OPEN POST; [ HERLOCK SHOLMES / TGAA ]

[retroductions]

(( hold you in my dreams ))

Comments

[velluminous]

[ again, that wrinkle of frustration, even shame, for the part of her which cannot help this. she doesn't like them, and perhaps that makes her the most tiefling of all her traits. little creatures are too easy to break, too small, too unpredictable, and often, they do not like her. or so she believes. ]

I don't...

[bestbuds]

[Her uncertainty is clear, and she tries to add helpfully-]

Waggy just has her little bow now, but we can add a bell, too. So you can hear her if she's nearby.

[She won't ever be jumpscared by her again.]

[velluminous]

[ THE BELL TOLLS FOR ME ]

This would be preferred, yes...

[bestbuds]

Wonderful! Maybe we can go shopping for a pretty new collar together, then?

[velluminous]

Yes. I would like that.

[ is it strange to see her so immediately helpless to Iris' charms, or did he anticipate exactly this? ]

1/2

[retroductions]

[He anticipated it to a degree. How wonderful, now, to see exactly the degree in which it’s happening.]

Oh! Take me with you!

[Implored like he’s not the adult and Iris is not the child.]

Sprezzatura must experience one of the many excitements of living in London — shopping! And I’ll not deprive myself of the opportunity, either. I’m in need of new bowstrings.

[retroductions]

Mrriaow.

/3

[velluminous]

I do enjoy to—

[velluminous]

[ stutters ]

[velluminous]

—shop.

1/2

[bestbuds]

[…Poor Sprezzie.]

…Maybe Waggy and I will retire to my room for a bit? What do you say, Waggy?

[retroductions]

[Predictably-]

Miaow.

[velluminous]

[ making her feel like she has to go to her room? ]

Ah...

[bestbuds]

[Iris' powers of observation may not have reached the same level of Sholmes' yet, but it's not hard to read the way Sprezzatura's on the verge of feeling guilty-]

Oh, don't worry. I give it ten minutes or so before Waggy falls asleep on my bed, and then I'll be out to join the both of you again, if you like!

[Cats have a tendency to prioritize naps above all else. Wagahai is no different.]

[velluminous]

Of course we would like you, little flower.

[ she just. may try to sneak a few more kisses while she's gone. ]

1/2

[bestbuds]

Then you’ll see me again soon!

[A succinct nod, declaring it so.]

Come on, Waggy. We can test the new iteration of my Cat Tree Converter together—

[She turns and she’s off down the hall, to return soon-ish.]

[retroductions]

[One final miaoow?? of Wagahai trails after them, and Sholmes smiles.]

Precocious, isn’t she?

[velluminous]

[ with emotion: ] Herlock, she is perfect.

[retroductions]

You have no idea how much it warms me to hear it, my dearest. You will be good for her, I know it; and I hope in time you may come to love her as much as I do, as well.

[velluminous]

[ it's already begun. because— ] She is being so much like you. She copies your mannerism.

[retroductions]

Ha, do you think so!

[Perhaps Sholmes has noticed it time and again, too, but only subtly; for one only subtly knows of their own mannerisms, even someone as keen as Sholmes, who wavers between bouts of self-awareness frequently.]

It would be strange if she did not pick up a few traits here and there. I've raised her from the cradle 'til now, after all.

[velluminous]

What you are doing right now, she does this also.

[ and she mimics it, too, because the mimicry makes it incongruently easier to express: ] What wonderful job you have done, papa.

[retroductions]

[He’s never seen her mimic him like that before, and it draws out a delighted laugh.]

And who ever thought that I would make a halfway decent father? A fact not nearly surprising as your clear capacity to be a wonderful mother, hm?

[velluminous]

So you, too, did not believe it?

[retroductions]

[He laughs at her indignant look.]

I meant as you believed it! Such uncertainty you showed me earlier, as you’ll recall.