Sherlock Fanfic: Holmesian Studies in Chaos Theory

[caffienekitty]

Title: Holmesian Studies in Chaos Theory
Fandom: Sherlock (BBC 2010)
Disclaimer: Not my world or my characters.
Rating/Warnings: Gen. PG. Weird.
Word Count: Double-drabble - 100 words for each of the Holmes boys
A/N: Just random thought that turned into character study drabbles. [LJ-only]
Summary: "When a butterfly flutters its wings in one part of the world, it can eventually cause a hurricane in another." - Edward Lorenz

Holmesian Studies in Chaos Theory
by CaffieneKitty


Mycroft's work is butterfly wings. No shipments to coordinate, sales figures to tally, troops to give direct orders to, structures to build, people to personally manage, no. Just these words in that ear at this point in time from those people. An extra moment spent listening to the way the Vice-President of Burundi's under-secretary describes his daughter's cello recital. Knowing people, knowing things, and knowing what they meant and how they effected the socio-political infrastructure of the situation at hand. Fragile moments, ideas. They could stop a storm before it started or bring the maelstrom, depending how they were used.

Sherlock's work is hurricanes. Roiling masses of confused distress, crimes and bodies laid out like a wind-ripped sea. As a whole, overwhelming, incomprehensible. The big picture is the enemy of rational thought. Details, that mark on the heel of a shoe, that drop that isn't actually blood, the way a person stands or speaks when they know they are watched, and how that differs from when they feel secure in their privacy. Observed and pinned crystal-still, the connotations and implications unfolding and unfurling, revealing their sources and from turmoil, reason coalesces. Inside the maelstrom, he can see the butterflies fluttering.

- - -
(that's it)

Comments

[rachelindeed.livejournal.com]

I loved that. What a wonderful and succinct exploration of their different modes of life and thought. I love snapshots that show the contrast in their brilliance, the way their temperments have shaped similar fundamental talents to completely different ends. Beautifully done, thank you.

[caffienekitty]

What an awesome comment! Thank you so much! *blushes*

[stardust-made.livejournal.com]

This was very insightful and the choice of words is inspired.

[caffienekitty]

Thank you! :-)

[earlgreytea68.livejournal.com]

Considering I wrote an entire epic fanfic once that goes by the shortened name of "Chaos Theory," for a second I saw the title of this and did a slight double-take and thought it was some kind of crossover. ;-)

However, I LOVE this, it's such a brilliant little character study in how the two brothers seen and deal with things, and it rings very true. In the end, in a way, they are concerned with the same things, they just approach them very differently.

[caffienekitty]

Chaos theory seems to pop up everywhere doesn't it? XD

[willow-41z.livejournal.com]

I really like how you tie the two metaphors together, and I like the language in this.

[caffienekitty]

Thank you!

[gloria-scott.livejournal.com]

Wow - this was really well done. I love how the first and last lines mirror each other. Thus, we end at the beginning. Marvelous!

[caffienekitty]

Thanks! I'm glad the parallel there worked, I was a little concerned it would just look like I'd used the same word twice.

[ciaranbochna.livejournal.com]

My loathing of chaos aside, this is perfect:)

[caffienekitty]

Chaos is sleeping right now, so I won't tell him you said that. ;-D

[samalander-dawn.livejournal.com]

very, very awesome. so poetic, and so descriptive all in one

[caffienekitty]

Thanks! I'm glad this worked out.

[lurker-of-note.livejournal.com]

wonderful prose. love the book-ended nature of this fic

[caffienekitty]

Thank you!

[gwinniebabes.livejournal.com]

Wow, this is an excellent example of the difference between the brothers Holmes. Very eloquently written.


I loved it. =)



Gwin


P.S. Out of interest, are you an Eddie Izzard fan? Sorry slightly strange question. :P

[caffienekitty]

Thank you! I've heard the name around but haven't really seen anything involving Eddie Izzard, sorry.

[gwinniebabes.livejournal.com]

LOL, it's just that he mentions the president of Burundi a lot, so I wondered if you were a fan. :P Love your fics, so funny. =D

[caffienekitty]

Ahhh. I don't know why I picked Burundi there, maybe I picked up an Izzard reference through LJ osmosis? :-)