ironmonger | (no subject)

"I have no interest in a rerun," Obadiah says. "It's more rewarding for me in both the short term and the long term to make sure you're genuinely enjoying yourself."

His smile loses that melancholic edge and picks up one of fondness to replace it.

"That will do quite well. Thank you."

He shrugs slightly.

"I'm not given to self-sabotage as a general rule. There aren't many people who fully appreciate what that means."

But Sherlock seems to be one of them.

"I don't see why not," he murmurs. "It seems perfectly straightforward to me."

A lot of things seem perfectly straightforward to Sherlock that, in reality, aren't.

And the fact that he understands what Obadiah means by that has quite a lot to do with why he is currently offering the man an illustrated map of his weaknesses. He knows very well that Obadiah won't do anything with it, not if he wants to keep what he has with Tony, which he certainly does.

(Not to mention that, if he did... well, Sherlock is well enough acquainted with that brand of misery. He survived the first round. He can survive a second, if it comes to it. Probably.)

"People put too much stock in feelings," Obadiah says. "If you don't attach emotional worth to something, it must mean you can't be trusted with it."

He's not complaining. It's an attribute that's very useful for manipulating people. All the same, he doesn't object to dealing with someone who understands things on his own more practical level of understanding.

"You care about things in practical terms rather than emotional ones," Sherlock agrees. He is well aware that this is not an absolute statement, but he doesn't feel like starting that argument right now; it might lead to the scritches stopping, and that would be sad. "It is still a recognizable system of priorities."

"Of course it is," Obadiah says. "And usually the more useful one."

Or, more accurately, always the more useful one, but he is of course well aware of the fact that Sherlock believes the other to be valid as well.

"At the end of it all there must be something you want for its own sake or you may as well jump off a cliff and save yourself the trouble," he points out. "That is what emotional priorities are for. It's just most people have more of them than we do."

"I want the company I built," Obadiah says matter-of-factly. "Call that an emotional priority if it makes you happy."

"Oh, yes. And you want Tony, too." Sherlock opens his eyes briefly and grins up at Obadiah. "Possessiveness is an emotion; it's just not usually considered one of the nice ones."

"True," he concedes. "But until very recently, I couldn't have both. I prioritized the company because I don't happen to think, like most people do, that a person should be worth more."

"I'm quite glad it worked out otherwise," he says, closing his eyes again. "Everyone benefits."

"Could be worse," he agrees.

The company isn't his yet, of course, but it will be. Keeping control after Tony comes of age to take the company over won't be difficult, not anymore.

He makes an affirmative sound instead of nodding. Nodding involves too much movement.

"I have to say I am glad of the opportunity to speak with you like this. It has been very enlightening. And unexpectedly pleasant," he adds with a half-smile.

He gives a slight chuckle.

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself," he says.

Another smile comes and goes.

Idly: "I don't suppose you've given any more thought to our earlier conversation."

"Can't say as I have," he says easily. "I don't know if I mentioned, but I've been a little busy."

"You did, you did. I meant since then. Can't say that I expected it, but you might have."

At least he isn't getting all intense about it. Apparently having his hair petted turns Sherlock into an extremely friendly and accommodating puddle.

"In the past hour or two?"

He runs his fingers especially slowly through Sherlock's hair.

"I've had other things vying for my attention."

"Granted," he murmurs, smiling in lazy contentment. "Now that I've brought it to mind, however...?"

He shrugs a little.

"If I can come up with some useful alternative arrangements . . ." Then he might possibly consider Sherlock's advice.

Maybe.

"I might be able to make a suggestion if you told me exactly what you were looking for."

A suggestion, an offer...

"An outlet," Obadiah says. "Everyone needs one."

Somewhere he can funnel his aggression and frustrations without consequence. Without having to be careful and watch his step and worry about limits.

Somewhere he has absolute power that cannot be taken away from him, as Sherlock is trying to do.

He smiles.

"Me," he says succinctly.

Obadiah snorts.

"No."