Moriarty vs. Adler

[resonant]

I'm re-reading book-canon Sherlock Holmes (the William S. Baring-Gould annotation, which I do not recommend, but that's another post), and I just read "The Final Problem" for the first time since high school.

I haven't finished all the post-return stories yet, but unless there's something very unexpected there, I have observed something about book canon vs. BBC canon:

Book-canon Moriarty really has very little interest in Sherlock Holmes.

Holmes is interested in him, and expends considerable effort (and lines up quite an army of allies) in his efforts to bring him and his lieutenants to justice. Holmes makes Moriarty dance, though not for entertainment.

But Moriarty has a criminal empire to run, and he takes note of Holmes only as Holmes begins to impinge upon that empire. Once they meet, it's clear that he has some grudging admiration for Holmes, but he doesn't play games with Holmes.

You know who plays a few games with book-canon Sherlock Holmes? Who engages him on purpose, beyond what's necessary to get the job done? Irene Adler does.

She's a rival rather than a true adversary; she's self-interested, but not evil; and it seems to me that their interaction is fun for both of them.

Comments

[resonant]

He probably has a network of highly-intelligent independent women who enjoy not having the father over-interfering in their lives.

Possibly even a literal network -- like, if you do something brilliant in your master's thesis on engineering (or British equivalent), and you have a certain sort of dating profile, then as you're on your way out of the university, a woman you don't know hands you a card with an address on it ...

Meanwhile, John eventually makes a pass at Sherlock, and Sherlock, with genuine regret, says, "It would be lovely, John, really, but I can't justify wasting my sperm in such a way when it could be used to increase the intelligence of the next generation."

[copperbadge]

That was my thought! "Congratulations on leaving Oxford with a first in biochemistry. Call this man, he'll show you a good time." :D

[resonant]

With the occasional surprise:

"A performance artist, Sherlock?"
"Yes, all right, but the bit with the red flags and the golden syrup -- in context it indicated an absolutely brilliant -- you'll just have to take my word for it."

[copperbadge]

John wanders off grumbling about how he's a doctor AND has never smeared himself with any form of sugary treat...

[resonant]

"Nor, unless I've made a very great mistake, can you be impregnated, John. I believe I've made my goals very clear."

Once John knows his secret, Sherlock stops even trying to be discreet, and no sooner does the door shut on Yasmin (a completely incomprehensible physicist) than there comes a text from Emma (a jazz drummer):

THE BLOODY NUISANCE IS HERE :(

and Sherlock, without even mocking the emoticon, texts back

PITY. SEE YOU IN TWO WEEKS THEN? SH

"They never bring the babies round," John says.

Sherlock grimaces. "No. That's one of the rules."

"There are rules? What are the others?"

Sherlock counts them out on his fingers. "Applicants considered only by referral, and accepted only after examination. They can see Mycroft for a one-time payment to defray the cost of ... nappies or ... socks or whatever it is that babies need. And I do not babysit."

[copperbadge]

On the other hand, I bet John could launch a charm offensive and distract at least half of the women who show up for Sherlock.

"Well, he might not be a genius, but he smiles more than you do."

[resonant]

Well, you'd think a woman would think twice about choosing a man who calls himself a sociopath.

"And are you any good?" John says. Sherlock looks at him. "You've got -- repeat customers," John clarifies, waving at the text from Emma. "You must not make it too unpleasant for them."

"There are some studies," Sherlock says stiffly, "not definitive but interesting, which suggest that a woman is more likely to conceive if she has an orgasm. So I see to it."

"You see to it."

"It's not that difficult, John."

[copperbadge]

All I could think of when I read this was Ianto's "It's the button on the top." :D

[filomena]

I wish to subscribe to this newsletter.

Especially the installments about John going after Sherlock's sloppy seconds.

[azurelunatic]

And the bits where one of the women thinks a threesome with John might be just the thing.

[mermaid]

I adore this entire thread!