rabidsamfan: (bbc sherlock)
[personal profile] rabidsamfan
Sherlock had had a plan. The moment that he encountered his former anatomy professor Mike Stamford, (incurable optimist, incorrigible matchmaker) it had blossomed, fully formed.

Actually, he'd had a plan before that, but it was excessively flawed, and depended far too much on Mrs. Hudson's susceptibility to a continuous display of charm that was impossible to sustain over the long run. He had just all too thoroughly demonstrated that impossibility to his own -- and his current landlord's -- dissatisfaction. It was not an experiment which bore repetition. Worse, the plan hadn't taken into account Mrs. Hudson's very real financial requirements. Yes, she'd managed to scrape together enough money to take on the building at 221 Baker Street, thanks to the reward, and yes, she truly wanted Sherlock to be one of her tenants, but gratitude wouldn't pay for heat or water or food, and the rent Sherlock could afford to pay (and still have money for necessities like chemicals, books, and nicotine patches) wouldn't cover even the property tax, not in that part of London.

But an additional income for her would prevent a situation where Sherlock had to hunt for new quarters, and the right sort of man would (eventually) be willing to overlook the flaws of the unfinished basement flat Sherlock had rejected (dampness, minimal daylight, narrow staircase) in view of the central London location and the proximity to a Tube station and Regent's Park. And all Sherlock would have to do is get the fellow to move in with him to 221b long enough for Sherlock to become entrenched, and then act normally (normally for Sherlock, that is) until he was driven out of the upstairs flat. The only tricky part would be finding someone desperate enough to stay in London, and waiflike enough to encourage Mrs. Hudson's protective instincts so that she would offer the basement for less than the going rate.

It had been a good plan. And Mike had come through brilliantly, as Sherlock had known he would, towing a small, limping Army veteran into the laboratory only hours after Sherlock had primed him with a carefully worded complaint. The man was older, and convalescent, although he'd been a practicing physician before his injury. His well-kept, but older, clothing indicated financial caution, so he was probably living on a disability pension and desperate enough to take on any flatmate who was clean and relatively well spoken. The shiny new expensive phone -- clearly a gift -- indicated an ability to swallow a well-developed pride, so Mycroft's inevitable bribe would give them both a comfortable margin. And the entirely reasonable objection to Sherlock's failure to give name or address indicated both intelligence and sufficient obstinancy to make the process of nudging him downstairs interesting. Sherlock had swanned out of the laboratory, collected his riding crop, and went off to tell Mrs. Hudson that he'd "met someone" and wanted to start moving in.

There was only one factor he hadn't taken to account.

John Watson.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 06:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
And a quick beta thank you to [livejournal.com profile] janeturenne; who also provided the title.
Edited Date: 2011-02-05 06:53 pm (UTC)

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 07:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gloria-scott.livejournal.com
Oh, that Sherlock - always scheming. I love how he took Mycroft's inevitable bribe into account, and how so very wrong his very logical thinking can be.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 11:10 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
*grin* Yes, I think that Sherlock never counted on anyone quite like John.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 07:05 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] goldvermilion87.livejournal.com
I really like that backstory. In my head canon it is AU. But it's interesting. :-)

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 11:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
*grin* Isn't all fanfic AU? But fun! Thanks!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 11:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] goldvermilion87.livejournal.com
I guess... :-D

(I have made some fanfic canon in my head canon. heheh.)

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 07:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mariole.livejournal.com
Oh, bravo! *applause*

Thanks for that little pick-me-up. Very funny. Well done!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 11:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
You're welcome. It's been niggling at me for days.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 08:07 pm (UTC)
ancalime8301: (books-artsy)
From: [personal profile] ancalime8301
Hee... nice!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 11:11 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
Thanks! :D

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 10:18 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] zephyr-macabee.livejournal.com
Hee! It does not do to underestimate Dr. John Watson, BAMF!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 11:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
He is a man of hidden talents. *grin* Thanks!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 11:03 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] slashfairy.livejournal.com
brilliant.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 11:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
Thank you!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-05 11:27 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gardnerhill.livejournal.com
Poor Sheldon - er, Sherlock -- perpetually incapable of factoring in all those untidy human elements.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 08:49 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
There's always *something*. :D Thanks!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 01:47 am (UTC)
gingicat: photo of peeling paint in an accidental pattern that looks like an Egyptian wall story (found art)
From: [personal profile] gingicat
*grin* He so thought he knew everything about John from the details... but not the sum of his parts! (so to speak)

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 08:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
There is more to John than meets even Sherlock Holmes's eye! Thanks!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 02:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] ninjaboots.livejournal.com
Eeeeee!

That is all.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 08:50 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
LoL! Thanks!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 02:47 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] autumnatmidnite.livejournal.com
Hee! This was adorable and sweet. Not to mention how I love when fanfic plays up on the fact that John Watson is the one enigma to Sherlock. :)

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 08:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
It's the looks Sherlock casts in John's direction now and then, I think. *grin*

Thanks for commenting!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 03:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] snycock.livejournal.com
Heh heh heh... well done! That's one time Sherlock didn't deduce everything correctly. I love that he anticipated Mycroft's bribe and adjusted his plans accordingly.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 08:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
I suspect that Mycroft is someone Sherlock has figured out quite thoroughly!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 03:29 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] cloudtrader.livejournal.com
Perfect! In my head now, this is exactly how it all went down. :D

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 08:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
*grin* I do so love it when someone takes a story of mine for headcanon. Thanks!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 08:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] fullofowls.livejournal.com
Hee hee... Sherlock should know by now that life is what happens when you're making other plans. :)

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-06 08:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rabidsamfan.livejournal.com
Yes, but that probably doesn't stop him -- at least not for very long!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-07 01:16 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pebbles66.livejournal.com
I love how Sherlock had everything all planned out - until he met John, and it all changed. Love it!

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-07 03:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] telstar109.livejournal.com
This, definitely. :)))

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-08 09:28 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gayalondiel.livejournal.com
Oh yes, love this. Poor Sherlock, to have his plans so derailed... :D

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-10 02:53 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] f-m-r-l.livejournal.com
As I love "trickster tricked" stories, and I love your writing, it should be no surprise that I adore this fic.

(no subject)

Date: 2011-02-20 12:34 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] grey-wonderer.livejournal.com
Found this while flitting about on LJ and enjoyed it very much. Just thought I'd say so.

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