The Mentalist Fic: Those Days Are Over

[dsudis]

I have spent exponentially more time figuring out how to introduce this than I did writing it, and if I actually try to explain it the notes will be longer than the story, so: without further ado. But for the record, the title is as in ...you don't have to sell your body to the night.

Thanks to missmollyetc,

Comments

[mneiai]

Wow, great interpretation of the "Red John" name. I like the idea of this being part of Jane's sordid past, of him punishing himself because he made himself forget for selfish reasons and has to face the consequences of that.

[dsudis]

Thank you! I'd started out pondering Jane-as-a-hooker, as one of the more or less standard stops on my tour of AUs, and then I got stuck on Red John and then this happened. I'm glad you enjoyed it!

[shayheyred]

Amazing and chilling.

[dsudis]

Thank you!

[pensive1]

I CANNOT EVEN DESCRIBE MY LOVE FOR THIS.

Had a convo some months back about Jane having a secret past with the mafia/criminal underground, wished for fic, but gave up. YOU DID ONE BETTER. KidJane, on the streets, the REAL meaning of the name "John," just GAHHHHHHHHH!!!11

YOU MADE MY DAY.

[dsudis]

*beams*

Thank you! I wrote it and then was torn between the OH GOD THIS IS REALLY WRONG and BUT I LOVE IT. So thank you for being my target audience, and I'm glad I could brighten your day!

[pensive1]

I ALWAYS ENCOURAGE WRONG. I'm glad you mentioned the hooker AU as being a common stop, and for some reason had never thought of it with this show. "John" is the most perfect setup for that AU EVER.

...if...if I ended up taking a spin in this AU, could I credit you for the home plate and start running bases? PLOT BUNNIES ARE AT THE DOOR.

[dsudis]

Ahahaha oh man, I take no responsibility for wherever you want to go with it, but knock yourself out. I know the bunnies can be fierce sometimes. :)

[rubynye]

Holy m'f'in' shit, brighteyes! This is painful and awesomeitudinous! Great googli moogli.

[dsudis]

*grins*

It'd just been such a long time since I wrote anything that was this truly deeply WRONG. I was due. I'm glad it worked for you!

(I forget: are you familiar with the canon? A significant portion of the creepiness in this one is dramatic irony.)

[tina_nocturne]

I was a bit, 'um. what?' at first, but then I read the story and became all, 'omg, so amazing!' -- because it is interesting and plausible and so totally fitting, in a way.

Poor Jane. :(

[dsudis]

I wrote the whole thing and then a few minutes later realized that the pairing label would in fact be Red John/Patrick Jane and said OH GOD, WHAT HAVE I DONE. So I understand anyone's trepidation about clicking through that cut tag, but I'm glad you enjoyed it when you did! Thank you!

It is hard being Jane. Especially when he's getting written by me. :(