#I know it was just Holmes’ birthday but I’m on a watson kick right now

[moroniccats]

Once again asking people to rifle through canon and find me their favorite quotes of:

Dr John H. Watson being an absolute bisexual disaster

Literally there is no helping this man. You KNOW he’s hopeless when he says shit like “As I looked at his dark and expressive face I felt more than ever how true a descendant he was of that long line of high-blooded, fiery and masterful men. There were pride, valor, and strength in his thick brows, his sensitive nostrils, and his large hazel eyes…” He has known this man for less than two days, and he’s already like ‘yeah, I’d die for you.’

Less popular but no less ridiculous are his…intense…descriptions of Mr and Mrs Trelawny Hope: “Dark, clear-cut, and elegant, hardly yet of middle age, and endowed with every beauty of body and of mind…”

“A moment later our modest apartment…was further honored by the entrance of the most lovely woman in London…no description of it, and no contemplation of colourless photographs, had prepared me for the subtle, delicate charm and the beautiful coloring of that exquisite head.”

“His handsome face was distorted with a spasm of despair…for a moment we caught a glimpse of the natural man, impulsive, ardent, keenly sensitive.”

“It was a queenly presence - tall, graceful, and intensely womanly.”

Every person he meets is the hottest person he’s ever met. Everyone is sexy to him and he makes it our problem. We love him for it.

[chriscalledmesweetie]

I posted 1,674 times in 2021

25 posts created (1%)

1649 posts reblogged (99%)

For every post I created, I reblogged 66.0 posts.

I added 249 tags in 2021

#my fic - 40 posts

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Longest Tag: 41 characters

#children's classics with a johnlock twist

My Top Posts in 2021

#5

1500 Follower Give-Away

Wahoo! In gratitude for reaching this milestone, I'm giving away a ficlet or filk to one lucky winner.

Simply reblog and/or reply to this post with the title of a children's story or song you'd like me to rewrite.

To see what I've already done, you can check out my Children's Classics with a Johnlock Twist and The Ballads of John and Sherlock.

87 notes • Posted 2021-07-18 20:35:06 GMT

#4

Pridelocked Ficlets by ChrisCalledMeSweetie

A series inspired by the amazing artwork created for @ohlooktheresabee​’s Pridelocked 2021 Collection

Do You Want to Know a Secret?

John has a secret. Does Greg want to know?

The Hike-n-Talk Fall

Sherlock is falling for John. Quite literally.

Paint Your Palette Lavender

Sherlock has an epiphany.

Giving Us Lift

How will John entertain Rosie while Sherlock is out on a case?

X Marks the Spots

After Mrs. Hudson accidentally gives Sherlock and John a pan of brownies enhanced with her herbal soothers, the boys engage in some pirate role play.

Well I'm Not NOW!

When Sherlock goes undercover in a drug den, John will go to any lengths to get him out. In the process, he'll discover a very interesting length, indeed...

The Value of Deductions

If Sherlock had a gold coin for each of his deductions, would it be a blessing? Or a curse?

88 notes • Posted 2021-06-30 16:35:43 GMT

#3

post seven sentences from your current wip and then tag seven others

Thanks for the tag, @weneedtotalkaboutfic

Here are 7 sentences from The Brilliant New Newlywed Game — a Sherlock/Good Omens/Cabin Pressure crossover fic I started working on ages ago. I hope this will be the kick in the pants I need to get around to finishing and posting it.

Arthur: We have three newlywed couples with us tonight. First, there’s Sherlock and John. You might think it will be hard to remember which one is which, since they’re both men, but don’t worry — I came up with a trick to help you. Just think about the beginnings of their names. Sherlock and short both start with SH, so it’s easy to remember that the short one is Sherlock.

John: I’m John, actually.

Arthur: Oh, that’s right — because John and jumper both start with J, so the one wearing a jumper is John.

I'm tagging @sherlockedcarmilla, @iwantthatbelstaffanditsoccupant, @elwinglyre, @helloliriels, @imnova @shelleysprometheus, and @you! Yes YOU! Please share. 😊

119 notes • Posted 2021-08-18 00:42:06 GMT

#2

Mrs. Hudson Tribute Episode

In a comment on The Three Holmes-Watson's Gruff, PatPrecieux suggested that in response to Una Stubb's passing, she would like BBC Sherlock to do "a tribute special like TAB to honour this lady who really was the heart of the show."

I concurred, and here's what I came up with:

It starts with Sherlock and John, retired in Sussex. Rosie and her wife have just arrived with their son, Harry, to celebrate his second birthday. This leads to bittersweet memories of Rosie's second birthday.

We have a series of flashbacks to party preparations in 221B, then guests arriving - Molly, Lestrade, Mycroft - with lots of presents. They wonder why Mrs. Hudson is late, and eventually John goes down to check on her. He comes back up ten minutes later with one of those patented Martin Freeman "I can do it with a look" expressions that tells the whole story. Mrs. Hudson died of a brain aneurysm in her sleep.

Next, we have the heart-wrenching and heart-warming memorial service, where everyone reminisces about Mrs. Hudson's colorful life. They use footage from the show, from behind-the-scenes, and from work Una Stubbs had done previously in her 60+ year career. Each of the main Sherlock characters has a chance to talk about how she touched their lives.

Then comes the reading of the will. It turns out that Mrs. Hudson has left 221 Baker Street jointly to Sherlock and John. John, who had still (inexplicably!) been living in his old place even after Mary died, decides to move in to 221A. To get the place ready for him and Rosie, he and Sherlock go through Mrs. Hudson's things, with both laughter and tears.

Comforting each other in their grief brings them closer together, and discussing their feelings about Mrs. Hudson's loss opens them up to talking about other difficult topics. Eventually, the subject of their own relationship comes up, and they finally acknowledge their romantic feelings for each other. The long-overdue Johnlock kiss happens at last.

Back in Sussex, grown-up Rosie says she's sad to have lost Nana Hudson before she was really old enough to remember her, but from everything she's heard about Mrs. Hudson, Rosie is sure she would have been delighted to know that losing a Nana led to Rosie gaining a Papa.

The closing shot has Sherlock and John with their arms around each other on one side of the fireplace, Rosie and her wife on the other, little Harry between them, and in pride of place in the center of the mantel stands a framed photo of Mrs. Hudson.

173 notes • Posted 2021-08-13 16:10:38 GMT

#1

Sherlock vs. the Coronavirus

Scenario 1:

See the full post

226 notes • Posted 2021-03-06 19:19:19 GMT

Get your Tumblr 2021 Year in Review →

[vateacancameos]

The Forest for the Trees, Part 4

Sherlock | Fanfic | Johnlock | Unilock | Asexual Sherlock | 5K words | 4 Parts | ao3 link 

January

“Happy birthday, you git,” John said, smiling at Sherlock across the table. Sherlock stiffened in surprise. He hadn’t thought anything of it when John had suggested that they go out to eat that night. He mentioned something about celebrating, but Sherlock had just solved a rather difficult cold case, and he’d just thought John wanted to commemorate that. He’d never told John his birthday, and he didn’t think John had ever seen his ID, so he wasn’t sure how he’d found out when it was.

As if reading his mind, John grinned wider. “I asked your mum at Christmas. Cut it close, with your early January birthday. You would’ve glossed right over it, wouldn’t you have? Idiot.” He shook his head in a way Sherlock had come to see as fond, sort of like Mummy had when Sherlock was young (and sometimes even now). He had always liked that expression on John. It was proof that not everyone found Sherlock to be annoying and difficult to be around. It said that some people found his foibles at least a little endearing, rather than unbearable. And that it was John made it even better.

Sherlock shrugged. “I don’t understand why people feel the need to celebrate their birth. It’s just another day.”

“Well, you might find it tedious, but I for one would like to celebrate the fact that you’re in this world and that I get to share your time in it with you. So perhaps we’re celebrating what a lucky guy I am,” he said with a wink.

“We’ll be sure the waitress brings you the cake then,” Sherlock retorted, but he couldn’t manage any bite to his tone. John considered himself lucky to be friends with Sherlock. Lucky that Sherlock was in the world at all. The idea warmed him like birthday candles never could.

John placed his hand on the table, fiddling with his silverware for a moment. Then he inched his hand toward the center of the table. “I really do feel lucky, Sherlock. The past few months have been… so great. When we first met, I couldn’t believe you’d even give me the time of day. You were so smart, and you seemed so untouchable. But you let me into your world, you shared it with me. I couldn’t ask for more.”

(This a long one, so the rest is below the cut).

Speech complete, he brought his hand further toward Sherlock’s. He hesitated a moment, then picked up Sherlock’s hand, brought it toward him, and kissed Sherlock’s knuckles gently. Then he laid Sherlock’s hand back on the table and looked away for a moment, cheeks tinged with pink. Then he nodded and looked back at Sherlock.

Sherlock was at a loss. He had been explaining away their closeness for months, telling himself that of course friends cuddled on the sofa to watch a movie, of course they spent every waking moment together. Sherlock had never had a real friend before (Greg didn’t count; they had been lab partners, then Greg had been Sherlock’s way into the Met after he’d finished uni), so he’d let himself believe they behaved as any pair of best friends might.

But best friends didn’t kiss each other’s hands. They probably didn’t live in each other’s pockets. And the most likely didn’t cuddle on the couch. But this made no sense. Why would straight-as-an-arrow John Watson act like they were dating? And why did he never mention their relationship? Did John merely feel sorry for Sherlock? Did he just want to give his friend the experience of a romantic relationship because he pitied him, wanted to give him a little handout?

Sherlock felt rage build inside him. He didn’t need pity. He was fine on his own. He hadn’t asked for John’s help. He had never even expressed an interest in a romantic relationship.

“Don’t,” he said lowly.

“Sorry. I didn’t think you’d take it any differently than the sofa cuddling, and you seem to like that well enough. I just–”

“No! You can’t just… play act that we’re a couple. I don’t need your pity, John.”

John looked hurt, but quickly masked it. “Sherlock, I don’t pit–”

“Of course you do,” Sherlock sneered, crossing his arms. “I was an idiot not to see it at first, but I wasn’t exactly well versed in friendship, now was I? I told myself we were no different from any other friends, but then you went along with my mother’s silly idea at Christmas and now you’re celebrating my birthday and telling me how lucky you are and kissing my hand. And it’s made me think back to the sofa cuddling and the touching and– and friends don’t do that! So you must be taking pity on me, letting me feel like I’m in a relationship because you think no one could ever want me. Oh! And let’s not forget that you were doing this while you had your mysterious boyfriend.” Sherlock’s voice wobbled at the last bit. The hurt he’d initially felt over that had come back in full force.

John’s brows furrowed in confusion. “Sherlock… you’re the only boyfriend I’ve ever had. And you’re not a pretend one either.”

“Of course I am. We’re not together!”

John’s face fell. He sat back in his chair like a puppet whose strings had been cut. “Oh.” He looked away.

Now it was Sherlock’s turn to be confused. John looked legitimately sad at Sherlock’s words. But why? He was letting John out of this strange farce Sherlock hadn’t even known he was a part of. John could go back to dating girls and living his own life. He wouldn’t have Sherlock hanging on like a limpet at every opportunity, weighing him down. And yet, he wasn’t happy. He wasn’t acting like a liberated man. He was acting like someone had taken away his favorite birthday gift.

Could John actually want to be with Sherlock? Had he been acting under the misapprehension that they were a couple? Sherlock thought back again, took away the lens of pity and added one of genuine enjoyment—all of their times kicking each other under the blankets on the sofa, the giggling at inappropriate things, the warmth of Christmas, the shared breaks between classes, the casual touches, and the smiles.

He felt a sliver of hope run through him. John maybe wanted to date him. Had thought they had been doing so for months. He echoed John’s earlier word, but accompanied by completely different emotions. “Oh!” His hands went to his mouth. “Oh. You… want to be with me?”

John looked back at him, wary, but not closed off. He studied Sherlock for a moment, then nodded hesitantly. “Of course. Who wouldn’t?”

Sherlock wanted to cry at the words, uttered with complete sincerity and confusion. Instead, he let out a huff of a laugh. “Most of this planet, I would think.”

“More for me?” John asked, his face lighting up a bit.

Sherlock bit his lip. There had been a major miscommunication between them, and he was determined to not only figure out where they went wrong, but how to keep it from happening again. “So, uh, when did we start dating?”

Something in his expression must have reassured John, because he gave a tentative smile. “Back when you told me that you were better than any girlfriend I could ever have?”

Sherlock scrunched his face in thought, trying to remember precisely what was said. As John had said, he had ranted about John’s girlfriends being dull and how John’s time would be better spent having fun with Sherlock. Then John had said…

“So… you and me should–”

“Of course, John. We can stand each other far better than we can stand anyone else. It’s only logical.”

Sherlock had meant that best friends were more important than any dime-a-dozen girlfriend John could dredge up, but apparently John had taken it to mean that Sherlock wanted to date John. He could see now how their tendency to not talk about anything deep had caused some confusion.

“Oh. Right. I see…” he said slowly.

“If you don’t–”

“John.”

“want to, I understand. I was stupid and naïve to think that. And even so–”

“John.”

“I should have insisted we talk about it. I just thought that was you being–”

“John.”

“Let me say my piece, Sherlock. You being you. I know you see relationships differently, and so I thought… this was just how you did them. And it was fine. I was just happy that you wanted me, however it was you were capable of wanting.” John shrugged.

Sherlock felt warm all over. John Watson wanted him. He let himself linger in the glow a moment. Then something John said caught up with him. “Wait. You were willing to be in a mostly non-romantic, non-physical, let’s-not-talk-about-it relationship with me? Just because you… had feelings for me? You gave up girls for that?!? What is wrong with you?”

John smiled self-consciously. “I fell in love.”

Sherlock sagged back in his chair. Oh.

“I’m a rubbish boyfriend,” he muttered, half apology, half statement.

John’s smile got bigger. “You have your moments, but your mostly pretty okay.”

“I’m sorry, John. I was stupid–”

“No, I was stupid. I read things wrong, and then I didn’t ask for clarification…”

“John! My whole being is based on deductions and my ability to do them well. And yet, I was oblivious to the fact that I had an amazing boyfriend by my side the whole time. So I clearly win the stupidity match.”

John raised an eyebrow, not convinced. “Amazing?”

Sherlock grinned. This was brilliant. “Fantastic, smart, fun, perfect boyfriend.”

John beamed back. “So, just to clarify… you want this? Us?”

“Yes.”

“Romantically.”

“I love you, John Watson.”

“Okay. Yeah. That’s good. I love you, Sherlock Holmes.”

Sherlock felt like he could float away, but he didn’t know how to express that, so he merely said, “Good.”

John fiddled with his silverware. “So, for further clarification. Physically…”

“What we’ve been doing, definitely good. Kissing… I reserve the right to form an opinion after having experienced it. Sex… most likely out, but again, reserve the right to change my mind later.”

“Okay. Boundaries, good.” John looked so serious, Sherlock thought he was actually taking mental notes. He couldn’t believe someone took his opinions and feelings so seriously. Even after months as friends (boyfriends?), it was still novel to him. He vowed to not ever take it for granted.

“But…” he began, trying to decide how to phrase it. “Maybe, if you want to, you could move into my room?”

“Yeah?” John asked, crooked (adorable) smile returning. “You just want me because I’m warm,” he teased.

Sherlock softly kicked his ankle, then let his foot rest where it was. “Berk.”

“Git.”

* * *

They left the restaurant that evening in great spirits, buoyed by good food and better conversation. As they walked down the pavement back to Baker Street, Sherlock slipped his hand into John’s. John squeezed it, then laced their fingers together. They fit perfectly.

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3

[xcrisscrossx]

Happy Anniversary

“Alright there, Rosie. Alright, now just sit tight, Sherlock’s getting your food now,” John hushed soothingly. Sherlock marveled at the way John could maintain his adult tone while still sounding so… fatherly.

“Okay Rosie, you’ve got two options; pureed veggie root or pulverized seed-pod extract.” John gave Sherlock an odd look. “Carrot or Pea baby food.” John rolled his eyes with a smile, taking the carrot jar—Rosie’s favorite, meaning the one she made less of a mess with—and uncapped it. “The books say she needs to start eating more solid foods,” Sherlock observed, tilting his head slightly as he regarded the menu in front of him.

“She had her little crackers and some banana slices for breakfast this morning. I only packed these because they’re more convenient and I figured they wouldn’t have anything suitable for her here, even on the kids menu.”

Sherlock shrugged. “I think she’d enjoy some dino shaped nuggets, wouldn’t you darling?” Sherlock cooed to the toddler.

“Ah boys, so good to see you two again,” Angelo greeted warmly, reaching out and wrapping one large arm around Sherlock’s shoulders. John smiled lightly at how shy Sherlock always got with physical contact from others, apparent from the tightlipped yet genuine smile. “And who’s this little beauty?” Angelo said, smiling at Rosie who sat in a wooden highchair that sat on the bench between Sherlock and John. The new one year old was too business happily laughing and babbling, looking all around her in interest rather than at her father who was fruitlessly trying to spoon feed her some of the baby food. Rosie spotted Angelo looking at her, reaching out with one hand proudly, a large gummy smile with two small bottom teeth poking out.

“Rosie Watson,” Sherlock introduced, sending a fond smile at the giggling baby. “Newest edition. Infants aren’t much fond of social gatherings and gift cards, although they surprisingly enjoy cake and balloons.” John smiled at the memory this morning of Mrs. Hudson bringing up a small vanilla cake with a single pink candle in the middle, and Rosie sticking her stubby hands inside, taking large fistfuls and shoving them into her mouth. “So we brought her out for dinner. Classic birthday celebration, especially this being the first.”

“Ah, very special evening indeed!” Angelo exclaimed, throwing out his hands. “All on the house then gentlemen, whatever you like, for the new Holmes family!”

John smiled but then paused, blinking before throwing out a hand, “Oh, no no, no, we’re still not a—”

“I’ll come around with a bottle, and a juice for the little one then?” Sherlock nodded and Angelo was gone as quickly as he’d come. John sighed, sending a look to Sherlock. Sherlock looked back, eyebrows rising innocently. “What?”

“Why do you never correct them?”

“Correct who? About what?”

“Oh!” an elderly woman exclaimed, having just entered the restaurant. She spotted Rosie, waving sweetly. Rosie squealed in delight. “So nice to see two fathers out with such an angel, good on the two of you.”

“Oh no, we aren’t—” John tried but the woman merely chuckled good-heartedly and shuffled off to find a place to sit. John’s eyes darted to Sherlock’s, making an exasperated gesture. “That!”

“What?”

“Don’t play dumb, its doesn’t exactly work on you Mr. I’m-smarter-than-all-of-mankind. People always mistake us for…for well, you know.” Sherlock arched an eyebrow. John huffed in annoyance, looking down at the table. His eyes moved back up. “You’re the most observant man in England and you’re telling me you never catch on that people mistake us for a couple?”

“Do they really?” Sherlock asked as though that was the most surprising thing he’d ever heard, though apparently not caring enough to look away from the menu he was currently browsing.

“Yes, actually! All the time. And you never say anything, never correct them. Ever.”

“Why bother, when people are going to make their own assumptions anyway apparently, since you’re always fruitlessly attempting to set the record straight,” Sherlock explained lightly. “We know what our relationship is behind closed doors and it doesn’t involve us sharing a bed despite what others may think.”

John coughed into his fist, his eyes bouncing anywhere but Sherlock, a tell-tale sigh of distress and discomfort with the conversation. Sherlock arched an eyebrow just as Angelo appeared again with a bottle of red wine and a small plastic bottle of orange juice. “Thank you,” John said, taking the juice. He searched for a sippy cup in the baby bag he brought along, listening as Sherlock ordered them food. He didn’t comment on the fact that Sherlock knew John’s food choice.

John distracted himself with feeding Rosie whom, after some playful cooing and encouragements from daddy, happily opened her mouth for the carrot mush. She made a face, squeezing her eyes and shaking her head. “I know darling, I know, it’s not cake or your animal crackers but just finish the jar.” Rosie continued shaking her head, Sherlock coming to the rescue by making silly faces, making Rosie laugh so John could feed her. Rosie finished half the jar before she vehemently shook her head, pushing the spoon away with babbled protests as Angelo eventually returned with their food. “Alright, you’re lucky this time missy,” John admonished with a smile, giving her the sippy cup with juice.

John looked at his plate just as Angelo lit the candle that most definitely wasn’t there before. John looked to Sherlock expectantly but Sherlock had a fist in front of his mouth, poorly concealing his smile. Sherlock laughed at John’s look, shrugging and grabbing the wine bottle, pouring a generous amount for himself and John.

John sighed and took up his glass. Sherlock raised his, John eventually following. “To Rosie,” Sherlock announced, gazing at the infant heartily drinking her juice. “Happy Birthday darling, here’s to many more.”

“Cheers,” John said with a smile, nuzzling Rosie playfully before taking a sip of the oaky drink. It warmed his stomach, the smell of the food pleasant, allowing him to relax into his seat. He looked at Rosie, a happy normal beautiful baby, the most important people in his whole world. He looked across the table, guilt briefly tainting his pleasant mood as he thought of Mary, who should be here enjoying her daughter’s first birthday, but also guilty because seeing Sherlock across from him, with his dark curls still ruffled from the wind outside, his black suit jacket opened, actually eating a decent meal for once, made John happy in a way he couldn’t quite explain.

Sherlock noticed John staring, so John looked down and began eating, starting conversation about the last case they recently accomplished and what he should name it for the blog.

…

“Come now Rosie, be a good girl. I know you’re exhausted, you’ve had a busy day.”

“No…no no…” Rosie mumbled along with some more nonsensical noises that John roughly translated to I don’t want to go to sleep and you’ll never make me!

John sighed, bouncing on the balls of his socked feet with his fussy child in his arms. Rosie rubbed at her face tiredly, struggling against the sleep that was obviously taking hold of her. “Come now, darling. Sleep for daddy.” John placed Rosie in her bed, grabbing her stuffed elephant for her to cuddle but she wasn’t having it today.

“She still fighting it?” Sherlock asked from  the doorway. John turned to see he was in his pajamas already, loose tshirt and gray sweatpants. His feet were bare. Seeing Sherlock this casual still gave John pause, something vulnerable in the bared forearms, something small in the bagginess of the clothes…

“Um, yeah,” John said, shaking his head as he looked back to his daughter. “The birthday girl wants to celebrate until the last second apparently.” John sighed, pulling the soft blanket over the child who merely kicked weakly. “Maybe if you played for her or something, that always used to put her right to sleep when she was smaller.”

“No, not tonight,” Sherlock mused, his voice the same one he got on a case when pieces were falling into place. “I think tonight, Rosie needs something different. Something special.” Sherlock stepped into the carpeted room, standing beside John beside the bed to look down at Rosie. “Would you like a story tonight, Rosie?”

Rosie looked up at Sherlock, a small smile on her round face.

“Right then, good idea,” John said, stepping away to go grab one of the children’s books sitting on the nightstand by the door. He was stopped by Sherlock lightly grabbing his wrist.

“Ah ah, this isn’t going to be a story from a book,” Sherlock said, his eyes twinkling with mischief as he looked to John. Sherlock looked back to Rosie. “This is a story I’m sure we’ll tell you again Rosie, over and over as you get older, adding more details and information. For now, we’ll keep it simple.” John looked at Sherlock, a wrinkle in his brow as he tried to figure out what this man was planning. “This, Rosie, is the story of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor John Watson.

“An army doctor, back home in London, struggling, injured, alone. Looking for a place to stay. And, as fate had it, another man was going through similar struggles, alone, looking for someone to fill the empty room in his flat, and the empty hole in his life.” John stared at Sherlock, at first in amusement, but then wonder. Sherlock’s voice, that soothing baritone that had instilled in John every conceivable emotion—irritation, fear, hope, happiness, inspiration, amazement, affection—now entranced him in the tale of their lives, of their meeting.

“John Watson was promptly introduced to Sherlock Holmes via a mutual acquaintance. Sherlock, with a few mild observations, managed to impress the doctor so thoroughly that he couldn’t contain his verbal amazement and immediately agreed to moving in—”

“Lets not make me sound like some star-struck fool.”

“Well, not a fool, but from how I remember it you did seem a bit—”

“Sherlock.”

“Anyway, despite the doctor’s mental handicap and denial of his need for—”

“Ahem.”

“—Sherlock Holmes saw the potential in him. He saw something inside the doctor—a genuine care, heart and understanding of information and people that Sherlock Holmes never wanted to admit he was lacking. So he invited John Watson to work with him. They examined a corpse—”

“Maybe not the best subject for my infant daughter—”

“She’s barely going to remember any of this and it’s not like I got into the murder, or the blood under her nails or—” With a pointed look from John, Sherlock continued on. “They ran around the city, and staked out a restaurant called Angelo’s. Sherlock Holmes eventually caught the monster criminal, and John Watson saved Sherlock’s life. It was the beginning of something…extraordinary. On that day, January 29th, history was made and the two men’s lives were forever changed, irrevocably intertwined.”

John started slightly. January 29th ;that was today. It couldn’t really have been…but Sherlock’s memory was impeccable. When Sherlock found information important, he never forgot it. John looked to Sherlock in wonder for a moment, his expression soft. Sherlock was looking down at Rosie. John noticed she had finally fallen asleep. He brought the blanket to her chin, making sure she was tucked in and comfortable before gently kissing her forehead.

“Happy anniversary John,” Sherlock said softly, putting his hand on John’s back. His palm was warm through John’s shirt. Everything was warm and soft, a kind of peace in the room that John Watson at one point in his life never thought he would feel.

He looked up at Sherlock, who stood close beside him, hand still hesitant on him. John smiled slightly, shaking his head. “And you call me a romantic,” he accused quietly. Sherlock smiled, unable to deny the accusation. Sherlock leaned down, soft lips pressing to John’s temple. “Oh come here,” John muttered, putting a hand behind Sherlock’s neck and guiding him downward, kissing his mouth softly, slowly, lips warm and welcoming, relief spreading through them both as they held each other, seven years finally melting together as they realized what should have been obvious that first night at Angelo’s on January 29th, 2010.

...

A short, cute little thing for their anniversary. I wrote it up quick today to make sure I actually got it out on the 29th. Despite much disappointment this month, I still love this fandom and this show. I still love these boys and believe in the love the show constructed for them. I believe they eventually find happiness in each other, and spend every anniversary happy together as a family in 221B Baker Street.

Thank you to everyone

[avelera]

“The Lying Detective” Analysis

Sherlock 4.2, putting it below the cut!

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Oh that was MUCH BETTER!

Oh that episode was such a relief!

So I had to go read some other people’s thoughts on 4.1 before writing my own because frankly... I didn’t really like. In retrospect, that’s because it was “putting to bed” season 3, wrapping it up and since that was overall a rather disjointed season, the episode was disjointed. But I suspected that we were heading towards a reset and boy howdy was I right. Talk about a reset!

Because that, ladies and gentleman, was a fantastic reinvention of Season 1, episode 1 of Sherlock. 

In the starring roles:

Mary Watson as Afghanistan

Culverton Smith as The Cab Driver

Moriarty as Eurus Holmes 

The Cane in a returning role as itself AND as a symbol of their relationship

I could go on, but the send offs to previous GOOD episodes were very, very interesting.

A few quick observations:

The moment I realized we were truly doing my heart’s desire of a reset episode was when Culverton began to confess, perhaps I was a bit slow on the uptake that it took so long. BUT he really was less of a Trump figure than I feared he would be (thank god, I really am sick in anticipation of how much we’ll have to rehash that particular figure in the coming years as every artist out there reacts) and actually much more of the Study in Pink Cab Driver. I liked the discussion of how a wealthy serial killer would get away with it, in fact I’m surprised they didn’t bring up the suspected royal family member who some believed was Jack the Ripper for the very reason that there was no trace so it must have been covered up. BUT I actually gave a round of applause at the call back to the Holmes Murder House of the 19th c. (and another one JUST NOW to the Eurus Holmes murder house of the psychiatrist, very nice!). 

So I expected to hate Culverton’s character as a pithy, 2-dimensional reference to current events and was very pleased that he was really more of a further exploration of the Cab driver’s particular brand of serial killer who needs an audience. The salvation scene of 1.1 was also reinvented in fun and interesting ways that gave me a tear of nostalgia. 

On to the next topic, Mary. As I discussed, Mary has struggled to fit into the Sherlock narrative for all that she’s a fantastic woman, she hasn’t quite fit into the dynamic. Mary the Ghost, however, is a fantastic use of the character. For several reasons:

- We don’t have to wonder why she isn’t coming on cases. She can add her wonderful sardonic insights without real world logistics. 

- She is quite literally now the war John carries with him. She is his new Afghanistan. John was recovering from a horrible loss in 1.1 when he went to Sherlock, and now we’ve had a very real reset there but in a way that adds depth and shows the passage of time. 

- The plot device of Ghost Mary allows John to make deductions. Watson in the ACD books makes explicit that he’s actually not as dumb as his fictional counterpart, mostly he can keep up with Sherlock but he dumbs down his own character in order to explain the deductions to the audience. John is not stupid. John by virtue of being a doctor AND being Sherlock’s colleague for so long, is quite probably the second best detective in the world right now. But he doesn’t allow himself to believe it. The Ghost of Mary making deductions is John making deductions, John freeing himself from his view of himself and how others see him to actually exercise a his very well-trained brain. It’s absolutely delightful to behold him coming into his own in that respect. Interesting too within the context of him seeing himself as a better man in her eyes.

- As I said in my previous analysis, it’s too soon to dissect her “Go to Hell” comment, or John’s infidelity, or anything else because we didn’t have the whole picture yet. Very pleased to be vindicated (albeit on what should have been a very obvious point IT’S A CLIFFHANGER FOR A REASON FOLKS).

- On to other characters, Mrs. Hudson kicked ass in the most delightful way, I’m so glad for the call back to her husband being a drug dealer, I love that it’s her car, loved every second she was in the show. Loved too how she was the one who was first able to crack John’s wall with Sherlock because she knows him. 

- I was incredibly relieved that Eurus not Moriarty is revolving into the season’s villain, it’s a great character to pick, and knowing it’s almost certainly not Moriarty means we can start focusing on the real clues. 

- For example, people assumed Sherlock’s slip up with missing “daughter” instead of son was because Rosie doesn’t exist. But I’ve always taken issue with that. If you want to show a character is an unreliable narrator in film you use their lens. You make sure that a certain event or person is never seen outside that person’s perception. However, we had multiple scenes where Rosie was discussed when Sherlock wasn’t in the room, between characters we know are real and not in any way impaired. So the daughter thing was a good catch by theorists about Rosie, but really it’s about Eurus, which I love. Also as a side note, the Rosie thing probably came out of viewers who worried over how the baby logistics will work out, but the show has already mostly dismissed them in the same way they dismiss John’s need to make money by being a doctor. 

- (As the writer of Bilbo having a child he can’t handle though in No Heir of Durin, I was particularly proud of how similar were my depiction of Bilbo and John over being parents who can’t currently handle raising a child after a romantic partner has died.)

- I’m also proud of deducing that we shouldn’t leap to conclusions about John’s affair as of 4.1, and that it was indeed a trap. What blew my mind was that it was all the same actress between the therapist, “Culveton’s daughter” and the Eurus. Was it the same actress? I’m blown away if so!

On to shippy things!

- Ok so A Study in Pink is really the episode that launched Johnlock, so it’s one more reason I’m delighted because we really, really need these two to reconcile and they finally, finally did. And literally just as I was thinking they were going all heteronormative with the Irene talk, I mean my heart was really sinking, all of a sudden Sherlock didn’t call her and my Johnlock feels were like

- I’m going to have to go back and watch it again but it certainly felt like all that talk of infidelity, “it’s just texting” “we’re only human” etc was really very much about John, Sherlock, and the women in their life vs. their own relationship (and its exact nature). As we recall, Irene said John and Sherlock were a couple. 

- John insisting that Sherlock not let love with Irene get away from him as an expression of his anguish over Mary was wonderfully poignant but also interestingly desperate. As if daring Sherlock to go seize a woman’s love now that John is unattached himself. Also interesting that texting was the nature of John’s infidelity, but it was also his infidelity towards Mary while planning their wedding, when he was constantly texting Sherlock (and she was fine with it, btw, as she is very fine with Sherlock and John being together even in John’s head). 

- And really, Sherlock saying that there’s nothing between him and Irene, that it’s “Just texting” is really him saying “I’m not having an affair, and I’m not interested in her.” It’s his birthday, so she sends him a cheeky text. He doesn’t text back because he’s not and never has been interested. The Night in Karachi is all in John’s head, John assumes there was sex or passion, but we know more than he does and know the interest was never really there. 

- Jumping around slightly, but the moment I knew we’d get an actual, real reconciliation between John and Sherlock the kind which we never truly got in season 3 (because of Mary’s presence, which wasn’t her fault, it was John’s guilt not allowing him to have two people he loved in his life even though she insisted that it’s fine). The reason is... Culverton talking shit about Sherlock. Humiliating him. What John can’t stand about Sherlock is when he’s arrogant and when other people fawn all over him, but he will always defend Sherlock from others who insult him. His heart will overrule any bad feeling to protect him. Culverton tried to drive a wedge between them by undermining Sherlock in John’s eyes which is the exact opposite of what he should do. Call Sherlock crazy, call him an addict, call him scum, and John will remember everything he loves about Sherlock oh and also he’ll beat the shit out of you. 

- (The one thing John can’t stand and which does drive a wedge between him and Sherlock is when Sherlock uses his brain to outsmart John. That is the trust that was violated at the end of season 2, in particular with Sherlock going away and using his brain to convince John he was dead. John is very wary of Sherlock’s intelligence because he respects it so much, and he’s terrified of Sherlock using it against him because he gives Sherlock so much power over him, he has to trust Sherlock won’t violate that trust, that they’re always on the same team. That’s why he’s put up such an unbreachable wall between them since that betrayal. Seeing Sherlock vulnerable though allows them to be on the same team again).

- John’s self loathing over the infidelity is very interesting, and I suspected what it’s really about is showing John is a good man rather than the opposite. He’s tearing himself to pieces, and they never actually did anything. He had locked himself inside a wall of self-hatred, and that’s why Sherlock and Ghost Mary’s forgiveness of him, and the understanding that he was human which meant he could now allow Sherlock and Mary to be human was the thing that needed to finally give way for him to be ok again. He held them both to such high standards, but no higher than he holds himself. John is the pillar of morality, that’s why we were all so outraged over that tawdry little affair (I suspect it’s why Eurus went for that route too, to tear him and Sherlock down by hitting them where it hurts, Sherlock in his deductions and John in his morality). Anyway, allowing himself to be human, and Mary and Sherlock to be human, was the catharsis John needs to be ok again and for him and Sherlock to be ok again and for them to grow as people and reconcile. 

- So I’m still not sure we’ll get canon “johnlock” as in an openly gay relationship, I’ve always been unsure we’d get that in main characters of such a popular show. BUT I’m super relieved that we seem to be heading towards an actual reconciliation where they’re at least together again. That hug between them was hugely cathartic (have they hugged before?) and Sherlock being there for John so they could be ok again. I think Sherlock being in love with John and not straight was made all the more clear. Still not sure we’ll get canon bi John, to be honest. It’d be amazing, but we’ll see, I’d love to be wrong but I won’t be upset if it doesn’t happen. But it’s very interesting that they’re talking about women, infidelity, texting, that we’re seeing the cane again, the serial killer who needs an audience, the mastermind, they’re emotions being played by a villainous figure. In short, we’re getting a retelling of the first episode, when they “fell in love” as a way for them to reconcile in this one and move forward. The reset was very clear, and it’s very clear that Sherlock loves John and John is now ok again to be around him again, so I’m curious to see what happens next. But this was a much, much better episode. The series feels back on track (knock on wood!).