Chemistry series - Beryllium
"Papyrus Graecus Holmiensis," reads John from behind Sherlock's back. "I didn't know your family roots date back into the fourth century." He ducks just in time.
"The fact that the man used this ancient recipe for artificial beryl and emerald to manufacture his jewel imitations was the only interesting aspect of this case."
Sherlock picks up his pen from the floor and walks over to the kitchen, stretching his back. The case turned out to be more work than he anticipated. John, on the other hand, is in a sparkling mood.
"If I were an element, which one I would be?"
The chemist in Sherlock doesn't miss the spark, igniting the fire of his own interest.
"It should be something transparent, at least for shorter wavelengths," he teases.
"To explain why your x-ray eyes always see right through me," John smiles.
"Something hard and resilient. Low abrasivity. Good heat resistance," Sherlock enumerates the material properties as if they were personal virtues.
"The heat was one of the things I didn't mind in Afghanistan," John agrees.
Definitely something rare and precious. Sherlock won't say this aloud. He doesn't need to.
Sometimes the answer lies right before one's eyes. Sherlock lifts the imitation of the beryl coronet from the table and crowns his friend with it before he can duck again.
"You're beryllium."