IC Inbox (v1.0)

[jumpthegun]

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

Comments

@duster, text, day 243 after lockdown

[bywolves]

Watson.

If I don't come back, look after Alfie. Please.

audio

[jumpthegun]

[John's losing his mind to the Hound. His body has been fully transformed since this morning and now it's his thoughts in disarray. The doctor's voice is a guttural growl.]

His light's gone. Why should I care?

[bywolves]

[ Royce is barely hanging on. Just barely. He thinks it might be the cold that's dragged him out of that state. Or the realization that he's going to die. ]

Just remember. When we aren't this.

[jumpthegun]

We'll always be like this. It's what we are. The anomalies are inside us. We are the anomalies, Royce.

[bywolves]

[ That's what he's afraid of. He curls up more tightly, and then very slowly clacks his claws onto the tablet. Audio. Just - sound, for a second. His voice wheezes and drags - he sounds like he's on the verge of giving up the ghost. ]

I know. [ A beat. And then he actually sort of laughs, pained. ] Not going to - last words aren't going to be to you.

Remember what I said. Please.

[jumpthegun]

[John will look back on this conversation with deep regret, but something about the switch to audio pulls him out of the Hound's mindset for a moment, pulls him back to the man he is. There's silence from John for a few long seconds before he speaks again.]

I will. I'm sorry, Royce. I'm sorry. I'll take care of him.

[bywolves]

[ Man, look what saying please gets him. Maybe he'll say it more often. Royce breathes on the line for a moment, trying to gather strength. ]

Mm. Good. [ Cough. ] Goodbye, John. [ Royce murmurs, and then he hangs up. He's got his promise. He's glad for that, at least. ]