to do
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"Chaos was the law of nature; order was the dream of man."
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Biography
The Life and Times of Gregory Lestrade:
Gregory Lestrade was born to Philip and Gillian Lestrade. His older brother, Amyas, preceded Greg by 6 years, and the two were never exceptionally close, though not from a lack of trying on Greg's part. An undisclosed estrangement occurred between the Lestrades' and outside relatives which in turn ostracized the family, and as such Greg and his brother never really got to know beyond that of an occasional visit to a grandparent here and there during the summer holidays. The family itself was one built on traditional values with a hardened view of the working poor. His mother was gentle and long-suffering, tasked with the responsibility of rearing two rambunctious sons, while their father worked to put food on the table.
Greg had always been a good card since youth, while Amyas was practically troubled from the very beginning. Despite his brother's unruly influence, it never seemed to affect the kindness and saint-like patience Greg maintained for the world around him. His father was an unambitious, common 'Bobby on the beat' who drank regularly, while his mother tended to the home in the Somerset Shire Country.
Amyas would lug Greg on his grand adventures, typically to utilize his younger brother as a scapegoat for all of his boyish misdeeds. Yet, no one really believed him, as Greg's good nature was far too well known. They played hard and learned that their lot in life was one built on tradition, stiff upper lips, pulling oneself up by the bootstraps, and hard, earnest livings. Amyas, however, wanted to thrive above all of that, and while he loathed being a cop's son, he strived to make it big with as little effort as he could.
"Work smarter, not harder," he would say, but there wasn't much application to his practice, and no matter how many times Greg implored his older brother that he wasn't going about things in the way he should, Amyas wouldn't hear of it. In fact, Amyas considered his younger brother a meddling pest, and the two began to grow even more distant.
In his early teens, Amyas began using heroin pretty regularly, and considering the time-honored core values of his father, Philip was mostly unsympathetic to the plight of addiction. His father simply expected Amyas to kick the habit cold turkey of his own accord, stating that only weak-minded individuals allow themselves to become addicted. It was this mindset that unsettled Greg and Gillian and the two then set into motion an attempt to save Amyas, but their efforts were in vain. Amyas continued his use and an eventual overdose led to his demise late into his teens.
Philip began drinking more, a very contradiction to his own words, while Gillian and Greg sought to better themselves despite the devastation and imminent loss. Gillian took up a position as a dispatcher until she retired to the countryside some many years later while Greg joined the Metropolitan Police Force and earned his way up the ranks in Scotland Yard. Philip eventually passed away after his own retirement from the force, leaving Gillian a responsibility to her surviving son. Greg honored the chance to care for his mother and took to the obligation in stride.
He is rather incited by addiction and bears a tolerance and understanding to want to help people who suffer from it, yet due to his particular reservations on the matter, Greg selected homicide as his profession.
Greg eventually met Evelyn Stuart while working on a case early in his C.I.D. career. She taught at the location where a grizzly murder had taken place and it was love (lust?) at first sight. A whirlwind passion ensued and without giving it much thought, the two were married a year later. Their relationship was rocky with Evelyn's relentless infidelity and Greg's unwavering dedication to his work. They rarely saw one another in the time they had spent together before and after they were married. There were a lot of inconsistencies, suppositions, and failure to resolve differences. It was doomed from the very start.
At some point, in order to quell their growing contention, they tried for a family in hopes that it would bridge the gaps, temper the dissimilarities, mollify the lack of truth and trust, and yet, due to infertility on Evelyn's part, and the toxicity of the decision itself, the pair were unsuccessful at first. After their continued efforts, they were eventually met with the prosperous news of a baby on the way, however, unforeseen complications caused Evelyn to miscarry, and the couple slumped into a deep depression.
Greg dutifully took on all the financial responsibilities himself and was not able to grieve the loss of his unborn child. That privilege fell to Evelyn, and as such Greg threw himself into his work in order to distract his ailing mind from the growing melancholy. The numbness the sleepless nights incurred were a reprieve from his suffering, however, due to this tribulation, Evelyn became disagreeable and accusative, declaring Greg was having an affair with Sally Donovan, his subordinate. She began her affairs once more, and to remove attention from her own guilt, continued to allege Greg of the same despite his adamantine loyalty. The insinuations would never cease...
They would again try for a child and finally achieved their hopes of becoming the family they thought they longed for when Gabrielle Ann Lestrade was born. However, there were questions circling about whether or not the girl was Greg's, yet the inspector would hear none of it. He didn't so much as care who she belonged to, rather he loved her indiscriminately. The couple had hoped this would fix all of their woes, and for a handful of years, the two new parents were so exhausted rearing their daughter that they didn't have time to realize that this was to no avail.
When Gabrielle was of a more self-sufficient age, the Lestrades' troubles seemed to start all over again. The affairs continued, though they likely may have never stopped, and despite how brazenly shameless Evelyn had become, Greg was accustomed to looking the other way on those particulars. Gabrielle and his work were his priorities now, which incited a new kind of jealously in Evelyn, and thus the couple had rows near constantly.
Eventually, the two separated, both agreeing that it was far too hostile an environment for their daughter to be raised in, though Greg wasn't entirely convinced of Evelyn's sincerity. Even though Greg remained faithful to his vows, the ever resentful Evelyn hung Gabbi over his head. He managed to make occasional visits to his daughter through his mother as Gillian and Evelyn were on good enough terms, yet Greg was not able to take Gabrielle for weekends despite prior agreements. Arrangements were almost always canceled, and Evelyn continued to control Greg this way for as long as she could muster before eventually his work and broken heart had finally gotten the best of him.
Disheartened, Greg submitted himself entirely to his career at Scotland Yard, plunging willingly into his original endeavor to change the world. At this point he's met a junkie by the name of Sherlock Holmes and after a long, thorough clean-up, the inspector enforced a rule that so long as the young genius remains inculpable, he is welcome to aid Inspector Lestrade and Scotland Yard with his untold brilliance. And as such, every case that is too complicated now goes straight to Greg Lestrade. His rising success rate has garnered the attention of his superiors, thus earning him the rank of Detective Inspector. Though greater, government forces may have had an involvement in the promotion. One may never know...
Thankfully Greg and his daughter are connected through social media and stay in near-constant contact with one another. Evelyn still condescends Greg at any given chance, yet she made an attempt to manipulate him into thinking that they were going to make ends meet. However, Sherlock later intervened stating that she was still carrying on her affair with the physical education instructor, and would highly advise against the whole notion. A true divorce was later issued with the majority of the rights to his daughter granted to his estranged ex-wife, perhaps due to his instability in life and work schedule. It was a tough pill for Greg to swallow, but he was grateful for any and all opportunities to see or hear from her. And he was also grateful for Sherlock Holmes -- the man he owes his career and likely his whole life to.
"A man's friendships are one of the best measures of his worth."
Sherlock Holmes:
Greg encountered the transcendent oddity that was Sherlock Holmes while working on a homicide case. The young consulting detective had shown up at the scene, a shadow spawned from the back alleys of London, completely strung out on who knows what. Why Greg didn't have the waif arrested then and there was beyond him, but the sight of someone with so much potential completely consumed by their addiction spurred an unpleasant retrospection within the Scotland Yard official. However, Sherlock's ramblings were not the inane banter of a madman, but of someone who held an uncanny sense of clarity. Upon observing the crime scene, Holmes immediately assessed the situation, took the matter over entirely, and masterfully deduced the carnage to a degree that indicated and led to the eventual capture of the culprit.
At the time, Greg discovered that Sherlock was staying at a rundown flat on Montague Street. He was later evicted for setting the building on fire for the sake of an experiment and had also been purported to the manufacturing and dealing of illegal pharmaceuticals. Due to Sherlock's blatantly illicit abuses, however, Greg kept his distance from the promising detective in an effort to discourage his misconduct, in hopes that this would rally Sherlock into recovery.
Alas, Holmes had a nettlesome tenacity. He would consistently appear at more of Greg's cases specifically, perhaps due to the inspector's tolerance for his presence and appreciation for his sound reasoning. The other Scotland Yard officials dogged Sherlock incessantly, deeming him nothing more than a psychopath, demeaning and belittling him every chance they could get. Despite the harsh defamation, however, Sherlock seemed to take the criticism in stride, but his habits were still a major concern for Lestrade.
It wasn't until Mycroft Holmes became aware of his younger brother's involvement with Gregory Lestrade that he held a keen interest in the transpiring activities. With some careful planning on the politician's part and with the aid of the Scotland Yard official, the two managed to strong-arm Sherlock into a rehabilitative facility.
Greg worried that Sherlock would pursue a vendetta for his participation, but once out, Holmes assured him that he only used when he was bored and unstimulated. He claimed it was entirely recreational. It made next to no sense to Lestrade, who underwent a promotion to Detective Inspector in Sherlock's absence. Lestrade then granted Sherlock access to his cases to the point of permitting him onto the crime scenes with the strict precedent that there will be absolutely no drug use whatsoever when working with Scotland Yard.
The consulting business became prosperous, and Sherlock found his skills were invaluable to more than just Scotland Yard once his reputation began to rise. The detective inspector regularly utilizes Sherlock's expertise and as of now, is continually forced to undertake cases marked to be above and beyond the capabilities of the force. And for whatever indeterminant reasons, Sherlock refuses to accept credit for his own work and will oftentimes pass that privilege along to the officials of Scotland Yard. Sherlock is sort of a pet project for Greg in that he has a gift, and he wants the consulting detective to appreciate his endowments rather than have them wasted or see others exploit them.
"When Lestrade and Scotland Yard are out of their depths—which, by
the way, is their normal state—the matter is laid before me. I examine the data, as
an expert, and pronounce a specialist’s opinion. I claim no credit in such cases.
My name figures in no newspaper. The work itself, the pleasure of finding a field
for my peculiar powers, is my highest reward." -- Insufferable Bastard
Present Day:
Detective Inspector Gregory Lestrade works regularly with the consulting detective, Sherlock Holmes, and his dear friend and associate, Dr. John Watson. His job is somewhat similar, yet not quite as demanding as Watson's in that he resides as a buffer to those around the hurricane that is Sherlock Holmes. The detective inspector of Scotland Yard respects and admires the consulting detective, and is nearly parental in his sentiments for him. He feels the man is partly his responsibility, and Greg looks after Sherlock tirelessly, yet not to the degree the eldest Holmes habitually maintains. It is only a matter of putting up with Sherlock's caustic demeanor that stretches the limits of Greg's tolerance, yet even then, his fondness for the consulting detective is as unwavering as his dedication to his own work.
Lestrade's daughter is currently a preadolescent student attending public schooling, and he makes wholehearted efforts to visit her every opportunity he can. It takes a lot of careful planning and maneuvering on his and Gillian's part, but once accomplished, he ultimately cherishes any time with Gabrielle he can manage. But because of his demanding job and the legal favor his ex-wife has over the situation, Greg's time spent with Gabbi is sorely limited.
The budding animosity between Evelyn and Greg is ever-present and ever-growing. Placing the two in the same room together is likely to end in biting remarks and total discord. At Sherlock's behest, Greg avoids her at all costs and is focused now entirely on his career. He is contentedly single and isn't really looking to change that anytime soon. Lestrade is still awfully bitter about the whole ordeal.
He does take time, now and again, to visit his mother in the country, but Gillian encourages him and his line of work, constantly reassuring him not to worry about her, and reminding him that he's doing good for the world.
Lestrade is gladly buried within his work, his duty leaving him with a sense of fulfillment despite the invariable possibilities. Because of his noble achievements, his flourishing career, and credible reputation, the public now regularly seeks out Detective Inspector Greg Lestrade directly to solve the unexplained, thus resulting in more than occasionally enlisting the famous consulting detective to disentangle the mysteries otherwise presented to the baffled force of Scotland Yard.
He maintains something of an awkward alliance with Mycroft Holmes; the two stays in regular contact in regards to Sherlock's well-being, and a friendship was built on their mutual concerns for him.
Greg resides in Brixton, London to this day where he lives out his life as a man of principle dedicating himself to his cause...
"A noble purpose inspires sacrifice, stimulates
innovation, and encourages perseverance."
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Headcanons
Lestrade, as with anyone else, has personal preferences, quirks, secrets, and defining traits that personify him. Here is a collection of those and as the character develops, more will be added along the way...
Stuffed within his wallet for reasons unknown even to him, Greg has a photo of his ex-wife, Evelyn. He can't quite pinpoint why he keeps it, but the internal conflict over its purpose is a constant struggle for him. Perhaps it is because he wants to be reminded of a woman he may still have a deep affection for, or perhaps it is his way of keeping the atrocities she committed at the forefront of his mind. Either way, he promises himself that he's going to burn it eventually, but as of now, he can't justify being rid of it yet.- Greg Lestrade and John Watson meet up for drinks pretty regularly at a local pub in London. They bond over their life choices as though they could have made better ones when in all reality neither man would change a thing. It's a routine that keeps them both grounded, one of which Greg greatly appreciates.
- Many people tend to wear a resting expression -- an expression that is suggestive of their personality. Greg's happens to be confusion. He may look lost or put out, but once he gains his bearings, Lestrade is perfectly capable of being aware of whatever is going on around him. It is one of many idiosyncrasies of his, and on most occasions, when Greg appears befuddled, he's really just processing.
- Sergeant Sally Donovan and forensics specialist, Philip Anderson, were handpicked by Detective Inspector Lestrade himself. The team may come across as a mishmash of clashing personalities, but Lestrade, on many occasions, bore witness to their full potential in their field of work. He respects the thoroughness and integrity Anderson consistently displays, with a commitment to his work that rivals even Lestrade's. Anderson also has a hidden wealth of knowledge, untapped under most circumstances, but will sporadically unveil itself via wild conspiracy theories and unthought-of prospects and possibilities. Donovan's suspicious nature excludes no one. There are no biases, and her scrupulous tendencies, while sometimes can be taken to unnecessary extremes, is a prerequisite for her line of work. Greg admires her grit and expects her to make a great leader someday.
- Detective Inspector Lestrade's first actual encounter with Professor James Moriarty was at Cambridge while working on a case. The upstart mathematician, though not directly involved with the scandal itself, was a character witness, and his questioning was necessitated. The case was eventually resolved and involved the suspicious death of a university student who was found to have had an illicit affair and had been blackmailing a married professor whose reputation was at stake. Moriarty was, if anything, obsequious in his participation, answering all inquiries zealously and becoming readily available at any given point and time. Greg found his avidity, if anything, a bit obnoxious...
Greg doesn't typically grass on Sherlock Holmes to his older brother, Mycroft, but when there is a need for it, he will contact the government official with information regarding his wayward little brother out of sheer concern or when he is unable to repair any wavering state of affairs. Other than commiserating over the chaos that is Sherlock, however, the two find common ground over their stations in life regarding the waking world. They have a similar goal in mind and will, at times, exchange discourse as a reminder of said goals.- Greg is tired of everyone's shit.
- Greg also keeps a current photo of his daughter with him at all times. It is at the forefront of his wallet likely concealing the photo he keeps of Evelyn beneath it to avoid awkward questions from prying, observant eyes. He exchanges them out every year as Gabrielle gets older, placing the former photos in a lockbox that Greg keeps in his closet for safekeeping.
- Eating and drinking and most other basic human needs are a rarity for Scotland Yard's finest official. Detective Inspector Lestrade stays consistently busy, and yet when the opportunity for food or a cuppa strikes, he accepts with little to no hesitation. Time is of the essence, however, and many a first bite has been denied to him for the sake of his duty. Greg is particularly fond of Mrs. Hudson's fine cooking, but due to her stance of being a landlady foremost, he doesn't often get to participate in her delicious cuisines thanks to the misuse of her good nature courtesy of Sherlock-fucking-Holmes.
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