Short commercial break: GAD mystery.

I keep thinking I've written a post about the Golden Age of Detection.  Apparently not, or I just didn't tag it properly.  Alas!

Some of these will remind you of Sherlock Holmes in more ways than one, and some will feel like they've gone in very different directions.  Which is right and proper, since not all detectives are Sherlock Holmes -- and wouldn't the world be boring if they were!

If you happen to be desperate for more to read, and you enjoy books and short stories offline as well as on... try these GAD authors.

It's always Mycroft. Isn't it?

If not, it should be.  8)

Spoiler zone for s3! and very probably s4, particularly if you aren't up on ACD canon.  Also the pastiches.

Mystrade; John's blog; spec or spoilers?

Need something to distract you -- or feed your SH obsession?  What about the classic fics?

Like the fantastic Mystrade by kazvl.  This particular installment is a) brilliant b) involves angles of something you've seen in s1 c) is as always, amazingly written.  I do not ship; but her writing carries me off.

In fact, I treat this series (Fire and Ice) as an alternate universe of our SH universe.  Which I adore.  Anyone who can make me suspend my belief that way for an AU is spectacular.

#Mystrade #Mycroft #Lestrade http://t.co/plFYCBJzrt "Don't commit suicide"? #BBC #Sherlock fic
— Anne Zanoni (@ninja_CE) December 20, 2013

And have you checked up on John's blog lately?  Because it's been updated.  If you read nothing else, read his last blog post for Many Happy Returns.

Of course, if you want a teeny bit of possible spoiler for s3, there's Twitter RP with CAM...

Or you could get lost in the Final Problem tumblr (what fangirls do).

A rainy day in October: a fic reply.

I woke up.  I was trembling.  Well, I say trembling.

Was it my own breathing that woke me?  No; it was the echoes.  I could still hear my own voice, which was repeating, 'John.  John!'

He wasn't there.  He didn't come to me, he didn't hear me, he wasn't-- I stopped myself.  My mobile was already in my hands.  It barely rang.

I said into it, 'Mycroft--'

'Yes, Sherlock?  Everything is fine.'  There was a slight emphasis to the words.  All of them.

'John... he...' I couldn't continue.  Both of us ignored my harsh breathing, too loud.

'John is fine. I had a team on him.'  Mycroft paused.  'I noticed a "homeless man" as well--'

I could hear the word 'alleged' and ignored it.  Just as I always ignore things that are unimportant.  Trivia.

ZombieNation meets Sherlock.

So one day last month, there was a bit of a turn up in Twitter RP -- over in the Sherlock side at least.

It was called ZombieNation and I saw Dirk Gently (!) write one.  I don't know how or why it came about, but it was really cool, what I saw.  Another was done by one Lestrade and Molly Hooper, which turned into fan fic.

Then Vin Hampton wrote hers, while Sherlock (A Study in Punk) also wrote a few:  Case File #1 and Case #2.

James Moriarty (So_Changeable) had to write one as well:  Jim had been sick and Jim could only chuckle and the cabin.

Fandom... a love letter.

A love letter written by a friend of mine* about fandom:  Fandom is focus.



"Fandom is where you found yourself."

And we found you.  Heart to heart -- our kindred spirits.

You know what I'm like on the inside.


"But the eyes are blind.  One must look with the heart..."  ~ The Little Prince

* ETA:  That Twitter user's name/account has been changed.  As of July 2013.

"The thing with fandom, the fourth wall, and the media."

The thing with fandom, the fourth wall, and the media.

GM says a lot of really important things here.  Please do read it.

Her post's amazing, and I've kept a tab open there because I wanted to make it the focal point of a post about fandom and how we're perceived -- not only by others but by each other.

FYI:  Part of her post's quoted after the break.

Index: My Sherlock fic.

Index of my thought experiments, which are really short fics.  I should point out that I don't write yaoi and that I don't ship anyone (except maybe Molly and GL) in the show.

If you haven't seen all of 2010 and 2012 Sherlock, seasons 1 and 2, you probably don't want to read any of these:  definitely spoiler territory!

Cluedo and fan art and crossovers, oh my.

Sherlock Cluedo!  And of course Sherlockology knows where you can get it.  :D

Cumberbatched gifs.  An explanation of writing fanfic as storytelling.

Puzzles in the rain.

(Another very short piece of where my mind goes.  Set after Reichenbach.  Spoiler territory if you haven't seen all of season 2, but fairly mild as spoilers go: definitely a teaser!)

Later on, during a day in October.

( A continuation of a previous thought experiment involving John Watson after the Fall. Some feels, so do be warned and prepared -- and indirect spoilers! )

Season 3, fan fic, and August's CumberbatchDay.

Hell week is nearly over!  I am reinstalling Stuff on my PC now.  As I shouted on Twitter last night...


Items of interest:

The Big Issue (Cumberbatch:  The Lonely Detective).  Transcript of same! 

Interview: Benedict Cumberbatch for 'Parade's End'.

Today I was alerted that #4 Constantly was up -- another Holmes Boys fan fic story from SherlockCares. 

Plus, some fun captions:  Sorry you missed the bachelor party and It's just John Watson's...  Beware the Johnlock in case you weren't expecting it!  :D 

More fic:  A shoutout to the alert Cumberbabes everywhere, and why you ought not to ask about Twitter followers.  ;)  Sherlock hot line now available! 

After this point: Spoilers for season/series 2 AND season/series 3.

(This may be a spoiler, but as my PC's not fully updated, I can't be sure; sorry!)  Pursuit by the Sherlock Fan Orchestra. 

Season THREE spoilers:  The Three Key Words for Sherlock 2013.  Gatiss [teasing?] and possible airdate and hints against the Words.  :D

Favorite fan fic, Sherlock and Johnlock.

Note that this post contains many possible spoiler links for season 2. Read at your own risk! And... you will very probably cry if you read many of these.

I'm not Johnlocked.  Really, I'm not.  But my friends who are will offer me their  favorite fics to read, and I read them:  I wept over Alone in the Water (which is very well done, and loaded with angst), and Sink Like a Stone is another story of high caliber and great pain.  Bring Kleenex along for them both!

Why do I read the Johnlock they suggest?  I'm a voracious reader.  Not read something??  Only if I really don't have any interest whatsoever -- and there is some writing that fits that -- while fic about Sherlock and John, two characters I adore... of course I'll try it.  :D


And I've read Present Danger twice thrice already, because it's very very good.  And cute. 

Beautiful Dreamer is gorgeous.  I had to keep playing Coldplay's Fix You constantly as I read it, in fact.

The other fic by the same author, What Meets the Eye, is also gorgeous.  These are the only Johnlock stories I've read that make me able to see how the underlying premise could really fit the characters.  

I've read WMtE twice, two nights running.  Because it's that good.  Makes me cry.  Thanks to Gita for sending me to BD and Nika to WMtE!


Some of my favorite Sherlock fan fic, which is not Johnlock:

The Holmes Boys:  Epiphany #1 Try #2 Philosopher #3.

SPOILER ZONE:  The Dog in the Night (post-Reichenbach).

So consider this a primer into what Sherlock and Johnlock fan fic can be like, if you would.  :D


ETA in March 2013:  The only Mystrade I've read, which is really excellent and has hooked a few Tweeps I know on fan fic.  :D  It's a series.  Do go try it!

Projects for the Sherlock writers, and divers other things.

Audio Cumberbatch:  Benedict singing a snippet -- thanks to MK Hey (of the Sherlock candy) for letting me know about this!  Benedict also reads Silverwing; here's the first clip of that, and a YouTube search for the rest.  He does voices.

Cumberbatched moments:  Benedict on holiday.  A photoset of Benedict wearing a grey suit.  Benedict looking very Sherlock and intense.  Lovely PBS Batch.  Soulful look.  Dancing on set of Sherlock.

Arguing with the shippers 'toon:  You tell 'em, John!  Just ignore Sherlock, I always do.  ;P

Visuals, essay of candy, Finals, etc.

A Sherlock/Benedict poster for fangirls everywhere.  

Star Trek 2 villain revealed, or, who IS Benedict playing?

If you haven't read enough Benedict interviews yet, @Cumberbatchweb has a big index.  For example, his MTV interview about The Hobbit.  :)

Cumberbatch moments:  a solemn pic of Benedict from Third Star. Quiet Benedict in costume [from another show he's in that I haven't seen and don't yet recognize on sight, sorry].  Gorgeous curly GingerBatch.


To Johnlock... or not?  ;)  Different opinions about this pic, such as here, also this, and more here.  :) Along with the one-upping here which would spawn if you insist.

Season 2 of Sherlock will start in the Philippines 23-July.  Yay for them!!

What to do when people say "Sherlock sucks and Benedict Cumberbatch is ugly" [from Benedict's reaction to pushy autograph sellers at Look Back in Anger].

After this point: Spoilers for season/series 2 until the final two paragraphs!

One semi-spoilery pic from Reichenbach; do cover your eyes if you haven't got that far yet!! 

A Believe in Sherlock poster.  Crossover pic:  Who Sherlock really meets at Reichenbach! 


Lessons from Sherlock Holmes essay.  Really Sherlock Holmes candy of writing and reading. 


This is the last full day before the Anglo Fan Finals poll wraps Wednesday:  11am Eastern on 11-July-2012.  Have you been voting for Benedict and Martin?  Weirdly enough, Martin's lead of about 7.3% is about the same as Benedict's not-a-lead against Tom.  Argh!

We love them no matter what.  So it all works out.  :)

Pics, awards, and Anglo Finals are almost over!

A Sherlock spoof/logo!  Jerseys for 221B...

Pics: Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman filming Sherlock : The Reichenbach Fall. Adorable pic of Martin Freeman as John. James McAvoy and Benedict.

Cumberbatched moments:  Another DreamyBatch pic.  A PrettyBatch pic from Look Back in Anger.  Recording Cabin Pressure 3 pic of Benedict and group.  Bright-eyed smiling Benedict.  Adorable Benedict innocently asleep oh so sweetly.  Cute boy-next-door bit from Benedict's My Cultural Life interview.


Production Notes: Playwright's Playwrights: Look Back In Anger (06/07/2012).

Sherlock won three awards at PAARFTJ Television Awards!


Feel you need a reference to the original Sherlock Holmes stories?  There's one available now for free.

After this point: Spoilers for season/series 2 until the final two paragraphs!

Need more pics of the show? The darlings at @Cumberbatchweb have filming pics from season 2. I didn't see any spoilers, but just in case, they're after the tag. :)


The Anglo FF poll is still tense for fans of our Sherlock; please vote for Benedict and Martin.  You can vote every 1-2 hours, it seems to depend on where you are (unless they cleaned that kink out of the poll).  Martin is still ahead, so his can of whoop-ass has not stopped working -- nor have Martin's fans!  :)

Benedict lags behind TH between 6-7%; to my delight, the gap hasn't got over 7% for the last several hours.  Do vote and please RT and post all over.  Voting for the Finals ends this Wednesday on 11-July-2012. Just under 31 hours to go!

No spoilers for once. :)

Benedict pic, as Sherlock shooting A Scandal in Belgravia.  The lads... in studio pic [I don't know who the other is with Benedict].

If you ever wanted to send Benedict fan mail, here's the post address. (Remember:  Do be polite, be kind, and please don't send him anything you wouldn't send your beloved grandmother!)  See advice from the Fabulous Lorraine about Things Not to Send.

Yesterday's fans at Look Back in Anger. People commented on his ability to cry on cue...

Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch 'muscles in' and lands himself a role in The Simpsons.

The next stage in that Holmes brothers fanfic from SherlockCares.  :)  I really loved this one.  Sherlock getting people to do what he wants, mmm, not like he didn't keep that trait, ohhhh no!


Don't forget to vote at Anglo FF for Benedict and Martin!   Martin is doing well in placing Bronze thus far... and Benedict, alas, is behind in the race for Gold. Do help push Benedict ahead, eh?

High-octane fanfic.

WARNING:  This is not like my usual posts.  

Also, if you normally don't read erotica, this is possibly not where you want to start.  

Tonight Amelia introduced me to BC fanfic -- yes, that's with Benedict Cumberbatch, not Sherlock.  So here's three that are definitely high-level lust AKA erotica.

The Sound of Your Voice Makes Me Shiver

Something for all you Cumberbitches...

Yet another fantasy for all you Cumberbitches.


And one BC fic that should be a writing prompt.  Because the last paragraph of this fanfic (Day out with Benedict Cumberbatch) turns quite abruptly.  If you thought it was like the others, first, you're wrong... and second, if you could change it, would you?  Would you make an ending like the other three, or not? What would YOU do if you got to change just that?

Music and art; also one fanfic.

I was looking for the fourth pip in Great Game, because I wanted a quote from a certain scene, which was the start of this fanfic. 

A gorgeous Sherlock pic, which I can't quite place. A black-and-white Benedict pic [makes me think of Look Back in Anger, hmm].  Funny fan art of John and Sherlock. A double serving of Batch, all ginger-haired.  Sherlock looking down and away from camera.

The Sherlock cake of glory.  Is it not lovely?

And another lovely thing, a fan vid called Sherlock // fix you, with music by Coldplay.  Be warned that it may make you cry, it keeps doing that to me. 

Benedict talks about The Hobbit, including a video clip; same link has that cute pic of him hanging over the scene slate [clapper board?]. :)

Spoilers for season/series 2 through end of post!

Ever wondered what people saw before Baskerville started?  THIS.

A likeness of The Woman.  And a Scandal poster, on the couch in the palace.

More Johnlock, in the form of one of my very favorite Nine Inch Nails songs.  I want to dance to this vid, I can see that the creator[s] worked hard to make this shippery, but... still not convinced.  Also, the parts from those eps -- their real in-show context -- juxtaposed with this very explicit song make the vid even funnier to me.  

Story: What if...?

I was thinking more about John after Reichenbach. And this is what came into my head last night:


A note from Mrs. Hudson sat on his desk.

John, I shouldn't trouble you, but there's been a lot of post arriving at the flat for you. I had to put it into the downstairs flat. Would you come round and fetch it, please? There's quite a lot.

Do you think you might like to have some tea after?

Cheers,

Mrs. H

John looked around the room. Mrs. Hudson was chattering away, "And so you could see why I couldn't just put it into a parcel for you. There's so much of it!"

The one stack opposite the door wasn't teetering, not quite yet. The parcels ranged from bulky and lumpy -- like presents you get from your great-aunt -- to boxes of all sizes, and letters, and cards... He couldn't imagine where they'd all come from. It was exactly like being inside a cupboard full of packages.

And they were all addressed to him, John Watson.

He picked one up, trying not to think, and shook it a little. Too bulky, definitely not rattling. Then John ripped off the paper. Yes, a knitted cardigan. A nice one. Quite like the ones he often wore, in fact.

Mrs. Hudson made a pleased sound. "How nice that is! Someone thought you needed cheering up," she said. John handed it to her.

Gingerly, he took an envelope, and opened it. "Watson's Warriors: Moriarty Was Real" proclaimed the outside of the greeting card. Inside, someone had written "We believe in Sherlock!" A picture of a chalk drawing with the same words fell out of the card. He caught the picture, then slid it carefully back into the envelope.

John's throat closed.

Tucking the card under his arm, he opened another parcel at random. This was a small poster. "I believe in Sherlock Holmes!" was written over a picture of Sherlock. He heard himself suck his breath in hard -- almost as if he were listening to someone else.

Someone who was quite distinctive when he did that same thing.

He murmured something wordless.

"What, John?" Mrs. Hudson asked. He handed her the card. She read it. He watched her eyes widen. She looked around at all the parcels, the boxes, the letters, and turned back to him.

He held up the poster so she could read that too.

Finally she managed, "Is that what all of this is?"

John cleared his throat. "I don't know. I think so. Yes." His voice caught a little, but he said, "How long-- no, how many trips did the postman take to get all this here?"

"Yesterday. This lot all came yesterday." She gestured at the teetering pile right before them, not the other stacks. "I don't remember how many, he brought helpers. It... it took some little while. At first I thought perhaps you hadn't told someone you'd moved, but then I realised that couldn't be it. Not all those bags they brought!"

The wrapping paper he'd opened said New York City. The poster came from Sweden. The card -- John smiled. It was from Cardiff. He looked at others. Stamps from all over. He began, "Mrs. Hudson, I have an idea..."

"Will there be more? The postman said this is a week's worth!"

John managed to keep the smile. It hurt, but there was something else there now. Something new. He said, "Have you rented out 221B yet? There's... more space up there. At least until I get something arranged. I promise I'll call you tonight and tell you."

He thought about how Mycroft would feel about having to store all this, and smiled grimly to himself.