Fic Rec: Also When 'Tis Cold and Drear

[swissmarg]

Title: Also When 'Tis Cold and Drear
Author: garonne
Pairing: John/Sherlock
Length: 26,179 words
Rating: R
Warnings: None
Verse: ACD Books
Author's summary: In the first months of their acquaintance, Holmes and Watson study each other from a distance, watching and wondering... Contains lunatic aristocratic poets, Christmas dinner, plenty of fog and snow, and other such stuff.

Reccer's comments: ACD verse fics are thin on the ground with the recent huge popularity of the BBC reboot, but this one is a notable exception. The author has captured the tone of the era admirably, as in this scene in which the detective is interviewing a client:

For my conversation with Pendleford, Watson and his notebook were present as always. I lent a professional ear to the old man's long and rambling tale, but out of the corner of my eye I was watching Watson bent over his notebook, his pen flying across the page, a little crease between his fair brows giving his face an intense expression which I found oddly compelling.

Every so often I tore my eyes away from Watson in order to satisfy the minimum exigences of civility by nodding in acknowledgement of old Mr Pendleford, who was still reciting volubly. He was sitting on the edge of his chair, a chandler's wax-stained hands clutching the cardboard folder resting on his knees, his countryman's shoes clashing with the three-piece suit he had taken from the back of his wardrobe for his visit to town, and which had not seen the light of day since he had attended a wedding two summers ago - or perhaps three, it was impossible to say for certain. His enunciation was careful and his West Country accent quite light, as he poured out a story which he had evidently rehearsed several times in the train.

As this excerpt indicates, the fic follows the investigation of a couple of cases (which are nicely done and have certain parallels to Holmes and Watson's situation), but the real framework is the development of the relationship between Holmes and Watson. It is written in first person, with the point of view switching back and forth between the two men. It's a little heartbreaking being able to see each man's thoughts and feelings, yet both of them unable to be open with the other both because of the mores of the time and because of their own reticence and hesitance to ruin their friendship. Rest assured, however, that the ending is fluffy and warm, and everyone gets what they want for Christmas.

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[unovis.livejournal.com]

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