Finally had the time to do this justice. A play on fanfic (and yes, I do wonder if anyone in the late Victorian underworld tried it for real) with lots of divine little details (love Mycroft's scheme and Holmes' daydream of him as a worthy adversary) and savourable phrases:

I have just managed to refrain from embarking on a very interesting diversion after that last thought, so I am not beyond hope.

and this:the sound that Watson made—like a burning log that was finally splitting into two

That moment - the one where one, the other or both give in - my favourite, vividly realised in a sound picture.


and this: I thought about it for a moment. “I suppose tobacco is still out of the question,” I said, turning up my rounded eyes to him in small hope.

“You suppose right,” he replied, completely unaffected.

Hee.

Also congrats to fabelschwester for the vivid illustrations, although I confess a particular fondness for the umbrella stand, because I am peculiar.