#proconsul mycroft

[jaybeefoxy]

I was tagged by @vulpesmellifera to do my fav five fanfics. Thank you, darling, but it was difficult, and prompted a look at the stats on AO3. However, my favs are a bit different to the ones that seem to have garnered the highest kudos. Most of them are Mystrades, although there's a liberal sprinkling of Johnlock in there, as a rule.

Okay, first up is Bonfire Heart, my hospital AU with Greg as a cardiac surgeon, and both Sherlock and Mycroft as his patients. I really do like how this one turned out. It's an enemies to friends to lovers, and sparked a series, People Like Us (yes, the lyrics are obviously from Bonfire Heart). I'm not medically trained, but I'm told the accuracy isn't bad.

Second, Knight at the Museum, where Mycroft is a museum director, and Greg is a former policeman turned teacher. There's a budding romance between our boys, a plan to steal a precious museum artefact, and plenty (I hope) of twists in the plot. Greg has a rather tragic backstory in this one, so there's a lot of hurt/comfort in it. I was proud of keeping a handle on the plot in this one.

Winter's Tale is my third, although this one seems to be one of those with the most kudos. It came out as another hurt/comfort and Mycroft rescuing a somewhat sick DI at Christmas time. It's also bittersweet for me, because it was gifted to my best friend, who loved it, but who didn't live to read the last chapter.

Although it's not finished, I haven't abandoned A Far Flung Corner of the Empire, my Roman AU. It's a favourite, but it's given me a hard time of recent date. I will be getting back to this one. Hopefully soon.

Finally, I choose A Mystrade Summer Night's Dream, my 80s Mystrade AU, almost but not quite teen Mystrade, given that they're both at the start of their careers. Mr Graves is only a year younger than I am, and we're both products of Thatcherite Britain. I remember growing up in that precarious time, going to uni and spreading my wings. This has a little Yes, Minister cross over, for those Brits who remember this comedy. In my AU, Mycroft works for Sir Humphrey.

So, those are my favourites. Although I actually like more of what I write these days. It's often hard to like your own work, especially if you're a creative person (we are usually our own worst critics, after all), but I genuinely like my five above, but I've got to give honourable mention to the following, in no particular order:

Burning Rubber (the one where Greg is a pro driver and trains Mycroft)

Spark to a Flame (the one where Greg is a fireman, and there's a kitten)

Evening Out The Odds (the one where Greg and Mycroft are in York for the Festive Season)

The Need for Transparency (the one where Greg is psychic and Mycroft is his spirit guide)

And last, but not least Winterlight, which spawned nice pics of Greg in a kilt.

I'm tagging @merindab @green-violin-bow @bitemebat @elton-hercules-john if you want to join in, if you don't it's all fine. 😁 Also tagging everyone from the lovely discord Mystrade Reading Club! Enjoy.

[jaybeefoxy]

Chapter 11 of Far Flung Corner of the Empire is up. Jesus, its a long time since I updated.

I blame plot bunnies.....

[jaybeefoxy]

I have posted not one but two, two juicy chapters of Far Flung Corner of the Empire tonight. It's amazing what boredom while being ill can do. Hope you enjoy, although I have placed a warning for violence in there. Hope you enjoy if you decide to read.

[jaybeefoxy]

Okay, so, just back from another jaunt to Oxford and saw a wonderful exhibition about feasting and food in Pompeii at the Ashmolean Museum. Of course, it was excellent research for my Roman Mystrade, A Far Flung Corner of the Empire.

Imagine if you will, arriving at the Proconsul's villa, to be greeted in the atrium (above). The garden, or Hortus, was beautifully rendered in computer imaging, showing fountains and statues (below).

The artifacts on display show the wealth of organic matter from the archaeological investigations; grains, fruits, shellfish and nuts. The shells in the bowl (below on,the right) are murex. These were eaten, but they are also where Emperor's Purple dye was derived. Snails would be fed on milk and lettuce to purify them before cooking.

The remains of food are charred but still recognisable. I cannot imagine what those Romans who found themselves in Albion would have thought, missing the wealth and abundance of produce readily available in the homeland; olive oil, murex, sea urchin, citrus fruits, wine. All those would have to be imported, and thus the costs would rise. An aspect of holding feasts was to show off wealth and power. Only the best Terra Sigillata (burnished red clay), silver, and glass tablewares would be in use. Any table in Mycroft's home would use such items.

There were a fair selection of statues, like those in Mycroft's garden, from Bacchus to Mithras. The tomb stones depict people eating and drinking for all eternity. I guess there are worse places to end up.

So next time you read, I hope you get a feel for the atmosphere from reading this, and if you're in the vicinity of Oxford, go take a look. There's a charge to get in but imho well worth it.