if_inconvenient | (no subject)

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So. Alec Carrow.

Sherlock is aware that social boundaries apply to this situation, and that he is currently breaking them all. He doesn't much care. He is wholly capable of discretion, but he is not at all capable of remaining ignorant in the first place.

Start with finding the obituary. Work from there. How did he die? When?

(Tony doesn't know about the conversation with Alyce. Tony doesn't know about a lot of things. Tony has been spending more time than usual ensconced in his workshop with the door locked, hacking Stark Industries records like he doesn't remember that Jarvis won't keep secrets between the two of them. Sherlock is a little surprised that it seems Tony was on the level about arming him more formidably.)

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"Thank you for informing me."

Oddly, he is inclined to trust her word.

Well. Not that oddly.

"I'd want to know. So I figured you should."

"Kind of you," he says without a trace of irony, smiling at her.

"I guess I can be kind if I want to."

She sips through her straw and then glances up at him.

"And I want to. You're not someone who needs... you know."

Menacing, tormenting, that kind of thing.

...He blushes a little.

"Thank you," he repeats.

She made him... blush? Is that good or bad? Or really bad?

In her circle making someone blush is usually really bad

That would be why she's watching him, wide-eyed and still.

With Sherlock, apparently it just means you get an adorably uncertain little smile!

And then, because he is still Sherlock Holmes, a look of concern.

And with that reaction, she will see the adorably uncertain smile and raise him a relieved sigh.

"Sorry. I thought I'd said something- Never mind."

Well.

"All right."

He has his own theories about what just happened (and why she might be frightened of a blush), but he can respect that 'never mind' for now.

While he searches for a new conversational topic, he sips his drink. It is every bit as superb as he expected.

Alyce can be chatty. She's known for it. She's not finding her words at the moment.

Ack. This is awkward.

(Actually it's not. Alyce tends to flail when she's not in her comfort zone.)

When in doubt...

Actually, Sherlock doesn't have any conversational when-in-doubt rules. His experience is fairly limited. Uncomfortable silences don't happen with Jarvis, and when they happen with Tony, Sherlock generally pokes fun at him for it. This is, he is fairly sure, not an appropriate response here.

And this is why Tony was so astonished that a girl asked Sherlock out for coffee.

He smiles wryly at the thought.

Face meet palm. Alyce covers her eyes and giggles. It's a nervous giggle, but she hopes it will jumpstart her brain.

"Okay, I obviously fail at talking to nice people on pretty days. Like epic fail. Give me some moonlight and dark alleys and I'll talk your ear off."

"I was thinking much the same thing," Sherlock confesses, grinning. "It seems I am unable to sustain a conversation without subterfuge. Perhaps I am just out of practice."

That gets him a look if surprise and delight, and now Alyce does duck her head. Her cheeks are a little pink.

"We can practice together. Build our skills."

This does feel kind of real. Which is... weird.

But not bad.

"An excellent opportunity."

Beat.

He leans a little closer.

"What on Earth do people talk about?"

She giggles (less nervously this time) and leans in a little, too.

"I think... sports."

She wrinkles her nose. "Baseball. I'm pretty sure they talk about that."

Sherlock considers this.

"It is not," he says with comically exaggerated regret, "my area of expertise."

"I thought you knew a little bit about everything. I think my illusions are shattered."

"My sincerest apologies," he says, in a deadpan that is a lot more grinny than his usual. "I will endeavour to be more omniscient in future."

"I should hope so," she says in mock indignation. Then she laughs again, tossing her head back.

"Did you know you're funny? I mean, not in a bad way. You have a great sense of humor. No one makes me laugh like that anymore."

She winces inwardly. She should've left off that 'anymore'.

"I am pleased to hear it. So few people appreciate my sense of humour."

By which he means Jarvis is basically the only one, but Alyce hasn't met Jarvis properly, so she won't understand why he doesn't quite count.

"Your friends have no taste," she says, making the assumption that someone as smart and funny (and cute) as he is must have plenty of friends.

They must be away on vacation. Or something. Hmmm.

"So I have often said."

Where he takes 'your friends' to mean... Tony.

Yeah.

"You need a new one, then."

The slushy remains of her drink are suddenly fascinating as she stirs with her straw.

"Someone with great taste."

It's about now that she crosses an invisible line. She'll defy Tom if he continues his plans.

And that? Will probably suck. But it's time to say no.

"...I would be honoured."

And the thing with Sherlock is that he can say things like that and you can tell they're genuine.