[log] three assholes and a country [closed]

[howdull]

Characters: Sherlock, Alfie, England, and Royce
Location Between house 126 and 141.
Date: Day 167
Summary: Sherlock and the terrible threesome are travelling in opposite directions and cross paths
Warnings: None

[He hates the snow.

No, not true. He hates this snow specifically. It's hindering his travel time by an estimated 12.5% to what it would normally be; which, over several days, is whole hours wasted doing nothing but tramping through the cold. He wants to get to the fire station before the anomaly (or what people think is an anomaly) escapes. Or before the hallucinogenic causing people to see a creature dissipates.

At least he's well wrapped up in his customary long Belstaff coat, scarf, and leather gloves. But that doesn't stop him from muttering to himself as he walks along. Too lost in his own thoughts to even see the pair of people coming up on him from the opposite direction.

Do excuse him, gentlemen, he doesn't mean to be rude. Or does he? It's hard to tell sometimes.]

Comments

[bywolves]

[ Royce sees the figure across the snow. It's hard to miss. Anything that's different among the sea of white is instantly noticeable. At first, he thinks it could be the Joker - they're the same height, but... no. This is someone different. Royce strays a little closer to Alfie, defensive, his spiked broomstick at the ready.

He hisses a warning at Alfie, a quiet little Solomons. He's not going to attack unless he needs to, but he's clearly not looking to appear friendly, in his long, hooded black cloak. He'll wait for Alfie's reaction before moving. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie keeps walking forward at the same pace, but his hand goes to the knife in his pocket, just in case. But it's not long before Sherlock is close enough to be recognizable, and he lets out a dry chuckle.]

It's all right, Royce. That's Watson's friend. But don't expect much from him; the man is a mute.

[howdull]

[Two figures, he sees them now that one has spoken, and he immediately scans them top to toe. The clues he gains about them are numerous, but it's only the words that give them both their identity.

Royce and Alfie.

He tucks his hands into his sleeves (he said they were missing after all), and raises on sleeve in a dumb show wave.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce raises an eyebrow, because this guy being Watson's friend does not soothe Royce's concerns, here. He doesn't drop the defensive air to his movements, but he does settle just a little. ]

Handless too, it seems. [ Royce says dryly. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie snorts, amused.]

Yes, the poor man. It was a terrible accident, he told me. He types with his nose; I'm sure it's very impressive to see in person. He'll have to demonstrate tonight - I think we're gonna be stuck in the same building together.

[howdull]

[He shakes his head, mind already whirling on how to communicate his point across. Ah yes, he said he blinked Morse code.

But Alfie doesn't know Morse code, he's proven that, and one glance at Royce tells him that he doesn't know it either. Probably has never even heard of it. So he has to make do with that pedestrian shake of his head.

Boring.]

[bywolves]

[ Wow, rude, Sherlock. Royce knows a bit of Morse Code (thanks Zell and his page of it) but probably not enough to communicate though blinking. Still.

Royce looks amused. ] Types with his nose. Seems unlikely. [ He glances at Alfie, fingers flexing in his gloves. ] He seems to think that he isn't.

[devoutish]

Well, he's shy, isn't he.

[He signs liar to Royce. It's not because he thinks that actually needs to be explained, but because he wants to see what Sherlock will do when faced with something he doesn't understand - and, since it's a sign language from an entirely different world, Alfie is fairly confident that he won't.]

[howdull]

[His gaze zeroes in on that sign. What does it mean? It's not sign language of British or American, both of which he is relatively fluent in. It could mean anything, he doesn't have enough evidence to deduce yet.

So he just shakes his head again and then-- sighs.]

No, I refuse to put on dumb pantomime when I already claimed victory in this charade.

[His hands appear from the ends of his sleeves clad in supple black leather gloves.]

I will not be sharing a house with you as, obviously, we are travelling in opposite directions. We approached one another, neither I nor you caught up with the other from behind.

[bywolves]

[ Royce signs back yes in Alfie's direction, as well as keep signing. He sees what Alfie is doing and he's more than happy to continue it until Sherlock breaks and asks. ]

A shame. I'd so love to spend a night in a house with one of Watson's friends. [ Royce's pleasant smile from under his dark hood is more of a predatory thing than anything actually friendly. ]

[devoutish]

[Yes, Alfie signs back, still looking at Sherlock.]

You're gonna be turning around soon enough, mate. You can't get to any of the buildings in your direction before lockdown.

[howdull]

[It's obviously interesting to him, his eyes are focused wholly on their hands.]

That's patently ridiculous, you came from a house and will reach the one I came from before the doors locked.

[bywolves]

[ Royce signs a few things at Alfie that doesn't actually make much sense in context, but look complicated, at the very least. ]

He doesn't want to spend the night in a house with us, Solomons. Don't nag. [ Royce, don't sound so cheerful. ] You'll want to hope that coat is warm, then.

[devoutish]

[Alfie signs something completely made up that ends with a very obvious point in Sherlock's direction.]

We came from a house this morning. We've been walking all day, and we've only just reached here. What does that mean to you?

[keepscalm]

[England didn't lag too terribly, just long enough to let Ginger and America know his current status and where he was headed, but it was long enough to come up a bit slowly on the interesting intersection of people further down the tunnel.

He slows as he gets closer, spying the man past Alfie and Royce. His demeanour becomes cautious as he comes up to the rest of his travelling party and tries to get a quick read on the situation. His tone is light, but there's a clear undercurrent of suspicion as he poses a question to the group.] Something the matter here?

[howdull]

[He is almost wholly fixated on the messages they are flashing one another now. That they indicate him doesn't bother him at all, all that annoys him is being unable to work out what they're saying.

It's not military in nature, too sloppy. Not proper sign language. Perhaps a made up language between just the two of them? There is evidence that suggests how close they are as companions, so that's a viable possibility.

He doesn't even notice England or hear what they're saying now, lost in his thoughts.]

[bywolves]

No. [ Royce drawls in England's direction, pausing in his signs, for now. Sherlock is clearly more interested in those than anything, it seems, at the cost of conversation. ] Just passing through. Solomons recognized him.

[ He inclines his head in Sherlock's direction. ]

AND I FORGOT IT WAS MY TURN HERE TOO I'm sorry

[devoutish]

Yeah. What are you looking at, mate?

[He makes a show of lifting a hand, turning it over and inspecting it.]

shit i missed this too sorry

[keepscalm]

[England is not entirely sure that means all is well, but Royce answering that way at least tells England that they don't want to outright escalate whatever might be going on.

He watches as Alfie lifts his hand and then glances back to Sherlock.] Must be rather interesting, whatever it is.

[howdull]

[A small frown mars Sherlock's forehead and his gaze finally snaps onto England, making him sigh.]

It's no wonder I can't think when people keep appearing like cattle.

[Hello, nice to meet you.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce signs rude at Alfie with an amused look, and then stops signing again. ]

No need to be impolite. [ Royce says idly. ] Could be a bad idea, out in the middle of the snow.

[devoutish]

He's right. Shall we move inside, all together?

[Alfie turns toward the building, starting to walk.]

[keepscalm]

[Oh, hell. He's English. England's surprise is evident when Sherlock speaks, and his gaze lingers on Sherlock despite Alfie and Royce's words. It takes him a moment to remember his voice. He sounds a little distracted when he does answer.] Yeah. Yeah, might as well.

[Normally England would not be so quick to agree to the idea of staying with a stranger, but he's a citizen. If England can keep an eye on him, he wants to.]

[howdull]

[He tuts, though he does move towards the house fairly obligingly.]

Don't be like that, it's not your fault that you stunt the thinking process. Most people do, it's the burden of being an idiot.

[bywolves]

[ Royce raises his eyebrows, glancing at Alfie and then at England. ]

Burden of being an idiot. At least he's honest.

[devoutish]

That's a word for it.

[But Alfie doesn't really sound angry or offended. He opens the door, propping it open with his foot for Royce to catch next.]

No beds in here; that's a shame.