JohnLock 3: Missing Sherlock

Shelby's Mariner

The huge Lake Potable was named for its very cold fresh water, icy because it is continuously fed by two frigid snow melt rivers from the North. These two rivers created strong Southward streaming currents along the East and West shores in the lake. Those navigating the lake always had to take note of these strong currents, the bane of many a small sailing ship.

The great lake was bordered by not only Watson Hold, but her nearest neighbor, Aristosa and many other kingdoms and territories for hundreds of miles of shoreline. The Aristos from that neighboring realm had invited the Watson Hold-ers to an overnight masquerade ball celebrating their beloved son's fifteenth birthday on board their much-ballyhooed party yacht, to be held on the vastness of the Potable.

The Aristosian Party Yacht was the pride of Aristosa's yachting-mad king, Karlssgard, crafted by Techlenborg of Germany. She was a 196-footer, the fastest sailing ship ever launched, sporting a multi-decked, 1900-ton work of the boatwright's artistry, requiring a surprisingly small compliment of only 23 crewmen to man the ship. (For this pleasure cruise there was an additional staff of 25 servants to accommodate the elite passengers. Most of the female voyagers also had a companion or her own lady's maid in attendance as well.)

Named after the favorite child of the royal family, Shelby, the Heir Apparent, "Shelby's Mariner" was a marvel unto herself, an hermaphroditic brigantine, the staysail and foresail designed to catch the wind first, square-rigged on the foremast and fore-and-aft-rigged on the main, her many-leveled sails so tall that they could be seen for nearly a league; her luminous yellow paint job so bright that it rivaled the noonday sun. Her special double keels ran so deep that the likelihood of a turnover was remote, but running aground was a real consideration. To reach "Shelby's Mariner" from the Watson's realm required ferrying from the nearest wharf, since she could not be docked in the relatively shallow waters near Watson Hold.

Already aboard were royals and officials from several states, causing much consternation for the Watson family. The requested date managed to be a most inconvenient time for the Hold's royals. They had two, (count 'em, "two"...) unavoidable prior commitments. King Eric and Queen Alicia were obligated to attend a public court hearing, regarding a highly-publicized trial verdict that required royal interpretation. Prince John wanted very badly to attend the party, but he could not weasel out of hosting a fete to honor another royal family that was visiting, the visitors, the Moriarty's of Diablo's Fjord, petitioning for a treaty with The Hold. As the Prince Regent, John was authorized, and in this instance, required to act on his father's behalf. The family he was hosting was definitely not invited aboard the Mariner.

So as not to insult Aristosa, the Regent's Consort, Sherlock, was "volunteered" to grace the Mariner with his unparalleled presence, much to his chagrin and the bantering jealousy of his Prince. Sherlock took the teasing in stride and determined to make the best of what he considered a less than ideal situation.

And, as was his wont, Locke had to look absolutely perfect, and his costume must reflect his perfection. After lengthy research in the Hold's historical reference library, he copied the costume details he wanted from a portrait of a much-celebrated privateer (spelled p-i-r-a-t-e), Captain named Jack Sparrow, (...apparently a very flamboyant fellow...) Locke found the captain's bio in a book of Watson Hold's shadier, less widely-known, (although admittedly colorful) history.

Having every confidence in Mrs. Haroldsson's expertise as a sempstress to provide him with a perfect, body-conscious fit, Locke allowed her pretty much free reign with his suit tailoring. Working in tandem, the two of them together chose lush, jewel-toned fabrics, such as amethyst suede for his wasp-waisted jacket and pigeon-gray satin for his silver-thread-embossed waistcoat. Wanting to add plush enrichments as ornamentation called for several purchases in the town, pleasing the local merchants no end. Locke ordered imported lace to decorate his ruffled white shirt front and mother-of-pearl studs on his soft lambskin gloves. He also selected luxurious and genuine embellishments, i.e. real ostrich feathers for his pressed velvet cocked hat, rich crimson watered silk for his head scarf and waist sash, and 24-carat gold hoop earrings. Never one to go halfway, he went to a jeweler and had his ears pierced to make the wearing of his heavy gold earrings look authentic.