Fic: Twirling Umbrella: Gen

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Title: Twirling Umbrella
Length: 221b
Rating: Gen
For: March's prompt: code
Summary: Watson sees something extraordinary near Pall Mall.


One fine day in early spring, I was walking with Holmes near Pall Mall when, Holmes having suddenly and spontaneously ducked into a tobacconist, I caught sight of the most extraordinary spectacle. I disbelieved my eyes at first, then hurried into the shop to tell Holmes.

“Holmes, you won’t believe what I just saw!”

Holmes finished his purchase and stepped close to the door, drawing me nearer to him.

“What did you see, Watson?”

I had no idea why he was whispering but I followed his lead, replying,

“Your brother.”

“Yes?”

“Twirling his umbrella! I scarcely credit him with such an act in public. Spring must have got into his veins. Perhaps he’s in love.”

Holmes snorted. “He saw you?”

“No.”

“He saw you. In which hand was he holding the umbrella?”

“Left.”

“Ah.”

Holmes returned to the counter and immediately plunged into conference with the tobacconist. He returned carrying two knives.

“We haven’t time to return to Baker Street for your revolver.”

“But?” I didn’t understand.

“Mycroft was sending a message to me. He saw you and used his umbrella the way a maiden might use her fan. Twirling on the left means ‘we are being watched.’”

“I suppose I should be happy he didn’t tap the handle to his lips.”

Holmes quirked a smile and passed me a blade.

Comments

[smallhobbit]

Nice one. Very clever of Mycroft. And yes, I quite agree, Watson wouldn't want him doing that (and neither would Holmes!)

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you very much! The lads are well versed in so many coded languages, no?

[firecat]

For some reason I'm imagining Mycroft's umbrella-twirling precipitating a Busby Berkeley routine.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Ha! That would be a very complicated message in the language of fans! But perhaps once he gets started twirling, he'll get hooked.

[scfrankles]

Echoing Small Hobbit - that's really clever, expanding the language of fans to the language of umbrellas ^___^ And I looked up tapping a handle to your lips ^________^

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thanks! I do like the business of the fans. I have a poem in mind for it and maybe even a resurrection of Miss Violet Mohels using one.

Sorry I am still on last month's prompt! It was a good one!

[debriswoman]

Oh...nicely done:-)

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Thank you! I do like the idea of Mycroft using all known code languages at his disposal, regardless of origin or decorum.

[gardnerhill]

Ah the trusty ol' fan code, translated to Brollese.

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

That's a great way of putting it.