justonetruth | Mission Improbable.

Mission Improbable.

This particular Shinichi prides himself on stealth. Discreet appearances and exits, undetectable surveillance, shadowing -- there is little about stalking he doesn't know (note: this isn't necessarily a good thing). There's just one thing.

He's not Shinichi any more.

The lack of height is in many ways a plus. Who is going to suspect a seven-year-old of following them? That's if he can avoid truant officers of course. The rest of it, however--

It needs work. And that is precisely what Conan is doing.

It's night. You might be in the library when you hear a strange noise. Have the feeling you're being watched in the kitchen. See something shift just on the edge of your vision as you make your way down the corridors to bed.

Whatever you're doing, you're not alone.

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"You think you're used to it but then something crops up and you realise that something you thought was fact merely assumption." Conan sits down.

"Relationships, history, even laws of nature. It's probably a good thing, a thing to help with maintaining objectivity."

"Nice of the mansion to think of our mental ease," Conan observed wryly, picking up Roger Ackroyd and skimming the last pages that Hakuba has read. He smiles as he recognises them and holds out the book to Hakuba. "Read to me?"

"From here?" He's midway through the book.

"I'm all caught up," Conan explains. "Please?"

If the mun had a copy of the book with her, there would be a direct quote. Instead, assume that Hakuba begins reading it in his accented Japanese, focusing on not stumbling with the words of the translation he was reading.

Conan's not bothered by the lack of a direct quote (and neither is his player). He listens happily, seemingly unbothered by the fact that he is sitting on the floor listening to a story he has heard before.

In fact, he almost seems to be really enjoying this.

The Death Scythe continues reading, pleased at the reception. This person acts differently than Shinichi, and for while, Hakuba can forget, well, lots of things and just read and make someone happy by doing that.

Conan's rapt attention is unwavering. It seems as though he is perfectly willing to sit here as long as Hakuba is.

That rapt attention is going to be rewarded, as Hakuba starts nearing the end of the book. His expression grows more and more incredulous and amazed as he continues.

That expression would be worthwhile inducement to stay if Conan hadn't been loving every moment of the story. As it is, Hakuba's obvious incredulity is only the icing on the cake. Conan has to try very hard not to snicker.

He finishes, and puts the book down.

"Is that even allowed?" The utter amazement on his face is something very rarely seen.

"All the clues were there," Conan said immediately. "You just assume that the narrator is sacrosanct."

"Who's next?" He asks with dry amusement. "Watson?"

"Watson is sacrosanct," Conan returned immediately. "And probably the reason you assumed that the narrator was reliable. You've read Holmes?"

"We have the books in my world. Slightly different, but the same characters." He's also gone through the series here in the mansion.

"Slightly different? How? How are they different? What's the same?" Oh dear. Look out, Hakuba, it appears you have a fan on your hands.

He's a bit taken aback.

"I would have to have copies of both to spot all the differences, it's been quite a few years since I read them back home. Mostly minor changes, I believe, based on some of the more blatant differences between my world and others."

Conan beams, clambering up to join Hakuba in his armchair. Its a tight squeeze, and he ends up half sitting on the other. "Tell me how 'The Speckled Band' goes in your world? Please?"

"It's basically the same story." He remembered that one, specifically because it was so much the same.

"The Valley of Fear however, involved a witch."

"'The Valley of Fear?'" Conan repeats doubtfully. It's not a favourite of his, and he wonders if it might not be better to demand a different story. Curiousity, however, wins out. "What did she do?"

"She takes the place of Moriarty, which removes some of the timeline confusion, seeing as The Valley of Fear is set in 1895, and Moriarty died in 1891." A minor point, but it reminds him of one he previously forgot to mention. "Incidentally, Moriarty happens to be a witch as well."

Blink.

Pause.

Blink.

"Aren't witches girls?"

"Yes." His world had much more of a history of gender equality than others.

"They didn't try to imply a mutual attraction between him and Holmes, did they? Because that would just be gross," Conan complains.

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weaponofathief.livejournal.com - 2010-05-12 22:59 (UTC) - Expand

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