Prompting Part XXXV

[sherlockbbc_fic]

THE MEME NEEDS ARCHIVISTS!

GUIDELINES

• Anon posting is not required, but most definitely allowed. If you think you recognise an anon, keep it to yourself and don’t out them. IP tracking is off, and will remain that way.


• Multiple fills are encouraged, and all kinds of fills are accepted! Fic, art, vids, cosplay, interpretive dance — whatever. Go wild! :D


• Don’t reprompt until TWO parts after the last posting of the prompt.


• RPF (real person fic, i.e. fic involving the actors themselves) is not supported at this meme.


• Concrit is welcome, but kinkshaming, hijacking, and flaming are not tolerated.

THE FILLED PROMPTS POST
When you fill a prompt, please use the appropriate Filled Prompts Post to archive your fill (there are instructions on the actual post).

If the part you wanted isn't up yet, just wait and one of the archivists will get to it, but please, once it is up, make sure you post your fills there according to the guidelines. DO NOT skip out on doing this because it seems like too much effort. If you want your fill to make it to the Delicious archive, that’s the way to do it.

Do not be afraid to ask questions about how it works if you are confused! The mods will be happy to explain.

WARNINGS/OFFENSIVE WORDING IN PROMPTS
Please consider warning for prompts that may trigger people (and also for fills, because some people read in flat view) and phrasing prompts in a manner that strives to be respectful.

Things which you might want to consider warning for include: Rape/Non-Con, Death, Suicidal Thoughts, Self-Harm, Underage Relationships, among others.

That being said, this is a kink meme. As such, there will be prompts that could offend you in a number of different ways. Not every prompt will have a trigger warning, and not every prompt will rub you the right way. If you have an issue with a specific prompt, feel free to bring it up in a discussion that takes place off the meme. However, flaming will not be tolerated regardless of origin.

You are highly encouraged to scroll past any prompt that you dislike.

Remember: be civil, be friendly, but don’t be shy!

THINGS THAT MAKE BROWSING THE MEME EASIER FOR EVERYONE
Please nest your fills. Doing so will make it easier for archivists to save your fills to the Delicious archive. Using subject lines will also help people reading the meme in flatview keep track of what’s happening. Finally, titling your fills (even if it’s something silly) will be helpful to those tracking a lot of prompts or scrolling through the meme.

PROMPT FREEZES
Depending on the rate of activity, there may or may not be a prompt freeze when a part reaches 2000 and 4500 comments. However, there will be one when it reaches 7000. After the 7000 comments freeze, a new part will be posted, and all prompting should happen on the new part.

CONTACTING MODS
Your mods for this meme are ellie_hell, charname, anonspock and anonbach. If you have any questions, concerns, comments about anything at all on the meme feel free to send a PM or contact us via the Page-A-Mod post.

MEME LINKS
Pinboard Archive - Delicious Archive - Guide to the Archive
Filled Prompts Posts: Parts 1-23 - Parts 24+ - Spoiler Free
The Glorious FAQ - Page-A-Mod

Flat View of This Page - Newest Page in Flatview - Newest Page of the Meme

Love Post - Chatter Post - Searching Post
Concrit Post - Story Announcement Post - Orphan Post
Spoiler Free Prompt Post - Overflow Post

Links to previous prompting parts

OTHER LINKS AND AFFILIATES
sherlock_rant: A place to rant about or discuss anything with few to no restrictions.
sherlock_rpf: This is a kinkmeme for RPF about the show.
sherlockcrit: A multi-fandom betaing/concrit community, with a focus on BBC Sherlock.
sherlockbbc: A community dedicated to the BBC adaptation of Sherlock Holmes.
Useful resources for Sherlock and LiveJournal.
Sherlock screencaps.

NOTICE: All links on the meme are now being screened because of spambot issues. When you submit a comment containing a link, it will be marked as spam. Please don't worry, the mods will unscreen it as soon as they can.

Comments

Fill: The Light Long Gone (3a/?)

[tenderly-wicked.livejournal.com]

The next day, John is edgy, pacing back and forth across the kitchen, and maybe just a little bit too rude with Mary, over nothing. He says he’s sorry half a minute later and puts a mug of coffee onto the table beside her. Like it’s enough to grant him forgiveness.

Mary, still in her pajamas and dressing gown, sighs and puts a hand upon his. “If you’re going to make me coffee every time you lash at me because of him, I think I should start worrying about my blood pressure.”

John knows all too well that it’s no good projecting his irritation on Mary, and the fact that she’s so understanding makes his feel the more guilty.

“I just… I dunno… I can’t understand why he’s into drugs again. Why is he throwing his life away? Is it just boredom?”

The picture is still painfully vivid in his mind: Sherlock, disoriented, with his eyes glazed over and unfocussed… John would do anything for it to never happen again. The problem is, he doesn’t know what this ‘anything’ might be.

“Call him,” Mary suggests. “Talk to him.”

“Why would he listen to me?”

Of course he does call. And then he texts. And calls again. Sherlock’s mobile stays turned off.

It takes some time and effort to get the phone number of Seb’s office at Shad Sanderson Bank. Seb doesn’t seem to be glad to hear him.

“John, it’s not the right time for a chat. I’m kind of having a meeting. ’Scuse me…”

“I just want to check on Sherlock,” John blurts before Seb hangs up. “Is he home? He doesn’t answer the phone. If he’s missing, maybe we should really call Mycroft. I very much hope he’s not in trouble but…”

“Try Baker Street,” Seb interrupts him and then adds, reluctantly: “Mind that he’s a bit… confused after tonight. Sort of over-reacting. Maybe it’s not a good idea seeing him right now…”

“Thanks,” John says. “Don’t want to distract you from your meeting.”

Sherlock’s flat smells of cigarette smoke. There are at least five cigarette butts on a saucer that adorns the coffee table as a solitary decorative element, strictly in its middle, not a millimeter to the right or left.

Sherlock peeps out from the kitchen, safety glasses on, a lit blowtorch in his hand. “John?”

He looks so familiarly ridiculous that John can’t help a smile. “No need to arm yourself against me.”

“Oh. This.” For a moment, Sherlock contemplates the blowtorch as if suddenly unsure what it’s for and then hastily switches it off.

John takes a view of the room, as darkened and dusty as he’s seen it while Sherlock has been away. It would appear to be uninhabited if not for the ashes in the saucer. There’s one detail that catches John’s attention. “My chair stays after all, it seems,” he taunts Sherlock, pointing at it.

He expects a sarcastic remark, but Sherlock simply says, “Yes.” It’s more disconcerting than if he uttered something snide.

“What are you doing?” John enquires, to break an awkward pause.

“Just—trying not to finish a cigarette pack in less than two hours. I’ll be done in a minute. Entertain yourself. Be my guest.”

He disappears in the kitchen again, and John is left alone to scan the surroundings. Beside the TV, there’s a pile of DVDs, very familiar. Mycroft’s present? One of the cases is open; the DVD must be still in the player.

A memory suddenly strikes him, unwanted and painful. John remembers a DVD he hadn’t taken out of his player for quite some time, watching it over and over again. The one with Sherlock’s video message for his birthday. John wonders what it is that Sherlock tends to re-watch. Something work-related, most likely. There’s a date written in permanent marker over the DVD case. Just a few days before Sherlock has returned from he dead. Probably it’s some evidence of a crime he’s missed, and now he’s catching up. But maybe… just maybe…

A strange thought, vaguely disturbing but not entirely unpleasant, tickles the back of John’s mind. Could it be a footage of him? It wouldn’t have been impossible for Mycroft to provide Sherlock with surveillance materials. John is almost sure that Mycroft has kept a weather eye on him. What he isn’t sure about is whether he should be angry or not if it’s true.

Seized by an impulse, John picks up the TV remote. After all, Sherlock has told him to entertain himself.