(Untitled)

[studiesemerald]

"Really, Lestrade, how you ever managed to get to the point of acknowledging the poisoned pudding was significant is beyond--"

Moriarty looks up. Neither Lestrade nor his sitting room are anywhere in sight.

"Ah, this place again

Comments

[metody_green]

Metody looks up from the heavy book he is plodding through, glad for the distraction. Even the most fascinating topic becomes tedious when written in six point text.

"Is this the kind of obvious thing only you can see?"

[studiesemerald]

"It shouldn't be."

[metody_green]

"Ah. But by your frustration, I am guessing it isn't. Can I ask what this simple thing is?"

[studiesemerald]

"The plum pudding served at a ball held by a lesser member of the nobility was found to contain a mild poison. His Lordship made the whole thing out to be an assassination attempt, and the police have been led to work in that direction. However, anyone with even a basic knowledge of poisons and the physiology of the guests could tell instantly that murder would be nearly impossible."

[metody_green]

"...I admit, I would assume that he poisoned himself, but that's because I'm deeply suspicious and cynical. Is there any evidence the assumed poisoner would know about this immunity?"

[studiesemerald]

"It is common knowledge that those with even some Royal blood react differently to most chemicals than humans. The most likely reason is therefore that the act was some sort of attempt to gain attention. But for whom? And to what end? Was the host seeking to frame one of his guests? Did a guest want to embarrass the host? Was the poison planted by someone else entirely?"

He shakes his head, lost in thought.

[metody_green]

"Or a practice run by a future poisoner? Or the groundwork to cover future ill deeds and throw suspicion on someone else?"

Metody shrugs.

"The way it sounds, the police think they have a course of action to follow right now, instead of the - the diffuse cloud of maybe you are offering. People often prefer to follow a clear course, even if it might be wrong. People like to think they know something."

[studiesemerald]

"That is true, I suppose."

Not that he would ever admit that to Lestrade.

[metody_green]

"Perhaps you'd have better luck if you found the supporting evidence first, then told people? Otherwise, they might think you're wildly speculating, and that can prejudice them later on."

Morbidly, he wonders if he could talk Moriarty into acting like the classical-to-his-world Holmes.

[studiesemerald]

"True, true."

Moriarty is slowly working his way towards Holmesian detection. Despite his recent experiences, he's still somewhat new to the whole idea on the emotional level, and is still developing a method.

[metody_green]

"And when you tell someone something like that - are you considering how it's going to effect them? Because I've got to admit, if investigating the - the peerage - if trying to investigate them meant me and my family would be on the street by the end of the week, well, I'd look in every direction but that one."

Possibly, Metody has a skewed view of the Victorian age. Holmes and Moriarty are Victorian, right? Georgian? Old. They're old.

[studiesemerald]

Moriarty shuffles uncomfortably.

"I certainly wouldn't insinuate that the host and his family were responsible for the...unfortunate incident. I am merely suggesting that murder is most likely not the motive. I admit that I do not currently have a clear alternative course of action thought up yet, but it seems somewhat wasteful to spend so much time looking for a 'murderer' if there might be other possibilities."