Sherlock's known his brother to be thorough and secretive, but he'd never known the older man to be paranoid. But, that's the impression he's getting now as he watches the stoicism falter. It only takes a second for Sherlock to see through it, even if he's not quite as quick on the uptake as Mycroft.
He recognises the brand of sign that his brother's using. They'd made it up when Sherlock was seven and Mycroft had been fourteen. It was a way to talk about things they hadn't wanted their mother to overhear - either because it would upset her or because one or both of them just felt it was better kept secret.
When Sherlock replies, he has to improvise a few of the signals due to the limited mobility of his front two fingers and thumbs. It will all come across in the same way as talking with someone just after dental surgery. {He's a dangerous man and was involved directly in Moriarty's plans before St. Bart's. A former armer colonel, a sadist, and very resistant to interrogation methods. Don't rely on getting answers from him.}
Sherlock pauses for a moment, thoughtful. He knows that Moran had a hand in John's torture, but the real man to blame is Moriarty himself. Torturing him would not make John healthy again, nor would it make him feel better. Best not to allow himself to consider it. {Killing him may make Moriarty angry, which might smoke him out, but it could also make him more dangerous than ever.}
{I didn't have much contact with Moriarty directly. He came in to boast about tricking me into thinking he was dead shortly after he captured me. I didn't see him again until after they brought John in. That was roughly three days before your team evacuated us. He seemed fixated on how boring he found me and blamed John for the change in my demeanour and motivations. As far as an overall plan, my only guess is that he wanted to break me away from what he perceived as boring.}
Sherlock thinks he knows what that would entail, but he doesn't 'say' as much. Moriarty wants him to become more savage and willing to do what other's won't. To give into a more sadistic nature. Unfortunately, he might have succeeded. At least, if Sherlock ever finds himself in the same room with Moriarty himself.
no subject
He recognises the brand of sign that his brother's using. They'd made it up when Sherlock was seven and Mycroft had been fourteen. It was a way to talk about things they hadn't wanted their mother to overhear - either because it would upset her or because one or both of them just felt it was better kept secret.
When Sherlock replies, he has to improvise a few of the signals due to the limited mobility of his front two fingers and thumbs. It will all come across in the same way as talking with someone just after dental surgery. {He's a dangerous man and was involved directly in Moriarty's plans before St. Bart's. A former armer colonel, a sadist, and very resistant to interrogation methods. Don't rely on getting answers from him.}
Sherlock pauses for a moment, thoughtful. He knows that Moran had a hand in John's torture, but the real man to blame is Moriarty himself. Torturing him would not make John healthy again, nor would it make him feel better. Best not to allow himself to consider it. {Killing him may make Moriarty angry, which might smoke him out, but it could also make him more dangerous than ever.}
{I didn't have much contact with Moriarty directly. He came in to boast about tricking me into thinking he was dead shortly after he captured me. I didn't see him again until after they brought John in. That was roughly three days before your team evacuated us. He seemed fixated on how boring he found me and blamed John for the change in my demeanour and motivations. As far as an overall plan, my only guess is that he wanted to break me away from what he perceived as boring.}
Sherlock thinks he knows what that would entail, but he doesn't 'say' as much. Moriarty wants him to become more savage and willing to do what other's won't. To give into a more sadistic nature. Unfortunately, he might have succeeded. At least, if Sherlock ever finds himself in the same room with Moriarty himself.