001 Video

[thevictoriandetective]

[There's some fumbling and muttered rude words, a flash of blue and gray. Finally it comes into focus, a tall, thin man--not as tall as he looks--gazing intensely into the screen. There's a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead that his dark curls are sticking to. His eyes dart back and forth rapidly, and his pallor suggests he's ill or at least feels ill. He's wearing a fitted white shirt under a tailored suit jacket. More likely the latter, though he looked like he didn't belong in Florida weather. He's in an alleyway, someplace quiet.]

Hello. My name is Sherlock Holmes.

[He's expecting some recognition or something. That arrogant tilt of his chin hides the utter bewilderment and flabbergastation that's whirling around in that mind. Oh yeah, he's dead confused and completely out of his element, figuratively and literally.]

Clearly this is some massive practical joke, no doubt financed by someone who hates me. Since that's a lot of people, I figured I would address as many as possible with this device. You can't expect me to believe I haven't just been kidnapped and dropped in this disgusting swamp and that some stupid newspaper has-been in search of his last chance at a proper story is waiting behind curtain number three to snap a picture of me making a fool of myself. Or a mad little experiment from our old friends at Baskerville. I really don't care, though admittedly, you've done an excellent job with the special effects, the cars...the science fiction. Theatrical. I applaud the spectacle.

However, it grows tiresome. This ruse is stupid, so you can stop this now, you can give up.

I also will need plane tickets back to London immediately, return my actual phone, and someone to remove this idiotic tattoo.

Don't make me call my brother.

Comments

Video;

[heckblazer]

[ Why, you're practically a man after John's own heart. ]

Far as I know, this popsicle stand innit a joke. Seems not to be an illusion or Hell, at that. But yah might be a better investigator’n me.

[ That last bit might be his idea of a joke. A pause as he reaches off camera for a cigarette, then: ]

Gotta admit though. If I'm stuck here it's a relief they're sendin' more folks who speak the Queen's English. Was gettin' homesick.

Re: Video;

[thevictoriandetective]

[Sherlock pauses for a long time before answering.]

Oh, so they've hired an actor. Well, I suppose that would make sense, considering the budget they must have spent on this place.

[He looks around, his brows furrowed with worry that he can't keep off his face. Clearly he's putting two and two together and really, why would anyone spend this much money on a joke or experiment? From what he'd gleaned from Mycroft, the Crown's coffers needed to be put to other far more important uses. The only thing he could think of was Moriarty--not actually Moriarty, but whoever was using his name at the moment--but again, to what point was this all for!?]

[heckblazer]

Flattered, mate, but I'm a far ways off from the best performer.

[ John continues to watch with interest. The little twitches in people's faces always say so much about the mental journey they're on. As he looks on he thinks back to London, trying to visualize details only a fellow Brit would know. Something to gain the bloke's trust - although it's not as altruistic as it sounds, not at all. ]

Back a' home. The ferris wheel's an eyesore. The seats creak an' the paint can't stand up to the rubbish weather an' bloody tourists always feed the bloody pigeons. Remember that, mate?

video;

[brushoff]

[ Dorian peers at the camera, frowning. He's been here long enough that the 'different universe' nonsense has sunk in, but at the same time it's really distracting when the Sherlock Holmes you knew is fairly different from this man, at least in looks.

When he talks, he chooses his words carefully, ]

Tell me, Mister Holmes, does the name Alan Campbell mean anything to you?

Re: video;

[thevictoriandetective]

[Sherlock's eyes flick back and forth, attempting to deduce what he could. He didn't hesitate, however, when he replied. His tone suggested more curiosity anything, though he kept his voice neutral.]

It means nothing whatsoever. Why do you ask?

Re: video;

[brushoff]

[ He keeps his expression a carefully crafted flippant--Dorian's trying to give off the impression that he really doesn't care. However, there's a hint of relief in his words as he continues to speak. ]

Idle curiosity! You remind me of someone from home. I was simply checking to see the... [ a pause, as he thinks of the word ] similarities between the two of you.

[acclimatized]

Sherlock?

[ for a long time, john simply stared at the screen in stunned silence. he'd given up hope of seeing sherlock holmes again... the same goes for anyone from their world, really. he gleans over the whiteness of his face and the curls plastered matted against his brow, but pushes it to the back of his mind for the time being. there are more pressing matters to attend to. ]

Where are you?

[thevictoriandetective]

[The signs of relief on his face are obvious. His shoulders sink, the tension in his appearance fading to lower levels. It's clear he was very worried about why John wasn't with him in the first place.]

John.

[He frowned and looked around, squinting as he made note of the landmarks.]

Some ridiculous place called Heropa. Specially, I'm on a street with a collection of shops. Has anyone called you with a ransom? Are you still in London? Have you heard from Mycroft? This is clearly some kind of elaborate trick.

[The way his tone flattened meant he wasn't so sure about that last part anymore.]

[acclimatized]

It's not a trick. I mean, it does sound pretty mad when you read it on paper, but it's all true. I'm in Virginia right now but I can use a Porter to come and meet you. I, uh, lived in Heropa for a bit; what shops do you see?

[ he neglects to mention he's just a few months shy of his third year of being stuck here. to a keen eye, it's probably blindingly obvious. his hair is a bit longer, flecked with a few more grey strands, along with the lines on his face being more pronounced. ]

video;

[storyseeker]

You think pretty highly of yourself, don't you? However the porter works, it's not just about you, mister.

Re: video;

[thevictoriandetective]

Porter? Don't tell me you believe that ridiculous lie. This is all a magic trick!

video;

[storyseeker]

Do I take it all at face value? Of course not. But it was no magic trick that brought me from Nepal to America in an instant. And I'm not the only person to make such an impossible journey.

Video;

[snarkbot]

[ Skeets is quite clearly a robot. He's holding the comm with his little robot claw and is quite visible as a small, gold, pie-sized robot floating in mid-air. In what appears to be a university classroom, currently empty. But there's background noise audible from the nearby hallway, muffled chattering voices. When he speaks his voice is definitely robotic in nature, but not quite monotone either. ]

Unfortunately, sir, sometimes science fiction is real.

Re: Video;

[thevictoriandetective]

[Sherlock blinks. He's really not quite sure what to make of this.]

Clearly there is some kind of mistake here.

[snarkbot]

No mistake, sir, I assure you. If you wish I could fly over to your location so you may wave a hand over me to ascertain my lack of wires yourself.

Permavid

[governorkang]

If we could remove the tattoos, I'd have done so years ago.

[Why yes, that is a very dragonish person on the screen. One that moves too realistically to be CGI or a robot.]

Re: Permavid

[thevictoriandetective]

[Poor Sherlock. He stared.

And stared.

And stared.

And finally, he blinked.]

I've gone mad.

voice forever

[arkproject]

[ Since Catherine is effectively a human-based A.I. living in the internet (so to speak), feel free to have Sherlock's technopathy work with that however you'd like if/when he uses it!

Catherine's voice is lightly amused, but overall steady and no nonsense. She's a straight-forward, blunt sort of person. ] It's not a joke. And it's not so bad here, really. Give it some time to get used to it and it's pretty fascinating.

Re: voice forever

[thevictoriandetective]

[The voice on the other end immediately brought his curiosity to the forefront. Why only a voice? And there was something else, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. A sort of nagging sensation in the back of his mind. He's not sure he even believes the pamphlet right now or the fact he has something as ridiculous as a 'superpower' but it seems to kick in instinctively when he gets agitated.

Oh. Right. Being pulled away from everything I know isn't so bad. What was I thinking?

[Sarcasm? Tons of it.]

video;

[hightiderising]

Don't be such a big baby. We're all stuck here.

Re: video;

[thevictoriandetective]

Excuse me. I am certainly not a 'big baby.'

[incogneto]

Sorry, the tattoo stays. But who's your brother?

[thevictoriandetective]

Pity. I should complain to someone.

Mycroft Holmes. He's practically the British government. Though I can see now that'll do me little good here...

[Video]

[caduceusvalkyrie]

[She recognises the name but doesn't bring it up.]

Don't you think this is all a little too elaborate for a practical joke? Believe me when I say, like every one has, that this is real, I wouldn't be here is it wasn't.

Re: [Video]

[thevictoriandetective]

[Sherlock titled his head.]

It is a possibility, yes. One I don't quite like.

[He's dead silent for a good long moment. Contemplating that.]