Sherlock recs: Round 3, part 1

[aelfgyfu_mead]

I've split this round of my BBC Sherlock recs into two parts because I've decided to give a little more about why I recommend these stories (or art or other items, in a few cases) and excerpts where I can. I'm not entirely sure I'm good at excerpting: I have trouble choosing a short passage that will give a feel for the piece without giving away the good bits. (What's wrong with trailers and previews these days is that they give away too much!)

I'm starting with the shorter post. I haven't worried much about ratings because most of what I enjoy is rated G through PG-13 or 15 with a lot of variation in what is considered what; I try to give appropriate warnings. Please let me know if I've left anything out.

Please also let me know if you find these recs helpful. I'm not always sure I'm not speaking primarily to myself, and if these end up being just for my own use, then I'll cut back on why I recommended items and leave out the excerpts.

AU
Slash
Abundantlyqueer has created a whole alternate universe in which John and Sherlock meet before they do on the show—in Afghanistan. I haven't been reading the main story due to the warnings and ratings on it, but that didn't interfere with my enjoyment of
"Indelible," by abundantlyqueer: Lestrade invites Sherlock to the annual paintball game, which his team always loses. I enjoyed the humor and strategy.
Excerpt:
“Wait, that’s the strategy I always use and we lose,” Lestrade says. “How is this an improvement?”
“Because when you do it, there isn’t someone grabbing the flag at the same time,” Sherlock says.
“How will we know when John’s making his move?” Dimmock asks. “What’s the signal?”
“An anti-tank missile coming straight through the front door,” Sherlock says fondly.


CROSSOVERS
Crack
Het (believe it or not)—but the Crack label is far more important than the het.
John, Sarah, and Sherlock are ducks named by Aziraphale, of Good Omens; he takes Crowley to meet them.
Excerpt:
Sherlock is uncanny at knowing who is has freshly baked bread."
"Well he would be, name like Sherlock," Crowley said, nodding along indulgently. Then he ran through a little mental calculation in his head. "Hang on. That's three ducks. You only need two ducks for ducklings. That's normally how it works."
"Sherlock and John work as a pair," Aziraphale explained. "If she wanted ducklings with John, Sarah had to put up with Sherlock. It looked like she'd be frightened off for a while, but it all worked out nicely in the end."
Crowley shook his head in disbelief. "Only you, Aziraphale. Only you could somehow find and adopt a ménage à trois of ducks."

Ficlets
I've seen several crossovers with Inception; I haven't read most of them, and I haven't cared for most of the ones I've read (perhaps because the movie impressed me visually, but I didn't connect very well with the characters). Untitled Kink Meme Fill by Anonymous does a crossover with Inception very well! Arthur, Eames, Ariadne, and Dom took a job from the wrong client, and their target is Sherlock. Short and well worth the time to read.
(Can be read as slash or gen, depending on your goggles. I have high-quality gen goggles, in case you didn't know that.)
Excerpt:
You said the mark wasn't militarized," Ariadne shouts at Arthur as they duck behind a pillar. The ground's shaking beneath them, but it's not the dream destabilizing -- it's the fucking bombs being dropped on them.
"He's not!" Arthur shouts back. The mark's already under for the second level, Eames and Dom hooked up to him and sleeping peacefully. "Cover me," he says to Ariadne, and runs for the PASIV.
The thing is, there's only one projection shooting at them. But he has fucking good accuracy, and when they'd shot him down the first time, the mark had freaked out and a new one had sprung out of the woodwork, guns blazing. That's when the bombs had started falling.

HUMOR
Slash
"Two Doctors, A Nurse, A Detective and A Scot" by writingispurdy: Sherlock finds the TARDIS, and of course he has his lockpicks with him. Also of course, John follows him in. The Doctor and Sherlock find each other fascinating, and Amy does a little interfering. Pre-slash and slash (Sherlock/John), but very mild.
I loved the DW characterizations especially; John and Sherlock aren't exactly as I think of them, but I find these versions quite likable too—and Amy and Rory are exactly as I think of them. This story gave me warm fuzzies all over. (The author has written sequels, which you can also find at this LJ; I consider the first story the best, but the others have merit as well.)
Excerpt:
"How many people have you got in here?" John asks as Amy bounds down the steps to join her boys.
"Enough for a search party," the Doctor announces, throwing his arms up in premature success. "Right, your friend, what's he look like? What's his name, so we can run about shouting it?"
"Sherlock, tall idiot in a long black coat," John answers, momentarily distracted when Amy tosses her hair and Rory lightly rolls his eyes. "Sherlock Holmes."

DRAMA
Gen
"Paper Chase" by sam_storyteller, and its sequel, "Rematch".
In "Paper Chase," John and Sherlock come to New York to help Peter Burke and Neal Caffrey (White Collar) catch a criminal who murders artists—and, of course, neither Neal nor Sherlock can resist a challenge. Action, adventure, and hilarity ensue, with appearances by the rest of the White Collar regulars. The characterization is brilliant and the chase is great fun.
"Rematch" finds Peter, Neal, and Elizabeth in London for an international law enforcement conference. As the title suggests, Neal and Sherlock enjoy a rematch. (This one turns a bit more serious, so consider yourself warned.)
Excerpt from "Paper Chase":
"American food tastes wrong," Sherlock complained, as John thumped the spicy tuna down in front of him.
"Says the culture that invented boiling everything," Neal said, before Peter could make an equally cutting retort.
"I don't argue the culinary arts with criminals."
"Then I win."
Peter rolled his chair back slightly to get out of the crossfire, taking his coffee and a plastic container of Philadelphia roll with him.
"Winning is an infantile concept," Sherlock said.
"Yeah, but I still win," Neal answered, shooting Peter a grin.
"Eat your sushi," John ordered.

Excerpt from "Rematch":
John was multitasking in the bar, covertly watching a game on the bar television while he chatted up an Italian delegate to the conference when Lestrade elbowed in between them. The woman rolled her eyes at John over Lestrade's shoulder and turned away.
"I was getting on there," John said, reproachfully.
"Letting you loose amongst the international police community is a peril," Lestrade replied, ordering a pint.
"I'm not the problem," John said. "Sherlock might be."
Lestrade laughed. "And where is your worse half?"
"He and Neal had some catching up to do," John said. "Everything in place for Saturday?"
"Yeah. We're passing the news, word of mouth only. Should be a pretty good turnout. I have to say there's been more enthusiasm about this than last year's international law enforcement footie match," Lestrade said. "Eight different European nations at least want to watch Sherlock pin Caffrey down and humiliate him. The Canadians are pulling for Caffrey, oddly enough. Interpol seems torn. I think they think if they couldn't catch him, nobody else should be able to either."
"Sherlock offended someone in Vienna somewhere." John waved a hand.
"Ah, that explains it."
"She's married, you know," said a new voice.