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?

Comments

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Oh, beautifully done Holmes here. It's so very nice to see him considering both sides of the coin of friendship.

Wonderful.

[methylviolet10b]

Thank you! I've always thought that Holmes had to have seen the developing relationship between Watson and Mary, and wondered what he thought about it.

[spacemutineer.livejournal.com]

As always, I dig getting to see two versions of the same story. The bare-bones version has a different tone than the first; the worry at its center is much more ambiguous. It's an interesting contrast with the extended version. Thanks for posting both!

[methylviolet10b]

Hey, thank you for indulging me and letting me post both! :-) And I'm glad you liked both versions. I really did try to play with the possibilities inherent with Holmes observing developments between Watson and Mary, and applying his own variety of logic to the problem. ;-)