#absolutely shameless self promo from me there sorry anon

[whinlatter]

Hermione —> Overrated? Or underrated?

Do you think Harry or Ron would have been incapable of finding the Horcruxes without Hermione? Do you think their capabilities are overshadowed by Hermione since she’s so smart? When they became Aurors do you think they flopped or thrived without Hermione?

Anon are you trying to start a war in my ask box with this one…

You know, I think I would say Hermione is increasingly underrated in certain fandom spaces, after a long time being maaaybe idealised to the point where her character had all her flaws erased and the backlash was bound to happen. I love Hermione as a character, talents, flaws and all. I love thinking about her arc, her motivations and emotions and relationships that we don't glimpse through Harry's narration (her friendship with Ginny being a great example - I loved loved loved playing with it in Orchards). I just always enjoy exploring her inner life and her joy and fears and more intimate feelings when writing or reading fics (something this recent piece, something so tender (i can't explain) by @incalculablepower, does so so well). When I was much younger I used to be a bit ambivalent about Hermione as a character, for reasons that are almost cliche now: a reader who are themselves a bookish girl seeing too much of themselves in Hermione's worst moments and not enjoying the invitation to look inwards that those moments prompted, lol. (I remember little me reading the part where Ron mocks Hermione for jumping up and down in her chair while putting her hand up in class and being like sorry do other people... not like it when I do that in class... oh no oh no)

The boring answer is I don't think Harry or Ron would have been able capable of finding the Horcruxes without Hermione, but I also definitely don't think Hermione would have been able to find them on her own. Back in the day in fandom spaces, I think Harry and Ron were a bit caricatured as useless clowns bouncing off walls with Hermione being the only one with any sense. These days, at least in the fandom spaces I interact with, there've been a lot of big steps towards giving Harry and Ron their completely deserved credit for being smart, strategic and impressive throughout the Horcrux hunt (digression but I was doing a re-read of Malfoy Manor chapter the other day and sorry Harry and Ron double act in that scene is so impressive when they're dealing with Wormtail. Auror skills absolutely at work in that moment). I think Harry and Ron would do well in those early years as Aurors without Hermione, in part because they have learned from her over the years, but not solely because of it.

For me, it's so interesting to think about how a lot of Hermione's character growth and arc would happen after the war. Although I don't think the transition to Auror life would have been straightforward for Harry and Ron, I think Hermione would really struggle with going back to Hogwarts. It definitely makes sense that she would want to go back and try and get back on her pre-war track, but you know what they say: you can never really go home. For Hermione, going back to school would have been extremely dislocating and challenging, for so many reasons: the absence of Harry and Ron socially (and ofc being long-distance with Ron), but also the experience of going from being a war hero on-the-run back to the very controlled and arguably infantilising life of a boarding school, alongside peers who lived a very different war to her and went through Hogwarts under the Carrows. Hermione would have her own post-war traumas to deal with, but no longer be alongside the two people who shared hers most directly. Then there's also the context with her parents... I think the 1998/1999 academic year was a rough one for her, in ways that are so interesting to think about as a writer.

(Now if only someone... would write a fic... about the girls at Hogwarts in their seventh year... where we might explore these themes... that might begin with b and rhyme with feasts... maybe... might be nice...)

[icedthoma]

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[asokatanos]

do you have any fic recs for the mentalist?

I told you I’d post some for you tonight and here they are!! Unfortunately I did a lot of reading while I was still obstinately REFUSING to make another ffnet account, so I didn’t save like a good 90% of what I read, some of which was excellent. But here are some of the ones I did +fav or whatever they call it there. No particular genre since your ask was open ended, but, well-

(sorry in advance - these are mostly ffnet links but they’re worth braving that site I swear)

((also this is definitely a non-exhaustive list. there’s some real talent in this fandom))

Consummate Connection Confrontation - these are three separate fics in that order by the absolutely inimitable @hardlyloquatious. Literally everything they’ve written is amazing. I’ve completely exposed myself because my first rec is sort of. uh, lightly 18+. But I had to put this author at the top of my list because I love them so much. The way Jane talks in Consummate has literally kept me awake more than once. It’s honestly more sweet and touching than anything but it’s definitely uh. not something your boss should catch you with I guess.

Long Lost, Long Last - same author. This was written and posted before My Blue Heaven aired, but it has the same vibe as that episode, except deliciously drawn out. It starts off with Jane being his kinda silly self and deciding he wants to try his hand at letter writing, so he writes little notes for the whole team. Lisbon is the only one who gives him a note back, and they take to leaving each other lil notes - until RJ is killed and Jane disappears to do some soul searching. This fic is so... beautiful and I think about it with some frequency. “Consummate” is hot but Long Lost Long Last is why HL is my fave TM author.

Practice - okay one last one from this author. This one isn’t like, groundbreaking, but it’s just the SWEETEST look at how much Jane tries after they get together. I’m a sucker for Jane being sweet. Clearly, since that’s why Consummate is at the top of this list.

Blood Red Moon - the author is 221b Baker Street. Their fics are a LOT more heavy. But they’re so, so good. Their mastery of language is incredible and their fics read like professionally written books - and they do Jane/Lisbon banter incredibly well. Some of the imagery they use has genuinely stuck with me. Also see Sacraments in Scarlet (Jane pretends to be a priest), Arsenic and Red Lace (murder at an assisted care facility and Jane being the cheery and extremely sad bastard that he is), Jonathon Redding (a take on Red John that is deeply clever), a Road lEss traveleD (this is. unsettling. it’s extremely good but save it for the last from this author, wait until you love them first. The payoff for not-as-it-seems comes towards the end but it really is worth waiting for).

Blood Wind - by Gone2Far speaking of unsettling. THIS ONE. God this fic is so good. Spooky as fuck in a way that’s a little X-Filesy and incredibly well written. I want to live very far from this fic while at the same time wrapping myself in its words so I can borrow a crumb of talent.

In Case series - @halfagonyandhope (yay, they’re on tumblr). This rec list isn’t necessarily in any sort of order because after HL, halfagonyandhope is second fave author. This particular series is SO ROMANTIC and LOVELY and I kinda wanna cry kinda wanna read it again and again. My favorite one in the series is Ya’aburnee but you have to read the ones preceding it to make any sort of sense. Also now that I’m looking at all of these again I’m realizing that apparently the second installment stuck with me more than I expected because I wrote more than 10k words of something that has a vaguely similar theme (which I will post later). 

Qumran and Reset - by J. Roddam. This author only ever seems to have written these two but they’re fucking EXQUISITE. I generally avoid AUs in this fandom because the concept of erasing Jane’s past does NOT sit right with me but Reset is one of the only exceptions I’ve made. It has soulmate vibes without being like, a tumblr soulmate story. Both of them are living SUCH different lives than their canon counterparts but somehow it actually works and it’s beautiful. Qumran is similarly without peer.

Pretending, I: Witness - @inkstainedfingers97. I wouldn’t even know where to start but I love every single thing about this fic - and it’s recently been completed! I was lucky enough to get to binge read a majority of it but waiting for updates was also genuinely thrilling too. Fake/Real Married for WITSEC reasons, real love for obvious reasons. Also the Lorelei dynamic is way more intense than on the show in a way that’s at once very uncomfortable and very believable.

27 Minutes - by Idan. Okay. Okay so this author commented on one of my fics and I almost lost it because I really love theirs. I was smiling for like an hour when I saw the notification from them!! 27 Min is my favorite one but In The Cards is widely rec’d by others for very good reason, it’s so good. The Pretender is also excellent, written based on promos of Orange Blossom Ice Cream and so a bit AU from there.

Eighteen Hours - I would definitely be remiss if I didn’t mention @leafenclaw (and actually, I was remiss because I realized while making this post that theirs were some of those early fics I read that I never +fave etc, so ty for the ask so I can do it now, anon). Leafenclaw writes SO well and I have an extra soft spot for them because they pointed me in the direction of a lot of fics and were one of the first ppl I ever spoke with in this fandom since luckily they’re on tumblr too. Also Kindred (note - both of these are still WIP but being updated/worked on!) Chasing Storms is complete, incredible, angsty, beautiful. Also I kind of want to borrow the idea of writing one story around a set of many prompts like this. I don’t actually think I’ve ever seen anyone else do that?

The Long Way Back - by LouiseKurylo I consider them sort of a friend because they’ve been SO supportive while I was writing  Saving Grace but even before that with a new suit, another pair of socks, and a terrible couch. And I’ve seen them supporting everybody else too - they’re just SO NICE. Their fics are also very interesting, and they sort of bring Jane and Lisbon much more into the real world. There’s more real life problems to go hand in hand with mentalist plot type problems, which makes for very interesting reading. Fischer in this particular fic is FASCINATING. Also, a hot tip @leafenclaw shared with me: Louise’s faves list has 500 stories in it and pretty much everything in there is worth reading.

Last but OBVIOUSLY not least I wanna mention some of the very cute and talented and actively posting people here on tumblr in our little mentalist squad of approximately 12 people lmao. You probably already know @gracevanpelt aka LilyThistle’s Big Blue, Red Road, Breathe, and Collusion. I have an especially soft spot for Breathe actually even though it’s the least plotty of the lot. I just think it works so perfectly on its own, as is, like a quiet little interlude. No muss no fuss as Jane would say - and I love it a lot. @asambergs aka cmbing’s how glad i am that you exist is actually the FIRST piece of Mentalist fic I ever read, and then I was pulled down this slippery slope to end up posting this at 11:52 pm on a Thursday night. And I’m not about to forget @pjane aka epaynter whose words are so beautifully atmospheric and who writes the softest Jane (I love Soft Jane and will fight anyone who disagrees about it!!)

Aaaand a nice and shameless self plug in the form of ao3 links: Come Fly With Me (this is the softest thing I’ve ever written), Saving Grace (an actual, complete, fully plotted fic. 14 year old me is SHAKING), a new suit, a terrible couch, another pair of socks (this last was inspired by @asambergs fics actually, and was the first thing I wrote in this fandom!)

[cownnor]

Rk1k Fic Recs

I appologize to the anon who sent this because my tumblr never told me I had any messages and I just legit never checked so that’s my fault. Sorry about that. 

Anyways. Here are ten RK1000 fic recs, from shortest to longest. 

Pull Me Under by Yessica: 1006 words.This fic is short and sweet. Markus has a nightmare and Connor is there for him when he wakes up. It’s a little domestic and established relationship. 

2 AM, My Mind Runs Wild by Catnip: 4412 words. This is pre relationship. There’s a break in at Carl’s house and upon arriving Markus finds that everything has already been taken care of by Connor. He is grateful.

Canvas by Headraline: 5922 words. NSFW. Okay so this is some smut but it is also incredibly sweet and is an absolutely wonderful concept. Markus paints on Connor’s back, they end up making a mess of the sheets during sex, and the creations that come from it are beautiful. 

Duet by Hyperions: 7808 words. NSFW This is a “first time” fic with Connor and Markus having a natural pull towards each other. It’s very comforting.

Busy Being Yours by Mamichigo: 9063 words. This is an AU fic where both Markus and Connor are police officers. They start having casual sex and eventually become more. It is a little abstract and just wonderfully crafted.

Easy by Publictransit: 17,924 words. This fic isn’t done yet, but what is written so far is satisfying and a great read. Markus helps Connor search through his systems for Amanda and they grow closer during the process. It’s easy to read and interesting.

Innocent Until Proven Guilty by Headraline: 21,804 words. NSFW. Connor runs to Markus for an alibi after getting in a scuffle while protecting another android. Markus’s first instinct is to claim he and Connor are dating, and were certainly together at the time. It’s the “pretend lovers to real lovers” that everyone needs. 

Straight Through My Heart by Warbreaker: 36,511 words. The get together fic that fixes all of Cage’s ugly mistakes. It is a very plausible explanation for how Connor and Markus could become a piece during the last chapter of the game. 

Internal Affairs by leoandsnake: 59,549 words NSFW. An absolutely wonderful case fic with enough conkus and action that it doesn’t read like a normal case fic. It’s always interesting and comes to a very exciting climax ending that has everyone on the edge of their seats. Connor and Markus are an established couple. LeoandSnake has another wonderful fic explaining Connor and Markus’s developing relationship that can act as a prequel. 

Saturn by Notspiderman: 77,419 words. The king of them all. This damn fic. THIS is the fic that made me start shipping Markus and Connor to begin with. Without this fic I would have never have shipped them I’m sure. It’s not complete, but it is absolutely wonderful, and what is there already is just fucking spectacular. I’ve reread this fic at least 5 times already. Just give it a click.  Also: Anything by Headraline is fucking supreme. They have 17 fics in dbh rn and literally all of them are absolutely incredible. I reread them all constantly when I need my fill. You can pick any of them and I can guarantee its a good read. 

if you need any other suggestions, I have 60 fics bookmarked in dbh on my profile at unholygrass. I’ve also written 4 rk1k fics myself so there’s some shameless self promo

[quercussp]

Would you make a fic rec list of your favorite tour fics? Please?

Hi anon! I know it’s been like a month since you’ve sent this ask, but in honor of the tour being over, I’m finally going to do it:) I’m going to narrow this down to a list of fics about II and not any other tours, because otherwise it would be too much.

In no particular order:

make this feel like home (M, 6.1k) by @onedirectionticketss1 - a fic about realistic tiredness and conflict that just hit all the spots for me. The mood is set incredibly well and the characterizations are on point.

Insight Between Black and White (T, 4.6k) by @tortitabby - a fic about Phil accidentally outing them during the tour. Although perhaps the tour is not the main focus of this story, it still plays a big part in it. I absolutely love this fic. It has such a real and raw way of dealing with this issue, I was absolutely blown away.

who you are (and what i am when i’m with you) (G, 1.3k) by @nihilismdan - a fic about being free to be yourself by not being yourself. Incredibly thoughtful and beautiful fic.

averagely enough (G, 1.5k) by @watergator - a rare and thoughtful look at Dan’s relationship with his dad.

matte black (G, 1.4k) by @waveydnp - oh this fic has everything. Family, love, relationship analysis, sexuality and identity introspection, and all of it in 1.4k incredibly beautifully written words. 

for a better tomorrow (G, 7.7k) by @cityofphanchester - an incredibly nuanced take on a depressive episode during the tour and how people around you can be affected.

all my faces are alibis (T, 7.4k) by @onedirectionticketss1 - another beautiful take on Dan’s depression. It’s also about admitting your struggles to yourself and learning to accept that, and it’s really the type of fic we all need in our lives.

Hungover but Sober (T, 3k) by thesassykels66 - another fic about mental health on tour, this time about Phil. The anxiety and tiredness in this fic is palpable and I can feel it in my very bones.

a night’s interlude (E, 4.6k) by @symmetricdnp - one more take on Phil’s mental state during the tour. It’s heartbreakingly true to life and vulnerable, but also really happy.

tea when the weather’s fine (T, 1k) by @alittledizzy - one more take on Phil’s struggles during the tour. I love reading Mandy’s take on Phil’s mind, it always makes me feel like I learned something new about him as a person.

inside looking out (T, 3.1k) by @waveydnp - jealousy, which is like my favorite trope, done so so thoughtfully and realistically. This is the fic I would ask for if I could choose any fic in the world to read.

Off Kilter (T, 2k) by @tortitabby - another brilliant jealousy fic, complete with partners knowing each other to the bone, mental health discussions and learning to live with yourself.

for you are not beside but with me (E, 6.9k) by @obsessivelymoody - Dan and Phil visiting Vancouver. One of those fics that makes you feel like you are actually in this place, and made me want to go to Vancouver even more than before.

say your confessions (T, 2.3k) by @watergator - Dan and Phil on their tour stop in India. Has a lot of feelings and nostalgia, and made me really emotional when I read it.

spreepark (G, 1.3k) by @templeofshame - another fic that’s more about a place than about people. It’s so beautiful and immersive, I feel as though I’m taken out of the world I am in every time I read it.

we got the north lights (E, 1k) by @alittledizzy - a reaction to Dan’s instagram selfie, sweet, lovely, sexy and very beautiful.

starving (G, 2.6k) by @waveydnp - a fic about difficulties tour brings, specifically lack of comfort and privacy. As with all of Sarah’s fics, the emotions are so raw and real, that they consume you entirely when you read. Absolutely beautiful fic.

10,000 emerald pools (E, 2.9k) by @kay-okays - really really really well written sex. Can’t stress enough how great it is.

coco bomb (E, 1.9k) by @waveydnp - tour sex done the best way, with so much love, trust and passion, that it makes me just really happy that they have each other.

stuck in last night (E, 1.2k) by @iihappydaysii - some lovely tour sex done by the king of smut himself (I miss you Ash

head over heels (E, 2.9k) by @waveydnp - some more deliciously well written sex for all your tour sex needs.

Would love to spend a day in the clouds (G, 2.2k) by @det395 - very well done outsider POV.

let’s hear it for the boys (T, 1.2k) by @queerofcups - a fic about Dan and Phil going to pride, which is just bursting with freedom and nuance.

Also, feel free to ignore what comes next, as it’s shameless self promo:

Let your balalaika sing (T, 3.3k) - Dan and Phil in Russia.

Brotherly (G, 1.7k) - a fic from Martyn’s point of view while on tour.

Sorry about that.

I spent a lot of time doing this, so I hope you find something to read:) If I forgot any of your favorites feel free to let me know! I honestly think that the best thing about this tour was the insane amount of wonderful tour related fic. Thank you, all of you lovely writers