Fic: Assassin's Cabinet: Gen

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Title: Assassin's Cabinet
Rating: Gen
Length 430
Notes: dialogue-only
Summary: A new addition to the 221b Baker Street library.
Author's Note: Inspired by this 16th c. cabinet on auction. And this pair of modified brass knuckles.
“Good evening, Watson.”

“Good evening, Holmes. What’s that? If it’s a new addition to the library, it’s a rather thick one. And an old one. One of your medieval texts, I suppose.”

“A bit more modern that those, but don’t worry, my dear Watson, it shall not displace your beloved Clark Russells. But it should serve a reminder to you that things are not always what they seem.  And that you should never judge a book, well, you know...”

“Good Lord. It’s hollowed out! Oh my! Is that a pistol?”

“Yes, the smallest of its kind, I imagine. Only one shot, but sometimes that suffices.  Now, what do you make of these?”

“Brass knuckles?”

“But with an added menace—”

“Good Lord, Holmes! Three blades!”

“Yes, with these, my left jab would not just knock a man down—it would remove his face from the jaw. And here we have a nice bit of garrotter’s wire and this.”

“Well, given the rest, I suppose it’s for strangling.”

“But, look. Exceedingly durable. And it’s a pocket.”

“Huh.”

“For filling with sand and bludgeoning behind the ear, like this.”

“Good Lord. Well, you don’t need to tell me what these tiny drawers contain.”

“Oh, good, you follow. The gem of the venoms is this one.”

“It doesn’t look like anything. A vial of colourless liquid.”

“Not just coloureless, odorless, tasteless. It leaves no trace, no telltale sign of its presence on its victim, but make no mistake, Watson, it is as lethal as any phenomenon as any I have encountered.”

“Including my snoring?”

“Including your snoring.”

“Well, wherever did you come by this little…what is it called?”

“Assassin’s Cabinet.”

“Good Lord. Holmes, you should alert Scotland Yard as to its former owner at once—or is the cabinetmaker already in police custody?”

“I didn’t find it, Watson. I bought it at auction. I was there on other business, but the moment I saw it, I couldn’t resist. It’s an antique. And fascinating.”

“And macabre.”

“And macabre. But it was worth every penny, just for this little vial of seemingly nothing. The contents of a few of the other drawers may prove interesting too.  A few are well-known to me, but there is a dark horse or two. You know, philosophically-speaking, my dear Watson, there is a fine line between medicine and poison, a substance that augments the senses and one that generates fatal insensibility, all a question of dosage, of course…but how remiss of me. It’s quite evident that you’ve had a long and tiring day. Tea?”

“Uh, no, I think I’ll go to the club.”

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Very sensible response Watson. Let Holmes play with his new toy for a while before you return.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Yes, before you end up a guinea pig!

BTW, in the US, we usually call them 'brass knuckles' but I didn't know to add the 'brass' or not. Wikipedia also gives the term 'the English punch' and 'a classic' for them!

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

I think I'd have gone with 'brass knuckles'.

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

I like the detail of the little paper bookmarks here and there on the outside to enhance the cabinet's book disguise.

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Yes, they went to some pains to make it look realistic, I think. And the original was just for poison (or medicines) but I had to cram more stuff in.

[scfrankles.livejournal.com]

You know, philosophically-speaking, my dear Watson, there is a fine line between medicine and poison, a substance that augments the senses and one that generates fatal insensibility, all a question of dosage, of course…but how remiss of me. It’s quite evident that you’ve had a long and tiring day. Tea?”

“Uh, no, I think I’ll go to the club.” ^____^ I can't help but think of this Holmes as the same one who keeps ears in the lumber room ^____^

And I do so covet that cabinet. I love how you added to its contents - so darkly imaginative ^__^

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Yes! And where the rumours about the vegetable alkaloid are very true.

It does look lovely. It was a little like playing Cluedo. But I thought a proper assassin's cabinet wouldn't just have poisons.

[debriswoman]

Such a fascinating find...Holmes would find it irresistible:-)

[okapi1895.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. So much so I bet he didn't even bid, he called in a favour from the Sotheby's manager or something.

Also, FYI, I participated in Wits on Tap this year (poetry remixes of fics) and did a rubia'iyat of tweedisgood's Turkish bath fic. Nothing graphic but I got to rhyme something with lepidopterous and Dardanelles, so you know I'm please.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/14604087

[debriswoman]

Thank you, truly impressive rhyming :-)
Oh, and at least...!!!

[hagstrom]

But what a spoilsport! Watson should have stayed!