Canon Discussion Post: The Sign of the Four, Chapters 7-12

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

It's canon discussion time, everybody! What did you think about the conclusion of The Sign of the Four, Chapters 7-12? As always, I've written up a few of my own random thoughts and questions, which are behind the jump. Add your own in the comments!

Granada TV adaptation discussion is available in the Granada discussion post.

( Onward to canon talk - The Sign of the Four, Ch. 7-12 )

Granada Discussion Post: The Sign of Four

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Let's talk telly in the discussion post for Granada's movie-length adaptation of The Sign of Four. If you haven't seen this episode yet, you can find it at YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Video, and DVD. Follow me behind the jump for some of my random thoughts and impressions. Please add your own in the comments!

Canon discussion is available in the canon discussion post.

( Onward to Granada talk - The Sign of Four )

The Sign of the Four, Parts I & II: Service / Normal

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Sign of the Four, Chapters 1-6
Title: Service
Author: spacemutineer
Rating: G
Author's Note: Very slowly catching up. Feel like I'm trying to restart my fiction motor like I'm restarting a lawnmower, tugging with all my might at the cord, hoping this is the time it will finally kick over and start roaring back to life.

"Don't go," I told him. "I should prefer that you remain."

This, after our contretemps about intelligence, chemistry, and survival in the stultifying everyday, was not enough to keep him. Only the protests of our new client prevented his flight.

He was willing to be of "inestimable service" to a beautiful woman, but he would not consider it for me.

---

Canon Story: The Sign of the Four, Chapters 7-12
Title: Normal
Author: spacemutineer
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Drug use

With every injection, he tried to block out the suffocating boredom of the world around him. That so-called normal world where people fall in love and marry, where doctors practice medicine and not sharpshooting. Where the greatest danger of one's evening is usually being late for dinner and is never poisoned blow darts.

Seven percent had never seemed so low.

The Sign of Four (part 2): Toby & The 'Wiper' of No 3 Pinchin Lane

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Sing of Four (part 2)
Title: Toby (part of The Ocelot Tales)
Author: thesmallhobbit
Rating: G

I may not be the most attractive of dogs, but Mr Holmes values me highly.  You see, we think in the same way; give me a trail to follow and I will stick at it to the end.  Sometimes I need to cast around to find the way forward, but once back on the track I do not give up.

Canon Story: The Sing of Four (part 1)
Title: The 'Wiper of No 3 Pinchin Lane (part of The Ocelot Tales)
Author: thesmallhobbit
Rating: G

We’ve seen Mr Holmes here a number of times.  Of course, Toby is his favourite, but he has been known to borrow the other dogs too.  And there was the occasion when he took the stoat; goodness know why, but Mr Holmes was extremely pleased when he brought it back and the stoat had a happy smile on its face.

The Sign of the Four II: Value

[hisietari.livejournal.com]

Canon story: The Sign of the Four, chapters 7-12
Title: Value
Author: hisietari
Rating: G
Author's Note: Inspired by this week's discussion post.


“How do you like my new abode, sister dear?”
Mercy positively purred while she walked Jane down the corridor to the drawing room.
“That’s a nice winter garden. I like the colourful glass pieces you decorated the flowerpots with.”
Mercy smiled humbly.
“Thank you. The idea came to me one winter morning, strolling down the banks of good old Thames.”

The Sign of the Four (Part Two): Fortune

[chess-ka.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: SIGN
Title: Fortune
Author: Chess Ka
Rating: G
A/.N: Mary again!

I tightened my hands together as the chest was opened. What would I do with such riches? It could not bring me friendship, or joy, or family. It would be an empty fortune. It was a selfish and unhappy thought, that what was in that box could drive away the golden-hearted man who had chanced to fall into my life.

The Sign of Four: According to His Lights

[methylviolet10b]

Author: methylviolet10b
Rating: PG
Character(s): Sherlock Holmes, Dr. John Watson, Miss Mary Morstan
Summary: Holmes considers the evidence, and ponders his next moves.
Warnings: Spoilers for SIGN.
Word Count: 60, plus an extended-play version.
Author's Notes: 60 words of my own inspired by one of the canon stories.
Disclaimer: I don't own them.

SIGN, Part 2: According to His Lights

No, Toby was not to blame. Nor was Watson; he slowed our progress, but it did not affect the case.

I had ample time to reflect as I played him into slumber. I knew that Miss Morstan had ambitions to take on my friend’s care, as Watson had taken on her cause.

Dare I entrust my Watson’s care to her?

Extended-play version (200 words):

No, Toby was not to blame. Nor was Watson, who valiantly attempted to conceal his flagging energies and increasing pain as we followed Toby to the wharf. He slowed us, but it did not affect the case.

It did, however, affect me, and even more so when I saw him struggling to stay awake. I had ample time to reflect on this as I played him into slumber. I knew –who better? – that I was at best an erratic companion, often neglecting my own health, not to mention his. I saw – how could I not? – that Miss Morstan had ambitions to take on my friend’s care, as Watson had taken on her cause. He was already in love with her, and though I had observed her less, and women were in any case largely inscrutable, I was fairly certain that my friend’s kindness and virtues had won her affections.

Dare I entrust my Watson’s care to her? She would certainly have far more care for him. And he was a man who deserved every care, every consideration, ever comfort that life could offer.

Could I give him up to matrimony? Could I not, and still call myself truly his friend?

The Sign of Four Parts 1 & 2: Past, Desperation & Speech

[trillsabells.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Sign of Four
Title: Past, Desperation & Speech
Author: trillsabells
Rating: G


Many years later, as he read the escapades of his younger self, he always found himself shouting into the pages,

“Don’t take the case, you fool!”

For no exercise of the highest intellectual pleasure was worth the price that case cost him. He should have thrown Miss Mary Morstan bodily from their chambers as soon as she crossed the threshold.

~

They had to catch up, they simply had to. The thoughts of what would happen if they couldn’t capture Small, if they couldn’t retrieve the treasure, if they couldn’t make Mary Morstan a rich and unobtainable woman, were simply too painful to be borne. Somehow there had to be a way to make this boat go faster. They had to.

~

While most men would have been delighted to discover their beloved was not only beautiful but came attached to a fortune, naturally Watson was the very opposite. Never have I seen a man so exalted to see an empty treasure box but empty it was and so here we are. A toast then, to the honourable Dr and Mrs Watson!