(no subject)

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

A bored Moriarty is - ...

Well. It's not a terrible thing. There aren't any fires or anything, although that could change in time.

He's carved out a little corner of the bar for his anxious pacing, where there is, amongst other things, no less than ten sixteen-by-sixteen Sudokus pinned to the wall, three Rubiks Cubes, a half dozen newspapers with various words outlined seemingly at random (and various notes attached - one edition of the Times has a massive 'INVESTIGATE DEMONIC ACTIVITY' scribbled on it in red), and a quarter empty bottle of whiskey.

Moriarty himself doesn't look too great. His coat is flopped over the back of a chair, his waistcoat undone, his cravat who-knows-where, his shirt missing several buttons near the neck, and he has a reddish cut over his eye that's probably an hour or two old.

Botherable.

Comments

[souffle_girlek]

Oswin, who was grinning rather cheerfully once she'd caught sight of her favorite Victorian, is getting rather less cheerful and more of a sort of worried, or confused, as she gets closer.

Honestly, she's wondering if he's managed to dose himself with something rather toxic.

"Worn a hole in the floorboards yet?"

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty stops. Looks down. Looks up.

"No," he says after a moment, "they're fairly sturdy. I don't think they're actually made of wood."

[souffle_girlek]

"Expensive." Oswin notes, stealing first a chair and then a Rubik's cube, idly setting to solving it without paying a whole lot of attention to it. "You're awfully jittery today."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"I'm bored," Moriarty says, flopping down (a mite dramatically, perhaps) into a chair next to Oswin's. "Not willingly, as you will note."

[souffle_girlek]

She pokes him in the shoulder (the preferred method of Moriarty-wrangling by tiny geniuses the universe over), frowning.
"Bored? Here? With the garage and the library and a whole out-of-doors and who knows what else? I should go get the bitey book and lob it at your head, we'll see how bored you are then."

This is an entirely idle threat. She couldn't lob that bitey book very far, and she'd have to get the strap off first for it to do any good anyway.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty responds by nudging her lightly. "If this place is such a font of interesting experience, then why don't you show me something to do."

Then: "There's a bitey book?"

[souffle_girlek]

"At least one, maybe more." She tilts her head and grins at him, archly. "I don't suppose you'd want to go see it?"

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"I am ever in favour of bitey books," Moriarty grins back, offering a hand.

[souffle_girlek]

"Oh, this is a habit for you then?" Oswin takes the offered hand and, once on her feet, tugs towards the direction of the library. Her impression of a human tugboat is rather less impressive when the person she's pulling along can more easily pace her than most.

(And, you know, no one's chasing them)

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"Sadly not, but the idea is interesting," Moriarty chirps, keeping alongside her with long, easy strides.

[souffle_girlek]

Oswin... cannot refute this, as this is how she found out about the book in question in the first place.

The library is quiet this time of day, and Oswin weaves her way confidently through the stacks (though she does give the poor poor card catalog a sympathetic look as she passes it - she promises to sort it back out later), not really pausing until they've reached an aisle that is full of books about magic (that actually works, which makes Oswin boggle rather a lot). She points to the furry one that's making grumbly noises.

"Hope you're up on your immunizations."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"Who," Moriarty says, picking up the book carefully, "would even make a book that bites people? Obviously they're a genius for thinking of it, but still."

[souffle_girlek]

"... People who sell book bindings?" Oswin replies, sensibly, keeping a good foot away from the book at all times. She's seen that thing jump.

[morethanprops]

Moist watches Moriarty from his own table where he has a scotch and a page of news items.

Today he's not in a suit but instead in a comfortable sweater and good quality flannel trousers and says to Moriarty on one of his pacing turns, "You seem a little obsessed? Trouble at home?"

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"Obsessed? Me? No. Of course not. Ridiculous."

Pace, pace, pace.

"Bored. But not obsessed."

[morethanprops]

"Ah, bored, that's something else entirely. What kind of distraction are you looking for?"

As Moist can sometimes help with those and this man is attractive in an unkempt sort of way and he's clearly intelligent.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty is blissfully oblivious to any thoughts regarding his attractiveness.

"Any distraction. Anything."

[morethanprops]

"I might be able to provide that. How do you feel about visiting other worlds?"

This man could be useful and Moist's in the mood for doing something to see what happens.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty pauses, peering at Moist.

"Well. That was quick. I imagine most people are a little more protective over their doors."

[morethanprops]

Moist's face is one of blank innocence mixed with some curiosity,

"My world is almost as strange as Milliways and I'm in the mood for something different myself."

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"Well, I suppose it can hardly hurt!" Moriarty beams, quickly doing up his waistcoat and shrugging on his coat. He takes a moment to smooth it down, and another to take another quick gulp of whiskey.

[morethanprops]

"That's the spirit. I'm Alfred," He smirks and offers Moriarty his hand.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

Moriarty grins, and shakes the offered hand.

"James Moriarty."

[morethanprops]

"Its good to meet you. One question, how do you deal with magic?"

Moist reaches up to adjust Moriarty's shirt and button a few buttons.

[awesome_binomial_theorems]

"With only - er," Moriarty looks down, flushing a little pink, "moderate discomfort. I'd say that's a point in my favour."