We Can't Rewind, We've Gone Too Far

I have been thinking lately about alternate universes versus retellings (like fairy tale retellings). An alternate universe, in the fandom sense, is usually the same characters in a different plot, or a different setting. The characters are the constant (fanon notwithstanding), and everything else may have parallels, but it doesn't need to be the same or even similar.

But in a retelling, the plot is sometimes more of a constant than the characters. The events are the important part, and the characters are filled out in different ways to fit those events. A retelling is not a fandom style alternate universe, it's Terry Pratchett's narrativium. You need to have characters in the right situations to produce the story, but a different retelling can have almost entirely different characters. The plot is what's important, not who it's happening to.

Mice and Murder is a story inspired by Sherlock Holmes (specifically the RDJ movies), but I don't think it's a Sherlock Holmes adaptation (unlike, say, Basil of Baker Street), because Sylvester Cross is not Sherlock Holmes (and Lars isn't Watson, and Daisy D'Umpstaire isn't Irene Adler, etc.). Although he is apparently similar enough to have produced this.

Title: Always Nice to See You
Rating: G
Universe: Dimension 20: Mice and Murder
Characters: Sylvester Cross, Lars Vandenchomp
Warnings/Enticements: Pre-Canon, Pre-Relationship, Dungeons & Dragons Game Mechanics, Serious Injuries, Hurt/Comfort, Second meeting
Summary: A broken hip and a forged alliance.
Word Count: 920

On AO3