Sub Rosa

[prof_pangaea]

Title: Sub Rosa
Author: Professor Pangaea
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes
Disclaimer: Mr. Holmes and sundry other characters are now in the public domain, but of course I give ultimate credit and thanks for their existence to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
Summary: "One of the most attractive things about the flowers is their beautiful reserve. The truly beautiful and noble puts its lover, as it were, at an infinite distance, while it attends him more strongly than ever." -- Henry David Thoreau
























































































































































































Note: The full quote of the text "High and mighty" etc. is from Hamlet, Act IV, scene vii. It is a letter from Hamlet to Claudius, and reads: "High and Mighty,-You shall know I am set naked on your kingdom. To-morrow shall I beg leave to see your kingly eyes; when I shall (first asking your pardon thereunto) recount the occasion of my sudden and more strange return."


EDIT: I want to sincerely thank everyone who has commented, both positively and critically -- I am very pleased at the amount of response that has resulted from this piece. I'm afraid that there were so many comments initially that I wasn't able to reply to each individually, as I usually do, but be assured that I have (and continue to) read and appreciate every single comment.

Comments

[dexter-ward.livejournal.com]

This is charming as well as authentic.

I am speechless, prey do not refrain from bestowing more of your works on the public.

Yours faithfully,
-Dex

[thirdblindmouse.livejournal.com]

What a wonderful and uniquely presented story! Mycroft is truly long suffering in regards to his infuriating brother. I want to slap 'Caine' upside the head for his maltreatment of Watson. 'Re: doctor tell him nothing' indeed! All very in character, of course.

[simplysidhe.livejournal.com]

What's great about how you've written SH's half of the correspondence is not so much what he says as what he doesn't say. Possibly the best line in the whole thing is his simple, curt, childish, "No." It speaks volumes about the man.

[fallingscribble.livejournal.com]

...*dead*

Damn, this is love on so many levels. So many. Wow.


"I AM DONE WITH PRETTY TOYS"

[howahoai.livejournal.com]

god heaven!this is the most serious bussiness dude!

[gardendoor.livejournal.com]

Squee!

This... is.... fantastic! I've never seen such a splendid use of graphics to make a world seem so real.

[daylyn.livejournal.com]

I know I'm coming late to the game and that you've heard this many times before but -- damn, this was AMAZING! The graphics were brilliant. Mycroft's correspondence was full of worry and concern. And Sherlock's terse replies were perfect. This was just wonderful. Excellent work!

[nightengale.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is absolutely incredible. As everyone before me has said, amazing; I have no new praise to add, just as in thrall as all your other commenters, but did want to let you know that it's been seen yet again, and adored yet again. ♥

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

hurrah! many thanks. i aim to please.

[katieforsythe.livejournal.com]

By the by, this is possibly the coolest thing I have ever laid eyes on, though I am merely adding my voice to the chorus. Thanks for having made this. It justifies my existence on LJ, as if so many kind people hadn't already done so. Truly fabulous.

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

haha! i am glad to justify your existence, although that sounds slightly... mad. but yes! thank you!

have been negligent responding to your own recent (and not so recent but recent to me) work. apologies; i've been stuck in the time vortex for a few weeks now. suffice it to say that i am impressed again by own lack of writing skill when reading your work. most excellent.

Wow!

[(Anonymous)]

What a piece of briliance you have created. I am new to this world ( of Holmes and Russell) and I could not have imagined all of the creativity and artistry that it has inspired.

Thank you,
LaideeMarjorie

Utterly Fantastical and Delightful

[(Anonymous)]

Grinned, then Laughed, then Fell Out of My Chair Laughing, then Smiled, then Grinned Cheesily and finally Added to My Most Favorite Links of All. Beautifully done. Thank You.

Re: Utterly Fantastical and Delightful

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

many welcomes. and also thanks.

[gaudy-night.livejournal.com]

First read this over a year ago, but just had to re-read it today.

This is truly an LJ classic!

[bone-lady.livejournal.com]

I know I'm a couple years late on this, but I just joined LJ this summer and this was pointed about to me by a fellow holmesian.

Brilliant! Bloody brilliant! I love Mycroft and Holmes' sardonicism playing off each other. I also love Holmes' lines "No" and "I am done with pretty toys." That sent me rolling!

Great job! I've also read some of your takes on Mary Russell and couldn't agree with you more...I've added you if you don't mind. I don't have a journal, but I'm known for being loquacious on other folk's journals.

Thanks for the lovely read! A masterpiece really...

[rjdoll2.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this classic! What an enjoyable read and an escape from the ordinary indeed. This must have taken you a great deal of time and I appreciate it very much. Lovely sense of humor and very well done. Thanks again.

[elliptic-eye.livejournal.com]

Brilliant. I've never seen a fanwork like it—more's the pity. The interplay between Holmes and Mycroft was perfect. And I don't even want to think how much work must have gone into this! Am friending your journal, if you don't mind, to keep up with whatever else you should give us in the future.

[pseudo_tsuga.livejournal.com]

I just saw this and it's amazing. This must have taken you so long!

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

i think mycroft is a bit too soft in this story, but i handwave it for the fact that you get weird when your siblings fake their own death.

mostly i seem to be producing random who thoughts and fic at the rate of about two stories a year. i should try to improve that ratio a bit.

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

thankee!. indeed yes it was long but that is ok. it was fun except for my wrist.

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

an escape from the ordinary! what a compliment! thank you so much. and what's life, or fabricated death, without a bit of humour -- that's what i always say.

[prof-pangaea.livejournal.com]

thank you for the lovely feedback! i'm (slowly, so slowly) working on further russellfic, even in the midst of my current doctor who involvement, so check back once a year and i'm sure you'll find it up at some point.

add away! as you have probably noticed, i don't tend to update very much, but i enjoy discussions and such.

[elaby.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, this is incredible. Thank you, thank you for doing this!

[greenapple.insanejournal.com (from livejournal.com)]

This was wonderfully fun to read; thank you.