Penfold_X's Fandom Journal

Art by the amazing Ghostbees

HAVE SEEN IT. SO MUCH SQUEE. AM PROCESSING. BRB, MUST TAKE WALK.

It's snowing here in the capital region, which is doing nothing to put me in the Halloween spirit. As with most things, I think a little fanfic is the cure! Here are a few of my favorite stories from the spooky side of Sherlock.

Elements of the Supernatural

Vanilla by Imrebelow: "He tries explaining to Auntie Iris that he's not sad because Grand-mère isn't really gone, and she hugs and coos over him in response. Uncle Erasmus asks Daddy if he's sure Sherlock understands what death is." Subtle, gentle story; very well written.

However Improbable by Brate: "Honestly, John didn't see what the big deal was—people fall down stairs all the time. It was odd that all three died within two months, but each of the victims had been alone in the house at the time of their demise. Still Sherlock was convinced there had been foul play..." A clever take on Sherlock's logical nature, with a delightful h/c bonus.

Five Ghost Stories by Morgan Stuart: "The sky seems to moan; the thunder sounds suspiciously like a still-remembered voice: 'Martha.' For several moments she curls into herself, foetal and forlorn, her wild heartbeats indistinguishable from the reverberating echoes of thunder." Moody and atmospheric, but also a sophisticated character study.

A City on the Head of a Pin by Mad Maudlin: "He knew better than to tell anybody; he already had a history of PTSD and conversion disorder on his file, and no desire to add hallucinations to the list. Besides, aside from being bloody distracting they weren't hurting anything--they were just there, and occasionally they moved or twitched, but once he got over the novelty of it he could pretty much ignore them." Quiet, touching story.

John's Midnight Garden by Anonymous: "For as long as John can remember he has dreamt of the garden. It isn’t a place that he’s ever been to in real life, but when he closes his eyes and drifts off he sometimes finds himself there." Can't say much without spoiling it, but a wistful story that could be sad, if not for the ending. Clever concept executed with style.

Texting the Runes by Snycock: "Despite his resolve not to feed Sherlock’s ego any more than was absolutely necessary, John couldn’t resist flashing a look of admiration at his friend. But there was something about Sherlock’s analysis that was bothering him. 'I’m not an expert on animal attacks,' he said, rising to his feet, 'but… to make wounds of that size, Sherlock, wouldn’t the animal have to be…' 'Eight to nine feet tall,' Sherlock agreed." A superatural-oriented casefic with plenty of action.

Horror

Untitled Mycroft Kidnap/Torture by Whorecoture: "This cell is not made for thinking." A promptmeme fill; the prompt called for "visceral torture" and Whorecoture delivered. It's close to the line of what is too much for me, but the long-ish rescue and comfort section made up for it. Especially because she manages to keep Sherlock in character while still genuinely comforting. Still, NC-17 for violence.

Enclosed, Imagined, and Recorded by Morgan Stuart: A series of short but powerful horror vignettes. Starts with Sherlock receiving an envelope with enclosures and a demand. Incredibly tense and well written, but no comforty ending, so reader beware.

Alternate Universes was the theme for yesterday's Sunday Recday at sherlockbbc. My contribution:

A Family Affair by s0mmerspr0ssen (PG, gen)
Wee!John's family is in a car accident, and only John survives, with bad damage to his shoulder. With no relatives left to raise him, John ends up in a children's home and quickly loses any hope that he will ever be considered for adoption. Wee!Sherlock has been miserable ever since his brother left for university. Ms. Holmes decides to find a bright young boy of the same age to adopt, as a brother for Sherlock. Wonderful character work. Sweet and darling.

they tell me their secrets (will you tell me yours too) by etothepii (PG-13, author says S/J, but I read it as gen)
In Afghanistan, the supplies tell him when they're running low, and the cars always, always tell him when strangers have touched them, and John gets known as having a knack (paranoia, his men call it, but he's never missed a single car bomb) for keeping his men safe. Clever idea with some lovely h/c moments. My favorite of the psychic!John stories.

Assistance by dakfinv (R, gen)
Slavery exists in the modern world. John belongs to Moriarty, that is until events beyond his control thrust him into the life of the world's only consulting detective. Painful to read in places but ends on a hopeful note. It's a slavery AU, so severe mental and physical abuse, but mostly off-screen.

And speaking of alternate universes, AU is also the theme this month at thegameison_sh, a fun fic challenge community I've been following the past few months.

I am filled with excitement! Not because I thought there was really any chance of BBC not wanting to continue the show (with season 2 already filming), but because I think they genuinely deserved it. Still, I've got fingers crossed for a Granada-like run, which will become harder as Who's relatively punishing schedule works on Steven Moffat, Martin Freeman becomes an international star, and Benedict Cumberbatch comes into his own. I hope the show's unusual critical and commercial success will draw its very in-demand crew back again and again, giving them the strength to resist the British showbiz habit of quickly moving to the next new thing.

I am thrilled to see a number of Sherlock panels on the final grid for this year's MediaWest*Con! Unfortunately, I haven't seen any premiering fanzines advertised, but I have high hopes for the vid competition.

FRIDAY
2-3pm, University 1: Sherlock Holmes: An enduring legend. From Conan Doyle through Rathbone and Brett to Downey and Cumberbatch – why Sherlock Holmes still captivates us.
3-4pm, University 1: Sherlock H/C Recs: Sharing your favorite Sherlock H/C fanfics.
4-5pm, University 4: Sherlock: Autistic, sociopathic, or just rude?
5-6pm, University 1: Benedict Cumberbatch: With a name like Cumberbatch, he has to be good!
[Video premieres at 8pm]

SATURDAY
5-6pm, Ballroom C: Sherlock: It was like the miniseries was written just for us! What pushed your buttons about the modern day reboot of the world's greatest detective?

SUNDAY
12-1pm, Ballroom D: Sherlock: Welcome to the 21st Century, Mr. Holmes. Was Sherlock made to live in the information age? (/)
4-5pm, University 3: Sherlock: General discussion.

I'm particularly excited about the Sherlock h/c fic recs panel! The usual gang from the Supernatural h/c fic recs panel will be there, laptops out, ready to do look-ups and confirmations throughout the panel, so be sure to bring your laptop and a list of stories to share.

Shaping up to be a craptacular week. Only known treatment?


Ah, now I can get on with it...

I don't really have anything to say about this. I was just test-loading a photo for a friend. And then I thought, 'hmmm, my LJ could use a little more Cumberbatch and Gatiss.' But then really, whose LJ couldn't?

So, I was cruising Tumblr (um, trying to figure out what it is... dude, don't even ask me about Tweeting), and I stumbled upon:


I've never worked with fondant icing before. Difficult, Y/N?

AJHall's Bedtime Story is wonderfully rendered pre-series story about a law student dragooned into sitting for wee!Sherlock. AJ has a talent for conveying a great deal in a small space, particularly through clever allusions. She makes the most of POV to deliver character insights with a distinct tone. Sample:

Being read to created a particular sort of tense, coiled unhappiness within him. People's voices were too loud, and they always put the emphasis in the wrong place, and looked at him with false, cheery expressions as if they were expecting him to react to the ridiculous banalities they were parroting.

... The caterpillar had – with frustrating disregard for realism, relative body-weights or gastro-intestinal capacity – consumed its way through one red apple and two green pears when, mercifully, the phone in the hall rang.

The unexpected but delightful bonus, for me, is the babysitter's reference to a well-known, almost legendary case studied by most American law students, The Queen v. Dudley and Stephens.


Mrs. Holmes is correct; these books cost a fortune.

Or, as my fellow students termed it, The One Where They Ate The Cabin Boy.

This is, of course, precisely the sort of story that would appeal to seven-year-old Sherlock. It also held a deep appeal for my creepy, septuagenarian professor, who experienced the utmost glee in presenting the case. He started by playing an clip from Pirates of Penzance, then proceeded to illustrate the facts through stick figure drawings: a boat, four survivors, smiles turning to frowns as their days on the open sea grew longer, then a sea-turtle, killed to give the survivors a few extra days, and eventually, a similar fate for young Mr. Parker.


Artist's recreation
Disturbing, but effective. To this day, when someone mentions the defense of necessity, the professor's chalk drawing is the first thing that comes to my mind.

Law texts, especially criminal law and torts, are chock-a-block with murder, misadventure, and depravity. If he could have put up with the proceduralism and his fellow students, Sherlock might have had a lot of fun at the bar.