Disclaimer: I do not own any character here, all credit goes to BBC/ Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, etc.
Warning: Gratuitous use of induction proofs.
Happy birthday, Sebastian.
Colonel Sebastian Moran, a man on a mission, stares down at his phone in confusion. It's from the Boss. Of course, the Boss has always been cryptic, but this is stretching it. His birthday is in five months' time, and he is sure the Boss knows it.
He types back a reply, taking care not to sound antagonistic. If the Boss is displeased, heads roll. Literally.
It's not my birthday.
One minute later, the phone pings. Sebastian finds himself holding his breath, waiting for whatever headgame Moriarty is playing.
It is now.
Sebastian looks down at his phone in confusion. Why would Moriarty claim that his birthday is today?
Then a horrible suspicion occurs to him. He quickly checks his Social Security account.
His birthday is listed as today's date.
Shit.
Moriarty smiles as he pockets the phone. This is just the first statement of a frightfully long induction proof.
Let P(x)= x parts of Moran owned by Moriarty.
P(1) means that Moran's birthday is owned by Moriarty.
Let P(x) be true for some numbers k.
P(k)= k parts of Moran owned by Moriarty
Conjecture: If Moriarty continues to chip away at parts of Moran not owned by him, P(k)= P(k+1)
Since P(1) holds true and P(k)= P(k+1),
Moriarty will own Moran eventually, mind and body.