July 29 - Unrealistic

[pompey_01]

Title: Unrealistic
Author: Pompey
Universe: ACD
Rating: PG
Warnings: spoilers for an opera?
Word count: 350
Summary: Watson likes the music but he cannot stand watching most operas.
Prompt: July 29 – at the opera
A/N: La bohème opened in London on Oct 2, 1897. Also, sorry for the abrupt ending; brain wasn’t cooperating.

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“You do not appear to have enjoyed La bohème,” Holmes observed mildly as we rode to Baker Street.

“The music was lovely,” I replied carefully. My friend had purchased the tickets and I did not wish to seem ungrateful. “ ‘Musetta’s Waltz’ is particularly memorable.”

“And yet you do not care for the opera itself,” Holmes persisted.

I sighed, briefly debated with myself over continued prevarication, and gave it up as a futile pursuit. “No, I do not. I thought I would, given its popularity, but . . .”

“I should have thought so too, given the romanticism of the story,” Holmes commented after I had made no attempt to finish my sentence.

“The romanticism is what annoys me.”

My friend’s eyebrows shot up in amazement. “Is this the Watson I know, who waxes so poetical in his descriptions of every countryside?”

“Countryside descriptions are one thing. Romanticizing poverty and disease is quite another. There is nothing romantic about freezing cold or starvation or the threat of imminent eviction. There is nothing romantic about dying of consumption, as anyone who has witnessed such a death could tell you, and no girl that close to death could possibly have enough breath to sing a full duet with her lover.” I paused to take a breath of my own and added weakly, “But I did like the music.”  

Holmes looked blankly at me for a moment and then roared with laughter. “Just when I think I get your limits, Watson, you find a way to surprise me,” he chuckled. “But the works of Gilbert and Sullivan are no less unrealistic and you enjoy those.”

“True, but they are designed to be caricatures poking fun at modern conventions,” I replied, relieved that Holmes had taken no offense. “They begin with a ridiculous premise, follow the storyline’s internal logic, and conclude with inevitable absurdity.”

“So do most operas, my dear Watson, though few of them are self-aware enough to realize it,” countered Holmes. “Ah, well. At least I may add the music of La bohème to my repertoire without fear of unduly annoying you.”