retroductions | reverie inbox.

The meeting overall went smoothly enough. No doubt you are only asking, then, because you believe me to be some manner of upset about the outcome, and you feel a smidge of personal responsibility for it.

[ There is a very long moment before he replies. ]

Where are you?

[A part of him wants to be utterly childish and not reply at all. But the part that actually does want to discuss this with Juzo overrides all else, and finally:]

I am at the diner.

[ He was already on his way out the door anyway. There's only so many places to hide in this place. He would have found Sholmes eventually. ]

On my way.

[When Juzo finds Sholmes at the diner, he is tucked away at one of the tables in the corner, sipping at a very tall shake with a red and white swirly straw. He's about halfway through it, though his gaze flicks over at the other man when he enters.]

[ Most people would resort to alcohol u know.

Juzo sort of pauses in the doorway, taking in the sight before finally making his way over, hands in his pockets and cigarette dangling from his mouth. Is this a no smoking establishment? He doesn't care. ]

This seat taken?

[Well, Sholmes certainly doesn't mind.

He gestures at the empty seat across from him, but only after a long slurp of his shake.]

From what I can observe, it does not appear to be.

Much obliged.

[ He slides into the empty seat, leaning in to rest his elbows on the table. He huffs out a plume of smoke. ]

Well, here I am. If you're gonna be mad at me, might as well do it to my face.

[Sholmes’ face twists into something close to a pout, hoovering up more ice cream through his straw. But then he leans back, brow furrowing, and crosses his arms.

He considers whether or not to plaster a grin on his face for this conversation, and decides against it.]

I do not think I have to explain why I am vaguely irritated about the whole ordeal. While I am willing to cede to the group’s wishes, I still believe the decision to protect me a waste. I would much rather protect our team than feel like I am the one in need of protecting.

Moreover, I really cannot comprehend why you, of all people, felt the need to push the matter.

It woulda been stupid of us to walk away from that talk without gettin' something from Yatagarasu in return. Like paintin' ourselves into a corner. I wasn't gonna let that slide.

[ He sighs. He's not sure how to explain the latter, nor is he sure he even wants to. ]

But the fact is, nobody was gonna like bein' picked. You heard everyone else argue against themselves, too.

[He scoffs, waving a hand.]

I have accepted that everyone felt the exchange was necessary. That is not the issue.

[What, then? His mind laces the words together with not as much ease as he'd like.]

It is the thought that I am in need of protection at all that bothers me. That you think that I am some fragile thing whose life should be considered more precious than the rest. And before you say it, yes, I know that was not the intent. But I am allowed to feel slighted because of it.

I don't think you're fragile. That's not why I--

[ He cuts himself off with a grumble as Sholmes' attempt to preempt him only proves half-successful, in the end. ]

I get it. It feels like you're bein' coddled. Hunter felt the same way.

...Yes.

[That is, in fact, exactly it.]

I am a great detective! I have not only thrown myself into danger during my cases, but I knew all of the risks as I ventured forth. Simply because I do not possess you or Mrs Forger's strength does not mean that I should be an automatic consideration for protection.

... I know. I know that.

We didn't have the same kinda criteria that Yatagarasu had. Not one of us loses themselves like they do when their monster takes over. I had to go with my gut. Hunter was the easy choice. The obvious one.

[ The kid talks a big game, but Juzo knows that, deep down, Hunter doesn't want to die. ]

And somethin' in me just told me the other one had to be you. Sorry I don't have a better answer for you.

[He's quiet for a moment; the answer is unsatisfactory to him, as though there is something more layered beneath the actual reasoning, information that he does not have access to. Yet he does not think Juzo would be anything but honest with him in these matters, so Sholmes is left with little more than exasperation.

He slumps a little further into his chair.]

So then I am supposed to be flattered, rather than disgruntled?

[ Truth be told, it's not a very satisfying answer to him, either. Da Vinci had called his choice instinctual, emotional, and that feels right. Everything in him constricts when he thinks about it.

Sholmes is a friend, a damn good one, but why him? Out of all of Phoenix, the people he has come to call family in a very short time they've known each other, why him? ]

I'm not gonna tell you how to feel. You're well within your rights to be ticked off. I've been in your place, I know.

Edited (forgot a word whomp) 2022-07-10 05:20 (UTC)

[With time, the irritation will fade. Even now, having acknowledged the matter with Juzo, he can feel it dulling into something a little more distant.]

I am not “ticked off” at you. [He starts, straightening enough to tend to his milkshake, swirling his straw around.] As I said, I understand your reasoning. It is sound, and perhaps in your place, I might have made a similar decision. But this whole blasted situation…

[He trails off. He does not think he needs to go into detail about how frustrating it all is, that they need to even consider making such choices in the first place. Juzo knows it as well as he does.]

Well. Maybe I will choose to be flattered, instead. Just to spite our circumstances! It is proof that I have grown on you, isn’t it? And to think you were so distant at the beginning.

[ The strange tightening in his chest eases a little as Sholmes' mood seems to improve, even by small degrees. With all the shit that's happened, having Sholmes be upset at him was like an extra-shitty cherry on top. He hated it.

He leans back a little, chuckling. ]

You're a real pain in the neck, Herlock Sholmes. But you're my pain in the neck.

[ "My people", he'd said to Wilbur. Each and every one of them. ]

No, see, that is exactly where you have it wrong, sir. You are a pain in mine.

[I.e. he wishes to protect his team--and Juzo--not the other way around. Stop making it hard to claim responsibility for you lot!]

Those two things don't have to be mutually exclusive, ya know.

I can only hope I cause you half as much grief as you cause me.

[A smile quirks.]

We will see. I do have grand plans to make you— well, not purposefully squirm. But no doubt you will be cursing my name again soon enough!

[ah, he must be referring to the date.]

[ ....... oh yeah. ]

I was really hopin' you'd forgotten about that.

Not a chance!

[ :) ]

Lucky me.

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