i CANNOT stop thinking about the watson and sherlock dynamic from the awakened. there's something so utterly vulnerable about it.
like. sherlock, in the mildest terms, is Fucking Going Through It. lost his mom, is on poor terms with his brother, and is grappling with the idea of this otherworldly, cosmic entity connected to this case not only existing, but being real enough to influence his mind, the one place he considers -- perhaps on some level -- sacred, or at the very least, an important part of himself. he is desperately trying to keep a grasp on himself and what he knows to be true, on top of keeping strictly on professional terms with watson instead of letting him in, even when it's obvious he's very dear to him.
this whole case has him going off the deep end and sinking further and further into this mystery. the fact that he doesn't feel in control of what's happening -- or even know what's happening, really -- is the one thing he's terrified of, in a way. he's scared that if he goes mad, or loses his mind, he won't have anything left of him. it's why it's one of the most pressing options during his confrontation with rochester.
it's also why his announcement to rochester of "i have made a friend," is so oddly tender in that scene. because if nothing else -- if he's either mad or still sane, if he knows that this is the end, if nothing else really does matter -- that much is true, as well. and that's not even getting into the ending and final cutscene of the game.
and watson! oh my gracious, watson. watson has no idea what the fuck he's doing or why he's involved in any of this, how he got dragged into this mess, only that he's following sherlock to help him and this case. watson underplays himself so much in this investigation, thinking himself as a coward in so many aspects, even when he's shown multiple times to be braver than he thinks; lying to gygax to eventually get the key, standing up to mycroft, being willing to follow sherlock practically into hell to help him, even if it makes him uncomfortable on multiple layers. he's trying to keep himself put together enough for the both of them.
he practically word vomits onto wolff in edelweiss about how he's stressed and confused and sort of wants a strand of a normal life again, and is just. so very clearly involved in this only because sherlock asked him to be, and how -- even when he CANNOT explain why -- he finds himself thrilled by it all and alive. and he does this only because wolff will forget almost immediately!!! and watson can act like nothing happened and he didn't say something absolutely devastating!!!!!
it's also why his standing up to mycroft for sherlock is also very tender. his comment of essentially, "i know you know him, i just wished you respected him". watson has no IDEA why the fuck he's following sherlock this far, but he respects him and his wishes, and cares for him enough to know when to help and when to step away, ("you asked me to intervene if i saw you cracking. this is me intervening!")
they are both so desperately trying to cling onto each other for this whole case, because they're BOTH damaged people trying to hold onto the only thing they each know to be true. they're each other's fail-safes, only going to stop if the other honestly -- sincerely -- wants to, but they won't!
it's also exactly why they manage to survive this ordeal together (not win; you don't win in a lovecraftian horror, you survive). they both are living in the past -- and would probably wallow there if allowed -- but the other brings them into the present and centers them on what's important.
