Sebastian Moran, ladies and gentleman.
(*watches the followers ragequit*)
His father was an ambassador. He attended some of the best schools in the world. He spoke multiple languages. He had two (or was it three?) books published. He was a world-famous hunter, and a hero to the people of India for defending their villages and livestock from tigers. He was a decorated Colonel in the British Army, responsible for leading not just a team but quite possibly an entire brigade. He was one of the leaders of Moriarty’s criminal organization.
ACD’s Moran isn’t a scarred and battered sniper. He’s a high-powered business executive who can kill you in 15 different ways if you piss him off.
Not, I should clarify, that I have any arguments against scarred and battered sniper!Moran. I mean, that is darn hot.
While we’re on this topic:
“His chief of staff is Colonel Sebastian Moran, as aloof and guarded and inaccessible to the law as himself. What do you think he pays him?”
“I’d like to hear.”
“Six thousand a year. That’s paying for brains, you see — the American business principle. I learned that detail quite by chance. It’s more than the Prime Minister gets. That gives you an idea of Moriarty’s gains and of the scale on which he works.”
— Valley of Fear, Arthur Conan Doyle
Lady Karasu 