Sherlock Holmes Fanfics

Sherlock stays at Mycroft’s when there’s a heat wave in London, because Mycroft’s spacious house has got AC and an indoor pool (and a freezer that’s stocked with ice cream).

Lestrade wishes they had to sit together and just talk to solve the case. Sherlock invites him to spend some time and he happily does so

#sherlock holmes fics #sherlock holmes #rm's fics #rm's work #my own fanfics #mycroft holmes #holmes brothers #the holmes boys #holmes brothers fics #johnlock #mystrade

Yes. They eat ice cream and solve cases.

In Vino Veritas

Another fic!!

It's Holmes brothers and Mystrade and Johnlock!

There's mentions of OD

Sherlock gets clean at Mycroft's after an OD!

The transport secretary is in 24 year old Mycroft's house, telling him how much safer public transport in London has become because of his measures.

17 year old Sherlock, who is currently grounded because he took it upon himself to take the bus and tube home from school when the chauffeur was a little late, demands why Mycroft won't let him use public transport if it's so safe.

Mycroft tells Sherlock not to interrupt, but Sherlock insists on getting an answer.

"The bus and the tube are safe enough. For other people."

Mycroft would rather the cabs and tube remain safe for other people 😂 Plus he doesn't care about them the way he cares about his Sherlock!

Absolutely!!!

Exactly! He genuinely wants to protect British citizens (and people in general), but he would go insane if he cared about each and every one of them as much as he cared about Sherlock. And yes, Sherlock being driven around by a chauffeur also has the advantage of keeping the people of London safe from Sherlock. XD (This is the man who rides the tube with a harpoon as an adult, which I'm not sure is legal. He also talks to people while pointing his harpoon at them.)

I was thinking of the harpoon (and how bloody he was) lol. Myabe Mycroft shouldn't have raised that ban on him (though neither a chauffeur nor Sherlock wants this once he's an adult and detectiving, so Perhaps Mycroft didn't have much of a choice?)

Sherlock always rides cabs if he can, so maybe there is a ban on buses and trains that’s still in place?

(I am now imagining Mycroft trying to hire private chauffeurs for adult Sherlock, but all of them end up quitting, and his brother isn’t very cooperative anyway.)

No amount of money in the world will make someome deal with Sherlock's chemicals and bleeding and death traps and rushing towards bodies EVER 😂

Mycroft tries Gregory even but Sherlock completely refuses and Greg has a job to actually do lol

Both of them love their chats!!

It’s not worth it. 🤣 I love the idea of Mycroft becoming desperate enough to try Greg! He justifies it in his mind with the argument that being Sherlock’s chauffeur is part of being Sherlock’s baby-sitter.

Yess it is! He even offers a raise, but Greg doesn't want Mycroft being a sort of sugar-daddy to him beyond what he already does— especially if it involves driving Sherlock to places and almost certainly witnessing illegal stuff every single day!

Greg knows it would be a terrible idea for everyone.

Absolutely lol

The transport secretary is in 24 year old Mycroft's house, telling him how much safer public transport in London has become because of his measures.

Mycroft tells Sherlock not to interrupt, but Sherlock insists on getting an answer.

"The bus and the tube are safe enough. For other people."

Mycroft would rather the cabs and tube remain safe for other people 😂 Plus he doesn't care about them the way he cares about his Sherlock!

Absolutely!!!

7 year old Mycroft is often the one who feeds bottles to baby Sherlock.

Mycroft tries to do this while reading books or watching the news, but Sherlock refuses to drink his milk unless Mycroft’s full attention is on him.

Mycroft obliges, and gives his baby brother his full attention. (The smile on Mycroft’s face clearly indicates that he doesn’t mind.)

#Baby Sherlock has Mycroft wrapped amount his little finger

👆🏻Yess!!! Mycroft will do whatever his little cute smiling prince wants!

Yes! Anything for his little cute smiling prince - he loves him to the moon and back. 🥺

And Sherlock loves him just as much and wojld do anything to make his brother proud

Yessssss. 🥺 Baby Sherlock is very very happy when he sees the proud look on his big brother’s face when he manages to pull himself up, or takes his first steps, or learns to talk etc.

It's why Sherlock spends forever before talking to anyone— he wants to get it right so his My will be extra peoud of him!!!

Yes! 😭 Baby Sherlock practices words and sentences before saying them to his My! (Of course Mycroft actually often hears him practicing, because Sherlock is always glued to him unless he’s in school.)

Sherlock suddenly being okay with naps worries Mycroft so he decides schoolwork can wait and he *must* check on his baby first and he hears him practicing the Shakespeare quotes Mycroft used earlier, down to the tone and pitch Mycroft had used. He feels both proud and weirdly as if he's a kid and his parents have started doing something just to make him feel better— he makes heavy footnoises so Sherlock can stop if he wants and declares that he has come across some books he wants to buy, if Sherlock wants to go down to Mrs Hudson's bakery and bookstore with him.

Sherlock very happily joins and his eyes widens at the sheer volume of Shakespeare available. Mycroft buys all of them plus a book about bees he knows Sherlock would love, and then reads Shakespeare to Sherlock instead of the book they'd started yesterday about pirates (much to Sherlock's surprise)

At first, Sherlock is not enjoying it because he can't understand a lot of it and he doesn't like that— but Mycroft spends time going through each sentence until Sherlock understands it and tells his brother that he himself is still learning Shakespeare's work in Literature class, not even Mycroft is perfect and at Sherlock's age he didn't know any of this so Sherlock is actually ahead of him!

Sherlock usually throws epic tantrums when told to take a nap, so naturally Mycroft is suspicious. XD But Sherlock practising Shakespeare quotes was not what he expected to find his little brother doing.

Sherlock's eyes grow enormous when Mycroft tells him that he's more advanced than he was at his age.

The next time Sherlock joins Mycroft's class (as he occasionally does), he doesn't simply draw pictures while sitting next to Mycroft. He plays a part in a Shakespeare play at some point (he can't even read yet, but Mycroft has read it to him so many times that he knows the bit by heart), and he answers some of the teacher's questions about Shakespearian English - Mycroft has done a great job teaching him.

Yess 😍

Everyone agrees that this was the best Shakespeare play bc they had their cute lil Shakespearean genius with them!

14 year old Mycroft is in the middle of reading 7 year old Sherlock a bedtime story when the phone rings. Mycroft tells Sherlock that he’ll be right back and leaves the bedroom. Sherlock follows Mycroft like a little shadow, holding the bottom hem of his big brother’s pyjama shirt. Mycroft tells him to go back to bed, but Sherlock ignores him and raises his arms. Sighing, Mycroft picks him up and carries him on his hip.

Mycroft answers the phone. It’s someone from school - as Mycroft speaks to them, he’s hugged tighter and tighter by Sherlock. The little boy gets so impatient that he ends up grabbing the phone from his brother, planning to tell the-person-with-an-unimportant-name that Mycroft is his. Mycroft takes the phone back before he can do it. (Mycroft tells Sherlock off, but doesn’t put him down. Somehow, Sherlock wraps himself even more tightly around Mycroft and glares at the phone.)

#the person on the phone is a boy whom mycroft tutored because the school made him #the boy was finishing a maths assignment and needed to ask mycroft a question #sherlock finds it unacceptable that his story time with mycroft is being interrupted #<- Sherlock's like “STOP TRYING TO STEAL MY SIBLING AND GIVE YOUR OWN SIBLING BEDTIME”#the poor kid is an only kid but that makes things worse for him 🤣#Mycroft will never admit it but he likes how possessive his lil gremlin is

Ahhh CAN YOU GET MORE SIBLING THAN THIS!?

(I checked with my secret weapon asw it's so completely sibling)

rosemelodyshah

My God!! You couldn't have answered the ask at any better time, I was feeling really down, because my cousin was supposed to come and we were going to spend the summer together but then the plans got canceled! :'( Are you spying on me!!??😂😂😂 I just love you!!!❤️

I didn't notice Mycroft’s ring in YS at all—I must be blind or something!!😅

It just makes sense that he rotates the signet rings as is demanded by the circumstances. Or maybe he just fidgets with it a lot, yk trying to contemplate if he really wants it or not, to carry his father's name and legacy—the man behind all the torments in his life.

And bbc mycroft, well he is a difficult person to 'deduce' since he is rarely onscreen.

Was it really a prop ring, i gathered it might have been mark gatiss' own ring which he just didn't want to remove or something.

But if it really was a prop, then it does beg the question of its purpose. Because it wasn't just any ring, it did look a lot like a wedding band. Or perhaps as you say a signet turned inwards.

This is such a fascinating topic to me now!!!!!!

Mycroft Holmes and his RINGS!!!

Now I think there is fic on its way from our dear lady rose (AKA you, my luv), in which mycroft and sherlock wear dresses for an escape, and mycroft is just enamored by all the ring selection and just can't come to a decision.😂

-Young Sherlock ANON (AKA prodigal son)

Also @lokijiro I saw your reblog for my last ask, and yes that is an appropriate reaction for a person like me—just go awwwww! Yes I'm just that humble of a person😂😂😂😂 sorry!❤️

And thank you @somekindofparadoxhere for adding more to the fact. Rose here loves info dumps so send her more if you want.❤️

First off— YES! Send me more and more and more infodumps I really love them!! And also send more Awws towards my beloved Anon here 😆 (I don't think anyone on Tumblr is actually humble lol (online anyway). We want to be talked and yapped and loved at thats the point!!!)

Now, I didn't know about your plans being cancelled, I'm really sorry about that, but it seems like I have some great scheduling intuition! Which I love!!!! (Or I am secretly spying on you but I'm being very quiet about it 🤣🤣)

I didn't notice the ring until very recently myself so don't beat yourself luv! It really does tend to blend in!! I do enjoy the idea of him having more than one and rotating between them! "This is my STOP EATING MY HEAD SHERLOCK. It's used a lot. This is my "hmm" ring. I just know which day I have to wear it on because that's the day it's extra shiny..." 🤣 Oh and yes he absolutely fidgets a lot!!!

Silas has tormented him bis his whole life and is an awful man so he doesn't want to wear the ring too much but also he can't just never wear it because then Sherlock will wonder why the ring is not on— it explains the when he wears the rings a lot! He always wears it when Sherlock is around (and would see it), such as when he's lecturing the boy or when he gets him out of prison— and it's also there in front of people he has to pretend in front of (the government and Hodge), his family in the dinner scene, or in France when he's following Malik— but he takes it out when he knows no one is looking or no one he cares to look is looking, once Sherlock is in the carriage he takes it off (potentially to fidget with it while he's in, yes, but also so people outside don't see it ig), he doesn't wear it in Istanbul when they're waiting to find iut where Silas is because no one is paying attention to his hands there and anyone who might find him bare isn't going to be those he knows anyway.

And he's making a direct statement not wearing it when they're meeting Silas to get Beatrice, the way Sherlock is making a direct statement by calling him Silas in the dinner scene (where he's wearing it again).

You get the whole thing. I'm using the ring as my ultimate "Mycroft's feeling guide" basically lolll

More importantly though, throughout when he wears the ring he still isn't calling himself the heir. No one questions this— I truly do wonder what he must have told Sherlock about his wearing it there. In front of Silas it makes sense because Silas doesn't want him as heir anyway, that feeling is mutual between the two of them, but how about with the other Holmes' or to society that knows/expects him to be the older one? I can only imagine that despite there beeing a clear "way to wear" the ring no one pays conscious attention to it (ignoring Sherlock in the bar scene, which was pointed out by @shadowstarkanada in my last ask where I analysed everything but what the show tells us about the ring 😂)

And I mentioned in an rb there, but Mycroft also tends to have the crest upwards when he wants to give the air of stature/being in charge, but otherwise he does prefer to wear it inwards the way "he's supposed to" (by the logic of the show, anyway)

Now, again I went all out on Young Sherlock's Mycroft when THAT'S NOT THE POINT HERE, but I know you don't mind anyway so enjoy!

Back to the actual topic, BBC! Mycroft's ring! There was a post somewhere here saying that it was Mark Gatiss' wedding ring he didn't want to wear, but I have found so many places calling it a prop ring I tend to believe that instead (I haven't done any real research down this path particularly because eitherway I have much more fun something to go through 😆).

I think the main thing that might send people towards wedding instead of signet is that Sherlock has no ring (subconsciouly or otherwise), but that is the weakest arguement of all, especially when you look at Sherlock's lifestyle and work. He can't really go about wearing a signet ring at all— he spends time being homeless, pretending to be a nobody, getting into fights, wearing disguises and all sorts of other things— I can't really see Sherlock as wearing one regardless of time period or age or anything. He's also a much freer soul than his brother, which is only more reason for him to not have one. Od maybe he does have one somewhere, bue he sure isn't going round wearing it.

The other reason people would go towards wedding ring is time period— but come on. Holmes family! Dramatic people if ever! I could absolutely see them wearing on in the 2010s! And then Mycroft at that 😆 And again, signet rings can be plain— especially now a days!

Anyway, ignoring that gold bands are usually an indication of wedding rings (in men anyway), I still love the idea of it being a signet ring (or some other sort of gift by someone) instead of a sign of marriage. Mostly because there's no way Sherlock hasn't gone about trying to get his SO into the chaos of his life and taking Sherlock's side instead of Mycroft. That man revealed to a man he'd just met that Mycroft was the British Govt, when he wasn't busy being the British Secret Service or the CIA on a freelance— but not once did the ring or the secret lover come up?

And I know we all love to hate BBC's Holmes parents, but they really never noticed or mentioned the ring or what it meant? Neither Mycroft or Sherlock have a solid enough relationship with them for this secret family member (or to-be family member) to just be someone they know and never cared for— and if Mycroft wad there for Christmas, surely they'd want his SO!

Unless ofc it's someone who has since dies but I just don't want that to be it tbh.

So yeah. Gift from someone (likely Sherlock, but maybe someone else that we have or haven't met) or signet ring is most likely to me. Not that I'm using it like that in my fics lol, if I want that man married and the ring is right there Imma use it, but you know. The Canon theory and all that.

(There was a fic idea somewhere (I think with @lokijiro ?) about lil!Sherlock asking to marry Mycroft and Mycroft explaining that's not possible... What if he heard that and was like "Welp I can't marry my pretty smart brilliant brother but I sure can give him a ring" and He buys the most expensive gold ring he can find in Mycroft's size (ofc he knows his size) and is like. Yup that'll do because only the best for his brother and though they both get in a lot of trouble for it Mycroft never takes that ring off and gets it resized as be gets older and all that great stuff ❤️❤️❤️ CAN YOU TELL THIS IS MY FAVOURITE THEORY BY FAR? If he gets it from his little brother and it's brand new is it a reverse signet ring?? Bc you know normally Mycroft wojld give it to Sher... OH MY IF YOUNG SHERLOCK GETS A SIGNET RING IT'LL BE FROM MYCROFT I JUST REALISED THAT THAT'S SO RIDICULOUSLY PERFECT SOMEONE KILL ME I LOVE THAT)

Now, to the mosteste important thing: Yes. Mycroft is going to dress pretty and he is going to spend an obcene amount of time choosing a ring. Sherlock ends up choosing one and putting it on hi. (Passerbys thing they're getting engaged and awwh a lot. Silas sees that and is like. "So he came to France for his secret gf and had his mpther amd Moriarty meet her, Mycroft's probably alr met her but didn't mention for Sherlock's sake and also this means Bea is keeping him busy. Good." Meanwhild Mycroft's like "Brother dear iur Father has a very strange look on his face as he's watching this." They both commit to the bit though (swift kiss and lots of "I pove you so much my pove I can't wait to get married I have to tell my whole family and get a very extravagant wedding screw the fact that France is in war" and they even start French sweet talking lolll) their genes are strong 😆 Moriarty is very jealous but can't decide which one he wants to kiss more🤣 Cordelia is like. Uhhh did they practice kissing on each other they're very natural at kissing each other... Either way this is very fun) AND YAEY I'M BEING PROMOTED TO LADY ROSE NOW WOOHOO

Thank you for the wonderful ask luv I yapped too much and have two ideas now (technically three but) And I just really enjoy your asks ❤️

I JUST REALISED THIS WAS SAVWD AS A DRAFT OH MY WHAT IS IT WITH ME AND MY ASKS BEING SAVED AS DRAFTS OR SCHEDULED FOR SOMETHING AGES IN THE FUTURE???

New idea: Instead of John Watson being ACD, its Mike Stamford.

No, but really. The reason ACD "hates" Holmes is because he's done with having to post Watson's googly eyes at him and "the long thin fingers" and editing out their kissing gayly scenes

And he hides behind the ACD name because his students and colleagues are huge Holmes fans and he'd rather they think he was just some guy they knew instead of Mr Gossips With Them Weekly At Least. He doesn't want to have to deal with all that.

He is so done with all the "GAY ROOMIES YAEY" letters he gets, so he gets his revenge by hiding some of Holmes and Watson's cases from the general public.

Also he makes Watson a ladies man so they don't go to jail loll. And Holmes a thinking machine for thst too

He'd also rather is medical work get some attention, so he likes to pretend Holmes and Watson are fictional— it also keeps them just a bit safer from danger which is also an added benefit (Mycroft much prefers this anyway)

He has also insisted on not letting the general public know about Mycroft. Mycroft is totally on board with this and so is Sherlock but John wants everyone to know there's another Hot Holmes in the word so he gets past Mike once when he's ill and posts the Greek Interpreter Case— not aware that all the gay "YAEY I'M MEETING MY HUBBY TO BE'S FAMILY" has condensed down to "ohh woahh another one!" Before hand and also he's written its been years since Holmes and Watson met instead of very soon.

Also when he thinks Holmes is dead he is VERY FURIOUS about ACD being asked to "bring him back" and later he respects Holmes by not releasing the cases until after they've retired.

Also. Sometimes he makes Watson dumber or keeps the too gay stuff (thst could get them in trouble had he not at some point convinced a lot of people it was fake) simply because he's had some petty fight with them or because Lestrade begged him too and it ends up making Holmes sound harsher than he actually is but Holmes finds it hilarious so Watson ends up complaining to Mycroft about how they're all ganging up on him and Mycroft, very polite and not angsty about the fish finger comment is like. "But did you have to mention the turkish baths or sharimg the bed or anything actually? You can't blame Stamford for not clarifying your vague lil writing sesh" and then he goes to Sherlock like "okay okay so Please add that he stared at your arse for 20 minutes after you got up from actually eating without being asked and don't mention how you never told him I made you do it okay Stamford's had a fight with him.again and I've bet Lestrade 5 quid he'll post it without changing a thing" and Shelrock's like "okay brother mine 😆" and then later he's like "Watson You Have gOt to stOp tis too lovey dovery" and Watson's Like WAS I WRITING AT 4 AM INSTEAD OF SLEEPING AGAIN being gaslit into thinking it was him 🤣

Stamford knows tis Sherlock but he doesn't care. Lestrade knows Mycroft has a hand it all this but can't prove it.

OHHHH

I love that!

I've seen so many different timeline it kills me 😆 I actually stopped reading it for a while because trying to read in order was breaking me

I'm making my own timeline completely unrelated to any actual what happen when for this series lol. We don't care what Mr I hate my biggest creation said this happened 😂

17 year old Sherlock : I spent a good part of my allowance on this new cream rinse, and it's neither creamy nor rinsey.

24 year old Mycroft : Life is hard, brother mine.

17 year old Sherlock : Don't I know it. Look at these split ends!

Mycroft buys the best one in the market so Sherlock can experiment with it and make himself a better one!

Mycroft "I don't spoil Sherlock" Holmes when Sherlock has the slightest inconvenience: And that's when I bought the whole world, ruined three ancient civilizations and discovered a new moon for my brother's sake. I mean. Science's sake. And.. and the betterment of this fine government of ours, of course. And for humanity. Not.. I'm an iceman don't look at me!

They absolutely soothe him though!!

#i'd just assume it's him keeping watch over john and sherlock and sort of nudging them towards each other #mycroft becoming immortal so he can ship johnlock essentially #also maybe some mystrade too #fic idea

Yesssssss. Mycroft is not spoiling his little brother with the rinse cream, because it helps to teach Sherlock about science, which will make him even cleverer, which will protect the British nation and humanity. No, he is an ice man and he certainly did not buy it just because he loves to see that happy look on his baby brother's face!

Sherlock is over the moon when he gets the new rinse cream and experiments with is successfully. And of course, the only reason he sits next to Mycroft and invites him to stroke his curls is to discuss the science that improved the hair texture - it's not because he enjoys physical affection from his big brother.

writing-prompt-s

Most immortals become the angsty “everyone I have ever loved is gone” kind of immortal. You, on the other hand, instead took it upon yourself to be a loving presence to entire generations of your chosen family, because they are descended from someone you once loved long ago.

johannadc

I was keeping track of this as a possible Mystrade fic, where Mycroft is the vampire lord who mysteriously helps out the Lestrade family until Greg uses his detection skills to find their mysterious benefactor, and they eventually fall in love.

But I'm unlikely to write it, so I'm putting it out into the universe.

Mycroft: Yes.

#I mean it's basically the same anyway 😂#all three of those Mycroft lecture and care very much for the baby Sherlock ❤️

Exactly! <3

Sometimes I want to make a fic with one Sherlock (like a generic one not one of their Mycroft's Sherlock in particular) and then Mycroft from a bunch of different adaptations.

And Sherlock is being babied by all of them and he's like I ONLY NEED ONE MYCROFT 😂

All the Mycroft's are equally protective of Sherlock and jealous of the other Mycroft

And everyone else is like. Uhhhmmm Sherlock did you make the Mycroft army or did he make it?

This reminds me of that so much 😂😂

the-bi-space-ace

How Silas can stomach Sherlock weeping in his arms and still try to gaslight the fuck out of him is beyond me. Like. His child is distraught, devastated, downright sobbing and Silas just tries to make him believe he’s gone insane? That he’s imagined all of this? You can’t convince me that he truly ever loved his family when this is how he treats them. For what? Power? Money? Who gives a shit about either of those things?? To try to convince Sherlock he’s just made a bunch of stuff up or he’s losing his mind to avoid getting caught is asinine and that boy did not deserve it.

The desperation with which Sherlock clung to his father in that scene breaks my damn heart. He needs a hug. A nap. Someone to hold him for a bit until he feels put back together again.

Silas, if I catch you it’s on sight

I am writing one OP!

the-bi-space-ace

👀👀👀 if you wouldn’t mind tagging me when it’s posted I’d be so grateful

I'll tag you!!

the-bi-space-ace

The desperation with which Sherlock clung to his father in that scene breaks my damn heart. He needs a hug. A nap. Someone to hold him for a bit until he feels put back together again.

Silas, if I catch you it’s on sight

#young sherlock #Mycroft and Cordelia ghost wrote this #they are ready to throw down #love how Cordelia heard he lied to her about her daughter dying and was like guess he dies :)#an icon a legend #give me twelve more #Mycroft witnessed his baby brother almost die from a gun shot wound and gives no more fucks #he said: guess dad dies 🤷🏻#can you imagine if Mycroft had been there?#would’ve also been trying to murder his father #desperate for a fic where Sherlock weeps in mycroft’s arms this time and is actually taken care of #good shit

I am writing one OP!

Sherlock as a child was the type to become completely engrossed by whatever game he was playing or experiment he was doing. Mycroft needed to interrupt him to make him do the most basic things like eating, bathing, using the toilet, brushing his teeth, or going to bed.

thenorwoodbuilder

Those peculiar snipers... (and not just them!)

Hallo dear!

Thanks for your kind message and your very interesting question (yeah, I’ve been waiting for such a question for ages, because that scene troubles me, too!), but, first of all, APOLOGIES for the delay in answering!!!

I know, I’m horribly, shamefully behind in answering the questions in my askbox… Please, forgive me and have a little more patience, folks, I’m working on them, I promise!

So, coming to the matter at hand: I’m afraid that the whole scene at the pool, in tGG, when it comes to various kinds of guns and how people acts with them, borders on fantascientific, and requires a good old-fashioned leap of faith - not to mention willing suspension of disbelief - to be accepted as it is portrayed…

Better, at the very beginning of the episode we have:

Almost a whole magazine discharged and no neighbour calling the police?!?

Then we have:

Why using a sniper for goodness sake?!? Didn’t Moriarty know that they invented remote detonators AGES ago? Well, of course he knew, and the bombs MUST have had one, too, as some of the hostages - particularly the second - were located in places where the sniper’s line of fire was constantly broken by vehicles and passerbys! So WHY a rifle too?

Well, my best guess is that it was mainly a canonical reference, as in both FINA and in EMPT Holmes mentions Moriarty employing hitmen and rifles.

However, later on we see:

Neither Sherlock, NOR JOHN, even TRY to reach the gun - which is on the floor at about 1m of distance - when the Golem RELEASES Sherlock and thus offers a perfectly clear, big target. And don’t tell me it would have been unfair to shot an unarmed man, because THIS guy was lethal with just his bare hands, and, besides, immediately after Sherlock doesn’t have any scruple to shot at the retreating Golem, quite clearly aiming at his back and head.

Oh, well…

And now the real fun begins!

It’s immediately apparent that our sniper doesn’t have a very steady hand, nor has he/she thought to bring along an easel, or just to place him/herself flat on a hard, level surface (or to prop the rifle on, say, a railing or the like), judging by how much the laser dot dances on John’s chest…

Not a very sniper-y thing to do…

So, your arch-enemy, a criminal mastermind who has just had a sweet old lady killed BASICALLY just to prove a point, and who has just strapped your best friend to a couple of kilos of Semtex and placed him right in front of you, tells you that he is aware that you arrived armed at this little rendez-vous of yours, and what do you do? Of course, you DON’T drop your gun, to avoid endangering the hostage more and escalating the thorny situation, and instead you draw it and aim it at your enemy, who just happens to have a sniper you can’t locate to cover his back.

Clever…

I couldn’t have said it better…

Another very clever, gun-wise move, this time from our beloved Jim: you’ve just got into your sniper’s line of fire, Moriarty dear - well done!

But delights never end:

John, your logic is faulty: - you didn’t need to jump on Moriarty’s back in order to threaten to have him blown up, too, in case the sniper pulled the trigger and detonated the Semtex: even at one - or several - meters of distance, EVERYONE in the pool would have been killed (as Sherlock, later on, demonstrates to understand well enough); Moriarty’s very presence in the room was a life insurance against explosions; - on the other hand, your jumping on Moriarty’s back could not prevent the sniper from killing Sherlock with a clean shot, had he “run” as you told him to do, even if the sniper had been only one: he/she had no interest in blowing his/her boss up, but shooting Sherlock would not have damaged Moriarty in the least (as we see immediately after)…

But, ok, let’s make allowances for the agitation and stress of the moment.

Now, to answer more specifically the initial question: could not the sniper kill John ANYWAY, leaving Moriarty safe and sound, just by shooting John in the head?

Well, of course, theoretically she/he could - even if this is just the less troubling trouble with the whole scene. The fact is, heads are small, difficult targets, thus always dangerous to pick; even more so, when a jacket full of Semtex is involved; even more so, when the target doesn’t stay still; even more so, when the sniper doesn’t appear - as this is the case - to have a very steady hand. Thus, under this respect, John betting on the sniper not daring to shoot was at least a decently reasonable gamble…

But more troubles still lay ahead:

As stated above, snipers appear to be very movable properties - and we get confirmation that John has no way to detonate the bomb himself, thus lacking any effective way to threaten Moriarty and his sniper.

Of course, Sherlock, dear, let’s mess about a bomb jacket whitout any bomb disposal training: who has ever heard of anti-tampering devices which detonate bombs when untrained people try to remove them?

And, of course, with a whole pool filled with water, don’t even try to submerge the bomb, once miraculously removed… good, clever boy!

Better still, linger in the same place where the bomb is, and DO NOT immediately call a bomb squad.

Then, of course, proceed to scratch your head with a loaded, unsecured gun: every gun safety instruction manual recommends it!

And then point it at your best friend with shaking hands.

And - at last! - suddenly an entire platoon of (invisible) snipers appears!

And - oh wonder! - all of them with a very bad aim (the awning, seriously?) and very shaky hands!

(Either this, or Moriarty had a disco psychedelic lamp installed in the pool…)

So, you now know why I have always had problems with this episode, in relation to guns, snipers, bombs, and all the jolly good company.

;-)

In the end, I just guess that we have to accept it like an article of faith.

Cheers! Have a very good night!

I laughed so hard reading this. XD

As I’ve said before, I’m certain that Sherlock did not bring the real Bruce-Partington plans to this meeting, but I’m now considering the possibility that Jim brought no backup other than a disco lamp. (As hinted by his ringtone?)

And this episode does answer a question : Why on earth doesn’t Sherlock own a gun? Mycroft could have made the necessary arrangements for his brother to legally own a gun. It would make every sense in the world in terms of self protection given Sherlock’s profession and Mycroft’s profession. But Mycroft must have decided that nothing would be a bigger danger to Sherlock than Sherlock with a gun.

calaisreno

Nice analysis. Also: Semtex doesn’t blow up if you shoot it.

Yes, this is a fantasy. Do not look too closely.

This was hilarious 🤣

Mycroft doesn’t trust Sherlock with Sherlock, and the reason why is shown constantly, but this episode tackles guns in particular rather well 😂

However, I do think that Sherlocks owned a gun before— or used someone else’s very frequently— not only because he knows how to use a gun (and is also very good at telling a real from a fake one as we see in ASiP), but also because that was always the explanation I took with no one calling the Police on Sherlock’s shooting.

It reminds me of that comment on Jacqueszewhipper and his whips sounding like gunshots and how the neighbors must be used to it by now— with everything Sherlock does daily and with how often police is at his door, they must have gotten used to Sherlock and his weird habits, including gunfire! John’s the only one who goes up to see what’s happening because 1) he was in the army and is not afraid of gunfire and 2) he is not used to Sherlock and his tendencies yet. Mrs Hudson herself comes in only once the gunfire has safely ended, probably because of noise and because OH HE’S SHOOTING AGAIN URGH, even though he obviously wouldn’t have hurt her. And the way she says “you’ve shot my wall! I’m taking this out of your rent young man” she clearly is used to it to some amount. The gunfire isn’t the issue, it’s shooting her wall 😂

Maybe Mycroft sent Sherlock to gun summer camp at some point. Sherlock loved all the cool activities with guns and was very good at them, but snoozed through all the safety classes. XD

Absolutely!

As Sherlock turns to leave, Mycroft mutters that he knows Sherlock is doing something very important and helping the world and doesn't think it's useless at all so softly that Sherlock almost doesn't hear. Almost.

No one can figure out why Sherlock is so giddy the rest of the day— is he high?

#he is high but not the way they expect#Mycroft is very proud of his brother but doesn't really know how to say that to Sherlock's face because they don't say the obvious#he has yet to figure out that that isn't obvious to Sherlock#(someone should tell him soon I think)#(how much longer can they live being unaware of how much the other adores them?)

Yess! <3 Mycroft doesn't know how to say it to Sherlock's face, but he finds a way to say it so that Sherlock will hear. (And yes, someone should hit them with a squeaky toy hammer until they tell each other how they truly feel.)