Fanfiction, Hope & Solarpunk

Since the current heatwave in Europe is driving me mad, I've been craving stormy, rainy, outdoorsy Johnlock stories. There are a few of my all-time favourites that come to mind immediately, such as ArwaMachine's To Stand Before the Storm, khorazir's Danger Nights, J_Baillier's Summit Fever or You Have Drawn Red From My Hands (to name just two, there are more, I could sing her praises forever) ... and I know I have read more fics that fit the category I'm looking for here, although I can't recall the titles right now, and I wouldn't mind reading them again. I would love to discover more, so if there are lists or fics you could point me towards, that would be great!

Thanks for all you do in this fandom!

Hi Lovely!! *HUGS*

Aww, you're so kind!! I hope that the heat has gotten a bit less intense for you since you sent this (apologies for the delay) and that you are doing well!

First off, the fics you recced:

Danger Nights by khorazir (T, 23,591 w., 3 Ch. || Post-TLD, Friends to Lovers, Mentioned Parentlock, Pining, First Kiss/Time, Winter, Folklore, Wales, Spooky Elements, Bed Sharing, Implied/Referenced Drug Use, Spooky Elements) – According to folklore, the nights between Christmas and Twelfth Night are the most dangerous of the year. During them, the Wild Hunt rides, and ghosts and demons come out to haunt unsuspecting and misbehaving folk. An investigation of a series of strange occurrences leads John and Sherlock to Hay-on-Wye on the Welsh Marches, to face ghosts weird and ancient as well as close and personal – and perhaps to start the new year on a more hopeful note than the previous one.

You Have Drawn Red From My Hands by J_Baillier (T, 67,085 w., 17 Ch. || Three Garridebs, Heavy John Whump, Hurt / Comfort, Pining, Heavy Angst, Case Fic/Adventure, Slow Burn, Sick Fic, Injury, Guilt & Depression, Just Talk Already Please, Medical Realism, PTSD) –  John getting injured leads Sherlock on a path of guilt and revelations.

Summit Fever by J_Baillier (M, 78,802 w., 18 Ch. || Mountain Climber AU || POV John, Angst, Tragedy, Suicidal Ideation, The Himalayas, Mountain Guide / Doctor John, Mount Climber Sherlock, Loneliness, Drama, Suspense, Slow Burn, Injured Sherlock / Sherlock Whump, Pining John) – After graduating from medical school, John Watson followed his heart to the Himalayas. Ten years later, he's a haunted cynic working for his ex-lover's trekking and mountaineering company. Will leading an expedition to Annapurna I—the most lethal of all the world's highest mountains—shake John out of his reverie, and who is the mystery client added to the group at the last minute?

To Stand Before the Storm by ArwaMachine (E, 132,519 w., 21 Ch. || Case Fic, Bed Sharing, Ireland, Angst, Smut, Fluff, Kissing, Hand/Blow Jobs, Anal, Top Sherlock, Violence, Idiots to Lovers, Pining Idiots) – Somebody has been killing sheep on an uninhabited island just off the western coast of Ireland, and Sherlock—of course—can’t resist the call to investigate. As a soon-to-be-divorced John and a recently-not-dead Sherlock unravel the mystery of the murdered sheep, they find that they may be forced to confront unspoken sentiments that have lingered between the two them for some time—that is, if they don’t fall victim to the dangers of the island first.

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Secondly, ah, I thought of these ones too:

Moonlight by ConsultingPurplePants (E, 2,213 w., 1 Ch. || First Time, Scars, Camping, Sherlock’s Bum, Waterfall Sex) – Sherlock is standing near the door, wearing, for what John thinks may be the first time in their acquaintance, jeans and a jumper. John drags his eyes away from the way the jeans cling to Sherlock’s just-muscled-enough legs to notice that Sherlock is wearing his own backpack, and is also carrying a collapsed tent. John’s jaw drops open. Is he about to go camping with Sherlock Holmes!?

The Strait of Juan de Fuca by mightypog (T, 6,400 w., 1 Ch. || Post-TRF, Vacation, Love Confessions, Friends to Lovers, Canada, Love Confessions, Angst With Happy Ending) – Sherlock is back and all seems forgiven, but something is missing between him and John. Their friendship initially appears intact, but Sherlock doesn't understand why John seems to be slipping away. Finally, in terror, he tries to reconnect with John by taking him to the one place that seems to inspire any emotional interest in John any more: the Canadian wilderness. While there, Sherlock faces his greatest fear.

Northwest Passage by Kryptaria (E, 95,157 w., 27 Ch. || PODFIC AVAILABLE || Canadian AU ||  BAMF!John, Canadian John, PTSD, Anal / Oral Sex, Rimming, Emotional Hurt / Comfort, Drug Rehab, Falling in Love, Pining Sherlock, Love Confessions, Sherlock’s Violin, Panic Attacks, Switching, Anxious / Protective Sherlock, Hugs for Comfort, Suicide Mentions, Healing Each Other) – Seven years ago, Captain John Watson of the Canadian Forces Medical Service withdrew from society, seeking a simple, isolated life in the distant northern wilderness of Canada. Though he survives from one day to the next, he doesn't truly live until someone from his dark past calls in a favor and turns his world upside-down with the introduction of Sherlock Holmes. Part 1 of Tales from the Northwest

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And perhaps these lists will please you!

Sports AU (Updated Aug 2023)

Olympics AU

Hot and Cold Fics (June 2022)

Survival Fics

Autumn / Fall Fics (Sept 2024)

Camping Fics

Pirates

Farm and Ranch AUs (MFLs)

Travelling / Road Trips (Updated July 2023)

There should be plenty there to get your outdoorsy needs!!

OF COURSE, if anyone has others to suggest, I welcome them!! We could use more recent ones!!

Compleano (Italian for Birthday)

a birthday gift to NovaNara and Notjustmom!

“We need to talk.”

John delivers the statement in as serious a tone as he can muster.

There’s no reply from behind the newspaper. Sherlock is pyjama-clad, sprawled in his chair, bare feet out toward the fire puttering in front of them.

John clears his throat. “Do you know what day it is?”

“Sunday.”  The answer’s quickly delivered, but Sherlock continues to hide behind his paper.

Not exactly what John wants to hear. The world’s most observant detective can sometimes be blind to the obvious, but this time it’s not likely. Wearily, he asks, “Today’s date?”

A sigh. The newspaper is lowered to the point where those blue eyes can glare at him. “The fifteenth of January. But what you really mean is that Watson’s birthday is less than a month away.”

“Good deduction. We can’t wait any longer if we’re to avoid a repeat of last year’s debacle.”

Read the rest here.

❤️ Thank you for reading / reblogging!

Just like all of you, I get overwhelmed, stressed out, and mega doom-y sometimes too.  

Being unable to breathe and having a brutal headache from wildfire smoke while strangers rage at me about an enshittified Esprit sweatshirt is making me feel pretty hopeless about humanity’s ability to manage climate change and support one another. Seriously people on Threads will fight anyone who says that maybe they don't actually "need" a crappy sweatshirt that is exploiting our human tendency to find comfort via nostalgia during difficult times.

But...I still believe in us. And in the six years I've been doing Clotheshorse, I have heard every excuse and justification for fast fashion and AI "art." And definitely lots of strangers have told me that I'm a stupid, joyless loser because I don't think any of us actually *need* a SHEIN haul.

You know what helps me cope with despair and internet creeps? Making weird graphics using vintage books. A few hours with my scanner, Photoshop and a really good iced coffee is definitely my idea of a relaxing time! Another source of absolute inspiration for me is vintage craft books and magazines.   I have a whole routine every time I'm a thrift store: First, I check out kid's books.  Then I go to the cookbook section (in search of old cake decorating books). Then the "nature" section for cat books (obviously).  And lastly, the craft section for weird (and awesome) books. After all of that, I look at home goods, etc. 

HI LOVELY!!

Sorry I missed this, WASN'T INTENTIONAL at all!!

I totally get the lack of motivation these days... Some days I personally find it hard to keep making my lists and do any artwork or participate in anything because I always feel like no one really cares nor likes anything I do. BUT I do it for myself. I enjoy sorting. I enjoy doing art. I enjoy cultivating a blog that I personally enjoy visiting. And when the mood hits, I also enjoy writing as well.

So I do feel you. And my advice is "so what? Do it for you!". You said you love doing it, so do it. Do it for yourself. I have never seen any of my own fics ever recced, and I still am happy and pleased with them, and the people who do see the fics and bookmark or kudos them, well, SOMEONE saw them, right? Yes, I understand that it's HARD to get into that mindset... took me literal decades to just stop caring and post stuff for me, and see any notes, reblogs, or kudos I get as bonus stuff, you know?

This fandom is still very much alive, and I think you should write because you LOVE to do it! And hey, if it gets traction, bonus!

I really do hope you continue to write and post, Lovely, and do it for yourself because it makes you happy! :D And that's what really should matter.

I dunno, I've been in fandom spaces for over 3 decades, and really, a fandom rarely ever dies, and trust me, the ones who ARE still around are ALWAYS happy when new stuff gets posted.

You'll find your audience. Don't fret :)

AND as always, if you do post, please let me know and I'll be happy to promote it for you... it's my understanding that people do still come here for Sherlock recs so can't hurt, LOL.

Lost In A Good Book by khorazir

Johnlock Love Letters #2377

Aroace Holmes who never feels incomplete without romance because he found lifelong happiness and fulfillment with his best friend.

Demisexual Holmes who has never had sex before because he’s never been attracted to anyone, so when he’s suddenly attracted to Watson he has no idea what to do with those feelings.

Gay Ace Holmes who enjoys sex with Watson simply because he enjoys the intimacy of it and likes how happy it makes his partner.

Gay Ace sex repulsed Holmes who finds his own ways to show his Watson how much he loves him and never feels obligated to force himself into a sexual relationship because he’s found a partner who respects and understands him.

As someone on the ace spectrum who read these books as a kid, it’s so important to me that so many ace kids read Sherlock Holmes and immediately see themselves in him. Ace Holmes you will always be SO famous

the strangest fandom hobby is plotty fanfiction, the kind that requires research, because engaging in this hobby makes no goddamned sense.

it doesn’t even give anybody masturbation material, which is at least a logical and admirable goal that contributes to the betterment of society, or at least society’s solitary orgasms.

We are doing something. We’re rejecting allonormative ideals and that’s a massive thing to do. We’re actively fighting not just to help other aspecs, but to help everyone, because amatonormativity (and allonormativity as a whole) hurt everyone. Single people who want to find a partner but can’t also deserve to be able to exist.

There are so many issues with the expectation of marriage, including:

A single income isn't enough to get by anymore

Having a spouse is almost necessary under the current medical system

Society shames and pressures people who are single to get into relationships constantly

Rejecting allonormativity means fighting against these things that hurt everyone.

look at this shit

In the wild capybaras live in large groups so naturally a female capybara will take care of not only her own offspring, but all of the other offspring in the group. So capybaras are super great mothers who will adopt pretty much anything and take care of it.

Lots of places that rescue different animals will give a group of baby animals to a capybara to raise if they have one.

Like puppies

Ducks

Deer

Emus