capt_facepalm: (Default)
[personal profile] capt_facepalm
Author: [info]capt_facepalm
Rating:
PG
Fandom:  Sherlock Holmes (Gaslight)
Characters:
  Dr John H. Watson, MD, recently of the Army Medical Department
Summary:
  No relief from the autumn gale for those on board HMMS Orontes
Warnings:
  (none)
Word Count: 100
Author's Notes:
  July 29th writing prompt (continued from HERE)


October 31, 1880
HMMS Orontes


The October gale raged on and the Orontes remained at sea. Below decks, John Watson’s misery was indescribable.

In two days, fifteen sick men can make close quarters unbearable with their heat, their stench, and their despair.  The lucky ones swayed, suspended in hammocks. Others lay moaning in their berths.  Too weak to move, Watson sat against the wall clutching a pail. Vomiting would be a relief if he were not already empty.

The ship’s doctor never appeared and the sufferers no longer looked to Watson for help.  What use would he be if he could not even help himself?

.oOOo.

Please sign the guestbook

Date: 2011-07-29 09:33 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scotlandyarder.livejournal.com
Ooh... That's a bad, BAD feeling. (And a good, GOOD drabble: you've captured those sensations almost too well for comfort!)

Date: 2011-07-30 04:17 am (UTC)
monkeybard: (sick but snuggly)
From: [personal profile] monkeybard
Oh ugh. Poor Watson! My tummy is sad for him. :(

Date: 2011-07-30 01:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] goldvermilion87.livejournal.com
How sad!

Also, something about this line--"Vomiting would be a relief if he were not already empty"--is just so TRUE... if that makes any sense.

Well done.

Date: 2011-08-08 06:52 am (UTC)
methylviolet10b: a variety of different pocketwatches (Default)
From: [personal profile] methylviolet10b
Out of the frying pan and into the fire, so to speak...you're really giving Watson a tough time in these drabbles! I love how you're telling so much story in so few words.

Date: 2011-09-07 02:15 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] dork-nerd.livejournal.com
Where is the ship's doctor!
*is angry for poor, overwhelmed, sick Watson*
If anyone has earned a respite, it is Watson!

Profile

capt_facepalm: (Default)
capt_facepalm

July 2023

S M T W T F S
       1
2 3 4 5 6 7 8
9 10 11 12 13 14 15
16 17 18 19 20 21 22
23 24 25 26 27 28 29
30 31     

Most Popular Tags

Style Credit

Expand Cut Tags

No cut tags
Page generated Feb. 4th, 2026 11:34 am
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios