11.21.2007 Sketches

Artemis and Danny. No relation.

Anyway, I've got this huge backlog of fics to rec, so I'm gonna give two this time! Yeah, I'm lazy like that.

First is the award winning AF fic, Idiot Savant by Nyghtvision: [link]

I laughed the whole way. If you're not familiar with AF, I suppose this is as good an introduction as any, although you'll probably be a bit confused by the end. Goodness knows Artemis is much more lovable here than he is in the first novel.

Fic clip:

“Good morning, Son!”

“AHH!”

Artemis II bolted backward as if electrocuted, cracking his skull against the mahogany headboard and getting tangled in the sheets.

Undaunted, Mr. Fowl threw open the massive drapes. Stormy light trickled in like oatmeal. Rain threw itself against the windowpanes like bullets. Occasionally, to make things interesting, the rain threw a soggy bird against the windowpanes. Mr. Fowl beamed like the absent sun.

“It’s a lovely Saturday morning. Let’s make pancakes.”

With a sad squawk, a soaking robin splatted against the window and slid slowly down.

“Father?” Artemis groaned, holding his head in his hands. “What is the meaning of this?”

“Ah, smell that fresh air. Here, get dressed. You can wear these. Juliet bought them for you.”

Artemis reared back to stare at the ‘clothing’ with groggy eyes. T-shirt. Jeans. A pair of the mutated evil shoes that Americans call ‘sneakers’ and Europeans call ‘trainers,’ though neither culture is entirely sure why. Oh, no, he thought. How do I get out of this?

“No. Father, I really must--” Artemis trailed off as the wind and rain chucked a swallow at the window. Mr. Fowl turned to smile lovingly at his son.

“I’ll put this bluntly, sir. What’s wrong with you?”

“Oh, Arty.” Mr. Fowl sat on the edge of his bed, not noticing Artemis’s slight dignified wince at the nickname. “I just want to get to know you better.”

Most teenagers cower when the previous generation utters Those Words. They mean: There will be questions, yea, and we will want to know what you’re doing on the Internet. (“What be this thing you call fanfiction?” and “Why are you hacking into Fort Knox and draining the money into your Junior Savings Account? " ) And verily, there will be Chores, which will Build Character. Yea, there will be Quality Time.

+++++++++++

Second fic, Playground Philoshopy by Epona Harper: [link]
Maddie/Phantom bonding.

Fic clip:

“Okay, what did I do?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you’re looking at me like…I don’t know. Like I hit a baseball through your window or something.” Phantom swung one leg over the swing so that he now straddled the seat. He locked his hands loosely around one chain and rocked it sideways. “I know we’re not exactly on the best of terms, but if I’ve done something else to tick you off, I’d kinda like to know what it is so I can at least try to fix it.”

Emotional sensitivity. Another thing ghosts couldn’t possibly have, but that this one displayed…or at least could fake it pretty damn well. Maddie gave the ground a shove with her foot, sending herself swinging with a little more vigor.

“You’re making my life difficult,” she said shortly. One corner of Phantom’s mouth quirked.

“How? I’m just fooling around. Not bothering anyone tonight that I can see.”

“That’s precisely how you’re doing it.”

The ghost stilled his rocking as he gave her an incredulous look. “Oooookay. Talk about damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”