Fic rec: You Think You're Alone (Until You Relize You're In It)

[brighteyed-jill.livejournal.com]

Title: You Think You’re Alone (Until You Realize You’re In It)
Author: saraht
Pairing: John/OCs (with John/Sherlock UST)
Rating: NC-17
Warnings: Voyeurism, mild violence
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Nothing can stay simple around Sherlock.
Reccer's comments: The premise of this fic (that John has a casual encounter in a back alley, and Sherlock happens to be watching) is hot all by itself, but Saraht’s treatment of it elevates it to mind-meltingly hot. Sherlock and John’s not-handling of the situation is a spot-on take on their relationship, with just the right amount of hint at what they truly mean to each other.

FIC: Seems So Easy For Everyone Else

[sussexdowns.livejournal.com]

Title: Seems So Easy For Everyone Else
Author: etothepii
Pairing: brief Sherlock/OC and Sherlock/Seb, but mostly gen
Length: 15,000 words
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: suicidal ideation, transphobia, some homophobia
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: He signs his correspondences to the police as Sherlock H, as he always has, and he signs his letters to his parents as SH -- they can take what they will from the S. He signs his school assignments S. Holmes, and manages to get away with it because he is the only Holmes in his classes. FtM!Sherlock.

Reccer's comments: One of my absolute favorite things about this fandom is the abundance of really well-done trans* and gf fic. A few pieces we recced here in previous months, and believe me when I say there is so much more out there. This story deals wonderfully with Sherlock and Mycroft's relationship as it evolves over the years, which is always a pleasure to read, because it's just so interesting. Another thing I really liked about this was the way etothepii uses pronouns throughout. Another trans*-themed story that was recced here was written in second person which very neatly avoided gendering the character/s incorrectly. This story goes the complete opposite route and uses clearly gendered pronouns very effectively.

( I dithered over which snippet to include, because there are so many amazing ones, but I just loved this too much not to include it. )