A/N: Prompt 31:from goodpenmanship: Sherlock Holmes, sociopath.
Many, many thanks to Hades for setting this challenge again.
And a very Happy New Year wished for all:-)
Sociopath
"A sociopath, dear Watson?
Why of course, that's quite absurd!"
Holmes pointed to the headline's bold, anachronistic word.
"That feckless news reporter must have coined the term for me!
Revenge for when his interview went so disastrously!
He's made such accusations, a complete assassination
Of my character, my motives, and my value to the nation!"
~0~
Watson raised an eyebrow,
Skimmed the article, and spoke.
"Dear Holmes, please curb the rage and indignation this awoke;
The word itself is fascinating...almost portmanteau,
A hybrid, Latin merged with Greek, in case you did not know.
And, actually, dear fellow, now I've checked the definition
I think you might agree there is a spark of recognition..."
~0~
~A failure to respect the normal social rules and laws~
"My friend, you flout convention, when you think you have good cause.
Recall that porcine corpse, which you repeatedly impaled?
That exercise ensured that thief from Woodman's Lee was jailed
Although you don't regard each rule as simply there for breaking,
You'll bend whatever suits you if the risk seems worth the taking."
~0~
~Uses false identities, and lies for personal gain~
"Well, Holmes, you use disguises on your cases, that is plain.
And, yes, deceived your Boswell, in a Neolithic hut,
And dressed as pious cleric, ancient crone, and sailor, but...
You acted thus to solve each strange and complicated crime.
The truth was your reward, not gold nor silver, every time."
~0~
~Short term planning only, not a thought for consequence~
"Certainly, dear fellow, what you do can lack the sense
Of how your acts affect your friends; recall your late regret,
The thousand claimed apologies, returning from Tibet.
You had the best of motives, felt deception worth the cost;
But three years seemed a lifetime to be mourning what was lost."
~0~
~Demonstrates aggression, often gets involved in fights~
"Yes...having been a witness to your exploits on dark nights,
And seen your skilled baritsu, this reporter has a point;
You've cleared the room in castle, stately home and seedy joint.
You've thrashed an evil father, faced a huge and glowing hound;
Not civilised behaviour, though your motives might be sound."
~0~
~No thought of personal safety or of other's safety, too~
"That waterfall in Switzerland..the first, alone, is true.
And what about the Devil's Foot, the lamp, the poisoned dust?
My place away from danger was no accident, I trust?
And whilst waiting in that bedroom for that deadly Speckled Band,
Your methods to protect me, Holmes, were kind but underhand."
~0~
~Responsible behaviour lacking; late, or bills unpaid~
"Not easy here to criticise; the gambling debts I've made.
And, as your work has always taken place by night and day,
I cannot state that tardiness is truly on display.
You are quite irresponsible, and really need to learn
That chemicals leave nasty stains, and parlour curtains burn."
~0~
~If others are mistreated, there's no guilt, regret, remorse~
I know from long experience, this isn't true, of course.
That shot from Killer Evans' showed you hid your heart in vain;
A revelation worth the cost, worth risking it again.
Appearance is deceptive, Holmes, your cold and callous shell
Conceals a gentle soul inside. It does! I know it well."
~0~
"So, not a sociopath, dear Holmes, just one or two slight traits,
And one or two small incidents that article inflates.
And honestly despite them all, I would not change a thing,
So, throw that paper on the fire, and hark, as church bells ring
The old year out, the new year in, and raise your glass...
A toast:
To better times ahead, dear chap, for that's what matters most!"
~0~
A/N 2: The word "sociopath" apparently first appeared around 1915, becoming more widely known in the 1930s
