[There's a patronizing part of him that wants to point Mycroft back to his own words: see, my friend, what might happen should you never take your brother into your confidence? Mycroft doesn't need to be scolded, though, so he holds his tongue. His frustrations over magic had his friend burdened enough even before this odd development.]
So what will you do?
[The question is simple enough, but it's loaded no matter what Douglas does. This scenario is one he'd never have dreamed up in a thousand years. One thing, however, is still clear to him:]
Fantastical circumstances aside, he is still your brother. No matter what choices your other self may have made.
Edited (hit enter too soon rip) 2024-04-12 02:36 (UTC)
What I must, I suppose. What is due to him as a Sherlock.
[he folds his arms, exhales slowly, deflates some. the panic is over. now, the rebuilding.]
I offered to teach him to box when I knew not who he was. I have maintained that offer. I know not what the shape of our association will truly be, but...that will remain in his hands, in the end. He has asked that I do not make any attempts to shape him into someone else, so whether we interact as brothers or strangers rests in his decisions.
[his head drops forward, hanging there as if he was again a lad of twenty two.]
"A study in violet" is apparently his moniker on the devices, should you see it.
[another deep breath. recenter. look back up.]
If he chooses to interact with me in a less formal capacity, would you be amiable to meeting him?
Do you know, I think I have. He was concerned about seasickness. I had no idea it was Sherlock, of course; I gave him a couple of ideas for easy remedies.
[Frankly, Douglas is more concerned he'll fall in the water and drown. Again. It's difficult to separate the image of a teenage Sherlock from the grown man this one is.]
But I should be pleased to meet him. He may not be the brother you remember, but... somewhere, he is still Mycroft Holmes' younger brother.
[Which brings him to his next point. Expression softening, he leads, gently--]
What shape are you hoping this takes? [A beat:] You needn't tell me now, if you aren't sure.
[instead of answering, he falls to silence, looking into nothing as if it will unravel the spool of his mind and yield a clear answer. he does not want a replacement for his own brother, and this Sherlock would agree that such is an intolerable concept. but he doesn't want to be the adversary if it can be helped. that would benefit neither of them. finally, after a long contemplation, he responds.]
I can no more immediately fold him into my own familial tree than he can me. But I would like to be able to speak with him, when problems arise. It...strikes me strange, how his Mycroft treated him. I can only hope there was a greater purpose for it all.
[Douglas finds it difficult to believe anything could be worth such an estrangement. Rather than push that discussion-- it's not this Mycroft's fault-- he rises, then rests a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.]
If you continue to speak with him, I'm certain you'll be able to put that other Mycroft's motivations together. He is you.
[He gives Mycroft's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.]
Perhaps it'll give the two of you a new perspective on your own brothers.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
So what will you do?
[The question is simple enough, but it's loaded no matter what Douglas does. This scenario is one he'd never have dreamed up in a thousand years. One thing, however, is still clear to him:]
Fantastical circumstances aside, he is still your brother. No matter what choices your other self may have made.
no subject
[he folds his arms, exhales slowly, deflates some. the panic is over. now, the rebuilding.]
I offered to teach him to box when I knew not who he was. I have maintained that offer. I know not what the shape of our association will truly be, but...that will remain in his hands, in the end. He has asked that I do not make any attempts to shape him into someone else, so whether we interact as brothers or strangers rests in his decisions.
[his head drops forward, hanging there as if he was again a lad of twenty two.]
"A study in violet" is apparently his moniker on the devices, should you see it.
[another deep breath. recenter. look back up.]
If he chooses to interact with me in a less formal capacity, would you be amiable to meeting him?
no subject
[Frankly, Douglas is more concerned he'll fall in the water and drown. Again. It's difficult to separate the image of a teenage Sherlock from the grown man this one is.]
But I should be pleased to meet him. He may not be the brother you remember, but... somewhere, he is still Mycroft Holmes' younger brother.
[Which brings him to his next point. Expression softening, he leads, gently--]
What shape are you hoping this takes? [A beat:] You needn't tell me now, if you aren't sure.
no subject
I can no more immediately fold him into my own familial tree than he can me. But I would like to be able to speak with him, when problems arise. It...strikes me strange, how his Mycroft treated him. I can only hope there was a greater purpose for it all.
no subject
If you continue to speak with him, I'm certain you'll be able to put that other Mycroft's motivations together. He is you.
[He gives Mycroft's shoulder a reassuring squeeze.]
Perhaps it'll give the two of you a new perspective on your own brothers.