It's Me, Not Mario

I was going to answer @aurora-borealisss​ on her post when she said: “we actually got stuck because we couldn’t indicate when exactly it all started. I mean when did Sherlock fall for her and who, in the end, was the first one to fall in love with another?”

I’d say just go to my tag: Reasons to Love Adlock. It’s just some “metas” I wrote about Adlock and stuff.

She said to feel free about details… It was supposed to be short but… 

FACTORS ON HOW SHERLOCK AND IRENE STARTED THEIR CHEMISTRY

I don’t think Sherlock and Irene fell in love quickly, but we can never really pinpoint the exact moment they felt their own definition of “love”. I personally think they both felt the something after their first meeting. It wasn’t love at first sight. It was more on something after first connection. It just so happened that they had a deep connection immediately on the day they met.

I don’t think love perfectly suits Sherlock and Irene. They’re them. Somehow, it just makes sense. How do you explain Adlock? It’s Adlock. The name itself explains their relationship… A relationship too complicated for us to comprehend, but it’s too simple for either of them.

I never believed they were confused with their feelings. They knew exactly what happened to them… They just don’t like it.

But there is only one exact moment where they addressed it… confessed it, even. That scene where Sherlock opened Irene’s phone.

But how did they get there?

01: INTRIGUE

Happened the moment they made business with royalty.

Sherlock was directed by the Queen of England to get the photographs from Irene. Irene was directed by the Napoleon of Crime to get the meaning of the codes from Sherlock.

Sherlock was intrigued with…

Irene’s cunning personality

how Irene handled with the authority (royal family, informing them of the existence of the photographs)

how bold Irene is to ensure her protection against the royal family

how she intimidates people with her power play

Irene was intrigued…

with Sherlock’s stubborn personality

with how Sherlock handled with the authority (royal family, refusing to be decent because he doesn’t like anonymity)

with how bold Sherlock is for going in public wearing nothing but a sheet

with how he intimidates people with his unpredictability

02: FASCINATION

Happened on the first twenty seconds (I timed them) after meeting for the first time.

Even though they had twenty seconds before being interrupted, they had already started a huge game and when they don’t plan on losing.

Sherlock was fascinated…

with her audacity to be entirely nude

when he knew she was doing this to put him off balance

when she kept flirting with him to intimidate him

with her confidence

with her playfulness

Irene was fascinated with…

with his stoicism at the face of her nudity

when she knew he was doing this to tell her he’s not going to lose

when he kept eye-contact with her to intimidate her

with his self-control

with his evenness

03: HARMONY

Happened when CIA trained killers attacked Belgravia.

Most of these happened nonverbally (which says a lot tbh).

Sherlock harmonised with Irene…

when he looked at Irene to point out that she’s involved with something bigger than just clients

when he looked at her to stop her from continuing after she tried to tell the agents that Sherlock doesn’t know her combination so he and John won’t stand in the crossfire

when he looked at her in desperation for help in opening the safe

when he looked at her to ask if there is a trap in the safe

Irene harmonised with Sherlock…

when she looked at Sherlock to point out she doesn’t know how truly dangerous her phone is

when she looked at him to tell him that she tried all she could to keep them both out of this mess she had created for herself but had not gone as well as she’d hope

when she looked at her own body to tell him her body’s the answer

when she nudged her head to tell him to dock under the safe

Here’s a GIFset of this exact whole thing: LINK

04: RESPECT

Happened when the other took domination.

Sherlock respected Irene…

when she managed to render an agent unconscious using her element (knowing the human body)

when she threw him unbalance by touching him

when she was a full-on dominatrix again, using her whip

when she proved him wrong (surprising him by not going down without a fight for her advantage, something he usually does)

when she managed to beat him

Irene respected Sherlock…

when he managed to open her safe using his element (knowing whatever the hell he knows)

when he threw her unbalanced by accusing her

when he was a full-on detective again, using his wit

when he proved her wrong (surprising her by observing her physical body for his advantage, something she usually does)

when he managed to engage her

05: CONNECTION

Happened immediately after Belgravia.

Sherlock…

shared his mind palace (something he values so much)

listened to her intently despite already solving the case (he could have easily filtered her out)

made her physical form wear his coat in his mind palace because he felt that they were equals

tried looking for her frantically when he woke

Irene…

shared her time (something she needs, being on the run)

stayed beside his bed to talk to him despite him being unconscious and her running away from the police

went out of her way to bring his coat back

More meta about this: LINK (more words + ugly and first GIFs I ever made) Another link about their behaviour in this scene: LINK (less words + GIF)

06: DISTANCE

Happened after the day they met.

I believe this is when they felt something for the other.

In between those times, something happened between them that even I cannot explain. In between those times, they’ve delved deep into the other. I doubt they were confused with their feelings. I think they are perfectly aware of what’s happened to them… that they’ve grown a something for the other.

Irene knows what love is. Sherlock knows what love is. 

They know something shifted between them after their first meeting. It was attraction but as they had distance, they started to reflect on more about the other, thought too much about the other… until attraction became something more than what they bargained for.

From their first meeting alone, they found out more about the other than they’d like to have or what they were planning to have. Irene wasn’t just a woman to steal photographs from. Sherlock wasn’t just a man to remove out of her way. They’ve grown an interest with the other…

…and as they had that distance, I think they started to realise how crazy they are, how alike they are… and they both know they’ve felt it, whatever “it” is for the other, but they didn’t want that.

Them being them… It made several reasons why they can’t address it besides the fact that they are stubborn and don’t want to admit that they both lost a war they tried to start.

Sherlock can’t because…

he’s a detective with many powerful enemies

he’s going against Moriarty

he’s earned the reputation of not falling victim to emotions

he identifies himself as married to his work and work alone

Irene can’t because…

she’s a businesswoman with many powerful clients

she’s working with Moriarty

she’s earned the reputation of not falling victim to emotions

she identifies herself as someone who likes women a little bit more

With that, they try to supress and brush everyone else off when they try to question them. They are not machines, though. They show enough to others. They’re humans, too. It happens. They just don’t try to be bold about it. It just is.

07: DEFIANCE

Happened before Christmas until Christmas itself.

I think, after they realised what’s happening to them…

Sherlock defied…

the government (Mycroft) by hiding important information/property

his previous desire to stay stoic about her death

his own integrity of not taking a cigarette over anything

himself by submitting to his grief over her

Irene defied…

the network (Moriarty) by trying to get out of her deal with Moriarty

her previous desire to not grow attached to him

her own integrity of not trusting her phone to anyone ever

herself by submitting her life in his hands

I have made a more detailed meta about this part here: LINK

It shows more on their defiance against Mycroft and Moriarty. How Sherlock actually withheld information even when it was unnecessary and the reason why Irene actually faked her death.

08: RESIGNATION

Happened on New Year’s Eve.

Sherlock was resigned…

when he has to accept that she had actually died

enough to write a violin composition in her name

when he was forced by his own emotions to express his grief

and broke John’s belief that he would never be heartbroken over a woman

enough to make John realise he cares about her

Irene  was resigned…

when she has to accept that she can’t convince John

enough to take her phone back for his own safety

when she was forced by John to confess that she’s not dead

and broke John’s belief that she’s only using Sherlock to mess with him

enough to make John realise she cares about him

At that point, they had already lost on each other. John was already a witness to the downfall of Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler against each other.

They’re already showing signs of something with each other, and they both know it. They have to force themselves to admit to it at that point because there’s no point in denying it to themselves. This is the point where they address to themselves that this is definitely something they can just suppress. They’ve done so much. It’s too stupid to deny something blatantly obvious to themselves.

And I think they were both aware of how the other was taking it at the same day.

Irene felt Sherlock has feelings for her…

when he let himself be known that he was there at Battersea (he could have easily left the building when Irene sent that text but he didn’t)

Sherlock felt Irene has feelings for him…

when she let herself go and admitted to John about her own feelings about Sherlock (when she said “Look at us both” to John, that did it)

But even then, they were both uncertain about the other, but they had sensed that there is some mutual connections involving either of them.

09: UNDERSTANDING

Happened after Battersea.

Irene understood…

that he needed some time alone to process the fact that she’s alive and was in shock, which is why she stopped John from following Sherlock

Sherlock understood…

that she wanted an intial text from him instead of a reply as a small indication that he wants to keep contact which is why he greeted her

After New Year’s, they both probably were now more sure that the other has reciprocated their feelings… and they are both very pleased with it… because they had just gone through hell denying it to themselves so it must have been freeing to know that both of them were torturing themselves because of what has happened.

I think they both blame each other for being like this HAHAHAHHA

10: ADMISSION

Happened when they saw each other again until now.

When they saw each other again, there’s no doubt they’re already aware of each other’s feelings… and they’re both elated to seeing each other again.

They’re much more playful with each other via sass. 

“Who’s that?” “Killers?”

“I assumed you’d pick something more specific than that but thanks anyway.”

They’re both not adhere to complimenting each other.

“Oh, you’re rather good.” 

“You’re not so bad.”

AND OH GOD, THE EYE SEX THEY HAVE TOO MUCH EYE SEX AT THIS POINT

What happened in that fireplace scene… They’re already aware of what is going on between them but I think they had different agendas at that point.

Sherlock…

checked her pulse and pupils to confirm that she truly has feelings for him… he didn’t know he was tricked… he didn’t have a reason to check her feelings at this point… he just wanted to make sure for himself… why? because he wants to know it’s legit

“It’s not the end of the world.”

After confirming her feelings, to him, it’s not the end of the world, it’s not their very last night… He’s finally taking her up on her offer. He’s telling her that they probably even might.

Irene…

wanted to have that dinner because she knew she had betrayed him and this is the only chance she has left with being with him before he shuns her away for hurting him… she knows that if he leaves 221B by then, she would never have dinner with him. ever.

“Too late.” 

It’s the end of the world for her. Mrs Hudson calling Sherlock means that Sherlock will be sent to Mycroft. Sherlock will know what she’s done. It’s the end of the world.

Meta on how their physical affection changed since this scene: LINK

At the end of the scene with the negotiation with Mycroft…

At that point, they are both hurting. Sherlock is confused because he was pretty fcking sure Irene had feelings for him… Irene is sure Sherlock will never forgive her what she’s done… Both of them were sure. They were a giant almost but Moriarty had to meddle with both of them…

…and here, they both address and do not deny that they have feelings for each other… and…

im dead

im just dead…

im dead guys…

idk how to continue :)

ive gone down to adlock hell too much… 

im getting stressed

i love them so much

Regarding Moriarty’s “meddling”: I always wondered if Moriarty exactly knew what he was doing when he let Irene enter the great game. It is as if he knew what effect Sherlock and Irene would have on one another. And I don’t think that this assumption is so far-fetched. After all, Moriarty knows people very well. Remember: “I will burn the heart out of you.” Isn’t that exactly what we saw in ASiB?

People with “minor” disabilities who aren’t sure if they belong in disabled spaces

People who have rare disabilities and don’t see other people with the same disability, even in disabled spaces

People who’ve been told nothing is wrong with them even though is something clearly wrong that now feel like they’re just making stuff up

People who have been dismissed by doctors because they didn’t fit the image the doctor had of what a “sick” person looked like

People who tried to get help for their problem and are still waiting

People who have unaddressed health problems in general

But if you asked, “Would you let the statue of liberty burn in order to save your child? your spouse? someone you loved a great deal?” the tune abruptly changes. At the very least, there’s a hesitation. Even if they deny it, I’m willing to bet that gun to their head, the answer would be “yes.”  

The basic problem here is that people have a hard time seeing outside their own sphere of influence, and empathizing beyond the few people who are right in front of them. You’ve got your immediate family, whom you love; your friends, your acquaintances, maybe to a certain degree the people who share a status with you (your religion, your race, etc.)–but beyond that? People aren’t real. They’re theoretical. 

But a national monument? That’s real. It stands for something. The value of a non-realized anonymous life that exists completely outside your sphere of influence is clearly worth less than something that represents freedom and prosperity to a whole nation, right?

People who think like this lack the compassion to realize that everyone is in someone’s immediate sphere of influence–that everyone is someone’s lover, or brother, or parent. Everyone means the world to someone. And it’s the absolute height of selfishness to assume that their lives don’t have value just because they don’t mean the world to you. 

an example: so, as the nazis began war against france, the staff of the louvre began crating up and shipping out the artworks. it was vital to them (for many reasons) that the nazis not get their hands on the collections, and hitler’s desire for them was known, so they dispersed the objects to the four winds; one of the curators personally traveled with la gioconda, mona lisa herself, in an unmarked crate, moving at least five times from location to location to avoid detection.

they even removed and hid the nike of samothrace, “winged victory,” which is both delicate, having been pieced back together from fragments, and incredibly heavy, weighing over three metric tons.

the curators who hid these artworks risked death to ensure that they wouldn’t fall into nazi hands. and yes, they are just paintings, just statues. but when i think about the idea of hitler capturing and standing smugly beside the nike of samothrace, a statue widely beloved as a symbol of liberty, i completely understand why someone would risk their life to prevent that. if my life was all that stood between a fascist dictator and a masterpiece that inspired millions, i would be willing to risk it. my belief in the power and necessity of art would demand i do so.

if, however, a nazi held a gun to some kid’s head (any kid!) and asked me which crate the mona lisa was in, they could have it in a heartbeat. no problem! i wouldn’t even have to think about it. being willing to risk my own life on principle doesn’t mean i’m willing to see others endangered for those same principles.

and that is exactly where the conservative hard-right falls right the fuck down. they are, typically, entirely willing to watch others suffer for their own principles. they are perfectly okay with seeing children in cages because of their supposed belief in law and order. they are perfectly willing to let women die from pregnancy complications because of their anti-abortion beliefs. they are alright with poverty and disease on general principle because they hold the free-market sacrosanct. and i guess from their own example they would save the statue of liberty and let human beings burn instead.

but speaking as a leftist (i’m more comfortable with socialist tbh), my principles are not abstract things that i hold aside from life, apart or above my place as a human being in a society. my beliefs arise from being a person amidst people. i don’t love art for art’s sake alone, actually! i don’t love objects because they are objects: i love them because they are artifacts of our humanity, because they communicate and connect us, because they embody love and curiosity and fear and feeling. i love art because i love people. i want universal health care because i want to see people universally cared for. i want universal basic income because people’s safety and dignity should not be determined by their economic productivity to an employer. i am anti-war and pro-choice for the same reason: i value people’s lives but also their autonomy and right to self-determination. my beliefs are not abstractions. i could never value a type of economic system that i saw hurting people, no matter how much “growth” it produced. i could never love “law and order” more than i love a child, any child, i saw trapped in a cage.

This is also why they think “get a job” is useful advice. In their heads they honestly do not understand why the NPCs who make up the majority of the human race can’t just flip a switch from “no job” to “job.” When they say “get a job” they’re filing a glitch report with God and they honestly think that’s all it takes.

Conservatives view social issues as universal constants that fundamentally are unable to be changed, like the weather. You can try to alter your own behavior to protect yourself (you can carry an umbrella), and you can commiserate about how bad the weather is, but you can’t stop it from raining. This is why conservatives blame victims of rape for dressing immodestly or for drinking or for going out at night: to them, those things are like going out without an umbrella when you know it’s going to rain. 

“But then why do conservatives try to stop things they dislike by making them illegal, like drug use or immigration or abortion?” And the answer is: they’re not. They know perfectly well that those things will continue. No amount of studies showing that their methods are ineffective will matter to them because effectiveness is not the point. The point is to punish people for doing bad things, because punishing people is how you show your disapproval of their actions; if you don’t punish them, then you’re condoning their behavior. 

This is why they will never support rehabilitative prisons, even though they reduce crime. This is why they will never support free birth control for everyone, even though that would reduce abortions. This is why they will never support just giving homeless people houses, even though it’s proven to be cheaper and more effective at stopping homelessness than halfway houses and shelters. It’s not about stopping evil, because you can’t; it’s about saying definitively what is Bad and what is Good, and we as a society do that by punishing the people we’ve decided are bad.