sixwordstories | (no subject)

[Mary's just shuffling out to make tea for her and John when there's -- a very feminine presence brewing coffee there. Is that - ? Couldn't possibly be, not Sherlock's company ... Mary clears her throat shyly, hugging John's cardigan around herself.]

I'm - sorry. Hello.

Good morning.

[ At first glance, Irene can already tell. Surely, surely, John's company, she noticed the woman's shoes on her way in, and the way she was kept---no doubt in her mind she was here with John. After all, it was her shoes or Molly's, and poor Molly was never here to see John. Poor Mrs. Hudson, if only she knew. ]

Coffee?

[Mary at least makes a point to look tidy in the morning, if anything for Sherlock's sake though that hardly ever stops him from being crabby to her. She nods slowly, dumbfounded.
]

Right! Yes. Good morning. Hi. I'm Mary.

[ Irene, not so much, she's donning a nightshirt that isn't hers. She pulls out another mug. ]

Irene.

[ She prepares her own cup, and leaves the milk and sugar for Mary. ]

Disn't wake you, I hope?

[Mary pulls out another mug for John and prepares both mugs according to preference. At her introduction, Mary's tone is that of astonishment in an oh-you're-her sort of way]

Irene! No you're just fine. I just tend to rise early.

[ Oh good, she muses, the cat is out of the bag. ]

Mm, I was under the impression he was out with the other half, what a polite host.

[ Obvious, meaning Sherlock has left. She nods to the coffee. ]

[Mary glances at the two cups, stirring the sugar into John's.]

Oh, no, not today. Though I often have to leave for work before he's called to duty. [She immediately flushes at the fact that she's just offered such information. Well, they're all adults here, but Mary tends to be of a more modest sort.] Well, I suppose I'm a bit surprised to see you, ah, here.

[ Irene just grins, shaking her head. How cute! John's branching out. ]

I suppose he's told you all about me.

...

And Sherlock hasn't.

Well.

What is it you do, Mary?

Yes, well. He's told me about the case and the -- phone.

[She sips her coffee thoughtfully.] I'm not as interesting. I'm a teacher. [Which is, of course, rewarding, but is nothing like a consulting detective, or a government employee, or a dominatrix.]

I'd say a teacher is in fact as interesting, children are little schemers themselves, without their parents in the room.

Not quite children. Teenage girls. Who might be the most terrifying, depending on who you speak to about them.

Ah, I'm frightened just thinking about it.

Even more cunning and cutthroat, if I remember correctly.

Just dreadful. I would hate to be a teenage girl again.

Though, there's something to be said about schoolgirl romances.