Bringing 5pm to everyone (in the Eastern time zone, that is).

[osaraba]

Inexplicably, I am an Arthur fangirl. I don't quite understand why, because not only am I way more a Tom Hardy fangirl, I also typically like characters with shady pasts and IMO canon!Eames is way shadier than Arthur. Still, what can I say, the cards have fallen this way. I wonder if that's because it's easier to imagine the different ways Eames got to where he is? I find I'm disappointed more often than not by Eames-backstory fic; they're either stereotypical or dissatisfying to my headcanon. Not that there aren't stereotypical Arthur-backstory fic, or uninspired ones for that matter, but I always seem to feel (at the very least), "Well, that's just one slice of the whole."

Clearly, the man fascinates me.

So tl;dr, I recommend to you two awesome Arthur-centric gen fic:

1. Get Lost by winterlive. This is what happens: The morning after inception, Arthur hurls his phone into the Mojave Desert. Arthur drives across the country, revisiting old friends and old memories. We get to ride, silently and invisible, in the passenger seat along with his thoughts. I could've gone on forever in this, savoring it all: every memory, every interaction, every visit was so sharp and vivid, delightful and painful all at once.
   
   
2. A Source of Little Visible Delight, Parts 1, 2, 3 (complete) by sneaqui. Arthur takes an extended vacation from this business of running everyone else's business and the world of dream-crime starts to realize how necessary he is. Fics in this fandom take us to a lot of exotic places, right? We're all pretty used to that; it's old hat by now. So how is it that this author is able to make them feel so very haloed in the light of introspection and self-discovery? Arthur is so solemnly pragmatic, with such underlying BAMFery, that he is irresistibly thrilling. Note: This fic is now complete, though the story will have a (more A/E) sequel.
   
   ETA: Sequel starts here.

 

Completely unrelatedly, AGAIN with the next horrible eljay header. WTF IS WRONG WITH THESE PEOPLE? This was the winner, by a good 8% lead. UGH.

Comments

[osaraba]

Yesssss, those stories are both so good. <3 I love that first one for really how gen it is... and yet the teeny tiny hint of A/E at the end (which could realistically go either way) is like a wonderful reward for having made it all the way through without any A/E. I actually really wanted to see a bit more of Arthur and the OMC she wrote. Their date was so sweet. <3 Oh, Arthur, why must you be so sad and solemn?!

[dissociate.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I'd love to hear your headcanon! I have to say I'm an Arthur girl through and through...and even though I love Eames, I haven't given his backstory much thought beyond the "he comes from old money" thing.

Thanks for the recs! I saw the latter being updated on inceptionwips but I didn't check it out because there's just so many WIPs I can't keep track of them all. orz I just read it now, and it's just amazing. Can't wait for the follow up.

And...ugh...that header is ugly as hell! Actually, I don't want to see any of them on the site, it just reminds me a little too much about my job. XD

[osaraba]

You know, your comment got me thinking because I haven't really settled on any sort of absolute backstory headcanon for Eames. I'm more sure of what I think of his personality, I suppose, and his mannerisms, rather than his actual backstory. I think of him a bit closer to canon, with his super sharp mind, creativity in coming up with the ideaas/plans for inception, and his practicality in wanting to cut losses when they're low (in Yusuf's dream level when Saito was shot, and then again in his own dream level when Fischer was shot). I think I do lean toward him coming from old money more than him coming from nothing and, you know, faking it. I guess I'm more frustrated by the fact that it seems like those are the only two interpretations of his backstory. I guess I'm kind of looking for someone to make up another idea for how he got to where he is and how he is now without it being by way of "old wealth" or "from the streets". Then again, I try not to complain too much because it's not like I'm writing it, now am I?

For Arthur's backstory there seem to be many more ideas -- which makes sense, to me, because in canon he's MUCH more open/approachable, and much less fidgety/wound-up than Eames. But it's all very ironic since fandom seems to have switched their canon personalities, wouldn't you say?

Sometimes it's all too much for me to keep track of! (OMG SO SORRY for the extremely rambling thoughts...)

And don't worry, I will keep on reccing! =D

[shiroi-ten.livejournal.com]

\0/ ARTHUR! He owned my heart first so he gets more of my love. :) Totally going to read after I finish my hellish week and aghhh LJ THOSE ARE FUGLY HANDS. REALLY? REALLY?

[osaraba]

YES DO READ THEM! They're so worth it! AHHHHH I LOVE YOUR ICON! <3333 I will admit that though it's as far from canon as can be, my favorite Arthur is a combination of used-to-be-Brendan!Arthur and mean!Arthur. And the fedora makes me think of noir, which makes me think of Brick.... <3333

I'm sorry your week is hellish! Did your spring break pass or is it upcoming?

FUGLY IS THE ONLY WAY TO DESCRIBE THOSE HANDS. MAYBE FUGLY AND BORING. UGH.

[shiroi-ten.livejournal.com]

This weekend I can't wait to read! I KNOW ARTHUR IN A FEDORA!!! I forgot I thought there was a fic where Arthur wanted to play up his mobster image so wore a pinstripe suit and a fedora BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER. sjgaljaga. All the angsty roles JGL is so good at playing!

Aww thanks! Spring break is upcoming and all the teachers are cramming things in...

I wish those two words would have a baby and make a new word to express itself better for those headers.

[osaraba]

It might have been in one of sho_no_tabi's fics, since her Arthur is always Brendan!Arthur and he has occasionally worn a pinstripe suit & fedora. I think I vaguely remember an instance when he wanted to play up the mafia image, but I can't remember which fic it was.

If you haven't read her fics, you MUST. SHE IS SO FUCKING ABSOLUTELY AMAZING. But go to her masterlist and start with A Soul Awake one because they're all in the same verse, and they're published in chronological order.

[shiroi-ten.livejournal.com]

I definitely HAVE read her fics but I don't think I've read the one you recced. Now that I have no more Rule 10 I need to take in more fics!