Lunch with one-shot: Split seams
Lunch with culture, which today is Split seams by Alias424. Also available to cultured readers as @alias424 on this very site.
Split seams starts with a mystery. Maura is ducking under crime tape and feels the slit of her skirt tear. That is mildly odd, but the mystery is that the skirt is whole. Later, her scrub pants start falling off and they keep doing it, or at least it feels like they are.
Clothes do not usually become possessed, and Maura - being logical - devises a test based on a theory that is very illogical. The results point in one predictable direction.
Her inner description of Jane is spot on “Jane is stubborn and so damn confusing that it would be easier to dissect a cadaver blindfolded than to get her to have an actual conversation—and Maura has had quite enough of the innuendo-laced wisecracks from that (oh-to-tempting) mouth.“ and she tries to start a serious conversation with the Queen of Evasion:
'Jane? A word.' 'Freckle.'
Jane bravely attempts to outwit and/or derail Maura from her line of questioning but it’s a fight she is ill equipped for. Outthinking the Boston scum is no problem but the resident genius is an apex predator mind-wise. The struggle is brief but highly amusing.
In contrast to yesterday’s meaty and solid lunch story this is very light and fluffy, like a very high-class pastry. I love it. The 4221 words fly by and Alias424 does her wonderful trick of writing one thing and demonstrating that what’s actually happening (or being said) is a bit deeper and more intense.
And it teaches you a new word; Gymnophoria. It’s not quite as all-round useful as erinaceous, but it’s a worthwhile addition to your vocab. Enjoy!














