sherlockbbc_fic (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sherlockbbc_fic) wrote2015-06-10 03:45 pm
sherlockbbc_fic) wrote2015-06-10 03:45 pm
Entry tags:
Prompting Part XXXVII
This is the new prompting post for the Sherlock Prompting Meme. Prompts from LJ can still be filled there with links here or filled here in the new overflow post.
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
- Please do not re-post prompts unless the last time they were prompted was on an older part. Simply put: ONE posting of each prompt per part.
- 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
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
ellie_hell, charname, anonspock and anonbach. If you have any questions, concerns, comments about anything at all on the meme feel free to 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 24-36 - Parts 37+ - Spoiler Free
The Glorious FAQ - Page-A-Mod
Flat View of This Page - Newest Page in Flatview - Newest Page of the Meme
Links to previous prompting parts - Overflow Post
OTHER LINKS AND AFFILIATES
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
sherlock_rants: A place to rant about or discuss anything with few to no restrictions.
sherlock_rpf: This is a kinkmeme for RPF about the show.![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif){kind=small}
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.
Fill (6/6)
He wakes in a hospital bed, with Greg leaning over him and much the same expression on his face. Sherlock wants to laugh, but he feels sluggish and his mouth is dry.
“Here, lad. Water, yeah?” Sherlock sucks obediently on the straw of the cup he’s offered, and waits till he’s hydrated to speak.
“You arrested all of them?”
“And a few more besides. Christ, William. You can’t just do that. Go out on your own… you scared the shite out of me.”
“I’m… fine.” Sherlock smiles weakly. Obviously he’s not, but he’ll heal. Still, Greg looks like he’s seen a ghost, and is growing a bit frantic.
“You might not have been. Docs said you were lucky. I just… I wanted… thought I wouldn’t have a chance to...” Greg groans in frustration, like he’s wrestling with himself, and then bends over Sherlock’s hospital bed, close to his face, muttering “oh, fuck it.” Sherlock’s eyes widen in realization.
“Wait! Don’t. You shouldn’t.”
Greg frowns, hovering close to Sherlock's mouth. “But… I thought you wanted…”
“You have no idea how much I…” Sherlock swallows, unable to fully compose himself in the face of so much genuine conflict and yes, affection, in the Inspector’s eyes. “…want. But you shouldn’t. I… won’t let you.”
Greg frowns, not comprehending—understandable, given how willing Sherlock was to ignore the stigma of infidelity before. He’s never apologized for the almost-kisses, for his obvious desire for Lestrade. Accepted the outcome, certainly, but that’s all Greg knows. He sits up straighter, though he still sits close, and waits patiently for an explanation.
Ultimately, Sherlock has to close his eyes rather than see the pain in the man’s eyes when his next words come tumbling out. “You value honesty, and I have been lying to you. Your wife has been lying to you. If you pursue me, you’re not only pursuing a fiction, but you’re giving her the amunition she needs to bury you in the divorce. I have come to… genuinely care, far too much, to let that happen,” he admits, forcing himself to look at Greg for the last bit.
“What?” Greg looks genuinely flabbergasted. “William, you’re making no sense.”
“Sherlock,” he sighs. “My name is Sherlock, and I am a professional home wrecker. My brief was to seduce you, ensuring Mrs. Lestrade a more favorable outcome in the divorce settlement she seeks as a result of her own… shall we say, wandering hands?” Sherlock sniffs, his sore body stiff as he closes himself off to finish this. He watches the anger rise to conquer disbelief in the other man’s expression, all softness vanished. “Far more of what I’ve shown you of myself was real than I ever intended, in the beginning. That was my obvious mistake, letting emotion come into it… but I cannot, in truth, follow through. Nor can I offer you the honest, empathetic partner you deserve. I am, in fact, nothing more than a high-functioning sociopath, and you should seriously consider divorcing your wife and then looking for better. His name is Emerson McDonough, and his flat is in Academy Gardens, in Kensington.”
“You… bastard,” Lestrade exclaims. Sherlock doesn’t bother to respond, and merely watches him stand, kick a cabinet (possibly because he can't do the same to Sherlock), and go. Sighing, he reaches for his mobile and sends off a text.
Cocked the whole thing up. Don’t say you told me so. Need to be sprung from St. Thomas’ at your earliest convenience. - SH
Preferably sooner. - SH
~*~
The results of his little meltdown are predictable.
McDonough threatens legal action. Sherlock refuses to take Sophie Lestrade’s calls, and resigns himself to owe Mycroft a favor for his assistance in keeping Sherlock out of court and retaining a barrister. Despite that boon, business inevitably dries up entirely. His career depends entirely upon his reputation, and it’s no surprise that McDonough is intent on ruining him. John’s in good enough cheer to cover next month’s rent, but he’s not shy about reminding Sherlock that he has 45 days to either get a job or somehow talk Mycroft into reinstating his allowance. Eventually, Sherlock has to concede to take some completely trifling cases for friends of John’s—ironically, the first is looking for evidence of adultery. The second and third involve missing pets, and Sherlock strongly considers cocaine or suicide, but his brother’s people are everywhere he looks and John is no less vigilant.
Ultimately, he settles into a kind of pattern of rigorous scientific experimentation and mind-numbing private detective work. It’s four months before, with no expectation of ever doing so again, he sees Gregory Lestrade.
“Oh, wow. You’re the DI.”
Sherlock’s head pops up from his current experiment so fast he nearly strains something. Through the kitchen wall, he hears Greg’s familiar pleasant tone in response, though there’s a bit of a disappointed or uncertain note to it.
“Well… yes. That’d be me. Sorry, I don’t think he mentioned…” Oh. Of course. He’s never been to my flat, and now a strange man answering the door, assumptions warrant…
“Oh, right, no, of course not. Suppose it can’t hurt, now that you know… everything.” John’s laugh is stilted, uncomfortable. Sherlock imagines him sticking his hand out, standing military straight, and hopes Greg has enough deductive skill at least to see the obvious heterosexuality coming off him in waves. “John Watson, flatmate. He’ll be chuffed to see you.”
“I… that’s good, I guess. Is he in?”
“Yeah, sure. Sherlock!”
Blinking, Sherlock suddenly realizes that the situation calls for his actual appearance, not simply eavesdropping, and rips the goggles over his head, hastily untying and removing his apron as well. He’s trying to smooth down his shirt and simultaneously check his hair with the other hand when, evidently uninterested in actually waiting, Greg and John come around to the doorway.
“Err…hi.” He stares, for a moment, awkwardly lowering his hands by his sides as he’s been caught out, and wonders what one is supposed to say in this situation. Greg doesn’t help, and for a long minute they just look at each other, Greg’s eyes also darting to take in the chemistry setup that dominates three-quarters of the kitchen. He's dressed in a sky blue shirt, familiar navy coat, but his face is a bit tanned and his hair cut shorter. Somehow, more intangibly, his posture conveys more ease than before. Once he's taken all this in Sherlock finally, sheepishly, breaks the silence. “Sherlock Holmes. Pleasure to… meet you?”
That gets a laugh, at least. Pained, annoyed, maybe, but it’s a step. Greg’s smile lingers. “Right. I saw there was a cafe downstairs. I was wondering if we could… talk a bit?”
“Oh.” Sherlock looks from him to John, and then nods. “Yes. Yes, of course, I… would like that.” A bit unsteady, he steps into the sitting room and reaches for his coat. He’s not wearing a blazer over his dress shirt, but it’s hard to think about such tedious details as he’s rapid-fire attempting to deduce the Inspector’s mood and the real reason for the visit. Still angry with me. Obvious. But perhaps less so? He seems calm enough, seeing me. Divorce gone through, significantly more angry with his wife. Confused. Looking for his place in the world, now, looking for answers…
He leads the way downstairs and into Speedy’s, where they sit in the corner with two coffees. Greg glances around, then leans forward a bit, over the table. “Is there… another alias I should use now? In public?”
Sherlock blinks at Greg’s willingness to play along after everything that happened between them, but shakes his head. “Just Sherlock. I’m not in the business anymore.”
“Ah. Because of Sophie?”
“Technically, because of her boyfriend.” Sherlock shrugs.
Greg smiles, improbably. “Well… you’re not the only one who hates his guts, if it’s any consolation.”
Sherlock nods, sips his coffee. “You knew.”
“About her cheating? Yeah. I knew. Hoped it was an aberration, but… I’m smarter than that. Had to admit it eventually.”
“Yet you remained faithful.” Sherlock’s face twists a bit. “I will never understand normal people and their relationships.”
“Yeah, right,” Greg snickers. “You’re not really above it all, Sherlock, think you’ve proven that. Proven that you have your own moral boundaries, too, for all you flaunt social convention.”
“Guilty as charged, Inspector,” Sherlock responds, droll to mask the hurt he’s still feeling at missing what he couldn’t ever really have had.
“Did you know, then? That telling me would end your career?”
Sherlock nods, always frank. “It was inevitable. Worth it.”
“Right then…” Lestrade scrubs a hand over his face, obviously deliberating over something. Sherlock drinks his coffee and waits until he finally sits up straight and then leans forward, expression full of resolve. “I keep asking myself,” he admits, voice soft enough that Sherlock has to lean in a bit himself to hear him, “if I imagined the whole thing. I mean… too good to be true, obvious, you showed me, but… job aside, were your feelings for me ultimately genuine?”
Sherlock swallows. “Yes.” He finds that’s all he can say. Greg nods.
“I didn’t think anyone was that good an actor. Not even you.”
“I am,” Sherlock counters, “that good. But… I didn’t need to be, with you.” It costs him something to make that admission, and he looks down, twisting the cardboard sleeve of his coffee cup for something to do with his hands.
“This is probably really dumb,” Greg says after a moment, and when Sherlock looks up, he's smiling. “But I’d like to start over. I haven’t got anything to lose, really… and I have a case I could use your help on.”
Feeling uncharacteristically shy, Sherlock allows a small answering smile to creep onto his lips. “Could it be a date, then?” Something about the Inspector’s demeanor has given him hope. Greg laughs out loud in response to Sherlock’s question, tipping his head back. Sherlock’s missed this.
“You want to spend our first date at the scene of a gory double homicide?” he asks, still grinning. Sherlock bites his lip, feeling his cheeks heat.
“Is that…” He backpedals, unsure of his boldness. “... rather, if you’d like we could…”
“Yeah, all right.” His grin doesn’t fade, and Sherlock thinks he feels himself melt a little, much as he’s never bought into such romantic drivel.
“Good. That’s… good.” He stands and tosses his empty paper cup in the bin. Getting to his own feet, Greg gives him a wink.
"A bloke I know gave me some advice, so...I divorced my wife. I might be looking for something better now." He tosses his own cup, then offers a hand to Sherlock. “Shall we?” And somehow, the warm clasp of leather-encased fingers around his own as they walk to Greg’s car feels more romantic than any kiss.
----
Right then. If anyone's still around, I do finish things! Just not quickly :-) That ending felt good so I'm going to post on AO3 now and then will post some hot Sherstrade sex as requested as a chapter two!
Re: Fill (6/6)