This is delightful! I'm only passingly familiar with Ritchieverse, but this works just fine for an ACD fan, too. Kudos on that marvelous opening line full of promise, and a story that delivers on its opening line.
I love this staunch Watson who won't let himself be (entirely) bowled over by Holmes, and I love this idea that there was a prelude to meeting through Stamford – and that it was Watson who then made the Stamford introduction happen (roundabout-ly). I love Holmes being endearingly, obviously way-too-specific about what he's looking in a flatmate, right down to the gambling habit and "is at this moment repenting of polite pretenses"! A few more favorite bits include: the solemn bartering of the shoes for the hat; "tactless, invasive, and brilliant"...but nonetheless unable to wheedle a name from stubborn Watson; the sly oysters reference.
And I appreciated, too, the shift to earnestness at the end, showing that these two are capable of having both of those levels with each other. Though Holmes, of course, has already taken the liberty of kidnapping the dog, so certain is he of Watson's answer. :-)
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Date: 2017-06-12 09:45 pm (UTC)I love this staunch Watson who won't let himself be (entirely) bowled over by Holmes, and I love this idea that there was a prelude to meeting through Stamford – and that it was Watson who then made the Stamford introduction happen (roundabout-ly). I love Holmes being endearingly, obviously way-too-specific about what he's looking in a flatmate, right down to the gambling habit and "is at this moment repenting of polite pretenses"! A few more favorite bits include: the solemn bartering of the shoes for the hat; "tactless, invasive, and brilliant"...but nonetheless unable to wheedle a name from stubborn Watson; the sly oysters reference.
And I appreciated, too, the shift to earnestness at the end, showing that these two are capable of having both of those levels with each other. Though Holmes, of course, has already taken the liberty of kidnapping the dog, so certain is he of Watson's answer. :-)