Of the Devil's Party

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Fanfiction
Title: Of the Devil's Party
Author(s): mermaiddrunk
Date(s): 2014 - 2015
Length: 52,692 words
Genre(s): Femslash
Fandom(s): Elementary
Relationship(s): Jamie Moriarty/Joan Watson
External Links: AO3
"Images of: a soft looking Jamie wearing a white shirt, overlaid text reads 'We rarely encounter a catalyst strong enough to alter our behaviour indefinitely. If there was even such a thing it would be you'. Joan in a white trench coat looking down, overlaid text reads 'If there is a reason for self-annihilation, it would be you. You are my ruin Joan Watson'"
You are my ruin graphics by trydynamite (2015), featuring text from the fic

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Of the Devil's Party is a story by mermaiddrunk in Elementary fandom focused on the pairing of Jamie Moriarty/Joan Watson.

It begins as an epistolary style fic with Jamie writing letters to Joan after she is freed from prison. Of the Devil's Party is an AU story where Jamie is released from prison three months after the Kayden Fuller incident. Her initial letters to Joan contain poetry and Joan is intrigued by the mystery of why Jamie is writing to her. This leads Joan to reach out to Jamie and their relationship builds from there. As they progress from letters to phone calls, Joan struggles to trust Jamie, as she and Sherlock investigate a case that appears to have Moriarty at its centre.

It is often recced in femslash circles, and is considered a must read for fans of the Joaniarty pairing. It has been called "the mother-of-all-F/F fics of the Elementary fandom".[1] In fact, this fic introduced many fans to the Joan/Jamie pairing and pushed them to seek out more. As at August 2024, Of the Devil's Party is currently the most kudosed fic in the Joan/Jamie tag on fanfiction website Ao3 and it is the fifth most kudosed fic in the overall Elementary fandom tag.

Summary

Twelve weeks after the Kayden Fuller incident, Jamie Moriarty is granted a full acquittal, quietly and without fuss. That's when the letters begin to arrive -letters addressed to one Joan Watson.

Inspired Fanworks

Reactions and Reviews

I like this fic in particular because Joan starts out deeply mistrustful and resentful of Jamie. It would be out of character for her to behave any other way; not only has Moriarty hurt Sherlock and undermined Joan’s efforts with him, she also demeaned Joan herself by assuming she was Sherlock’s “mascot.” Joan constantly questions herself; why is she continuing to let such a destructive person into her life, and when did Moriarty of all people become a closer confidante than Sherlock or any of her other friends? The fic does not make Jamie out to be a suddenly perfect person either; even when she does come to Joan’s aid, it’s often as in some less-than-legal way that leaves Joan nearly regretting the help. And although Jamie’s motives for contacting Joan may be as innocent as her motives can possibly be, her dark past is beginning to catch up with her, and I’m anxious to see if the budding relationship between the two women can stand up to the explosion that will happen when it’s revealed.
The only thing that I would warn readers about is that there is one somewhat graphic/violent scene while Joan has been kidnapped by a criminal whose calling card is skinning his victims. While Joan does get away mostly unscathed, it’s pretty intense in the moment, and if that kind of thing makes you uncomfortable, you might want to give this fic (or at least that part of the chapter) a pass.[2]

I love this ship and I really enjoyed this fic, about how the approach Jamie took, which felt like something she would do, and the slow development of their relationship.[3]

Well, this is a blast from the past. Keep in mind that I read all of these quite a long time ago, and I thought I went to the fandom for Sherlock & Joan platonic goodness and instead fandom introduced me to Jamie Moriarty/Joan Watson and the rest was history.

Of the Devil's Party by mermaiddrunk: This is your gateway drug. It works off of the premise that instead of sending letters to Sherlock, Moriarty sends them to Joan...

It's really good, as are many, many of other Jamie/Joan fics. Apparently there are 182 works in the tag now. If you have enough time, I recommend making your way through every one of them.[4]

the relationship between the two main character is kinda build upon an epistolary correspondence at the beginning and as we go along their interactions become more and more concrete.

it’s really interesting to see the way joan’s mind works because it’s simple and complex, it’s rational and irrational at the same time but more importantly it’s understandable.

i really love the build up done in this fic and i think anybody who felt like joan and moriarty relationship could be more should read it.[5]

A seduction through letters. This fic is deeply romantic, romantic both in classical ways and unexpected ways, and just because of this fic I made my way through the entire pairing tag.[1]

The author has a really good grasp on the characters’ personalities and voices. Joan has conflicted feelings about Moriarty—she’s a criminal mastermind, but at the same time they both feel a pull towards each other. I love the courtship of Joan through letters and phone calls, and a couple chapters did make me cry.[6]

fine, look. i’m just going to come out and say it–of the devil’s party is probably in my top two or three favorite fics of all time. probably number one, but i’m not going to put that much pressure on it. instead, let me say this: otdp is singularly awesome. it is beautifully written–beautifully doesn’t begin to describe it’s poetic flourishes. the characters are more themselves here than in any fic, more themselves than they are on the show sometimes. ALL of them–sherlock, jamie, JOAN. all of them are so in-character, so nuanced, so carefully drawn. the plot makes sense, it arrives organically, plays out in expected (in that they make sense) and unexpected (but never forced) ways. it is satisfying as fuck. i mean, i don’t know, i can’t say enough good things about this story. it’s done. it’s here for all of us to read and reread as we please. and if you haven’t read it? maybe you don’t read works in progress, who knows– anyway, do yourself a favor. read it. you won’t regret it. you’ll probably come here and thank me.[7]

There are very few stories out there that I can genuinely say have had more than a passing effect on me. Fanfic just doesn’t really do that to me very often. A lot of it has to do with the general skill of many fanfic writers, where they can tell a good story, but not necessarily tell it evocatively enough to really grip you, and hold you deeply in the story.

The Elementary Fandom is different, we have these great fucking writers, and everyone who writes seems to have this great grasp on how to hold a person in a story.

Of the Devil’s Party began so quietly that you almost don’t see the ending coming, it’s so improbable, so utterly impossible. You want it. But as you read, it doesn’t seem possible.

This story fits together so perfectly, each little puzzle piece revealing another part of the whole, this emotional tour de force. I don’t often say this about fic, because it’s, well, fic. We’re trained, I think, to look down on it as somehow illegitimate.

But this story – this story could never be illegitimate. This is one of the best I’ve ever read. I’m grateful to have provided some sneaky help and commentary on the sides. Keep writing @mermaidandthedrunks and you’ll outshine us all.

also, MARRY ME.[8]

I stopped reading this fic about halfway through because I knew it was something special. I knew that if I read it update by update I’d miss something, a piece of dialogue, a meaning, a feeling. So I stopped and now it’s finished and I’m so excited to read it! If you ship Joan/Moriarty this is a must-read, possibly THE must-read, and even if you don’t, if you like Elementary in any way I would suggest reading this. The characterisation is spot-on, not only for Joan and Moriarty but for Sherlock and all the characters. I feel like I’m in their world when I’m reading it. So now it’s done of course I don’t have the time to read it, but give me a week and I will be setting aside an afternoon to do it start to finish. I suggest everyone else do the same.[9]

*SCREAMS* IT’S JUST SO PERFECT AND SATISFYING AND YESSSSASSS[10]

I think this author has put a lot of thought into what it would be like to fall for an amoral criminal mastermind, when you’re someone who generally tries to be a good person. Also, the general mood of the piece is fantastic.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b "Comment by fan spirokostof on I need a long and good F/F, posted to r/FanFiction, August 30, 2023". Archived from the original on 2024-07-20.
  2. ^ "Fanfiction Fridays: Of the Devil's Party by Mermaiddrunk". Archived from the original on 2021-08-23.
  3. ^ "fic rec: of the devil's party (joan/jamie)". Archived from the original on 2023-03-01.
  4. ^ "Comment on fanfiction recs for Elementary posted to r/FanFiction, August 31, 2022". Archived from the original on 2023-03-01.
  5. ^ "joan watson/jamie moriarty fanfic". Archived from the original on 2023-03-01.
  6. ^ The Rec Center #81, July 21, 2017 newsletter
  7. ^ "Comment by ze0 on reblog of final chapter Tumblr announcement post". Archived from the original on 2024-07-20.
  8. ^ "Tumblr post by anamatics, Oct 30, 2015". {{cite web}}: Text "https://web.archive.org/web/20240720145657/https://anamatics.tumblr.com/post/132247072992/of-the-devils-party-pt-xviiifinal-chapter" ignored (help)
  9. ^ "Tumblr post by trashpandacommander". Archived from the original on 2024-07-20.
  10. ^ "Tumblr post by pyrotechnician, Oct 31, 2015". Archived from the original on 2024-07-20.
  11. ^ "The Rec Center #243". Archived from the original on 2024-07-22.
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