realityshifted | (no subject)

(no subject)

[There's a kid on the floor of the kitchen, making himself a sandwich. Nothing unusual about this, especially since it's this kid. Conan's house-trained, after all.

... then again, he is making the sandwich right there, on the floor. Sure, he's making it on a plate, so that's not as bad, but he's left one discarded banana peel behind him, and the lid of the peanut butter container has not been put back on. The kid's concentrating hard as he drizzles honey over his sandwich, but he's got peanut butter on an elbow, and a smudge of honey on his chin.

And he's not wearing glasses. Okay, so maybe this is weird.]

((ooc: age-down experiment for Conan! He's no longer 17 in a 7-year-old body -- he actually is Shinichi, aged 7. Be warned -- he is a brat.))

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It's the water pipe! There's no plumbing outside!

So. What may we deduce about the kitchen?

[Well, maybe Sherlock can get along with children. As long as they're not idiots.]

Well, it's not connected to anything ... no, it's got to be -- the lights and stuff wouldn't work otherwise. But -- that's really weird.

Therefore the kitchen may not be the most normal place. Please clean up your mess and join me at the table.

[Sherlock said please... well he is dealing with a child.]

[Amazingly -- or maybe not so amazingly, considering who this child is -- it works, Shinichi having decided that anyone who talks reasoning with him is worth listening to. Lids are put on jars and the banana skin finds a new home in the garbage bin under the sink.]

I don't think the beach is the most normal place. There's no water. And the forest has the same problem as the kitchen 'cause plants need the sun to grow and the sun is a star and there's a lot of stars but I don't think they're big enough.

[Sherlock knew it would work... his brother had used it on him often enough. Not that he'd ever admit it to anyone. He hides his grin as he watches Conan do what he was told.]

Yet, your first observation may not be entirely correct. The kitchen does seem the most normal. I wonder why that is....

[Open ended statement to let Conan give some input.]

'Cause someone made it look that way! The furnishings and fridge and everything -- that's a clue, isn't it? The people doing the experiment, maybe they have a kitchen like this!

Be careful to not over-think things. Sometimes the answer really is quite simple. What if the people doing the experiment knew this kitchen is was we would be used to seeing in a kitchen?

--oh!

You mean they were spying on us?

Possibly. Or we're their version of lab rats.

[Shinichi nods slowly. This makes sense ... and although it's a scary thought, his companion's calmness means that he doesn't feel afraid.]

What kind of an experiment?

[One nice thing about detachment - one is completely calm until the situation calls for otherwise.]

I don't know yet.... What kind do you think?

We had to put bean sprouts in a cupboard to see how they grew without sunlight but I don't think it's that, even if there isn't a sun in the space part ...

Maybe it's mental? 'Cause being a weird place like that, it's going to surprise people, right?

[Sherlock nods.]

It is difficult to ascertain for sure without more data. But we're all from many different places and many different realities.

[And dear God, he's starting to sound like a loon.]

Different realities? [Shinichi's not sure what to make of that.] What proof do you have?

Well... I met someone who exists in their reality, but to me - they only exist in a book.

[Have a very startled blink, Sherlock, and a surprised exclamation that is only too telling.]

Oh!

[Sherlock just grins. Perhaps rugrats aren't so bad after all.]

So, you hadn't considered that possibility.

[Shinichi can only nod. He's gone pink, embarrassed and hopeful and trying to remember if he'd said anything particularly rude.]

[Sherlock raises an eyebrow.]

You're... embarrassed? Why? You're young, you have time to learn to observe better. The fact that you can observe as well as you do already is .... good.

[Well, impressive, but Sherlock can't give too big of a compliment.]

[More praise? Shinichi's verging on red now and he nods fervently, clearly taking everything Sherlock's said to heart.]

I'll definitely do my best! I want to be a great detective too!

If that's your goal, then it is usually best to learn from the best.

[Sherlock smiles and realizes he hasn't introduced himself yet. He offers his hand.]

The name's Sherlock Holmes.

[And Sherlock is looking quite pleased with himself.]

Kudo Shinichi. Um, I mean, Shinichi Kudo.

[He is not getting any less flustered.]

Shinichi... What's wrong?

[Sherlock doesn't get it - heroes don't exist and even if they did, he's not one.]

Nothing's wrong! It's just -- there's a lot of right right now!