James Moriarty (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
hatesdeerstalkers) wrote2019-08-22 01:23 am
hatesdeerstalkers) wrote2019-08-22 01:23 am
FLAT AND MORIARTY'S EXCELLENT ADVENTURE(F/SF AU)
[Fate itself could be changed by just the tiniest of motions. Just the smallest of differences had a massive effect on what should happen.
And in this massive universe, perhaps - just perhaps, there existed a mere timeline where, instead of the prize for sending in a survey card being a knife signed by Jack the Ripper...it was something relating to another famous British 'hero.'
Yet, things still continued the same. Flat Escardos still went over to america, and fiddled with the 'relic' he had been given, and then -
Suddenly, in front of him - was a man in a pinstripe suit, with a strange, black and blue cape, a pair of glasses on his face and a strange cane in his hand.]
...So, you have -
[And then, he paused.
Because of a few very, very pertinent details.
One: This was during the day.
Two: This was in FULL VIEW of multiple people, most likely ones who had already seen him, hopefully not when he quite literally popped into existence.
Three: WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO HIS SAINT GRAPH AND WHY IS HE A BERSERKER?!
With these details in mind, James Moriarty - The Napoleon of Crime, the vaunted rival of Sherlock Holmes, the only man said to hold a candle to him - quickly did what he had to.
And that was to put on a smiling face, clapping his hand on Flat's shoulder as if they knew each other - no, as if they were related from the level of fondness that he was displaying.]
Ah, there you are! I'd wondered where you'd gotten off to - let's continue on our walk, shall we?
[Though his voice was light, pleasant, and friendly - the way his hand tightened on Flat's shoulder made it very clear that disobeying was not an option.]
And in this massive universe, perhaps - just perhaps, there existed a mere timeline where, instead of the prize for sending in a survey card being a knife signed by Jack the Ripper...it was something relating to another famous British 'hero.'
Yet, things still continued the same. Flat Escardos still went over to america, and fiddled with the 'relic' he had been given, and then -
Suddenly, in front of him - was a man in a pinstripe suit, with a strange, black and blue cape, a pair of glasses on his face and a strange cane in his hand.]
...So, you have -
[And then, he paused.
Because of a few very, very pertinent details.
One: This was during the day.
Two: This was in FULL VIEW of multiple people, most likely ones who had already seen him, hopefully not when he quite literally popped into existence.
Three: WHAT THE FUCK HAPPENED TO HIS SAINT GRAPH AND WHY IS HE A BERSERKER?!
With these details in mind, James Moriarty - The Napoleon of Crime, the vaunted rival of Sherlock Holmes, the only man said to hold a candle to him - quickly did what he had to.
And that was to put on a smiling face, clapping his hand on Flat's shoulder as if they knew each other - no, as if they were related from the level of fondness that he was displaying.]
Ah, there you are! I'd wondered where you'd gotten off to - let's continue on our walk, shall we?
[Though his voice was light, pleasant, and friendly - the way his hand tightened on Flat's shoulder made it very clear that disobeying was not an option.]
welcome back old man
[ flat grins, clearly proud of his work. turning back to the mirror, he tries to focus on the image. ]
Unfortunately we can't get any closer than this without actually taking full control of the familiar which would probably give us away. But... [ he falls silent, observing the mirror closely. even though the dust doesn't seem to be settling, considering the fight, between the visuals and the amount of Mana he's sensing, it's not difficult to make an opinion. ]
Man, these two are fighting hard! I hope they're having fun!
and then nerofest happened
[...Which reminds him.]
This may be the oddest time to bring this up, but - are my butterflies sight-based only?
big mood
[ flat turns on the faucet again, adding more water to the mirror. ]
So you take the image... twist it...bring it down...change the output...
[ and the mirror is divided in two, with a second image reflected on the lower half of it; an aerial view of central snowfield. though most magi would need their full concentration on one familiar, flat seems to be capable of doing it with ease, and still have enough attention to turn back to moriarty. ]
Something like that! It's sight only, yeah, but if I put together three or four of them, then I can get a really good view of the city.
no subject
[His tone - doesn't harbor any incredulity, nor anger. In fact, it sounds quite a bit like a teacher suggesting design alternatives or improvements to a project, full of that warm approval.]
And I haven't mentioned this before, but you truly are quite the adept...impressive. Few Mages could match you, I imagine.
1/2
[ flat's eyes are wide as he stares up at his servant, having a difficult time understanding the compliment. after all, he's grown used to his professor's more roundabout praises that lay under a pile of insults but...
to receive such openly honest praise-- ]
no subject
flat's shocked expression shifts into a grin, his eyes practically sparkling with excitement. ]
No one's ever said that in such a nice way! And yes, I have, but I was wondering if there was a way to bring all the sounds together, kind of like...if I could connect all of the butterflies and turn them into a giant antenna or radar.
no subject
[After all, that was always how prideful people reacted in the face of something they didn't understand. Fear, and hatred. A shame, really - he seems like an intensely pliable sort, and Moriarty is beginning to have the inklings of fondness for his new, strange master.
He nods, though, clearly pleased that Flat has picked up his meaning so well.]
Yes, that is possible...however, there's a much easier, more elegant solution.
[He produces...
..A thin, almost invisible string, glinting silver in the light, seemingly out of nowhere and practically undetectable to most magic senses. Holding it out, he grins.]
Touch this, and you'll see why.
[It is, after all, his 'End of the Spider's Thread' skill - a magical line that allows him to listen in to whatever it's attached to.
And if it were attached to his modified butterflies...]
1/2
those words weigh him down, and he can feel as if the water is filling his lungs.
fear. fear is something that he knows well, both his own and other’s. it’s such an unpleasant feeling— ]
2/2
Huh? A spider thread?
[ pushing the doubt and fear out of his mind, he takes a hold of the thread and attaches it to a nearby butterfly.
and, suddenly, the bottom broadcast comes to live with sound. ]
Ah! It works! You’re amazing, Pr—Berserker!
no subject
...It seemed he hadn't yet accepted his lot in life. Which was fine - he was young, and could still choose his own paths.
Still, the praise is wonderful - and he grins, brightly.]
Of course, of course! I am who I am, after all - The Napoleon of Crime. It would be odd if I didn't have something to hear far away conversations, would it not?
[Still, it's clear that the fight is beginning to ramp up - causing Moriarty to pause in his conversation.]
...Hm. They seem evenly matched - interesting. They're also obviously quite powerful...
no subject
[ flat looks up at moriarty, almost insulted that he would tell him such a thing like “fighting another servant” ]
We should befriend them. Imagine having these two as your frie—eh?
[ he looks back to the mirror, where one of the broadcasts has gone out. the one in the desert, to be precise. ]
Seems like the connection got cut off. It wasn’t blocked or ended by the owner but more like... it stopped working. I wonder...
[ he focuses the view of the butterflies nearest to the desert, and frowns. ]
Maybe it was the amount of power from their Noble Phantasms that took them out. Like a power surge.
[ he doesn’t seem too convinced by it. ]
no subject
[He stares at his Master uncomprehendingly for a bit - just in time for the connection to be cut off, and he's shocked out of his surprise.]
....That, or their Noble Phantasms destroyed them. With the amount of power being shown, I'm not surprised.
[With a sigh, he wanders out, sitting on the bed.]
Still - knowing what we're up against, this war will be...complicated, to say the least. Though I have some power at my disposal, it's not something like what we just saw. So, we'll have to be much more..intelligent about this, much more secretive.
no subject
[ flat's not really paying attention to moriarty at this point, putting him on a second plane as he continues to stare at where the feed was. in his head, he's running calculations, his thoughts racing.
the idea that it was the joint noble phantasms is something that most magi would consider, but it doesn't seem to convince flat.
but maybe it doesn't mean anything. maybe it's something they can ignore for now.
so he turns back, smiling. ]
Right! I should probably start thinking on how to ask them to befriend us. The more convincing we are, the easier it'll be to get them on our side!