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[yes_mother_hen]

[if anyone has even noticed the detective's absence (a very real one, for all of approximately two weeks-- his name, struck out of the refugee list), well, they'd notice that he's back now! he's at the Arrivals, a stack of completed forms on one side, his 'urban camouflage' costumes piled up on another

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[missthewoman]

[Two weeks. She'd begun to worry.
She was not troubled in the least by his absence, minus the fact that her invitation had gone so long unanswered.]

A charming guest you have there. Do make sure it doesn't eat its way through your flat, poor dear.

1/??? i'm sorry for incoming tl;dr

[yes_mother_hen]

[and instinctively, reflexively, his mouth opens and he turns his head towards the Guide, ready with a snappy quip of his own-- 'I knew you'd say that', 'Not to worry, I've--', 'If you'd like to take him off my hands--'

and then he remembers that his restored memories concerning the things that he's seen, the things that he's experienced on this ship, don't necessarily coincide with the things that he's just seen, back in their world, back in the streets of London and the gardens of France and the alleyways in Germany.

more importantly, the discrepancy between a reality that happened and a reality that may or may not happen, if what just happened to Holmes happens to Irene.

his mind whirrs, full-speed, before it grinds suddenly to a halt, for just a moment. but it's a moment.]

[yes_mother_hen]

[ 'she succumbed immediately.'

those words, somewhat ironically farcical (Irene? 'succumbing'?), ring in his mind. he reaches inside his pocket for a handkerchief that he doesn't have anymore (into the ocean on the outskirts of France, a quiet salute to her Parisian perfume), starts up the engines of his mind again, and thinks.

emotions, always the great hindrance. how best to deal with this?]

[yes_mother_hen]

[he's had experiences in dead men walking, even if the dead man had turned out to be quite obviously alive, after all. he won't say 'and maybe this is the same', however-- he hates pulling conjectures out of thin air, hates the thought of crafting a convenient excuse for the sake of peace of mind.

when had he ever strove to keep up with that notion, anyway?

all of this flits through his mind in one fluid moment, arrows moving from one planned course of action to another. Irene may notice that it's taking Holmes a few seconds to respond to the feed, but all things considered, it's only a few seconds.]

DONE wow I'm so sorry I should have kept this to like, 2 comments

[yes_mother_hen]

[and he's right back to where he started, breezy words accompanied by a breezy tone.]

I've an emergency contingency plan. Not to worry.

It's lovely <3

[missthewoman]

I would expect no less.

[A few seconds were nothing to the ordinary person, but were a much more considerable length to those of a mind as quick as his. She understood that he might be disoriented from his time away from the ship - she'd heard the anecdotal accounts. What puzzled her was the slight gesture of him reaching for a handkerchief, and yet not pulling one from his pocket.
Perhaps nothing, but with Holmes one never knew.]

So you got to go to France, did you? [A hint of teasing jealousy in her tone - she'd wanted to get there before being pulled here, after all.]
I don't suppose you brought back any souvenirs other than a pony?

IN WHICH FRESHY TL;DRS INTO ETERNITY

[yes_mother_hen]

[he doesn't miss a beat this time, though inwardly he's telling himself that he'll account for this odd disconnect later. while he was back at home, he'd forgotten about all the things that they'd done on the Thor-- naturally, his sanity would have been questioned if it'd been otherwise (not that it's not always in question anyway), and he'd only had to focus on the things that were important then. like the case.

but now, the case is done and over with, and besides the problem of the pony (trivial), he has this to contend with. something much less...tangible.

awkward.]

No. In fact, we came out of that endeavor considerably more empty-handed than when we'd initially embarked.

*follows into eternity happily~*

[missthewoman]

[My dear if she didn't know you better she'd say you were uncomfortable about something.
(But he is being chewed upon by a pony...)]

How unfortunate. But what are possessions so long as the case is solved? [Perhaps just a little call-back to a case long past there ♥]

juuust the two of ussss, we can make it if we tryyyyy

[yes_mother_hen]

I'd be inclined to agree, but you'd be wrong: in our last case [referring to Blackwood, of course], Watson gained a considerably valuable wedding ring.

[a little quirk of the brow.]

I never thanked you for that, did I?

[and now he's just being obnoxious.]

Just the two of us, you and I ♥

[missthewoman]

I'm quite right, if you consider a photograph that remained in my possession, although you solved your case.

And no, but neither did I. [Thank him for the key, that was to say.]

[She leaves that for a more interesting tangent-]

If that was our last case, who got the unique pleasure of accompanying you on your most recent? One Madame Simza, perhaps?

[yes_mother_hen]

[oh. another pause, another consideration.]

You were occupied.

[he waves that topic away, as if it's not important.]

Madame Simza was very much involved in the intricacies of this case, which may or may not be of interest to you-- it's a long story, as you may well imagine.

[missthewoman]

[So happens the topic of herself is important to Irene. (Not to mention the suspicious, thoughtful pauses.)]

I would be quite pleased to hear the intricacies of the case. [Every detail, including how he knew her to be otherwise occupied.]

Once you make your way to your room you will find an invitation from me. Reply promptly, if you would. You will soon find that there no time to waste.

[yes_mother_hen]

Always with the invitations. I've just gotten here, common courtesy would dictate that you let. Me. Rest.

[ he punctuates those last few words with obnoxious emphasis. ]

[missthewoman]

[There is a slight terseness about her as she replies,]

Far be it for me to be uncourteous. [Even at the end of the world.] Go and rest then.

[He will find out what is going on soon enough without her telling him.]