Fic Rec: Ain't Seen the Sunshine Universe

[brighteyed-jill.livejournal.com]

Title: Ain't Seen the Sunshine
Author: emungere
Pairing: John/Lestrade pre-slash
Length: 27,000 this story, part of a 5-part universe
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: brief instance of off-screen domestic violence
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: "I have two sons," she said. "Ages five and twelve. They're very bright, and I don't say that as a doting mother. I say that as someone who's seen their IQ scores and discovered that the elder was writing essays for a number of university students at fifty pounds a paper."
Reccer's comments: This is an AU where John is a nanny for young Mycroft and Sherlock. No wait, don't walk away! I generally don't enjoy stories that involve children, but Mycroft and Sherlock are still wonderfully themselves in this universe that this AU really rings true. John gets to be a BAMF all over the place, and it's fascinating to see him relate to the enigmatic Mrs. Holmes. Seeing John become part of the family is heartwarming.

Also, Lestrade comes into the picture with some choice scenes of sexual tension. This universe has expanded to include not only the five stories in the series, but also Nanny!John's blog (Nothing Happens to Me) and Lestrade's blog (Interesting Murders Not Boring Stuff). Enjoy the lovely domestic life of these four.

Fic Rec: Thicker Than Water

[brighteyed-jill.livejournal.com]

Title: Thicker Than Water
Author: by wafflestories
Pairing: Gen
Length: ~1600
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: -
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: "No," said Mycroft. "I don't fear you. For all your posturing and shock tactics, I never have. No, dear brother. I'm afraid of having to end you."
Reccer's comments: Waffles's style is amazingly expressive; it draws you in to Mycroft's horror as he imagines what Sherlock is capable of. I am a sucker for dream imagery, and here it's used to great effect. I love the emphasis on what Sherlock and Mycroft have in common in terms of their blood and their heritage as well as the dark potential in their natures.

Fic Rec: Lessons Learned

[brighteyed-jill.livejournal.com]

Title: Lessons Learned
Author: morganstuart
Pairing: Gen
Length: ~10,000
Rating: R for violence
Warnings: violence
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: A hostage situation at 221B Baker Street proves that not all dangers come from Moriarty.
Reccer's comments: I adore fics about chosen families, and this fic uses both an actual familial relationship (Lestrade and his daughter) and a network of extended "family" (ranging from John and Sherlock to Mrs. Hudson to Anthea to Donovan) to great effect. It's lovely to see them all come together around a common cause. Also, morganstuart does a capital job of showing John and Sherlock in a domestic situation with Lestrade's family while keeping them marvelously in character. Also, lots of people get to be heroic, which is always fun.


"I have a look," Sherlock informed John. After a beat, he thought to ask Sofie, "What is my look, exactly? Be precise."

"Hmmm… like music is playing in the background, even when it's quiet, and wind is blowing in your hair, even when you're indoors." Blinking at him over her phone, she added, "Like you should be wearing a cape. All the time."

Sherlock seemed inordinately pleased.


Also available on A03

Rec Day the 3rd!

[tanpopo03.livejournal.com]

It's Family Fic Day! I admit this intro post is a bit late, my apologies. I didn't find time before or during work today.

Anyhow, if you're only joining us now:

Make your recs today, on the 26th. The comm will be open today to all posters for recs on the above theme!
Fic, art, and vids may be recced. All versions of Sherlock Holmes sources are eligible for recs. No recent WIPs or RPF please. But you *can* rec things that have been recced before.

Please follow the recs guidelines. One rec per post, please, unless you're reccing a series, and tag your posts with at least the minimum tags required (verse, slash/gen/het genre, and pairing if relevent) plus "theme: family".

If you have any questions, please ask in comments to this post or in PM to a mod.

I'll come back to post recs as soon as I've had some dinner... ;)

Fic Rec: "Once More With Feeling" by red-carrigan

[jordan-frog.livejournal.com]

Title: Once More With Feeling
Author: red_carrigan
Pairing: Sherlock/John, some John/Mary
Length: 7 parts
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: none
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: To put off his meddlesome, matchmaking mother, John convinces Sherlock to play the role of his significant other. Unparalleled awkwardness ensues.
Reccer's comments: Watson's parents here are both adorable and realistic, and Sherlock and John's interactions here are pure gold. I normally don't like fics with plots that resemble romantic comedies, but this hooked me in at the kink meme and I couldn't stop myself from needing to see how it ended. I'm sure you'll find ourself falling for it too should you give it a chance!

FIC(S): Inverse Series by Caers/pulangaraw

[sussexdowns.livejournal.com]

Last June, Caers and pulangalaw's brilliant serial killer AU, the Inverse series, was recced here. It begins with:

Title: Reinvent the Pain
Author: Caers, pulangaraw
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Length: 25,768
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Drug use, violence, murder, minor character death
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Sherlock has grown up to be a serial killer. Just how will this impact John Watson when they finally meet?

Reccer's comments: This doesn't really have anything to do with family other than some brief cameos by Mycroft, but it's necessary as a background for the other two stories in the series, which are all about the Holmes siblings. It's also creepy and clever and an amazing read all on its own. If you didn't catch it last summer, give it a shot now because it's really excellent.

WHICH BRINGS US TO:

Title: Stop and Go
Author: Caers
Pairing: Gen
Length: 4,634
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Drug use, violence, murder
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: A look at Sherlock's childhood and what caused him to become a serial killer.

Reccer's comments: This is the second installment in the series and serves as a flashback. It expands on events referenced in Reinvent the Pain, namely the death of Sherlock's mother, and its aftermath. Like the rest of the series, it's pretty dark and disturbing and completely genius.

AND:

Title: Darkness/Influence
Author: Caers, pulangaraw
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Length: 8,519
Rating: Mature
Warnings: Drug use, violence, murder, major character death(s)
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: The Holmes family comes together for Christmas. John wonders just how he'll survive it, and the aftermath.

Reccer's comments: The third and final installment in the inverse series, and the sequel to RtP. This is a bizarre, terrifying Holmes family Christmas...even more than it would be if this wasn't a fic about murder (and lots of it). Featuring Mycroft of course, Sherringford (my favorite!), and Irene Adler as the fourth Holmes sibling. This fic is insane and bloody and amazing. It will absolutely not disappoint. As usual, there is tons of murder, general creepiness, and some major character death this time. It's not quite rocks fall/everyone dies, but it sure does come close, so prepare yourself.

Fic Rec: "Time In Lieu Of" by Squidwhisk

[jordan-frog.livejournal.com]

Title: TIME IN LIEU OF
Author: squidwhisk
Pairing: Sherlock/John, Harry/Clara, implied Anthea/Mycroft
Length: 12,000 words
Rating: Pg-13
Warnings: none
Verse: Sherlock BBC. Some allusions to Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchet's "Good Omens," ALSO "THE BIBLE"
Author's summary: John Watson has three siblings, not one...and together they are the four horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Reccer's comments: So basically John, Harry, Anthea, and Sebastian Moran are the 4 horsemen of the apocalypse AND THEN THEY HAVE CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH SHERLOCK, MYCROFT, CLARA & MORIARTY. It's crack at its finest and its family fic!

Fic Rec: As You Are

[tanpopo03.livejournal.com]

Title: As You Are
Author: Anon
Pairing: Gen (with allusions to J/S)
Length: no wordcount given. Posted in 6 parts on the meme.
Rating: PG13-ish I think
Warnings: -
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Excerpt: "I know you’re avoiding me. Harry snaps into her mobile. Don’t think that’s going to keep me from tracking you down." She hangs up sharply; just thinking about her brother is giving her a headache. He’s missed lunch - again - and spent the rest of the day ignoring her phone calls. Why he still bothers is an utter mystery to her - he knows how little she likes having to go out of her way to get a hold of him. By the time she tracks him down she’s usually missed at least half a day’s work, is tired, cranky, and ready to strangle him on general principle. It’s not as though he has the money to pay back her lost wages either, the potential accounts she’ll lose if she doesn’t make it up to her clients. He’s the only doctor she’s ever heard of without a penny to his name. It’s ridiculous.

Reccer's comments: I've recced this one before, but it totally deserves a second one, since I absolutely adore Harry in this. A great piece that gives us a glimpse into how she sees John and his relationship with Sherlock.

Fic Rec: Heredity

[tanpopo03.livejournal.com]

Title: Heredity
Author: ingridmatthews
Pairing: gen
Length: Not stated. Posted in three parts.
Rating: PG I think.
Warnings: -
Verse: Ritchie films
Excerpt:The helix of his ear curls almost precisely thirty degrees over the scapha. The antihetical fold is nearly flat, a hereditary and defining feature. A particularly large antitragus completes the observational deduction as to the paternity.

"Sir?" The boy’s voice was hesitant, but the timber was unmistakable. Add to that the coloring of the eyes ...

Holmes rubbed his nose. "Yes, Doctor Watson is home. I’ll tell him you’re here."

"But I haven't told you my name ... sir!"

Holmes closed the door in the middle of the boy's sentence and ambled back up the stairs. Watson, typically, was reading and looking smug about not having to answer the door. Holmes wondered how many seconds it would take for that smugness to disappear.

Reccer's comments: Another one from a meme. Unlike other fics around this trope, here Holmes is the one who copes way better with the situation and actually steps in when Watson is completely overwhelmed. I really love Watson's awkwardness and Holmes' "match-making"!

Fic Rec... Untitled kid fic fluff :)

[tanpopo03.livejournal.com]

Title: Untitled kid-fic this way
Author: Anon
Pairing: John/Sherlock
Length: posted in 6 parts
Rating: PG13 (once again just my guess)
Warnings: Mention of violence, offscreen character death (not John, Sherlock or the kid).
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Excerpt: Sherlock spends long hours teaching Annabeth’s small hands to manipulate a bow, complaining occasionally over her head that John won’t allow her to learn anything more useful, such as (gruesome) criminal behavior or (dangerous) chemistry.

"For god’s sake, Sherlock, she’s four years old."

"She’s already so behind," Sherlock frets occasionally, when she is asleep. "I would never forgive myself if she turned out to be ordinary."
Reccer's comments: And... another meme fic. idek. If you like the Lizzy-verse you should definitely give this a try. Shorter, but just as charming and I promise it'll make you smile (if you don't mind a bit of an angsty interlude).
[Scroll down after the "minifill" - it's continued below in 5 parts]

Open Recs: Archenemy, by Elster

[unovis.livejournal.com]

Title: Archenemy on AO3
Author: Elster
Pairing: Gen: Sherlock, Mycroft
Length: 1647 words
Rating: General Audience
Warnings: none
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Young Holmeses
Reccer's comments:
This is a nice look at the Holmes brothers as children and young men. More specifically, it's a look at the possible evolution of them as "archenemies" in Sherlock's view. I like the differences here, with edge but not rancor, and Mycroft's convincing care for his brother.

( A taste )