#its even sherlock the mystery got better

[yuheartss]

THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS?

IN WHICH— Rick grimes meets and takes in the most sarcastic girl known to man in one of her sarcastic comments she tells him that she’s the girl of his dreams

wc : 884

warnings! - fem!reader, poc!reader, unedited , lowercase intended!

a/n: this ws just in my notes I thought I’d finish it or whatever 🤷🏾‍♀️

You hid in the trees after the war between the governor and the sheriff ended it had been days and you were going in circles soon you got tired of that your stomach growling and attracting even more walkers you sighed and clutched your stomach and looked around hoping to find that prison the governor always led you and your former group to “ugh..where is it?” You muttered underneath your breath

You whine as you see two walkers make their way towards you your vision weakened slightly to your loss of food and water you stumbled your way towards them muttering “my black ass better not die..” and just when you were about to hit two gunshots rung in your ears you turned to see — look at a blurry figure that lowered its gun and trudged towards you

You stumbled back rubbing your eyes to make your vision clearer “wha-“ you started the figure now turned man grabbed your arm and pulled you close to his chest he whispered in your ear “I saw you with the governor, what are you doing here?” His voice low and threatening you shivered under his gaze

“Im not workin for the governor anymore alright? I just..can I not switch sides?” You stumble over your word’s slightly your lack of sleep,food and water finally caught up to you the man held you in his grip tighter “can ….can you let me go? S’ startin to hurt” you pleaded knees buckling from your overall dizziness

“You look like you’re about to pass out” he acknowledged now holding onto both of your arms “no shit Sherlock I’ve been out here for days” you sneered with a voice full of sarcasm the man opened his mouth to say something back but you fainted

your head leaned in his chest your limbs were limp the man sighed, took off your backpack and put it on his back the machete that you were carrying made it’s way to the back of your backpack as he wrapped his arms under your back and legs he hoisted you up to carry you bridal style

A while passed you you could hear voices “why did you bring her? You clearly said that she was working for the governor” a male voice protested “let’s at least give her a chance to explain herself Glenn” another voice, woman, reconciled “we’ve already had a virus attack do you really think it’s best to let another’s person here?” The voice “Glenn” spoke

“She wasn’t bit Glenn” an elder voice spoke up “she’s fine” you heard a lot of shifting and two sets of footsteps came towards you “watcha gon’ do with her?” A more gruff man asked you heard pants shift as if the other person had just shifted legs “ask her some questions first” that same man from earlier responded

You stir awake you rubbed your eyes and sat up “where am I?” yawning you stretch your arms glancing at the two very good looking men that stared back at you they looked at each other than back at you the man that you met earlier spoke up “your in the prison, now what’s your name?”

You turned your feet so they were on the ground you pushed yourself up off the bed and stood in-front of them “if I told you that then I wouldn’t be as mysterious anymore” you joked earning a scoff from the man with the crossbow “just tell us your name, no time for jokes” the man replied crossing his arms you sighed as your stomach growled “Y/N..” you trailed off looking at your stomach

“Soo…can i know your names or what because if I get killed i at least want to be killed knowing the names of two hot men that’ve killed me” you explained in a matter of fact tone “you talk too much” the crossbow guy turned to leave “okay well fuck you too then” you rolled your eyes

The first man was still standing there and staring at you “staring problem much?” You taunted putting a hand on your hip “maybe…I’m Rick” he readjusted his arm position “and the other guy was Daryl” you nodded as Daryl came back with some food and water “Hershel wanted me to give this to ‘er” Daryl told Rick handing you the food

You were hesitant to eat “come out of the cell you can eat at a table” Rick noticed your unease as you walked out of the cell to see a couple standing on the next floor by the stairs an order man sat down at a table looking at his medicine from your right you see a boy protecting a blonde and the baby that she carried the whole room was silent except for the footsteps of you, Daryl and Rick and the soft coos of the baby

“Where were you trying to go?” Rick spoke up just as you sat down next to the older man “here“ you answered sniffing the food before taking a bite “why?” He asked standing next to you as you ate “so you could meet me, the girl of your dreams” Ricks face once serious turned into a look of shock and amusement “the girl of my dreams?” He repeated

[seungsuki]

surprise detective - boarding a train and solving a case with your professor? (f!reader)

warning: none

note: here is the final part! apologies for the delay! i had way to many things on my plate

you suddenly felt teary eyed and disgusted. the professor who you developed a small crush and huge respect for, did all that? you knew he did that to speed up the process but that didn’t make it any better. tampering with evidence was something serious. you muffled your sounds by covering your mouth and just stood there in shock. 

the train had finally reached its destination and it was time to part ways with everyone. you conversed with john, who you learnt was very passionate about writing. sherlock was bidding his goodbyes with william and louis. 

“well well, looks like [name] is coming with us”, sherlock interrupted, slinging his arm on your shoulder 

“i have something to attend and consequently it had to be the same way as you” you groaned 

“i hope the trip was memorable miss [name]”, william spoke 

“thank you for teaching professor moriarty”

you said without making eye contact with him. you looked down at your shoes before turning on your heels and walking near john to reconverse. you had to get the thoughts off your mind. it scared you how your professor had two personalities and now you even had proof 

the three of you walked away as sherlock began eating your ears off about one of his adventures. you didn’t dare to turn back but you could feel a pair of scarlet eyes staring at your figure as you walked away. you were going to get to the bottom of this for sure. you have to find out who the real william james moriarty is. once you were clear of sight, william looked over to his brother, who seemed to share the same thought 

“miss [name] seemed rather off during the entire event”, louis commented 

“you’re right. it surprises me. she is my most beloved student because of her talkative behaviour”, william sighed watching you leave 

“first sherlock now miss [name]”, louis whispered to himself 

“would you like to keep tabs on her brother?”, louis shaped himself and coughed away his thought 

“that would be great. keep a close eye on her. i wouldn’t want my favourite student to question me”, william replied 

“question?”, louis asked 

“she’s suspecting us. [name] is a smart girl when it comes to putting the pieces together. i’m very sure she figured out the entire case before mr holmes and i could process”, william replied 

“but brother! she left the scene before you could even explain!”, louis stood in shock 

“the bottle of whiskey was all she needed louis. which is why she’s my favourite. i’ve never seen a student who would sneak in a murder mystery book in a maths class.. i didn’t expect any less”, william continued

“she’ll figure us out one day. i know she will”, william said and strolled slowly

“even her reflexes are strong” louis recalled how you were the first to respond to the cry 

“ah, maybe it got better from all the times i called her out when she hid her murder mystery book behind her textbook”, william joked 

“keep an eye on her louis. i don’t want [name] to hurt herself as she indulges at a new mystery”, william returned to his normal tone 

“you seem to care a lot about her brother”, louis suspiciously asked

“well,.. she is my darling student and i rather she doesn’t distance herself from me”

with that william let the conversation about you die down. a smile ghosted his face as the two of them stolled away. louis made a mental note to tell albert about you as he had never seen someone catching the attention of his brother so much to the point he’d refer you as his ‘darling student’ 

‘brother albert is going to love hearing this’, louis laughed at his own thought 

“something funny louis?”

“nothing brother.. nothing at all”

© seungsuki 2024-25 -- do not repost, translate, alter, etc on any platform without permission. Any characters used in my work do not belong to me, they are created by their original creator

[beekeeperspicnic]

What I've been getting up to without my computer

Since I don't have any game updates at the moment I thought I'd give you a look at my very analogue Sherlock Holmes related project!

As you probably know, the Sherlock Holmes stories were mostly originally published in the Strand Magazine which came out as floppy monthly magazines with hardback collections every six months.

A while ago I spotted a really beaten up copy of the July to December 1893 book on eBay for £8. This book can sometimes go for £200 in good condition because it's the one with...

I immediately decided to make repairing it a Project!

You can see here that the text block has totally come away from the boards.

Along the spine I was really excited to see something a little familiar being used to give some structural support! My initial thought was that this had to be a slice of a cover of one of the floppy Strand magazines.

But when I got it loose and studied it, although the paper and ink colour is the same, it doesn't actually follow the layout format of the Strand covers. It's lots of little ads, and they run off the bottom like this is part of a larger document.

Scrap of paper on left, a Strand Magazine on the right:

So yeah, that's still a bit of a mystery, but it's cool to see this scrap of paper the printers had lying around. I had to remove it, but I'm going to keep it safe.

I did some gentle cleaning of the cover using a putty eraser, just gently pressing and rolling, never rubbing. It picked up a little of the grime.

The cover had got some paint splotches on at some point in the past, and I tried to gently remove these. Part of me wishes I'd left them as I think I was starting to effect the blue colour in the area.

(Original on the right, my attempt at cleaning on the left!)

I also reinforced some of the parts of the bookcloth around the spine that were very worn with Japanese tissue, which is very thin but very, very difficult to tear.

Now here's a fun part, with some help from my cat Miss Malkin!

The spine of the book had a few problems.

The fabric which wraps around it and helps attach it to the cover/boards which is called scrim (or mull, I've seen it called both!) had totally decayed and turned into gross dust, I knew I'd need to replace it.

Although the sewn binding was sound, I could tell that the glue wasn't doing its job anymore. It was old 'animal glue' that had turned hard and brittle. I knew I'd need to replace it with something else, like PVA.

I needed to get that glue off, so I tried out a trick I saw online. I made a paste/gel out of methycellulose, which is a substance that gets used as a thickener in lots of food products. Of course I keep mine in a fancy little jar:

The gel softens the old glue without getting it dangerously damp, allowing you to gently scrape it away. I have a really satisfying video of me doing it, but Tumblr only lets you upload one video per post, boo.

Look at all this gnarly gunk!

But look at how good the text block looks with its new scrim and glue!

I got the black paper from Shepherd's in London which is a specialist Art & Conservation Paper shop (they have a book bindery too but it's closed at the weekends.) Buying it was so fun, I got to look through lots of samples and pick something which matched the original paper.

I then had to get it home half way across the country on public transport. Yaaaaay.

I was trying to think what I was going to use to replace the Strand Magazine page on the spine. In the end I decided to leave a little note, for some future person who might take the binding apart someday!

So, here it is!

I have to admit that this whole project has been a real challenge, emotionally more than anything! It's required me to be brave about messing with an old book, and to acknowledge that even where I've made mistakes, at least it's better off then it was when It arrived at my house.

[pbjelly90]

I’m rewatching/rereading or checking out for the first time a lot of Sherlock media lately and after seeing the teaser for Knives Out 3, it’s got me thinking about fictional detective characters. I haven’t thought this through completely, but I was trying to decide how I’d rank my favorites throughout various mystery and crime media.

Of course I’m also happy to hear anyone else’s plugs for their favorites I’ve overlooked or not seen before too, so share if you’ve got ‘em and you happen to see this! Would love to see more female led detective stories and queer detective stories.

I’m thinking off the top of my head that my top 15 or so list goes something like this (might end up making this a top 20 or more as I keep adding to it lol) -

1. Sherlock Holmes - This is pretty obvious given the very few things I’ve posted about and my reblogs. The detective that truly got me into mystery stories about 20 years ago. I started reading a collection of the original stories I came across at a Borders bookstore and got hooked from there. I think Watson is what really sold me on Holmes, he humanizes him, givens him more of an emotional anchor. I also have always appreciated how flawed he is. Some genius characters are over the top, but he’s always had some genuine struggles like his drug use. And in the books he even admits Mycroft is better than him at deduction, just lazier with the legwork. My current favorite incarnations may be the original from the books and the Yuumori version, but credit due to the BBC version because I was obsessed the first two seasons in. I love that he’s in the public domain so we can get so many creative takes on him and his world and stories. I’ve been to the Holmes museum at 221 B Baker Street in London (an address they made just for the museum) and seen the statue of him honoring Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in Edinburgh. One of my top favorite fictional characters of all time. If you mention he’s in something, chances are, I’m gonna read/watch it.

2. Harry Dresden - Should probably be no surprise that as a fantasy and mystery fan, I’m a big fan of novels that started off as private detective stories with a wizard on the case. The series gets away from its detective roots later on in favor of bigger plots, but I always enjoyed seeing Harry mix workmanlike detective methods with practical magic. He’s no genius, but he’s clever and willing to mix it up sometimes to see what shakes out. I’d like to think Marcone is the closest thing to his version of a Moriarty, his criminal counterpart. There’s a grudging respect of sorts there even if they dislike the other’s methods. I love Harry and his stories so much I went to Chicago years back just to geek out at some spots from the books (and see Sue!) so he definitely deserves a spot on this list.

3. Ron Kamonohashi - This is a very close race between him and Benoit Blanc, but Ron wins out. He’s got a Watson like character with Toto, which I always appreciate (let Benoit’s hubby come along sometime?) and he’s very Sherlock coded with his little quirks (black sugar syrup is his drug lol) and dependence on mysteries for mental stimulation. Also his dynamic with the police. I enjoy his relationship with Blue and the characters from the academy very much. And I’m very curious to see how the Moriarty connection plays out. He’s just such a silly and I wish the manga was out in physical form in English, I love him and he’s my blorbo. He feels like Sherlock from an Ace Attorney game even more than Herlock Sholmes from The Great Ace Attorney did. This anime feels very much made for me like Yuumori feels. Also his cat is adorable. 💕

4. Benoit Blanc - I enjoy him so dang much. I’d love to see a book adaptation of Knives Out but I wonder how much of how charm is how well Daniel Craig plays him and how much fun you can tell he’s having. Love his relationship with his hubby, his accent, his dress sense, and how he just stumbles into these intricate mysteries with crazy rich folks (and helps support the women who’ve been wronged by them so they can take matters into their own hands to set things right.) I’m delighted they’re continuing to make these movies. I’d take a graphic novel too if not traditional books.

5. Shawn Spencer - Had to bump everyone down this list, how could I forget about Shawn from Psych? He’s definitely more on the strong personality end for detectives, quirky, more interested in romance, and much more extroverted than many examples. I love his friendship with Gus and also his relationship with his father always gave him more depth. Seeing how his father trained him up from a young age, sometimes at great personal cost between them, was an interesting spin on how a genius detective gained their special skills. Also the show is just so dang fun and silly. As a person, I’d probably find Shawn a bit annoying IRL, but I greatly enjoy his misadventures with Gus to rein him in. Lassie is totally his Lestrade. And Shawn’s last name is a Robert B Parker reference to Spenser, isn’t it?

6. Sam Vimes (and the rest of the Watch) - Vimes only doesn’t score higher here because somehow he feels like more of a cop or protector than detective? His emphasis has never been completely about just unraveling mysteries but more focused on defending Ankh Morpork, especially the common people, and delivering justice. Jingo, Night Watch and Thud are three of my all time favorite books of his, with Night Watch as one of my favorite books of all time. Feet of Clay is probably his main detective turn in my memory, as the later books see him have to take on more of a diplomatic role with different responsibilities. Angua and Cheery get a shoutout here as also being highly competent members of the Watch. Carrot has his moments too. Vimes and the rest of the Watch are notable on this list as the some of the very few ranked who are part of actual law enforcement and not some sort of private consulting detective. The Discworld books and the Watch books in particular were formative reading for me back in my teenage years and further cemented my interest in crime stories (and caring curmudgeon characters like Vimes.) Hugh Laurie would play a great Vimes.

7. Amy Santiago & Rosa Diaz (Brooklyn 99 Squad) - The only other official members of law enforcement on this list so far. Jake gets most of the focus and cases, and similar to Shawn Spencer, I enjoy him as a character even if he’d probably be annoying IRL. Love Terry and Holt as the two leaders and mentors of the squad. But my biggest shoutout here is to Amy and Rosa, I would adore a spinoff with them as the Sleuth Sisters solving cases together. Two skilled, nuanced Latina detectives with their own distinctive, non-stereotypical personalities and an awesome friendship? Yes please. They’re what carries this squad way up the list, even if the cases in this show aren’t usually as complex as some of the others, with the focus more on comedy.

8. Hercule Poirot - Been years since I last read the novels, but I’ve always enjoyed him as a little fussy looking Belgian fellow that folks underestimate. He’s got a different approach from Holmes. He likes a dramatic ending reveal. He always seems like he knows a joke others don’t, has a twinkle in his eye. I devoured a lot of the Agatha Christie stories back in the day, and Poirot’s personality maybe isn’t as strong on the page as Holmes, but I feel that’s more to give the reader a chance to feel like they’re the detective figuring it out alongside him. It’s almost like reading along with a silent protagonist at times in a video game. Part of this is due to the fact that Poirot novels never have one consistent narrator, which allows Christie to do some creative things with the narrator and have them take different roles in the story, but it also means we never really have a POV character who understands and describes Poirot on the same level as Watson does for Holmes (at least not that I remember? Apparently Arthur Hastings is in 7 novels at least but I guess he did not make as much of an impression on me. He appears to be more prominent in the David Suchet TV show.)

9. Conan Edogawa - I never finished Case Closed / Detective Conan because it’s crazy long, but it’s a very nostalgic show for me and I very much enjoyed the many episodes I watched back in the day. Conan is a genius, probably to an over the top degree, but his difficulties in working around being stuck as a kid helped add some stakes and obstacles in his stories and felt very relatable as a younger person interested in mysteries growing up. I wonder if they’d ever consider doing a reboot series someday with much fewer episodes, so we’d get a conclusion without needing to watch over 1,000 episodes.

10. Enola Holmes - A little Mary Sueish and teenage wish fulfillmenty, but dangit she’s fun. Essentially a younger teenaged Sherlock with a touch more people skills? Fighting back against the misogyny of her time period. I have a feeling if she came out back when I was a teen and first reading Holmes, I’d be obsessed. I’m curious to check out her books, I don’t mind if they’re more YA oriented if the mysteries are solid.

11. Ranpo Edogawa (and the whole armed detective agency from BSD) - I love and enjoy Ranpo and he very much has spoiled little brat energy. Fukuzawa as his dad figure brings me much joy. However, I also find him and most characters from Bungo to be over the top geniuses, to the point where they no longer feel very grounded as human. Sherlock often feels still believable to me, that someone could specialize to his degree and be that effective, but the BSD characters have always felt supernaturally competent. But with that aside, they’re also often very fun. Given that Ranpo doesn’t have any other superpowers, unlike other geniuses like Dazai or Fyodor, I can allow “ultra deduction” to be his. But Atsushi and Kunkida feel way more grounded and they’re the heart of this group. Love Yosano and Kenji too. Fukuzawa is my favorite but does little detective work usually, leaving that up to the team. I would have enjoyed seeing Aya and Bram be a detective team within the ADA. 😢

12. Nancy Drew - I read these so long ago but these books definitely contributed to my interest in detective stories growing up. I don’t remember many distinctive traits of Nancy now, but I have to give her credit for nostalgia and sparking my interest in mysteries back then. Has there been a modern day update of these?

13. Spenser - Got into these novels by Robert B. Parker at some point back in my twenties, as they were always mentioned in early blurbs for The Dresden Files as a point of comparison, Spenser crossed with Merlin. Very pulpy detective stories, a lot like the Maltese Falcon. Not the most feminist, got plenty of film noir type tropes, but the mysteries were compelling. I can’t say Spenser was necessarily likable, but he had the workman like detective style you find in Dresden that I appreciated. Not a genius like Holmes, he truly had to stir things up sometimes, make a lot more mistakes, and in general do extra legwork. Wouldn’t mind seeing someone update him for modern day somehow.

14. Anita Blake - Does she count here? I’ve found a sad lack of female detectives, maybe that’s because I’ve largely read older stories in the genre? She, like Dresden, started off more detective (and huntress) and since then has changed. Unlike Dresden however, I gave up on Anita’s series around book 10. I enjoyed her early on although she definitely had some viewpoints I did not agree with, I enjoyed the St Louis setting and urban fantasy elements. I think the Sookie Stackhouse mysteries are in a similar area of the country, also with vampires? Maybe I’ll give those a try.

A tie below perhaps for number 15?

Adrian Monk - I’ve only watched a few episodes of Monk, never got super into it, but he gives me Poirot vibes with how fastidious he is. Eventually I’ll try watching a bit more of this.

Miss Marple - Curious to see how these books compare to Poirot. I started one ages ago but didn’t finish it, got sidetracked. I’ve seen now someone has written a book with characters based on Holmes, Marple and Poe? (Interesting that it’s not Dupin.) Curious to see how that’s handled since Marple I don’t believe is public domain? Some Poirot is, but not her yet to my knowledge.

Auguste Dupin - Read The Purloined Letter, but not the other stories yet that I recall. I don’t remember Dupin himself having any traits that particularly stuck with me, but he is the proto fictional detective so I have to give credit there.

Sam Spade - Similar to Dupin, Sam Spade sets up the proto tropes for his genre of detective story, the more film noir type story. But otherwise he wasn’t super memorable to me, perhaps because he only had the one. Spenser takes a lot of inspiration from him.

Philip Marlowe - Ditto for the above. Read The Big Sleep, can’t recall if there were more that I read? But he helped establish the genre.

Nero Wolfe - I think I have read one of these, but I'll be honest, I don't remember it very well. Probably due to give this series another shot.

—

Honorable mentions: For characters that are not technically detectives by title, but still solve mysteries, or aren’t the lead in their respective stories -

Richard Ranasinghe de Vulpian - I first picked up volume one of the Jeweler Richard light novels because the boys on the cover are pretty, but I bought it because it was described as having mystery elements online and that the two leads would work through cases together. It’s shifted some in focus since then, but Richard is certainly like a detective for jewel related matters. He’s a bit of a Holmes figure, brilliant with specialized knowledge, clever, good at reading people, British, and Seigi is like his warm hearted Watson, good in a fight, deeply loyal. Yet another reason why I love these boys.

Maomao from Apothecary Diaries - Technically not a detective, but she does so much investigating and I love her. Her work sometimes even extends to non-medical cases, she truly has a lot of knowledge but it feels believable with her fixation on medicines / poisons and her upbringing, particularly with her adoptive dad’s mentorship and training. Love hearing her infodump on plants in particular.

All the Ace Attorney lead characters do so much investigating. I recently saw a post that said Phoenix is more of a skilled investigator rather than a lawyer, and they are not wrong. Herlock Sholmes is very silly and I need to finish GAA to really properly judge him, but I’ve seen him invent more than I’ve seen him deduce. I love Ema Skye and would love to see her get her own investigations game, really enjoy seeing her geek out over forensics and working cases once she lands her dream job. Gumshoe is precious but not the best at his job.

Jack Reacher technically doesn’t have a job anymore? But he was an MP and does investigate nearly as much as he fights. I read a fair number of his books when I wanted to learn how to write fight scenes better, and learned some other helpful details while following this series too, particularly about firearms. I like the new Amazon tv adaptation of these stories so far too. Reacher has earned a shoutout here on this list.

The first two Paper Mario games have at least one detective chapter, usually a very silly take on Agatha Christie like tropes, and I enjoy them very much. Give me a full detective spinoff in the Paper Mario world please. Detective Peach from Princess Peach Showtime maybe? Daisy as her Watson? I liked her cases but they were short and the mechanics got a little repetitive, gameplay-wise.

Also in video games, Professor Layton is technically an archaeologist and professor, but he certainly ends up solving quite a few mysteries. I haven't finished all of his games because I'm actually quite crap at a lot of kinds of puzzles, but I enjoy him very much.

House, MD - for a much harsher take on a Holmes like figure, with his own Watson in an actual practicing doctor, Dr Wilson. Ties back into Holmes inspiration coming from a real world medical doctor, Dr. Joseph Bell. I was really into this show for a few years, but House could be so acerbic at times I stopped caring for it as much. Especially when he would be a dick to Cuddy.

Neal Caffrey from White Collar does a lot of investigating and would be a clever detective type in another show, but here as a CI he gives me more Arsene Lupin gentleman thief vibes.

The leads from Cowboy Bebop do have to do a lot of tracking down criminals and investigating, but as bounty hunters, they’re generally after folks who have already been identified as major suspects or convicted, so they don’t quite fall under the umbrella of detectives. Still I love this show and it also added to my interest in crime stories and influenced my writing since I was a teen.

Spy characters in crime stories like James Bond, Twilight / Loid, etc - these guys do some investigation as well, but this is like a whole additional category on its own. Big fan of this genre typically as well, had someone recommend Alex Rider for a YA take on the genre.

I’ll probably continue adding to this post as I think of more fictional detectives to ramble about. 😆

[ineffablecpp]

OK so my first Johnlock fic. Canon divergence. Post Reichenbach. Scifi AU. HE (sort of).

English isn't my first language so if you find any mistakes pls tell me!! Thanks so much!!!

I'm Here.

1.

John had just exited the door of 221B Baker Street and was about to call a taxi when he saw the car.

It’s been over a year since he last visited this place-- he only came today because Mrs. Hudson called, and wanted to return some of his personal items left in the apartment. She insisted that paying a visit could better John’s mental conditions, though John wouldn’t agree. Yet she seemed determined about it.

“You should know that he loved this place, John. He loved the time he spent here, with you.” She said.

There weren’t many things he needed to retrieve. A mug, a few of his clothes, and a notebook that hasn’t been written on for ages. But he lingered in the room he was only too familiar with.

“Moving on” was never his thing. Any time he lifted his head up and gazed at the two vacant seats, the dimmed fireplace in between, and the dusty mirror above, everything would rewind inside his head.

His roommate would put his palms together under his chin, his smile as mysterious and proud as always. “You simply see, but not observe,” he’d say in his low and magnetic voice, “What is going on in your funny little brains? So confusing-- the evidence is right in front of you, yet you do not know how to analyse it.”

He might even be sitting on the chair now, looking up banteringly at John. *Sentiment*, he’d say, *you’ve always been like that. Fascinating.*

It took as much courage to come as it took to take up the mind to leave. John felt his heart hallowed out as he stumbled down the last step, opening the door of 221B and said goodbye to Mrs. Hudson. But the hole seemed to have been there for ages-- once, three years ago, it was filled in the echoes of “Afghanistan or Iraq?”-- but now it has reappeared along with the sudden Fall. But revisiting this painfully familiar place reinforced the presence of the hallowed space, as its roars were too much of a sting to be ignored.

A black vehicle was parked by the road. At first John didn’t take notice, nor was he in the mood to care-- probably just a passenger who happened to have reached their destination. But before he could walk away, his phone started ringing.

“Get in the car.”

He knew who it was without asking. But the question was-- he hasn’t heard of the voice in ages. So long, it made him wonder whether it was in his past lives that he’d gotten used to being pulled on a car without reasons.

“...Mycroft? I really couldn’t guess what you possibly could need from me now.”

The voice on the other end sighed after a moment of silence.

“It’s about Sherlock, John.”

The name cut through his heart like a blade. Everyone was still talking about him, as if it’s not over yet. But he was the only one who knew that it was all over. Everything from the past, every memory, every nuanced flutter he felt had been buried into a tomb called time.

Even so, Sherlock’s name was like a spell that could compell John to do anything at his own will. If his friend was in trouble, even after his death, John knew he had to help. It was his deepest and most desperate wish.

John sighed, and pulled open the car door.

2.

The elder Holmes in front of him didn’t change much since their last encounter, which got John wondering in frustration whether Sherlock’s death had effected him so destructively more than anyone. But Mycroft seemed to have been fatigued by his work-- even though all the Holmes had a sort of talent for hiding their true emotions and mental status, John could feel that Mycroft’s workload in the past years have only been increasing.

For a few seconds they just stood there in dead silence until Mycroft took out his empty hand which wasn’t holding the umbrella to break the ice: “Good to see you again, John.”

“Likewise.” John shook his hand and took a deep breath, “So. What you said. About Sherlock. What is it? His will? Or something about the media?”

Mycroft hesitated-- not something he normally does. This fueled the doubt in John’s mind since his arrival. Mycroft only had three reasons to see him: 1, Sherlock wouldn’t accept his help, and he needed John to look after his brother; 2, The government needs Sherlock’s help but he refuses to, so Mycroft needs John to persuade him; 3, Sherlock’s in danger, and he needs John to figure out what’s going on to protect him. This time, however, doesn’t fall into any of the categories.

Then his words froze John on the spot.

“...Sherlock isn’t dead. But, precisely, he isn’t alive either. I’m truly sorry we haven’t told you earlier, John. But now that it’s all settled, we think you have the right to know.”

John blinked, staring puzzled at Mycroft.

“What do you mean by... He’s not dead, but not alive either?”

Mycroft thought for a while before he started: “As Moriarty became to much of a threat to be overlooked, Sherlock and I started to come up with a few possible plans. He saw it coming that Moriarty wouldn’t make things easy for him, and he foresaw that Moriarty was going to hold his dearest friends as hostages-- Moriarty would never stop until he sees Sherlock’s dead body. One way was for Sherlock to fake his death, change his identity and leave the country for a few years, returning after his reputation has been cleared. But Moriarty blocked every way out on that roof of Bartz. He took away Sherlock’s phone and cut all possible communication pathways, so all the plans that required him faking his death wasn’t going to work. But, we still had a plan B. The last resort. A plan that could barely be called one.”

John nodded, signaling him to continue.

“This plan requires the most advanced scientific team at my disposal. It’s an unprecedented risk, a huge, long-shot bet. --preserving human organ at low temperature. This technology has appeared long before, but even a few hours of preservation takes strict environmental conditions and advanced equipment. You’d know best as a doctor. We did it with little hope, but miraculously, it was a success. Within minutes after Sherlock’s fall, we managed to preserve his brain. But what came next was only more complicated and impossible.

A super bio-computer. In fact, the government had a blueprint for this plan several years ago, but due to its high technical difficulties, cost and energy consumption, it was never implemented. Using the human brain to connect sensors for data transmission, after connecting to the Internet interface, you can access all the information currently possessed by humans, and have ultra-high computing power.”

“So... you made him... into a computer? Is that even moral? Did he agree?” Overwhelming information and a series of perplexing nouns rushed into his brain, and for a moment John felt as if his legs were giving up.

“You can put it like this. In other words, he is now basically a computer working for the British Government with self-entertaining software installed.”

John lifted his chin up, staring unbelievably into Mycroft’s calm eyes, to which he responded with a helpless sigh, “It really was the worst move.”

John closed his eyes. Though he’s always considered his roommate “a machine with no human feelings”, it now seemed like an unfortunate prophecy he did not wish to have made. He was now imagining Sherlock’s brain floating in a tank filled with nutrient solution, multiple sensors and intersected data transmitters attached to it, the entire cabin lit with dim lights, performing countless calculations within second -- from the probability of a terrorist attack to the likeness of a traffic accident, from one side of the world to the other-- all the while joyfully extracting interesting cases from documents and cracking them one by one at a rate countless times faster than before. He had to admit that Sherlock was probably enjoying this. But beneath all these absurd yet rational incidents a question still lies, one that he cares too much to ignore.

“Then... can he still feel everything? Feel the world around him? Or... communicate with us?”

“Sadly we’ve never succeeded in doing so. We haven’t completely mastered this technology yet, so all we could do is to solve one problem after another and analyse what we get like a Black Box. For now, what he could know, and what he could feel, remains unknown.”

Not dead, yet not alive either. It was now coming to John how fitting a description it was.

Sherlock was never someone who blended into the society, or someone who’s used to complicated social relationships. On the contrary, he always seemed to be walking on the edge of everything, a sane lunatic, a sober drug addict. This way of being now is like a portrait of him "before death" : an emotionless machine, an observer outside the world.

But without a body, with out the final proof of being “human”, will you remain to be “you”?

John realized he couldn’t come to a conclusion.

3.

Mycroft lead him through winding hallways, one locked room after another, and they finally reached a small door that didn’t seem to stand out at all.

The sign at the entrance reads in large, bold letters: "Experimental Base - Do not enter".

“Whenever you’re ready, John.” Mycroft nodded slightly, and laid his hand on the silver door knob.

John closed his eyes, and nodded after a few deep breaths.

The door opened, giving way to him.

Things were very different from what he had imagined. There was no brain floating in the middle of the tank, no flickering lights and darkened halls, no shrill whining of instruments. It was just an ordinary room, in fact, quite similar to his memory of a high school classroom-- only that where the whiteboard should be, there was a giant display screen; On the desk where the lectern is supposed to be, lies a computer with a small screen and only one input box that took up half the screen.

Then it came to John. Such delicate thing as a brain culture tank could never have been accessible for tour. This was just the operating interface connected to the biocomputer for testing inputs and outputs.

He turned around, but there was no one else left in the room. Mycroft had given him privacy.

John sighed, forcing himself to turn to the blank screen. This *is* Sherlock, he told himself, this is who your best friend is now. Whether you like it or not, it’s him.

And now you’re here to visit.

Slowly, he walked towards the table, and placed his hands on the keyboard. After a few moments of silence, he typed out his first question.

“Tell me about identifying 243 types of ashes.”

Enter.

The cursor on the large screen flashed for a moment, then waves of information began to emerge. John could tell that a considerable percentage of them came from Sherlock’s essay from his website, but other information came from different sources, so its identification methods and usages could be explained clearly to whoever asked the question. The narration seemed Wikipedia-styled, calm and objective, exactly like the answer of a machine.

It *is* a machine, John reminded himself. That’s what he is now.

“You still remembered quite clearly.”

The keyboard clicked as he typed.

“Please tell me the basic structure of the Solar System.”

Again, after a few seconds, it gave a clear and precise answer, even presenting a graph showing the spatial relationship between the sun and the various planets, and giving the orbital parameters of each planet.

“I see you finally have enough memory for this,” he lowered his head, a giggle escaping his lips.

Then he tried asking many other questions -- mostly things that a normal person with a lot of spare time on their hands might Google. He also tried searching some of the cases they investigated together, and Sherlock-- the computer-- gave every single detail without mistake. John marveled at the amount of advanced technology used in this project, but at the same time, he found himself reading the information in his head using Sherlock’s voice, an impulse he couldn’t resist. Every word he read echoed with Sherlock’s voice in his mind like a prerecorded audio.

“Please tell me the stories of Sherlock Holmes.”

This time it took longer for the computer to buffer. Then, Sherlock’s identity, main achievements and relevant information started appearing on the screen. First his personal information, date of birth and death, family relationships and so on. “Working partner: confirmed bachelor John Watson.” Smiling, he shook his head. *These media workers are ever so rude.*

This was followed by a brief synopsis of a series of cases he has solved, many of which derived from John's blog, and some of which even canonical references to his blog's "literature review." The text scrolled along at a pace John’s comfortable with.

Then followed the media’s comments on him. First they were news before Moriarty messed with people’s minds. “The Reichenbach hero”, “Hat-man and Robin”, “Highly intellectual detective”, all of which John was familiar with. Seeing them again pulled on John’s heartstrings. But it was just pain-- it was a bittersweet warmth, a sense of retrieving a long lost possession.

Public opinions seemed to had turned against him overnight. The forces of group polarization were so powerful that all it took is a groundless suspicion to condemn someone once on a pedestal, to hell. There's a fine line between a hero and a demon. John didn't want to read any further -- he clenched his fists, felt the cruel words whirling and screaming in his head, rattling his already fragile nerves again and again.

*No, he's not like that. I know him, and I know him best. He is the wisest and bravest man I have ever known. He would never do such a thing. He would never--*

“THUMP!”

The next thing he knew he punched the desk with his fists.

The output on the screen came to a sudden halt. The cursor stopped at the last unfinished sentence, flashing like a puzzled child’s eyes.

He had an impulse to smash open the obnoxious screen in front of him, and scream to Sherlock himself. But what could he possibly say? What could he possibly do? Not to mention that yelling at a brain that’s already lost its sensing functions cannot solve anything.

It’s too late.

It’s always too late.

*You’re* the mad ones, *you’re* the arrogant people-- he’s gone already, so why on earth does he deserve to be treated by the world like this.

John felt the flames inside slowly consuming every last part of him, burning his throat, and spreading into his stinging eyes.

He shoved back the keyboard, and slowly allowed himself to bend over the table, lying on his arms, until all there was left in the empty room were suppressed, sobbing sounds.

He didn’t know how long it had been-- probably to the point where John worried Mycroft couldn’t wait any longer-- until he finally straightened up, refocusing his sight on the screen from a blurred vision.

The last search record has been cleared, and the screen has returned to a blank, vacant image, like how the universe was before the Big Bang.

He gently pulled the keyboard back in front of him, typed, slowly but solemnly, and not pressing enter.

He heard footstep drawing near-- possibly from Mycroft. Straightening his collar, John took one last look at the screen, turned around, and left.

The unsent message lit a silent white light in the room, like a calm, grieving soul.

“I love you.”

4.

John hasn’t written anything on his blog for a long time.

Occasionally he still helped out Scotland Yard on some trivial matters, but they were nothing compared to the excitement and thrills that constantly struck him when he was on a case with Sherlock. The feeling of blood pumping through his veins once reminded him of what “being alive” feels like. And now, everything was back to normal. Sometimes the thought would hit John, that maybe everything that happened in the last few years was just a dream too good to be true. Maybe he never met such a man after returning from Afghanistan, a man who could tell everything you did yesterday, who liked to talk to skulls in a surprisingly fast pace, who could solve the strangest and hardest cases in the world.

But everything around him was a constant reminder that it was true. Everything did, in fact, happened.

And he couldn’t tell which was more painful.

On the way back, John allowed himself to replay every single memory he had since he met Sherlock like a movie, as he watched the rain picking up outside the car window.

Sherlock taking his phone, asking, *Afghanistan or Iraq*?

Sherlock rushing down the stairs then turning back towards the door, the light flashing dangerous signals inside his eyes, a fascination that took him spellbound. *You’ve seen a lot of blood and injuries, violent deaths, then? Want to see some more?*

Sherlock at Angelo’s, pausing slightly after being asked “do you have a boyfriend, then?”

Sherlock’s look of shock and subtle delight after he blurted out “amazing” without thinking.

Sherlock’s proud and effortless look after every time he solved Moriarty’s puzzles.

Sherlock standing in front of the door of 221B, looking at him with a smile. *I’d be lost without my blogger*.

Sherlock pulling the coat embedded with bombs off him by the pool, for the first time he’s ever seen, in panic and relief.

Sherlock walking behind him in Baskeville, in his most sincere tone, *I don’t have friends; I just got one*.

The Woman looking at him, an either teasing or scornful tone, *Are you jealous? You are a couple.*

Sherlock handcuffed together with him, raising his hand to fire a gun into the sky.

They were dashing as fast as possible on the streets in London as accomplices. He heard Sherlock utter, *take my hand*.

Then he did.

Sherlock standing on the rooftop of Bartz holding his phone, alone.*Goodbye, John*. He said.

Then he did.

...

He felt himself reliving those years as Mycroft parked his car in front of 221B.

Every memory were brand new, yet so fresh they were dipped with bright, red blood, dripping down along John’s heart, dripping into the very depths of his aching soul.

When he came home this time he opened his blog website once again. He wanted a formal farewell to the Sherlock of his past, and he wanted to continue their story. It may be a lot more plain and dull than it used to be, but he believed that Sherlock, now a machine for calculation, could see. No matter if he could comprehend, or if he could remember, every letter John wrote would enter his database through the transmission lines and become a part of him.

Entering username. Password.

Wrong password.

Perhaps he mis-typed a letter.

He deleted it, and tried once more.

Wrong password.

John frowned. He didn’t remember changing his password even once in the past years. Though Sherlock had cracked it within a day, he didn’t really care that much, nor do something about it; even if he changed his password, all Sherlock would have to do was to crack it again. It would be useless. --Furthermore, even if Sherlock saw it, it wasn’t a big deal. He’s Sherlock Holmes.

...He’s Sherlock Holmes.

The sentence echoed louder and louder inside his mind.

*He’s Sherlock Holmes.*

Who could’ve possibly changed John Watson’s password except him? He’s always kept the laptop beside him, and even Moriarty, who once broke into his account, had now killed himself and was no longer here.

“When all the other possibilities are ruled out, and there is only one left, no matter how impossible it is, it’s the truth.”

It was Sherlock who changed it, John. A voice inside his head said ever so firmly.

John could feel his heart racing faster and faster. Yes, Sherlock has access to all the information possible on the internet now. It would only take a few lines of code to alter the password of a blog account. But why would he? And what would he change it into?

*Think, John, think.* He heard Sherlock’s voice.

What is a code that only belongs to them? What is a metaphor that only they knew? What code could only be cracked by John Watson?

His fingers trembled as he started typing.

*Vatican cameos.

...

Logged in.

5.

John could barely contain the tremors in his fingers as he scrolled down the page in great effort.

He clicked into some of his most read blogs immediately. No new messages, no new comments. The numbers of views were still rising.

For a moment he started to doubt whether he himself had changed the password in memory of their past, but forgot about it after grieving day after day.

Until he scrolled back to the top of the page.*

You have one new private message.*

Unknown address. Unknown sender.

The message was simple.

“I’m here.

-- S.H.”

His hand hovered above the keyboard. For the split of a second he seemed to forgot how to breath and how to make his own heart beat. The word spun and collapsed from around him, falling apart into an ocean of chaos and darkness. The only anchor in thunderous waves and dizzying swirls was the computer and the simple message on the screen. It kept him from falling down, and kept him safe and steady.

John felt his phone vibrate inside his pocket.

One new message.

“You should’ve seen the look on your face.

-- S.H.”

A complex wave of emotions flooded him. He felt himself smiling, so uncontrollably like a child who retrieved his favorite, lost toy, but there were uncontrollable tears streaming down his face, dripping hard onto the keyboard in front of him, a symphonic harmony with the pouring rain outside his window.

“You’re a complete jerk.”

“When all that’s left of you is a brain, it’s likely you’ll also become more reckless. No one can ever punch you in the face again.

-- S.H.”

“...Utterly unbelievable.”

“John, for your information, I can still see the messages in the input box even if they weren’t sent.

-- S.H.”

“...”

“John?

-- S.H.”

“I’m here.”

“I heard you.

-- S.H.”

END.

[writing-in-sin]

KAISHIN HC: MUTUAL OBSESSION AND ACCEPTANCE

It started out simple enough (or as simple as their respective lives allow them to be). Logically, they shouldn't care about the other even as thief and detective simply because detectives are the natural enemies for Kaito and Shinichi himself is a homicide detective

And yet

The moment Shinichi found out about this mysterious thief, even as far back as the clock tower, he got himself involved. Found this mad genius of a thief interesting despite said thief being an international criminal. And that interest kept growing to the point where he can't ignore situations whenever it involves KID and has even allowed Kaito to escape countless of times

Teaming up with him and even seem to enjoy it

For Kaito, it was just supposed to be another heist. Both at the clock tower and on April Fools but then this detective, as his real age or otherwise, matched him in a way no one else could

Or would

The same detective Kaito canonically designs his heists for as time goes on. Who he enjoys challenging and teasing in unholy amounts

And as time goes on, it gets very obvious to others that they're both obsessed with each other

They both have special walls/corners reserved for the other. Kaito, within the KID lair and Shinichi at the Kudou library. Its full of facts and pics of the other

Shinichi knows who KID is earlier than most would expect but keeps that info jealously close to himself. Absolutely refuses to share it with anyone else, even those closest to him because KID is his and knowing what he knows now, Shinichi won't let anyone hurt the thief

And while its only movie canon (for now), Kaito put the pieces together terrifyingly fast when it comes to shinichi's identity. Kept it close, used it many times to cover for him and even as a way to get to know Shinichi better

Kaito never complains and always loves it whenever Shinichi talks about Sherlock Holmes and Shinichi adores the way Kaito talks about magic

In fact, their mutual obsession runs so deep, they accept and genuinely like the sides of the other that people usually find morbid/scary/creepy

In Kaito's case, he's always the more vengeful of the two. A madness and bloodlust deep within his bones that Shinichi finds very attractive which he only discovered when Kaito beat the shit out of criminals in an illegal fighting ring for an undercover case

It's the 1st time he ever saw Kaito let loose and destroyed every opponent. He saw the way a grinning Kaito was covered in blood, can still hear the crack of bones and choked screams of unrepentant criminals at Kaito's mercy and just....goes weak-kneed, thighs pressed together as a blush overtakes his face

Sex that day was especially rough and intense for them

When it comes to Shinichi, who's always been fascinated with murder, mystery and the dead in general, Kaito is the only one who doesn't flinch away from it

In fact, whenever Shinichi wants to investigate or even just research (maybe even do an autopsy), Kaito actively breaks into morgues and sneaks them in. He'd contentedly listen for hours as Shinichi excitedly babbles about things (like murder methods and weapons) that would've made others faint, happily accompanies Shinichi for nightly walks around cemeteries as Shinichi pays his respects

They just...completely accept and are obsessed with each other

And they won't apologise for that

[pinkhairandpronounsboy]

Hogwarts Legacy Profile

Owner: @a-usernamelol

Character's Full Name: Allan Waite

Meaning of name: Allan means handsome and cheerful, and the name Waite means watchman or protector. So, essentially, his name means “Cheerful Watchman” / “Handsome Protector” or something along those lines.

Nickname: Sometimes just called “Waite”- not really a nickname, but it happens enough its a casual address.

Race: Muggle Born

Hogwarts House: Gryffindor

Occupation: Traveller

PHYSICAL APPEARANCE:

Age: 5th year-17 / 7th year-19

FAMILY:

Mother: Dead

Father: Dead

Extended family: A significant amount of unnamed aunts and uncles. He doesn’t like them much, and from the sounds of it, the feeling is mutual.

CHARACTER:

Eye Color: Violet

Hair Color: Magenta

Height: 6’1 ft

Type of body/build: Sleeper build. He looks skinny but he’s actually very fit! That said- he'd probably be even healthier if he gained a little more weight.

Skin tone: White.

Scars: He has a mysterious burn mark on the back of his left hand

Predominant feature: Pink hair

Looks like: 

Physical Health: Excellent.

Mental Health: Dying inside. He’s been through a lot of trauma and microtraumas in his life, including the events of the Hogwarts Legacy Game. Someone get this man a therapist.

FAVORITES:

Allan’s favorite color: Pink or purple

Favorite Music: Anything played on an Ocarina.

Least favorite Music: Classical. He just doesn’t like the combinations of sound of artists such as Mortzart that we now consider classics.

Food: Give him a good turkey leg or medium rare beef and he will devour it.

Literature: Sherlock Holmes- He finds he can relate to the now famous detective, but he would never say it. He wouldn’t want to sound pompous.

Expletives: He usually is quite creative and makes up his own most of the time.

Mode of transportation: Highwing the Hippogriff.

ATTITUDE:

Most at ease when: In a darkly lit room with lots of space to roam freely, i.e. the Room of Requirement.

III at ease when: Surrounded.

Priorities: He puts others first, no matter who they are, friend or foe, regardless of race.

Philosophy: He is a levelheaded and compassionate man, who regards all life as important, and finds a childlike fascination in everything ordinary and grand.

How he feels about self: He tries not to think about it, but he is proud of who he’s become, he just wishes he’d have done better in life thus far. He would give anything to somehow save those who got hurt or killed under his “protection”.

PERSONALITY:

Greatest strength: His compassion and strategic judgment.

Greatest weakness: Also his compassion- in a sense, and his own survivors guilt.

Biggest vulnerability: He doesn’t open up to anyone- but you’ll certainly know he trusts you if he’s comfortable enough to tell you about his past. Otherwise, he’ll avoid it.

TRAITS:

Optimist or Pessimist: Optimist. He sees the good in everything except himself.

Introvert or extrovert: Introvert! Social interaction exhausts him to no end, unless its close friends.

HABITS:

Drinks: Sometimes. A butterbeer here and there, and when he’s older probably some wine. But even in his old age butterbeer will always be his favorite.

Hobbies: Taking care of beasts, painting , Duelling, and inventing of all kinds- including taking a scientific approach to magic for these inventions and experimenting with Ancient Magic.

How does he spend a rainy day? Outside, rain or shine, unless its super windy and possibly dangerous outside, in which case you’ll find him playing with his beasts in the Room of Requirement.

BACKGROUND:

Type of childhood: He grew up migrating from family to family, at first from aunts and uncles, to foster care. Eventually, he was simply shoved in an orphanage, after most families realized he was just to much trouble.

Most important childhood event that still affects him: When he was about five, like many kids, he had to a degree SOME magical properties. His parents, being intelligent people, picked up on those slight signs and despite being Muggles came to the conclusion there must be more people like their son. In an attempt to make his life potentially better, they tried and succeeded in finding the Wizarding World through the smallest breadcrumbs. Unfortunately, this attracted the interest of some radical Pureblood Supremacists who burned down their house with the family still trapped inside. Both Allan's father and mother perished, but he survived, but not without a constant reminder of the painful memory. His left hand got trapped under some rubble causing a horrible burn. Although he was saved and pulled out of the fire by some kind neighbors, he will forever have limited nervous functions and mobility in his left hand, along with a permanent scar. He now covers up the scar with gloves, however his damaged hand gets random phantom pains from the nerves not healing properly. Sometimes it hurts enough that his hand shakes, which is why he sometimes has to rub his left hand.

Drives and motivations: He wants to save everyone he possibly can. He always wants to help, even at his own detriment.

Talents: He is very artistic and logical at the same time, even capable of combining the skillsets of magic and science to use together in formidable new ways.

Extremely skilled at: Ancient Magic, Drawing, scientific examination

Extremely unskilled at: Sitting still, pottery, Divination

Good characteristics: Compassionate, kind, intelligent

Character flaws: Low self-esteem, survivor guilt, clingy to people he cares about

Mannerisms:  Verbal: He sometimes, when asked about any particular subject, will rant on and on if he knows a lot about said subject.

Physical: When he's nervous he rubs his left hand where his burn mark is. When he's thinking hard he taps his chin or cheek, and when he's uncomfortable and around someone he trusts, he'll stand slightly closer to them.

Peculiarities: No one knows if he dyes his hair or jinxes it, and no one cares to ask because he doesn't answer.

Biggest regret: The death of professor Fig, and in 7th year, his failure to help Sebastian, who inevitably goes to Azkaban.

Minor regrets: Any wizards or witches he has to kill do actually weigh on his heart. He doesn't like hurting or killing anyone, especially because he doesn't know their backstory.

Biggest accomplishment: Defeating Ranrok- obviously, and less obviously, a more personal but still large accomplishment for him was adjusting to the Wizarding World's society. (For example how homophobic the Muggle World would have vs. how generally accepting of it the Wizarding World is.)

Education: A Christian Orphanage that doubled as a school.

Religion: Raised Christian, but doesn't REALLY follow it.

Finances: Depends on what he can steal. He doesn't have a home to go back to over the summer, so most of his belongings are stuffed in his coat, which he has an Undetectable Extension Charm. He used to stay with Fig as a sort of "apprentice", but after 5th year he usually just wanders around the Highlands on his own, since he has nowhere else to go.

Char's darkest secret: His past. He never talks about how horrible his life was or is, simply out of principle to not drag anyone else down.

Does anyone else know? He may tell you if he trusts you enough, but it's unlikely. He might have told Sebastian around 7th year. (And in roleplay blogs I believe the only other MC that knows (As it stands of writing this post) is @not-that-gilbert-blythe, because it was a one-off comment he made about his burnt hand. He never fully explained how his parents died or why they died, just that he'd been in a fire as a kid.)

Some screenshots because I take too many :)

[shinigami88]

Order of the clock tower

With the decay of angels arc slowly reaching its end everyone's expecting order of the clock tower as the upcoming arc.

Order of the clock tower has the potential to be in my opinion one of the best arcs we came across so far even better than the decay of angels arc.

Before anything the only things we know so far about them is their leader , some of the ability wepons they poses , and a little bit on what they are capable of .

First i would like to predict some of the upcoming characters of this organization before talking about the leader Agatha christie in a different post since there's a lot to say about her.

NOW onto some characters predicted to be in the arc :

Now that the leader is agatha christie i expect even more mystery authors to be in the arc : so that leads to the first character im sure would be pretty interesting to be here is

1- Arthur canon doyle : Well known because of his genius detective none other than Sherlock holmss definitely an amazing character to have in bsd , but.. We already have ranpo who is also based on Sherlock and assuming order of the clock tower being a villain Arthur wouldn't be good even if he presents himself as , So that leaves the question who would Arthur be based on? id say Moriarty but ! A mixture of all of his characters as well , First ,Moriarty since we need someone going against ranpo , but then again i would find it interesting for him to not be like Moriarty straight up and as the plot continues we continue to see through Agatha and Arthur's facades and they develop more into the famous villains both of the real authors wrote , while that would leave us with the question what would arthurs ability be ? Id say

Hounds of the Baskerville : Hear me out , its might seem hard but id say its the best ability for him to have, its easy to stick it to the great War , its not an ability to be figured out fast , can be absolutely powerful, because assagiri could give it a hallucination and a real part. Everyone hallucinating a giant Dark hound with red eyes hunting everyone and a mysterious mist turning dogs and other animals horrifying Perfect to annoy dazai and any other character arthur comes across , Id expect him to be based on John watson as well , having some medical knowledge since we could say he worked as a doctor in the great war so to make it short since i can continue even more about him which i will , it would be like this

Detective ( before war and a good character based on Sherlock )

Doctor ( when war broke out , based on watson got his ability got injured wasnt seen after )

Moriarity ( joined clock tower is now a villain yet he still is like Sherlock as well )

If he joined the agency' under cover it would be fantastic , with his perfect deduction skills he'd make ranpo competitive , and he sees a sherlock and kinda watson in yosano and ranpo ?

UP next theres Carroll yes

Lewis Carroll : everyone is expecting him so i thought about it and yes

He would be powerful and i like it

I hope his a Cat ... Almost all the time... But a powerful cat . yes, I want him to be like the Cheshire cat floating in the air and having the wide grin when he finds someone alone, yet his able to talk as cat , and have a mixture of all the powers in alice in the wonder land and his ability would be named Wonderland . yes

Oscar wilde : another awaited charcter i see..

Sorta based on dorian gray , hold one .. Blond hair, rosy cheeks pale skin blue eyes eternally young younger than everyone in the organization(but his older than that) yep fits order of the clock tower perfectly

He'd be a charmer, charming and fooling everyone until later we get to see more of him. He would be one of the most well liked members of the order of the clock tower , a smile bright like the sun. Eyes that are so beautiful for anyone who looks at them. Great taste in fashion. Yet his not fully like dorian since it would make him atleast to me a bit unlikable. Maybe mixture of his works? Or from some quotes i saw from oscar wilde he'd be humble and a bit wise not totally crazy like dorian. Okay so now we have the ability part. Maybe Picture of oscar wilde ? Or just The picture? Second one is nicer id say . with his ability he could make different painting of people and maybe gift it to them as time passes everyone see their crimes on the picture and would go insane . and if he dosent gift it he'd be able to know everyone crimes by looking at their pictures , maybe if he stabs the picture he'd do some damage . and could say if someone is alive or dead by looking at the picture( him and arthur also met )

Mary Shelly : hold on before anything i was a bit confused after storm bringer was ahem spoilers sorry , that Mary actually mary ?

If yes then its great ! Adam again i hope . but not good news this time and she could have even more necromancy powers and im up for it . builds the prophetic arm everyone is predicting fyodor to have yet she dosent know who she made it for and dosent share the incident with the other members. The job she was offered ( the prosthetic arm ) was requested by and unkown person ( sigma, id expect him to wake up know everything about fyodor and is now on fyodors side, its fyodors turn to have amnesia and sigma, welp dazai left him there idk i expect it not even nikolai came so now him and fyodor are a team? ) maybe its too much? But i find it fun

I have another one but ill make another post

ITS

JRR Tolkien : ( ability Lord of the rings ) he'd have all the rings.

I want him to be based on gandalf id be so happy

He'd be wise and a guide. Is like a parent figure to Agatha and Arthur is willing to help the agency but would attack if attacked . the main ring he uses is narya . agatha said they are sending an ability user to burn Yokohama down. Rings a bell? Some characters who have incineration abilities in literature are gandalf and smug . so that ability user was i hope tolkien. On his way to burn Yokohama down.

THANK YOU FOR READING 🌹🌿🌙

[cantsayidont]

Video Killed the Radio Star

If you don't already feel sufficiently alienated from the culture of your generation, consider getting into old time radio. It's pretty easy to do: Radio was mainstream media from the 1930s well into the 1950s, and it hung on for quite a while after it started losing ground to television. There's a huge amount of programming in various genres, and a surprising amount of it survives; there was a cottage industry in OTR cassettes and CDs for many years, a lot of shows can be found in MP3 format without much effort, and some of it pops up regularly on streaming platforms.

The easiest way to get into it is if you're already got a fondness for some older Hollywood star: If they were a movie star between 1930 and 1960, there's a good chance they guest-starred in various radio shows, and they might even have had their own show for a while. For instance, do you like Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall? Around 1950, they had their own syndicated radio adventure series, BOLD VENTURE, which was essentially an extended riff on their characters in the 1944 film version of TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT. Orson Welles, of course, was a big radio star, playing the lead on THE SHADOW in 1937–38 and then bringing his Mercury Theatre company to a number of different one-hour and half-hour radio series. Vincent Price starred for several seasons as Leslie Charteris's Simon Templar on THE SAINT. And almost everyone who was anyone showed up now and again on SUSPENSE or LUX RADIO THEATRE (which produced all-star one-hour adaptations of popular movies). If you're a Superman or Sherlock Holmes fan, the radio versions of those characters are a must — Holmes was a perennial presence on English-language radio for decades.

If you want something more modern, the British kept producing generally high-quality radio dramas in surprising volume until relatively recently, including a range of both adaptations and originals. Unlike American radio, the survival rate for older British programs from the '40s and '50s is poor, but the BBC has continued periodically airing its better material from the '70s through the '00s, a lot of which has been offered on cassette and CD. For instance, there were excellent BBC radio series dramatizing the Wodehouse Jeeves and Wooster stories (with Michael Hordern and Richard Briers); Dorothy L. Sayers' Lord Peter Wimsey series (with Ian Carmichael); and Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot mysteries (with John Moffat), along with standalone plays on programs like SATURDAY-NIGHT THEATRE. The big limitation with British radio dramas is that the number of British radio actors who can do convincing American accents is not high (and is definitely lower than the number who mistakenly think they can), and the availability of American actors who know how to act for radio is clearly even more limited, which can become a grating problem when dramatizing American material.

One of the reasons that listening to older (and/or British) radio shows will contribute to your cultural alienation is that it will make a lot of modern dramatic podcast series and audio dramatizations excruciating, because it will reveal to you how bad a lot of modern audio dramatists and performers are at this once commonplace art. (If you are or are contemplating doing a dramatic podcast or audio drama, please, for the love of dog, make a close study of radio shows created before you were born, and diversify enough to recognize the mediocrity of hacks like Dirk Maggs, who's been stinking up audio drama on two continents for four decades now.)

[bloodmaarked]

the memoirs of sherlock holmes // arthur conan doyle

first published: 1893 read: 01 may 2024 – 12 may 2024 pages: 307 format: paperback

genres: fiction; mystery; detective; classics; short stories favourite character(s): john and sherlock of course, but i liked what we saw of moriarty too least favourite character(s): i don't have one this time!

rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 thoughts: i was gobsmacked to realise that i hadn't touched the sherlock holmes series since january last year... no idea where that time went, and also weird since i was enjoying the series quite a bit. but i'm back on it now and i'm glad i am; the memoirs of sherlock holmes was another nice entry into the series.

generally, my feelings are similar to what i felt about the book before, the adventures of sherlock holmes, the previous collection of short stories following different cases. it was a mixed bag in terms of quality, but i found the stories got better progressively. again, this book serves to humanise sherlock a little more, which was good, although i like to focus on the mystery and action - that's more what i enjoy reading. and once again, some of the stories consisted of too much buildup and not enough investigating, and the conclusions seemed to come about too quickly sometimes, though this happened a little less often than in the adventures.

i did enjoy getting to meet mycroft, and moriarty even more so, and i'm just really enjoying seeing where all the inspiration was taken for the BBC sherlock series (i'm definitely going to have to rewatch soon). the last story, the final problem, was amazing on its own merit and in seeing how it was written into the show!

[mariana-oconnor]

Wisteria Lodge pt 4

Last time, we left Holmes and Watson about to mount an intrepid rescue of probable inside woman and possibly dead Miss Burnett, who at 40 years old is apparently too old for love, because the Victorian era was an ageist hellscape.

I have come up with a solution by which Mr Garcia (who I have decided is a bisexual spy) and Miss Burnet are actually the good guys. But this requires the two girls to have been pre-kidnapped and so Garcia's plan would be a counter-kidnapping.

I mean, I jumped straight to kidnapping as soon as it seemed likely that the governess was involved and there were two young girls. I may have jumped the gun a bit, but weirdly the idea is sticking with me.

It was not, I must confess, a very alluring prospect. The old house with its atmosphere of murder, the singular and formidable inhabitants, the unknown dangers of the approach, and the fact that we were putting ourselves legally in a false position all combined to damp my ardour.

Psh, I bet they didn't damp Mr Garcia's ardour.

Yeah, that was a cheap shot, but seriously Watson, come on. Screw your courage to the sticking place and all that.

But it was not destined that our investigation should have so adventurous an ending.

...well that's anticlimactic. I was all geared up for a rescue mission! What am I going to do with these grappling hooks now?

“They've gone, Mr. Holmes. They went by the last train. The lady broke away, and I've got her in a cab downstairs.”

Did they go because of Holmes' investigation of the house or did they go because of whatever Mr Baynes' mysterious cunning plan is?

"I shan't forget the face at the carriage window as I led her away. I'd have a short life if he had his way—the black-eyed, scowling, yellow devil.”

A lot of 'devil' faces in windows this time around. And all on ethnic minorities as far as I can tell. Racist Victorian tropes, my beloathed.

Good for Miss Burnet for fighting back even when she's been drugged up to the gills on opium. I really hope she wasn't planning a kidnapping because I want to like her. And I really don't like her employer. Not drugging or whipping your employees is like the lowest bar of employer conduct to jump over. Even Violet Hunter wasn't drugged or whipped and she had a terrible work environment. I want him to be unambiguously the bad guy. Also because I want the poor cook to be acquitted.

“I was sure Henderson, as he calls himself, felt that he was suspected, and that he would lie low and make no move so long as he thought he was in any danger. I arrested the wrong man to make him believe that our eyes were off him. I knew he would be likely to clear off then and give us a chance of getting at Miss Burnet.”

OK, fine. You were right, but fuck you for arresting and attacking an innocent man. Poor show. Dick move. Be better.

(is that the first gif I've posted from an actual Sherlock Holmes media for one of these liveblogs? I think it might be...)

"We can't arrest without her evidence, that is clear, so the sooner we get a statement the better.”

Read this as 'her without' rather than 'without her' and was confused about what was going on, as she seems pretty innocent of the murder. But then I reread and realised that I once again fail at reading comprehension. Not like I have a degree in it or literally work in a related field or anything.

“Henderson,” the inspector answered, “is Don Murillo, once called the Tiger of San Pedro.”

Who the fuck is that?

OK, Watson's going to become Captain Exposition for a minute, great. Gimme some backstory, bay-beeee.

Oh... Is San Pedro a fake country? Did ACD make up a fake country for this story so he couldn't be accused of being rude about a specific country? Or do I just not know history?

Central America, okay, not the Caribbean, but right ballpark.

The dictator, his two children, his secretary, and his wealth had all escaped them. From that moment he had vanished from the world, and his identity had been a frequent subject for comment in the European press.

I feel... I feel like if this had been real information and a real country I would have worked this out? Like if I had known there was a mysteriously missing dictator from a formerly Spanish colony with a green and white flag, who had two children, I feel like I called every part of this except the specifics, which I couldn't have called because they're made up.

“Once already his life has been attempted, but some evil spirit shielded him. Now, again, it is the noble, chivalrous Garcia who has fallen, while the monster goes safe."

Alright, so no kidnapping, just assassination. Chivalrous, charming bi assassin Garcia is once again on the side of good and not abducting children. Pity he got his face beaten in.

"My husband—yes, my real name is Signora Victor Durando—was the San Pedro minister in London. He met me and married me there. A nobler man never lived upon earth. Unhappily, Murillo heard of his excellence, recalled him on some pretext, and had him shot. With a premonition of his fate he had refused to take me with him. His estates were confiscated, and I was left with a pittance and a broken heart."

Vengeance!

"I was to see that the doors were open and the signal of a green or white light in a window which faced the drive was to give notice if all was safe or if the attempt had better be postponed."

Light not shutters, but coolcoolcool.

"But they determined to get rid forever of Garcia. They had gagged me, and Murillo twisted my arm round until I gave him the address. I swear that he might have twisted it off had I understood what it would mean to Garcia."

How did you... not know... what it would mean to Garcia? Like, what did you think they were going to do? Have a tea party? Invite him to play his guitar at their next shindig? Have a chat about gardening? I get that you were being tortured for information, so there's no shame in giving him up, but you can't say 'well, I didn't know they would kill him.'

"This afternoon a good lunch was brought me, but the moment after I took it I knew that I had been drugged."

Also feel like maybe you should have guessed this before you ate it, after they'd been starving you for days. But you were probably out of your mind hungry and on the edge of hallucinating, so I suppose that makes sense.

It is a matter of history, however, that a little time was still to elapse before the Tiger of San Pedro should meet with his deserts. [...] Some six months afterwards the Marquess of Montalva and Signor Rulli, his secretary, were both murdered in their rooms at the Hotel Escurial at Madrid.

In the best traditions of these stories, the bad guys reach justice offscreen at the hands of unknown people. 😂

But Vengeance has been satisfied.

BUT, there is just enough time for some more racist discussion of the cook, because of course there is. And it turns out his entire inclusion as a character is completely pointless and a racist little red herring that goes nowhere and just had some extra racism piled on top for garnish. Wonderful. I hope they released him and didn't keep him in prison for assaulting a police officer/resisting arrest, because when you literally arrested him illegally for a crime you knew he didn't commit, that's bullshit.

I was right about it being a Victorian depiction of Voodoo, though, so... I get points for knowing my racist stereotypes? I feel like that's like an extra level of losing, though.

Wow this story went from gay hookup gone wrong to racist mess in two seconds flat, huh? I miss the simpler times when Mr Scott Eccles being an oblivious tory was the biggest problem.

On a happier note, Silver Blaze is next, and I remember a lot about this one just from the title, so I guess there will be no attempt to solve it, just memes for days.

ETA: That little wrap up does not tell us what happened to the children. What happened to the children? Where did they go? The little girls just disappear. Did I miss something? What happened to the children?

[no-side-us]

Letters From Watson Liveblog - Jan. 6

The Gloria Scott, Part 3 of 3

Ah, so that's who J.A. was! Sherlock was of course very close in that James Armitage is technically something Trevor Senior had very much wished to forget.

It's also nice that Sherlock didn't immediately surmise that J.A. was actually Trevor Senior. It's good for him to be wrong sometimes.

The titular Gloria Scott is a boat! I had almost forgotten that the name in the title was going to be involved in the story in some way.

Also, for all the memes about Australia being full of criminals, I think this is the first time I've actually seen it be a part of a story, even if it's just a little bit. I guess that's one of the more neat aspects of reading old stories.

You know, I've forgotten about the tendency of some Sherlock Holmes stories to just dive into a completely different story as a way to explain the mystery, cause this whole prisoner mutiny on a ship deal could probably stand on its own as a self-contained tale.

It's even got its own twist set up! I could see that being like a second act betrayal of the captain or something if this whole thing were longer.

I think my favorite part about the British government being antagonists in stories written or set in the past is the absolute killer lines people make about their red coats being synonymous with blood.

I see where Armitage is coming from. Now that they've won, there's no need to kill the few remaining crew. They're defenseless and no longer a threat. On the other hand, Prendergast is right, if a bit too eager, that leaving them alive is liable to get everybody arrested someday. I can't wait to read the rest of this novel and study the themes of desperation and what true justice means in difficult sit- Oh no, yeah that's right. I almost forgot this is a Sherlock Holmes mystery.

I wonder how many voices Sherlock has done for Watson so far.

So Hudson was on board as well. I wonder what crime he committed to be put on a boat and sent to Australia.

The tale of the Gloria Scott even ends in a sort of thematic and ironic twist of fate that results in a majority of everybody dying.

I don't know any better, so I'm just going to assume that Arthur Conan Doyle had a semi-finished outline for a story about prisoners on a boat that he squeezed into a Sherlock Holmes mystery cause he had to meet a deadline.

At least we get one last little deduction from Holmes to end the story.

Sherlock's first case, kind of, not really, though it is technically. I mean, he did solve a code and someone did die, so the elements are there. And the victim is the person who led him on the track to becoming the detective he will be, so there's that as well. I guess I just wanted him to be more involved.

It reminds me of the whole detour through Mormon country we might have had to go through had A Study in Scarlet continued.

Ah well, still a neat little story, and I can't wait to receive the next letter.

Part 1 - Part 2 - Part 3

[phantomchick]

Looking back on Batman (2022)

Enough time has passed now that my initial adrenaline rush )and then later afterglow) over Batman 2022 has resolved itself at least enough that I can look back on the film a bit more critically.

I enjoyed this movie, I enjoyed this Batman, but and this is a big but, this movie did not like Batman.

The thing about Batman is that he's a grim dark fantasy where a hero who's in pain can use that pain as a motivation to help people, to change things, to strive for a better Gotham because he just can't fucking accept the Gotham that allowed his parents to get killed while coming home from the movies, that kills so many other parents and children and sucks the people that remain into a mire of corruption and austerity. This is not that Batman, this is a Batman that's utterly oblivious to the problems with wealth inequality until the movie rubs in his face and even then has his inaction in his role of Bruce Wayne while letting his Batman role monopolise his every waking thought presented as his main problem. This is not a Batman that announces to a dinner party, “Ladies. Gentlemen. You have eaten well. You've eaten Gotham's wealth. Its spirit. Your feast is nearly over. From this moment on...none of you are safe.”. That attacks violent crime on two fronts by giving legitimate jobs to ex cons by day and solving kidnapping or murder cases by night.

And most crucially this isn't a Batman that ... succeeds. By that I mean yes he solves the grand mystery, yes he saves people in the flood, but the classic Batman would have saved that man he interrupts the bomb disposal squad to answer Riddler's phone call for. The classic Batman would have saved Falcone, evil doer that he is, not because he deserved to live but because Batman is a hyper competent hero who's comic gimmick was that he was quick witted enough to stay ahead of the crooks and always save the person in front of him as a result, perhaps it's only natural for that to be subverted with the Riddler as his enemy (a character invented with the intent of putting the detective hero to the test when it came to his cerebral limits) but because this is a stand alone film, which as the name says has this Batman stand alone with the contents as the only basis to judge him with it has the effect of making his presence as a hero less warranted. After all, does Batman's presence in this film really save anyone besides the flood victims and Selina?

Yes the only victims who really get killed are all bad people but... that's not the point of Batman, the point is that he saves everyone he can.

The film also does the whole 'batman creates his own villains and actively makes the city worse because he espouses vengeance and violence' thing which egh, slightly more palatable with the transition from vengeance to hope, but I really don't fucking like it all the same. And besides that I dislike the idea that vengeance can't be hopeful, that a man who lost everything in one terrifying night, who got no justice, whose loved ones and personal loss and whose innocence remain unavenged saying to himself "I am justice, I am vengeance, I am the night!" as a way of reclaiming everything that's happened to him and everything he wants to be for the people of Gotham whose cries go unanswered by corrupt law enforcement and an even more corrupt bureaucracy, is presented as invalid, as somehow immature. When Batman was always crafted as a mature hero in the mold of the Scarlet Pimpernel and Zorro and James Bond, of Sherlock Holmes! That was part of his central appeal! He's the cool mature down to earth, detective hero.

Here he is reduced to a naive rich boy who's so ignorant his main approach to crime is to inefficiently beat the shit out of whatever hoodlums he encounters and who literally doesn't have the idea of using his money to fix the poverty or corruption fuelling the crime until Riddler highlights what his parents wanted to do for the city by denigrating it + the politician lady who repeatedly points it out. It's a movie that loves Batman but also passionately declares the stupidity of Batman. Perhaps that's also inevitable because solving crime by beating it up while dressed as a Bat is well, silly, when you approach it with real world cynicism instead of the wish fulfillment, the fantasy of being rich and powerful and smart enough to actually do something about an entire city that's drowning in crime, that has been drowning, suffocating, for decades, and have a hope of succeeding. There is no fun of acting like an airhead so the other rich people and crooks will underestimate and look down on you like they look down on everyone in the city as you use your access to learn things people outside that circle of rich opportunists can't and then use it to reveal their crimes as a vigilante whose identity no one suspects. Instead we have a traumatised Bruce Wayne openly beg Don Falcone for information who indulges him because he owes his father that favour and Bruce Wayne isn't a threat, is it interesting pathos? Definitely! Is it dramatic and fun! Also yes! Is it traditional Batman/Bruce Wayne secret identity shenanigans? Well kind of in that it gets him the extra information but genuinely not so much because it's not really an act. Does it have to be traditional Batman? I really don't know. We can't ever create something refreshing like this movie was if we don't try to deviate from the norm and in that regard I think it deserves respect. And yet. There's a but.

This movie doesn't let Batman succeed at anything but the bare minimum as a vigilante but it does let him try his best, always and it lets him care, deeply. Which is enough that it pulls through as a good batman film. However for all the budget and clever characterisation I don't think it's a great Batman film. After all Batman is a superhero fantasy and in those, the good guys are allowed to save the day.

[loki-is-my-god-of-mischief]

Damn Holmes (Sherlock x Male!Reader)

A/N: This is part 3 in my Game is A Foot series. Please read part 1 & 2 first.

It has been a nearly a month since (Y/N) moved into 221B baker street and he has barely left the flat. John has been making regular visits to check in on him and make sure Sherlock is taking care of him properly. Let’s face it, Sherlock can barely look after himself never mind someone dealing with shock and grief. He even sometimes brings Rosamund with him to offer some distraction from (Y/N). Which works to bring a smile to his face….if only because Sherlock pouts at having to put his experiments away after John claims them to be non-baby friendly. ‘How else are they supposed to reach their cognitive developmental milestones John!’.

Today was one of the days that John had come to visit. He was sat in the living room with Sherlock, taking glances towards direction of the bedroom door. “Has he come out today? He seemed to be doing better the last time I was here. Has he eaten ye-” Sherlock flashes John a look that stops his rambling in its tracks. “Sorry. It’s just…I’ve been here for two hours, and he still hasn’t come out. I’m worried.”

“You think I’m not?” Sherlock snaps.

“What? No, of course not.”

Sherlock opens his mouth to retort when the recognisable sound of a door opening interrupts him. Two pairs of eyes turn to watch as (Y/N) silently walks through the living room towards the kitchen, not even giving the boys a glance. There are various sounds coming from the kitchen of cupboard doors opening and closing followed by the fridge. After five minutes, (Y/N) re-emerges from the kitchen door. “Oh! Hey John. Sherly, we’ve got nothing in so I’m going to the shop. Need anything?”

Sherlock and John share a quick glance and John decided to speak, “I was planning on going to the shop anyway, I’ll go and get everything you need and bring it back.”

“No, that’s ok. I got it. Just tell me what you want John and I’ll grab your stuff too.”

The boys shared another glance, and this time Sherlock was the one to speak. “(Y/N)…” He was quickly interrupted by (Y/N).

“No. Stop. Don’t treat me like I’m a fragile baby. You’ve both been doing that non-stop for nearly a month. I’m going to the shop. It’s just ten minutes down the road. I’m not going to be scared into staying indoors all my life. I’m climbing up the walls in here, I’m ready to get back out there.”

(Y/N) stared both of them down with nothing but determination and neither one of them could begrudge him the opportunity to get their life back. “If you wanted to get back out there then why don’t you join me on my cases? I could use a doctor now that John is too busy looking after baby Sherlock”

John’s quiet mumble of “That’s not her name” went ignored. “Do you actually need a doctor or is this your way of keeping an eye on me?” (Y/N) accused.

“I don’t see why it can’t be both?”

“Ok, I’ll consider joining you on cases…..If you let me go to the shop.”

Neither John nor Sherlock could come up with a justifiable excuse, so they lamented. Besides, like he said the shop is ten minutes down the road, how much trouble could he get into.

________________________________________________________________

(Y/N) had dropped by at Mrs H’s to see if she needed anything from the shop whilst he was there and is now on the way with a big shopping list. Mrs H had been delighted that (Y/N) was finally getting out of the house again that she had provided him with a list of what looked to be at least fifty items. How he was expected to get this back alone was beyond him but he appreciated that it would give him more time outside. So engrossed in checking the list, he never noticed the black car with tinted windows creeping up behind him along the road.

“Get in” an unfamiliar female voice commanded. Startled, (Y/N) flinched away from the car. His breathing started to pick up and he belatedly realised he was panicking. He didn’t recognise this woman, what if she had something to do with what happened to Claire. The mystery woman quickly realised that (Y/N) wasn’t going to get in the car anytime soon if he was panicking but she also didn’t have the time to calm him down in the street. She exited the now parked car and grabbed (Y/N) by the arms leading him towards the back of the car. (Y/N) instantly started to struggle, but he had no chance when he was struggling to even catch his breath. Once in the back of the car, the woman spent the time attempting to calm him. Asking him to name five thing he can see, four things he can touch, three things he can hear, two things he can smell, and one thing he can taste. It calmed him enough that he managed to finally stabilise his breathing only for him to pass out in the back of the car.

________________________________________________________________

When (Y/N) woke up, he was sat in a surprisingly comfortable chair. For a moment, he thought he was still back in 221B with Sherlock and relaxed back into the chair. His eyes flew open when he remembered the car and the unfamiliar woman. Glancing around the room to gather his bearings, he was greeted with a familiar man sitting behind a desk, a slice of cake in front of him.

“Mycroft.”

“Hello (N/N). Would you like some cake?” (Y/N) stared at Mycroft astonished. Did he just ask…?

“Would I like some……No! No I would not like some cake! What the hell My? You can’t just have people grabbed from the street, that’s kidnapping! Who even was that? That wasn’t Andrea”

For a fraction of a second, Mycroft looked genuinely ashamed. He wiped it from his face very quickly. "I apologise. Andrea is ill and her sister Charlotte has been filling in for her. I had gotten used to using Charlotte instead of Andrea that I had not considered your reaction to someone you didn’t recognise collecting you for me. It was not my intention to scare you.” If Mycroft had been speaking to anyone else, expect maybe Sherlock, then they would have found that comment patronising. However, (Y/N) had known Mycroft a long time now and could recognise that he was being sincere.

“You should also know that I am doing everything in my power to find the person who killed Claire. I won’t let them hurt you. You’re family. Besides, it would be a waste to lose someone who is a lot smarter than the rest of the goldfish in this world.” As he was speaking, Mycroft has picked up the fork, ready to eat his slice of cake”

“I thought you were on a diet. I’ve been your doctor for the past year My, you shouldn’t be eating those with your current levels of cholesterol.” (Y/N) says in concern. Mycroft sighs, ponders, and eventually puts the fork back down.

“I suppose you’re right.” Even though he agreed, he couldn’t stop the disappointment from appearing on his face. (Y/N) sighs, hugs Mycroft and thanks him for trying to find Claire’s killer. Charlotte meets him at the door, ready to take him back home. Before he leaves, he turns back to Mycroft. “I suppose one small slice won’t hurt.” He had never seen a smile so warm on Mycroft’s face before.

________________________________________________________________

Charlotte had dropped him off outside of the café underneath his flat. He took a few minutes to collect himself before he goes back inside to face the inevitable interrogation from John and Sherlock. It brough a small smile to his face, thinking about how much they cared for him and have been there for him the past few months. As (Y/N)’s hand touches the doorknob to head inside, he pauses……he hadn’t gone shopping. “Damn Holmes”.

[aqueeracademic]

morse being queer (and other commentary) pt 18:

season 5, episode 2, “Cartouche”:

- lmao morse code

- get it?

- anyways

- the way people used to just… smoke? in movie theaters? i fuckin wish

- oh my god morse…

- i am obsessed with this man.

- debryn greets morse by calling him “neyland smith” which is a character from the Fu-Manchu books

- he’s like the good guy

- who is a detective

- super random reference but i respect the idea that debryn reads mystery novels

- at the time debryn is referencing the character, the movies The Face of Fu Manchu, The Brides of Fu Manchu, The Vengeance of Fu Manchu, and (i think) The Blood of Fu Manchu were already out

- with The Castle of Fu Manchu on its way

- there were several films BEFORE the ones listed above, but those are most prevalent as they’re the ones released in the 1960s

- three different actors play neyland smith across these films

- one of the actors to play the character in the 60s was Nigel Green who was recognizable due to his size and handsome face

- the second actor to play him in the 60s was Douglas Wilmer, who was known for playing sherlock holmes

- the third and final actor to play the character in the 60s was Richard Greene, who was known for playing robin hood

- what’s FUNNY

- is that all of these actors were known for being good looking and did some modeling or played strapping characters in their time

- obviously debryn references the character because he’s a detective, as morse is

- but it’s also funny that he chose a character that is supposed to be like… really hot

- and it’s even better because morse laughs at the quip, meaning he understands the reference and appreciates it

- love to see it

- there we go, five minutes in and you’ve already had your history lesson!

- let’s move on

- trewlove is way to good for fancy but i gotta respect her for liking him

- i can see it

- morse just staring up at that dude changing the movie titles out

- no need to b watching the dudes ass my brother 😁

- “these people are british subjects. passport holders. we have a responsibility.”

- YES BRIGHT

- he’s old as god but he ain’t racist

- i respect it

- morse disliking horror movies is so…

- idk how i feel about that

- wait no

- i thought about it

- he’s a detective who deals with homicide for the most part

- so it adds up that he wouldn’t like horror

- morse asking debryn if he goes in for horror and debryn basically telling him no and then they just stand there looking at each other

- they literally work so well together i’m SICK

- they’re perfect your honor 🗣️🗣️

- also i like the idea that, if debryn had said yes, morse might have gotten him tickets to that horror showing

- we know they hang out outside of work so who’s to say they wouldn’t go see a movie?

- and i bet you morse would suffer through a horror film for debryn

- i’m just sayin 🤷‍♀️

- joan helping immigrants for work is so cool

- i love her so much

- racist bastards 😐

- morse is somehow so awkward w girls

- and yet

- hes a fucking rizz GOD

- how is he pulling a girl like THAT?

- i’m sick.

- strange housewife agenda ‼️

- i love strange and joan

- and i love the idea of them together

- and i love that he calls her “joanie”

- and i love them.

- how on earth is this thursdays brother?

- AYO?!!!!????????

- HE FUCKED THURSDAYS NIECE?????

- never recovering from that

- having an organ player at a movie theater is so strange to me

- how was that ever a thing

- fancy finally asking the real questions🙄

- moharram is lowkey….

- let me just 🤐

- “no slight was intended, doctor.” “with the british, it never is.”

- YOU GET THEIR IMPERIALISTIC ASSES

- [i love all u brits out there i just don’t love your museums]

- [in fairness i don’t like several american museums either]

- [oh well]

- bruh… no shot fancy got drunk during his investigation

- he’s so embarrassing im sick of this

- “the thing about mistakes is not to repeat them.” “is that what it was? a mistake?”

- like i said, his rizz is unlimited, but once he’s actually got with them he’s AWFULLLLL with women

- i can’t stand it

- PLEASE the way she stands there upset and he thinks there’s something wrong w the bridge

- he could not be more ignorant with women it’s wild

- “im a policeman. im allowed anywhere.”

- first off, no. 🤨

- my tv just turned off the entire episode so i guess it’s time for a brief intermission

- alr she’s working‼️

- idk what the fuck that movie is supposed to be about but i know it would have like a 2% on rotten tomatoes

- work moharram!

- stand up for what’s right 🗣️🗣️

- snapping at waiters is the biggest ick of ALL TIME

- it disgusts me to be honest

- who tf r u snapping at 🤨🤨🤨

- if the picture moharram has on his desk isn’t of himself then ima j assume he’s gay

- thursday just having a stroke over bright joining them at dinner is killing me

- this old man reminds me of mark rylance

- aka one of my favorite actors

- i think he’s supposed to represent henry fonda or some such actor tho

- this girl morse is on a date with is having the night of her fucking life

- good for her ‼️

- i stan carol im obsessed w her

- his face after she tells him it wasn’t a mistake 🥺🥺🥺

- he is so self deprecating i hate it

- the way this usher was super cool and respectable and then says something straight up racist so morse and thursday are both like 😧😮😐

- like sir???

- the way the shot they take of the roxy combines the pristine white front with the rugged and sketchy looking side and back

- nothing i love more than symbolism that’s completely on the nose

- the pigeon hitting the car 💀💀

- it’s not funny but goddam

- his brother asking for a loan is the worst thing to ever happen to me and it’s scarred in my brain forever

- UPDATE MOHARRAM IS NOT GAY AND THAT PICTURE WAS OF HIS SON I APOLOGIZE

- moharram is right and should be respected!

- solid apology from thursday there tbh

- PLEASE why did that extra covered in blood TERRIFY me just now

- i need to go to bed 😔

- the casual racism from this old man right now…

- i love that this kid being a movie buff is getting him off murder chargers

- fancy 🥺🥺

- finally stepping up to the plate

- obsessed w him

- what the fuck is goin on in this cafe on this day 🤨🤨🤨

- once again, why tf are doorknobs so HIGH UP in this country?????

- who tf thought a doorknob right next to your head would make sense?

- it should be down by your hand like a good american door 🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸🌎🏈💵💵🦅🦅🗣️🗣️🗣️🗣️

- joan and morse are so awkward i can’t handle it anymore

- morse showing strange how they spiked the orange juice and then just being like “i just killed you” 😜😜 is SO FUCKING FUNNY

- i always get so unreasonably nervous at these final standoff moments in this show

- like girl what r u afraid of???

- acting like i don’t already know what’s gonna happen 🤨

- all i can say is that i’m glad moharram is not the villain in this episode i would have been so damn mad

- the way he says “i was 19” 😧

- i’m so ill

- i hate war

- [certainly not an original statement but sure]

- he was obviously wrong to send them back into battle like that but he was a literal child and placed in charge of a unit like what did anyone think was gonna happen

- WOAH

- he just shot that dude no big deal that was crazy

- they’re all gonna die of smoke inhalation ☹️

- what on earth is gordon doing

- morse needs to get out of there asap

- why is he always a damsel in distress

- i don’t get it

- he’s just a lil guy 🥺

- [hes a middle aged white man with a pension and a drinking problem]

- brights office looks so different now than it did in season one

- im really not sure if it actually changed it just looks different

- “you’re the best of us, fred.” “the best of us never came home.”

- that was my final straw 😁

- “we are each of us, i think, keepers of the dead.”

- that line goes so hard i had to write it down

- everything goes dramatically downhill from here if im remembering correctly

- cant wait

[screamingay]

started ranting about doctor who to my gf and realized i actually have a lot of opinions (which start off summarizing hbomberguy's takes from the sherlock video but it was kind of a revelation for me) so if u want to hear them ive copypasted and edited them a bit for u guys under the cut <3

so like to set up how bad steven moffat is he explains why doctor who was so bad when moffat was the showrunner in a way ive been trying to articulate for years

basically he's a decent writer who was good at individual episodes that make reference to the doctors history but when it came to actually writing that history and the big events that would become the doctor's history he sucks so so so badly

like in the empty child he was amazing, he prioritized the story of the episode while giving the doctor an air of mystery and references a long and complicated backstory without compromising any charm or humor

but in the very first episode where he had reins on the entire show and its storylines he resorted to just a monologue from the doctor about how cool and special he is and that trend continued the whole time he was in charge. the entire universe suddenly revolved around the doctor

like. chibnall was clearly trying to subvert that by only using brand new aliens during his first season and having extra companions (three of them jesus christ) but he didn't address the heart of the problem and somehow made it even worse. the charm of the doctor was always that they were just a traveler bouncing around the universe and helping people or having fun or whatever

and of course there was always the tragic backstory and the genocide and being the last of his kind and all that but that always came second to the humans he loved!! the first time the master came back in tennant's run it was martha and her family and jack that saved him!! and chibnall tried to do that with yaz but it just didnt feel as impactful bc of how overpowering the master & timeless child plots were (dont even get me started on the timeless child shit retconning the entire history of the show to make the doctor quite literally the most important being in the universe)

moffat on the other hand went all over the place with it and wrote in intergalactic cults deadset on killing the doctor and when he did try to make companions special and important he completely took away their agency in the process

to me clara was a decent companion and had some great moments for me until she turned out to be not real or a metaphor or forgotten or dead or somehow retconned into existing since the show started in 1963 it was all so WEIRD and misses the point of making a companion important. it made her so important she lost her humanity imo

and then there was bill who also died and was mutilated beyond recognition and it just makes me think about how rtd never did that to companions. they were special not because of time magic or destiny or fucked up deaths but because they were just humans. with families. martha got to go back to her family. donna had to forget but she was happy in the end. rose was supposed to live out her life in the parallel universe with her own mortal doctor, and she did, but moffat STILL found a way to bring her back as a metaphor because his desire to deconstruct female companions into concepts and tragedies was just too strong

that's not even getting into what he did to river. or amy...

none of this is to say rtd is perfect of course, i'm really nervous to see how he deals with everything that's been thrown at the show in the past couple decades but considering he plans on staying for a while i really hope he manages to put a better twist on all of it. honestly the thing im most curious about is the special effects.. the show has been leaving very heavily on cg lately but chibnall did introduce a few decent practical effects and puppets so i hope rtd pushes for more of that. im getting off topic tho

that's all i have for now i hope u enjoyed and if u wanna discuss anything pls feel free although that's all the brainpower i have for today come back tomorrow <3