if_inconvenient | (no subject)

"That would be unfortunate."

Or not. It's not as though someone breaking in for real would be playing fair, after all.

"There are wards all around the property, magic wouldn't do you any good."

Indiscretion for indiscretion. Either that, or Peter doesn't want him wasting either of their time.

"I never use magic," he says cheerfully. "We'll see, I suppose."

Jarvis is cheating because he is a unique resource, so breaking into the house with his help would not help expose any meaningful security flaws. Also because Sherlock doesn't want to reveal his existence.

"Good evening, Mr Beardsley." He starts for the door of Cal's room.

They will indeed see. And this arrangement will continue for as long as Sherlock's efforts make him useful. Peter gives him a nod and heads downstairs.

Inside, Cal has lost track of time somewhat, or maybe Sherlock was quicker than Cal thought he'd be. He's still in the shower when Sherlock enters, but it's a couple minutes' wait before he emerges from the adjoining bathroom. He's wearing sweatpants and a t-shirt; judging from the flush to his skin and the amount of steam that billows out along with him, he was running the water as hot as he could stand it. Maybe even a bit hotter.

He looks calmer than he did when he dropped Sherlock off. Less frayed around the edges.

"That was quick."

"If I cannot find work as a consulting detective, a lucrative career in housebreaking awaits me. Your Mr Beardsley appreciates my efforts, at least, or he would no doubt have thrown me out."

"As long as you can give him something to work with, there shouldn't be a problem." Cal has figured out the arrangement.

He crosses the room to open his windows, then lights a cone of vanilla incense.

"I'll have to choose a more difficult route next time. I would hate to see him cut down that lovely old oak tree, as convenient as it is."

Cal laughs.

"He hates that tree. He was so pissed when I moved my room up here because it's so close to the window there."

He gets out the Indy box case as he talks and drops onto the end of his bed as he opens it. Along with pot and papers, it contains a couple (http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c205/catslash/pipe.jpg) of small glass pipes (http://www.ioffer.com/i/5-inch-double-color-glass-sherlock-151119483?source=eisi).

"No one's ever gotten in on it before, but he doesn't care about that."

His lips quirk.

"Perhaps I will avoid it in future, then. I am sure I can find another point of entry."

Cal selects the blue stained-glass pipe and opens the bag of pot to fill it.

"I'm starting to think I'd be surprised if you couldn't."

"Every security system has flaws." Even Jarvis, whose main flaw is his inability to extend outside the house. "Mr Beardsley is very good at his work, however, and I expect I will have to step up my game."

"He's the best," Cal agrees. The Chandlers only hire the best, after all.

He finishes packing the pipe and lights up, covering the little vent on the side of the bowl with his thumb as he inhales deeply. The tension that had been lingering despite the shower falls away, and he relaxes completely in blissful anticipation of the high.

Sherlock does not get it. He really, really doesn't.

But, he reflects, he is hardly one to talk about strange coping mechanisms. Smoking pot is arguably more normal than breaking into houses.

Cal exhales slowly, blowing the smoke in the general direction of the window and away from Sherlock.

"Still don't want any?" He feels obliged to check. It seems only polite.

He grins. "I still don't," he affirms. "You have your hobbies and I have mine."

Cal laughs a little.

"Okay," he says. "You break into houses, I'll smoke up, and if we get caught, we can share a jail cell."

"I'll bring a pack of cards to keep us entertained."

Cal reflects on this. (The pot is hitting his bloodstream.)

"I'll have to learn something other than Go Fish."

"You don't play poker?"

"I never learned." He lights up for another hit, failing to ponder the wisdom of admitting one's lack of experience in poker.

"Perhaps I'll teach you sometime."

Cal is holding the smoke in; his voice is a bit compressed as he says,

"Okay."

"I promise not to cheat," he adds.

Cal exhales.

"Card game's no fun if you don't cheat."

What would be the point?

"Cheating is no fun unless one's opponent knows the rules. And speaking of cheating, if ever you have the opportunity to play blackjack against Tony or I, don't. We've forgotten how to stop counting cards."

"Okay," Cal says agreeably. "No blackjack."

He doesn't really know what that means, but okay.