The Relevance of Goodness

[mainecoon76]

Yes, it really seems that without holmestice, I wouldn't do any fic writing at all. At least I'd be finishing none. So here it is, my once-every-six-months fic, this time written for breathandflesh :

Title: The Relevance of Goodness
Characters/Pairings: Holmes/Trevor, Holmes/Watson; both can be read as friendship or pre-slash. ACD canon.
Rating: G
Warnings: none
Word Count: around 1700
Betaed by mrs_sweetpeach again - huge thanks!
Summary: One friend offers him safety, the other believes him dead. At the end of the day Victor Trevor begins to understand Sherlock Holmes’ decision. Hiatus fic.

"Over here..."

Comments

[hardboiledbaby]

This is such a wonderful story. My initial impression of the fic was that it seemed sad but not overly so; after all, eventual happy ending, yes? Then I read it aloud, and I realized the power of having this in Trevor's POV. Not just the fact of it being a third person POV—which was a great lens with which to view Holmes; and in turn, Watson, who is so very present, even in absentia—but that it was Trevor, the one person who could appreciate having "a firm hold on my friend’s affections, but had lost him all the same." Trevor, who had to endure that loss twice. He put a brave face on it, and was genuinely happy that Holmes eventually made his way home to his "good man," but for himself, Trevor's ending was less than happy—bittersweet at best, and laced with longing and regret.

So I began recording, and all the emotions just welled up. I wasn't exaggerating when I said I kept choking up, it took me several takes before I managed even the modicum of control I needed to get through the last two paragraphs. I think you can still hear it, probably more emotion than Trevor would have actually voiced in such a narrative, but I simply could not help it. Absolutely brilliant writing, MC. Thank you for a moving story, and the permission to record it. ♥ ♥ ♥

[mainecoon76.livejournal.com]

*Sits down to contemplate thought-provoking comment*

First, thank you for your wonderful feedback. It's about the nicest thing to say to a writer that a story is genuinely moving. But then the same is true of your brilliant recording. Thank you so much again!

The most interesting thing about canon!Trevor, imo, is Holmes's reaction to him. They are both friendless when they meet, and bond very quickly, which Holmes usually doesn't, except with Watson. Something about Victor must have been remarkable enough to genuinely spark Holmes' interest, but from the story itself we cannot tell what it is. So there's enough room for a fanfic to explore it. :)

My own interpretation is that Victor is too much like Holmes himself, sans the brilliant intellect, for them to really get along permanently, and Victor knows it. They understand each other's faults, but neither is patient and tolerant enough to forgive them. It would have distracted fom the story to explore this relationship in detail, but that's the backstory I had in mind.

Of course, the things you noted fit with this very well. Though I suppose it means that Victor, who is able to step back and be happy for Holmes, is a better man than he gives himself credit for.

- And now I'm going to find myself some podfic for my drive to work tomorrow. :)

[hardboiledbaby]

Something about Victor must have been remarkable enough to genuinely spark Holmes' interest, but from the story itself we cannot tell what it is. So there's enough room for a fanfic to explore it. :)
True! And I really enjoyed your take on it. Also, I do think that Victor as you've written him is a 'good' man; perhaps not in his own eyes by the lofty standards he described, but we the readers can see it in him. Another layer of meaning to the relevance of goodness. :)

[garonne.livejournal.com]

I really enjoyed this. Victor Trevor springs to life off the page - he's far more than just a narrator. I really felt for him at the end. I loved how Watson's character comes across so strongly, too, without him even making an appearance. Lovely!

[mainecoon76.livejournal.com]

Thank you! :)

It was really quite interesting to try to get into Trevor's head and make him a character in his own right. Pleased to hear that it worked for you!