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[He is possibly first into the doors of the building as his long legs give him the speed advantage, especially since he is excited for the prospect of potentially useful evidence. He does so hope that Gabriel is here already and has the samples he's requested, even more so now that he knows the boy in question isn't entirely human.]
Come along, John, keep up.
[He brushes the snow from his shoulders and peers around for Gabriel.]
Come along, John, keep up.
[He brushes the snow from his shoulders and peers around for Gabriel.]
[A bathroom!
Though Sherlock took advantage of the hot water in the aquarium only the night before, that was a sink and not a bathtub, so there were limits to how clean he could get. Though a cold bath is hardly ideal in such harsh conditions, he is unwilling to allow either himself or his clothes to get into a filthy state.
Which is why Sherlock can be found in the bath.
If the water itself can't be coerced into working, he will have gathered armfuls of snow and brought them into the bath to melt. Hopefully everyone wants to see a consulting detective in just his underpants, because that's what's happening now.]
Though Sherlock took advantage of the hot water in the aquarium only the night before, that was a sink and not a bathtub, so there were limits to how clean he could get. Though a cold bath is hardly ideal in such harsh conditions, he is unwilling to allow either himself or his clothes to get into a filthy state.
Which is why Sherlock can be found in the bath.
If the water itself can't be coerced into working, he will have gathered armfuls of snow and brought them into the bath to melt. Hopefully everyone wants to see a consulting detective in just his underpants, because that's what's happening now.]
[The past few days haven't been bad, per se, but they've been tense. Ever since waking up after his night in the aquarium it's been nagging him like an unscratched itch. But at the same time, it's been easy to find reason for. That night he got woken up early, and it was the same place he'd been when all the eyes appeared in the static. After that were the days they trekked around the fire station, with the danger of the anomaly inside. And today wasn't bad—they got food!—but it's run them into a group he would rather not have met. Not that he minds Watson, and he doesn't know Sylar to judge, but Sherlock can go fuck himself for all he cares.]
[Too bad it they'll have to share the night together.]
[So Davesprite, looking ridiculous between what he is and how he's dressed, settles in with resignation to what's completely unavoidable. That is to say, he keeps his expression pointedly blank and smooth as he drifts around the house.]
[Even so, it's hard to miss how he keeps checking things now and then, peering over his shoulder and past the wing, glancing out windows even after lockdown comes, turning his head off in the direction of people moving in other rooms or even the settling sounds of a house packed in by snow. When he sits, it's with his back up against a wall. Should anyone actually approach him from behind, he's apt to spin and face them, ruff raised around his neck.]
[Anyone who might run into him this way (or come to talk to him on their own) will nonetheless be greeted flatly.]
'Sup?
[Too bad it they'll have to share the night together.]
[So Davesprite, looking ridiculous between what he is and how he's dressed, settles in with resignation to what's completely unavoidable. That is to say, he keeps his expression pointedly blank and smooth as he drifts around the house.]
[Even so, it's hard to miss how he keeps checking things now and then, peering over his shoulder and past the wing, glancing out windows even after lockdown comes, turning his head off in the direction of people moving in other rooms or even the settling sounds of a house packed in by snow. When he sits, it's with his back up against a wall. Should anyone actually approach him from behind, he's apt to spin and face them, ruff raised around his neck.]
[Anyone who might run into him this way (or come to talk to him on their own) will nonetheless be greeted flatly.]
'Sup?
[If asked if he likes Sherlock, Davesprite would give a resounding nope. If asked if he'd like to spend the night sharing the house with him, he'd go onto say, are you fuckin' kidding me? If further asked if he'd ever like to run into Sherlock in his underwear, he'd give up on the one asking entirely, because this whole line of inquiry is downright godawful.]
[But given a jackass British detective, an armful of snow, and some mystery noises from the bathroom he disappeared into, this is just the situation he's found himself in.]
[Fast reflexes and an instinct for what photos might be exploitable for further use means he has his tablet up and clicking before either of them have gotten a word out.]
You looking to freeze to death, or have you just got a hypothermia fetish?
[But given a jackass British detective, an armful of snow, and some mystery noises from the bathroom he disappeared into, this is just the situation he's found himself in.]
[Fast reflexes and an instinct for what photos might be exploitable for further use means he has his tablet up and clicking before either of them have gotten a word out.]
You looking to freeze to death, or have you just got a hypothermia fetish?
[He tsks in annoyance, but he isn't embarrassed at being caught in just his underwear. He's worn nothing but a sheet to Buckingham Palace before, this is nothing.
His skin is pebbled with goosebumps, and the bandages over the bullet wound at his chest are peeling slightly, but otherwise he looks the picture of haughty disdain.]
The chances of getting ill through bacterial infection due to a hygiene deficiency are much greater than the chances of hypothermia from a controlled exposure to cold water.
His skin is pebbled with goosebumps, and the bandages over the bullet wound at his chest are peeling slightly, but otherwise he looks the picture of haughty disdain.]
The chances of getting ill through bacterial infection due to a hygiene deficiency are much greater than the chances of hypothermia from a controlled exposure to cold water.
[He tucks the tablet away. He doesn't know what use the pictures might be yet, but the chance could come up still.]
You're probably the only guy who'd bother to answer that way, you know that?
[Davesprite can't even bring himself to be surprised. The terrible innuendo passed right over his head in that one conversation. If anything, it's better scientific quibbles than yet more digs at him and his intellect, for all their effectiveness wore thin by that point.]
You want to freeze your ass off in an ice bath, be my guest. But I bet you Watson will whine if he hears about it. Blah blah immune system, blah blah stop flashing teenagers, you know the drill better than I do.
You're probably the only guy who'd bother to answer that way, you know that?
[Davesprite can't even bring himself to be surprised. The terrible innuendo passed right over his head in that one conversation. If anything, it's better scientific quibbles than yet more digs at him and his intellect, for all their effectiveness wore thin by that point.]
You want to freeze your ass off in an ice bath, be my guest. But I bet you Watson will whine if he hears about it. Blah blah immune system, blah blah stop flashing teenagers, you know the drill better than I do.
[John doesn't know why they're practically running to the aquarium. He's been equal parts morose and relieved since finding Fiona's body at the hospital morgue on a very brief stop-in. It's... well, it's closure, after a sort. It also means the thing that attacked him and Angel probably wasn't her.]
I am keeping up, you great bloody giraffe. [That's muttered mostly to himself as he follows in after the other man. But the grumbling falls away as he notices Sherlock looking around. John immediately on edge. They're supposed to be meeting a self-confessed serial killer here. And, well, the last time he was in the aquarium, it ended poorly.]
Mr. Taylor, are you here? It's Dr. Watson and Mr. Holmes. [He'll use Gabriel's fake name for the moment.]
I am keeping up, you great bloody giraffe. [That's muttered mostly to himself as he follows in after the other man. But the grumbling falls away as he notices Sherlock looking around. John immediately on edge. They're supposed to be meeting a self-confessed serial killer here. And, well, the last time he was in the aquarium, it ended poorly.]
Mr. Taylor, are you here? It's Dr. Watson and Mr. Holmes. [He'll use Gabriel's fake name for the moment.]
[ Gabriel is currently looking over the aquarium tanks with an intense gaze. He didn't find anything last time, but that didn't mean he wouldn't again. He looks up when he hears Dr. Watson, and steps out from his spot. He gives the two of them a rather strained smile. ]
I'm here. Hello.
[ He waves with just his forearm, a little gesture to go with the hello. He wasn't sure whether John was told about him, so he won't worry about that for the moment. Instead he looks over to Sherlock, disappointment evident in his eyes. ]
I couldn't get the sample. Al's very protective of his privacy. You might be getting something from him later, though.
I'm here. Hello.
[ He waves with just his forearm, a little gesture to go with the hello. He wasn't sure whether John was told about him, so he won't worry about that for the moment. Instead he looks over to Sherlock, disappointment evident in his eyes. ]
I couldn't get the sample. Al's very protective of his privacy. You might be getting something from him later, though.
[John hadn't meant to sneak up on the kid. He's just coming up from downstairs and considering how to pitch the sleeping arrangements--John would like to sleep on the mattress in the master bedroom--when he has to stop because of an orange tail in front of him.]
Nothing much.
[It's a rote reply, John's tone more surprised than anything when the sprite spins around suddenly.]
Uh... just coming up.
[He points past Davesprite.]
Nothing much.
[It's a rote reply, John's tone more surprised than anything when the sprite spins around suddenly.]
Uh... just coming up.
[He points past Davesprite.]
[John would really rather like the mattress in the master bedroom. He won't press for it with a couple of kids, but he'd like it. Three or four of them can probably sleep on it comfortably. Dug can kip at the end, but that leaves someone out on the very cold sofa downstairs. Personally, John's all right with that someone being Sylar.
The man has been nothing but polite and helpful to John since his arrival, and just knowing that makes the doctor's skin crawl. He would never have suspected a thing. It prickles at the edges of his thoughts--the paranoia. Who can you trust? Who's hiding what they really are? Why can't he see it.
John's eyes flick up at the sound of someone entering the master bedroom, and there's a momentary dark and mistrustful look for whomever has just arrived before he pushes that aside and pulls on a polite smile. He's sat on the mattress, tablet in his lap, and his notepad app open. The only words there for the moment are:
'Trust until trust is proven lost.']
How d'you reckon we should do the bed in here, then? Rock, paper, scissors for the best spots moving out?
The man has been nothing but polite and helpful to John since his arrival, and just knowing that makes the doctor's skin crawl. He would never have suspected a thing. It prickles at the edges of his thoughts--the paranoia. Who can you trust? Who's hiding what they really are? Why can't he see it.
John's eyes flick up at the sound of someone entering the master bedroom, and there's a momentary dark and mistrustful look for whomever has just arrived before he pushes that aside and pulls on a polite smile. He's sat on the mattress, tablet in his lap, and his notepad app open. The only words there for the moment are:
'Trust until trust is proven lost.']
How d'you reckon we should do the bed in here, then? Rock, paper, scissors for the best spots moving out?
Edited 2016-11-03 05:05 (UTC)
[Watson is fortunately one of the people he trusts here, and so seeing him his feathers relax steadily back to laying even. Just the English doctor dude.]
Right.
[He tracks the direction he's pointing, then floats back and to the side a bit, front still kept facing toward him. He can at least let him into the room and off the—]
Careful on those stairs, dude. They're vicious.
Right.
[He tracks the direction he's pointing, then floats back and to the side a bit, front still kept facing toward him. He can at least let him into the room and off the—]
Careful on those stairs, dude. They're vicious.
[John glances down at the stairs he's on, then up at Davesprite, brow furrowed in confusion.]
Were they giving you trouble?
[He'll take the opening to step up onto the second floor landing, though. And then glance back down at the stairs, angling the tablet he's been using for lighting to illuminate as far down them as he can.]
Were they giving you trouble?
[He'll take the opening to step up onto the second floor landing, though. And then glance back down at the stairs, angling the tablet he's been using for lighting to illuminate as far down them as he can.]
[Davesprite keeps the laugh on the inside when Watson looks down the stairs as he does, but rest assured, it's there.]
Nah. I just know from experience. Can't turn your back on them, can't let your guard down, or wham: you're falling down all those stairs, and it just keeps happening. So don't say I never warned you about stairs, bro, 'cause I just told you, dog.
Nah. I just know from experience. Can't turn your back on them, can't let your guard down, or wham: you're falling down all those stairs, and it just keeps happening. So don't say I never warned you about stairs, bro, 'cause I just told you, dog.
... Is this a reference to a film or something? [Because the way you're saying that, Davesprite. John's gaze turns back to the sprite, highly skeptical.]
You kidding me? Those corporate cash grabs? I'm drawing from the people's art, the true heart of the creative conscious shaped by dedicated, time-worn hands like a parent raising an ugly baby to adulthood. It's a duty, an honor, and a feat of love so pure and true it makes the angels weep.
[He pauses a beat, for dramatic effect.]
I'm referencing my webcomic, but that doesn't make the advice any less true.
[He pauses a beat, for dramatic effect.]
I'm referencing my webcomic, but that doesn't make the advice any less true.
Edited 2016-11-03 05:43 (UTC)
[He raises a brow.]
You're kind of a geek, aren't you?
[That's what John's getting here.]
You're kind of a geek, aren't you?
[That's what John's getting here.]
You wound me, Watson.
[That's just rude.]
I'm a goddamn artist is what I am. How many people do you know who have their own webcomic? Do you know how much work that shit is?
[That's just rude.]
I'm a goddamn artist is what I am. How many people do you know who have their own webcomic? Do you know how much work that shit is?
We had a case once with a kid who was publishing a comic online that seemed to be coming to life on the streets of London.
[He and Sherlock have had some bizarre cases, Davesprite.]
[He and Sherlock have had some bizarre cases, Davesprite.]
Well, our client was reviewing the comic that was being published, but he was an artist and writer, himself, as well. [John glances up, pulling the memory up from the depths.] Chris Melas. Him and his assistants came 'round and explained that Mr. Melas had been seeing characters from this comic about a superhero anti-terrorist group called KRATIDES out and about, even snapped a few photos of them.
Now, I reckoned it had to be a hoax, some kid trying to get a laugh, but Sherlock was convinced enough to take the case. The more we talked with Mr. Melas, the more it became clear to me, he truly was distressed and starting to go into a mental breakdown.
[He'll give Davesprite a moment to digest all of that before going on.]
Now, I reckoned it had to be a hoax, some kid trying to get a laugh, but Sherlock was convinced enough to take the case. The more we talked with Mr. Melas, the more it became clear to me, he truly was distressed and starting to go into a mental breakdown.
[He'll give Davesprite a moment to digest all of that before going on.]
Edited 2016-11-03 06:14 (UTC)
[Davesprite starts off with genuine interest, listening well as Watson launches into the story. That Sherlock was 'convinced' is something he highly doubts, but that's beside the point. He had some kind of interest if he took it. His enthusiasm fades as Watson goes on, however, until at the pause he asks,]
So what, he was just some crazy dude?
So what, he was just some crazy dude?
If you looked at the comments he was getting over Facebook and Twitter, you'd think so. [John raises his brows.] Apart from Sherlock and his assistants, there was only one other person who seemed to believe Mr. Melas, a bloke with the username of Kemp. Mr. Melas had never met Kemp, but he was an avid reader of Mr. Melas' reviews and his own comics. He was encouraging Mr. Melas to tell everyone what was happening, whatever anyone said.
Sherlock had me do a little reconnaissance at that point. He checked on KRATIDES' online readership and had me check down at the local comic book shop for the print volumes. Sure enough, sales on the issues were through the roof. People didn't believe Mr. Melas, but they were certainly interested to see what was going on with the comic.
Sherlock had one of his mates from his homeless network do a little fancy computer sleuthing and we traced 'Kemp' back to the publishers for the KRATIDES comic. They'd been using Mr. Melas and his reviews as a marketing tool. Nearly drove the man mad for it, too.
They weren't technically doing anything illegal, though. So, we found a more... creative way to tank them. [A mischievous grin curls up John's lips. He loves this one. Really, any chance to humanize Sherlock a little more, but this one does a lot for that.]
Sherlock got the idea to reenact one of the scenes from the latest pages of KRATIDES once it was out. Self and Mr. Holmes dressed up as ninjas. Mr. Melas was dressed as one of the heroes from the comic. We staged a mock fight in the middle of Soho on a Saturday, and once 'Latimer' sent us 'villain's running, he pulled off the mask and explained what KRATIDES publishers had done to him in the name of 'advertisement.' Video of it all went viral, and it took about... oh, I'd say a week or two for those bastards at the publishing house to tank the comic and a good amount of the marketing staff with it, I'd wager.
Sherlock had me do a little reconnaissance at that point. He checked on KRATIDES' online readership and had me check down at the local comic book shop for the print volumes. Sure enough, sales on the issues were through the roof. People didn't believe Mr. Melas, but they were certainly interested to see what was going on with the comic.
Sherlock had one of his mates from his homeless network do a little fancy computer sleuthing and we traced 'Kemp' back to the publishers for the KRATIDES comic. They'd been using Mr. Melas and his reviews as a marketing tool. Nearly drove the man mad for it, too.
They weren't technically doing anything illegal, though. So, we found a more... creative way to tank them. [A mischievous grin curls up John's lips. He loves this one. Really, any chance to humanize Sherlock a little more, but this one does a lot for that.]
Sherlock got the idea to reenact one of the scenes from the latest pages of KRATIDES once it was out. Self and Mr. Holmes dressed up as ninjas. Mr. Melas was dressed as one of the heroes from the comic. We staged a mock fight in the middle of Soho on a Saturday, and once 'Latimer' sent us 'villain's running, he pulled off the mask and explained what KRATIDES publishers had done to him in the name of 'advertisement.' Video of it all went viral, and it took about... oh, I'd say a week or two for those bastards at the publishing house to tank the comic and a good amount of the marketing staff with it, I'd wager.
[Davesprite keeps listening. It's particularly hard to imagine Watson and Sherlock in ninja costumes, but the whole thing is kind of ridiculous already. Unfortunately for Watson, it's gonna take more than a silly anecdote to lift his opinion.]
Okay, good job stopping that, but I gotta admit to you detective stories were never really my bag. Kinda mundane, too, when I already knew someone who saw the future.
[He shrugs in a loose what-can-you-do kind of way. It's not Watson's fault for not knowing, nor that their lives vary considerably on the scale of what's unusual and exciting.]
I'm more interested in the struggles of internet-based creativity. How to reach the pulse of the masses, how to handle the fame, how to balance a webcomic together with an ironic blogging career. You may be out there chasing down criminals, or non-criminals who are just douchebags, but I was busy doing the real work.
[He's teasing, of course.]
Okay, good job stopping that, but I gotta admit to you detective stories were never really my bag. Kinda mundane, too, when I already knew someone who saw the future.
[He shrugs in a loose what-can-you-do kind of way. It's not Watson's fault for not knowing, nor that their lives vary considerably on the scale of what's unusual and exciting.]
I'm more interested in the struggles of internet-based creativity. How to reach the pulse of the masses, how to handle the fame, how to balance a webcomic together with an ironic blogging career. You may be out there chasing down criminals, or non-criminals who are just douchebags, but I was busy doing the real work.
[He's teasing, of course.]
[Take the wind right out of his sails, why don't you? John just huffs lightly at Davesprite before crossing his arms.]
Be careful if you ever do get famous with your comic or blogging... or near enough to it. Internet and real fame aren't all they're cracked up to be, mate.
Be careful if you ever do get famous with your comic or blogging... or near enough to it. Internet and real fame aren't all they're cracked up to be, mate.
[John's fairly used to getting an eyeful of his shameless flatmate. What's surprising here isn't seeing Sherlock in his underpants, it's finally seeing that bandage over what is, presumably, a bullet wound on the other man's chest. He'd been planning to search the medicine cabinets, but now... well...]
I can redress that for you when you get out. [John points his mini-torch he's using in his search down toward the bandage.] Provided you aren't in hypothermic shock in the next five minutes. I've got some shampoo and soap in my pack, too, if that's anything you haven't got.
[Mr. Bouncing Curls.]
I can redress that for you when you get out. [John points his mini-torch he's using in his search down toward the bandage.] Provided you aren't in hypothermic shock in the next five minutes. I've got some shampoo and soap in my pack, too, if that's anything you haven't got.
[Mr. Bouncing Curls.]
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