Party! Yay! Ok, so this chapter is much shorter than I thought it would be, and I'm sorry. I had some trouble trying to figure out what Mummy would be like. There is more to come, don't worry. I hope you all still like it! Reviews/Comments welcome!
The walk to the ballroom is a little nerve-wracking for John since he doesn't really think he looks as good in his dress uniform as Sherlock seems to think he does. It kind of reminds him of how much he needs a haircut. Still, he follows the ever-elegant detective into the ballroom, admiring the way the man's almost-tuxedo fits him. "You know, I didn't think you even owned a pair of cufflinks." He muses, reaching out to brush his fingers over where one is peeking out from his sleeve.
Distractedly, Sherlock glances down at the wrist John had touched, and he brings his hand up, looking at the cufflinks. "I don't like them. I don't usually wear shirts that require cufflinks, except for very fancy or special occasions." he says as he lowers his arms again. "Plus, they were a present from Mummy. Since I am forced to attend this year, I thought it would be a good gesture." he says with a little shrug of his shoulders, glancing over at John covertly to see what his thoughts might be. John is his most interesting when he doesn't think anyone is looking.
John considers this, and then he smiles a little. "Yes, unless she is as seemingly emotionless as you and Mycroft, I believe she will appreciate it. Sentiment." He says with a little smirk as he looks at his flatmate, shaking his head for a few moments, before he nods to Sherlock. "Lets go." He says before he walks inside with the taller man. They immediately make an impression, catching eyes and turning heads as John moves slowly with Sherlock toward the bar area, getting a brandy for himself just to take the edge off. "Come on, lets move around at least." He says to Sherlock.
Outwardly, neither of them show any signs of what may or may not happened in Sherlock's room this afternoon, even if it might be occupying both of their thoughts as they look around the room. "Well this is awkward. It seems like no one is overly fond of talking to you." John points out with a little smirk up at his friend.
Sherlock just sniffs a little. "There is a reason that I don't usually come to these sorts of functions." he points out quietly, shaking his head slowly as he observes his doctor.
The peace doesn't last forever though, a woman finally sweeping over to them, thin, elegant, with sharp eyes similar to Sherlock's, high cheekbones and wavy hair that probably used to be dark but now is a silvery gray that just makes her look more distinguished, her hair currently held back from her face but left loose down her back t just past her shoulders. "Sherlock!" She cries as she walks over to him, pulling him down slightly for a hug before kissing each of his cheeks. "Oh, look at you.. You look so good.." She says quietly, keeping her hands on his cheeks for a few moments. "You need a bit of a haircut though, don't you?" She asks with a fond smile.
Sherlock looks a little uncomfortable but he returns the hug, and kisses each of the woman's cheeks in return. "Mummy." He greets, and then smiles a little. "Thank you. I.. haven't had time." He says as he touches his hair slowly. "Mummy, this is my best friend and flatmate, Dr. John Watson, a former Captain as you can see." He says as he introduces John almost proudly, clasping his hands behind his back afterward.
John looks at the woman with some surprise, glancing her over and then smiling. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Holmes. I can see where Sherlock gets his good looks from." he says with a little bit of a grin at the woman, offering his hand. When she takes it, he gives it a firm squeeze, then lifts it and kisses her knuckles gently before releasing her hand.
Mummy looks John over and she laughs a little. "Well aren't you a charming man. My, my, Sherlock, isn't he handsome! A soldier and a doctor, what a dichotomy. And such a gentleman. Please, call me Victoria, Dr. Watson." She says with a little smile. "Perhaps sometime tonight I can steal you from my son's side. I know he's not an easy man to live with, but I hear you've been managing quite well, and that you've helped my son become a better man. I wanted to thank you for that, and I'm glad I've finally gotten the opportunity." She says as she leans over and kisses John's cheek gently, wiping away a bit of lipstick she accidentally left smeared there.
Sherlock straightens a little more, looking quite pleased with himself. "I quite agree. John is fascinating, and very handsome." He says with a smirk at his friend. "Though I would prefer you not drag him off to tell him embarrassing stories." he says with a little pout.
Resisting the urge to kiss that pout right off Sherlock's face, which is a new an interesting urge for him, John chuckles a little, watching Sherlock for a moment before he smiles. "Well, that was the wrong thing to say. Now I'm interested. Are there many embarrassing stories of a young Sherlock?" he asks with a slight grin.
"Oh, not as many as I would like. I'm afraid I'm not a very good mother to my boys. Or at least, I wasn't when they were younger." Victoria says with a little sigh as she looks at her middle son. "Such handsome men they turned out to be." She says as she pats Sherlock's cheek gently. Some little commotion catches her eye across the room and she sighs. "Oh dear. It seems that Mycroft is antagonizing Sherrinford. I don't know why those two can't get along better. Even you and Mycroft get along better, Sherlock." She says with a small sigh. "I suppose I'll see you two at dinner, if not before, but I need to go make sure this doesn't descend to blows or cyber warfare." She says as she looks at the two. "It was a pleasure to meet you, John. Please, continue taking care of my Sherlock for me." She says as she rests her hand on John's arm, giving it a little squeeze before she does the same to Sherlock with a fond smile, then starts to head toward the arguing brothers. She doesn't get there in time before Ford and James Bond leave Mycroft standing there and disappear into the crowd.
Sherlock looks over and he smirks a little. "Hmm. Ford's date is interesting." He says thoughtfully.
Looking amused, John follows Sherlock's gaze but can't spot the youngest Holmes brother. "Date?" He asks, surprised, then he adds, "Ford is gay?" He sounds curious, guessing a little.
Giving John a curious look, Sherlock nods a little. "Yes. He always has been. As far as I can recall, I've never known him to be interested in women. He's only had one serious relationship. It did not end well, and let's just say that it was one of the few times that Mycroft and I agreed on anything." he says with a slightly dark look for a moment, before he turns his eyes to John. "Mummy seems to approve of you." he says, relaxing a little.
Chuckling a little, John smiles as he looks at Sherlock. "I'm glad to hear it, though to be honest I'm more interested in these embarrassing stories." he says playfully.
Sherlock smirks a little as he looks at John, looking him over for a few moments before he smiles a little again and leans down toward John, moving so his face is close to John's, but aligned so that their cheeks brush lightly.
"I will tell you any stories you want to know tonight, in bed, if you promise not to leave me alone tonight."