Telepathic IC 'Inbox' and Messenger Bird Reception

[greatestdefective]

[Catch-all post for one-on-one messages that need to be delivered directly to Sherlock, either through the amulets or with a messenger bird. Meeting in person is also an option!]

Comments

Telepathy 1/27

[letteropener]

Good morning, Sherlock Holmes -- may I trouble you for a minute of your time? This is Princess Celestia, and I am contacting you in the course of my duties as an otherworlder representative.

[Celestia's mental contact is warm and comforting, like a spring day beneath the grass. Her image follows shortly after her voice, presenting the view of a smiling pony.]

[greatestdefective]

[...Well, that's new. Sherlock only needs about a second or two to get over the fact that he's being mentally approached by a talking pony, then his mind moves on to bigger matters. Otherworlder representative... Now that sounds promising.]

And good morning to you, Your Highness. [He's meeting a lot of animal royalty nowadays, come to think of it. Ah-] Are you in need of my services? If so, I will be happy to oblige. Please, ask me anything!

[letteropener]

I would appreciate the answer to a question or two, at the very least. [She is terribly used to people being surprised by her species at this point, and gives the matter no thought -- the more so since he's quite gamely responding to her.] I recalled that earlier in the month you had given a musical performance over the crystals. I wished to ask you if you were a musician by profession.

[greatestdefective]

[Oooh, he loves answering questions! Is there a mystery afoot? Murder most foul? Was the mouse princess assassinated after all?

-oh.]

Certainly not by paid profession. It is, however, a fervent hobby of mine. There is no pastime quite like producing a beautiful melody.

[letteropener]

[For a man who was so eager to display his talents for all, that sure is a strange note of disappointment. Celestia files that away to think about later.]

On your own world, would anything stop you from turning your hobby into a profession if you so desired? I am trying to understand how different worlds may view accreditation of different fields.

[greatestdefective]

Ah, no, I suppose there would not be anything stopping me in terms of law, nor even how others would view me. There are quite a few people who hold two different professions, though in most cases, it is because they are in need of a doubled salary. I myself choose not to become a professional musician for one simple reason; I already have my hands full as a professional detective.

[letteropener]

A very good reason. What about a matter of education? In Equestria, for example, some of the finest symphonies and orchestras require further education and study into theory as well as practice -- whereas in Shaarnath, music is practically a fact of life and such education would be considered strange.

[greatestdefective]

Education certainly helps. It adds credibility, you see. Academies of music have produced and polished some of the greatest musical geniuses of our age.

[letteropener]

Without question. But my primary concern, you see, is if someone came to Verens as a trained and educated musician. Would their qualifications from home be enough to attain such heights here? And so I am seeking to understand what we might expect from other worlds.

[greatestdefective]

What a delightful question. I've found myself musing along the same lines, though not in regards to music. That is, back home I have proven myself time and time again as the world's greatest detective. However, all the cases I have solved in the past have become irrelevant here, as there is no evidence to support the truth behind my tales. Official documents are easily fabricated as well. How, then, do we prove that we are professionals? The answer is simple; through actions.

[letteropener]

And on this point we agree entirely -- people must be able to back up their claims with ability. We have no other form of proof. Yet consider then, it is fair to a local doctor if they, who have worked long and hard to fulfill the requirements that deem them competent to practice medicine, suddenly must compete with somepony who is equally skilled at medicine but has never completed those requirements?

[greatestdefective]

It is not a matter of competing, is it? These hypothetical doctors should have but one primary concern; the well-being of the citizens. In order to accomplish that, they ought to be working together as peers. It is true that the newcomer with no papers may need to work a bit harder in order to earn the respect of one who does possess proper documentation, yet you did say they are of equal skill. Worth should be proven through action fast enough.

[letteropener]

But does that not imply that the whole process of accreditation and certification is thus worthless? And I would also say that especially in cases where lives might be at stake, is it not difficult to give someone that first chance without further evidence? Anypony might claim to be a skilled doctor, but proving it through actions alone could very well be a matter of life and death,.

[greatestdefective]

One starts off slow, of course! Test their claims through queries that only certified doctors can answer and allow them to handle small injuries. One can move up from paper cuts to concussions to broken bones. Then, at last, brain surgery!

[He sure is confusing doctors with surgeons...]

[letteropener]

[It's close enough...]

So.. in other words, they would need to go through some sort of process to verify their ability. Much like certification and accreditation for native doctors.

[greatestdefective]

Exactly. Does that not make perfect sense? It can be the same for any profession, I should think.

[letteropener]

[Celestia politely sets aside the fact that his position seems to have completely changed from the start.] So what we must do, then, is establish which professions it is realistic to have such expectations for. Medicine is most certainly one... but music, perhaps less so. What about the work of a detective?

[greatestdefective]

It's difficult to say. There is a difference between a private investigator and one employed by the local law-enforcement, after all. Personally, I fall into the former category, leaving my customers to set their own standards and expectations.

[letteropener]

But does it have requirements? An arrangement with the local police, for example? [Princess Celestia is wise and knowledgeable about many things, so encountering a realm in which she knows nothing -- specifically, private investigation -- is both strange and exciting.] I would love to hear all about it for purely personal reasons, I must admit...

[greatestdefective]

There is something of an arrangement, yes. That is, the moment the blunderers of the Yard find themselves faced with a puzzle they cannot solve, they turn to me for aid. In return, I receive compensation. Some of the inspectors are a bit too prideful to admit that they need help from someone who isn't officially one of them [GREGSON.], others enjoy watching me at work.

[letteropener]

Is that arrangement formalized? [She's still trying to understand just how much scope the negotiations she is in the midst of will take on.]

[greatestdefective]

To a sense, certainly. The Yard is always free to hire outside help from a professional, should they need it. They have similar agreements with morticians employed by local clinics.

[letteropener]

Ah, so they may employ you just as anypony else might.

Perhaps you could tell me about a case you worked on? [This is, of course, beyond the scope of her original question -- but she is genuinely interested, and also thinks that inquiring and giving him the chance to speak about his profession is good diplomatic sense.]

[greatestdefective]

Of course, of course! I would gladly share one of my exciting adventures. Though, hmmm, let's see... Which one should I choose? [He takes a few seconds to think it over. Honestly, most cases he's handled are a bit of haze to him. His memory's terrible.]

Ah! How does the case of the mysterious speckled band sound?

[letteropener]

Mysterious and intriguing! Is it a band of the sort that goes on the fetlock, or a band of the sort that plays music?

[The latter would be even MORE interesting.]