notquiteheartless | Deduction 5 - [ audio / action ]

That one there.

...No. The other.

Thank you.

[Sherlock Holmes likes to talk as he works.

Today, he actually has a project. Gone is the boredom and lethargy, but he has not progressed into the mania of a case yet. He is all scientific control now, watching every flame and chemical and reaction with the utmost care.

There's a lot to do. Compounds need to be broken down so elements and simplier compounds can be isolated. Then those have to be correctly combined. A long process with the rudimentary equipment found in the laboratory he and Temperance share in her flat.

And whomever he is speaking to isn't the only one who has to listen to him.]

It's always about comfort.

Truth? Entirely expendable if one is not comfortable with it. People prefer what makes them feel at ease, what seems 'nicest.' Even if it's nothing more than a good story.

[And Moriarty was a very good storyteller.]

Whatever threatens their world-view least, they accept. Are delighted to take as proven fact, even if there is only conjecture to support it.

Sheep, following the butcher to slaughter, bleeting happily.

[Does he sound irritated?]

But everyone makes mistakes. All their deceptions? Eventually come unravelled. Strange as this place is, it is not an exception to this rule.

[That would be because he is. His mood has been just a slight bit volatile since his midnight "chat" with Moriarty. Whom he is quite sure will hear this, whom he wants to hear this, wants him to know he'll be waiting for that one mistake. His conversation with Lestrade hadn't helped either.

To the other in the room:]

That one now.

[A quiet sigh. The look he's getting doesn't need words to make its doubts clear.]

Oxford, John. I know what I'm doing.

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[Sherlock was right about all of it...except one thing. Before the detective had opened his mouth, Booth really wouldn't have done anything. Not without a real threat. Not with unarmed men.

After speaking, though, he suddenly really, really wanted to hit him. His words come out in little more than a growl]

I can think of an outlet.

[John's warning tone does more good than either of the scientists, however. For the first time, he really focused on the other army man, jaw set as he considered. His temper was obviously boiling, jaw clenched, but it wasn't blind rage. He was dangerous, but not a loose canon.

...however much he wanted to be]

[Sherlock's deductions are impressive. Though they have had conversations, shared information about their mutual partners prior, it had never been in this much detail. Or on any topics which bordered psychological. It's... unnecessary, in Brennan's eyes, to provide so much information in this moment. Annoying even. Especially as Doctor Watson's warning reprimand enforces her suspicions.

This isn't a matter of demonstrating abilities. It is a matter of irritating Booth further. And it works.

Perhaps too well. She turns around, away from Booth, and steps towards the other duo. Before anyone can stop her, she lands a clean blow to Sherlock's cheek.]

Enough. [She looks back at Booth.] I will just as happily punch you as well if you do not calm down.

[There is almost always a childish quality to Sherlock. Particularly in deductions that are not essential to cases. Henry Knight, for instance, whom Sherlock had been ready to dismiss almost the moment he entered the flat. Or the motorist who had solicited his help after a hiker had mysteriously died. Or the men from Buckingham.

Agent Booth was no different.

Sherlock looks at John at the elbow. He started it, the replying expression says, though he doesn't speak.

He's about to. About to go into all the reasons why Booth deserved exactly what he'd gotten and, if he'd like to continue this, more than he could deliver. Temperance's movement catches his eye, and he turns his head toward it-- perfectly timed to catch the full force of the punch in the opposite direction.

He staggers, bringing his hand up to touch the spot.

I could cut myself...

Well, at least she didn't slap him.]

[ Well. He was wrong. Because Brennan whirls and comes at them, and all John can do is stiffen, half stepping back into Sherlock as the woman aims a punch at the detective. Not the attacker John was expecting, and not as easy to react as he thought he was ready for. Or maybe he just didn't want to. Brennan hitting Sherlock, that's... different, somehow.

That was a pretty good swing, actually.

And the anthropologist whirls away just as swiftly to accost Booth, which makes this all somehow a bit easier to take. John's confusion lapses in about a second, two on the outside, before he turns to Sherlock. ]

All right?

[ Looks like he'll live, so: ]

I told you.

[If anything could break through the tension and aggression he was feeling, it was that. Given enough time to process what had just happened, he would have laughed, but then Brennan is whirling on him and he takes a step back, hands going up]

Woah, hey. I'm calm. [fingers waved in surrender] See? Calm.

[Eyebrows raise in questioning doubt at Booth's claim.

And then, looking at all the men in the room, she laughs.]

That was... surprisingly satisfying. I hope I did not hit you too hard, Sherlock.

I've been hit harder.

[Granted, it was by a soldier he'd punched first...

Of course, from his tone, he doesn't sound like he quite understands why he got punched. But that's Sherlock.]

Now. [He touched his sore jaw.] May I get back to my work? [A look to Booth... but focused then on Brennan. So he didn't seem to be provoking anyone further.] Or are there more questions?

[ Sherlock, don't invite more trouble...

But yes, are they done here? John's arms fold behind his back, and if he's got any amusement out of seeing Booth jump and almost cower in the wake of Brennan, it stays in his eyes.

He's got no further comments on the matter. Honestly, the less he has to hear about how he's supposedly a fictional character, or an impostor of one, the better. Besides, by the look of them, Booth and Brennan will want a moment alone to talk, and John's not interested in being a third wheel, either. ]

[No cowering. There was none of that. He was just...picking his battles.

Which is why, even if his lips press into a thin line at Sherlock's question, he doesn't give the biting response he wants to.

His glance goes from Sherlock, to Brennan, to John, considering, before he shrugs and puts his hands down.] We're done.

[there was a not-so-subtle 'for now' underscoring his answer, but if it threatened anything it was only more questions, rather than violence]

[Whether the underscore is ignored purposely or by accident remains to be said. Either way, Brennan takes Booth's statement as fact. The end of the discussion. Not that there really is much more to say. Aside, perhaps, one final warning.]

Do not be surprised if you find either Sherlock utilizing the laboratory at late hours, Booth. It was agreed upon in the initial arrangement that he would be allowed to come and go as he pleased, regardless of the time.

[It's something of a balm for his sore jaw to know his access to the flat-- the laboratory, really-- will nto suddenly be curtailed because of this man's arrival.

Of course, as far as Sherlock is concerned now, he's fulfilled any social obligations owed.

He turns going back into the laboratory, back to his chemicals. And his poison.]

Deduction 5 - [ audio / action ]

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plz smack effy if it gets to be 3+ days with no reply, this is not worth it

<3

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