Sherlock Holmes

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OOC INFORMATION
Name: Lore
Contact: Journal DM or eternalferret
Age: 30+
Other Characters: Jonathan Strange madforaspell

CHARACTER INFORMATION
Character Name: Sherlock Holmes
Age: 37
Canon: Sherlock Holmes (Guy Richie movies) Wiki
Canon Point: Near the end of Game of Shadows as he dives off Reichenbach Falls
Character Information:
Personality:

Sherlock Holmes seems like he should be a difficult man to describe. In truth, though, it's very simple when one comes down to it. He's a difficult, unpleasant man, but his observations have given him a very unique view on the world. He just tends to direct those views in very strange directions.

Holmes' curse is that he sees everything. His observant nature makes him extremely intelligent... and incredibly annoying. He uses these observations for good, thankfully, but he doesn't seem to know when to stop. This leads to him getting in trouble. For example, when he meets Mary for the first time, his observations lead him down a path that ends with him positing that she'd left her fiancé for richer prospects. This was partly deliberate in this case, but the point still stands. This leads well into how blunt he is. He tells it like it is, no matter how it may effect the other person. He sees the facts and can separate his emotions from them. Why can't everyone else do the same thing? Dancing around topics or sugar coating things just wastes time. He's also very precise in his words, always endeavoring to use the correct word (or language) for the correct situation. This makes him incredibly pedantic. He corrects Watson several times, arguing the correct use of midget over dwarf or responding to "How did you know I'd find you?" with "You didn't find me, you collapsed a building on top of me." No matter how precise and pedantic he may be, though, he still manages to pepper his conversations with wit and humor... even if he's the only one who finds himself funny sometimes.

One problem with having such a massive intellect is the fact that he knows that he has it. He has an enormous ego and doesn't understand why everyone doesn't recognize his brilliance. When he's questioned, it sometimes leaves him utterly confounded. He's the smartest person in the room, after all. He almost literally has a "come with me if you want to live" moment. His ego also leads him to be incredibly insulting, especially to others who he believes to be of lesser intellect. Lestrad is a typical recipient of those insults. He tells him once "In another life you may have made a fine policeman." Generally, he believes he is right and everyone else needs to catch up.

Holmes is an addict. Yes, he consumes all manner of alcohol and drugs, but that's just the tip of the iceberg. He's addicted to problems, crime, and mystery. He's addicted to The Game. If he has no work, nothing to keep his mind turning, he goes into withdrawal. He spirals into a hole full of intoxicants, sleep depravation, and risky behaviors that make him more toxic than ever. When he does find a problem, he becomes obsessed. This obsession is generally unhealthy. It's all-consuming and he's blinded to all else. As such, he forgets things such as Watson's upcoming nuptials. This combination of addiction and obsession is very dangerous. He has to tread a thin line to avoid disappearing down a rabbit hole. At least, disappearing when he doesn't have someone like Watson to help pull him out again.

All of these things together, plus some, make him a very difficult man. Most people can't stand to be around him. How Watson has put up with him for so long is a complete mystery. If he gets bored, he creates experiments and makes them everyone else's problem. For example, growing a jungle in his rooms and making Mrs. Hudson feed his animals, or toying with making a silencer for a gun... and shooting holes in the wall to practice. He's a rude, unhygienic, unpleasant man who makes life difficult for all those around him. And yet, there are those who care for him, anyway.

In general, he keeps his emotions closely guarded. He exaggerates his concern when trying to get Watson to call off the marriage and other such moments. However, there are several moments when his emotions seep to the surface. He displays them quietly, usually only for Watson to see. This happens most often when someone close to him is hurt. Particularly, when Watson is injured, or Irene Adler dies. In these moments, his heart rises to the surface and reveals how much he truly cares. It also adds fuel to the fire, pushing his rage and determination to stop whoever caused that pain.

I would not call him a loyal person, necessarily. However, he is a protective person. Who he is protecting depends on the moment and the case. But for those who fall under his protection, he puts his life ahead of theirs and will do whatever it takes to keep them safe. This is especially true of Watson and Irene Adler. After Watson married, he walked away with the intention of leaving him out of everything going forward. (This was after he did everything he could to change Watson's mind, but he respected his decision in the end) He told Moriarty that he was out, trying to keep him safe. Once he learned that was not to be, he sprung into action to save Watson and his new bride. And, even though he felt that Mary stole Watson away from him, he saved her life and made sure she was safe before asking Watson to continue on the case with him. If his plans run a risk of serious harm, he sends everyone elsewhere and goes alone. He will put his own body on the line for a case, but he won't risk anyone else that way... especially when he might need Watson to come save him later.

All in all, Sherlock Holmes is an absolutely terrible human being. He's driven by his ego and his need to solve problems. This makes him a difficult, unpleasant man. But he cares about keeping people safe and stopping bad people from doing bad things. As difficult as he may be, he does make friends and people care about him. As he would say, he's deliciously complicated.

Also: He absolutely does not trust horses.

5-10 Key Character Traits:
-Observant
-Blunt
-Egotistical
-Protective
-Obsessive
-Pedantic

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