Body Modification (turns out, I have a kink for ink)

[reena_jenkins]

 

 Originally, I had two different rec list ideas for tonight - Why Didn't I Think Of That (Fandom AUs) and Why Didn't I Think Of That (Canon-Compliant Stories). But I couldn't chose which list I liked better, so....I made up a different list altogether. Consistency: I has it.

 Here's some personal information, possibly TMI: I have a tattoo kink. I think just about most body art is awesome (well, maybe not these, but just about everything else). The self-expression, emotional content, and personalization of tattoos and piercings fascinates me. It's not always just the "hot damn those lines look good on him" factor, but also the history and stories behind the art that catches my attention. 

 But! If I limited my podfic recs to just tattoo-relevant items, it would be a very short and not-exactly-diverse list. So, I'm broadening the topic from 'Sexy Tattoos' to 'Body Modification', and defining it as "anything that changes a character's body in a way that is significant/integral/sexy to the story". Hopefully, the podfics I think fit this definition will intrigue and entice you as well.

J²

Come Into My Parlour
Written by lazy_daze and read by painted_pain, this podfic hits me right in the tattoo kink from the very first minute. The story takes place in Jensen's tattoo parlour, and Jared gets inked. This is relevant to my interests. lazy_daze really gets to the heart of why tattoos are sexy, despite the needles-and-pain aspect of actually getting inked. And painted_pain has the most amazing voice - she could probably read one of those really gross medical disclaimers about liver failure and death and exploding eyeballs, and I'd still find it alluring (I'd probably be a bit worried about my newly-developed kink, but she'd make me enjoy it anyway).

Smoke & Lightning: Heavy Metal Thunder (Book 1)
Written by bloody_adorable and eviltwin, and read by kreutzmarie, this story is finished but the podfic is still in-progress. kreutzmarie has so far recorded the first forty chapters of this fifty-chapter story, but it's definitely a significant chunk of time and well worth a listen. Jared's got multiple tattoos on his chest, back, and arms....and he manages to convince Jensen to get inked as well. There's also a nipple piercing or two. On the one hand, some of the aftercare of tattooing is ignored in this fic (apparently, both Jared and Jensen have superhealing when it comes to recovery time).... but on the other hand, the coverart is fantastic and the story is engaging. Plus, motorcycles! And Jensen in a Speedo!

Disclaimer 'Verse
Written by raeschae and read by yasmine32068, this podfic clocks in at over nine hours. It's listed as a WIP on the archive, but that only means that not every story in the 'verse has been recorded - not that any of the recordings are incomplete. In the four stories that yasmine32068 has recorded, Jared's got a tattoo parlour and approximately 75% of his body covered in art - and he and Jensen meet when Jensen sits at Jared's table to get inked. Plus, there're skater boys and raising a kid and really great interactions with the rest of the CW cast. While listening to this podfic, yasmine32068 has also interspersed some fantastic music as scene dividers: stuff I never would have listened to on my own, but that allowed me to get into the mindset of the characters (who are sexy as heck but definitely not running in the same cliques as I do).

SPN

Ink
Written by norah and ready by pattyposh, this podfic's fantastic. pattyposh's voice hits all the right notes in this story, and manages to convey exactly why Sam has a tattoo obsession. Plus, the description of the various designs he's got inked all over is not only sexy, but also emotional and full of significance - the moments and monsters that have marked him as a hunter, a brother, a son, a lover. If I didn't already have an affinity for body art, this podfic would've converted me.

The Doll'verse
And here's where we begin to hit the more....exotic...definitions of 'body modification'. There's no tattoos and no piercings - but there's definitely a change in body. In this case, the change is from flesh and blood to cloth and cotton batting. While listening to this collection of stories written by kellifer_fic and read by counteragent, you will smile, giggle, and roll your eyes at the sheer weirdness that is life as a Winchester.

Of Unconventional Dealbreaking
Another non-typical body modification, this story was written by rionaleonhart and read by saaski_moql. It's a just-before-the-end-of Season-Three fic, featuring Dean Winchester. Who has been turned into a unicorn. You have to hear this.

SGA

Promises Writ In Indelible Ink
Rodney gets a tattoo in this story, but the inking itself is not why the podfic is so amazing. Yes, the tattoo is pretty great, but the significance of it as a physical representation of the 'Team Means Family' vibe running throughout the entire story is what really hits you in the heart. Written by sardonicsmiley and read by 2naonh3_cl2, this version of the story is beautiful (not to say that the version podficced by terialk is not equally as good, but this one's the version I heard first and so it sticks in my head more) and so full of familial togetherness that you just want to wrap it around you like a hug. Rodney learns, throughout the story, exactly how much he means to his team - the tattoo is just one symbol of Team Sheppard as a unit.

My Home And Native Land
Written by copperbadge and read by julii_wolfe, this story is about far more than tattoos. There's the idea of self as defined by one's actions, one's nationality, one's traditions and friends and language. There's badass gun-flipping tricks. There's poutine, and learning English, and emigrating to Canada. In this fic, Ronon's tattoos are a remnant of the culture and people he lost, and a catalogue of his accomplishments, and a source of team-solidarity. I love, love, love this story - and not just for the Canadian laughs. There's a deep-rooted theme of cultural identity explored in this story, and julii_wolfe conveys it so very well.

Synthesis
This podfic is why I first thought to expand my topic from 'tattoos' to 'modification'. I absolutely had to recommend it - the Atlantis concieved by thingswithwings and read to me by vociferocity is beautiful and compelling. vociferocity's voice holds you spellbound, and keeps you enraptured. The idea of Altantis-enhanced prosthetics, enriching the lives of those who live in her, had me intrigued beyond measure. For a story that clocks in at only just over six minutes long, I've spent serious chunks of time thinking about the ramifications and possible extensions of this universe. It's amazing.

Mirror Dance
Another 'body modification that isn't ink' story, this one deals with change at the genetic level. In this slightly different Atlantis, Carson's gene therapy goes wrong: instead of granting him a copy of John's ATA gene, Rodney gets all of John's DNA...and his hair...and his face. This causes all sorts of hijinks, and brings about some interesting consequences. The version of the story (written by trinityofone) I'm recommending is a collaboration between aphelant and general_jinjur. I found the two-voices approach to be quite moving, as well as effectively distinguishing which personality was behind John's face. Definitely worth the four hours of listening time!

 So, it's pretty late right now, and I apologize for any incoherence or inelegance in my rec list. Just take it for granted that every one of the podfics above is worth listening to, even if tattoos aren't your kink - the people who record these stories obviously love them very much, and put their heart into their performances. Plus, since some of the items on this list are pretty long recordings, obviously the readers thought the stories were worth telling (else, they would not have committed such a great amount of time to the project). So, happy listening! And maybe, you will discover a new kink or two....

Comments

[exmanhater.livejournal.com]

How did I not know there was a podfic of the Disclaimer 'verse?! Thank you so much for enlightening me!

[reena_jenkins]

There's also podfics of Hey Man, Nice Shot and So That's What Friends Are For? (but they're not part of the main audiobook).

[bessyboo.livejournal.com]

Oooh, what a creative idea for a rec theme! I shall have to check several of these out! :)

[reena_jenkins]

Alrighty then - and, most of them do have engaging plotlines as well as tattoo-y goodness...

[luzula]

If you read/listen in due South, check out The Teeth of the Hydra, written by Resonant and read by Jinjur. Both the story and the reading are awesome and there are lots of tattoos.

[reena_jenkins]

Ooooh - thanks for the tip! I shall have to check that out ;-)

[applegeuse.livejournal.com]

LOVE this theme. I am incredibly pleased to see that you rec'd pattyposh's podfic of "Ink," since it is absolutely one of my favorites, ever; and since listening to it, I have had a total thing for tattoos/body mods in stories. I've never really come across another story that was as satisfying as that one. BUT NOW YOU HAVE PROVIDED ME WITH MANY SHINY, SHINY RECS AND I AM BEYOND THRILLED! ♥

[reena_jenkins]

I AM HAPPY TO POINT YOU IN THE DIRECTION OF LOTS OF TATTOOS AND PORN. Seriously, I've spent an inordinate amount of time listening to or reading fic - it feels good to share what I enjoyed with other like-minded people ^__^

You've got to take a listen to Synthesis - even if you're not all that into SGA, the way that those six minutes will make you feel (all sexy and intrigued and awesome and sympathetic and delighted) is DEFINITELY worth sharing.

[applegeuse.livejournal.com]

I've never even seen SGA, but if it is only 6 minutes long, I will definitely give it a listen. I CANNOT GO WRONG WITH SIX MINUTES.

[reena_jenkins]

Here, have an SGA summary in five sentences or less:

1. Our protagonists (John, Rodney) are space explorers from Earth living on an alien city (Atlantis) in the Pegasus Galaxy.

2. They have friends who are human-shaped-aliens (Ronon and Teyla), and go on exciting - and often explosive - adventures together.

3. According to legions of flaily fangirls, John and Rodney are the OTPest of all OTPs: Rodney is "the smartest man in two galaxies", and John is a rakish flyboy, so of course their love is epic.

4. There is a magic gene (ATA - stands for 'Ancient Technology Activation', not 'Adenine Thymine Adenine'), the expression of which allows one to interact with the City (and any other stuff left behind by the aliens who built the City).

5. The bad guys are called Wraith - they suck your life force out of you with their hands, and leave you all shriveled up and old...and then you die.

Now you know everything you need to know, to properly enjoy most any SGA podfic. Yay!

[applegeuse.livejournal.com]

This is very helpful and concise. Thanks very much! :D

Also, #3 sounds promising. ;)

[reena_jenkins]

Gah! No! Stop!

Stop answering me in such a timely manner - I'm trying to answer stuff from three days ago, still!

;-)

[applegeuse.livejournal.com]

HAHAHA, I WILL NOT STOP. Ha, sorry, I had to CONTINUE and reply to this super quickly because I saw it pop up in my inbox, and I'm never usually online when this happens.

HA. :D

[reena_jenkins]

ARRRRRRRGH.

You are being difficult on purpose now.

[aphelant.livejournal.com]

I found the two-voices approach to be quite moving, as well as effectively distinguishing which personality was behind John's face.

Huh, I never really thought of it that way before! Like we were two voices behind one face. I like it!

Thanks for the rec!

[reena_jenkins]

You're welcome! And, glad to have added something new for you to think about.

Oh! So, I just read Shell Shock, and was all, "Whoa! Awesome!".....you're on the blanket-permission-for-podficcing-purposes list, right?

[aphelant.livejournal.com]

I am totally on the blanket permissions list, yes! I have blanket permission for everything, aw yeah!

[reena_jenkins]

Alright! So, um, I think I'll be meandering over to take a look at the rest of your stuff....and then over to GarageBand for some podficcing time.... I'll let you know what/when things get podficced :-D

[aphelant.livejournal.com]

OMG THIS IS THE MOST EXCITING THING EVER. The only person who's ever podficced anything of mine is...me. (and you can do anything I've done myself, seriously, I would be EXTREMELY PLEASED if they were done by someone other than, er, me. :D? :D? :D?)

My most recent fic is on Ao3 (http://archiveofourown.org/users/aphelant/works), which you're probably already at, and everything prior to that is on my website (http://www.aphelant.com/) (which is, uh, currently down oh man wth I'm poking my site guru) or here is a tag on my LJ (http://aphelant.livejournal.com/tag/my%20fic) though this only has stuff from my LJ era (but that's okay because my older stuff sucksssss). !!!!

[celtic-forest.livejournal.com]

Disclaimer 'Verse owns a piece of my heart.
You're the third person to rec S&L:HMT to me. (I've seen it on other lists; I mean two recs were from people at Wincon.) I've tried it twice, and lose interest shortly after Jensen is brought to the shop (i.e., very near the beginning of the fic). Is there anything you might add to the rec so I'll get past that? (If not, fine, I probably should just take peoples word for it.)

I've been listening to a lot of your work lately, and I love your voice! :)

[reena_jenkins]

Okay, so here's the thing - I found the art first, a link to the story second, and the podfic third. I went into the podfic without having read the fic, and had visions of heavily tattooed, drool-inducing boys, dancing in my brain. Plus, I originally came to hear S&L: HMT right after listening to "As This Sunset Turns To Morning", and was really in the mood for high-school-accepting-my-sexuality-boysex. So, that was good.

And, ok, some of the things these characters do - some of the decisions Jensen makes, some of the reactions Jared has - were a little OOC for my mental vision of J2 (which, I admit is an odd thing to say - it's not as though I actually know these people, so what do I know about what would be 'out of character' for them....just, I have a certain mental categorization of the boys, and a few moments in this fic didn't quite mesh with what I imagined....long use of parentheses is long) - but one thing I found helpful to keep in mind was that the authors were building a world with this story, and every decision made by each character sort of...helped set that world a bit farther away from ours. Does that make sense? Like, X happens to Jensen at school, so he makes the decision to do Y, and then Jared reacts by doing Z - and the whole time, while those might not have been the decisions I would have made for the characters, I could see that the authors had a plan in mind that would keep each character's motivations and emotions in mind when said character did whatever it was that he did.

And, yeah, I admit it: for a few moments in the beginning of the story, I had a hard time shifting JDM from John Winchester. I had to keep reminding myself, "He's not necessarily an asshole here. There's no demons. Keep reading!" ;-)

The only thing that tweaked me a bit while listening to the fic, was the lack of proper tattoo/piercing care mentioned in the story. It's established in the story that Jared has a bit of a pain kink, so I could see him being willing to roll around and put pressure on a newly-inked tattoo (but for the first week or two after I got mine done, I was wincing if my socks rubbed against it wrong - pain tollerances vary, I guess). But Jensen gets his nipple pierced, and then proceeds to have Jared play with the piercing before it's had a while to heal. Sure, I'm willing to overlook it for the sake of some smokin' porn, but try not to take this fic as real-world advice on when it's gonna feel awesome to sex around on freshly pierced bodyparts.

So, in conclusion, I would suggest taking a long, hard (heehee - hard - sexy tattoo manips - heeheehee) look at some of these manips to get you in the right mood for the story, and then giving it a listen. I know that, for me, I have found a few stories out there in the wide wide interwebz that were kinda 'eh' when I read them, but pretty 'AH!' when I heard someone read them to me. Maybe S&L:HML is like that for you. Hope this helped some ^_______^

[reena_jenkins]

Also, thank you! I'm glad you're enjoying my stuff...and, hooray for Amplificathon 2011, wherein I shall most definitely be spamming this comm ;-)

[celtic-forest.livejournal.com]

Wow, thanks for such a thoughtful reply!
I hadn't realized it, but it was the OOCness that was taking me out of the fic. (As for fans/fandom having a sense of in vs. out of character for rpf: it is not logical, but it is often true. By coincidence, I've been mulling that over lately, so this fic will be interesting in that context.)
Yeah, in particular, that picture of Jared under the "not an exit" sign is definitely helping! :)
Thanks again for this analysis!