Fic Rec: Aircraft Recognition

[discordantwords]

Title: Aircraft Recognition
Author: mydogwatson
Pairing: Sherlock & John
Length: 1,215
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: None
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Two little boys meet during the second World War. A different time, a different place, but the same magic.

Reccer's comments: This author writes a charming series called Postcard Tales, where they base a one-shot Sherlock fic on a postcard out of a set of vintage replicas. Their note from the very first Postcard Tale:

I have a set of postcards that are replicas of vintage Penguin book covers. Just before my recent trip to London [Hamlet!], I blindly selected one card for each day of the trip. Every morning in London I [again blindly] chose one card from the pile and then I would write a johnlock vignette based on the title that came up. I mailed each card to myself, every one covered with tiny print.

With that explanation, I've chosen a story from their third series of Postcard Tales. In the grand tradition of alternate first meetings, here we have Sherlock as an adventurous, mischievous little boy, evacuated from London during World War II. He's bored, and lonely, and takes to watching planes in the sky. One day, he's joined by a new friend. 

This story has a lovely and bittersweet direct sequel, Keeping Poultry and Rabbits on Scraps, where the boys are a little older and facing a separation, and a final story Siren Land, where they encounter each other once more as adults. The first two are John/Sherlock friendship, and the final tale is Johnlock.

Fic Rec: Totus Mundus, Agit Histrionem

[tripleransom]

Title: Totus Mundus Agit Histrionem
Author: Mistyzeo
Pairing: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson
Length: 42715
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: None
Verse: ACD books
Author's summary:
The stage lost a fine actor, even as science lost an acute reasoner, when he became a specialist in crime.

January, 1881: a despondent army doctor is offered a ticket to a Shakespeare play, and is instantly captivated by the fellow playing the Danish prince himself. Then there is a murder. Then they fall in love.

Reccer's Comments: As of now, this fic has something over 300 comments on it on the AO3. I don't know why it hasn't been recc'd before, but I aim to remedy that now.

Yet another take on that fateful first meeting. This one from the inestimable Mistyzeo. She hurls us right into the middle of the action as we see Watson attending a performance of Hamlet, where the Prince is played by one S. Scott Holmes. Their attraction for one another is immediate, a murder soon follows, and the game is well and truly afoot.
There is femslash, a compelling mystery for Holmes to solve, a nod to The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, and not a word of the entire thing reads false. The period details are perfect as always, the characters are, well, perfectly in character. There are disguises, and picklocks, and even 221B complete with an aspidistra and a very knowing Mrs Hudson. And let's not neglect to mention some of the best written love scenes in the fandom.
There is a large cast of supporting characters, but they are all well-drawn enough that it's not confusing. A competent Lestrade makes his appearance as well, as in the end, the mystery is solved, the killer is caught and Holmes is launched on his true career.
Of course, like all detective fiction, it's a formula, but the genius of the thing is in its execution - and the execution is very, very well done.