Recs: February 27, 2012
Feb. 27th, 2012 10:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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beth_hThis update is, apparently, Molly/SomeGuy or Asexuality.
Lewis (aka, Inspector Lewis)
dogpoet (garryowen on LJ): "Punctuation Series" (Lewis/Hathaway. A wonderful, ten-part, coming together series for these two men, framed by a clever and character-appropriate extended metaphor. Both the characters' povs - each very distinct - work perfectly, and the sense of developing intimacy is extremely touching. Honest, tender...really lovely work)
Sherlock Holmes
bendingsignpost (bendingsignpost on LJ): "Behavioural Modification" (BBC. Sherlock/John. "Whatever it took, he was going to make this work." An Asexual@Sherlock in a relationship with John, except...apparently nobody bothered to tell John he was in a relationship. As the tags say: "extreme misunderstandings." Very interesting Sherlock pov.)
branwyn (cesario on LJ): "The Skeleton Winter" (BBC. Sherlock/Girl!Watson. ""Joanna knows that enlisting as the only recruit in Sherlock's private army isn't going to make her less damaged. But Sherlock puts her damage to good use. Joanna thinks that is by far the best thing that could have happened to her. It may, in fact, be the only thing that could have saved her."" I've mentioned elsewhere that genderswap fic is usually not my thing, but this may have been a game changer for me. Smart and engaging. Note: a sequel to this story is now in progress, as part of what's now apparently a series: Compatible Damage)
e (etothepii on LJ): "Your Moral Crisis is Stupid" (BBC. Sherlock/John. "Sherlock is asexual. John is not. Possibly, Sherlock should have told him this before they had sex." In many ways, this is essentially a pwp, which ordinarily I wouldn't be a fan of, but the pov - a Sherlock who is seriously romantically involved with John, but is still negotiating the waters of the early stages of their sex life together when he, personally, has zero interest in sex - is excellent.)
greywash (greywash on LJ/DW): "the sensation of falling as you just hit sleep" (BBC. Sherlock/John. "Love is a much more vicious motivator." Post-Reichenbach. Long, smart, tense, sometimes tender, and extremely well written. Plot spoiler, with commentary: Caveat: what I'm about to say is my issue, and my issue alone. Some people can't read incest and some can't read infidelity and some can't read...I don't know, a guy wearing white socks during sex, but I personally have a huge problem with friends/partners/lovers keeping important information from each other, especially when it leads to one or both of the characters being miserable. So. A substantial portion of the first third of this story has everybody and their brother knowing that Sherlock's alive, but not John. More to the point, John suspects Sherlock's alive, but everybody who knows the truth - including Sherlock - is keeping it from him and keeps lying, over and over again. That's not the whole plot, obviously, but it's a particular plot element that drives me crazy, even though it's very common [i.e., the romance novel misunderstanding pairing separation angst convention], to the point where I almost couldn't continue to read this story. Don't get me wrong, I ended up loving it - and was thrilled that I did, because the issue of trust is a significant focus in the story as a whole - but I have to admit that I only carried on past the first few chapters because so many of my friends had recced it already. Note: a new story in what is now a series, has just been posted as of this recs update: "in deed accomplish our designs")
gyzym (gyzym on LJ): "An Avalanche of Detour Signs" (BBC. Molly/Sherlock [unrequited], Molly/Moriarty, Molly/Lestrade. "In which Molly Hooper gets a job, gets a degree, breaks a heart, has her heart broken, falls in love, keeps a secret, saves a life, runs a morgue, falls apart, pulls it together, and finds exactly what she didn't know she was looking for--not necessarily in that order." A smart, engaging - and long - story that brings all the background characters front and center and gives them lives of their own. Pre and Post-Reichenbach.)
Maybe Amanda and OneMillionAndNine (see maybe_amanda on LJ): "Sustain (or Concerto for the Famished in D Minor)" (BBC. Molly/Sherlock, John/Sarah. ""So now you're behaving like a six year old 'cause he didn't take you along on his honeymoon?" Lestrade said. "Grow the hell up."" John and Sarah are married and have left the country for some time, which leaves Sherlock at loose ends. Molly - over Sherlock as far as she's able to be - and suffering her own losses, is thinking it might be time to make some changes in her life, including having a child. What's the last thing you'd imagine Sherlock to offer? Yes, he does...and it makes for an excellent story! Note: there's already a very good sequel here and a third - and final? - story in the series on the way, but I'm reccing now as the first 'Sustain' story is complete)
sciosophia (lovingthevolume, fic journal on LJ): "The Deepest Secret Nobody Knows" (BBC. Sally, with past Sally/Sherlock. "The real reason Sally Donovan hates Sherlock so much? They have a child he never sees." Season 2, for obvious reasons, left me antagonistic toward Sally, regardless of how predisposed I'd been to like the character originally. This story however - written before season 2 - made me much more sympathetic to Sgt Donovan's situation. Very well done! Note: there's a great little two-part future fic by lizzledpink in the comment section which is worth reading! Warning for a seriously sad moment at the end, in the wake of "The Great Game" pool sequence, although considering the author's planning sequels, maybe not as sad as it seems?)
sc010f (sc010f on LJ): "Mysterious Ways" (BBC. Molly/Moriarty, Molly/Mycroft. "Molly never expected Jim from IT to be a psychotic consulting criminal. But the revelation of his true nature led her to something even more unexpected than finding your boyfriend is a killer." In which Molly can be strong on occasion, and Mycroft can't quite forget to be manipulative, even when he tries. Written prior to season two.)
verityburns: "The Heart in the Whole" (BBC. Sherlock/John. "Events after 'The Great Game' leave Sherlock dependent on his best friend and colleague. But John has a secret of his own..." This was written long before season two, and...let me start with a warning for Traumatic Brain Injury, i.e., a sniper's gunshot, grazing Sherlock and leaving him briefly in a coma and then blind, although to find out whether that's also temporary, you'll have to read the story. Moriarty is still alive and dangerous in this story, although in the background for most of the story. The focus is on the developing relationship between John and a very inexperienced Sherlock, in conjunction with Sherlock's recovery. Honestly? Even though I liked the final chapters, the story itself felt as if it had reached a natural end at least two chapters before it finally finished, but even that is a fairly minor criticism in a very long, very engaging story)
X-Men
isabeau (isabeau on LJ/ysobel on DW): "Mosaic" (XMFC, Charles/Erik. "Charles has always considered himself to be broken -- not human in more respects than just his telepathy. But he puts up with sex for Erik's sake, until a stray thought makes him realize that maybe he's not alone -- and maybe he isn't broken." An asexual Charles, and a story that's a little sad, and a lot hopeful - although it's always bittersweet with these two, given what we know of their future. Nicely done.)
Lewis (aka, Inspector Lewis)
dogpoet (garryowen on LJ): "Punctuation Series" (Lewis/Hathaway. A wonderful, ten-part, coming together series for these two men, framed by a clever and character-appropriate extended metaphor. Both the characters' povs - each very distinct - work perfectly, and the sense of developing intimacy is extremely touching. Honest, tender...really lovely work)
Sherlock Holmes
bendingsignpost (bendingsignpost on LJ): "Behavioural Modification" (BBC. Sherlock/John. "Whatever it took, he was going to make this work." An Asexual@Sherlock in a relationship with John, except...apparently nobody bothered to tell John he was in a relationship. As the tags say: "extreme misunderstandings." Very interesting Sherlock pov.)
branwyn (cesario on LJ): "The Skeleton Winter" (BBC. Sherlock/Girl!Watson. ""Joanna knows that enlisting as the only recruit in Sherlock's private army isn't going to make her less damaged. But Sherlock puts her damage to good use. Joanna thinks that is by far the best thing that could have happened to her. It may, in fact, be the only thing that could have saved her."" I've mentioned elsewhere that genderswap fic is usually not my thing, but this may have been a game changer for me. Smart and engaging. Note: a sequel to this story is now in progress, as part of what's now apparently a series: Compatible Damage)
e (etothepii on LJ): "Your Moral Crisis is Stupid" (BBC. Sherlock/John. "Sherlock is asexual. John is not. Possibly, Sherlock should have told him this before they had sex." In many ways, this is essentially a pwp, which ordinarily I wouldn't be a fan of, but the pov - a Sherlock who is seriously romantically involved with John, but is still negotiating the waters of the early stages of their sex life together when he, personally, has zero interest in sex - is excellent.)
greywash (greywash on LJ/DW): "the sensation of falling as you just hit sleep" (BBC. Sherlock/John. "Love is a much more vicious motivator." Post-Reichenbach. Long, smart, tense, sometimes tender, and extremely well written. Plot spoiler, with commentary: Caveat: what I'm about to say is my issue, and my issue alone. Some people can't read incest and some can't read infidelity and some can't read...I don't know, a guy wearing white socks during sex, but I personally have a huge problem with friends/partners/lovers keeping important information from each other, especially when it leads to one or both of the characters being miserable. So. A substantial portion of the first third of this story has everybody and their brother knowing that Sherlock's alive, but not John. More to the point, John suspects Sherlock's alive, but everybody who knows the truth - including Sherlock - is keeping it from him and keeps lying, over and over again. That's not the whole plot, obviously, but it's a particular plot element that drives me crazy, even though it's very common [i.e., the romance novel misunderstanding pairing separation angst convention], to the point where I almost couldn't continue to read this story. Don't get me wrong, I ended up loving it - and was thrilled that I did, because the issue of trust is a significant focus in the story as a whole - but I have to admit that I only carried on past the first few chapters because so many of my friends had recced it already. Note: a new story in what is now a series, has just been posted as of this recs update: "in deed accomplish our designs")
gyzym (gyzym on LJ): "An Avalanche of Detour Signs" (BBC. Molly/Sherlock [unrequited], Molly/Moriarty, Molly/Lestrade. "In which Molly Hooper gets a job, gets a degree, breaks a heart, has her heart broken, falls in love, keeps a secret, saves a life, runs a morgue, falls apart, pulls it together, and finds exactly what she didn't know she was looking for--not necessarily in that order." A smart, engaging - and long - story that brings all the background characters front and center and gives them lives of their own. Pre and Post-Reichenbach.)
Maybe Amanda and OneMillionAndNine (see maybe_amanda on LJ): "Sustain (or Concerto for the Famished in D Minor)" (BBC. Molly/Sherlock, John/Sarah. ""So now you're behaving like a six year old 'cause he didn't take you along on his honeymoon?" Lestrade said. "Grow the hell up."" John and Sarah are married and have left the country for some time, which leaves Sherlock at loose ends. Molly - over Sherlock as far as she's able to be - and suffering her own losses, is thinking it might be time to make some changes in her life, including having a child. What's the last thing you'd imagine Sherlock to offer? Yes, he does...and it makes for an excellent story! Note: there's already a very good sequel here and a third - and final? - story in the series on the way, but I'm reccing now as the first 'Sustain' story is complete)
sciosophia (lovingthevolume, fic journal on LJ): "The Deepest Secret Nobody Knows" (BBC. Sally, with past Sally/Sherlock. "The real reason Sally Donovan hates Sherlock so much? They have a child he never sees." Season 2, for obvious reasons, left me antagonistic toward Sally, regardless of how predisposed I'd been to like the character originally. This story however - written before season 2 - made me much more sympathetic to Sgt Donovan's situation. Very well done! Note: there's a great little two-part future fic by lizzledpink in the comment section which is worth reading! Warning for a seriously sad moment at the end, in the wake of "The Great Game" pool sequence, although considering the author's planning sequels, maybe not as sad as it seems?)
sc010f (sc010f on LJ): "Mysterious Ways" (BBC. Molly/Moriarty, Molly/Mycroft. "Molly never expected Jim from IT to be a psychotic consulting criminal. But the revelation of his true nature led her to something even more unexpected than finding your boyfriend is a killer." In which Molly can be strong on occasion, and Mycroft can't quite forget to be manipulative, even when he tries. Written prior to season two.)
verityburns: "The Heart in the Whole" (BBC. Sherlock/John. "Events after 'The Great Game' leave Sherlock dependent on his best friend and colleague. But John has a secret of his own..." This was written long before season two, and...let me start with a warning for Traumatic Brain Injury, i.e., a sniper's gunshot, grazing Sherlock and leaving him briefly in a coma and then blind, although to find out whether that's also temporary, you'll have to read the story. Moriarty is still alive and dangerous in this story, although in the background for most of the story. The focus is on the developing relationship between John and a very inexperienced Sherlock, in conjunction with Sherlock's recovery. Honestly? Even though I liked the final chapters, the story itself felt as if it had reached a natural end at least two chapters before it finally finished, but even that is a fairly minor criticism in a very long, very engaging story)
X-Men
isabeau (isabeau on LJ/ysobel on DW): "Mosaic" (XMFC, Charles/Erik. "Charles has always considered himself to be broken -- not human in more respects than just his telepathy. But he puts up with sex for Erik's sake, until a stray thought makes him realize that maybe he's not alone -- and maybe he isn't broken." An asexual Charles, and a story that's a little sad, and a lot hopeful - although it's always bittersweet with these two, given what we know of their future. Nicely done.)