drwhitly | Closed to statuethief

Martin was out cold for a lot longer than he would have anticipated. Of course, he woke up without much concept of time until he fully was lucid for a few days. He was set up in quite a nice flat. This Irene Adler really held up her end of the deal and he knew he had struck a deal with the devil, but he was loving it.

So on his second week in London, actually capable of moving about, he got himself a haircut and a shave. He now had the funds so he was able to buy a suit and look quite presentable. Nothing like his incarcerated self.

Then he found the guinea pig cafe.

She had to know that he had 'passed' since it was in the news, causing him to wait a while before coming out of hiding. Still, Martin grinned as he approached the tiny cafe, seeing that it was a bit different than what he had imagined from her description of it. He casually walked inside as if he were anyone else.

"Do I just take a seat anywhere or..."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

statuethief

She had of course heard about him dying. It was all over the news, the Surgeon dead. She didn't know how to process it, so many fucking deaths in her life. On one hand, he was a serial killer, but the Martin she knew was likable and a fantastic shag. But life went on, as it does.

It's a few weeks later when she hears that familiar voice and she stares for a moment at the man who has just come in. And then she's flying across the cafe to wrap her arms around him.

From:

drwhitly

Martin didn’t expect her to catch on instantly. He was anticipating a long drawn out surprise but instead he was catching her with his arms.

“Why this is the welcome I was hoping for!” He laugher, embracing her and pulling back before kissing her. “Hello, darling.”

From:

statuethief

Of course she recognized him, even better manicured.

"How?" She can barely even get the word out, he's supposed to be dead, but instead he's in her cafe.

He caught a slow time and she leaves his arms to turb the sign to 'closed'. He's worth closing early for.

From:

drwhitly

“Magic.” He jested as he always did, watching her turn the sign around and not protesting. “That and some modern medicine.” He looked around briefly before finding the nearest table and grabbing a seat.

“Just so happened that I had a very good friend here in London willing to ship me across the pond.” And that’s all he would say about that. “Joseph Schmitt,” he offered his hand. “Pleasure to meet you in this fine establishment.” Full of guinea pig things.

From:

statuethief

"Joseph." She nods, giving his hand a shake. "Can I get you a coffee?"

She will ask more about the 'how are you not dead' when they are alone, possibly curled up in bed after some marathon sex.

From:

drwhitly

“Ah, tea please. Earl grey.” He played along. “We’re in England after all. They drink tea here.” He crossed his legs and admired her. This was certainly a scenario that neither of them had ever anticipating becoming a reality.

“Quite unsettling, being in spaces that are so...open.” He looked around, taking in the decor.

“Thought there would be more guinea pigs. Live ones that is.”

From:

statuethief

"We do drink coffee as well, I'll have you know." Still she will make a pot of earl grey for the pair of them. She surely hadn't expected a chance at something akin to a normal relationship. Assuming he would want something like that.

"Oh, no, just Hillary. I don't think I could look after a bunch of them."

From:

drwhitly

What was to come would only develop overtime but she was truly the only person he knew in the city outside of Irene and her people. And he couldn’t necessarily go around and socialize.

“Hilary!” He looked over at the guinea pig’s wooden cage. “An admirable name. The Guinea Pig to rule them all.” He laughed before going over and opening her little hutch to pet the small creature. “Does she bite?”

From:

statuethief

"She nibbles, but usually not hard." The Guinea pig is a pretty friendly little creature who lightly nibbles his fingertips when he puts a hand near here.

"Am I the only one who knows? Aside from whoever got you here."

From:

drwhitly

“The rest of the world believes I’m dead.” He reiterated. “So it’s her, you, and any of the call girls she seems to want to send me.” Per usual he speaks calmly and causally about this, watching Hilary nibble on him. Petting the animal, he slowly moves to pick her up and bring her to his lap.

“Not even my family knows I’m here.” He added. “Which means my movement may be a bit...limited.”

From:

statuethief

"I'm glad you're not." It's an honest admission. "Oh, you are free to get hookers now, aren't you?"

She nods, "I don't expect we'll just pop off on vacation."

From:

drwhitly

“Yeah a real odd perk to the job.” He shook his head before looking up at her. “But it’s also ‘hands off the hookers’ at the same time.” He added a look that should suggest what was meant by that.

“I mean we probably could.” He shrugged. “Just might have to clear it with the boss lady.” Who brought him there. “But it is an endless staycation if we like.”

From:

statuethief

"Well, that's terrible for you, isn't it?" She chuckles, laughing about murdering hookers, seems right.

"You look great, by the way. You clean up well." She's impressed she's managed to keep her pants on still.

From:

drwhitly

“I’ll manage.” He added a heavy dramatic sigh. “I was brought here to do a job - it wasn’t a free ride.”

He grinned at her compliment, despite covering his suit now with Hilary hair. “I do, don’t I? I was always a dapper dresser. And yet you stood by while I lived in scrubs tethered to a wall. 24;7.

Might even think you love me.”

From:

statuethief

"Is it a job you'll enjoy?" She arches a brow. She has some ideas of the sort of work someone would seek him out for, and it's almost certainly not legal.

"Hey, we don't go for the 'L' word now, do we?" She hasn't fully fleshed out where her feelings for him sit. It's somewhere dangerously close to love, but she's not willing to put that label out there.

"The wall bondage was a feature." She grins, "I might need to recreate that, you know, for old times sake."

From:

drwhitly

“It’s in line with my expertise.” He allowed her but cut it off there. His smile ought to suggest that he would enjoy it.

“No never. That would be so scandalous. What would people say?” He laughed and shook is head. “If they knew you loved a dead serial killer.”

“You truly do know how to throw a proper homecoming.”

From:

statuethief

So murder, not surprisingly.

"You are making some bold claims about my affections." Of course he would believe everyone loves him.

"I try."

From:

drwhitly

She would be correct to think that. He thinks everything is always about him.

“Bold but how far off?” He winked.

“So your place or mine?” He has been itching to find her for quite some time. “I mean, I would love to see yours. As soon as I knew I was coming here, I kept dreaming of shagging you.”

From:

statuethief

"Do you love me?" She asks in reply. "Mr. Sociopathic."

She rolls her eyes as she sets the two mugs of tea down.

"Does it matter? I don't think we will make it much past the door in either case."

From:

drwhitly

"I do." He smiled to her. "I am very very fond of you and am allowing you to be one of the only people who know I'm alive; that's got to show for something."

He takes his mug and cups it in his hands. "That's fair. I do have pretty posh accommodations." Another perk. Although they were posh because he wasn't to go far.

From:

statuethief

"Being fond of isn't the same thing. But I do appreciate that you're here."

She's thrilled that she gets this chance to be with him in a more real way.

"Well, that must be nice. Mine isn't great."

From:

drwhitly

"So I've been told." He finally takes a cautious sip of the hot tea.

"Then may you'll just have to stay at mine," An open invitation that is. "If you like, of course. No pressure since we're not in love."

From:

statuethief

She brushes her foot against his calf.

"I might like your place. But would I disturb all of those hookers?" She grins at him.

From:

drwhitly

From under the table he nudges her playfully with his foot.

"Well if I have you, will I need any of those hookers?" He tilts his head. "I've always found that I prefer consistency in my partners above all else."