(no subject)

[if_inconvenient]

One entirely innocuous afternoon, Sherlock places a call through Jarvis to Cal's cellphone.

Comments

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

It's a call Cal is more than happy to take. He even goes outside to do it.

"Hey."

[if_inconvenient]

"Afternoon, Mr Chandler," he says half-teasingly.

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Ugh, not you too."

There is, of course, a porch with tasteful outdoor furniture; Cal settles onto one of the chairs.

"What's up?"

[if_inconvenient]

"New York is rather more dingy than I remember."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

Cal pauses.

". . . What?"

[if_inconvenient]

"Which part would you like me to clarify?"

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"All of it?" Cal suggests.

[if_inconvenient]

"New York, which is where I currently am, is rather more dingy than I remember it, from when I grew up there. Granted I have never actually been to the city before, but it's the principle of the thing."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"When did you go to New York?"

Didn't Cal just see him yesterday?

[if_inconvenient]

"The plane landed half an hour ago."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"Oh."

Cal taps his fingers on the table, wishing he'd thought to grab his cigarettes. (In the absence of his daily pot-smoking ritual, that particular habit is taking hold quite nicely.)

"Sometimes when I leave the state, I tell people."

[if_inconvenient]

"But I did tell you," he points out quite reasonably. "I am telling you now."

[americas-son.livejournal.com]

"I tell people before I do it," he corrects himself.

. . . although considering that two of the people he spends the most time with these days are Sherlock Holmes and Peter Beardsley, he probably wouldn't have to.

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

After the brief exchange with Mr Chandler (and, he assumes, Sherlock; who else would it have been on the phone?), Peter goes back to his office.

Cal explained to Peter what he knew about Jarvis after the - encounter with with the ex-Reed Chandler, and it filled in a few small gaps that had been in Peter's knowledge of the Stark residence. Now it remains only to figure out how to contact a near-sentient AI without alerting said AI's owner. (That last was not part of his instructions, but Peter feels it can be assumed; Tony Stark has not, in his experience thus far, taken well to being looked after.)

[poeticterms]

Will it help if his phone rings?

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

. . . Hmm. Peter strongly doubts that the timing on that is a coincidence. He takes a seat at his desk as he answers.

"Chandler security."

[poeticterms]

"Good afternoon, Mr Beardsley."

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

"Jarvis, I presume."

It's not a guess.

[poeticterms]

"Of course. You wanted to speak with me?"

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

"I did."

Frankly, it would surprise Peter more if Sherlock didn't have his home's security system recording all the calls he makes; having such advanced technology at his disposal must make that very easy. And probably more secure.

"I'm under instructions to inform you that if there's any difficulty during Obadiah Stane's impending visit while Sherlock is out of town, you're to contact us for assistance."

[poeticterms]

"Very sensible. I'll make a note of it. And how are you? The last time we spoke you were somewhat indisposed."

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

. . . small talk with a computer? Really?

Peter considers hanging up, but sheer curiosity keeps him on the phone.

He does reach for some reports that need looking through, though. Things in the house have settled considerably since the funeral, but there are still just barely enough hours in the day to get almost everything done.

"I'm fine," he says. "It was just a mild concussion." It is not at all a shock that the former Mr Chandler couldn't even manage to knock him out properly.

[poeticterms]

"Glad to hear it."

He sounds amused. Can computers be amused? Apparently this one can.

[chandler-npc.livejournal.com]

"Mm," Peter says. "I don't have time for a serious injury."

He sounds distracted, which he is; the reports are higher priority, after all.

[poeticterms]

"You and Sherlock have that in common," he observes.