00:01 | VIDEO

[kissingchamp]

[ A scruffy woman appears on the screen. Her hair is a wild mess and her eyes are darkly blotted with eyeshadow. She rather looks like a girl that got trashed and passed out with her make-up on. Hold onto your pants - it doesn't get much better. ]

Hello! Hello? Pleasure to meet you, I'm Sexy.

No, no, that's not right. That's his name, not for you.

TARDIS! I'm Time-And-Relative-Dimension-In-Space.

No. Wait. Yes, but no. What was she called?

[ The woman ducks her head, thoughtfully, one translucent nail furiously tapping at her lower lip. Nevermind liquor, she's chattering away way too quickly. ]

Ah! Idris! You may call me Idris.

Where's my thief? Thief! Yoohoo! I know you're only ten. I know we've not met yet, but you know me, surely you do. Will. Have. Tenses! Thief? Has anyone seen my thief?

Comments

[video, encrypted.]

[holmesisnowhere]

[Sherlock favors the strange, strange woman with an earnest, though softer smile - he's normally not drawn in by the emotions of others, but something about the infectiously cheeky quip to her words amuses him deeply.]

It is possible to be well learned and versed in Shakespeare and still a rational, thinking man.

[A raised eyebrow.]

I daresay the two are not even remotely exclusive. I also play the violin, but that does not stop me from applying science and logic to the world around us.

[video, encrypted.]

[kissingchamp]

What's science, if not another form of artistic appreciation? The media's only transferred to the hands of the Universe then.

But you certainly can have logic without imagination. Use yours, I'm sure you'll be able to think of a few.

So. What's your art?

[video, encrypted.]

[holmesisnowhere]

[Sherlock is curled up in an abandoned building, on a high-backed couch that looks like it's seen better days. A blue cashmere scarf has been knotted around his neck, and his got the collar of his coat turned out against the cold. His breath escapes in transparent plumes.]

I see your argument - they could be feasibly one and the same, with the stipulation that science has hard facts, hard rules that are followed by cosmic order. Hydrogen will always be hydrogen. Art? [A shrug faintly.] The rules can be broken in art.

[A moment or so of quiet thought. Sherlock nestles himself into the chair to get a touch more comfortable, studying the woman with that long, thousand-meter stare. Reading others is more difficult on a video feed, especially with such a small screen.]

I'm a detective, though arguably, I am also a musician and a chemist, and maybe even a bit of a polyglot.

[video, encrypted.]

[kissingchamp]

[ She's just going to hum a note that sounds considering and argue the point no further. While what he says might be true, that doesn't mean he's correct. She could argue, but she's not nearly as interested in repeating information as she is to learn something new.

Unlike Sherlock, she's actually on the move! But he might be able to make out her dress is from a bygone era from his own (hair too). Like him, she's pale with dark hair. The camera shudders a bit, possibly with uncertainty in her moments, but the confidence in her expression doesn't falter a moment, nor does her easy, upbeat tone. ]

So far, you're sounding quite close to fantastic... But do you have a name?

[video, encrypted.]

[holmesisnowhere]

[All of the details about the woman are memorized, noted - Sherlock decides if he ever meets her, he'll give her a better look, but for the time being she seems relatively charming and harmless.]

Sherlock Holmes.

[A beat.]

... Fantastic? [His eyebrows crawl up into his hairline.]

[video, encrypted.]

[kissingchamp]

[ There's really not much to tell from this view. Her accent isn't very modern either, but it's still English. ]

Sherlock Holmes... That sounds familiar.

[ The latter bit, murmured a bit lower. Oh, she doesn't have an archive anymore to shuffle through and it's so very disorganized in her memory! Maybe it's just one of those names. ]

Oh yes, fantastic. You're a curious one - the curious ones are always the best ones! The most interesting adventures come from the most daring meddling.

[ It's said so shamelessly and simply, a bravado of breathing as she continues to walk. ]

[video, encrypted.] *pokes the 4th wall gently*

[holmesisnowhere]

"Sexy TARDIS Idris. Rather a few names," Sherlock muses. "Why so many?"

[Why in the world does everyone think they know him or know of him? There had to have been another universe where he'd been a comic hero or something. Maybe Shylock Gnomes or Shylock Tomes or something.]

I am insatiably curious. Give me information, and you will make me a happy man for as long as it's all new.

[Sherlock cannot help but smile faintly back at her.]

... Going somewhere?

[video, encrypted.] original one's mentioned in series! but she can forget

[kissingchamp]

You've never had different people call you different names, depending on your relation? I think Idris is what I'll use here.

[ She's been bubbly up until now, but the question provokes a deeper sense of warmth to her. ]

Yes, actually. I'm on my way to find my favorite meddler. Can't poke around properly without a friend.

[video, encrypted.] original one's mentioned in series! but she can forget

[holmesisnowhere]

Only by one other person, and it wasn't flattering.

[Sherlock's eyes flick to the side for a second - it's a micro-expression that is both uncomfortable and unhappy with admitting that, though it fades quickly into neutrality.]

You're right there. [Because Sherlock only has one friend, right? And he's not here.]

[video, encrypted.]

[kissingchamp]

[ Hello, what's that? Has she hit something? ]

I'm usually quite right.

But what are you doing laying about there? Is your heating not on?

[video, encrypted.]

[holmesisnowhere]

[Nope, nothing here.]

-I'm- usually quite right.

I'm not in the dorms. I can't stand them, too many people about. I've found myself a nice little building with no one in it, and I'll return to the Hold if I need to for personal hygiene.

[video, encrypted.]

[kissingchamp]

[ Well, she'll mind that, anyway. ]

There's no reason we can't both be right! Until you're wrong.

[ She's just teasing... sort of. ]

You're freezing yourself. That's really rather silly of you. Is it really that bad? I haven't been to mine yet.

[video, encrypted.] sorry, real life caught up with me. D:

[holmesisnowhere]

"I don't like being around other people in such close proximity," Sherlock mutters. "Especially seeing as the vast percentage of them are either idiots, or loud, or both. I'll take a bit of discomfort in exchange for solitude."

Sherlock curls backwards into his couch, breath pluming from his lips as he exhales shortly.

"And I'm not wrong. Not often, anyway."

[video, encrypted.] that's fine!

[kissingchamp]

Well, you know you've got to do something if you start turning funny colours, I hope.

Have you got a stock of blankets at least?

[holmesisnowhere]

I'm fine, really. I've got a good sound coat, and this is nothing compared to the real London.

Why are you so concerned?

[kissingchamp]

Well, I don't mind people, and you don't seem to mind me overmuch. If you needed something from the dorms, I was only going to offer to save you the trip.

[holmesisnowhere]

You're not annoying me, so I think that's a start.

... if you can find me a pack of cigarettes I'd be obliged.