On luceti and the upcoming app cycle

[notquiteheartless]

You want to talk? Let's talk.

First of all? Most of them are idiots. I don't care about "being nice." Nearly every person in that village is a waste of my time. They can't even be interesting enough to commit crimes. They just... go about their boring little lives every boring day.

Now, the Shifts? Those might prove interesting. Look for indicators, see if there is some warning. Likely not, but it might give me something.

We're not discussing the child. Or Temperance. Particularly not Temperance. Or John.

Moriarty's keeping a low profile, and I still have no proof. Nothing to be done there but wait.

Now. About this New Feather cycle coming. Let me be clear: I do not care what you want. The last thing I need or want is Mycroft's presence or her showing up. Particularly since you seem to think she and Temperance would get along. Molly? Acceptable. Mrs Hudson? Delightful. But not her.

I think we're done now. Good day.

Comments

[notquiteheartless]

They will. It's part of grief and mourning. Eventually, the wounds scar over. They might never heal, but you move on.

[Quiet. Revealing too much, he knows, but what harm can Mycroft really do, now? What harm can anyone do to him?]

They might argue... John especially...

But it's true. They've always needed me far less than I've needed them.

[mycroft_holmes]

[The horror of Mycroft's actions is sinking in. Not what he told Moriarity... but in how he helped to raise Sherlock.]

You... are so very wrong this time, Little Brother.

[The phrase is being used as a term of endearment.]

We all need you... [Again his voice drops to barely a whisper.] I need you.

[There, happy now? Mycroft admitted it. Now stop this foolish talk, Sherlock! If Sherlock doesn't come back... what family does Mycroft have left?]

[notquiteheartless]

This isn't about you. [It's almost angry. Almost fierce.

But there's something under it. Something hurt.

He tries to force that down. Tries to keep calm. Distant. Unaffected. Above it all. Detached.]

You weren't the one I walked through it. You weren't the one I made stand and watch. It wasn't you I shook and prodded until you could swear to a death that didn't happen. Until you believed what you were supposed to believe.

Don't-- [There it is again, and Sherlock fights to contain it once more.] Don't think this is about you, Mycroft.

[One thing that these last eighteen months have done for Sherlock Holmes-- he's learned to let someone past the walls he's so strongly maintained.

He cares enough about someone else to die for them.

And to want to spare them the pain of realising just how much they were manipulated and used that day. And... perhaps to spare himself the pain of losing them all over again over richly deserved anger and resentment for what he'd done.]

[mycroft_holmes]

[And Sherlock still doesn't get it. Doesn't understand how his circle of influence is so much bigger than he realizes. And Sherlock's attempt to stay above it all, brings out a hint of Mycroft's own anger. Anger at himself for allowing things to get to this point, but also anger at Sherlock for not coming to him sooner, for being so damned resentful when all Mycroft tried to do was be some form of male figure to him, even if Mycroft was just a child himself.]

Ripples in a pond, Sherlock. You didn't do those things to me. You've just left me to pick up after you...

[He leaves off the word "again," but it exists in his tone.]

I don't think you've one right to lecture me.

[Only John holds that right. And John already has.]

[notquiteheartless]

[And he hears it.

Might even have winced a bit. Because he knows.

And his tone is quieter because of it. Humbled, in its own way.]

You won't have to do that any more.

One more task for me to complete. Then... you can move on, too.

No more messes to clean up.

[mycroft_holmes]

[Mycroft yells this time. Like he did when they were on the "Flight of the Dead." He slams the tip of his umbrella against the ground.]

No more messes because everyone will be dead!

[He takes a breath to calm himself. His tone is almost pleading... almost, but more offering an option.]

You've decided that killing him is the best way... and what about his Network, hum? You really think that John and Mrs. Hudson will be safer if you kill him? You don't think they'll take their revenge on them? Sherlock, even I wouldn't be able to protect them from the wrath that killing Moriarty would bring. It would take you, back and alive to hold them at bay.