voicetesting.

[jilt]

It's always pleasant, getting the chance to stretch my legs. But I do wonder what your intentions are. After all, I'm not one to sit idle, and I doubt you've made any real plans for me, have you?

Perhaps think on that a spell, before pressing on further with this.

Comments

[jilt]

[ better a discussion of that than of what had happened to her, something she wishes not to disclose. for all that they are and have been to each other, irene does not wish to be the one to impart the news that she did not cleverly evade her death.

but it is flattering, in a way, that he thinks she has. ]

Did it? I never did get to see the contents of it.

[ an invitation, for him to take or leave. he'll go on. holmes usually does. ]

[sherly_no_mates]

[He knows far too well not to underestimate Irene's cleverness. Her ability to know when to cut her losses and run, however, he finds . . . questionable. He will find out eventually how Irene escaped—or rather: if, and by how much, Moriarty lied to him when he informed Holmes that Irene was dead. Whatever modicum of relief involved, on relfection to have been fooled is not, in fact, that refreshing.]

A most curious item. It proved to be from the brother of a French gypsy. The key to unravelling Moriarty's plot. [He quickly spins in front of Irene in the parody of a waltz.] I can see why he would resort to murder to keep its contents unknown. [And--oh? Are they back to Irene? So they are; what a coincidence. Irene's turn to fill in the next blank.]

[jilt]

And you did unravel. With the help of the good doctor, I trust?

[ her eyes flick down, then up, so sweetly innocent in her questioning. as if she isn't avoiding certain topics at all. ]

[sherly_no_mates]

Irene.

[>:| A slight staring contest will occur. He is more stubborn. He is more stubborn and more determined and also he is winning if there's a need to resort to stupidly obvious questions.

Come on. 'Fess up.]

[jilt]

[ she doesn't reply immediately. instead she steps in front of him, takes a moment to fix his collar and smooth his lapels. her expression is utterly unconcerned. ]

I thought we'd decided to speak of less morbid things.

[sherly_no_mates]

[He withstands the minor adjustments to his clothes. He doesn't mind it, as it gives him time to study her. Irene avoiding a topic never bodes well.]

And so, briefly, we did. Were you in any danger at all or was the hankercheif a deception of your own designs?

[Asked conversationally. Sniffing. How is that for less morbid things? There are no signs that she is in anything but perfect health, no lingering symptoms of consumption. The only conclusion he can draw is that Moriarty lied. Now he wants to know to what degree Irene was involved.]

[jilt]

[ honesty would do him no favors. she can only assume moriarty bore the news of her death to sherlock, with all the glee of an enemy striking a decisive blow. her hands rest on his chest while she considers how best to phrase it. ]

I bit my cheek and spat out the blood.

[ not that it would have saved her if moriarty had checked her pulse, but he hadn't. arrogance, so often a flaw in men like that. ]

It is in my best interests to remain deceased. The professor dislikes loose ends.

[sherly_no_mates]

[Well. That answers that, at least. He prefers honest answers to no answers. And the only way he would have been able to deduce that would have been to inspect the inside of her mouth—. What an unsettling thought.]

As it is in mine. [Oh, didn't he mention? He's considered dead by the greater London population.]

An admirable job you are doing of it so far. [Standing here, talking to him, though he is of course very good at keeping secrets.] But if you should change you mind, the late Professor will not be bothering you in the future. [Did he also forget to mention that? Yeah. Holmes killed him.]

[jilt]

Two dead people speaking. I'm sure any pedestrians would think us ghosts.

[ something that amuses her, to say the least. ]

I've read the papers. You survived the fall, should I assume he was not so lucky?

[ she'd not trusted a word of it, the things she'd seen reported. it's less a matter of doubting holmes integrity, and more that she's been much too close to moriarty to think him disposed of so neatly. ]

whoops. html is silly.

[sherly_no_mates]

A curious philosophical conundrum.

[Quick, surpressed smile. He finds it amusing as well. Black humour.]

I take it then you also read that no bodies were found. [Deduce from that, Irene. There is the possibility, as rare an occurance as it would be, that he is wrong. —but continuing conversationally]

But equally there was no evidence that anyone emerged.

[Which he knows from his own investigation, and therefore more thourough and more accurate.] His second-in-command, however, is still at large. Given the Professor's skill in chosing those under his employ for their skill and ensuring their. . . loyalty—[Irene. Have a sharp look. He disapproves.]—I do not think he will take kindly his employer's demise.

oh html /shoves it aside

[jilt]

Lack of body means nothing. I wouldn't underestimate him.

[ there's a reason irene adler isn't making headlines again, why all her jobs have been quiet and subtle and not like her at all. ]

I can handle Mr. Moran, should he decide to play the avenger.

[ ignoring that sharp look ignoring it ]

[sherly_no_mates]

[He isn't; he's only assured of his own findings. There is no evidence Moriarty survived, and if he somehow were, he wouldn't keep quiet for long. What was that about arrogance?]

Do you plan to propose? [That's a bold claim, Irene, regarding Moran. It would be wiser to stop messing about with these people.]

[jilt]

That's not my only method.

[ oh, perhaps. but irene doubts that they'll stop messing about with her just because she'd rather not play with them anymore. ]

[sherly_no_mates]

But perhaps your most intimidating.

[Ah! Too quick, his mouth. He isn't affected by this. An Irene at risk is an Irene in her element. He is not (still. ever.) affected by the notion of her death. It has already been proven a false and most unsound principle.

Don't mind him taking her hand and linking their arms again. He has decided they should continue on their walk; that's all. His eyes are more than an authoritative sense. He does not need tactility to prove something which he already knows.]

An assassin for hire does not have the financial prospects to appeal to you. But perhaps Moran has other charms? The most dangerous man in Europe, I would say. Once having eliminated the Professor. [If Irene cares to marry him. Or if Irene cares to be smart and keep her head down and not engage him. Criminals as a breed, in fact, it might be wise to stop inviting into her company. In the future.]

[jilt]

Only my most visible.

[ such lightness in her tone, as if they were discussing naught but the weather. ]

It's in everyone's best interest to tie up loose ends.

[sherly_no_mates]

[Mm, but of course. They never have anything other than very pleasant conversations. Some rather more . . . illuminating than others, at times. But pleasant nonetheless.]

Ah, but already they seem to have done so. According to common knowledge. The king toppled. The queen and bishop presumed removed from the board. Only a solitary black knight remains, and a few . . . wayward pawns.

[If he and Irene stay dead, it does present something of an advantage, with only Moran left of greatest concern.]