Twisted Lip: Silence; Five Pips: Coping Mechanisms; Identity: The Plan

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Canon: The Man with the Twisted Lip (TWIS)
Title: Silence
Author: ennui_enigma
POV: Watson
A/N: Catching up this week.

Isa Whitney was a pitiable sight when I rescued him from the opium den. Holmes appeared worse. Despite his assurance that he’d not  ‘added opium-smoking to cocaine’ I worried.

While I sat silent in the dogcart pondering my friend’s actions, he remarked, ‘you have a grand gift of silence’. Yes, when matters like his ‘little weaknesses’ weigh upon my thoughts.
  ~o~  

Canon: The Five Orange Pips (FIVE)
Title: Coping Mechanisms
POV: Sherlock
A/N: Triggered in part by Chess Ka’s thoughtful contribution last week called, “Guilt”.

Young Openshaw is dead. He has been killed by a remorseless gang of murderers that may or may not be avenged. They have simply disappeared at sea.

It’s at such times that I wish I were the unfeeling, thinking machine my chronicler sometimes portrays. If only I could write and purge myself of these dark thoughts like my friend, Watson.

~o~

Canon: A Case of Identity (IDEN)
Title: The Plan
POV: Mr. and Mrs. Windibank
A/N:  A connection between the St. Claire family and the Windibanks?

“My angel, did you hear the news about Mrs. St. Claire’s husband? Terrible! Dressing up like a tramp. His wife didn’t recognize him. Imagine!”

“Ah ha! Wife you are a genius! Now listen to my plan… It’s for the best. Trust me. She’ll never know. If Mr. St. Claire could deceive his own wife, surely a stepfather can his daughter.”

Comments

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

Wah, so much goodness at once! =3

It doesn't take any real drugs to overwork an already strained body, aye? Watson probably knew best, being a doctor and veteran.

I like this counterargument to Watson's writings. Watson always appears the emotional, and he loves to display Holmes as his opposite, but I think that's not a realistic outlook. I think Watson can deal with these emotions quickly because he lives them according to standard, and then moves on. Holmes, if touched, gets hit rather deeply, and it takes him much longer to recover, partly because he might be unable to talk about it.

Ugh, that last one is sinister indeed! One case inspiring the other, and in such ways.

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Watson always strikes me as a bit more practical, less high strung, kinda guy. Perhaps his writing helps him keep perspective on life. Or maybe it's his training as a doctor and his experiences on the battlefield?
I agree that when Holmes is touched by emotion it goes deep, which may explain why he often tries to keep himself distant and detached.

Yep, third is rather sinister, huh? Just a random connection that came to me ;-)

[chess-ka.livejournal.com]

I always imagined that Watson must have suspected some other motivation for Holmes being in an opium den. That's a nice moment to capture :)

I'm touched that my contribution helped to spark this! Holmes is certainly not the unfeeling machine that he is so often shown as, and I think FIVE is one of the greatest examples of that. It's interesting that he feels Watson has a release where he does not.

Love the idea of a connection between the two stories, and that Mr Windibank was inspired by it. Nice!

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Yes, it was fun to read everyone's take on TWIS and FIVE after reading the canons and then writing my ficlet. Does help trigger some alternative viewpoints.

Yes, I agree, Holmes is not the unfeeling machine that he is often portrayed as - maybe he just doesn't outwardly express his emotions - especially the more painful, intimate ones?

[chess-ka.livejournal.com]

I certainly think that Holmes tries to protect himself by keeping his emotions as close and as secret as possible.

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of someone who has loved deeply and been hurt deeply - now afraid to form close relationships again...or something like that :-)

[debriswoman]

Ooh! Three to read! You are spoiling us:-)

TWIS-that seems quite possible. Interesting to suggest that Holmes' interpretation may not be correct. We tend to assume he is correct.

FIVE-plenty of reason for remorse and sorrow here.

IDEN-an inspired and entertaining connection to make:-) Well done:-)

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Finally had a chance to think about these three stories after so much travel. FIVE is stil one of the saddest stories.

[debriswoman]

Yes, it is more an observation of a tragedy than a case to be solved:-)

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Quite true!

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I do like the idea that Windibank took the idea from another of Holmes' cases.

[ennui-enigma.livejournal.com]

Yea, you never know...of course, then Watson's accounts of his friend's adventures in the Strand could also inspire the criminal mind too :-)

60 words for 60 cases, week 12: A Case of Identity

[livejournal.livejournal.com]

User spacemutineer referenced to your post from 60 words for 60 cases, week 12: A Case of Identity (http://dispatch-box.livejournal.com/202624.html) saying: [...] going for the week as well and many wonderful entries already. Come join us! The Plan [...]