From Hades Lord of the Dead - Icicle
"Holmes, really, can't you put your blessed contraption away and help me?"
Watson stood at the mantel, half-tangled in a long, winding snake of garland that had somehow managed to get away from him. Taking a step forward, he wobbled and nearly fell over as the green monstrosity wrapped itself further around his ankle.
Holmes, on the other hand, was sat at the table in the corner of the room, staring intently down at what had become his obsession over the past few days. It consisted of what appeared to be a piece of string that traveled across two opaque glasses, so that the ends were dipped in whatever solution he'd concocted. Simple as it looked, Watson had observed him staring at it eagerly for nearly three days now, as if waiting for something to happen, which it surely had not, as far as he was concerned.
"In a minute, Watson," he said distractedly, waving a hand in his friend's general direction. "I'm working on something."
"Holmes, you promised that you'd help me decorate this year," Watson sighed, managing to free one limb. "That was our bargain, provided I talked Mrs. Hudson out of hanging the pink bow."
"And I have every intention of helping."
"Not from where I'm standing."
Holmes suddenly gave a cry of triumph and looked up at his flatmate triumphantly. "Behold, friend Watson, I've helped you decorate from where I now sit!"
"Somehow I highly doubt that," grumbled Watson, finally having broken free of his yuletide prison and coming over to the table to see.
Holmes lifted the strings out of the water to reveal two icicle shapes on either end of the string. They glittered with moisture in the light of the gas lamps, moving back and forth slowly in his hands.
"Icicles, Watson!" He beamed at his friend. "I have succeeded in creating icicles from a simple solution of bicarbonate of soda and water!"
Watson stared uncomprehending for a long moment before breaking into a smile and shaking his head helplessly. "Bringing the outdoors inside. Well done, Holmes."