#MOLLY HOOPER / INTERACTIONS

[storyuntrue]

@shxlmes: see? you have a talent for this.  ❜ { for molly }

Molly’s   nose   scrunches   up   at   his   compliment,   while   she   looks   up   at   him   through   a   furrowed   brow.   “I   don’t   think   breaking   and   entering   is   something   I   want   to   be   talented   at.”   This   might   be   the   only   time   that   being   a   short   woman   with   petite   assets   and   sufficient   yoga   skills   seemed   to   pay   off.   It’s   the   first   —   and   hopefully   the   only   —   time   that   she   had   to   stuff   herself   through   a   tiny   window   in   order   get   into   some   bloke’s   basement   flat,   and   she   did   a   pretty   good   job.   There’s   only   one   scratch   on   her,   right   on   her   bum,   where   the   swell   of   it   caught   against   the   opening   latch.   

After   unlocking   the   door   from   the   inside,   Molly   pulls   it   open   to   let   Sherlock   in,   looking   around   the   darkened   room.   “Are   you   sure   he’s   not   coming   back   any   time   soon?”

[nctanthca]

@storyuntrue asked " whose blood is that? " / from Molly !

" Honestly I'm not too sure, " Anthea said, barely glancing at the spot on her carpet Molly was looking at. "One of the Holmes brothers probably." They'd gotten into a few scraps in Anthea's quarters. She'd thought it absurd the first time but now she was used to their little fights. They were rare but had been known to happen. "Any advice on how to get it out?" She was about ready to just toss the small carpet away.

[storyuntrue]

𝑻𝒉𝒆   𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓   𝒕𝒐   𝒕𝒉𝒆   𝒒𝒖𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏   𝒔𝒊𝒕𝒔   𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕   at   the   tip   of   Molly’s   tongue,   yet   she   refrains   from   letting   it   slip.   Instead,   she   actually   allows   herself   a   moment   to   mull   it   through,   to   truly   think   if   that’s   what   she   wanted   —   if   getting   herself   more   involved   in   crime   solving   was   something   that   she   really   was   after.   In   the   end   she   shakes   her   head,   slowly   at   first,   and   then   with   more   conviction.   “I   don’t   want   to   add   more   to   what   I   already   do.   I   like   what   I   do;   sometimes   it   involves   helping   solve   some   crimes,   other   times   it   allows   the   family   of   a   deceased   one   to   bid   an   easier   goodbye.   I   wouldn’t   want   to   exchange   one   part   of   my   job   for   more   of   another.   I   like   the   balance,   even   if   it’s   not   always   entirely   even,   as   is   with   today.”   

Chin   rested   on   her   curled   hand,   elbow   on   the   surface   of   the   bar,   Molly   gave   Alice   the   sweetest   of   smiles,   her   appreciation   for   the   other   woman   visible   in   the   glint   of   her   dark   eyes.   “I   really   shouldn’t   work   with   contacts,   but   I   haven’t   yet   bought   a   new   pair   of   glasses,   and   the   ones   I   have   currently   keep   sliding   down   my   nose.”   A   vivid   thought   enters   her   mind,   at   which   she   visibly   grimaces   and   giggles.   “I   would   not   like   to   fish   them   out   of   some   poor   sod’s   entrails,   so   contacts   will   do   for   now.   Seriously,   though,   Alice.   Thank   you   for   worrying   for   me,   but   it’ll   be   alright.   Nothing   I   haven’t   had   to   put   up   with   before.”   

how could you do anything but! alice can hardly understand it, wanting to cling to the idea of truth, of the heart! why not embrace what you wanted with both hands, selfishly? what was it that molly wanted from all of this? leaning in with that smile, all teeth and sharp edges and eyes, reflected behind blue-tinted lenses, stared back with fervent conviction. "hardly! i think you have to start asking yourself since you've been putting in all of this EXTRA WORK... molly, is it that you want to get more involved? in the solving of crimes?" molly, who was so sweet, oh she wonders what sort of seedling has taken root within the core of molly hooper?

leaning in, her hands loop beneath her chin ; wide eyed and locked in. alice gives off the airs of someone who could fall into just about ANYTHING. but she definitely believed that molly hooper noticed far more then most ever gave her credit for. especially those that she suspected that molly wished most to notice it, but, alas! what alice felt was most important was molly believed in her own ability within this, nodding her head in serious attention. "i think it's perfectly good. imagine if you were tired and then missed something important! and that simply wouldn't do, not for our molly." her lips split into a wide grin. "you need eyedrops too? molly! come on! you have to take care of yourself too~ don't make me march in there and tell off inspector whoever."

- @storyuntrue

[artofdeductionbysholmes]

We may have a problem with the so-called fiancé, @artofdeductionbysholmes I lost sight of him…

Any update on the lab results? @artofdeductionbysholmes @mollyatthemorgue

The question is: did he disappear on his own terms, or was his disappearance forced?

And yes, I just received @mollyatthemorgue Molly's lab report. See below.

[ID: 3 screenshots of a lab report

Lab Report

Subject: Examination of Paper Sample

Date of Report: June 2, 2024

Lab Technician: Hooper, Molly

Sample ID: Paper-2024-371

Introduction

The purpose of this lab report is to present the findings from the examination of a piece of paper. The analysis aims to identify the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the paper, and any potential indicators of its environment and exposure history.

Sample Description

Type: Paper 

Condition on Receipt: Intact with minor surface wear, slightly discoloured.

Methods of Analysis

Visual Inspection

Microscopic Examination

Chemical Analysis

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Microbiological Assays

Moisture Content Analysis

Odour Analysis

Results

1. Visual Inspection

Appearance: The paper showed slight discoloration, with faint yellowish-brown stains.

Surface Condition: Minor abrasions were noted. Some dirt and dust particles were visible.

2. Microscopic Examination

Fibre Integrity: The cellulose fibres were mostly intact, with minor signs of surface wear.

Debris: Presence of small soil particles and other unidentified debris.

3. Chemical Analysis

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF):

Detected Elements: Trace amounts of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr).

Surface Contaminants: Minor presence of inorganic substances.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS):

Organic Compounds: Detected small amounts of hydrocarbons and other organic pollutants.

Residues: Identified residual chemicals from inks and dyes, with some degradation products.

4. Microbiological Assays

Bacterial Presence: Identified bacterial species including Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp.

Fungal Presence: Traces of fungal spores, likely Aspergillus and Penicillium spp.

5. Moisture Content Analysis

Moisture Level: Moderate moisture content of 12%.

Chemical Composition: The moisture contained slight acidic properties.

6. Odour Analysis

Detected Odours: Mild, musty odour with hints of organic decay.

Discussion

The examination of the paper sample indicates several key findings:

The physical condition and minor wear suggest it was exposed to an environment with abrasive materials and some physical stress.

The presence of heavy metals and organic pollutants detected by XRF and GC-MS indicates exposure to a polluted environment, potentially involving industrial or waste materials.

Microbial assays revealed early stages of microbial colonisation by bacteria and fungi typically associated with organic material decomposition.

The moderate moisture content and slight acidity suggest exposure to a moist environment with some chemical interactions.

Odour analysis confirmed the presence of organic decay-related gases.

The combination of physical wear, chemical contaminants, microbial presence, and environmental indicators suggests that the paper may have been exposed to a mixed waste or polluted environment. The findings are consistent with environments such as waste disposal sites, polluted industrial areas, or other locations with significant organic and inorganic contaminants.

Conclusion

The paper sample shows signs of exposure to a polluted and possibly waste-rich environment. The results indicate physical wear, contamination by heavy metals and organic pollutants, microbial activity, and environmental interactions that are typical of such conditions. Further context about the paper's origin could provide more specific insights.

Lab Technician Signature:

[signature of Molly Hooper]

Reviewed By:

Patrick Miller

/end ID]

[victimsofyaoipoll]

Round 1

Propaganda Under Cut

Mary Morstan

a controversial one i know, but it’s tumblr. how could i not? anyway shoutout to the writers for CANONICALLY killing her off for the non-canon ship. she was so cool honestly poor girl

Oh god where do I start? Constantly being turned abusive? Killed off (in canon!)? Constantly being removed from fic? I cannot stand the way she's treated, but it's 100% impossible to find Johnlock fic without the "umsympathetic Mary Morstan" angle. It's infuriating!

The fandom insulted Mary at every conceivable turn, refused to acknowledge her narrative importance or impact on the other characters, called for her death repeatedly, and even SENT DEATH THREATS TO HER ACTRESS because she had the AUDACITY to be a morally gray female character who was married to John (they did not care about the moral grayness of the male characters, but she was irredeemable, apparently-presumably because she was a "threat" to the main fandom ship). And though she was definitely sacrificed on a SPECIFIC mlm ship altar, she was still tangentially victimized by OTHER mlm ships too! For example, this fandom was willing to make up a character WHO LITERALLY DID NOT ACTUALLY EXIST to ship with different male character (who was morally...way worse than she ever was), as well as create swathes of content about two men who had maybe one canon interaction in the whole show, before even thinking about the possibility of making content for this character or even just talking about her in a way that wasn't overtly misogynistic and degrading. When Mary died in-story (in what, in my opinion, was an unnecessary, bullshit way), her death was, to this fanbase, not actually about her and was just seen as "proof" that the two male leads would now get together (they didn't). And this STILL continues to this day. People reduce her to "selfish bitch," completely ignoring any of her complexity by claiming that she's incapable of caring about anyone (despite helping to save lives on more than one occasion, as well as dying in an act of sacrifice) and insisting that any of her positive qualities MUST be completely fabricated. I've seen a lot of female characters get mistreated by fandom for a mlm ship's sake, but I don't think I've EVER encountered an example as bad as this one.

Molly Hooper

She's in love with Sherlock, and in fandom she's just considered annoying. Listen, I don't ship them but jesus christ

Honestly I thought her relationship with Sherlock way too abusive (he treated her so badly wth) to turn into a healthy romantic one but the Johnlock shippers were super nasty to the actress -I think she even received dead threats ??? Over playing a fictional character ??? Just because people shipped two dudes ???- and the character deserved better personal development that didn't revolve around her unresolved crush for the main character

Set up as a romantic partner for Sherlock. Often gets shit on for being in the way of Johnlock.

[tamerlane-holmes]

OOC: This is my BBC Sherlock OC blog! In this post, I will introduce my character and list some roleplay rules. (This blog is ran/moderated by @cosmicbobatea)

Name: Tamerlane Ensley Holmes

Nicknames: Tam, Tammy (childhood nickname, family use only.)

Age range: 20s-30s

Gender: Male

Pronouns: He/Him

Sexuality: Gay (crushes/relationships are complicated. he doesn’t have the best luck.)

Skin color: White

Hair color/texture: Brown, short, wavy

Eye color: Hazel

Height: 5’8” (slightly taller than John but shorter than Sherlock)

Body shape: Lean, slightly muscular

Typical clothing: Suits in greys, browns, or blues

Friends/Allies: John Watson, D.I. Greg Lestrade, Dr. Molly Hooper, Mary Morstan/Watson

-He is the youngest of the four Holmes children, after Mycroft, Sherlock, and Eurus. He was too young to remember much of Eurus at all before she was sent to Sherrinford.

-While he might not be as particularly intelligent as his siblings, he’s better at dealing with people. He has a talent/skill regarding persuasion and charm that even his siblings seem to have at least some respect for. Sherlock has asked him to use his talent to gain information from suspects or witnesses a few times.

-He is a quitting smoker, along with his brothers, and sometimes relapses.

-He loves tea. He can’t live without it. Jokingly, he has suggested having an addiction to it.

-He sometimes has difficulty expressing his emotions easily/openly.

-He works as an actor for community theater.

-He’s skilled in lock-picking. (It’s sort of a hobby)

-He has a love/hate relationship with Moriarty.

~ ROLEPLAY RULES ~

- Don't be rude. Just because the mod is an adult, doesn't mean they're going to tolerate rude behavior.

- No NSFW. Some innuendo content is fine, but no images please.

- Cursing is fine for the most part, but please refrain from using slurs whatsoever.

- Homophobia, transphobia, racism, pedophilia, xenophobia, etc. will not be tolerated.

- If you want to interact as a character, use anonymous ask. Character blogs are perfectly fine.

- If you want to send art in asks, please do, by all means, but keep it SFW.

- Do not spam asks!

- For any OOC (out of character) asks, please specify in your ask.

[forest-of-stories]

Throwback Thursday, Fandom Edition: "I didn't come here to debate the nature of identity with you."

Jekyll showcases some of Steven Moffat’s weaknesses as a writer as well as some of his strengths, but when I first saw the miniseries in 2011, I thought that it was an amazingly brilliant take on a classic story with which I was quickly becoming obsessed. 

I took a lot of notes as I watched the first episode...

...and the second...

...and all the way to the end.

I wrote almost 14,000 words of Jekyll fanfic over the next year, including several crossovers, and you can find most of it on AO3.  I also collaborated on a fusion with Moffat’s other retelling of a Victorian classic.

Although I first talked about the basic foundations of “Jekyllock” with another friend, @ellekess and I ultimately took the story and ran with it.  In that AU, Jim Moriarty had been Sherlock’s murderous alter ego, sharing and occasionally transforming his body, since childhood.  Mycroft knew about Jim but kept his existence a secret from Sherlock.  Eventually, in the series timeline, John and Sherlock pieced together the truth.

Throughout 2012 and for a little while after, Elle and I wrote scenes as they occurred to us, out of sequence, and emailed them back and forth.  Sometimes we texted each other in character as John and Mycroft, or Jim and pretty much anyone.  (We both really loved writing in his voice.)  I vividly recall scribbling one scene on public transit – I can’t find the draft now, but it involved Molly Hooper finding out what was going on – in a burst of creative energy that I still find remarkable to this day.  I also remain delighted by the interactions that Elle wrote between Jim and Mycroft, in particular.  (“I have no wish to hear about your urges, James.”)

I loved exploring this AU, and I loved working on it together with someone who was equally invested.  Even after we moved on to other fannish interests, and although I don’t know whether we’ll ever share everything that we wrote, Elle and I have always looked back on our Jekyllock project fondly, and we still do.

[storyuntrue]

Molly   doesn’t   want   to   hear   this.   She   doesn’t   want   to   see   the   pity   in   his   eyes,   listen   to   it   in   his   voice   and   words   as   he   explains   away   what   had   transpired.   And   she   was   really   starting   to   regret   opening   the   door   to   her   flat   and   letting   him   inside   in   the   first   place.   For   now   she   has   to   sit   there,   and   suffer   through   her   heart   being   shredded   into   pieces,   yet   again,   for   the   hundredth   time   it   seems,   has   to   willingly   part   with   her   dignity   so   he   would   feel   okay.   

It’s   exhausting.   He   has   exhausted   her   to   the   very   last   drop   of   her   hope and patience.

“Well,   it   seems   like   you   didn’t   have   the   choice,   and   I   can   understand   that.”   There’s   nothing   to   discuss,   at   the   end   of   it,   nothing   to   process,   in   her   mind.   Sherlock   didn’t   mean   the   words,   but   she   did,   and   now   they   have   to   live   with   it.   Whether   that’s   good   or   bad,   Molly   didn’t   care   to   ponder.   She’d   rather   just   forget   it   entirely,   shove   it   all   down,   lick   out   her   wounds   and   carry   on   with   her   life,   the   Hooper   way   of   making   the   pain   disappear.   “Thank   you   for   saving   my   life,   but   it’s   2 AM   and   I   have   work   in   the   morning,   so. . .”   

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐎𝐄𝐓𝐒 𝐃𝐄𝐏𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐌𝐄𝐌𝐄 / @storyuntrue

" in fifty years will all this be declassified and you'll confess why you did it ? "

" 𝐘𝐎𝐔 𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐌𝐘 𝐁𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐑 if you think this story will ever be officially released... " His voice quickly retorted as he struggled to meet her gaze. Sherlock was aware that he was stalling, intentionally evading the point. Usually, this worked well when there was something that felt too heavy and emotional to face --- people expected him to be lacking when it came to sentiment. Incorrectly assuming he didn't feel or understanding them, when he did - but chose to neglect them for a myriad of reasons that all felt so broken and complicated since he'd been to Sherrinford.

However, Molly Hooper had never been most people - which is why his sister had targeted her specifically. " But... I digress... " he relented after a moment, taking a breath as he resisted the urge to pace. "The short answer is I was under the impression that your life was at risk if I didn't. The long is, frankly much more complicated than that... I'm still processing it all. "

[storyuntrue]

He   wants   her   to   believe   his   words   are   honest,   that   there   is   no   ulterior   motive   lying   behind   his   confession.   It   might   be   her   unfortunate   experience   when   dealing   with   him,   it   might   be   years   of   heartache   and   sadness   as   she   watched   his   fall   from   grace   over   and   over   again.   In   her   heart   lies   unconditional   love   for   him,   the   kind   that   could   never   go   away,   only   dull   with   time.   But   her   naivete   when   it   came   to   him?   That   was   well   and   truly   gone,   and   Molly   could   not   find   it   within   herself   to   believe   him   to   be   sincere.   

“Are   you   out   of   your   bloody   mind?”   She   half   whispers,   half   hisses,   her   dark   gaze   ablaze.   A   part   of   her   wants   to   hurl   the   syringe   to   the   nearest   wall   and   watch   it   shatter,   she   wants   to   grab   Sherlock 's ear, like a naughty schoolboy,   and   drag   him   out   of   the   drug   den   by   it.   Instead   she   remains   rooted   to   her   spot,   her   petite   body   giving   away   her   state   with   a   light   quiver.   “Have   you   thought   this   through?   Actually?   Have   you?   Or   have   you   passed   all   logic   and   sense   and   care   only   about   a   bloody   good   high?”   

Her   mouth   tugs   up   in   a   quick   smile,   but   it’s   nowhere   near   humorous   or   amused,   nowhere   near   affectionate.   It   feels   bitter   on   her   lips,   weary.   No   qualms,   no   care,   Sherlock’s   using   her   again.   The   big   dark   eyes,   and   the   deep,   deep   voice   and   she’s   just   supposed   to   throw   all   caution   to   the   wind.   Molly   feels   bile   rise   in   the   back   of   her   throat.   “You’re   asking   me   to   assist   you   in   your   suicide.   If   anyone   finds   out,   and   Mycroft   will   find   out,   he   probably   already   knows   about   this,   my   life   will   be   ruined.   I   will   lose   my   license,   I   will   lose   my   work,   I   will   probably   be   put   behind   bars.   So   I   might   as   well   just   kill   myself   here   right   beside   you.”   But   why   should   he   give   a   crap   about   what   will   happen   to   her   if   this   goes   wrong?   He   never   really   did care about her well being to begin with.   

“There   are   other   ways   to   prove   your   solution.   Actual,   scientific   ways   that   can   be   complete   in   safe   and   more   accurate   laboratory   conditions.   This   is   just   a   sodding   insanity.   I’ll   do   a   lot   for   you,   but   I   will   not   be   the   one   to   assist   you   in   killing   yourself   with   drugs,   Sherlock.   I   won’t.”   

@theirmadness cont.

[darkdevasofdestruction]

Chapter 2 - Ephemeral Aurora

Hello! I just wanted to say that I'm a huge fan of your work and uh... I searched you up on the internet and found out you have a very fascinating Forensics blog! I am left speechless by your fantasy work and by the genius experiments you show and explain through detailed videos and pictures! If you would allow me, it would be my highest honour to share a hot beverage with you, as a way of thanking you for your effort and dedication. P.S. : I work in I.T. in the same building as you. I found out yesterday thanks to Molly Hooper.~ James M.

She found this Direct Message on one of her blogs under the name of The_Notorious_JM, an eloquent IT worker who, apparently, had been in the same building as her - And she'd never met him before! Quite certain, it sounded similar to what happened with her and Sherlock, being in association with Lestrade, but not having met for years! My, she wasn't the best at making friends, but when someone so nice goes out of their way to befriend her, she's more than willing to engage! Very excited, yes she was - So excited that she immediately replied to him; The text had been sent the previous week - And what a coincidence, the very night that almost sealed her already doomed fate!

Regardless, she replied to him, setting the time and place for their meeting; A nice breakfast before work, at her favourite vintage cafe she always frequents. As per usual, she dolled herself up very nicely that morning - Nicer than usual, in fact - And she made her way towards the cafe. The weather was unexpectedly lovely for a mundane day in London - It was sunny and warm, just as she loves her days! 

Entering the cafe, she lifted her sunglasses up on her hair ( she always did love how her hair looks, slicked back with those glasses, exposing her lovely features and impeccable make up ) and looked around the tables, looking for the man in cause. He had told her he's quite average and doesn't stand out - A simply tired man in his 30s, black hair and black eyes, dressed in simple and quite boring clothes also - Unfortunately, that hadn't helped much, considering the customers. Thankfully, one man lifted his hand up and smiled like a sweet, bashful dove, and Katrina was simply endeared to sit in front of him. He looked adorable and so kind, this man, and he kept his smile on his face constantly - Though she, of all people, knew not to underestimate how scary people can be, underneath all this social facade.

A gentleman in the right sense, James had gotten to his feet to help her remove her coat, and pull the chair for her - So she was right, the famed British chivalry was NOT dead! Oh, how thrilled she was to witness such gallantry! "Fancy meeting you, Miss Raven." the man spoke; His voice was gentle and rather soothing, Katrina noted. She was highly auditory sensitive, so she naturally leaned towards people with lovely voices that didn't startle or put her on edge. Simply from the calm washing over her with every word he uttered, the lady was content with the idea of making a new friend. "Eh - I'm sorry, I'm not that good with social interactions. It's a miracle I even befriended someone nice like Molly - And that's mostly because she offered to pay for my coffee one day when I forgot my wallet." he chuckled, at little embarrassed.

"oh, yes, Molly is a wonder personified! I, also, would have been friendless in this place, were it not for her being so kind to me when I was hired. We don't meet that often these days, our schedules are conflicting a little, but I always love to take her out to pubs or cafes once in a while." admitting to also being a social failure, the two found themselves unable to stifle their giggles - Were they pathetic? Were they tragic? Were they losers? Perhaps all of them! But it mattered little, in such great company.

"Oh - Forgive my manners, I completely forgot to introduce myself. Name's James, but my colleagues call me Jim. I'm fine with either." the girl smiled dearly at him, and she nodded her head. How she loved this simple fan talk.

"No need for apologies, it's quite alright! It is not your fault we had already gotten absorbed in this engaging conversation." she waved her hand dismissively. "May I call you James? I think it's a beautiful name." he chuckled timidly, looking down, but still nodding in agreement. "Say - Can I ask you something?" he urged her to go ahead. "What do you do in IT? Programming? Accountancy? Hacking?"

"Oh, I - Well, I do some accountancy, yes, but I mostly do programming. I'm not yet allowed to do too much hacking, but it's fine, I'm still learning, so I'm getting there." office work can't always be fun, Kat realised with a little sadness.

"I bet you're bored a lot at work, huh? There's few things that can beat hacking, in this industry, am I right?" James' dark eyes widened with surprise - She was a Forensics Doctor, what did she know about hacking? She couldn't... Or, could she?

"You?" she nodded, wearing the cunning smile of a vixen. "You're a hacker?!" he asked in a hushed tone. "That's wicked!"

"I've always been interested in video games and computers, so this came natural to me. I needed a hobby to pull myself through Med School." her laughter was so charming, crystalline like an angel's lullaby/

"Have you ever done anything fun with it?" he leaned over the table, completely forgetting about his latte. He had to hear more of this little mischief!

"I paid for my holidays abroad." what an innocent princess smile! It hid all the nefarious deeds she's done!

"You're insane! I could never, I -- I'd be too scared to do something like that!" he was flabbergast, yet genuinely impressed. "Say - I have this personal project I've been working on. It's a game based on hacking - Kinda like... A digital escape room? Or - Or, I guess, some puzzles and riddles, you could say? Anyway, it's a thinking game. It's still in it's beta state, but would you be interested in testing it once it's playable?" how in the world could she refuse those beautiful doe eyes of his?

"I would be honoured to! I haven't done anything that fun in so long! I am so excited! I hope it's going to be soon!" she did a little cutesy clap, making the man before her chuckle at her silliness. "Thank you for trusting me so much with your precious project, despite us just meeting for the first time!"

"I can always assume anyone who is Molly's friend is a great person, just like her." aww, wasn't he so adorable~.

"Hey, can I be nosy a little~?" the lady giggled, playing with a strand of her long, blue hair. "You and Molly... You are dating, aren't you?"

"How... How'd you know? Did she say anything to you?" she simply shook her head, smiling enigmatically.

"You're just - You know... I guess you could call it a girly hunch. You're very cute when you mention her name. I just guessed - You're the one who confirmed my theory." the two remained in a glowy silence, smiling at each other dearly, sipping from their coffee.

"I didn't... I didn't realise I was so obvious." his voice went even softer. "I am really like, you know. I'm like to have someone like Molly in my life. She is... She is very kind." 

"Yes, I can completely agree with you. The world is a better place with her around." Katrina placed her hand over his own, squeezing it lightly. "I hope the two of you will have your happily ever after."

"How romantic..." he smiled, nodding in gratitude. "Yes, I - I hope the same also. Thank you, Miss Raven. Thank you - For being such a special friend. I know it may sound pathetic for a man my age, but I've never had anyone being so kind and understanding with me. You, and Molly - I thank you both."

"You have nothing to thank us for - If you weren't a lovely person, neither of us would have bothered with you." with a playful wink, the bluenette chuckled charmingly and leaned back in her seat, ordering another caramel mocha.

"This Sherlock figure - He must be a lucky man." the girl couldn't help but arch an inquiring eyebrow. "Molly spoke about him... A lot." a lot...? Why would she... Oh! Oh... It was only then that it clicked to her - The man Molly has been having a crush on for YEARS and years on end; The gorgeous young man, a genius like no other, handsome, with a masculine jaw and lovely cheekbones, with sharp sky-like eyes and adorable dark curls - And quite possibly, the most dazzling smile in the world - Or so she said; That man... That man WAS Sherlock! And she probably didn't want to say his name, in case she'd make a fool of herself! Goodness - What a coincidence! "Said you'd just meet recently, and he's been praising you for how much you helped with the last case." Sherlock Holmes praised her? In front of the woman who has a massive crush on him? Poor Molly must have been devastated!

"He - He praised me? Truly? I - I'm flattered! That's not something I hear too often." she was surprised, very surprised. "I'm undeserving - Though yes, it was an insane case - Very, very scary, and I'd rather not go through something like that again. I almost died, you see - I was unnervingly close to death. I don't understand why I got entangled in this mess - I'm not smart like Sherlock, I'm just a little intuitive, if anything - So why... Well, I can't tell!" she took out her lace fan from her purse, making a little air for herself. Remembering that whole case and how close she was to death always seemed to make her feel a little suffocated. "I had a lot of fun unveiling the mystery, don't get me wrong - But I'd rather leave Sherlock to unmask the criminals. I don't like being in the line of fire like that."

"That must have been scary. I heard some rumours about it - People talk a lot around the office; And then there's Doctor Watson's blog detailing that case - A study in pink - He called it. The gun, and the two pills - I heard you played that game - How did you know which was the right one?" that nervous smile of hers stirred feelings inside his heart.

"I didn't." she whispered. "I thought the gun was a fake - I've never seen a gun before - So I asked if that was the true way out. The killer said yes, for the others, but not me, I had to play. That's why I thought - Maybe it's not the pills that are poisoned, but the water you had to take them with - So I waited to see if he took his pill with water, and my theory was half-confirmed. I took mine without water also - Bloody awful ordeal - And I was perfectly safe. Whether it was luck or not... I don't want to think about it too much." folding her fan, she tapped it softly to her lips, half-dissociating from reality as she remembered that night.

"That must have been horrible. I hope you're feeling a little better by now." he sounded sympathetic towards her; Before he could say more, however, the girl's phone rang, revealing a most interesting ringtone; The chorus of a Scorpions song, 'Still Loving you'. Fascinating taste in music. "Please, excuse me." she looked at the caller ID; It was an unknown number. "Hello, Sherlock. What is it?"

"How did you know it was me?" came the very man's amused voice. "I never gave you my number."

"You just did." the lady huffed with glee. "Nobody calls me - And I have all my acquaintances' numbers registered in this phone." she explained casually.

"Smart." he noted dully. "We have a date tonight." how could he say something so outrageous, with so much nonchalance?

"Say that again?" she was, in all senses of the word, flabbergast.

"Chinese circus. I'll pick you up at 7." came his explanation. She needn't any more details - This was clearly for a case. A most intriguing case.

"Are we faking, or should I take it as a proper date, then?" perhaps she wasn't even realising, James thought as he was the beautiful woman before him, but as she was speaking of the phone, her fingers were twirling around a velvety strand of blue hair, just like a lovestruck schoolgirl would, speaking with her crush. Fascinating how one's eyes could sparkle, and a smile can become so dazzling; A woman in love with emanating beauty and charm, just like a Goddess of the Sun.

"There's nothing to say it can't be both." he hung up, without allowing room for protest or a continued conversation; Katrina's cheeks were warm, and a huge pinker than usual.

He almost felt bad for interrupting, but he simply had to break her unknown reverie. Their shift was going to start soon, unfortunately for both of them. "Let me guess - Sherlock?" he smiled cheekily at her, almost like an elder brother teasing his little sister.

"Sound deduction, Special Detective M!" she exclaimed all of a sudden. "You won't try to steal our job, will you? First, a hacker, and now, a detective? Ha! What can you not do!"

James simply chuckled, shaking his head. Her theatrical replies amused him greatly. "I'm good, I'm good - I think I'm better at working in the shadows, anyway. I don't consider myself too much of a front guy."

"Oh~!" she made mysterious noises. "M, the Notorious Hacker of London, strikes again! What will he do next - Steal the Queen's Jewels?!"

"I rather like the sound of that - Just like my username! Has a nice ring to it!" he laughed at her silliness. "Perhaps I will do just that! I will stay on the throne, and then - You should see me in a crown!"

"Yes, yes, just that!" she encouraged his villainy. "Then - The Swiss Bank - It's the easiest; Book yourself and Molly a nice honeymoon trip abroad! Maybe the Maldives!"

"The Swiss Bank? You joke! That's too much for me, I'm just a small programming guy who wants to make a game -- I couldn't possibly have the skills for that!" the girl's smirk widened, yet said nothing. "No -- Really? You? Ha! You're far more dangerous than the Notorious Hacker M! Nobody would suspect you!"   "I'll let you figure that out on your own, James. We've got to go clock in soon." the man offered to pay, and before they split ways inside the building, he promised to hand her the USB with the game soon enough.

In the meantime, however, she couldn't help but think - How in the world could a Chinese Circus intertwine with a case worthy of the Great Detective Sherlock Holmes?

Since it was a Chinese Circus, Katrina thought she'd fit in; She had always appreciated the culture - Partially thanks to the introduction into Chinese Imperial dramas that opened this whole new and impressive world for her; In her mind, the hanfu was the prettiest outfit, and although she wouldn't dare wear it on the dirty and wet streets of London, she would be more than honoured to become a Chinese Princess, at least for one day, running through the gardens of the Forbidden City.

For this date, however, she'll choose something a little more tamed, yet still in theme; First, she styled her hair coquettishly yet still appropriate for her age, long and flowing with the wind, yet with some cute flowery accessories pinning two soft braids. She chose a long skirt, pink like a peony and tied tightly to her waist - It was delicately embroidered with the patterns of plum flower branches in blood. The blouse, white with bell sleeves and a small collar, was tucked neatly in the skirt - It, also, had soft petals embroidered across the hems. For once, she had no jewellery, and only sported a small pink purse filled with all necessities. She couldn't wear pot shoes with the troublesome cobbled streets, unfortunately - Though she had a perfect pair of pink and thick mary jane shoes that matched well with her white stockings.

As promised, come 7 o'clock, Katrina heard a knock on her door; She got up from the couch, and she answered. Sherlock was standing tall in front of her. It was the first time he peered into her apartment, and he couldn't help but analyse - He wanted to know more about this genetically successful specimen. 

"If you want to get a glimpse into who I am, how about you come in for a cup of tea? I am sure that would be enough time for you to analyse just about the whole place." she opened the door wider, welcoming him inside.

"Have I really gotten this obvious?" he asked, though he knew the answer. He sat down on the couch in the living room, and waited to be served tea. "Lovely place. Suits your tastes very well." indeed, you wouldn't say this apartment once was identical to his own - In fact, it hardly even looked British at all, were it not for certain elements that couldn't be so easily removed or changed.

"Thank you! I am very happy with this safe haven." she replied, smiling charmingly. "Mrs. Hudson also loves it - She's given me an offer to buy it. Said she'll only give me this offer - So I've been going out of my way to decorate it to my tastes... And save enough money to get the whole thing for myself."

"Great deal indeed." he muttered, straightening up back a little to get a better look at the place - Although, his eyes couldn't help but dart towards the lady who was humming along to the softly-playing melody from the background, and preparing the tea. Just like her outfit, the song was Chinese - Who knew she would be interested in the culture. What a scary coincidence!

"Do you know Chinese?" he found himself asking, watching as she carefully placed the tray on the table. The porcelain set was Chinese; White, and painted with pink flowers and gold. Manually, he deduced. Well painted, but still, not an expert. Did she do it herself?

"Yes, I've been learning it for the past few years." even more of a coincidence. "I can't say I'm an expert - I haven't dedicated my time entirely to learning it - But I think I'm at least around mid-level. I can hold a conversation well enough, comprehend phrases, and even understand and write some of the easier symbols."

"I see... That's useful." he hummed to himself, watching her slender fingers pour him tea with such grace, as if she was recreating the sacred tea ceremony. "What do you suppose is a book that everyone would have at home?"

"Lord of the Rings?" her joked earned a small exhale of amusement from the man, though he didn't deny it. "Back home, every household had two books - The Bible, and a Dictionary. Don't ask why - Take it as it is."

"Duly noted. Good insight, as always." he nodded to himself, leaning to grab the foreign tea cup. "Did you paint these yourself?"

"Oh, yes, I did! It was a lot of fun! I've seen this design in one of the dramas I watched, and I simply had to recreate it." her joy seemed to amp up immediately, he noticed. "I only use this set on special occasions though, it's very precious to me. Usually, we just use Lea's set. It's very cute and fancy - I'd say it has Versailles influences."

"Fascinating." yes, and not quite. He might appreciate art, but he couldn't say he was that much of a die-hard enthusiast. "What about the fan on the table? I suppose you're taking it with you? It matches your skirt."

"Well remarked - Yes, I also embroidered it - Just like with this outfit. I love embroidering. I'm not the best, I know, but I found it relaxes me. Mrs. Hudson saw me embroidering on the window pane one day, and that's how we got so close." he wasn't surprised a doctor with nimble fingers would be dexterous in other crafts also - One needn't create a masterpiece, you create quality products.

They didn't speak more, through the duration of them drinking tea; Normally, this was a time to be sociable, but he was far too lost into the ocean of information, to come up with word-riddle plays, a game of chess, create poems or even indulge in old-lady gossips.

An eccentric woman this one, even if she doesn't quite realise it herself; No wonder Donovan hates her. Few people would step on their normalcy, to indulge in their niche love for another culture, or anything that isn't quite the socially acceptable norm. Does that mean she's brave? Confident? Or simply that she's come to a point where she just wants to find her own happiness without caring for others' erronated opinions?

The whole place was impeccably clean, and tidy; There was nothing out of place, not a single thing. Very meticulous and attentive to details. The apartment was big, and had the stairway to upstairs - Who knows what kind of personal wonders are hiding up there also? All artefacts that would showcase her passions and love for whatever she's interested in.

There is one thing, however, that he noticed, and that is the lack of any family pictures, or anything to remind her of personal relationships she has - Most people have that, don't they? Anything to remind them of home? He could find, in his sight, nothing of the sort. That would correlate in a peculiar way with his own theory - That she is wallowing deep in loneliness. He's never had a problem with that - He doesn't find it a nuisance, in fact, he enjoys his personal space and the ability to be as quirky as he needs; But ordinary people are desperate for interhuman relations.

This impeccable specimen before him was wearing a passive smile, looking at him; Surely, she doesn't always carry herself with such grace, does she? She looked like a scroll painting depicting one of those tragic Four Beauties from the myths. They say, the more beautiful a woman, the more she suffers. What a silly fortune-telling. "Alright, Magnolia flower, shall we?" at once, Sherlock rose to his feet, offering his hand in a gentlemanly way. 

He played cheeky, Katrina thought, immediately smiling with joy; He called her magnolia flower - That was Hua Mulan's name. A most valiant beauty, known throughout history. If she didn't know better, she'd call him quite romantic! Or, perhaps he was hinting towards her tragic fate - That sounded more of a Moriarty route though.

"Much obliged, Zhang Heng." oh, the stellar look on his face! Katrina placed her hand over his own to raise to her feet, then left the house together, hooked to his arm. They passed as quite the lovely couple, she'd go as far as to say that, once they passed by a mirror.

Sherlock called a cab and opened the door for her, just like a gentleman would, and told the driver the location to this Circus. Katrina wondered what this circus was all about - Would it have acrobatics? Gymnastics? Traditional dances? Or some curious kind of entertainment she was unaware of?

She remained hooked to his arms as he guided her up the stairs, and into the building. At the booth, she spotted John with a lovely-looking lady. Was Sherlock's plan to crash John's date? Or was he trying to blend in and investigate without being suspected. John went to pay for his tickets, two, for him and his date; But Sherlock butted-in with an innocent smile. "I phoned back and got one for myself and my date as well." John's face screamed murder. "Hi. I'm Sherlock, and this is Raven, my date."'

"Hello! It's lovely meeting you!" the blue haired lady stood out a little too much, she realised, not that it would let her politeness waver.

"Erh... Hi! I'm Sarah." the two ladies shook hands. "Sorry, I'll be right back." she must have fled for the toilet.

"So... I know you're investigating a case, that much was obvious, but are you also going to tell me what's going on, or did you just take me as your trophy wife?" the serenity with which she spoke almost surprised the detective, yet he didn't hesitate to reply.

"We are here on a date, of course, I promised you that much." he spoke as a matter of factly. "Investigating the case is just entertainment for us. A bonus, if you will." "No, you're not here on a date, stop using Raven as an excuse to ruin my real date just for an investigation!" John immediately snapped at his flat mate. "It was the perfect opportunity." Sherlock answered plainly. "You couldn’t let me have just one night off?" the poor medic was exasperated. "Yellow Dragon Circus, in London for one day. It��fits. The Tong sent an assassin to England ... " so they've got a secret society and assassins from China. Should be fun. "Dressed as a tightrope walker. Come on, Sherlock, behave!" came the veteran's exhaustion. "We’re looking for a killer who can climb, who can shin up a rope. Where else would you find that level of dexterity? Exit visas are scarce in China. They need a pretty good reason to get out of that country. Now, all I need to do is have a quick look round the place ... " the mystery thickens - Oh, how she'd have liked to have been able to have helped with the investigation from the very beginning! "Fine. You do that; I’m gonna take Sarah for a pint." John completely dismissed him. "I need your help." begrudgingly, Sherlock admitted. "You have Raven! She's more than capable of helping you in your blind chase! In fact - I'd say she's better than me! Now leave me alone!" poor John was at his wit's end. "I couldn't possibly - What if she messes her outfit? It would be a tragedy, John, have some empathy!" what a jokester, using her coquette style against his flatmate. "I do have a couple of other things on my mind this evening!" the detective didn't get it. "You are kidding."

"I don't think he is kidding, John. I don't think he understands." Raven smiled, showing pity to the poor man. "What - What are you two talking about? What’s so important? We've got to solve this case!" Holmes was frustrated with the lack of cooperation. "Sherlock, I’m right in the middle of a date. D’you want me to chase some killer while I’m trying to ..." John tried to explain, but without being so forthright with his intention.

"He wants to pursue Sarah in the future a little more in depth; Romantically, or more." Katrina tried to explain it as diplomatically as she could.

"For God's sake, John - We've got three dead bodies and a running criminal, and all you think about is to get off with--" seeing Sarah approaching, the blue haired lady wrapped her hands around Sherlock's arm, forcing him to shut up as she cuddled into his side.

"Sherlock, darling, I think the show is about to start soon - Shall we go take a look? Sarah's returned also." how inconspicuous, the detective noted, offering a wry smile followed by a nod as he guided her towards the room with the stageplay.

They approached the play, surrounded by candles on the ground. Everything was nicely decorated, and Chinese instrumental music played. "You said circus. This is not a circus. Look at the size of this crowd. Sherlock, this is... Art." John didn't sound too happy about seeing art. Why though? She couldn't understand. "This is not their day job." the detective looked around, his keen eye scanning every inch of the chamber. "No, sorry, I forgot. They’re not a circus; they’re a gang of international smugglers." why in the world are they dealing with smugglers?! As the show began, a Chinese woman in her middle ages took the spotlight. She was wearing a red outfit reminiscent of a Qing dynasty Peking Opera, embellished with gorgeous jewellery; And even her make up was fantastic! "Her outfit is marvelous! I've always loved Peking Opera!" she watched with complete focus as the woman showed off a large arrow, and then stepped towards a veiled object about as large as her; She took the sheet off, revealing a huge crossbow-like mechanism decorated like a lion, or a serpent dragon. She gracefully placed the arrow in the mechanism, before taking a feather from her head ornament - And as soon as she placed it on the metal plate that activated the mechanism, the arrow was shot at incredible speed, lodging itself into the wooden wall in front. "How wonderful!" Sarah had also gasped in awe, looking at her date.

The assistant, a man wearing a typical male mask painted with the same Peking Opera allure, got chained, and put against the wooden wall. "Classic Chinese escapology act." Sherlock explained to them. The crossbow’s on a delicate string. The warrior has to escape his bonds before it fires."

The gong was hit once, startling Sarah enough to jump on her date; John seemed thrilled being so close to her; Sherlock looked at them with a certain boredom, then looked at the blue haired lady; She was clutching her embroidered fan, hiding that mesmerised smile of her. It seemed, seeing such rare art before her very eyes, got her quite euphoric. In spite of how easily startled she usual was, she hadn't flinched a bit from the sudden loud gong; And it was no surprise, coming from a Peking Opera enthusiast. Those were the perfect cues for the actors to perform certain moves. He was more intrigued whether or not she knew how to perform. The performer lady took a small dagger, showing it to the audience. "She splits the sandbag; the sand pours out; gradually the weight lowers into the bowl." she did just that. The audience watched the man struggle, and the weight descend swiftly towards the bowl. "Stay with John and Jean and make sure they're alright." the detective softly tapped his date's shoulder.

"You're leaving me to third-wheel their date?" she looked like a distraught kitten, looking up at him like that. "You can't just abandon our date - You have to take me with you. I already missed most of the investigation." she tried to convince him, but it was in vain.

"Not this time." he seemed very sure of himself. "I'll make it up to you." placing both hands on her shoulders, he turned her back towards the performance. "Don't mind me - Just enjoy yourself. I know you're into this." and he left without another trace.

Just as expected the escapologist just narrowly escaped; Nevertheless, a round of applause welcomed the performers. How fascinating! "Ladies and gentlemen, from the distant moonlight shores of the Yangtze River, we present for your pleasure the deadly Chinese bird-spider." as she walks away, a masked acrobat descends from the ceiling, rolling through the air as the broad red textile wrapped around his waist unravels. The audience applauds and he stops a couple of feet above the ground, holding his body parallel to the floor.  "Did you see that, Sarah?" John looked at his date, fascinated. "Yes, it was awesome!" Sarah replied back with just as much glee.

Katrina, however, was mute; She was far too busy enjoying the show to realise the black curtains at the very back of the chamber fluttering - Until Sherlock was thrown out, and a Chinese warrior right after, ready to annihilate him. John was the first to rush in and push the enemy off of his friend; Katrina followed soon after, hitting the man with a masterful kick to his mask; And Sarah came last, hitting him with some wooden sword or something. The enemy was on the ground, unconscious; Sherlock took off his shoe, revealing a lotus-like tattoo on his heel.

They didn't wait too long around - They grabbed each other and ran away, taking a cab towards the police station. There, they weren't greeted by Lestrade, but some inexperienced punk who didn't seem to have any clue what was going on. Katrina wasn't quite sure what the international smuggling operation meant, or who the people involved were - She was missing all the pieces of the puzzle; All she knew was that a precious item was stolen, and the Chinese troupe came to get it back - Problem was, no one had any clue what they were looking for.

Finally, they returned home to their flat, and stood straight in front of a wall filled with evidence. There was talk about a rendez-vous spot, and how the troupe won't leave without the stolen item retrieved; For once, Katrina felt as useless and out of place as any person who ever stays around the genius Sherlock Holmes, and has no insight into his brilliant brain. She felt awful.

Sarah was the first to speak up - She asked whether she should leave or not; Frankly, Katrina felt the same, she just didn't have the heart to voice it. Thanks to John, she remained, and agreed to order takeout. The medic went to grab something from the fridge - It was empty. In the meantime, Saraj was looking at the evidence board and felt compelled to make light conversation with the detective. "So this is what you do, you and John. You solve puzzles for a living." she found herself wondering. "Consulting detective." came Sherlock's mindless reply. "Oh. And you, Raven?" she tried again, hoping her fellow lady would be more talkative. "I'm a forensics doctor for the police. Part time hacker and blog runner." Katrina tried to make small talk, but was unallowed, for the detective reached for her wrist and pulled her to his side.

"Your talents are wasted on them." he grumbled. "You said you know some Chinese - Look at this. It's a Hangzhou dialect. A cipher. Any ideas?"

"It's Suzhou." the lady corrected him immediately as she bent a little to look at the pictures depicting yellow graffiti symbols. "It's Suzhou dialect. The term 'Hangzhou' was a misnomer of the time. All accord of the term being used, as far as I'm aware, have been corrected to 'Suzhou'." Sherlock turned his face up to look at her, quite flabbergast.

"Fascinating knowledge you have sometimes - But does it have any relevance in breaking the code?" 

"Nope." he could only groan. "I only know a few symbols - Like here, the single symbols on the paintings - That is the symbol for 1 and that is for 5. Together, they make a 15." the man nodded in agreement. "The numerals on the wall are the same - Two symbols put together and you make a whole number. But you don't need me to know Chinese - Your symbols have already been translated. Look at this -- 9 MILL -- Does that mean anything to you? Does it stand for... 9 million in some currency? Chinese people use the Yuan and the Dollar for international commerce."

Sherlock immediately shot up to his feet, yelling for John and pushing the photograph into his face. "John, look at this. Soo Lin at the museum – She started to translate the code for us. We didn’t see it! “NINE,” “MILL.”  Nine million quid. For what? We need to know the end of this sentence." he hurried to put on his coat. "Where are you going?" the medic asked, frowning in confusion. "To the museum; to the restoration room. Oh, we must have been staring right at it!" Sherlock was already almost half-way out of the door. "The book, John. The book – The key to cracking the cipher! Soo Lin used it to do this! Whilst we were running around the gallery, she started to translate the code. It must be on her desk." just before he rushed out, the lady called out his name.

"Sherlock!" she cried. "Wait!" this time, in spite of her soft voice, he did hear her, and stop, albeit a little impatiently.

"I don't have time right now, and I can't take you with me. It's too dangerous. Just stay here with John and Linda. I promised I'll make it up to you." though he tried to leave, the girl gripped the sleeve of his coat. "What is it?!"

"Sherlock, listen to me!" her gorgeous eyes looked up into his own, as if pleading to be heard. "You asked me two questions today - If I knew Chinese, and about that book - We already figured out the code, but what's it applied to? A book. What book? The most common book that could be in London, right? A London guide of sorts, a dictionary, something like that - It wouldn't stand out to anyone who'd see it. It's completely natural and harmless. So, perhaps, every number corresponds to a page number, a paragraph, a specific word -- You can't go there and search blindly, while you're being hunted down by professional assassins - At least know what you're looking for, find it, and then get out of there quickly before you get hurt."

"You're worried about me?" he found himself smiling almost tenderly at the lovely lady before him.

"Of course I am!" she exclaimed without the least bit of hesitation.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." he reassured, kissing the top of her head once again. "You've given me all the information I needed to narrow my search. I'll be quick." and thus, he bolted out of there, searching for a cab. What a brilliant young woman.

Katrina was a little lost in her reverie while Sarah ordered takeout - While the two were chatting, however, the doctress had a frightening eureka. Those people were professional assassins, and Sherlock Holmes just thwarted their plans. Surely, they'd want the enemy eliminated, yes? So... What was to say... They weren't already going for their flat? In a panic, Katrina went outside; There were still a few people around, but not much. She quickly dialed Sherlock's number. "I'm busy, make it quick."

"I think we're in danger." the line was silent. "I just realised - These guys aren't just ordinary smugglers right? They're the Chinese Mafia. They're among the best when it comes to silent assassinations, aren't they?"

"Just stick to John and Martha. I'll be back soon." he reassured her briefly. "Call Lestrade if you're anxious." Before the lady could answer back, however, a tall bulky man wearing black clothes and a hoodie spoke to her from behind, making her yelp loudly. "Raven? What is it?"

"Th-There's this creepy Chinese guy who's asking me if I have it - I think he's referring to the thing that was stolen from them, right?" she gulped, making small backward steps. "Wh-What do I do? Quick, What do I do?" her legs were trembling violently like two flowers in the breeze. "Sherlock, I am terrified." her whispery tone, completely petrified, sent a shiver down his spine.

"RUN!" 

His command came in vain - Before she could even react and sprint away, the enemy lunged her way, grabbing her by her long flowing hair, punching her to the ground; Her phone fell to the ground, but Sherlock could still hear her cries of pain and alarm - Nobody came to her aid, not even when she was on the ground, with an assailant choking her to death. Soon, her mind slipped away, and darkness veiled her vision and consciousness entirely.

But before I could do anything, the man attacked me, making my phone fall from my hand and holding me in a choke hold as I struggled and struggled to breathe, but to no avail. Sooner than later, I could feel my mind slipping away at a rapid pace and darkness soon veiled over my whole consciousness.

Once she finally awoke, she was painfully bound to a chair next to John and Sarah. Just as she expected, the criminals burst into Sherlock's flat and took them hostage. Neither of the three even dared to speak to each other for they were far too frightened.

The woman performer from the show spoke in the same melodic voice as before, though now, it made the hair on the back of their necks stand up. "A book is like a magic garden carried in your pocket. Chinese proverb, Mr Holmes." Holmes...? Was she mistaking John for Sherlock? John tried to explain himself, but it was for naught. "Forgive me if I do not take your word for it. Debit card, name of S. Holmes." "Yes; that’s not actually mine. He lent that to me." they were so doomed.  "A cheque for five thousand pounds made out in the name of Mr Sherlock Holmes." she continued voicing her reasons behind believing John was actually Sherlock. "Yeah, he gave me that to look after." their only real saviour would be the very man's genius, or him tracking her phone down - Again. "Tickets from the theatre, collected by you, name of Holmes." they were in deep trouble. "Yes, okay ... I realise what this looks like, but I’m not him." no one was going to believe such an unconvincing man. "We heard it from your own mouth." oh, damn his sarcasm! “I am Sherlock Holmes and I always work alone because no one else can compare to my massive intellect.” it would have been hilarious, were they not in such a precarious situation. John soon realised any attempt at persuading the woman were completely hopeless. "Did I really say that? I s’ppose there’s no use me trying to persuade you I was doing an impression."

Before he could finish the sentence, the woman rose a small pistol and pointed it at his head, making John cringe away from it, blowing out a panicked breath and in turn, making the woman grin. She loved tormenting her victims... What a sadist. "I am Shan." that name spoke nothing to the girl, though John seemed to have heard that name before. "Three times we tried to kill you and your companion, Mr Holmes. What does it tell you when an assassin cannot shoot straight?" she cocked her gun, and with a very long tension moment, she pulled the trigger -- Thankfully revealing it to be a blank. This scenario was a million times scarier than the cabbie from before. Kat was so scared, she wanted to cry - She was good at thinking under stress, but she had no clue how to escape a Chinese gang pointing their firearms at them! "It tell you that they're not really trying." Shan continued her terrifying speech. "If we wanted to kill you, Mr Holmes, we would have done it by now. We just wanted to make you inquisitive. Do you have it?" she cocked her gun again, warning them this one wasn't a blank anymore. "Do I have what?" John asked, completely clueless. This case, once again, quite eluded him in many ways. "The treasure." Shan specified, approaching the barrel of the gun to the army vet. "I don’t know what you’re talking about." poor John was trying to struggle against the restraints, but it was no use. Nothing worked.

"The treasure...? John - The man who attacked me asked me the same thing. Is it about the 9 million thing? Is that what they were searching for?" Katrina asked, hoping he would know more - Alas...

"Ah, Miss Black, what a delight. A sight for sore eyes, just like my client suggested." Shan's comment made Katrina's head shoot up with revelation.

"Your client - Moriarty?!" the Chinese woman smiled sardonically.

"And as clever as expected." her henchman stomped to the victims' side, and took the blue haired lady up by the chair - Shan took the sheet off the ceremonial crossbow, and Katrina was placed in front of it. Great. She's in danger again. When will this end? Hopefully not with her life. "Everything in the West has its price... And the price for her life... Information." Shan turned back to John, threatening him. "After you, Miss Black, if your beloved doesn't tell us where the treasure is, that one is going to die next, facing the same execution." she pointed towards the terrified Sarah.  

Faced with such imminent danger, Katrina would do incredibly poor; She was panicking and thinking irrationally, or rather, not at all. How could she think of a way out, when she can't balance her chair to the side and escape the arrow, she can't undo the ties, and there's no one to save her? It is an equation with no solution! Only Deus Ex Machina could save her.

Shan continued her interrogation of poor frantic John - The treasure was revealed to be a hairpin. "The Empress pin valued at nine million sterling. We already had a buyer in the West; and then one of our people was greedy. He took it, brought it back to London and you, Mr Holmes, have been searching." if Sherlock didn't tell her what the case was all about, Shan summarised it perfectly well. "Please. Please, listen to me. I’m not ... I’m not Sherlock Holmes. You have to believe me. I haven’t found whatever it is you’re looking for." John was getting desperate, and rightfully so. There was no getting through with Shan. "I need a volunteer from the audience!" the medic was begging her to stop this execution. "Ah, thank you, lady! Yes, you’ll do very nicely." she pointed towards the bluenette, before stabbing the sand bag - The victim trio were watching the sand swiftly fall into the metal bowl of the crossbow. "Ladies and gentlemen. From the distant moonlit shores of NW1, we present for your pleasure Sherlock Holmes’ pretty companion in a death-defying act." As John tried to plead for everyone's lives, trying to make the woman understand he wasn't actually Sherlock, she only ignored his words and put a black origami on Katrina's lap; It was a black lotus, masterfully done; But the doctress had no time to analyse the pretty origami - She was close to death... And quite the gruesome death. To think she wanted to be pretty on her death day...

"You’ve seen the act before. How dull for you. You know how it ends." Shan taunted the blue haired woman.

"I’m not Sherlock Holmes!" John's voice boomed loudly through the echoing underground, but no one reacted. "I don’t believe you!" Shan snapped at the veteran. "You should, you know!" unexpectedly, Sherlock's voice resounded from somewhere behind Katrina. "Sherlock Holmes is nothing at all like him."

"Sherlock!" she cried out for the first time since she'd been abducted. "Sherlock, please, hurry!" Shan rose her pistol, cocked it and aimed it towards him. He immediately dodged to the side of the tunnel, disappearing into the shadows, making one of Shan’s thugs start to hurry toward the end of the tunnel. "How would you describe me, Raven? Resourceful? Dynamic? Enigmatic?"

"Dramatic!" the terrified bluenette wailed. "And incredibly late!"   "That’s a semi-automatic. If you fire it, the bullet will travel at over a thousand metres per second." Sherlock spoke to her, at the same time he knocked out one of the thugs. "Well?" Shan still kept her pistol aimed that-a-way.

"Well -" he hit another henchman over the head with a crowbar. "The radius curvature of these walls is nearly four meters. If you miss, the bullet will ricochet. Could hit anyone. Might even bounce off the tunnel and hit you." out of nowhere, Sherlock kicked away a dumpster-fire, distracting Shan whilst he lunged to untie the damsel in distress. She could feel his warm fingers touching her own - Every touch on her skin gave her hope, it gave her vitality - Though every glimpse towards that descending weight quickly erased any of that. Unbeknownst to her, a henchman took Sherlock by surprise - He looped a long red textile around the detective's throat and joints multiple times, wrestling him away from the chair, from rescuing the victim. Katrina couldn't see the struggle behind her, only hear Holmes' pained grunts and groans of struggle, fighting off the enemy. "Sherlock, please...!" she couldn't look anymore - She didn't want to see the arrow shooting off and piercing through her skull. That was too macabre to even think about. Instead, she hung her head down, letting the tears fall down her cheeks in river.

With her eyes closed, she couldn't see that John managed to get up, struggling with his chair, and kicked the crossbow trajectory elsewhere; Sherlock, also, headbutt the criminal and, with his pocket knife, swiftly cut off her restraints, jumped forwards, dragging her off the chair, and onto the ground. The arrow shot the criminal in the chest, killing him instantly.

Katrina could feel two strong arms embracing her tightly; She was pressed against his chest, shielded and protected. Sherlock, her hero, saved her once again. 

To think she'd be trembling and weeping so much - The detective was looking down at the girl he was holding so dearly, how she was practically nestled like a kitten in his pocket, how she was clinging to him, but couldn't calm down, even knowing she was safe? Normal people, faced with such imminent death, with close calls - They're so pitiful.

"There should be Five Beauties in China, instead of four." it took some straining from the girl to actually hear what he was saying. "You're safe now." his hands found their way cupping her cheeks, wiping away her rolling crystal tears. "I've got you. You're safe." the most response she managed was a nod of her head. He noticed the evident prints of the assailant's hands around her neck, and the burns on her wrists caused by the rope - But he doubted she would be worried about that, above all. "What kind of monster would dirty a lady's outfit?!" he gasped theatrically, knowing it would do the trick.

"THEY DID WHAT?!" as expected, Katrina's head shot up, and Sherlock could see her shocked expression, it was almost comical. She almost had a most grotesque death, and she's worried about her outfit. What a fascinating specimen. "They are quality textiles - This dirt will be horror to clean off! Oh, that Moriarty owes me a new outfit!"

"Moriarty - Again?" Holmes sombered immediately.

"Yes... Shan said Moriarty was her client. We would have been targeted regardless of the hairpin problem." Katrina finally found her words again.

"Things are getting more complicated." the man hummed to himself. "Can you stand up?" she shook her head. Poor darling was still trembling hard. "I'll help you out, come on." he dragged her up, but didn't account for her weakened state - Katrina collapsed in his arms, fully lax, as soon as she was standing up.

"Sorry, I... I really... Can't feel my legs." she muttered softly.

"Well - A damsel in distress deserved the proper treatment, I suppose. Can't bypass the British gentleman chivalry -- That is what you said, didn't you?" in one swift move, Katrina was, once again, being carried like a princess by the cheeky detective. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you quite enjoyed this."

"I do like it." her honesty was bewildering to the detective - Such genuine yet heartfelt honesty... For some reason, he found it endearing. He couldn't stand Molly's evident crush on him - Exploitable, but for the most part, mundane, irrelevant and borderline annoying. Katrina's kindness, however, felt... Different. He found it... Acceptable. Well, more than acceptable, actually. "I'd just rather not have to go through an incident that thrown me an inch away from my death. I don't think my heart can take this much."

"Well - I promised I'd make it up to you for that failed date, didn't I?" he had a half-smile on his face. "I'll try to downgrade the death chances, and up the ordinary. So - A coffee, perhaps?"

"Yeah, coffee sounds amazing. I know a nice to-go place next to this park." finally, her smile was back, albeit, still wavery and uneasy.

"We can do that." his voice remained calm, soothing even. 

They soon returned back to their flat after briefly speaking to the police and the newbie detective. Katrina, in spite of her exhaustion, needed to take a long bubble bath and scrub away the disgust from her body; She needed to relax somehow, to wipe away her fears and anxieties. She'd been through enough - She deserved a break already.

Still, after performing the self-care routine with all of its steps, she finally flopped on her fluffy bed, opening her laptop to watch some movie and pass out. Sometime through the middle of the movie, she heard her phone buzzing twice. She received two messages - One from James, and the other... From an unknown number called M. Moriarty. In a flash, she took a screenshot of the lockscreen, capturing both messages in the same picture, before finally reading them both properly.

"Hello, Raven! Sorry for disturbing at this hour, but I needed some advice. I don't really have many friends, so if it's okay with you, can we meet up for a warm drink and walk through the park? Heard the weather's going to be lovely tomorrow at noon. I'll bring the game USB stick for testing also. - Jim from I.T. "

Moriarty's message, however, sounded quite different - And in a rather teasing, playful manner.

"I hope you enjoyed our little game of Fan-Tan. Next time, let's make it less dangerous, and more fun. After all, I wouldn't want the little black bird to bring her own death before we get to meet and play The Game - M "

They already started playing the game, Katrina thought to herself, all fear vanished as she plugged in her hacking devices and began tracking down the mysterious Moriarty, her #1 fan.

Oh, Mr. Moriarty, I am more than eager to play this little game of Tag with you~.

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[rey-jake-therapist]

Okay, I'm interesting in asking you - maybe not those questions from the list, but still.

Three favourite French books

Three French books you don't like at all

Three favourite non-French books

Three non-French books you don't like at all

(I'm asking because recently my brother and I watched the second part of 'Les Trois Mousquetaires', and since the French culture was always very popular here in Russia it's interesting to talk about it with someone from inside, so to speak - so I hope you don't mind me asking)

And now something about 'Sherlock':

Why have you decided to watch this series?

Three favourite episodes

Three episodes you don't like

Three favourite characters

Three characters you can't stand

Three favourite actors

Three actors who were not that impressive in your opinion

What do you think about Mollcroft?

What do you think about Euriarty?

If you could meet someone from the cast and crew, who would it be? (here you can pick only one person, sorry)

So, I think it's enough for today, he-he. Sorry that it is such a long list - you are of course free to ignore the questions you don't like. It's not about the fanfiction though, but I am a very wicked creature when it comes to asking questions ;)

Hey!

Those questions are very nice and made me question my memory ;) I'll answer as best as I can.

Three favorite books: Belle du Seigneur of Albert Cohen, L'assommoir of Émile Zola (and almost of all his books actually) and Marguerite duras: L'amant. I chose these three because they marked my life and memory the most, but there are plenty of others I could have said.

Three French books I don't like at all: sorry I can think only of two: Le rouge et le noir of Stendhal (I never even finished it it was sooo boring), and La peste of Albert Camus. Both are considered masterpieces bu neither worked for me.

Three favorite non French books: The Sandman by Neil Gaiman, Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka, Pillars of the earth by ken Follett. Again I could have said many others!

Three non French books I don't like at all: Why I ate my father by Roy Lewis (mostly because we were forced to read it for school and I never understood what in the story or the writing style justified this choice of reading), Fifty shades of Grey (I read the ten first pages but had to drop it), and Dracula by Bram Stoker.

Now the Sherlock questions:

Why did I decide to watch this series: honestly, only because I had heard about the shipping drama and the accusations of queerbaiting, and I was curious to see if the shippers were delusional or if they were really baited. I think you know what's my opinion now :) anyway I started for this and continued because it was really good.

Three favorite episodes: A study in pink, The Great Game and I hesitate between The Empty Hearse and The Abominable Bride :)

Three episodes I like the less (can't say I don't like them at all): The blind banker, The hound of Baskerville and The Six Thatchers.

Three favorite characters: Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes and Molly Hooper

Three characters I can't stand: uhh idk... the American in ASIB, Philip Anderson (only after he became Sherlock's #1 pathetic fanboy) and well, Eurus Holmes even though I want to have more empathy for her.

Three favorite actors: Benedict Cumberbatch, Louise Brealey and Mark Gatiss

Three actors who weren't that impressive in my opinion: honesty, I can't think of one. I think the entire cast is very good.

Sorry, not much. I'm not a ship person and I'd rather imagine canon characters with OCs rather than with other canon characters they don't interact at all :/

Same, not much. I know it's less theorical than Mollcroft and I found their scenes funny, but I wouldn't read or write fanfiction centered on them.

I guess it would be Mark Gatiss because not only he plays Mycroft but he also co-wrote the show :)

I hope my answers are ok :) Thanks for the ask!

[bccksmarts]

Literate, Independent, Selective roleplay blog for Hermione Granger.

Book & Movie compliant for the most part as well as some headcanons mixed in, scripted onto parchment by Pom, 26, she / her, British ( GMT Timezone ).

⤷ This blog uses the BETA EDITOR only.

OC, Crossover & Multimuse friendly!

VERY MUCH ANTI-JKR.

AFFILIATED WITH: ⤷ peachiihearts • slytherintragedy • heartscfvalor // fidelixcorde • misfittcd • malfaith • weasleyandweasley • acourtofmuses • monmuses • thechosengryffindor • historiavn ( all of Callie's blogs ) • curiosityshop // failmilias // vingtiemes // lifeseffort // timechange • fangsforhire // harrylovesvoldy // littlenosferatu • heartheaded •

Navigation:

• Rules • About ( + Verses, Connections / Mains / Exclusives, Art, etc. ) • Meme / Prompts Tag ( as a whole ) • Permanent Interactions Call • Tags

• Hermione Inspired Pinterest

• Partner's Turn ( Thread Tracker )

Also On:

@fluorescentmortem ➝ Molly Hooper ( BBC's Sherlock ) RP Blog ⤷ HIGH ACTIVITY ➝ also has a HP verse! @pompedia ➝ Massive Multi Muse Blog ⤷ MEDIUM ACTIVITY

MEMES I'D LOVE ASKS FOR:

But not necessary!!

EMOTIONALLY CHARGED SENTENCES STARTERS

beauty and the beast sentence starters

&. 𝐬𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬

𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫

Can I Have This Dance?

From Parent to Teen Prompts

HSM3 Song Lyrics Meme Pt. 1

"What, Why Are You Looking at Me Like That?"

CHARLIE PUTH :: CHARLIE PROMPTS

Pregnancy Prompts ( Pt. 1 )

"Shit."

DRAMATIC & PROTECTIVE RELATIONSHIP PROMPTS

PROMPTS FOR LAVISH BALLS, PARTIES, AND SECRETS

𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐋𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐒 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒

𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒

SANDITON 2x05 SENTENCE STARTERS

‘A BEE IN YOUR BONNET’ SENTENCE STARTERS

𝐈𝐓 𝐈𝐒 𝐀 𝐓𝐑𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐔𝐍𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐍𝐎𝐖𝐋𝐄𝐃𝐆𝐄𝐃

"I’m in love with you."

Pigeons Mega Pregnancy Meme

[strawberryrabbits]

Hello, Molly.

If it matters, I admittedly appreciated your presence back then, given that I had so little people I viewed as... "friends". I'm still unsure on how exactly I felt about you as it stands. I hope you're doing well for yourself in this life.

Regards,

S. Holmes

(Sending this on anon since I'm currently a minor and I'm not exactly sure how I feel about directly interacting with others who aren't exactly clear on ages when I'm off anon. Nothing against you, of course.)

Hello, Sherlock!

I really appreciate your words. The reassurance is very valued, especially from you yourself. And that's alright. I'm still trying to sort my own feelings out about everything myself. I'm... holding on. It's an uphill climb, definitely, but... I'm trying. I hope the same for you. (And my apologies this took so long to respond to.)

Take care,

Molly Hooper

(And it's alright! I am an adult, if that makes you uncomfortable. I understand it's nothing personal, and that this world has variants of the man I knew. Thank you for reaching out to me, and I understand if you no longer wish to.)

[artofdeductionbysholmes]

[ID: 3 screenshots of a lab report

Lab Report

Subject: Examination of Aged Paper Sample

Date of Report: June 3, 2024

Lab Technician: Hooper, Molly

Sample ID: Paper-2024-374

Introduction

The purpose of this lab report is to present the findings from the examination of a piece of paper. The analysis aims to identify the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the paper, and any potential indicators of its environment and extended exposure history. 

Sample Description

Type: Paper (assumed to be office paper)

Condition on Receipt: Significant discoloration, more brownish and yellow.

Methods of Analysis

Visual Inspection

Microscopic Examination

Chemical Analysis

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF)

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Microbiological Assays

Moisture Content Analysis

Odour Analysis

Results

1. Visual Inspection

Appearance: The paper exhibited significant discoloration, with a predominant brownish and yellow hue.

Surface Condition: Noticeable abrasions, increased fragility, and minor tears. The surface had visible dirt, dust, and possibly mould spots.

2. Microscopic Examination

Fibre Integrity: The cellulose fibres showed significant breakdown and were more brittle compared to fresh paper.

Debris: Presence of more substantial soil particles and various unidentified debris. Evidence of mould and fungal growth was observed.

3. Chemical Analysis

X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF):

Detected Elements: Higher concentrations of heavy metals such as lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr), indicating prolonged exposure to contaminated environments.

Surface Contaminants: Increased levels of inorganic substances.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS):

Organic Compounds: Detected a variety of hydrocarbons, organic acids, and other pollutants. Breakdown products from organic matter decomposition were more pronounced.

Residues: Significant degradation products from inks, dyes, and coatings.

4. Microbiological Assays

Bacterial Presence: Higher levels of bacteria typically associated with long-term organic material decomposition, including Bacillus, Pseudomonas, and Clostridium spp.

Fungal Presence: Abundant fungal spores and growths, including Aspergillus, Penicillium, and possibly Trichoderma spp.

5. Moisture Content Analysis

Moisture Level: Elevated moisture content of 18%, indicative of prolonged exposure to a moist environment.

Chemical Composition: Moisture contains higher acidity, consistent with prolonged exposure to acidic leachate from decomposing waste.

6. Odour Analysis

Detected Odours: Stronger, more pronounced musty odour with distinct notes of organic decay and fermentation gases.

Discussion

The examination of the aged paper sample indicates several key findings:

The significant discoloration and increased fragility suggest prolonged exposure to an environment with high levels of organic and inorganic matter.

The higher concentrations of heavy metals and a diverse array of organic pollutants detected by XRF and GC-MS are indicative of long-term exposure to a highly polluted environment.

Enhanced microbial activity, including both bacterial and fungal colonisation, reflects extended interaction with decomposing organic materials.

The elevated moisture content and higher acidity level are consistent with long-term exposure to landfill leachate or similar acidic environments.

Odour analysis revealed stronger decay-related gases, which are typical of prolonged exposure to waste decomposition processes.

Comparative analysis with existing data suggests that the environmental conditions observed in this sample are consistent with those found in specific areas south and east of London, UK. This region is known to have multiple landfill sites with similar contamination profiles, including high levels of heavy metals, organic pollutants, and significant microbial activity due to waste decomposition.

Conclusion

The paper sample shows advanced signs of exposure to a polluted and waste-rich environment over a prolonged period. The results indicate significant physical wear, high levels of contamination by heavy metals and organic pollutants, extensive microbial activity, and strong environmental interactions. These factors suggest a long-term presence in an area south and east of London, UK, where multiple landfill sites are located. Further identification of the specific landfill site could provide more precise context.

Lab Technician Signature:

[signature of Molly Hooper]

Reviewed By:

Steven Rogers

/end ID]

I went as quick as I could and here’s what I found. Similar to the first paper as expected but I’ve picked up some more specifics today. I hope this helps @artofdeductionbysholmes ! Better be worth staying late at work 😴✨

[nooneevergetstomeme]

[dailymolliarty]

In Sherlock's Mind Palace:

Jim Moriarty: Can I please burn this place down to the ground?

Molly Hooper: Seeing as it is a memory technique and a sort of mental map, I don’t think fire is going to do much damage.

Jim Moriarty: Maybe, but it will make me feel better :)