(Untitled)

[withoutincident]

(DAYS WITHOUT INCIDENT: 4)

The lake outside Milliways simultaneously offends Bruce's sense of logic and fascinates him. That the lake exists at all behind the bar might be acceptable, but the fact that you can't walk around to the front of the bar without ending up where you came from is bizarre. The random island-style inlet in what appears to be

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[if_inconvenient]

The first sign of Sherlock's presence is a faint scent of smoke on the breeze, but by the time he comes around the bend in the path a minute later his hands are empty.

He spares Bruce a thoughtful glance without breaking his unhurried stride.

[if_inconvenient]

He shrugs.

"And spent no little time since wondering about the ethical considerations." Wryly: "And you?"

[withoutincident]

"There's . . . there are aspects of my personality I can't control. And people get hurt when I lose control. People get killed."

[if_inconvenient]

Sherlock takes a moment to absorb this.

"I wouldn't know," he admits. "I built mine largely from scratch."

[withoutincident]

"--What, your personality?"

[if_inconvenient]

A slight, slight smile. "Yes."

[withoutincident]

. . . Bruce starts to chuckle. It's not a sound with a lot of humor in it.

"I guess I did too."

[if_inconvenient]

"Did you? I thought I was the only one."

[withoutincident]

"Ha. Think of it this way: if you're Sherlock Holmes, then I'm Dr. Jekyll."

It's not a perfect comparison -- Mr. Hyde was intelligent, after all -- but it's fairly apt.

[if_inconvenient]

His eyebrows lift.

"Not on purpose, I take it."

[withoutincident]

"Not particularly, no."

[if_inconvenient]

"My condolences."

For all the phrasing is stiff, his voice isn't.

[withoutincident]

Bruce gives him a sidelong look -- but Sherlock seems sincere, so he just shrugs an acknowledgement.

"Thanks."

[if_inconvenient]

He smiles wryly.

"I'm aware I have not been the best company. I apologize. Now that I see the shape of your mystery, I can understand why you would trouble yourself to hide it."

[withoutincident]

Dry: "Thank you for your understanding."

Belated though it may be.

[if_inconvenient]

"Although I confess I do not regret finding it out."