A/N 1/10/14. After receiving a rather frustrating review I would like to clarify; this is only meant to be a brief conversation. Something short and (hopefully) humorous. Don't expect much more, it made me smile but then I wrote it so...
"John, we're going out tonight. Suit's laid out for you."
"We're…what? Why?"
"Going out. Charity event. Fancy dress."
"You're going to a fancy charity event? What's it for?"
"No, we're going. And supposedly it's for a pet shelter of some kind."
"What are they really doing?"
"Sherlock, there's a man at the door! He says he's got something for you."
"Ah yes, that'll be Toby. Thank you Mrs. Hudson, I'll be right down!"
"Who's Toby?"
"A bloodhound."
"A bloodhound!"
"Yes John, now do stop repeating everything I say, dreadfully annoying habit."
…
"Sherlock, why did a man just give you a bloodhound?"
"He didn't give him to me, Toby's on lone. I already explained this."
"No. No, you really didn't."
"It's a charity event to raise money for an animal shelter. A group of thieves and smugglers are using it to get close to wealthy pet owners; the sort who would have prize winning or expensive pets. As part of the event they are having all the guests bring their pets."
"That's why you now have a bloodhound laying at your feet, drooling all over the carpet. We'd need a pet to blend in."
"Yes, although, Toby's actually a bloodhound mix. Not that it matters, none of the guests tonight would ever dream of anyone bring a mutt to such an event. No one ever sees anything but what they expect to see."
"And that makes them all idiots, I know. Now how exactly are the thieves using the charity?"
"That's what we're going to find out tonight. I have a client who had several animals stolen. Rather dull but she pays well and you're always on about that and besides Mycroft wanted me to do something for him if I wasn't busy. When I started tracking down her pets I found out that it was much larger then I assumed. This event is important for them, it's the key to the whole thing, I'm sure of it."
"So we, including the dog—"
"Toby."
"—Toby, are going to go and hope that we can figure out whatever it is that they are doing tonight and stop them, simultaneously taking down the rest of the ring and getting the missing pets back for your client. I'm sure that's going to go wonderfully. What did she have stolen any way?"
"A boa constrictor, an arctic fox, and a Chi-poo."
"A chi- what?"
"Chi-poo. It's a cross between a miniature poodle and a chiwawa. She gave me a picture if you'd like to see."
A/N: I didn't know it when I first wrote this, but there really is such a thing as a Chi-poo. Some of them are actually kinda cute, like the one in the cover photo. Also I doubt that you can actually keep arctic foxes but I plead creative license. Chapter 6 of 'Conversing over Lists' (it's a series of one shots done in this style, all relating to shopping lists and some of Sherlock's more interesting requests.) is a sort of sequel to this if you're interested. (chapter title is 'Dog Food')
A/N 1/10/14 more clarification: I don't know what happens after this, I didn't think it mattered really, but if anyone wants to throw out ideas, feel free; I might get inspired and write more. Do to the format, dialog only, I'm left with a very narrow field to play and there didn't seem to be anything to say after that.
And now that I've responded to my first ever flame I'll leave you to go read something else. Thanks for stopping by.
