Wake up in the morning feeling like P Diddy

[drpsychosomatic]

Who| John Watson, Sherlock Holmes and anyone they encounter
What| Exploring, complaining, all that wholesome stuff
Where| Throughout the Capitol
When| After John's introduction as punishment for Sherlock messing with the cameras
Warnings/Notes| No warnings as of yet. This post can also be used for meeting just John or just Sherlock, we can engineer them splitting up for fact-finding a la Scooby Doo if you prefer!

Having been given a quick crash course on everything Sherlock had learned during his stay in the Capitol and his rather unpleasant experiences in the Arena, John had asked if Sherlock wouldn't mind showing him around some of the more interesting places in the sprawling, decadent city. He felt like having a rather stiff drink, actually- something to wash down the hideously confusing day he'd had- though he doubted he could convince Sherlock to join him in destroying a few braincells at whatever passed for a pub in this ridiculous place.

"So, where's next?" he asked, as lightly as he could manage as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. 

Comments

[whosalicewhite]

Two tributes. Two tributes wandering around sightseeing? Even the worst of pickpockets knows that sightseers make the good marks. Sightseers with someone else to distract them, make better marks.

If she was going to be forced back into the arena, Parker's going to collect information of those around her the only way she knows how

She's going to steal it.

Today, she's wearing the most hideous of pink sweaters, with sparkles, to blend in. Some person she finds appalling in the highest order told her to wear it but she flatly refused to go near the shoes even Sophie would reject.

Instead, she agreed on trousers that would hide her sneakers.

Parker's got to wait for the right moment.

[drpsychosomatic]

John was trying not to stare too obviously at a very tortured looking mannequin in a store window- one wearing what seemed to be a corset made of royal blue crystals and half a mile of eye-meltingly bright orange-yellow cellophane wrapper. Beside it was a style for men in complimentary navy and orange, encrusted with crystals.

"Not a chance," he said, firmly. "What possible good could they hope dressing either of us up like that would do?"

[alldeduction]

"Sponsorship." Sherlock said, grimacing slightly and turning his head from the store window. "In order for us to be 'desirable' we need to fit their idea of desire, which includes fashion. If they consider us likable, they spend exorbitant amounts of money on us in the arena, and send us items to help us win or lose."

[whosalicewhite]

Parker is listening, as she didn't have the opportunity for all the pre-arena information last time. No, she was just thrown into the cold, and then Eliot was mean to her.

Or was it Eliot?

Assessing the pair, she has to conclude the shorter one's the better target but he's got his hands in his pockets.

Parker was never a beggar, and always has a choice, but she's actually itching to steal something. There are times when she can't control it.

If there's any feeling at all, it will be no different from the small rush of air from a person who accidentally walks too closely. Although, her hand will dip into the taller man's pocket.

Will she come up with something? What could she come up with?

Either way, Parker's not one to stick about.

[alldeduction]

Unfortunately for her, Sherlock was a rather deft pick pocket himself - and even the light touch was enough to send his senses in high alert. It helped, of course, that this wasn't the first time someone had tried. It wasn't even the first time someone had tried here in the capitol.

He turned, his arm immediately shooting out in an attempt to grab her arm.

[whosalicewhite]

Parker's preternaturally quick, so while he might touch her arm, it won't be there long enough to get a decent grip.

"WHATWHOGRABSSOMEONELIKETHATINTHESTREET!?" It's the oldest tactic in the book if caught. Scream bloody blue murder that someone's the aggressor.

[drpsychosomatic]

John blinked and raised his eyebrows, more than used to people accosting Sherlock on the street. And, if he was honest, the reverse was often true, too.

"Okay, I think we can stop screaming, don't you?" He suggested, looking over at Sherlock for an explanation, attempting to ignore the crowd they were drawing. "Sherlock?"

[alldeduction]

Sherlock was completely unfazed by the outburst and just put out his hand, palm open. Demanding. He didn't directly answer John, his eyes locked on Parker instead.

"Wallet. Now. If you please."

[whosalicewhite]

Parker immediately holds her hands up. That wallet is long under her stupid sparkly thing-sweater, and essentially unreachable without serious consequences. Although, she has a separate plan should someone try something. Archie always told her to have a back-up plan to avoid being caught.

It has been such a long time since she's had to use such a tactic. It's like slipping back into a favoured hoodie.

"SCREAMING? HEGRABBEDME! IDON'TKNOWHIM. DON'TKNOWYOU. WHATDOYOUWANT?"

And considering such a to-do is not common in the Capitol, there's a few people stopping to stare, more in entertainment than concern.

[drpsychosomatic]

"His wallet back, like he asked." John replied calmly, ignoring her screeching. If Sherlock knew she'd taken it, she'd taken it. "We both know you took it, I'm sure there's someone like the police I can call for to have you searched if we have to."

[alldeduction]

Sherlock kept his hand out, resolutely ignoring the looks from the passerby.

"You're obviously a tribute. And a new one. If you weren't, you would know that I have nothing on me beyond the meager stipend provided, and that the card won't work for you anyway. So. You can save yourself the embarassment of having peacekeepers invade your quarters later in the afternoon by giving me the wallet, now."

[whosalicewhite]

Ohhhhh, he's good. Internally, she curses herself for picking the wrong mark. She just wanted something. It's a way of control for her.

"Fine." She crosses her arms, hands inside the sleeves, with all the confidence of someone totally innocent. "Send them to my quarters." As if the wallet would be there.

"Going shopping," she points at the store. "Make people like me."

See, perfectly legitimate reason for being out there.

Hmmm, perhaps this would be interesting. While talking, she's pulled one small thing out of the wallet. Why? Because she can.

[alldeduction]

If there's one thing Sherlock absolutely cannot stand, it is being right - knowing he is right - knowing that the other person knows that he is right - and the other person refusing to acknowledge it.

The rage, however, managed to only boil in his eyes - cold and grey and sharp as a knife.

He smiled, the thin edge of a razor blade.

"Yes, I'm certain that the populace will be so very moved by thievery and lies," He said icily, through his smiling teeth.

[drpsychosomatic]

"Did you want me to try and find whatever counts as the police here in the city?" he asked Sherlock pointedly, his eyes steady on Parker. He wasn't particularly fond of thieves, whether or not a sponsor or two might find them amusing.
"Peacekeepers, I think you said?"

[whosalicewhite]

Never be afraid. There's not an iota of fear in Parker. This isn't Sterling. Sterling's the only one who might make her worry.

Unfortunately for Parker, she'll never care for sponsors. Fortunately, for Parker, she doesn't care for sponsors. As contradictory as that sounds, it works for her.

"Okay." Parker looks around for someone who isn't covered head to toe in glitter. There isn't one. Thus, she moves toward the crowd.

Now, the definition of move is important here. Movements are never slow for Parker. Light and quick: that's how she survives. Thus, 'move' here, means 'take off into the crowd like she's been told there's chocolate two blocks over and she only has 20 seconds to get there.'

It should be noted the first person she passes is now in possession of a particular wallet.

[alldeduction]

"Damn it," Sherlock hissed as moved, and immediately made to move after her - his eye caught sight of her bumping against someone but by the time he had made it to them (his own pickpocketing experience making it a much less embarrassing situation than it could have been) and looked back up, she was gone.

He cursed again and turned to find John.

"Forget it," he said darkly as soon as he found him. He raised the wallet. "I've got it." He shoved it back into his pocket without bothering to check it.

[drpsychosomatic]

"Friendly girl," he commented lightly, clearly irritated. "What the hell's the point of stealing a wallet when all we have is a stipend on a card? You'd think considering the fact we're all celebrities that identity theft would be a bit of a problem."

[alldeduction]

Sherlock threw up his hands in the ultimate signal of how-on-earth-would-I-know.

"This wasn't even the first time another tribute has attempted to pickpocket me," He complained as he began to shove his way back out of the crowd in the opposite direction that the woman had fled.