Fic Rec: A Very Sherlock Musical

[swissmarg]

Title: A Very Sherlock Musical
Author: flawedamythyst
Pairing: John/Sherlock
Length: 11,980 words
Rating: Teen
Warnings: None
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: So, you know how musicals are set in a world where people just burst into song every five minutes, and everyone around them automatically knows to join in with the tune and choreography? This fic is set in that world. John finds it extremely frustrating that Sherlock won't sing their theme song with him. Not Season 3-compliant.

Reccer's comments: This highly original premise could easily have devolved into camp or a trite songfic. Instead, it manages to be humorous, touching, quirky, and surprisingly moving. The story broadly covers the first two series and a speculative return a la The Empty House, but the meat of the plot treats the fact that Sherlock has never sung with anyone before (all but unheard of in this world) … and he isn't about to start now, just because he and John are friends.

Excerpt:

Sherlock was silent for a long moment before saying, in a quiet voice, “I have never sung with anyone else.”

John started. “Never? But surely when you were a child-”

“Never,” repeated Sherlock. “Our family's theme was instrumental only, so we never had to sing it. The other songs that children tend to sing together passed me by. I was taught at home until I was old enough to go to boarding school, by which time I had already decided that I had no interest in sharing a song just for the sake of it. As I grew older, that only became clearer to me. You know how little I have in common with the things that other people consider worth singing about.”

John tried to imagine a life spent singing only solos, and couldn't. He'd sung with other people at least once a week for his whole life, usually more often. The only exception to that had been when he'd arrived in London after being shot and had been living alone in that depressing bedsit, but even then he'd been involved in the odd street ensemble.

“What about street ensembles?”

Sherlock made a face. “What do I care if it’s bloody raining or not?”

John stared at him. “Right,” he said, faintly.

“I do not want your pity,” said Sherlock sharply. “I am perfectly content with things as they are. Singing with others would mean dragging myself down to their level.”

“Including singing a duet with me?” asked John.

Sherlock clenched his jaw and looked away. “Our theme works perfectly well as an instrumental piece,” he said. “The lyrics would only ruin that with saccharine sentiment.”

From John's tea-making song to the entire cast plus extras bursting into street ensembles whenever it rains to Sherlock serenading John, this is a world that utterly consumed my imagination and was over way too soon.