Fic Rec: If You Can't Move Heaven, Raise Hell

[swissmarg]

Title: If You Can't Move Heaven, Raise Hell
Author: splix
Pairing: John/Sherlock, Sherlock/male!Adler, John/male!Adler, past Sherlock/female!Trevor, Moriarty/Moran
Length: 83,084 words
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Dub-con
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: All John Watson wants is a peaceful fortnight's holiday in Cornwall. Fate has other plans.

Reccer's comments: Old enemies, new mysteries, old loves, and new revelations, all come together in one spellbinding story that pours on the angst against the gorgeous backdrop of the Italian Alps. The premise is that an old friend of Sherlock's asks him to investigate some mysterious deaths and the disappearance of a valuable codex from a remote monastery. If it sounds a bit like Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, that's because the author did borrow some elements from it, with full acknowledgment. There are also aspects of ASiB and references to TBB, but it all felt absolutely fresh and I was never sure where the next lead was going to take them. The case was intriguing and completely original, with tie-ins to other canon cases and plenty of opportunity for some good old-fashioned UST and angsting on the part of the lads.

I don't as a rule enjoy genderswap, but maybe because it wasn't Sherlock or John, the genderswapped versions of Adler and Trevor scratched an itch I never knew I had. Ian Adler in particular was a fantastic re-imagining of Irene, with all of the character's morally dubious wiles and charms intact. The author makes a point that Tom Hiddleston was the inspiration for Ian's character, as portrayed in this gif. And now you can't unsee that, can you? You're welcome.

And here's Adler in action:

Ian crossed one leg over the other and folded his arms, peering at Sherlock. "How are you feeling?"

"I can still feel traces of the chemical you drugged me with in my bloodstream, and my arm is sore. Thanks for asking."

"I'm amazed that you threw away such a tantalizing opportunity, Sherlock."

"Must sting to be turned down."

"Well, my door is always open." Ian leant back in the chair. "Do consider it, at least. I'd make you beg for more."

"I don't beg. Never have."

"You would, with me," Ian said softly. "Think about it."

I also have to make special mention of Moriarty, because he steals every scene he's in. He is obsessively controlling, head over heels in love with himself, and six steps ahead of everyone else at any given time. Even the Moriarty/Moran was disturbingly compelling. If you already ship them, this will deliver your fix in spades, but he's not such a major character that if they don't butter your toast, you can skim their scenes and not miss much plot. But don't skim, because their dynamic is completely off the rocker.

There are a few scenes that I would call dub-con, so if questionable power dynamics and motivations in sexual situations make you uncomfortable, best proceed carefully. Other than that, the BDSM is pretty mild and brief, and the criminal violence never gets too gory, although guns and knives do what they were made for and a bit of blood does flow.

Comments

squee!

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User splix referenced to your post from squee! (http://splix.livejournal.com/1325129.html) saying: [...] I got a really nice rec on the 221B Recs community [...]

[lauramcewan.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes. Wonderful rec, indeed. :)