“The only other clear indication we have of Amelia Kipling is through her dedications, John,” Sherlock continued. “They’re all to the same person, this Will. A son or a brother? Younger brother. There’s a tone of affection but also clearly some level of guilt. Take the dedication in this book: For Will. To be absent is not to be without care, nor attention or regard. Lends itself to a brother more than a son. Obviously at some point the relationship between Amelia Kipling and this brother became strained and Kipling has chosen to channel those feelings through her writings but it’s also clear she cares for, loves him.”
“I feel like I need to find you a ‘Kipling’s number one fan’ badge or something, Sherlock,” John teased.
“Really, John,” Sherlock replied in a derisive tone of voice. “Can’t one just enjoy a book without the need to adulate over the author?”
John chose to ignore Sherlock before he started a rant, instead getting up and waving a hand towards the kitchen. “Cup of tea?”
Sherlock made a sharp movement of his own hand in reply but his attention was back on the book in his hand and at this angle, John could see he was re-reading the dedication page, his fingers tracking the text as his mouth silently moved in concert.
John ambled to the kitchen and set about the task of making a cup of tea and also prepping a small bottle for his daughter. A few minutes later, carrying the prepared drinks back to the living room, John was surprised to see and hear Sherlock reading out loud from one of the Amelia Kipling books – reading to his daughter – taken aback not just at the enraptured look on his beautiful daughter’s face but at the contented deep timbre of Sherlock’s voice, the hint of a smile on his lips.
John, quietly and carefully so not to distract Sherlock or his daughter, made his way back to the sofa, set aside the drinks and made himself comfortable as he observed his best friend bring a simple story to life. Brought John and his daughter into the special imagined world he was creating.
Finis
For (R)OP and any others who may come across this, I hope this little story lives up to the beautiful prompt - AA.
[COMPLETE] FILL PART 2D: For Will, I Dedicate To You (Sherlock, John POV)
“I feel like I need to find you a ‘Kipling’s number one fan’ badge or something, Sherlock,” John teased.
“Really, John,” Sherlock replied in a derisive tone of voice. “Can’t one just enjoy a book without the need to adulate over the author?”
John chose to ignore Sherlock before he started a rant, instead getting up and waving a hand towards the kitchen. “Cup of tea?”
Sherlock made a sharp movement of his own hand in reply but his attention was back on the book in his hand and at this angle, John could see he was re-reading the dedication page, his fingers tracking the text as his mouth silently moved in concert.
John ambled to the kitchen and set about the task of making a cup of tea and also prepping a small bottle for his daughter. A few minutes later, carrying the prepared drinks back to the living room, John was surprised to see and hear Sherlock reading out loud from one of the Amelia Kipling books – reading to his daughter – taken aback not just at the enraptured look on his beautiful daughter’s face but at the contented deep timbre of Sherlock’s voice, the hint of a smile on his lips.
John, quietly and carefully so not to distract Sherlock or his daughter, made his way back to the sofa, set aside the drinks and made himself comfortable as he observed his best friend bring a simple story to life. Brought John and his daughter into the special imagined world he was creating.
Finis
For (R)OP and any others who may come across this, I hope this little story lives up to the beautiful prompt - AA.