Fic: The Story of the Seven Bedrooms: Mature

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Title: The Story of the Seven Bedrooms
Rating: Mature
Length: 500
Content Notes & Warnings: Holmes/Watson; Watson/Many OCs (past); references to prostitution and orgies, set post-"The Naval Treaty," no mention of Mary.
Summary: Watson recounts a tale from his youth.
Author's Note: "...he would have to pass through seven bedrooms." ("The Naval Treaty")


Holmes lowered his violin.

“The remainder of the evening’s entertainment falls on you, Watson. I should like to hear the story of the seven bedrooms.”

“Holmes!”

“Watson!” he cried, mocking my surprise. “This morning you were stifling a grin at that point in my explanation.”

“I was remembering youth’s vigour.”

“Do tell.”

Wine became whiskey and I did.
---
“One night on my first visit to the Continent, I found myself at a house of pleasure with mates. I began in one bedroom—chamber is the better term—and six later I was on the street at dawn, spent and penniless, but smiling.”

“The first?”

“Was of the proprietress of the establishment.”

“Pick of the litter, were you?”

“Indeed. She was a large, robust woman.”

“Efficient, too, I’ll wager.”

I nodded. “She recognised my omnivorous nature, and when we finished introduced me to a young man only a few years my senior. Dark eyes, dark skin. He spoke like a poet, reasoned like a philosopher. We discovered a common interest in medicine, his of the East, mine of the West.”

“An exchange of knowledge?”

“And bodily fluids, but he had customers waiting so he handed me over to his sisters.”

Holmes raised an eyebrow.

“His countrywomen, at least. Equally beautiful, but more playful in nature, and by that time, I was in need of a wash.”

“So they obliged.”

I hummed. “The pleasure of being cradled between them, surrounded by heat and water.” I shook my head and sighed.

“Like your Turkish bath?”

I nodded. “Once restored, I asked after my mates and was ushered into a salon of sorts. One friend was well into his cups and cornered me with a whispered confession.”

“Were his feelings reciprocated?”

“No, but I was a bit muddled myself so…” I shrugged. “I’m told he’s doing quite well in America.”

“I’m sure he is.”

“Afterwards, we joined the others in the midst of an orgy. There were two rooms, one for watching, one for participating. It was madness but I confess some of the lessons learned have stayed with me still.”

“Indeed.”

“Seas of bodies, skin, mouths. Bird song mixed with sigh and grunts. A green-eye cat appeared at one point and gave my performance a very contemptuous look.”

Holmes chuckled. “Dogs are more forgiving. So what part of the adventure did you enjoy most?”

“The end, when my dark-eyed friend returned. We remained curled together in a hammock, pleasuring each other until the proprietress chased me into the street with her broom. For failure to pay. I had no money at that point.”

“Oh, Watson, you didn’t.”

I chuckled. “Of course, I gave him every last coin I had. Well, there you have it, the story of the seven bedrooms. What is it, Holmes?”

“It’s a pity that I have only one bedroom to offer you.”

I covered his hand with mine. “The man is not so different from the youth. Like a poet. Like a philosopher. And my treasure is yours.”

Comments

[tripleransom.livejournal.com]

Haha. Seven bedrooms and let's not forget those three separate continents, either. Watson is a man of much experience!

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Very true. I propose that this tale is one possible backstory for 'Three Continents.'

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Ooh, this is lovely and hot. Makes me sorry I wasn't there that night.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Thank you! You, me, and Holmes make three! :)

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I have to admit to being rather taken with the cat - clearly not every creature was impressed by his abilities.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Watson was clearly not 'Three Continents' yet and the cat wasn't sure he'd ever be.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I knew you could do it ^_^

That's so elegantly structured, and I admire your light touch with the story - the mix of poetry with the more... er... earthy aspects ^^ And I loved the last two lines - that romantic ending between Holmes and Watson. All really beautifully done.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your vote of confidence and kind words. Yeah it's a reminiscance so coloured with the romance of nostalgia.

I like all the quotes you pulled. Very helpful. Think there's a lot that can be done.