That's been bothering you since the beginning, hasn't it? I observed.
[Sherlock chuckles and stops John from proceeding on their walk, looking him over.]
Your stance is the first clue. Rigid, almost always slightly at attention, or at the very least commanding the respect of your men. Pirates aren't that subtle, we normally just flog them for that, don't we? And the knots on your ship. If I remember correctly, you preferred your men to tie anchor and cleat hitches. Corsairs are lazy with theirs, mostly constrictor knots and bowlines. It takes training to know those you used.
[He then places a hand on John's walking cane, gently taking it away to get a closer look. With a flick of his thumb, the concealed sword peeks from the hilt, glinting under the moonlight.]
Not entirely unusual for us to have one of these. But-- this gold embroidered insignia. It indicates the rank of a captain in the Royal Navy. Stolen from an enemy at sea? A possibility, but a simple piece of loot wouldn't be so carefully maintained. It has sentimental value to you. You didn't steal it, it's always been yours.
[He presses the sword back down into the cane with a delicate clack and hands it back to John.]
Now, if you were still somehow Navy, incognito, everyone associated with you by now would have met the gallows. But not so, you haven't sold any man to the Crown and don't intend to. Obviously, then, ex-Navy.
no subject
[Sherlock chuckles and stops John from proceeding on their walk, looking him over.]
Your stance is the first clue. Rigid, almost always slightly at attention, or at the very least commanding the respect of your men. Pirates aren't that subtle, we normally just flog them for that, don't we? And the knots on your ship. If I remember correctly, you preferred your men to tie anchor and cleat hitches. Corsairs are lazy with theirs, mostly constrictor knots and bowlines. It takes training to know those you used.
[He then places a hand on John's walking cane, gently taking it away to get a closer look. With a flick of his thumb, the concealed sword peeks from the hilt, glinting under the moonlight.]
Not entirely unusual for us to have one of these. But-- this gold embroidered insignia. It indicates the rank of a captain in the Royal Navy. Stolen from an enemy at sea? A possibility, but a simple piece of loot wouldn't be so carefully maintained. It has sentimental value to you. You didn't steal it, it's always been yours.
[He presses the sword back down into the cane with a delicate clack and hands it back to John.]
Now, if you were still somehow Navy, incognito, everyone associated with you by now would have met the gallows. But not so, you haven't sold any man to the Crown and don't intend to. Obviously, then, ex-Navy.