Fandom: THE SOCIAL NETWORK
Pairing: Mark/Eduardo
Length: 10,000 words
Author on LJ: devoidly
Why this must be read:

For a kink_meme prompt: Mark has an unrequited crush on Eduardo which Eduardo decides to exploit when Mark tells him that's he is going to get left behind.

Brilliantly done - subtly written, keeping Mark in character while also vulnerable, and Eduardo in character while also manipulative. A great piece of work. The slow development of their relationship is wonderfully crafted.

And while Mark has never done the thing every self-respecting computer science major has done and stalked Queen Amidala across the campus, he always figured that Mark was just playing the long game and is waiting to woo her when he's a gazillionaire.

And really? Mark gay? With that appalling dress sense and just terrible taste in music? Eduardo's straight as an arrow and he's got more Madonna on his ipod than Mark. Who used to tease him about that…

Fandom: INCEPTION
Pairing: Arthur/Eames
Length: ~ 10,600 words
Author on LJ: foxxcub
Author Website: Fic Listed in Memories; Fic on AO3
Why this must be read: There's an entire sub-set of crack fics devoted to Yusuf's chemical formulas gone wrong, and this story is one of my favourites. Not only does it feature a formula gone wrong, there's a job on the line, and the added bonus of Arthur and Eames' backstory.

While getting ready for a job involving a spelling bee champion, Arthur and Eames wake up from a test run ... younger. Much younger. They retain all their skills and memories, but their sixteen-year-old selves are ruled by hormones, emotions, and all the insecurities that go with being a teenager. While Eames takes the unexpected changes in stride, Arthur hates the way it makes him feel, and he hates Eames a little for being young and hot and cocky.

The story is funny, but also doesn't shy away from honest insights about the characters. The tension between the two men isn't simply because they're very different people; something happened between them the last time they were together, and both have made assumptions about the other person's behavior since then.

There are parts of this story I unabashedly adore: Ariadne taking Arthur and Eames clothes shopping; Eames trying to get into a bar and buy smokes; Arthur and Eames having to work out their adult problems while still their teenaged selves. There's a sweetness here--an acknowledgment that somewhere inside, even as adults, we're still in part those insecure uncertain people we were when we were younger, and sometimes it's hard to remember that people could actually love us in spite of ourselves ...even if we have evidence to the contrary.

( It was supposed to have been a simple test run for a simple sedative. )

On LJ: Dogs Days Are Over

On AO3: Dogs Days Are Over

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