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[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

[It is probably not a surprise to some that Irene Adler has, upon her arrival at the Plane, found herself in the Theatre.

Of course, while it may not be a surprise to some, it does surprise Irene.]

Is anyone here?

[Not exactly the timid type, Irene is going to do her best to make her arrival known. She speaks with a notably American accent, although some of her pronunciations reflect she has spent a fair amount of time in England. She examines her surroundings. .. Which she regrets doing, now that she's noticed one of the Wallmasters crawling across the back of the seats.]

Surely I have gone mad. I have spent much of my life in the theatre and never have I seen something so... revolting or offensive or... absurd as this. Whatever prank this is, I assure you, whomever is listening, I find it neither endearing or entertaining that you have abducted me against my will.

[Being as she is, Irene actually approaches the disembodied hand, staring down at it with disgust and – whether she'd admit it or not – fascination.]

I do insist that you direct me immediately to whomever your devilish puppeteer may be. I am due at a very important engagement tonight in London and I can assure you that those who await me will worry drastically for my safety if I am not to appear.

[The hand suddenly pops forward towards Irene, and she squeaks in unladylike surprise, backing away fast enough to watch it tumble to the floor. It bolts towards her and grasps for her skirt, and she stamps at it helplessly with her foot, shouting as she kicks it away.]

Get away you... you vermin!

Comments

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[Sherlock watches with some amusement. The arrivals lately are somehow more interesting when surrounded by grotesque horrors.]

It might be better to take a more permanent approach to these things.

[He draws the gun he's taken to carrying and shoots the hand as it scampers.]

There are guns outside.

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

[Oh, Sherlock, Irene is quite unimpressed by your massive......... firearm.]

And I think I would quite prefer it if they stayed outside, dear sir.

[She talks big, but she's also drifting as if she intends to hide behind this unfamiliar man.]

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[He keeps the gun out anyway - he'd rather not get ambushed here. Though he allows her to drift as she pleases.]

You might feel differently soon enough. There are monsters roaming the area. Those hands are one of the least disturbing.

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

Monsters?

[She hovers behind his shoulder, grimacing when she realizes the number of disembodies hands moving along the walls.]

If this is the least of it, I think I would quite prefer to go back home now, if you don't mind.

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[Glancing back at her.]

At the moment, there's no way to return home. We've been trying to find a way back. Supposedly, if we find the person who trapped us here, we can leave. The library is safe from these creatures if you would rather go there.

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

[It's Irene's first instinct to disagree, especially considering she doesn't have any idea who this man is, but as she watches the creepy hands move around she thinks it might be in her best interest to not be contrary.]

To the library, then. And there you may explain to me where I am and why I've been brought here.

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[He nods and starts walking. He'll just have to gather specimens another day. They're not going anywhere.] This way.

[Sherlock does pause at the door.] You may be surprised by the landscape. Looking ahead generally helps any sense of vertigo. [He leads her out onto the Plane proper.]

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

[Surprised is probably an understatement, but Irene keeps her wits about her. She makes the mistake of looking down, and from then on keeps her chin held high as she follows him primly.]

I suppose all my questions have been answered. This is most certainly a dream, and I am sure I will awake presently and find the behaviour of my subconscious to have been rather unbecoming.

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[He continues to lead her but he can't help a slight laugh.]

You're wrong. This is the Astral Plane. Generally, you can access it with a thought and leave the same way but something changed three weeks ago. I was sceptical at first but when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how unlikely, must be the truth.

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

[Irene was getting ready to be angry because, boy, she HATES being wrong... But the quote distracts her.]

I knew the man to whom that saying was attributed. He was also far too self-assured for his own good.

[Her voice is, strangely, devoid of all emotion.]

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[Somewhat surprised, he glances at her.]

Is that so? Because I'm certain I don't know you. I suppose anyone could read it on my website.

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

[She's had time to become annoyed again.]

I know the man who said that and I assure you, you are most certainly not him.

...What on Earth is a website?

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[Sherlock meanwhile has time for this to click with what Braxiatel told him before.

Mental note: show Irene his phone later.]

Ah. I can safely say I am the man you're referring to, except about 100 years in the future and possibly not from your world at all.

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

[Irene laughs mockingly.]

Landscapes floating in space, disagreeable disembodied hands and now you insist to be Mr. Sherlock Holmes but from the future.

[She really hates this idea.]

No offense intended, but I think you are mad.

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

Very probably. [He smiles.] Tell me, if you believe in his method, then what would it say now? Observe, deduce, eliminate the impossible. What's left?

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

[The corner of her mouth twitches momentarily.]

The truth is relative, is it not? After all, you and I may both be mad, and this world is nothing but our imaginations. Certainly you would have to go to great lengths to eliminate such an hypothesis?

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[He laughs.] Right enough. I thought John and I were dead at first.

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

[Irene doesn't seem to find any humor in that comment.]

And now you are sure that we are not?

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

Isn't that a good thing?

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

Of course. I'd much prefer to be alive, after all. I just wanted to make sure of your certainty on the matter.

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

It isn't perfect certainty. But it's what I have eliminated down to be the truth.

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

[She looks down.]

If you are correct, then you are remarkably luckier than the Sherlock Holmes of my world.

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[Frowning.]

What happened to him?

[thewomanswit.livejournal.com]

[Her face betrays only a shadow of sadness before she is emotionless once again, and her tone is flat.]

He died.

[rationalist.livejournal.com]

[There is a long pause as Sherlock hesitates. It echoes of his own theory on why he and John are really here.]

Moriarty?