sixwordstories | (no subject)

I didn't suspect so. But obviously you do have free time right now, and I'm rather boring.

You weren't so bad until now. Now, of course, by mentioning it, you've ruined the illusion I held.

I'm sorry. But I'm just an ordinary bartender, which is certainly much less exciting than what you do for a living. Every now and then I have to listen to pretty weird stories, but that's it.

*Well, aside from the things he can't talk about so openly, like being a vampire and such.*

[He cocks his head slightly.]

Oh, but people tell you their life stories. You're a stranger that many people trust. A bit like cabbies.

[Pause.]

You're not just a bartender, are you?

*If he's wary about what prompted the question, he doesn't show it.*

No, of course not. Most people wouldn't say they're only defined by their job and nothing else, would they?

[But Sherlock lives for subtext.]

Most people define themselves by their job first.

*He just isn't quite used to strangers paying such close attention.*

Yeah, thinking about it, that's actually quite sad in most cases. But then, it's what you spend a lot of time doing.

Considering they take such pride in something that is usually so boring, of course it is.

I don't know if they take pride ... although I do hope that most like their jobs. Nothing worse than having to spend so much time doing something you hate.

Which is why I created my own job. Everything else was dull.

Mh. How did you find out that this was what you wanted to do?

I told you. I invented the job. Nothing else would be appropriate.

[He doesn't talk about his childhood.]

That sort of determination is admirable, I think. I wish I had the same amount of certainty about to what to do.

You don't like being a barkeep?

Well, let's say it's not what I dreamt of being when I was younger. I mean, the job is alright, it's even fun at times, but it's quite ... meaningless.

What did you dream of?

Being a musician. A singer in a rock band.

*He smiles sheepishly, convinced that this might sound rather silly.*

Well, if you like that sort of thing... but then why not do that instead? of being a barkeep?

I did. But then ... well. Things happened and I had to stop, and I don't think I can try again now.

[He chuckles softly.]

Well, if you're not even going to bother to try...

[This is why he finds people dull. They whine and do nothing about it.]

I would, but ... things have become complicated. I've bought a guitar, recently. Though I won't be able to do much more than play for myself or friends.

Why?

[There's almost an annoyed clip. People who don't want to help themselves are rather frustrating.]

There are many reasons; as I've said, it's quite complicated.

*And he can't tell the whole truth, so this is only a part of it.*

For one, if you want to make music for a living, you should aim for your band, and in consequence yourself, to become well-known. And it is not a good idea for me to do that.

[Sherlock knows it's not everything.]

You have a past you're trying to hide.

*Julian smiles wryly.*

Sounds like it, doesn't it. Well. Doesn't everyone have things to hide?