001

[paradisamods]

[And, quite suddenly...

You're holding your journal. If you already were holding it, congratulations. If you weren't... you are now! Somebody wants your attention.

And get this: it's empty.

The old one's kicking around somewhere, but for now, look at what Paradisa gave you!]

Comments

[confidente]

[ Don't lick it. :| Please don't. ]

So there is nothing seemingly wrong with it?

[workaphilic]

Apparently not. As I said, though, still need to confirm.

[What? He's just sniffing! He's not so far gone that he'd -- oh wait no yeah he's licking it. Sorry, bro. 8)]

Nothing special about the last few entries, either. To someone unfamiliar with the journals, it might appear like this one simply ran out of pages. And yet. [He holds up the new journal, pointedly. It's like the old one was faulty and needed a replacement or something.]

[confidente]

Aw--did you have to lick it? [ WORST BEST FRIEND. ]

And yet for some the castle replaced it with a brand new book that, as far as we can tell, is in no way different from the old one.

[workaphilic]

[Sherlock just gives him a Look. "Yes of course I did, why even ask such a stupid question?"]

I'll need to find out if the new one really does have all the same properties as the old one. Could help us start to cut down the list of possible reasons for replacing it.

[confidente]

[ That's his book god dammit. ]

Well you're not using mine.

[workaphilic]

[He actually looks kind of put-out.]

What? Why not? It isn't as if you're using it for anything.

[confidente]

Because it's mine and I'd rather not have to subjected to endless experiments.

[workaphilic]

Well, I can't use mine. There are notes I need to keep.

[confidente]

Looks like you've got yourself a bit of a problem then.

[workaphilic]

[He's flipping through the journal again, squinting like that'll somehow let him see something that he didn't see before.]

What's so important that you need to save? If you needed to look up something public you could always just use mine.

[confidente]

Maybe I just don't like having my belongings tampered with without my consent.

[workaphilic]

I warned you in advance.

[Because "getting found out before he can try anything" counts as "warning in advance" apparently.]

[confidente]

No you didn't.

[workaphilic]

[Scowl. Splitting hairs, as far as he's concerned.]

Fine. What if I enumerate anything I plan to do to it at least [a beat to think] half an hour before I do? Would that be satisfactory?

[confidente]

You're not going to take a flat out no, are you? [ Of course he isn't. A sigh. ] I guess it'll have to do.

[workaphilic]

[He brightens immediately.]

Don't worry, it'll be ages before I get to anything that might actually damage [read: destroy] it. Just some minor tests until then.

[confidente]

[ Sadly John doesn't share his enthusiasm. ] Just try not to set the flat on fire.

[workaphilic]

[Completely straightfaced:]

You know I can't promise that.

[confidente]

Try.

[workaphilic]

[Pause. Thinking! Probably way longer than is entirely comfortable.]

I can promise to try and keep it localized.

[confidente]

[ Facepalm. He'll say goodbye to the kitchen ahead of time then. ]