Enclosed (Sherlock)
Jan. 9th, 2011 12:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
morganstuartTitle: Enclosed
Author: Morgan Stuart
Fandom: Sherlock
Disclaimer: This universe does not belong to me; I'm just an appreciative visitor. I make no profit from this fan work.
Description: Sherlock receives a mysterious envelope. With enclosures. And a demand.
Historian's Note: This takes place after (and refers to) the Sherlock episode "The Great Game."
Mrs. Hudson found the envelope marked "Sherlock Holmes" propped against the front door when she returned from her shopping. Minutes later it was in the consulting detective's hands. He studied the quality of the stationery, the seal of the flap, the mechanics of the handwriting, the properties of the ink.
He opened it with gloved fingers, as attentive as if it were a crime scene.
The front of the card carried no words or images. It was embossed with a common geometric design. Unremarkable. Uninformative.
On the inside, the card held three evenly spaced locks of short hair, each secured to the paper with a narrow strip of transparent tape.
The fine strands of the first lock shone a chestnut so deep that in certain lights it might be mistaken for black. A hue preserved chemically, to be certain. A minor concession to vanity. But understated and tasteful enough to be elegant, all the same.
Thicker than the first, the second lock showed rich chocolate strands at different stages of surrender to a glistening silver. The hairs bristled against the confines of the tape, but they fanned out with surprising grace when he brushed them with a fingertip.
The third lock comprised light brown strands burnished to the colour of antique gold. Despite their clipped length, a few stubbornly tried to curl. One lone grey hair shimmered amidst its neighbors as Sherlock tilted the card for closer inspection.
He knew the scent of each lock even before he inhaled: the refined hint of cologne, the traditional spice of aftershave, the clean note of shampoo. Instantly recognizable.
Centered below the three, penned in a bold and deliberate hand, sat a single word:
CHOOSE.
Moriarty hadn't signed his name.
THE END
Note 1: "Imagined" can be read as a companion sketch or as a standalone piece.
Note 2: See a "sequel" comic that was requested by![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
fantasysci5 and drawn by Mychelangela here: "Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe."
Vital Stats: Originally written in December 2010.
Author: Morgan Stuart
Fandom: Sherlock
Disclaimer: This universe does not belong to me; I'm just an appreciative visitor. I make no profit from this fan work.
Description: Sherlock receives a mysterious envelope. With enclosures. And a demand.
Historian's Note: This takes place after (and refers to) the Sherlock episode "The Great Game."
Mrs. Hudson found the envelope marked "Sherlock Holmes" propped against the front door when she returned from her shopping. Minutes later it was in the consulting detective's hands. He studied the quality of the stationery, the seal of the flap, the mechanics of the handwriting, the properties of the ink.
He opened it with gloved fingers, as attentive as if it were a crime scene.
The front of the card carried no words or images. It was embossed with a common geometric design. Unremarkable. Uninformative.
On the inside, the card held three evenly spaced locks of short hair, each secured to the paper with a narrow strip of transparent tape.
The fine strands of the first lock shone a chestnut so deep that in certain lights it might be mistaken for black. A hue preserved chemically, to be certain. A minor concession to vanity. But understated and tasteful enough to be elegant, all the same.
Thicker than the first, the second lock showed rich chocolate strands at different stages of surrender to a glistening silver. The hairs bristled against the confines of the tape, but they fanned out with surprising grace when he brushed them with a fingertip.
The third lock comprised light brown strands burnished to the colour of antique gold. Despite their clipped length, a few stubbornly tried to curl. One lone grey hair shimmered amidst its neighbors as Sherlock tilted the card for closer inspection.
He knew the scent of each lock even before he inhaled: the refined hint of cologne, the traditional spice of aftershave, the clean note of shampoo. Instantly recognizable.
Centered below the three, penned in a bold and deliberate hand, sat a single word:
Moriarty hadn't signed his name.
THE END
Note 1: "Imagined" can be read as a companion sketch or as a standalone piece.
Note 2: See a "sequel" comic that was requested by
fantasysci5 and drawn by Mychelangela here: "Eenie, Meenie, Miney, Moe."Vital Stats: Originally written in December 2010.
Re: Enclosed
Date: 2011-08-20 02:36 pm (UTC)I definitely agree that we can make no assumptions here about the command to "Choose." As you say, it might mean choose who lives or choose who dies... and, knowing Moriarty, it might mean he simply wants to torment Sherlock, and Sherlock's decision will have no impact whatsoever on whether the three men survive or perish.
I did love the idea that Sherlock, who likes to think he's above "this caring lark," would identify these men instantly simply from locks of their hair. That speaks of familiarity and connection - and, I suspect, Moriarty knows it.
You're wonderfully generous to read and comment, and it means a lot to me. Thank you!