Winter in London -- Part XVII

[w_a_i_d]

After dispatching my telegram to Milverton I spent the afternoon searching through my notes and cuttings on him for some kind of leverage. I found little that was useful and a great number of these   unhelpful papers ended up flung about our living room floor. I was not careless with everything, however; in anticipation of his arrival I also took

Comments

[kate_lear]

Ooooh, first comment! This was very much worth waiting for, I just loved it. Holmes taking the chloral with him...Holmes disgusing himself...Watson showing a small sign of returning to his usual gallant yet bad-ass self with the chair...wonderful, just wonderful.

I particularly liked 'I have rather a flair for disguise, but I cannot ever camouflage myself so effectively whilst still remaining myself.' because it's TRUE - distressed clients all through the stories WERE quick to confide in Holmes while there was a second person there listening to their intimate secrets.

Thanks for updating!

[w_a_i_d]

Ah, thank you! (Uh, I'm trying to reply to things into actual order, I'll catch up with the present eventually.)

distressed clients all through the stories WERE quick to confide in Holmes while there was a second person there listening to their intimate secrets.

A second person who, in later years at least, had a known tendency to write it all up and publish in the Strand! That's some major "Oh, don't mind me" mojo Watson has.

I love Chair!Watson.

[kate_lear]

The reference to Watson's mojo made me blort out loud with laughter. I'm now imagining Watson as being something like Austin Powers - has mojo, has seduced his way across three continents... Does this make Holmes Felicity Shagwell??

[snarryfool]

Editing two books, writing a third, and writing this? I'm in awe of your productivity!

I'm so torn between greedily wanting this complete and greedily wanting you to explore all the avenues you hint at here. Holmes in disguise, Holmes with a false and simpler self, Watson wiping away the portrait by addressing Holmes by his real name but then halting before he reaches Holmes "as if he'd run into a barrier" ... what rich image-building and characterization. YUM.

[w_a_i_d]

*gibbers faintly* I may go mad. Although in fairness I've delayed editing one of the books because WHY CAN'T THEY SEND ME A DIGITAL FILE I CANNOT WORK IN THESE CONDITIONS ahem.

Anyway, thank you!

[w_a_i_d]

(I'm trying to catch up with comments and everything after FINALLY managing to cough up the latest chapter). Thank you! I'm really pleased you went back to read the original stories. I love "Milverton" so much.

[tinzelda]

YAY! I was lucky to find this story just before you finished another chapter. I was afraid I would expect too much (I love long stories, so reading a small part usually leaves me a bit dissatisfied), but this was every bit as good as the rest. I loved Holmes' thoughts while putting on his disguise - wanting that simpler life he invented. I adored protective!Watson (I think that's my favorite flavor of Watson). The way they are taking care of each other, even though they're both exhausted... *happy sigh* Thank you for torturing the boys so very completely for our entertainment.

(I'm glad you appreciated my long-winded comments at the last chapter rather than finding them annoying - I love getting long detailed comments myself, but sometimes feel a little skittish leaving them. I will feel free to gush to you whenever I read your fic.)

[w_a_i_d]

There are people who don't like long comments? Those people are weird.

Thank you, and sorry for the slow reply!

I think that's my favorite flavor of Watson

"Protective" is probably my favourite flavour of both of them, which is why Milverton is so glorious, with Watson being all "I bash in people's heads with chairs if they mess with you. Go alone? Ha, you are out of your mind," and Holmes being all "I hold your hand for about ten hours! I scoop you up when you fall in the bushes!"

[tinzelda]

This made me laugh, because I also noticed (and enjoyed, of course) the massive amounts of hand-holding in this story!

[art_inthe_blood]

That's the best summary of MILV I've ever heard!

[f_m_r_l]

Very happy to have another part.

[w_a_i_d]

Thank you!