#john watson's oatmeal jumper

[sarahthecoat]

hmm, highly nuanced... and going way back, as i ponder this. my mum used to make my (our?) halloween costumes, out of printed flannel, so i could wear them as pjs the rest of the year. so i had zebra, and tiger, and leopard, and Spotted And Herbaceous Backson, etc. (this was of course also extremely thrifty of her, but extremely fun and gratifying for me)

as an adult, who sews, i have done a bit of cosplay, and sometimes wore a costume to the mall that had afternoon trick or treating and costume contest. mostly to see the kids, especially in home made costumes (the two girls who were mosquitos, with straws on funnels for proboscis!) and kinda to be seen, but at least to have made the effort to participate. sometimes i just wore my robin hood kit from being on the sword team, but i did some movie cosplay too which was fun. my jedi outfit incorporated the brown jeans i made, back when i was making jeans from the draft in threads magazine. my strider cosplay incorporated my jeans too. i suppose i could wear the strider shirt if i wanted to, as munderwear? i did intend my polarfleece jedi robe to be a cozy dressing gown, but it's just so voluminous!

when jodie whitaker was the doctor, i liked her striped t shirt, so i sewed stripes of fabric across the front of a blue tshirt i had, that i was ready to cover whatever had been printed on it. i didn't do a full #13 outfit, but i liked it when people got the reference.

and of course my knockoff belstaff, and my two john watson sweaters, are the ultimate in stealth cosplay. i have a blue scarf to go with the coat, and if i could figure out how to knit a hat that would suggest those curls... (the sweaters are extra stealthy because they are not in original colorways) but i didn't make them as halloween costumes.

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[consult-sherlockholmes]

What is your favorite jumper of John's? Or if you hate them all what clothing do you think he looks best in?

My favourite jumper of John's would be this one:

However, I do prefer him in other outfits, something more formal like a well-fitted suit or a uniform.

[helloliriels]

Since you are the unofficial jumpers of Watson expert, I have a question for you.

Imagine John chooses his jumper of the day to tell Sherlock something. Like a secret language in jumpers. Which message would each of the jumpers convey?

Ooh! I like this! (and am I ?! ♡ (✿◠‿◠) ♡) honored @myriath

(omg don't look at the date) (jesus, liri) (inorite???)

-----------------------------------------------

John likes to be comfortable. Casual. But classic. But ... he's also not a HUGE fan of ironing ... hence the jumpers. Over the years, Sherlock has begun to decode the messages behind each and every one of John's jumpers. As tough, and stong, and durable as John himself. Or soft, and sexy, and tactile ... also like John ...

Sometimes, Sherlock finds a new jumper, and buys it for him. Just to learn what new message this one will carry in their lives.

------------------------------------------------

The Oatmeal Jumper

I'm nothing. No one. Just an ordinary old man with a war injury. Useless really. Might just sit down and ... blend in. Nothing to see here, right? Wait ... why are you looking at me like I'm ... ? I'm interesting? ... me?? You do realise, it's just ... me ... ? ... right?

Maybe I'll wear it again ... just to test the hypothesis and make sure you aren't ... oh. You are ...

Well then ... I need to think about ... about this ...

The Christmas Jumper

You bought me this and didn't think I'd wear it did you? Well ... joke's on you! I think you're hot. And I'll wear this sweater, no matter how warm it is in here with this fire. Just to show you that I freaking LOVE anything you give me. Even if you don't realize yet how much I love you ... and I'll be damned if i'm even gonna try mentioning it yet! Yeah, nope ... too soon. Just flaunt the jumper.

The Blue Button Down Jumper

I'm your blogger. Your one friend. Your indispensable companion. Your conductor of light. I look good in blue? ... I do. I really do. Think I'll wear this color more often ... Your eyes ... they seem drawn to it. ... to me ... Though I can tell you're trying to show you aren't looking.

The tight layer was a good move ... Maybe I should get a few more.

The Striped Jumper

I'm so cozy around you. I just want to enjoy this morning. Have a lie in. Make breakfast. Let the world mind it's own matters today ... We have each other ... Just you and I against the world.

The Green Jumper Vest

You. Jumped. You jumped, and you made me watch. And now I'm getting married to someone else ...

... Of course I'm comfortable in my new life! See! Old man. Dressed for the part already. Ordinary plain ol' John again, remember? Just. That. Guy™. Clearly not as important as your homeless network or your favourite villain! Even your brother knew! Your damn. Brother.

He's not even looking. Not even ...

I'm burning this vest tomorrow. F*ck it. I could at least try ...

The Blue Jumper Redux

I remember you liked me in blue. How's this then? Cashmere. That's right. Two can dress to kill, mister fancy-pants! I'll wear it and wait to see what you think of it. A bit jealous, eh? heh. That's right.

I've still got it.

Maybe I'll wear this on the stag night.

Just you and me.

Once last chance to make your move.

I don't mind.

[fanfic-recs-01]

Johnlock Fics

This is a list of John Watson/Sherlock Holmes fics I like on AO3, if you have any recs for me feel free to send me some!

Updated 8/13/23

Relationship Reveal 

Yarders Find Out by MidnightMonster

~How the yarders or more specifically Greg gets to know about Sherlock's soldier husband, John Watson who had been in Afghanistan for a little bit more than two and a half years.~

Can't Be His Boyfriend by sorrowsofyore

~In which Sherlock has himself a doctor and Lestrade is just befuddled by it all.~

Secret acquaintances by whokilledholofernes

~Sherlock rushes from the crime scene after receiving a text. That leaves Detective Inspector Lestrade behind with the question: What is Sherlock hiding?~

(un)remarkable by intrinsicness 

~Basically I want a fic where John is like this nice but seemingly boring guy who you've known for years but never really bothered to get to know much about because it's obvious that nothing interesting ever happens to him. In reality though his life is fascinating.~

A Study In Partners by LonelyThursday 

~Sherlock and John met years before ASiP, but nobody told the Yard that~

The Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers by rhelia

~Alternate Universe where John and Sherlock were flatmates (and boyfriends) even before John enlisted, leading to one very surprised policeman.~

This is my friend, John Watson by SeamsInLine

~where Sherlock is married and the Yard doesn't even notice.~

Outed By a Drugs Bust by Inactive Account (sassybleu)

~Sherlock and John are together-but no one else knows that. The damage is done when Lestrade and his crew break in on a drugs bust.~

I Thank My Lucky Stars (For Every Crack, Scratch, and Scar) by burnedplaylists

~Greg was aware that Sherlock acting a bit out of the ordinary wasn’t unusual. In fact, weird was Sherlock’s own brand of normal. But he had been texting the bloke for a week straight with no reply, not even with the promise of a locked-room murder.~

A Surprise in 221B by lancesface

~Lestrade entered the flat prepared to find a consulting detective sulking on the couch due to the lack of cases but instead found a short blond man, wearing an oatmeal jumper, who was limping down the hallway towards the door.~

Illusory Correlation and Confirmation Bias by VanillaBegonias 

~Looking back, there were a few things that should’ve tipped Greg off long before that night at the pub. A few things Sherlock left fairly obvious, that on reflection, made Greg question how he’d gotten his job in the first place.~

In Which Sherlock Is Hiding Something by Huffordle

~Sherlock is hiding something from Greg although the DI doesn't notice.~

Capt John H Watson, MBBS by anthonyedwardstark

~Sherlock has not been seen or heard from for more than a week. Lestrade decides to begin his search for the man at 221B Baker Street. When Scotland Yard's finest arrive at the flat, what (or rather who) they find is certain to surprise them.~

Sherlock's Secret by Superlocked_25

~Sherlock had a secret, one that he told no one. But people were becoming suspicious.~

Sherlock's "Friend" by Lavander_Clearwater

~Sherlock has been acting strange and Lestrade tries to figure out why.~

"Surprise! I'm gay!" by Awkward_bean_sky

~Sherlock suddenly doesn't answer any of Greg's calls anymore and he's worried to say the least. In the end, things aren't nearly as bad as he'd suspected.~

The Internet Is Not Just For Porn by cyerus

~John is Sherlock's internet boyfriend - from CANADA.No one thinks he's real.~

5687 (Approximately) by prettysailorsoldier

~When John's leave request for Christmas is denied, Sherlock is nothing short of devastated, not that he's letting it show. The holiday season now something he's just waiting to end, Sherlock doesn't think anything can possibly make it worse. That is, until he realizes no one in his life believes his army "boyfriend" is even real, but, luckily, everyone is in for a surprise.~

A Long Time Coming by thestanceyg 

~Sherlock's been acting strangely, and Lestrade isn't sure why. One day he finds a shirtless soldier in Sherlock's flat and things start to make a lot more sense.~

The One Where Greg is Exasperated & Confused, Sally is a Cow and Sherlock is Apparently Married by WhatLocked

~When Greg first met Sherlock he was rude, abrupt, acerbic, strung out and practically homeless, and was most certainly not in any way marriage material. This is probably why, when four years later, Sherlock flippantly mentions that he is married, no one believes him.~

Sherlock's Little Secret by DoctorRainyStardusttheThird (orphan_account)

~Namely...an army doctor boyfriend. During a drugs bust, the Yarders stumble upon something they weren't expecting.~

The Imaginary Boyfriend by Oliver_966

~John and Sherlock met after Johns first leave, and have been in a relationship for years. Sherlock hasn't ever mentioned this to anyone at the Yard, and when he does they turn it into a joke. Sherlock doesn't care though of course, because he knows his John is real.~

Sherlock's Who? by freakypet

~John has been away for Sherlock's entire career and suddenly returns to London unexpectedly from Afghanistan. Injured and tired and in pain, all he wants is to surprise Sherlock and kiss his husband. His search to find and surprise his wayward partner takes him across London and meets him up with those in Sherlock's world he has only heard about until now.~

Misc.

What Meets the Eye by worldaccordingtofangirls

~Amnesia is just another case to solve. Piece together unfamiliar faces, reconstruct the old identity, the lost reality. A challenge that Sherlock could even enjoy. He can read people like books. The man with the silver hair is his boss. The tottering old woman, his landlady. The girl with the worried look in her eyes…infatuated. And as for John Watson? His husband. Obviously.~

The Blind and the Clueless by InTheShadows

~5 times Greg saw John was perfect for Sherlock but didn't say anything and one time he did.~

Division by MrsNoggin

~John likes mysteries. And every morning he dips into the local independent coffee bar with his newspaper and ponders another... one Sherlock Holmes. Coffee Shop AU.~

Without Knowing How by kinklock

~John grows up reading about a fictional detective named Sherlock Holmes but, after nearly dying in Afghanistan, finds himself in a world where Sherlock Holmes is very much real.~

"finally kiss the bloody idiot" by Salambo06

~"John and Sherlock know the Yard has a pool going for when they’re finally going to get together. It’s been running forever, and it’s worth thousands of pounds. It’s all fun and games, hahaha, until they find out Lestrade is in dire financial straits and they decide to fake a relationship to win the pool for him. Sherlock figures out the day and way that Lestrade thinks it’s going to happen, and they act it out. It’s all for a good cause, fake relationship style, until it’s not."~

Off on the Wrong Foot by Unloyal_Olio

~John and Sherlock aren't flatmates. Instead, John gets a job in Bart's morgue, and Sherlock attempts to abscond with body parts.Which is just not on.~

He’s Not Paid Enough to Deal with This Shit by janonny

~(Or the one where John returned from the war and ended up working for Mycroft as his personal assistant slash doctor on retainer. Everything was fine, until he was sent to post bail for one Sherlock Holmes.)~

An Officer, A Sociopath and A Soldier Walk Into A Bar by ourdancingdays

~...And the punch line is for their ears only. / When Greg started yet another drugs bust, he expected the decomposing ears and infuriating detective, but not the war hero husband leaning against the kitchen counter.~

Cherry Hearts by harrypotteryaoi

~Lestrade's team is unaware that Sherlock is in a relationship, but an accident on a case leads them to meet someone unexpected.~

The Soldier by Evandar

~Captain John Watson meets Sherlock Holmes in Afghanistan and - after a whirlwind romance involving spies and giant monsters - marries him on the army base there. Months later, he's shipped home to his husband wounded.~

Five Times John Noticed But Didn't Really by ScandalousMinds

~5 times John (thought) he noticed something peculiar about his and Sherlock's relationship but really missed the obvious.~

The Other Kind Of Drugs by Yuval25

~'Flushed, dilated pupils, and that weird text. Clearly, Sherlock's back on drugs, right?' A worried Detective Inspector Lestrade decides a drugs bust is in order. Little did he know, the new drug that Sherlock's got himself addicted to is much more... human. And blond. And a doctor.~

Signs of Life by DefNotForWork 

~The Yarders have a pretty well developed view of Sherlock Holmes. Cold, cruel, dispassionate and robotic. He simply doesn't register as human. As Sherlock and John fall farther and farther in love with one another, however, the proud men and women from NSY find themselves facing irrefutable evidence as to the true existence of a heart in Sherlock Holmes.~

The Imaginary Boyfriend by Oliver_966

~John and Sherlock met after Johns first leave, and have been in a relationship for years. Sherlock hasn't ever mentioned this to anyone at the Yard, and when he does they turn it into a joke. Sherlock doesn't care though of course, because he knows his John is real.~

Homecoming by nbcravenstag

~Greg Lestrade always knows when there's something wrong with Sherlock Holmes. When the detective stops talking, stops eating, doesn't come to crime scenes, and barely moves from the red chair in 221B, Greg starts to worry that he's using again, and this time, he's in too deep to be helped. That is, until a certain soldier shows up at a crime scene.~

[sarahthecoat]

oh, that's a nifty sock! i make two at a time with the magic loop method, which for me is the difference between I Will Never Do That Again, and I Will Always Be Knitting Sox. i knit them for myself, my family, my friends, all i need is a foot tracing.

i did also knit the jumper, only mine is blue because as you say, we want to make things we will actually wear a lot.

Knitting beige cabled socks Johns jumper inspired socks?

A while back I read @calaisreno fanfic 'Ravelling' after stumbling across it on Tumblr. Apart from being beautifully written, it also really hit a chord for me, since knitting is what kept me somewhat sane over the last 2 years and has been a massive help just by keeping my hands and my mind busy.

Ever since I got into knitting bigger projects, I have been flirting with the idea of doing more fandom inspired knitting, since fandom is another big part of my everyday life. But knitting materials are expensive and I only want to knit clothes that I truly love and will get a lot of wear out of, and so far no bigger fanish project has ever appealed to me enough to make the commitment.

For some reason - before reading Ravelling - it hadn't even occurred to me that socks are right there! So just like John in this fanfic I too want to slowly start a fandom inspired sock collection, because that just sounds like a lot of fun.

I am starting off very beige. I found a pattern for an oatmeal jumper inspired sock and the same weekend I went out to shop for some groceries and came across the ideal beige yarn for the purpose. It was basically faith.

This has been my first time knitting a sock from the toe up (if we ignore the at least three times that I unravelled parts of this sock before I was happy with it) and I really like doing it this way! The yarn, while inexpensive and nice to look at, was a bit of a pain to work with though.

Overall I am not 100% sure how much this really resembles the actual oatmeal jumper, but even if it doesn't, it's still a very comfy and nice cable knit sock, just in time for the cold months and it has a special meaning just for me.

The problem with socks, he decides, is that people have heels.

John in Ravelling

While I wholeheartedly agree with that sentiment (even though this heel really wasn't that bad), there is an even bigger problem ... which is that people have TWO feet.

So I will post this here mainly to hold myself accountable to actually starting and finishing sock number 2 at some point (even though my mind has already merrily skipped further down fandom knitting lane and is now ogling 221 B wallpaper patterned socks or a Moriarty skull tie pattern). But I am sure I will return to oatmeal sock number 2 in 2-3 business months, just to discover that I have completely forgotten how I made the first one!

Wish me luck!

(And go and read Ravelling if you haven't yet. Go reread it if you have! And if you have the time and the spoons for it, go and create something!)

[topsyturvy-turtely]

EFF that i am doing my own poll without any manipulations!!! ( @safedistancefrombeingsmart )

[myriath]

This feels like a cover of something. But what could be the title? Any suggestions?

Oh, and if you know a fic that matches the illustration, please send me the link. I need more reading material!

I also have to redraw this when I’m better at faces.

[reynardinepttr]

It's taken me all day to realise, but I appear to have bought myself an oversize oatmeal-coloured Watson jumper

[a-victorian-girl]

What??! 🤣🤣🤣

Folks. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON. -____-”

[inevitably-johnlocked]

Five Fics Friday: Sept. 23/22

Happy Friday, everyone, and here’s the final list of 5FF: Year Two! Let’s get the weekend started with some new stuff added to my MFL list the past few weeks! Enjoy!

RECENT MFLs

The Phoenix and the Dove by professorfangirl (NR, 1,928 w., 1 Ch. || Post-TRF) – How bright he burns, John thinks, back from the dead. John can’t stop looking at him. He glows with his own impossible aliveness; he is limned in miracle, foxfire of the soul. Beside him John is small, and grey, and soft in his oatmeal jumper. He cannot possibly match this fire; his small self can’t be enough. He is almost invisible next to this great burning bird.

the haze of you by AMazeofCold (NR, 2,361 w., 1 Ch. || Post-TRF, Heavy Angst, Implied/Referenced Suicide, Grief/Mourning, Alcohol Abuse, Hurt John, Pining John) – Without Sherlock, John is adrift, more ghost than his dead friend. He feels as he did before Sherlock saved him but worse because now everything is loss. It cripples him.

Darkest Days, Finest Hours by blueink3 (M, 12,448 w., 1 Ch. || S4 Fix It Fic, Parentlock, Angst with Happy Ending, Friends to Lovers, Kidnapping, Hurt John, Peril, Soft Sherlock, BAMF John) – They both knew, deep down, that it was only a matter of time. And now the time has come.Rosamund Catherine Watson is missing. And Sherlock Holmes is about to set the world on fire.

Fornicatio Autem by azriona (E, 50,217 w., 5 Ch. || Medieval Omegaverse AU || Rape/Non-Con, Dubious Consent, Mating Cycles/In Heat, Arranged Marriage, Bonding) – England, the 13th century. John Watson and Sherlock Holmes have been betrothed since they were children, despite not knowing each other at all. But Earl Moriarty has long desired Sherlock Holmes – and only one man can stand in the Earl’s way. The question is – will he?

The Most Human Series by apliddell (E, 336,182 w. across 4 Stories || Post-TRF, Flirting, Fluff and Angst, Angst with a Happy Ending, Texting, Epistolary) – Sherlock finds he can't do without his blogger.

[londonlock]

he’s john oatmeal-jumper hamish elbow-patches watson and we love him for it

[topsyturvy-turtely]

it's very warm and cozy! bet you'd like it!

you gotta ask her yourself ;)

do you like the jumper my mom knitted for me? 😇

Amazing!

Can I request one as well?

[hpswl-cumbercookie]

Secret Boyfriends/Husbands Rec List

So my dears, I am finally going to fulfill my dream of starting doing rec lists. I would like to help fill the unfathomable void that has been left behind by @alexxphoenix42. Let me tell you, I have no idea how she did this job for so long, it’s harder than you’d think, but so much fun. Anyways, this is the first rec list of hopefully many, feel free to send me asks for fics/lists and I will put them together as quickly as my little hands possibly can. I dedicate this first list to @srebrnafh for her unending kindness, support, and overall general awesomeness, you are the greatest! And, by the way, I found the fic you were looking for!!! It’s the very first one on this list, I’m really glad I was able to find it.

You can see my search results here in case none of these are to your liking. If you would like to be tagged in future lists just let me know and if you want to find my lists search for the tag #cc rec list.

Missing in Action by Alphinss

Words: 7k Rating: Teen

Lestrade is worried about Sherlock. He hasn't seen the man in a week. What else is a man to do but break into the man's house under the pretence of a drugs bust. But who is the man that almost shoots one of his officers and why is he in Sherlock's flat?

A Long Time Coming by thestanceyg

Words: 5k Rating: Teen

Sherlock's been acting strangely, and Lestrade isn't sure why. One day he finds a shirtless soldier in Sherlock's flat and things start to make a lot more sense.

Capt John H Watson, MBBS by anthonyedwardstark

Words: 2k Rating: Gen

Sherlock has not been seen or heard from for more than a week. Lestrade decides to begin his search for the man at 221B Baker Street. When Scotland Yard's finest arrive at the flat, what (or rather who) they find is certain to surprise them.

Sherlock’s Who? By freakypet

Words: 4k Rating: Gen

John has been away for Sherlock's entire career and suddenly returns to London unexpectedly from Afghanistan. Injured and tired and in pain, all he wants is to surprise Sherlock and kiss his husband. His search to find and surprise his wayward partner takes him across London and meets him up with those in Sherlock's world he has only heard about until now.

A quickly written story that was meant to be my version of "Everyone Meet Sherlock's Secret Husband - Ha Ha In Your face" - but I got this instead.

The Bee Charmer by dreadpiratewatson

Words: 3k Rating: Mature

Greg goes to 221B to check up on Sherlock after a strange phone call pulls him away from an important case, and is stunned to find himself in front of a gun brandishing soldier with a sleeping Sherlock on his chest.

John Watson is a doctor, a war hero, a husband, and the only one in the world who can soften Sherlock's heart.

This Isn’t Happening by Emma_Locke

Words: 5k Rating: Teen

Greg never believed the rumors that Sherlock and John were shagging, not really. Sure, it was fun to tease and taunt his friends, but he knew their relationship was solely platonic. He had never seen any action to suggest more than that, so he continued to hold by that belief until proven otherwise. The last thing he expects is to inconveniently interrupt various impromptu make-out sessions between the pair, but is that really what’s happening? Neither Sherlock nor John ever say anything about it, and they seem thoroughly confused when he brings the topic up.

Is Greg Lestrade going crazy?

Are those two idiots setting him up?

Or does he just ship Johnlock harder than anyone thought?

Outed by a Drugs Bust by Inactive Account (sassybleu)

Words: 1.5k Rating: Mature

Their relationship status didn't leave the confinement of their flat, so when they got lazy days like this; Sherlock without a case, and John without work, they took full advantage of it.

Sherlock and John are together-but no one else knows that. The damage is done when Lestrade and his crew break in on a drugs bust.

I’ll Greet You With a Smile by sevvyboy1fangirl

Words: 2k Rating: Teen

When John comes home from the war, Sherlock is there to greet his husband at the airport. How will others react to the news of Sherlock having a husband? And how will John react to meeting those that are in his husbands life? And how will Sherlock and John's life continue now that John is home?

*NOTE- This story is incomplete but it ends in a mostly satisfying manner*

Illusory Correlation and Confirmation Bias by VanillaBroompolish

Words: 10k Rating: Gen

Looking back, there were a few things that should’ve tipped Greg off long before that night at the pub. A few things Sherlock left fairly obvious, that on reflection, made Greg question how he’d gotten his job in the first place.

The Blind and the Clueless by InTheShadows

Words: 3k Rating: Teen

When Greg first meets John Watson, he mentally wishes Sherlock the best. Lord knows that man needs someone who can keep up with him. When John keeps coming back, Greg is impressed. When they seem perfect for each other for each other, but neither of the blind idiots see it, well. Then Greg is less so.

aka 5 times Greg saw John was perfect for Sherlock but didn't say anything and one time he did.

How Single-Malt Made Them a Double (AKA Loose Lips Confirm Ships) by IrelandSpades and MyFirstistheFourth

Words: 4.5k Rating: Mature (Could make a case for explicit, read with care those who are sex-repulsed)

A holiday party, too much whiskey, and something is revealed when a soldier goes too far.

Behind Closed Doors by Mssmithlove

Words: 10k Rating: Explicit

An hour earlier, everything had been different. Sherlock Holmes' heart had not been in pieces on the tiled hallway floor of his secondary school, grey eyes blinking back the tears threatening to fall down his cheeks, knees shaking with the effort not to buckle and knock him to the ground on the first day of his last year here before university.

An hour earlier, Sherlock Holmes had been happy.

In Which Sherlock Is Hiding Something by Huffordle

Words: 2k Rating: Gen

Sherlock is hiding something from Greg although the DI doesn't notice.

A Surprise in 221B by lancesface

Words: 2k Rating: Gen

Lestrade entered the flat prepared to find a consulting detective sulking on the couch due to the lack of cases but instead found a short blond man, wearing an oatmeal jumper, who was limping down the hallway towards the door.

Alibis by JohnlockRelapse

Words: 7k Rating: Mature

Sherlock is away for the weekend, John indisposed. And Greg would never admit to himself how desperate he was for Sherlock’s help. A series of phone calls to concerned parties, and a frustrated Detective Inspector later, alibis would prove to never be enough.

The Most Noble of Bullies by emptycel

Words: 10k Rating: Mature

John Watson is abused at home and the biggest jerk at his school. He has no qualms about being as cruel to his classmates as his father is to him. No one is safe from his torment.

Except for Sherlock Holmes.

But you can't expect John to bully his secret boyfriend.

[ebaeschnbliah]

THE  KNIGHT  OF  BASKERVILLE

________________________________________________________________

ACDs novel The Hound of the Baskervilles tells the story of Sir Henry Baskerville who returns from Canada to take up the inheritance of his family, the Baskerville estate with the old manor house Baskerville Hall. 

The Sherlock BBC adaptation, The Hounds of Baskerville, transforms the centuries old manor house into the modern high-security military base BASKERVILLE, supervised by the britisch government. Because the character ‘Sir Henry Baskerville’ had to be included as well, it’s understandable that a renaming of this important character became necessary. 

But why Henry KNIGHT? Names are important in Sherlock BBC. Reason enough to take a closer look at the name and significance of ‘knight’. 

TBC below the cut ….

What’s a knight?

- Nowadays, a knight is a person who has been given a rank of honour by the Queen or King of GB because of special achievements

- In the past a knight was a man of high social position, trained to fight as soldier on a horse for his liege lord

- In myths, legends and fairytales knights are often depicted as brave and valiant men who fight against all kinds of evil forces. They defend not only their king or queen, they often become ‘a last refuge for the desperate, the unloved, the persecuted … a final court of appeal for everyone‘. They stand up for justice and fight for those who aren’t able to help themselves. 

Knights and pirates

Mycroft mentions in ASIB that his little brother Sherlock initially wanted to be a pirate. In TFP, right after Sherlock jumps through fire and flames onto a ship which will bring him to Sherrinford, he calls himself a pirate. Are there connections between pirates and knights? Of course there are:

One of the most famous pirates of the British Empire was Sir Francis Drake -Elizabeth I awarded Drake a knighthood in 1581 which he received on his ship, the Golden Hind. 

William Knight  was a 17th-century English buccaneer (pirate). Reading the Wikipedia entry about him, it looks like ‘Captain Knight’ has indeed raided ‘the seven seas’. 

William Sherlock Scott Holmes, consulting private detective, the only one in the world and additionally dragon slayer, pirate and knight …. this man really loves to be dramatic.  

(For more delicious pirate treats look up this post about Sherlock and the Pirates of the Caribbean, black spots and Treasure Island)

Knights are guardians, defenders, soldiers ... pirates ... who slay the most dangerous dragons and save damsels in distress …  

(With every quiver of his beating heart   The Black Defender).

Two ‘damsels’ in Sherlock BBC

A damsel - is an old fashioned term, meaning a young woman, often unmarried and of noble birth. Synonyms are: demoiselle, girl, maid, maiden, miss. The word comes from the Middle English damesel, from Anglo-French dameisele, from Vulgar Latin domnicella (young noblewoman), diminutive of Latin ... domina lady   (x)

��Damsel’ appears two times in Sherlock BBC in two different scenes from two different episodes. It is used by two different characters and aimed at two different persons.

Mycroft in ASIB talks about Sherlock and ‘dominatrix’ Irene Adler:

That’s all it takes: one lonely naïve man desperate to show off, and a woman clever enough to make him feel special. …. The damsel in distress. In the end, are you really so obvious? Because this was textbook: the promise of love, the pain of loss, the joy of redemption; then give him a puzzle … and watch him dance.

Magnussen in HLV talks about Sherlock and ‘eternal friend’ John Watson:

Very hard to find a pressure point on you, Mr. Holmes. The drugs thing I never believed for a moment. Anyway, you wouldn’t care if it was exposed, would you? But look how you care about John Watson. Your damsel in distress.

What an interesting combination of characters on both sides of Sherlock. And one more confrontation of the two (so often hinted at) opposites in this story - sex and friendship (Solutions or choices). Irene and Jim represent the female and male incarnation of sex, while John-I’m not gay-Watson represents the ‘eternal’ friend and fixed point in a changing age. Both aspects - sex and friendship - are called Sherlock’s ‘damsels’. And it’s even more interesting to see who makes those statements:  

MYCROFT - owner of a laptop on which depends the security of the free world (”with potatoes on it - shelves in exchange for chips - I am glad you liked my potatoe -  you’re suicidal, you’re allowed chips”)

MAGNUSSEN - who runs the western world from a library of secrets and scandals that isn’t stored on computers but on hard copy in vaults

A computer versus hard copies in vaults … Well, this reminds me of Sherlock’s explanation in The Great Game, regarding his brain. He compares it to a computer hard drive and adds that  ‘it only makes sense to put things in there that are useful ... really useful. Ordinary people fill their heads with all kinds of rubbish, and that makes it hard to get at the stuff that matters?‘   And what might be a ‘hard copy in vaults’? This seems to be a perfect metaphor for informations stored inside the brain. That organ occupies the space in the skull called ... cranial vault. 

(Mycroft & Magnussen   A shadow of massive proportions)

A computer versus hard copies in vaults … two paraphrases for one and the same thing … a brain. Janus-faced, one could call it. A mind in conflict with itself. Time to choose a side for Sherlock Holmes. Friendship or sex? John or James? Saint or sinner? 

What if Sherlock chooses neither? ‘I could just walk out of here’ (and carry on torturing myself in an isolated dungeon, locked up in solitary confinement with my worst enemy, that’s ME by the way,  for another couple of centuries … I can’t die anyway, I’m an immortal literal character ... an undead)

What if Sherlock chooses both?  A tempting idea …. :)))

A game for the brain

Chess is called the ‘game of kings’ (’Am I the current king of England?’) and chess plays a vital role in Sherlock BBC. Serial killer Jeff Hope compares the game he wants to play with Sherlock to chess … ‘it’s chess not chance’. There’s a chess board in 221b, the pieces are always standing on it, ready to play. It turns up in each episode, placed at different locations in the living room. The third episode of S1 is called The Great Game. A fake chess game in TEH. A game of chess in Tiblisi, Georgia between two massive lion statues. And let’s not forget the three mysterious promo pics for S4 … Sherlock and Mycroft playing chess and John sitting between them. There are no visual connections whatsoever in S4 to those pics. Anyway, chess is important … especially one certain piece type of the figurines, it seems. 

Chess is a very old two-player strategy board game, originating from India around the 6th century. The oldest archaeological chess artifacts were excavated in Uzbekistan, central Asia, and date to about 760. Chess is played on a checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid, with16 pieces for each player: 

One king, one queen, two rooks, two knights, two bishops, and eight pawns. Each piece type moves differently and ... these are the moves:

The knight is a specialist ...

The chess piece called ‘knight’ is normally represented by a horse's head and neck. The area a knight is able to cover - to protect or threaten other pieces - forms a circle. 

The knight moves unconventionally compared to all the other chess pieces. Whereas other pieces move in straight lines, knights move in an “L-shape”—that is, they can move two squares in any direction vertically followed by one square horizontally, or two squares in any direction horizontally followed by one square vertically …. a bit similar to the strange sitting arrangement of Sherlock and John, chosen for the plane scene in TST. 

Presumed both men were knights on a chess board, each move of either man could bring him to the place of the other one. Mary isn’t in the way at all because knights are able to …. jump.

The ‘jumper’

Another characteristic feature of a knight is the fact that it is the only piece in the game of chess that can “jump over” other pieces, regardless of whether those pieces are black or white. Because of this, some languages refer to the knight as ‘the jumper’ (in german ‘der Springer’). 

Of jumping and jumpers

Jumping in front of trains, of ‘transport’ and leaving behind strawberry jam, connects the Andrew West case from TGG with the Strawb-Fizz-Explosive-Flavour-Bus from TST, in which John meets E (Eurus/Sherlock). A quite explosive meeting indeed, thinking of Eurus’ passions grenade a little later.  

(Bus spotted on and speculated about during setlock, in the night-shot with Faith 12.06.2016 x x)

Jumping from a rooftop, taking a leap of faith from the edge of a waterfall, throwing oneself through fire and flames out of windows onto an island ..... jumping, falling, flying and landing …. those are definitely main topics in Sherlock BBC.  (Developement of the fall)

Considering the fact that the creators of Sherlock BBC obviously enjoy playing with names, words, double meanings and innuendos really very much, I seriously wonder wether there is a reason behind the decision to dress John Watson in his, by now, famous oatmeal coloured jumper or let Sherlock tell a room full of wedding guests that he ‘could go on all night about the depth and complexity of (John’s) ... jumpers ...’

PS:  Taking the screen caps from the wedding, I noticed for the first time that a female voice says ‘jumpers’ simultaneously with Sherlock in this scene. It’s a bit like Mrs. Hudson suddenly chiming in with ‘softer, Sherlock’ during his conversation with Molly in TFP. 

The Christmas jumpers shouldn’t be forgotten either. There are two of them which play a role in Sherlock BBC: John wears one in ASIB, the other one turns up in the fisherman deduction scene in THOB. @sagestreet  wrote about the fisherman and his mother  here.  By the way … that’s most likely a reindeer on the fisherman’s jumper. Reindeer’s are a species of deer and deer, stags and harts are another heavy featured topic in this story. 

(Sherlock the stag and the skull   Stalking the deerstalker   The three Garridebs   Study in pink and green)

Change of colour

Also interesting … due to its L-shaped movement, a knight, beginning on a white square, will always end up on a black square, and vice versa. The colour of the square it stands on, changes with each movement. Changing is definitely another main theme - if not THE main theme - of this story.

Short version for the transformation from Rosie to rainbow:   Rosamund=rose of the world=rosa mundi=rosa versicolor=changing colours/many colours/iridescence=rainbow   

(longer version in these comments   The elephant in the room/womb   Prism)

Back to the game and the knights

Looking at the chess pieces on the board and the captured ones lying next to it, one can safely say that it had been Mycroft who started this game, because according to the rules of chess, white moves fist. 

If Sherlock BBC is meant to be a great, metaphorical game of chess, with the various characters serving as chess pieces, then Mycroft starting that game, would coincide with a PILOT starting point. Before John Watson walks into the lab at Bart’s Hospital and meets Sherlock Holmes for the first time, before DI Lestrade summons Sherlock to the crime scene of the Lady in Pink, it is Mycroft who sends Sherlock an E-Mail, asking for his help in an ‘impossible situation’. Sherlock answers his brother with the famous Holmes quote from canon: 

‘When you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains must be the truth. ‘

This interpretation would also coincide with the idea that in this story Mycroft represents the brain, Sherlock’s brain. Logic, reason and intellect. After all, it is this organ which starts every movement and every thought in everyones life.  (The reptile in 221b)

It is Mycroft who first kidnaps and investigates the ‘eternal friend’ - Sherlock’s feelings for John. In the wake of the first explosion, it is him who brings the ‘West' case to Baker Street, who later downright forces Sherlock to take the ‘Woman-case’. It is him who releases the ‘Hound’ and also him who brings Sherlock back from the dungeon inside the forest. Jim becomes Eurus’ Chrismas present because ‘big brother’ allowed it. Mycroft is responsible that Sherlock gets involved in the Carmichael case and it is also him who tells Sherlock that ‘We don’t defeat them (emotions). We must certainly lose to them. Because they are right, and we are wrong.’ This case leads Sherlock to his very own Reichenbach Falls - ‘the greatest crisis of my career’ - the point where he throws himself into the waterfall, out of his own free will. No one forces him, there is not the slightest need to do this. Yet Sherlock jumps and flies.

Centre stage for the knights …. the jumpers ….

Henry Knight instead of Henry Baskerville …. it seems there could have been a lot of good reasons for the creators of Sherlock BBC to choose KNIGHT as the new surname for … THE Baskerville … the man haunted by demons.

(Shoes for the hound   Investigator of secrets and scandals)

Source of chess info/pics (x x x), source of Sherlock BBC chess promo pics (x)

I leave you to your own deductions. Thanks @callie-ariane for the scripts.

October, 2019

[thebeethathums]

Knit Jumpers

John Watson x Reader One Shot

Notes: One I love this song even though it is not relevent to the content and Two ignore my old school time skips. It was a phase. Mention of reader being Sherlock’s sister and some similar physical attributes. If that bothers you please only read at your own discretion.

You smiled as Sherlock waltzed out of the flat with John behind him rushing to keep up, glad to have Sherlock out of the house with a case to keep him busy and distracted from shooting the walls.

‘Finally some time to myself’ you thought, letting out a content sigh. You took a long shower and pulled on some fresh clothes before gathering some ingredients and flipping on your music.

Time to let loose.

~~~~ Short time skip to a little while later brought to you by Dr. McCoy’s Tricorder~~~

John’s POV-

John hesitated at the door to 221B noticing the pulsating rhythms that came from behind it. The music was set as loud as it could be without alerting or bothering Mrs. Hudson, which given the separation of floors and multiple walls, was quite loud.

He sighed, knowing that you were probably relishing the only alone time you had gotten since you started crashing on their couch a month ago, before quietly opening the door and venturing inside.

Cause she's fine But for an angel, she's a hot, hot mess Make you so blind But you don't mind

He followed the source of the music to the kitchen and his breath caught when you finally came into view. You hadn’t noticed the door slam downstairs, the angry footsteps that had followed, or even the apartment door opening like you usually did. You were lost in your own little world.

Cause she's an uptown, get-around, anything-goes girl She's a hardcore, candy-store, give-me-some-more girl

Your back was to him and you swished your hips in time to the music as you stirred the bowl of batter you held in the crook of your arm. He took a few steps back from the doorway, wanting to watch you a little longer before he announced his presence.

He noted that you had changed since they had left you, a pair of skinny black jeans and one of his knit jumpers with the sleeves pushed up wrapped around your form leaving your forearms and feet bare. Your dark hair was left curly for once, as you hadn’t taken the time to dry it and tame it straight, and it fell messily to just below your jawline.

He couldn’t help but smile at the thought of how much he liked the look of his jumper on you, it was just big enough to look like it belonged to someone else but not so big it dwarfed you.

He shook his head silently thanking the higher power that had allowed Sherlock to break the air system with one of his “experiments” the day before, causing it to spit out frigidly cold air.

You had begged Sherlock to lend you something warm, as you weren’t prepared for the cold, but your difficult older brother had simply said: “Go ask Watson.”

He had happily lent you a soft, oatmeal colored jumper after assuring you that it was no trouble at all.

Movement in the kitchen pulled him from his thoughts and he took a step forward to watch you swish over to the sink happily humming along.

She's got a wicked sense of humor, can't believe what she says She drinks Bacardi in the morning till it goes to her head And all you want is just to hold her, but she don't go for that

Your POV-

You moved to the sink to add some water to your batter, giving your hips a little shake as you went along. You hummed contently then brought your chin to your chest so you could bury your nose into the front of Watson’s jumper.

It smelled like him- a mixture of antiseptic, cinnamon, and just a hint of vanilla- and you couldn’t help but enjoy it. Smiling shyly at the thought of the kind doctor, you turned round to unexpectedly find him in the kitchen doorway.

The bowl escaped your hands and clattered to the floor in your shock and your face went a deep shade of red. How much had he seen? Mentally face-palming yourself for not keeping your senses sharp, you flipped off the music and busied yourself with the mess on the floor.

“Sorry (F/n), I didn’t mean to startle you.” he managed, blushing deeply himself, not that you noticed, your focus on the spilt mess on the floor.

“Of course you didn’t Watson.” you stated, regaining your composure before leaning back on your heels to look up at him, “I should have guessed you’d end up back here. You and Sherlock had a row in the street.”

He nodded. Though from your tone it hadn’t been a question.

You sighed making a note to scold the cheeky bastard for it later, “I apologize on his behalf.”

“No need. I’d much rather be here with you anyways.” John said offering his hand.

You took it, giving him a confused expression as he hoisted you up.

John’s eyes widened, “I-I mean, you know opposed to out with Sherlock and his attitude. Not that- I mea – you know-”

You chuckled giving his hand a tight squeeze, “I know John. It’s quite alright.”

He set his mouth in a tight line and furrowed his brows as you went to rinse your hands. He moved in behind you, deep in thought- Why didn’t he just tell you? I mean Sherlock would likely kill you both but it was probably better than whatever this was. And then there was Mycroft. Then again you seemed to be able to sooth both your brothers easily or if that didn’t work, you could just use that tone that seemed to scare the wits out of both of them. You probably knew anyway, you were a Holmes after all…

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted when you turned and, not realizing his proximity, ran into him. You both flushed red and you mumbled, “Sorry,” lifting your chin to look up into his stormy sky blue eyes.

That clinched it, without even thinking he swiftly cupped your face in his hands and leaned forward to press his lips gently against yours. He pulled away after only a few seconds, his eyes searching your face for a reaction.

After a moment you smiled shyly, winding your fingers around the edge of his jacket and gently pulling him in for a proper kiss.

‘Looks like you would be wearing a lot more of his jumpers,’ you both thought simultaneously, as you smiled into the kiss and he happily wrapped his arms around your waist.

[saorlasdraft]

5687(Approximately)

When John's leave request for Christmas is denied, Sherlock is nothing short of devastated, not that he's letting it show. The holiday season now something he's just waiting to end, Sherlock doesn't think anything can possibly make it worse. That is, until he realizes no one in his life believes his army "boyfriend" is even real, but, luckily, everyone is in for a surprise.

Till Death Do Us Part (Not Yet, Not Yet)

He rubbed his hands together before reaching for the package. It was indeed small, about 10 centimeters long and half as wide. The packaging was yellow, standard, and could have reasonably been purchased anywhere. The only words on it were his own first and last name, and they were printed, not handwritten. There were no scents on the package that would lead to a sender, nor any stains that could be analyzed for a location. Whoever sent this had been more careful than most not to give anything away. Sherlock smiled, giddy at this new mystery. Until he opened the package. A golden wedding ring fell into his hand. Sherlock’s heart stopped. OR: In which Sherlock and John have been married for years, not that any member of the yard has ever heard of John, much less that Sherlock was married at all, until John is kidnapped from Afghanistan

In Which Sherlock Is Hiding Something

Sherlock is hiding something from Greg although the DI doesn't notice.

A Surprise in 221B

Lestrade entered the flat prepared to find a consulting detective sulking on the couch due to the lack of cases but instead found a short blond man, wearing an oatmeal jumper, who was limping down the hallway towards the door.

Captain John H Watson MBBS

Sherlock has not been seen or heard from for more than a week. Lestrade decides to begin his search for the man at 221B Baker Street. When Scotland Yard's finest arrive at the flat, what (or rather who) they find is certain to surprise them.

Sherlock Headcanon

Okay so Sherlock and john knew each other even before John got deployed in Afghanistan. John would often tell his fellows stories about the time "[he] and Sherl" did something, and by the way he fondly talks about Sherl, everyone assumes Sherl is his girlfriend because 'Three Continents Watson'.

Until John comes back from the war and he and Sherlock take Christmas photos and send Christmas cards to his old army buddies abd it's just signed, "—Merry Wishes from John and Sherl".