The precious, peaceful fragile existence

Thirty two seconds later, Sherlock's phone was ringing. He rolled his eyes and picked up.

"Where are you?" Mycroft asked, anxiety plain in his voice.

"I... Baker Street. I'm fine."

A very confused, heavy silence followed.

"You're... fine?"

"Yes. Old age must be taking your hearing."

Mycroft didn't pay the jab any mind.

"Why did you say that?" He asked instead, referring to the text message.

"I just wanted you to know," Sherlock replied simply, glad that at the moment Mycroft couldn't see the color rising in his face. "Don't make a big deal out of it, Mycroft."

Mycroft sighed deeply.

"You're going to be the death of me, little brother."

"Don't ever forget it," Sherlock answered, smirking as he ended the phone call.

Part of socializing and having friends is being a good listener even when you don't actually give a shit about the subject.

Your are hurting other people's feelings when you bluntly respond with "Anyway..." and then change the topic.

It can not always be about your preferred topic.

Autistic mom of two autistic kiddos here. I do something with my kids called playing the good friend game. I have them ask me a question like “what did you do this weekend” and then I respond with something they don’t like ie: “I ate some sushi for dinner on Saturday! It was delicious!” Their job is to not make a gross face and not to yuck my yum. They have to ask me a follow up question! Minimum one about what I liked about the sushi or who I went with or what I ordered etc. and they have to be kind. I change up what I answer with for the initial question and for all follow ups. It’s incredible!

You can learn how to chit chat about things because you care about the people around you. Small talk is banal and boring but the people in your life are real and lovely and nuanced. Get to know them. You can do it. You’ll build relationships that last. Don’t do it for the sake of small talk. Do it because you’re deeply invested in learning how to see the people around you as whole pictures.

As a reminder, he's suing Caroline Wallner, one of his accusers, for breaking her NDA. Not for libel. He's saying she shouldn't have told anyone about it, not that she lied.

He doesn't need the money. He's risking the Streisand effect. He is punishing Caroline, he's trying to intimidate other victims who have signed NDAs to scare them into continued silence.

He is no friend to women, to the LGBTQIA+ community, to anyone quite frankly unless he thinks they are of value to him.

Gaiman denied that he’d abused Wallner and told New York that it was she who had initiated their sexual encounters, but in 2021, Gaiman paid Wallner $275,000 in exchange for signing an extensive nondisclosure agreement that prevents her from suing Gaiman or telling anyone about her alleged experiences with him.

Thanks, Anon!