I love how you show Mycroft's and Sherlock's complicated relationship. "…subtext over subtext, never a simple moment," as you say, is a great way to describe it. Thnx and pls keep writing more!

Lovely as usual. The Sherlock-Mycroft relationship is probably my favorite in the show.

Favorite part: "Does one's whole existence really need to be reduced to a game of chess, every action or thought appraised in terms of their worth to some grand never-ending quest for power and control?"
I love this. I've wondered the same thing. And it really explains the difference between the two of them, doesn't it? Mycroft has heightened control, but what else does he have? Whereas Sherlock doesn't hesitate to do things just for the heck of it-a thought beautifully mirrored by your explanation for his taking the cigarette.

Basser-
I am using the wonderful trick you taught me to review your fic. The trick was made for a fic like yours, one in which I desire to point out some incredibly lovely bits of writing.

"So much so that he hasn't even caught on to the implied meaning of his own words - you're a burden to me. Because he does care, Sherlock knows that more keenly than he'd like to admit... but by no means is that concern present by choice. " - Wow, I never thought of it from that standpoint. Now I feel foolish for not doing so.

"Always a bloody agenda behind everything, subtext over subtext, never a simple motive."- A brilliantly perfect description of the dance that Sherlock and Mycroft perform.

Nice work, Basser. I enjoy character studies and plan to have a grand time working through yours.

Nicely done. There is really nothing 'normal' about that family.

I'm not sure if Sherlock's realization that he and Mycroft are not normal is tragic or darkly humorous.

Either way I loved it and it was brilliant as usual.

My question though, is about Mycroft. Because he clearly does care, but throughout your fics we generally see their relationship through Sherlock's eyes, and he has serious self worth issues despite his arrogance and thus is a slightly unreliable narrator. So the point of this whole rambling thing, is, in your mind, do you think Mycroft views Sherlock as a burden? I mean he clearly didn't when he was younger, but has the feeling grown or is Sherlock imagining it?

Anyway, thanks for writing and posting and being awesome.

E

Every single interaction between those two brothers is just tedious for both of them, isn't it? All circling and posturing. "Relying on manipulations and subtext to inquire about each others' health..." It's too sad, in the end, how neither of them can let down their barriers for enough time to just say what they mean.
Thanks for this piece! You do not disappoint!

very well written.