The Adventure of the Endless Ocean: Inbox

[astudyinviolet]

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[emet_sulk]

( From this thread. )

[ In a few days' time, as promised, Emet-Selch arrives at the given address with a small box in his hands. He knocks politely on the door and waits for a response. ]

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock doesn't receive house guests. In his time living in this apartment, only Heizou has be allowed inside. Thus he's not quick to answer and pokes his head out before stepping out and closing the door behind him. ]

Ah, I will admit that I did not expect you so soon.

[ Or ever given what Emet-Selch set out to do. ]

[emet_sulk]

[ He shrugs. His countenance is not one that easily folds into expressions of regret or humility but he does still feel a little guilty about their first meeting. Well, actions speak louder than words, as they say... ]

It would have been sooner but I am quite busy of late. And it took some time to come up with a solution using what was available here.

[ He holds out the box. If Sherlock opens it here and now, he'll find a large, vaguely purpleish crystal inside, about the size of one's hand. ]

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock takes the box and roughly weighs it in his hands before opening it. A purple crystal? He frowns a bit but not from confusion or skepticism. Having seen what the unsettling sea green Khalid lenses could do, Sherlock doesn't doubt that this crystal has some power to it. ]

Is it the crystal or the crystal along with the box?

[emet_sulk]

[ He chuckles a little. ]

Oh no, the box is simply a container. 'Tis the crystal, my good man.

[ He gestures at it. ]

I thought about your preferences. You dislike having others affect your perception and you also seem to dislike the thought of showing vulnerability. Or perhaps you're simply very private? No matter - the way this spell works is that you focus on it whilst channelling magic and it will show you an image of whatever you're holding at the forefront of your mind. The more focused you are, the clearer the image will be. Does that make sense to you?

[astudyinviolet]

[ He tries not to react when his shortcomings are so easily stated. Although, dislike having others affect his perception is likely understated. Sherlock's perception of reality is shaky enough without others adding to his uncertainty. ]

It does make sense, but there is one issue I currently see. I cannot channel magic. Does that mean it will be inert until I obtain one of the tattoos?

[ After the post, it still takes him a few weeks to actually gain access to magic. ]

[emet_sulk]

[ That gives him pause. He honestly hadn't expected that the subject of his spell wouldn't be able to use magic.

Luckily, he has a solution. ]

I can imbue it with my own aether for now. You will need to hold it for it to work in that case and eventually I will need to replenish it. Forgive me, but I don't trust a random mage not to mess up my spell.

[astudyinviolet]

[ Emet-Selch is the opposite of Sherlock. He comes from a place were magic seems to be so common that the lack of it is the oddity. Well, perhaps interaction with the other will help expand their understanding. ]

Very well. Let us give it a try.

[ Sherlock takes the crystal out of the box and holds in both his hands. ]

Like this?

[emet_sulk]

Exactly so.

[ Emet-Selch raises a hand and the crystal glows faintly. It continues to emit a very faint glow even after he lowers his hand. If one squints, one can possibly make out what appear to be arcane geometries inside the crystal. The spell, presumably. ]

Now, all you have to do is visualise something. It can be something as innocuous as an animal or your favourite food. Don't expect a result immediately. This thing's purpose is to train your focus.

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock watches with interest (and a bit of anxiety) as something begins to glow inside. This isn't like the Khalid Lenses. He has to take some kind of risk, and while Emet-Selch has made Sherlock uncomfortable a few times, they were not intentional. Now is not the time to be paranoid. ]

You believe the ability to focus on one thing will keep others from intruding on my mind.

[ Forgive him if he seems skeptical because he considers himself very good at focusing on a detail and yet... ]

[emet_sulk]

Hmm, not quite, but it is the first step towards it.

[ He taps the side of his head. ]

Do not underestimate mental fortitude, my good man. For those without magic, strong will can carry them through even the harshest of times. You may believe yourself able to focus on the details of a single thing, but can you continue to do so whilst some malefactor hammers figurative nails into your skull? That will be the next thing to train yourself on if you master this first lesson.

[astudyinviolet]

[ Mental fortitude is something a Holmes should have and also what a Holmes may not. Mycroft has always impressed the importance of the mind over emotion. Sherlock takes after his mother. The cracks in the mental fortitude have already happened. ]

I see the merit in that.

[ Without further comment, Sherlock concentrates on the image of pocket watch. He pictures the shape, the chain, the clock face, the design decorating the cover, the scratches around the key-hole because it was wound in the dark, every detail he can recall. ]

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch watches Sherlock's attempt with interest. The average person tends to be easily distracted or to not have the attention to detail which they believe they possess. Accordingly, he's not expecting much from this man's first try.

He could say something, but he remains quiet. Distracting Sherlock right now would rather ruin the point of the exercise.

Depending on Sherlock's proficiency, the crystal will glow faintly brighter and reflect an image of what he's picturing like a little hologram inside of it. The better the focus, the more clarity and depth it will have. ]

[astudyinviolet]

[ This is not so different than recreating a crime scene in Sherlock's mind. The scale is the real difference. The pocket watch first takes a vague shape that seems to sharpen and grow more detailed as time progresses. It's like focusing the lens of a microscope; it's blurry at first but becomes sharper as the right adjustments are made. The pocket watch is no mere drawing either. It forms in three dimensions.

Neither of them know that Sherlock's light magic will take a similar form for it is how his mind works. ]

[emet_sulk]

[ Emet-Selch cannot help but make a quiet sound now - that of appreciation and pleasant surprise when he sees the watch take form. ]

You have a sharp mind, ser.

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock nods his head a fraction but keeps silent lest he breaks his concentration. He trains all his focus onto the watch, and the watch begins to rotate within the crystal to show more details.

Should he try something more? Switch to another object? Attempt more than one? ]

woop I thought I replied

[emet_sulk]

[ Sensing the man is trying something, he falls silent again. This is quite fascinating for him to observe. This man clearly has no problems with visualisation. His memory for detail surpasses expectation. Emet-Selch thinks Sherlock should have no problem learning how to train himself against outside influence.

'Perhaps I should have found a larger crystal?' he thinks humorously.

Whatever Sherlock decides to do next, the crystal will show it. ]

Blame the change in month

[astudyinviolet]

[ He holds the image of the watch for a little while longer before he gets bored with the pocket watch. He switches to imagining a magnifying glass hovering over a flower petal. Sherlock even tries to have the petal magnify properly under the lens. It's a far more complex image to hold in his mind. Like before, the image starts vague and sharpens to be in more detail. ]

... Is this really it?

it's definitely been A Month x_x

[emet_sulk]

[ At this, Emet-Selch can't help but chuckle. He does his best to stifle it by covering his mouth but he still ends up shaking his head in amused exasperation. ]

Well, I wasn't expecting you to do so well on the first try. Do you want me to make the spell more complex? I suppose I may as well alter it so that it attempts to distract you while you focus.

No kidding @_@

[astudyinviolet]

[ Story of Sherlock's life. He's very good at some things and absolutely horrible at others. ]

That would be closer to what the purpose of this exercise. Distractions are a way to get into someone's mind without full mind control.

[ And thus, Sherlock would be more comfortable with it. ]

[emet_sulk]

Quite. Give it here, then.

[ Assuming Sherlock hands back the crystal, Emet-Selch will begin redesigning the spell within. ]

What do you find most distracting then, ser? Flies buzzing? The screech of nails on chalk? Or perhaps...dead silence?

[astudyinviolet]

[ He hands over the crystal as he thinks of what sounds could distract him the most. Dead silence had been distracting when he had nothing to occupy his thoughts. He craves another voice to end his solitude. He misses Jon and John.

Focusing on something within silence keeps Sherlock from getting so lost. That will not work for this. ]

Foreboding chanting in a language I do not understand accompanied by drum beats. Or a fool speaking falsehoods in a language I do understand.

[ The former for the eldritch cultist implications. The latter because Sherlock would want to argue and correct the person. ]

... The sounds of being submerged and remaining underwater.

[emet_sulk]

[ He hums acknowledgement. Seems the man has a specific distaste for religious and foolish behaviour. If he factors in what Sherlock told him before, it would be a little difficult to have the crystal project enough variation of speech to be properly distracting without drawing upon the man's own psyche...

Underwater sounds it is, then. And perhaps he can add faint drumbeats?

Adjusting the spell takes a few minutes, Emet-Selch tracing lines and symbols over the surface of the crystal which then seem to sink in. Once he's satisfied, he hands it back to Sherlock. ]

Try that.

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock takes the crystal and holds it in his hands like before. The pocket watch would be a fitting image to reproduce in order to test how the sounds effect him. And effect him they do. The image wavers as if it is underwater, shimmering as drum beats cause a rippling effect. The pocket watch itself lacks the same level of detail, even distorting in areas separate from the water effects.

The detective holding the crystal also looks a lot more disturbed and even, to some extent, afraid. It's just a crystal. These are just sounds. But they bring to mind darker emotions and fears Sherlock struggles with. ]

[emet_sulk]

[ He watches carefully. The image wavers - which is good; it means the distraction is functioning as intended. Sherlock seems perturbed though, which is not what Emet-Selch had intended. But perhaps that suits the other man just fine...? After all, he had merely selected based on their answer. ]

How is it? Would you prefer something different?

[astudyinviolet]

[ Perturbed is one way to describe how Sherlock feels. ]

It's... it fine. This will do the job.

[ Emotions and trauma are a distraction. If he could focus his mind while being assaulted by them, then he'll be all the more difficult to control, wouldn't he? Does it work that way? At the very least, it would help him to keep focused on a case should it touch on these things. (Which in this world usually involves water. ]

[emet_sulk]

Very well.

[ If Sherlock is satisfied (as much as one can be satisfied with such a thing) then he will let it be. ]

I shall take my leave, then. If you would like me to adjust it or its magic fades, do let me know, hmm?

[astudyinviolet]

[ ooc: Sorry for the late. I've been ill. ]

I shall. Thank you for this.

[ And he does mean it. The crystal may bring up unpleasant emotions, but he feels that is what he needs to protect himself against. ]

Christmas Gift

[lucky_e]

To Mr. Sherlock Holmes,

Your reputation precedes you, Mr. Holmes! I do hope that this letter and gift finds you well in your current endeavors! It was quite difficult to reach you, and traversing through time and space takes quite a bit of Christmas magic, you see! But I still hope that you manage to enjoy the gift that I was able to give you!

Happy Holidays,

Santa Claus

[Sherlock will be given a set of stimulating detective novels written in a local, foreign language native only to Escordvia! A dictionary and book of grammar is included, along with a bag of chocolate chip cookies.

...his gift is also hidden as well. On the back of the letter is a list of clues and riddles for him to solve in order to find it. Or, rather, it will lead him to another list of clues followed by another, that will eventually lead him to his gift! They're probably not going to be all that hard for Sherlock to figure out, but they'll still be relatively challenging and thought out nonetheless!]

[astudyinviolet]

[ What is this? Sherlock spends his time studying the letter, and once he's satisfied he's gotten all the data he can from it, he begins to solve the list of clues and riddles. When he finds the gift, he's still puzzled by the whole thing because he's not super familiar with anyone who might celebrate Christmas and not Winterstide in general. Who could this have been?

Well, he will give the books a read and hope they are better than some of the detective books he had unfortunately read and heavily critique. Maybe there are further in clues inside.

Although, he raises his brows at the inclusion of a dictionary and grammar books.... Oh dear Lord. Does this book have words which are used in ways he doesn't understand?! Is he going to come across things like top, bottom, middle, left, right again? Or riding someone until they cried? Maybe he should read these for a reason beyond possible clues. ]

Legally Distinct Crimmas (Winterstide Gift)

[crystalrepose]

[A package! With a signed note from Miriam included, though no reference to the scarf. She was wearing it while bringing it to be delivered, though. Inside is a looking-glass and a set of notebooks in a waterproof case. The note even references these directly: "I hope these will be of use to you. You seem to go through a lot of notebooks."]

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock wasn't expecting anything in return, though he supposes he didn't hide his tracks very well beyond leaving off his name. However, he appreciates the gifts a lot.

The looking-glass will help with detective work, as sometimes a mirror does aid in seeing things he is in the wrong angle. The waterproof case and notebooks are will get the most use of them all. He'll be seen going around with the case in the future. It's nice not having to worry about ruining his casebooks (or other documents which the case can also protect) on this world of water. ]

A Winterstide Gift!

[apothecarry]

[Alfyn discovered Sherlock's love of coffee in time to not give him tea. Instead, he will find several different bags of coffee, decorated with some festive ribbons, and a deep spoon to get the coffee out with. And there's a note!

Hope you enjoy lots of cups of coffee after this! We don't have a holiday quite like this one, but it's been fun to give out gifts to my friends, and you're one of them! -Alfyn]

Re: A Winterstide Gift!

[astudyinviolet]

[ (For the record, he would not say no to tea either.) Sherlock doesn't often gets the chance to savour the flavor of coffee, but he makes sure to give ample time to enjoy these. The note is safely tucked away in his casebook. ]

Hi pretend this isn't late, backdated to the 26th

[scooba]

[All things considered, Freminet wasn't expecting a present from Sherlock. Which was why when he got something, he had to think of something fast. With that, there were some chocolate chip cookies and some packets of tea. There was a note that said:

Dear Mr. Sherlock,

Thank you for the present. I hope that you'll like this

-Freminet

=|b

[astudyinviolet]

[ Likewise, Sherlock hadn't expected a gift in return since he left his name off the gift. Granted, he didn't try very hard to keep himself anonymous to those who wanted to investigate, but he will enjoy the treats in his own time. ]

Optional Winterstide reciprocation

[emet_sulk]

[ Should Sherlock choose to take up Emet-Selch's offer of an anonymous return gift, the assistant will give him something addressed to "the one who left me various books".

The package, once unwrapped, reveals a fairly typical but generous box of seasonal biscuits which a vendor had recommended to the mage. A 'boring' gift, maybe, but also hopefully a safe one. ]

[astudyinviolet]

[ Sherlock debates on whether Emet-Selch would be disappointed if no one ever went to pick up the gift. He goes back and forth on the matter for a few days before finally going to retrieve it. Emet-Selch already got something for his mystery gifter. That nullifies the whole reason why Sherlock kept his name off his package. If he can't keep Emet-Selch from feeling obligated to give a return gift, then Sherlock might as well not let it go to waste.

Given the number of cookies he has received from people, cookies are likely the majority of his meals for the next few weeks. (This lifestyle is not recommended, but he is a Holmes, and... at least he's eating something? Sorta?) ]