I'm sorry! I promise, this story does have a plot. I know where I'm going. However, it seems that my latin and marine biology teachers have teamed up with my will to write and inspiration and are staging a coup against me so that no writing gets done from me. I swear, it isn't my fault. Really...okay, partially. But it is mostly theirs. Anyways, thank you guys for the favorites and following, but I would really love to see some more reviews along with them :) Thanks! -Changeling
It took Armelia all of five minutes in the mortuary to decide that she hated the smell of formaldehyde. The scent wouldn't have been overwhelming to anyone else, she guessed, but her sensitive nose was positively repelled by it. It made her feel as if there were a cold pit forming in her stomach. But she shouldn't have really been surprised. After all, her affinity was for poisons, which often dwelled within beautiful and sweet-smelling flowers.
Molly, however, did not seem to notice her new ward's discomfort, and cheerfully led her through the halls, pointing to doors and animatedly explaining what work was done behind each as they passed. Armelia casually lifted her long black braid to her face and inhaled deeply, taking refuge in the subtle lavender of her own scent. She wouldn't complain. Not because she didn't want to upset Molly out of some selfless display of humanity. No. The more relaxed her timid guardian was around her the easier life would be for however long they were together.
As they walk further into the building, towards the labs, a door suddenly opened out in front of them, causing the older woman to squeak in surprise. Armelia raised one delicate eyebrow at the noise before sliding her cold green eyes over to the one who had stepped out. To her minimal surprise, it was Dr. John Watson that stood before her.
"Oh, sorry! I'm sorry." he apologized quickly. But when he realized who he'd nearly run into, a friendly grin spread across his face.
"Hello John! I guess this means you and Sherlock have a case to work on, doesn't it?" Molly asked, light pink tinging her cheeks at the mention of her long-time crush. Armelia blinked at her father's flatmate in greeting and looked back towards the labs at the farther end of the hallway. She hadn't exactly been expecting to see her father again so soon after settling in with Molly. It had, after all, only been two days since they had officially met and the foster papers for her were still technically being filed. Of course, being the niece of Mycroft Holmes, the brains of the British government, had its perks and her matter was being given priority.
It wasn't that she was nervous about seeing him again. She did not get nervous. But she could possibly admit to some apprehension about encountering him. She couldn't imagine having too many geniuses in the room would go well. That was all.
Deaf to her inner thoughts, gestured to the back labs."Sherlock was just analyzing some blood for a murder case that just came in. You're both welcome to join us." he offered, apparently making the same blunder as Molly had in not realizing that one of the ladies was a child. Armelia sighed inwardly. It didn't bother her at all, really, but she was almost amazed how easily people warped her image in their heads into a copy of her father. She was, despite her intelligence and maturity, a child.
She agreed silently, following the two adult back. When they entered the lab, they were greeted by the sight of Sherlock scowling at a blood slide.
"Still can't figure it out?" asked John. "That's not like you."
Sherlock frowned at his best friend and set the slide back under the microscope, grumbling something about how even he hadn't memorized every possible cause of death he might encounter, and that the doctor should shut up. John grinned and looked down at Armelia, gesturing towards her father. "Maybe you should have a go." he suggested. Sherlock looked over and raised an eyebrow at them both. Icy gazes locked in recognition and, maybe, challenge. "Sure." she agreed quietly.
Her father moved away from the microscope and waved a hand at it in invitation, crossing his arms as if already sure she would get just about nowhere with the slide, just as he had. The child genius offered him one last glance before looking down at the sample, analyzing it. After a moment, she recognized a familiar patter, and a small smirk tugged at her lips. After another minute, she had figured out the cause of death.
" It was extracted rattlesnake venom. A concentrated dose." she said, her green eyes flickering with a distant, clever light as they pierced her father. "It's obvious." she murmured, the smirk showing this time.
All three other pairs of eyes widened simultaniously at her deduction. In truth, she knew she'd gotten lucky that it was a kind of poison and a blood sample, since she doubted she would have recognized something like a dirt or tabacco sample. Still, she'd take advantage of the opportunity to impress (and out do) her famous father whenever and however the opportunity presented itself.
Playing off her triumph, she moved aside and offered the microscope to her father, wordlessly urging him to confirm her analysis. He did so, obviously begrudging his defeat.
"Amazing!" John laughed, while Molly gave her a kind and admiring smile. Armelia's own small smile graced her pale face. "Grade-school trivia." she said with thinly-veiled pride. Turning her head, she looked back at her father. "Right?" she asked quietly.
His pale blue eyes blinked slowly at her before nodding. "Exactly right. It was creative, though. I wasn't expecting it at all. Well done." he hesitantly praised.
Against her will, a pretty, bright smile that reached all the way up and warmed her green eyes claimed her features. "Thank you." she said, a pleasant feeling in her chest.
She'd been praised.
He'd praised her.