An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Word count: 106,650 Chapters: 71/71 Fandom: Sherlock (TV), Sherlock Holmes & Related Fandoms Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings, Graphic Depictions Of Violence Relationships: Sherlock Holmes/John Watson, John Watson/OFC Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson, Mycroft Holmes, Greg Lestrade, OCs, Mona Shaw OC Additional Tags: AU - futurelock, augmented!John, Discrimination, not too distant future, body dysmorphia of a sort, self-care, TW: amputation, graphic depictions of gore, episode remixing, The Great Game, rated for eventual graphic sex and violence, eventual slash, preslash, Developing Relationship, Slow Burn, Slow Build, Body Modification, scifi violence and gore, Worldbuilding, AU, No S3 Spoilers, Canon Divergent, it is afterall an AU, dissociative moments - not a main focus but still present, uncomfortable thoughts and subject matter, angst from misunderstandings, soon to be podfic'd by consultingsmartarse Series: Part 2 of STATIC Summary:
John wants to explain the rush of sensation and data, which is just another form of sensation (or is it the other way around?). John wants to say:
Augmentation circuits report temperature, pressure, various forms of quantitative input. Sudden changes are reported as pain, since sudden changes are dangerous, and pain is the quickest way to encourage reflexive extraction.
But all John can manage is, “Nng.”
Because this sudden touch is not reporting as pain.
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Rec: Basically, this fic is amazing. It’s immersive, creative, and extremely well written, with an original case, fabulous OC’s, intricate worldbuilding, and tons of gorgeous UST (which is eventually resolved).
The setting is a not-so-far alternate universe with advanced technology that allows the melding of organic and mechatronic body parts, basically creating cyborgs ... of which John Watson is (made) one. There is a simmering subplot involving institutional conspiracies, human rights, discrimination, politics, and social systems, which in and of itself is gripping stuff and provides a great deal of food for thought on some very pertinent modern issues.
But the main story is a very personal one, revolving around John coming to terms with the changes in his body and associated realignment of his entire life. Of course Sherlock is instrumental in the process (quite literally), and the whole exploration of the physical-mental-emotional continuum was absolutely fascinating. And the eventual smut is just so out-of-this-world beautifully written, it is worth every word of the wait.
Some readers may want to be aware going in that there’s a not insignificant amount of gore and invasive medical procedures as well as talk of suicide, but I didn’t find anything especially disturbing.
