Calufrax

Story: In The Blood
Author: Lurky McLurklurk
Rating: All Ages
Word Count: 9267
Author's Summary: For Ace McShane, P.I., her latest case brings her face to face with her own past.
Characters/Pairings: Ace McShane/Mel Bush

Recced because: Uh, did you see that summary? Ace McShane, Private Eye. I mean, yes, okay, I could also talk about the seamless integration of sci-fi tropes into a film noir setting, or the fine detail woven throughout that makes this version of 1930s San Francisco come alive in fascinating and entrancing ways. And I suppose I could mention how wonderfully in-character Ace and Mel are, and how tender and sweet their love story is. But honestly, if the words "Ace McShane, Private Eye" didn't make you want to click that link, then the only explanation is that your brain has shorted out after being overloaded with excess amounts of awesome.

I mean, seriously. Ace McShane. Private Eye.

Excerpt:


"Perhaps you're not aware of your reputation, Miss McShane."

"Oh, I have lots of reputations," Ace said. "Which one were you talking about?"

"That for all your ... eccentricity"--she gave Ace an appraising glance that was clearly supposed to indicate that wearing a suit was the height of bizarre behaviour--"you're the best person to go to for situations involving strange phenomena. The sort of thing the San Francisco Police Department simply don't know how to deal with."

"These lights and sounds ... It's not just electric lights and people shifting things around, is it?"

"I don't know how much credence to give to some of the wilder reports," Westerfield said. "But if even half of them are true ..."

"Very well. I charge two hundred dollars a day," Ace said. "Plus expenses." That was from a film, but one of the first things Ace had learned when she'd set up shop was that her clients had just as little clue about what the going rate was as she did. Hiring a detective wasn't the sort of thing you did everyday, after all.