jumpthegun | IC Inbox (v1.0)

You don't know there's no danger, Sherlock. 'Jim' was around Molly for an age while he was playing a part. 'Rich Brook' played nice for Kitty Riley. You really think they were safe? If they'd twigged to him, they would've been dead, no matter how long he'd been with them with 'no danger.'

What did he say he killed him for? Was it because he-

[John breaks off.]

Patient Zero. When Dr. Suresh arrived, he warned everyone about a Patient Zero who was following him, running around and murdering people. That's Gabriel, isn't?

[He runs a hand through his hair and begins pacing in agitation.]

Does the person he's traveling with know? Have they been warned?

[Of course he would feel guilty if Gabriel killed again. He might be dispassionate and often callous, but he isn't wholly uncaring. He is a detective on the side of the police, more often than not, and so he'd rather there not be murders he could prevent.]

He is nothing like Moriarty. He is a petty and small narcissistic man with aspirations of grandeur that he never quite meets in his head. He kills when it makes sense to him, not at random. If you start warning people then he may do something rash.

[He sighs.]

I sincerely doubt his travelling partner knows, though perhaps he suspects something as Gabriel says he is unwilling to remove his armour.

Edited 2016-10-31 01:04 (UTC)

Wait. [John stops in his tracks and stares over at Sherlock.] He's with Al? Right now?

Sherlock, how is he getting blood from Alphonse? Is he asking for it or taking it?

Yes, right now.

[His voice is getting that sort of terse it gets when he thinks John is focusing on all the wrong things.]

From what we have discussed, he will persuade Elric to remove the armour and then take a sample voluntarily. I told him to hurry so he shan't be with him much longer, you can stop fussing.

[John puts a hand over his face and tries not to groan.]

He can't take his armor off. He literally can't take it off, Sherlock. Call Gabriel off of him and find someone else.

He can't physically take it off at all? Why not?

[That sounds interesting and like the sample could be even more useful.

Also, this is the bit to focus on, right?]

[There's a momentary pause and John keeps his hand over his face as he turns away from Sherlock. Trying to resist him or lie to him is nearly impossible, but he has to at least attempt it for Al's sake.]

I can't tell you.

[Sherlock snorts from behind John.]

Are we really going to do this?

[John's silent for a moment or two.]

It's not my secret to tell. Work it out yourself, Sherlock. He can't take off his armor. Ever. Getting blood from him is gonna be hard. What explanations are there?

There are several possible solutions, though some are more likely than others taking into account the extended rules of probability from other worlds.

[Oh yes, the 'can you deduce' game, he likes this one. He always wins.]

The suit acts as a sort of portable iron lung, assisting in illness or infirmity, and he cannot survive without it. No-- No, that doesn't make any sense, he could take off the armour in that case, it would merely be inadvisable. It can't be welded on, someone would just cut through it.

[He hums thoughtfully.]

He is the armour. A robot?

He's not a robot, no.

[But he's not going to deny Al being the armor. There's a temptation to give Sherlock a hint, but John tamps down on it.]

But he is the armour.

[Oh ho, now he's really getting interested. His face has lit up completely, animated and beaming.]

A sentient suit of armour, or a ghost possessing one?

He was born human, and he hasn't died. Technically.

[John honestly doubts that Sherlock is going to get there on his own for this. A botched alchemy job is so far off the path of sensible that even people who believed in that sort of thing more than a few hours ago would have trouble.]

Edited 2016-11-03 00:21 (UTC)

Then he's in some sort of limbo.

[John's words suggest that he's on the right track. Human, not dead, but only technically. Living suit of armour. He's never going to guess a soul, though, because that would imply he believes in such ludicrous nonsense.]

I suppose this means he doesn't bleed. Irritating.

[John is suspiciously quiet for just a little too long before making a noncommittal noise and going to finish preparing his pack for the day ahead after lockdown ends.]

[So he does bleed.

Well, then it's a good thing Gabriel is fetching a sample, because he would dearly like to examine the blood of a sentient suit of armour that's been here since the 'beginning'.

It means he gets them set off as quickly as possible when they can be moving, fuelled by excitement. AND OFF THEY GO.]

IC Inbox (v1.0)

action

action

action

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;

action;