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peculiar-psi · 2 months ago

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A Birthday on Baker Street

By catrhys and @owletry

"Wakey-wakey, birthday boy- er no, that's a bit weird isn't it?" John pushes the door open with his shoulder before Sherlock is even awake. Archie is ultimately who wakes him, jumping up onto the bed and on top of him.

"Eugh, what are you-?"

"Up and at 'em, Sherly! I brought you tea!" John is already by his bedside, a steaming mug of Earl Grey in his hands. Sherlock burrows further into his blankets, shielding his eyes from the sudden flood of light into his room.

"Watson- It's early," he complains.

"And your birthday, sleepy head!" Mariana chimes in as she enters the room.

"Exactly, let me sleep-"

John cuts him off, "No can do, Sherl-a-roo! We've got a busy day ahead of us, so sit up and drink your tea."

Sherlock groans. "Do I have to?"

"Yep." Mariana remarks.

"Absolutely." John follows.

Sherlock sighs and sits up. His weighted blanket is draped over his shoulders like a cloak, curls messy and wild from sleep. He yawns as he reaches both hands out for John to deposit his mug—well John's mug—but it doesn't come, and by the time he registers what's happening, they're already singing.

"-o you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday dear Sherlock," John and Mariana poorly harmonize. It sounds like a whale dying. He buries his head in his hands.

"Must you do this?" He groans.

They power on through his whines, "Happy birthday to youuuu!"

"Now drink your tea," John quickly adds, finally presenting the mug within arm's reach of the pouting detective.

"That was awful," Sherlock grumbles as he accepts the mug. Archie whines in agreement.

"Oh, we weren't that bad," Mariana chides.

Archie barks his dissension to the statement.

"Okay okay, maybe we were that bad," John relents with a chuckle, patting the disgruntled bulldog's head. He and Mariana persuade Archie off the bed and into the kitchen, leaving Sherlock to drink his tea.

Sherlock shakes his head fondly as they shut the door. He looks down into his mug of tea. It's been so long since he had friends to make him tea on his birthday. Since he had friends.

He sips his tea. It's perfect.

Earl Grey with two sugars and a splash of milk. It tastes even better than usual and he can't help but think it may be just because of the love that was put into its making. All for him. He smiles as he stands up and gets dressed for the day.

When Sherlock joins the others in the kitchen, John is in his pajamas, standing in front of the cooktop and humming to himself as he fries up another pancake —chocolate chip, Sherlock's favorite. They're lumpy and misshapen and a little burnt, but John insists they're not, and even though they all know that he's wrong, Sherlock steals and eats pieces of them off the serving plate nonetheless.

A plate topped with two pancakes, bacon, and eggs in the shape of a smiley face is shoved in front of him by a chuckling Mariana as John runs his slightly singed fingers under the tap.

"I told you to be careful!" she chastises through giggles.

"It came at me!" John defends.

"It's inanimate!"

"Oh shush!"

Sherlock smiles to himself. It's a sickeningly sweet display of domesticity. He loves it.

Mariana runs her hand down John's arm as she walks back to the counter, a silent form of comfort even as they banter. By the time she sits down across from Sherlock at the table, a mug of coffee in one hand, a plate in the other, John's stopped whinging and follows close behind. They sit in silence for a moment, enjoying each other's company. John is the first to speak, and as always, he waffles on about one topic or another, Mariana occasionally chiming in. Sherlock sits and listens, eating his home cooked breakfast as his closest friends converse.

"And on the agenda for today folks," John announces like a show host, "Ice skating annnd... drumroll please," he drums his hands on the table and makes the worst drumroll impression, "the Aquarium! Ha-ha!"

"And of course, we'll take Archie for his walk then come back here for dinner," Mariana adds.

"Yeah, that too. That all sound good to you, Sherls?"

Sherlock looks up at the sound of his nickname, a bite of pancake —fork and all— in his mouth. He's quiet at first, just processing the last bit of the conversation, and as his friends patiently wait for his reply, he can’t help but be grateful for their understanding.

He nods. Today is going to be a great day.

Sherlock eyes John skeptically. "Are you sure you're fine to walk?"

"I'm a big boy, Sherlock; I think I can handle walking the few steps to the rink by myself."

"You haven't even stood up yet and you're already wobbling," Mariana points out.

"Yep, very helpful, thanks." John grunted petulantly. He attempts to stand, instinctually grabbing Sherlock's arm for support when he immediately stumbles. The three of them make their way to the ice.

Mariana is the first to make it there, not having been hindered by the task of keeping John upright. She steps onto the ice with ease, skating with grace.

Sherlock is next to enter the rink, calm and balanced. John is close behind, one arm still around the detective's shoulders, the other shooting out to grip onto the wall for balance. He plants a foot on the ice. He slips.

"Woah!" He falls backwards, landing square on his bum with a thud. Sherlock grabs the wall last minute for support, having almost been taken down with the doctor.

"Are you quite alright, Watson?" He queries worriedly like he didn’t also just almost fall.

"Yeah. Yeah- yeah, I'm fine, just- er- lost my balance there, landed on my tailbone," comes John's winced reply.

Mariana skates over, having noticed John sitting on the ground with Sherlock standing over him. She puts a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You okay, John? Did you fall?"

"I'm fine. I'm fine. Feet just slipped out from under me is all." John is already getting back up, using both of his roommates' hands for support.

They lead him to the edge of the rink where he can hold onto the wall to steady himself. As Sherlock and Mariana step back, John carefully shifts his stance, trying to balance properly. "You two go on ahead, I'll catch up."

Sherlock hesitates, "Are you sure?"

"I'll be fine, go have fun," John takes a hand off the wall to wave dismissively and almost loses his footing. Both Mariana and Sherlock practically leap forward to catch the doctor, but he beats them to it when he quickly returns his hand to the wall.

Mariana tries to placate the stubborn man, "We can just go, John you don't have to-"

"No- no- seriously, go. Go skate. Now." John adamantly interrupts. They know they will get nowhere arguing with him so they do.

They both keep an eye on the unbalanced podcaster, as they skate around the rink, and after a while, John even joins them. They talk and laugh and show off to each other, spinning and moonwalking on the ice.

It's maybe 30 minutes in, when John finally trips, left foot catching on the back of right, and he tumbles, taking down Mariana who was holding his hand and sliding into Sherlock who was only a few feet in front. Within seconds, there was a small pile of consulting detectives giggling at the situation and wincing at the surely forming bruises.

"Watson, it's completely safe, I assure you-"

"Sherlock, I don't care if it could withstand a bomb, I refuse to be the first to die in this horror movie."

Mariana smiles at their antics, chiding, "John, don't be so dramatic, it's just a trip to the aquarium!"

"Yeah and Jaws was 'just a job'."

"Watson, we are walking through a chamber over the sharks, not hunting them." Sherlock rolled his eyes.

John pauses in his protests, seeming to question his sanity for a moment. "...Did you just make a Jaws reference?"

"Yes...?"

"Just for that, I'll do it." John acquiesced.

"What?" Now it was Sherlock's turn to question things.

"I'll do the shark- chamber- or whatever it's called-"

"Shark Walk," Mariana supplies.

"Yeah, that. I'll do the Shark Walk with you."

"Oh." After a moment of processing, Sherlock’s face splits into an excited grin and he takes off down the hall.

It's barely a full 60 seconds before they are standing on the transparent platform, John clutching onto Sherlock for dear life as they look down at the swimming beasts below.

"Magnificent aren't they?" Sherlock mused.

"Gorgeous." Mariana breathes out in awe.

"Terrifying." John shudders.

"Hardly," Sherlock counters.

"They're predators, mate! They're dangerous!"

"Not to humans," Mariana replies as they begin walking down the corridor.

"Oh really?" John says skeptically.

"You're significantly more likely to get struck by lightning than attacked by a shark, Watson, there is really nothing to worry about." Sherlock defends.

"Especially considering that we live in central London," Mariana adds.

"Okay, but- What the hell is that?!" John startles as he finally takes in his new surroundings and notices an ugly looking fish behind the glass.

Sherlock follows his gaze. "An Anarhichas Lupus, the Atlantic Wolffish."

"It's horrifying!"

"Aww, it's kind of cute," Mariana comments, finally catching sight of the thing.

John is incredulous. "No it's not!?"

"It's known for its teeth." Sherlock grins and pulls out his phone.

"Nope. Nope. Next room!" John hurries them out of there, not eager to witness whatever monstrosity of an image that Sherlock is no doubt googling; he'd like to sleep tonight, thanks.

They continue exploring the aquarium, stopping to look through every window for at least a moment. Sherlock bounces on the balls of his feet and periodically lists facts on just about every creature that drifts by. John and Mariana happily listen to the detective's excited rambles, making comments every so often about everything from the information he's giving them to the scenery and staging of the tanks. They've just shuffled past the stingrays when suddenly they are alone in the ocean tunnel, stopping in their tracks to gawk. It's mesmerizing.

The light shining down through the water casts a ripple of blue upon everything as sea turtles and fish swim by. They sit down. It's quiet and peaceful and serene and they could truly stay there forever under the water.

"Wow," John breathes, his face obstructed by the ever-shifting caustic network refracting down on them as they gawk up at the necklace carpetshark above.

It must be hours before any of them move, time passing calmly as they watch the creatures swim around them.

"-en the frames are secured in a machine called an extractor that uses centrifugal force to flinging the honey out without damaging the wax comb so that the bees can-"

They're back in the darkened sitting room of 221B after Archie's walk. John sits on the sofa, Sherlock's head in his lap. He runs his fingers through the chattering detective's curls as they watch a documentary about beekeeping. Mariana sits on the floor opposite them, smiling at the scene before her. They'd had dinner together less than an hour before, all sneaking a bite or two to the now half asleep bulldog, though none of them would ever admit it. Archie lies curled up by Sherlock's feet, half-listening to every word that falls from his favorite person's lips, even if he has know idea what he's saying.

As the documentary comes to a close, Mariana gets up, slipping into John's room for a moment before returning with a couple of brightly decorated packages.

Sherlock raises an eyebrow. "What's that?"

"Gifts." John smiles down at him.

John had got him a new violin case, monogramed with a silver plaque donning his name and inscribed internally.

"Happy Birthday! Try to keep it down, people are sleeping." Sherlock reads out with a small huff of laughter. The case is a deep blue leather with silver hardware and lined in soft velvet. His favorite color, he notes with a warm smile.

Mariana had bought him a handful of items, a botany kit, some chocolates from Spain, an antique surgical kit, and a small plushie.

"A stuffed rat?" He questions, holding the soft object as if it may bite him.

"It has a removable pouch that you can heat up in the microwave. I thought you might like having a warm friend to cuddle." She explains, smiling gently.

Sherlock seems to look at the toy in a different light for a moment before bringing it to his chest and hugging it tightly. The sight is adorable and his best friends can't help the warm feeling that comes over them watching as the detective buries his face in the cuddly rat, his glasses getting pushed up into his hair.

After a while, Sherlock turns his head to the side, looking at his friends gratefully.

"Thank you," He whispers.

They both smile softly at him, no words needing to be said.

They stay like that for a moment until John's face does something odd and he abruptly blurts out, "Oh! I almost forgot!" before taking off down the stairs to Mariana's flat.

A few minutes later, Archie lifts his head at the sound of his owner coming back up the stairs. The door is soon shoved open by John, carrying a moderately-sized round cake with patchy blue frosting and frankly illegible writing on top. John grins as he places it on the coffee table, shooing away the overly curious bulldog.

Sherlock stares almost unbelievingly at the cake. It's lopsided and ugly and missing chunks, but that's not what's caught his attention. Rather, he's hung up on why it's there at all.

"Why...?" He trails off.

"It's supposed to say 'Happy Birthday Sherlock', but it's surprisingly hard to write in frosting," John unhelpfully amends.

"But..." Sherlock starts, "why would you make me a cake?"

"Do you not like it?" John asks, insecurity bleeding into his voice.

"No no no, I- I love it! It's just..."

"Oh Sherlock," Mariana looks at him with a gentle understanding, "We got a cake to celebrate your birthday, to celebrate you."

"But why?"

John catches on. "Because we love you, Sherls."

"Oh."

John and Mariana smile kindly at him.

Sherlock looks back at the cake. The wonderful, ugly, homemade cake that his friends baked and decorated for him. The gesture alone seems to ooze with their love for him and that image seeps in and warms his bones. He takes a deep breath and carefully blows out the candle.

As the candle smoke curls up and disappears, John grins at his best friend. "So, what'd you wish for?"

Sherlock doesn't answer that. Not because of superstition, but simply that he didn't wish at all. He doesn't need to, he already has everything he could ever want: John and Mariana, two people who love him unconditionally. A family.

#OMG THE ART IS AMAZING

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peculiar-psi · 2 months ago

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Our Love Oozes for You

By @c-hark and @peculiar-psi

INT. 221A

MARIANA

What… is this?

WATSON

This, my friend, is WHSmith's best detective game. A perfect puzzle for the two best detectives.

MARIANA

We have a whole detective agency and you bought this for… what?

Watson rustles through the paper and box

WATSON

Yeah, based upon true crime and we don’t have Mr. Senior Detective telling us the answer.

MARIANA

Right, right.

The two pass around the couple of cards and papers

WATSON

‘He left a note at the man’s door: ’ And it has a bunch of numbers.

MARIANA

I think that’s a cipher…

WATSON

Like the secret messages! You know I used to play scavenger hunts at home using these when Mum used to set up for my friends but they did use, y’know, letters?

MARIANA

I used to make ciphers back in high school– Here, let me see.

Watson passes the paper over and as Mariana mutters the numbers to herself, John picks up his microphone

MARIANA

“20-8-5-0”

“23-1-20-5-18”

“6-1-12-12-0”

“13-5-5-20-0”

“13-5-0-20-8-5-18-5”

“—13”

WATSON (To himself/listeners)

And that, dear podsters, is the sound of pure detective work. Join us on a lazy Saturday. With some board games and the sunlight feeding in through the windows, bathing us in a soft glow o-

The living room door slams open with a bang, showing a dishevelled Sherlock, manically looking through the mail

WATSON

What– Sherlock? What’re you looking fo- Mariana just organised those!

All three of them start scrambling around, the microphone left on the coffee table, short enough for Archie to snag into his mouth

WATSON (con’t)

Where’s my microph– Archie! Give that back!

Mariana is trying to fight through Sherlock’s obsession with finding some mystery mail in the background while Watson is chasing Archie, who has the microphone in his jaws, panting and growling into it. The microphone is dropped onto the floor with a

click

INT. 221B LOUNGE

WATSON

So where did you say we’re going–? Actually, who is this guy? Sherlock, you’ve given us nothing but the fact he’s a criminal. If he’s such a threat, who the fuck is he! Because, yes, you’re Sherlock Holmes; you know best but if we’re all in danger I’m sure we’d like to know something!

SHERLOCK

James Moriarty, Watso-

WATSON

Jame… Like Professor James Moriarty? The… Oh no.

SHERLOCK

Oh no, indeed. James Moriarty’s a mastermind, who has a mind that may even oppose my own. I’m sure that… Watson, have you met him before?

WATSON

I mean… Technically? We were meant to meet dozens of times but things got in the way and we thought he got fed up and gave up–

SHERLOCK

He’s been watching… Watching us for long enough that he’s decided to strike.

Click

INT. 221B LOUNGE

SHERLOCK

Watson… What is this?

Sherlock taps the table where the abandoned game has laid for many a day, starting to pick up the note with the code

WATSON

Oh, just some detective game me and Mari were playing earlier this week. I can clean it u-

SHERLOCK

No. This… An alphabetical cipher. Where did you get this?

WATSON

WHSmith? I mean I suppose it was the last one there. And the cheapest and– You saying it was planted there?

Sherlock ignores Watson’s query and instead mutters something incoherently as he decodes the letter in his head.

SHERLOCK

1 is A… 20… T. H… E– Oh.

Sherlock’s eyes flick over the paper as he decodes the rest in his head

SHERLOCK (con’t)

Switzerland, Schattenhalb. The Reichenbach Waterfall.

Sherlock paces back and forth in the living room, clicking his fingers as he mutters to himself

Click

INT. WATSON’S ROOM

MARIANA

I can find a couple plane tickets to Switzerland, Sherlock. Not sure if we can sit together– Summer holidays have taken up most of the–

SHERLOCK

No. No, Mariana. We cannot give away our plan. We do not have the element of surprise and realistically that is all we have. If a predator sneaks up and gives away its position, it only has the chase left. At least for us, the chase is left for us to capture. We must cover up our tracks, sneak and take him when he least expects it, if we still have that option now. Or perhaps he expects us to come en masse…

WATSON

So– So what do you expect us to do? Oh fffffuck–!

Watson bangs his leg on the table leg that holds the microphone and the only thing he gains is a mumbled question

MARIANA

Oh– John, are you… oof.

WATSON

Yeah.. Christ that hurt. Fine… Is the mic alright?

click

SHERLOCK

it would be easier– more effective even if I were to go alone

WATSON (taken aback)

What? Sherlock, Are you serious?

MARIANA

Yeah, uh what… Sherlock.

SHERLOCK

Yes, I do understand that up until this point I have allowed you t-

WATSON

‘Allowed’, yeah alright, mate.

SHERLOCK

Yes, fine. Up until this point, I have held the expectation that you are to ‘tag along’ and document the cases. But if you recall, this… I cannot ensure your safety and yet this happens repeatedly, I am certain you can hold your own in the face of danger, Watson, Mariana. But this would be too dangerous.

WATSON

Come on, mate! What have we been against? That one guy– The american? Hell! He shot me, Sherlock! I–

SHERLOCK

Moriarty is much more lethal than a simple pistol, Watson. He is… what I believe my shortcomings have accumulated into. A master criminal finally outwitting the master detective.

There’s a clear tapping on a laptop while as Sherlock paced back and forth again, the sounds overlapping in a way that no one can tell what is being said anymore until Watson picks up the microphone and walks out of the room

Click

INT. Airport

SHERLOCK (nervous)

I- I really do not think this is the best course of action-

MARIANA

Sherlock, any other time, you run off to- to…

WATSON

You run off to God knows where, leaving us to wonder where you’ve gone!

SHERLOCK (exasperated)

Mariana… Watson… Moriarty is like no one you will ever meet.

WATSON

Well then, that’ll make two people.

SHERLOCK

He has no morals, yes you have stared down the barrel of a gun and seen the most brutal of deaths but, my dear companions, he will have no mercy upon the innocent. He… I cannot guarantee your lives. But, if you insist…

MARIANA

We do. Sherlock, of course we do.

WATSON

Mhm. Yes we do. Now, out with it, I think our gate’s opening soon.

SHERLOCK

I suppose we must rewrite our plan. Utilise the extra people into taking him by surprise…

INT. PLANE

SHERLOCK

Watson… I, really am not sure about… All of this.

WATSON

Mate… Right, it would be very uncomfortable and an incredibly bad idea but… I mean– Would you like a hug? And I’ll buy you a stupid overpriced water.

SHERLOCK

Yes, yes I would like that.

The two hug briefly after some awkward manoeuvring

SHERLOCK (con’t)

Moriarty… He has been currently growing in popularity and knowledge in a smaller university, gaining information through academics and working as a mathematician.

I have… Come across his person before, long before. During the early times of my career, I had been investigating a murder in the rural part of England. I was much… sloppier in the job than I am now. James Moriarty, drives people to paranoia, drives them mad enough to murder, plays the cat till the mouse just gives in. But now I believe the cat is ready to pounce.

There’s a long silence as they pull away

WATSON

Christ, Sherlock… I uh… Wow. I mean we should be careful… But I’m sure we can take him. Three against one! And oh people are looking…

A shorter pause

SHERLOCK

Thank you, Watson. I do appreciate you deeply…

Sherlock does stare intently at Watson for a moment

SHERLOCK (con’t)

I don’t believe you’ve noticed but… erm… Mariana’s drooling on your arm.

WATSON

Wha- WHAT? Eugh… Marriii… Sherlock– Sherlock! Help me- Why are sleeping people ten times more heavy than awake–

Click

INT. ???

The waterfall echoes their steps as they walk the treacherous path down behind the falls.

WATSON

Hey, it’s uhm… Y’know a bit nice for an epic showdown, you get what I mean?

MARIANA

I… Yeah. Yeah. John, we should… I was honestly thinking we should come back here when we’re…

Mariana breathes in the soft air as they trek

MARIANA (con’t)

Not investigating an ‘evil mastermind’. It is very lovely here.

Sherlock hums agreeably as he walks along

SHERLOCK

Yes, the Reichenbach Falls. Known for its 250 metre drop and I believe there’s a tourist area for such activities as rock climbing and paraglidi…

A mystery echo off Watson’s voice from earlier

WATSON

That uhm… That wasn’t me.

MARIANA

John! Don’t tell me the mic is broken aga-

It repeats back the microphone content, almost starting a feedback loop from the live audio.

WATSON

So much for the element of surprise…

Click

The sound goes quiet as everyone comes to a halt, Sherlock mutters something under his breath, following the sound of the feedback loop.

WATSON (hushed)

No, no. Have my horror movies taught you nothing?! Hand.

Sherlock scoffs and takes his hand although it is implied Mariana also links arms with Watson as they slowly inch towards the sound and slowly the silhouette of a man comes into focus and the repeated loop ceases

MORIARTY

Did you miss me?

SHERLOCK

Never in a million years would I… ‘miss’ you of all people.

MARIANA

Oh… Oh no. I’ve– We’ve met you before.

MORIARTY

Yes we have, Ms.Ametxazurra. We have indeed… It is such a pleasure for you to be apart of the game too…

WATSON

No, mate. It really isn’t.

MORIARTY

But it is! Me and Sherley have had such a fun time playing our little game… But I believe there needs to be a winner now. I’m sure you haven’t held too much of a grudge against me…

Sherlock dives and tackles Moriarty, using his version of the element of surprise, surprising everyone of the group instead of just the opposing party as Mariana starts to dial the police, Watson drops the microphone onto the jagged rock of the cavern in the waterfall

WATSON

SHERLOCK!! Sherlock– Oh god!

Sherlock himself battles against Moriarty as Watson runs over to throw a punch, hoping to run a two against one.

MARIANA

Yes- Police, please. Mhm. Can–

SHERLOCK (far away)

COMMISSIONER LESTRADE! REICHENBACH FALLS, I HAVE HIM

WATSON

Sherlock! Oh god– MARIANA! Fuck FUCK!

MORIARTY (grinning)

I was just enjoying the game, weren’t you?

SHERLOCK (struggling)

You are a sick man. You- EUFHH

MORIARTY (prideful)

Ah, ah ahh~... No being careless now. One wrong move and…

The two dance along the edge of the cliff, stumbling as Moriarty grins, knowing he’s won.

WATSON

SHER- SHERLOCK!

MARIANA

I… SHERLOCK! Oh god…

Click

INT. 221B

The door to 221B swings open with a long squeak. Soft footsteps slinking towards the kitchen.

WATSON

You know, Mari. I don’t…

MARIANA

Hey, you go do… your podcast stuff. You’ve been going on about finishing this episode for the entire plane… I’m gonna go uh– shower. It’s been a long… long day.

WATSON

Yeah, yeah.

Click

WATSON (shaky)

So that was… Uhm… The adventure of Riechenbach Falls? I think… That’s what we decided to name it. I don’t…

There’s a buzz of a phone nearby before a bit of shuffling

WATSON

What’s… oh. It’s uhm… A voice message. From Sherlock… I mean– I don’t know if he’d want me to play it on the podcas… I mean he’s gone but I suppose… I mean the listeners should have a right to uhm… know how the podcast ended.

A short silence fills the room as Watson’s room door opens and it’s not ultimately clear but it is implied Mariana walks in to sit with Watson, the bed creaking under the excess weight. Yet Watson presses play nonetheless.

SHERLOCK (VOICENOTE)

…Hello John, Mariana and I’d assume the listeners if my deductions are right. I am recording this on erm– Well you’ve just started recording our recent adventure. I am already aware that I will never- That you will never encounter Moriarty ever again. I am willing to put even my life on the line to make sure society is free from any further affects of his… presence.

Furthermore, I would recommend forwarding the finished episode to Gwen’s MET email, alongside all the evidence I have been getting you to collect. I’m sure she’d be enthralled by the evidence laid out. Well… If I have failed to return back to you. Then I believe this has become the final problem. I am so sorry, my companions… my friends. I was contemplating on telling you on the plane but when have I been known for ‘talking’ unlike you, Watson, I am not a ‘professional waffler’ I… haha… Goodness, I’ve never quite been able to regulate my empathy and its correlation to my work. But I am exceedingly proud of what you two have achieved.

I hope you enjoyed our final adventure together.

click