#jonathan fanshawe

[cornmagnate]

The books

A piece i made for tma 2025 calendar zine, had a lot of fun with it!

[see-arcane]

Every time I blink there's some new Jon, John, or Johannes taking up space in my head. I plan to add to it by finally sitting down and reading through Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell in the coming year. Still missing a Johanna, though.

[natcatnhanh]

Fanshawe speak your truth 🤾🙏

[disacurveball]

So excited I can finally post this!

My piece for the 2025 TMA Regency Zine Calendar: Jonathan Fanshawe August babey!

This piece is inspired by The Sleuth by J.C. Leyendecker.

[insuspensa]

My piece for the 2025 TMA Regency Boys calendar: Magnus and Fanshawe November. Hosta wrote a snippet to go along with it!

He puts the kindling in the fireplace. He lights the match. He's going to rid himself of this vice, he swears. But to what end? What good is paper turned to ash, in the face of the unknowable? What good is it in the face of love? He lights a second match. The first has burned his fingertips. He tosses the letters into the fire and knows he's achieved nothing.

[klm-zoflorr]

Jonah Magnus: 👁️👁️👁️

Mordechai Lukas: *sighs dreamily* my babygirl

Jonathan Fanshawe: Your babygirl has killed people

Barnabas Benett: Would you prefer he call him our babygirl?

[ceaseless-bitcher]

Hamilton-style musical of rendition of Robert Smirke’s crew and the fallout between himself, Jonah Magnus, and the rest of them.

Ambitious Scottish upstart Jonah Magnus, plunging into the scene of higher society and academia

Interpersonal drama in the esoteric research and philosophy sphere

A power ballad aria from Smirke as he describes his grand, utopian plans for balance

Jonah seeing the wonders of this new world and getting increasingly involved in it, probably getting in some heated theoretical debates with Rayner et al. about it because, being Beholding- and Dark-aligned, their fundamental views would be diametrically opposed

A slowly-shifting musical motif for Jonah as his intentions develop over the course of the play

Barnabas pleading with Jonah through his letter; they’re in separate parts of the stage with different lightings and they can’t see each other. Jonah is reading, rather than listening to, his words

SPOTLIGHTS REMINISCENT OF EYES

Harrowing solo as Jonah sinks deeper into fearing the possibility of rituals

More below the cut because I’m going nuts about this.

I would feel like there’s too much ground to cover (c. 1809 [estimated year Jonah gets introduced to the Fears if he established the Institute in 1818 and talked Smirke into working on Millbank 1815-1821] all the way to 1867 [year of Smirke’s death and the final decommissioning of Millbank: the year in which I place Jonah’s first attempt at the Watcher’s Crown]) if it weren’t for the several decades covered in Hamilton. It provides a pretty good guide for such a varied timeline.

More insane scenes:

Contrast of Albrecht Von Closen’s 1816 letter informing Jonah of his findings at his nephew’s estate vs Dr. Johnathan Fanshawe’s 1831 letter revealing how Jonah knowingly caused Von Closen’s death by stealing his books and got him filled with eyes

Smirke watching the group he formed fall to the Fears in turn, clinging to his alliance with Jonah and therefore being blind to his own turn towards Beholding

Jonah’s financial wheedling with Mordechai Lukas and other donors for his fledgling Institute

Jonah being so gleeful about his brand new Magnus Institute in Edinburgh, after several years of compiling statements informally

HE GETS TO DELIGHT IN ALL THE SCHEDULING AND LOGISTICS!!!

Just. all the letters we have record of. I haven’t even gotten to Dr. Algernon Moss or the conflict between George Gilbert Scott and Sampson Kempthorne

PETTY architecture drama

[dr-fanshawe]

they say that you should be the change that you want to see in the world, so I wrote a magshawe fic

Jonah Magnus/Jonathan Fanshawe | Explicit (for a description of self-injury) | 2297 words

“Any proper gentleman is supposed to marry, is he not?” Jonathan pauses, lost at Jonah’s seemingly serious question. He is so difficult to read, at times, even though Jonathan has known him for years. It is something he’s deeply ashamed of, but something that he has learned to mitigate. Somewhat. “No proper gentleman is a friend of yours, Jonah. Besides, I cannot marry – you are aware of it. I’m afraid you’ll have to find someone else to help you bring revenge to Mordechai.” Jonah tilts his head in confusion. “I am not aware of any such limitation, no. Your ring finger is intact – what else do you need to be able to marry?” …He is joking. Surely.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/62016031

[nocteville]

So, I made a regency era uquiz earlier, and I hope it’s not too hard (and that it works properly. I’ve never made a uquiz before, and my test run seemed fine? But I still worry lol). Anyway, here it is for anyone who may be interested!

[letitbleedout]

Behold! TMA fic I wrote last year.

Something to Remember Me By

During a routine statement follow-up, Tim finds himself alone with violent company. Little does he know he's about to be caught up in something bigger than he ever imagined.

Somebody's World

After receiving a concerning call from Tim, Danny hurries to be at his side. Tim might be dealing with some shit, but Danny's presence is always a relief.

Vengeful Spirits

The house, as it burns, offers no comfort.

❤️‍🔥 Desolation Tim, my belovéd ❤️‍🔥

Signs and Symbols

Jonathan is used to visits from Jonah, as both a friend and a patient, just as he's used to tending to Jonah's myriad of unexplained injuries. This doesn't bring him any closer to knowing where he stands with Jonah, even when he feels it should be obvious.

Finally, something that isn't Tim Stoker.

A Helping Hand

Statement of Gerard Keay, regarding the physical effects of a recently-purchased Leitner. Original statement given on 10 October, 2013. Audio recording by Jonathan Sims, Head Archivist of the Magnus Institute, London.

AKA Statement of Gerard Keay regarding a Horny Leitner.

[little-watcher]

ooc post: hey babes!! silly things been happening huh? may i offer some fluffy art in these trying times?

ALRIGHT PPL FEATURED ARE

@elias-magnusnt @not-qualified-for-your-bull @ur-local-flesh-hive @fairchild-isnt-my-actual-name @dr-jonathan-fanshawe @jonahmagnus-research @ren-cormander-archival-intern

thats all i got!!! love yall <3

[absoluteocellibehavior]

I rarely ever post my art on here, but I've compiled a bunch of Eye Avatars and their titles on a couple pages so here ya go! A lil dump. Also, Arthur and John Malevolent are on there!

This references the titles I've given them in here. *jazz hands*

[natcatnhanh]

getting back into tma and finally drawing all those old ideas I’ve thought of but never actually got around to drawing

[disacurveball]

Flesh avatar Fanshawe anyone??

[see-arcane]

A Magnus (Protocol) By Any Other Name…

…will be just as horrifying.

Well, it’s time for me to dust off the corkboard, unravel some fresh red yarn, and cook up some new incredibly wrong but passionate theories. First one is bouncing off some key points:

1) The Magnus Protocol’s logo is composed of certain alchemic symbols, chiefly a version of the sign involved with creating the Philosopher’s Stone; the catalyst for riches and the Elixir of Life’s gift of immortality.

Especially tasty to consider, what with the first episode introducing us to poor Red Canary who discovered the ruins of the Magnus Institute were host to some strange symbols of its own inside.

2) A fellow by the name of Saint Albertus Magnus was kicking around in the 1200s and, like that famous French scribe Nicolas Flamel, he got a hefty posthumous reputation for having been a great alchemist on top of being a philosopher and scientist.

What does this add up to? First, I want to look at identity possibilities when it comes to who the Magnus(es) in question might be here.

Theory A: Jonah Magnus was part of a lineage with an itch to chase the more-than-earthly and, naturally, immortality. If not a direct descendant, then a sibling or cousin line. Can’t say Albertus would be jumping to congratulate the bastard for his ‘success story.’

Theory B: With apologies to the actual Albertus, maybe Jonah is that original alchemic Magnus. Or at least he wore the guy once upon a time and kept the surname. Maybe he fudged the ye olde records some centuries back. Death records, life records, whether or not old Al ran into some unsavory character with unpleasant gray eyes…

Theory C: Circles a bit back to A, in that Jonah wasn’t the only one in his family tree poking around supernatural and supernal forces. Assuming Jonah existed as himself at all in this place. Someone or something else might have been running this world’s Magnus Institute before it was roasted. While the current assumption is that the cast of characters we knew in The Magnus Archives might exist within TMP’s universe as themselves, we don’t have all the pieces yet.

Fun stuff!

But oh. Oh boy. I am chewing apart the implications of the main logo and the ‘protocol’ like an excited dog. Specifically, the possible implications of the Philosopher’s Stone symbol visible in the logo not being this…

…but this.

The sign is inverted. Which shouldn’t mean much, right? All the other little symbols chilling in there are right side up, what’s the big deal?

The same kind of deal that we see in the difference between a pentacle, associated with magic and pagan faiths in various forms:

And a pentagram, associated point blank with outright devilish and demonic dabbling:

Or, if you’re up on your Tarot, you know that there’s a world of difference between getting your card right-side up (delivering on the image’s classic meaning) versus flipping it to see the picture inverted (the opposite of the original intent).

So what does that mean for the TMP’s symbol, the same stamp which we might assume the Office of Incident, Assessment and Response has on their workplace? My guess: This is the insignia of a force or founder who put the ‘protocol’ in The Magnus Protocol. A foundation based on actively opposing what they took to be forces of a classically alchemic and/or infernal nature rather than the cosmic horrors we know the Fears as.

The Enemy is using these powers to evil ends. The Enemy is made of monsters. The Enemy includes Jonah Magnus, the spoiled offshoot of Albertus Magnus. Our sign is the opposition to his and others’ vicious quest.

Or suchlike.

In the style of Gertrude Robinson, the original person or persons behind the Protocol and our main characters’ Office appears to have hit upon a ‘fight fire with fire’ reaction to the Fears. We see how Alice, a veteran employee of the Office, displays a strong insistence on categorizing its statements very, very loosely, and actively not prying into deeper research in the way a place wholly possessed by the Eye would encourage. She’s seen people go strange upon following the lure of weirdness; but she knows from experience that the Office can be worked in jovially enough, sans side effects. The implication being that Colin is sprinting down that rabbit hole, poor dude.

If the OIAR is of the Eye, it is also against the Eye. Against all Fears, even as it absorbs statements of their actions. Feeding its patron while also cutting back the portions by way of not being too careful about the filing or the tasty background research. If the Eye is present at all in the Office, then it is settling for granola bars versus Jonah Magnus’ offered banquets.

Which all comes back to the question of:

If Jonah Magnus founded the Institute here, who is responsible for the OIAR?

My pet favorite is the ‘one who got away’ as far as Jonah’s classic 19th century days went—one Dr. Jonathan Fanshawe who got an eyeful of a victim’s blinking innards and broke ties with Magnus like they were pretzel sticks. We never do find out what became of him afterward.

His last written words to Jonah ran:

Nothing stood in the way of my retreat, and I dragged Albrecht’s body back as far as the coach. We left that awful place, and I have endeavored most acutely to forget the route. Before he was buried, I was able to secure permission to do an autopsy. I had some thought as to discovering the cause of his sudden, violent passing. Do I need to tell you what I found, Jonah? Do I need to detail what covered his organs, his bones, the inside of his skin? What clustered together in their dozens, and all turned as one to focus on me as I opened his chest, their pupils constricting in the light, with irises of every hue and color? Because whatever it was that did this to him, I know in my heart that it is your fault. I have had the body burned. Please do not write to me again. Your obedient servant, Doctor Jonathan Fanshawe.

You can feel the polite antique ice on that goodbye. Just as we can read here, and glean from his full letter, that the whole experience surrounding poor Albrecht is one he actively wishes he could forget. To not examine. And, of course, there’s the baited hook of Jonathan Sims’ next lines after reading the letter aloud:

Statement ends. (sigh) Disconcerting to find my namesake in a statement, especially one connected so directly to the Institute. I can only hope breaking faith with Jonah Magnus didn’t go too badly for him.

I can’t think of a better ironic hell for the good doctor than to find himself the abrupt focus of the Eye all over again. Especially when the meat of the letter-statement involves this scene:

“I had them rebound last year,” he said. “Damp can do terrible things to a book.” I told him I was certain that that was the case, but I must insist we talk about his health. Again he ignored me. Instead, he took the seat opposite me and started to tell me a story. And then another. And another. A stream of strange tales began to pour out of him, and I just sat there, transfixed, desperately wishing I had the strength of will to leave, but all I could do was listen. He told me of a seamstress, who laced her body with fine black thread, and when she pulled it all out in a single swift motion, her skin dropped away like a loose shift. He told me of a man so scared to die he spent a year weaving a rope blindfolded, so he would not know the length, and could not foresee the moment it would tighten around his neck when he finally threw himself into the void. He told me of a fire that burns so hot and fierce that to even know about it is enough to burn a man’s tongue from his head. He told me so many terrible things.

And at the end of it all, the only thing I could think to ask him was where he read them. My eyes darted to the books that surrounded us, but Albrecht laughed at this, and placed his hands across a spine that was simply labeled ‘A Warning.’ For a moment, he looked as though he were about to wrench it from its place and hurl it into the fire. But it passed. He turned back to me. “You do not understand,” he said to me in German. “I do not read the books. They read me.”

Isn’t that something? A crossing of paths with the Eye that wasn’t just inflicting its Stare upon him through a victim or an avatar, but effectively pinning Dr. Fanshawe in the role of the unhappily avid audience, however briefly. Forced to absorb a litany of horrors as another Jonathan would so many years later. Good foundation for someone who, upon discovering the insidious supernatural Powers That Be were not about to leave him alone, would try his best to turn that force into something to use against the monsters. A habit among Archivists who’ve had Jonah Magnus inflicted on them.

Assuming it is Fanshawe at the roots here, the act of designing a symbol centered on inverting the Philosopher’s Stone sigil makes sense. Cosmic and eldritch horror wasn’t really on the table for that era. But the demonic and the arcane were. As were, we can assume, history books to do with famous old Albertus Magnus and his possible connection to Jonah ‘Wants to Be an Immortal All-Powerful Specialboy’ Magnus. Whether it’s Dr. Fanshawe behind the OIAR’s inception or not, having it be somebody from Jonah Magnus’ early days works out—they would assume the bogeymen at work were merely hellish, nothing broader.   

Plus, there’s just plain narrative convenience to consider. ‘19th century guy knows Magnus is up to shit with his Institute. Gets suspicious. Gets avatar’d against his will. Gets proactive about it. Named Jonathan, good for a bait-and-switch down the line.’

But, I could obviously be 1000% wrong, as per usual with ¾ of my Magnus-flavored theories. It could be someone or something entirely unrelated, though I’m keeping my fingers crossed for Fanshawe. Especially when I stop to think about how very fond the Fears are of avatars who play hard to get, forcing their essence and power on those who want it least.

The arachnophobic Annabelle Cane.

The endlessly exhausted Oliver Banks.

The goodwilled and betrayed Michael Shelley.

The empathetic sacrificial lamb of Jonathan Sims.  

And perhaps, there at the start, Jonathan Fanshawe. Seeing and being Seen, balking at the Ceaseless Watcher’s work and the stories it wanted to share with him. Maybe, maybe.

We’ll just have to wait and See. 👁️

[klm-zoflorr]

Barnabas Bennett, pining: Fanshawe is so much smarter and confident than me, with an intellect that can rival Jonah's, and he's not just a pathetic wretch for the man...

Jonathan Fanshawe, moping: Bennett is so much kinder and passionate than I am, he can provide Jonah comfort where I cannot, and I always feel his affection for him is so much more...

Jonah, holding a knife and fork: Sweet, two boyfriends!