The Middle Distance

Title: The Straw Man Fallacy
Fandoms: Sherlock/The Wicker Man (1973)
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Other Characters: Lord Summerisle, Miss Rose, Willow MacGregor, Alder MacGregor, Mr. Lennox, The Librarian, other Summerisle villagers and OCs
Rating: NC-17/explicit

Summary:
“Mr Holmes, I'm not in the habit of approaching . . . consultants. But you are correct. I have great faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And until recently, I also had faith in the rule of law. Only the second one has wavered. Three years ago my fiancé, Sgt. Neil Howie of the West Highlands Constabulary, went to investigate an anonymous report of a missing child in a remote place called Summerisle. He never communicated with me while he was there, and he never returned.”

Summerisle is not a welcoming place to visitors, but it shows its best face at May Day. For ulterior motives.

Epilogue: Attained at the End of Desire

One year later, Sherlock and John make a return visit to Summerisle. This time, it's personal.

This story is now COMPLETE. Completely.

Read it at AO3 if you prefer.

( Attained at the End of Desire )

Entire Story on AO3

Chapter 1 on LJ
Chapter 2 on LJ
Chapter 3 on LJ
Chapter 4 on LJ
Chapter 5 on LJ
Chapter 6 on LJ
Chapter 7 on LJ


Whew. What a long, strange trip it's been. Huge thanks go out to winter_hermit and snogandagrope for epic beta-reading, and to all the readers who've supported this story chapter-by-chapter. Could not have done it without you. Truly.

Title: The Straw Man Fallacy
Fandoms: Sherlock/The Wicker Man (1973)
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Other Characters: Lord Summerisle, Miss Rose, Willow MacGregor, Alder MacGregor, Mr. Lennox, The Librarian, other Summerisle villagers and OCs
Rating: NC-17/explicit

Summary:
“Mr Holmes, I'm not in the habit of approaching . . . consultants. But you are correct. I have great faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And until recently, I also had faith in the rule of law. Only the second one has wavered. Three years ago my fiancé, Sgt. Neil Howie of the West Highlands Constabulary, went to investigate an anonymous report of a missing child in a remote place called Summerisle. He never communicated with me while he was there, and he never returned.”

Summerisle is not a welcoming place to visitors, but it shows its best face at May Day. For ulterior motives.

Chapter 6, Sumer is Icumen In

Summerislanders will be talking about this one for decades.

( Sumer Is Icumen In )

Entire Story on AO3

Chapter 1 on LJ
Chapter 2 on LJ
Chapter 3 on LJ
Chapter 4 on LJ
Chapter 5 on LJ

Title: The Straw Man Fallacy
Fandoms: Sherlock/The Wicker Man (1973)
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Other Characters: Lord Summerisle, Miss Rose, Willow MacGregor, Alder MacGregor, Mr. Lennox, The Librarian, other Summerisle villagers and OCs
Rating: NC-17/explicit (eventually)

Summary:
“Mr Holmes, I'm not in the habit of approaching . . . consultants. But you are correct. I have great faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And until recently, I also had faith in the rule of law. Only the second one has wavered. Three years ago my fiancé, Sgt. Neil Howie of the West Highlands Constabulary, went to investigate an anonymous report of a missing child in a remote place called Summerisle. He never communicated with me while he was there, and he never returned.”

Summerisle is not a welcoming place to visitors, but it shows its best face at May Day. For ulterior motives.

Chapter 5, Aught of Sacrifice

Foolish Sherlock and horny John take their places in Summerisle's great festival. The Game is On.




( Chapter 5, Aught of Sacrifice )

Title: The Straw Man Fallacy
Fandoms: Sherlock/The Wicker Man (1973)
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Other Characters: Lord Summerisle, Miss Rose, Willow MacGregor, Alder MacGregor, Mr. Lennox, The Librarian, other Summerisle villagers and OCs
Rating: NC-17/explicit (eventually)

Summary:
“Mr Holmes, I'm not in the habit of approaching . . . consultants. But you are correct. I have great faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And until recently, I also had faith in the rule of law. Only the second one has wavered. Three years ago my fiancé, Sgt. Neil Howie of the West Highlands Constabulary, went to investigate an anonymous report of a missing child in a remote place called Summerisle. He never communicated with me while he was there, and he never returned.”

Summerisle is not a welcoming place to visitors, but it shows its best face at May Day. For ulterior motives.


( Chapter 3: The Holly King )

AO3

Chapter 1 on LJ

Chapter 2 on LJ

Title: The Straw Man Fallacy
Fandoms: Sherlock/The Wicker Man (1973)
Pairing: Sherlock/John
Other Characters: Lord Summerisle, Miss Rose, Willow MacGregor, Alder MacGregor, Mr. Lennox, The Librarian, other Summerisle villagers and OCs
Rating: NC-17/explicit (eventually)

Summary:
“Mr Holmes, I'm not in the habit of approaching . . . consultants. But you are correct. I have great faith in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. And until recently, I also had faith in the rule of law. Only the second one has wavered. Three years ago my fiancé, Sgt. Neil Howie of the West Highlands Constabulary, went to investigate an anonymous report of a missing child in a remote place called Summerisle. He never communicated with me while he was there, and he never returned.”

Summerisle is not a welcoming place to visitors, but it shows its best face at May Day. For ulterior motives.

Notes:
This story depicts religious culture clashes, and I'm doing my best to be at least as respectful to both as the original movie (which might not be saying much). If it comes up, though, yeah, I'm hella Pagan. IME, Pagans love us some Wicker Man. Put three Pagans in a room with a DVD player, and sooner or later, it'll spontaneously start.

This takes place in a world where Reichenbach has happened and Mary hasn't, because Reichenbach fits the plot and Mary doesn't. This also takes place in the 2010s, not the 1970s. Sherlock and John are still technologically screwed.

This is a crossover with the 1973 version of course, but it does include at least one homage to the impressively terrible 2006 remake. I promise it will stay, like poultry farming on Summerisle, Cage-free.

One million thank yous to winter_hermit for the quick and righteous beta!

AO3 link

( Chapter 1: Oak and Ash and Thorn )

Chapter 2