Fic: A Trifle More: Mature/R

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Title: A Trifle More
Rating: Mature
Length: 500
Content Notes & Warnings: Holmes/Mary Watson/Watson; polyamory; sexual setting; discussion of weight
Summary: First scene of a potentially longer polyamory fic.
Author's Note: For the 1_million_words Fortune Cookie weekend challenge. The prompt was: The world may be your oyster, but it doesn't mean you'll get its pearl. Also for the Monthly prompt: seven.

I grunted.

The front of my shirt was unbuttoned; the back was damp with sweat. My trousers were pooled at my feet. Two words brought my hobbled exertions to an abrupt halt.

“John. Stop.”

I withdrew. I stood.

One look, and my lust dulled to shame. I hung my head.

A hand weighed on my shoulder.

“Were passion its drive, I should welcome being ridden like a Derby frontrunner by my husband.” Her gentle smile bloomed, then faded, at the snort. “But no one glories in being the flesh-bound whipping post of an unnamed frustration. Unburden yourself or seek remedy elsewhere.”

“Holmes says that I have put on seven and a half pounds since you and I married. I say seven.” I ran a hand over my soft belly. “‘Indeed. I should have thought a little more. Just a trifle more,’” I mocked.

“You take offense?”

“I certainly do! I am still fit enough to chase after criminals, to aide him in the more physical aspects of his investigations. I am still able to…”

“Lay vigorous siege to your wife?”

I grimaced.

“After announcing this observation, did Mister Holmes eschew your assistance?”

“Well, no. He asked me to stay, and he said he was lost without his Boswell. It was rather nice.”

“The observation is his nature, John, but mightn’t its utterance be provoked by envy?”

“Envy?! If Holmes wanted a wife to fatten him up, he could use his enormous faculties, and not inconsiderable resources, to procure one. He could set himself up with four meals a day, an army of Mary Janes, and a comely—or not, per his taste—general aide-de-camp to command them.”

Her expression was of the family—though a kinder, sweeter cousin—of those that Holmes often bestowed upon me, for example, when I mistook ‘hospital’ for ‘hunt.’

“What am I missing, my dear?”

“Perhaps he is not envious of you.”

I frowned.

“How much weight did you gain between your arrival at Baker Street until our marriage, John?”

“About the same. Seven pounds. I was quite thin when I returned from Afghanistan.”

“So it took Mister Holmes many years to accomplish what I managed in mere months. He may excel in many areas but with regard to the care and feeding of John Watson, I am his superior.”

I fell to one knee before her and as I bowed my head, a soft baritone filled the room.

“Though the world may be one’s oyster, my dear Watson, the gifts of its pearls do not necessarily follow.”

Mary turned.

“Now, Mister Holmes. You’ve disturbed my husband and, for a moment, my marriage bed. Whether out of mischief or boredom or sentiment,” she drew out the word, “is not my concern. Your punishment is, however. You might benefit from old fashioned discipline of the lower variety, but there are more imaginative ways of administering justice.”

He uncurled from the head of the bed and crawled towards us.

“I humbly place myself in your hands, Madame.”

Comments

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Woo hoo! A beautifully done polyamoury tale! And a great use of the prompt!

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Thank you, thank you. I'm glad you liked it.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

I love Her expression was of the family—though a kinder, sweeter cousin—of those that Holmes often bestowed upon me.... Especially the phrase 'kinder, sweeter cousin'.

And it's such a lovely thought that Holmes wasn't being catty or simply stating a fact when he commented on Watson's weight gain - he was acknowledging that Mary was taking good care of Watson.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Thank you! One of the few artful phrases in this one. And yes I wanted to show that the accusation might have a more friendly origin. Holmes for all his genuine care for Watson is not of the role or disposition or temperament to 'fatten him up' like a wife.

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

As soon as Holmes had started to get Watson to put on a little weight, he'd promptly drag him all over London, so it would all be run off again. Mary is much more successful here. No wonder Holmes is a tad jealous.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Right. The work plus his own distractions doesn't equal attention to nourishment. But Holmes is still a tad piqued at her success.

[tripleransom.livejournal.com]

EEEEE! What fun! I do hope there is a longer fic to follow.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Thank you! There is! And a prequel, if you're interested.

http://archiveofourown.org/works/7889956