#jonahbas

[jonahfagnus]

Every few centuries or so, each Dread Power selects a Messiah. Not at the same time - they’re often staggered over decades, and a Messiah will frustratingly frequently die of mundane causes long before anyone notices them. Worse yet, Messiahs can go their entire life unnoticed, odd enough to off-put their peers but not enough for their kin to take notice.

To find the Messiah of one’s god is a grand achievement. Finding Agnes Montague had brought the Lightless Flame great power; new strength, new devotees, new rituals. It had been so much that Gertrude had felt the need to temper Agnes with her own soul. The Desolation won’t get over that for a very long while.

Jonah has spent his entire life seeking the Eye’s Messiah. It has to be soon - it’s been two centuries, and he’s certain that there was no Messiah when he was alive. The timeframe is perfect, and yet he cannot find anyone. He checks for incidents related to the Eye, keeps note of artefacts trading hands, but nothing. Whether his god’s Messiah simply died as a child, or was swallowed by another power, the search is endless, and yields no results.

This is why it’s so surprising when Jonathan Sims walks into his office for an interview, and makes eye contact with him - ordinarily this would make people uncomfortable, but Jonathan is mostly content in the Eye’s stronghold. Jonah knows, immediately, that this is the one. This is who he has been searching for his whole life.

Jonathan’s Gaze is rather weak, and wielded bluntly. He wouldn’t be able to force any measure of knowledge out of Jonah right now, but it’s surprising he has any Gaze at all. Just more proof that he was made for their god. 

Jonathan has found that people become uncomfortable when he makes eye contact with them, and that discomfort can be used to get things he wants; he’s used it to convince teachers to give him better grades or an extension on his work, to convince his peers to leave him be, to convince well-meaning adults to turn a blind eye to his breaking and entering, his trespassing, all the little crimes to satisfy his endless curiosity. There’s no need to intimidate now, of course. The moment he decided to come in for the interview his fate was sealed. He is meant to be here, and always has been.

Jonah reaches a hand over the table and does not break eye contact.

“Elias Bouchard,” he says, voice confident and smooth. On the inside, he’s a bundle of nerves. If he isn’t careful, he could drive Jonathan away from the Eye, perhaps forever. Such a failure would not be forgiven.

“Jon Sims,” Jon returns, seeming equally calm. Jonah’s still debating whether or not to look inside his head. It would be exceedingly useful, but if Jon notices it could be disastrous. He has no idea how Jon would react. The Lonely almost drove away their most recent Messiah by trying to bring him in too quickly, and Jonah cannot afford the same to happen with Jon. There is the chance Jon would notice, and realise that Jonah is like him, and decide to stay. Too risky, perhaps.

Jonah doesn’t pay much attention as they go through the typical rigamarole. None of these questions are necessary. Instead, he does his own research on Jon, the sort that doesn’t require reading his mind.

He Knows that all of Jon’s peers had warned him away from the Institute when he had brought it up, and that Jon had lied to his flatmate about the interview. He has no other job prospects lined up, and still can’t justify the decision to himself. It simply feels right. He Knows that, despite his machinations, Jon’s grades are less than perfect. Like much else in his life, Jon is worried about it, partially because he is innately anxious and partially because he’s worried that he won’t get the job.

He Knows that Jon (much like Jonah in his youth) prefers to find what isn’t already known. He finds education too boring, too easy - he can find what his teachers have told him in textbooks, or online courses; quite often he finds he already knows it, although he can't say from where. What he wants is the sort of knowledge that is coveted, hidden, and he has a particular taste for any knowledge of the supernatural. 

He Knows that Jon has uncanny senses - having been able to detect teachers long before their footsteps began echoing down the halls - and some of his peers used him as a watchman when getting high or drunk, or breaking into offices to find answer sheets. He Knows that Jon enjoyed being the watchman, for reasons he can’t quite place.

Their god's influence has already spread deep into Jon, into the furthest reaches of his soul. Jon has the ability to compel (although this, like his Sight, is weak and wielded bluntly - Jonah will have to teach him better), and he craves knowledge like he craves blood in his veins. His memory is uncanny, his eyes uncannier. He couldn’t be a better Archivist.

“When can you start?”

Jon blinks, in surprise.

“Oh- er, well, I- ah, next Monday, I suppose?”

“Fantastic,” Jonah says, giving him a grin. They shake hands again, and then Jon is leaving. Jonah Watches him, all the way home, to where he tells his flatmate that he got the job, where he begins to make preparations to move out. Jon casts glances over his shoulder when he thinks nobody can see him, although he can’t tell from where he’s being watched. Yet, despite the anxiety (and excitement) it causes, he makes no move to hide himself. 

He’s going to be perfect. Jonah will ensure it.

#👁️ | my writing #jonelias #elias bouchard #jonah magnus #jonathan sims #tma #tma fic #tma fanfic #god i hate tagging #👁️ | messiah!jon #tma elias #elias tma #tma jon #jon tma #jon sims #jon/elias #jon x elias #??? #jon archivist #jonahbas #the archivist #jarchivist #the magnus archives #ok thats enough tags

[checkadii]

when th

anyways uh. Yeah. thinking a bit more abt tma oc still a bit amused abt how his first interaction w Mike was “hey so. What if you do your whole vertigo bit on a person right. And I also suspend them in my water domain/state. Like. Simultaneously.” And they both turn to oliver banks

#the magnus archives #magnus archives #jonah magnus #barnabas bennett #jonahbas #mike crew #tma oc #checkadii

[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!

#if you're wondering. yes the knife and fork is an allegory for eating them and ruining their lives toxic yaoi style <3 #jonah magnus #elias bouchard #jonathan fanshawe #barnabas bennett #jonshawe #regency harem #the regency harem gang ✌️😎 #i am so abnormal about these guys you don't get it #klm-zoflorr #tma #the magnus archives #magpod #magshawe #jonahbas

[initial-lime]

Can we take a moment and think about how Jonah magnus was “very good friends” with Barnabas, a man taken by the lonely

And he then as James wright/Elias Bouchard becomes VERY good friends with Peter Lucas, a man who can traverse the lonely without harm.

Seems like something you’d do to make sure past mistakes don’t happen again.

He kept barnabas bones in his office that whole time. Also people of the eye keep falling in love with people of the lonely, isn’t that nice

#hunters obsessions tma #the magnus archives #tma #jonahbas #elias bouchard #jonah magnus #barnabas bennett #peter lucas

[mintytea-exe]

IF I SEE ONE MORE JMART COMPARISON WITH JONAHBAS I AM GOING TO AKDHSJFKFHSJKHJF

#tma #the magnus archives #tma shitpost #tma memes #jonahbas #jmart #jon sims #jarchivist #the archivist #jonathan sims #martin blackwood #jonah magnus #barnabas bennet #STOP THIS MADNESS

[paranormal-creativity]

fellas is it gay to keep a man's bones in your office for 200 years.

#sobs #tma #the magnus archives #jonah magnus #barnabas bennett #tma regency #the magnus archives fanart #tma fanart #jonahbas #MAG 92 #made this almost entirely because i needed to draw jonah with long hair #and i wanted to draw a skull #see look i AM capable of drawing jonahbas angst. sometimes.

[thehermitavatar]

#barnabas bennett #jonahbas #jonah magnus #tma fanart #tma #tma podcast #the magnus archive fanart #the magnus archives #the magnus pod #magpod #fanart #art #hermits art #emptysockets

[theplagueratt]

I love drawing the most obscure ships, just... They <3

#jonahbas #jonah magnus #barnabas bennett #Tma #the magpod #the magnus archives #tma fanart #the magnus archives fanart #elias bouchard #mag 92 #Dear jonah

[ortezsamuel]

local man makes out with skull of dead 19th century lover

more at 11

#elias bouchard #barnabas bennett #jonahbas #the magnus archives #magpod #do not archive #i read some headcanons where he gently kisses the skull on the forehead and went no <3 #he makes out with it <3 #hes a weird little freak #this will appeal to maybe like three people who are also weird little freaks #i am one of them #sam art

[thedevilscarnival]

Do you have. Sorry hello i am a polite girl i swear. Do you have jonahbas thoughts to share with the class ❓❓

my god i haven't thought about them in years... but yes, i do have them.

jonahbas strikes me as a first young love that was never allowed to separate. the chaste kiss between two children that was frowned upon, and then as they both grew in a world that could easily have both of them ruined for that fact, they were forced to stay close lest that knowledge risk being unveiled. beholding fear and all <3

in his letter to jonah, barnabas is the only one of magnus' letters that has a certain degree of entitlement. all the others- albrecht, jonathan, robert, sampson- either treat him as an equal colleague or the soured relations of an equal they can no longer stand. but barnabas? he expects jonah to save him. he demands it. that displays a level of intimacy one wouldn't expect from our mr magnus. it strikes me as them having something older and deeper. and, in all likelihood, something that should've ended a long time ago.

put yourself in jonah's shoes. you have this person whom you truly care for. you care for him enough to keep his bones by your side for 200 years after his death. but as you look into the world of fears and, even before that, traipse through the dog-eat-dog world of 1800s noblemen and their petty god fearing disputes, you realize that he Knows things about you. things that could lose you everything you've built up so far. things that could get you killed. and you do still love him, of course, you have always loved him. but he's a liability. a danger.

it's much easier to observe rather than make the commitment yourself, no?

#tma #jonah magnus #barnabas bennett #jonahbas #korro.ask #klm-zoflorr

[bonerey]

T4T jonahbas. BTW. if u even care

#jonahbas #jonah magnus #tma #the magnus archives #elias bouchard #barnabas bennett

[thswrtchdthng]

happy 200 year anniversary to this gay ass letter

#tma #the magnus archives #barnabas bennett #jonahbas

[checkadii]

orph you occasionally say something that just sparks A Drawing Energy in the cave and I’m like. Damn. Now I have to drop EVERYTHING im holding to scribble out a horrible edition of this

Anywyas . I am tryjfnto speedrun mike drawing because i won’t sleep till I finish it + new barnabas hair cut. realized I cannawt stand his previous one. still need to figure out how to make them both look ancient. I *can* but my mind is like no… make them silly young adults where nothing goes wrong ever….

#the magnus archives #magnus archives #jonah magnus #barnabas bennett #jonahbas #checkadii

[tarotrans]

I want aromantic queer Jonah Magnus. I am aro myself. I personally still feel affection for people, and I have relationships. I want to see this in characters, so I am projecting on Jonah/Elias.

Ideas for this are below:

I want to see a fanfic with a Jonah who is high out of his mind, and trying to explain to someone that he does feel affection for his main group of correspondence, however he doesn't think he could ever love Barnabas or anyone else from the group in the way that they want. Maybe even Mordechai overhearing this and purposefully making sure that himself and Barnabas are around Jonah more, just so that he can feed off of Barnabas' loneliness. 1800s flavored misconceptions about being aromantic, meaning that Jonah couldn't feel any affection for them at all, whereas Jonah actually feels a lot for all of them. It is just not romantic attraction.

I want to see Lonelyeyes with aromantic Elias, who does genuinely enjoy being around Peter and enjoys being married to him(ignoring when the man pisses him off and they get divorced, of course.) I need Elias trying to explain to Peter how he genuinely feels about the man, just for Peter to either say: nothing, maybe give a light acknowledgement, or a hum, and then "Oh." Maybe this can lead to more of an explanation. Maybe Peter is also aromantic, or he is just happy with the idea of being in a "loveless" marriage. There is also the possibility that this causes a divorce because Peter doesn't quite understand what Jonah actually means, and he thinks that Jonah is trying to break off their arrangement(he isn't).

Even exploring this with other Jonah-centric ships.

There are so many possibilities with an aromantic and queer Jonah.

#elias bouchard #jonah magnus #peter lukas #lonelyeyes #regency harem #barnabas bennett #jonahbas #mordechai lukas

[disacurveball]

“I will poison all your happy thoughts.

I will love you like the ashes in my cigarette box.

And if you’re fine with that,

You can be mine.”

—Tongues & Teeth, The Crane Wives

#i told you #the gothic horror vibes would be coming #tongues and teeth #the crane wives #jonahbas #jonah magnus #barnabas bennett #TMA #TMA fanart #the Magnus archives #the magnus institute #the magnus pod #the magnus archives fanart #art #fanart #artists on tumblr

[archivists-axe]

oh god. do we remember mag 92?

that one letter from Barnabas Bennett to Jonah Magnus where he got trapped in the Lonely? and how 'Elias' tells John about leaving him out of curiosity not lacking of care?

could it be a warning for John to not get close to Martin? or a trap to get him caring more to lure him into the Lonely in the end?

could it been leading to the wrong conclusion (not) on purpose? leading to the thought that John should leave Martin (and last bits of humanity) as Gertrude left her assistants?

could Jonah and John be in similar stories - having a person close to them wandering in the Lonely but Jonah watches while John rescues? and ironically the action brings John closer to the Beholding than the ignoring - Jonah?

could Jonah see Barnabas in Martin when they had this one dialogue about loyalty to John, shattering 'that precious picture'? could he try to do something he did so many years ago? could the words in the mag 160 about Martin 'earning [to be kept an eye on]' be reference to this one story?

could it be the two-part tragedy of the Eye and Lonely where in the first act Jonah was left with his lover's bones and whole world waiting to be watched and in the second act John was left with his lover's hand in his and whole world being watched by him?

#i want to cry. #jmart #jonahbas #tragic gay men repeating the history every two centuries #jonah magnus #barnabas bennett #jonathan sims #john sims #martin blackwood #tma #the magnus archives #meta?