Fic Rec: Obscurity
Title: Obscurity
Author: UrbanHymnal
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Length: 7,700 words
Rating: T
Warnings: none
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Because words were magic, because they only would come out when they had the right feel and sound, he couldn’t say simple things like: Dad, leave Harry alone for once or Hey, Amy, do you fancy coming out to dinner with me?
Reccer's comments: In this story, John Watson can only speak in the form of quotation; his only words are those drawn from books he has read that have meant something important to him. While a lovely example of magical realism, this is also close enough to real speech disabilities to carry the ring of authenticity. John's banked anger, his frustration at being dismissed as unintelligent because he cannot easily express his thoughts, his resentment at a world that makes no time for him, are powerfully and persuasively realized. In Sherlock, he finally finds someone who learns to bridge the communicative and emotional gap -- someone who sees him for who he is.
On another level, the story is a celebration of books and of the way we sometimes find our own thoughts or feelings revealed through other people's words. The fic makes use of quotes from a number of well-known works of literature, some of which I recognized and some of which I didn't (the author gives a list of attributions at the end of the story). John's patchwork method of communication is often quite beautiful, and several passages between him and Sherlock are uniquely romantic.
This is a story that I have come back to repeatedly over the last few years. When I first read it, I didn't know that my child would have a speech disability reminiscent of John's. Now that I do know, this fic is even more special to me. I love its celebration of language and silence, reading and listening, translation and learning, and all the amazing people who occupy unusual spaces in the realms of expression.
Author: UrbanHymnal
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Length: 7,700 words
Rating: T
Warnings: none
Verse: Sherlock BBC
Author's summary: Because words were magic, because they only would come out when they had the right feel and sound, he couldn’t say simple things like: Dad, leave Harry alone for once or Hey, Amy, do you fancy coming out to dinner with me?
Reccer's comments: In this story, John Watson can only speak in the form of quotation; his only words are those drawn from books he has read that have meant something important to him. While a lovely example of magical realism, this is also close enough to real speech disabilities to carry the ring of authenticity. John's banked anger, his frustration at being dismissed as unintelligent because he cannot easily express his thoughts, his resentment at a world that makes no time for him, are powerfully and persuasively realized. In Sherlock, he finally finds someone who learns to bridge the communicative and emotional gap -- someone who sees him for who he is.
On another level, the story is a celebration of books and of the way we sometimes find our own thoughts or feelings revealed through other people's words. The fic makes use of quotes from a number of well-known works of literature, some of which I recognized and some of which I didn't (the author gives a list of attributions at the end of the story). John's patchwork method of communication is often quite beautiful, and several passages between him and Sherlock are uniquely romantic.
This is a story that I have come back to repeatedly over the last few years. When I first read it, I didn't know that my child would have a speech disability reminiscent of John's. Now that I do know, this fic is even more special to me. I love its celebration of language and silence, reading and listening, translation and learning, and all the amazing people who occupy unusual spaces in the realms of expression.