sortinghat_rp | (no subject)

The point is we aren't going to NEED any backup snakes.

Keep this up and you're in danger of me giving it the most embarrassing name imaginable.

I might want extra all the same.

You can name it whatever you like but you can hardly expect me to call it anything other than Snake 001.

[John squints at him.]

So those would be, what, snakes on the side?

The most embarrassing name in the world, Sherlock. And I'll write it on the snake's jar in big, bold letters. And charm them so they can't be erased. So you'll always see it.

For shell stress tests. You said you wanted this one alive. There's no accounting for other specimens.

And don't you dare do something so... stupid.

Good luck convincing the professors to hand over an unknown number of baby snakes for you to subject to every test under the sun. If we do get a grade on this, I won't be held accountable for the fates of whatever bonus snakes you get your hands on. If any.

Maybe it's stupid, but it's strategic, weapons-grade stupid.

Fine. You win. At least name is something dignified.

[John grins.]

Alright, since you asked nicely. Or at least less sulkily that you could've done. I'll try to come up with something good then. I won't make this a war of snake name attrition.

Though now we ought to figure out who has the egg when again. I was going to keep it since that would keep it safe from your shell tests, but the music thing you've got planned is quite good.

Edited 2013-02-08 14:32 (UTC)

I don't sulk.

How long exactly is it supposed to take before it hatches?

[He holds out his hand for his violin. Time to tune it.]

[John doesn't dignify that with a response beyond a very disbelieving "Oh, really?" look. Still, it manages to remain a very fond expression. The hatching question catches him a bit off guard as he hands back the violin.]

Er, I don't really know. I've got know idea how long it takes snake eggs to hatch under regular conditions, let alone whatever weirdness Hogwarts might apply to it. Could be as soon as tomorrow or as far off as weeks from now for all I know.

Then I suppose an every-other-day sort of set up will suffice. Though I would very much like to be present when it hatches.

[He tunes his violin, plucking the strings then setting the instrument on his shoulder to test the sound with the bow before going to the next.]

Well, yeah. Of course I wouldn't let you miss that.

[John is quiet for a moment as he ponders names. He feels stumped; he doesn't want to go for a common or embarrassing name now that Sherlock's backed down from calling the thing Snake 001, but no truly good names are immediately forthcoming either. He tries to think about things associated with snakes, and suddenly an idea flashes alight in his eyes. It's a complicated name and it takes a few seconds of lip-chewing and brow-furrowing thought for him to remember it, but finally it comes.]

What about Asclepius? As a name, I mean.

Asclepius? ... Isn't that Greek or something? Well, it's certainly better than Bill or Sam or Steve the Snake.

Yeah, Greek, I think. Probably one of their billions of gods or something, though I wouldn't know.

But you know that symbol a lot of medical services use, the one with the snake wrapped around a stick? It's called the Rod of Asclepius. I looked it up a while back, and the name came back to me.

[He shrugs.]

Thought it might be as decent a name as any.

Is it really? Well, that'll do then, I think. I have to hand it to you, John. I didn't really think you'd put that level of thought behind it.

I promise you Asclepius will live to hatch from his shell. I'm sure I can get my hands on a baby snake at some other point in my life to experiment on in less life affording ways.

Danse Macabre?

Trust me, what it took to remember that name wasn't so elegant. You missed a lot of thoughts that can best be summed up as, "The thing, snake-thing... with the rod. Snake-rod-whatsit-thing" before I remembered. Glad the name passes muster, but it's a mouthful. I'll probably end up calling it Asc or something for short.

Danse Macabre? What's that, then?

If you call it Asc I'm going to think of ascots and I'm not certain if I agree with that association or not. Though it certainly ties in with your dapper snake plans.

[Rather than answer him about the title, he starts with the tune. He's not proficient in it but he can get through the part that matters to him: the tritone and, for more pleasing sounds, the chorus.]

[John chuckles at the joke, but goes quiet once Sherlock starts to play. He's definitely not able to tell that Sherlock is unfamiliar with the song; it sounds excellent to him. He lets Sherlock finish the song before he continues speaking.]

That was fantastic. We'll have the most musical snake of all, mark my words. I'd consider joining in with my clarinet, but I'm so out of practice it'd probably sabotage these pre-hatching music lessons.

Can a clarinet do a tritone?

[Replays the E flat and A notes]

Ha, you are absolutely asking the wrong person there. If I ever learned anything about music theory beyond being able to read sheet music, it's long gone. Don't think I'd ever be able to guess what a tritone is.

Well, it was worth a try.

What happens if the snake begins to hatch at night?

Huh. Good question. Well... I imagine if I've got it and it starts to hatch, you'd have no qualms sneaking back into Hufflepuff.

As for me, even though your Housemates in the common room were very understanding in my quest to keep you from ushering more animals to their untimely demise, I don't think it's something I want to risk again.

Guess I'm not too sure how to handle it myself.

Hufflepuff it will be, then. I'll sneak back in with the egg if it's on my possession.

It wasn't really an invitation, but it does look like the only option. Better than me sneaking in here again. Just be careful, okay?

I promised you once already that the snake would be fine. I'm not going to 'balls it up' at the last minute.

[Sherlock put his violin on its stand.]

When did you want to take it?

I meant more about being careful to avoid getting caught when sneaking into Hufflepuff if it starts to hatch at night, but now that you mention it, making sure you don't drop it down the stairs in a fit of overexcitment is pretty valid too.

I should get going with it pretty soon, I think. Best that I don't stick around here too long and risk being around when your roommates get back.

(no subject)

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