*^_^*

nlr alicia sez: and, ah, thank you so much for the comment about the dialogue. that’s an edit cycle in itself, going through and asking “okay, is this better as a ‘thought’ or a ’said’?” about seventy-five million times. i’m really glad it’s reading well.

and on the Holmes comment. i’m as infatuated as can be with the man (the eyelashes were a total indulgence on my part) and i’m glad you got some joy out of my drooling fan-girl moments there.

Ah, I see, and I quite agree. It just comes so naturally to Watson. I envy the man.

I forgot to say also that I adore how Holmes’ “I love you” can be take ans both sincere and calculated: “I love you.” Whu? *bonk*!

nlr alicia sez: okay. i’m going to march over there and snatch those xray specs out of your hand in a minute. seriously, i can’t get anything by you. in my defense, i try to build in a lot of ambiguity just in case things take off in unexpected directions (that sure paid off in the case of Seraphie – i’d be embarrassed to admit how much she told her own story) and that’s all i’m going to say about that. oh, except that the “whu?” still has me rolling – that’s perfect!!

I must say I rather liked the image you have of Watson and Holmes, with Watson noticing and nurturing those little seeds of humanity. I had a flash of an image of them gardening, and Holmes simply shaking his head in half-hearted irritation and great fondness at Watson’s big, tangled rose bushes (which I imagine would be covered in beautiful blooms, and underneath them, the thorns), marring his perfect formal garden maze.

nlr alicia sez: ’sheets, you really made me grin with this one! it gave me joy to have folks kind of dialoguing about this stuff and i love what you came up with. that sounds like a Sussex fic just waiting to happen.

Some very lovely lines here. One of my favorites was after the Kiss when Watson feels Holmes’ voice reverberating through his palms. That’s a great image, combining sound, sight, and feeling.

The ending dream-like evocation of the falls was also wonderful and very apt.

You know what I really love about how you’ve presented these two is that, for me, you’ve turned some iconic notions on their head. I think we have the image of Holmes on some lawn, crawling on his hands and knees, looking for miniscule clues. Here I see Holmes preoccupied with a labyrinth of a master plan. While he’s busy laying out the perfect garden maze, Watson is the one noticing little seeds of humanity. Not only noticing them, but appreciating them and nurturing them. And they grow into these big tangled bushes of emotion, thorns and roses both. And of course this gets in the way of all the big Holmesian landscaping designs. Watson truly is the wild card.

Very much looking forward to Chapter 12!

nlr alicia sez: man, oh, man. thank you so much for the thoughtful and rich comments. i felt like i took a chance that poor headinjury!Watson twigging to the plan would come across well, but it felt true for me and i’m really deeply happy it worked for you.

thank you, too, for calling out the sensory stuff again – like i say, i never know if that’s going to work outside my head so your comments mean an awful lot, especially with the things that feel really subjective.

and, as always, your insights into where i’m trying to take these guys are insanely encouraging. it’s seriously spooky the way you do that. the supreme gamesman Holmes of “Hound of the Baskervilles” is one of my favorite facets and i’m trying to pay homage to that. and watson – well, you know you’re deeply in my skull about how i feel about him in this story. thank you, infinitely much for giving me the benefit of your time and your insight. i am more grateful than i can say.

This is great, wonderful, fantastic, fun, and much, much more.

Loved it!

nlr alicia sez: oh, mercy, you’re such a sweetheart! those are definitely the high points i hoped to hit with this one. thank you!

I love romantic!Holmes. And Watson is just so cute.

nlr alicia sez: i don’t know why no one believes me when i say this, but there is *seriously* a cliff-hanger of greater or lesser peril at the end of every.single.chapter! i really apologize, but i’m helpless in the face of this this cliff-centric compulsion. there must be a 12-step program for suspense junkies…

thank you as always for the great comments!

Poor Watson, so unaware of his own attractions. And now I’m very worried about him getting knocked out on top of a concussion…

*perching on edge of seat for what’s next*

nlr alicia sez: thank you!

At last some kissing! *bounces and awaits for the next*

nlr alicia sez: always happy to provide distraction!