Multiple Holmesian Ficlet/221b: Quantum Entanglement (JWP 2016 #19)
Title: Quantum Entanglement
Fandom: Multiple
Alternate Postings: AO3
Rating/Content: PG13, Pretentious twaddle. Lots of quotes from Holmesian sources.
Warnings: I'm not kidding about the pretentious twaddle.
Word Count: 307 (or, if you take out the quotes I didn't fabricate, it's a 221B ;-D)
Disclaimer: I lay no claim of ownership on any iteration of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.
Notes: Written for watsons_woes July Writing Prompt #19: Great Minds Think Alike: The AU challenge. Owes a debt of inspiration to Intersect (across the multiverse) by ifonlynotever. I'm not happy with this, but I'd take years trying to get it right if it wasn't a JWP entry and meant to be out in short order, so there we are.
Summary: Recognition can happen in the absence of memory.
Quantum Entanglement
There's a space without space, a waiting without time, where they are complete, together. Time doesn't pass, events do not occur, but they are whole. Inevitably they depart this non-place and re-enter a world.
"Fresh out of hypersleep I see, Surgeon-Lieutenant. Perseid Uprising?"
It doesn't matter which of them leaves first, which one waits their turn to leave, which one returns before the other; there is no time between partings in this place. No time and all Time. Nor does it matter when they meet again, long before or long after they last met.
"The state of your caligae tells me you have spent some time in the most recent unpleasantness in Macedonia."
They will always return to the physical worlds, some time, some place. They will experience lives alone while growing into the new world, but then one day they will re-discover each other.
"Afghanistan or Iraq?"
"Afghanistan. Sorry, how did you...?"
Male, female, either, neither.
"It was my understanding that most sober companions are recovering addicts themselves, but you've never had a problem with drugs or alcohol."
Young or old.
"Your name is James Watson. You're from the north, your father's a doctor, you spend much time writing, and you're fond of custard tarts."
"My name isn't James, it's John."
The same names or others. Human or otherwise.
"A surgeon, to be exact. Just returned from military duty in Afghanistan. Am I right?"
"Why... yes. Major David Q. Dawson."
At each time and place, there is the moment they meet, and although they are not conciously aware of their connection, there is a recognition. On some fundamental hidden level, far beyond the childhoods and siblings and medical schools and crimes and wars, they know that they have truly met once again.
"You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive."
"How on earth did you know that?"
It all begins anew, because they are, both of them, back where they belong. For now.
-.-.-
(that's it)
Post-Note:Where the "Quotes" are from:
1. Entirely fabricated far-future Space AU
2. Entirely fabricated Roman AU
3. Sherlock "Study In Pink" 2010
4. Elementary "Pilot" 2012
5. Young Sherlock Holmes, 1985
6. Great Mouse Detective, 1984
7. A Study in Scarlet, Arthur Conan Doyle 1887
Fandom: Multiple
Alternate Postings: AO3
Rating/Content: PG13, Pretentious twaddle. Lots of quotes from Holmesian sources.
Warnings: I'm not kidding about the pretentious twaddle.
Word Count: 307 (or, if you take out the quotes I didn't fabricate, it's a 221B ;-D)
Disclaimer: I lay no claim of ownership on any iteration of Sherlock Holmes and Doctor Watson.
Notes: Written for watsons_woes July Writing Prompt #19: Great Minds Think Alike: The AU challenge. Owes a debt of inspiration to Intersect (across the multiverse) by ifonlynotever. I'm not happy with this, but I'd take years trying to get it right if it wasn't a JWP entry and meant to be out in short order, so there we are.
Summary: Recognition can happen in the absence of memory.
Quantum Entanglement
There's a space without space, a waiting without time, where they are complete, together. Time doesn't pass, events do not occur, but they are whole. Inevitably they depart this non-place and re-enter a world.
"Fresh out of hypersleep I see, Surgeon-Lieutenant. Perseid Uprising?"
It doesn't matter which of them leaves first, which one waits their turn to leave, which one returns before the other; there is no time between partings in this place. No time and all Time. Nor does it matter when they meet again, long before or long after they last met.
"The state of your caligae tells me you have spent some time in the most recent unpleasantness in Macedonia."
They will always return to the physical worlds, some time, some place. They will experience lives alone while growing into the new world, but then one day they will re-discover each other.
"Afghanistan or Iraq?"
"Afghanistan. Sorry, how did you...?"
Male, female, either, neither.
"It was my understanding that most sober companions are recovering addicts themselves, but you've never had a problem with drugs or alcohol."
Young or old.
"Your name is James Watson. You're from the north, your father's a doctor, you spend much time writing, and you're fond of custard tarts."
"My name isn't James, it's John."
The same names or others. Human or otherwise.
"A surgeon, to be exact. Just returned from military duty in Afghanistan. Am I right?"
"Why... yes. Major David Q. Dawson."
At each time and place, there is the moment they meet, and although they are not conciously aware of their connection, there is a recognition. On some fundamental hidden level, far beyond the childhoods and siblings and medical schools and crimes and wars, they know that they have truly met once again.
"You have been in Afghanistan, I perceive."
"How on earth did you know that?"
It all begins anew, because they are, both of them, back where they belong. For now.
-.-.-
(that's it)
Post-Note:Where the "Quotes" are from:
1. Entirely fabricated far-future Space AU
2. Entirely fabricated Roman AU
3. Sherlock "Study In Pink" 2010
4. Elementary "Pilot" 2012
5. Young Sherlock Holmes, 1985
6. Great Mouse Detective, 1984
7. A Study in Scarlet, Arthur Conan Doyle 1887