mayday, somebody save me

The Unit watch

otherbella — Sat, 24 May 2014 21:01:50 GMT

Just thought this would be easier and maybe a little more private than all of Tumblr and country reading about scheduling stuff!

I was thinking about doing a few episodes this weekend - 5/24-26 - just because my hubs is home and I have more free time. But I am also free most evenings, so if that works better, let me know. I think my friend Marissa - horrorjunk on tumblr - was going to participate too.

My question is - would you prefer a gchat format to do it in real time? posting comments to an lj post? The rewatches I've done have been those formats, so if there's a preference or not, please chime in.

Also let me know which episodes you want to watch, if you want to suggest one!

I'm open to whatever.

(Oh man, I forgot how nice LJ posts are. Also, they have lot of editing features built in now - wow. No more html fail. Well, it's me, so I'm sure I'll find a way to bung it up. But still.)

Fic recs

otherbella — Fri, 13 Dec 2013 03:11:41 GMT

Earlier today, frackin_sweet asked for some longfic recs, and trawling through my AO3 bookmarks, I came up with these.

Thought I'd post them here, in case anyone else is looking for some good reads. This is Marvel heavy, but several pairings in the universe, and a few bonus fics tacked on the end.

Miss you all, hope your holiday season has been/is going well.
MCU
-Thor/Loki
Shadow Plays
In which Thor lives a single day more times than he can count, and Loki doesn't know how to fix it.
**I was not a Thor/Loki shipper until The Dark World (and they're still not my favorite MCU pairing), but this is too great to pass up.

-Steve Rogers/Bucky Barnes
this city bleeds its aching heart
The one where Steve and Bucky pose as a happily married couple while on a mission for SHIELD, to catch an international arms dealer hiding in a suburban neighbourhood.
**Fluffy premise, beautifully written fic

-Clint Barton/Phil Coulson
when your first four dates are in a convenience store, it might be destiny
Clint Barton, one time carnie, is halfway to a college degree and working nights to pay for it when Phil Coulson shows up in his life and orders a burrito.
**An origin story that ties nicely into A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Thor's Hammer's revelation that Phil COulson loves gas station food.

-Clint Barton/Phil Coulson
Catch Your Voice
Clint keeps telling himself he's not obsessed with Coulson. From the way Natasha keeps laughing at him, she's not buying it either. But it's only a crush if you know what the other guy actually looks like, right?
**my all-time favorite Clint/Coulson fic. slow burn. fantastic.

-Clint Barton/Phil Coulson/Natasha Romanoff
Slow Growth Investment
Left at the hospital, injured and penniless, Clint tries to find his way to another circus, or some other means of supporting himself, but makes a few decisions that end up costing him. He's pretty much given up on ever making something of his life when he's in the wrong place at the wrong time, witness to an assassination. As it turns out, that's the best luck he's had in years.
**angsty, gorgeous, wonderful.

-Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
unveil my unsightly heart
Looking over an old prototype helicarrier for its future viability as a base for the Avengers should have just been a routine day full of bickering and non-adventure for Steve Rogers and Tony Stark.
But when they're catapulted into an alternate universe – where their alternate selves are married and battling with a mysterious threat – the two are forced to get over their differences in order to figure out what's going on, before it's too late.
Because there's more going on than meets the eye, and Steve and Tony falling in love might just be the most dangerous thing that can happen. Not just for one universe, but for all of them…
**awesome sci-fi bend on the two of them.

-Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
Ironsides
Antonia Carter Stark takes no shit and no prisoners.
**genderbent Tony Stark. Clearly, she reminded me of Starbuck, even though I pictured Morena Baccarin as Tony's female form.

-Steve Rogers/Tony Stark
The Twice-Told Tale
For someone he'd hero-worshipped for so long, Steve Rogers in the flesh is a pretty big disappointment. For one thing, he keeps looking at Tony as though he reminds him of someone else, and even if he never says anything, Tony's pretty sure it's his father. A lifetime of not measuring up to Howard's expectations is more than enough, thank you very much, and he's certainly not going to make an effort to live up to any of Steve's. Steve's pretty clearly failed to live up to his expectations, in any case, and that's not hypocritical at all.
**absolute favorite Steve/Tony fic. hands-down.

Non MCU
-James Bond/Q
Ordinary Numbers
More than anything, Mike Taylor wanted to be ordinary. Being a genius, he learned early in life, meant people expected too much. A career at the MI6 Help Desk seemed the perfect way to guarantee a lifetime of obscurity, until he got a very unusual tech support call.
**this fic. THIS FIC. must-read.

Glee RPF - Chord Overstreet/Chris Colfer
See What We Can be When We Press Fast Forward
Chris winds up on Chord's lap during the Glee Live! tour. A lot. Blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alcohol.
Something a little fluffy to end it all. I discovered through fic that I LOVE Chris Colfer, even if I was never really a huge Kurt/Blaine fan. This is one of the reasons why.

life's made up of small victories

otherbella — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 13:50:46 GMT

Fourteen years is a long time. I was a teenager when it all started, the first time I saw them was in Smash Hits magazine in 1998, the first time I heard/saw them was in France, the day after my 19th birthday.

There have been others who were close, but no one ever managed to fully capture the place in my heart they filled.

There are a lot of things in my life that wouldn't have happened without them - friends I've made and kept in my life, experiences I've had, adventures crazier than anyone could dream.

Now I'm almost 32 and I'm just about ready to have a baby of my own.

Can't help but think that, all along, this was the way it was meant to wrap up. Not with the end, but with a new beginning.

For all the shows I've seen, the trips I took, the money I spent, the air miles I racked up, the singles I listened to, the stories I wrote, the songs I sang, the hours on yahoogroups we'll never get back, the moments I'll never forget, the tears I cried, but especially the people they brought me -

thank you, Westlife.

Thank you for being a part of my beautiful world.

DAVID ROLAND COOK.

otherbella — Thu, 24 May 2012 03:04:23 GMT

Get your picture folders open.

Open up your notepad files.

WHY?

We're gonna have a

David Cook appreciation post

up in here.

Because he kicked off this cute little Idol trend, because he's cray talented, because he's moving to Nashville THIS WEEK AND WON'T BE AT THE MWK SHOW, WHATEVER DCOOK, WHO CARES, WE LOVE YOU ANYWAYS.

Get your cute rears in here and play on the long weekend and tell us (or show us) why you appreciate him so much.

Old pics, new pics, rare pics, band pics, Cookleta pics, EVERYTHING.

Spam us with glory and love.

it's hard to dance with the devil on your back

otherbella — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:02:01 GMT

NOT CUTTING THIS.

IDGAF.

YOUR EYES AND OVARIES WILL THANK ME.

His body, you guys.

HIS FUCKING ARMS. I WANT TO BITE THEM.

GO TO THE SOURCE FOR MORE AMAZING SHOTS.

FADE INTO ME MV

otherbella — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 12:08:07 GMT

UM HI THIS IS RIDIC BEAUTIFUL.

AND PERFECT. JUST LIKE HIS FACE.

THIS IS MY FAVORITE VIDEO SO FAR. It really - captures him AND the energy of the band, I think, even being a slower song.

~~hey chain/bandanna, heyyyyy~~

siamo luce che cade dagli occhi

otherbella — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:41:25 GMT

I was in the middle of an Italian version of the seven songs meme when I dug up this little jewel on youtube.

Let's not even MENTION the fact it is my favorite Italian song, like...ever. And these three women are some of the best voices that Italy has ever seen. and that I love all of them separately, but they are doing this together AND SINGING IT ACOUSTICALLY WITH JUST A GUITAR AND THAT IRENE GRANDI IS USING A FUCKING BULLHORN ON THE BRIDGE.

No. The most important thing here?

I...have never wanted to write femslash so much as I do right now after watching this video.

OH MY HELL LAURA PAUSINI + ELISA, STOP LOOKING AT EACH OTHER LIKE THAT, HOLDING HANDS, BEING PERFECT AND FIERCE AND BEAUTIFUL, SWEET FLAMING COLLARBONES OF SAINTS.

Really, all lusting for their general awesomeness aside, this version of this song BLOWS MY MIND. Their voices, the crowd, the stripped guitar...perfetto.

i still might write it tho.

//late night insanity on five hours sleep. It's just gonna get worse from here, kiddos.

NBD.

otherbella — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 23:54:41 GMT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MARISSA!

otherbella — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 05:00:05 GMT

I HOPE YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL DAY.

You are wonderful, lovely, creative, and amazing.

I am so very lucky we are friends.

Have a glorious birthday, totally worthy of the fantastic woman you are.

Love you!

starless and blind to dreams...

otherbella — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 06:28:14 GMT

this is my entire life right now.

you don't understand.

my.

entire.

life.

everything that's good right now is wrapped up in that photo.

...and I'm ok with it.

backspacing all the rants and sticking with this.

Happy October!

AC on KC RADIO

otherbella — Sat, 10 Sep 2011 16:25:19 GMT

WELCOME EVERYONE!!!!

IT'S AN AC on KC LISTENING PARTY!

HALLE-FREAKIN-LUJAH.

It's the return of amazing technical difficulties, terrible music you can't hear anywhere else, inexplicable cravings for smoked meats, and possibly offensive but also kind of charming commentary from Mr Andrew Cook.

APPARENTLY, WE ALSO GET NEW MWK. ALL OTHER ARGUMENTS ARE RENDERED INVALID.
There's probably going to be other music too, but really, it's all about the commentary.

Here's how you can listen!
You can click HERE to listen at KCRadio.com

orrrrrr

YOU CAN LISTEN IN ITUNES TOO. (technical info provided by our MIA BUT STILL FLAWLESS OWL MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL EXTRAORDINAIRE, sellaturcica.)
Just go to the "Advanced" menu, click on "Open Stream" and paste this link into the box:
http://1.ice1.sa.streamaudio.com:8000/kcra_ir.mp3
Then find KCRA-IR in your iTunes list and double-click for extra fun.

You can also tweet Andrew at @MrAndrewCook.

IDK if the email is working, but I feel like to complete the experience, we should probably call in too. You can do that at 913-631-5272. GIve him a little love. Be a little creepy. Invite him out for coffee. (AHEM, cerrad.)

Get your picture folders, your sparkle text, your snark, and your interwebz hugs ready. We're gonna have a Saturday morning party.

THIS LOUD MORNING.

otherbella — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 03:18:32 GMT

THIS LOUD MORNING.

IT IS HERE, EVERYONE.

IT IS TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS LOUD MORNING.
IT IS ALSO TIME TO FLAIL, TO FREAK OUT, AND TO LOVE ON THIS AMAZING RECORD AND THE PHENOMENAL JOB DAVID COOK AND THE ANTHEMIC HAS DONE ON IT.

ETA - STARTING AT 11.45 EST / 10:45 CST / 9:45 MST / 8:45 PST.

TRACKLISTING IS AS FOLLOWS.

1. Circadian
2. Right Here, With You
3. We Believe
4. Fade Into Me
5. Hard To Believe
6. Take Me As I Am
7. Time Marches On
8. The Last Goodbye
9. Paper Heart
10. 4 Letter Word
11. Goodbye To The Girl
12. Rapid Eye Movement
*bonus tracks*
13. This Is Not The Last Time
14. Let Me Fall For You

No, it's not funny, but all that I can do is laugh

otherbella — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 06:04:48 GMT

Hope you had a good time while you were here
such a beautiful view for a beautiful girl, this time of year
Now here we are looking back, through wasted photographs
Blank pages filling up our past
No, it's not funny, but all that I can do is laugh

You can keep my heart, the one you took when you walked away
You can keep my heart, it's got no use here,
call it a souvenir, call it a souvenir

Quite a trip that we never should have taken
I just can't believe how you've broken me since you ran away
Now all you do is promise everything, telling me you’ll stay
So many signs I guess I missed there

You can keep my heart, the one you took when you walked away
You can keep my heart its got no use here.
call it a souvenir, call it a souvenir

So many pages that I gotta fill up,
so many lessons to learn about love
So many days, so many ways, so many suns, so many rains
And all you got was my broken heart

Hope you had a good time while you were here
You can keep my heart, the one you took when you walked away
You can keep my heart, it's got no use here,
call it a souvenir, call it a souvenir

You can keep my heart
You can keep my heart
Call it a souvenir

THE LAST GOODBYE.

otherbella — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 03:22:07 GMT

cause no one else is doing it...

COME FLAIL OVER THE NEW SINGLE, HOW BAMFY DC SOUNDS, AND START THE COUNTDOWN TO JUNE 28TH!!!!

Also. If you don't have an official copy of this single yet - leave me your Apple ID and the DC Fairy will gift you!!

ALSO, pt 3. FEEL FREE TO SPAM THIS POST WITH PICSTURES, FIC PROMPTS, VIDEOS, MACROS, FUN THINGS~.

LET'S PARTY UP IN HERE.

Anonymous Kink Meme

otherbella — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 06:45:41 GMT

Love is in the air, spring has almost sprung, and the holidays are FINALLY over. What does this mean?

PORN.

It's time for another round of the

The last one, hosted here by orochi_kitty, was a SMASHING success, so we thought we'd give it another go!

Some general guidelines~!

1. Post your anonymous prompts involving Archie, Cook, The Anthemic, Archie's (former) bandmates, the adjacent songwriters, friends, etc... anything your heart desires. Be vague, be achingly specific, just tell us what you want to read.

2. If you see a prompt that tickles your writing fancy, please have at it and post your fills here!

3. If a prompt is already filled, PLEASE DO NOT LET THAT STOP YOU. The more the merrier!

4. Posting is anonymous and unlocked, so feel free to pimp to your friends.

5. Prompts and then fills will be linked at the top of the post.

6. Go crazy, y'all. Read, write, comment. Have a prompt you've been dying to read but don't want to admit it in public? THIS IS THE PLACE.

Disclaimer
All writing within this post is fiction. Similarity to real events is purely coincidental.

Have fun!

MASTERLIST
Prompts

*David Cook - feels left out when everyone he knows has a Valentine. Andy and Neal decide to make it up to him.
*Archie - What (or who) he was really doing in LA last week.
*Really fantastic sloppy blowjob fic. Pairing flexible.
*David Cook's first time. Pairing flexible.
*Dave/Neal porn star au.
*Dave/Neal - lawyers representing opposing clients. (Sexual tension in the courtroom equates to a hot night together after the trial.)
*Neal - is a stupidly romantic boyfriend. And does stupidly romantic things. Pairing flexible.
*Archie - toy porn (the dildo should be glittery and hot pink)
*Cookleta - Forced multiple orgasms with a vibrator.
*ANGER!SEX. Pairing flexible.
*Dirty, dirty, hookup sex in the back of a car. Pairing flexible.
*Rope and candle wax. (Preferably of the Cookmann or Skibmann variety.)
*Comeslut Archie. Pairing flexible.
*Mike/Archie - maybe not revenge, but definitely some sore feelings sorted out through physical means.
*Cookleta - Archie wants to learn how to play golf. Cook offers to teach him. A combination of cute little golf outfits + showing Archie how to swing leads to semi-public sex somewhere at the country club.
*Accidental phone sex. Pairing flexible.
*Cookson - dirty sex.
*Cookleta - Cook catching Archie jacking off and the fallout from that.
*Cookleta- Spanking/Ass fetish fic (with Cook giving said spanking)
*Cook/Archie/OFC (anyone!) - Cook teaches Archie how to please a woman.
*The Anthemic go to a strip club and Archie is the stripper.
*Cook/Joey/Selena Gomez - Cook's being missing Joey lately so he goes to see Joey play in Selena's band. Threesome ensues.
*Rstar/Archie - Filthy, filthy, bad wrong sex. Maybe with daddy fetish/kink.
*DHodges/ACook
*Cookleta - double penetration.
*David Cook - In addition to winning AI, Cook is secretly a dom-for-hire for a high end BDSM escort service. Fun times happen...insert pairing.
*Cookleta - Not only is Archie a virgin, but he has yet to experience the wonders of masturbation (church, repressed, whatever). Cook gives him a hand, so to speak.
*Archie - kissed(or maybe fucked) a girl and didn't like it - convinces someone to help him out with seeing if it's different when it's a guy and he realizes just how much better it is. Pairing flexible.
*Archie - goes down on a girl. (just some good ol' fashion oral) Pairing flexible.
*Dave/Neal - Genderbent Cookmann arguing, then making out.
*Changing clothes to go out turns into a striptease and hot sex that makes them miss meeting up with friends. Pairing flexible.
*Andy/Neal - put on a show for their girlfriends.
*Cookleta - sports star AU. (Cook is a star and Archie is the ball boy on his team/forbidden romance.)
*Andy - Really aggressive, toppy Andy. Pairing flexible.
*Archie - Top!Archie. Pairing flexible.
*Kira Von Sutra porn. (Hickeys and roughness is even better.)
*Archie/Allison Iraheta. (Bonus points for threesome involving RStar or Aaron Kelly.)
*Neal/Cook/Andy/Archie - for some reason, the guys think Archie needs to get laid - and who better to do it then them?
*Cook - what prevented him from using twitter for a week? Pairing flexible.
*Dave/Neal - Cookmann based on Luna Despierta.
*First person, Letters-to-Penthouse-worthy group sex.
*David Cook - holding someone down during sex/vice-versa.
*Archie- Prison!sex. Flexible pairing. Archie just got in. He knows he needs protection to make survive prison. So he uses his body to make sure that his new cellmate has a vested interest in keeping him safe.)
*Somebody just got a sexbot for Valentine's Day!
*Neal/Alexis - She goes to the Connecticut date of his new tour. Revenge sex.
*Monty/Archie
*Monty/Cook
*Dave/Neal - Cookmann sexual truth or dare.
*Cookleta - Orgasm denial, Cook really likes to keep Archie on edge.
*Cook/Neal/Andrew - both of them love Neal, and well, they both love each other too.
*Cookleta - Cook is really a bottom, but wants Archie so much he'll top initially, all the while training Archie to top him.
*Hot like burning post fight makeup sex. (Bonus points for not Cookleta.)
*Andy/Dave - any kind of dirty, slutty Dandy. (Preferably with Andy being the aggressor.)
*RStar/Hallie/DCook
*Archie is a cat-boy. Cat tail and cat ears, please(Collar = bonus points) Cook or Neal (or both!) have a thing for cat-boys. They like to treat their cat well, stroke him just right so he purrs.
*Archie/R Star/Eli - Archie runs into his old friend/bandmate and meets ryan, who's all perverted and charming. (Public sex would be awesome.)
*Neal/Dave - from Sixx' or Dubs' POV

Filled Prompts
in nothing but their own skin - Dave/Neal - David Cook's first time - by luxover
Dave/Neal - porn star AU
The Agony and the Ecstasy - Cookleta - forced multiple orgasms with a vibrator
Cookleta - Dirty, dirty, hookup sex in the back of a car.
Archie/Cook/Neal - Come slut Archie.
Cookleta - Accidental phone sex.
Cookleta - The Anthemic go to a strip club and Archie is the stripper.
Cookleta - Changing clothes to go out turns into a striptease. by therealesther

Cotton candy.

otherbella — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 00:39:18 GMT

Ok. To combat the January doldrums, I'd like to open this post to fluff prompts. I think everyone needs some cheering up!

Leave a fluffy prompt, a rating if you want, and a pairing (Cookleta, Archie, Anthemic + adjacent, het and slash. Or whomever, as long as one side is someone I've written before.) and I'll see what I can do, whether it be a drabble or something longer.

This post will be unlocked, so feel free to tell others!

Hope everyone's having a great weekend.

DAVID COOK. THE RECORD. LISTENING PARTY.

otherbella — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 03:50:35 GMT

BLOW OUT YOUR CD PLAYER.

CLEAN OUT YOUR DISC DRIVE.

CUE UP YOUR PLAYLIST.

IT'S A DCTR LISTENING PARTY.

AT 11pm EST, PRESS PLAY ON TRACK 1 AND RELIVE ALL THE MAGIC, THE MEMORIES, THE MOMENTS THAT MADE YOU FALL IN LOVE WITH DAVID COOK ALL OVER AGAIN.

Playlist is as follows:
Declaration
Heroes
Light On
Come Back To Me
Life On The Moon
Bar-Ba-Sol
Mr Sensitive
Lie
I Did It For You
Avalanche
Permanent
A Daily Anthem
***EIGHT MINUTES OF DEAD AIR.***
***MOMENTARY FRIGHT ATTACK WHEN NEAL'S GUITAR STARTS UP***
Kiss On The Neck
The Time Of My Life
My Last Request
Breathe Tonight

Listen, swoon, flail. Repeat.

don't recognize the face in the mirror looking back at you.

otherbella — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 17:08:24 GMT

(F yes I am recycling this graphic, because...I made it. And if you don't think that's just a little bit hot, it's a good indicator that you need your eyes checked. You're welcome.)

11:00 PM EST. LISTEN TO DCTR WITH US.

-If you're not attending Harry Potter tonight and want to celebrate a different kind of wizardry

-You would like to find your OWN magic rainbow with some super rad people

-You have nothing else to do tonight at 11 EST/10 CST/9 MST/8 PST (because I have to close like a chump and that's the earliest I'll be around.)

Come join our little fiesta celebrating this sweet boy's album releasing two years ago today right here.

11:00pm EST

Nothing like squeezing it in right under the wire, right??

holy hell David Cook.

Iloveyousomuch.

Relive the memories and flail about why YOU love him/his music/his face ~~ass~~ too.

Declaration
Heroes
Light On
Come Back To Me
Life On The Moon
Bar-Ba-Sol
Mr Sensitive
Lie
I Did It For You
Avalanche
Permanent
A Daily Anthem*
(sooooooooooo, are we doing this WITH eightminutesofsilence or without?)
Kiss On The Neck*
The Time Of My Life**
My Last Request**
Breathe Tonight**
(I have uploaded these *separated and **bonus tracks if you need them.)

I keep wondering how and where and why...

otherbella — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 19:04:13 GMT

WConfession time. I was a much bigger Archie fan than a Cook fan. From the first few seconds of Crush, I was sucked in. I listened to his album obsessively months and months before I picked up David Cook's disc. I love his voice, his song choices, and his music style.

I don't profess to make any sense here - maybe I feel music in different ways than other people do. I certainly don't have any REAL music cred, as I unabashedly love pop music and all it entails.

But these are my feelings about the new Archie album - flaily, incoherent, and ~uneducated as they may be.

The Other Side Of Down

1. The Other Side Of Down
The lead track really sets the tone for the album, I can see why they chose this as the title. It encompasses everything Archie stands for. Pushing through adversity, reaching for the top, getting through the struggles and searching for the positive in everything. I love the beat, ADORE the guitar outro, I'm really fond of the quick verses and the clever lyrics and then how he pulls it back down on the choruses to let his voice soar over the extended notes. This song reminds me of a really great personal trainer - encouraging, commanding you to push through the pain,reminding you of the benefits of your hard work you'll reap once you've done it. BASICALLY, IT'S DAVID ARCHULETA IN THREE MINUTES.

In the sky I'm standing under
All I see is endless rain
I think I spot a silver lining hiding in the gray
I might get tossed around
But I'm always bouncing back

2. Something 'Bout Love
The beat alone classifies this as a great summer track, I could see remixes being played on the dancefloors across Europe. THe beginning is sort of sinuous, begging you to move. Then the chorus breaks in and you're jumping up and down, waving your hands around, sweaty and deliriously happy. I think what separates it is the message of the song itself - slightly melancholy but still hopeful, reminding you that even when love is the best thing in your life, it will still break you. That you can't do anything to stop it, so just hang on, hang in for the ride of your life and enjoy every single second. That pain is worth it, no matter what.

I adore how Archie just SOUNDS more mature on this song, a little more wise, even a little more jaded, but sharing what he's learned along the way. I thought it was a perfect lead-in to the new album, it was exciting and just different enough to get people thinking and wondering what the new album would entail.

Don't fight don't hide
Those stars in your eyes
Let em' shine tonight

3. Elevator
I love love love forever that Archie wrote a song about a dream he had - how he was able to take something in his head and parlay that into music. It's kind of strange. It's a little off the wall. And vocally, it's SO SO challenging, even for him, but I feel like he did that on purpose. He's so all or nothing when it comes to music - go big or go home, you know? He's got the pipes to do it, even when he strains a little. He's professed to not be a fan of autotune because you don't get to hear the REAL voice behind the technology and this is a great example of that.

I personally love how many live performances we've had the opportunity to hear - full band. Backing tracks. Guitar. And getting to hear how he's molded the song to fit his voice during those live performances - wow. Like rhiminee_1 mentioned - it's sort of like a living, breathing piece of art that is constantly evolving.

You'll never know what you're gonna get,
What you don't expect can come and find you

4. Stomping The Roses
From the first time I saw the title of this song, I was intrigued. Then I heard the snippet. Hearing his description of it - "like...how could you stomp the roses???" sealed it for me.

The lyrics are smart and I like how he's self deprecating and I love the sass and the way his dry sense of humor comes through here. It's very "oh-no-you-didn't", but packaged in the "I don't mean to offend you, but you're kind of screwed up" way that Archie has. (Sort of like an Archie version of King of Anything.)

The guitar is amazing here - the musicality in general on this whole disc is a huge leap forward from the last one. You can tell Archie had a big hand in it - he's so consumed by music in general, you can hear it was a priority with this album. (also, the fact that the instruments here were done by someone he has a working relationship with - that makes all the difference. You have that connection that just layers so much more onto it.)

Of all the songs on the album, for me, this one feels like it has his hands all over it.

Always been your token nice guy
I know, I know, I know, I know,
And I know that you rule your whole world
And I thought I could live in it
But I just can't

5. Who I Am
I remember Archie tweeting about being stuck in a taxi, how expensive it was, the whole series of messages from that day. I love that it came to be a song. And really, what says David Archuleta more than taking - CREATING something good from a situation that the rest of us would be cursing, screaming, ripping our hair out over. He uses that time in a taxi in traffic to reflect on his life and soul-search a little. Again, it feels intensely personal and the fact that we get this little glimpse behind the 140 characters, behind the smile and the automatic "yeah, it's ok." when someone asks him how he is - that's awesome.

Windshield looks like a movie screen
And the world outside is a big machine
And it moves so fast I can barely think
That's okay 'cause I know what I'm doing

6. Falling Stars
This is one of my favorites. Odd how he didn't have a hand in writing it, but it still feels so much like him. (Guess that's the beauty of working with great songwriters?)

I love how the music and the lyrics of this song are so contradictory yet somehow totally, completely work. The lyrics just wreck me - it's the only song on the album that doesn't have a happy ending. It feels so resolute - I know you're leaving me eventually (don't try to tell me I'm wrong - but please try to convince me somehow) and you're my everything (you always will be), I will always love you no matter what (because how can you not love something that bright and beautiful, how can it not consume you forever), even after you move on to better things (and after you've forgotten me, I'll still be here, a little piece of you that will never forget).

FML, David Archuleta. Here's my heart, call it a souvenir.

The world is turning
And time keeps on lingering on
The sun will be burning
Eventually you will be gone
I'll always love you
Ohh, believe it or not
But baby, that's not enough to,
Not enough to stop these
Falling stars over your head

7. Parachutes and Airplanes
I wasn't a huge fan of this song the first time I heard it. I was really gunning for Not A Very Good Liar to be on this disc. HOWEVER.
This song just fits in with the theme of the disc - the buoyant, effervescent joy of it is pretty irresistible. I don't think the initial live performance did it justice - the studio treatment this song went through is just brilliant. Some songs are phenomenal live, some just sound perfect straight off the disc. This is one of those songs.

I love the imagery of it.

The world's a thousands shades of blue
Like we're here in a kaleidoscope
Don’t want it to be over

Like everything that’s in my mind
Is here right in front of my eyes
And you're the one who got me here

'Cause I don’t ever want to say goodbye
No, I just want to steal this moment right away from time

8. Look Around
THIS SONG. Quirky and original and so so Archie. The lyrics are phenom. Again, keeping with the general theme here - be introspective, but don't be so wrapped up in yourself, so selfish that you lose perspective of the big picture. You aren't hurting anything - anyone - by stepping out of the box and taking a chance on a different point of view, because everything you need is there right when you need it to be. Bombastic and loud and another remixed club version dance track waiting to happen, the beats on this are FANTASTIC. Electrogasmic wonderland.

Shut the window tight
But it’s raining on the inside
Do you realize you’re getting nowhere
But it’s all laid out for you
Cut the ribbon if it starts to fray

When you close your eyes to see the view
You miss everything surrounding you
Stop and just
Look around

9. Good Place
Oh holy hell. This song. Can we talk about his voice for a minute? How layered and deep and mature he sounds? How content and happy he seems? It hits me really hard. You can sense his growth as an artist so much on this song and you can really just sit back and go - wow HIS VOICE. THIS IS WHAT HE WAS MEANT TO DO.

I love the military cadence drumbeats in the bridge. They really pound home the song's message - yeah, I don't know how the heck I got here, but I'm glad I found my way and I'm so grateful I ended up in this place and I will do everything in my power to cherish it and nurture it and KEEP IT FOREVER.

This is the David Archuleta anthem. After all of his struggles with his voice, personal issues that could cause other people to go into a downward spiral, running the Idol hamster wheel - I feel like this is his theme song. Even at the end, that tentative I hope it's not too late... I have a lot of feelings about this song apparently. Every line though - I can see his life reflected back to us through the words and music. I love it when a song feels that connected to an artist.

You find it
You hold it
You feel its grace

...

I've been silent up till now
I've been going with the flow
Wherever that goes
But something's screaming out inside
Makes me want to close my eyes
And hear the echo

You find it
You know it
Don't make it wait

...

Cause I don't wanna waste another summer
I don't wanna wait until I fall
I could be a memory tomorrow
I could be nothing at all

10. Complain
This reminds me of Works For Me. The sound of it for sure, the beat. And the message - ok, yeah, there's hardship in life, but I don't really have a reason to be angry or upset about it, because on the whole, my life is pretty darn great. The framework feels like an Archie song, but I can really tell he didn't write this. It doesn't feel as cohesive as the rest of the songs, as attached to Archie. IDK. I like it, but I don't lovelovelove it. (Interesting because I usually love the David Hodges touch and his songs are almost always my favorite songs on the albums.)

So far away from my home
And everything that I love
But as long as I'm breathing
Baby, I can't complain

11. Things Are Gonna Get Better
I wasn't super impressed with this the first time I heard it. Everyone was FREAKING out about it, but I was kind of ...eh. I liked it, I knew it was great for the event where it was debuted, but I wasn't sold. Then I heard the studio version and WOW. I love the gospel treatment (I have wanted him to put out a worship album forever), the drums, and how his voice just takes it home on the bridge is astonishing. You really get to hear the power of his voice unleashed - I adore that.

This is sort of a Save The Day message song. I feel like Archie is right there, (not holding my hand) telling me it's all going to be ok.

And I know life is gonna get better
Standing here together
Yeah, we're gonna be fine

And I've been shown hope
I see it in your eyes
So take me and touch me
'Cause with a little bit of love
We can win the fight
With a little bit of love
We can see the light
With a little bit of love
It'll be all right

12. My Kind Of Perfect
I think I'm in the minority, if not in the fandom, then definitely my corner of it who loves the message of this song. To Be With You was my most played song on iTunes for a year and this is the 2.0 version of that. I love how intimate it feels, especially after the complex instrumentation of the rest of the disc.

This love letter to his future - stunning. I love how it stresses what he wants, what he'd love, but he doesn't know when it's coming, and how above all, he doesn't want to settle. How he'll wait forever if he has to until he knows, until he finds the right one. I also love how there's a little frustration but above all, hope that when it's going to happen, it will happen and it will be perfectly right and completely worth the wait.

It's so perfectly, achingly romantic.

I am a big fan of how this album ends on a whisper, not a bang. A++ choice for the final track.

I was thinking about you
I drew a little picture
But some things you can't put on paper
Like you like shooting stars
Or write songs on guitar
Got more things to do
Than stare at a mirror

Maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I just let you walk by
What can I say
Maybe I've known you all my life
Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe

She's anything but typical
A sweet surprise
No matter what she's looking at the bright side
It's gonna be worth it
'Cause that's what love is
I'll keep searching for my kind of perfect

And I know, I know
She's gotta be out there, out there
I know, I know
She's gotta be

Maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I just let you walk by
What can I say
Maybe I've known you all my life
Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe

They say give it time
Give it time
And it will fall in line
But I keep wondering
How and when and why I haven't met you

But maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right

Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face

Maybe I'm wrong
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I just let you walk by
What can I say
Maybe I've known you all my life
Is she the one
Is it today
Will I turn the corner
See my future in a beautiful face
Maybe

Oh, maybe, yeah
I'll keep searching for my kind of perfect

I think I liked it, you guys. I am such a big fan of how Archie stuck to his guns and got to put out a disc that feels like him, that shows who he is a as a person. It's so positive and uplifting and I feel better listening to it. It's one of the few discs I can play start to finish and I don't really skip any of the tracks because they're all great. Again, I have my favorites, but they're all quality songs. No placeholders, no fillers, no b-list tracks.

It's truly a pleasure to listen to this, especially having been a fan of his since he started working on it. Getting to pick out moments I recognized and hearing the mark of people he worked with and seeing it evolve and become what it did. One of the best albums to come along in a long time.

Clap-freaking-clap Mr Archuleta. Thank you.

RECLIST.

otherbella — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 06:53:02 GMT

Labor. of. love. Oh my hell, this has taken FOREVER.

The AI/Anthemic Kitchen Sink reclist.

These are really just a sampling of my favorites across the American Idol/Anthemic fandom, the stories I go back to again and again or the ones that just stuck with me and wouldn't let go. There are so many GREAT fics out there (Cookleta could easily have one itself) and I will probably be adding to this in the future, but for now, here you have it.

Slash, then het. Alphabetical by pairing. Ordered within as I linked them. OOPS. Some word counts are approximations, as they weren't specified in fic headers.

*I didn't really link to locked, non-fic journals. I know people can be discouraged by friending solely for fic, so I refrained from reccing a lot of that nature. Fics denoted by an asterisk are f-locked though, mostly within communities.

SLASH.

Adam Lambert/Kris Allen
Just One Sheep (NC-17) by cathalin
Kris needs someone to take care of him on tour. Adam is fabulous in many ways. And sometimes things are what they look like. (8550)
Favorite Kradam fic ever written. EVEN IF YOU DON'T READ KRADAM, READ THIS. Tour fic, snarky, sweet, and everything that was right with AI8.

Building Jerusalem (NC-17) by amproof
The Washington D.C. tour stop goes horribly wrong when Kris and Adam are involved in an altercation with three off duty sailors that ends with one dead, Adam hanging onto life by a thread, and Kris accused of murder. A novel of love, desire, redemption, regret, and denial--not necessarily in that order. (125,000)
This fic defies all expectation, preconception, everything. It is a masterpiece.

Sex Machine (NC-17) by astolat
"I thought it was going to be an ice cream maker or something," Kris said. (2017)
I love sweet fic with Kris and Adam and this manages to be sweet AND kinkyhot.

so get down and get off (NC-17) by moirariordan
But still, Kris would not be surprised if one day, he stumbled upon the definition of a Bad Relationship Decision in a textbook somewhere and beneath it, there was a picture of Adam. Eyeliner and all, and maybe swinging a pair of handcuffs around his finger. Because just – yeah. (15,500)
PORN. STAR. AU. Effing amazing, you don't even KNOW.

Somnambulism (NC-17) by astolat
"At least we don't have to do the walk of shame?" Adam said. (3462)
Kris has a problem with sleepwalking and Adam's just too good to him. AMAAAAAZING.

Andrew Cook/Neal Tiemann
Target Practice* (NC-17) by frackin_sweet
Neal is relieved of some post-show tension. (1000ish)
HOT. LIKE. FIRE. Frack's writing is so vivid and real, you can smell the sweat in the room. Amazing.

Last Request (NC-17) by leici
Neal's actually pretty sure he noticed that right off, the things Andrew and David have in common. (chaptered fic, work in progress, link goes to journal where all chapters are posted.)
This fic is incredible. It feels so very real. Right from the get-go, you are sucked in and left waiting, wanting, begging for more with each chapter. The only WiP I will recommend because it is completely worth the wait.

Andy Skib/David Archuleta
Forward Motion Is Harder Than it Sounds (PG) by courts
Andy comes to realize that he was wrong about a lot of things. (2464)
GUH. Summery and a little angsty and a lot hot.

First Love (PG) by courts
you can't believe that it took you so long. (784)
Firsts are my favorite and this is a series of them, leading to Andy and Archie.

The Drinks We Drank Last Night (NC-17) by courts
The prompt was "Andy/Archie - completely drunken sex". (1235)
HoGod. Top!Archie. SO ridic hot.

Dirty Little Secret (NC-17) by courts
The prompt was "someone gets caught watching porn". (2020)
THANK YOU, NEAL TIEMANN.

Pictures of Shorelines (PG) by courts
remember watching the storms from the lifeguard stand, remember feeling the tingling in my fingertips, when I touched your lips. (2696)
Wistful summertime romance. It fits this pairing perfectly.

I dig it when you have a smile on your face (PG) by kaia_kyrial
The thing is, it's really all just a misunderstanding. (1000ish)
Not enough of this pairing, ever. Perfect kissing. Amazing Neal cameo.

Andy Skib/David Cook
Five Times (PG-13) by novelized
five times david cook almost kisses andy skib. (and one time andy kisses him.) (5300)
The LONGING in this. So perfect.

Don't Give Up On Us (R) by novelized
out of everyone, andy is the one who actually gets it, the only one who’s legitimately excited for david when he tells him the news. (3376)
I love the journey this takes, winding through Idol and their relationship along the way.

My Words Just Break and Melt (R) by oflights
Five times David tries (or tries to try) to tell Andy he loves him (and one time he does, of course). (7200)
EVERYTHING HERE. All of these little pieces are perfect.

Wanderlust by courts
The question isn't where are you, it's when are you. (5000ish)
TIME. TRAVEL. FIC. Read it, love it.

Andy Skib/Neal Tiemann
Collar Play (NC-17) by annie2791
An interlude to her "Like a Rusty Broken Thing" verse, where Neal has a weakness for Andy's collar. (1500ish)
The entire Like A Rusty Broken Thing verse is STUNNING in its' entirety, but I have reread this ficlet more times than I can count. I love how she writes the Dom/sub relationship between these two and how she flips it on its ear, making the one who seemingly has all the power crave that loss of control most.

Five and Half First Times (NC-17) by ficangel
They’ve been together for more than a decade. That has to start somewhere. (5000ish)

A Proper Christening (NC-17) by honestys_easy
Neal was planning a perfect night in his new house-- until he locked himself out. (3000ish)
The hottest Skibmann I have ever read. Perfect porn.

The Art of Zigging and Zagging (NC-17) by honestys_easy
Neal learns the easiest way to get into Andy Skib's pants. (3000ish)
I had a serious craving for margaritas after reading this fantastic, AU deliciously hot fic.

Anything You Want* (NC-17) by honestys_easy
Every year for Andy's birthday, Neal promises to give him anything he wants. (2000ish)
I love fics that chronicle relationships over a long period of time. There's so much history with those two - this ties that in perfectly.

Temptation* (NC-17) by honestys_easy
What you see on the stage isn't the half of it. (3000ish)
UNNNNNNNNNNNNNFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF. Post-show adrenaline is the best drug.

Foundations by cerrad
Neal thought he knew what he wanted in life, even if he didn't know how to get there. Andy knew what was sure to happen in his life, unless he found someone to change it. (6400)
Such an inventive take on the bonding trope. I love how she writes Skibmann - her Andy is FANTASTIC. The prequel to Adhesion!

A Letter That You Never Read, Three Summers Back (PG) by silversluagh
Neal goes looking for a songwriting notebook, and finds a love letter instead. (1227)
Wistful, dreamy, and full of longing without being angsty. LOVE.

Andy Skib/David Cook/Neal Tiemann
Crashing Down, Part 2, Part 3 (NC-17) by annie2791
Andy is curious. Neal and Dave help him.
I adore the established Cookmann and the initiation of Andy into their relationship in that capacity.

Falling Backward, part 2, part 3 (NC-17) by annie2791
A continuation of the Crashing Down series.
And the way it goes even further in this series.

The Care and Feeding of Andy Skib (NC-17) by courts
Sometimes Andy thought that they might know him better than he even knew himself. That was probably why they knew exactly what he needed that day. (1000-ish)
Friendship easing into more. Courts really nails the loving dynamic between the three of them.

The Great Peanut Butter Caper (NC-17) by courts
It's all about peanut butter and nekkid boys. (1500ish)
Really - the title and summary say it all.

Blame Game (NC-17) by courts
They'd all agreed. So, maybe it was really all of their faults, after all. (2000ish)
One of my most frequently read, reread, and recced fics in this fandom. Sweaty and sexy and full of that encompassing affection that those boys toss about so easily with each other.

Cale Mills/Jim Cantiello
Alike In Dignity (PG-13) by cjmarlowe
It's kind of funny, at Madison Square Garden, how much time Cale spends watching Jim Cantiello do interviews through what he and Torres have jokingly started calling the invisible wall. (3000)
YOU'LL THINK IT'S CRACK FIC. AND THEN YOU'LL READ IT AND REALIZE IT'S GORGEOUS.

Cale Mills/Kris Allen
More Things In Heaven and Earth (NC-17) by cjmarlowe
In which Kris and Cale discover there is more to them than they ever imagined, and there is a lot of sex. (35,100)
FML this fic. I apparently have a deep, enduring love for singers and their guitarists. The whole journey between Kris and Cale and how they come to the realization that they're great as friends, better as more. (BASICALLY. THIS IS AI8's ANSWER TO As A Sure Thing. AKA PERFECT, GLORIOUS, CANNOT REC ENOUGH.)

David Archuleta/David Cook
The Art of Perfection (PG-13) by luxover
"The problem with living in a world where anyone can be whatever they want, David always says, is that everyone always wants to be beautiful." (3489)
The premise of this is so clever and I love that in the end, it's about Archie loving Cook exactly for who he is.

Sooner Surrender (PG-13) by novelized
it's not david archuleta that’s bugging david cook. it's more…his presence. (6693)
This fic wrecks me every time. Amazing post-Idol Cookleta, in which Archie, yet again, proves himself to be FAR more of a grownup than David Cook ever will be.

i smoke my eyes out (NC-17) by hopefulgenius
Genderswap Cookleta. (2572)
It is not usually my kink, but holy HELL. JUST TRUST ME ON THIS. Archie as a female just...works PERFECTLY here. It's written so descriptively and it fills that "NEEDS MORE COOK HET" void I have in my life. But with Archie.
Previous drabble introducing this 'verse here.

but you're possibly the prettiest (PG-13) by hopefulgenius
Penpal fic. (2702)
Really inventive and kind of perfect in every way. Miscommunication in fic is one of my favorites. THANK YOU FOREVER mellowdee FOR THE PROMPT THAT BIRTHED THIS FIC.

First Comes Love, Then Comes Marriage (R) by epicflailer
It's a whole month and twenty-five days after he tells Archie, quietly, "hey, man, I know last night wasn't--are we still cool?"; a whole month and twenty-five days after Archie pulls the covers up to his chin, awkwardly, looks down at his knees and smiles without meaning it as he says, "Yeah. Yes, Cook, of course. We - we're cool."; it's a whole month and twenty-five days without phone calls or texts or tweets before Cook calls him. (8600)
I don't do mpreg, really. But this is just...perfect. AND REALLY. WHO ARE THE ONLY PEOPLE MORE EMOTIONAL THAN DAVID COOK? PREGNANT WOMEN. This combines both.

Some Things Are Better Than Others* (R) by frackin_sweet
The handcuff/bondage fic. (2415)
The first thing I'd read by the ridiculously talented Miss Frack. LEGIT. READ THIS. RIGHT NOW. Amazingly sweet, so realistic, stamped with her particular brand of descriptive perfection that never fails to put you right in the middle of the action. DA's inner monologue, DC's reactions...perfect.

Like All Good Fairytales (NC-17) by epicflailer
Five lifetimes David and David would have fallen in love. (21,000)
No Cookleta reclist is complete without this. Just...one of the first fics in this fandom I read and it spoiled me so hard. I doubt there is someone in this fandom who HASN'T read this, but if you are new - go. now. do not stop, do not collect $200. Thank me later.

Snowbound (R) by frackin_sweet
David Archuleta won Idol in Season 7, and David Cook is still a musician, but he was never on Idol at all. Here, they meet for the first time, right before Christmas, in a house that's accidentally been rented to them both at the same time. (14,897)
This fic holds a very special place in my heart. I love the build-up, how they're tossed together, Archie being so mature, Cook being so lovable. Everything good about Cookleta fic - fic in general - is here.

The Twenty-Third First (PG) by epicflailer
David's pretty sure Cook sees right through him, that Cook knows exactly what he wants. (2000)
I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH HOW MUCH I ADORE THIS FIC, OK? Kissing. And heat. And an amazingly cunning Archie.

Time-Travel Comment fic.* (PG-13) by epicflailer
Prompt - Archie being older than Cook in any kind of universe (1000ish)
I cannot say anything other than I wish this fic were 123456765432123456 times longer. LOVE. SO. HARD.

Deliver and Design (PG-13) by mellowdee
Cook owns a graphic design firm, and Archie is a summer intern. (4600)
Told entirely through email, tying all of the season 7 cast in perfectly, AMAZING NEAL CAMEO. Melody is a goddess.

With Pen and Paper (PG-13) by mellowdee
A series of 3 different AU’s – one in high school, one in college, and one in life. (10,000)
SO. SMART. Different and sweet and you will be clutching your chest by the end and scratching your head, wondering why everyone doesn't do this in their fic.

Objects* (NC-17) by girl_blunder
Remember that Tainted Love commercial? Now remember the Cook and Archie from that commercial? What if they were real? (3000ish)
Cook's hair killed me in that stupid commercial, but this fic made me forget it ever bothered me. HOLY. SMOKES. Let's just say CookCookleta should be a genre populated by thousands more fics.

Dr Feelgood (PG) by fieryrogue
Archie is just cleaning the house like he does every Saturday that Cook is in the studio. Then he stumbles across a treasure chest of wonder. (3010)
A celebration of hair metal at its best, through the eyes of someone a little too young to enjoy it the first time around. AND PLAY THE YOUTUBE PLAYLIST SHE PROVIDED WHILE YOU ARE READING FOR A MULTIMEDIA EXPERIENCE.

Desperation (R) by bloodbelieve
david cook and david archuleta do not get on with each other. clearly, the high school counsellor recommends handcuffs. (4000)
Glee crossover. The hottest high school AU I have ever read, stunning in its subtlety.

Seasons (PG-13) by off_theground
a story of two boys told in four seasons. (14,995)
The emotions in this wreck me, every time.

Just Like An Avalanche (PG-13) by off_theground
The Just Like Heaven AU. (10,998)
I have a particular ~fondness for this plotline. LOVE.

Put Your White Flag Down (R) by summerstorm
Prompted by Cook and Archie are sort of dating, but Archie's been too nervous to do anything other than make out until now. He's also convinced that oral sex is dirtybadwrong. Cook decides to change his mind by sucking on Archie's fingers. (1861)
HOTTEST. FIC. EVER.

A text message a day keeps the blues away.* (G) by james_padfoot
a cookleta!fic based on this AT&T Backpacker commercial. (1500ish)
A quick read that will stay with you.

Love Comes From The Dirt In My Own Backyard (PG-13) by cinderlily
David Cook doesn’t know what he really needs until he gets everything he thought he wanted. (15,000)
MINOR. LEAGUE. BASEBALL. AU. As a triple A fan, I loved the sweet, dusty, nostalgic feel of this fic. And you can never go wrong with cinderlily's fic.

Hurt and Heart (PG-13) by cinderlily
David Archuleta loves being a wedding planner, and he is good at it. Then he meets David Cook and everything changes. (17,000)
WEDDING. PLANNER. AU. The emotional rollercoaster you ride here is perfection.

may it last through all the year (PG-13) by kissesblow
The barista laughs, a good belly laugh, his eyes crinkling shut, and Archie takes the opportunity to look at the man's goatee, and the way the sunlight reflects warmly off the russet pinpricks of hair. (5700)
So, when I grow up, I want to be a six(seven)teen year old named Jessica, because she is amazing. This captures the Christmas spirit and filters it through a teacup and David Archuleta. You'll crave tea in the worst way after.

Paper Boy (NC-17) by odi_et_amo53
David does not think Cook is fat, but Cook is having self esteem issues and David must fix it. (1500ish)
The prequel is here*.
So. Hot. Kind of OOC Archie, but I love how it plays on Cook's need for Archie's approval. That sounded fucked-up. Just read it.

Clean (PG-13) by courts
He wasn't sure why Cook was doing this, but he wondered how weird it was for him to find it comforting. (1500ish)
The hottest non-sexual naked!fic you will ever read. Trust me now, thank me later.

stop running (without you i’ve got nothing) (R) by off_theground
a race around the world, and straight to him. (12,087)
AMAZING. RACE. AU.

The Art of Persistence (NC-17) by kaia_kyrial
The thing is, if David had known what was going to happen way back when he first met David Cook, he might have tried to avoid it. (27,050)
What do I love most in fic? Slow burn, assertive Archie, vulnerable Cook, and ~~restraints~~mixed messages! Epically long and totally brilliant.

Fortunate Son (PG-13) by astolat
Fourteen across was auspicious, and he was writing in the p when the left side of the plane sagged out from under them, and they dipped what felt like ten feet all at once. David grabbed for his coffee as it tipped and the dregs ran all over the puzzle book; across the aisle, Archie jerked awake and looked around, sleep-confused, and then said, "Oh my gosh." A long black line of smoke was cutting horizontally across his window. (12,002)
The first Cookleta I ever read, it's actually almost gen. Amazing story, love how she placed them in danger, excellent characterization, it's Astolat, 'nuff said.

Above Water by astolat
In which they get that trip to the Grand Canyon. (3612)
The sequel to Fortunate Son. Perfect and everything I ever wanted to conclude that journey.

real forever if (R) by astolat
The main thing he'd been thinking, that whole last week, was that when it was over, he'd finally be able to breathe again. He didn't know what else could've been making him feel so weird, the awful tightness in his chest every time he was in the same room with Cook, the way his stomach just kept clenching up and jumping. (20,563)
Everyone picks Time Of Your Life as the DEFINITIVE Astolat Cookleta, but I think Fortunate Son and real forever if appeal more to me. I love the slightly crackfic tone that feels real and the last section is just brutally perfect. Plus. BONDING FIC.

Adhesion (NC-17) by cerrad
David has always been cold since before he could remember. But when a strange man walks up to him and insists there's a cure, David doesn't know what to believe. (6700)
Beautifully written bonding fic that is ridiculously hot and very clever. The sequel to Foundations.

Anti-Prom (PG-13) by thebiggest_lie
Archie can't be at his prom, so the Idols bring the prom to him. (1019)
Sweet and lovely and Lisa's characterization of everyone is just spot-on.

Coconut Cream (R) by silversluagh
Smooth, creamy, slick, and cool. And that's just the coconut popsicle. (1561)
Burn in the pit of your stomach, spreading to every inch of your body hot.

By Accident (R) by leici
He knows he shouldn't be watching. (2539)
Finale night from someone else's perspective. The prequel to Last Request.

Untitled (NC-17) by ~anonymous
Prompt of Cook blindfolds Archie and instructs him to jack off. kicker is cook's filming him for chatroulette. (500ish)
I WILL NOT LIE. This was my prompt. And it came out so ridic hot. ILU, magical prompt-filler.

Chance Encounters (Falling In Love) (R) by carolion
He stops himself from gaping, but he can’t stop from staring, because, in the land of famous? David Archuleta way outstrips him. (6400)
Fake dating is one of my favorite genres. Fumbling, beautiful, ridiculously sweet.

You're My Missing Puzzle Piece (NC-17) by sophie_448
Cook does a new cover song. Archie likes it. A lot. (2042)
Absolutely GORGEOUS Cookleta fic based on Teenage Dream by Katy Perry. PERFECT.

Tomorrow's All Wrong (R) by celli
In which Cook gets a forced vacation, advanced science is indistinguishable from magic, and a lot of strange things happen, not necessarily on a Saturday.(6150)
This fic will blow your mind. Perfectly executed. It will touch every emotion you have at least once and then take you through them all again.

Rockabye (NC-17) by aohatsu and carolion
A baby changes everything. David's not sure he's ready for that.(25,520)
This fandom can write mpreg like nothing I have ever seen. Wonderfully written story, spanning the range of emotions, a gorgeously cohesive cowrite featuring dual POVs, and a fantastic Mike cameo (♥). Just go read it, ok?

David Archuleta/David Hodges
Your Eyes Become The Motive To See by sophie_448
When Archie walks into the studio for their first writing session for the new album, Hodges nearly drops his guitar. A year and change sure can make a difference. (1161)
I LOVE THAT STACY WROTE HAPPY! ARCHIE/HODGES FIC. This pairing is VERY close to my heart and I love what she did here.

David Archuleta, Marshall Mathers
there's something funny in the air (PG-13) by kissesblow
"There's a new guy in the class," is the first thing David says, and he says it in a rush, like he's been dying to say it all period. (4000)
EMINEM. AND DAVID ARCHULETA. FRIENDSHIP FIC. Read it and weep at how absolutely-freaking-amazing this pairing is, but moreso at the magnitude of Jessica's talent. Funny and sweet and so lovely...it really works, you guys.

David Archuleta/Neal Tiemann
Greetings From Alaska (NC-17) by thebiggest_lie
Archie/Neal Skype sex. Enough said. (1200)
One of the first Neal/Archie fics I ever read. And to this day I can't see that vlog or that photo and not think of this fic. It impressed itself deep on my shipping tendencies and never let go.

It's Kinda Like That Song By Sting (NC-17) by ficangel
They’re not the first people to get drunk and do something stupid on New Year’s Eve. (epically long.)
THE FIRST NEAL/ARCHIE FIC I EVER READ. Gloriously long, fantastically written, I wish she had done hundreds more of this pairing. Again, it follows from the beginning and it takes a night of mistakes to show them what they're missing.

Unititled Comment Fic (PG?) by novelized
In their group of friends, sometimes Neal feels like the counselor or something, because for some odd reason he's the one they go to for advice...
Did I mention firsts are my favorite? I love her Neal here.

Kidfic Verse (PG-13) by orochi_kitty
Neal and Archie have a baby girl. Dinosaurs. Museums. Grocery stores. (4000-ish total?)
BabyFic*
KidFic*
On A Saturday Morning*
KIDFIC AND EVERYTHING BEAUTIFUL IT HAS EVER ENTAILED. NEAL AND ARCHIE HAVE A LITTLE GIRL WHO WEARS A TUTU. AND WANTS TO BUY LIPGLOSS. Seriously though. This is my favorite thing Marissa has ever written. Museums, grocery stores, car rides, and Metallica. Perfect. PERFECT.

I'm About To Navigate Straight To You (PG-13) by kissesblow
Any day that Neal Tiemann has to go to the DMV is a horrible day.(3700)
Age-swap Neal/Archie that is pitch-perfect. Jessica, I bow down to your genius.

Pink and FuzzyNC-17 by sophie_448
Pretty much porn, top!Archie. (1198)
You will read this and you will become a believer.

On The Road (PG-13) by thebiggest_lie
Neal tries to get used to dating while on tour. (1700)
I love the scene outside the bus, so so hard. I love how Archie interacts with the whole band. This fic is fantastic.

Saturday Night Fever (PG) by courts
In which Neal wants to be alone, Dave is a mother hen, Andy is a sweet talker and Archie is adorably helpless. (4000ish)
Almost gen, but because I am a shipper, I see it here. I love nurturer!Neal.

No More Late Fees (PG-13) by frackin_sweet
David works in a video store, Neal has an interesting rental history. (3000ish)
Biker Neal, Purell, Archie's method for reshelving videos...this fic is fantastic.

Provocation (R) by frackin_sweet
Archuleta thinks that Neal thinks he's too young and inexperienced and might be a crappy lay. Who knows what Neal thinks, because he's not much for sharing his ~feelings. Unless you know, he relaxes first. (3000ish)
The banked heat in this is PERFECT. The buildup is fantastic.
Sequel to No More Late Fees.

Introduction (PG-13) by mellowdee
Neal’s kind of drunk and kind of makes a drunk promise. (2200)
This could be recced solely on the first and maybe only appearance in fic by the other other other David - Archie's bass player, Fillice. But other than that amazing moment, it is funny and sweet - and misguided Neal, suffering because of his own gallant measures, is wonderful here.

Fall (PG-13) by mellowdee
This is a real date. (1700)
SO. ROMANTIC. Vulnerable Neal, ftw.

Everything (NC-17) by mellowdee
This wasn't the plan. (1600)
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. Wedding night fic. Melody kind of outdid herself with this. So full of lovehopeheat. WONDERFUL.

Burn (PG-13) by mellowdee
The one time the sun decides to betray Archie. (2600)
This feels like real life - the whole array of emotions in a relationship framed by a trip to Hawaii.

Hold (PG-13) by mellowdee
One-sided sleep-induced cuddling is not fair. (1600)
This story singlehandedly made me want to snuggle with Neal Tiemann forever. THANKS MEL.

A Thief's Claim (PG-13) by mellowdee
Neal's sort of a thief. (2100)
Basically, everything Melody writes is gold. Sometimes it scares me how much to my taste her stories are-just everything I want in fic and MORE. This one though. Based on real pictures, it's genius.

More (PG-13) by mellowdee
Deaf!ArtMajorNeal and bestfriend!Archie. (1400)
MY HEART. It exploded into a shower of butterflies and sunbeams. I don't know how she does it, but Melody takes music from Neal, basically his lifeblood, and creates this beautiful world and you forget he's a musician in real life. I CANNOT EVEN.

Twitterverse (PG-13) by mellowdee
What happens when Neal and Archie start following each other on Twitter.
Reply (2800)
Two Months (3300)
That's Why (3800)
Something New (4500)
Yeah. This is what I refer to as the "real life that hasn't happened yet" verse. I love the use of twitter, I love the peripheral characters, I love the relationship that begins in under 140 characters. In my opinion, this is the crown jewel in this pairing's repertoire.

HS verse by mellowdee
Rain and Rides
This is what happens when you end up driving David Archuleta home for 3 weeks. (2100)
Opening Night
This is what happens when you end up driving David Archuleta home for 3 weeks and he gets a role in the school musical. (3000)
Halves
This is what happens when you end up dating David Archuleta. (2800)
A verse that takes these guys, puts them in high school, and keeps them 100% in character. A++

iPhones (PG) by mellowdee
Neal/Archie accidentally picking up each others cell phone. (1000ish)
Neal's notes folder. Put a fork in me, I'm done.

A Boy And A Cake (PG-13) by mellowdee
Archie bakes cakes. Neal appreciates cakes. (4000)
A tale of how good things come to those who have the patience to wait them out.

Semester* (PG-13) by orochi_kitty
Archie goes off to college. (1400)
I LOVE the last moments before school starts - that bittersweet hope. Marissa captured it perfectly here.

Burn* (NC-17) by orochi_kitty
David Archuleta had a dirty mind. (2000ish)
Sweaty and hot and desperate and surprising.

Untitled (NC-17) by theotherqueen
Prompt of neal/archie - one of them catches the other watching porn. (1000ish)
Really hot, but also kind of awkward and sweet, and so so funny. I think her writing just gets better and better.

Untitled (NC-17) by ~anonymous
Prompt of Neal/Archie, the vlogs they only send each other. (500ish)
Perfect. In every way.

David Archuleta/Nick Jonas
God Doesn't Care About Your Make-Out Sessions, Nick Jonas (PG) by smithereen
The Disney Summer Concert Series is a little bit like a high school reunion populated entirely with ex-girlfriends. (14,500)
I like seeing Archie from someone else's perspective - kind of weird, kind of otherworldly sometimes, totally addictive. This was the first Jonas Brothers fic I ever read and somehow, the pairing just FITS. There's also a snippet in the comments of ~~later events.

Can't Stop My Heart From Calling You (PG-13) by that_1_incident
Nick Jonas is straight. Very much so. And David Archuleta’s Mormon, so… he sort of has to be. But when the two meet backstage at the 2008 Teen Choice Awards, they lay the foundation for an enduring connection that neither of them expects. (27,500)
OH. MY. HEART. This fic takes you for a ride. You're not quite sure where you're going to end up, but it's worth every second.

David Archuleta/Ryan Star
This is one step away from real porn or I am running out of titles for things.* (R) by orochi_kitty
Ryan and David are married. David likes to surprise Ryan. (2000ish)
In my opinion, there should be millions of fics about these two, who shouldn't work, but kind of do. Kinky and kind of innocent at the same time, just like them. LOVE IT.

Pleasure From The Pain* (NC-17) by orochi_kitty
David signed for the box and was a little wary because he wasn't expecting anything and he hadn't ordered anything online lately and oh...oh, he knew. (2323)
I like the adventurous edge to Archie that Marissa gives him in this verse. I like what Ryan brings out of him. Like I said - the most unexpected pairing ever - they're polar opposites - but it works.

David Archuleta/David Cook/Neal Tiemann
A Reason To Celebrate (R) by thebiggest_lie
When you're in a relationship with two other people, it's easy to feel like the third wheel. (4600)
The EMOTIONS in this. Lisa's Neal here almost killed me, in the best way possible. A great story about the give and take and precarious balance of poly relationships.

Product Of Us (NC-17) by cerrad
Just when you think you've adjusted to the way things are, life throws you curveballs. Like falling in love with two people at the same time (20,721)
This fic is a work of art. They all work at a university and wow. Neal's perspective in this. Man.

David Archuleta/David Hodges/Neal Tiemann
Fall Into Your Sunlight (PG-13-NC-17) by mellowdee
Everyone gets hurt when nobody’s being honest. (9200)
If you haven't read this fic? SORRY. ABOUT. YOUR. LIFE. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF MY EMOTIONS WAS TOUCHED IN SOME WAY. Love it. forever.

your actions write the melodies to the songs that we sing. (PG) by mellowdee
The worst thing about second chances is when nobody thinks you deserve one. Even you. (1000ish)
THE ANGST. These three kill me. Melody created this triangle and it's GORGEOUS.

David Cook/Danny O'Donoghue
Opening Act/Main Show (NC-17) by ficangel
What happens on tour stays on tour. It’s like Vegas that way. (3000ish)
Having seen The Script open twice for DC&TA, and knowing what I know of Irish boys, this fic hit all my buttons.

David Cook/David Wright
Suicide Squeeze (R) by expatiates
new york mets hotshot third baseman david wright is just a nice southern boy who wants to thank david cook for performing at his charity event. (3000)
Read the author notes for this one. They'll add a layer of 'awwww' to the already fantastic story. I love it when authors take risks with characters that aren't a part of the fandom. This is a GREAT example of that.

David Cook/Neal Tiemann
Maybe Tonight (NC-17) by that_1_incident
Being onstage has always been kind of a turn-on for Dave, and you can hardly blame him. The lights, the adrenaline, the screams of the crowd – it’s complete ecstasy for anyone who’s ever dreamed of being a rock star. He usually leaves the stage half-hard, the line of his dick surreptitious against his jeans, and it’s never been a problem but that’s starting to change. (7000)
SO RIDICULOUSLY HOT. Cookmann writers, please never stop.

58th Street (NC-17) by thebiggest_lie
Neal picks up a guy, who just so happens to be named Cook. Hooker!AU (13,381)
The angst in this is gorgeous. Vulnerable Cook is one of my kinks - I love him so much in this.

Close My Eyes Again* (R) by brynnmck
The thing is, while Neal prides himself on relishing a good headfirst dive into death metal and horror flicks and assorted other macabre shit, there are times when it's just him in the dark on a bus that's grinding toward somewhere he can't remember, and he feels so small and disconnected that it genuinely scares the hell out of him. Solitude always has a way of shoving him up his own ass. (2000ish)
Legit, she is one of the best Cookmann writers around. Her writing places you right there, breathless, next to them.

Crawl Into Your Atmosphere* (NC-17) by brynnmck
Neal could swear he can feel the charge building in the air, lightning caught between clouds, tied up and bursting with the need to strike. It’s been strung up for going on an hour now and still no rain; there’s no bigger cocktease than a gathering storm. (1500ish)
Brynn just GETS these two - the connection, the raw emotion, the sizzling heat.

As A Sure Thing (NC-17) by luxover
The first time Neal ever sees Dave, they’re at some house party in Warrensburg, Missouri. Neal doesn’t really know what’s going on; he’s still a little tired from the set that he just played, and he’s had enough to drink that his head is a little fuzzy and he kind of just wants to sit down for a few minutes. (15,318)
GET THEE TO THIS FIC AND READ IT IMMEDIATELY. IT. IS. PERFECT. Starting with the moment Neal sees Dave for the first time through the start of the album, it's an emotional, beautiful, exceptionally well-crafted ride.

Safe As Houses (PG-13) by luxover
It’s just that sometimes, sometimes Neal forgets that they’re together and not just together, and that realization makes his heart race and his palms sweat and so Neal tries his hardest to just push the thought out of his mind, push the feeling down and away until he can breathe again. (11,494)
The brilliant, gorgeous sequel to As A Sure Thing.

Withholding (NC-17) by luxover
“Alright,” David says. “If I make it from here, you owe me a blowjob.” (2000ish)
Maybe this is my favorite NC-17 fic ever. Maybe I have read it more times than I can count. Maybe I think it's just real life she is documenting for our pleasure and putting out as fic. Hot, dirty, stubborn - kind of everything Neal does best.

Meeting Dublin (PG-13) by luxover
"When Neal comes home from the tattoo parlor, it’s to the sound of a dog barking—a little, yippy one—and for a second he thinks he’s in the wrong house." (1661)
The sweeter side of Cookmann - riddled with that immovable stubbornness they both possess.

Play Crack The Sky (NC-17) by oflights
Dave and Neal are really good at breaking at each other; Andy’s good at putting them back together. (15,000)
EMOTIONAL. PORN. This fic ripped my heart out. The angst, the palpable tension, the crackling unrest that is careening towards the breaking point - she captures this perfectly.

Put On My Miles* (PG) by lowlyandunholy
A stop at a diner on the road and some discussions of the past. (2000ish)
Some habits you just can't break. I have a lot of feelings about these two and she just writes them BEAUTIFULLY.

The Bar Is A Beautiful Place* (PG) by lowlyandunholy
One slow night at the Blank Slate. (3000ish)
The slide of friendship into something more, she is a genius and I love everything she's written.

Just Past The Milky Way* (PG) by lowlyandunholy
If you turn around, you'll see yesterday. (3000ish)
To quote from the comments - "Seriously amazing. To fall backwards through your history instead of forward into your future."

Just One More Time, No Reason Why* (PG-13) by orochi_kitty
Grilling out in the backyard. (1500ish)
Domestic and hot and based on Neal's continuous rants of the neighbors and their shitty taste in music.

smells like teen spirit* (NC-17) by courts, kaia_kyrial, and misskatieleigh
When Dave invites him to the TCA's, he has to ask what they are first, and Dave says, uncomfortably, “Uh, the Teen Choice Awards, they wanna--” and Neal interrupts him by laughing his ass off, and hooting, “Just how old do they think you are, man? Seventeen?” (3500ish)
I love the story behind Dave taking Neal as his date to the TCAs - and fic where Archie is fascinated by Neal's piercings is never a bad thing. EVER.

Right Where You Left Them by thebiggest_lie
Sometimes leaving doesn't mean you're moving on, but that you can't let go. (3100)
This fic feels kind of cold and desolate and I love that so much. Lisa. WHYAREYOULIKETHIS?

You Love and You Bleed (NC-17) by silversluagh
Andy gets a thorough education in the realities of a BDSM relationship. (21,6111)
ok. This one is VERY thorough in the intricacies of BDSM, almost to the point that the education plays an equal part to the story. But it's a great character piece for Dave, Neal, and Andy. The emotion and the LOVE in this, platonic, romantic, is just...GUH. (And it shaped a lot of how I see Neal. And if you know how I feel about Neal, yeah.) I have flailed and flaled and flailed about this fic. Please, if you have any interest in writing or reading about the ins and outs of a BDSM relationship or even casual play in that vein, do yourself a favor and read this.

Five (PG-13) by mellowdee
There’s an elephant in the backyard, and Neal’s upset. (1200)
Um, hi. Cookmann kidfic. They have a little boy and it's kind of the greatest thing ever, because THEY TOTALLY WOULD, OK?

David Cook/Simon Cowell
Not Your Factory Fantasy* (R) by lowlyandunholy
David Cook moved to Hollywood to become a star. He didn't anticipate finding himself working at a phone sex hot line but what came next was even more unexpected. (epically long. link to final chapter, previous linked within.)
GAHHHHHHHHHH. DIRTLYLITTLESECRET FIC. This pairing would usually make me cringe and click the back button faster than I can blink, but it works so well. I never wanted it to end. Vulnerable Cook, a pitch-perfect Simon, hell - SHE WROTE TIEDAM AND I READ IT, OK?

Jim Cantiello/Kris Allen
#SlezakNeverStoodAChance (R) by arabella_hope
"Sorry to harp on this Kris Allen stuff, but I'm kind of obsessed with him." -Jim Cantiello (8000)
Yeahhhhh, more "real life that is documented for our pleasure" fic. I love the epic Jim/Kris love affair in real life, this is a perfect fic adaptation of that.

Kyle Peek/Neal Tiemann
i wanna trade in friday nights for a piece of your heart. (R) by novelized
when kyle and joey join the band, everything changes. (4000ish)
Superbly written, a rare pairing in this fandom that truly shines under her hand. The entire band is perfect in this - I LOVE Joey so much in it.

under the bright lights. (R) by novelized
kyle wants neal to meet hayden. neal's not sure how he feels about that. (3000ish)
The sequel to i wanna trade in friday nights for a piece of your heart.. GORGEOUS.

Moresomes
Andy Skib/David Cook/Joey Clement/Kyle Peek/Neal Tiemann
because the world will never take my heart (NC-17) by expatiates
in all those weeks and months dave was away, between the show and the tour and everything else, a million things changed, he thinks, and he’s mostly really happy about those changes. but plenty of things stayed the same, and that, he’s even happier about. (5500)
Angsty buildup, perfect payoff. LOVE. The ~coming together of the band feels really natural and it just WORKS.

standing on the edge of everything by kaia_kyrial
'We should all have sex,' Neal says. (2000-ish?)
Band orgy. DONE.

all the moments in between (PG-13) by kaia_kyrial
making a music video is not all it's cracked up to be. (2000ish?)
This is almost gen, and a great character turn by Kim Caldwell (who I adore, sorry about your life) and it makes me miss Joey, ha.

Andy Skib/David Cook/Jennie Nye/Neal Tiemann
Slower and More Calculated (NC-17) by kaia_kyrial
"Jennie totally wants to do Andy up the butt"(~11,000)
Wins for best summary of all time, for amazng het AND slash, and for being deliciously kinky and incredibly sweet.

GEN(ish)
Signal-to-Noise* (PG) by brynnmck
"Your guitarist doesn't say much, does he?" (1000ish)
Basically the best story about Neal Tiemann ever written.

The Phantom Rest Stop (PG-13) by lordnelson100
A dark October night, a tour bus on a lonely road, and some seriously bad news. When scruffy AI7 winner David Cook and his awesome rock band go missing, can teen-star Archie and the fabulous Adam Lambert put things right? (5000ish)
FML this fic. American Idol meets the Twilight Zone. So different and so incredibly well-written. Her characterization? Some of the best I have ever seen. JUST TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THIS IS AMAZING BEYOND BELIEF. Definite Cookmann leanings, unrequited deliciousness, creepy Saturday afternoon old sci-fi movie feeling - everything you want in a fic and more.

HET.

Adam Lambert/Katy Allen/Kris Allen
White Rabbit (NC-17) by cjmarlowe
Kris needed a break, he needed something else, and he wasn't even sure he knew what that meant anymore. (9800)
This fic is like a glittery dream.

Andy Skib/Jennie Nye
Find Out How Much Love The World Can Hold (G) by silversluagh
Andy takes a lot of pictures. Why not make them into a scrapbook? (1754)
Highly ~relevant to my interests. Her Andy is wonderful here, so incredibly thoughtful, and I love the care behind the project. Reallifeasfic should be its own genre.

Carly Smithson/David Cook/Michael Johns
You and Your Untouchable Face (NC-17) by ficangel
”Don’t be ridiculous, you’re the least angry person that I know,” Kristy Lee said, and paused. “It’s kind of creepy, actually.” (epically long.)
PORNSTAR. AU. Epically long, really well-researched, fantastic characters. And. Ahem. Super hot.

I Was Attracted to the Danger (But I Was Never Satisfied) (NC-17) by ficangel
Once upon a time, Carly Smithson was working at a Georgia bar called Fado at the same time that a musician called Michael Lee was playing there. That’s the kind of coincidence that you just don’t let go. (4000ish)
This delves deeper than a one-nght stand and it sucker punches you from hot to sweet in the blink of an eye. LOVE.

David Cook/Alexis Skib
Desire and the Swing of Your Hips (R) by courts
you can already tell from the shiver that runs through you that you are in over your head. (559)
Hi Alexis, I love you the most. Short but sweet and the kind of wrong that needs to be right.

David Cook/Faith Lehane
Something Wicked (R) by astolat
He's a rock star, she's a superhero. They fight demons! (6836)
Cracky and amazing Buffy the Vampire Slayer crossover that's totally believable and crazy hot.

David Cook/Kelly Clarkson
Maps (R) by oflights
"It's weird to write love songs and mean them." (6500)
DEAR UNIVERSE, WHY IS THERE NOT MORE KELLY/DAVE FIC? Because they are fantastic together, especially here. Match made in heaven and this author can basically do no wrong.

David Cook/OFC
Work Our Way Slow To The Start (R) by annalazarus
In which David Cook drinks beer, talks baseball, plays with children, worries, writes music, wins some karaoke contest, is kind of a jerk, makes a confession, kisses a girl, and sings. (9000)
The heroine in this is perfect. She's funny, self-deprecating, everything DC fans do best. ALSO. SHE IS IN A BAND CALLED THE MARYSUES. HOW CAN YOU NOT READ IT. So suck it, haters of het fic. Your life will be better if you read this. LOVE THIS FIC FOREVER.

When Writing Your History (NC-17) by affectingly
Love doesn’t always happen the way it’s supposed to. Sometimes, we miss our chance for something more. (4739)
This fic hurts. so. good. I never got the whole OFC stigma - sometimes a great female character is just a great female character. And even though she's nameless here, she is fantastic. Their whole relationship/journey is raw and desperate and bitter and FANTASTIC.

David Cook/Taylor Swift
I Need A Miracle In My Veins (PG-13) by oflights
And she thinks she’s finally found her prince. (6350)
YEP. You read that right. DC is just LOVELY in this. Again. Amazing author, rare pairing, GOLDEN fic.

I Hope it’s Gonna Make You Notice* (PG-13) by braves_fan531
Taylor’s always been somewhat of a hopeless romantic, and it’s possible it has given her some unrealistic expectations about guys. (6650)
ILOVETHISFIC. A lot more about Joe Jonas than you'd imagine. The DC/TSwift relationship is so funny and sweet and yeah, the end is fantastic. (Amazing Andy and Neal and Archie cameos too.)

Neal Tiemann/Carly Smithson
Taste by annie2791
Late night activities. Feat. Andy Skib. (1500ish)
Read. Faint from hot. Revive self. Repeat more times than you will admit to another living soul.

Neal Tiemann/Jennie Nye
This Weakness Has Me Speechless, Part 2, Part 3 by annie2791
Andy and Jennie make a bet. Mother Nature has other plans.
Great premise, scorching conclusion, a lot of sweet friendship intertwined with the hot. One of my favorites/most read.

Neal Tiemann/Kira Von Sutra
Somehow Crazy For You Lately I Have Been* by brynnmck
"And now you—" Andrew goes on, grabbing a half-empty bottle of Heineken to illustrate his point—"are here, and he—" PBR, of course, sliding over next to the Heineken—"is here, and—" He tips the mouths of the bottles toward each other. (4000ish)
When I said Brynn was a genius, I wasn't kidding. ;) This fic is amazing, and not only for the hilarious and hot Andrew/Andy/Jennie action in the background. Because FML. She made me LOVE the main pairing here and I kind of adore this version of their story.

Green and Blue (G) by silver_sluagh
Green hair, blue eyes, black sheets and tender words. (500ish)
So beautifully written, more of an atmospheric piece, and of course, her Neal is lovely.

DONE. HAPPY READING!

BIRTHDAY POST!

otherbella — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 17:58:52 GMT

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO thebiggest_lie!

Dear Lisa,

I hope this year brings you fulfillment, happiness, success, and much much love.

It has been a crazy year - one that feels like it's gone by in the blink of an eye, but at the same time feels like it's been forever and a day long. Lots of laughing, lots of tears, lots of R U KIDDING ME RN?? co-modding the most fun comm in the LJ-verse for a little while, lots of bonding, and lots of so many other things. You are very special to me and I am so very glad I know you.

LISA. A SHIPPING/FANDOM RETROSPECTIVE FOR YOUR BIRTHDAY.

(pardon my ineptitude on some of these ships. :p)

The original HBIC, Chief Galen Tyrol, is here to kick off the festivities.

But he's gonna sit down, this is getting good...

and welcome these guys.

Oh HAY PINTO, HAYYYYY.

So ZQ. ARE you dating??

HDU. I would never...

Hmmm. Let's ask Chris.

Oh. OIC.

What was that answer again?

I'm just going to be sullen and Chris is going to look ~~smoking hot~~ AHEM. Srs bsns.

What were you saying boys?

Just...whatever. Ok. Fine. It's Lisa's birthday, so I guess we'll let you imply that we're hooking up, even though CLEARLY we aren't into each other and don't go on dates and gaze longing and lovingly at one another.

FOR MORE ANTICS IN OUTER SPACE.

HEY! Did you guys know it was Lisa's birthday?

"Hm. We should really do something. What could we do for her?"

"Well. We could look delightfully rumpled and post-coital and probably banter wittily yet lovingly. I bet she'd like that."
>

Bob and Frank are bringing the party beverages.

And being generally adorable, equally out of control EXCITED and stoically chill. Solely for your benefit.

They're passing the torch off to these two though.

Who are sending you birthday snuggles.

Amongst ~~other things for your viewing pleasure.

SPEAKING OF VIEWING PLEASURE.

No birthday is complete without some of this.

It's kind of our tradition, right Lisa?

SO the Anthemic as a whole (plus Monty, who is there in ~~spirit) would like to raise a glass to you.

And Neal wants to do other things.

Mostly to Dave.

Yeah.

You got it.

THOSE things.

Simon, you can GTFO.

For srs.

It's ok Neal. Dave only has eyes for you.

Promise.

He swears.

Only you.

Don't cry Dave.

Just don't let it happen again.

So get the drinks.

Bring your bff.

And some music.

Some eyesexing.

AND LET'S GET THIS PARTY STARTED.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LISA.

always holding hands, never making plans, just living in the moment babe

otherbella — Sat, 05 Jun 2010 00:21:07 GMT

EIGHT YEAR LJ-VERSARY!

Eighteen hundred and fifty-one posts.

Lots of friends made.

Some friends lost.

Six fandoms.

Five trips to Europe.

Four major relationships.

One love of a lifetime.

One engagement.

One wedding.

Lots of important stuff has happened to me over the last eight years.

So what have I learned, growing from that girl who created an lj to post memes from Italy until now? (not that anyone asked)

My lj is somewhere I've always felt safe enough to post. This isn't a journal I use to lurk in communities. It's my diary, my venting post, occasionally my soapbox, and my shoulder. Drama happens (oh how it happens) but it hopefully blows over and people grow and take from it what they will.

I might flit in and out of fandoms but I've been fortunate enough to make friends in all of them, despite our activity and that shared interest maybe fading out. I've lost some of them along the way too, but that happens in life.

However, I've learned the people who matter are the ones who read these posts. You might shake your heads sometimes at my mood swings, my rages, my excitement, my antics, and my crazy compulsion to spam you with pictures/songs/videos of the current love(s) of my lfe, but you've stuck around and you still comment every once in a while, and (hopefully) don't just scroll past my entries rolling your eyes.

You've made a difference in my life.

Thank you. ♥

when the wires cross in my brain, you'll start my heart again

otherbella — Fri, 28 May 2010 03:56:00 GMT

rereading my favorite Cookleta fics and crying my eyes out.

watching DC videos and crying my eyes out.

I'm either ubertired/pmsing/or overworked.

But. This face is making me happy(albeit teary) right now and I appreciate him a lot for it.

I think you should too, if you like.

Impromptu appreciation post for this guy.

Fic us, pic us, make us love him more.

Tell me what draws you in

what makes you applaud

and what makes you wtaf

about him.

Because his bandmates and bffs are rad, but this is why I'm here today.

Wedding Spam

otherbella — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:04:00 GMT

Brandi and Marissa said I needed to do a wedding appreciation post.

Sorry about your lives!!

There are 250+ more and LOTS of family/group/etc, but these were some favorites. Our photographer was just lovely. I am really pleased.

my mom+brother

my dad and his awesome orange EVERYTHING

my favorite boys.

Adam and his mamma (lol at his DCook stance)

Bridal party ACTIVATE!!

my brother!

my family

our parents, my brother/SiL, Anya

my favorite

pt 2

so much ♥

LOL. I need food and a shower. I have work in a few hours. FAIL.