The Gloria Scott: Father Figure

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: GLOR

Title: Father Figure

Author: sabrinaphynn

Rating: G

Warnings: none

My Victor brought home that spring a most unusual companion in Holmes.  The young man seemed starved of praise as well of nourishment.  He latched onto my off-hand assessment, a comment startled out me by surprise, like water to a parched traveller.     Far beyond this world now, I watch, proud as any father to have guided him towards success.

Author's Notes: I've wondered why Holmes would think to take Mr Trevor's comment to heart.  We do not know much about Holmes' father, but we might guess that he was not terribly supportive of his youngest son's meandering studies, and Holmes might be inclined to listen to an elder mentor who responded favorably to him.

Comments

[hardboiledbaby]

Oh, interesting perspective! Nicely done, thanks for sharing :)

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

Thanks.
:) feels good to be writing again, even just these tiny stories within stories.

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Ah, there's an insight...nice, very nice!

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Poor Holmes, so starved for praise. I often wonder what might have happened should Mr. Trevor had NOT made his off-hand suggestion.
:) feels good to be writing again, even just these tiny stories within stories.

[debriswoman]

Nicely done:-) A positive view of the encounter is always welcome:-)

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

Thanks.
Holmes will always think fondly of the person who set him on his path, even if it did not turn out well. It also may have influenced his decisions in the far future to let a criminal go rather than just delivering him/her/they up to the police and stringent law.

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Insightful. I like it! Could explain why Holmes never thought his talents could be used for a career before. Glad you shared!

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, growing up a Holmes, with Mycroft being better at induction/reasoning/ deduction/ inference he may not have realized that these talents were at all unique and also felt inadequate.

I also see taking this career path as a kind of rebelling against his parent's wishes for his future.

Thanks for commenting! It is good to be writing again, even little fics within a story.

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Well, glad you're writing again. Few or many words -- doesn't really matter. Enjoy your insights! Look forward to what you have to say about MUSG :-)

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

Thanks. We shall see what springs to mind as I review my anthology. :)

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

I like this idea, it's full of forgiveness and logical appreciation.

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

Thank you, I appreciate the comment.
I doubt, prior to telling Watson about this, Holmes has thought much about his former friend and his father. I do think, however, that he would never fail to give credit where credit is due- it really had never occured to him to use his skills in the manner that Trevor Senior suggested. That statement suprised him and he made note of it. As for forgivness.... well, Trevor Senior now has the perspective of the Great Beyond, and has come to terms with all that he did with his life.

60 for 60, week 1: The Gloria Scott

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User spacemutineer referenced to your post from 60 for 60, week 1: The Gloria Scott (http://dispatch-box.livejournal.com/192530.html) saying: [...] by Father Figure [...]

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

This is so touching in a way -- a loving father is happy to have helped a young man on his way through life, even from the great beyond. I love this take on the story. Very unexpected, but so apt.

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

Thanks. (My Blushes!!!)
I don't think Sherlock Holmes as the second son (or third son, depending on if you take Baring-Gould's word) got much attention from his father at all except when he defied orders. I suspect the closest thing to praise he might have heard is "you did not dissapoint me as much as ususal." Besides, he would constantly be compared to Mycroft who by canon is more clever, but not as energetic.

Mr. Trevor senior, as a loving and doting father, may have sensed the hurt and guessed the cause. In his kindness, he provided the crucial spark of admiration and perspective at just the right time - before life and the Holmes family completely had crushed all the fight and spirit out of Sherlock. Trevor Senior may not have always been a good man, but he tried to make up for his early wrongdoing by his later actions
Also, for some reason, the more I considered this story, the more I thought of that old chestnut from Julius Caesar:
"The evil that men do lives afer them;
The good is oft interred with their bones; "
... and I wanted to point out that sometimes, rarely, the good does live on.

I doubt that Victor felt the same way, hense the no longer being friends with Holmes, but I think his father had more perspective.

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User dancy_dreamer referenced to your post from Wednesday, August 22nd, 2012 (http://holmesian-news.livejournal.com/230470.html) saying: [...] by (Moriarty/Moran | NC-17 | Ritchie) Drabbles, Ficlets & 221Bs Father Figure [...]

[snycock.livejournal.com]

Oh, interesting! I always tend to think of Holmes' father as an intellectual who approved, at least, of his son's intelligence, if not, perhaps, his work, but this brings up a fascinating string of supposition about what if that was not the case...

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

Alas, I got the impression that Sherlock always came second. Which makes him rather insufferable at times since he is constantly trying to show how clever he can be. :D
PS I always thought of Holmes mother as the intellectual. ;-)

[musamihi.livejournal.com]

All the more sad to see what a good man Mr. Trevor might have tried to be - Holmes could have benefited from someone with a big heart, I think. Really sweet.

[sabrinaphynn.livejournal.com]

I think that Trevor senior really did his best to turn over a new leaf and do right from his ill- gotten gains. It caught up with him in the end though, unfortunately.