Rec: Mistress of the Jolly Dark

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Story: Mistress of the Jolly Dark
Author: Kalima
Rating: Adult
Author's Summary: In 19th century London, a down-on-her-luck prostitute meets a strange little man with a red-handled umbrella.
Characters/Pairings: Seventh Doctor/OFC
Warnings: Graphic Sex, Horror

Recced because: I don't gravitate toward darkfic--as you've probably long since figured out--but this little parable of why Time Lord/human sexual relationships are a really, really, really, really, really bad idea fascinated me with its depictions of the Seventh Doctor's despair and inner demons (this Doctor is definitely the Oncoming Storm of the NAs), an original character skillfully fleshed out in a very few paragraphs and the atmosphere of dread suffusing their encounter right from the start. Please be forewarned that this is indeed a horror story featuring a very alien Doctor, and while he's sorry, so sorry for what he's inadvertently done, he still can't put things right in the end.

Comments

[temporalgrace.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec. Being largely unfamiliar with Seven, it's unlikely I would have read it otherwise. Kalima is a very talented storyteller.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Yes, she is--I don't know Seven nearly as well as some of the other Doctors, but the way she wrote him still drew me in.

[gaia-lulia.livejournal.com]

I have long loved this story- great pick.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I was hoping nobody'd beat me to it.

[elyssadc.livejournal.com]

Oh my god. I am not sure I am ever going to fully recover from this one. You weren't kidding when you called it a horror story. Beautifully written, but what a fucking nightmare. As much as this is NOT the way I see Seven, it's odd that he is really the only Doctor I can imagine this happening to. Because of. Whatever. Thank you for reccing this, even though it's gonna haunt me for a while.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

I had pretty much exactly the same reaction the first time I read this. Er, you're welcome? :-)

[ghost2.livejournal.com]

Seven scares me a lot more than I think Ten EVER could. He's also my co-favorite Doctor. A year or so ago, I used this story as my "dark" prompt pick over at rec50 and it's still as good as I remember. Like you, I tend to avoid darkfic, but if you're going to read it then this is the place to start.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

"Seven scares me a lot more than I think Ten EVER could."

You and me both.

[kaffy_r]

Was absolutely stunned and impressed by this one soon after I started haunting Teaspoon. Still am.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

I found it just a few months ago and was very impressed.

[finmagik.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for reccing this story. It was amazing.

[violetisblue.livejournal.com]

My pleasure. It impressed me mightily.