voice testing.

[reconcilable]

You have a suspicious mind, but insufficient context with which to make meaning of your suspicions. Perhaps it would be more useful to let it rest a while longer. I trust you needn't be convinced of the complexity of human motivations.

—Though honestly, if you had to be, I wouldn't bother. Try not to come to any hasty conclusions about me. I get enough of that, don't you think?

Comments

[formersurgeon]

We all do. It's a common experience, apparently.

[Happy to see you, Mycroft.]

[reconcilable]

At this point in my life, I must admit that only a few sources of hasty conclusions concern me very much. But one or two of them seem overly productive.

[ One. Just one. ]

How are you, Joan?

[formersurgeon]

Good. Things are good. We caught a serial killer the other day! So...good.

[Wow, she said that three times, didn't she? Suspicious. Time to change the subject.]

How are you? Things okay in London?

[reconcilable]

[ Well. He will politely pretend that wasn't weird, because immediately and openly pressing issues isn't always fruitful. ]

Busy as ever. Which is for the best, I think. If I had more time, Sherlock would no doubt feel oppressed by my interest in his work.

[formersurgeon]

Yeah, he can be impatient with people getting involved with his work. Even if they're other detectives.

How's Diogenes? I've been thinking of recommending it to my mother.

[reconcilable]

Matters seemed considerably better with Captain Gregson and the NYPD than with his London associates. I hope that hasn't changed?

[ Delicate prying. ]

All the reports indicate things are going smoothly. Let me know if she expresses any interest. The first few weeks, reservations can be tricky.

[formersurgeon]

Definitely, his relationship with Gregson is really strong. Sherlock admires him, which is rare, and we work well with him. It's just the rest of the NYPD that Sherlock doesn't have patience with, and it's starting to have consequences.

[reconcilable]

That's unfortunate. After he wrote the letter to our father defending his decision to stay, as well.

[formersurgeon]

Oh, no, I wasn't clear. He's definitely better off here than in London. That doesn't mean things here are perfect.

[asklepios]

I think suspicion is the default of the storyteller seeking a story worth telling.

[reconcilable]

To some extent. In that case I must say it's the proportion that disturbs me. And, at the risk of hypocrisy, might I ask you to identify yourself?

[asklepios]

Mélisande Bellerose-Sinclair. I think this makes it your turn? If I am not to draw my own conclusions.

( benny's sense of humor: really, really understated. )

[reconcilable]

Would you prefer that? I'm trying to be more a more agreeable person these days.

[ And maybe, possibly, it's weird to introduce himself to someone with That Face. ]

[asklepios]

Your unfortunate lack of convenient name-tag does rule it out a bit.

( this face??? this face is totally harmless, mycroft. )

[reconcilable]

[ Three question marks exponentially increases how convincing that is. ]

Some people have their ways. I find it best to accommodate them.

Mycroft Holmes. Restaurateur.

[asklepios]

( um obviously. )

A true gentleman.

PhD candidate, if we are trading these things.

( yes! and also, no. )

[reconcilable]

[ "Not really a PhD candidate" is, compared to "secretly Moriarty," acceptable. ]

Congratulations. In what field? If you aren't tired of discussing it.

[asklepios]

History -- the sociocultural impact of WWI on France, the meaning of that context.

I was obliged to postpone, recently, I can't say it is as daily as it was.

[reconcilable]

An interesting conversation with a grim part of the past.

I hope the postponement was not for reasons more serious than sudden geographical displacement. Universal displacement, more accurately.

[asklepios]

Ah, no; I like that, the phrase, but I had postponed before I had 'displaced'. My work at the museum may offer useful tools when I return and continue.

( when, not if, absolutely certain. )

Do you think you will be going somewhere?

[reconcilable]

[ Museum work is a little unnerving. Maybe because of the absolute conviction in her eventual return. Small, bothersome details, that's all. ]

I hope it will.

As for me, not for some time. Apparently, some aura of mystery lingers.

[asklepios]

( don't u like confident women mycroft because i heard-- )

They are very keen to get to the bottom of you.

[reconcilable]

[ Maybe not confident women who profoundly resemble criminal mastermind rulers of a global crime empire who ruined his brother's life for a few years. ]

Flattering, in a sense. I've not found it to be that worthwhile an enterprise, myself, but as I mentioned, I try to be accommodating.

[asklepios]

( totes had this face first. )

I try to do that, myself. Accommodate, that is.

( also, figure people out past what they consider polite. )

[reconcilable]

[ So very irrelevant. So very. ]

It's underappreciated work, though I understand why. I was that way once.

[asklepios]

It is... ( a gesture. ) It is not very effective, some think, to getting anything done. Which I think is a very simplistic understanding of human nature.

[reconcilable]

It often appears to be an obstacle to getting the right things done, for an individual's definition of right.

[asklepios]

Appearances are often not what they seem.

[reconcilable]

Something I reflect upon often.

[ Such as during the entire duration of this conversation. ]

[asklepios]

I think it is very interesting.

( yep. )

[deducible]

Hasty doesn't necessarily mean incorrect.

[ Fatty. ]

[reconcilable]

Of course. And since I haven't changed, you have no reason to doubt yourself.

[ Ah, super polite deadpan irony. It's an expression of his fondness. Really. ]