And here we go again (spoilers abound).

[seesobserves]

Good -- God, would you just calm down?

Talk about drama queens; John Watson and I have got nothing on you, and all over a whole five seconds of video.

I don't care what it implies. It's none of your business. [Now he's getting quiet and huffy, irritated over the capriciousness of his own mind.] Oughtn't to have been there anyway. It was only circumstance that brought her up. A mental connection between the name and the event...

Fine, though. I suppose you're satisfied. Certainly been screaming about it internally for the past half hour...

Comments

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[Sherlock talking to himself is better than Sherlock talking to "Imaginary John", right?]

Some writers have no idea how to contain themselves or how to notice what's really important.

[He frowns and point to his own.]

Then there's mine.

[That didn't sound like a compliment.]

[seesobserves]

[This Sherlock gives the writer a once-over.]

Mmn. My condolences.

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[He's not sure how to ask the next question - after all, being back in London is still a bit new.]

Do you feel... exposed... after these two episodes?

[seesobserves]

[A little quirk of an eyebrow.]

Who wouldn't?

[These new stories do seem to be getting inside his head more than previous ones. Pulling him apart. Who wouldn't mind something like that?]

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[He starts to pace.]

I don't like it. We're too exposed. That kind of exposure leads...

[seesobserves]

--yes.

[Leads to trouble. And not the exciting kind. The kind that can hurt. Writers. They love to do that. Set up the emotional pieces before demolishing them.

Sherlock gives himself a once-over, eyes flicking down and up again. He knows better than offer himself a shoulder to cry on, even metaphorically.]

We'll be ready.

[The ones in mun's heads will be, anyway. They're standing on the outside.]

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[This one nods in agreement and gestures... well, there's no 'crime wall' here, but if there were, that's what he would be gesturing to.]

Mary's a smart woman. But there's something about her... Something not quite right. I can't place my finger on it.

[seesobserves]

Most people have something to hide. It's a question of how dangerous hers is.

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

Oh, please. She's obviously a liar. We saw that. The question remains, What is she lying about?

[seesobserves]

Most people are liars about something or other.

[With a little frown. It's just as much 'fun' having his own self trying to show him up as Mycroft.

Then, quietly, gears turning -- or trying to --]

Why did she get the coded message...?

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

Indeed, Why.

[Statement. His gears turning.]

Part-time nurse. We saw that too. So, what does she do with the rest of her time?

...

Was John targeted to see how she would react? What actions she would take?

[seesobserves]

Either that or they simply wanted to hurt her. No extortion, no terms, only --

[Only the scenario itself. Save him or he dies. So the simplest motivation would be for someone to exact their --]

-- power.

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

Dull.

[He sighs heavily.]

Who'd care about exerting power over a part-time nurse who bakes her own bread and is a cat-lover?

[seesobserves]

[Sherlock bites his lip. That's the kicker, isn't it? Mary may be clever, but she's ordinary. Who'd take an interest in someone like that?

It's obvious they're missing something. ...however improbable...]

Maybe they don't.

Maybe she wasn't always those things.

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

Doesn't bode well for any of us, I fear.

[Mary and John were right. He's always been about saving people - the puzzle had to have something important to attract his attention. Jim Moriarty knew that - it's why he had the suicide bombers.]

[misbehaviour]

It was all rather telling though, don't you think?

[seesobserves]

Some things are better left untold.

[misbehaviour]

Or perhaps put off until you are less busy?

[ choice words, sherlock dear. ]

[seesobserves]

[That'll get you an almost-smile, Irene. Though it's tamped down after a second.]

Even my mind wanders sometimes.

[misbehaviour]

I wasn't aware that I was still capable of being so distracting. [ Yes, she is. ] Not exactly my doing in this case.

[seesobserves]

You did more than enough.

[acclimatize]

I don't know. You are quite dramatic when the notion takes you...

[seesobserves]

Maybe so, but at least I've never squealed and fallen over simultaneously.

[Said whilst toggling the tragus of his ear with an index finger. He may have lost a calculable amount of hearing during that episode.]

[acclimatize]

No, just thrown yourself around the flat and shot up the wall and set my clothes on fire and numerous other things that could never, ever be constituted as "more dramatic" than making a high pitched sound and falling over.

[seesobserves]

[A beat.]

Well, when you string them all together like that, I can see how a person might take it that way.

[womanwhobeatyou]

Ah but I am certain it is my business.

[seesobserves]

Only in the abstract.

[womanwhobeatyou]

As abstract as your memory?

[seesobserves]

[Gentle refutation:] Mmn. My memories are specific.

[womanwhobeatyou]

[Smiiiiiirk.]

Indeed. Very specific. I'm flattered.

[seesobserves]

You would be.

[womanwhobeatyou]

I have every reason to be.

[seesobserves]

According to your parameters. You left an impression.

[womanwhobeatyou]

One you haven't deleted.

[seesobserves]

No.

[Obviously. Which means...?]

[womanwhobeatyou]

Don't you ruthlessly delete useless information, Mr. Holmes?

[seesobserves]

You were instructive.