Not Suitable for Print

[capt_facepalm]

Title: Not Suitable for Print
Author: capt_facepalm
Rating: PG-13 (questionable language)
Fandom: Sherlock Holmes (Gaslight ACD)
Characters: Dr Watson (adventurer and author), Arthur Conan Doyle (Watson's Publicist)
Summary: Blasphemy was less tolerated back when Watson wrote the The Adventure of the Mazarin Stone
Warnings: (none)
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes: July 13th 2014 prompt: Fun with language

.oOOo.

“‘Damn you, Holmes!’ cried the Count, with blazing eyes. ‘There are limits to my patience!’”

Doyle looked at Watson in expectation.

‘Yes, what’s wrong with it?’

‘What’s wrong with it!?! You can’t say that!’

‘Say what?’

‘The D-word!’

‘What do you mean, I can’t say it? I say it quite often.’

‘Yes you do, and you will never pass as a pure-bred civilian with that foul language. The written word is different. I cannot publish this.’

‘Yes, you can. It is a direct quote from Count Sylvius, and his use of blasphemy further illustrates what an utter blackguard he was.’

.oOOo.

Please sign the f-ing guestbook

Comments

[thesmallhobbit.livejournal.com]

Great, of course Watson uses the D-word, but only a blackguard would say it in print.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Watson may be a gentleman on the surface, but he is no stranger to profanity.

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

My how times (and languages) have changed!!!

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Language is a fluid thing and is always evolving. It's amazing the way that what was once considered horrible, becomes casual use.

[gardnerhill.livejournal.com]

Cleverly done - deucedly-cleverly done! Dang me, I'd forgotten how dratted uncomfortable folks back then were with that darn word and would use about any durn euphemism they could find for it.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

I see what you did.
Thanks!

[laurose8.livejournal.com]

Thank you for this glimpse of Watson-Doyle dialogue. Enjoyable and believable.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
Believable is what I was going for (despite the situation of a writer and his fictional creation having an argument).

[pompey01.livejournal.com]

LOL

You tell 'em, Watson! Especially since in STUDY it's Holmes using the d-word!

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

You're right! ACD used a lot of "damned" and "damning" but only once did he use "Damn you!" which rates higher on the blasphemy scale than the others (or so I have been told by people who keep score).

[tardisjournal.livejournal.com]

Don't get in the way of Watson's words! He knows what makes for a good story. Readers undoubtedly love the little thrill they get from reading such scandalous language. ;)

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Thanks!
I'm sure you're right about the audience's reaction.

[med_cat]

Haha! Great use of the prompt, you'd avoided the obvious possibilities suggested by the prompt ;)

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Sometimes obvious can be too obvious!
I see that people have also wisely avoided the N-word from 3GAB.

[med_cat]

Indeed it can ;)

And that's good then...

[hagstrom]

Good old Watson, loves to make a point in whatever he writes.

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

I borrowed a bit of sweariness from Martin Freeman!