Wednesday, November 16, 2011

non-answer


Nameless said: Given Lestrade's lovely post today, how about telling us about his most endearing quality?


And I've been thinking about it since she asked, without getting any closer to a real answer. Because it's everything. His kindness and love and warmth. His endless patience with the boys and with me and my baggage train of psychological issues.

How angry he gets - still, after all the years he's done this job - at the ways people hurt each other, how hard he works to fix what he can. How deeply he feels what he can't fix.

The ways he lets me know, literally every day, that he cares and wants me in his life. Everything.

And having said I can't pick... Maybe if I had to, it would be the way he doesn't ever give up, on his work, on me, on himself. Even when things are hard, or look hopeless, he's always willing to keep trying.

That seems like such a clumsy description, but it's the best I can do right now and I really wanted to post this tonight.

Someone give me easier questions for next time please.

43 comments:

REReader said...

It doesn't seem clumsy to me. (I'm sure it doesn't seem clumsy to Lestrade.) It's beautiful.

Greg Lestrade said...

Thank you.

I think... I think at times like these when I don't feel like I do any of those things, to know that's how you see me means a lot.

I love you

Anon Without A Name said...

What a wonderful post (it's a like a big written hug, not clumsy at all) :-)

Thank you John. I'm sorry it was such a difficult question, but I'm very glad that it was only difficult because Lestrade has some many endearing qualities.

Calliope said...

Okay...how about your favorite wintertime activity: snow angels, snowman building, decorating, making baked goods, etc.?

Also? This post made me want to go home and hug my sweetie.

Desert Wanderer said...

John Watson, you lovely, lovely man. I've read this post about seventeen times. What a wonderful love poem. Lestrade is certainly amazing, but it's even more amazing to see how the two of you complement and complete each other.

*warm fuzzies*

Anonymous said...

You are both lovely, great-hearted men and I'm glad you have each other. <3

X said...

John, this is absolutely lovely. I find the best expressions of love are not the ones that are finely crafted down to the placement of each comma -- there's something much more honest and spontaneous and /genuine/ when they're not. :) I'm glad that you have him to love, and that you are loved in turn. *warm fuzzies*

I decided that if life wouldn't stop trying to interrupt my art-ing, then I'd just have to ignore it and draw anyways. So. No actual bum this time (sorry, internet), but nevertheless cutie-mark inspired:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/77334973@N00/6351791643/

My Little Danger and My Little DI. <3

Danger is rocking the Robin Sparkles look, and I tried to find an army-ish green for the mane and tail -- sadly, the outside of the sharpie was more khaki than the actual ink. Lestrade is a fo'realz silver pony since I tracked down a silver sharpie. I don't know what he's suggesting with the handcuffs....

REReader said...

LOL, X, that's too funny!

And a second night in a row with no 2:00 am comments from the sleepless-dare I hope that you both slept through again?

Greg Lestrade said...

I did wake up, but thought it would be wiser to concentrate on getting back to sleep. Which sort of worked.

X, that's....amazing.

REReader said...

I guess sort of getting back to sleep is better than not falling asleep again at all. I do hope today goes better than yesterday...

Greg Lestrade said...

With this case... I don't know if it can.

All of you do make it easier. And the thought of Mycroft being with us soon is something to look forward to.

Thanks

REReader said...

*pats shoulder* Every little bit helps, yeah? And...best is best. I know you'll do a bit more than that, and it may not feel like enough but it's what's possible.aybe they'll be a break, you never know!

Small Hobbit said...

Just to echo what Nameless and DW said - it's a love poem, a big written hug. Just beautiful.

X - My Little Danger and My Little DI are indeed awesome.

Anon Without A Name said...

X - that drawing is *wonderful* - you even got the heart on My Little DI's arse slightly lopsided and wobbly! And the look on his face... I'm so impressed (and not a little jealous of your talent).

Lestrade - glad to hear you had the semblance of a good night's sleep.

John - hope you did too.

Desert Wanderer said...

X, that's fantastic! I'd tell you what I liked about it, but I'd have to just post a link. I envy your talent. :)

Greg Lestrade said...

You lot really are the best blog readers.

(although I keep being confused by people referring to 'my little DI' and thinking 'i'm not your little ...oh.')

Sal has taken to referring to my Speedcuffs as 'hoof cuffs'.

Desert Wanderer said...

lol I'm sure you're not anyone's little anything.

Having a better day so far?

Greg Lestrade said...

Apart from you lot and that picture...I can't say there's really any improvment, no. Sorry, don't mean to be down on here.

Desert Wanderer said...

Sorry to hear that. You'll make it through eventually, just keep plugging.

It's your blog; you can say what you like. Well, it's not your blog, per se. But it's close enough. I mean you and John kind of co-share it. Or near enough anyway. I can't be the only one who forgets which belongs to whom, right?

Greg Lestrade said...

Joint custody, I think we have. And yeah, I forget which is which on my phone, the colourschemes agent very different, are they?

And thanks. We will get there, I know. I...I can't really say enough to explain just how horrible it all is.

I'm very lucky John's so patient and comes from the background he does, so I know he understands.

Anonymous said...

John, you obviously don't have to answer this, but I was curious.

When you've been with girlfriends is there anything you miss about men? And now you're with Greg is there anything you miss about women?

Sorry if it's too personal, I understand if you don't feel like answering.

Nicky said...

Oh John, I really don't have the words to describe how happy I am that he's found you, and you're able to see all the great qualities he has. But more than that, I'm so glad he's found you and you bring all of those qualities out of him.

I know that you and the boys give him the strength to carry on when times are hard, just as he used to for us, when we were younger.

He's a silly sod who always seems to need someone else to fight for, as if doing it for himself wouldn't be worth it. So to see you appreciate that just brings tears to my eyes.

On a far less soppy note, Carla is desperate to come and visit you again - or you could all come to us. So perhaps over Christmas we could arrange something?

Desert Wanderer said...

I'm glad you understood that, Lestrade.
Apologies for it being so...rambly. I'm pretty sure my contract doesn't require me to be coherent before 0600.

mazarin221b said...

John - that was lovely. It is difficult to choose, sometimes, that one thing that really draws you to the person you love. Husband and I went through that list the other day, after things had been rough for a while, and realized there was still so much we love and adore and admire in each other that everything else really pales in comparison.

L - all the best today, and I hope you succeed in solving this one. I won't tell you to try not to be too hard on yourself, because this kind of work seems to lend itself to high expectations, but try to let others help you carry your burdens, if you can.

X - dear Lord, that was hilarious! The cuffs are the best.

John H. D. Watson said...

L - I love you too, and I'm not just happy but honoured to know you, every day.

Nicky - Thank you. It really means a lot to me that you think that, and of course we'd love to see you over Christmas. I'll talk to L about dates and we'll get something worked out.

John H. D. Watson said...

X - I'm glad that you have him to love, and that you are loved in turn.

Thanks. So am I. :)

Your drawing…dear god. It's amazing. I think it's safe to say I'm amazed, yes. And I see Sherlock already told you he took a print out of it to school today to show the MLP fanclub. I'll be interested to hear how it went over. Would you mind if I posted this one as well? I'm really impressed with your drawing skills still, and trying hard to ignore the Robin Sparkles jacket.

Calliope and Anon - thanks for the questions, and Anon, it's not too personal, don't worry. Just need to find the right way to explain.

And everyone else - Just…thanks.

Desert Wanderer said...

I'm stuck in some hellish world of briefings, so my mind has been wandering a bit. John, what have you been doing to occupy your time while Sherlock's at school and Lestrade's at work?

X said...

Thanks everyone for your kind comments! I needed to draw something fun last night, heh.

John, I hadnt yet seen Sherlock's note, so thank you for pointing me to it! That's really sweet of him, and definitely made my morning. I'm also glad I didn't include anything more salacious than handcuffs... ;) Apologies for the Robin Sparkles jacket, but I didn't want My Little Danger to be cold next to Lestrade in his motorcycle jacket ;).

Hope it didn't provoke too many questions at Sherlock's school! You may certainly feel free to post it here if you'd like -- I'd offer to send the original were your address not a secret, but if you ever get an anonymous PO Box, let me know and I'll ship it to you ;).

Greg Lestrade said...

DW - he can't fit a lot of things in around writing his erotic novels and modelling this season's underwear whilst doing the housework, y'know? :)

Desert Wanderer said...

Ah, that's a fair point. Not to mention planning the next big camel/chihuahua heist. But I was under the impression that you were the only audience to thee modeling sessions. Surely he's not demonstrating his catwalk moves at the Yard?!

Just for the record, if I hear the phrase "standards equal success" again, I might scream.

Greg Lestrade said...

I'm not sure, but I think he's signed up to one of those websites that you pay to watch, and there are cameras all around our flat for people to do just that.

Of course, soon as you put your card details in to use it, Mycroft's there fleecing all the cash from your account... I have to pretend I don't know what's going on, obviously.

And they turn the cameras off before the heist planning starts.

'standards equal success' doesn't even make sense. Perhaps high standards help toward success, but what if you have really low standards? How do they equal success?

REReader said...

Lestrade, you obviously have that whole ignoring thing down to a fine art!

ITA with you about the "standards equal success", too. And what if you have really high standards--so high they can't be met? That's automatic failure, right there. Idiotic.

Desert Wanderer said...

Thanks a lot. Now I'm grinning like a loon. It's all winks and judges, eh?

"standard equal success" is usually followed by "what gets measured gets done.". I could probably remove about $2 billion from the budget by firing the people who come up with this stud. And the pretty.logos and graphics and the ads...

Anyone else have stupid work-type sayings like that?

Anonymous said...

Where I work is full of them, but I won't repeat them here for fear of them getting stuck in people's heads. Let it just be known that I am thankful for my time in the military for upping my tolerance to stupidity and ineptness.

(I was enlisted, I can say that, lol)

REReader said...

I freelance, so any workplace sayings are mine; naturally, therefore, they are all brilliant. *modest*

(I only have one, "Good enough is time to stop. Perfect won't happen.")

Greg Lestrade said...

Sounds like the bloke I used to work for doing landscaping, RR. His was 'near enough is good enough'

REReader said...

Sounds like a most sensible gentleman. :)

I HAVE to remind myself to stop when a design is "good" or I'd starve trying to get to perfect! ( Because I would try to get perfect. It's like a disease, that urge to fiddle just a bit more...:))

Anonymous said...

I think the best saying I've heard is from Mythbusters. "Failure is always an option."

I find that strangely reassuring.

REReader said...

That makes me want to stamp my foot and shout "No!"

(Because I know it's true, but I don't have to like it.)

Desert wanderer said...

So, I figured it ourt in the course.of the three hour brief. They mean "standardization equals success" which makes an iota more sense.

The guy just said x"safety first makes us last.". I can feel my brain cells dying.

REReader said...

...!

I bet OSHA would like to hear about THAT!

Anon Without A Name said...

DW - OK< yeah, "standardization" makes sense (that was how I assumed they meant it), but really, daft buzzphrases just make people eyeroll and switch off, surely their stupidly expensive business consultants could have told them *that*. However, glad to see that public service is much the same the world over :-)

Anon Without A Name said...

John, I can't believe that I've only just noticed that you've used your "in ardulis fidelis" tag on this post. <3

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