escordvi | [Open] At the top of your game, keep on rolling

Entry tags:

[Open] At the top of your game, keep on rolling

Who: Sherlock Holmes and others
Status: Open
Where: Eltrut, MANTRA Board locations
What: Catch all for Sherlock this month: forcing Sherlock to deal with his inability to sleep, coping with a sudden gay awakening (see: Alhaitham's survey chaos); MANTA Board quests: A Wishing Tree, The Haunting of Forgotten Cay, Bashful Bunnies, Crab Curry
Warnings: potential talking about Cthulhu-esque night terrors and drowning, Sherlock's horrible sleeping habits, second-hand embarrassment over this boy

What I would give for a dreamless night

[ Sherlock has not been sleeping. He's exhausted, and yet he pushes himself. Every attempt to sleep soon turns to tossing and turning, muttering and whimpering. He can't stop having nightmares related to his last case which startle him awake, terrified. So... his solution has been to avoid sleeping as much as possible. Consuming untold amounts of coffee can only do so much. His body has needed rest since before arriving in this world. The redness around his eyes can't get anymore pronounced. He's past the limit a ~~baby~~ burgeoning consulting detective can have. In the following days, Sherlock can be found completely passed out in various locations such as:

hunched over a cafe table with a cup of coffee beside him
on the ground beside a set of strange footprints with magnifying glass in hand
walking down the street and then collapsing mid-stride without warning

Despite the location, it soon becomes clear that his sleep is anything but peaceful and restorative. Sherlock needs outside intervention because he cannot carry on like this without serious consequence. ]

Knowledge of Love and Romance - Nil

[ Never did Sherlock think that answering a survey would cause him to question a part of himself he never thought to or had to question. He is a man of science, of logic and reason. He's been raised to suppress his emotions. Women never held any attraction to him, so he was supposed to be free of this perceived folly and danger. (Love can truly drive someone to madness. He's seen it.)

It's almost comical how thrown off he is over the idea that he can harbor those softer emotions towards another. Sherlock's friendship with John Watson is unprecedented for him already. To discover that he doesn't reject the possibility of attraction to the man and the strange feeling in his chest leaves him feeling lost without a guide or anyone to turn to. As such, Sherlock turns to the only resource he can think of: books.

He's incredibly flustered and embarrassed to be caught with romantic materials when he has been so critical about them and romance in the past. These aren't even risque stories, poetry, or plays. Regardless, Sherlock pulls his deerstalker cap low in a failed attempt to hide flushed cheeks and perhaps hide in general without sacrificing one of his disguises over this. He purchases a number of books at once and hopes that the more romantic titles are hidden among the more scientific ones. Catch him fidgeting at the shelves, maybe bump into him on his way to his residence and send books sprawling across the ground, or just wonder what is up with this 23-year-old acting like a teenager. ]

MANTA Board

General: A Wishing Tree

[ Sherlock isn't interested in the reward or even the legend of unbreakable vows. He has no friend or lover with him. (He still can't believe he's not wholly unaffected by those emotions.) Instead, he's studying the blossoms of this tree, sketching the flowers in various stages of opening, and sampling a petal or a bit of pollen to study under better light later. Maybe tell him to leave and let the couples share their promises. Or join in for science? ]

General: The Haunting of Forgotten Cay

[ Who gets lost reading all the waterlogged pages scattered about? This guy. Sherlock carefully navigates his way over the treacherous landscape, giving wide berths to any open water. The air is heavy, and he's fighting the feeling of déjà vu he gets from the scenery. Had there been a lighthouse, Sherlock would have considered staying on the ship. But this is just a haunted island, supposedly. ]

Have you found anything yet?

Bounties: Bashful Bunnies

[ Upon realizing just what the bounty was for, Sherlock's motivation has changed. He's fond of bees. These are bee and bunny hybrids. They need to be saved, not treated as pests. Since then, he's been locating the nests but not following through with dispelling them. ]

There must be an alternative to banishing these creatures. They are merely trying to find a home.

[ He sits on the ground in front of a nest, quietly with his casebook open. Is he trying to sketch one? He may be. ]

Special: Crab Curry

[ Sherlock is helping to rescue the baby crabs by climbing up Norhpip's shell, but everything from his expression to his posture hints at how upset he is at the reasons for being back on Norhpip. Nothing like having one's efforts go to waste because certain people failed to stop and think about what they were doing before speaking. He's completely civil towards the crabs, but he's not suffering any fools. He spots one crab over a ledge above where they currently are. ]

I'll go for that one. Stay here and watch over the rest.

Wildcard

[ Want to do something else? Write a prompt or drop me a line at Sherry's journal,

aviekokyre, Discord @ aviekokyre, or his plotting comment, and we can plot something out. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Just like with Sherlock Alhaitham is here, too, to do whatever he can to ensure that the clue will actually be given to them this time. He's... not so much as annoyed at other people's actions having caused this to happen so much as him simply being irritated that its even asking for more in the first place. Was almost drowning not bad enough as it is??

Anyway, here he is now, and just as Kaveh has stipulated he is not alone, so this time he has... whoever this person is. Alhaitham didn't really bother to get a name and just tagged along so that he could come here and do things. And while normally he'd leave people to their own devices, the haggard looks and the clear signs of exhaustion reminds him perhaps a little too much of a certain blonde architect, so he has more or less decided to just... stick around. The other is still doing stuff for the crab anyway, so its fine.

Which, of course, brings them to the present moment, where Alhaitham nods after the given instruction and does indeed stay where he is, but makes sure to watch the other man as he goes to retrieve said crab. By all accounts its a simple task, but given his less than stellar complexion, Alhaitham can't help but anticipate something some sort of accident that's just waiting to happen.]

[ Jumping into an arrangement with someone before exchanging names is something that Sherlock does too often. Today is no different. Sherlock takes a moment to study the rock attached to the shell. There are some small handholds which he can use to pull himself up. Just like climbing ruins as a child in Cordona...

He reaches up, light catching on a thin silver bangle is around his left wrist. At least Sherlock isn't trying to be needlessly reckless. He wears a Trustfaller, and while he can't tell if the bangle is actually a magical item or not, it is claimed to help someone break their fall from certain heights. Maybe someone who can use magic can tell if it's real. (He also has a Bubble Charm threaded onto the black ribbon around his collar, but he's in no danger of falling into water. Hopefully.) ]

Let me know if the crab moves from the ledge. It'd do no good to reach it only to find the crab has scuttled to another location.

[Alhaitham isn't exactly a magic user per se (at least not in the same sense as others who do actually cast spells), but the charms and magitech of this world hasn't worked against them just yet (so long as they are properly spruced up and maintained, anyway), so Alhaitham sees no reason to distrust their usage. Of course, there is the fact that he doesn't quite know what the other even has at all, so...

Well, so long as nothing happens then its none of his business. For now Alhaitham simply continues to stand in the same spot, and nods to acknowledge what has been said to him. The crab in question does look like its pretty comfortably sunbathing or something at the moment, but he supposes that could easily change if it proves to be one of the more skittish ones. There's been a good few of those around, from what he can recall.]

[ Sherlock makes it up half way when pieces of the rock crumbles as he places a foot on it. He curses as the rock, grit, and pebbles fall. This was also much easier when he was a child, lighter and not having his head swim with fatigue. He holds on and scrambles to place his feet against any purchase he can find on the sun warmed stone. ]

Do you see an alternate route up from your position? I believe I just lost mine.

[Alhaitham isn't too worried when he sees that bit of rock falling out from the wall, seeing as the other still has a relatively firm hold on everything else. But seeing that does cast some doubt onto the integrity of the wall in general; he'd be more confident if this was any other landmass, but they do happen to be on a giant crab... not that it means much, since pretty much every large island is basically a giant sea creature of sorts.

At the question though Alhaitham narrows his eyes so that he can scan the area where the other has gotten to, eyes tracing out a new patch that seems safe enough to handle. It takes a bit, but he gets it eventually.]

Go back down a about five steps and then head right. There'll be another path there.

[ Every large landmass being on the back of a giant creature is one of the most horrifying things about this world. One such behemoth of a being lurks in his nightmares. These leviathans remind him too much of it. And that hardly factors in the threat of the leviathan deciding to dive under the water, forever at the edges of his mind. ]

Five steps and then to the right...

[ Sherlock starts to do that, but then he hears a squawk from above. A shadow blocks the sun over their heads. Seagulls, about ten in number, have realized that some of the baby crabs have climbed high and are thus easier pickings to eat. ]

Watch out!

[ Change of plans. The time for caution has passed. Sherlock needs to rescue that baby crab. Now. With the path Alhaitham spotted. Alhaitham may also have a problem. (Or the seagulls may just decide to bother the baby on the ledge and Sherlock. Who is to say?)

What was that about an accident waiting to happen? ]

[The sound of the squawking gulls is enough to draw Alhaitham's attention too, and he looks up to see roughly ten of them up in the sky, circling about in the space right above them, clearly ready to dive down and scoop up any easy pickings that they can spot, with the crab in question being one of them.

The first one takes the plunge, clearly fueled by it hunger. But before it can get close enough to touch either Sherlock or the crab a green, sword like projectile comes flying in, striking right into the bird. The sword gleams a bright, verdant green, composed entirely of light, which is why there is no wound or blood when the sword dislodges itself out of the bird, which simply spasms before plummeting towards the sea.

Alhaitham huffs as he gets back his Dendro blade, giving his wrist a flick as he eyes the rest of the seagulls, who have turned their attention to him after that stunt. They want food, but Alhaitham has clearly presented himself as a far more dangerous threat, which means he needs to be taken out.

With a loud cry the birds dive towards Alhaitham instead, which does prove to be troublesome for him—but at least leaves Sherlock and the small crab in the clear.]

Edited 2024-04-08 09:47 (UTC)

[ Sherlock doesn't waste the switch in attention after Alhaitham solidly removes one gull out of the equation. He moves from handhold to handhold, foothold to foothold, without fully checking how sound they are. More rubble crumble behind him, but he doesn't stay long enough for them to effect him.

The baby crab is noticeably agitated. They skitter one way and then another with their tiny eyes trained on the threat above. They are not watching the ledge, and babies don't have the best spacial awareness. They tip and fall. Sherlock does the only thing he can think of doing. He pushes himself off the rock wall to catch the falling baby crab and cradles them to his chest for protection.

If the Trustfaller doesn't work, he's... fallen to his death before. What's one more excruciating demise at the hands of gravity if it saves the baby crab? Theoretically, he'd finally get some rest.

Just before the two land on the ground, the Trustfaller activates to catch and cushion them. It's as if the air itself spun around them. Sherlock still has to land and hit the ground, but now it's a matter of inches instead of a greater distance. A minor, temporary pain rather something more dire. ]

I'm... I'm fine. We're fine.

[ If Alhaitham hasn't finished off all the gulls (to the awe of the other baby crabs, so cool), then Sherlock can help in a moment. He can throw rocks or something at them. ]

[The good thing about the birds coming straight for him is that they make it far easier for him to aim and strike. Even before they reach where he is Alhaitham has another two of them taken out, leaving about seven of them left.

Of course, such a course of action does not go unnoticed by the birds, who have now deemed him a bigger threat than ever. With a unified cry of what Alhaitham best assumes to be outrage the gulls gather together into a flock that dives right towards him, seemingly with the intent to bomb him somehow, but with such a blatant move its impossible for Alhaitham to not react to it. The Vision on his shoulder flares as its activates, and he vanishes from where he is right before the birds can strike, reappearing a moment later just right behind them, Chisel-Light Mirrors at the ready.]

Diffract!

[That command alongside the wave of his hand causes his mirrors to scatter, swiftly catalyzing into his Particular Binding Field that entraps all the birds in one spot and strikes them all at once in a flurry of Dendro attacks. It is perhaps a bit of an overkill, given the fact that they are mostly birds, but the important thing is that they get the job done.

With the birds taken care of Alhaitham turns back to see how the other is faring—just in time to see drop from the wall, and the abruptness of it all has Alhaitham's heart leap up to his throat. Was this person really going to—

There's no time for him to react at all, not with how late he'd spotted this, but before Alhaitham has to brace himself what would be a very messy landing something... happens? It's hard to say exactly what it is from where he currently is, but the other ends up landing with significantly less force than he would otherwise have.

Alhaitham can only guess as to what happened, but at the very least it has prevented the worst from happening. He takes the time now to hurry on over, using his second tattoo-infused flicker to teleport down to the bottom—or as much of it as he could reach before dropping down the rest of the way—then makes his over to where the other is.]

[ The baby crabs scuttle after Alhaitham, still chattering about how cool he was fighting. If nothing else, Alhaitham will have a little baby crab fan club for as long as their baby attention span will allow. The baby crab Sherlock saved crawls from his hold and pokes him as if they are checking if he's alive despite just speaking.

Sherlock sits up to see the man arrive at his side. His hair is out of sorts from the wind, and his hand bear scrapes from the rocks. However, all other signs point to him being uninjured. (His exhaustion is constant. That has not changed.)

The baby crab still pokes until they are enveloped by the group baby crabs. ]

While far from my worst days, these past few have not been easy.

[ He shakes the silver bangle on his wrist. ]

I meant to test this under a more controlled environment, but I suppose this proves its authenticity.

[...well at the very least, it seems like everything has turned out fine, Of course, it still very much does not excuse the wild stunt that the other has pulled (at least, Alhaitham assumes that what happened there was voluntary, based on the way the man is acting now), but that's something which he's not going to touch upon right now.

Of course, having said that, it certainly doesn't stop him from making a remark anyway.] You certainly picked quite the time and place for a test run.

[It is. A really good thing that the device that the other has did work as intended, because Alhaitham has very much heard stories of things happening otherwise and while Alhaitham is not a stranger to death, having to witness it is never pleasant by any means. Doubly so when its in a situation much like the one they had earlier. Sumeru might not have viciously attacking seagulls but they do have their fair share of mountains, second to the peaks of Liyue (and perhaps Fontaine, but Alhaitham is more inclined to argue on that point on a bad day).

Anyway, Alhaitham would have maybe said more but the consortium of crabs is taking more of his attention now, especially with how many of them are here now. He watches them as they do their... crab things, wondering if its best to just leave them here or try to bring all of them to someplace else. They are quite far down now from where they were, but it is still a fairly open space, and there's no telling when more of the seagulls will come...]

It was not my intent, but when the child's life was in danger, it was the only option available in the moment. The alternative was more undesired.

[ Who has survivor's guilt from not saving more people his last case? This guy.

The baby crabs huddle around them. A few try to climb up Alhaitham's legs. Any other baby crab who had wandered away has now regrouped with them after having seen the seagulls. They Sherlock watches them a moment before finally standing up. ]

We should bring them back to the nursery. I don't trust this area to stay safe from the seagulls.

[ Although, Sherlock now realizes that they never got a number for how many baby crabs had gone missing. The nursery should know if they found them all. ]

[Well that sure is a very Kaveh-like response to give. Of course, it does nothing to negate the severity of the possibility of what might've happened, but the logic of that is something he can't entirely begrudge like he otherwise would've for others.]

You're putting far too much stock in the life of a single crab. Would you mourn in the same way when you see a rabbit fall prey to an eagle or a wolf?

[Alhaitham asks that question as the other man stands up, then grimaces right after as he feels the crabs making their way up his legs and gives them a shake so that they fall off him. No hard feelings, but his pants are fairly skintight and feeling their legs and pincers poking at him—unintentionally or otherwise—isn't exactly great. He does make sure not to step on any of them though, since the whole point of this was to keep them unharmed.]

They speak with us, have a society, make art, and want our trust before their leviathan gives us information.

[ Sherlock's gaze hardens as he looks at Alhaitham. He's seen enough people get treated as property or worse. That's when they suffer inhuman treatment, and often they lack a means to fight back. They may be crabs, but they are so much more. The baby crab may have a family who'll mourn their passing, friends, playmates. ]

Some of us having that view is why we've returned here.

[The fact that the other is even trying to justify this further equal parts bemusing and frustrating. If this was Kaveh he were talking to the bemusement might win out more, perhaps, but this man is not Kaveh, so for the most part what he's feeling is pretty much somewhere in the middle.

And so, as a response, all Alhaitham does is to let out a huff.] And that is enough for you then, I suppose. Enough to place the value of your own life to that of a crab's, and thus be willing to put it on the line for it.

[The words are blunt, but they're not inherently judgmental. More admonishing, if anything, though that is not quite the intention here. Not yet, anyway.]

I know what it is like to be treated as the freak or a nuisance, and I've seen how people can be thrown away like common rubbish on the streets. The moment I treat someone cruelly in that manner is the moment I am no longer myself. And which, I would prefer death.

[ ... As someone who believes he has died multiple times previously, death is not the worse fate to befall him. He has also seen the worse fate to befall someone, in his opinion. It's something he lives in fear of. ]

[There's a brief blink upon hearing those words—or more accurately, the part about being called 'freak' or nuisance—since it hasn't been that long ago where he'd seen it being used in a similar context. Of course, it could easily just be a coincidence, but it still bears keeping in mind...]

Deliberate cruelty is one thing, but inaction is another. Do you mean to say you regard both as one and the same?

[More and more reminders of Kaveh... it really shouldn't be so surprising that even across worlds there exists such like minded individuals, yet here he is surprised by the concept.]

[ He thinks about all the times some bully targeted him as a child, and others stood by and watched it happen. They made no attempt to help. Even when Sherlock got into trouble for daring to fight back, no one (but unseen, unheard Jon) would come to his defense. ]

Not the same, but when they have the means to and still choose to do nothing, then I question their character. I may not want to bother with people most days, but even I cannot look away when someone needs help which I can provide.

[ He starts towards the path they can takes to return the baby crabs to the nursery. Sherlock is still willing to continue the conversation, but let's not forget all their tiny charges at their feet. ]

[...and that's even more of a Kaveh-like response right there. To be fair, its not exactly the first time where Alhaitham has met people with similar mindsets to Kaveh's, though those have always been easy enough to disregard for one reason or another. This time, though—

—well, he's still not really gonna bother to address it, but its certainly a bit of a food for thought... even if its perhaps in not quite the way one would expect, but what people don't know about won't hurt them.

Rather than saying anything, Alhaitham simply mulls things over for the moment, thus staying silent as he follows the other in the direction of the nursery. While he doesn't hold any of the crabs himself, they all seem eager enough to follow him.]

[ Sherlock is content to keep the silence if Alhaitham does not feel the need to respond. The gift of silence is not one often given.

Much to the relief of the pair and the caretakers at the crab nursery, the baby crabs do not wander off or cause any further mishap. The older crabs count each baby and usher them into what Sherlock can only assume is a designated area of some sort. Perhaps this nursery would be more secure if it actually had rooms and doors. Could the ability to escape prove to be some important learning experience?

After confirming that their missing crabs have been returned, Sherlock and Alhaitham are thanked and allowed to do whatever they choose. (Alhaitham's little crab fanclub will wave their little claws at him as he leaves.) ]

I may see what else the crabs wish of us. As charming as these little one are, I do not fancy yet another visit here because we have not earned their trust enough.

[ He's not blaming the crabs. He's blaming certain other people. ]

[[ ooc: Tried a roll with a different D20 with high being uneventful and low being something happens... I rolled a 2. Tried the other D20 again... rolled a 1. Needless to say, I am now waiting for the Sherry-coded dice to arrive to see if Sherry is just Cthulhu-cursed when it comes to rolls. ]]

[Alhaitham takes the time to mull over certain things in his head as they more or less deliver the baby crabs back to the designated nursery area. Not that it is much of one, but far be it from Alhaitham to know about the ecology of crabs, let alone one that isn't from Teyvat. It's probably the kind of thing that Tighnari would be interested in, if he were here.

But he isn't, and neither is Cyno. Dehya is, but she doesn't really know things, and the other three from Teyvat don't matter much in this context. Just another reminder, again, of just how far away he is from everything he knows, and not for the first time he feels the yearning for his homeland. He may not express it much, but he does miss the rainforest, the grasslands, the winding rivers, the overly large trees. Each and every one of those things that made up the place he could call home, now so far away from him. Kaveh has certainly been trying to do whatever he can to have more than a piece of home with them here, but still...

He's drawn out from his musings when the other speaks, and Alhaitham blinks, taking a moment to fully register what it is that has been said. And while that is important—]

Before that—I have a question.

[He doesn't exactly ask if the other wants to answer or not but the pause after that is probably enough of an indication that he's waiting for permission.]

[OOC: Sherlock deserves dice that are not out to murder him.]

Edited 2024-04-15 16:04 (UTC)

[ Sherlock looks at Alhaitham curiously and notices there's some kind of melancholy which hadn't been there earlier. What brought that on? ]

A question? What is it?

[ He expects it might have something further about how he saved the baby crab. Sherlock is already trying to formulate responses. He wasn't purposely testing his Trustfaller. He apologizes for the scare. He did not think he would be so affected. Yes, those baby crabs do seem to like Alhaitham.

He's likely missing the answer to the question Alhaitham is actually going to ask. ]

Do you believe it's worth it?

[Alhaitham just gets straight to the point, seeing as how he's had permission and has never been one for small talk.]

To burn yourself like this, all for the sake of realizing your ideals—is it truly worth it?

[He won't deny there is a nobility in standing for your beliefs, in giving everything you have for the sake for it—but it doesn't change the fact of what it costs, of what it takes. Not even he nor Kaveh had known, until the time came when they were forced to know. It's one thing to say yes, but another to actually live through it, and looking at this man before him Alhaitham can't be helped but be reminded of certain things he'd rather not elaborate on, even in the privacy of his own mind.]

I am who I am because of my ideals. If I cease to follow them, I am nothing more of a shadow of myself and lacking all else.

[ He loses himself, and not knowing how long Sherlock can remain himself given his condition, he must make best use of the time he has. He's already lived so much of his life under a lie. Mother lived for around 4 years once her mind started to deteriorate.

Sherlock has been having episodes of detachment from reality since he was 6. ]

[...well, there's certainly nothing that Alhaitham can say to that. Not when those very words remind him all too much of his senior—if anything, the answer that'd been given might as well be spoken by Kaveh himself, word for word.

Archons, what it is with the most haggard, downtrodden looking people who are most willing to throw themselves into the fray for some reason or other. It almost feels like its starting to become a pattern of sorts...

Not too long ago Alhaitham would have been all too willing to admonish that sort of behavior, this constant self-flagellation that leads one to nowhere. But he has come to learn a bit, perhaps, on why such a thing persists—at least in the context of somebody like his senior, and so in turn this individual before him as well.]

... [So all he does here is to sigh, and shake his head, more exasperated than anything else.] Then for your sake, I hope you know when to stop before its too late. There is only so much any one person is able to give before it harms more than it helps.

[Open] At the top of your game, keep on rolling

What I would give for a dreamless night

Knowledge of Love and Romance - Nil

MANTA Board

General: A Wishing Tree

General: The Haunting of Forgotten Cay

Bounties: Bashful Bunnies

Special: Crab Curry

Wildcard

🦀 crab curry

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

The dice said 18 gulls, and I went no, we're halving that

no we do not need 18 gulls actually

Maybe it's because I used Thanatos's dice since I don't have a set for Sherry...

rip... the dice knew...

This set attacked Sherry again elsewhere. I did not realize dice got picky

can't believe the dice are specifically targeting the poor man

I have ordered his own set, for the sake of his health

poor man deserves good things sometimes

Like a nap

naps are good for the soul

and his soul is weary

side effects of the casual cthulhu experience (tm)

Along with an increase in tentacles...

do you have a tentacle kink, sherlock--

Absolutely not! Keep them the hell away!

more like tentacle trauma huh

So much trauma

clearly what he needs is exposure therapy-- (no)

He sees them in his night terrors, isn't that enough exposure?

its the wrong kind of exposure

If the idea is taking him to the Naughtilus, the answer is still no

how about a tentacle plushie...

He'd rather have one of the bee bunnies as a plushie

but consider: plushie hugs

Or plushie that tries to strangle him in his sleep