I've been reading/listening to a lot of Sherlock Holmes (like the original Doyle stories) audiobooks, and aside from some customary old-timey casual bigotry (which really kind of smacks u in the face with surprise bc it comes amongst relatively pretty progressive stuff) and story weirdness (no, Sir Arthur, you CANNOT make a weird jekyll/hyde were-monkey man by - well, spoilers, but life does not work that way, also there is no such thing as a "swamp adder" and if there were, they wouldn't drink milk), I'm really enjoying them
But one piece of Weirdness that I think is fantastic actually (which is apparently pretty common in Victorian literature) is something called "Brain Fever"
And that is where, when someone gets bad enough a shock or trauma, they (man or woman) would not only faint, but then STAY in a feverish, comatose state for days OR WEEKS until the shock/brain inflammation wore off, and this is simply a very normal thing nobody bats an eye at. Like they didn't have the language for PTSD but dang it they were trying
ANYWAY, I find it quite Relatable and think we should bring that term back. Please don't bother me I'm currently suffering from Brain Fever (tm) and need to recuperate in quiet by the seaside
(cat spirit: the chinese yaoguai, a cat which has cultivated to immortality and gained a human form~ similar to a kitsune, or hulijing, but this one's a cat)
evidence:
his deductions seem to stem more from observations and experience, which would be greatly helped by a cat spirit's long life (= a lot of life experience, and can explain how he's familiar with many countries as well) and keen senses (sight, to be so observant, and smell, as he does deduce things from smell ~ cigarette butts, etc)
his almost inhuman strength and quickness on his feet ~ being able to easily bend a metal poker even though he's not overly buff ~ that looks like cultivation✨~
he disappears sometimes and comes back with evidence ~ it'll be so easy to search for evidence as a normal-looking, totally not suspicious cat, who can sneak around restricted areas, search for evidence without disturbing the ground, overhear things, etc~
his goal of making sure his life is always entertaining~ it would definitely be boring to see repetitive, regular and uninteresting things every day if you are immortal~
his mysterious backstory~ where did he come from, where are his parents, where did he live, study, work, etc~ it'll make sense if he was a cat spirit who cultivated, without parents or any sort of human backstory, and was wandering around~ OG!Mycroft as a cat spirit would be so cute also~ as one of those fat cats who sit by the fire and watch everything~
his interest in potions and plants~ this is more of a werewolf theory and can be easily explained away with crimes often featuring potions and poisons, but yeah~
his closeness with street urchins and vast knowledge of and encounters with the different criminals around ~ a cat would not be out of place on the street, where it can easily tail criminals and befriend urchins (who can endear themselves to him with their wits and kindness)
his taking on an everydayman roomie who likely wouldn't figure out his secret, and even if he did, won't make a big fuss out of it, and who can indirectly teach him how to seem more normal (largely from observation) as well~
finally, why a cat spirit? he's been mentioned to curl up in his armchair, stretch languidly, stay still for long periods and followed by short bursts of running around solving crimes, etc. ~ catlike behaviour 😘✨
okay that's it~ please don't come for my head, it's just a joke post~ it would be super fun if it were true but is likely, probably, definitely false, and please feel free to create content based on this lol, I'd love to see it and may even make some myself haha~ see ya~ 😘
Sherlock(upon listening someone climb the stairs of 221B): Now is the dramatic moment of fate, Watson, when you hear a step upon the stair which is walking into your life, and you know know not whether for good or ill.
Watson: (Rolling Eyes) Would you get the bloody door already!!!
Sherlock: What does Dr. James Mortimer, the man of science, ask of Sherlock Holmes, the specialist in crime?
Watson: (Thinking : Open the door Sherlock I beg of you lest we shall all die of your monotonous monologues.)
"Come along, Doctor," he said: "we shall go and look him up. I will tell you one thing that may help you in the case,"
"I really beg your pardon!" said my companion, who had ruffled the little man's temper by bursting into an explosion of laughter.
Sherlock Holmes. A Study in Scarlet.
&
John Watson. A Study in Scarlet.
Doctor John Watson and his Companion Sherlock Holmes.
THE RUNNING JOKE ABOUT SHERLOCK NOT GETTING LESTRADE'S FIRST NAME RIGHT IS BECAUSE IN THE ORIGINAL CANON HIS NAME IS LITERALLY G. LESTRADE. IT WAS INSPECTOR G. LESTRADE
"When Gregson, or Lestrade, or Anthony Jones are out of their depths-which, by the way, is their normal state-the matter is laid before me. I examine the data, as an expert, and pronounce a specialist's opinion."
today I decided to read The Memoir of the Final Problem and The Adventure of the Empty House to get an idea of the original canon the end of series 2 and beginning of series 3 are/will be based on
I'm starting to question whether Sir Arthur Conan Doyle didn't also ship Johnlock
"Holmes's cold, thin fingers closed round my wrist and led me forward down a long hall, until I dimly saw the murky fanlight over the door. Here Holmes turned suddenly to the right and we found ourselves in a large, square, empty room, heavily shadowed in the corners, but faintly lit in the centre from the lights of the street beyond. There was no lamp near, and the window was thick with dust, so that we could only just discern each other's figures within. My companion put his hand upon my shoulder and his lips close to my ear."
