#berlermo fics

[blorbosexterminator]

Aside from the Swan's Symphony, I want to start (and hopefully finish, at least in one case), either the children sequel or a pre-Ramadan telenovela before the spin-off comes out. Hmm can't decide which

[roccinan]

2022 Fic Review

(Tagged by @natures-marvel thanks for tagging!)

End of the Year Fic Review 2022

1. What is your AO3 account?

Rocinan

2. How many words did you write total in 2022?

131,168

3. How many fics did you publish in 2022? How many multichapters vs oneshots?

6 fics total (1 of which was an art piece)

1 oneshot and 3 multichaptered (2 still unfinished)

4. What was your longest fic? Your shortest fic?

Longest : Birdcage at 45,596 words

Shortest : Café for Your Trouble with 0 words LOL, or  Over the Hills and Far Away at 1279 words

5. What was your most popular fic? Your least popular fic?

Most popular:  Grand Hotel, A Tale of Love and Intrigue

Least popular:  Over the Hills and Far Away

6. What fic didn’t perform as well as you thought it would?

Hmm. They all sort of performed how I expected, as in I was pleasantly surprised to get more than 10 kudos for anything XD Maybe chapter 2 of The Contract? Not sure if people like it less than ch. 1. But in terms of the fics themselves, Over the Hills and Far Away already received more hits than I ever imagined lol but I guess I thought it’d earn at least 10 kudos. 

7. What fic performed way better than you thought it would?

Grand Hotel, hands down. 

8. What was your favorite fic you wrote from 2022?

This is a hard one, but probably Birdcage! Because I actually managed to finish it in 2022 asdfasdf Also it gave me the chance to write some extreme Andres whump, so there’s that!

9. What was your favourite fic that somebody else wrote in 2022?

I can’t settle for any one fic, so here’s some that I personally enjoyed the most and had the time to read in 2022! Most of them lean dark, so with the exception of “Upon paper wings” and “The way to a man’s heart,” do mind the warnings and tags!

Did I ever leave the lights on (could you ever find your way back home?) by @nharidy A crack concept (berlermo switch souls out of the blue) on the surface, but a story that’s so much more than that. Legit one of the most selfless, genuine depictions of Martin’s love (and that shred of nobility under all the asshole in his blood) I’ve ever read, and I still get emotional thinking about this story.

something borrowed, something -- by anonymous; I swear I’m not biased but I must say, I was insanely lucky to have such a talented writer take a post of a scenario I made and publish a full story based on it. Like WHEN will that ever happen again?? It’s like I threw a coin down a wishing well and it happened! This is a fantastically written (but Very dark!) character study, and even though there’s no upfront gore or violence, the story pulls no punches with the premise: injured, amnesiac Andres thinks Gandia is Martin and suffers all sorts of sexual, domestic, and psychological abuse as a result. 

Those Violent Delights by @aceraphaelsantiagos Ongoing but well worth the wait! It’s an ongoing berlermo thriller told out of chronological order and watching the puzzle unfold is like climbing deeper into the spider web. AU but amazing characterization, and with my favorite dynamic: Dom/Dom!

{ Upon paper wings. } by @moneyheist-fam Their first berlermo fic! And a truly wonderful one at that. One of the rare completed AUgust fics LOL. There’s a warm fairy tale like quality to this, and it’s just a very sweet and beautifully written tale about soulmates.

A Lamb for Our Love  by @the--sound--of--rain Ongoing, but definitely a story that stuck with me since the first time I read it! Another “Gandia abducts Andres and-” story, but the fic is about what happens after Andres comes back to Martin. A rocky, angsty piece with heartbreaking characterization and a look at what would happen if these two made the worst possible choices thinking that’s what’s best. The first chapter is definitely worth the read, and I’m sure the second will be equally good, if not better!

The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach by @alfredo-kesmann Why yes, this is my gift haha, but alfredo-kesmann went above and beyond a very simple prompt and gave us a story that’s insanely funny and endearing all at the same time. Truly one of my favorite fics of 2022 and I rec it to everyone, especially everyone whoever thought “hmm what if Andres being a good cook is just headcanon and he really sucks at it?? would Martin lie and pretend he’s good?” Answer: yes Martin would

Vinum Stygis by @signorin-anarchia Another ongoing fic! But very underrated and promising. A period gothic romance with all the creepy and dark elements you’d want from the genre. It’s a creative spin on Crimson Peak that somehow manages to make the premise work for berlermo, and definitely deserves more attention. Wonderful atmosphere and toxic assholes all around~

Last but not least, The Fatal Drive by NaturesMarvel! Kal’s longest fic yet, and my favorite 2022 hit from her. It’s filled with lots of twists and turns (and a plot that’s blockbuster material for sure!), including a few that actually fooled me haha Also features badass Martin, a satisfying amount of hurt!Andres (thank you for your service Kal), and cameos from just about everyone. This is an AU where everything starts with Andres receiving a pen drive (saying anything else would be a spoiler!)

[blorbosexterminator]

You wouldn't happen to have any good berlermo fics recommendations? 👀

Absolutely!

Since you haven't specified anything about what you're particularly looking for, I'll just rec my personal favorites. Those are the ones that I personally think are most in character and/or explore themes I'm most interested in either in general or specifically regarding berlermo.

Dies Irae by Rocinan. Easily one of my favourite stories of all time, not just for berlermo and not just in fanfiction. It's a tragedy through and through, classic dark fairy tale elements, magical realism, perfect characterization for both Andrés and Martín. Generally, an incredibly beautiful and heartfelt story. (And it comes with its own painkiller, a happy au of the au to soften the blow of the ending.)

Substitution by Rocinan. Again, generally one of my favorite stories in all senses. It's got everything I generally find most fascinating. A very dark look into Martín's mind and what he's capable of, Identity horror, men (Martín specifically) playing God-in the most horrific but fascinating way possible, obsessive destructive (self and otherwise) love, men falling into a pit of madness, and horrible, horrible people actually getting a happy ending where they do get what they did all of this terrible shit to get and aren't "punished" by the narrative. Honestly, one of the most original pieces of fiction I've had the delight to read.) (Out of fairness, I'll "try" not to recommened more Rocinan stories below, but do yourself a favor and check her full list of fics, a simply brilliant author with a full palette ranging from gut-wrenching tragedies, to chiling horrors, to absolutely hilarious comedies, you'll definitely find something that will match your taste.)

E sará bello morire insieme by Alley. It's in italian and unfortuantely I don't speak it, so I did actually read this several times through machine translation, and that should tell you something about how much I love this story. Somehow, it's still incredibly beautifully written, just stunning prose, even after the butchering machine translation so I can't imagine how beautiful it would be in its original Italian. Anyway, it's one of the best character studies of Andrés and his relationship with Martín through his side in the entire fandom. It cuts to the core of the berlermo dynamic, is very bittersweet and subtle and beautifully angsty throughout.

Prima di chiudere gli occhi by Alley. Same thing with the language. It's beautiful in the exact same way but has the added benfit of embodying, more than any other fic, what I exactly wanted to happen in season 5. It puts up front Martín's relationship with Sergio, very beautifully and maturely explored, which is something I very much appreciate because that dynamic is not only one of my personal favorites, but also what I genuienly believe is Martín's most important relationship in the current timeline and I'll never forgive the show for disregarding that amongst the hundred important things it forgot about, and also a because is honestly rare in the fandom....and when it IS there, it's just explored in a way that I don't find faithful to either character nor accurate, nor particularly interesting.

And when I die I want him lying by my side by Klembek. It's a very short death scene that intersects Andrés' death with Martín's in a very stunning, poetic and original way, and definitely plays to what I have hoped for Martín's end since I first laid eyes on him lol.

Apotheosis by SignorinaAnarchia. You can probably tell by now that I deeply enjoy explorations of the darker sides of Martín's madness and absolutely in love with stories that just go full on, 100% on that. Martín here is terribly insane, completely amoral, have no limits, and it's fucking beautiful. It's not finished yet but it's definitely one of my favorite Mint Heist AU. Neither him nor Andrés have a shred of sanity here and I love it.

Flowers for Bellerophon by Sherwoodfox. Very beautiful and angsty (with happy ending) story that specifically hits my button with the explorations of Martín's and Andrés' (but mainly Martín's) mutual obsession with the fact that there is no one out there that is their equal other than each other, their god-complex at its heighest and to me, essentially what their relationship is about. It's also one of the very few stories that actually managed to make Martín come across as sympathetic without altering his personality, deluting/excusing the terrible way he treats and thinks about other people (oh he's only doing that because he's so hurt and no one treated him right uwu gay baby and this sort of thing), explores how Martín's alienation is very much self-imposed and due to his own way of thinking and egotism and thinking everyone else is beneath him while also being very self-destrutuctive. Has very memorable moments as well.

And just because I can't help myself, I'll end with Sancho Panza by Rocinan. Probably one of the most, if not the most mature look into both Andrés and Martín individually and their dynamic. Incredibly beautiful and works as a stunning and incredibly accurate and in character character studies, boils down berlermo to their essentials and core in a such short but RICH piece! (still waiting for the sequel by the way 👀👀)

I hope you enjoy reading them! (would love to hear what you think after as well.) There are many others and the authors mentioned here (that have other works) are generally my favorites and have other things that I love but didn't name here to not elongate the list, but definitely make sure to check them!

[blorbosexterminator]

for the fic: hmm perhaps this time their souls merge for real and this new berlermo soul occupies martín's healthy body so that both survive in this way? and in another sense, both die, that's why bittersweet ending? anyway, very original fic and i'm really excited about the last chapter!

I love the theory! For the sake of spoilers, I won't say more. Hopefully, I'll manage to update this weekend. Really excited to see what you'll think of the finale!

Thank you💙

[blorbosexterminator]

An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: La casa de papel | Money Heist (TV) Rating: Not Rated Warnings: Major Character Death Relationships: Berlin | Andrés de Fonollosa/Palermo | Martín Berrote Characters: Berlin | Andrés de Fonollosa, Palermo | Martín Berrote Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Light Angst Summary:

“You’ve said goodbye once, I’m sure you can do it again. Don’t be a coward now.”

“I think we’ve already proven my cowardice,” a voice that resembles his own says. It’s so much like his he can be led to believe it was. He can even see his mouth moving under the black creature in the mirror above the mantel by his side. But it isn’t, of course. He isn’t having a civil chat with Martín over dinner under the dim light. He isn’t discussing their last goodbye, because it was their last. It isn’t logical that they’re doing this again.

And they certainly aren’t discussing Martín’s death.

Happy birthday @berlermood Hope you enjoy it!

[blorbosexterminator]

Hello! I love your writing. Who in the Sunshine 1, please.

Good Morning! Thank you💙

Who in the Sunshine (1 for first installment) is basically the fic where Martín is a torturer who works for europeans polices here and there and Andrés survives the mint-heist but the public and la banda believe him dead, and he's taken to, well, get tortured and interrogated. And the story goes how you'd expect it too, somehow Martín falls in love with him, basically throws away his entire life to break him out and run away with him and they go to have the unhealthiest relationship known to man lmfao.

The title is from Leonard Cohen's 'Who by fire'

[blorbosexterminator]

Who in the Sunshine is now out and about in the world. Well, the first chapter is.

Delievered to your berlermo tag is a horrific version of their story where Martín and Andrés never knew each other, never loved each other, never planned to melt gold together. Where Andrés gets captured while the world believes him killed, and meets Martín, his torturer.

[blorbosexterminator]

And because I have no self control, here's that:

The Witch, the Vampire, and the Hybrid, brought to you be me:

Andrés' mother to his father after she discovered he has been using her 10 year old son's magic to help the other son he left them for:

The coven with Andrés

Andrés to the coven after they lay down the absolute fuckery he has created

Andrés running away with Sergio and not giving a second thought to his actual son

Martín's drunk father throwing a fit at Martín in front of everyone in the village and Martín:

Andrés with the coven

Martín's father after Martín got attacked in the woods

Andrés after Martín does exactly as the coven said he would

Andrés after his mother comes back from the dead and asks him what the fuck he had done

Andrés having a heart-talk with Sergio about Martín, surrounded by about 80 protection spells, as Martín chases him around the world.