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holmes_minorTitle: The Case of the Large Green Butterflies
Form/Wordcount: 493
Characters/Pairings: Dr John Watson; Mr Sherlock Holmes; Mrs Hudson
Rating: G
Warnings/Content: Holmes is explaining his case to a bed-ridden Watson.
Dr Watson takes up the tale, begun in The Road to Recovery
I was lying in my bed one afternoon, slowly recovering from a fever, when Holmes burst into my room. I was delighted to see him, for although the fever had gone I had not yet regained sufficient strength to spend any time out of bed. He seemed in high spirits and was keen to share the progress of his case.
“Did Lestrade mention to you I was visiting the National History Museum?” he began. “He said he would try to call in to see you.”
“Yes he did. He told me you were interested in some large green butterflies.”
“He was correct. Now, the first question I had to ask myself was how easy it would be to steal a butterfly.”
“If it were mounted in a case that would not cause a problem.”
“The creatures were definitely alive. Therefore one could not easily catch a butterfly without someone else in the household being aware of one’s actions. Let me demonstrate.”
Holmes picked up his cane, which he used to imitate a butterfly net and began running around my room after an imaginary butterfly. He had just stood on my bed, with one foot on the back of a chair, when Mrs Hudson knocked and entered, bearing a tray with tea and bread and butter.
“Really, Mr Holmes,” she said. “If I thought the doctor required a court jester I would have asked the circus to send over one of their clowns.”
Holmes climbed down and brushed the dirt off my bed. He waited until Mrs Hudson had retreated, before continuing as if nothing had happened, “It then became apparent to me although stealing butterflies would be difficult, one could easily remove a caterpillar. I therefore went to the museum to obtain a description of the caterpillars. In the process I discovered how important it is to handle them with gloves, since any contact with bare flesh will result in a serious burn-like effect which will render the affected part permanently without feeling.”
He paused to see my reaction. “So you believe the caterpillars have been stolen for their own properties, rather than for their potential as butterflies?” I said.
“I consider this to be highly probable. I had thought of attempting to retrieve the caterpillars myself, but since my trusty assistant is not currently able to rise from his sick bed, I have instead relayed the information to the relevant authorities.”
I did not like to say so, but I was thankful my indisposition prevented our taking part in that particular escapade. Fortunately for me, Billy the page came running upstairs, calling out that there was a telegram. Holmes left me, saying he hoped it would be confirmation of the capture of the caterpillars.
By now I was feeling tired, and I lay down again for another rest. Then, as the covers moved above me, I cautiously sat up again to check them, just in case they were hiding an errant caterpillar.
Form/Wordcount: 493
Characters/Pairings: Dr John Watson; Mr Sherlock Holmes; Mrs Hudson
Rating: G
Warnings/Content: Holmes is explaining his case to a bed-ridden Watson.
Dr Watson takes up the tale, begun in The Road to Recovery
I was lying in my bed one afternoon, slowly recovering from a fever, when Holmes burst into my room. I was delighted to see him, for although the fever had gone I had not yet regained sufficient strength to spend any time out of bed. He seemed in high spirits and was keen to share the progress of his case.
“Did Lestrade mention to you I was visiting the National History Museum?” he began. “He said he would try to call in to see you.”
“Yes he did. He told me you were interested in some large green butterflies.”
“He was correct. Now, the first question I had to ask myself was how easy it would be to steal a butterfly.”
“If it were mounted in a case that would not cause a problem.”
“The creatures were definitely alive. Therefore one could not easily catch a butterfly without someone else in the household being aware of one’s actions. Let me demonstrate.”
Holmes picked up his cane, which he used to imitate a butterfly net and began running around my room after an imaginary butterfly. He had just stood on my bed, with one foot on the back of a chair, when Mrs Hudson knocked and entered, bearing a tray with tea and bread and butter.
“Really, Mr Holmes,” she said. “If I thought the doctor required a court jester I would have asked the circus to send over one of their clowns.”
Holmes climbed down and brushed the dirt off my bed. He waited until Mrs Hudson had retreated, before continuing as if nothing had happened, “It then became apparent to me although stealing butterflies would be difficult, one could easily remove a caterpillar. I therefore went to the museum to obtain a description of the caterpillars. In the process I discovered how important it is to handle them with gloves, since any contact with bare flesh will result in a serious burn-like effect which will render the affected part permanently without feeling.”
He paused to see my reaction. “So you believe the caterpillars have been stolen for their own properties, rather than for their potential as butterflies?” I said.
“I consider this to be highly probable. I had thought of attempting to retrieve the caterpillars myself, but since my trusty assistant is not currently able to rise from his sick bed, I have instead relayed the information to the relevant authorities.”
I did not like to say so, but I was thankful my indisposition prevented our taking part in that particular escapade. Fortunately for me, Billy the page came running upstairs, calling out that there was a telegram. Holmes left me, saying he hoped it would be confirmation of the capture of the caterpillars.
By now I was feeling tired, and I lay down again for another rest. Then, as the covers moved above me, I cautiously sat up again to check them, just in case they were hiding an errant caterpillar.
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Date: 2016-06-05 12:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-06-05 11:23 am (UTC)