Lone-canon-warrioring at betenoire_rp

[seesobserves]

For God's sakes, I can't believe you're still harping on about this. The only one who might be of any use at this point is Lestrade, and it won't be long until even that's worn out. I can make my own inroads at the Sheriff's Department. I am making them. Any of the rest would be... trouble.

New city, new allies. New connections. Let London stay where it was.

Comments

[myblogwonabafta]

Trouble. Really, Sherlock?

[seesobserves]

You know what I meant.

[myblogwonabafta]

Yes, I do.

How are you?

[seesobserves]

[He bites back 'fine.' It was always easy to say that before, even when he knew John wouldn't believe him. He couldn't say what the difference is, now.]

Making my way.

[myblogwonabafta]

I see.

[Without him. With John thinking he's dead. Still, he does catch that Sherlock has answered him.]

And you think... Sorry. You're content with doing that alone?

[seesobserves]

I've been playing the cards I was dealt. I didn't plan -- I shouldn't even be there in the first place.

[A quiet current of exasperation under that, almost pleading. See, he knew you'd react this way, John.]

[myblogwonabafta]

No, you shouldn't. No more than you 'should' be alone there. You might not have planned it, but you are the one arguing up there against potential aid. This isn't your decision to make.

[No more than the last one was, hmm?]

[seesobserves]

[Scoff.] Nor is it theirs, but that doesn't stop them from balancing on the edge of their seat every time the city opens up for new applicants, begging across the entire community in the fond hope that someone will answer. Six months of this whinging and pandering. Even the dullest mind should have had the message sink in by now.

[myblogwonabafta]

[Pause.]

I realize that I'm opening myself up here, since this is usually where I'm missing something glaringly obvious, but... didn't it work?

[seesobserves]

[Sherlock sighs through his nose.]

Did it?

[myblogwonabafta]

In the sense of eliciting a response? Yes, I think so.

All right, Sherlock. Go on. Tell me what I've missed--I know you want to. [And he's missed that. Just a bit.]

[seesobserves]

[The problem is, he doesn't. Explaining why he's nervous about John turning up, if John doesn't know it already, would sort of defeat the purpose. It would also involve admitting to being nervous.

Different tack, then.]

I'm far from alone. Said that already, if you'd been listening.

[myblogwonabafta]

I'm always listening.

[seesobserves]

Where did you ever get that idea.

[myblogwonabafta]

Cute. Isn't this the cue for you to say I listen, but I do not hear?

[seesobserves]

Other way 'round, actually.

[myblogwonabafta]

...

Right.

[seesobserves]

[Successful shut-down of the topic. Result.]

[myblogwonabafta]

[womanwhobeatyou]

How many of them have you convinced to avoid the nose and teeth when they throw a punch?

[seesobserves]

The vampire I'm living with hasn't tried to bite me. You might call that a result.

[womanwhobeatyou]

Is that because the vampire enjoys the company or the severed body parts you leave in the refrigerator?

[seesobserves]

Oh, the company. Of course.

[Is he being serious about that? That may be up to you to interpret, Irene.]

Though he doesn't mind the body parts.

[womanwhobeatyou]

Of course. [She has her suspicions that it's the body parts.]

And what sort of 'trouble' could anyone be to you in a place where you are a vampire's green grocer, Mr. Holmes?

[seesobserves]

Depends on the person.

[womanwhobeatyou]

Let's start with that delightful housekeeper.

[seesobserves]

[He's examining her now.]

When are you from, exactly? Or have you got that general meta-knowledge that appears to be so in vogue here?

[womanwhobeatyou]

Long after Karachi, Mr. Holmes. [She doesn't mention any Falls, but she imagines if he knows it he will recognize it.]

Though the mundane likes to believe in one of my slips into Baker Street I made the acquaintance of your landlady. Charming woman. Has a bit of a wrong idea about some things.

[seesobserves]

Most people do. [Although, unlike with most people, Sherlock never held that against Mrs. Hudson.]

[womanwhobeatyou]

[A smile tugs at her lips.] Implying someone other than yourself can have correct ideas? How positively modest of you.

[seesobserves]

[Likewise.] You know what they say about a stopped watch.

[womanwhobeatyou]

[Her smile deepens.] I'm a little surprised you do.

[seesobserves]

[His smile tics up another notch... ah, but she'd asked him a question.]

Mrs. Hudson would be largely harmless, in and of herself. Her sins fall on the minor end of things; scratch-card games, the occasional dalliance with a man she doesn't know is married. Those aren't of any concern.

[womanwhobeatyou]

And whose sins would fall on the major end of things, if they were to appear... [She gestures towards him] Wherever you have found yourself?

[seesobserves]

Interested in my opinion?

[She has to have met most, if not all of the people he knew by now, and she's more than moderately good at reading people. She must have her own analysis. Why ask him?]

[womanwhobeatyou]

[It's hard not to smile, because this is the most fun she's had in ages.]

Interested in your analysis.

[She knows she's good at reading people. And she knows he knows she's good at reading people. But they have different criteria for what makes people dangerous. And she's always interested in how his mind works.]

[seesobserves]

You want to know who among my acquaintances I see as the most corruptible.

[Giving her a Look now. Does he even need to say why he isn't jumping at the chance to give up that information?]

[womanwhobeatyou]

[Just a smile at that look.]

You expect me to use that information?

[seesobserves]

Of course not. Why would I?

[womanwhobeatyou]

Dodging the question doesn't suit you, Mr. Holmes.

[seesobserves]

Information was never only your safety net. It's your pastime.

[womanwhobeatyou]

Even the dead need a hobby to pass the time.

[seesobserves]

Quite right.

The city's called Bete Noire. Heard of it?

[womanwhobeatyou]

I know what its denizens like.

[seesobserves]

The majority, certainly. You'd never starve.

[womanwhobeatyou]

I wasn't aware there was any concern of my starving.

[seesobserves]

Try not to confuse factual statement for concern.

[womanwhobeatyou]

Factual statements still require attention.