(no subject)

[theprofessional]

Right, well. Here we are. Dance 'round me for ages and you finally decide to take the leap.

Forgive me if I'm less than thrilled, but I've had a chance to see how this works. You don't play women. Might toy with the idea every now and again, but sooner or later we all get steamrolled in favour of the men.

Yeah, I'm willing to give you a chance. But if I'm sticking around, I'm not gonna be your 'token' anything. Let's get that straight right away.

Long as we understand one another... let's get started.

Comments

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

I haven't seen you since I've returned...

[Here, Sherlock will even attempt a smile for her.]



OOC: Serious lack of Donovan in Series 3, I was looking forward to her and Sherlock seeing each other again.

[theprofessional]

[Oooh, and of course, look who's here. Of course.

Sally's not Anderson. Whatever guilt she might have had when Sherlock jumped, she'd pushed it down. Tried to forget it. She made a call based on her instincts as a police officer. That's all anyone -- most anyone -- can do. And then he had to turn up alive and clear his name all over again, the bastard.

Her jaw clenches. She's suspicious of that smile. But if he's going to play like he's making an attempt, fine. She'll go along with it for a moment.]

Yeah, well. Been busy.

((OOC: I knooow. I've wondered a lot about her reaction to his reappearance as opposed to Anderson's... obviously XD Would've liked to see it onscreen.))

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[Sherlock has changed a lot while he was away. Being tortured tends to do that to a person.]

Yes, I heard about your... business. Did you enjoy catching the Waters family?

[theprofessional]

Yeah, I did in fact.

[Not gonna hold back her pride on that count. It was a damn good collar.]

Put a lot of front-end work into that. Enough that it still went off without a hitch, even when Greg decided to bolt.

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[Sherlock gives a brief glare at the mention of "Greg bolting" it wasn't his fault that Greg interpreted the message incorrectly. But he smooths it over quickly.]

I imagine you did, since it took... What was it? 18 months to get a conviction....

[The left off part was "Would have been faster if I had been here and you know it."]

[theprofessional]

Solid evidence and old-fashioned police work.

[Translation: "Still got 'em in the end."]

He was available - sort of, just believed to be a little bit dead :|

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

I see. And do you still include taunting innocent people in your arsenal of "Old-fashioned police work"?


[Because John had told him, how you taunted him that night, Donovan. Sherlock doesn't go for harming innocent people - especially when they're his friends.]

[theprofessional]

[That was over two years ago. Even if Sally has some small inkling what he's referring to... she's not eager to admit it.]

What are you on about?

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[Sherlock was told about it not long ago, he has an impressive memory.]

Well, John seems to recall you taunting him the night Lestrade arrested me....

["Arrested me" is spoken aloofly. He doesn't hold Lestrade accountable, Sally, however... is another matter, given what happened with Anderson.]

[theprofessional]

[Right. That.

Sally crosses her arms, glances toward her feet. A little bit shamed and embarrassed, a little bit trying not to let it show too much. When she looks up:]

What d'you want me to say?

[She presses her lips together, shakes her head.]

I was wrong. Happens to some of us, from time to time.

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[Sherlock chuckles softly. He sounds almost amused. Well, he is - almost.]

Seems to happen more than just 'time to time' when I'm involved.

[Water under the bridge, isn't that the expression?]

I hold no expectations of you these days.

However I will make a request: In the future, be certain of your convictions and the words you us to taunt people. Because you know what John got out of those things you said to him? He got that the "dead body that everyone was standing around that Sherlock put there" was my own. A part of John will never forgive me for what I've done, because at the end of the day, he blamed himself for not saving me. And a part of me will never forgive you for putting that nagging sensation of doubt in John's mind.

[And that's really all Sherlock has to say. It's not so much a truce as drawing the boundary lines.]

[theprofessional]

['Be certain of your convictions.' Sally's face goes hot, and she has to steel herself not to look away from him again. Bloody easy to say that when you're someone who manages to be right all the time --

She always had -- still has -- her reasons for not trusting him, or at the very least not liking him, but Lestrade keeps letting him come back, enough times that Sally can try to accept it isn't going to change.

Her head shakes minutely once he's finished -- but it's not worth it.]

Sure. Whatever you say.

[If that's all he's got, they can get back to staying out of each other's way -- much as they can.]

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

[Sherlock raises an eyebrow at that. He had expected - maybe even wanted - more of a fight.]

Nothing in reply? Just simple acceptance? I might be disappointed...

[theprofessional]

[Though she doesn't crack a smile, she could almost laugh. There's nothing simple about it.]

Yeah, well, might be something you'll have to get used to.

[She tells herself to leave at that. She should... But he's staring her down, challenging her, and nope. She can't resist.]

Though honestly, I still dunno what you thought was gonna happen.

[highfunctioning_sociopath]

Well, nothing much, since you didn't have anything to do with clearing my name.

[Unless she did. Though the impression he got was that she didn't.]

[likesdinosaurs]

[Well, this is a bit... awkward.]

Ah, hello, Sally.

[theprofessional]

[No kidding.]

Philip. Hi.

[likesdinosaurs]

[He clears his throat.]

So.

How have you been?