( 01 ) video ♧ and if we don’t live to be old and faint

[became]

[ oh hello, giant creepy spaceship. have a shiny, shiny smile directed your way. said shiny smile is attached to a freakishly put together looking gentleman. dapper, one might call him. ]

So... space, huh? [ neal adjusts his cuffs-- he's wearing a suit (a real suit: classic, 50's style devore, for any suit buffs) because fuck that jumpsuit crap right in the ear-- fussily, smile dropping wattage just a tiny bit. ] Does anyone want to catch me up a little more on that, out of curiosity? Because I have to admit, other than the bits and pieces I caught wandering around the first day I have no idea what's going on.

Anyway, come on. Help a new guy out, anybody? [ smile ratcheting up another few notches. aaaaaand HOLY CHARM BATMAN. doesn't everyone watching just want to drop everything and help? (yes. your answer is yes.) ] I'll owe you one.

Comments

VIDEO | NEAL STOP CHARMING HIM. ITS WORKING

[consulting]

As it should be. To start of introductions - you're a con artist, middle class upbringing. Undoubtably American, quite possibly New York. Also, forgery. As a mild deduction to your specific field. Perhaps, art - but without concrete evidence to that; apart from the fact you know your quotes and have that flair.

[ Oh hit a weakness. He's a big fan of Neitzche and he was trying to work his way into quoting it. You beat him to it, he's mildly impressed. Well charmed is the better word, but he's not going to admit to that, ever. He decides on an old favourite ]

The game is afoot. I'm a Consulting Detective, the only one in the world. Would you want my name or a convincing pseudonym?

[ Oh god, what is he doing. he'll regret this in the morning. He knows it. Oh okay. Yes, he's grinning. ]

VIDEO | N O P E . G I F

[became]

[ ...four out of five. peter's known him for years and he's around there still. neal's impressed, in spite of himself-- and a little gratified that his careful erasure of anything that indicated he grew up poor still holds up. ]

I'll give you everything but the con artist and forgery. Okay, no. One time I copied my mom's signature to get out of telling her about detention.

[ that would be george devore speaking-- the alias seems appropriate for the moment, and nick halden's a little too showy to just slip him on mid-sentence. no, george is enough like neal that neal can read his lines without needing to adjust his body language first. ]

He pleaded still not guilty. [ a smirk tilts his mouth. that was a good return on the serve, even for him. ] And that depends. Which one do you want from me?

[ just ooooooone more shot, bb. come dance topless on the crime bar. ]

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[consulting]

[ God jeez Neal, stop playing hard to get and let Sherlock analyze youuu. ]

Everything else was obvious.

[ He's copied Mycroft's signature to get out of parking tickets and lawsuits. But he doesn't wanna go there either. Everyone's capable of a little forgery and he just wants to discuss it with you. He takes in Neal's example and starts shifting through his aliases; but he's also played his piece. He's not going to go back from consulting detective. ]

I would say truth but that's dull.

[ Truth or Lie, Neal. He studies you for a beat before he makes his introductions. ]

And the name is Holmes. Sherlock Holmes.

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[became]

[ but that would be boring. someday, maybe neal will put on one of his aliases and let sherlock analyze him, see if he picks up on nick halden's old knee injury or the way steve tabernacle really needs glasses but is too vain to admit it. ]

I'll take that as a compliment. Like the song says, it's a hell of a town.

[ neal purses his lips, thoughtfully. einstein could work here, but why not close out with a little emerson. ]

Truth is beautiful, without doubt. [ if sherlock's as well read as neal is, he'll know the rest of the quote. ] Caffrey. Neal Caffrey.

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[consulting]

[ He's pretty sure he'd get on pretty well with Steve Tabernackle and George Danvary sounds like a douche. Sherlock wants to see if Neal can catch when he's acting and brings on the crocodile tears and misplaces his tenses to illicit a reaction. The quotation catches him off guard; mostly because Neal doesn't finish it. He indexes the brain for the latter half and resists every urge to chuckle. ]

I must say, I was expecting a pseudonym. Are you going to go on pleading not guilty, Neal?

[ Have an eyeroll ]

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[became]

[ steve was a great alias, he really was-- it's a shame he's one of the ones peter burned. nick halden's good, but he's no steve. ]

I'd swear it in front of a judge. [ his grin grows at that eyeroll; oh, sherlock. can he take you home and keep you? he'll feed you, honest. ] But then again, you're not a judge. You're a-- consulting detective, right? Impressive.

[ the reason for the smugness: he usually just goes by 'consultant', but neal's a consulting agent. more or less. look, he has a badge and it's very shiny. ]

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[consulting]

[ The consulting criminal, and a none lethal one. He would have been able to pick that up in person - possibly. Damn video was so limiting. The Camera shakes for a bit as if Sherlock is tilting it trying to get a better view. Oh whoops that was caught on camera, uh yeah he's going to steady that and not bother explaining. ]

So the swear would be meaningless. Quite so, when the police are out of their depths - which as you should know - they often are, they ask me for - advice. How do you get by, what was it? Managing hedges?

[ Totally calling you on that ]

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[became]

[ neal watches the camera shake and after it steadies, moves half out of frame on the pretext of grabbing something-- he does want his sketchbook, but more than that he wants to keep sherlock paying attention. it's harder to read half a face-- hardly impossible, but it makes for more work. ]

Not necessarily. I said I'd swear in front of a judge, but that doesn't count out other options. [ neal's worldviews on legality: summed up and put in practice. ] Sounds like your careers a lot more meaningful than mine. I just shuffle around rich men's money to make them even richer.

VIDEO | WHY NEAL WHY, SHERLOCK LIEKS YOUR FACE.

[consulting]

[ Oh Sherlock's been pulled in attention. He's been focused on nothing else but this conversation, which is to say a lot. Since Sherlock rarely gives anything his full attention. He questions why Neal's made half of his face available; and his mind becomes a string of: 'What is he getting?' and shifts to 'what is he playing at'? - He doesn't make a move to attempt to try to adjust his comms device yet. ]

Hardly. I do it to keep me entertained, while you make sure people keep their pensions and I'm sure you have a jolly good time calculating returns on investments. Obviously, you have the nobler pursuit.

[ Voice is a bit dry. Y U P. COME AT ME NEAL, GO AHEAD WITH YOUR HEDGE FUND LIEEES ]

VIDEO | THAT'S THE POINT, BRO. ALWAYS KEEP 'EM WANTING MORE.

[became]

[ neal makes the right sounds to keep up the act of searching for a few more moments before grabbing his sketchpad and a pencil and settling on his bed, back in frame. he doesn't look back up, however, instead staring down at the blank page before beginning to draw. ]

And I do it to make even more money for myself. Noble isn't the word for it.

[ he continues to draw, stopping every so often to tilt his his and consider, then beginning again. ]

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[consulting]

[ He uses ample time that your not in frame to fully asses Neal's surroundings. Noticing the way Neal's body and the way he walks out of frame, using the time to study his mannerisms. He reassess what he knows about Neal. ]

Clearly our definitions of noble should be put up reconsideration.

[ He'll let Neal draw, watching his eyes drift from the paper to the video. He let's the man continue for a few moments; before deciding to speak. He would hit himself over the head, but he wanted to study Neal up close and Neal wanted to draw. NO ATTRACTION TO THE PRETTY SUITED MAN AT ALL. ]

- Would you want a better view?

[ It's meant to come of as dry. But it's half meant ]

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[became]

[ neal's happiest being watched, and he doesn't bother to hide the easy way he moves from sherlock. gymnastics, yoga, running, some light weight lifting-- neal's built to twist and turn and move, not to overpower. as dispassionate as it sounds, bodies are just another tool. he uses his face to his best advantage-- why not the rest of him? ]

I'll show you mine if you show me yours.

[ sharp lines, is sherlock. all angles and planes. this would be better with color, but it's just a sketch. next time. he looks up at the question. ]

A better view of what? [ now to see if he can get sherlock to ask. ]

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[consulting]

[ Sherlock's keen on watching. He has considerably less movement. He's holding stiller for Neal to draw. He's never been one for art unless it's being stolen or had been stolen, to which his knowledge was somewhat in-depth. ]

Of your subject. [ Matter of fact-ly; he's going to hide his fascination with nonchalance. Totally no big deal, nope. ] The quality the images produce is something severely lacking. Details are important and some subjects are meant to be better captured up close.

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[became]

[ if neal had wanted to, he could have made a living off the more legitimate side of art. but as much as he loves to paint-- and to sculpt, to draw-- nothing can beat the rush of a job. ]

Which means you're assuming I'm drawing you. [ neal licks his thumb and smudges a shadow on that sharp jawline, then takes another moment to try and get sherlock's eyelashes right. the offer of a better view is interesting, and neal abandons one angle as easily as a cat rolling over to play with a new and more wiggly bit of string. ] You're not wrong, and I do like to do the best job I can.

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[consulting]

[ Sherlock's world is something that revolves around crime. So it's no surprise when he finds Neal in his orbit. That's his rush. His hands cup against his the side of his face; he leans on his elbow making himself comfortable. ]

Here I was about to offer to bring one of the items behind me so you could have a closer look. So that is a yes to our meeting? [ Sherlock for come lets have a crime date. He's not sure graphology applies to artwork, but from the heaviness of the strokes of the pencil he wants to attempt telling Neal's life story ]

[ That statement is subjected under scrutiny. Perfectionist? What was Neal? Neal was stimulating that was for sure. It's been a while since he's been on his toes. ]

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[became]

[ neal flips to a new page as sherlock switches positions, hand moving faster to catch the lines of long, delicate fingers. ]

You're not very good at pretending not to be an egoist, are you? [ that's all right, neither is neal. he taps the pencil against paper, lips curving into a genuine smile. ] It's still a yes, though.

Re: VIDEO

[consulting]

[ He notices your drawing. He moves them, taps them against the lines of his cheekbones to distract from the angle. They move to clasp against each other. He get's lost in his own thoughts momentarily. ]

I wasn't trying - no. Problem? Anywhere in particular you'd like to conduct a meeting?

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[became]

[ just black and white for his hands, next time. after he's seen them in person, judged what each callus means. ]

I don't mind-- I've never been good at that, either. [ he looks up again, setting down his pencil. ] Here's fine, unless you have somewhere else in mind.

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[consulting]

Be there in a hour