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[bluebellofbakerstreet]

London (by Sam Quek)

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

John urges Sherlock to think of a better disguise for breaking into the military base.

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

The Murder of Sir Emory J. Amat  by ChrisCalledMeSweetie

A Sherlock Holmes mystery, as recounted by Dr. John H. Watson.

Can you follow the clues to deduce whodunnit?

Chapter 18: Miss Irene

“What the devil do you mean?” asked Sholto. 

I saw the dark flush under his tan. 

“You have been blind, Major,” said Holmes. “You and Miss Irene have similar motives for desiring to conceal your true feelings. I will not speak of them to anyone, but you should speak of them to her. She is loyal. While Sebastian Moran is under a cloud, she is bound in honour to stick by him. But once this case has been resolved, she will be free to act in her own interest.” 

It suddenly occurred to me that Major Sholto might be considering the same type of arrangement with Irene as I had with Harry—though in their case it would have to be as spouses rather than as siblings—and for the same reasons. Once he reaches a certain age, a confirmed bachelor who lives alone may find it difficult to entertain other single men in his home without falling prey to malicious gossip. A kindly doctor who has devoted himself to caring for his dipsomaniac sister is less likely to arouse such suspicions, while an army major with a pretty young wife would be completely free of them. Meanwhile, the  sister—or wife—in question would be able to pursue her own—as Holmes put it—interests.

@mydogwatson @totallysilvergirl @bluebellofbakerstreet @sarahthecoat @helloliriels @daisyfairy1 @imnova @kittenmadnessandtea @missdeliadilisblog @marta-bee @whodwantmeasaflatmate @iwantthatbelstaffanditsoccupant @jobooksncoffee @peanitbear @bakingsherlycakes @kettykika78 @stellacartography @shelleysprometheus @iamjustreading @chinike @sgam76 @loves-to-read-fanfic @inevitably-johnlocked @johnlockismyreligion @riversong912 @calaisreno @lijahlover @thegildedbee @naefelldaurk

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

May Prompts 2024

Dear Writers:

It's nearly May! The month of merry little thoughts, divine mistakes, and frivolous whims.

Time to set aside that fantasy trilogy that's been stuck in the mud all winter, the six-act tragedy in blank verse you've been labouring over--and write some random bits and bobs!

Visit your mind attic. Pull open the drawer where you hide your terrible ideas and scenes that are waiting for the right story. (I know you have such an attic and such a drawer because I do as well 🙄) Dig around— not with the idea of spring cleaning, which will only produce an empty drawer and a tidy attic— but because it's a treasure hunt.

Dust off the lawn furniture, put on your sandals, take your laptop outdoors. New environs, new inspirations.

The point is this: Last year* some of us wrote and shared a month of little daily fictions. There were drabbles and 221Bs and flash-fiction and mini-epics. There were prompts, which some of us used as a starting place, and sharing of minifics amongst ourselves, which led to more inspiration. 

Wanna see some more?

I've been hoarding ideas since last year and am now opening that drawer. I plan to write a short something every day in May, and will share my words with whoever wants to be tagged. If you'd like a daily prompt, I will be supplying that. 

No pressure. While some structure creates opportunity and creativity thrives within structure, this exercise is not meant to create anxiety or trigger your inner completionist. (My internal taskmaster is taking the month off.)

No judgement. No prizes for reaching 31, no awards for creativity, no certificates of participation. Just cheering one another on.

No rules. Use the prompt or don't. Write 100 words or 1000. Any fandom, any characters, any headcanon. Or your own original creation. Write every day or whenever an idea strikes. Share or don't. 

No guilt. Fail gleefully, write terribly, get out of the boat and swim.

Correction. One rule: write some words. 

*Credit goes to @notjustamumj for last year's inspiration. Eternal thanks for that idea!

Please reblog! I'm tagging a few people who participated last year or expressed interest, but I’m sure I’m leaving someone out. Let me know if you'd like to be tagged for prompts and sharing.  

@raina_at @lisbeth-kk @keirgreeneyes @allsovacant @totallysilvergirl @meetinginsamarra @jrow @elwinglyre @bertytravelsfar @helloliriels @gregorovitchworld @peanitbear @mydogwatson

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

I managed to paint a bit this week and tried out Krita's RGB oil brushes. They are amazing.

This is a giftwork for @kabubsmagga. I wanted to paint something for them for a long time. Thank you kabubsmagga, for all the support and feedback of my writing and painting. ˂3

Close up, because zooming in doesn't work on desktop tumblr.

I am flattered if you reblog, but do NOT post my art on other sites/social media or use in any other way without my written permission.

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

WEEESI READS

aka fic rec series where I scream "you need to read this!" into the void

Indefinite Lines by arwamachine

I know I'm late on this one and I can only apologise to myself for that really. Compelling casefic, cinematic writing, interesting narrative structure, the cutest Rosie incarnation this side of s4, and plenty - PLENTY - of angst and comfort. Incredible character voices, including one of the best Sherlocks I've ever read. Head the tags re: whump though, because hoo boy. @arwamachine is responsible for creating a term that I now think about once a day which I will refer to here as m*** s****** for fear of spoilers. Don't miss Bonus Lines, which is a collection of incredible deleted/bonus scenes that accompanies the fic.

2. Thankless (a 5 + 1) by Silvergirl

Do you love Lestrade? Do you love @totallysilvergirl? Lucky for you, I already knew your answer to both of those questions was OF COURSE YES, WHY DO YOU ASK. As it says on the tin, a 5 + 1 wherein we revisit key moments throughout the series where Lestrade helps Sherlock until, finally, it finally sinks in (hopefully before it's too late). Gorgeous, lush, emotionally resonant writing across the board. I adore Silver's Lestrade (and pretty much everything Silver writes, honestly, including the epic, fantastically written Drawn to Stars and the heartachy, beautifully written A Case of You) and I'm 100% positive you will too.

3. Inscrutable to the Last by DiscordantWords

I love a super unique fic idea and @discordantwords always seems to have an endless supply. How they do it, I would love to know. This fic. THIS FIC. I don't want to give any spoilers but the inherent premise is just sooooo clever. Precise and devastating writing, excellent plotting, with spot-on character details and dialogue (as usual). You should also read their heartbreaking (and heart-healing) s4 fix-it (Never) Turn Your Back to the Sea after you give this one a go!

If you're interested in more fic recs, let me know!

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

Tumblr Top Ships Bracket - Round 1 Side 1

This poll is a celebration of fandom and fandom history; we're aware that there are certain issues with many of the listed pairings and sources, but they are a part of that history. Please do not take this as an endorsement, and refrain from harassment.

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

Sherlock fandom.

Zealous Movement

John hates it, Sherlock loves it. 

“Too many people. Crowded. Hateful,” John grumbles.

“Yes, to the amount, no to latter. It’s fascinating,” Sherlock tells him.

John huffs and holds on to the sleeve of Sherlock’s coat when the train comes rushing into the Embankment station.

“Don’t even try to get rid of me,” John hisses when Sherlock tries to wrestle his arm free from John’s iron grip.

Sherlock looks at John and realises that perspiration is coating John’s forehead, and his eyes have something reminiscent of panic about them. He moves closer to John, interlacing their fingers together.

“I’m sorry,” Sherlock murmurs in John’s ear. 

John relaxes and exhales shakily when they walk through the doors to the carriage. Ever since Sherlock came back from the dead, John’s been dreading being apart from him, particularly when they’re taking the tube. In a flash, Sherlock may vanish again, deliberately or not, but John has a hard time coping. He tries, but today is not a good day for it.

“Come here,” Sherlock says, manhandling John to stand beside the opposite doors.

He crowds in on John, shielding him from the other passengers with the Belstaff, creating a cocoon for the two of them. John holds on to the lapels of the great coat and takes steadying breaths to calm himself. Sherlock’s low murmurings help too.

“I’m here, John. Safe. Home. With you. Always. I love you.”

John’s on the brink of tears and leans his forehead against Sherlock’s chest, listening to the steady heartbeats.

“Alive. Safe. Home,” John whispers to himself.

The train is loud and fast, racing through the tunnels of London’s underground. Steady, like heartbeats. Reliable when there’s no strikes or other obstacles. 

John understands why Sherlock loves it. After all, he’s always on the move himself. Even when he’s lying on the sofa at Baker Street, his brain is running the halls of his mind palace. 

Before the Fall, John thought nothing of taking the tube. He did it all the time, though he did prefer a proper train. The speed felt slower, and there wasn’t a rush to get off and change lines. And you were mostly overground. Things to look at. Less crowded.

Screeching brakes bring John back from his reverie. He’s still enveloped in Sherlock’s embrace, his smell, his even breathing, his reassuring heartbeats.

“This is our stop,” Sherlock says softly. “Ready?”

John looks up into cerulean eyes that are concerned, worried. He cradles Sherlock’s cheek and nods.

“Let’s do this,” John says confidently. “How hard can it be?”

“Well, if anyone would know, it’d be you, John. You did after all invade Afghanistan,” Sherlock quips and kisses John’s palm.

@flashfictionfridayofficial @totallysilvergirl @keirgreeneyes @calaisreno @safedistancefrombeingsmart @a-victorian-girl @phoenix27884 @raina-at @gregorovitch-adler @helloliriels @topsyturvy-turtely @7-percent @ninasnakie @peanitbear

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

Number 55 in a series

Others in this series: Basil Rathbone (Fox), Martin Freeman,  Jude Law,  Benedict Cumberbatch, Rachel McAdams,  Jonny Lee Miller, Vinette Robinson, Jeremy Brett, David Burke, Andrew Scott, Nigel Bruce (Fox), Robert Downey, Jr., Jon Michael Hill, Two Violets, Mark Gatiss, Basil Rathbone (Universal), Nigel Bruce (Universal), Rupert Graves, Evelyn Ankers, Louise Brealey, Lucy Liu, Edward Hardwicke, Christopher Plummer, James Mason, Una Stubbs, Gayle Hunnicut, Hugh Laurie. Robert Sean Leonard, Yasmine Akram, Ronald Howard, Martin Freeman (TAB), Benedict Cumberbatch (TAB), Howard Marion-Crawford, Archie Duncan/Richard Larke, Peter Cushing, Nigel Stock, William Gillette, Edward Fielding/Burford Hampden, Kay Fielding, Rosalie Williams, Andrei Panin, Ingeborga Dapkunayte, Igor Petrenko, Rosalyn Landor, Gareth David-Lloyd, Ben Syder, Millie Bobby Brown, Henry Cavill, Jared Harris, George Zucco/Ida Lupino. Yuko Takeuchi, Shihori Kanjiya, Tomoya Nakamura, Kenichi Takito, Ran Ito

@randomnessoffiction

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

Tumblr Top Ships Bracket - Round 1 Side 1

This poll is a celebration of fandom and fandom history; we're aware that there are certain issues with many of the listed pairings and sources, but they are a part of that history. Please do not take this as an endorsement, and refrain from harassment.

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

I came back from 221BCon with plenty of art from my vendor table. If you are interested, you can find my website here:

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

Repeat after me:

It is OKAY to have content preferences and to be uncomfortable with certain ships or topics, controversial or not. It is OKAY to distance yourself from such content and block certain tags or creators.

It is NOT OKAY to actively hate and harass real people for creating content of fictional characters that features things that make you uncomfortable.

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

Sherlock and Rosie:)

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

Tumblr Top Ships Bracket - Round 1 Side 1

This poll is a celebration of fandom and fandom history; we're aware that there are certain issues with many of the listed pairings and sources, but they are a part of that history. Please do not take this as an endorsement, and refrain from harassment.

[bluebellofbakerstreet]

Inferno: Silvergirl and 7PercentSolution (sequel to Drawn to Stars)

Roberto, his son Luca, and Rosie are in a safe house together. Roberto's been teaching Rosie game strategies, and having some feelings.

N.b.: dialogue in italics is in Italian.

*

“I knew your Ba seven, eight years ago.”

“Then you didn’t know my Ba. He wasn’t my Ba then.”

She's right: I don’t know the man he’s become. Did I know the man he was then?

When I look up again, Luca's standing by the stairs. Who knows how long he’s been watching us? I thump the sofa beside me and say, “Come play with us.”

Rosie’s face lights up and Luca, as kind as his sister underneath all his bounce, sits beside me and pokes me in the ribs.

“O ba’, how come you never gave me strategy lessons?”

And there it is. My son felt—feels—as though I haven’t cared about his interests and pastimes.

“Because I was stupid. I should have done.”

He looks startled by my candour, then says, “Doesn’t matter.”

“Yes, it does. And I have no excuse. Your grandfather taught me better than I taught you.”

Now I’ve embarrassed him, and Rosie’s looking from me to him, perplexed. Not quite following, I hope.

Luca gives me a light punch on the arm. He doesn’t want his father’s soul-baring, that’s clear. Maybe I’m apologising too late.

“Come on, Dad. You taught me to dance and how to pull. What more could I ask?”

He's trying to reassure me, even if it’s more to ease his discomfort than mine. He’s—there’s no other word for it—a lovely kid, and I hope he knows I love him, no matter how far from him my work takes me.

But it isn’t only my work. I’m suddenly aware, with a sour pang of guilt, that my emotional focus has excluded him and Chiara to a degree I’d have thought impossible, once. Maybe that’s inevitable, even mutual. Clutching at a child’s shirttails out of personal neediness is unbecoming in a parent, surely. We need to let them go.

But in some corner of my mind I’m afraid I walked away, in the grip of an amorous—erotic—obsession.

“Did your Ba teach you how to dance too?” Rosie puts the “too” in the wrong place, but that’s all she misses.

“Well, he taught me how not to dance, which is just as useful.”

Rosie doesn’t get the joke. Her Ba also taught her to dance. Another painful jab of memory and desire.

“Go on, Luca, dance with the lassie.”

“And Chiara’s always on at me to avoid dialect words!” But he takes Rosie's hand and turns up the radio, which is playing some pop song about “putting a ring on it.” At least it chases off my melancholy, watching the two of them dance, kindness in Luca’s eyes, stars in Rosie’s.

But I wonder if Sherlock remembers how we danced together. I wonder if he remembers any of what we did together. I’ll never forget.

A Drawn to Stars sequel we're trying to make transparent without knowing Drawn to Stars. 👀

THANKS FOR REBLOGGING!

Let me know if you'd like to be untagged, tagged, retagged, supertagged, or cryptotagged. Whatever that is.

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[bluebellofbakerstreet]

Court dress called “Joséphine” (Attributed to Jean-François Bony) (France, Lyon), circa 1804-1810