pompey_01

Title: Moving Day

Author: Pompey

Universe: ACD Canon

Rating: G

Warnings: none

Word count: 221B

Summary:  Not all goodbyes are sad ones.

Prompt: July 31 – saying goodbye

Author: Pompey

Universe: Basil of Baker Street/Great Mouse Detective

Rating: G

Warnings: none

Word count: 350

Summary: Dawson is injured during a case, but finds some humor in it.

Prompt: July 29 – clock

Title: Sleeping Arrangements

Author: Pompey

Universe: ACD

Rating: PG13

Warnings: character death

Word count: 1226

Summary:  My friend and lover, John Watson, was a man who preferred sleeping next to others rather than sleeping alone.

Prompt: July 27 - Tavener Chilingirian Quartet “Come and do your will in me”

Title: Momentum of a Round Stone

Author: Pompey

Universe: ACD

Rating: G

Warnings: none

Word count: 221B

Summary:  Watson goes into a metaphoric battle at Holmes’ orders.

Prompt: July 25 – unusual battle cry

A/N: From Sun Tzuh’s “Art of War”:Thus the energy developed by good fighting men is as the momentum of a round stone rolled down a mountain thousands of feet in height. 

I am no stranger to battle. Whether it be on a literal battlefield soaked with men’s blood, the midnight battle against sickness and the power of death itself, or a battle of wits that pitched Holmes and our agency against the criminal element, I was quite familiar with it all.

However, a battle of wits is inclined to take the strangest forms at times and be played upon the weirdest of fields with the most bizarre weaponry.

When I suspected Holmes of malingering even to me after Baron Gruner’s cowardly attack, I understood this to be part of his plan to convince the public he was at death’s door. Keeping the scoundrel overconfident and self-assured would provide us a weapon – the element of surprise.

Then Holmes sent me off to metaphoric battle armed with naught but a priceless blue saucer, a card with a false identity, and a brain freshly filled with all the knowledge of Chinese pottery that I could cram into it in twenty-four hours.

As far as battle cries go, I admit “Shang, Zhou, Han, Sui, Tang, Song, Liao, Jin, Yuan, Ming, Qing” is not one that will readily rouse the blood. Yet I chanted these names as my carriage rattled to Vernon Lodge. I remain convinced this manta provided a serenity of mind to face the baron.

Title: Silver Friends

Author: Pompey

Universe: SH in the 22^nd Century

Rating: G

Warnings: mention of character death

Word count: 325

Summary:  “Make new friends but keep the old / One is silver, the other gold.”

Prompt: July 23 – someone/something is lost

Author: Pompey

Universe: ACD

Rating: PG

Warnings: mention of miscarriage

Word count: 200

Summary: Watson has had quite the year.

Prompt: July 21 – Rule of Threes

Watson had lived through more than one annus horribilis. 1880 had been rather volcanic on a personal level. 1891 . . . well, all of London understood why he was so reluctant to revisit that particular year.

But 1893 started out well -- very well. He and Mary became expectant parents, his grief at losing Holmes was healing, his practice was thriving, and his new contract with The Strand was becoming lucrative.

And then, disaster. The economy, which had been rather anemic for the past ten years, worsened with the American panic which had erupted in February.  The British net capital flows abroad dropped by over fifty percent. Watson watched with concern as his foreign investments dwindled just when his little family was growing.

Until it stopped growing, abruptly and terribly. Mary lost the baby in a frightening hemorrhage. Watson fought to save her life, grieving their child but knowing its fragile life was already lost. He thought he might have beaten back death when the hemorrhage finally slowed.

The next day Mary succumbed to the blood loss and shock.

And 1893 was added to the small but painful list of years Watson would just as soon forget ever existed.

Title: Hearts

Author: Pompey

Universe: ACD

Rating: PG

Warnings: my strange facts are mostly anachronistic to Victorian times. Also some medical icky.

Word count: 617

Summary: Just a good, ol’ fashioned bedside vigil after some good, ol’ fashioned whumpage.

Prompt: July 19 - Use a strange fact in your work today.

Title: Into the Viper’s Den

Author: Pompey

Universe: Basil of Baker Street

Rating: PG

Warnings: shameless cliffhanger

Word count: 482

Summary:  In a previous challenge, I stated that there were no venomous snakes in England. I was wrong. This is my attempt at redemption.

Prompt: July 17 – “creepy” creature

Author: Pompey

Universe: ACD

Rating: G

Warnings: none

Word count: 100

Summary: What's a writer to do when he's in the groove but also sleepy?

Prompt: July 15 - Involve an invention, creation, or novel approach to a problem

"My dear Watson, you can't even keep your eyes open. Surely the manuscript can wait until tomorrow."

I repressed a yawn. It was true my eyes were very tired but I had finally found my narrative flow and I hated to interrupt it. Thankfully, there was another way.

I bid Holmes a good night, retired to my room, and closed the door to muffle the noise. I pulled out the typewriting machine I had recently purchased and ensured my fingers were on the correct row.

Courses in touch typing had taught me how to continue writing with my eyes closed.

Title: The Chap in the Cap

Author: Pompey

Universe: ACD-ish (and Great Mouse Detective?)

Rating: G

Warnings: absolute ridiculousness, some wobbly rhymes, and blatant parodying of Dr. Seus

Word count: 439

Summary: Watson is steadfast despite Holmes’ questions.

Prompt: July 13 – picture prompt(s)