Ted Lasso (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
theodorelasso) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
trashchildren2021-06-24 07:33 pm
theodorelasso) wrote in trashchildren2021-06-24 07:33 pm
He pauses a bit as he considers it. "...Plus, it probably would've been weird if I introduced you to them, and then we quote-unquote broke up the very next day," he considers with a soft, sleepy chuckle. "At least now I don't have to lie to them about it." Silver linings and all that.
"That is an excellent point," she says. "Maybe everything worked out for the best." She smiles, thinking of Leibniz. "The best of all possible worlds."
Ted smiles and makes a noise of approval, then falls silent for a bit, trying and failing to think of something to say as sleepiness slowly threatens to overcome him.
"...Do you wanna stay on the line till I fall asleep?" he asks softly. He'd just really like to fall asleep with her next to him, and this is as close as they can get. Besides... It's his first night on his own since what happened, and he'd rather not feel entirely alone in the dark.
"...Do you wanna stay on the line till I fall asleep?" he asks softly. He'd just really like to fall asleep with her next to him, and this is as close as they can get. Besides... It's his first night on his own since what happened, and he'd rather not feel entirely alone in the dark.
"I'd like that," she answers just as softly. She wishes she could be there with him, especially tonight, but this will have to do.
"I love you, Ted," she murmurs.
"I love you, Ted," she murmurs.
"Love you too, Joan," he answers quietly, closing his eyes. Pretending she's next to him. "Mmm, I mean Ms. Fletcher," he adds teasingly.
She laughs softly. "Right." She smiles playfully. "Gottfried."
"Mmm," he answers, making a face. "Think I prefer Leibniz." His voice is getting more muffled as he gets sleepier.
She smiles. "Leibniz," she repeats gently. She can hear his voice getting sleepier, and her voice gets softer, to help ease him into sleep. "I'm right here," she assures him. She can imagine it's hard to be alone after what he's been through.
"I know.." he answers softly, gratefully. The sleepier he gets, the easier it is to pretend she's right there. After that he falls quiet, slowly dozing off.
He goes quiet, and Joan can just barely hear his breath, slow and soft. She smiles sadly, missing him so much. She waits, listening to him breathe, making sure that he's asleep before she hangs up.
"I love you," she whispers once more, hoping his subconscious hears her.
She ends the call, then presses the phone to her chest, staring up at the ceiling, her heart aching.
"I love you," she whispers once more, hoping his subconscious hears her.
She ends the call, then presses the phone to her chest, staring up at the ceiling, her heart aching.
The next day, Ted is more than a little nervous to arrive at the dog track. He has no idea what the reception will be, after their last loss, but also all the media coverage lately. There are definitely some looks. Ted doesn't mind being under scrutiny, but it's usually by choice.
He's flanked by Henry and Keeley up in the owner's box, with Michelle and Rebecca on their respective sides, and Higgins behind, so he's got plenty of support, at least. He's not remotely alone.
And then the team comes out onto the pitch, and Ted watches Beard and Nate follow. It's strange to watch from this angle. Like he's having an out-of-body experience.
And then... the team turns towards the owners box, and they all salute him. Even Beard seems to look surprised, so clearly this wasn't his doing. And then the commentators mention it, and suddenly the audience it turning towards him and cheering.
Ted is definitely tearing up when the cameras are turned on him. He gives an awkward wave down to the pitch, and he's so touched. It doesn't even bother him that much when the game ends in a tie.
He's flanked by Henry and Keeley up in the owner's box, with Michelle and Rebecca on their respective sides, and Higgins behind, so he's got plenty of support, at least. He's not remotely alone.
And then the team comes out onto the pitch, and Ted watches Beard and Nate follow. It's strange to watch from this angle. Like he's having an out-of-body experience.
And then... the team turns towards the owners box, and they all salute him. Even Beard seems to look surprised, so clearly this wasn't his doing. And then the commentators mention it, and suddenly the audience it turning towards him and cheering.
Ted is definitely tearing up when the cameras are turned on him. He gives an awkward wave down to the pitch, and he's so touched. It doesn't even bother him that much when the game ends in a tie.
Joan settles into the TV room in the brownstone. It might have been better described as a TVs room, considering there were at least ten screens arrayed in a semicircle, screens that Sherlock would often have on all at once, with different programs on each, an exercise in attention and observation. Right now, though, only the biggest TV is on and tuned in to the Richmond game. She listens to the commentators talking about Ted, his absence from the pitch and presence in the owner's box the biggest news of the match. The cameras show him up there with Henry and Keeley and Michelle and Rebecca, and Joan smiles to see his face.
The cameras turn to the team as they enter the field, and Joan sits back to watch the game.
Then sits straight up again when the players turn toward the owner's box and salute. She covers her mouth with her hands in surprise and happiness. And then the crowd starts cheering, and Joan's heart just bursts.
The camera turns to Ted, and his face fills the screen, his eyes shining with unshed tears. Joan rises and goes to the TV, lifting a hand to touch the surface, to touch his face, her own eyes welling up. She's so happy for him, and misses him so much.
The cameras turn to the team as they enter the field, and Joan sits back to watch the game.
Then sits straight up again when the players turn toward the owner's box and salute. She covers her mouth with her hands in surprise and happiness. And then the crowd starts cheering, and Joan's heart just bursts.
The camera turns to Ted, and his face fills the screen, his eyes shining with unshed tears. Joan rises and goes to the TV, lifting a hand to touch the surface, to touch his face, her own eyes welling up. She's so happy for him, and misses him so much.
After he gets home that evening, he immediately texts Joan to talk. They talk about the match, and about what he was doing with Henry earlier that day. His entire cast has been covered in doodles by now. They talk about silly stuff, and they talk a little bit about the case, but there's not much new to say. And once again he falls asleep with her company.
He still has a nightmare in the early morning. He definitely feels like he has unfinished business.
He doesn't go out. Beard comes by instead, bringing breakfast, and Ted notes it's now been exactly a week since he was taken. Even with company, the hours pass so slow. He discusses his desire to talk to Turner, and Beard seems doubtful (and protective) at first, but seems to understand where Ted's coming from.
So after Beard leaves some hours later, Ted calls Sherlock.
He still has a nightmare in the early morning. He definitely feels like he has unfinished business.
He doesn't go out. Beard comes by instead, bringing breakfast, and Ted notes it's now been exactly a week since he was taken. Even with company, the hours pass so slow. He discusses his desire to talk to Turner, and Beard seems doubtful (and protective) at first, but seems to understand where Ted's coming from.
So after Beard leaves some hours later, Ted calls Sherlock.
Sherlock has been working long hours, and finding just as much frustration as Joan. He knows without a doubt that Moriarty is connected to the case they had been working when Ted was taken, and knows that Moriarty was not above pulling this sort of stunt. But he cannot find the connection. He knows from his interrogations of the suspect that someone had intentionally wound him up and set him on the football coach, but the man has clammed up, and no one has had any luck in getting anything more out of him.
He's at 221B looking at his own display of documents tacked to the wall when his phone rings. He's mildly surprised to see that it's Ted, and he wonders if something happened to Joan.
"Mr. Lasso," he answers. "Is something wrong?"
Sherlock, dispensing with niceties and getting right to the heart of it.
He's at 221B looking at his own display of documents tacked to the wall when his phone rings. He's mildly surprised to see that it's Ted, and he wonders if something happened to Joan.
"Mr. Lasso," he answers. "Is something wrong?"
Sherlock, dispensing with niceties and getting right to the heart of it.
Edited 2021-07-10 19:44 (UTC)
"No, everything's fine," he answers reassuringly. Of course that would be Sherlock's first assumption.
"I was just wondering, uh.." he starts, wanting to get right to the point since he doesn't think Sherlock cares for walking around subjects, nor bothers with niceities. "If there's was any chance of me talking to Turner? Chapman, I mean."
"I was just wondering, uh.." he starts, wanting to get right to the point since he doesn't think Sherlock cares for walking around subjects, nor bothers with niceities. "If there's was any chance of me talking to Turner? Chapman, I mean."
There's silence on the other end of the phone for a moment.
"Mr. Lasso," Sherlock says finally. "I admire your belief in humanity. However I must tell you that Mr. Chapman is unlikely to be swayed by kindness."
"Mr. Lasso," Sherlock says finally. "I admire your belief in humanity. However I must tell you that Mr. Chapman is unlikely to be swayed by kindness."
"I know that," Ted answers. Trust him, he knows that. "But if it's me... I mean, he might gloat, right? Want to let me know there's plenty out there who feel the same as him?" he suggests.
"And besides that... I'd like to face him." He pauses briefly. "She agrees it might help." He doesn't bother specifying who she is.
"And besides that... I'd like to face him." He pauses briefly. "She agrees it might help." He doesn't bother specifying who she is.
Sherlock doesn't need to ask who "she" is. He knows that Watson is protective of this man, so if she would agree to let Ted do this, she must truly believe that it will both help the case and somehow help him.
"I typically dissuade victims from meeting their victimizers outside of a courtroom," he says. "However, we do seem to be stalled in this investigation. And I am well aware that you want this case to be solved more than anyone, save for Watson."
He doesn't like this, but at this point...
"When can you be at Scotland Yard?"
"I typically dissuade victims from meeting their victimizers outside of a courtroom," he says. "However, we do seem to be stalled in this investigation. And I am well aware that you want this case to be solved more than anyone, save for Watson."
He doesn't like this, but at this point...
"When can you be at Scotland Yard?"
Edited 2021-07-11 02:05 (UTC)
"Tomorrow morning?" he suggests. It's not like he has work. Doing something useful might also calm the weird feeling of being home on a work day. People are generally too busy to entertain him that time of day.
"Also," he adds, before Sherlock thinks it's time to move on. "Can you tell me anything about him? Like, friends, family, work, that kind of thing?"
One of the reasons he got absolutely nowhere with Turner back in that basement felt like it was because he had zero handholds, zero knowledge to base himself off. So it's important not just for him to get a better idea of who Turner is for his own sake, but if he's going to try to talk to him.
"Also," he adds, before Sherlock thinks it's time to move on. "Can you tell me anything about him? Like, friends, family, work, that kind of thing?"
One of the reasons he got absolutely nowhere with Turner back in that basement felt like it was because he had zero handholds, zero knowledge to base himself off. So it's important not just for him to get a better idea of who Turner is for his own sake, but if he's going to try to talk to him.
"Tomorrow morning, then." He would have ended the call had it not been for Ted jumping in when he did. It makes sense on a number of levels that he would want to know more about the man. It would give him a sense of power that had been lost to him when he was held captive by a person he knew nothing about, not even his name. But Sherlock knows Ted would also use that information to connect with Mr. Chapman, to whatever extent that was possible.
"He's a construction worker," he says. "He's lived all his life in Richmond. His mother seems to have abandoned him and his father when he was very young. His father died two years ago, leaving Mr. Chapman the house you were held captive in."
"He's a construction worker," he says. "He's lived all his life in Richmond. His mother seems to have abandoned him and his father when he was very young. His father died two years ago, leaving Mr. Chapman the house you were held captive in."
"Hmm.. Alright," Ted answers, pursing his lips. "I'm guessing his dad is the one who got him into football?" Judging by just how much he cares, that seems to be the thing that would make the most sense.
"The last thing they did together was attend a Richmond game," he affirms. "His father had a heart attack at his home sometime in the early morning after the game. Mr. Chapman might have been silent on other things, but he was quite vocal about how much he loves Richmond, and a big reason he has such reverence for the team is because of the sudden loss of his father."
"Yeah..." Ted answers with a sad sigh. He does feel bad for the guy. He really does. There must have been more things that happened to him, to make him some angry and so capable of violence, but at least the part about his father, that Ted can understand. "Okay, thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Until then, Mr. Lasso."
He ends the call, then texts Watson.
TL ?ing TC tomAM
Across the Atlantic, Joan's phone buzzes with the text from Sherlock. She's used to his abbreviated text speak, so she can decipher it. She texts back.
Watch over him please.
An answering text pops up.
OfC
Joan tucks the phone back in her pocket. She's sitting at the table in the workroom, all of the locks from the rack laid out in front of her. The case is going nowhere, and she misses Ted more and more every day, so she's picking locks to try to calm her mind and order her thoughts as she waits for Ted to text.
He ends the call, then texts Watson.
TL ?ing TC tomAM
Across the Atlantic, Joan's phone buzzes with the text from Sherlock. She's used to his abbreviated text speak, so she can decipher it. She texts back.
Watch over him please.
An answering text pops up.
OfC
Joan tucks the phone back in her pocket. She's sitting at the table in the workroom, all of the locks from the rack laid out in front of her. The case is going nowhere, and she misses Ted more and more every day, so she's picking locks to try to calm her mind and order her thoughts as she waits for Ted to text.
Which of course he does. He's technically got plenty of time to just be on his own and talk to Joan, but he doesn't want to disturb her while working, and he thinks it's probably better if they have a somewhat regular time to talk. Besides, he likes falling asleep "next to" Joan.
They talk a little bit about Ted's visit to Turner, but mostly Ted just wants a distraction from that thought. After the phone call with Sherlock, he already spent several hours thinking about it - while baking, because that's a nice way to decompress and keep himself calm. And then he also got to give Shaun some baked goods to take home with him.
The next morning, Ted catches a cab to Scotland Yard. He's got crutches to help him walk around, and he's kind of glad to be out and about on his own. Makes him feel less stuck. A week ago he was still down in Turner's basement, after all. Hopefully this meeting with Turner today will be a nice bookend, help him process some things.
They talk a little bit about Ted's visit to Turner, but mostly Ted just wants a distraction from that thought. After the phone call with Sherlock, he already spent several hours thinking about it - while baking, because that's a nice way to decompress and keep himself calm. And then he also got to give Shaun some baked goods to take home with him.
The next morning, Ted catches a cab to Scotland Yard. He's got crutches to help him walk around, and he's kind of glad to be out and about on his own. Makes him feel less stuck. A week ago he was still down in Turner's basement, after all. Hopefully this meeting with Turner today will be a nice bookend, help him process some things.
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