#clues

[writingwithfolklore]

Following a Trail of Clues

                Lots of plots have at least some aspect of figuring out a mystery or uncovering some hidden truth. While it may not be a traditional murder mystery, writing a plot that revolves around the gathering of information and uncovering of clues can be written using a lot of the same techniques.

1. You should probably plan it

If you’re strictly a pantser, give it a shot, but I have never been able to pants mysteries like this. I would recommend planning it from the beginning and saving yourself a lot of time and headaches trying to piece it together later.

2. Start with the beginning and end

When planning a mystery, I start with the beginning, and then skip to the point that they uncover the truth or figure it out and work backwards to fill out the middle. What is the last hint they need to uncover the full truth, then, what leads to that hint, rinse and repeat until we get back to that beginning you created.

                For example, say the MC is trying to find their missing friend. The last point would be ‘they find their friend’, so that’s where we begin. Maybe right before that, they’re told the location, to get their location, they’ve kidnapped one of the bad guys who knows it, to get to him, they need to break into the evil lair, to find the lair, they need to spy on the organization, and so on.

3. Diversify the hints

I talk about this a bit in my post about written elements (here), but essentially, you’ll want to diversify how your characters get their hints. It will seem cheap if they find everything they need to know on conveniently spaced notes or journal entries (unless you can really justify that), or it’s all told to them by someone who happens to know it all (such as the ‘wise man’ trope).

                Maybe they find the last clue written down, but the one before was told to them from a key character, and the one before was puzzled out through a riddle, etc. etc. Here are some places to find clues:

Someone else knows something

This could be either an ally or an enemy. Family members, friends they weren’t aware of, a hidden partner, seemingly a stranger who knows more than they’re letting on. If they are an ally, there should be a reason they haven’t come forward yet, or justification for why their testimony is where it is in a story. Maybe they are somewhat accidentally guilty in the mystery, maybe they are afraid to be involved, maybe they aren’t aware anything has happened at all.

If they’re an enemy, maybe your protagonists need to corner them, best them in a battle, talk to them away from their boss, kidnap them, etc. Consider why this person would betray their ‘side’ to provide a clue to the protagonists.

Journal entries, notes, letters, ledgers, or otherwise written down

Physical evidence—footprints, pieces of clothing left behind, an object, photos, drawings

Biological evidence--fingerprints, DNA, hair, etc. If your character already has access to the equipment for this, great! If not, consider how they could find this out.

A prophetic dream or vision (use in cases in which it would make sense for your character to have this, obviously)

A riddle, poem, or song, if you can justify it.

An educated guess (for small jumps)

Timing—if they can figure out a timeline, they may be able to figure out something else

Something is missing or off place. That’s odd, character always leaves their book on the bedside table, so why isn’t it there?

Any other ways to get hints or clues to your characters?

[nancydrewgamesofficial]

Check out the official cover art 🖼️ Nancy Drew is off to Prague in her newest adventure, #MysteryOfTheSevenKeys!

🗝️ Get Newsletter & Exclusive Updates at: https://bit.ly/407DpUc

[bugpysforge]

I made a game! I designed it and my friend build it, and now it's up and running! It's a Wordle-style guessing game where you have to guess the Pokemon from a series of clues. It's a daily game, so you can come back to keep guessing later!! Let us know what you think and have a go at guessing!!

[thatsbelievable]

[reality-detective]

At exactly 17 seconds into the Tucker Carlson interview, Putin took off his black leather band watch and placed it on the table next to a pen.

Q Drop 2647 has an image of a black leather band watch and a pen.

It says: The clock is ticking 🕰️

There has been a lot they were right about... Coincidence? You Decide 🤔

[babis-little-corner]

🐾⸝⸝Blues Clues Stimboard!・・🩵

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂ ᶻ 𝗓 𐰁

⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆

🦴 . . . QOTD: Who is your favorite blues clues character?

DNI if your acct is NSFW

[driveintheaterofthemind]

Vintage Pulp - Clues Detective Stories (Nov1938)

Art by Emery Clarke

Street And Smith

[1899gifs]

1899 — clues (1/?) ↳ Ling Yi's glitch — 1.01: The Ship

[raina-at]

Clues

“And where are you off to?” John asks, looking up from his textbook. He’s sitting in the kitchen, studying for his anatomy exam and eating chips.

Sherlock passes by the table and takes a chip from the paper plate John is holding out in an unspoken invitation. “Molly needs help with organic chemistry.”

John smiles at him fondly. “That’s awfully nice of you, sacrificing your Friday night to help her.”

Sherlock rolls his eyes. “She’s going to be Anderson’s TA next semester, meaning she’ll have access to the lab after hours. It’s a simple exchange.”

“Yes, yes, you keep telling yourself that, much easier to pretend you couldn’t just break into the lab like you’ve done all of last year, instead of admitting that Molly’s your friend and that’s why you’re helping her.”

Sherlock helps himself to another chip. “Shut up,” he says, then pops the chip into his mouth, making John laugh. 

The sound shivers down Sherlock’s spine like a warm caress, making him feel warm all over. He’s long since stopped asking himself why making John laugh is the best feeling in the world, he’s just accepted that it is. 

“Fine, go share your big genius brain with the girl who isn’t your friend at all, of course,” John answers. He gets up and nudges Sherlock with his shoulder as he passes to the sofa. “Text me if you’re going to spend the night, okay?”

“Yes, mother,” Sherlock says with mock annoyance. 

John flips Sherlock off absently, already engrossed in his textbook again. “Finish off the chips, will you,” he says absently.

Sherlock shrugs into his coat and grabs the chips from the table to have on his way. “Don’t wait up,” he says in lieu of goodbye and closes the door behind him.

*-*

“So, if you look at the molecular structure of- Molly, are you listening to a word I’m saying?”

Molly looks up from her textbook and blushes scarlet. “I’m so sorry, Sherlock, I’m just-”

“Just what? Ungrateful? Inattentive? Wasting my time?” Sherlock ticks the points off his fingers. “Uninterested in passing this course? Willing to throw your future away?”

Molly drops her head, her forehead meeting her textbook with a painful-sounding thud. “Oh my god, this is so embarrassing…”

Sherlock sighs. “Let me guess. This is about a boy.”

“Yes,” Molly all but wails. “I’m being so stupid! But I can’t stop thinking about him. He’s so handsome” She lifts her head a bit, looking at Sherlock with a pleading expression. “You know Greg? From the rugby team?”

Sherlock nods, his anger abating somewhat. Greg apparently has a debilitating effect on girls. He’s noticed it on several occasions where John dragged him to social gatherings. The effect is entirely lost on Sherlock himself, though he acknowledges that Greg is good looking. Maybe it’s because Greg is so unquestioningly straight, but then again, so is John, and John’s mere presence both enhances Sherlock’s intellect and has the ability to derail it completely. So he sympathises with Molly. To an extent.

“What would it take for you to be able to actually concentrate on what we’re doing?” he asks, checking his watch. It’s only nine, maybe they can save some of this study session.

“If I knew for sure that he’s not interested, I could put it out of my mind. I know he likes me, but I’m not sure if we’re just mates, or if he wants to take it further.” She pulls out what looks like a battered women’s magazine. “There’s a list of clues here. Whether someone likes you. Maybe we could….” she trails off, giving Sherlock a hopeful smile.

Sherlock sighs. “Let’s have it then.”

“Okay, clue one: He’s looking for excuses to touch you.”

“Sounds a bit fishy,” Sherlock says, waggling his hand in a ‘not sure about that’ gesture, thinking of how John constantly bumps against him, puts a hand on his shoulder, or his arm. “Friends touch quite often as well.”

“He did touch my arm this afternoon,” Molly says, musing aloud. “I’m going to mark it down as a yes.”

Sherlock decides he needs a control group. He’ll compare the clues on the list to things normal friends — like he and John — do all the time.

“Go on.”

“Clue two: Shares food. Greg gave me half of his muffin last week.”

John sharing his chips without even a second thought. “Meaningless. Next.”

“Compliments you. Greg told me I’m really smart the other day, does that count?”

John calls him brilliant and amazing all the time. “No. Friends like each other, that’s not an indicator for romantic attraction.”

“One or two of these are normal among friends, it says here. If you get seven or eight out of ten, he’s interested in more,” Molly muses, but continues reading the clues out when Sherlock makes a ‘get on with it’ gesture. “Four: Shows concern for your wellbeing.”

Text me when you stay over. Finish my chips. Do you want some tea? “Friends do that. Next.”

“Five: Goes fishing for information about your romantic life. Greg did ask me if I have plans for the weekend, do you think he might- Sherlock, are you listening to me?”

Do you have a girlfriend? 

Not really my area.

Do you have a boyfriend, then?

Their first conversation over dinner the evening John moved in, after Mike introduced them as potential flatmates. 

“Read the next clue.”

Molly looks down at the paper. “Shows interest in your hobbies.”

John leaning over him and looking at crime scene pictures, John listening to him go on about the chemistry of tobacco ash and the infinite varieties of London soil, John’s enthusiasm for his violin…

Sherlock swallows. “Next.”

“Initiates contact, makes plans.”

He takes out his phone and looks at his last ten text alerts. They’re all from John.

“Next.”

“Wants to meet your family.”

Well, nobody wants to meet Mycroft, but John usually offers him tea when he comes over, and John’s shown a certain amount of — morbid — curiosity about their parents. 

“Next.”

“Blows off people and plans to spend time with you.”

“And the last one?” Sherlock asks, unsure if what he feels is hope or dread. 

“Lots of eye contact.”

“Molly,” Sherlock croaks, unsteadily. “I have to go.”

*-*

The way home takes thirty minutes and that’s time enough for Sherlock to do some serious thinking on the subject of John Watson, and what Sherlock wants from him.

Facts: John is intelligent, smart, funny, good company, he smells good, his eyes are extraordinary, he’s the only person Sherlock could envision living with and his laugh makes Sherlock shiver.

He comes to the following conclusions:  a) He’s in love with John, and has been since they met. b) He’s a massive idiot. 

*-*

Sherlock bursts into John’s bedroom without knocking. “Do you like me?”

John, who was fast asleep face down on his textbook, sits up, blinking against the light. “What?”

“You know how much I hate repeating myself,” Sherlock says, running a hand through his hair, gesturing in agitation. “Do you like me?” he asks, gesturing between the two of them.

John blinks, obviously still half asleep. “Um…”

“Answer the question!” Sherlock snaps, irritated.

“I’m not even sure I know what the question is,” John says, frowning at Sherlock, confused. “You storm in here in the middle of the night and yell incoherent nonsense at me, and you’re irritated at me?”

“We got ten out of ten, John! Ten out of ten!” Sherlock yells, dimly aware that this doesn’t exactly help John with anything, but too agitated to care. “You touch me all the time, you care about me, you let me rant at you, you feed me, you’re polite to my brother, you haven’t been on a date for months,” Sherlock enumerates the points, checking them off with his fingers. “I forget the rest, but you see the point, don’t you?”

“I’m not sure I do,” John says, rubbing a tired hand over his forehead. “You asked if I like you. Of course I do, we’re friends.”

“Yes, obviously, but do you like me? Like me, like me? Have sexual and/or romantic interest in me? The clues say you do, and the clues never lie!”

John looks distinctly uncomfortable, and he’s even blushing a bit, which Sherlock rates as a very good sign. “Um…” he rubs the back of his neck, a classic nervous tell, then he looks up at Sherlock, and there’s that eye contact the article was talking about. “Would that be a problem?”

Sherlock releases a breath he wasn’t aware he was holding. “Of course not, you absolute idiot. Why do you think I endure your dreadfully slow typing, your inability to pick up your dirty socks from the bathroom floor and your horrid taste in music? I’m obviously completely besotted with you and have been for a while now. Granted, I only realised right now but-”

He doesn’t get any further because John pulls him down to the bed, rolls on top of him and starts kissing him like there’s nothing better to do in the whole entire world, a sentiment Sherlock is in complete agreement with.

“I think we’re done talking for now,” John says with a wicked grin as he pulls back a bit to look at Sherlock.

Sherlock quite agrees and pulls John down for another round of snogging.

He makes a mental note to thank Molly in the morning. Then he dismisses everything that’s not John from his mind. It’s surprisingly easy. 

Have a bit of fluffy Unilock with awkward boys today. This got long, that's why I cut it.

Thanks for the prompt and the tag, @calaisreno

Tagging a few people to join the fun: @helloliriels @keirgreeneyes @jrow @fluffbyday-smutbynight @topsyturvy-turtely @totallysilvergirl @khorazir @catlock-holmes @meetinginsamarra @lisbeth-kk

[jazzstarrlight]

I had this idea years ago and started, but put on the back burner until I forgot about it. Anyways to pass my break time I started working on this again from scratch (Since I haven't received any commissions lately.) Would you play this game? Or more specifically, would Alex Hirsch approve?

Gravity Falls: Clues

The story: Preston Northwest's body has been found at the mystery Shack. Knowing how terrible the sherif is at his job, the mystery team take it on themselves to solve this... travesty?

Tell me what you think!

EDIT: Updated the board design to make it more square, and gave it a boarder plus a subtle guideline for if anyone wants to make it into a foldable gameboard. Enjoy!

EDIT #2: Found a better image for the kitchen to use. Much better.

[lisbeth-kk]

Clues

Thanks for the prompt @calaisreno and the tag @raina-at

Sometimes you need a push.

“You’re going to lose him, you know,” Molly says earnestly.

Sherlock just huffs, focusing on the fingernails on the corpse they’re examining.

When they’ve concluded, Molly continues the one-sided conversation.

“He’ll get tired of waiting. You must know how he feels about you by now, Sherlock. It’s totally obvious, but he’s not exactly…”

“Gay, you mean,” Sherlock snaps at her, puts on his Belstaff with his usual flaunt and exits the morgue.

He gets a text from John in the cab.

Ordered sushi. Can you pick up a few bottles of wine on the way?

Consider it done. SH

He gets some funny emoji in return. A blue-grey two headed thing. When he searches the emoji bar, he finds it next to the lungs. Maybe John’s just touched the wrong one, though none of the other emojis stands out, if you don’t count the inner organs like heart and brain.

Sherlock starts to ponder Molly’s words after he’s stopped for wine. Losing John. Just two words but the meaning of those words is something Sherlock can’t think about without getting nauseous. And then it’s the other thing Molly mentioned. How John feels about him. Sherlock knows John loves him. As a friend, but it stops there, doesn’t it? Has John ever shown interest in Sherlock in a more romantic way? If so, he's hidden it well. From Sherlock at least. There have been no clues. Perhaps Molly just sees what she wants to see. That must be it. She’s a romantic soul, and clearly wants Sherlock to have what she has with…Peter? No, Patrick…Paul? Never mind. 

***

They’ve eaten and finished one bottle of wine. John’s eager to open a second one.

“You’ve got excellent taste in wine, Sherlock,” John beams as he struggles with the cork.

“Need a hand with that?” Sherlock offers amused.

John’s getting tipsy, and it’s a state Sherlock can appreciate. When he let’s go of his Britishness, John gets all affectionate and flirty, and sometimes Sherlock craves that. Craves John’s attention. His indisputable admiration. The aftermath of such events can be devastating for Sherlock. When John apologises, gets awkward, goes for long walks, and dates for several weeks. Tonight though, Sherlock decides to push John a bit. He’s gotten a bit tipsy himself, and Molly’s words refuses to leave him alone. What if John feels…

“There!” 

John interrupts his train of thought when he finally manages to open the wine bottle. He grins at Sherlock.

“Some more wine, gorgeous? You’re glass is empty,” John states and concentrates while pouring wine into both glasses.

Did John just call him gorgeous?

John’s never called him anything like that before. Git, twat, idiot, and his name in all variations, but never endearments. Could that be a sign, or is John too inebriated to notice what he’s said? He needs more data.

“You seem happy today. Any particular reason?” Sherlock prompts, fishing for clues to John’s odd behaviour.

John clears his throat and blushes a bit. It’s quite adorable.

Adorable! Since when did he start using words like that? Too much wine probably.

“I just…um…realised something,” John begins, not looking at Sherlock, instead seems to find his socks quite fascinating.

Sherlock waits for John to continue. It takes a numerous amount of time. When he speaks again, his voice is almost sober and there’s a hint of captain Watson in his stance.

“I’ve decided to stop dating,” John exclaims.

Sherlock’s heart skips a beat at that. Molly was right. He’s going to lose John. Stop dating means that John’s found a woman he wants to settle down with, get engaged to, marry, have kids with. It means John’s leaving Baker Street. His brain buzzes and Sherlock’s afraid he’s going to black out. John has apparently continued talking, but Sherlock hasn’t heard a word. Three words are playing in his mind making him want to vomit.

I’m losing him!

***

Sherlock feels warm, steady and familiar hands on his knees. Thumbs stroking, soothing. John’s voice soft and concerned, now forming coherent words.

“Hey. You alright, Sherlock? What happened? Didn’t you hear me?”

Sherlock blinks rapidly and John’s face comes into focus. His blue gaze has a lovely expression.

Of course it does. He’s finally found the love of his life!

He closes his eyes. Can’t stand to see all that joy directed at a person that’s not Sherlock. His eyes prickle. He can’t cry in front of John. Pinches his thighs to redirect the pain and focus on that instead of the ache in his heart. He knows he’s failed miserably when he feels John’s hand on his cheek.

“Look at me, Sherlock. Please don’t panic. I can…um…just. Damn, I got the clues wrong, didn’t I? Sorry.”

John withdraws and Sherlock’s suddenly cold, bereft of the warmth of John’s proximity. He opens his eyes. John’s standing by the window, a hand over his eyes, silently cursing himself. Sherlock walks over to him, uncertain how to proceed.

“John. What did I do wrong? I’m sorry. I should’ve congratulated you, but I was caught off guard. Didn’t observe.”

John looks over at him incredulously.

“What?” he asks.

Stupid! Stupid!

Sherlock pulls at his hair in frustration. How can he fix this? 

In the end he doesn’t have to. John, wonderful John, his conductor of light, his beloved John solves the puzzle.

He closes the gap between them, takes Sherlock’s hands and squeezes.

“I should’ve known you would go offline and draw the wrong conclusions at that outburst. It was stupid of me. I’m sorry. I was just so damn happy. No, Sherlock, don’t,” John says when Sherlock’s about to withdraw his hands.

“I’m rubbish at this aren’t I? The thing is, Sherlock. The reason I’m giving up dating, well, it’s you.”

John looks up at Sherlock, his feelings laid bare. His eyes are so full of…it can’t be, can it? Love? Surely Sherlock’s mistaken.

“John?” Sherlock whispers.

John lets go of his hands and cradles his face instead, his thumbs stroking his cheekbones. Sherlock closes his eyes and revels in the unfamiliar sensation.

“Look at you,” John murmurs. “So beautiful.”

The awe and affection in his voice, makes Sherlock shiver. He opens his eyes, feeling brave, desperately hoping he’s read the signs correctly. When their eyes meet, Sherlock knows. Knows why John’s giving up dating. It’s written all over John’s face. He lowers his head, reasting their foreheads together.

“You love me?” Sherlock asks shakily.

“God, yes, Sherlock,” John says and beams at him. “Can I kiss you?”

Sherlock doesn’t answer, but acts. He places his hands on John’s shoulders and finds John’s lips with his own. Soft and tender kisses turns deeper, and Sherlock feels like his body’s filled with fireworks. It sparkles all over. In his stomach, thighs, calves, arms, fingers, and god, when John runs his fingers through Sherlock’s hair, he moans with pleasure.

“Jesus,” John whispers reverently. “Your voice!”

***

It turns out that the two women closest to John and Sherlock had taken matters into their own hands. Both Molly and Mrs. Hudson were at their wits end when it came to the clueless men. Mrs. Hudson had warned John with more or less the same words Molly had used to get Sherlock’s attention, and in the end, it worked out perfectly.

“Witchcraft,” Sherlock mutters once he and John had compared stories.

“Well, I prefer to call it magic, my love,” John says gleefully and traces his fingers down Sherlock’s naked body.

“You’re one to talk,” Sherlock gasps as John’s fingers find his nipples.

John laughs in a low, wicked voice, and Sherlock shivers in anticipation. Witchcraft or magic, he doesn’t care. He makes a mental note to buy the two women flowers or… 

“Focus on me, Sherlock,” John whispers, and Sherlock’s nothing but obedient.

Cunning women working their magic on the boys. The story almost wrote itself when that idea emerged in my mind.

@totallysilvergirl @meetinginsamarra @topsyturvy-turtely @peanitbear @missdeliadili

[strawbubbysugar]

Symbols

The secondmost common marks, often appearing a few weeks after receiving the first signs. They have the appearance of fully healed tattoos, laying flat against the skin, similar to Writing Marks. Like all signs, they are only visible to the soulmates involved, and is not visible to those outside of the bond.

Adaptive Markings Markings that change in response to internal sources. Images or shapes appear on the skin that match your soulmate, and change with their emotional state. They are fluid, and do not stay still for long. Ex) Person A is a gardener. Person B has leaves and plant imagery that slowly spreads across their body over time. If Person A is upset, the flowers on Person B may wilt.

Mirroring Writing or images drawn onto the skin from an outside source will match on the opposite soulmate. If combined with physical signs, Person A may also feel the same sensation as Person B while writing or drawing on the skin.

Ex) Person A draws a flower on their hand, Person B will also see a flower on their hand.

Imprints Your body is painted where it is touched by your soulmate. This often occurs when two soulmates have met but have not confessed. Ex) Person A touches Person B's hand. Person B's hand will have an imprint of Person A's hand in a colour that matches Person A.

Clues Images or symbols that give you a clue as to where you will meet your soulmate will appear on your body in a significant spot. Ex) Person A and Person B are destined to meet in a coffee shop. Person A receives a symbol of a common latte pour pattern, Person B receives steam wrapped around their hand.

[nancydrewgamesofficial]

📣 We’re excited to reveal the official #CoverArt for #MysteryOfTheSevenKeys — no fooling!

🗝️ Get Newsletter & Exclusive Updates at: https://bit.ly/407DpUc

[tamapalace]

Bandai Dropped Clues before Launching Very Berry Land & LoveMelo Concert Downloadable Content

Did you notice that? Before the Tamagotchi Uni 1.6.0 software update as announced with the new Tama Portal feature bringing downloadable content to our devices, Bandai did drop some hints on two of the locations!

That’s right, beautiful artwork of both Very Berry Land and Melody Land were posted on their social media profiles. Is that a coincidence? Perhaps we’ll get clues for the two remaining locations?

[calaisreno]

Clues

This is how Sherlock Holmes seduces me, with long fingers and murmured Italian, with midnight violin and inexplicable clues.

May 19: Clues

Note: This one is dedicated to @totallysilvergirl and @keirgreeneyes for their remark: "@calaisreno could make a compelling story out of a drugstore receipt." Well, I tried!

“What do you make of that?” 

The long, thin fingers of Sherlock Holmes dangle before my eyes, holding a slip of paper. 

A clue, I think. 

He drops the paper in my lap and I examine it. A receipt, from the corner shop. Cigarettes, £6.51.

He’s muttering to himself in Italian, dropping pieces of clothing on the furniture and floor. The door to his bedroom closes. 

This is how Sherlock Holmes seduces me, with long fingers and murmured Italian, with midnight violin and inexplicable clues.

Clues. It means something, this piece of paper. It’s always something like that, insignificant to the point where an ordinary man (me) dismisses it, only to see it reappear hours or days later, the key piece of evidence that unravels the mystery. 

I am, unfortunately, ordinary. To me, it’s just a receipt. 

Sometimes Holmes takes my hand in his long, white fingers. He kisses the knuckles, and looks up at me, pale eyes through dark lashes. And he murmurs, alkaline. 

Later, I’ll know what it meant. We’ll be standing around a body, and Holmes will have his pocket lens out, examining the curtains. Lestrade will be impatiently shifting from foot to foot, wondering why he’s let a madman into his crime scene. And Holmes will say, The sole of a shoe is like a passport. And he will explain.

Solutions are for explaining. Clues are not. And explanations are rarely forthcoming when there are still more clues to be found. 

Just once, I’d like to be holding the final clue, to produce it when he’s putting it all together, to hand it to him with a smile. To see his face light up, hear him exclaim, Watson, you’ve done it!

But I am ordinary. 

I hold the paper between my short, ordinary fingers, wondering what it could mean. 

When Holmes comes out of his room, he is wearing a long caftan and a head wrap, and smells of vetiver. “Don’t wait up for me,” he says as he leaves.

Like a soldier at the front, I sleep lightly on the sofa, waiting for the summons. If inconvenient, come all the same. 

It’s never inconvenient; I live for such moments. 

He doesn’t return until the following day, late. This time he’s wearing a flat cap and dungarees.

“Drayman?” I ask.

“Plumber’s assistant.” 

He accepts the tea I make, takes two sips, stares into the void for some minutes, and goes into his room, still holding the cup. 

I know that look. The game will soon be afoot. At a moment’s notice, we’ll be off— running down an alley, cornering our prey. I fall asleep on the sofa, dressed for action. 

When I wake, he is gone again. His bed has not been slept in. I berate myself for sleeping deeply while Sherlock Holmes has been tracking dangerous criminals. 

I have put his dinner plate in the refrigerator, washed the dishes, and looked for clues. His deerstalker hat is on the floor beneath his chair. The remains of a cigarette lie crushed in the ashtray. There are crumbs on the table. A half-drunk cup of tea sits balanced precariously on the mantel. 

The call eventually comes. We jump into the waiting cab and race to the crime scene. 

He’s pacing, humming. My excitement builds. I can see that his mind has almost broken the puzzle. 

It’s the moment, I think. 

I offer it to him, the final clue, the receipt. I have no idea what it means, but I’m sure it’s the missing piece. I’ll hand it to him, and his face will go slack with surprise for a moment, and then he’ll seize the paper and tell us what it means. And his fingers will brush mine, and I’ll know that I have— even if just for a moment— impressed him. 

I hold it out. He stares, reaches out a trembling hand and takes it from me. Our eyes meet. His shine, and strong emotion fills them with tears. 

“You were right, Watson,” he whispers. “You’ve always been right, dear friend.”

I don’t know how, but I have done it. For once, I have handed him the solution to the case. 

“Do you see?” He holds the receipt, his long fingers trembling. “It’s outrageous! Six-fifty for a pack of cigarettes! My God! How can I afford this habit?” He sighs. “You’re right, Watson. I must quit smoking.”

Tagging: @elwinglyre @meetinginsamarra @raina-at @lisbeth-kk. @momma2boys @7-percent @jrow @helloliriels @the-reading-lemon @peanitbear @bertytravelsfar @thetimemoves @copperplatebeech @mydogwatson @thegildedbee

[wheelerpupfan]

"The Crew and Chase are on The Case"

Rubble and Crew Season 1, Episode 20

Another New Episode aired Today in the US! This time, Chase visited Builder Cove and met Rubble's Cousins.

It's all about Chase and The Crew trying to find the missing statue by finding some clues that were left around town. It's a cool episode and had some good moments. The only issue I had here is that Chase is too friendly and happy in this episode. Though I expected some cool Chase scenes like the ones he did back in the main show during his Spy missions and his Ultimate Rescue episodes. But it's fine, atleast I got to see my favourite character in action this episode. ⭐💙🐾

Next set of Episodes will be aired this week and probably next week so Stay Tuned for more!