Um?

Should I be concerned about my ridiculous berena obsession?.... Nah....

[heatandapathy]

This is an absolute religious experience that I was not prepared for

[soulsistrin]

Whoever did the caps for this deserves an award

[jojoev82]

[jesuisclaire]

“I am agitated and restless and tired all at once.”

— Virginia Woolf, from a diary entry written c. January 1925 (via violentwavesofemotion)

[binshalhoub-deactivated20211110]

im tired, can i kiss you

[jojoev82]

Current mood... following Meryl Streep wherever she’s going in that outfit.... 😍🔥🔥🔥

[tearthatcherryout]

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

[sorry-no-more-no-less]

[xvnot15]

MIRANDY:  WHO CAN ARGUE WITH IT?!!

[svsspiria]

GAY

[svsspiria]

HOW IS THIS SO GAY

[ktlsyrtis]

I’m sorry to interrupt it’s just I’m constantly on the cusp of trying to kiss you

[chainofclovers]

Hi!! I was wondering if you had DWP fic recommendations?

Hi! Do I?!?

As a sort of blanket statement, these are Miranda/Andy recs, though there are (some) good stories in the fandom that aren’t Miranda/Andy. Many if not most of these recs are sexually explicit, because have you seen or heard Miranda Priestly? In all these cases, if the author has more than one fic, I’d recommend you read absolutely everything they’ve written, though I’ve chosen to highlight one or two from each author.

Mad props and <333 to every DWP writer on this list or not.

her one wild and precious life (series) by awomannotagirl is absolutely stunning. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will warn that the final installment takes place after Miranda’s death (and, more importantly, after her very long and satisfying life). This series really explores everything–sex, and chemistry, and voyeurism, and what it means to record one’s sexual life, and commitment, and family, and generosity. Hands down some of my all-time favorite DWP stories.

I’d recommend anything by @telanu especially “The End of All Things,” which is horrifyingly timely. I still remember exactly where I was when I devoured that story; it’s to this day one of the most consuming reading experiences I’ve ever had. You may be familiar with Telanu’s super-famous DWP epic “Truth and Measure.” I rec that too, of course. I rec any of her stories, which are always clean and clear in prose, deliciously messy in plot, and so, so true.

@chilly-flame has written many wonderful DWP stories. A lot of authors, myself included, are very Miranda-focused, but I think Chilly enjoys and does justice to Andy with the same amount of skill and care she affords Miranda, and that’s refreshing to see. Some faves: “This Must be the Place,” “Four Suites and One Room,” and “Four Corners.”

I’m a huge fan of Needled_Ink_1975, and her story “The Ship and the Girl” is one of my favorite explorations of Miranda’s past ever. Another rec from her: “Ride on the Wild Side.” It’s got Miranda on a horse, and it’s 100% believable and delightful!

“When in Doubt Wear Red” by @thelastgoodname is a motherfucking classic. If I weren’t trying to actually finish this post, I’d read it right now and feel entirely overcome with nostalgia. And let’s face it, I’m gonna leave the tab open so I remember to reread it soon. I also love her footballfan!Miranda story “Making History (One Saturday at a Time).” So much.

The pacing and the structure and the voices and messy sensuality in “We Arrive in the Dark” by jibrailis…oh my gosh. So fantastic. I really wish this author had written more than one story for the fandom.

“Her Rightful Place” by @luthienebonyx​ is an absolutely flawless Emily-centric story. Emily’s jealousy and ambition and uncertainty burn through the screen.

@fictorium has tons and tons of great DWP stories. For reasons not entirely in my control, my personal favorite is “Been This Way (Since the End of October).”

politic_x writes sensual, gorgeously-crafted pieces that get to the heart of sex and fashion. It’s a tough call, but my favorite is probably “Disarming Athena,” aka “the elevator story.” Oh, and “and then, afterward.” Yeah, read all of hers.

“That Ridiculous Dress” by @sporkmetender is a great Andy-the-journalist AU. Sex in the bathroom at an event! Pining! 

I’m certain I’m missing so many great stories. But this is a good place to begin, and I’d also recommend checking out my fic rec tag. (It’s true I’ve been in a bit of a Situation with Grace Hanson for the last year+ of my reading and writing life, but the tag contains a fair number of DWP stories!) Other tags to check out: the devil wears prada, devil wears prada.

Happy reading! And for anyone who follows these recs–if you enjoy the story, please do write the author a comment? Fic comments are powerful; they can make a bad day into a good one, can infuse a writer’s day with confidence and gratitude and joy.

[switch842]

QI | Sandi Toksvig’s Chuckle-O-Meter

If anyone needs a laugh or a little cheering up, just watch this. :-)

[ktlsyrtis]

my hand slipped… 

[jojoev82]

I feel called out

[untitled70655]

If picking just one is too hard (understandable!), what are your top 5 or 10 berena fics? :)

There will be a lot of favorites outside these, simply bc I love so many fics this fandom has produced, but… picking out the first ten that come to my mind:

Two Turtle Doves by @sententiousandbellicose​

Holby Cathedral by @strangerstarsandlands​

The Gathering of Stones by @strangerstarsandlands​

Muddling Through by @tea-and-procrastination​

will i ever see that girl again, that girl from way back when by @belligerently​ and @ktlsyrtis​

and we’ll never be royals by @belligerently​

don’t care what you keep doin’ (just keep on doin’ it with me) by @magnass​

Major Arrival by @ddagent​

I can see you with my eyes closed by @beezarrewatchesholby (which I’m rereading now)

And two honorary mentions: Somewhere Over The Rainbow by BigBadWolfe and War of the Wyvern by GinDiva.

[ honesty evening ]

[ktlsyrtis]

Berena “warm blanket” fic recs

There are so many fics out there that I could recommend. AU, canon, smut, fluff - truly all of it has been covered amazingly. But the fics in this list are my personal “warm blanket” fics, the ones that just make my heart happy for a variety of reasons, the bookmarks I go back to again and again when I want to immerse myself for a little while 

You can also take this as a blanket recommendation for all of these authors’ works, because they are tremendous across the board

The Move by @sassyrequin​ Need an antidote to canon? This is your fic. Every chapter is note perfect, the OCs are wonderful and engaging. This truly feels like a spin-off where Serena joins Bernie in Nairobi, and it’s wonderful

even if i knew that tomorrow the world would go to pieces, i would still plant my apple tree by @belligerently​ Simply the most achingly beautiful soulmate AU. The kind of fic that makes your heart go all fluttery in your chest

first, foremost, fundamental by @tea-and-procrastination​ A canon divergent AU where the first kiss doesn’t happen, this is a beautiful exploration of a different path they could’ve taken

SNAFU by @sententiousandbellicose​ A simple set piece where Bernie meets Alex at a bar to get some closure while Serena’s on sabbatical. The dialogue here sparkles and Bernie’s love for Serena is so vivid it feels like she’s standing in the room with them

Three Steps to Heaven by @ddagent​ No one creates capsule universes that immediately grab you and leave you desperate for more like ddagent. This werewolf/vampire AU is a personal fave

i can’t compete with the stars in the sky by @belligerently​ The coffee shop AU to end all coffee shop AUs. If I could only read one Berena fic forever, this would be right up there

a girl like you should wear a warning by @belligerently​ Listen, if you haven’t read belligerently’s entire body of work, I don’t even know what you’re doing with your life. This AU, where Marcus ends up being the one to introduce Bernie and Serena, is another chest-achingly gorgeous triumph

your presence stills my unworthy racing mind by @bonnissance​ If you’re as into hair pulling as Serena is, this is the fic for you 😏

The Turning of the Thumb by @sententiousandbellicose​ This is just the softest, most adorable damn thing, I’ve read it more times than I can count

when the whole world fits inside of your arms by @delightfullyambiguous Speaking of soft, this is the newest entry on my must read list, and one I will go back to again and again

and for once you let go of your fears and your ghosts by @missparker A part of missparker’s epic set of prompt fill fics, this is another candidate for ‘if I could only take one fic along to a desert island’

Counting the Ways by parcequelle I’ve read this fic so often that there are times I honestly forget that this isn’t how Bernie running off to Kiev went

we are professionals, after all by fortunatefolly Bernie in uniform, flustered Serena, and office sex? Yes, please!

keep me like a secret by parcequelle If you ever want to know my head canon for their first time post The Kill List? It’s this fic

Talk by @strangerstarsandlands Simply the best smut and feels out there, period

[jojoev82]

This is the kind of post we all need...

[kooili158]

Meanwhile, back in the Land of FanFic...

Right, I don’t know about anyone else out there today but I need a good dose of fluff today, so what better way than to go back and read some of my favourite stories. Which ones, you ask? Well, this is by no means a comprehensive list and will almost certainly be added to during the day but I’m going to start with…

The Gift by @sassyrequin - seasonally apropos fluff by one of my favourite writers.

Die Hard: Ho Ho Holby isn’t exactly fluff but Bernie in a white vest top and combat gear always puts a smile on my face. You, fren, are my queen of AU @professorflimflam

The Dance Me to the End of Love series by the always superb @tea-and-procrastination  - you make me look up all ballroom dances to imagine what they would look like on the dance floor :)

 My favourite writing partnership and their work of AU fluffiness chapter two, I fell in love with you - thank you for writing this @ktlsyrtis and @belligerently

Love a bit of awkward flirting? Go read Good Neighbours and Bin Day by the excellent @ddagent

Pre-relationship friends to lovers will always be a favourite read and it is done very nicely in Standing at the beginning with you by @fortytworedvines

Near to Us, Once More - this was just posted yesterday but I’ve already read it at least twice, with a big sappy grin on each time. Wonderful christmas fluff by the delightful @sententiousandbellicose

and saving the best for last , because @wonkots42 is the best wife as well as a genius writer, Bella Notte .

Needless to say that you should also do yourself a favour and check out the rest of their works while you’re visiting :) 

[ktlsyrtis]

I just need to kind of word dump what’s in my head so I can move forward, so feel free to ignore if you’re in a different place on this.

I’m…content, if that’s the right word. Am I sad? Well, I’m still crying even as I write this, so that’s a big yes. But it’s a cathartic sadness.

At the end of the day, this is the sword of Damocles that’s been hanging over us since Catherine went on sabbatical. Between Jemma’s schedule and the narrative constraints of this kind of show (for better or worse), they were always on borrowed time.

Could they have broken them up other times? Sure. They could’ve had it happen off screen when Serena came back, or they could’ve done it in June. But I, for one, am so, so glad they didn’t.

Why? Because they weren’t ready to make this decision then. They love each other so truly, so much, that I don’t think either of them wanted to believe they wouldn’t make it. So they tried, as much as they were each capable of, only to reach the same conclusion in this episode - that they love each other enough to walk away.

And oh, the episode they gave us! In many ways this may actually be my favorite Berena episode. The work that Jemma and Catherine did - the heartbreaking nuance and care that they brought to every word, the love that permeated them, even in the hard parts. God, the conversation in the office? A true masterclass from them both.

Do I wish things were different? Of course I do. I love these two and their relationship with my whole heart. But for me, that doesn’t end with this. In fact, I think I love them even more. This isn’t going to be a popular opinion, but lifelong happiness is not the only valid outcome. I’m much more invested in these two beautiful, broken, amazing women who love each other for eternity, even if being together isn’t right for them.

I know a lot of people are hurting and feel misled by Holby. That’s valid. No one can tell you how to interact with this story or how to feel about its bittersweet conclusion. But I, for one, don’t regret a single moment of my investment in this storyline, these characters, or this fandom. And this absolutely isn’t the end for me (nor do I think it’s absolutely the end for them, but that’s another post when we’ve all had some time to process). Frankly, there’s a part of me that’s relieved to not have to spend so much brain space on wondering when it’s going to end, if Jemma’s filming again, what Holby’s planning, blah blah blah

Be kind to each other, and if anyone needs me I’ll be over here, shipping these dummies for eternity 💖💖💖

[jojoev82]

Thankyou for this, as always so eloquently put.

I’ll always ship these two, and this ending, although maybe not popular with many, it is fitting for them.

My 10yr relationship has just come to an end this week and I’m absolutely devastated by it.

So probably not the best time to watch my OTP agree to go their separate ways, albeit with love and understanding.

In fact, the absolute worst thing I could have done to myself this evening is watch this episode.

But there you go,it has long been established that I am a compete idiot.

I won’t go on about it , and it’s not completely similar to this characterisation, but there are similarities.

I do believe that if circumstances exist that make it difficult/nigh on impossible for you to be together in the same place, you can love someone enough to let them go...

Ultimately, I love my fiancée enough to understand that we can no longer make each other happy in the way that we want to.

I’d rather let her go and hope that she finds happiness in another way than try to force our current situation to work.

What I’m trying to say, through my seemingly never ending tears is...

Be Happy. However you can. Whatever works.

I’ll always be grateful to the writers, producers and of course the wonderful actors that worked so hard to portray this beautiful, human, flawed couple- to represent us on a prime time mainstream tv show.