((This is an RP I’m doing on skype with the awesomely awesome allonsy221b.  Original concept was mine, and so far we’ve covered a little over six pages on Microsoft Word.  And yes, I know it starts out like another angsty reunion RP, but believe me, it’s not.))

Me: John, I’m not dead. -SH

Allonsy221b: Sh-Sherlock? -JW

Me: Yes.  It’s me. -SH

Allonsy221b: Whoever that is, this isn’t funny. -JW

Me: John, it’s really me. -SH

Allonsy221b: How could it be, Sherlock is dead. -JW

Me: Do I need to prove it? -SH

Me: You shot the cabbie. -SH

Allonsy221b: How-how could you know that? -JW

Me: I told you, John.  It’s me, Sherlock.  I faked my death those years ago, -SH

Me: Do you believe me now? -SH

Allonsy221b: I want to, but there are so many things telling me that this can’t be real. -JW

Me: It is, John.  You have to believe me.  I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner, but it was to protect you. -SH

Allonsy221b: Where are you? -JW

Me: Open your front door. -SH

Allonsy221b: ~Walks to the door and slowly opens it~ Sherlock?

Me: *There is a man standing at the door, a man who all thought to be dead, but it’s not Sherlock*

“Hi there, Johnny Boy,” said Jim Moriarty, barging through the door.

Allonsy221b: Wh-what’s going on?

Allonsy221b: I knew this couldn’t be true

Me: Moriarty grinned at John.

“Oh, at least part of it was true.  Sherlock is alive, or he was last I saw him.”  He held up a mobile phone, “How do you think I got this?”

Me: “But he’s not the one I’m interested in right now.  You are.”

Allonsy221b: ~John sits down, his knees shaking.~ Where is he?

Allonsy221b: Why are you interested in me?

Me: “I can take you to him, and if you come quietly, I’ll explain on the way.”

Allonsy221b: ~John looks at Moriarty skeptically~ How do I know I can trust you?

Me: Moriarty spreads his arms and smirks.

“You don’t.  But you’re going to come anyway.”

Allonsy221b: Fine. ~John stands up slowly, and grabs his cane~

Me: Moriarty glances at the cane and shrugs.  “You can bring that, I suppose.”

Me: Moriarty walks back out the door to a taxi and opens the door for John.

Allonsy221b: ~John follows Moriarty, leaning heavily on his cane, and gets in to the cab.~

Me: Moriarty gets back in and nods to the driver, who starts well… driving.

Allonsy221b: ~John looks over at Moriarty~ Where are we going?

Me: “To Sherlock, of course.  Nice little abandoned place not far from here… I think it used to make shoes.”

Allonsy221b: How are either of you alive?

Me: “Not important.  What’s important is what Sherlock did to let me know he was alive.”  Moriarty’s face briefly turned to one of rage before he resumed his composure.

Allonsy221b: What did he do? Why didn’t he tell me?

Me: “Right.  I said I would explain.  Are you familiar with one Sebastian Moran?”

Allonsy221b: No. Should I be?

Me: “No, I suppose not.  He was a sniper, one of mine.  My little pet.  And Sherlock killed him.”  The rage was back.

Allonsy221b: ~John looked at Moriarty surprised~ Why would he do that?

Me: “It was a power play.  Sherlock was trying to bring back the first game we’ve been playing, so he had Seb hostage.  I made the mistake of threatening you; Sherlock made the mistake of not assuming I could find him.”

Me: “He killed Seb before I could do anything about it.”

Allonsy221b: He killed him because you threatened me?

Me: “Your Sherlock’s become quite a changed man over these past few years.  You wouldn’t believe the stories I got out of him.”

Allonsy221b: What are you talking about/

Me: “It’s not that surprising, once you think about it.  He wants everything to be safe, to be able to come back home to you, so he starts going about making it that way.”

Me: “He’s lonelier than before, and desperate to get back, and he didn’t have much of a conscience before his ‘death’ anyway.”

Allonsy221b: How do you know all this?

Me: “I told you, I’ve been talking to him.”

Allonsy221b: How long have you had him?

Me: “Since he killed Sebastian.  I’d say… a few months?”

Allonsy221b: Why are you here now then? What’s change?

Allonsy221b: *Changed

Me: “I got enough information to get you to believe I was him.”  The taxi arrived at its destination and Moriarty got out, holding the door open for John.

Allonsy221b: ~John slid out of the cab after Moriarty~ Is he here?

Me: “Would I have dragged you out here if he wasn’t?”

Allonsy221b: I don’t know. You could have just brought me here to kill me

Me: “If I had wanted to kill you, I wouldn’t have dragged you out here to do it.  Now, if you’ll follow me.”

Me: He walked into the building.

Allonsy221b: ~John walked quickly behind Moriarty, anticipation building inside him~

Me: They enter a large empty room.  Or at least, it appeared empty at first… upon closer inspection, one could see something lying in a far corner.

Allonsy221b: ~John, seeing the figure, moved forward more quickly~ Sherlock?

Me: It is Sherlock, but he’s unconscious.  He is bruised and there is dried blood on old wounds, and his hands and feet are tied.

Allonsy221b: ~John reached the body and crouched to examine it~ What did you do to him?

Me: “A variety of things.  Over an extended amount of time.  Never enough to kill him, though.”  Moriarty strolls across the room and crouches beside John.  “I was going to, but then I had my wonderful idea.”

Allonsy221b: What would that be? ~John turned to look up at Moriarty~

Me: “You might want to sit down.”  Moriarty pulls a gun from inside his jacket, “And stay seated, at least for now.”

Allonsy221b: ~John quickly sat down directly in front of Sherlock~

Me: Moriarty pointed the gun at John, “Just a precaution, I’m sure you realize.  Now, I have a proposal for you, Dr. Watson.”

Allonsy221b: Oh really?

Me: “Yes.  Really.  You see, since Sherlock killed poor Seb, I’ve found myself in need of a new guard dog.  So, I’m thinking to myself, trying to find a replacement and who do I think of?”

Allonsy221b: You-you want me?

Me: “Why not?  You’ve got what I’m looking for.  A crack shot, smart enough,” he glances and Sherlock and smiles, “Glowing references.”

Allonsy221b: What makes you think I would ever want to protect you?

Me: “Which brings me to the best part.”  He looks at Sherlock, “I do have Sherlock right here, after all.  I can go ahead and kill him, or whatever else.  And while I still haven’t found someone as wonderful as you or dear Seb, I can still have certain others killed if I so desire.”

Allonsy221b: No don’t. Don’t hurt him. I’ll help you, as long as you promise that he will be safe. ~John looks at Sherlock, still unconscious behind him, from the corner of his eye~

Me: Jim grins broadly and extends a hand.  “Do we have a deal?”

Allonsy221b: Yes, just let him go. ~John stands up shakily, leaning on his cane for support and grips Moriarty’s hand~

Me: “I never said I’d let him go.  I’ll untie him and you can look after him, but he’s going to stay here for a little while, anyway.  As insurance.  Once you’ve had time to get used to things, I’ll consider letting him leave, but not just yet.”

Allonsy221b: You said he would be safe. He is not safe here. That was my condition.

Allonsy221b: ~John stares at Moriarty~

Me: Moriarty stares back before saying, “Will you feel better about it if I have him moved to a more… stable location?”

Allonsy221b: I want you to let him go home,

Me: “With you?”

Allonsy221b: Preferably, but I know you probably won’t allow that.

Me: “Of course.  I’d like to have you near me as often as possible, obviously.”

Allonsy221b: I’ll do whatever you want, just let him go home. ~John continues to stare unwaveringly at Moriarty~

Me: Moriarty stares John in the face, looking for any trace of dishonesty and finding none.  He knows that John Watson is a terrible liar.  He was going to have to work on that.

“Fine.”

Me: “Do you want me to wake him up?  I’m sure there’s a tearful reunion you’ve been hoping for, and I can give it to you.  I like to think I’m a pretty good boss.”

Allonsy221b: No, I don’t think I can do that. ~Tears fill John’s eyes, but he quickly blinks them away~

Me: “Oh, but he wants to see you.  I don’t think we should deny him the opportunity.”

Allonsy221b: Fine, if that’s what he wants. ~This time John can’t stop the tear the runs down his cheek~

Me: Moriarty leans over Sherlock and shakes him.  “Wakey wakey, Sherlock!  You’ve got a visitor!”

Me: Sherlock stirs.

Allonsy221b: ~John crouches to face Sherlock, wanting his face to be the first thing Sherlock sees when he wakes up~

Me: Sherlock opens his eyes and blinks a few times, confusion evident.  “John?”

Allonsy221b: Yes, I’m here

Me: Moriarty stands up and backs up a few feet, picking up his gun. (He set it down for the handshake)

Me: “John… what are you doing here?”

Allonsy221b: Moriarty brought me.

Me: Sherlock tries to move but can’t really do much.  “Can you help me sit up?”

Allonsy221b: ~John quickly helps lift Sherlock up into a sitting position.~

Me: “Thanks… Thank you John.  You said Moriarty brought you here?”

Moriarty waves, “Guilty as charged!”

Allonsy221b: Yes, it’s a long story. We probably won’t see each other for a while, so we best make the most of this.

Me: “John…” Sherlock said, looking nervously from John to Moriarty, “Why did he bring you here?”

Allonsy221b: ~John looked down, not meeting Sherlock’s eyes.~ He had a proposition for me.

Me: “A proposition?  What sort of…” then it hits him.

Allonsy221b: I-I’m sorry Sherlock.

Me: “John…”

Me: Moriarty giggled slightly at the situation.  Sherlock turned to him and yelled, “SHUT UP!”

Moriarty stands up and walked menacingly back towards the two.  “Sherlock, what did I tell you about…”

Allonsy221b: ~John looked between the two, confused~

Me: Sherlock flinched as Moriarty got closer.

Allonsy221b: Don’t you dare touch him. ~John growled up at Moriarty~

Me: Moriarty stopped, simply glaring at Sherlock and saying, “I told you not to raise your voice at me.”

Sherlock looked between the two again.  “Well that proves it,” he mutters.

Allonsy221b: Proves what?

Me: “You really did agree to work for him to save me.”

Allonsy221b: ~John looked away from Sherlock, sad and ashamed~ Yes I did. ~He whispered~

Me: Sherlock is silent, looking at the floor.

Allonsy221b: I’m sorry. ~It was the only thing John could think to say, before he stood and walked towards Moriarty~

Me: “John!” Sherlock called, “I… I forgive you.  Please come back over here.”

Allonsy221b: ~John didn’t look at Sherlock as he spoke~ No, I can’t. It’s too much

Me: “John!”

Allonsy221b: Sherlock stop. I have to go. ~John began walking towards the door~

Me: Moriarty started laughing, as he walked with John towards the door. “Wonderful job, Johnny Boy.  I think we’re going to get along just beautifully.”

Allonsy221b: Shut up ~He grumbled.~

Me: Back in the corner, tears started running down Sherlock’s face.

Allonsy221b: ~John could hear a tiny sob behind him, but he did not turn around~

Me: (Oh my God, this is working out just as well as I’d hoped it would.)

Allonsy221b: (I’m glad :D I’m just sitting here crying cause of all my feels :P)

Me: Moriarty looked at John’s face and smiled.

“You want to make sure I follow through on my side of the deal, John?”

Allonsy221b: Yes.

Allonsy221b: ~John continued to look resolutely forward~

Me: “Might as well take care of that now then.”  Moriarty’s smile turned into a smirk, “John, help Sherlock to the car, please.”

Allonsy221b: ~John turned to glare at Moriarty, but did as he was told, walking back to the man in the corner~

Me: Sherlock stared at John as he walked back, reading every detail on his face and his walk.  He tried to stop the tears from coming, to make these things easier.  It didn’t work.

Allonsy221b: ~Tears fell silently down John’s cheeks as he helped Sherlock towards the car. He never looked over at the other man or said a word~

Me: Sherlock leaned his head toward John’s ear. “John,” he whispered, “I am so sorry.”

Allonsy221b: ~John ignored the words, pushing Sherlock into the car and slamming the door~

Me: “John, talk to me, please.”

Me: Moriarty hears this last bit.  “You can talk,” he says, “Johnny boy. I’ll even pretend I don’t hear it.”

Allonsy221b: No I can’t. I can’t do this. Please. ~He looked away from Sherlock, out the window~

Me: “I hate silent car rides,” Moriarty mutters.

Allonsy221b: ~John continued to ignore the other two men~

Me: “Soooo,” Moriarty says, “John.  How’ve you been?  Since Sherlock ‘died’ in front of you.   I imagine your life must’ve been shaken up a bit.”

Allonsy221b: ~John still didn’t say anything~

Me: “Come on now, you’ve got to say something.  You’re not going to be like this all the time, are you?  You’d get pretty dull pretty quickly.”

Allonsy221b: ~John turned to face Moriarty~ I never said I would talk to you. I said I would do what you asked of me and nothing more.

Me: Sherlock turned his head so that he was now facing Moriarty.  “Stop talking to John, Mor-“ 

Moriarty glares at Sherlock, who amends his statement.  “Stop talking to John, Jim.  Please.”

Me: Moriarty made a scowl that almost looked like a pout.  “Fine.  I’ll get to Johnny soon enough.”

Allonsy221b: ~John turned to look at Sherlock, but looked away very quickly~

Me: They were getting close.  Sherlock could tell.  He decided to make one last attempt.  “John, I know I should have told you I was alive.  I should have told you I was alive, I should have told you about Moran, I should have told you all of it.  I am so sorry, please just say something.”  Sherlock sobbed loudly.  “Please.”

Allonsy221b: ~John turned and opened his mouth to say something, but he just couldn’t~

Allonsy221b: ~He knew that once the words started coming he wouldn’t be able to stop the tears either~

Me: Moriarty pointedly put his fingers in his ears and looked away.

Allonsy221b: ~John opened his mouth again and this time words did come out~ I’m sorry too Sherlock ~He quickly turned away, not wanting Sherlock to see the tears flowing from his eyes, just as he knew they would~

Me: Sherlock put a hand on John’s shoulder.  “I understand.”  There is a moment of silence, and Sherlock adds, “You know, we’re actually in a pretty safe situation, at least for the time being.”

Allonsy221b: ~John turned to look at Sherlock, wiping the tears away~ How do you figure?

Me: Sherlock glances at Moriarty.  He knows he can hear but, since it’s bound to have crossed his mind, Sherlock says it anyway.  “Jim will keep me alive and leave me alone as long as he thinks it’ll give him leverage over you, and you’ll be fine for obvious reasons.  It’s not the best situation, but it’s not too bad.”

Allonsy221b: How can you say ‘it’s not too bad’? It’s a horrible situation.

Me: “We’re both alive, John.”  He moves his head back so he can whisper in John’s ear, “I can find a way out of this.  I just need to recover and I can think of a way out of this.  I’ll find a way to contact you.  We should be seeing plenty of each other anyway.”

Allonsy221b: ~John leans back from Sherlock ~I don’t think any of that will be possible Sherlock, look who we are dealing with.

Me: Sherlock smiles, and for a moment his face resembles Moriarty’s.  “No John.  Look who he’s dealing with.”

Allonsy221b: ~John smiles back weakly, but still can’t help but think that defeating Moriarty is beyond them~

Me: “Think about it, John.  It would be easy.  All we have to do is wait a while, until he’s as close to trusting you as he’ll let himself get, then…”  He glances at Moriarty, who still has his fingers in his ears.

Allonsy221b: ~John shook his head.~ You know he’ll never trust me.

Me: “He doesn’t have to, he just has to come close.  We can use this, John.”

Allonsy221b: It won’t work.

Me: “I’ll make it work.  Just you wait.”

The car arrived at its destination and stopped.

Me: Moriarty took his fingers out of his ears and said, “Well, I’m glad you two had a nice talk.  But the ride’s over.”

Allonsy221b: ~John stared emotionlessly at Moriarty~

Me: Moriarty opens the door and gets out.  “Shall we?”

Allonsy221b: ~john nods, curtly, and steps out~

Me: Sherlock moves toward the door and carefully climbs out, having some trouble doing so.

Me: “I think he still needs some help, John.” Moriarty says calmly.

Allonsy221b: ~John carefully wrapped Sherlock’s arm around his shoulder and helped him walk forward~

Me: “Thank you, John,” Sherlock says as briskly as he can, moving towards the door.