[personal profile] gayalondiel_bak
Fandom/’Verse: Holmes/Sherlock BBC
Challenge: [livejournal.com profile] watsons_woes July prompts challenge
Title: The Ship-full of Friesland
Character: John, Sherlock
Length: c.400
Rating: G
Spoilers: n/a
Warnings: n/a

Disclaimer: The Holmes characters fall in the public domain: This version falls under the creative control of Messers Moffatt and Gatiss, and the BBC. No ownership is implied or inferred. This is done for love only. Also I nicked the last line from a certain movie.

Summary: Sherlock asks John to assist with identifying a few patients.
AN: I DON’T KNOW. I’ve no idea how this happened. Blame [livejournal.com profile] navyboy82, to whom I said “I haven’t a clue what to write,” and who responded “make it about the cows.” I’m really tired!

Master prompt post

July 16: The Dutch steamship Friesland



John pressed his sleeve over his nose and mouth to muffle the appalling smell.

“Remind me why I agreed to this?”

Sherlock leant over the rail, peering into the pen below. “I needed a medical opinion, and swore to keep the kitchen clean for a month.”

“You call it a medical opinion?”

“Certainly, we need to clarify the genetic strain.”

“They’re cows, Sherlock! I’m a doctor, not a vet!”

“They are alleged pedigree breeding bulls, and the professional differences are minuscule,” said Sherlock dismissively. “I have the necessary data, all I require from you is to assist in detailing the features that distinguish the pureblood British Friesland, which these are being sold as, from crossbreeds common in Holland, which are obviously worth considerably less to Sir Anthony and would contaminate his future breeding stock. If there is a deception in place then my theory that the cook murdered the junior minister because he stumbled on her plot with the dairy manager will be confirmed.”

“And we couldn’t get an expert to creep onto a steamship...”

“Motor vessel, John, the engines run on diesel these days.”

“I don’t care... to creep onto a motor vessel, then, which is highly illegal...”

“I need to verify my conclusions,” replied Sherlock impatiently. “Once that’s done we can summon the most highly paid specialist Sir Anthony can afford to confirm the findings. We’re here now, so stop grumbling and help me work out the best way down to...”

With a loud creak the rail on which Sherlock was leaning shuddered and gave way. John grabbed for him but missed by a hand’s breadth, and watched as Sherlock dropped the ten feet to the straw-covered deck with a loud crash, narrowly missing an animal. He rolled and nimbly rose to his feet, ignoring the bruises that would inevitably form later, and found himself face to face with a large black and white bull that looked both startled and aggravated. Almost like a cartoon cow, it huffed a low, angry breath at Sherlock and lowered its head.

John sighed. “We’re going to die,” he said out loud. Then he grabbed the rail and swung himself down to drop the distance more safely, the better to help his friend fend off the herd of angry cattle now surrounding him. They stared, and Sherlock stared back.

“It’s quite possible,” replied Sherlock. “Try not to trigger a stampede. Although death by being trampled by a ship full of Friesland cattle would be a memorable way to go.” He glanced around and a slow smile dawned on his face. “Hang on a minute,” he said, “I have a great idea...”

Date: 2011-07-16 05:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
*snicker* Oh, that's just amazing. I'm giggling like a lunatic at the very thought of them surrounded by indignant cattle.

Date: 2011-07-16 09:43 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayalondiel.livejournal.com
Lol, thank you. Find me someone to draw it...?

Date: 2011-07-16 05:56 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gardnerhill.livejournal.com
If this "great idea" involves Sherlock taking off his greatcoat and playing matador, I won't be that surprised.

Also loved John's long-suffering swing into Errol Flynn mode. "Oh boy. Better leap nimbly down and break hearts once again. Sigh."

Date: 2011-07-16 09:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayalondiel.livejournal.com
Now that's a lovely image. Someone draw me Sherlock in a matador costume... preferably dancing a Paso Double with John... that's a fic in itself *wanders off into imagination*

Date: 2011-07-17 05:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gardnerhill.livejournal.com
With a rose in his teeth...I'll be in my bunk.

Date: 2011-07-16 06:36 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scotlandyarder.livejournal.com
Too funny!
Good ol' John, leaping into the fray to help face down a herd of peeved cattle... Fantastic. And Sherlock has a 'great idea,' eh? Why does that worry me a bit?

Date: 2011-07-16 09:45 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayalondiel.livejournal.com
*beams* thank you!

Also *icon love*

Date: 2011-07-16 07:39 pm (UTC)
sally_maria: (SH - Watson Protector)
From: [personal profile] sally_maria
Navyboy may actually have come up with a unique way of killing our slashy heroes. :-D

This is very funny, and I love John to the rescue again.

Date: 2011-07-16 09:46 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayalondiel.livejournal.com
Thank you! And I shall get Navyboy to find me a solution...

Date: 2011-07-16 09:36 pm (UTC)
ancalime8301: (books-artsy)
From: [personal profile] ancalime8301
Hehehe... cows. *is overly amused* :D

Date: 2011-07-16 09:47 pm (UTC)

Date: 2011-07-17 02:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ciaranbochna.livejournal.com
Oh my...lol. Glad I put down the tea first;)

Date: 2011-07-17 07:18 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayalondiel.livejournal.com
Indeed, I would not want to be responsible for any tea-laughter-keyboard shorting out mishaps!

Date: 2011-07-17 04:34 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] goldvermilion87.livejournal.com
I was snickering while i read this. Really hilarious!

Date: 2011-07-17 07:19 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayalondiel.livejournal.com
Thank you!

Date: 2011-07-17 06:23 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jcporter1.livejournal.com
I have a great idea... Love a cliffhanger. And of course Watson flings himself into harm's way.

Date: 2011-07-17 07:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayalondiel.livejournal.com
Yes, Watson is getting his D'Artagnan on, just a little. :)

Date: 2011-07-17 06:28 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] darthhellokitty.livejournal.com
Heeeee! What a mental picture!!!

Date: 2011-07-17 07:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayalondiel.livejournal.com
Isn't it? Once Navyboy had said "cows" there wasn't much I could do to avoid it.

Date: 2011-08-10 03:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] irisbleufic.livejournal.com
Ahahah, oh God. Spectacular, and very Sherlock!

Date: 2011-08-10 07:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayalondiel.livejournal.com
Thank you! This one's seriously cracked and I absolutely blame Navyboy.

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