Guardian Current is Finished!

[anarfea]

Well, at least the first draft of the last chapter has finished. Now to wait for the betas. But it's nice to be done with the fic. I should start working on my next FTH fic, a Sherstrade BDSM piece for Jensaysthings. But I confess I'm a little bit lost. I feel like I need some kind of casefic to go with it so it's not just smut, but maybe I'm overthinking things. I guess I should read some Sherstrade to kind of get in the mood, I've never read the pairing, and I'm not really sure what people do with it.

Comments

[donut_donut]

I'm on team Just Smut! (to no one's surprise, I'm sure)

but if you want more than just wall to wall smut, I'd go in the direction of relationship backstory rather than casefic. that might just be my personal preference.

The most common Sherstrade fanon that I've seen is that Lestrade and Sherlock met during Sherlock's junkie days, Sherlock came on to him like a freight train, Lestrade knew it was wrong to fuck around with a young (though not underage) man who is obviously not making really great decisions, but he can't resist.

That's most of what I've seen of the pairing, at least. It could be that I just don't click on the fluffier interpretations.

[anarfea]

I have actually written an outline since I posted this!

I decided no casefic. It won't be just smut but I want to get more into their relationship background.

Yes, I have seen the junkielock freight train story, and I like that idea as a background for Sherstrade but I don't want to stay there? Like, it just feels like the low hanging fruit and I think I'd get bored.

So I'm actually going to set this post S4 and have Greg still be carrying a torch for Sherlock but Sherlock pining over John and then doing something stupid (maybe hooking up with John) and Greg being like "John's no good for you," and Sherlock being like "are you jealous?" and Greg being like "what if I am?" and then more angsty hooking up.

My bidder wants a BDSM relationship, so I'm going to incorporate that and have lots of angst and interesting shit about Sherlock recovering from PTSD and having been tortured and Greg really thinking that his masochism is self-destructive because he thinks he deserves to be hurt and Sherlock thinking Greg is being condescending.

I'm thinking that Greg has this "You can't hurt someone you love" block and them breaking through it when they switch and Sherlock tops Greg and Greg is actually into it and is like, "oh, okay, this is what that's about."

So then the rest of the fic will be them navigating and exploring that BDSM relationship.

I'm actually really excited about this.

[saraht]

Ooh, Sherstrade! I feel like I've never gotten into the pairing the way it probably deserved.

[donut_donut]

Oh good, I'm glad you found a way in.

[anarfea]

I feel much better equipped to write this pairing than I did a couple of years ago. I've been writing a lot of Mystrade, so I feel like I've gotten a handle on Greg. I'm planning on writing from his POV. Just the Greg/Sherlock dynamic is new.

[anarfea]

I am too!

[mina_harker]

Ooh, I like the idea of this being written from Greg's point of view, and I also like the idea of Greg having been in Sherlock's life as a friend for quite a while before he makes a move, and especially him calling out John's behaviour. Not my usual pairing, but I'd love to read this, as it's indeed different from the usual Sherstrade fics.

Also, ooh, Sherlock's PTSD, Greg being careful and Sherlock thinking he's being condescending really opens up lots of interesting questions to discuss, about taking one's submissive seriously when they say they are capable of doing a thing, not denying them their agency, but also discussions of how doms need to be able to feel good/comfortable about the thing they're doing. This sounds like it wouldn't be an easy fix, but involve lots of good conversations, and honestly, I am so here for it.
The more I think about it, the more I'm really looking forward to this fic! Can't wait to read it!

[anarfea]

Yay! I'm glad you're excited for it.