a/n:prompt from reflekshun:-gong-
Holmes and companions do not belong to me.
Tibet is about seven hours ahead of London; this takes place, therefore, at midnight in London and 7 am in Tibet on Christmas day 1891
A bit of an experiment...
Watson and Holmes alternate lines; Holmes in brackets.
Gong
Watson closed his eyes and let the laughter and the music of the party fade away.
(Holmes opened his eyes as the sun streamed in from the mountains at the start of another day.)
~0~
His thumb traced the contours of the silver cigarette case he still carried everywhere.
(He let the scraps of never-to-be-sent letters slip through his fingers and scatter in the crisp cold air).
~0~
Despite the presence of his close friends and colleagues, he felt completely on his own.
(He could hear the herdsmen, livestock and children outside his window, yet was utterly alone).
~0~
His melancholic thoughts were interrupted by Mary's hand on his shoulder; she knew who was on his mind.
(He gazed across the mountains and the sky beyond and away from those he had left behind).
~0~
The sound of a gong reverberated through the house, summoning all to supper. It was time to move on.
(The sound of a gong reverberated through the valley, summoning all to prayer. It was time to move on).
~0~
He knew
(He knew.)
~0~
Given time,
(Given space)
~0~
And Mary
(And distractions.)
~0~
The ache would ease,
(The emptiness would end.)
~0~
He raised a glass.
(He lowered his head.)
~0~
"I miss you, old friend."
("I miss you, old friend.")
~0~
