For Joan

[theodorelasso]

Continued from here.

(warnings: sexytimes. also, panic attacks, brutal violence, attempted murder, discussion of suicide and actual murder... )

Comments

[formersurgeon]

"I have," Sherlock answers. "As musicals go the songs are beautiful and the story is acceptable. No one would ever have gotten away with making meat pies out of humans for as long as they do in the play, but at the end of the day it is fiction."

[theodorelasso]

"I mean, that's probably for the best, yeah," Ted answers with a chuckle. There has to be a certain suspension of disbelief.

"Hey, that's a thing we should do," he adds, looking at Joan. "All this time living in London, and I still haven't gone to see a musical." Which, honestly, is a disgrace for him.

[formersurgeon]

"I'd love that!" she says with a smile. "You know...that's one of a few London experiences I haven't had yet. We were supposed to be in town for a short amount of time to work on a specific case and then go back to New York, so I wasn't seeing it as a chance to enjoy the city. Now that we live here..."

[theodorelasso]

"Right?" Ted agrees, though he hushes himself a little as another intense scene begins. "Alright, hold that thought, we'll talk about this after," he adds quietly, giving Joan another squeeze.

He did take some time in the beginning, to see some sights and be a bit of a tourist, but then as he settled into work, there's a lot of that he forgot, despite there being so much of London he hadn't yet experienced.

[formersurgeon]

Joan's first trip to London, the trip where she met Mycroft and Lestrade and helped solve a murder, had been more touristy. There had been a fair amount of downtime as Sherlock dealt with being back in London after fleeing in grief and narcotics. This time was supposed to be in and out.

Interesting how quickly and thoroughly things can change.

She squeezes him back, and settles against him to watch.

[theodorelasso]

They watch the rest of the movie, though Ted is slightly distracted daydreaming about possible things him and Joan and potentially Sherlock could do in London.

He doesn't get up once the movie ends, comfortable snuggled up. "So what's the verdict, Sherlock? Christmas movie or not?"

[formersurgeon]

"How exactly would one define a 'Christmas movie'?" Sherlock says, still looking at the scroll of the credits. "It was certainly set in the Christmas season. Christmas itself is referenced numerous times. On the other hand, I'm not certain a movie can truly be a Christmas movie if it has a body count. Seems rather antithetical to peace on earth, goodwill toward men."

[theodorelasso]

"Well, therein lies the debate, I suppose," Ted answers with a chuckle. "I think if you define it as a movie that large amounts of people would enjoy watching at Christmas, then it counts. Thoughts, Joan?"

[formersurgeon]

Joan is still comfortably snuggled up against him, and has no intention of getting up. "There are plenty of people who think it's a Christmas movie, and who watch it on Christmas. If tradition makes a difference, then it's a Christmas movie. Christmas is all about tradition."

[theodorelasso]

"I'm good with that," Ted agrees with a decisive nod. "Now... Which musicals would you be most interested in seeing?" he asks with a grin. That has obviously not slipped his mind. He'd love to have a night out, get dinner and take in a show.

[formersurgeon]

"Hmm...I don't know what's showing..."

"Wicked at the Apollo Victoria," Sherlock says, "Frozen at Royal Drury Lane, Mamma Mia at Novello, Back to the Future at the Adelphi, Moulin Rouge! The Musical at the Piccadilly, The Tina Turner Musical at Aldwych, Come Away at the Phoenix, The Book of Mormon at Prince of Wales, Cinderella at the Gillian Lynne, and Dear Evan Hansen at the Noel Coward."

Joan stares at him for a moment, taken aback by the sudden flood of information. She wants to ask him how he knows all that, but there's a question that's far more pressing.

"They made a musical out of Back to the Future?"

[theodorelasso]

Ted stares at Sherlock too, but he does appreciate the information.

"Come on, they make musicals out of everything. Alright, so I think we're seeing a few things," Ted says with a grin. There's definitely more than one there that he'd be interested in seeing. Most of them, honestly. "I've heard that Come From Away is supposed to be amazing."

[formersurgeon]

"Let's start there," she says, and then smiles with a chuckle. "Has there ever been a football musical?"

She thinks the story of Ted and Richmond would make one hell of a musical.

[theodorelasso]

"At some point, probably, yeah," Ted answers thoughtfully, trying to think of one, or sports related ones in general, but not having any coming immediately to mind. "But sports and musical theatre seem to intersect far too rarely, honestly."

[formersurgeon]

"Mmm," Joan hums, thinking. "Damn Yankees is about baseball, I think. And I'm pretty sure they turned Rocky into a musical."

[theodorelasso]

"Yeah, that sounds about right. Though if we're only getting one every like fifty sixty years, I think that definitely counts as far too rare," he says, reaching up to idly stroke at Joan's hair. "Any other London specific things you want to do? I did a few things in the beginning, but there's a lot of exploration I haven't done."

[formersurgeon]

"That's fair," Joan says with a smile, and she sighs softly as he strokes her hair, so in love with this man. "I've seen most of the touristy stuff," she says. "I'm not sure what I want to see next."

"I have something I can show you," Sherlock interjects.

[theodorelasso]

Ted looks over as Sherlock speaks up. "I'm all ears," he answers curiously, wondering what Sherlock would think to show them. "Or do you want it to be a surprise?"

[formersurgeon]

"I believe I shall keep it a surprise," Sherlock says. He looks over to Joan, who is already surprised. "You'll need to wear sensible shoes, Watson."

[theodorelasso]

"But I can wear my flip-flops, right?" Ted quips cheerfully. He doesn't even own sandals, he was absolutely going to wear sneakers as usual, but he couldn't resist the joke.

[formersurgeon]

Joan rolls her eyes in exasperated amusement, and tilts her head up to kiss his cheek.

Sherlock doesn't respond to the joke at all.

"Let me know when you both have a day free," he says.

[theodorelasso]

Both reactions are expected and welcome. Especially Joan's.

"Assuming whatever it is isn't closed on Sundays, that should be easy enough," he answers, giving a yawn. Between the dinner and the movie, it's gotten pretty late.

[formersurgeon]

"It is neither open nor closed at any time, so Sunday should suffice," Sherlock says. Then he stands. "Considering the hour, I shall bid you both goodnight."

He sees Ted's tiredness, and knows he and Watson doubtless would like some time to themselves before sleeping.

[theodorelasso]

"Alright, have a good night," Ted answers with a soft smile. "And hey, Sherlock," he adds, before he has a chance to leave. "I've really enjoyed celebrating Christmas with you guys," he says genuinely. He's so grateful for them both.

[formersurgeon]

Sherlock nods a little, stiffly, a somber look on his face. "Christmas," he says softly, not looking directly at Ted, "had for a very long time been merely a reminder that I was alone in the world." He nods toward Watson. "That has slowly changed, thanks to Watson. I am no longer alone. It became neutral, not happy nor sad. Today...today I can sincerely say that I enjoyed Christmas. Possibly for the first time in my life."

He gives a "there you have it" gesture with his hands.

"I will see both of you soon." He heads for the door.