Disclaimer: I don't own anything related with or to 'Sherlock' like the characters etc.
Pairing: Sherlock and Irene
M Note: It's the first time I write for this fandom, I said I would so here it goes. Oh real quick the characters are ooc-ish, the story is AU. It was going to be Titanic but I think Johnlock has one or Sheriarty idk. I'm pretty sure I read one for it so to be on the safe side.
I took the idea from a 'Twilight zone' episode. The 1960's ones are awesome.
Plot is basically where the manniquens take turns-pretend to be humans for a month then rotate in schedule.
I tweaked the premise enough that Irene dresses the manniquens at a department store and one night just as she's closing up shop with John one of them comes alive. Anyway, here it goes.
Tribeca, New York
"It's just about time to say goodbye, Mr. Holmes." She looks at the clock on the wall and sighs pulling on the hem of the brand new version of the same scarf he had 'worn' yesterday in favor of one a shade darker in color.
Because apparently even though it looks almost identical to the previous one this article of clothing is a piece from the new 'Joke' collect the famous designer Moriarty has launched and it's selling out faster than a lemonade stand on a summer's afternoon.
By morning even this piece will be sold at a reasonably priced cost and her boss had insisted that she be the one to do it, dress up the manniquen because it is definitely in her job description.
"You ask me and I tell, I think naming that thing is a slippery slope down quackidom."
John looks at his phone, smiling at a picture of Rosie in a costume Mary made for the upcoming school play.
It is atrocious in all honesty, he had laughed about it over drinks with Lestrade then he had gone home to try to help Mary out.
But attesting to his luck and his daughter's misfortune he had unwittingly made it infinitely worse than he had assumed a possibility at first glance even though they both had put in the effort and an all-nighter.
Still they weren't about to tell Rosamund because shed start crying and get all self-conscience about it then probably say she hates it or them.
"Well as I take your words into consideration. I can safely say that I wasn't asking." She smiles at him as he thinks he should walk her to her car as they are closing up an hour later than the usual.
"I'll lock up then. But first I'm gonna go to the break room. You want anything?" John walks up to a rack and grabs his coat.
Thinking that he should have enough time to spare and he is going wait for Irene to finish up because by now this is routine.
.
"You ever think those wooden manniquens are creepy. I mean you go around naming this one here, but I don't know what going to happen when-" He looks away from her and the oversized doll to stare out the window.
Grimaces knowing he should have stopped at any nearby auto parts store to buy some better wiper blades for his windshield earlier.
Thinking he should have had enough time because he hadn't gotten a notification on his phone that it was going to rain from the weather app.
Lightning flashes across the sky illuminating the world an instant then leaving it in darkness again.
"You know. Thunderstorms scare the..fu-" John stopped talking as Irene stops what she was doing to see him swallow looking abashed as he just points like death to a deadman.
"That it Mr. Watson.." She dropped some a stack of clothes next to the last manniquen of the night and sighed. Wondering if John was alright because he has stopped talking all of a sudden.
Noticing that nothing appears to be out of the ordinary she moves to grab her purse on the counter behind the row of manniquens because it's time to go and hibernate til 5:00 AM.
When John yanks at her arm with enough force that it hurts but she thinks it not serious enough that will bruse and she's more concerned about why he did it than the fact that he did.
"What has gotten into you, John?" She looks at her arm then him in confusion then upset as her eyebrows knit and her serious frown in on point because even though they are friends she is going to have none of it so he better have a good explanation.
"Sorry Ms. Adler, Irene but two things. Please don't scream and look behind you. I need to make sure I'm not heading to a padded room in the morning."
"Why would I scream or verify-" The rest of her words died in her throat the instant she turns around and sees a man who wasn't supposed to be there in place of the manniquen.
She can't help but think that he is tall and his voice is honey as he looks at John then her and smiles cheerfully even daring to way as excitement colors his features when he speaks.
"Hello. I'm Sherlock. And you are?" Looking down at himself while muttering the words.
"Oh good, I'm not naked this time." More to himself then to them. Regarding them at the latest minute in an almost dismissing manner until he checks them out and 'hms'.
"Am I still in London? This isn't Scotland Yard." He looks around quickly noting that he was probably move to a department store without the other manniquens being shipped out with him.
He hopes that they are alright and that he will be able to track them down at a reasonable amount of time.
Irene peeks over one of the racks of shoes to see that he-it isn't approaching them but even from this distance she can see that he is tall. Standing over six feet maybe and skinny, lean.
Hansom but it was expected she thinks because he was basically modeled after a life-sized action figure in town.
.
.
Both are apparently on the same page as they practically run like the wind intent on making a bee-line for the door only the realize that the doors are locked and the keys or button to unlock the doors automatically are both behind the counter.
The one that this manniquen thing just happened to 'wake up' in front of. Seemingly cool with pulling a freaking Pinocchio on them for no reason other than to scare the hell out of them.
John and her share a look conveying the message that they are ready to square up and take this guy down if it comes to it or it turns out that it's less friendly and more like Chucky the killer doll.
"Wait. I have my phone and am going to call Mary. She has to see this first. You call the police. Unless you want to post this on IG or FB. I think we'll survive long enough to get that done."
"What? John look here's a better idea, I've got a Walther Creed in my glove box. We get to it and we might have a chance at a better defense."
Her car's and house keys are in her locker at the break room out-back since she had a guy make copies, mail them here earlier in the day and had been about to put them on a key change ring before leaving the store but she hadn't had time for it yet.
In the midst of work, a busy day full of customers and the recent, previously unforseen event.
"You have a gun? And a licence for it, I'm assuming." His voice comes out a little relived but he doesn't want to kill the 'guy' so he is seriously hoping that she knows what she's doing.
Gun safety, a decent survival instinct and the leniency to not hurt the guy too much if it comes to that.
"Of course. I go to the shooting range every Friday after the gym and jiu-jitsu." Her voice comes out matter-of-factly as Irene pulled him into a crouched position as John continues adding to a conversation that both know it isn't a time for but it's helping them to calm down a little bit.
"I thought it was yoga and school."
He should really limit his knowledge of her business because they are co-workers and as great as she is.
She is more Mary's friend than his so now he thinks if he learns anything more about bout her he will soon end up as an emergency contact.
.
.
.
Not that he would mind all that much but c'mon. Relying on people is the worst.
She must know that they hardly ever come through and when they do it's usually begrudgingly unless there's something in it for them.
"That's Saturday. Friday is a morning shift. I go to pilates and judo. Speaking of which Mary thinks Rosie would benefit from learning a few moves but I should have kept that to myself. It's something I think that you should discuss unless she's already decided."
"Yes, hello again. I can hear your conversation and as intrigued as I am about your personal life. I'm just throwing it out there. That I'd rather not get shot or wounded in any way, if it's an option. I think it worthy." The man holds up his hands in what definitely would look like surrender.
As if he's trying too hard not to give off a threatening vibe that would subsequently get him or them in trouble.
"I know that for you this must be a petrifying experience but I mean to bring you no harm. All I want to know is the year. Judging by your phones and clothes, my own. I can guess that it's no longer 2003."