#Beholding the GDPR

[haveyoureadthisfanfic]

Summary: The Magnus Institute hires a Data Protection Officer during season 3. He sets about diligently booking in meetings, writing policy documents, and training all the staff in the importance of confidentiality. Now if only he could get hold of the Head Archivist, who seems to have vanished again... (Jon is only trying to save the world, but apparently some people think he should still be doing his day job.)

Author: @shinyopals

Note from submitter: This fic is best read with custom work skins enabled.

[hotdrinks]

[ID: A digital illustration for the Magnus Archives fanfiction "Beholding the GDPR" by shinyopals. It shows a forlorn Jonathan Sims sitting next to a mostly empty glass of red wine typing on his phone. Behind him is a stylized representation of his messages, sent through the company IM system. They read:

"Magnus Institute Instant Messenger - Martin Blackwood

Conversation history with Jonathan Sims

hi martin// fuck sorry this was a mistake you on't want this// daidy and i had a dricnk and// sosryrr - 01:17

hi martin// i suppose you're probably not reading these// i just wanted to see if you were ok?// i trust you i do. i promised i would. // i'm sorry, i know this isn't what you wnted// wanted*// you know where i am if you ever need my help. -23:42"

On the other side of the wall of texts Martin Blackwood, shown mostly from behind, looks at his phone. Fog gathers around him. Peter Lukas's hand emerges from the fog and reaches for Martin's shoulder. One text bubble above his phone reads "Please stop." End ID]

A sad sad wine drunk Jon for dearest @shinyopals and their world-famous fic that you've probably already read but should if you haven't :3

[sykloni2]

TMA fic recs

I have been reading a lot of the Magnus Archives fanfiction lately and there is this very specific type of fic I have been enjoying a lot: email conversations, official forms, HR complaints etc. I find looking at the Magnus Institute through that kind of perspective really interesting and fun, because despite everything it is a workplace. There are a lot of people who are trying to do their jobs with varying success.

These types of fics are probably not for everyone. I can see why someone might find emails and documents dry to read or just not vibe with the formatting, but I'm sure there are also people who love these kinds of fics as much as I do.

Beholding the GDPR: How the Magnus Institute Updated Its Privacy Policy for the Twenty-First Century And Only Caused One Nervous Breakdown In The Process

by shinyopal 1/1 (~9k)

This fic is told through emails and the Institute's new messaging app. Christopher Davies has been hired as Institute's Data Protection officer and he gets right to work.

The fic gives really nice look into how the Institute functions as a workplace (or doesn't). Can't recommend more. I feel for Chris so much.

RE: Jon Sims Complaints (edited)

by starcore 1/1 (~10k)

Jennifer Barnes from HR contacts Jon through email about the 500 complaints concerning him. Also Wikipedia Leitner :)

matter of accountability

by wastefulreverie 1/1 (~12.5k)

HR shows up in Jon's office to go through the record amount of complaints about him.

Very fun outsider POV fic.

End Racism in the OTW | Xenotic Events: Guidelines for Public Health Management

by imperfectcircle 1/1 (~5.5k)

This fic is written as an official document (or I quess since it's still being edited -a draft of one). Jon is the main representative from the Magnus Institute giving his input in the comments, but he is hard to get a hold of for clarification so we also hear from some other archival staff.

Overall very unique fic. Jon says some concerning stuff on an official document (some of it actually very warranted). Also wasps. I won't elaborate on that.

Informed Consent and Other Cosmic Ironies

by KiaraSayre 1/1 (~0.5k)

Tim who doesn't give a fuck anymore fills out some paperwork.

Short and a lot of fun.

The Supervision and Oversight (Irregularities) (EU Exit) Regulations 2017: a post-exit regulatory regime for the Magnus Institute

by raven (singlecrow) 1/1 (~2.5k)

This fic is about Magnus Institute's regulatory position after Brexit. Once again written like an official document where discussions happen in its comments.

Here is one of my favorite quotes to convince you to read this:

"we take the view that the regulation of institutions such as ours should remain with the European Agency for Oversight of Irregularities, who may not know that much about what they are doing but have at least had since 1972 to not know that much about it."

Ask an Exec: How to Navigate Cultish Colleagues, Soul-Stealing Bosses, and the End of the World at Work

by shinyopals 6/6 (~43.5k)

Jon seeks advice from a management advice blog after his sudden promotion to the head archivist. He keeps writing to the blog even when things escalate.

I loved this fic. It was fun to see outsider perspective on Jon's problems and people (Jon included) putting together that he is 100% working in a cult.

[wetcatspellcaster]

Top 5 fanfics (that you have read)!

Oh my goodness, this is both going to be very silly but also very revealing lmao. I'm sorry they're not bg3!! I am saving up my big fandom deep dive for when my wips are finished.

Every letter that you write me by othellia (Spike/Buffy) - I love soulmate AUs generally but this was the first fanfic I literally ever read. It updated for the first time in 3yrs a week after I read it so I got the full serotonin experience instantly and I was hooked.

Pride by astolat (Jaime/Cersei/Brienne) - look. I am a Jaime/Brienne shipper at heart. But this is so hot, ok. It had no right being this hot!

The Crown of the Summer Court by astolat (Merlin/Arthur). I never watched Merlin and as such am not a Merthur shipper. I enjoyed this fic for the same reason I enjoy Emily Wilde - well written faerie shit.

Beholding the GDPR by shinyopals (The Magnus Archives) - look. I love fanfic. Sometimes fanfic is about romance, sometimes it's about sex. Sometimes, it's about institutionalising data protection laws at your eldritch workplace. This is, in my honest opinion, one of the best examples of what fic is capable of (and at one point, GDPR was literally my job so-)

A Convenient Arrangement by DemonSaya (Jareth/Sarah) - fake dating forced proximity done so well. Also really big shout out to Come As You Aren't by PaintedGlass bc also... hot.

Ask me my top 5 things!

[milkteamoon]

2022 fanfic review ✨

2023 is the year we are bringing BACK fic rec lists, so I wanted to put together a list of fics that I really enjoyed this year. Thank you all who made 2022 just a bit more bearable! (Note: ratings vary for these, please read the tags!)

▷ Antigonish by softlyblue - (complete, 10/10) Martin inherits a haunted house and hires ghost-seeing Jon to deal with something that wants to kill him. I love the slowburn in this fic so very much and highly recommend it.

▷ Beholding the GDPR by shinyopals - (oneshot) The Magnus Institute updates its privacy policies. This fic is so very funny and has a really neat formatting too!

▷ There Are Ghosts in This Story by whynotfly - (complete, 3/3) Something is very wrong with the Institute, but only Martin and Jon can see it. Honestly made me lie on the ground and contemplate existence after finishing it.

▷ Snare by prim_the_amazing - (oneshot) What if the Web claimed Jon long before the Eye? I really love the scenario this fic posits, as well as the characterization of my favorite girl Annabelle.

▷ Terror Management Theory by prismatical - (oneshot) Jon can’t die; this causes more inconveniences than one might think. This fic has such a fun premise and really is a wonderful and emotional ride!

▷ Mister Fahrenheit by masokissme - (oneshot) Jon deals with a fever after his encounter with Jude Perry, and Elias...sorta helps. I really loved the characterization of both Elias and Jon in this fic and think the author really captured the hilarity of their dynamic.

▷ How Not To Perform Customer Service Interactions by vienna_salvatori - (oneshot) The Magnus Institute from outsiders’ perspectives. This fic was hilarious and really captures the inherent humor of being just some guy in a world filled with eldritch horrors.

▷ Of Your Dreams by saintbleeding - (oneshot) Martin dreams of Jon while he’s in a coma. I love love love the horror of this fic; it truly left me feeling haunted long after I finished it.

▷ For a Firmament by supaslim - (series, 2 fics) Jon and his relationship to his own humanity. This is a very lovely s4 canon-divergence that has one of the best understandings of Jon’s character that I’ve read thus far.

▷ From the Highways to the Hills by blackwood - (oneshot) Georgie, Jon, and what they mean together. This fic looks at Jon and Georgie’s relationship through college, and I think the characterization of Georgie is particularly of note in its ability to stay true to her negative traits and still make her sympathetic.

▷ Jared Hopworth, Chiropractor by breekon - (oneshot) Jared’s side hustle, it’s all in the title. This fic is honestly just very funny and I love speculating as to what the avatars do in their off time.

▷ What Survives of Us by wildehack - (complete, 3/3) Jon wakes up after the Unknowing - after the end of the world. I don’t usually read post-canon but this one really got me and I think it truly feels like it could be canon.

▷ A Deeply Annoying Child by ajkal2 - (oneshot) A kid, a Leitner, and the consequences that follow. This is a really lovely look at Jon and Tim’s s3 relationship through a bit of a different lens.

▷ Won My Bride at a Poker Game by prim_the_amazing - (complete, 8/8) Martin saves a moth from a spider and deals with the unintended consequences. This fic is a very sweet slowburn that deals with fairy Jon and all of magic’s many intricacies.

▷ From Cradle to Cremation by did - (oneshot) Oliver Banks vs. making small talk with attractive people. I love fics focused on side characters, and Oliver’s internal monologue in this definitely worth the read.

[lowkeyvibing]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/46264294 On the factual particulars of the death of Mrs Blackwood

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32696140 How to Care for your Humans: A Simple Guide

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22000228 Indulgences

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24257458 Beholding the GDPR: How the Magnus Institute Updated Its Privacy Policy for the Twenty-First Century And Only Caused One Nervous Breakdown In The Process

https://archiveofourown.org/works/36785626 Ho Ho Oh No (Merry Crisis)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23502970 Comfortably Numb

https://archiveofourown.org/works/41265669 never love an anchor

https://archiveofourown.org/works/42081753 I'd Make A Deal With God

https://archiveofourown.org/works/31144367 The Dangers Of Drink

https://archiveofourown.org/works/26130196 And in the distance, thunder

https://archiveofourown.org/works/31456313 And Janus Blinked

https://archiveofourown.org/works/41464149 There are Ghosts in this Story

https://archiveofourown.org/works/37989454 for as long as he will let me

https://archiveofourown.org/works/43761201 Redeath

https://archiveofourown.org/works/45455566 The Memories We Make

https://archiveofourown.org/works/38188387 Date Night

Assista a "Jonny and Alex Read Magnus Fanworks!" no YouTube

[mllekurtz]

Hi dear 🧡 I'm going to ask you n. 8, 10 and 15 of the emoji fic ask game, if you want to answer :D I hope you have a nice day 🌻

Thank you darling, I hope you're having a wonderful day yourself! 🥰

8) A fic that gives you warm, fuzzy feelings starting with your heart (bright heart) by Anonymous 10) A fic that isn't prose Have a TMA one! Beholding the GDPR: How the Magnus Institute Updated Its Privacy Policy for the Twenty-First Century And Only Caused One Nervous Breakdown In The Process by shinyopals is told through emails and text messages.

15) A fic you wish you could display on your bookshelf Ooh definitely Hard Mouth by road_rhythm

[link to the ask post]

[gertritude]

honestly id skip the first 3 pages of magnus fics sorted by kudos. most of them are Not Good

This is obviously my own personal opinion, but as someone who enjoys fanfics with and actual Plot in them (the rarest fanfic of all), those first three pages are really just a wasteland for me

[lyrker]

i’d definitely recommend “Beholding the GDPR: How the Magnus Institute Updated Its Privacy Policy for the Twenty-First Century And Only Caused One Nervous Breakdown In The Process” on AO3, it’s REALLY funny and spoiler free for season 4.peak ‘the magnus archives is a workplace comedy’

i saw this and forgot to answer it IUEJSGSISGGS i sm going to read it <3 I have the tab open <3

[iamnmbr3]

Hi! I love your blog! Do you have any new fanfiction recommendations that you’d be willing to share? Cause I’m certain that I’ve already seen all your previous recs in the tag. Could be MCU and Harry Potter. Whatever you want. I seem to have a similar taste to you (Drarry, Stucky and Thorki shipper🤝).

OMG thanks so much! Also ahhhh! We totally do have the same taste in ships! I just did a new Loki rec list here that has both thorki and gen and if you scroll back a long ways in my recs tag you will find tons and TONS of stucky recs. And if you scroll back not quite that far you’ll find tons of drarry recs. I haven’t really read any new fics for those ships, and the new fics I read for Loki are in the new rec list I linked. BUT since we have similar taste I will also rec you some other stuff I’ve read that I don’t always get a chance to rec in case your’e looking for other types of stuff as well. 

First of all, there’s The Vipers Scheme. It’s a work of original fiction on AO3 and it’s been updating for several years now so it’s kinda cool to watch the author’s writing grow over the years. It basically takes the “slavefic” premise but actually engages with the fact that slavery is horrific and dehumanizing and awful. It’s also neat because it takes the common trope of the human chosen one who's destined to defeat the evil fantasy monsters and turns it on its head and completely subverts it. It’s a neat story with very cool world building and characterization and twists. But it definitely deals with dark themes like rape and trauma etc. So read the tags.  

The Viper's Scheme by TheDancingCrow (rating: E | WIP | words: 242,786 | CW: dark themes)

Sylves Tevenra is a powerful mage, said to have been born with the ability to subdue humanity's mortal enemies once and for all. Esares is the demon who was sent to kill him and has been paying the price ever since. And then there is Anereth Laverien, who Esares knows is unkind and treacherous, but who is the only person his master would trust with his treasured slave.

Esares holds the key to his master's destruction, but he will have to decide whether using it would bring him and his people closer to freedom, or merely turn him into another dangerous man's pawn.

Furthermore, here are some fics from assorted fandoms that I enjoyed quite a while ago that I found in my old bookmarks when I searched through them and which I don’t really get a chance to rec usually:

and lead us not into temptation by liesmyth (words: 7,361 | rating: E | kylux)

Hux looks him up and down, this Resistance golden boy, gangly and ungraceful and so appallingly soft. Takes a drag of his cigarette. ���You’re weak,” he says.

Solo looks up at him. “Please.” He draws in a long, broken breath. “Please.”

Or: General Hux thinks about Ben Solo a lot more than he probably should.

Nom de Coeur by Dorinda (words: 12,725 | rating: G | Rick Blaine/Louis Renault | Casablanca)  

This looks like the beginning of a beautiful friendship--but beginnings are only seeds, and it's a long way to Brazzaville.

Conjugal Love by zuzeca (words: 1,962 | rating: E | symbrock) 

Eddie’s only had the Symbiote back in his head for ten days when he discovers Venom dreams.

Stiffen the Sinews (Summon Up the Blood) by Whisky (whiskyrunner) (words: 80,666 | rating: E | Bane/Blake | Dark Knight Rises | CW: Dark Themes)

There are only men in the pit, and John's not strong enough to protect himself forever. But Bane is strong enough for both of them.

The Kindness of Men by debit (words: 2,921 | rating: G | Gen)

The last time Ginger saw Black Beauty, she'd said, "I wish the end was come, I wish I was dead. I have seen dead horses, and I am sure they do not suffer pain."

A Marital Education by Yahtzee (words: 12,707 | rating: M | Pride & Prejudice) 

Darcy's impotent.

A Tithe to Hell by Aja (words: 33,901 | rating: E | Lawlight | Death Note | Dark Themes) 

Light has thirteen days to find out how it will feel--not just to kill, but to destroy.

Beholding the GDPR: How the Magnus Institute Updated Its Privacy Policy for the Twenty-First Century And Only Caused One Nervous Breakdown In The Process by shinyopals (words: 8,821 | rating: T | Background Jonmartin | The Magnus Archives) 

I'm sure given your position you already know about the advent of the General Data Protection Regulation next year, wrote Peter Lukas, to Elias Bouchard. However, the Lukas family wishes to be crystal clear that our continued investment is contingent upon the Institute taking its responsibilities with regards to privacy and confidentiality seriously.

The Magnus Institute hires a Data Protection Officer. He sets about diligently booking in meetings, writing policy documents, and training all the staff in the importance of confidentiality. Now if only he could get hold of the Head Archivist, who seems to have vanished again...

(Jon is only trying to save the world, but apparently some people think he should still be doing his day job.)

Or Worse, Expelled by NaomiK (words: 1,260 | rating: G | Gen)

Four times Hermione got expelled from school, and one time she didn't.

Rara Avis by Coryphasia (words: 14,854 | rating: T | Eliza Doolittle/Henry Higgins)

The night after the Embassy Ball, Eliza Doolittle walked out on Henry Higgins and disappeared. Three years later, she returns to see if wrongs can be made right.

Also, if you haven’t read these 3 thorki fics you should:

Dead wings carried like a paper kite by illwynd (words: 48,612 | rating: M | Dark themes)

In the heat of battle, Loki kills his brother. As soon as Thor lies dead at his feet, though, he realizes this is not what he wanted. So he brings Thor back, and surely all is well again. Right?

Loyalty at Any Price by seidrade (words: 22,663 | rating: E)

“This whole time, I’ve been searching the Nine Realms— alone— for answers to questions I barely know how to ask. I thought Heimdall at his watch, our father upon the throne, and most grievously… I thought you lost to me forever.” Thor’s resurgence of anger gives way to something like despair. He can’t tell whether he wants to pummel Loki into one giant bruise, or hold him and weep like a child.

When Thor returns to Asgard and exposes Loki’s deception, his demands for answers and Loki’s reluctance to give them soon bubble over into a cathartic confrontation.

Chaos War by astolat (words: 34,203 | rating: E)

It was never easy to find Loki when he wanted to hide, but he wasn't doing a particularly good job of it at the moment. Probably he didn't think anyone from Asgard would be wasting their time hunting for him while the shining ones churned their way steadily through all the realm.

[callmearcturus]

got a request that you're absolutely welcome to ignore if you're not up for it: intro to tma fanfic rec list? au vs canon divergence, etc?

lol you know how tired i am so this is going to be incomplete and tossed together

literally anything cuttooth and fatal_drum write is a delight

fell in your opinion when i fell in love with you, a good S1 divergence that is great if you need a cry and then need to be healed. focuses on Martin’s mother and on Jon being an ass early on, and is just a gutpunch before it delivers on the good comfort.

Yesterday Is Here, a big time travel fic, in which Jon comes back from the apocalypse to S1 to fix the world. just WALLOWS IN EVERYTHING AND ITS SUPER GOOD.

Sam nie pojmuję, jak w twe zajdę prog, specifically the podfic. this incredible fic in which Martin speaks Polish. I like the fic, but the podfic of it is above and beyond. all of thelizards’ TMA podfics are worth listening to.

Lucky Number Seven, just a fucking cute AU in which Martin is Elias and Peter’s adopted son, and Jon is a divorce lawyer. VERY CUTE.

heirat, a Scottish Safehouse fic in which Jon proposes marriage. because anchors, you know?

Beholding the GDPR: How the Magnus Institute Updated Its Privacy Policy for the Twenty-First Century And Only Caused One Nervous Breakdown In The Process. JUST EXEMPLARY. JUST HILARIOUS. The final joke with peter is fucking hysterical. LOVE IT. also the subtle thing about jon and martin having Very Long phonecalls.

strings between the stars, a big scifi AU. i love martin in this, i love how jon works as an AI, and I... like tim? in this? what is this witchcraft

the Jon and Martin teach at a Scottish Catholic School series, which is just the most heartfelt and wonderful thing. it is a healing thing.

stranger, stranger, A VERY GOOD S1 AU in which uh for Reasons martin and jon start talking on a dating app. mostly by accident. this one is not done, i am hoping the author doesn’t dropkick my heart into the dirt bc i need them to be happy...........

the least he could do, the one in which martin is a VERY NICE VAMPIRE, just the nicest. i love this one. jon is hilariously IC.

Vigil Strange, takes place right before the Unknowing, but after Jon has figured out he’s in love with Martin. a very poetic piece.

your silence is deafening, a pre-Scottish Safehouse fic, in which Jon and Martin are just trying to get ready for the trip up north with some very mundane but reasonable tasks (gotta take money out of the banks), and it leads to a fucking incredible discussion.

Prenons-nous la main, just is a perfect example of the healing ppl want from the Scottish Safehouse, like to me its one of the Ur-Examples of this fic, and still one of the best.

A Look And A Voice, I come back to this a lot. alternate first meeting in which Jon basically picks up Martin in a bar bc he’s coming off a bad breakup and wants to see if he’s gay. it goes much better than the premise would suggest, mostly bc Martin is a fucking unerringly kind person.

A Measure Outside the Lines, a Scottish Safehouse fic. also to me, the Scottish Safehouse fic. I’ve read a lot of them, but this is the one I return to endlessly. this is some of the best writing in the fandom, both evocative and deeply in character. every part of this is good.

there, that’ll start you off

[sadmages]

Please could you link the email fic 👀💗

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24257458

This whole series is just. I think about it so much. It's amazing

[distortedspiral]

fic rec time!

i’ve seen a couple other people make fic rec lists, and i thought i’d do the same!! i haven’t read as much tma fic as i want to, + i usually only read short-ish stuff, but i do absolutely have a few favorites i want to share!

---

Statement of Michael Shelley, regarding his House. by @cuttlefishkitch

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23932210

this is just a beautiful, visceral, haunting piece of writing. it perfectly captures michael’s liminal identity in a way that rings so true to me and really allows you to feel every piece of what he went through. michael as a House is a fascinating metaphor and this piece takes that metaphor and runs with it so far and so deeply. so much kudos

Choose Your Own Adventure by verboseDescription

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23811862

in the vein of “beautiful, surreal michael shelley character studies”! this fic is split into tiny scenes that play off each other and come together to form a fractured but incredibly emotionally affecting piece about michael’s life and his relationships. the nonlinearity perfectly mirrors the spiral, too! i have a lot of feelings about this one. amazing job

Câlisse-moi là by @benevolentbridgetroll

https://archiveofourown.org/works/23982286

a gorgeously-written exploration of jon and tim’s fraught s3 relationship, chock-full of raw, complex emotion!! it’s very very in-character. my mind was full of Thoughts after reading this. also kudos for one of the most well-described kisses i’ve ever read

forever by @red-reys

https://archiveofourown.org/works/22024957/chapters/52562443

i can’t even describe how well written this is. it made me feel lots and lots of things. jon and martin in scotland figuring things out, learning how to love, tender and raw and surreal in the best way. the most wonderful exploration of the meaning of intimacy!!

Beholding the GDPR: How the Magnus Institute Updated Its Privacy Policy for the Twenty-First Century And Only Caused One Nervous Breakdown In The Process by @shinyopals

https://archiveofourown.org/works/24257458

can i just give a shoutout to the genre of fic that’s specifically about the magnus institute dealing with mundane bureaucracy, especially regarding technology. it’s so fucking funny. also feel the need to mention informed consent and other cosmic ironies here because Yeah. hilarious. anyway, this fic is SO much fun!! the email format is incredible, it made me laugh out loud so many times, and it’s just generally very well written with good pacing and excellent comedic delivery. the sequel is awesome too!

[ao3feed-themagnusarchives]

Beholding the GDPR: How the Magnus Institute Updated Its Privacy Policy for the Twenty-First Century And Only Caused One Nervous Breakdown In The Process

by shinyopals

I'm sure given your position you already know about the advent of the General Data Protection Regulation next year, wrote Peter Lukas, to Elias Bouchard. However, the Lukas family wishes to be crystal clear that our continued investment is contingent upon the Institute taking its responsibilities with regards to privacy and confidentiality seriously.

The Magnus Institute hires a Data Protection Officer. He sets about diligently booking in meetings, writing policy documents, and training all the staff in the importance of confidentiality. Now if only he could get hold of the Head Archivist, who seems to have vanished again...

(Jon is only trying to save the world, but apparently some people think he should still be doing his day job.)

Words: 8821, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English

Fandoms: The Magnus Archives (Podcast)

Rating: Teen And Up Audiences

Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply

Categories: Gen, M/M

Characters: Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Martin Blackwood, Elias Bouchard, Peter Lukas, Magnus Institute Staff, Tim Stoker - minor appearance, Basira Hussain - minor appearance, Melanie King - Minor appearance, Alice "Daisy" Tonner - minor appearance

Relationships: Martin Blackwood & Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, Martin Blackwood/Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist

Additional Tags: Email and instant messaging, Set during S3, No Spoilers for S4, No spoilers for s5, Workplace humour, workplace politics, office politics, the Magnus Institute has a HR department, Elias Bouchard sends around a monthly staff newsletter, Jon should not be allowed to write his own out of office autoreply messages, the Beholding conflicts with the principles of the European General Data Protection Regulation, Peter Lukas is mostly just here to cause trouble for Elias, Jon would be the worst coworker in the universe you can't convince me otherwise, Pre-Martin Blackwood/Jonathan "Jon" Sims | The Archivist, awkward flirting via instant messaging

source https://archiveofourown.org/works/24257458

[wetcatspellcaster]

end-of-year fic writer roundup

Thanks @hawkeish​ for the tag! (I say, as if I lowkey didn’t bully you into tagging me :’) )

word count: 380,935 words published to AO3 since my first foray into fic in february, by far the most words I’ve ever written in a year. It’s amazing what clinging to a hyperfixation for any sense of self while living alone in a pandemic will do to your productivity.

new things I tried this year: like hawkeish, fanfic in general! I’d never written fanfic before this year, and it was the perfect hyperfixation to pick up roughly 3 weeks before the first UK lockdown. While I was depressed in December, I made a new year’s resolution for 2020 to try to rediscover the joy of writing again by Any Means Necessary. Add a pandemic into the mix where I was cut off from all my friends in England, and I decided to focus on fanfic rather than original fic, because I needed to write only for me and I needed it to make me happy. Thank god it worked! Fic is literally the only thing keeping me going at times. It helped me recover from my depression and it remains my no.1 pandemic coping mechanism.

fic I spent the most time on: obvs all 325k of Eye of the Storm, given that my other published fics are 1/10 of the word count.

fic I spent the least time on: I think the one I’m currently posting, Fortress of Highever? Because I set myself a deadline for the draft that I met, and also Alistair is way too nice to cause half the drama of any of the other DA characters.

favourite thing I wrote: this works out very neatly, because it is absolutely A Man’s Word is His Bond. I think Eye of the Storm is kind of a hot mess, but this fic literally does everything I wanted it to. I just wanted to read something with the same kind of dynamic as Howl/Sophie from Howl’s Moving Castle (as in, dramatic disaster bisexual and his hypercompetent wife), so I wrote myself a trashy soulmate AU. I reread this fic whenever I am ill.

favourite thing I read: I’ve struggled with reading in general this year, favouring webtoons over both books and fics. But I really liked The Prince’s Penance by Ocreata which is a Sebastian/F!Trevelyan fic (I want to marry this version of Evelyn plz), Of Amulets and Dragons by MakjangCandy (Modern Girl in Thedas WITH ADDED KDRAMA TROPES, meaning it is literally a mashup of my two comfort genres) and a old Handers fic I found called A Little White Lie by CherieoftheDragons, which wonderfully lampshades how awful and inappropriate and endearing all of Hawke’s canonical flirting dialogue is.

Also, it ain’t a Dragon Age fic, but any fan of the Magnus Archives, or anyone who has ever had to do work with GDPR in the UK should read Beholding the GDPR: How the Magnus Institute Updated Its Privacy Policy for the Twenty-First Century And Only Caused One Nervous Breakdown In The Process by shinyopals, which is one of the best and funniest goddamn fics I’ve ever read.

writing goals for next year: Finish Eye of the Storm without losing motivation in a motivation destroying world. Write my Modern Girl in Thedas project, if only to have a chance to drag another Dragon Age love interest within an inch of his life. Tentatively look at my original fic WIPs sidelong.

I don’t really have anyone to tag bc I don’t know many writers on tumblr! So instead I’ll just add a quick “Happy New Year!” here. And if anyone on here follows me cause they read my stuff, thank you so much!!

[milkteamoon]

As I know you are also a season 3 jmart enjoyer I humbly ask for your fic recs of that dynamic. There are frankly not enough and not every one of them are tagged properly for me to find. (Is just adore them~)

FELLOW S3 ENJOYER! I hear your plight, I am shaking your hand!!! S3 jmart is definitely one of those things that I find particularly difficult to find as the general fan focus seems to be on: s3 jontim (valid) and s4 jmart (also valid), but I do have a few I can give you that I particularly enjoy, and hope you will do the same!

Beholding the GDPR by shinyopals: a series of email exchanges regarding the Magnus Institute and its newest data security policies. This fic is fucking hilarious and I laughed out loud several times when I first read it.

Patchwork by masokissme: Jon dealing with the repercussions of being kidnapped by the circus. This one made me go OUGHHH and fall to my knees dramatically when I first read it but it's so very very good.

A Deeply Annoying Child by ajkal2: a leitner, a kid, and some complicated relationships. Jmart isn't really the focus of this one but it's such a good s3 fic I can't help but include it.

His Serenities, Which Were So Few by the_ragnarok: Jon has difficulties after Jude Perry, so Martin gives him a hand. This one is very sweet and really captures the almost-there of s3 feelings.

What Survives of Us by wildehack: okay listen. Listen. I know you're going to open this and say "this isn't s3, this is post canon!" but TRUST ME ON THIS ONE! Trust me when I say this is the best s3-not-s3 jmart out there. I have a lot of emotions about this fic and it's great. Definitely read it.