retroductions | reverie overflow.

[ she does so choose, and so chooses a bar seat safely away from the percolating of the coffee. one of the last things she needs is for someone to end up scalded. ]

I'm sure you have, Herlock.

And I should like to discuss them.

[Brightly...! To make up for the fact that she'll no doubt be reticent. But he at least is giving her a heads-up, smoothing into the subject one minute at a time.

For now, coffee. It's ready--and he's not even spilled a drop, thank you--and he pours two mugs full, sliding one over to her across the bar as he crosses around and takes a seat beside.

(It's normal coffee, by the way. Nothing experimental from Sholmes today. It's strong, but decent.)]

[ and i bet it's infinitely better than henry's, too

again, resigned, ] Yes. I imagined you would.

[Henry takes offense at that, he has been practicing. (But yes, probably.)

Sholmes leans an elbow onto the counter, and then his face into his hand, looking at her with a quirking brow. His other clasps around his mug, feeling the warmth of it.]

Do not sound so defeated, Sprezzatura. I am not about to put you to an interrogation. There are merely a few things that require explication.

[ pivots her stool to face him, arms and legs crossed ]

Oh, in this case... I am open book.

[ lol. lmao, even ]

[…You know what? He will give her the benefit of the doubt and believe that.

Holds up two fingers.]

I have two observations. The first: our connections do not match, exactly. Did you notice?

[ she hadn't. her gaze flicks down with a guilty swoop ]

I...

[No, no. None of that. That same hand makes a dismissive, waving gesture.]

As I said, not an interrogation. Only clarification. Do I have even a trace of upset in my features, my dear?

[He, in fact, does not.]

May I look at your string more closely?

[ it is so deeply uncomfortable. knowing that it has been put on display that how she feels differs from the other person. ]

You may.

[Sholmes reaches out for her string— or so it seems. At some point, his hand hovers at her wrist and his fingers encircle it, gently. His brow rises at her, his look is searching.]

Trust me, now. I’m not upset. You don’t think I will be, do you?

No. I have never seen you become so.

If this were anyone other than I, it would be fascinating. I understand, Herlock.

It is because it is you that I wish to tread with care. Or at least not leave bruises where it is already sore.

[After what she told him, especially, that time he tried to lockpick her door to speak with her. He realizes, perhaps a bit belatedly, that these strings are a bit ill-timed on her end.]

[ lol ]

I mean that if this were happening to anyone else, I would be fascinated.

Ah. [A chuckle.] Well, then you understand. But that does not change my own sentiment on the matter.

[Anyhow, slides his fingers away from her wrist to catch her string, gently tugging it upwards. It's a lovely color, though notably not as varied on Sholmes' end.]

No red. Have you been privy to what that means?

[ she lifts her coffee cup so she can feign overt interest in its contents. so she's among the stragglers to figure things out, is that it? ]

...No.

[Sholmes has yet to even lift the coffee to his lips. The scent of it is welcome, but the contents of their strings are of far more interest.]

There is likely some variation depending upon the person, but I do believe the general meaning remains the same: romantic attachment.

[ ........................................ ]

Ah.

[Pinches some of the slack of their thread together and "hits" her with it on the wrist. "Hit" is, of course, a very liberal use of the word; it's just thread, so it barely does anything; it's just an urging.]

Just, "ah"? Come now, you have more thoughts than that. I would like to hear them.

[ the way she grips the sleeve of her other arm happens so slowly, but so tightly, that the fabric creaks. thoughts? she's supposed to have thoughts about this?

like gravel, ] It means... my oni is in love with me.

[ have you seen Fallen Angel by Alexandre Cabanel, Sholmes? well, you're seeing it now. ]

[Oh, he has certainly seen a reproduction of sorts. A description, at the very least, on a printed page.

She suits it.]

As I said, there is variation. Subtlety. "In love" is one end of the spectrum, while "courting" may be another. Even so...

[Still not particularly comforting.]

That is quite strange. I wonder why?

[ white-knuckling ] She exists as torture to me. How better? Hm?

[She'll break her mug at this rate. He nudges her hand with his, a suggestion of calm.]

And yet in this case, what does it matter, if you do not return the sentiment?

[ ya girl needs more than a suggestion ]

Because now I know it!

[Then he puts his mug down, and drifts that free hand over to hers, to gently retrieve it from her too-tight grip if she allows him.]

And you may choose to ignore it, and nothing shall change. Calm yourself, my dear. We may move this subject to the red on my end, instead, else your anger is going to bubble over.

This is how you soothe someone?

[ we're holding hands now. ]

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