You comments made me so happy, thank you! I'm so pleased that you were tickled by Stamford, I do enjoy imagining what kind of person could plausibly have come to be friends with both Holmes and Watson independently :) A healthy sense of humor and a fascination with watching social trainwrecks would come in handy, I think! I'm also delighted that Watson came across as self-contained and with his self-respect humbled but intact, here. I love the way Law plays him and I think his longsuffering attitude probably set in instantaneously upon meeting Holmes! Thanks so much for your lovely comments. This was my first time writing Ritchieverse and it was a big relief to hear that the characterizations sounded right.