Fics: Untold Cases (No. 1): G

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Title: Untold Cases (No. 1)
Length: 352
Rating: Gen
Content Notes: six one-sentence stories; abuse of semicolon, dashes, and other punctuation; the untold cases; Holmes & Watson only
Author's Note: On fffc there is a challenge of 31 one-word prompts to write 31 one-sentences stories for. We're only supposed to post there when we've done a whole table, but as I'm having a bit of a rotten day, I thought I'd share the first six (with a different flower mentioned in each). The fffc prompt is in bold. Each sentence stands alone.


1. “If Mister Abernetty had not already been suffered the ill, lamentably fatal, effects of a carefully-place cushion over his nose and mouth, this cloying smell of lilies might have easily overwhelmed him to death,” muttered Holmes before blatantly, purposefully, and spitefully ignoring my reproving ‘for God’s sake, man, we’re at a funeral!’ glance.

2. “’Custom does not stale her infinite variety,’” I mused as I placed my hand over my heart, imagining its beat thudding in the rapid, a-guinea-more-for-all-due-haste-sir rhythm of the hansom cab wheels over stones; imagining the soft brush of the silk primrose which served as token and talisman; tasting, coppery like blood, salty like tears, the anticipation on my lips as Holmes and I hurtled through the fog towards a plague-spot on the East End and our next triumph over evil.

3. Holmes smiled at the yellow flower and said wearily, “You’ve won, Watson, for I cannot resist the call of my childhood friend the willow catkin; this horrid case of Baron Maupertuis is concluded, so I shall submit to the recommended course of treatment for my nervous exhaustion and join you in a quiet country holiday.”

4. “There is no humiliation, Holmes, in having a successful hobby as well as a successful professional career; you will always be remembered as first as the vanquisher of the Camberwell Poisoner and second as the confectioner of the most delicate and delightful sugared violets in the land.”

5. “I would argue that I was being not optimistic, but rather clever, bold, even when I threatened Count Sylvius with this notebook, which does not, in fact, contain anything about old Mrs. Harold or Miss Minnne Warrender, but rather pressed narcissus blossoms, which, of course, yes, Watson, I must acknowledge, are quite appropriate for the bluffer and bluffed.”

6. Holmes enjoyed his little joke immensely; yes, I was surprised, to say the least, at viewing the tattoo of a pair of lotuses, one blue, one white, naturally, that he obtained in commemoration of the successful conclusion of the Case of the Two Coptic Patriarchs, but my alarm dissolved into amusement when Toby licked the ink from his forearm.

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

These are excellent. I particularly liked the sugar violets.

I admit I find it very difficult writing long sentences - possibly because I always end up with Frankles' voice in my head saying this is too convoluted, even for Dr Watson ;) You, however, do it very well.

And I shouldn't worry about FFFC - it's highly likely I'm the only person to know, and I'm not telling ;)

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I think my challenge is to make a whole story out if it. And I know I'm not strong enough for Frankles as beta :)

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Frankles is a lovely beta - very helpful and positive. It's just she expects my sentences to make sense - you wouldn't have problems there.

[debriswoman]

These are really clever...great extensions to canon hints, and the flower inclusions are highly inventive:-)

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm plundering the 60 discussion page on flowers like a pirate! And you see your willow catkin appear!

[debriswoman]

I did:-)

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

Echoing Small Hobbit - my favourite was the one with the sugared violets too ^___^ But they're all wonderful.

Some other favourite bits:

...ignoring my reproving ‘for God’s sake, man, we’re at a funeral!’ glance.

...as I placed my hand over my heart, imagining its beat thudding in the rapid, a-guinea-more-for-all-due-haste-sir rhythm of the hansom cab wheels over stones...

"...pressed narcissus blossoms, which, of course, yes, Watson, I must acknowledge, are quite appropriate for the bluffer and bluffed.”

...my alarm dissolved into amusement when Toby licked the ink from his forearm.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Thank you. God bless you for the flowers discussion page. I wish I could put a dollar in a jar every time I use it. You could buy yourself a house of cheese by the end of the month.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

That's a very lovely thought ^___^