Fic Rec: The Science of Musicality

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

Title: The Science of Musicality
Author: circ_bamboo
Pairing: Gen, focusing on Sherlock and John
Length: 11,500 words
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Classical musician AU: Sherlock is a professional solo violinist, and John is his new piano accompanist. They've got a recital in three months, and someone doesn't want them to do it.

Reccer's comments: Sherlock and John love their work; sharing the adventure and joy of work is always a central part of their relationship, and I'm always especially interested to see that dynamic translated and made new by giving them a different profession. This story completely immerses us in the world of professional musical performance, and it's almost like watching Sherlock and John speaking a different language. I love the thoroughness of this AU setting, and the way that John and Sherlock's instantly recognizable personalities shine through in their new setting. They are just so competent. I love it. And they work so well together, and they 'get' each other, and Sherlock is a diva and John is very, very good at handling divas.

I love learning something new and seeing a career and lifestyle I would otherwise never have known anything about. The author holds a degree in piano performance, and their knowledge and experience shines through without ever bogging down the narrative. For realism, dedication to detail, and spot-on characterization, this story is hard to beat. Plus, it's just fun :)

Fic Rec: Suddenly, A Familiar Song

[frozen_delight]

Title: Suddenly, A Familiar Song (also on AO3)
Author: fengirl88
Pairing: None
Length: 1,100 words
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: None
Verse: Sherlock BBC

Author's summary: Lestrade’s seen a lot of romcoms, for his sins. Never thought he’d find himself in the middle of one, though.

Reccer's comments: This is another charming conclusion to The Sign of Three, this time one with strong Sherlock/Lestrade overtones and delightful popcultural references. Considering that in this episode Lestrade was at best presented as nothing more than a pining, lonely old man and at worst  served as a laughing stock, I'm so pleased that this story sets out to do a little more justice to the DI and gives him the romcom happy ending he deserves. Written from Lestrade's POV, we experience the arrest of the Waters gang which (thanks to Sherlock) doesn't go quite to plan, the Watsons' marriage with Sherlock's chaotic best-man speech, and finally a spot of dancing.

I really love how Lestrade is portrayed here - he's down-to-earth, humorous, self-deprecating and kind, though that sometimes disappears a little beneath his exasperation and weariness. Without it being explicitely stated, you get the impression that he's not at the best point of his life - he's no longer young, he lives on his own, and while he's moderately successful in his job, he has no illusions that his abilities bear any comparison with those of his favourite consulting detective. Naturally, having to attend a happy wedding drives home to him all the things that he isn't - or that he doesn't have.
His frustration with Sherlock and his own life are palpable, but you can also sense how much he likes and respects Sherlock and how he can't possibly imagine a different lifestyle for himself. The parallels between Sherlock and Lestrade, the two outsiders at the merry wedding festivities, are done with beautiful subtlety.

A must-read for all fans of the film My Best Friend's Wedding.