You Can't Beat Me (Sherlock)

[Sherlock Holmes]

The detective carefully watched as Moriarty turned around after hearing Sherlock's voice. Quick blue eyes caught the anger on the criminal's face for less than once second before it was masterfully hidden and Sherlock catelogged that piece of information away, it could possibly be useful in the future. "I knew you couldn't keep away," Sherlock didn't reply immediatly. Someone had been shot and it was his job to solve the mystery, and to capture the criminal. In this case, it was better to go to the root of the weed, Moriarty was behind this.

Before the detective could reply, Moriarty had spoken again, "But what are you talking about? What's obvious?" That in itself, Sherlock also viewed as obvious, was Moriarty playing for time? "Alright, alright, you got me. I didn't really want to hide it though, did I?"
"You are bored." Sherlock pointed out. "Try not to make a mistake because of it." This linked to one of Sherlock's first cases with Moriarty, only at that point he had been a shadowed figure. The Case of the Serial Suicides (or a Study in Pink, as John called it) had some thinking that Sherlock would go to great lengths when bored.

Blue eyes never left his opponent as thoughts ran through the detective's head. "After all, it managed to get you out. Sweet little Sherlock, unable to let go of the only thing keeping him entertained." Sherlock raised an eyebrow at this.
"You are starting to sound like my brother." The Consulting detective commented, dryly. "And I believe I work for the good of the public, my interests just happen to fit under my job." The detective's voice was cold as he spoke and watched Moriarty.

As Moriarty advanced towards him, Sherlock did not move but continued to watch his nemisis approach. Where do we go from here? Do you arrest me?"
"Yes, and if your accomplish, the gun man, also wants to come, that would also fit in." Sherlock replied after only a second's pause.
"Or could you bear to watch me sit in a tiny old cell, knowing that I could be working to keep you entertained?" Moriarty was now circling the detective, who was not that bothered by Moriarty's actions and slowly turned to watch his enemy's movement. "Do you think you could do that? Put me away? Would you be able to bear dealing with all the little common crimes? I mean, you can't deny it. You must find my grandeur and finesse addicting."

Yes, the detective did get bored, and Moriarty had certainly been his most interesting opponent, although Mycroft was interesting, Sherlock's brother did happen to keep on the same side of the general population, although Sherlock refused to admit that they were the same side of the coin and should work together. Mycroft was definitely an opponent.
"I have kept myself entertained before you entered the picture, I do not think that it will be too much of a problem to find more cases if you were behind bars." Sherlock commented, keeping his gaze on Moriarty. He had gotten bored a more frequently before Moriarty's apperance, then his brother didn't support Sherlock's other recreational habits, but that was a point of less interest and significance. It was irrelevent, Sherlock had only brought up those memories because of a particular word choice by Moriarty; 'addicting'. But during his through process and picking at Moriarty's words, Sherlock did not let his attention slip from the consulting criminal.

[James 'Jim' Moriarty]

"You are bored. Try not to make a mistake because of it."
Moriarty couldn't help raising his eyebrows at that. Was Sherlock implying that he was being careless? "Oh, you don't need to worry about that," he replied. "I can take care of myself, just like you. You of all people should know that."

"You are starting to sound like my brother." The Consulting detective commented, dryly. "And I believe I work for the good of the public, my interests just happen to fit under my job."
"Well I suppose you're right about that," he nodded. "And I just happen to be one of your chief interests." Couldn't he just admit that he needed the master criminal? But then Moriarty supposed that would take some of the fun away. Though the arguments did get tiring sometimes. "And I'm afraid my helper won't be coming along any time soon, so you're stuck with me."

After circling the detective twice, he finally came to a halt back in front of him, boring into the piercing blue with his own. The fire of boredom and a challenge smouldered in them, and he thought of what he had said the second time he'd met Sherlock. "I will burn the heart out of you." And burn him he would.

"I have kept myself entertained before you entered the picture, I do not think that it will be too much of a problem to find more cases if you were behind bars."
"Hm..." Moriarty pursed his lips as he thought on that. "Well, I suppose I'll give you that. It was more difficult though, wasn't it? And I know not everyone approved with how you did so when you didn't have a case." Then he grinned, broad and almost child-like. It was time to play his best card. "But you won't be putting me behind bars just yet, Sherlock. Because I've got an offer you can't refuse."

Briskly rubbing his hands together, he nodded back up at the hospital. "See the person who just got shot? It wasn't someone random. I had them picked out specifically. Now somewhere else in this great fair city of London, another worker of mine has killed someone else. Again, it was someone specific. And they are somehow linked to the victim in the hospital. So here's the deal, Mr. Sherlock Holmes." His grin grew slightly wider. "You have twenty-four hours. I've had another murder scheduled to occur at the end of that time, linked to the first two. I want you to show off to me. Let me come with you and see how you solve this case. If you're able to, and manage to stop the killing, then I'll gladly hold out my wrists for the cuffs. If not..." He shrugged. "Well, things go back to normal, I suppose."

His grin softened to a more friendly smile. But of course, he wasn't really being friendly. The criminal held his hand out for the detective to shake. "What do you say?"

[Sherlock Holmes]

The detective took in each expression that crossed Moriarty's features, searching for any clues to what his nemisis had planned or what action he would take next. "Oh, you don't need to worry about that, I can take care of myself, just like you. You of all people should know that." Sherlock didn't bother replying, everyone could make a slip, the detective knew this. The more important thing was noticing the slip before it could take effect and then covering it up. Not always the easiest, but as long as you avoided making mistakes, things would usually be fine.

"Well I suppose you're right about that,"
"I'm always right." Sherlock commented, although occasionally he might make minor mistakes, in understanding when was the right time to be social and how to be social (something that John often picked him up on), the detective did not make mistakes.
"And I just happen to be one of your chief interests." Sherlock regarded Moriarty for a while longer.
"My only interest is in solving crimes, you just happen to be above the other mundane criminals who can't be bothered to think." The detective replied.

"And I'm afraid my helper won't be coming along any time soon, so you're stuck with me." As far as Sherlock was aware, the police would not be happy if he remained with Moriarty instead of chasing up his henchmen, but then the crimes would not stop until he had destroyed the root, and that root was Moriarty. Sherlock watched as Moriarty circled him two more times, probably trying to appear threatening like a predator who's got his prey cornered. Of course, Sherlock was not the prey nor was he cornered.

"Hm... Well, I suppose I'll give you that. It was more difficult though, wasn't it? And I know not everyone approved with how you did so when you didn't have a case." Shrelock's face remained expressionless as Moriarty spoke, the reminder of the past was nothing new to the detective. Every now and again someone would find a way to bring it up, and occasionally the memory of the past went through his head.
"There wil still be crimes and even before you decided to make yourself public, I had found other ways to occupy my boredom." Sher;pcl commented, although it was mainly boring anyway and people still didn't completely approve.

"But you won't be putting me behind bars just yet, Sherlock. Because I've got an offer you can't refuse." This interested Sherlock, although the detective hid it as he watched Moriarty, waiting to hear what the offer was, his patience and listening being the only sign of the consulting detective's interest. "See the person who just got shot? It wasn't someone random. I had them picked out specifically. Now somewhere else in this great fair city of London, another worker of mine has killed someone else. Again, it was someone specific. And they are somehow linked to the victim in the hospital. So here's the deal, Mr. Sherlock Holmes." Sherlock's hand flickered to his pocket, where his phone was kept, there had been no word from Lestrade about a second killing and if it were a gun shot, then it would have been reported in, unless the sound was hidden, muffled or disguised with another louder sound. Or Lestrade thought he could cope with it.

"You have twenty-four hours. I've had another murder scheduled to occur at the end of that time, linked to the first two. I want you to show off to me. Let me come with you and see how you solve this case. If you're able to, and manage to stop the killing, then I'll gladly hold out my wrists for the cuffs. If not..." Showing off was Sherlock's weakness, and his genius needed an audience. The idea was very appealing, but Sherlock had John for pointing out how amazing he was and if Moriarty watched how he worked on cases, it would give the criminal an insight into his mind, something likely to make any future cases against Moriarty less easy. "Well, things go back to normal, I suppose."

But Moriarty was offering to be captured if he went along with Sherlock, still, what was there to stop Sherlock handing him in now and solving the mystery without the company of the master criminal. "What do you say?"
"What's to stop me handing you in right now and then solving the crime?" The detectiv questioned, his cold eyes looking at Moriarty, watching the criminal's friendly smile. The offer was certainly interesting, but Sherlock still had other options to explore and he had not denied Moriarty's offer.

[James 'Jim' Moriarty]

"I'm always right. My only interest is in solving crimes, you just happen to be above the other mundane criminals who can't be bothered to think. There will still be crimes and even before you decided to make yourself public, I had found other ways to occupy my boredom."

"Oh, you just go on and on and on, don't you?" Moriarty groaned. "Now I know how John and Lestrade and all the others must feel." Of course, the consulting criminal didn't mind as much as them. He was like Sherlock, and understood how he wanted people to see his intellect, genius, and so on. But it did get just a teensy bit irritating when the detective just wouldn't come up and say the truth. Which was that he needed Moriarty. He knew it, just like he needed Sherlock. If one of them disappeared, the other would be driven insane. He'd tried to tell the detective as much, but no. It looked like this was one of his more (than usual) stubborn days. "Well, you can think whatever you want. Just remember you said that. Maybe I'll take a holiday at some point and see what you think then."

Then finally, blessedly, Sherlock got to the point. "What's to stop me handing you in right now and then solving the crime?"

And now they'd gotten to the good part. Of course, Moriarty wouldn't have been stupid enough to let Sherlock do that. "Oh, didn't I say?" he said in mock forgetfulness. "If my people don't hear from me in..." He took out his phone and checked the clock. "Six hours, then a bomb will be detonated. And there's no way you'll be able to find it. Believe me, I checked. There's no clue. I won't give you any leads. And you most certainly will not hear anything about it from anyone. Apart from the loud bang, of course." The hand extended to Sherlock didn't waver. "So, what will it be? Trying to save one life with more than a fifty percent chance of success, or risking the lives of a lot of people and almost certainly letting them die?" Now he had him. The detective would have to accept his case. Oh, it was a good day to be a criminal.

[Sherlock Holmes]

"Oh, you just go on and on and on, don't you? Now I know how John and Lestrade and all the others must feel." Sherlock had heard plenty of people complain about his talking and deduction. "Apparently its another of my annoying habits." The detective commented, coldly. It didn't always bother him what other people thought. So long as they recognised his genius. Mainly, though, people were just annoyed at how brilliant he was at deductions. But they still saw it and understood that it was something that he could do with ease while they struggled to even get one single useful piece of information.

Still, the detective paid attention to the criminal, Sherlock still considering what actions Moriarty would take and how to react to them. "Well, you can think whatever you want. Just remember you said that. Maybe I'll take a holiday at some point and see what you think then." Holidays, those were boring, time away from solving crimes. Sherlock did not see why they were desired by people. Surely they just sat, their brains rotting from even less use than before. Besides, something interesting might happen while he was away, some interesting crime that the police would not be able to understand, especially if they had to rely on officers such as Anderson.

But there was Moriarty's offer to consider and Sherlock watched Moriarty intently as he considered it. The detective was loathe to let his enemy to glimpse too much of an insight into his mind. "Oh, didn't I say?" Thoughts were pushed aside as the full attention of the detective returned to Moriarty instead of analysising the offer that had been made. "If my people don't hear from me in... Six hours, then a bomb will be detonated. And there's no way you'll be able to find it. Believe me, I checked. There's no clue. I won't give you any leads. And you most certainly will not hear anything about it from anyone. Apart from the loud bang, of course." Sherlock considered this. His brother, Mycroft, was the British Government and also a brilliant thinker and able to keep an eye on things. he would have to see if that option was exhausted as well. "So, what will it be? Trying to save one life with more than a fifty percent chance of success, or risking the lives of a lot of people and almost certainly letting them die?"

"You do realise that my brother is the British Government." Sherlock commented, testing to see if Moriarty had considered this and hwo far his options went. Obviously he would solve the crime, but if he didn't that didn't prevent Sherlock from capturing Moriarty anyway. Briefly, Sherlock wondered what John or Lestrade would think, he presumed they would go with the solving the case, which Sherlock was inclined to. But one should eliminate all the options before choosing what course to take.

[James 'Jim' Moriarty]

"You do realise that my brother is the British Government." Couldn't he just get the message already? Moriarty had already said he'd thought of everything. Why did Sherlock have to keep badgering him. "Of course I know that, I'm not stupid," he groaned, making it sound like he was making the detective out to be an idiot for not thinking the criminal knew about his brother. "But I have ways of keeping the information about the bomb from him, even if you tell him about it. It will not be found until it's too late." Of course, he would never tell Sherlock exactly what those ways were. They were too useful to have them taken away from him. All his enemy needed to know was that the Ice Man wouldn't be stopping him anytime soon.

"Now are you going to accept my offer, or are we both just going to go home?" Moriarty had thought that Sherlock would leap at the chance for a case like this. It seemed like he was getting boring. But this was Sherlock Holmes, that would never happen. Or so Moriarty hoped.

[Sherlock Holmes]

"Of course I know that, I'm not stupid," Good, so Moriarty had taken precautions, this could make the game more interesting and he had no reason to back out. Sherlock still did not like the idea that Moriarty might be able to gain an insight into his mind. "But I have ways of keeping the information about the bomb from him, even if you tell him about it. It will not be found until it's too late." So if Moriarty though that Sherlock had a chance of solving it, then he had just complimented Sherlock. If Sherlock stood a chance but his older brother didn't.

"Now are you going to accept my offer, or are we both just going to go home?"
"And you want to... tag along." Sherlock pointed out, it wasn't a question. The detective regarded Moriarty, as if wondering how good Moriarty may be. "Don't make pointless comments and try to avoid blogging about your day." The detective commented dryly. This could be interesting and Sherlock had the suspicion that John would not enjoy such a patnership.

Sherlock removed his phone from his pocket and decided to text Lestrade, his fingers quickly moving over the keys.
Man shot at St Baths, another person shot recently. Need history of both. SH It was short and to the point, Lestrade may have not even have found the second body yet, or even heard about the first. For a brief second, Sherlock's mind entertained the thought of what Lestrade's reaction may be. Probably a sigh and burring his head in his hands. But that was insignificant and it was deleted as soon as it had entered his thoughts.

Without speaking to Moriarty, the detective headed towards the hospital once again. He knew that Moriarty would not break his part of the bargin, the master criminal would follow and Sherlock's ears would be able to tell if the criminal decided to make a break for it, then Sherlock would be able to catch him once again. Briefly Sherlock considered the fact that he had no proof that Moriarty's men did in fact need to be phoned by Moriarty and if they did not hear from him they would detonate the bomb. He also had no guarantee that Moriart would prevent the bomb from being detonated if it were there. Briefly Sherlock realised that this could be another sign of how he was bored.

As he moved closer to St Barts, he paused next to a person who was slumped against the wall, evidentally homeless. He slipped out a twenty pound note and handed it to the person,
"News of any gunshots." He said softly, so only the person would hear him and not Moriarty. it had been around a corner as well, so Sherlock hoped that the exchange would be noted less by Moriarty. It was only brief, and then Sherlock continued into St Barts and back to the body.

((Are we going to open this game up to anyone else? And I'm sorry about having Sherlock contact Lestrade, it is just something I see him doing as well as the homeless network. I'm not completely sure how I will be able to play out deductions as you have the plot and so would know enough while all I know is that a hospital worker has been shot and it is linked to some other deaths.))