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Where and with whom I read Sherlock fanfics

#cats #sherlock fanfiction #sherlock fanfic

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#cats

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Clues

This is how Sherlock Holmes seduces me, with long fingers and murmured Italian, with midnight violin and inexplicable clues.

May 19: Clues

Note: This one is dedicated to @totallysilvergirl and @keirgreeneyes for their remark: "@calaisreno could make a compelling story out of a drugstore receipt." Well, I tried!

“What do you make of that?” 

The long, thin fingers of Sherlock Holmes dangle before my eyes, holding a slip of paper. 

A clue, I think. 

He drops the paper in my lap and I examine it. A receipt, from the corner shop. Cigarettes, £6.51.

He’s muttering to himself in Italian, dropping pieces of clothing on the furniture and floor. The door to his bedroom closes. 

This is how Sherlock Holmes seduces me, with long fingers and murmured Italian, with midnight violin and inexplicable clues.

Clues. It means something, this piece of paper. It’s always something like that, insignificant to the point where an ordinary man (me) dismisses it, only to see it reappear hours or days later, the key piece of evidence that unravels the mystery. 

I am, unfortunately, ordinary. To me, it’s just a receipt. 

Sometimes Holmes takes my hand in his long, white fingers. He kisses the knuckles, and looks up at me, pale eyes through dark lashes. And he murmurs, alkaline. 

Later, I’ll know what it meant. We’ll be standing around a body, and Holmes will have his pocket lens out, examining the curtains. Lestrade will be impatiently shifting from foot to foot, wondering why he’s let a madman into his crime scene. And Holmes will say, The sole of a shoe is like a passport. And he will explain.

Solutions are for explaining. Clues are not. And explanations are rarely forthcoming when there are still more clues to be found. 

Just once, I’d like to be holding the final clue, to produce it when he’s putting it all together, to hand it to him with a smile. To see his face light up, hear him exclaim, Watson, you’ve done it!

But I am ordinary. 

I hold the paper between my short, ordinary fingers, wondering what it could mean. 

When Holmes comes out of his room, he is wearing a long caftan and a head wrap, and smells of vetiver. “Don’t wait up for me,” he says as he leaves.

Like a soldier at the front, I sleep lightly on the sofa, waiting for the summons. If inconvenient, come all the same. 

It’s never inconvenient; I live for such moments. 

He doesn’t return until the following day, late. This time he’s wearing a flat cap and dungarees.

“Drayman?” I ask.

“Plumber’s assistant.” 

He accepts the tea I make, takes two sips, stares into the void for some minutes, and goes into his room, still holding the cup. 

I know that look. The game will soon be afoot. At a moment’s notice, we’ll be off— running down an alley, cornering our prey. I fall asleep on the sofa, dressed for action. 

When I wake, he is gone again. His bed has not been slept in. I berate myself for sleeping deeply while Sherlock Holmes has been tracking dangerous criminals. 

I have put his dinner plate in the refrigerator, washed the dishes, and looked for clues. His deerstalker hat is on the floor beneath his chair. The remains of a cigarette lie crushed in the ashtray. There are crumbs on the table. A half-drunk cup of tea sits balanced precariously on the mantel. 

The call eventually comes. We jump into the waiting cab and race to the crime scene. 

He’s pacing, humming. My excitement builds. I can see that his mind has almost broken the puzzle. 

It’s the moment, I think. 

I offer it to him, the final clue, the receipt. I have no idea what it means, but I’m sure it’s the missing piece. I’ll hand it to him, and his face will go slack with surprise for a moment, and then he’ll seize the paper and tell us what it means. And his fingers will brush mine, and I’ll know that I have— even if just for a moment— impressed him. 

I hold it out. He stares, reaches out a trembling hand and takes it from me. Our eyes meet. His shine, and strong emotion fills them with tears. 

“You were right, Watson,” he whispers. “You’ve always been right, dear friend.”

I don’t know how, but I have done it. For once, I have handed him the solution to the case. 

“Do you see?” He holds the receipt, his long fingers trembling. “It’s outrageous! Six-fifty for a pack of cigarettes! My God! How can I afford this habit?” He sighs. “You’re right, Watson. I must quit smoking.”

Tagging: @elwinglyre @meetinginsamarra @raina-at @lisbeth-kk. @momma2boys @7-percent @jrow @helloliriels @the-reading-lemon @peanitbear @bertytravelsfar @thetimemoves @copperplatebeech @mydogwatson @thegildedbee

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I'm a sock person too.

Martin casually matching his socks with wardrobe/tie/pocket square color will always be the cutest thing ever ❤️

#Sock Person #martin freeman

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Coming soon...

The Traveller, a time-travel Johnlock story by Calais Reno

The year is 2052. At the request of the Time Ministry, Sherlock Holmes is travelling back to 2009. His mission: to kill James Moriarty, who is responsible for the disaster that the 21st century has become. Though he doesn't know it yet, Sherlock won't be alone. Despite protocols that recommend not becoming involved with 'time locals,' the presence of John Watson is more than he can resist. But the essence of time is change, and the future may not be what Sherlock hopes for.

A meditation on time, change, and love.

Thank you for reblogging!

I know that some people are no longer following Sherlock Holmes fanfiction, and new people have come on board to the fandom. If anyone would like to be tagged /untagged, please let me know!

@keirgreeneyes @totallysilvergirl @raina-at @jrow @sgam76 @discordantwords @thetimemoves @otterpuff11 @momma2boys @sherlockwatson-holmesblog @iamjustreading @missdeliadili @loves-to-read-fanfic @jobooksncoffee @demonicangeling @wssh13 @the-reading-lemon @loveismyrevolution @mydogwatson @bertytravelsfar @arwamachine @7-percent @thegirlfromthesouth @thegildedbee @lhrinchelsea @peanitbear @helloliriels @blogstandbygo @sjamescentre @7arantellgrrl @astudyin221b @masterofhounds @oetkb12 @gaylilsherlock @13monkton @macgyvershe @iris-best-taken-in-small-doses @shiplocks-of-love @meg-the-second-greatest @jazzthecat00

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Five Fics Friday: Oct 7/22

Happy Friday, everyone! Let’s go into the Canadian Long Weekend with five more fics added to my MFL list the last few weeks!! AND please ensure to check out this week’s boosted fics :) Enjoy!!

SIGNAL BOOST

Just A Ghost In Your Mind by writing5ever (G, 2,355 w., 1 Ch. || Post-TRF, Hallucinations, Grieving John) – “You fell.” John says in a lieu of answering. “No, dear John. I jumped.” Sherlock’s voice is soft. John dreams, Sherlock dies. It isn’t how he thought things would go.

RECENT MFLs

Exquisite by SoftTae (E, 4,755 w., 1 Ch. || PWP, One Shot, Inexperienced Sherlock, Coming in Pants, Loud Sex, Virgin Sherlock, Praise Kink, Embarrassed Sherlock, Loss of Virginity, Responsive Sherlock, Anal Sex) – Sherlock and John have been together for a while now, but every time they get start to get intimate, Sherlock pulls away. What happens when Sherlock stays and John finds out his secret?

Against the Wall by Odamaki (M, 6,440 w., 1 Ch. || Mutual Pining, Makeup Sex, Established Relationship, Grumpy John, Passive Aggression, Shower Sex, Hand Jobs, Anal Sex, Safer Sex, PWP, Dirty Phone Sex, Bathroom Sex, Idiots in Love, Condoms, Sherlock Being a Tease) – He has another voicemail message; a long one.John perches on the edge of the bed, presses the button and holds the phone up to his ear. “Good morning, John,” Sherlock says lazily, voice a little hoarse; sleep-rough. ‘Good morning’ indeed; John had heard the time stamp, it had been something like three in the afternoon. He closes his eyes. He can imagine him, legs sprawled carelessly under the covers, one hand idly brushing his hair or scratching the back of his neck, the other on the phone- oh, no, he’s put the phone down. The other hand, then, is-?

A Quiet Life by DiscordantWords (M, 25,176 w., 6 Ch. || Retirement, Family Dynamics, Established Relationship, Minor Character Death, Questionable Parenting Choices, Non-Linear Narrative) – There had been three days of silence and a funeral. Sherlock had the terrible feeling that whatever happened next would depend, entirely, on him.

Blackbird, Fly by Engazed (E, 233,568+ w., 27/? Ch. || Case Fic, Hurt/Comfort, Violence) – It’s been six months since John Watson’s kidnapping and brutal treatment at the hands of Sherlock’s enemies. It’s been six weeks since the demise of the notorious killer the Slash Man. Now Sherlock and John must work together to defeat Moriarty once and for all, in the greatest fight of their lives. Part 3 of The Fallen

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Did Holmes live alone to keep bees after retirement? 😢

Also, what did he mean by "There's an East Wind coming, Watson."?

(P.S.- I've just finished reading'The War Service of Sherlock Holmes and I've got a few questions.)

Hello! My inbox has been glitching lately, so sorry if you asked me this a while ago, I promise, I haven't been ignoring you.

So, it is generally implied that Holmes lived alone during retirement. He was tired of the detective work and wanted to further his studies in nature (and bees, of course), so moved to the countryside. That's the general consensus on what happened, which is sad to think he was all alone.

HOWEVER

I don't believe for one second that Watson would have stayed in the city without him. The canon does state that Watson visited at times, but it also said that his orphaned wife went to visit her parents, so we can't really believe everything. On the topic of wives, it's up for debate how many there were and if there were any at all. I won't get into it now, but I'll simply say: the canon is inaccurate because we're not supposed to put our full faith in it.

So, maybe ACD told us that Watson and Sherlock lived apart, but why would we believe that? Even when Watson was 'married', he was basically living in Baker Street with Sherlock, so there's no real argument to say he didn't also move to the countryside.

To sum it up, yes, canon says Sherlock was alone. But, we don't have to believe that.

To answer your second question, I admit I had to search up what The War Service of Sherlock Holmes is, but Google told me it was just the final story, His Last Bow, which I do know.

To refresh myself and anyone reading, this is the 'east wind' extract.

“There’s an east wind coming, Watson.” “I think not, Holmes. It is very warm.” “Good old Watson! You are the one fixed point in a changing age. There’s an east wind coming all the same, such a wind as never blew on England yet. It will be cold and bitter, Watson, and a good many of us may wither before its blast. But it’s God’s own wind none the less, and a cleaner, better, stronger land will lie in the sunshine when the storm has cleared."

Explicitly, Sherlock is referencing World War One, in which (and I'm not going to go into detail, because I know far too much about both World Wars) Germany and England fought against each other. Germany is to the East of England, so the 'east wind' is the German invasion the English were expecting.

However, there is a lot more to the 'east wind' metaphor.

When ACD was growing up in the god-fearing Victorian England, there was a lot of religious imagery involved in stories. In the Bible, the east wind was used as a metaphor for the destruction of the wicked by God. In a way, ACD is implying that the Germans will destroy England, or that they want to. It isn't the best inference, as this also means ACD thought the English were the wicked and the Germans were sent by God, and I don't think English censorship would let him publish that.

To look at it on a surface level, we can just say that ACD was talking about solely the war, nothing else. Sherlock is talking about how some may die in the war, some will survive, and a new land will be born, the same as any British propaganda. To be like me and overthink things far too much, there's a more interesting side to it.

If we are viewing this as a Johnlock reading, it has nothing to do with WWI. In this reading, anything ACD states in the canon is not generally taken as the truth (like Sherlock living alone when he retired), and could imply something else about Sherlock and Watson's relationship. This may not be true, but it's nicer to think of it this way, since it makes more sense and is generally more enjoyable.

Sherlock says to Watson 'You are the one fixed point in a changing age.' This changing age could just be the war, but it might be about homosexuality becoming legalised. WOAH I know big jump, what am I talking about, crazy, yes, but.

If the 'east wind' references God destroying the evil, and God is generally used as a symbol against homosexuality (which is NOT true, since homosexuality and Christianity have nothing to do with each other), and Sherlock and Watson were two gay men living in a homophobic world, does it not make a bit of sense that Sherlock could be talking about this?

It's very difficult to explain, and I'm sure I'm not the only person to say this before (if you know who did, please tell me so I can give credit), but I'm going to rewrite the speech before as what I think Sherlock is trying to say (quick warning, the dialogue is badly written and cringy, but I don't know how else to explain it).

"They might criminalise homosexuality more severely, Watson."

"I don't think so, it's been easy to hide so far."

"Watson, you've always been the same, you'll never change who you are even when the world is trying to make you. The world is still going to change, unlike any change before. It will be difficult, and some of us may give up before change happens, or be hurt in some other way. But, that's what they're saying God wants, and that a new country will be made."

When Sherlock talks about the new land, he's not stating if it will be more excepting or more homophobic, but he obviously wants it to be more excepting (everyone does). Also, when he says "in the sunshine when the storm has cleared." he is leaning towards homophobia being reduced (homophobia is the storm, which will clear).

So, that's my very out there and quite extreme reading on the 'east wind' metaphor. The first one is what most people believe, but the Johnlock reading is (in my opinion) plausible as well.

Thank you for asking, and I hope I haven't rambled on for too long!

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@giftober 2022 | Day 7: One Color.

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john 👏 watson 👏 deserves 👏 nuance 👏

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honestly tjlc ASIDE this show is just such a master class in subtlety and misdirection…sherlock is undeniably soft from the beginning, physically affectionate with hudders, taking care to make sure john eats, giving john money outright, leaves john out or removes john from the flat when there is a potential danger, he’s so gentle with sarah during the rescue, actually he’s pretty nice to sarah overall, his whole job is about helping people, and yet with a dramatic silhouette, a few fast-paced deductions, and a line about a high-functioning sociopath, hundreds of thousands of viewers, even people who consider themselves fans, fall for this ridiculous persona, for the mask sherlock wears to hide his vulnerability, even though we are shown what’s underneath it. people’s eyes just skim right over him, or over john, or over irene adler, or over mary, it’s just. the ability of the show to misdirect the vast majority of its audience and allow the characters to maintain their vulnerability even while showing them the cracks is absolutely stunning. 

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There’s no way I’m finishing this painting for today and I’m not sure when I’ll be able to complete it

Here is a small preview of how it’s going, I don’t want to show more until it’s completely done and I don’t want to rush anything. Plus I’m enjoying the process a lot :)

The delay will be worth it! <3

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APRICOT CLAFOUTIS

Follow for recipes

Is this how you roll?

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I like to look back to the days when the fandom was bringing in writers of amazing skill who were bouncing off the first two broadcast series, so here are two: 

At the Heart of it All by SilentAuror

(Words:  19,823 Chapters: 1/1, E)  John has been back at Baker Street for four months now and thinks it’s about time they had the Talk to see whether or not they could be more than friends. Sherlock has a lot of uncertainty about this concept for multiple reasons. Unabashed romance.

First published in 2014, a fandom classic. If you have not read it, you should join the 52000 plus who have.

Will-O’-the-Wisp by Basser

(Words: 2,287 Chapters: 1/1, T)  As he left the reception solitude seemed to settle over him like an old, familiar blanket.

Also published in 2014, this is a good short intro to Basser, a brilliant (IMHO) writer who started writing in 2012 and stopped writing in the fandom by 2015, yet still produced amazingly good fics, both long and short. I love his ten stories in the Can’t Rewind series.

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Mary’s Death

I love Mary and I miss Mary, and I don’t love the fact that she was arguably fridged (though I can’t say I’m surprised they killed her off). 

One thing I do appreciate about Mary’s death is that she took a bullet for Sherlock, not John or Rosie. That would have been the more typical choice – mothers are expected to sacrifice themselves for their husbands or children. A woman sacrificing herself for a dear friend… I think that’s a very different narrative. A more unusual and interesting one.

In fact, we’d expect a fictional woman’s calculus in that situation to be “well, I care about Sherlock but I have to stay alive for my baby.” That Mary in some sense chose Sherlock over her baby… there’s something uncomfortable about that, but it’s also interesting and different and I appreciate that.

I like the angle that a platonic relationship (queerplatonic?) can be just as important as a romantic or genetic tie.

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Now Complete! Chapter 6 and 7 posted; read HERE.

Chapter 6: I.O.U. Moriarty pays a visit to 221B, drops some hints. John is given an impossible choice.

Chapter 7: And After. A second chance.

Author note: “And it was all a dream” endings can’t help but be cheesy and cliche. Forgive me. This hasn’t been a dream, but “it was all a parallel reality” isn’t much better. That’s where we are, though. If you’ve read the other two stories in the series, you expected this. Somewhere, in a parallel reality, I’m writing a much better ending. 

Thank you for reading and reblogging!

There may eventually be more in this series, but for now I am off to write some fluff. For the rest of this month, I will only post non-angsty stories. Welcome to Flufftember!

@totallysilvergirl @keirgreeneyes @peanitbear @demonicangeling @otterpuff11 @sjamescentre @masterofhounds @oetkb12 @astudyin221b @88thparallel @7arantellgrrl @discordantwords @iamjustreading @missdeliadili @chinike @jobooksncoffee @thetimemoves @shiplocks-of-love @sarahthecoat @wssh13 @sherlockwatson-holmesblog @the-reading-lemon @thegirlfromthesouth @macgyvershe @jazzthecat00 @raina-at @bertytravelsfar @lhrinchelsea @meg-the-second-greatest @helloliriels @a-different-equation @arwamachine

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Italian almond cookies (soft amaretti or amaretti morbidi)

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Offset, Chapter 2: Seventeen Years

Read it HERE!

Summary: John reflects on his new situation; Sherlock investigates the murder of Carl Powers.

"Maybe it’s some sort of sign that John has found the voice, and it belongs to a detective, a stroppy, unpleasant man who asks rude questions and solves puzzles that are mysteries to other people."

Thank you for reading / reblogging!

@astudyin221b @88thparallel @otterpuff11 @loves-to-read-fanfic @sjamescentre @jrow @thetimemoves @shiplocks-of-love @keirgreeneyes @totallysilvergirl @discordantwords @missdeliadili @helloliriels @junkenmetel @chinike @iamjustreading @jobooksncoffee @demonicangeling @the-reading-lemon @bertytravelsfar @thegirlfromthesouth @macgyvershe @raina-at @sussexinchelsea @meg-the-second-greatest @wssh13 @7-percent @peanitbear @blogstandbygo @sherlockwatson-holmesblog