Fic: Advice: G
Dec. 1st, 2017 09:54 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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holmes_minorTitle: Advice
Form/Wordcount: 473
Character/Parings: Holmes, OMC
Rating: G
Warning/Content: Holmes receives career advice from a very helpful Professor.
Author’s Notes: For November’s prompt, they way they were. I ran out of time to figure out how professors and students addressed each other during university at that time. If it’s not right, let me know.
Holmes pressed his thumb to the top of the open end of the long glass pipette. He fought to keep his body still as he coughed. The strong vapors bothered his already irritated throat. He slowly released his thumb to dispense the clear liquid into the waiting __.
Sun light was now brightening up the university laboratory where he had been working in all night. He set the pipette aside and checked on his distillation on the other side of the acid-stained, wooden laboratory bench nearest the door.
He heard footsteps coming down the hall, knew the owner of them, and desperately hoped that they would keep walking.
The footsteps slowed and the creaky door was opened by tall, spider-like Professor Spring. He entered and stood at the edge of his bench nearest the dish basin. Holmes noticed that his great salt and pepper beard was not up to its usual level of grooming. Holmes quickly glanced at the mud on the man’s pants and black trousers and concluded it must be a windy during his walk across campus.
“Master Holmes!” Exclaimed a nasally voice. “Have you been here all night?”
“Yes, Professor Spring.”
“Excellent. You are a model of productivity!” said Professor Spring proudly. He looked around the room and his smile turned into a frown. “But, look at this mess on Master Pandey’s desk. He has a lot to account for. You best be watching yourself, or you’ll end up the same as him. As I always say, a cluttered life leads to a cluttered mind. Yes! You must keep your surroundings straight and organized least you flirt with having a mind unable to make sense of the world.”
Professors face became quite serious as he peered over his glasses. “Master Holmes, have you given much thought as to your career.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Good. Remember Williams? No, well, he is making his way and all the better for it. Do you know what he does?”
Holmes shook his head. He did not know and did not want to know.
“He is making a perfectly respectable living being an analyzing food for contaminants. He is providing for his young wife. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?”
“Yes, Professor.” said Holmes and he did his best to make it sound convincing but was he certain Professor Spring was not paying close attention to him.
“When you are ready, I will introduce you to Williams. You’re one of the brightest chemists in your year, he would jump at the chance to help you out. Just say the word. I am quite interested in your career interests.” Professor Spring said with his most pleasant, teacherly smile. With a nod from Holmes, the professor exited, and Holmes returned to his bubbling brew knowing full well that Professor has no interest in the career he actually wanted to pursue.
Form/Wordcount: 473
Character/Parings: Holmes, OMC
Rating: G
Warning/Content: Holmes receives career advice from a very helpful Professor.
Author’s Notes: For November’s prompt, they way they were. I ran out of time to figure out how professors and students addressed each other during university at that time. If it’s not right, let me know.
Holmes pressed his thumb to the top of the open end of the long glass pipette. He fought to keep his body still as he coughed. The strong vapors bothered his already irritated throat. He slowly released his thumb to dispense the clear liquid into the waiting __.
Sun light was now brightening up the university laboratory where he had been working in all night. He set the pipette aside and checked on his distillation on the other side of the acid-stained, wooden laboratory bench nearest the door.
He heard footsteps coming down the hall, knew the owner of them, and desperately hoped that they would keep walking.
The footsteps slowed and the creaky door was opened by tall, spider-like Professor Spring. He entered and stood at the edge of his bench nearest the dish basin. Holmes noticed that his great salt and pepper beard was not up to its usual level of grooming. Holmes quickly glanced at the mud on the man’s pants and black trousers and concluded it must be a windy during his walk across campus.
“Master Holmes!” Exclaimed a nasally voice. “Have you been here all night?”
“Yes, Professor Spring.”
“Excellent. You are a model of productivity!” said Professor Spring proudly. He looked around the room and his smile turned into a frown. “But, look at this mess on Master Pandey’s desk. He has a lot to account for. You best be watching yourself, or you’ll end up the same as him. As I always say, a cluttered life leads to a cluttered mind. Yes! You must keep your surroundings straight and organized least you flirt with having a mind unable to make sense of the world.”
Professors face became quite serious as he peered over his glasses. “Master Holmes, have you given much thought as to your career.”
“Yes, Professor.”
“Good. Remember Williams? No, well, he is making his way and all the better for it. Do you know what he does?”
Holmes shook his head. He did not know and did not want to know.
“He is making a perfectly respectable living being an analyzing food for contaminants. He is providing for his young wife. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?”
“Yes, Professor.” said Holmes and he did his best to make it sound convincing but was he certain Professor Spring was not paying close attention to him.
“When you are ready, I will introduce you to Williams. You’re one of the brightest chemists in your year, he would jump at the chance to help you out. Just say the word. I am quite interested in your career interests.” Professor Spring said with his most pleasant, teacherly smile. With a nod from Holmes, the professor exited, and Holmes returned to his bubbling brew knowing full well that Professor has no interest in the career he actually wanted to pursue.
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Date: 2017-12-01 03:13 pm (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2017-12-01 06:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-12-03 05:20 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2017-12-01 09:11 pm (UTC)What a very interesting idea to focus in on - I can't recall offhand another fic in which a student Holmes interacts with a tutor.
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Date: 2017-12-03 05:27 am (UTC)Thanks. That fic's been rattling around in my brain for a bit and I finally got around to writing it. I'd like to write some more about his time during uni, so we'll see where that goes in the future.