sholmes catchall

[sponsoredby]

Comments

[greatdeduction]

...

[He just opens one eye to look over at him.]

One wonders if you've even slept, my dear fellow.

[sponsoredby]

[ There's a faint hint of a laugh to that. ]

Not since the other night, at least.

[ He's pretty sure he doesn't need to say which. ]

[greatdeduction]

[.............Ah.]

[He's closing his eye again.]

Then sleep while you can. I let Rin know I would accompany him for tonight, so perhaps you can get some rest and we can go there to meet him.

[sponsoredby]

[ Well, in that case, he shifts a bit to nudge lightly at Sholmes to ask for some room that way. ]

I can at least talk some before I fall asleep.

[ But, ah... being invited to those plans. He won't refuse it. ]

[greatdeduction]

[He does move to make room, Irene also hopping to the side to curl up on the sheets.]

Then I am all ears, my dear fellow.

[sponsoredby]

[ He shifts with a bit of a groan getting into bed and gingerly lays down facing him. Hopefully he doesn't mind Finley jumping up there to join them, curling up at Kotetsu's feet. ]

It all sounds kind of absurd, but we were shrunk down in size and had to explore a castle made of candy and sweets. The foundation, the doors... Every inch was made of some kind of sugar. Nero was up on the castle, but he was made of from chocolate, or something. So it was only the four of us that were actually there.

[greatdeduction]

Nero...? I do wonder why he was there.

[He purses his lips, pensive.]

Miss Rika said you all explored the floors until it gave way, yes?

[sponsoredby]

We didn't get to explore everything. We... had an encounter where I picked up all these bruises. After that, we got dropped.

[ And he got even more banged up. ]

[greatdeduction]

...The....Celebussy?

[i hate this tag]

[sponsoredby]

[ He starts to crack up from that. Nine is such an idiot, but boy does that hurt. He grabs his chest, tears at the corner of his eye, but he can't help it. ]

C-Cerberus. I think he meant Cerberus.

[greatdeduction]

Oh!




[...]

Oh. What a strange name for a three-headed beast. And goodness, man, don't hurt yourself.

[sponsoredby]

I'm fine, I'm fine.

[ And he is calming down now. But that idiot... ]

Three headed beast from the Underworld. This one was a lot less ferocious. Or, well, still ferocious, but made from a cookie. Or something.

[ Yes. He got his ass kicked by a cookie dog. ]

[greatdeduction]

How...very unusual, but I suppose it was fitting for a cake and sugar world?

[the cyoa of cookie run kingdom apparently]

[sponsoredby]

[ closes eyes softly ]

Yeah. You wouldn't think a cookie could hurt, but when it's that big... Well, if you've ever had your hand slammed in a door, imagine that, but all over your body... or your soul.

[ Finley. :( ]

[greatdeduction]

...I can't imagine how that must hurt.

[His voice is quiet.]

How dreadful.

[sponsoredby]

I...

[ He pauses, thinking of how to phrase this. ]

I didn't forget about what you said. Instinct just kicked in to protect Rika. The other were fighting, but with three heads, I didn't want to risk any extra injuries. I wanted to make sure everyone came back as safe as we could.

[greatdeduction]

...

[A sigh.]

Well, that's just how you are. You really are the type to dive into danger head first.

[sponsoredby]

I didn't have much choice.

[ He lets out a sigh. Then again, even if he did have that choice... he would have done the same. ]

After we defeated it, that's when the floor gave way. We went down another level by a slide. Then...

[ His voice trails off, his expression a little distant. Haunted. ]

[greatdeduction]

...Kotetsu?

[He's opening his eyes to actually turn his face to him, eyebrows creased in slight confusion.]

What happened then?

[sponsoredby]

There were items. For each of us...

[ His eyes flicker down, staring at Sholmes' chest. ]

I don't know what the other's saw, but I...

[ His throat tightens a little. If this were any other person, he wouldn't be talking about this. He would leave these details out. But it's him. He knows... He already knows.

He swallows hard, voice a little hoarse. ]

I had to relive leaving the hospital. Leaving my wife behind as she made me promise to keep being a hero. To keep going. I had to get the call again. Hear the news all over. Walking back into that hospital room with the lights black. Her body...

[greatdeduction]

[...The urge is almost instant - the need to pull the man in, hold him tightly against himself, and reassure him. But now, the urge comes with awkwardness, hesitance, and there's a pause...]

[But then he seems to decide something, and just reaches out to cup the man's head at the very least.]

How terrible. [Items that bring back memories? Far-fetched, but he believes the man's words.] I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to relive that.

[sponsoredby]

[ He closes his eyes, a few tears slipping out, just leaning into that touch. ]

That was the last thing I'd expected. Working through that regret again...

[ A very slow breath comes out. ]

But it felt like I had to make some kind of choice. To let it go or carry that weight. Despite how much it hurts, there's no chance I'd just forget about it.

[greatdeduction]

...I see.

[A low sigh, his hand slightly stroking the other's side of the head.]

What happened, happened. But I think your wife would never want you to be anchored to your regret, you know. You can't let it trap you.

[sponsoredby]

I know. But that's also why I need to carry that with me.

[ His eyes slowly open to look directly at Sholmes. Silently, he moves one of his hands to rest on Sholmes' side, or stomach if he's still on his back. ]

That past makes me who I am now.

[greatdeduction]

...

[He stiffens, slightly, awkward. It isn't quite the same as it was two days ago.]

Of course. [He knows that well.] Just be careful not to let it overwhelm you.