yogen | Two adult men circle each other like wary cats, the post

WHO: James Moriarty, Sherlock Holmes, and you!
WHEN: Probably after the whole...murder discussion thing
WHAT: Two men have found their way, and as is normal for them, immediately start blaming and barking at each other. And then after the girls are done fighting, they'll be around snooping in the area.

[Today, there's...a commotion in the auditorium. Looking out from the hallway - or approaching when you were already inside - will give you an eyeful of what looks like two adult men - one tall, thin, and with slicked back black hair, and the other with a head of gray hair and a mustache - in high school uniforms warily circling each other while also apparently talking.

One of them - the older man - has a decent set of lungs on him, which is probably what drew you to look at the courtyard in the first place.]

"...Blaming me for this, Holmes? How very arrogant of you!"

[The tall man is shockingly pale, his eyes daring around then back at the short man, his movements harried, sounding oddly breathless when he retorts]

"Can one be blamed when you always seem to be on the edge if not right in the middle of suspicious incidents?"

"Surely you can't believe I'm responsible for all of this! Isn't it much more likely we both got dragged to some kind of Singularity?"

[A pause and an unreadable expression flits across the tall man - Holmes' - face. His arms folds over his chest, his right hand gripping his left forearm tightly in the process, shoulders hunching up]

"...It is possible."

[The older man gives a scoff, shaking his head.]

"Yes, because I just happened to find another demon pillar to team up with, and chose a school to do my dastardly plan in."

"Fine. You're probably not involved. And no contact from Chaldea..."

[The younger man paces, still tightly gathered into himself.]

"Can't rely on outside here..."

"At least you can make out that in your current state."

[The men continue to circle and bicker as they keep their eyes on each other, practically wearing out a path with their feet as they do so.

There's the feeling they're not going to stop until someone breaks them up...Or, maybe you should leave and try to catch them later, alone?]

((OOC: OKAY SO - Moriarty and Holmes will have Individual top levels with prompts you can hit up, if you don't want to be involved in their little weird circle dance up top. If you DO, then just comment to this post and we'll both reply!))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[So. It's been - a bit, since their original appearance, and they'd separated from each other rather quickly.

But, eventually, Moriarty winds his way back to his nemesis, putting his arm on the doorway of...wherever Sherlock currently is.]

Are you occupied at the moment, or may I speak with you freely?

[Sherlock had wandered up into the Art room, taking stock of what's available - useful tools, supplies... and worse. There's too much he doesn't know, he hates feeling like he doesn't know enough, and everything right now especially... gnaw at him. He glances up when he heard the familiar voice, taking a deep breath before turning around, leaning against one of the supply closets]

Go ahead.

[First off, as soon as Sherlock completely turns around - he throws a can of chamomile tea at the other man.]

Here - Something to temporarily settle you a bit.

[It's sweet and cold, but it's better than nothing.]

First off - obviously, our biggest goals here are to survive along with Ritsuka, and solve this pervasive mystery surrounding this entire institution. I would not be surprised if the Counter Force had some sort of hand in our appearance here, personally.

Secondly - For now, we shall treat this place as we do Chaldea, and call a sort of truce between us. Though I will still challenge you whenever possible, of course. Is this amenable to you?

[He easily catches it]

Thank you.

[He makes a split-second face at the can, but beggars can't be choosers, he pops it open, even the unnecessary sugar would be helpful]

Of course - Miss Ritsuka's safety is of course our top priority, but I believe that is a given with you. There's far too many things that is off...

[The Counter Force... it could explain how they got here without rayshifting]

We can continue our truce here.

Edited 2021-04-22 01:08 (UTC)

[He nods at that, before lapsing into silence for a moment.]

...So. There is also the matter of yourself. While I was flippant earlier - how long will your symptoms last? And would you have an estimate of the severity?

[Because, y'know. Gotta know how long you'll potentially be out of commission.]

And also...what is the last memory you possess?

[Of their timeline, he means.]

[If it was anyone else asking, it was unlikely they'd get more than the bare minimum of answers, enough to assure he's fine. But if Moriarty is asking, he knows the man won't leave him at that]

...A week - two perhaps? Nothing life threatening I would believe - miserable, but won't kill me.

[He pauses mid-sip at the second question - the look Ritsuka had earlier...]

I was in the Shadow Border, having ...collapsed the Russian Lostbelt.

Yes, I thought so. Thankfully, most of the effects of Cocaine are mental.

[Again, it could be worse. Still, at that second answer....Moriarty pauses for just the slightest moment, enough so that the other will notice it - before continuing on.]

....I see.

[That is fraught with so much meaning that it'd be difficult for the man to ignore it, honestly.]

...

[Moriarty is being cryptic. Even more so than usual. He takes a low, slow sip of the sweet tea, wondering how Americans could tolerate such a thing]

Miss Ritsuka had a confused expression when I mention my last memory being in the Shadow Border. Your pause tells more than words would.

...You could just ask directly, you know.

[Please, Holmes, he's not in the mood for their usual dancing around stuff - it's why he came with a peace offering in the first place.

He thinks about being cryptic - but if they truly have a truce, then there's no point in keeping it a secret, only in how much he can tell Sherlock safely.]

I believe she and I are from a farther 'point' than yourself on our timeline.

[Short, simple, and to the point.]

[He exhales slowly]

...That would explain your reactions. And you're not going to tell me what happened in case it causes unintended consequences.

[More statement than question, annoying but he understands.]

Exactly. Knowing the future could cause another 'branch' in the timeline - and the World isn't particularly fond of said branches, as you're well aware.

[Only so many timelines can survive the quantum timelock and all, yadda yadda.]

Even if it would spare us from tragedy, the potential ripples are too large to ignore. Like the flap of a butterfly's wings causing a storm on the other side of the world.

[...Despite how much he might actually wish to spill all.]

[That bad? He thought to himself, his left hand curled like it would around a pipe - oh, he's going to deal with that too.

Wonderful.]

More than aware, unfortunately. Too many unknowns, even if it is helpful for what we know, it could end the branch.

[The ugly feeling, a little knowledge could save them, but ultimately prunes their world entirely]

[Live with the concequences of your vices, Holmes.]

Indeed....well, for now, I shall merely have to lord my future knowledge over your head for as long as we are here.

[SMUG GRIN, hehehe it's so great to still be able to get one over Holmes.]

Ah, How splendid....!

[And that grin is enough to make him want to wipe it off - but no, Truce. Too early to Baritsu the grin off.]

Take pleasure in it for as long as you can.

Two adult men circle each other like wary cats, the post

C

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cw: drug use mention

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