Every Lover In The Form Of Stars
Description: "John had never really given a damn about art, before Afghanistan. It had always seemed like something that only certain people were allowed to appreciate, people who had studied for years and been trained to pick it apart and understand it. But he had begun to find comfort in it himself, even if he knew next to nothing about brushstrokes and art styles, oil paint versus acrylic, traditional or mixed media. It wasn't that he had suddenly developed a great appreciation for the classics, the art school standbys like Michelangelo or Picasso. Instead, what it boiled down to, the real reason behind his fixation was much simpler: quiet."
Review: This is such an interesting fic. It takes the status quo of The Goldfinch and puts John in that situation just before meeting Sherlock, which is survivng a bombing at an art museum, and takes the Vermeer with him before he leaves. This changes so many aspects of s1 and beyond and it's so beautifully done, too. The cases are just different enough from the canon material and in complete accordance with the new world the author has created. The plot continues to Sherlock's fake death and after, and their slow descent into a relationship. But the Vermeer haunts John, waiting for Sherlock to find it. Such a good fic, especially as an exploration of John's character.
