for Strat

[tohearthesound]

It's been five days since his visit to Baker Street. Rache is making plans.

(He is free but he has no resources. Travel costs; his room and board here costs. He is considering prize fights or thievery. Some perverse part of him wants to try his hand a detective work.)

For now, he has tea and a good view of the bar. It's enough.

Comments

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

()

[tohearthesound]

At first glance, he thinks it's Holmes--his Holmes rather than any other of his acquaintance. (Hallucination or wishful thinking, he doesn't choose to dwell.)

The realization that it's Strat sinks into him slowly.

(He remembers being torn out, being drawn away by the coven and wondering if he would ever get back here. If he would ever see him again.)

Now he's here--they're here--and all he can do for the moment is stare.

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

"Well," he murmurs.

"How fascinating."

[tohearthesound]

He smiles, slow and a touch unsteady.

"I do try."

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

Strat takes a seat at Rache's table.

"And how have you been, my dear fellow?"

[tohearthesound]

"Very well, all things considered.

I had to find new accommodations, but I'm settling in."

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

He raises his eyebrows and glances over the new body again.

"Indeed?"

[tohearthesound]

Rache finds something fascinating in his tea cup to look at.

"There was a vacancy," he murmurs.

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

"No flatmate, then?"

[tohearthesound]

"Not anymore."

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

"I see."

[tohearthesound]

"An unresolvable conflict of personalities, you might say."

Rache folds his hands.

"How have you been?"

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

"Oh, the usual," he says dismissively. "All manner of interesting violence."

[tohearthesound]

Eyebrow arch.

"Strictly work related?"

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

"As well as a fight or two."

[tohearthesound]

"Ones you started, or ones you felt compelled to finish?"

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

"Well, I could hardly let down my supporters."

[tohearthesound]

The corner of his mouth lifts.

"You do hate to disappoint."

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"Entirely."

[tohearthesound]

"You have never disappointed me," he adds, softer.

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

"I am very glad to hear it."

[tohearthesound]

Rache smiles and does his best not to fidget.





"I was worried you wouldn't recognize me," he confesses after a moment.

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

He smiles.

"Just the same way I knew you were not Sherlock Holmes."

[tohearthesound]

"Ah."

The sound is almost a laugh.

"I should have had more faith in you."

[finaldiscussion.livejournal.com]

"I am sure you can be forgiven."