sholmes catchall

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[ Finley dotes on Irene in return. Love my little lady.

He gently rubs Sholmes' back while he holds him. ]

I'm not sure. But I feel like I should be asking you that question first.

[greatdeduction]

Ah, well.

[And then a pause. He sounds a little choked up.]

Not well at all, I think.

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What happened there...?

[ He feels like he didn't help the situation at all. But he has no idea what that was about. ]

If you don't want to talk about it, I'm here for anything you need.

[greatdeduction]

...Oh, it was a misunderstanding. I overstepped. She got rightfully cross with me.

[A sigh.]

I'm getting more emotionally involved in these cases than I thought I was.

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[ He nuzzles him a little bit. ]

...I'm sure I didn't help matters.

[ There's also a sigh from him. ]

[greatdeduction]

Perhaps you could have.

[Kissing his cheek.]

Were you worried regarding the Celestial sign?

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She's seen it, but... I don't want more people seeing it.

[ He frowns. He didn't mean to add to the tension. ]

I meant what I said, though. I don't think there's a point to sharing information on our coins and powers. Not that I don't want to trust people, but unless we're checking these things every day...

[greatdeduction]

You have a point. And it is impossible to check these things, at this point. I suppose we just had to do something, while we waited.

[He pets through his hair a little.]

We can't waste time, no.

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I didn't like how she responded and I got annoyed.

[ He was a baby!!! ]

We can get checks in earlier. Like the clothing and item checks... It's best if we have that out of the way while we're waiting. We might get clues early.

[greatdeduction]

Ah, same with me, too. But the girl is diligent. [And a sigh.] Reminds me of her father, actually.

[...............Yeah. Yeah.]

Yes, exactly. No point fiddling one's thumbs, waiting for clues to come. One must take advantage of it while they have it. We...will do it. We'll do it.

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[ He nods lightly at that. ]

I get it... It rubbed me wrong, though.

[ But he shrugs it off. But for the rest? Yeah... They have to. ]

It doesn't seem like we ever have enough time.

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...Admittedly, same with me.

[Even though he hates thinking about it.]

No, it doesn't seem like it. If only...if only we could have all the time in the world...

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[ Well, he plants a small kiss on Sholmes' jaw in response to that. They don't have to keep on that line of thought. ]

Unfortunately, we don't. Which is why we need to work together better.

[ He shifts closer to Sholmes, settling in for proper snuggling and not just hugging. ]

[greatdeduction]

[He's more than happy to snuggle, shifting in to get more of Kotetsu's warmth. To feel him here, with him, together.]

I agree. Two minds may be greater than one, but if only if they're reined in properly. We can't get sidetracked.

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[ Finley does nudge Kotetsu a bit and he's going to shift Sholmes and himself away from the shelves and use Finley as a pillow. Warm girl. And she can still dote on Irene like this. ]

Which people kept doing. There was a lot of arguing that didn't need to happen.

[ He's guilty of it, too. But at least his was early in the trial...? Still doesn't mean it's great.

He reaches one hand to brush over Sholmes' cheek, very tender in his touch. ]

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[Irene at this point has already shifted into a hare, moving to let the boys rest back before nuzzling up against Finley like this, grooming her.]

Yes...if only we could switch off our emotions for short periods of time. One would think that would make us avoid such issues.

[But he knows that's not possible.]

[He's leaning into that touch, closing his eyes.]

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[ And Finley will groom back here and there because of course. ]

It would. But we can't.

[ He gently kisses Sholmes' forehead. ]

So, we'll have to make the best of it. That bias also got an innocent person convicted.

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[He sighs, reaching up to stroke fingers down the other's cheek.]

...It's only going to become harder from here. Everyone has their loved ones. It will be easier to turn eyes towards someone who one doesn't like.

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I'm trying not to vote with a bias... but it's been hard. Even if you're right, it feels wrong.

[ It's so awful! ]

If I'm somehow influence by an Angel... I don't want you to protect me. I don't want someone innocent to die in my place.

[ He knows that's awful to even suggest and he hopes it never comes to that, but... it's something that is a real possibility. ]

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...

[That's true. That's been a reality hanging over their heads for all this time. That either of them could be a killer.]

[He nods, swallowing.]

The same goes for me, as well. If the clues add up, I do not want you to hesitate. I would not want you to look over me because of our connection. You can't let that happen. [...] There is a time for protection, but...in cases like that...you have to let me go.

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[ Thanks, he hates this. Even if he was the one that brought it up in the first place. It's honestly the worst thing to hear, but something... they have to face. But he nods lightly. ]

I promise I won't. And I promise that we will reunite. I don't care how, but I won't let either of us lose that future we promised.

[ This is a bitter pill they have to swallow. It's so much. ]

If... [ He doesn't want to say his next words, but... ]

Sholmes, if it happens and you have a choice of whose life to take... you should take mine. I don't want you to have the guilt of taking someone else's.

[ This??? Is so much??? ]

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...What?

[He shifts back, a little horrified.]

N-No. How could I...how could I kill you?

[LIKE HE DOESN'T WANT TO KILL BUT YOU'RE SOMEONE HE LOVES???]

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[ He reaches to touch Sholmes' cheek. ]

Would you want to kill someone else? How would you feel if you did that? At least with me... you know I'd understand that it wasn't your choice.

[ SORRY, THIS MAN... ]

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I...

[He doesn't even want to think about it. Kotetsu, killed by his hand...]

But...but you'd be dead. Kotetsu, how could I do such a thing to you...?

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I'd help you.

[ He runs his hand over Sholmes' cheek. ]

I know you wouldn't want to do it, but I'm trying to protect you from something worse. Besides, I wouldn't really be gone, right?

Sholmes, I love you and I trust you.