#sherlock holmes: a game of shadows (2011) | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

shadowdreamer22 · 2 years

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The Disastrous Dinner

Dr. Evelyn Turner is the friend and flatmate of Mary Morstan. When Mary forces Evelyn to attend the disastrous dinner with Mary's future husband, Dr. John Watson, and the famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, she is thrust into a world of mystery and deception. As she and Holmes get closer throughout the case of Lord Blackwood's resurrection, she wonders what it will take to bring Blackwood down, and whether the price will be worth it. After all, this game was designed to hurt...

Author’s Note: I am hyperfixating on the RDJ Sherlock Homes right now, and I am absolutely starved for content, so I decided to make my own content.

Evelyn Turner wondered how she had been dragged into this situation. Her best friend, arguably her only friend, and roommate, Mary, had somehow convinced Evelyn to accompany Mary to dinner with her future husband, Dr. John Watson. Well, Dr. John Watson and his friend, the infamous Sherlock Holmes. Evelyn had no intention of ever meeting Dr. Watson if she could help it, feeling as though he was taking away her best friend, but Mary had had enough and was finally forcing them to meet.

Evelyn and Mary had been picked up by Dr. Watson, and the three endured an incredibly awkward carriage ride before arriving at The Royal. The three walked into The Royal and Watson announced the reservation to the host before being told that a member of the party had arrived early. As they approached the table, they noticed Holmes sitting down in what looked to be a meditative state.

“Holmes,” Dr. Watson greeted. Holmes merely hummed in reply and opened his eyes. “You’re early.”

“Fashionably,” Holmes stated as he snapped his pocket watch shut. He then stood up to greet the doctor and the two women who were with him.

Watson began the introductions, “Miss Mary Morstan.” He seemed proud to be presenting his future wife, the affection for her was clear on his face.

“Oh my goodness. What a pleasure. For the life of me, I don’t know why it’s taken him so long to introduce us properly,” Holmes greeted before kissing the back of Mary’s hand. He then looked over to Evelyn in curiosity. “And who might this be?”

“And Miss-” Dr. Watson began to introduce her before Evelyn cut him off.

“Doctor Evelyn Turner,” she held out her hand to Holmes and he took it and delicately kissed the back.

“A pleasure,” he murmured. He stared at her for a moment, still looking quite curious, before they all sat down then and Mary struck up a conversation.

“Really the pleasure is all ours,” Mary stated. “It really is quite a thrill to meet you, Mr. Holmes. I’ve heard so much about you. I have a pile of detective novels at home…” Mary began to look bashful, “Collins, Poe.”

“It’s true,” Dr. Watson stated. Evelyn nodded in agreement.

Mary continued, “It can seem a little far fetched though, at times. Making these grand assumptions out of tiny details-” Holmes cut her off then.

“That’s not quite right is it? In fact, the little details are by far, the most important.” He looked to Dr. Watson as an example, “Take Watson-” This time Mary cut Holmes off.

“I intend to,” Mary jested while staring at the doctor. Holmes merely gave a chuckle, though Evelyn knew there was no humor to it.

Holmes continued, “See his walking stick over there? African snake wood. Hiding a blade of high tensile steel,” Holmes partially unsheathed the blade before putting it back. “Few were rewarded to the veterans of the Afghan war, so I can assume, he’s a decorated soldier. Strong, brave,” Watson adjusted his clothing and sat a bit straighter, “born to be a man of action, and neat, like all military men.” Holmes wasn’t quite finished though, “And now I check his pockets. Ah, a stamp from the boxing match. Now I can infer that he’s a bit of a gambler. I’d keep an eye on that dowry if I were you,” Holmes cautioned Mary.

“Those days are behind me,” Watson stated sternly. Holmes however, seemed determined to make John look bad.

“Right, behind you. It’s cost us the rent more than once.”

Mary could see what Holmes was doing, and in an effort to spare Dr. Watson from Holmes’ torment, as well as test the detective a bit, Mary replied, “Well with all due respect Mr. Holmes, you know John very well. What about a complete stranger? What can you tell about me?”

Evelyn could see that both Holmes and Watson looked startled, though the doctor looked incredibly nervous and Holmes looked apprehensive. The two men and Evelyn, in an attempt to help them, began to try and dissuade Mary from questioning Holmes any further.

“You?” Holmes asked.

“I don’t think that’s…” Dr. Watson protested.

Mary perhaps you shouldn’t…” Evelyn interjected.

“I don’t know that that’s…” Holmes continued.

“Not at dinner,” Watson stated.

“Mary I think it’s best you leave it,” Evelyn agreed.

“Perhaps another time,” Holmes attempted.

“I insist,” Mary countered. At that moment, Holmes immediately wore down.

“You insist?” He questioned, looking rather intrigued. Evelyn could tell it was the beginning of the end, and even though she felt that Mary was going to leave her for Dr. Watson for good, she still did not wish to see her upset. Evelyn knew though, that nothing she could do at this point would deter either Mary nor Holmes, so she resigned herself to sit, watch, and listen.

“Remember we discussed this,” Watson now tried to dissuade Holmes.

“The lady insists,” Holmes deflected. He stared at the doctor for a moment before turning to Mary. Now Dr. Watson looked as though he knew what was coming, and that whatever it was, it would not be good. Holmes stared at Mary for a moment before beginning to recount what he had deduced about her. “You’re a governess.”

“Well done,” Mary praised.

“Yes, well done. Shall we… Waiter!” Watson attempted once more to divert the conversation. The attempt failed however, as Holmes was now determined to ruin the night it seemed.

“Your student…” Holmes continued, “Is a boy of eight.”

“Charlie’s seven, actually,” Mary corrected.

“And he’s tall for his age,” Holmes stated. “He flicked you with ink today.” Mary gasped in mock horror and looked towards Dr. Watson.

“Is there ink on my face?”

“There is nothing wrong with your face,” Watson soothed her with a look of affection on his face.

“There are two drops on your ear,” Evelyn interrupted. Everyone looked at her in mild surprise and Holmes seemed even more intrigued by her at this point. “I noticed as we waited for Dr. Watson in the hall. It didn’t seem noticeable enough to be worth mentioning, though I will factor in this instance for future engagements.”

“Yes, well India Blue is nearly impossible to wash off,” Holmes began again. “Anyway, very impetuous act of that boy, but you’re too experienced to react rashly, which is why the lady for whom you work lent you that necklace. Pearls, diamonds, flawles rubies… Hardly the gems of a governess.” Mary looked slightly bashful and more than a little bit uncomfortable at that statement. Holmes, however, wasn’t finished yet. “However,” he began, “the jewels you are not wearing tell us rather more.”

This was it, Evelyn could tell, the final blow that would completely ruin the evening. Mary was incredibly sensitive about her previous engagement, and told Evelyn about it only after a long period of living together. This deduction would cut deep.

“Holmes!” Dr. Watson attempted to stop his friend. Evelyn knew it was too late though, as the detective seemed rather on a roll, and determined to ruin the engagement between Watson and Mary.

“You were engaged,” Holmes began. Mary seemed to grow increasingly uncomfortable and upset the more he went on. “The ring has gone, but the lightness of the skin where it once sat suggests that you spent some time abroad, wearing it proudly, that is until you were informed of its true and rather modest worth at which point you broke off the engagement and returned to England for better prospects… A doctor perhaps?” But Holmes was rather abruptly interrupted by Mary, as she tossed her glass of wine onto the detective. She looked absolutely livid.

“You’re right on all counts Mr. Holmes, apart from one. I didn’t leave him. He died.” Mary quickly looked to Dr. Watson who nodded as a signal that she was free to leave. Mary then got up and walked away from the table, likely heading towards the exit of the restaurant.

“Well done old boy,” Watson said reproachfully to Holmes, before getting up and chasing after Mary. Evelyn simply stared at him for a moment and he at her, before she addressed him.

“I’m not particularly fond of losing my friend to marriage either Mr. Holmes, but I would much prefer to see her happy, rather than miserable. Don’t you agree? Perhaps you should ponder that thought, the next time you feel so inclined to attempt something of this nature again. Though, I do suppose she insisted…” Evelyn then stood up and attempted to walk away, but Holmes grabbed her wrist, preventing her from leaving. She looked only slightly startled, but composed herself, and turned to face the detective once more with her eyebrow raised in inquiry.

“Doctor, I must say, I find you rather intriguing. I don’t suppose you would like to meet again, under better circumstances of course?” Holmes stared at her with an inquisitive gaze. Evelyn was only slightly surprised, though she didn’t let it show. She had seen him shooting her more than one questioning glance throughout the short encounter. Though she couldn’t lie, she had been doing much the same.

“I suppose I might be alright with that. I find you rather intriguing myself,” she stated before pulling her hand from his grasp and walking out of The Royal to find John and Mary.

The three managed to flag down a carriage to get home, and the ride was filled with Dr. Watson’s apologies to Mary. Once the three arrived at Evelyn and Mary’s flat, the doctor walked them to the door, not without one last apology, and the two women entered their home. Mary retired to her room almost immediately, and Evelyn followed her example. As she retired for the evening, on an empty stomach no less, she had one thought in her mind, ‘Sherlock Holmes... What an interesting new acquaintance.’

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