Meme: Stories that never were

[rabidsamfan]

From rubynye, who inspired me to give this a try: (If nothing else, it might break the writer's block.)

Give me the title of a story I've never written, and feedback telling me what you liked best about it, and I will tell you any of: the first sentence, the last sentence, the thing that made me want to write it, the biggest problem I had while writing it, why it almost never got posted, the scene that hit the cutting room floor but that I wish I'd been able to salvage, or something else that I want readers to know.

Any fandom you've seen me write before is fair game. I'll try to come back with at least three of the possibilities.

Comments

[janeturenne.livejournal.com]

Oooo, this is FUN *rubs hands with glee*

Hmmm. Well, you know me. That hiatus-era fic you never wrote in which Lestrade and Mary saved the day--at the cost, for her, of the case of pneumonia which took her life and, for him, of that twisted foot we hear about in BOSC (never mind that BOSC is pre-hiatus. Watson screwed up with his references)--will always live on in my heart. The extensive research that went into describing the obscure disease from which they were saving Watson, and the sinister figure of Moran lurking, glimpsed in shadows but never spoken of, behind the dastardly plot, made the whole thing so vividly real. But of course, it was the characterization that made it all so exquisite. This part, I'll never forget:

"I can't tell you not to worry, Mrs. Watson. I'm worried myself, if it comes to that. But I swear to you, I and the Yard will do everything we can. Your husband is one of us, and we never abandon our own."

She looked up at me then, as neat and proper and womanly as ever, but her lips were set and her eyes were hard.

"I appreciate your dedication to my husband, Inspector Lestrade; your sentiments are very kind. But if you suppose that I intend to remain here with hands folded while John wastes away, you have misjudged me sorely. I am a soldier's daughter and a soldier's wife, and I have no talent for sitting helpless and idle when I might be doing something useful."

She stood and smoothed her skirts. I recognized that look of hers. The piercing gaze that Dr. Watson had not managed to pick up in all the years of his friendship with Mr. Holmes, his wife seemed to have learned.

"Tell me everything you know."

It's a good thing Mary died in the end, really, or else you know I'd be begging you for a sequel!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

the first sentence: The anonymous note which had turned up on my desk during the night was burning a hole in my pocket as I stared up at the brass plaque reading "John H. Watson, M.D." but I couldn't seem to make my feet move.
the last sentence: And with that, he turned and walked away from the grave.
the thing that made me want to write it: I'm fascinated by Watson during the hiatus, you know that!
the biggest problem I had while writing it: Getting Lestrade's voice somewhere close to right.
why it almost never got posted: I kept getting distracted by the research.
the scene that hit the cutting room floor but that I wish I'd been able to salvage: I had this complicated "Mary ends up in a tuberculosis asylum instead of dying before Holmes comes back" plotline, so that I could have her and Holmes butt heads in an epilogue, but it just wouldn't work out.
something else that I want readers to know: There may be a sequel -- I've got an idea about Lestrade's foot...

[janeturenne.livejournal.com]

You're far too modest. You knocked the Lestrade voice out of the park! And oooo, sequel! *bounces*

*grin* Any meme that's all about playing pretend gets two thumbs up!

[rabidsamfan.livejournal.com]

Does that mean we'll get you to play? *innocent look*

[janeturenne.livejournal.com]

Already done!