sholmes catchall

[sponsoredby]

Comments

[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]

[sponsoredby]

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.

[sponsoredby]

[ 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. ]

[greatdeduction]

...

[His shoulders hunch upwards, slightly.]

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

[sponsoredby]

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.]

[sponsoredby]

[ 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.

[greatdeduction]

...

[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.

[sponsoredby]

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.]

[sponsoredby]

[ 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.

[sponsoredby]

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.

[sponsoredby]

I'm normally not, either. I know I talked to you a bit about my past before all that happened, but not like that.

[ He sighs again, rubbing his neck awkwardly. ]

But I also don't regret it.

[greatdeduction]

...

[He looks away.]

It would be easier if you did.

[sponsoredby]

Maybe, but I'm not going to lie about it. I'm kind of stubborn like that.

[ His hand squeezes tight for a moment before he reaches out to lightly place it on Sholmes' shoulder. ]

But maybe that makes me kind of an idiot.

[greatdeduction]

...It's a surprise you can think with that lack of brain you have.

[It's an insult that's delivered in almost a lax, deadpan way - there's no actual sincerity behind it, just a vaguely amused tone.]

But more seriously... [And he looks down at the hand on his shoulder.] I cannot say I can bring much to the shared table, here, Mr. Kotetsu.

[sponsoredby]

And what's that supposed to mean exactly? I need it a little more straightforward.

[ Unless he shakes him off, he's not removing his hand just yet. ]

[greatdeduction]

We can't...

[He starts, stops. Almost looks pained, for a moment.]

I can't repeat the things we did. [...] And quite honestly, I don't know what I can offer you in return.

[sponsoredby]

[ There's a moment's thought here, but for the moment he just grabs his arm. If Sholmes will allow it, he's going to be dragging him into the Solar. To that painfully familiar couch to sit down with him. But if Sholmes puts up resistance, he'll stop. ]

[greatdeduction]

W-What are you doing?

[After getting over the initial surprise, he is dragged until he sees that couch - but the sight of it makes him frown and he resists, trying to pull himself out of the man's grip.]

[sponsoredby]

[ He lets go, but since they're already partially in there and the couch is in sight. He points at it. ]

Are you sure you're not just running away?

[greatdeduction]

...

[He looks at the couch, and looks away almost instantly.]

I can't do this.