sholmes catchall

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week 1 day three

[greatdeduction]

[Here's a suspicious individual on the patrolling route! Sholmes is leaning against a wall, puffing away on his pipe, Irene sitting next to him as a hare, with nose twitching.]

[He doesn't say anything at first. He just raises his head to nod at the other man.]

[He looks...very tired.]

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[ At first, Kotetsu doesn't notice Sholmes at his next destination, seemingly distracted by looking around. Finley's currently in her lion form, head hanging down. He, too, looks very worn down.

For a moment, he's slightly taken aback by seeing Sholmes actually waiting for him at his next location and then he smiles, a bit painfully, to himself remembering he is the Great Detective after all. Without even realizing it, Finley transitions back to her tiger form as she steps forward a few paces from Kotetsu, leading him forward.

He raises his hand without even thinking about it. And while it's now faint, there's still indication of the green signature having been there. After realizing this, he draws his hand back and places his other hand over it awkwardly. ]

Hey.

[greatdeduction]

...Greetings, my dear fellow.

[A nod in return, again - he turns to face him, but there's an aura here that is deeply, utterly awkward. Sholmes clears his throat, adjusting his hat.]

As you have asked, I am here.

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[ Kotetsu also looks like he's a fish out of water and doesn't really know where he's going with all of this, but...

He motions toward the solar. ]

Did you want to go inside and talk? Or find somewhere else?

[ He's not sure which option he wants picked. After all, the place had a lot of meaning between them. ]

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...

[He looks back towards the Solar, then to Kotetsu.]

Could we...stay out here a while?

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[ That works, too. He nods. ]

Yeah, we can do that.

[ This is so awkward. He's the one that called him out here and now he's not even sure what to say or begin with. There's still a bit of distance between them, but even so, Finley stalks a bit closer to Sholmes. (She still remains in the three feet proximity.) ]

[greatdeduction]

...

[For once, the ever excitable, talkative detective is strangely silent. He just puffs away. Irene lays down, looking very tired, with eyes closed.]

How have you been keeping yourself?

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[ There's a bit of a shrug. ]

Enough to keep myself going. How about you?

[ It looks like he's about to say something else, but lets it drop before it comes out, letting Sholmes answer that much. ]

[greatdeduction]

...Things could be better.

[That is what it is. Things could almost certainly be better.]

What were you going to say?

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[ He rubs his neck a bit, awkwardly and shifts his gaze. Finley paces a little bit, seemingly nervous. ]

You don't have to answer me, but I can't say I'm not curious. Is that thing with van Zieks...?

[ How the hell does he even phrase this? But he kind of wants to get that sorted before they talk about much of anything else. Sorry, but he's leaving that question hanging. ]

[greatdeduction]

...

[He tilts his head to the side, frowning.]

I still deeply care for the man. [But he doesn't say it with much enthusiasm.] But the abruptness of what occurred between us is starting to make me worry.

[(sholmes voice) one love arrow wore off WHAT IF THIS IS JUST ANOTHER ONE]

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Then maybe this isn't a good time for us to talk.

[ He doesn't know. Is it? Is it not? ]

I don't know. If it isn't what happened to us, I don't want to complicate things further.

[greatdeduction]

Goodness, Mr. Kotetsu, it isn't as if I can't spend time with others just because I'm in a relationship.

[He's huffing at that, folding his arms.]

...You aren't complicating anything simply by existing, either.

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[ Kotetsu gives him a bit of a look. ]

Sholmes. You touched Finley.

[ He doesn't sound regretful, nor does he sound as bothered as he probably should. But that's kind of a big deal and it kind of does complicate things. ]

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...

[His shoulders hunch upwards, slightly.]

And you touched Irene. [...] Who knew touching another's soul could feel such a way, hm?

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You saw what happened when someone did that normally.

[ He looks at Irene and then back at him. ]

I'm also not going to just forget what we talked about. Sure, maybe it was something weird that happened to us. But...

[ Look, he doesn't know what he's feeling anymore. It's gotten really complicated real fast. He has those lingering feelings of happiness. It's not like Sholmes himself changed as a person drastically. Maybe that's part of why he's so confused. ]

[greatdeduction]

[His expression hardens, slightly.]

...If only I could ask others to simply forget things at will. [And he's looking away.] Then again, I suppose you must think the same.

[He was Vulnerable. He doesn't like Vulnerable.]

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[ He lets the silence linger for a long moment after that question. He doesn't know how to answer that. ]

I don't know how to respond to that.

[ His arms cross over his chest and he leans his head to one side making a "hm" sound. ]

It felt like a sigh of relief after so many years.

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...

[Sorry, his expression is just growing harder, more distant.]

It reminded me of a happier time. [And a slow sigh.] But in my experience, one cannot repeat the past.

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No, you can't.

[ He crosses the gap between them, not completely invading his space. ]

And I'm not asking for that. I don't even know what I'm asking for anymore.

[ But he does reach out and jabs Sholmes right in the chest. ]

But what I do know is that after all that, I don't want to leave you alone, either.

[greatdeduction]

[He startles at the poke to his chest, not expecting the man to break over the personal bubble hanging between them. His expression shifts - surprise, then disbelief, then something crushing and deep and sad, and then back to something bordering on neutral, his eyebrows furrowed.]

...Why?

[Is the word he says, in reply, quiet.]

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[ There's almost a helpless shrug in response at first. ]

I don't fully know what I feel right now. I'm pretty awkward with all that and just go with my gut. You should know that by now.

[ He scratches his cheek a little bit, debating what words to say. Sholmes did tell him to use his brain a bit more, something he's been criticized about before. ]

There's a lot I said and a lot of promises. Maybe it was because of this place, but I feel like I'd have some kind of lingering regret just dropping it without figuring things out with you.

[greatdeduction]

...Can the things said while under such a spell truly matter?

[It's not an accusatory question. Honestly, it almost sounds like something he's asking himself.]

Mr. Kotetsu, you must realize...I can't give you everything what you expect of me. Lingering regrets or not.

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I already told you, I'm not expecting anything.

[ But there is a bit of a sad smile at that. ]

Are you telling me none of that matters to you now? And I want an honest answer.

[ Granted, he knows he can't get an honest answer for certain, but he'll ask for it anyway. ]

[greatdeduction]

...

[It's so easy to just push it aside. It was just a spell. Someone convinced him into thinking a certain way. It was a lie.]

[But was all he said, when everything seemed so rosy and so sweet, not real? Was it?]

[He's frowning again.]

I don't know. [...] I'm not...the type of man who just opens himself up like a book, you understand.