A Study in Scarlet: The Purpose of John Watson

[vaysh]

Canon Story: A Study in Scarlet
Title: The Purpose of John Watson
Author: vaysh
Rating: G
Words: 60
Author's Notes: Sherlock Holmes, when asked by his brother why he was keeping John Watson around (approx. 1883):


'He does not clutter my brain with useless things. He tried, in our beginnings, babbling about planets circling suns and that it was important I knew a man named Disraeli. He fancies himself my chronicler, I suppose. But he serves a different purpose when occasionally he'll interrupt my train of thought, and more times than not it's just as well.'

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Excellent description of why Holmes liked having Watson around.

[vaysh]

Thank you. I do tend to think that later on Holmes came to realise (even when he only very rarely admitted to it) that he needed Watson as a friend as much as a person to bounce his ideas off.

[debriswoman]

Neatly put:-)

[vaysh]

Thank you! :)

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Thanks for this most enjoyable eavesdrop. You give us a first rate Holmes voice. The ending is very thoughtful, of both you and Holmes.

[vaysh]

Aw, thank you so much. I have tried to give Holmes a voice that is a bit different than the usual first person narrator Watson.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

It's an entirely relevant title ^^ Watson doesn't seem to have an active purpose in STUD ^_^

That last phrase "more times than not it's just as well" makes me think. I suppose Holmes is referring to Watson being a conductor of light. But I also wonder if it's a reference to Watson interrupting a train of negative thoughts when Holmes is between cases and drawn to the cocaine bottle.

[vaysh]

The initial descriptions of Watson are quite different than how he later portrays himself, aren't they? I am pleased you find the title suitable.

The final line is my rephrasing of what Holmes says in STUD: "You broke the thread of my thoughts; but perhaps it is as well." I took it as an example of Holmes' rare admission that his threads of thoughts are not always leading not much and may as well be interrupted. I do hope that Watson can fulfil this purpose, too, when Holmes' thoughts run into depression.

[marta-bee.livejournal.com]

I love the slightly begrudging but honest and appreciative tone to all of this. Nicely done.

[vaysh]

Thank you. Begrudgingly but appreciative is totally what I was going for. :)