[network/video] @309_W1C_2DZ; Day 205; Midday [open] cw: mention of suicide

[howdull]

[For once Sherlock is not on text only, he's on video in all his glory. Which is a very diminished glory today, considering he looks terrible. Too thin in the face, though his clothes hide the rest of him, and dishevelled as though he's spent a few months not really putting any care into his appearance. His hair is longer than the last time anyone has seen him, and he looks older.

He's moving frantically in short bursts of energy, jittery, as if he isn't quite sure whether he wants to stay still or keep moving.]

Data, yes, I should share that. [It's a mumble to himself as the tablet tilts, giving an askew feed of the detective.] Purposeful death does cause nearly guaranteed revival, this has now been tested several times with no known cases of permanent death.

[The tablet shifts again as Sherlock moves between morgue drawers, checking them one by one and then moving on.]

John. [It's a sudden shift in direction.] John Watson, has anyone seen him?

Comments

[peacemongering]

[Target achieved. There was no need to go further at present.]

Why would I offer sympathies when it isn't clear that he's permanently dead? And who would I offer them to? Is there a graveyard to lay flowers and mourn over?

[howdull]

Isn't that the social convention?

[The way his hands are trembling betray his emotional state, but he's getting good control over his face and voice now.]

Someone dies and you offer your sympathies if you liked them, regardless of a gravestone or flowers. I'm sorry, we haven't met, I don't know--

[Who you are. He tries to say it, but it won't come out because he knows exactly who this is and apparently he can't lie. Well, damn.]

--why you haven't introduced yourself yet.

[peacemongering]

I imagine you being a social being living in a social society are more than capable of knowing what is proper social convention.

If I die, will you offer sympathies? Would he?

[He tilted his head, noting the pause and then the change of direction of the conversation. That was interesting.]

Neither have you. I imagine you don't care I know who you are or vice versa or else you would have when it came to you.

[howdull]

[He scoffs.]

Social convention isn't really my area, I don't do sympathy or senti--

[Except he does do sentiment, and he can't even lie to himself on that manner now. Damn John, damn Mary.]

I don't need to introduce myself, you already know who I am. My name has been mentioned twice in this feed alone.

[peacemongering]

[He understood that it wasn't Sherlock's area, which was the point. He wanted the man to admit those failings.]

You appear to be having a small issue here, aren't you? That's twice now you've stumbled in speech. Having issues?

Yes, and you already know who I am. Why are you requesting we stick to social nascences when you just said you don't adhere to such things?

[howdull]

Of course I'm having issues.

[He glares down at the camera a little incredulously, focusing on this rather than the sticky situation of him already knowing Pierce.]

I have just revived from the dead, that does tend to bring its own plethora of troubles with it.

[peacemongering]

Would you like to discuss the matter in more depth? I am an excellent listener. Perhaps I could offer some advice.

[howdull]

I'm interested to hear what advice you would offer, please.

[Not that he wants to take it, he just wants to know more about Pierce, gather all these little subtle clues.]

[peacemongering]

To do that, I will have to know the full extent of your situation.

[Verbal sparring? Yes, verbal sparring.]

[howdull]

There's little enough to know other than what you can quite plainly see, that I have recently awoken from being dead within one of the morgues.

[And not in good shape, as is fairly obvious from the way his Belstaff hangs slightly loose and the dark circles under his eyes.]

[peacemongering]

And isn't there a price that comes with one's death? I suspect your own price has you stumbling in conversation. How does that make you feel?

[It was curious how most people in this place were in awful shape. Everyone who had been here any good length of time seemed so ravaged.]

[howdull]

My death price has no true impact on my emotional state.

[That's true, whatever irritation and fear it might produce is nothing at all compared to his fear and guilt for John.]

And therefore is irrelevant to your manner of advice.

[peacemongering]

But it gives you away all the same.

[howdull]

[He rolls his eyes, managing to give a good impression of someone more irritated than upset at these observations.]

Are you going to give your advice, or just wax lyrical about pointless things?

[peacemongering]

Wax and wane; I only give advice in person.

[More because he's curious if he can lure Sherlock away to actually have a discussion with the man. He suspects that sociopaths are intriguing and matching wits with one would be entertaining and gratifying.]

[howdull]

Then I suppose you had best begin walking, I intend to head towards the school.

[He's incredibly easy to lure into this sort of trap, he loves pitting his wits against intelligent villains.]

[peacemongering]

It will take me days. Are you willing to wait?

[He will also be detained for a few days in future.]

[howdull]

I may not be able to.

[Just skirting the right side to truth.]

But if you move in that direction, I am certain we can arrange a suitable meeting place.

[peacemongering]

Very well. When I am in the area, I will be certain to contact you and check in on where you are at. Until then, I do hope you find Dr. Watson again.

[howdull]

Until then, Mr. Pierce.

[He'll end the conversation there, not trusting in his lack of ability to lie when facing off against such an opponent.]