#gamblerecs

[coffeetearsandclassybitches]

SUDDEN STEALTH RECS ATTACK

because i just watched third star

and

oh my god, my feelings

anyway!  

Remember Where We Fell

After the end, after it all, what happens?  "You told his mum you'd bring him back, and so you do."  I am rather in love with this story, but I also have literally not been able to stop crying for eighteen hours since I finished the movie, so.  Spoilers, obviously; don't read it if you haven't seen the movie, as I can't warn for triggers without spoiling it.  Suffice it to say - triggering for some.

[coffeetearsandclassybitches]

ASSORTED SHERLOCK RECS FROM THE GAMBLEFILES 1.2

so it's that time of day again

recs time!

Learn To Wear Each Other Well

Mycroft Holmes meets one DI Lestrade.  Sparks don't fly, as such, but they do gradually emerge from glowing embers.  What I mean to say is that this is a lovely relationship fic for a slightly rare pairing in this fandom - I have read it before, but never done this well, and even if you don't ship it I think you'd enjoy reading this.  Very in-character and very reasonable.

You Have Suffered

Post-Reichenbach feels, in which John returns to 221B for the first time since Sherlock stepped off St Bart's roof and broke John's life into pieces.

26 Pieces

Relatively fandom-famous, I believe.  Mycroft gives Sherlock a puzzle box containing a stolen microchip to solve, but it's never really that simple, especially between Holmeses.  There is torture here, but also a rather lovely look at the loyalty between John and Sherlock and the lengths they would go to for each other.

Just A Minor Peerage

The story of how John Watson became a baroness.  So help me god, if you don't read anything else on this list, at least make time for this one.  It's reasonably short and ridiculously funny and sweet.

Jealous Guy

Well, this seems to be the Mycroft/Lestrade recs edition.  Mycroft is hiding something from Lestrade, who isn't very happy about it - but as this is a post-Reichenbach fic, I'm sure you can guess what's going on.  Very well-written jealousy, as well as a slow deterioration of trust and then everything gets better.

Indecorous

"In which John learns to balance a kinky girlfriend, an asexual boyfriend, a ten-inch cock, his sister, the neighbours, his friends, and his blog. Some are more balanced than others."  No shit.  This is a really long fic, guys.  As long as John's cock, according to this story.  It has some lovely character-building in terms of Mary "Tai" Morstan and how John manages a polyamorous relationship in which there is Sherlock Holmes.  I strongly, strongly recommend putting aside the time to read this.  It really is that good.  Also, there's a ridiculous amount of sex, for better or worse.  Heads-up.

Incandescent

"Incandescent: adj. Characterized by ardent emotion or intensity or brilliance. John suspects Sherlock Holmes might be the strangest woman he’s ever met in his life."  An exquisite genderbend, in which Sherlock Holmes always was a woman, just for the record.  This is, as the author says, not a particularly healthy relationship, though it is a love story; whatever it is, I love it.  Do read.

If I Fell

"Sherlock knows that John sleeps with men. That much is obvious. What Sherlock doesn't know is whether or not John likes to fuck them or be fucked or if he likes to pull hair or leave teethmarks or if he likes being on his knees or if he likes forcing people onto their backs. Sherlock doesn't know if John wants to fuck Sherlock, of all people."  WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT.

The Art Of Seduction

Sherlock Holmes runs a website called "The Science of Seduction", in which he details the art of the pull, writes about his sexual experiments, and in short treats sex exactly the way canonical Sherlock treats crime - as something to be tested from every angle and then taken notes on.  There is graphic torture, courtesy of one Jim, and it's a long haul all the way through - there are three parts, each with three subparts, but it's well worth it.

Homemaking

John planned to come home to England, be vaguely shellshocked, and go through therapy and counseling.  Then Sherlock Holmes happened.  Lovely and domestic and by rageprufrock; what are you waiting for?

Angel Algorithm

I honestly cannot rec this enough.  I recently read Neuromancer, by William Gibson, and fell in love with its variety of cyberpunk; this is set in the same type of universe and I adore it wholeheartedly and rec it without reserve.  My favorite fic on this list, though god knows I avoid saying such things; but I am in absolute love with the atmosphere and the characters and I wish there was more.  Please, please read.

[coffeetearsandclassybitches]

ASSORTED SHERLOCK RECS FROM THE GAMBLEFILES 1.1 (LIBRARYOFSOL EDITION)

so i know i've said this before somewhere, but libraryofsol is one of my absolute favorite, favorite writers for this fandom.  they've written so many genres and so many possibilities, and i've read all of it, and i'm absolutely in love with their style, their voice, and the absolutely perfect way they frame the plotlines and paint the characters.  it's all spot-on and gorgeous.

however! i really wanted to collect my favorites (all of them) in a recs post, and also if i split them up maybe more of you will read them, because they're really really worth it!

(also there are a couple of threesomes, with mycroft/john/sherlock.  heads-up.  will note in post. i know how twisted this sounds. i'm not sorry, though.  they really are so good that i'm still reccing them.)

(also i just realized just how much porn i just recced, and i think i have to do another post tonight that's slightly more a) author-diverse and b) work-safe.  whoops.)

I Am Become Death

Sherlock makes a zombie.  This is, surprisingly, not crack; it is instead very introspective and very creepy and a lovely look at how most people would actually react upon discovering that their flatmates have brought back the undead in their bathtub.  Very eerie and very gorgeous, which is the way my tastes run.  Whoops.

Foul Weather

Sherlock kisses John in the doorway.  That's all.  But it's so worth it.

Distraction Techniques

Sherlock gives John a handjob on the sofa with his foot.  A footjob? Yes, I suppose so.  This is obviously porn.  It is also very obviously hot.  Nngh.  Okay.  Moving on.

Coin To Travel Twice

Sherlock pretends to be dead with great relish for a case.  In a morgue.  With only a sheet.  John can't help looking.  Or kissing him.  Or - whoops, spoilers.

Bikini - Extended Edition

I'M STILL NOT SORRY, FOR WHAT THIS IS WORTH.  Porn.  Very porny porny porn.  Porn.  Yeah.  Uh.  Basically, John comes downstairs to find Sherlock in a bikini.  For a case, of course, which is how this fandom excuses everything, but that's not even relevant, because this fic involves John rubbing lotion into Sherlock's shoulders, and features a warning for "crossdressing, crack, and flagrant abuse of swimwear".  How can you resist.

Armor

"The first time they have sex, Sherlock doesn't even take off his coat."  WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT

Armistice

Oh god.  Let me let libraryofsol summarize this: "John is not some sort of holiday home in the south of France, to be fought over by brothers who took the phrase 'sibling rivalry' and turned it into the plot of a Russian novel."  This is one of those threesome fics I warned you about, and I'm seriously still not sorry.

Demonstrations

THIS IS SHERLOCK/MYCROFT.  Oh my god, I can literally feel you all judging me.  This is the way Sherlock and Mycroft argue sometimes and lfsdhlakg;s;g;s I HAVE NO EXCUSE, JUST READ IT PLEASE, oh my god.

Modern Warfare

Mycroft and Sherlock have a schedule for John - every other day.  Sherlock intrudes on one of Mycroft's days and they have sibling rivalry over John's naked body.  Obviously this is one of the threesome fics mentioned above.  This is also smoking hot.  I regret nothing.

Office Politics

Sherlock decides to fuck John over Mycroft's desk.  Please tell me you know where this is going.  This is another one of those threesome fics I may have mentioned.  I am also still not sorry.

STILL NOT SORRY

[coffeetearsandclassybitches]

ASSORTED SHERLOCK RECS FROM THE GAMBLEFILES 1.0

all sherlock fic, mostly with some sort of spoiler for reichenbach.  read with care!

I Don't Know What More To Ask For

Sherlock in hiding, and John, always John, on his mind, in his memories, on his blog, in Baker Street.  Sherlock in Paris and memories of Star Trek.  Absolutely lovely and wonderfully done; Sherlock and John are so believable and heartbreaking.

A Study In Mourning - WIP

John in mourning.  Features a lovely Mary.  This is the story of how John got over it, how his heart mended and he moved on - and then how he opened the door and saw Sherlock, not a hallucination, but really him, and everything that entails.

Chasm - WIP

In this case the author says it best - "Everyone has a grieving process. John's just happens to involve subterfuge, conspiracies, and violence."

The Schedule

Everyone and their aunt has recced this, and there's a bloody good reason.  In which John goes to a medical conference and, to quote, "Sherlock goes round the bend".  Mildly stalkery in a very romantic way, all things considered, and I can't believe I just typed that.

The Military Sort

In which John unconsciously obeys Sherlock's orders, and oh my god yes.

Touchstone

I read this story and fell in absolute love with it.  It is fan-fucking-tastic, and set in a vaguely magical AU of unspecified source, though I suspect it's original because it's just that lyrical and lovely.  I am absolutely giving this my highest rec ever.  Please read it.  You will not be disappointed.

The Skeleton Winter

A fandom classic.  "Joanna knows that enlisting as the only recruit in Sherlock's private army isn't going to make her less damaged. But Sherlock puts her damage to good use. Joanna thinks that is by far the best thing that could have happened to her. It may, in fact, be the only thing that could have saved her."

The Mourning Woman

Molly HBIC Hooper, ladies and gentlemen.  I am in love with this story and this portrayal.  "The last time Molly Hooper had a secret to keep, for somebody other than herself, she was fifteen years old." Molly takes care of business, after the fall.

In The Land of the Blind 1 | 2

I obviously really care about this, because I even split up the links.  The world is ending, in a very quiet, very civilized way, and only John, Sherlock, and Mycroft know.  They have a few days.  This story literally made me curl up for hours, because it's that beautifully written.  It's lovely and eerie and at the bottom of it all, very terribly sad, and very beautiful.  Do read.  One of my highest recs.

London Below

Sherlock maintains his homeless network.  Rather lovely in an understated way, and an interesting look into Sherlock's backstory and history with the Irregulars.

Minds Like Ours Dream Up

John does his research after Reichenbach.  The ultimate, glorious fix-it.  Absolutely must-read, and in my opinion another fandom classic.

The Perils of Urban Warfare

John, Sherlock, and his therapist all try to get John back into regular life, to their respective given definitions of "regular".  Substantial and satisfying.  Yes, that is what she said.

It Feels Like Home When I'm With You 1 | 2

Okay, look.  Etothepii could write absolutely anything and I would read it and then love it.  But there's a good reason for that, which is - Etothepii is a fucking genius.  In this story, John dies in Afghanistan, and wakes up in 221B, and then Sherlock moves in, and this is really lovely and wrenching and poetic.  Please read it.