Incredibly Handsome Multi-Fandom Fic Recs!

[loki_of_sassgaard]

★ Recs from all over the place. Stuff I've loved for years and only just discovered. I'll update this every so often, so keep checking back! ★


I'm trying not to rec huge juggernaut fics that everyone's seen eight dozen times already, but I fear a few of them may have slipped through anyway. I have nothing against popular writers or stories, but I do tend to try to rec the lesser-known stuff. Unless it's really good, then I don't even care how popular it is (also, for some of the smaller fandoms, it can't be avoided; in which case, consider those lists a starting point). Word counts are rounded by a complex mathematical... No, actually, they're just sort of rounded to the nearest number that looks good. The longer the fic, the more rounded the number may wind up being. I'm trying to keep it subjective will still looking nice, basically.

★ 01 May: 11 new recs; Sherlock Holmes and Black Books. 52 total.

Black Books | Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy | Kiss Kiss Bang Bang | Marvel Universe | Megamind | Sherlock Holmes

★ Black Books ★

★ A Plague on Both Your Houses - FayJay; G; 3700 Words; Gen; (Crossover with Harry Potter)

I really like the idea of Bernard being a member of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, and this was the first one I came across that played on that. Set after the end of the third series, Bernard's dealing with losing Manny to Rowena, but that's okay. Because he inherited some things from his grandfather, who thought he was a squid. The reactions to all things magical are wonderful, and the whole thing is quite funny. Very good voices all around.


★ Where There's a Will - Elderberryink; G; 3900 Words; Gen; (Crossover with Harry Potter)

This entire fic hinges on a noodle incident, and it really leaves you wanting to know what the hell had led up to Bernard's side of it. Aside from his name, that is. All that aside, it could easily slot in between Order of the Phoenix and Half-Blood Prince with very little editing. There's a bit of wizarding law in this, which is fun, and the humour is very typical of the show. And there are people throwing saucepans. That's always a plus.

★ Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy ★
Most of the stuff in this section can be read as being part of any canon. If something was specifically written to be part of one and not the others, I'll make note of it.

Acting Out - Daegaer; G; 1600 words; Arthur/Ford if you squint

Oh, Ford, how I love him, and this is a great example of why. It’s often referred to, both in canon and the fandom, that Ford spent his time on Earth pretending to be an out of work actor. Daegaer shows us quite simply why he might not have actually been pretending at all, and that there may have genuinely been utterly failing to make it as an actor for perfectly understandable reasons.


Between a Waiter and a Hard Place - Enigel; G; 1200 Words; Gen

Between a Waiter and a Hard Place is a cute little look at Ford’s dining habits. Ford takes Arthur to a restaurant that makes a particularly good Jynan Tonix, only to learn that he can’t take Arthur anywhere. Again, wonderful characterisation.


Beverages - Tangles; PG-13; 1800 Words; Arthur Dent/Ford Prefect

Beverages is the rare sort of Arthur/Ford slashfic that I can really enjoy. Loaded with some quite wonderful Ford double-talk and even more wonderful Arthur brand of complete denseness, it takes a harmless conversation about coffee and turns it into something else entirely. Meanwhile, Arthur completely misses the point.


Childhood Dreams - Daegaer; G; 1000 Words; Gen

I adore Ford Prefect. While Geoffrey McGivern will always be my Ford, any version of him will probably always be up there, fighting for the spot of my favourite Guide character. This lovely little piece has Ford, Arthur, and Martin Bloody Smith from Croydon talking about the rather painful topic of what they wanted to be when they grew up. While it’s a fairly boring and bland topic for the Earthmen, the homesick Betelgeusian has some fairly understandable difficulty handling it. It’s a very touching little piece, and shows a rather softer side of Ford that doesn’t come out very often.


Does the Doctor Who Where his Towel Is? - Astrogirl; G; 600 Words; Gen; (Crossover with Doctor Who)

Many people regard the Guideverse to be part of the extended Whoniverse WSOGMM (whole sort of general mishmash). This is not because the creator of the one wrote for the other (which he did), or even because both tend to lend themselves to crossovers very easily (which they do). This is because, while not necessarily to the extent of Torchwood, they are part of the same universe in a way. Not only can the Doctor be seen reading one of Oolon Colluphid’s books in one episode, but he even at one point claims to know Arthur Dent, calling him a ‘nice man.’ References to the Doctor show up in Guidefic almost as often as references to towels or Janx Spirit, but AstroGirl has taken it all one step further. Her simple Guide entry details this strange Doctor person, towels, sonic screwdrivers, and very confused hitchhikers, and why they all have something in common.


H2G2 ABCs - Anakin McFly; K; 400 Words; Gen

Tiny, tiny little thing that sums up the Guide about as well as anything could. Very cute.


How to Break a Guy who Doesn’t Care - Lady Awesomepants; K+; 500 Words; Zaphod Beeblebrox/Trillian Astra

Here’s a great example of why Trillian just works. This is either meant to be film!verse, or book!verse; I can’t quite tell (maybe it’s both. Who knows?), but either way it’s a great look at Zaphod’s mental state. I do think, in an odd sort of way, Trillian and Zaphod did work really well together, up until Zaphod got all depressed about his ‘life’s mission’ being over. He is reckless and impulsive, which was exactly why Trillian walked away from Arthur, mid-conversation. She wants to be those things, but she can’t seem to do them on her own. She needs someone else to do them for her.


Human Puppetry - Nicodeimus; PG-15; 1800 words; Arthur Dent/Trillian Astra

I’m not particularly sure what it is about this one, to be honest. It’s odd, dark, and slightly triggery. Different not just in tone, Human Puppetry is different in that it features Arthur and Trillian in a relationship. Not a particularly healthy one, granted, but a relationship nonetheless. This one works particularly well either with Film!Trillian in mind, or with the complete mangling that happened to her in Mostly Harmless. If you’re in the mood for something dark, and that doesn’t much feel like a typical Guide adventure (which could also be said for the last two books), this is a good place to start.


It's Complicated - Minkhollow; T; 1200 Words; Gen

Another one that explores sexuality on a Galactic scale. Ford is still sort of new to human interaction, and winds up making a bit of a faux pas in a pub. The result is a small collection of Guide entries and a wonderful bit of interaction between Ford, and what appears to be the first human he can actually have a conversation with. Another wonderful Ford in this one.


Jack Harkness, the Infinitely Prolonged - Travels in Time; G; 500 Words; Gen; (Crossover with Torchwood)

Sometimes in Guidefic, you won't get any of the main characters at all. Instead, you get a character who can live forever, meeting with another character who can live forever. It goes about as well as you'd expect.


Thanks for all the Love - Murderofonerose; PG; 1200 Words; Arthur Dent/Fenchurch (implied past Arthur Dent/Ford Prefect)

Fenchurch was easily the love of Arthur’s life, yet despite this, she doesn’t show up in the fandom all that often. So, you can probably imagine my glee when a fic bearing her name in the summary pops up. Takes place in the middle of So Long etc, just after Ford breaks into Arthur’s house and trashes it. The author has one of the best Ford voices I’ve come across, and has his insane Betelgeusian illogic down perfectly, which makes this otherwise rather sweet fic also quite hilarious.


Three Arguments Against Suicide - Afrai; K+; 700 Words; Arthur Dent/Ford Prefect if you squint

I’m not really a fan of slash in this fandom for the simple reason that I just can’t see it happening. But every now and then, a fic comes along and plays with the ideas of sexuality on a larger scale than Earth as a whole can properly fathom. In a way, this is one of those fics. Set sometime between the end of Life, et al and the beginning of So Long etc, it’s a brief little look at Arthur’s state of mind whilst on prehistoric Earth, and Ford’s efforts to keep him from doing something monumentally stupid.


Where do Babel Fish go when they Die? - Aces; G; 1200 words; Gen (crossover with Doctor Who)

I'm not crying; I just have a Vogon in my eye. There's not much I can really say about it, other than it's a very poignant bit of meta on one very hoopy frood. So long, Douglas, and thanks for all the fish.

★ Kiss Kiss Bang Bang ★

50 things Perry Van Shrike never wants to hear from Harry Lockhart, ever - Gekizetsu; PG; 390 words; Harry Lockhart/Harmony Lane, Harry Lockhart/Perry van Shrike; Harry Lockhart/OC

I don't usually like reccing ultra-short fics, but I do make exceptions if the fic is awesome. This fic is awesome. There's really not a whole lot I can say about this one that the title doesn't already say. Basically, it's fifty worst-case scenarios that are all designed to make Perry's life a living hell. And they're all called Harry Lockhart.


Bang Bang Kiss Kiss (or, How I got it all Backwards the First Time) - Treewishes; T; 2500 words; Harry Lockhart/Harmony Lane

The thing I love most about this fandom are the casefics, and the thing I love most about the casefics in this fandom is the amount meta and in-jokes you get with them. It's a movie about LA and Hollywood, so it's only expected that a lot of the casefics you'll find have to do with celebrities. This one does sort of blur the lines into RPF, what with the inclusion of said celebrities, but that's not why you should read it. Why you should read it is definitely Harry going out on a case without Perry. That, and Harmony going all A-Rod on a stalking suspect.


The Breadwinner - Tayberhecate; PG-13; 3000 words; Gen, or Harry Lockhart/Perry van Shrike if you squint

This is one I quite like because it touches on so many little details concerning Harry's sketchy past and his new relationship with Perry, whatever that actually is. Harry is pretty damn whumpable, and even gets his fair share in canon, and this fic gives tiny little peeks as to why he's slightly pathetic. There are two things going on in tayberhecate's fic (neither of which are cases, actually), and they both come together brilliantly. Ostensibly, the story is about Harry slowly coming to learn that he doesn't have to steal Pop-tarts from 7-Eleven to avoid going hungry, but there's something else under the surface that's more subtle and human with Perry becoming a little bit more than just a meal ticket. There are several good little moments when Perry lets himself slip from being the arsehole employer and lets himself be Harry's friend which are all just wonderful.


Simple Art of Graverobbing and Brains are a Nuisance - Gekizetsu; R; 20,000 words combined; Mostly-Gen (crossover with Supernatural)

I know fuckall about Supernatural, but this series is wonderful. What happens when you take Harry Lockhart and Perry van Shrike and throw them into a world of demonic singers and evil, serial-killing brains? Pure, glorious crack. You don't even have to watch SPN to fall in love with these fics (I've seen maybe a full episode of the show), but I've been told by someone who does watch it that it's rec-worthy just on the Winchester's characterisations alone. Seriously. Harry Lockhart fighting an evil, serial-killing brain. Do I really need to say any more?


Sunshine State - Cassyl; PG-13; 7500 words; Gen

I got into this fandom for the casefics, and this is a great one. While it doesn't follow the usual formula of two cases being the same case, I still quite like this one. Cassyl's Harry-voice is great and the fic shows Harry as having some sort of use beyond just an unreliable narrator for the story. There are a few bits of this fic that have even led to my own headcanon, because they're just that good. Harry speaking Spanish, for instance, just seems perfect for him. Beyond this, there's not much else I can say without giving the game away with the fic. It's a fun ride. Go read it.


Things Perry Knows - Alchemistc; PG-13; 840 words; Harry/Harmony

I'm a total sucker for pairings that don't work. Harry and Harmony don't work. And they probably never could. Things Perry Knows goes into why Harry and Harmony don't work, and has the added bonus of being a rare Perry-POV fic. Well, it's Perry-POV in third person, but close enough. But regardless, Perry knows things. He knows how messed up Harmony is, he knows how much of a hopeless idealist Harry is, and he knows he wants to knock both their heads together. It also draws a great comparison between Harry and a kicked puppy, which could not possibly be any more accurate.

★ Marvel Universe ★
This is a mix of all the Marvel franchises. Individual titles are noted on each rec.

Amateur Theatrics - Galaxysoup; T; 26,000 words; Gen (Avengers/MCU)

Loki does a thing and fucks up all the things! Okay, it's better than that. He turns himself into a kid and wipes his own memory, puts Thor into a coma, turns Tony into a woman, swaps Bruce and Natasha's bodies, and de-powers Steve. And Clint? Clint has to take care of the whole mess, since he's the only one unaffected. Another one with crack done right, and worth it just for Clint trying to put up with a genius amnesiac child version of the person he hates most in the universe.


And I Would see You Forged in Steel - Mira_Jade; T; 175,000 words; Loki/Sif (Thor, AU)

Here's a pairing I never thought I'd get into. What started out as a fix-it fic for Thor turned into a wonderful series that explores Asgard, Loki and Sif's relationship, and just what drove Loki to do some of the things he did. I love long stories like this, and despite the length, this one doesn't drag at all. It's actually seven shorter stories, and one novel-length fic. I ploughed through this one over the span of about two days. I just couldn't put it down; especially the novel-length one where Sif and Thor have to to Niflheimr in order to save Loki. It has dragons and demons and curses and everything you'd expect to find in the higher realms. Absolutely glorious.


Can't Go Back the Same Way you Came - Pell; G; 20,000 words; Gen (Thor, AU)

Another fix-it for Thor. Okay, not gonna lie, I read and like a lot of these. This one's different from the first one, though. Loki falls to Earth and lands in New Mexico, where he finds Jane and company. This one's very sweet and sad, as Loki just tries to find a way to go home. His interactions with the others are so guarded it's almost painful, but in a good way. Well, not a good way, but not a negative way either. And then just as he gets used to what's going on, it all changes again. Of course it does.


Darkness, Flooded in Light - Galaxysoup; T; 42,000 words; Gen (Thor, AU)

Another one where Loki falls to Earth, but this time he lands in like, Maine or something. I've read this one a few times and still don't know where he actually lands, but I'm saying Maine. Again, another fix-it fic, and again, this one's a little bit different. Rather than trying to make contact, he hides away, feigning amnesia and living as a human for as long as possible. This one's very heartbreaking, and while full of OCs, still very much all about Loki. It's as much a character piece as it is a fix-it, and has a rare sympathetic Loki that isn't just a ball of raw angst.


The Joke - Imbecamiel; G; 7500 words; Gen (MCU)

There's a joke around SHIELD that only Thor can pick up Mjölnir. Steve doesn't quite get why it's funny, but he'll play along for the most part. Really, any time someone else can pick up Mjölnir, you know something interesting is going to happen. Or, in this case, several interesting things. It's worth it just for Thor's reactions alone when he finds the hammer not quite where he left it. Crack done right.

★ Megamind ★

Cold Fusion - Dal Niente; T; 32,000 Words; Megamind/Roxanne Ritchi

One of my secret-loves with these sorts of fandoms is the exploration of alien biology. This one starts almost immediately after the defeat of Titan. Megamind's injured after getting pummelled and needs a place to lie low while he recovers. He and Roxanne also try to work out where they fit into one another's lives now that he's no longer the villain and she's no longer the frequent kidnapping victim. Great characters, great world-building. Also tickled the id quite nicely, regarding the alien-ness of Megamind.


Defeat - Grandiose Me; K+; 900 words; Gen

Just a tiny thing, this, but it takes care of a weird little plothole sort of thing. What happened between Metro Man's death and taking over City Hall; specifically, what happened with Roxanne? Grandiose Me offers a cute little cut-scene from Roxanne's point of view as she faces what is sure to be her very sudden death.


Dissimulate - Grandiose Me; T; 54,000 Words; Megamind/Roxanne Ritchi

Okay, I don't like to rec WIPs, especially abandoned WIPs, unless there's a really good reason for it. There's a really good reason for this one. It's quite simply one of the best fics for this fandom that I've seen. Set some time after the movie, all the world still thinks Megamind is responsible for Metro Man's death. And while Metro City may be willing to forgive and forget, the other capes aren't so keen on having a hero-slayer running free. Not only does this fic have some awesome bad-ass Roxanne action, but some of the funniest moments with the Brainbots, right down to a bitchslap protocol. Comic fans, both Marvel and DC, will appreciate all the little references peppered throughout as well. It also stops at one of the most infuriating cliffhanger moments on the planet, so you're warned there.


Expect the Unexpected - Sevandor1; T; 55,000 words; Megamind/Roxanne Ritchi

This is another one that's just become instant headcanon in a few ways. Again, this one answers the question of how Megamind funds his villainy, but that's only a very small part of the story. I went into this one expecting something entirely different from what was delivered. After the defeat of Titan Roxanne starts having flashbacks to something she can't remember. The flashbacks to the early days of the grudge between Megamind and Metro Man are great bits of character insight, as well as a glimpse of how the game between them works. Pre-canon is my favourite in this fandom, and the pre-canon bits in this are amongst my favourites overall.


Fathers and Sons - Dani-kin; T; 55,000 words; Gen (AU?)

Oh my goodness, I did not sign up for all these Warden feels. This is an AU that could very easily be canon, and which I have a hard time seeing as anything else. When the little blue baby falls to Earth, he's kept in the prison because the warden has no idea what else to do to keep the kid safe. Of course, we all know how that goes, and the kid becomes the biggest pain in the ass Metro City's ever seen, but watching all of that from the warden's point of view makes it so much more tragic. This is one of those great fics that looks at all the little background details in the movie, and asks why those details are there and what they mean. It's not exactly a re-telling of the movie, though. Most of it takes place long before Metro Man Day, and the bits that take place during the movie give just enough to set the scene before telling the parts of the story the movie doesn't show us. This also takes place within a larger fic series, which can be found here.


It's Not Even Evil - KBJones; K; 750 Words; Megamind/Roxanne Ritchi

Teeny tiny one that goes into the various settings of the DE-gun a bit. Also, everything Megamind has is totally evil, or at the very least, illegal. Including that nuclear reactor in his basement.


Life is What Happens - Lady Stormcrow; T; 60,000 words; Megamind/Roxanne Ritchi, Wayne Scott/OC

Case fic! Megamind's a hero now, and he's on the case of some missing Metro City teens. The plot is intricate and engaging, and the side-story with Wayne portrays him in a light that goes beyond selfish and near-sighted. There can never be enough sympathetic portrayals of Wayne. Megamind himself meanwhile tries his best to be the hero, and watching him try to learn how to do it right can just be heartbreaking at times. It's never a question that he wants to be the good guy, but more whether or not he's capable of pulling it off without a hitch.


Might Have Been - Grandiose Me; T; 10,000 words; Megamind/Roxanne Ritchi (AU)

So, evil Megamind is my favourite. A lot of this fandom is post-canon, after he's turned good, but this one goes a different direction entirely. What if Metro Man had survived the explosion at the observatory? Roxanne and Megamind start interacting casually under an entirely different set of circumstances, which naturally takes a turn for the worst when the unthinkable happens. This is one of the few properly evil Megamind fics I've seen out there. Not hammy evil, but get out of this guy's way evil. Which is just tragic in so many ways. The end made me want to cry. There's a second chapter that makes the end a little less soul-destroying, but only by a little.


On the Couch - Jentle55; K; 8000 Words; Gen (background Megamind/Roxanne Ritchi)

I very nearly gave this one a miss, and I'm glad I didn't. Told from the point of view of a Metro City therapist, we see Megamind's first day getting the mental help he's probably needed for years. Telling it from an outsider's perspective really lets us see the damage Megamind did as the city's Evil Overlord, as the poor woman tries to balance professionalism with abject terror at being in the same room as the reformed super-villain. Worth it just for that alone.


Rain on the Just - NL Rummi; T; 120,000 Words; Megamind/Roxanne Ritchi

Another casefic, and a long one at that! Megamind's defending Metro City, dealing with obnoxious fans, and trying to stop a mad bomber who thinks himself a super-villain. Very tightly-plotted and excellently-executed. It all takes place, I think, in the span of about a week, and at no point does anything feel like it's dragging. Everything is important, and the action and emotion are both quite high in this, and there are some genuinely scary moments. You'll probably work out who the baddie is in fairly short order, and I had the connection and motive by the second chapter, but watching the plot unfold the way it did was more than enough to make up for the lack of mystery surrounding this villainous foe.


Rock'em Sock'em Kittens - KBJones; K; 2000 words; Gen

This fic answers two questions: What were the Rock'em Sock'em Kittens mentioned in the Button of Doom, and how does Megamind fund his villainy? Seven very short chapters answer both these questions wonderfully. Again, not much to say about it without giving the whole thing away. Pre-canon, evil Megamind at his finest in this one.


Rules of the Game - Miroslav; K; 2000 Words; Gen

Another short but cute one. Three times time-out is called during a battle. The characterisation is lovely and the reasons for the time-outs are exactly the sort of things you'd expect from these guys.


Some Lucky Day - Person4; K+; 2300 Words; Gen

Short little pre-canon piece that kept me giggling throughout. It really was just a game for Megamind, and sometimes Roxanne would play along, giving him exactly what he wanted. Not a whole lot to say about this one that won't just outline the entire fic.

★ Sherlock Holmes ★
This is a mix of all the various Holmes canons. Specific canons are noted for each rec.

★ A Brief Account of Life with Zombies - Silver Pard; T; 2400 Words; Gen; (BBC)

Texts, emails, and post-it notes detailing a zombie apocalypse in London. Of course John's enjoying himself. Why wouldn't he?


★ The Case of the Unwelcome Owl - FayJay; G; 7200 Words; Gen; (BBC, Crossover with Harry Potter)

Harry Potter fusions and crossvers are my weakness. You'll see them pop up in quite a few fandoms I rec. This was, I believe, one of the first I came across in the Sherlock fandom, and it's one of my favourites still. There's an owl in the living room, which just sets off a small chain of events leading to the wedding of Luna Lovegood. Actually, the fic itself all takes place well before the wedding, but that's where all the truly interesting stuff happens anyway, especially since Sherlock's involved. I adore Luna in this, and Sherlock is just as mad as he'll ever be.


Collecting Strays, and Of Trust and Vices - SpiritBearr; T; 30,000 words combined; Gen (ACD, AU)

This is a heartbreaking little AU series I found a few years ago, and it's stuck with me ever since. SpiritBearr manages to keep the characters all very much recognisable, despite having changed the ages of the Holmes brothers, as well as their circumstances, quite dramatically. I have a not-so-secret weakness for kid!fic, and this two-part series indulges that particular weakness quite nicely.


A Crime of Passion - Waffles; PG-13; 2500 words; Mycroft Holmes/Carmen Sandiego (BBC, crossover)

I love crack pairings, and Waffles has delivered the best crack pairing of all time. There's not much I can say about this one without giving away the gag at the end (hidden behind the spoiler thing above). But it's absolutely ridiculous, which is exactly what I like in my crack pairings.


★ Gone is My Past - Cyerus; PG-13; 7800 Words; Gen; (BBC)

Oh, this one is sad. Sad and brilliant. John used to be an army bomb dog, but circumstances unknown to anyone have made him human. What sounds like complete crack is actually quite a lovely story, and one I find myself reading again and again. The pacing is simply wonderful, and the use of flashbacks to tell the story create a far more effective picture than linear storytelling ever could.


★ Have You Heard About the Morstans? - Sunken_Standard; NC-17; 19,000 Words; John Watson/Molly Hooper; (BBC, AU by canon-jossing)

There's an entire genre in this fandom that's basically pre-series 2-Reichenbach. Since we all thought The Great Game was going to end up 'killing' Sherlock, a bunch of fic sprang up to play with how the Empty House might turn out. And every single one of them was wrong. But that doesn't make them any less awesome. This one has Sherlock buggered off, as he does, with John and Molly in hiding, while having to privately grieve the loss of their friend. Heed the warnings on this one, becausee it can get pretty intense, but every last bit of it serves a purpose in the end, even if it's just to pull on your heart so much it hurts.


★ Hudson's Gang - Amo_Amare; G; 750 Words; Gen; (BBC, AU)

What if Sherlock Holmes was really a story about organised crime and villainy? Well, this is a rather funny little snippet that gives us a taste of just that. Mrs Hudson is also the leader of the gang. That makes it even better.


Intemperance - Basingstoke; M; 18,000 words; Sherlock Holmes/Irene Adler, Sherlock Holmes/OC, John Watson/Mary Morstan (Ritchie, AU)

This is one I would have noped away from, were it by any other author. It covers topics that I tend to find both triggery and squicky, but Basingstoke handles the topics very well. It's also very believable, and that's what really makes it get away from the squick factor. But I could just imagine poor Watson at his wit's end, trying to put up with a moody, bored, and very pregnant Holmes. Oh, yes. Holmes is also female-to-male transsexual, in Victorian England. This was written long before A Game of Shadows, but it's so easy to picture her Mycroft as Stephen Fry, and I've no idea how she even managed that one.


Mirror - Cathryn; T; 1000 words; Rich Brook/Sebastian Moran (BBC)

Anyone who's been around me five minutes knows I have a serious thing for the bad guys. And oh, Richard Brook, or Jim Moriarty, or whatever name you choose to call him. I don't usually ship him with Seb, but for this one, I made an exception. Post-Reichenbach Jim wakes up, believing himself to actually be a timid, skittish actor called Rich. Written for a prompt on the meme, Cat manages to play straight what is ordinarily a rather cracky premise, and in the process leaves you in the odd position of feeling rather sad for the bad guy. Note that in her notes, she hesitates to warn for dubcon "under traditional fandom definition, [but] there is definite room for argument as to whether Rich is capable of fully informed consent."


★ More Things in Heaven and Earth - Haldane; unrated; kinkmeme fill in 11 parts; Gen; (Ritchie?)

Another one of those abandoned WIPs I don't rec unless they're really good. Holmes is an alien. With tentacles. Watson doesn't know this. This fic deals with Watson finding out this bit of information after Holmes is shot in the head. Just the right amount of drama and suspense, and a great character piece for Watson. He takes everything about as well as one could expect. Which, being Watson, well... Just read it, and then be sad that it never finished. I'm actually not sure if this is Ritchie or not. Definitely Victorian though.


★ Oneirology - Helicidae; T; 15,200 Words; Gen; (BBC)

Here's one for the mindfuck category. John wakes up with no memories of how he got there, where he is, or what's going on. But that's okay, because his good friend Sherlock is at hand to make it all better. Only not. Anything else I could say would only give the game away, and this one definitely requires going in with as little knowledge as possible.


★ Rough Edges series - Basingstoke; M at its highest; 25,000 Words; John Watson/Fran Katzenjammer, Sherlock Holmes/John Watson; (BBC, Crossover with Black Books)

The series description sums it up quite well: 'Sherlock Holmes and Bernard Black: cousins. The rest of the family: terrifying.' And that's basically what you get. Sherlock's family is eccentric enough as it is. Seeing it through John's perspective makes it so much better. Quite possibly one of the funniest things I've read in the Sherlock fandom, and perfect characterisation all around.


★ The Sense and Sensibility of John Watson - anonymous; PG; roughly 1000 Words; Gen; (BBC)

A member of a popular genre in the Sherlock fandom: John meets the family. The family, in this case, primarily consisting of Sherlock's mum, who's just as prickly as he is. Mostly a cute little character piece, but the interactions between Sherlock and Constance are gold.