A Study in Scarlet: The First of Many

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: A Study in Scarlet
Title: The First of Many
Author: impulsereader

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Our first deduction concluded with my explaining my profession in full. Watson could not be blamed, of course. Despite the many clues I had left lying about our rooms and dangling over dinner, deducing that a man is the world’s only anything is hardly child’s play. He chose to observe rather than inquire, that was the crux of the matter.

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Comments

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

Poor Holmes, but yay us - I do want to see things "dangling over dinner", or into it, if you're feeling especially kind to me. ;P

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

I'm giggling madly now and I'm not even sure why - are you asking me for dinner-based smut or is my mind just in the gutter this afternoon for some reason?

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

WHUT?? *rofl* Nope, the dirtiest thing I thought of was socks right there, but then, you have a point. XD

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Incredibly, Watson didn't even bat an eye when I faux-absently set the aluminium crutch on the table. As we ate, I nudged it enough that it sent the saltshaker tumbling to the ground, but he simply picked it up and tossed a few grains over his shoulder.

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

Bwahahaha, I'm so sorry - my mind is half-stuck in classic comedy tonight (that's the usual state, nevermind), seeing plates and peas sailing through the air, the rest of it is captivated by its new Doctor Who obsession, wondering which alien just got killed by viciously aimed salt... one doctor, another Doctor, will Sherlock notice the difference?

There went my sanity. Anyway, thanks a lot for the extra bit of entertainment! ;)

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

I was then unfortunately distracted from my case by the explosion of some sort of alien creature which apparently had been invisibly haunting our new rooms. Watson's well-aimed toss had succeeded in not only making it visible but painting our ceiling with its innards.

He is the most fascinating of men.

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

Mrs Hudson, however, would not quite join our shared enthusiasm once it turned out that neither vinegar nor lemon acid would remove the bright blue stain on the wallpaper. I got going in the lab immediately. What fun this evening had turned into! And people said I didn't do well with flatmates.

Comment Mrs Hudson:
The acids may not have worked, but that remarkably expensive bottle of whiskey from your collection did, thank you very much.

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Luckily, Holmes spilled the salt just when the alien was in position, and then proceeded to attribute its slaying to that mineral. As usual, I was able to leave the clean-up to others.

[debriswoman]

Enjoyed the picture this conjured up, and the ensuing mad conversation above:-)

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Thank you very kindly. I find I am always open to a little mad conversation. :-)

[debriswoman]

Delighted to hear it:-)

[bwblack.livejournal.com]

I sort of love your pointing out the part where Watson never asked. Such a strange thing. A different time, I suppose.

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

I suspect a dual purpose for his not actually coming out and asking. He does sort of have a go at figuring it out, that's why he makes the list of things Holmes does and does not know - Holmes said that he only holds on to knowledge that's useful, so if Watson can discern the theme, he can decide what Holmes might do with that knowledge. I think too, though, that it just sort of suited ACD's purpose because he wanted the reader to wonder along with Watson, "What is this guy doing? What's with all these weird visitors for whom I have to vacate the sitting room?"

[methylviolet10b]

I like the spin you put on Watson's reticence, and what Holmes might make of it.

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I like to think Watson was working it out. :-)

Sunday, 2 September 2012

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User thisprettywren referenced to your post from Sunday, 2 September 2012 (http://holmesian-news.livejournal.com/233352.html) saying: [...] by (Holmes, Watson | G | ACD) The First of Many [...]

[castiron.livejournal.com]

Yes, I can definitely see how that would catch Holmes's interest! Nice!

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It sure caught my interest. And Holmes was so clearly teasing!

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

This is great. First the bit about "the world's only anything", which is just a perfect little touch, and then

He chose to observe rather than inquire

Such a well-observed point. It's precisely why Holmes comes to want the doctor at his side. Watson is a reliable companion who won't bother him with needless questions. He'll take answers when Holmes is willing to give them, and is content to wait in the meantime. That's a very rare trait, and Holmes is particularly lucky to have a companion like John Watson.

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you liked it.

They're really so well suited to each other, and this sequence where they feel each other out and begin to discover that is fantastic.

[snycock.livejournal.com]

Oh, interesting thoughts by Holmes. Especially since he tells Watson that he "sees but does not observe"; here he notices how he observes rather than inquires.

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Watson really was having a go at figuring it out on his own; or at least, that's how I read it. That's why he made the list. Holmes said that he only holds on to knowledge which is useful to him. So if Watson can make a list of things which Holmes knows, he can possibly see the pattern of what is useful and then decide what he does for a living. If that isn't observing and deducing, I don't know what is!

[azriona.livejournal.com]

The last line is the best, and most important, I think: that Holmes recognizes a kindred soul in Watson, of a sort, in that Watson takes note of things, rather than talks around them.

60 for 60, week 3: A Study in Scarlet

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User spacemutineer referenced to your post from 60 for 60, week 3: A Study in Scarlet (http://dispatch-box.livejournal.com/196384.html) saying: [...] by The First of Many [...]

[musamihi.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love the last line. They have such a connection, even if it doesn't jump out at everyone.