retroductions | reverie inbox.

[It's the unorthodox greeting that's snagging his attention first, and he huffs out a laugh at Rebecca.]

Shoom, is it? I should tell that one to Iris; or perhaps I will not, as she hardly needs to add one more nickname to her repertoire.

[Ah, but he steps back to usher the both of them inside if they like.]

Come in, come in. And really, Mr Naruhodo, you fuss too much. I am fine, they are only sore when I inhale too deeply.

[??? sholmes please]

And yes, I am in need of a few volunteers for an experiment.

[ It's quite difficult to imagine Iris calling Sholmes anything other than "Hurley," but she would likely be delighted to meet someone else willing to hand out such odd nicknames.

Then again, imagining Rebecca back in London with them is odd for a number of reasons. But it's still a nice thought, isn't it? ]

Only then? [ He doesn't sound too convinced, but he follows Sholmes further into the Phoenix dormitory all the same. Though at the mention of an experiment, he tenses up and shoots Rebecca a look. It's not quite that he's telling her to run, but rather to exude extreme caution. ] ... Ah, is that so? What is it this time, Mr. Sholmes?

Ain't there a bunch of healers around? You gotta go see one, Shoomba.

[ Hold up, though. An experiment? Fucking weird. But she casts a sidelong glance at Ryu just in time to catch the utterly unsure expression on his face. Uh??? ]

What kinda experiment?

[ Not gonna lie, she's curious about what a kind-of-old-timey fella like Sholmes would come up with as an experiment. It can't be any worse than anything the corpos were up to... right...? ]

[He closes the door after them both.]

Now, now. Visit a healer for something as small as a bruised side, a sore rib or two? I'll not waste the effort or energy on their part. Besides, Mr Naruhodo is well aware of the fact that I've suffered through much worse. This is nothing!

[To his credit, he does not seem all that bothered. In fact, he steps around them and forward, keen on leading the way to the... kitchen, it would seem. Though he spins on a heel, finger raised, in proud declaration, walking backwards:]

As for the experiment... Well, I believe I have created the perfect, all-purpose meal! After some trial and error. And now I require taste-testers. Your timing is impeccable.

[ It's no surprise that Sholmes is behaving stubbornly, insisting that his injuries are nothing to worry about. This just means it will be on him if he ends up curled up in the foetal position in pain later today because he overdid it. ]

Yes, but Ms. Vaux told me to look out for you all the same, and so that's what I'll do!

[ Ryunosuke won't draw attention to the fact that he was distracted all of today. It seems that Mr. Sholmes has been fine, keeping busy with this... experiment...

The more that Sholmes describes, the more that Ryunosuke's face grows pale. He glances at Rebecca again and gives a small, almost imperceptible shake of his head. Now would be the time to run, but they're already in too deep. ]

All-purpose meal? Meaning... what, exactly?

[ Rebecca sees that pale face, that head shake of warning, Ryu's body language suggesting that this is going to be, in all likelihood, a less-than-perfect, no-purpose meal.

Challenge. Accepted.

With a wide grin, she grabs Ryu's hand to follow Sholmes into the kitchen. ]

Well, I'm never gonna turn down a free meal! [ every meal here has been free ] Show me whatcha got! I'll eat both portions if Ryu's being a lil' baby!

That's the spirit!

[Ah yes, Rebecca is a keeper. Don't be such a baby, Ryu!]

Come this way, it is easier for me to show you first.

[Into the kitchen they go! And upon entry, on the kitchen table is a spread of... Well. Sholmes will explain:]

I have been experimenting with different forms of gelatin, you see. Some flavored, some not. What is important is what is kept contained within its jiggly confines -- a full meal for any occasion! Now, the consistency was a bit, ah, questionable for the first few attempts and would not stop melting, but I think I have perfected the recipe for now. And so! I present to you...

[GESTURES AT THE TABLE, which has like at least five plates full of things like this.]

Herlock Sholmes' Gelatin Spectacular! It's alimentary!

[GET IT? He picks up a pre-plated portion and hands it to Ryu.]

Give it a try!

[ Rebecca may say that, but she hardly knows what she's getting into with consulting detective, Herlock Sholmes. Ryunosuke follows him reluctantly into the kitchen, pausing near the entrance when he sees that the table is filled with...

Gelatin. But there is also food in the gelatin. While Japan is no stranger to the creation of gelatin with other pieces of food inside, usually it's a sweet jelly and there will be fruit inside, not... whatever this is.

Before Ryunosuke can give a proper reaction, Sholmes has shoved a serving at him. He stands there holding the plate with both hands, clearly unsure of what to do with it. Eat it, of course, but... ]

Ah... and you're certain this is safe, Mr. Sholmes? There are no ingredients that are not considered strictly edible, are there?

[ Of course, that doesn't account for the taste, but right now? Ryunosuke is just stalling. ]

[

]

[ Rebecca doesn't even wait for Sholmes to finish talking - because boy howdy does he have a lot to say all the time - before she tips Ryu's plate in the direction of her open mouth, causing the gelatinous mass to slide across it so she can take a chunk out of that portion. ]

[Well, practically ignoring Ryunosuke now, to Rebecca:]

Well? How is the taste? The texture? Do you feel as though you have reached your nutritional threshold?

[ Ryunosuke definitely doesn't have the necessary reflexes to stop Rebecca from cutting in and stealing from his plate. He watches in horror as the slimy food-filled jelly enters her mouth...

But she doesn't immediately collapse or anything, so that's one relief. Ryunosuke feels like the scene has frozen in time as he looks between Rebecca and Sholmes, his stomach going queasy out of sympathy. ]

Nutritional threshold? What would that even feel like...?

[ This is mainly mumbled to himself, as he's entirely lost control of this situation. ]

[ Remarkably, she doesn't look all too fazed by what she's just ingested. Maybe just a little... surprised, but she doesn't find it to be completely unpleasant. Just a bit weird, especially now that she's had a taste of better food from the diner over her time here... ]

Huh!? Don't this shit gotta sit in my stomach for a minute before I can feel anything like a "nutritional threshold?"

[ truly, what does that even mean ]

Anyway, it's alright.

[ is it really alright ]

[a l r i g h t?]

Just "alright"?

[Somehow, Sholmes is not fazed that she's unfazed, as though this should just be the default result, clearly. Instead, how can her reaction be so blase? DO THEY NOT SEE THE GENIUS?]

Mr Naruhodo! Try some now, posthaste, and give me your own opinion!

[ As far as Ryunosuke's concerned, Sholmes should be thrilled with that grade of "alright." Instead he seems eager for some other reaction, some sign that he has invented something truly special, but...

Well, he isn't going to get that from him. ]

Huh?!

[ And here he thought that Rebecca had saved him from this fate. ]

Just how many people are you going to ask to eat this... this...

[ Abomination? ]

[ Sorry, Ryunosuke, but she can't save you from this, especially because she's interested to hear his assessment, too... ]

C'mon, Ryu, just try it! Ain't gonna kill ya!

[ wait. She turns to Sholmes. ]

It's not gonna kill my guy, right?

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