I enjoyed this so, so much. This version of their first meeting fits so well for this Holmes and Watson. I love that Watson insists on a proper introduction though, and I echo the applause for your Stamford. There wasn’t a drop of cruelty in Stamford, but he had a relish for the foibles of his neighbors that reminded me of nothing so much as an Austen heroine. Possibly I should never have told him so. He’s wonderful - I loved his scene.
I so admire how you subtly balance the lightheartedness with the more serious aspects of the story. You remind us that Watson is a young man who’s abruptly grown up through his experiences. And “My disguises are thoroughly effective and based on psychological factors too abstruse for the layman to grasp.” I borrowed Stamford’s pen and scribbled psychology – nil on the back of a napkin made me laugh so much. But then when we get to the scene in 221B, we see that isn’t entirely true. Holmes is a sympathetic and kind man who does understand Watson.
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I so admire how you subtly balance the lightheartedness with the more serious aspects of the story. You remind us that Watson is a young man who’s abruptly grown up through his experiences. And “My disguises are thoroughly effective and based on psychological factors too abstruse for the layman to grasp.” I borrowed Stamford’s pen and scribbled psychology – nil on the back of a napkin made me laugh so much. But then when we get to the scene in 221B, we see that isn’t entirely true. Holmes is a sympathetic and kind man who does understand Watson.
It's all just lovely.