Nia's DW

Most of the things happening in Sherlock Holmes fandom buzzle on tumblr. But there is this wonderful exception - holmestice, the Sherlock Holmes Solstice Exchange on LifeJournal. It has been posting fics and art for a week now. And because I’m not sure if all stories will be posted on AO3, I just have to rec a few of my favourites:

Titel: Bright Heart (on AO3) by current anon for what_alchemy.
Summary: At the center of the Labyrinth lives a monster — or so it’s said.

Why I loved it: Just imagine Greek mythology meeting Sherlock BBC - a beautiful combination. The anon author knows their words and has created a wonderful atmosphere. The Greek equivalent of John is the sacrifice and well, I can’t tell you more about the prince and the moster. See for yourself how utterly gorgeous words are woven, unlike John’s woolen wrap which is unpicked to lead the way...

xox

Titel: Tea at the End of the World by current anon for buttsnax
Summary: Sherlock, John, and the K-Pg extinction event.

Why I loved it: Okay, you need to know a thing about me to get my fascination for that story. I’m a vet, and even though I’m working as a medical editor right now, my love for biology, medicine and all things scientific is always there. Like, I don’t need eyeballs in my frigde, but wouldn’t bat an eyelash at them, and sooner or later I’d take a look from which species they might be... That said, this fic is a marvel.
There’s Sherlock, the not so good at flying carnivore and there’s John, the big herbivore, and they are mates - even if their neighbours had a hard time to comprehend. Well, and Sherlock’s feeling unwell, which is tedious, and a catastrophy is oncoming, at least Sherlock deduced it, and then something brilliant happens. And gosh, I’m so in awe about the idea, the writing style, and that they are so IC with their human counterparts. And all that in 1.5k words. If you don’t have much time, but love animals, even extinct ones, and want to see a great idea, go and read this fic. It’s a WONDER. <333

xox

Titel: Boxes by current anon for @HiddenLacuna
Summary: The only uncovered flat surface in the room is the bed. Even on John’s bedside table, the alarm clock and his computer sit atop stacks of the books he unpacked yesterday. He hadn’t intended to unpack books, not until he’d actually cleared a path to the bookcase, but...he’d been hoping he’d find his missing pants at the bottom of the box.

Possibly, the state of the room says something deep and existential about the state of his life, the boxes both clutter and metaphor for the stagnation through which he wades everyday. Since he moved back into 221B, he’s felt as though he’s in limbo. His life and his heart, still packed up in boxes. Balanced, precariously, on a knife edge, waiting. Waiting. For what, he doesn’t know.

Why I loved it: This story is beautifully crafted. Following John’s thoughts while he unpacks boxes was hurtful, in the best kind of way. He finds a box which isn’t his and...it all progresses from there. And it the end, John doesn’t wait anymore. It’s an amazing fic and an impressive character study.

xox

There are at least two more storie’s I’d love to rec, but this post is already quite long. So, I’ll spare them for later. Oh yes, and my own story is in the pool of fics as well, but I won’t tell a word about it before the reveals. They will go up - you might have guessed it by the Exchange’s name - on the 21st, at Winter Solstice. Take a look. It’s worth it!

These recs were more or less posted on my tumblr first. Then I thought maybe someone on my f-list here likes to see them as well.