The Illustrious Client: Aftereffect

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Title: The Illustrious Client: Aftereffect
Author: gardnerhill               
Word Count: 60
Rating: G
Warning: Awwwww.
Summary: Holmes is not the only one bearing the marks of the Violet de Merville case.
                                                                                       
***

“Han Dynasty. Song… Tang.”

I open my eyes at the mutters from the couch beside mine.

“Xing porcelain… Heibei Province… for Emperor Kangxi.”

Whilst I’d soaked my bruises, the masseur’s hands have relaxed Watson into deep sleep.

“Celadon. Silk Road… Fukien.”

Tenderly I draw him close. I, too, am here to be used.

“Lian-Hua,” he murmurs against my mouth, awaking.

***

After Note: “Lian-Hua,” the word for “Lotus,” a symbol of purity in China, is made of characters and sounds that can also mean to bind, unite in marriage, and love.

Comments

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Beautiful! And about the Turkish bath! Lovely! Perfect for Valentine's day.

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Thanks. It hadn't even dawned on me that it was Valentine's Day - I'm just a big old romantic where these two are concerned.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I love that double meaning of “Lian-Hua” - once you know that, it gives your last line such a moving feeling. I also love Tenderly I draw him close. I, too, am here to be used. It's a touching reversal of Watson's statement.

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

They are a team, and they look out for each other.

When I was doing my quickie-Wiki research on Chinese ceramics (if only Watson had had the Internet!) I found the info on the word *lian-hua* (lotus). Lovely, romantic, and even sounds soft in the mouth. Couldn't resist.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Lovely take on that part of the story.

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I reckoned they'd both return to the Turkish bath to recuperate after their harrowing case.

[debriswoman]

Nicely done:-)

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I imagine Watson will be muttering in his sleep about porcelain for a while after this case.