The Sussex Vampire: Reflection

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Canon Story: The Sussex Vampire
Author: godsdaisiechain
Rating: PG
Warning:
Author's Notes: he is fifteen, I understand, and probably very developed in mind, since his body has been circumscribed in action….He rushed forward and threw his arms round his neck with the abandon of a loving girl.

Holmes watched his own reflection in the window.  He rarely pitied anyone, but Jacky worried him.

A year at sea could cure him. Perhaps the boy would learn how a lad should act. Perhaps he wouldn’t return at all. Such things happened.  The boy wasn’t strong, and his manner was odd enough to attract problems. Hopefully, he wouldn’t kill anyone.

Comments

[debriswoman]

This did seem like a bit of a gamble...
Not surprised Holmes is unsettled.

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

I suppose life is a sort of gamble for the men of 221b Baker St, but I did feel unsatisfied with the ending.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I like this analysis - there was never going to be an easy solution to this part of the problem.

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I agree with you. There's no easy way to fix the family situation.

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

A neat sidelight. I like the his own reflection.

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much!

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I suppose in the end, Holmes isn't a psychologist - he's simply there to solve the puzzle. Though he suggests with some confidence sending Jack away to sea, I think this is a bigger problem than he knows what to do with. And it would be unfair to expect Holmes to know what to do. The parents will have to sort that out.

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Too true... of course, it looks like at east one of them contributed toward causing the problem, anyway.

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

I was troubled by the prescription for a "year at sea" as well. Perhaps that's just my modern viewpoint coloring what in Victorian times would have been a perfectly satisfactory solution to the problem, but still...

Great take on Holmes's perspective here!

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I was bothered on behalf of Jacky...clearly not the product of good parenting.

[winryweiss.livejournal.com]

Wonderful job on this one.
Holmes certainly is mystery solver and stories collector, but not a family counsellor. His proposed solution might sound rather harsh at first, but with such explanation as you give, it became more ... human.

[godsdaisiechain.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I don't like to think of Holmes as too, too perfect.