Yes - though I'm still not certain how it happened. It also seemed to wake a bit of...magic within me? You saw my thread, but -
[With a gentle motion, he holds out his hand - and a glowing blue butterfly appears out of the air around him, fluttering down on it to sit.]
- I kept these out of the eyes of that man, just in case he suspected I was anything other than a human. After all...A man who cannot die, in front of such a vampire?
Wise... especially as he really had been resuming his Alchemical research in the past decade.
[He watches the soft blue of the butterfly giving a gentle contrast to the harsh red light and dark shadows cast by the bonfire. And even in the poor lighting, it's clear he's a complete mess, with blood and dirt all over him]
I'm afraid we cannot exactly rest, not yet. My 'sisters' will no doubt realize we're not coming back.
His 'brides', you mean? Yes, I suppose they would be sisters...of a sort. Still, it's no great feat to leave and gain a new identity somewhere. I have enough cash for both of us to clean up, gain new clothing, and leave this place behind.
[He gives an idle look at the home, before shrugging.]
I already have an insurance policy out on myself, and with the bonfire and the amount of blood, along with the tracks you've left...well, I'm sure I can easily collect after a short period.
[With a motion of his hand, the butterfly dissolves into blue light - and when Holmes looks at him again, the face he's wearing is entirely different to the one he's had all this time - along with the voice he's now using, also seeming a bit taller than he was before.
The only thing staying the same are those blue eyes, still piercing as ever.]
It was close to the time for me to stage a death and gain a new identity, anyway.
[At the laugh, he got a good at himself, and just chuckles, they do look like a horror show]
Why am I not surprised to know you are an old hand at insurance fraud? Hm, honestly avoiding them now would likely be enough... they lack any sort of self-restraint, and will quite likely be on the business end of a stake soon enough.
[Though his lips pursed in a slight frown at that, knowing their habits, blinking as Moriarty's appearance changes]
Well then - if they'll self destruct, then all we'll need to do is lay low for a bit. I hear Japan is nice this time of year - I assume you've never been?
[But at the comment about his appearance, he nods.]
The final trick I've learned - I was actually quite surprised when I managed to do this. It seems my magical 'talent' seems to be focused on illusion and information gathering - not that it's something I'm going to complain about, of course.
Though the dead usually do not collect on the insurance.
[He points out with a laugh of his own, there's still a little fragility to it, but it's not as brittle as before, as he takes a stick, stirring some of the wood debris to stoke the fire]
I've been there once, near the end of the Meiji era - something about him filling a promise he made centuries ago.
Hm, 'can't take it with you' doesn't mean 'have no desire to'... ah.
Where to even start? A little at a time, I suppose, satisfy my curiosity that was denied.
[Sherlock was musing out loud, his long, pale fingers brushing the dried blood off his face, listening as well. They were the closest to each other in wit and intelligence, few others could keep up with him as well as Moriarty, that was worthy of respect]
As I said, he thinks like a Medieval Prince, a Warlord. To him, the enemy is someone to be crushed under heel, not respected. More barbaric than the Turks he had made a forest out of.
[The smell was wretched, coming from the fire, but he could tolerate it, since the man is most sincerely dead]
A foolish outlook - after all, even the most dimwitted enemy can manage to surprise you. And while crushing underfoot has its place, if you do it all the time, you will eventually create an enemy greater than you can ever hope to defeat.
A surprise, that he lived so long, yet paid no attention to how history repeated itself, over and over.
[He shrugs, quietly.]
A natural Sadist, indeed. But - you needn't talk of him in the present tense, Holmes. He is gone - we have made sure of it, on this night.
From now on, Dracula will only be spoken of in past tense - and I dare well say the world is better off for it.
...Though, I suppose I'm a bit insulted he thought me the same type of sadist. I may have driven and been the cause of many a man's death, but I've never taken the kind of pleasure from it that he clearly did.
[There's another pause, as he watches the fire.]
...If you wish, however, we needn't travel together. I could give you money, and then we'd part ways.
[Something...internally coiled in him at that, but it had to be said.
He didn't want to keep the man under his thumb - oh, to spy on and torment him, yes, but not beholden to him, or keep him like a servant.
[That's right, the man is slowly turning into a charred mass before him. There's relief, and uncertainty in him, how long had he been under this man's thumb? It'd be good to remember what it's like to not have to watch the shadows and follow another person's whim]
...I know, you never were the sort to inflict unneeded cruelty.
[Not like Milverton, not like Dracula]
If I recalled correctly, you came down hard on your associates who did so.
[Partly because such cruel sport left more evidence than a clean job, but again, Moriarty had shown a distaste for sadism]
As for what I wish, maybe I'll take you up on it, I need to find my bearings first, and... much as they'll self-destruct, they'll do so in an orgy of blood.
[It was quiet, but firm - he didn't need to spell out what he intends to do next]
A bit, yes. Not that I was never vindictive to those who had wronged me - but to an innocent? No. The only men who have ever fallen into my web are those who knew the risks of their way of life...our way of life. Anyone may be fooled or stolen from, but tortured or killed?
[He gives a small grin, again.]
After all, I even gave you multiple warnings, didn't I? Ones you ignored, of course, but warnings all the same.
[He falls silent, listening to Sherlock's firm assertion - and then, he nods.]
Of course. If that's what you wish to do, then I won't stop you. Wiping out all traces of Dracula's ilk seems much like a good idea, anyway.
[...]
...Though, perhaps having a partner in crime might be a good idea...?
You did break into my flat, how else was I suppose to respond, Moriarty?
[There was the faint, impish smile, almost hidden by his clasping hands, eyes narrowing in almost a mischievous glint, though slowly, quietly the impishness fixes itself to one of surprise as the man offered to help. Especially when he realized he felt relief]
no subject
[He stated, somewhere between sheepish and peeved, breathing out slowly, or least the motions of it]
Yes... there is much to be explained, such as how you managed to not have a gaping hole in your throat.
[Sherlock slowly settles down]
no subject
[He says it cheerfully, as he takes a seat, looking at the oddly colored smoke coming off before sighing.]
But - for whatever reason - after the falls, I could die...but it would never 'stick.' I always come back, no matter the damage.
no subject
[His brows knitted slightly, glancing over him, fingers resting over his chest - clearly mulling over things]
That would explain how you survived all this time.
no subject
[With a gentle motion, he holds out his hand - and a glowing blue butterfly appears out of the air around him, fluttering down on it to sit.]
- I kept these out of the eyes of that man, just in case he suspected I was anything other than a human. After all...A man who cannot die, in front of such a vampire?
[It would be too easy to exploit.]
no subject
[He watches the soft blue of the butterfly giving a gentle contrast to the harsh red light and dark shadows cast by the bonfire. And even in the poor lighting, it's clear he's a complete mess, with blood and dirt all over him]
I'm afraid we cannot exactly rest, not yet. My 'sisters' will no doubt realize we're not coming back.
no subject
His 'brides', you mean? Yes, I suppose they would be sisters...of a sort. Still, it's no great feat to leave and gain a new identity somewhere. I have enough cash for both of us to clean up, gain new clothing, and leave this place behind.
[He gives an idle look at the home, before shrugging.]
I already have an insurance policy out on myself, and with the bonfire and the amount of blood, along with the tracks you've left...well, I'm sure I can easily collect after a short period.
[With a motion of his hand, the butterfly dissolves into blue light - and when Holmes looks at him again, the face he's wearing is entirely different to the one he's had all this time - along with the voice he's now using, also seeming a bit taller than he was before.
The only thing staying the same are those blue eyes, still piercing as ever.]
It was close to the time for me to stage a death and gain a new identity, anyway.
no subject
Why am I not surprised to know you are an old hand at insurance fraud? Hm, honestly avoiding them now would likely be enough... they lack any sort of self-restraint, and will quite likely be on the business end of a stake soon enough.
[Though his lips pursed in a slight frown at that, knowing their habits, blinking as Moriarty's appearance changes]
Quite handy.
no subject
[Still, he laughs - clearly teasing.]
Well then - if they'll self destruct, then all we'll need to do is lay low for a bit. I hear Japan is nice this time of year - I assume you've never been?
[But at the comment about his appearance, he nods.]
The final trick I've learned - I was actually quite surprised when I managed to do this. It seems my magical 'talent' seems to be focused on illusion and
information gathering - not that it's something I'm going to complain
about, of course.
no subject
[He points out with a laugh of his own, there's still a little fragility to it, but it's not as brittle as before, as he takes a stick, stirring some of the wood debris to stoke the fire]
I've been there once, near the end of the Meiji era - something about him filling a promise he made centuries ago.
[His eyes flicked towards the flames]
Not much time for myself then.
no subject
[he gives a quick laugh, before nodding.]
Well - now you have all the time in the world. You can do whatever you would like to do, instead of what he wishes for you to do.
...You're a free man, Holmes. And that is how you should always be.
[He stares at the fire himself, eyes-half lidded.]
Foolish man thought that I would be happy, seeing you cowed. Instead, it all but signed his death warrant.
[That anger roils up again - not as intense, but rankling, still seething.]
Why on earth would he assume I would be happy seeing the one man who ever outsmarted me as a meek slave?
no subject
Where to even start? A little at a time, I suppose, satisfy my curiosity that was denied.
[Sherlock was musing out loud, his long, pale fingers brushing the dried blood off his face, listening as well. They were the closest to each other in wit and intelligence, few others could keep up with him as well as Moriarty, that was worthy of respect]
As I said, he thinks like a Medieval Prince, a Warlord. To him, the enemy is someone to be crushed under heel, not respected. More barbaric than the Turks he had made a forest out of.
[The smell was wretched, coming from the fire, but he could tolerate it, since the man is most sincerely dead]
And as you saw - he's a natural sadist.
no subject
A surprise, that he lived so long, yet paid no attention to how history repeated itself, over and over.
[He shrugs, quietly.]
A natural Sadist, indeed. But - you needn't talk of him in the present tense, Holmes. He is gone - we have made sure of it, on this night.
From now on, Dracula will only be spoken of in past tense - and I dare well say the world is better off for it.
...Though, I suppose I'm a bit insulted he thought me the same type of sadist. I may have driven and been the cause of many a man's death, but I've never taken the kind of pleasure from it that he clearly did.
[There's another pause, as he watches the fire.]
...If you wish, however, we needn't travel together. I could give you money, and then we'd part ways.
[Something...internally coiled in him at that, but it had to be said.
He didn't want to keep the man under his thumb - oh, to spy on and torment him, yes, but not beholden to him, or keep him like a servant.
After this, it was the last thing he wanted.]
no subject
...I know, you never were the sort to inflict unneeded cruelty.
[Not like Milverton, not like Dracula]
If I recalled correctly, you came down hard on your associates who did so.
[Partly because such cruel sport left more evidence than a clean job, but again, Moriarty had shown a distaste for sadism]
As for what I wish, maybe I'll take you up on it, I need to find my bearings first, and... much as they'll self-destruct, they'll do so in an orgy of blood.
[It was quiet, but firm - he didn't need to spell out what he intends to do next]
no subject
[He gives a small grin, again.]
After all, I even gave you multiple warnings, didn't I? Ones you ignored, of course, but warnings all the same.
[He falls silent, listening to Sherlock's firm assertion - and then, he nods.]
Of course. If that's what you wish to do, then I won't stop you. Wiping out all traces of Dracula's ilk seems much like a good idea, anyway.
[...]
...Though, perhaps having a partner in crime might be a good idea...?
no subject
You did break into my flat, how else was I suppose to respond, Moriarty?
[There was the faint, impish smile, almost hidden by his clasping hands, eyes narrowing in almost a mischievous glint, though slowly, quietly the impishness fixes itself to one of surprise as the man offered to help. Especially when he realized he felt relief]
...It would not be a terrible idea.