Comments | lotherington: Fic - And There's Not a Cloud in the Sky - John/Sherlock

lotherington

Fic - And There's Not a Cloud in the Sky - John/Sherlock - R

Aug 25, 2012 19:20

Title: And There's Not a Cloud in the Sky
Author: lotherington
’Verse: Long Ago and Far Away
Fandom: Sherlock
Characters/Pairing: John/Sherlock, Lestrade
Summary: WWII AU. November, 1944. For the first time in years, Sherlock and John have a case.
Rating: R
Word Count: ~1,900
Notes: The title is from There's a Land of Begin Again.

( ‘Yes, spare me trivial details, what do you already know?’ Sherlock pivoted and shone his torch in Lestrade’s face, who squinted and backed away from the light. ‘Or think you know, sorry,’ he said, illuminating the barrels and crates in the cellar rather than Lestrade’s nasal hair. )

verse: long ago and far away, genre: angst, genre: historical, pairing: john/sherlock, character: sherlock holmes, genre: drama, character: john watson, genre: other, fandom: sherlock, rating: r, genre: au, fic

Comments 33

Really? anonymous August 25 2012, 23:54:54 UTC

You've been planning this "for months" and what is it?

More Sherlock whump. John's injury was, what, a few lines? And in that time it was focussed on Sherlock. Sherlock sees John injured? A quick I love you and then an injured John must comfort Sherlock. And Sherlock is hurt by his past with Victor. And Sherlock doubts John's love. And etc., etc., etc.

You've dived head first into tropeland. Lets have Sherlock sexually assaulted and a victim of horrific childhood abuse and you've got your Wobbie!Bingo!who-is-this-guy-named-Sherlock!Card all filled up.

What a complete disaster. I'm with the others. Take a step back and stop excusing this as "but it's historical." Stop with the fan pandering. Gah! I feel like I've just read some 14 year old's first fanfic.net fic.

Re: Really? lotherington August 26 2012, 07:27:39 UTC

I'm sorry you feel that way. As far as I'm concerned, John's injuries have persisted for far more than a few lines a dozen chapters ago, as even in this part, he is still using his walking stick, but if you don't feel that's the case, then I apologise for my weak description.

I attempted to explain some of the historical context I've been using for the 'verse over a month ago and at no other point have I tried to 'excuse' what I've written. I'm truly not 'fan pandering' and am writing the story I want to tell.

I'm more than happy to rec other authors and stories if you feel you can no longer continue with this.

anonymous August 26 2012, 00:24:08 UTC

Let's excuse ALL the tropes!

Woobie, Woobie Sherlock. Oh...I injured John. Better make sure Sherlock is injured worse...because ALLLLL the focus on Sherlock.

Time to stop writing. Just stop. You've ruined this and instead of saying: hmm...perhaps I should re think where this has gone, you whine "but, but this is history. And I'm right!"

Woobie sherlock doesn't exist in canon. Want him in your fic? Fine but then it's not Sherlock. It's just some guy with the name and face of Sherlock.

You've lost a reader. And you've lost whatever touch existed in the first place.

lotherington August 26 2012, 07:35:32 UTC

I'm sorry you feel this way. Thank you for letting me know. However, I'd never dream of saying that I'm 'right' just because I have a certain historical perspective. As far as I'm aware, the only time I've come close to whining 'but, but this is history' is in the tumblr post I made over a month ago where I attempted to explain (clearly quite badly) the context I've been working from.

People are entitled to feel how they want to about this, just as I am entitled to write the story I planned to. Do let me know if you'd like me to rec you something else to read.

airynothing August 26 2012, 01:29:06 UTC

Oh god, well we'll all be on the edge of our seats now!

And I'm surprised at the above commenters, if they are indeed plural. There is nothing wrong with a bit of Sherlock!Whump!

airynothing August 26 2012, 02:31:26 UTC

Nope, nothing wrong with a little Sherlock!Whump. Sherlock!Whump in every chapter? Something else entirely.

Most people are probably anon ( like me ) because they don't want to be attacked for being critical. Lotherington wrote on her tumblr about a negative comment and everyone jumled with "how horrid! People shouldn't do that!"

I don't mind Sherlock!Whump. I do mind however, when it is in every chapter and it overshadows everything else in a story. As the anons, and non anon, have pointed out: John was injured and the focus was on comforting Sherlock. That is wrong on so many levels. It's also a very hated trope. People will get angry. People have gotten angry and this is the result.

I've no idea where this will go but, I'm really afraid that it will be chapter upon chapter of Sherlock being cared for and comforted and being scared. This is in the complete opposite of John's experience which was a chapter and a half (at most).

lotherington August 26 2012, 07:45:30 UTC

I'm sorry you feel this way. It's a shame that you're assuming what will happen in future chapters and it's a shame you feel John's experience with injury has lasted no longer than a chapter and a half, though that's evidently my description at fault.

Re: tumblr - I was expressing my disappointment and sadness over some negative comments I'd received. I am entitled to my emotions just as you are entitled to yours - so I'm sorry that my writing has made you angry and fearful for future chapters. However, I'm happy to rec you something else if you'd no longer like to continue with this.

lotherington August 26 2012, 07:36:40 UTC

Thank you for reading and commenting. :) I'm hoping you won't have to wait too long for the next instalment.

I'M AN ASSHOLE. anonymous August 26 2012, 05:45:52 UTC

Heeeeeeeeey I'm too much of a coward to post what I actually think under my username, so I'm on anonymous! Which I should probably realize is totally a trope and cliched within itself, so I probably have no idea what I'm talking about!

I probably can't write for shit myself and so I take my own issues out on other people's work. Because I'm angry this story didn't happen to pan out the way I think it should have, I'm going to leave cowardly, horrible comments that are in no way productive or helpful in my own life or anyone else's!

If I really was so much better than you, I could just imagine my own story/ending. Or write my own fic. Or offer CONSTRUCTIVE criticism. Or just think "I don't like that" and walk away. But instead, I am choosing to SHOUT MY VERY LOUD AND OBNOXIOUS OPINION DIRECTLY AT YOU because I have a huge ego and I am so obviously worth your time. Point being, I am an asshole.

PLEASE EXCUSE ME, I HAVE TO GO AND STEAL THE SOULS OF YOUNG CHILDREN NOW.

Re: I'M AN ASSHOLE. anonymous August 26 2012, 06:42:39 UTC

Oh please. It's a fic. People have problems with it. If you think people shouldn't voice their opinion over a fic then you shouldn't write fic. And saying that an anon view has less merit is absurd. Sticking a username on a comment doesn't make that comment more important or better or valid. It doesn't mean someone is a coward. It means someone is commenting. If you think that this fic is great then good for you. But don't have a snit because people are honest. Don't discount and degrade the feelings of people that have followed something ( ... )

Re: I'M AN ASSHOLE. lotherington August 26 2012, 07:53:24 UTC

You're both more than entitled to your own opinions. OP of this thread wants to snark at people who've written something they don't like or agree with? That's fine. Other people (possibly including AIRT?) want to vent at me because I've written something they don't like or agree with? That's fine too.

I agree that anonymity doesn't mean someone is a coward or that it invalidates their opinion. I also agree that some of the comments that have been left here recently are in no way productive or helpful.

Thank you both for your responses - I liked and agreed with both in their own way.

Re: I'M AN ASSHOLE. anonymous October 24 2012, 02:36:57 UTC

Found this story yesterday and devoured the whole thing. I love what you have done with the characters and the history is very well woven in without being distracting.

I hope you won't let the hostility of a few discourage you from finishing this. I have never understood the urge to lash out at someone who is giving of their time to share a story. Constructive criticism is wonderful and helps us to become better. Being hateful because you don't like something is totally different. There are some unnecessarily nasty comments here that help no one, and that is a shame.

Enjoying your well crafted story. Hopefully we will see a resolution to this cliffhanger soon!

mildred_bobbin August 26 2012, 08:36:46 UTC

oh wow! what an ending! I didn't see that coming, and after they were enjoying being on a case again..looking forward to seeing what happens next. by the way, you have here a reader who has been enjoying this series very much so far, and it's one I like to return to in sips, kind of like catching up with a new episode each week on telly, rather than devour whole - I love the atmosphere and the study of a homosexual relationship in that period as well as your historical accuracy and the lovely johnlock scenario. For the record, I didn't get the impression that you were favouring the emotions of one character over another, but the comments above have been thought provoking from my own perspective as a writer. Thanks for writing and sharing! (more atonement sooon please?) :)