend to be reading his book. Instead, he watched Jon play Nintendo DS on the sofa, Brendon dozing lightly on Jon’s shoulder. Jon had a kind of strained look about him that made Ryan sure he was more than aware of Ryan’s stare. Ryan tried to be objective about his mission and not enjoy himself too much.

Such creepiness!

Unfortunately, Spencer was beginning to lose his patience as well. One morning, he caught Ryan hovering outside the bathroom humming Every Breath You Take by The Police while Jon shaved inside, and made a somewhat frightening face. Enough was, apparently, enough.

“That’s it,” Spencer said, and, grabbing his arm, dragged him into the lounge, slamming the door behind him. Ryan blinked at him, but Spencer put his hands on his hips and said, voice low and dangerous, “That is it, Ryan Ross.”

“What?” Ryan asked innocently. “I’m just following the plan!”

“The plan,” Spencer said, from between gritted teeth, “if you can call it that, and I think the Delusional Actions of a Madman might be more appropriate—”

Seriouly Ryan, you are so obvious with your creepiness!

“You are a really creepy guy, you know,” Jon said, and Ryan nodded and tried not to sniff Jon’s shoulder too obviously. Jon still smelled really awesome, but Ryan had a feeling that commenting on that would also feel under the ‘really creepy’ category, and that he should avoid that for a while rather than invoke some more of Spencer’s wrath.

“Oh my God,” Brendon said from the doorway. “Oh my God, Spence, are you seeing this?”

“Ryan gave Jon a hug,” Spencer said solemnly. “He must be in love with him!”

“I’m heartbroken,” Brendon said. “I guess I’ll go watch Jon sleep until I feel better.”

Best ending ever! *heart*

Archive:
So It Seems I’m Someone

Oh, I really like Ryan in this — how he’s grown up and more secure in himself and finally noticing Brendon. It’s just so cute and the flirting, gah! And when they finally kissed for real, it was so sweet and the teasing in between kisses was so cute and I loved it. *heart*

[May 22, 2011]: Updated the link to the fic.

Archive:
Like This

Oh, this fic breaks my heart, but it does it so subtly. =( It’s so hard because it’s told in Spencer’s POV and everything is so limited to what he knows, and really, all the telling conversations aren’t happening with Spencer there. It was such a rude awakening for Spencer to find out about Ryan-and-Brendon and knowing that it’s been going on for so long, and how he’s been in love with Brendon forever and my heart just went oh. And when Ryan said that Brendon was pretty good at not letting it affect the band or whatever, I didn’t even know what to think. And like, it wasn’t central to the story, but when Spencer said that Brendon was his best friend? I kind of died a little inside because I hate that Ryan and Spencer aren’t BFFs. =( I mean, I’m still kind of sad about breaking up with my BFF in elementary school, but it’s just so easy for a big misunderstanding to break up best friends — and you know, it’s always hurt-y and both parties are just generally pissed forever and ever at the other (yes, I admit I totally am still even though I’m sad about it as well) and to think that Ryan and Spencer aren’t best friends anymore kind of kills me. =((((

But yeah, when Spencer kissed Brendon and Brendon had an “Oh” moment and I was a little scared, but happy for Spencer. And then there was the whole Ryan outburst and I didn’t know what to think and the next day.. And them putting Ryan to bed and I wanted to know what Ryan and Brendon were saying, but we just didn’t know, and the morning after.. My heart, oh my heart. =( The open ending kind of kills me because GAHH! =(

Archive:
The Rift in the Lute

This fic is awesome. I loved indie!Ryan with his coffee snobbiness and Jon being the enemy and his relationship with Spencer, haha. And then there was Brendon and he was just so precious. XD And OMG Soylopp Goloppa is seriously the best band ever, I totally wish it existed just so I could watch that awesomeness. XP Also, Spencer’s unicorn make-out shirt? MADE OF WIN, just saying.

Archive:
Let The Good Times Roll

I love this, absolutely love it! I love Brendon stalking the Starbucks just to see “iPod Guy” and trying to figure out a way to talk to him but he can’t because he’s always on his iPod! And then they run into each other, literally, and exchange names and seriously, they are stalking each other! GAH!

And gosh, when Ryan stood Brendon up, I felt kind of bad for him, but that boy is persistant!

And he’s bouncing off his chair with his Hello, I Am Cool But Not Crazy grin firmly in place and is wildly grateful for a moment that he has never been that self-conscious. Ryan’s cheeks are pink again, but he turns his iPod off and smiles shyly in return and Brendon wants to laugh for no particular reason other than Ryan is really, really cute when he’s embarrassed.

“Hi,” he says breathlessly, “Hihihi, you stood me up.”

“I bought you your drink,” Ryan says quietly, looking at the floor.

“You did not fulfil the connected implication that you’d be there while I drank it,” Brendon informs him. “And that means I get to buy you a drink and you have to put up with me for, like, at least half an hour.”

“Put up with you?” Ryan says, looking a little dazzled.

“Hi,” Brendon says again, “I’m Brendon. I like The Little Mermaid almost but not quite better than Fall Out Boy. What d’you want to drink?”

Seriously, so cute!

And, okay, I kind of love this line:

Slowly, Brendon manages to trick Ryan into doing practically everything with him, without Ryan actually really noticing at all.

Oh Brendon, tricking Ryan? Really? That dork! XD And stealing Ryan’s key to make a copy? GAH! Seriously, SUCH A FREAK! XP

I love that both Spencer and Jon take college seriously because nerds are my favorite, it’s true. And Jon/Spencer? Totally my P!ATD OTP like whoa! *heart*

And, okay, this might actually be my favorite part (though it’s hard to say b/c so much awesome to be had here!):

After a week and a half of wondering whether he’s being too much of an asshole, of staring at his phone debating whether to call Ryan or not, and covering his ears with his hands whenever Jon tries to talk to him about it chanting, “you’re ruining the plan, you’re ruining the plan”, (and waking Jon up at odd hours of the night whispering “are you sure Spence doesn’t have a key for here? are you? he’ll kill me, Jon, you’re sure?”) Brendon decides it should be safe to venture outside for a while.

Gosh Brendon, you’re a FREAK! But I love it anyway and this fic is just too cute and fluffy and perfect. XD

“I left my book in here,” Ryan Ross said, hanging in the doorway, eyes huge and fixed on Brendon. “Um. Before lunch.”

“Of course you did,” Brendon said. Probably Ryan left stacks of personal belongings all around the school, just ready to be picked up as soon as Brendon was doing something particularly embarrassing in the vicinity.

Archive:
All Along

Oh god, this is seriously the CUTEST FIC EVER, I’m not even kidding. GAH! I just love it to bits, OMG. *heart* Like, the first sentence, it totally killed with it’s awesome. Observe:

“I don’t know if I can actually handle being in the same room as Ryan Ross,” Brendon said, fluttering his eyelashes at Spencer. “I mean, won’t I spontaneously combust from his aura of sheer genius? What if he blinks at me and I immediately turn into a beam of light just to highlight his perfect hair?”

And, of course it just gets better from there. XP

Poor Brendon, keeps getting caught looking like a total dork by Ryan, LOL. I totally had secondhand embarrassment for him, lol. Usually that kind of squicks me, but this was just so cute and fluffy that it barely phased me — that is just how awesome it is. XD

I loved nerd!Spencer with his googles and general awesomeness because seriously, Spencer Smith is just awesome. And, okay, Brendon stealing magnesium strips and stashing them in his briefs? WIN. Ryan catching him in the act? DOUBLE WIN. This seriously has to be one of the best snippets:

“Um,” Ryan said. His eyes darted down to Brendon’s exposed strip of skin. “You have—”

Brendon waited. If Ryan was going to be that condescending, he was actually going to have to say magnesium in your pants. Brendon wasn’t helping him out.

“… never mind,” Ryan said weakly.

I love how Brendon catches the conversation between Ryan and Jon, lol. Payback for all the embarrassment that Brendon had to go through. XP I love that Ryan has been stalking Brendon because OMG, seriously?! I just want to squish these boys, LOL. And yeah, they are both just total freaks, OMG. Love it so much! Best last line EVER, no lie. *heartheartheart*

Archive:
Strictly Business

So at first I was gonna skip reading this fic because I wasn’t sure about the summary, but then I realized that I was gonna skip a Zarah fic when I like basically everything else I’ve read from her?! And so I read, haha, and yeah. Awesome, as always. XP I loved how the fic begins and the initial interest. Then, finding out that Brendon was a Urie and coming up with his stupid plan, and Jon and Spencer going along even though they knew it wouldn’t end well. =/ And, okay, in these kinds of fics, you already know that the shit will hit the fan eventually and you go through the fic wondering, is this it, is this the moment, and that never really goes away when you’re reading, lol. And of course Ryan falls for Brendon, and of course Ryan is in denial at first, and I knew when it was about to come and GAH! It wasn’t as hurt-y for me as usual, but I think it was because I was expecting it another way (seriously, half the time these types of stories have the big reveal b/c they were interrupted during a hot make-out at on the desk! And yeah, I was totally expecting that at first, lol), but it was still hurt-y and I just felt for both of them! GAH! But I’m actually happy with the ending, so there is that. XP

So basically, I kind of loved the way Brendon and Ryan fell for each other, and I totally love the Spencer/Shane happening in the background because that was just too cute for words. XP That Spencer text message at the airport? Totally one of my favorite parts, HAHAHAHA. XP And Ryan, that romantic with the trip to Paris? SO AWESOME. And the draft of the song? Kinda killed me, haha. So much greatness… *heart*

Archive:
Full Circle

I really liked the feel of this fic — the implied past relationship and both Ryan and Brendon still wanting and, you know, getting together to try again. There’s something so nice about them growing up and figuring out how to make things work the second time around. And the boat ride and the total fluff of this is just wonderful. Sometimes we need that fluff, you know? XP

Archive:
Crucial Differences Between Movement Supporters

I really really love this fic. I think I’ve read it a bazillion times — I love that it’s Ryan/Brendon-ish, but that it doesn’t really take over the story and reads, for the most part, as gen with just some hint of Ryan/Brendon. I just love the flow of the story, how the the interview parts are woven into the narrative of the story. I really love Ryan in this — he was just perfect.

I love Brendon and Jon arguing about the direction of water flushing down the toilet in the beginning, lol, and how they immediately go check once they land. And the spouting of random Exxon Mobil facts! And the rhyming scene is awesome too.

“Oh.” Brendon stretches, props himself on an elbow to look down the narrow hall toward the front of the bus and then drop his head back to check behind him. “How about ‘claw’? Raw? Paw, chainsaw, coleslaw, outlaw, grandma, bylaw.”

“Coleslaw,” Ryan repeats, skeptical.

“That’s right,” Brendon says. He pinches Ryan’s thigh and his hand ends up staying there. “That’s right, I said it. I stand by it.”

Seriously, so cute. I kind of want to quote, like, everything because it was all so amazing, but I’ll try and limit myself. XP

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

“Yis. Tho mucth,” Brendon mumbles around a mouthful of cream and spongy cake. He says, “Mm. Hab thum,” and turns the unbitten side to Ryan, who dodges the pastry at first before finally giving in once he realizes that Brendon won’t quit. He manages to catch Ryan awkwardly, and the cream smears on his mouth. Brendon laughs and pops the rest of the twinkie in his own mouth, chewing happily.

Ryan swallows, says, “I always forget how sweet these are.”

Brendon says, “Dude, let me — I accidently creamed on your face,” and hovers closer, giggling at his own joke.

Ryan turns his head, trying to simultaneously lick the cream from his lips and drag his knuckles across his cheek. “I got it.”

“You act like I was about to kiss you,” Brendon says, stopping short.

“No, you were probably about to lick my face to be gross and freak me out.”

Brendon takes a bite of his second twinkie. He tucks in against his cheek to say, “I was just gonna wipe it. I have a moist towelette,” and actually produces said packet for Ryan anyway. “See?”

Oh Brendon, you’re such a dork. *heart*

I really liked this:

People like him make a fucking living off of screwing things up and writing about them afterwards. They never see anything coming. That’s part of the point. Hindsight is twenty-twenty and a platinum record.

Because, really, it’s kind of true, right?

And then track five, at the laundromat? Awesome!

“Screw you guys. I hate you all,” and the thing about Brendon is he still sometimes crosses his forearms in an X over his crotch when he tells them to suck it.

People on the crew call him ‘tumble dry’ for three days straight. They call him static cling, spin cycle, and lint trap. Right before a soundcheck, Ryan just calls him, “Brendon.”

Oh gosh, suck it, LOL. And calling him names! XDDDD

One of my absolute favorite parts has to be the interview during track seven:

“And obviously some things are different this time around. ‘Cause we know that earlier this year, you got rid of your first bassist, Brent. I’m sure most people have heard the story by now, but for those who may not know, what happened with that?”

He thumbs the button on his front pocket when the microphone tips toward him. Barely opening his mouth, Ryan says, “Um.”

Brendon leans his way and asks, “Did you know that two members of Supreme Court went to GMU, whose Law and Economics Center has received something like $180,000 from Exxon Mobil?”

The interviewer laughs. No, that’s news to him. He looks down at his pad of paper and tries again. “But were there lawsuits? I mean, you made some accusations — you said, wow, that he didn’t play any of the bass parts on the record, right?”

Jon puts down his water, nodding. He says, “Oh, yeah, Brendon’s right. And, I swear, it’s people like Dixy Lee Ray who have us thinking greenhouse gases don’t need our immediate attention.”

“And Spencer,” the interviewer says, turning to him now without rolling his eyes at the rest of them. “You were quoted as saying the difference between Jon and Brent is — I have here — ‘musical talent.’”

“Oh, uh,” Spencer says and glances at the rest of them for a second. He looks entirely serious when he turns back, and he folds his hands over the arm of the couch. “Well, you know, Brent didn’t believe in global-warming. And Jon’s just — ”

Ryan cuts in, adding, “Yeah, Jon learned how to fuel cars with diesel vegetable oil from, um, Carey Hart.”

OH GOSH, I love it so much, just the idea of them answering that interview question like that! Especially Spencer’s comment, OMG, because obviously, obviously they just can’t stay with someone who doesn’t believe in the seriousness of global warming! Really!

But my absolute FAVORITE part is track nine!

Sticking out his tongue quickly, Brendon still says, “I’m Brendon,” holding a hand to his chest, and then moving it to Ryan’s shoulder. “And this is Ryan.” His fingers are still cold. “And we are going on record — video record — to say that Gabe Saporta is abusive, and he plays dirty.”

Seriously, this is just amazing! I could just imagine how this would have went, lol, Ryan with his monotone-y voice and Brendon with total excitement and Spencer behind the camera, haha.

“He pulls me down,” Ryan corrects. “Like, he tackled me. And I have,” Ryan holds up his left arm, stepping a little nearer to the camera to show off the red scratch tracked along his forearm, “I have this now. My side hit the ground kind of hard, I think I twisted my ankle.”

“Poor guy. You want me to make it better?” Brendon says, and Ryan just turns toward him, so he can kiss the scratch without missing a beat.

What is this cuteness? WHAT? XD

“Officially. There’s gonna be a rumble.” Brendon points at the camera. “We’re coming for you, Cobra Starship. Watch out.”

Ryan says, “But Gabe’s mine. I’m gonna get him. With my, uh, secret karate chop action.”

Brendon makes a chopping move at the camera, and then turns his face up to Ryan’s. “You have karate chop action?”

Ryan nods. Completely straight-faced, he admits, “It’s almost as good as my running, actually.”

Laughing, Brendon says, “Okay, you have to teach me.”

“It’s a secret, Brendon.” Ryan holds a finger to his lips. “If I showed you, I’d have to kill you.”

“Oh.” Brendon’s eyes go wide.

Ryan nods again. “Yeah. I’m a little intense.”

Spencer flips the camera around to show himself. He pretends to slit his throat with his finger, and then closes the camera.

I don’t even know what to say because of all this amazing. XD

And then track ten? Perfect. *heart*

Archive:
Just A Teenage Douchebag, Baby

OMG THIS FIC! Oh, the Ryan in this, how he’s just so self-absorbed and asshole-ish, but gosh, I still liked him anyway! I loved him deciding to have a Good Day because of what Spencer said, lol.

“Oh,” he said. “I knew you were going to get all thingy about this—”

“I’m not thingy,” Ryan told him, voice low and dangerous. “I’m in a good mood. See?” He smiled deliberately, baring his teeth.

Seriously, the Ryan, Jon, Spencer dynamic in this is awesome, lol. XP

AND, OH GOD, Brendon in this!! He totally stole my heart, he’s so adorable! Oh, oh, his crush on Ryan and how he tries and Ryan is oblivious, of course he is, but he just tries SO HARD, GAHHHH! And the part where Brendon reverse-censors himself, oh goodness, I just wanted to SQUISH HIM because, poor baby, he’s so awkward trying to fit in! =(

And then there was their English study session and Ryan venting to Brendon and GAH, can you say misunderstanding?!

“—and then I fucking fell over in front of this dude I have a big, dumb crush on,” he said some time later, discarding the last of his dignity (it was just Brendon), and Brendon made a weird, choking noise. Ryan looked up sharply. “Is that a problem?” he asked, coldly. “That I like guys?”

“No!” Brendon said, quickly. He swallowed hard; Ryan watched the drag of his Adam’s apple against his throat. “No, I mean – I know all about big, dumb crushes, go on.”

“Not as dumb as mine,” Ryan said glumly. “I always looked down on the morons who were dumb enough to like ridiculously straight guys, too. I have no self-respect.”

“Um,” Brendon said. “Are you sure? That he’s straight, I mean, he – he might not be.”

“Well, he’s dating Ashlee Simpson, so I’m pretty sure,” Ryan drawled, and Brendon’s face looked suddenly soft, and maybe something else, too, maybe kind of vulnerable. His eyelashes were very long, Ryan noticed out of the blue, long and dark against his skin when he blinked.

GAH! I bet Brendon was totally thinking that a) OMG Ryan is gay and b) Ryan fell in front of me and c) Ryan likes me! and oh OH OH, Ryan had to smash his dream to pieces! Poor dear!

“I want a mango smoothie,” he decided out loud, catching up with where Jon and Spencer had wandered ahead.

“What a surprise,” Spencer said, grinning, and they walked into the mall. “You always get a mango smoothie, I don’t know why you felt the need to announce it like that.”

“You kind of do,” Brendon agreed, and Ryan opened his mouth to say something bitchy, and then closed it, head snapping up. Brendon was wearing the stupidest uniform Ryan had ever seen – seriously, pastel purple – and was standing behind the counter at the Smoothie Hut smiling at him.

Ryan stared at him. “I didn’t know you worked here,” he said, and Brendon’s face fell.

“Dude, Brendon serves us, like, every time we come in,” Jon said, and Spencer thumped Ryan hard enough on the arm that Ryan knew he was legitimately annoyed and not just laughing at Ryan.

OH RYAN, YOU ARE KILLING BRENDON, OMG! Seriously, seriously, so oblivious! And poor Brendon, I don’t even know how he has the nerves to keep trying when Ryan is a total asshole! GAH!

But I’m glad that Ryan finally caught on because, really, Brendon is just so obvious and cute and dorky and obviously perfect for Ryan, really. *heart*

Archive:
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09

I love the cliche of Brendon and Ryan hating each other and this fic was hurt-y and awesome in the best way. XP I love all the misunderstandings and how they grew and changed. I felt so bad about Brendon’s situation, but he’s so strong to be able to make it on his own. I felt horrible about how alone Brendon was and how much he has to do to make ends meet. And it broke my heart how much he loved his family, missed them, and how Kara was his only connection to his family. And the encounter with his dad was so painful. =( And then there was Ryan, with his denial, and it’s kind of cute how he just wants and he’s willing to go across the country for Brendon but is too scared to say that he loves him, haha. And really, the ending was kind of perfect for this fic (even if I’d want more fluff, but that wasn’t the tone of the fic, so it works).

Archive:
01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05

OMG, I kind of love this fic. I loved Brendon being a cleaner and snooping around Ryan’s apartment and fitting music to the words and writing out music score on one of Ryan’s notes with his blue sparkly Sharpie and being super paranoid about it. And then the note-exchanging and music exchanging was cute and then there was the club scene! OMG, I totally did NOT expect that twist (even though I should have). I mean, I had a thought, for like, a moment, but then Brendon was so sure and I just believed him and yeah. I kind of died a little when Ryan was like, “How do you know my name?” — totally snuck up on me! And I was SO EMBARASSED for Brendon because, you know, I have a secondhand embarassment phobia, and it took me a while to read past the inital aftermath, but I did, and it’s awesome, and you should totally read it! *heart*