#also milverton can go to hell

[noa-nightingale]

Okay so I am in fucking shambles over the entire Colonel Dorking thing in The Master Blackmailer. I have already read everything I could find about it on tumblr and will probably look for more analyses later but, like...

I need more opinions. I need more links. I need to know more.

Not gonna lie, I am kiiiiind of distraught about it.

And also... Holmes’s and Watson’s reaction to Dorking’s death??? And how other people talk about it???

I did not expect Granada Holmes to bring queerness into the episode like this.

[fancyfeathers]

William’s and Sherlock’s darlings

The Games We Play of Dust and Ash (Yandere Moriarty the Patriot Masterlist)

(A/N- this one was painful to write, I cried while writing this)

Spoilers for the Moriarty the Patriot timeskip

When Sherlock and William disappear, their darlings are left alone, because Mycroft’s darling is married off to him and she was the reporter’s best friend, and Albert is arrested and his darling has left to go see the world with her dead parent’s fortune, meanwhile Louis’ darling is still stuck with him as his life changes, which leaves William’s darling alone again…

William told her that he would never abandon her…

And now he was gone…

He kidnapped her, manipulated her, gaslit her, but he cared for her, she thinks.

Honestly she doesn’t know what to think as she now stands in an empty house, all alone, abandoned like she had been all her life. But then there is a knock at the front door and her steps echo through the empty halls as she goes to get it, and all she feels is emptiness from this empty nest. She opens the door to see an all too familiar face and a welcome one at that, the reporter, Sherlock’s darling. Both of them look at the other and they just look like they have seen hell. William’s darling has always seen this woman as a strong and independent woman but…

“…Miss Hudson said that Sherlock left me some stuff in case he… I…I can’t do this alone.”

“…Neither can I.”

Now it feels like William’s darling is looking at a mirror when looking at her friend. The two go to Baker Street together to pick of the box of the things Sherlock left his darling, it’s mostly letters he wrote to her but never sent, all the things he couldn’t make himself say, a few of her newspapers articles, some money, and a ring. The two go back to the old Moriarty estate together and just sit down together in silence which is broken by Sherlock’s darling…

“I don’t have a job anymore since I worked for Milverton’s paper and I doubt any news companies here would want to hire me since my main source is dead, I have some family in the states I was going to stay with until I am ready to start writing again-“

“Can I please come with you?”

A smile comes across the reporter’s face at her question.

“I was hoping you would.”

The two say goodbyes to whoever they can and have left and a week later they are on a boat across the ocean. It is on the voyage over when Sherlock’s darling is walking through the halls of the ship when she hears music, she follows it to one of the ship’s lounges to see William’s darling playing and singing. Her friend sits down on the bench next to her and listens…

“Where did you learn?”

“Albert’s wife taught me how to play and then at the opera house I used to listen in on the singers’ vocal lessons.”

“Well you certainly have a gift, good enough to play at the St. Regis in New York.”

“Thank you… I read some of your articles as well, you also have quite the hand.”

“Thank you.”

Starting a new life can be scary but at least they have each other.

Life in New York is not so bad, the two women stay with the grandparents of Sherlock’s darling in their home in upper Manhattan, a kind retired couple who takes care of the two women after such a terrifying and life changing incident. Her grandfather clears out his old and unused study for his grandchild to use so she can begin writing her new column. And then her grandmother begins to teach William’s darling about the types of music here in New York that is far different than the music she heard be played at the opera house, the two play piano that can be heard from where her grandfather works in his garden and down the hall where the reporter clicks away at her typewriter.

Soon two years had passed, the two managed to get their own apartment in lower manhattan, Sherlock’s darling had been taking small writing jobs here and there but had recently secured a job as a journalist for the New York Times, a crime journalist like she was before. Meanwhile William’s darling after years of hiding herself away and now works as a singer at a high end hotel like the reporter told her to do. The two had found themselves grow into a routine, make and have breakfast together, William’s darling will clean up the apartment and work and write some of her music while Sherlock’s darling heads out to work, then the reporter will come back in the afternoon for a late lunch, then William’s darling will leave to the hotel while the reporter finishes her work at home for the day, and then she will join her friend at the hotel after her performance and the two will have dinner there due to her friend’s role as staff at the hotel. Life was peaceful and now neither of them were alone, they had each other.

Some days were harder than others, one of them knowing they left people behind in London, the darlings of Louis and Mycroft, not telling Albert’s darling where they were so she would not feel the need to find them ever since they would take care of themselves. Sometimes the two would sit on top of the roof of their apartment building after hanging up the laundry and just wonder if they made the right choice and if they miss the mastermind and detective, William’s darling is far more prone to this and will just take her notebook up and write, doesn’t matter what, music, poetry, letters to him for her to keep, just something to get it all off her chest.

Meanwhile working for the Pinkerton agency in Brooklyn, Sherlock gets a job, there is going to be a large transaction with one of the heads of the biggest crime family in New York at a high end hotel in Manhattan, so he brings along William since has more insight how unground organizations function. They deal with the threat at the hotel silently as the owner requested as to not scare the guests and staff…

Meanwhile William’s darling and Sherlock’s darling are having a glass of wine in one of the empty event rooms at the hotel after her shift, sitting on the piano bench of the grand piano in the mostly empty room. Sherlock’s darling mentions that she left her journal open on the couch at home and told her she read one of the songs and asks her.

“Do you miss William?”

“…sometimes… I-I know he was a devil on earth… but I can’t help but think that even devils were once angels- sorry I probably sound crazy-“

“I would never tell you that you are crazy… would you mind playing one of your songs for me?”

“Sure but only if you sing with me, and don’t say you don’t know the lyrics when you snooped.”

Sherlock and William are walking down a hall in the hotel, about to leave when they both hear a piano playing from one of the rooms ahead. They shrug it off as some staff or a guest playing for fun, then William hears a voice, her voice…

“Balancing the scales

All my job entails

Making sure that they're prepared to see the world.”

He thinks he is just hearing something for a second and tries to tell himself it is nothing, but her voice… it has to be…

Sherlock definitely picks up on this and silently nods and William approaches the closed door where he hears the music and the voice…

“And all I feel is emptiness

From this emptying nest

William are you there

I was unaware

How difficult it'd be without you there

I was unprepared”

It is her, it has to be.

Then there is another voice joining in…

“Balancing the scales, balancing the scales

I did the best I could but still I have failed

Still I have failed

Balancing the scales

Want them to see the world but I'll always care”

Now William looks at the detective so see the same expression William wore on his own face.

As the piano fades away the door handle turns and the ladies turn their heads expecting it to be another of the hotel staff but instead…

William expected something when his darling saw him after years of thinking he was dead, but not the look of fear in her eyes after saying his name so sweetly in a song. She looks terrified, like she just saw a ghost and in some ways she did.

Sherlock on the other hand expected his darling’s reaction, like the look of pure rage in her eyes when she saw him alive. Their last few meeting before he disappeared were not on the greatest term as their friendship had a falling out due to Sherlock’s feels towards her and his overprotectiveness. Then not to mention by killing Milverton, she lost her job in London

In a blink of an eye and without a second thought, Sherlock’s darling grabbed her friend’s wrist and walked right out of the other doors to the room into another hallway.

It takes a second for William to process that he is crying. He abandoned her when he told her that he would never do such a thing. God what had he done?

The next day, neither woman goes to work, not even bothering to notify anyone that they would not be showing up today, they would find an excuse later. William’s darling sits on the rooftop, looking over the city as Sherlock’s darling hangs their laundry up on the line…

“Do you think you’ll go back to him now that you have the option?”

The question from her friend catches William’s darling off guard…

“I… I don’t know…”

“You do not have to, dear.”

That voice catches both women off guard, and they both look behind them at the rooftop entrance to see William standing there with his darling’s journal in hand, she must have left it at the piano.

“I only came to return this… and tell you I am sorry for abandoning you, I hurt you and I can never repair your trust in me, but I will… I will always be here if you need me.”

He sets the journal down on the bench she is sitting down and before William can turn to leave, she grabs his sleeve and he looks down at her with confusion but before he can say anything else she leaps up and wraps her arms around him, tucking her chin over his shoulder as she always had done…

“I forgive you.”

Meanwhile Sherlock’s darling is overcome with emotions that she cannot place as she looks at the two. She squeezes her eyes shut and a hand comes to rest on her shoulder. She does not have to look up to know who it was.

“I do not forgive you.”

“I wasn’t asking you to and I wasn’t apologizing, love.”

[beekeaper]

CBS WATSON THOUGHTS

First things first: I decided not to read any other people's opinions about the show until I formed my own

Some theories to check out after the first episode and the rest of the season for me to have some fun with:

Some considerations:

- From the same producer of Elementary:

This is a guarantee that Watson is in good hands. Elementary has the best-written version of Watson, Lucy Liu's Watson is not an extension of Holmes or an accessory to the narrative, she has her own individual plot, she is a detective as capable and good as Holmes, they complement each other, orbit each other, the Holmes & Watson dynamics in Elementary is beautiful, the companionship, friendship, trust and love between them (CANON). THE BEST

CSB will have an excellent new Watson for sure.

In defense of Elementary

In the trailer, we can already see Watson's kindness, care and empathy, as well as his determination. How dear he is to his patients and his team. Very in canon.

- a medical show:

Both Doyle and Joseph Bell were doctors, so if the show is going to focus on the medical aspect, it still makes sense. As valid as it is to compare it to House, H&W "in real life" were doctors, so it's okay if they're not detectives. (X)

Theories and speculation:

- Holmes is a doctor.

The clinic is named after him. Like House, he was a “Diagnostician”, he will be more like Dr Joseph Bell who occasionally, being a doctor, sometimes was consulted by the police on some cases. My bet would be that Holmes was also a doctor, and had some cases with the police as well, more in a forensic way.

- The Irregulars

Just like in House, Watson has his own team. Would they be Dr. Watson's Irregulars? One of them may be Wiggins

- Watson wrote a few books

I don't think this was the first one Watson wrote.

It's either fictional or it's Holmes' medical cases, assuming he was a doctor.

- The Fall

Watson jumped after Holmes into the waterfall. I believe he is the first Watson to do so.

Either Holmes really died and Watson will find him in the water OR there is no body and it will be Watson's main plot throughout the show whether Holmes died or not.

Characters

Diogenes Club? Is Mycroft a woman in this version?

The old man wearing the beret (?) appears a second time in the trailer, with Watson. They smile and talk. And who else would wear such a specific kind of HAT if not Holmes himself?

I can't see shit but I think it's a beret, or this old man it's Holmes or Moriarty.

Moriarty will also have a part in the plot, based on his point of view of what happened. (X)

Need it? No. If it is a medical plot, it could place Milverton as Holmes' enemy.

Doyle wrote Moriarty in the story to kill Holmes, it's not like it was something super developed. Did he traumatize H&W? Yes, but there are more interesting criminals to explore and be used as Holmes' enemies. I'm tired of Moriarty

In the book, Holmes says that the type of criminal he hates the most are blackmailers; CAM traumatized the hell of BBC Sherlock and the public (me), is one of Granada Holmes' best films, and can be use in the subtext to explore various aspects of the canon and theories.

Elementary failed a lot with Moriarty, probably because CBS couldn't afford Natalie Dormer, but despite that, we had a replacement for Moriarty who was Odin Reichenbach, who served blackmail, betrayal, conspiracy, threats and almost destroyed Holmes and Watson's reputation. Maybe the new Moriarty will be really good this time.

Maybe Moriarty is also a doctor, or who knows he runs the pharmaceutical industry.

Other considerations:

At first I thought it would be a classic "we are not going to see Holmes’s face or hear his voice until the very end" but after watching the trailer again, I'm going to bet on flashbacks. Even though it's the best adaptation of all, it's going to be hard to sell the series without Holmes appearing at least sometimes. But also, no need to be like CW Arrow

Delusional me:

THEY WERE MARRIED, WATSON IS A WIDOWER, Mary is just a friend, and I hope they are not absurd cases like House. 🕯️

[hergan416]

Get to Know You Tag Game

Thank you @alabaster-moon

Three Ships: I only get three???? aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa (I think this tells you more than the actual ships I choose at this point). Uh. Prideshipping (yugioh), Katamar (One Piece), and oh my god I want to choose a yuumori ship for the last ship but I literally can't I've been weight the pros and cons of the ships for like. 15 minutes. Just staring at this ask. Albert/Milverton maybe?? because I want to write more of it and Dark!Albert is really hecking interesting? Moriarthree? Something I can go find content to read like mycal? I DONT KNOW IM SORRY and now you have like 5 ships

First Ship: I know I shipped other things before this but my first ever OTP was prideshipping. Most everything else was like... canon ships I supported or like... stuff other people were writing that I was into. I mean, I guess you could also consider zendall from All My Children in that I helped my mom send zendall keychains to AMC in the mail after they broke them up??? but I do truly think that was more about my mom than me.

Last Song: My phone says "A Million Dreams" was what I stopped halfway through playing most recently. I've listened to music since then, but the audio player on my desktop doesn't keep track of what I was listening to after I closed the program. (Honestly, I don't like that my phone does this either? I just can't get rid of it there).

Last Movie: Hell if I remember?? I don't really watch movies regularly. Fiance thinks it might have been Wakanda Forever? Which sounds right.

Currently Reading: Other than fanfic... My Secret Life. Yeah. That's uh. A thing.

Currently Watching: My family is NOT caught up with Master Minds. Not sure if that counts. But yes, we record and watch all episodes of a trivia game show.

Currently Consuming: I think I'll choose fanfiction for this?? I have been LIVING off Dying Wish which is a massive reincarnation RP fic that has literally made me fall in love with Albert as a character? I have lost so much sleep the last week because I started reading before bed and then suddenly it was like... 4 am? 5 am? even later?

Currently Craving: Oh man. I dunno. I think something sweet. Or maybe a nap. Or maybe some mycal? I'm pretty sure the next chapter in the above fic is mycal smut AND a different mycal fic that I've been reading (@user-needs-new-hyperfixation's Love In All it's Disrepute also updated today and I'm just so stoked to read more of THAT also)

Tag List: (0 pressure please, just if you want) @user-needs-new-hyperfixation (hopefully this double tag does not do anything screwy hyper, sorry), @sakuplumeria OOH IS IT GOING TO LET ME TAG YOU NOW?? DID YOUR BLOG GET FIXED?, @wurm-food, @xamaxenta, @operagoose I know you but what are you up to now?, @bum-scum, @sapphicspaceranger, @straycrayoncrypt, @rivaltagonist, @winxhelina OR anyone else who wants to!

[glorioustidalwavedefendor]

Also, as a protector of people that technically did it, but for good reason

Like in The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton sherlock knows exactly who shot milverton, but decides that he had it coming

In teh devils foot sherlock finds out who killed the first victim AND that someone else killed the second victim but decides that the second victim had it coming and anyway he is on vacation ...

In The Adventure of the Abbey Grange he finds the killer but decides the victim had it coming

etc ...

Sherlock Holmes has a very strong moral compass, that's why it doesn't always point in the direction of the law ...

That beeing said, am I the only one that thinks Loki and Thor map suprisingly well on to Sherlock and watson?

Exhibit A is an insanely smart trickster who prefers to talk things out but can pack a punch if necessary he also is a master of disguises

Exhibit B is a former soldier with a leg injury* who would follow exhibit A in to hell, even if he wishes that exhibit A would not go there ...

*Doctor Donald Blacke in teh comics had a leg insury and was a medical doctor

irritating how many sherlock holmes adaptations focus on the “police consultant” aspect of the character (it’s a comparatively small recurring part of the canon) and ignore the fact that his relationship with law enforcement was an uneasy one at best. the whole thing about his role as an independent detective is that he works as an alternative to the police for a significant number of his clients (and in a few cases protection FROM the police for those unjustly accused) and I feel like that’s something that should be explored more in adaptations of the source material. holmes SHOULD be written as a safeguard against the shortcomings of the police, not a tool for them to use

[onthecrosslook]

Moftiss Screenwriting Meeting, Part One

(This is purely fictitious.)

“Okay, I’ve got a great idea. They get married.”

“What?”

“They get married. John and Mary.”

“Okay…”

“Sherlock realises Mary’s pregnant.”

“I mean, yeah, all right, sure.”

“We establish that Sherlock is miserable about this.”

“What the f- why?”

“Hear me out. Sherlock can’t survive without John. We never explicitly say this.”

“I don’t like where this is going.”

“Neither will the viewers! Also, Sherlock and John celebrate the stag night together. They never mention John’s wedding. Also also, they do a bunch of weirdly homoerotic things and they go to a gay bar.”

“Nah, mate. The producers will never let that go through. Make it a regular bar. Sprinkle in the fact that Sherlock has a picture of the Vitruvian Man with John’s face pasted on it.”

“You’re a bloody genius. We do that. The wedding happens. We write in the fact that Sherlock doesn’t want to congratulate John and Mary. Because he’s John’s friend.”

“Oh, this is fantastic. And we can make another character mirror, just for the hell of it?”

“Right- let’s write it in that…yeah, let’s use Sholto.”

“Sholto?”

“John Sholto. He was the one who, er- called out Oscar Wilde’s homosexuality and got him arrested.”

“Oh, so that was why Doyle put him in that AGRA story?”

“Yeah! We’ll make him the mirror. Exactly like Sherlock, then reveal that John was best mates with him. Also, Mary tells Sherlock that neither of them were the first.”

“…the first of what?”

“John’s friends, obviously.”

“…Okay.”

“Right, also we’ll make Sherlock date the bridesmaid.”

“What the fuck- what?”

“It’ll be for a case, don’t worry.”

“What case?”

“Milverton.”

“Nah, let’s change it. Magnussen sounds cooler.”

“Brilliant. Then we’ll reveal that Mary is an assassin.”

“Wait, what?”

“Remember, we made her out to be based off of Sebastian Moran? Jim’s sniper in the ACD stories? That’s why her name was Morstan. Morstan? Moran? Ring a bell?”

“You lost me. I don’t remember writing that.”

“Yeah, well, I already put the Magnussen reference in the script. Can’t take it back now.”

“Fine. What then?”

“Mary shoots Sherlock.”

“No. No way. The viewers will tank the ratings.”

“No, it’s totally okay, because he’ll think of John and resurrect himself.”

“Hm. Perfect. Put it in the next script and we’ll finish TSoT.”

“Steven?”

“Yeah?”

“Do you ever think maybe we went a bit too far with the gay jokes, maybe? I dunno.”

“Nah. Don’t forget to write the dialogue for the tarmac scene. We’ll want to make one last gay joke for that- but make sure it’s discreet and heavily hidden in subtext. Those bloody Tumblr fans will never figure out the secret sister thing we’ve got planned.”

[ultraviolet-ink]

Salty Ask List

1, 2, 4, 9, 20, 22, 23 Dai Gyakuten Saiban/Great Ace Attorney (1&2)

Hell yeah TGAA edition! 1.What OTPs in your fandom(s) do you just not get? This is a really hard question lol! TGAA is really good fuel for multishippers, and I would be hardpressed to NOT see why people like a certain ship! I guess I'll throw in the towel for this one and say uncle XD 2.Are there any popular fandom OTPs you only BroTP? I guess I would say Ben////Baro. I can see the appeal, but I just wasn't really interested in Benjamin/Albert enough to really feel invested in shipping him with anyone (Ironic because now I lowkey ship him with Enoch Drebber, hell yeah localization!) 4.Do you have a NoTP in your fandom? Are they a popular OTP? It would be cheating if I said a certain ship, but I can muster up another. It's Susa////Hao. I mostly didn't really like this ship because I found Haori kind of annoying-- swooning characters aren't really my favorite trope. (then there's also harassment coming from some really vocal people but yeah) I do admit that I think she's better as Rei, I don't know if it was the time between the first time I watched a playthrough or if I felt that the localization made her better, but I don't think she's that bad anymore 9.Most disliked character(s)? Why? I suppose I would have to go with McGilded! He really is a wonderful villain, and I love the sort of presence that he has even after his death! He's like Charles Augustus Milverton, one of the worst of the worst but you love to hate him!! I guess that it's not what the question is asking, but yeah lol 20.What is the purest ship in the fandom? I am biased but Ryuususa UwU They just have such a strong and powerful bond, even if you aren't looking at them with shipping goggles, you can't deny it! The amount of trust and respect that they have for the other, even when they're a continent apart, is just so absolutely sweet and it makes me tear up every time I think about it! They just feel like a warm hug! 22.Popular character you hate? Get ready to rake me over the coals, but Ka///zuma Aso///gi. I guess hate is a strong word, but I wasn't super impressed with him in the first game, I felt like I didn't really get a chance to get attached and it wasn't like a Mia situation where you could still learn more about her even after her death. By the second game, I kind of was annoyed with his behavior and how he treated Ryuunosuke and Susato. I felt like his arc was really leaving me wanting more, and I didn't feel like his arc was really explored as it wanted to be, if that makes sense? Also, after one year of being "dead" he only says ONE thing to Susato and it's along the lines of "thanks for looking after my friend for me lol", Best Girl deserves better!! 23.Unpopular character you love? I guess Menimemo? I can't really think of any particularly unpopular characters. I really enjoy his theme song, and I use it to write sometimes lol!

Prompts here!

[seeingteacupsindragons]

They did Durham date as a CD-drama. It was the first time that I saw Japanese people openly complaining that much on the Official Anime comments/qrt. They really did a mistake with this one. Anyway, where do you think they will stop the anime ? Could we be able to reach the Final Problem ?

Yeah, I saw that...God, I hate drama CDs.

I already talked about all of this on Twitter, but I just fundamentally do not understand why the cut “The Adventure of the One Student” for “The Merchant of London.”

“Plot reaso--” Bullshit.

Even purely from a plot standpoint, The Merchant on London really only contributed the fact that Milverton had found out that William was the adopted son, and they crammed all of that reveal into an after-credits scene that was like a minute long if that.

Plus, do they need it? It gives reason for them to confront Milverton, but Milverton also pushes them into Whitley’s death, which absolutely none of the Moriartys wanted. They already had a reason to end him. And Milverton doesn’t do anything with the knowledge that William is an assumed identity. The entire arc is fun and I love it, but all it really does is have Liam Being Liam.

Meanwhile, The Adventure of the One Student was a mental standoff between the protagonist and antagonist of the entire damn series and watching them discuss and exchange values and circle around each other’s plans for the climax. And I truly do not understand how The Dark Night of London reveal works without it. If we even get that at this point, but we sort of have to, don’t we? At least partially?

Suffice to say, I do not have any idea what the anime is planning anymore. I could not tell you where the anime is actually planning on ending or what they plan on covering because every time I’ve tried to guess, I’ve been wrong, and the anime is an incredibly bizarre adaptation to me at this point.

I think we’re going to get the Final Problem because of a lot of the key images released for this cour, but also because I don’t think we’re getting anything else after this cour at all and they will want to wrap it up (I guess they could wrap it up at The Two Criminals, but it would be weird). I don’t think anything they do with The Final Problem will be considered “good.” It’s nine chapters! Even if they threw everything else out at this point, they would be crunching for episodes!

I’ve seen the idea that they’ll do The Final Problem as a movie, and I have to laugh because the second cour clearly does not have the budget for a series they think might have the potential for a movie. I will be stunned.

What I really worry is, with the way the first cour dealt with Sherlock and Liam, and some of the things the second cour has cut and the way the tonally dealt with things like Irene, is...well, that the manga got too damn gay and they’re backtracking.

Because the manga has been pretty queer for a while now, but the first cour ended on December 20th, 2020, and Chapter 53 of the manga came out on December 4th, 2020, which was too late to change the last couple episodes, likely, but not too late to change the second cour. And Chapter 53 was...a whole hell of a lot of unavoidably gay nonsense, and chapter 55 released February 4th, 2021, which was even more, and the anime didn’t pick up again until April 2021.

I cannot confirm this, but I can definitely see the anime staff trying to backtrack once they realized, a little too late, that this was a whole lot canonically gayer than they thought it was and started doing damage control because that’s not what they thought they agreed to. I mean, "The Adventure of the One Student" is hella popular, so I don't think it got cut to put something more popular in.

Again. This is a theory, not anything confirmed, and I could be wildly off. Maybe they just suck at their jobs. Maybe they're playing darts. Maybe the anime staff is bad writers. I’m just worried and annoyed and suspicious.

[contact-guy]

okay some fav moments and thoughts:

-Agatha saying “give us a kiss” and Holmes says “I don’t know how” and there’s this weird pathos to his delivery because like. he really doesn't know how. it’s okay I’m okay

-in parallel, this moment with Watson at the burlesque show:

watson needs a version of those 'emotional support animal do not pet' vests that conveys 'ma'am i'm here to support my husband in his vendetta please do NOT attempt to flirt with me'

-Holmes pretending to be a plumber and being bad at it:

-Watson dressing up nice to go to an art show. no thoughts I just like it.

-this episode LEANS into the domesticity of Holmes and Watson. Many examples, but them talking as Holmes takes a bath with the door open is the chief one.

-Holmes hiding amongst his best friends the horses:

-Holmes and Mrs Hudson teasing each other (and the tiny smile he grants her at the very end of the episode)

-the dog that starts barking aggressively when Agatha kisses a very unenthusiastic Holmes…that’s me

-the scene where Holmes, Watson, and Milverton sit down and negotiate - okay I adapted this one very closely so I know it well. To have Watson deliver almost all of Holmes's canonical lines is such a CHOICE. It shows that they act for one another, shows the trust between them at this advanced stage in their partnership, shows that Watson can be the firm hand while Holmes sits back to observe...but it also shows that Watson - the more straight passing of the two - has a certain power in this situation, while Holmes as a very clearly queer man has a unique vulnerability. On a related note: I'm so glad I waited to do my version before watching this one, because it's SO masterful.

-getting ready for the burglary: "I see you have a natural talent for this kind of thing" "I WONDER where I learned it" please they're too much someone stop them

-I think what ultimately fascinates me about this story - and what this episode does really well - is that it is very atypical for a Holmes story. Usually Holmes has knowledge that the reader and Watson do not. He maintains a level of control over the situation, no matter how dire. But in Milverton, he's up against the simple and devastatingly blunt force of a man who will use shamelessly use societal norms to make money. "There's no reasoning to be DONE, Watson!" Holmes fairly screams. He has no choice but to resort to crime. "The cudgel before the brain," as Watson puts it.

-miss thing showing up in this outfit to commit murder (next to the bust of Athene no less). i don't say this lightly, but: mother.

-not to be egotistical, but the fact that both my adaptation and this one dwell on Milverton's glasses being broken when he dies...his all-seeing, shining eyes that peered into everyone's secret lives being destroyed...hell yeah visual storytelling

-okay and then Holmes purchasing the bust of Athene - and smashing it - and an ember from the fire landing on the piece with the eye, as if to signify that although this odious man is dead, there is still a societal surveillance that will forever watch him as a queer man.......who the FUCK gave them permission to do this

Actual footage of me watching the Granada Holmes episode of The Master Blackmailer

like I knew there was a gay subplot to the episode but no one prepared me for. no one prepared me for Holmes looking at his own reflection in the etching of Reichbenbach falls that hangs eternally over his mantelpiece, while contemplating a gay man who took his own life due to being outed. like. 1992 granada holmes who gave you the right?

[dazais-guardian-angel]

2021 Fanfic Tag Meme

@sixtyfourk tagged me to do this about a week ago; am I only now scrambling to do it in the last few hours of 2021? yes. does that basically sum up my work ethic/productivity in general? unfortunately also yes.

Word Count: 19,423

Words on ao3: 7 oneshots

Pairings written for: none lol

Fandoms written for: Professor Layton, Dai Gyakuten Saiban, and Genshin Impact

Most popular story: So You Never Lie Again, the sole and first Genshin fanfic I wrote this year, which.... well, it’s not at all surprising that one was going to be vastly more popular lol, with such a massive fanbase compared to the other two I wrote for this year. It was a rather spur of the moment story considering that for the most part I’m not invested enough in Genshin to write for it (a lot of what I want to read for that fandom already exists, honestly, and its universe also kinda intimidates the hell out of me), but some of the most recent updates changed that and I do have a few more ideas I want to write for the game in the future.

Funniest story: I.... I don’t think any of these are funny.... I barely write funny things :’D

Story I’m most proud of: Probably Happiness Is..., which is a short, introspective piece about Rupert Chrogray/Ashley Graydon from DGS, my favorite character in the game (duh :P). It’s rather short for me, but I think I did quite a good job at summing up and capturing the beautiful tragedy and complexities of his amazing character in only a few words, and I’m very satisfied with the flow of it and said word choices... With all my stories about him, I want to make people who may have glossed over him before understand what makes him so compelling and sympathetic, and I think I was able to accomplish that perfectly here.

Saddest story: ...probably the aforementioned “Happiness Is”... lol, I mean it does end with me killing Rupert off when he has nothing but regrets, the one time I’ve decided I will ever do that :’)

Least popular story: The Light of Ashen Dreams, but I literally just wrote it on Christmas eve and posted it, and it’s extremely short and hardly my best work, so I’m not surprised lol

Most cringeworthy story: yeah, let’s be honest, it’s the aforementioned “Light of Ashen Dreams” lol (god do I cringe at all my titles in general-) I wrote it on a whim on my phone for about 3 hours Christmas night, having never written a fic on my phone before, and spent a few hours editing it Christmas day before posting it, just because I was frustrated with how long I’d gone without writing anything and wanted to put something up before the end of the year, so... yeah. It was based on an image I’ve had in my head for a long time, so it didn’t come COMPLETELY out of nowhere, but it was still probably rushed, and definitely cheesy smh

Favorite Opening Line(s): The opening of, again, “Happiness Is...”, the first line of which was my basis for the entire fic (along with a doujin on pixiv):

 “I simply do what I can. And well, to me, there are some things in life that cannot be bought with money.”

His father had said this, once, when he had asked him how he could go on. Could continue to bear such a miserable existence under such miserable burdens, without even putting up a fight. He had answered without judgement, without patronizing, without a single ounce of naivete; simply stared directly into his eyes with that ever-present, quiet hopefulness, framed by that same, tired smile.

Favorite Closing Lines(s): The ending to my DGS/PL crossover, Like a Flame to a Cold Heart, because something something symbolism about reverting back to your old name something something feels :’)

“…Rupert.”

A hand throws off his hood, sending misty white flying, the other moving to his chest, as he dips into a graceful bow.

“Rupert Milverton.”

Top Scenes from Anywhere You Would Choose to Have Illustrated: The scene that is the main bulk of While You and I, Keep Ourselves Warm... more specifically the hug I guess... I just love Rupert and his dad so so much, I’m dying for more art of them :’) i want to see them happy and soft together... *cries*

Stories I haven’t yet written, but intend to: God, so fucking much. Most ideally, my DGS Gina and Rupert enemies-to-siblings/friends slowburn WIP, that I started earlier this year and already have about 6k of, but then paused in order to wait to play DGS2 in July and then ignored cause of health shit. Something about the Inazuma story arc in Genshin I wanna write, as well as something about the most recent Albedo story developments. Two ideas I have for - god I hate that I’m even saying this - Demon Slayer, focused on Rengoku cause the demon slayer movie is and forever will be the only part of demon slayer i give a shit about. Two ideas I have related to the most recent and now premature final :’) chapter of Tales of Crestoria, and I wanna write more for Crestoria in general. And overall just a lot of vague wanting to write more for DGS and PL in general, cause those are what I focused on the most last year and I definitely have so much more I need to get out about those games.

Fic-writing goals for 2022: write. more. god fuckign damn just write more. My mental health has been so bad this year, due to my physical health sucking and mega anxiety (not just mental anxiety but anxiety affecting my body! which makes my mental health even worse!) and shit with parents, but there was still so much time that I was fine and could have been writing and just. didn’t. because hahahaaa untreated adhd I most certainly do have amiright 👉👉 :’) And I honestly don’t know how to improve on that front, without meds, which I really don’t want because I already take enough freaking meds as it is (and I’m not even officially diagnosed, at any rate), but.... I just... gotta try harder to hold myself accountable and write more.... haaaahhhh.... and also not rely so much on comments to motivate me. My stuff is so niche that it’s never going to get many comments, and I just need to accept that, and not let the lack of them affect me...

Thanks for tagging me, K! I’m not gonna tag anyone cause it’s already basically 2022 fkdls;lkdfglf, but if anyone wants to do, this feel free...!

[mr-nauseam]

WIP ASK

@bendedwillow Thank you very much for the tag :D I understand the feeling hahaha I also have an excess of wips but not in the Sherlock Holmes / ACD / Granada fandom...

-I put a bag on my head and hide from the Hetalia fandom-

Rules (kinda):Post the names of all the files in your WIP folder, regardless of how non-descriptive or ridiculous. Send me an ask with the title that most intrigues you and interests you and I’ll post a little snippet of it or tell you something about it!

Now, with my identity duly protected... my wips I have that fic that I am writing about I. Milverton being Moriarty -well, actually having his position rather-, for now there are no fragments to share because I got rid of them, -is part of my process destroy some until I reach "the final one / that I manage to convince myself enough to be published immediately and then go to sleep not to delete it" - although I think I can share that as a curiosity Milverton being a fan of astronomy does not fit for me, so I let him be a teacher once but he was an art teacher (?

Apart from that is that: II. infamous Au of which I made these detailed posts:

1. Case (Sherlock Holmes past) 2. Case (Watson Family) 3. Context and there are a couple of derived posts: 4. Mycroft & Sherlock 5. Watson that sassy bitch 6. An ugly wip 1 7. An ugly wip 2

And I must say that in the end I decided to make Trevor a criminal although nothing twisted or evil, just a boy who makes a little mistake in self-defense. #BecauseCriminalsInSHUniverseAreGrey #PeopleAreNotGoodOrBadOnlyHuman

There is also something that I do not know if I could count as wip but me and music have a very intimate relationship, all my stories live based on what I call musical memory -that is, there are things that I never write but I remember exactly what the hell it was according to the songs with which I relate it- and in general it IS INEVITABLE for me to make a playlist of my favorite characters and my favorite ships and of course HolmesxWatson have their respective playlist and III. I have planned to write one shots of mini stories that I came up with inspired by a song I already have 2 those one shots, what I have published in fact already:

1. Right where you left me

2. God only knows

I think achieving that will take a while because my playlist has 28 songs and I only have write 2 one shots. (?

I think that's all for now, as I said, it's not really much, it has little that I decided to get into this well again uwu so who knows what will come to my head later (?

I saw some post where you talked about a modern SH fic and well my friend TELL MORE ABOUT THAT PLEASE -obviously if you want, no pressure wuuu <3- @sullyvits

@Valid for anyone who wants to do it

[fancyfeathers]

Idk where the fuck this came from but…

Stuff the darlings do in my The Games We Play of Dust and Ash (Yandere Moriarty the Patriot) series

James’, Moran’s, Herder’s, and Louis’ darlings have all gotten high before in the basement when James and Herder were gone, Moran was not gone and he laughed his ass off when he found out and Louis was the one who caught them. No one knows where they got the stuff.

Louis’ darling will read spicy books that are written in French and Louis doesn’t know what they are about so he asks William. She does this for this purpose as to make William’s life a living hell.

William’s darling will get burn out when she is stretching for ballet, so many times William has found her in various poses that she stopped in mid stretch and find out she has been like that for hours and she can’t feel her feet anymore, when she says this it always gives him mini heart attacks.

Sherlock’s darling writes letters to William’s darling and pays kids in her neighborhood to go out in the middle of the night and slip them into her bedroom window, since William’s sleep schedule is all messed up he never notices and William’s darling hides them underneath the carpet in their bedroom. A lot of the time these are two letters, one to William’s darling from Sherlock’s darling and the other one to Albert’s darling from Mycroft’s darling, her sister.

The darlings of the three Moriarty brothers always insist on getting their own compartment on the train ride to and from Durham because one compartment for all six of them would be much to crowded for eight hours, and also so they can close the curtains, lay out the pillows and blankets they brought all over the compartment and play games for the train ride and or gossip of talk about things the brothers would not approve of. Most of the time by the end of the trip is they find the three of them asleep and brothers have to clean up their darlings’ mess before the train stops.

Mycroft’s darling sneaks out of her house to go visit Sherlock’s darling at her apartment across town. Normally she will be gone for days and by the time her caretaker, who she is staying with until she is married, tells Mycroft that she is gone, she is back in her room at the estate by the time he gets there like nothing ever happened. On one of these outings, Sherlock’s darling took her to a cabaret where she met Moran’s darling and the three of them got drunk back at the apartment and this was Mycroft’s darling’s first time getting intoxicated.

Sherlock’s darling has spiked Sherlock’s tea before to see if he would notice, to see how sharp he was, he did notice, so while she wasn’t looking he swapped their cups but before she could drink it he slapped it out of her hand and it broke on the floor. Miss Hudson was pissed.

Milverton’s darling and Sherlock’s darling are sisters and Sherlock’s darling has offered to try and frame him for a crime and her sister tells her not to because Sherlock’s darling is employed at one of his newspapers and could make her life a living hell. Also no one knows Sherlock’s darling has a sister, not even Sherlock, well Mycroft’s darling knows but has no clue who she is.

James’ and William’s darling have talked shit about people they worked with at the opera together, but they both agree that the orchestra conductor was hot. They have said this in front of James and William

Moran’s and Albert’s have gotten drunk together before, but no one knows about it since it was in Moran’s and his darling’s room and many people in the house were gone besides Louis. Though Albert did notice a bottle of wine missing from the cellar.

Louis’ darling had accidentally almost burn down the kitchen. She was making tea for herself and reading too close to the stove and lit her book on fire. When Louis rushed in and out out the fire and asked if she was okay she just cried about her book. The next morning she woke up to see a new copy of it on her nightstand.

William’s darling, the shyest little thing, she has the mouth of a sailor, but only in French because the stage hands and the ballet mistress at the opera swore so much in French that she picked it up. At first she thought no one could understand her but then she learned that Albert’s and Louis’ darlings also spoke it but she didn’t care what they heard, then she found out William spoke it…

[tiger-moran]

I still do not know how Moran met William Moriarty or why he's devoted to him. (Also Moran backing him up in his self-destructiveness? I don't like that. And to be honest I just don't really get this Moran at all. I don't hate him but I still don't get what's driving him, I don't get his relationship with the Moriartys or why his loyalty is how and why it is.)

I still do not get William's thing of wanting to fix society and help people then suddenly going off on this murderous spree where he's brutally killing a whole load of people including one right in front of two little kids, it still feels like they randomly changed one character into a completely different one. (I also don't get what I'm supposed to find likeable or engaging about him really. But then all most people seem to care about is how 'hot' he is or about 'sherliam', nobody seems interested in anything else he ever does so I guess the horrible things he does, even though he may have good intentions behind them, don't matter to most people.)

Or why he's so obsessed suddenly with the idea that he's going to die and he has to die, because sure, overall Moriarty being fatalistic, being obsessed with death in some way, these make some sort of sense thematically given how much of a death figure Moriarty is overall but it doesn't seem to make sense within the story itself to me, like where did this idea even come from within the story? I can't see how it progressed from one point to the other and I thought maybe they'd skipped over or rushed through loads of stuff in the anime but as far as I can tell much of it is just the same and it still doesn't make sense?

(Also I still do not understand what the hell was meant to have happened to Adler's boobs. Adler has huge tits! But Bonde is totally flat-chested! This thing annoys me even more than the stupid turning Adler into James Bond thing itself.)

Oh and also, the Moriartys against Milverton thing, I assumed that had more development in the manga but it didn't? That really was it? They built up this thing about Milverton versus the Lord of Crime and then... almost all of the Milverton storyline is still about Holmes, Mary and Watson; still the Moriartys were barely in that storyline. It's such a huge let-down that story in both versions.

This manga is making no more sense to me than the anime did

[cosmicfurby]

dgs for the fandom ask game

ohohoho! thanks for the request my dear! i am always willing to talk about dgs at LENGTH i am an obsessed woman suffering from Asoryuu Brain so buckle up buttercup we're gonna have FUN

blorbo from my dgs

that is an EXTREMELY difficult question because, as you might have guessed, I'm obsessed with all of these people :) send help :)

if i had to pick one, though. one to write an entire essay about... god it would have to be susato. i am critically in love with susato. when i first started dgs i remember joking around that "dgs doesn't take place nowadays because if it did susato would be the lawyer and ryunosuke would be her assistant" but. it's true. she's as much of a lawyer as ryunosuke is, that's them facts. good to know that she probably lived long enough to be allowed entry inside a courtroom

i love how she's allowed to be feminine and cutesy and to have traditionally women-coded interests and yet she's still portrayed as a badass who can, and will, throw your ass across the room. she's intelligent and capable and supportive and funny. i love her. madly, you may say.

also she's a massive lesbian but we're not gonna talk about that now are we

scrunkly, someone who gives you cuteness aggression

gina 👏🏻 fucking 👏🏻 lestrade 👏🏻

her sprites with toby ENDED me and flushed my sanity down the toilet

every time gina was happy i was happy she's SO cute i wanted to cry

and also, that sprite with gina crying? who came up with that idea. that is a SIN. someone on that art team is not seeing heaven

scrimblo bimblo, underappreciated or underrated fave

haha maria gorey go brr

if dgs3 was a thing i would love for her to be the assistant coroner she's hilarious

ace attorney has evolved from mainstream media, we don't have "oh you jailed my parent prepare to die" kids, we've got "yeah my mom's a murderer, it be like that sometimes". she has knives. she has a plague doctor mask. do i need to say more

(also madame tusspells but mainly because 1. i am kind of a homosexual and 2. i love putting on a french accent when voicing her)

glup shitto, appears for ten seconds but i won't shut up about them

ah yes, the e g g

no really i am obsessed with Ashley Graydon/Milverton. like, obsessed. is it because he's as pretty as he is an asshole? perhaps. but also because he's SO reminiscent of villains in victorian novels

no hear me out

a con man who grew up in poverty and now has broken up with his past? i mean, that is such a victorian character to write. have him marry a wild and untamed heroine and you've got a romantic 1840s novel, can i write that

poor little meow meow, my controversial, problematic, or otherwise pathetic fave

i MEAN. Kazuma. my boy. my man. he's such a little meow meow. a perfect little meow meow.

it's not like he's *exactly* problematic or controversial, on the contrary, I'd say he's mostly universally loved by the tgaa fandom. but let's be honest, some of his actions are... questionable. but it's ok he's my morally grey but lawful bastard <3

also whoever tells me kazuma isn't pathetic and lame sometimes hasn't played the game because omg he's a fool and a fool in love

horse plinko, you're getting tormented for my personal enjoyment

sorry ryunosuke, you know i love you, but. every time I write anything that has to do with him the poor guy goes Through It. do i enjoy making him suffer? i do not but still he's like the perfect target for my fic related crimes

(which mostly include him losing everything and crying, am i projecting? nah can't be)

i guess the punching bag gene was transmitted to phoenix lmao

eeby deeby to super hell you go

you think they'll have hallowed bottles of wine in superhell

yeah me either

guess it'll be like rehab for him innit

van zieks needs many things. rehab, intensive psychological therapy, a class on critical race theory. superhell is one of them.

he's such a massive BITCH during 90% of the games. he hurls bottles of wine to the gallery. he calls you a clown. he slams his leg on the desk. he drinks on the job. he's insufferable and extra and i love him as a character but not as a person you kno

and then come those last few cases and. this man has gone through a lot of stuff, you see. he worried about soseki-san, in his way. he starts voicing his respect for you as a lawyer. and I'm like. "shit. have i been manipulated". that bitch gaslights gatekeeps girlbosses his way to make you feel bad for him and it should be a CRIME how much i liked him by the end of the games

not to mention he's also like extremely fucking hot

anyway barok you're heading STRAIGHT to superhell for sassy crimes, racist crimes, manipulative bastard crimes and also for distracting me from the fic i am supposed to write crimes

hope you liked this peek inside my... twisted mind... *dramatically turns around flailing my vampire cape*

thanks for the ask bestie ^^

[chiddicksfamilytree]

This is the fourth in my biographies about the lives of my eight great-grandparents, next up is John Edwin Barnes.

John Edwin Barnes was one of the first Ancestors that I researched, in real detail and he is someone who will always hold a special place in my heart, due to the fact he was sadly killed in action at Gallipoli in WW1.

After my Nan died, I was the humbled recipient of his WW1 medals and it was these very medals, that inspired me to trace my family history in my early years of research.

Are we allowed “Favourite Ancestor’s?” Of course we are, so apologies if there is a lot of info in this blog, I have managed to uncover a lot about John Edwin’s military career, in what was actually, an extremely short life.

So sit back and take a glimpse into the life of my Great-Grandfather John Edwin Barnes.

John Edwin Barnes was born on 17th March 1890 at 49, Benledi Street, Bromley-By-Bow, Poplar, he was the fourth child of eight, born to Henry Barnes and Martha Barnes nee Harvey.

  Within a year, we find John Edwin Barnes counted in the 1891 Census, still living at 49, Benledi Street, with his parents and three older Brothers.

1891 Census

(Benledi Street)

By the time of the 1901 Census, the family home had moved to 50, Burke Street, West Ham and young John Edwin is still living at home with his parents and six siblings, Henry aged 17, Walter aged 13, Arthur aged 8, Edward aged 6, Martha aged 2 and baby Ethel aged just 5 Months.

1901 Census

Whether he was inspired by his older Brother Harry Barnes, who joined the East Surrey Regiment, I can’t say for certain, but the next record we find for our young John Edwin Barnes is his Army attestation papers detailing his enlistment to the Essex Militia, Army Number 9431;

The following information is taken from John Edwin Barnes Army enlisting documentation dated 19th October 1906. He was recruited into the Essex Regiment at the Frances Street Office, Woolwich, London. On the day he enlisted, he was 17 years and 7 months old, his height was 5ft 6 1/2″ and his weight 12st 3lbs. His chest measurement was 35″ and his complexion listed as Sallow. He had brown eyes and auburn hair and his religion is listed as C of E. His occupation is listed as a Carman and he is listed as single.

He had the following distinguishing marks:

Scar left side of forehead

Scar between shoulder blades

Tattoo I Love F.Bevens front of left forearm

(I have no idea who F. Bevens was, but she obviously made an impact!)

His address on enlisting is: 66, Hansworth Street, Canning Town, London.

His next of kin are listed as follows:

Father Harry, 66, Hansworth St. Canning Town Essex

Elder Bros Harry, Pte East Surrey Regt, Walter Jnr, Bros Arthur and Edward Sisters Martha & Ethel, all with father.

He enlists into the 3rd Militia Battalion Essex Regiment, Number 9431, on 19th October 1906 and shortly after receives the Army Recruiting Office seal of approval on 22nd October 1906. Exactly one month later, on 19th November 1906, he attested for Regular Service with the 3rd Battalion, Essex Regiment.

John Edwin Barnes Attestation Record

After completing basic training at the Warley Depot, at the end of 1907, he was posted to 2nd Battalion Essex Regiment, with the Army Number 8987. He was posted from the 2nd Battalion to the 1st Battalion and is stationed at Quetta, Baluhistan, India on the 5th January 1911 and is counted in the 1911 Census in India.

1911 Census

He is stationed here in “C” Company and later in 1913 “C” Company was merged to form part of the new “Y” Company when the Battalion moved to a four Company structure in 1913.

A helpful link to understanding Essex Regiment Service Numbers can be found here

Essex Regiment Service Numbers

It’s during this period in Ireland and specifically Dublin, that John Edwin Barnes meets and marries his sweetheart, Elizabeth (Lizzie) Daniels.

They were married on 27th October 1909 at The Registrar’s Office in The City of Dublin and John Edwin Barnes was living at 6, Madeline Terrace, Golden Bridge, Dublin at the time and Lizzie’s address was 3, Woodroffe Cottages, Island Bridge. His occupation was listed as Private, Essex Regiment.

Between John Edwin Barnes enlistment and before he was sent to India, the Essex Regiment were stationed at The Island Bridge Army Barracks, in Dublin, the exact dates I can’t be sure. During this period there is also evidence of a Court Martial for a John E Barnes, of the 2nd Battalion, at The Curragh Army Barracks, Ireland. The date of the trial was 5th December 1910 and the Court Martial took place on 20th December 1910, the outcome of the trial was a Court Martial for desertion and he was sentenced to 112 days. I would like to think that he was deserting for good reasons, to go and meet his Wife, Lizzie, who would have been pregnant at the time with their only child Martha Annie Barnes. I will never know for certain the reason for his desertion, but the sentimental part of me would like it to be for this reason.

Court Martial Record

John Edwin Barnes and Lizzie Barnes only had the one child, Martha Annie Barnes (My Nan), who was born 21st April 1911, at The Stevens Hospital Dublin.

Sadly John Edwin Barnes died at Gallipoli on this ill-fated campaign, on the very first day of battle, 25th April 1915. Whether he was able to see his only child, Martha Annie Barnes or not, between his service in India, with the Essex Regiment and the outbreak of WW1, I am unable to say for sure.

You might think that there is where the story ends for John Edwin Barnes, but far from it, over the years I have been able to piece together more and more information about his time at Gallipoli thanks to the wonderful help of sites such as The Long Long Trail, The Great War Forum and The Gallipoli Association.

So I have included some more detailed information regarding the Gallipoli Campaign, the part the Essex Regiment played and the part my Ancestor John Edwin Barnes played.

There is a whole wealth of well documented books, blogs and research into the Gallipoli Campaign which would be far too lengthy to be included with this blog, but a very brief note of why the Allied Forces chose to attack the Dardanelles Peninsula is included here;

The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Allied forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac.

From now on, we will concentrate on the 29th Division, which consisted of 12 Battalions: Border Regiment, 1st Battalion Essex Regiment, Hampshire Regiment, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, Royal Fusiliers – City of London Regiment, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Royal Munster Fusiliers, 1/5th Royal Scots – Lothian Regiment, South Wales Borderers and the Worcestershire Regiment. John Edwin Barnes was part of The Essex Regiment that landed at “W” beach on 25th April 1915.

Troops of the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment landing at ‘W’ Beach, 25 April 1915.

The following is the actual transcript of the 1st Battalion Essex Regiment War Diary in the run up to the landings on 25th April 1915 and the days after;

12th March 1915

His Majesty’s Inspection

Battalion entrains at Milverton Station, Warwick:

“A” & “B” Companies 8-25 am.

“C” & “D” Companies 8-45 am.

Inspection by His Majesty on main Coventry – Rugby Road.

Return home.

21st March 1915

Warwick, Warwickshire. Part of the 88th Brigade, 29th Division.

To Avonmouth and embarked Caledonia.

April 2nd 1915

Arrived Alexandria, Egypt.

April 6th  1915

Disembarked and to Mustapha Camp.

April 11th 1915

Embarked DONGOLA and sailed for Lemnos.

April 13th 1915

Arrived Mudros Harbour.

April 24th 1915

Set sail to Cape Helles.

April 25th 1915 09:00 hrs

The Battalion less Z Company transhipped from H.T. DONGOLA to a minesweeper and was conveyed as close to the shore as possible, when they were transferred to boats. The landing was carried out under fire and there were several casualties in the boats that took place on W. beach about 9.30 am.

April 25th 1915 09:30 hrs

As soon as the first boats were beached, we received orders to connect between the Royal Fusiliers on right and Lancashire Fusiliers on left and as many as were available were sent to fill this gap, reinforcing as men arrived on the beach. On reaching the crest it was found that no one was on our right.

April 25th 1915 11:35 hrs

A message was received from G.H.Q. to report progress and reasons for not pushing on. Reply was sent, that we were waiting for our left to come up and would then advance. This was attempted but the advance was held up by very heavy fire and many casualties occurred.

April 25th 1915 12:30 hrs

Supported by 4th Worcester’s and after bombardment by Navy, which drove out the enemy, the Battalion took Hill 138 and redoubt beyond.

April 25h 1915 19:00 hrs

Received orders to connect with Worcester’s on right & Hampshire’s on left and entrench position.

Enemy attacked at night & came to close range with a Machine Gun, but inflicted no loss and were driven off.

Casualties during day

2 Officers – Killed

4 Officers – Wounded 1 since dead.

Other Ranks 15 killed 87 wounded.

April 26th 1915

Continued to hold same position.

April 27th 1915 16:00 hrs

Advanced in Line 3 Brigades with 175th French Regiment on right and entrenched new position.

April 28th 1915 08:00 hrs

Advanced in same formation to take up a new position Pt. 236 – Knoll about 700 yds. N.E. of KRITHEA – Pt. 472 – X Coast Line in Sq. 184.R.8

April 28th 1915 09:00 hrs

Met with considerable opposition. The Battalion on the left of the 88th Brigade on reaching a point beyond which they could not advance owing to the right & left of the line being held up entrenched and held till 6 P.M. when it retired to another position in the line with the remainder of the Brigades the right of the line having retired. The enemy made very good use of their Machine Guns causing heavy casualties.

Casualties           Officers            Other Ranks

Killed                        2                     12

Wounded                 1                     75

Missing                                           33

April 29th 1915

Remained in position.

April 30th 1915

Remained in position, shelled by enemy causing little damage.

May 1st 1915

Remained in same position, Battalion relieved by 2nd Hants. Regt. in trenches and went into reserve.

May 1st 1915 22:30 hrs

Enemy attacked trenches in force. The Battalion was called out and ordered to retake trenches which has been evacuated and were held by the enemy. During the advance the Battalion was subjected to heavy fire from the front and also from the rear by parties of the enemy who had broken through 1 Officer and about 40 Turkish prisoners were taken during the advance. X Company under Capt. Pepys found one trench occupied by the enemy and retook it with the bayonet. The remainder of the Battalion remained in support ready to strengthen any portion of the line.

May 2nd 1915 04:30 hrs

A Counter attack was ordered. This consisted of three companies under Captain Bowen they took a small redoubt killing and capturing some of the enemy, ordered to advance and entrench new position.

This was found impracticable owing to enemy’s heavy shell fire. The old trenches were occupied.

Casualties           Officers.                   O.R.

Killed                        2                           12

Wounded                 3                           28

Missing                                                    5

The Essex Regiment Diaries can be found on Ancestry and the links are attached here;

Essex Regiment War Diaries 1

Essex Regiment War Diaries 2

Essex Regiment War Diaries 3

Essex Regiment War Diaries 4

Essex Regiment War Diaries 5

Essex Regiment War Diaries 6

Essex Regiment War Diaries 7

  John Edwin Barnes is commemorated on the Helles Memorial alongside the names of his own Essex Regiment comrades and the other 20,000 plus soldiers, who sadly lost their life here at Gallipoli.

CWGC Record

Medal Rolls 1

Medal Rolls 2

Medal Roll Card

He was awarded The Victory Medal, The British Medal, The 1914-15 Star as well as The Memorial Plaque (knows as “The Death Penny”).

    There are numerous Newspaper reports listing the wounding and death of John Edwin Barnes in various newspapers, these can be found on Find My past and The British Newspaper Archive websites, the links are included here;

Sheffield Daily Telegraph 31st May 1915

Essex Newsman 5th June 1915

Essex Newsman 20th November 1915

Essex Newsman 20th November 1915 Additional Article

The Chelmsford Chronicle 3rd December 1915

I am very fortunate, over the years, I have accumulated a large amount of Photographs from Gallipoli. I am eternally grateful to those that have allowed me to use their own pictures within my Family History Research. Credits to the images are listed below.

          VLUU L210 / Samsung L210

VLUU L210 / Samsung L210

VLUU L210 / Samsung L210

(Images kindly supplied by Sean Ryan)

  (Images kindly supplied by Robert Pike)

  OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

(Images kindly supplied by Bob Cumberbatch)

  After his death, John Edwin Barnes widow, Lizzie Barnes, was entitled to a War Gratuity benefit from the Army, which was duly paid to her on 15th July 1919 for the sum of £5. The payment sheet recording this, is shown here;

Soldier’s Effects

A detailed explanation of how the War Gratuity was calculated and paid can be found here on a blog written by Craig from The Great War Forum. War Gratuity

John Edwin Barnes even managed to get a mention in a book by Trevor Royle entitled “Britain’s Lost Regiment’s, you can view the extract here;

Britain’s Lost Regiment’s John Edwin Barnes

My one lasting regret is that I don’t have a picture of my hero John Edwin Barnes……………..if only.

  Special thanks to all those that have helped with contributions and images and have kindly allowed me to include them here. I hope you managed to reach the end………

    The Life and Times of John Edwin Barnes This is the fourth in my biographies about the lives of my eight great-grandparents, next up is John Edwin Barnes.

[hergan416]

Well I got a like so imma do mine bc hell why not? What are you guys going to do, judge me for being a freak? Lololol

So like first of all there's the Milverton/prostitute!reader thing I've got going on in my head. (APPARENTLY today's just prostitution day for me, sorry guys) GN!Reader if that matters. I see him using both.

I keep wanting to read more My Secret Life to like. Really get an idea about what prostitution was like in the era but alas I have not, so idk how historically accurate any of this shit is but it's sex, how much could it change?

He's a little rough but he does pay well for it.

He has a lot of kinks and is not ashamed of talking about them, demanding them, paying for them. He has no reason to fear blackmail or his good name. His good name isn't very good, it's just protected with an iron pen.

There's an element of your interactions with him being extremely high stakes that turns you on in a way that is sort of disquieting.

Like you might normally find what he's doing sexy or boring or whatever, but he means it in a way that adds danger and you feel like this should not turn you on but it does

As a result he's both your least favorite client and your favorite one. Because somehow he manages to make you needy when you don't want to be, and then fulfill that need.

Somehow work becomes legitimately enjoyable, but you are also certain the benevolence won't last (it can't last with him)

Also if you become one of his favorites... you'll basically lose the right to deny him anything because he can drag your name through the mud while somehow maintaining his own

He will ruin your life, you'll be addicted to him and he'll lose interest. He'll become cruel and feed your name to the media, you'll lose your career, you'll beg him to take you back and he won't.

You're best off if he hires you once, mostly anonymously. Of course... with him you never know...

Yo - anyone besides me interested my deranged & problematic milverton x reader hcs lmao