221B Recs

Title: Oxidation
Author: abbykate
Pairings: Sherlock/John, Sherlock & John, Sherlock/Victor, Moran/Moriarty, Greg/Molly
Length: 27969 words
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Major Character Death, Graphic Depictions of Violence
Verse: BBC
Author's summary: as oil paintings dry, the process is not evaporation as there is no water in the paint to disappear; instead, the oils in the paint are oxidised causing them to harden over years in a process that never really stops.

Reccer's comments: This fic is heartbreaking, and stupendous.  The premise is that Sherlock is a famous artist who's commissioned by Harry to paint a portrait of John, who in this AU didn't survive Afghanistan.  But then Sherlock starts to see and hear John, who comes alive for him like a modern Galatea and sets a seemingly inevitable series of events in motion. This story has the best tortured artist Sherlock I've read, and the sense of color and emotion and desperation, and the tragedy of Sherlock seeing John but not being able to keep him, make this something haunting and unforgettable. I hurt not only for Sherlock, but for everyone who cared about him too, including Victor, and this story has one of the best versions of him I've read. (The supporting characters in this are excellent.)  I liked, too, that the magical realism elements weren't over-explained, and that the author didn't pull punches emotionally. On that note, mind the warnings and bring a hanky; you'll need it, as this is pretty devastating, and I absolutely mean that as a compliment.  It's not an easy story, but it's a very good one, and well worth reading for the fantastic writing and the wrenching believability of this Sherlock.  It's incredibly visceral, indelible work.