http://3patchproblem.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] 3patchproblem.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2010-11-19 08:18 am

The Science of Deduction, Friday - 11/19

There were several packs of cigarettes on Sherlock's desk this afternoon. Repayment for last week, it would see. But then, the less said about that horrible week, the better.

"Today we'll be discussing shoes," Sherlock informed the class, suit perfectly neat and free of wrinkles today. Oh, how he clung to a sense of orderliness when it came to himself. So much more relaxing. "What you can tell from a glance at them and how to distinguish between the genders, weights and types when they leave impressions in the ground."

He nodded over at one of the TAs.

"William, your shoes, if you will."

He was so kind to those poor boys, Really he was. shoe in hand, Sherlock held it up for the class to see.

"The wear on the heel and scuffs along the toe and side say that William is not the first person to own these shoes. I'd wager to say he isn't even the second. A hand-me-down is possible, but unlikely considering the care put into maintaining them." Yes, sorry, William. "The lack of distinct mud or grime tells us that he is not inclined toward rushing about outdoors. Unlike others here, of course."

Sherlock gave the class a wane little smile before handing the shoe back. "If it looked easy to you, feel free to break into partners and do the same to each other's shoes. Otherwise, your assignment is to test the difference between the impressions left by the same pair of shoes as wore by different people. Understood? Get to it."

Re: Sign In

[identity profile] ancientbschamp.livejournal.com 2010-11-19 03:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Gabrielle "I'm really getting into these metal patches. I like steel" of Poteidaia
notmyownage: (*goes "uhhhh"*)

Re: Sign In

[personal profile] notmyownage 2010-11-19 07:42 pm (UTC)(link)
Claudia Donovan

Re: Sign In

[identity profile] she-sheds.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
Joolushko Tunai Fenta Hovalis
heromaniac: (clean)

Re: Sign In

[personal profile] heromaniac 2010-11-20 06:34 am (UTC)(link)
Momoko Akatsutsumi

Re: Listen to the Lecture/Partner off

[identity profile] ancientbschamp.livejournal.com 2010-11-19 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
This wasn't unfamiliar territory to Gabrielle; Xena (she still got a little flinchy on that subject) had taught her a lot about tracking, and how to read details like these into people's footwear.

(You'd think, being from as far in the past as she was, that footwear in her time shouldn't be reasonably sophisticated enough to make most of this lecture as comprehensible as it was. Put your historical logic away.)

Still, boots like hers were expensive, not easy to come by, and rather obsessively maintained because of the above factors. It'd taken her a while to break them in; she wasn't sure how she felt about someone else wearing them.

(Also, she didn't wear socks. So, uh. Good luck with that.)

Re: Listen to the Lecture/Partner off

[identity profile] shes-got-legs.livejournal.com 2010-11-19 04:02 pm (UTC)(link)
SHOES?

Ariel was instantly at attention with an introduction like that. She loved shoes, but knew enough to not let herself get too excited, because this was Mister Holmes, here, and for all she knew, there'd be shoe murder or something.

But there was no shoe murder involved, just...looking at shoes. Talking about shoes. And signs on shoes of wear and things like that and Mister Sherlock had totally redeemed himself from the smoking and threats of murder from last week, oh, yes, and now Ariel was scoping out everyone's shoes in hopes to pick out the best ones to examine.

And she was feeling glad she'd worn cute ones (http://www.intrigueboutique.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=402_875_870&products_id=9334&zenid=v071e0rdsb227f7ls6fv72e8h2), one of many, many, many, many pairs, today to match her long pink dress, too.
Edited 2010-11-19 16:03 (UTC)

Re: Listen to the Lecture/Partner off

[identity profile] faithandscience.livejournal.com 2010-11-19 04:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, since his own shoes had been rather thoroughly examined already, William supposed he ought to find someone who either wouldn't mind not getting to do an analysis of their own, or someone who wanted to do the second assignment.
Edited 2010-11-19 17:29 (UTC)

Re: Listen to the Lecture/Partner off

[identity profile] squire-hand.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 02:41 am (UTC)(link)
Anyone looking at the squire's shoes would see they were in good repair, showed signs of polishing within the last week or so, and had traces of mud and grass. They also looked in better condition than they should simply because they were not worn as frequently as other people's shoes. Old barefoot habits died hard.

He could probably state the socioeconomic status by his classmates' shoes and the probability of a large coinpurse.

Re: Talk to the TAs

[identity profile] faithandscience.livejournal.com 2010-11-19 04:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, William couldn't speak for Bruce's footwear issues, but he had his own back on and was trying not to look too embarassed about the revelation regarding how old they were.

Re: Talk to the TAs

[identity profile] willbethenight.livejournal.com 2010-11-20 01:13 am (UTC)(link)
Bruce wondered if he wasn't picked because his shoes were just too boring. New, comfortable, slightly mucked up from those times when it was better to be active without changing his footwear. Boring.

Re: OOC

[identity profile] faithandscience.livejournal.com 2010-11-19 04:32 pm (UTC)(link)
YAYYYYY.

I tried to make an icon of William making shoe impressions but I faiiiiiiiled. Sad :(