It was Sherlock’s birthday today. He’s never been too fond of birthdays but I did my best to try and change that by baking him a cake. I might have gone a bit overboard but I thought the colors might be whimsical enough to cheer him up.
And then, just for a little extra insurance, I wrote a case on the top - knowing he would definitely like that. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen him so pleased to see a food item before.
(The cake was delicious, by the way.)
Usually, I spend the holiday more traditionally: a date with a beautiful woman, flowers, dinner, dessert and so on. This year, however, being unattached I hadn’t any plans until the Holmes brothers got involved.
It had been Mycroft’s idea, for the three of us to go out for dinner and Sherlock of course refused violently. That was until his brother simply said he’d take me out alone instead. Long story short, the three of us found ourselves at a fancy restaurant.
It was awkward, the brothers glaring at each other across the table but the alcohol and food helped temper things. It was a fondue restaurant and surely something not good for Mycroft’s diet.
First course was cheddar cheese mixed up with bacon, scallions and a lager. We had bread of various types, apples and raw vegetables for dipping. Second course were salads - I had the cesar which might have been the best I’ve ever tasted. And lastly, we had dessert - milk chocolate mixed with bailey’s irish cream and an absolute sinful selection of things to dip into it. Brownies, marshmallows, bananas, strawberries, cheesecake….
I couldn’t remember the last time I had been so stuffed and so completely satisfied. Even the brothers seemed to put their bickering aside to just enjoy the food - the most I’ve seen Sherlock eat in a sitting in fact.
It was all oddly refreshing, not having someone to impress on this overly romantic day. Even if the three of us did get odd looks from other patrons in the restaurant.
Today was…interesting even if not particularly exciting. Sherlock and I oddly ended up in the audience of a burlesque show for apparently research, though for /what/ exactly I’m not sure. It was enjoyable, if not a bit awkward. I never quite know how to properly act…If whooping and catcalling is always welcome or not. Still, it was odd being in such a place with Sherlock of all people - who seemed to pay as much attention to me and the other patrons as he did to the girl on stage.
Thankfully, after the show Sherlock seemed satisfied with whatever conclusion he had reached and after picking up some more chocolate digestives and jammie dodgers, we got some take away and settled back in at home for dinner and tea.
Tonight, Sherlock and I had another Bond night. We got take away and beer and again, Sherlock didn’t pay nearly enough attention to the movie.
Still no cases and again Sherlock dragged me out shopping, though to far less interesting stores with far less interesting results. I actually bought something this time - a new parka - so it wasn’t entirely a wasted trip.
Sherlock has been insufferable lately as the cases have been few and far between.
He’s been coping by dragging me away to strange and unusual shops with what seems to be the purpose of simple shopping. Which of course is troubling in itself.
Regardless, I’ve managed to enjoy myself following him along, though I didn’t make any purchases. I even had the rare opportunity to beat Sherlock at something. Admittedly, it’s been a struggle not to gloat any moment I can get since beating Sherlock at anything is nearly unheard of.
It was in a peculiar shop, one who claimed to be a ‘spy’ store. It was small with barely any products but each of them more interesting than the last. All types of surveillance equipment, most covert and more than once I was wondering if Mycroft didn’t have at least one of each. In addition to hidden cameras, there were a variety of airsoft guns that would have been more than tempting if they weren’t so expensive. Most interesting of all were a variety of normal looking products - soda cans, oatmeal boxes, candles, cleaning products of all types - that had screw off bottoms and hidden compartments inside, all of them weighted to feel normal upon picking up. I may have to invest in a variety in case Sherlock decides to abuse the nicotine patches again…
But the way I was able to one-up Sherlock was with a set of lockpicks. Apparently, we had stumbled into the shop for him to acquire a set, and eagerly he set about practicing. I was impressed when the first lock opened in a matter of seconds and then throughly disappointed when he couldn’t seem to manage the second one. I had never even thought of the skill - things and places were locked for reasons but I was curious to try. Imagine my surprise when I could open the second lock quickly and easily! The same lock that gave Sherlock Holmes so much trouble.
I had thought it was a fluke, but as Sherlock continued to struggle as he tried again, I attempted to show him by duplicating my original success. …And then once more with my hand on his as I helped him through it. Still, he couldn’t manage to complete the challenge himself.
I think he might have been overthinking things - not reacting to touch and feel and perhaps I had a bit of an advantage being left-handed. None the less, we left quickly after that without a set of picks.
He seemed to make it up to himself by dragging me instead to a store that sold used science equipment and army surplus. I had always thought he ‘borrowed’ equipment from Bart’s but perhaps he purchased it after all. All types of beakers and testtubes, electronic pieces - batteries, LEDs, fans, wiring and adapters - even some medical equipment. The musty smell of dirt around the army surplus equipment brought back memories…
With a bag full of new glassware (some of which I wouldn’t be surprised to be used for coffee or tea), Sherlock seemed happy enough to forget the success I had over him and I was willing enough to let it go without reminder.
