IC Inbox (v1.0)

[jumpthegun]

You've reached Dr. John Watson. Please leave a message.

Comments

[advanced]

Yes.

[No point sugar coating it, that's why he's calling.]

He can trigger the Soldier, that's why I'm telling you. Someone needs to know in case the worst happens.

[jumpthegun]

[Okay. So this is about as not-good as it could possibly be.]

All right. Have you spoken directly with him, yet? He'll know you're here because of the Guide.

[advanced]

We've spoken.

[He's being as brusque as he was when they first met, but he can't help himself, this whole situation has knocked his feet right out from under him.]

I have to find him as soon as possible, I can't allow him to run free here and people can't be warned about him.

action

[howdull]

A mental form of hysterical strength, stemming from your sentiment.

[That's both interesting as all hell and irritating. It means John does have an advantage on him here, he never thought that sentiment would ever be an advantage anywhere.]

Fine, then you'll just have to stay with me from now on.

[definingfuture]

I didn't mean that. I just- meant that he was a friend. Whatever he did or pretended to be. He was still my friend.

[And it took Ty confronting him to his face for Tony to take action against him. He knew it was all his old friend's game because of the convenient timing, but he didn't want to believe it.]

Clint has a lot on his mind. And he can be as stubborn as the best of us when he digs his heels in. I've had plenty of fights with the man. But that's probably part of our nature. We encounter a fight and tend to have a hard time letting go of it.

So I'd say that proves you sound like an Avenger, John. Doctor.

[jumpthegun]

Bucky, we need to do this transfusion. It will put you in a better mindset to be able to handle Pierce. He can use your paranoia against you. He's physically isolated right now, and he's keeping his head low. We need to use this small window to get you settled before we deal with him.

@ASolomons; audio; evening 187

[devoutish]

Have you met Sherlock's American twin?

[Alfie sounds extra tired, but this is amusing enough to comment on.]

Very late night 187

[jumpthegun]

[It takes quite a while for John to respond, and between Bucky's message about Pierce and the Joker being in the house, the doctor doesn't have an exceptional amount of good humor. John's voice is low, flat.]

Saw him, yeah. It means I'm an adaptation, and so is Sherlock... some actor bloke played him and Strange in movies or on the telly. I'm not real.

[You invited the semi-existential crisis here, Alfie.]

[despiteeverything]

I- hold on.

[There's a brief pause and in the background he can probably hear them speaking, likely asking Lutha himself. His reply is likewise not very distinct, though it's clear he's struggling, his voice strained.]

H-he says it's everywhere. It's hurting all over.

[devoutish]

[wat]

Watson, it does not mean anything of the sort.

[jumpthegun]

And what would you think if the first day you got here people told you your life was a book in their world? And then there comes a bloke who looks identical to your best friend? There aren't a whole lot of options here.

[devoutish]

A quirk of the universe. We've seen stranger than twins from other worlds.

[advanced]

[There's a very long pause before he grunts an affirmative. He do any want to waste the time but he can see the wisdom in this. He already lost his cool once, he needs to be top of his game from now on.]

Fine.

I need you to do something for me in return.

[Because apparently travelling out of his way and performing a blood transfusion isn't enough.]

[jumpthegun]

Whatever you need.

[Luckily, John is in a giving mood.]

[jumpthegun]

[Stranger than Strange. There's a part of him that wants to laugh at that, but it would come out sounding just a little mad, and he'd rather not.]

Maybe.

[He doesn't sound convinced, and abruptly changes topics.]

The Joker's in the house tonight. He escaped Batman.

[devoutish]

Well. I, frankly, am shocked, and I did not see that coming from a mile away.

[If his voice were any drier, he could use it as kindling to start a fire in this FREEZING COLD HOUSE]

[jumpthegun]

[That gets an equally humorless smile from John.]

They won't let me kill him. Put us in separate rooms. Probably for the best.

[Only probably.]

[devoutish]

Do you know, I've been thinking about it, and I've been considering killing him anyway. The benefits might outweigh the risks.

[jumpthegun]

[Alfie, you really shouldn't encourage the emotionally distressed man.]

He's sick again, but that probably won't disappear if he's revived. And it'd take him out of the picture for a day or two, might lose him something he'll miss a lot.

[devoutish]

It might take him out forever.

[jumpthegun]

[There's a long pause as John does consider that. He wouldn't feel bad, ultimately. The Joker is a very bad man. He's hurt and killed people. He will continue to hurt and kill... but no one is presently in danger from him. John almost suspects the man is playing at this to make it harder for John to hurt him. His conscience would gnaw at him if this were done in cold blood.]

If he could attack someone tonight, it'd give me a reason.

[devoutish]

[Alfie lets out an incredulous sound, almost a laugh.]

Do you need one?

action

[jumpthegun]

[John rolls his eye a bit at that.]

And here was me, planning to run off and away into the snow with someone else.

[He's honestly more concerned with Sherlock running off to do an experiment.]

[jumpthegun]

I'm not going to commit murder in cold blood.

[devoutish]

Right, of course, yeah. It could do us all some good, save us a lot of fear and grief, save his future victims' lives - but this way, your conscience will be clear, and that's really the most important thing, isn't it.

[But he doesn't actually want to convince Watson to 100% kill the guy, so he amends:]

There are good reasons not to do it, but that - that isn't one of them, mate.