Title: Making the Connection
Story Summary: A non-chronological collection of short chapters based on one word prompts, includes (pre-)slash for Johnlock & Mystrade
Chapter Summary: Sherlock goes shopping and takes John with him. Prompt: Pastel
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Moffat, Gatiss & SACD.
A/N: This chapter marks my 20 000th word submitted to this archive. Yay! Therfore I wanted to make it a bit special and turned it into a tiny tribute to one of my favorite stories on here: "Five Times" by the lovely and utterly brilliant strangegibbon. And as most of the time: this prompt came from oneword(dot)com, if you'd like to prompt me you can do so in a review or a PM.
"I think I've never been in a shop this… traditional before." John said while he looked around. This was definitely not where he went when he was in need of a new dress shirt. For the price of one of these ties he could buy an entire three piece suit.
"My mother used to take me to Savile Row when I was in need of some 'proper clothing'. Once you've found a store that can provide exactly what you want, why would you go anywhere else?" The consulting detective replied while he strolled past the ties and cufflinks.
John had thought that Sherlock must be joking when he said that he was going shopping after yet another shirt that came back from the dry cleaners with a note attached to it: There's only so much blood that can be removed before destroying a dress shirt. He was even more surprised when his friend invited him along. No wonder people thought they were a couple when they were hardly ever seen alone.
"Mr Holmes! What a pleasure to have you back", a shop clerk came around the counter, a cup of tea in his hands. "Oh, you've got company." He eyed John while he passed the tea to Sherlock. "Robert Wilson, it's a pleasure to meet you, Mr...?"
The clerk shook his hand. "John Watson. A nice little shop you have here."
"Thank you very much. How do you like your tea, Mr Watson?" The slender man who was only a few years older than John was already behind the counter again, just waiting for John's reply.
"With a splash of milk, no sugar. Thank you." Mr Wilson slipped behind a curtain, into a little tea kitchen by the looks of it and came out just seconds later with John's tea in hand.
"There you go, sir." He handed the cup to John. "If you want, we just received the new spring collection of dress shirts, some very nice colours, pastels mostly." He looked at John as if his gazes were a measuring tape. "What is your collar size?"
"Oh, no. I'm just here to..." Well, why did he agree to come here anyways? He simply had nothing better to do on his day off.
"I'm the one in need of a few new dress shirts. Mr Watson here just accompanies me", Sherlock clarified and took a sip of his tea.
"Of course, I should have recognised you from your blog. It is Dr Watson, though, isn't it? My apologies." John shook his head dismissively, still amazed by how many people read his blog. "Well, Mr Holmes, I put some shirts away for you before our sale last month. I know you prefer the winter palette."
The clerk opened a cupboard that stood in the back of the shop and took out a little suitcase. Out came a variety of darkly coloured dress shirts.
"They are all your size and fits that you've bought before, but of course you can also take a look at the spring collection", he added.
"Thank you, Robert. I think your selection will do nicely." Sherlock stepped closer and picked one black and one blood red shirt out. Then out of the corner of his eyes he saw John looking at the shelves that accommodated the spring collection.
"Actually, would you mind getting me one of those pastel blue ones and one in light green as well?" Sherlock didn't even look up from the shirts that lay on display in front of him.
Robert looked from Sherlock to John and did his best to hide his grin. "Of course, Mr Holmes."