IC Inbox (v1.0)

[jumpthegun]

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

Comments

[devoutish]

Did you. Good.

Now, as for me - I'd rather not leave Fiona until she's back with you, which she is very eager to be.

[jumpthegun]

The clinic's the best place for that, then. If it gets too crowded even there, we have other nearby houses beyond just the two. And hopefully we'll have good news come the evening that it's safe to move.

[devoutish]

I won't ask if he attacked first, or if you confronted him.

[It's the Joker, and the Joker is unpredictable. Even if Watson did make the first move - and Alfie strongly suspects that he did - that doesn't mean the Joker would be harmless if he came across Royce, Tifa, and Emily.

Besides, he's pretty sure he'll be able to figure it out himself, based on how Watson acts in this conversation.]

My group is going east. I'll be going with them, eventually. Are you sure the Joker fled to the south, or is that just what he told you?

[jumpthegun]

Didn't realize it was him at first. When I did, I confronted him, told him to turn around, he swung a fireplace poker at my face. Told him if he didn't put it down, I'd make him. He didn't put it down.

[Definitely a mixed bag of confrontation and provocation... and John's personal anger issues transferring, but he's not going to mention those.]

All I know for certain is that he was making a beeline south-southwest when I ran into him. I don't know what happened after he knocked me out. Ms. Romanov and Mr. Stark said they'd be looking for blood trails, though. It's how they found me yesterday... And I broke his nose and stabbed his arm. If he hasn't tended to those he might still be trailing something.

[devoutish]

[That's... actually better than Alfie had assumed. Huh.]

I had assumed you were dead, once I saw.

[jumpthegun]

I'd assumed I was going to die. Makes it more than once I owe people here my life. The ledger's getting a bit far into the red.

[devoutish]

Fucking hell, don't start with all that now.

We were in ninety-two on House's map last night. Not so far from you.

[jumpthegun]

[But his guardian complex, Alfie! John just leaves that for now.]

Where are you going today? And... I'd really appreciate you keeping Fiona away, actually. Just for today. It's for the Joker and safety, yeah? But I'm also going to have to cut off part of my ear today - frostbite. I'd rather her not be there for that.

[devoutish]

Does she want to be there for it?

[jumpthegun]

Dunno. I didn't ask her or invite her. I've already got England and Luna fussing. I don't need someone else who might bump up the chances of meeting an anomaly in the middle of it all.

[devoutish]

Why not send them away?

[jumpthegun]

Luna's the one doing the procedure and you try telling the living embodiment of our country to shove off after he's just saved your life out in the snow, mate.

[devoutish]

[Okay, point. Alfie would still probably do it if it were him, but point.]

You talked to her?

[jumpthegun]

Fiona? Yeah. I told her we could meet at the clinic.

[devoutish]

And she agreed?

[jumpthegun]

More or less. I know she wants to see me, Mr. Solomons. I'd like to see her, as well. It's just not a good time right now for safety and personal reasons.

[devoutish]

Why are you trying to convince me? Seems you've got it sorted between the two of you. It's settled then, yeah?

[jumpthegun]

[Because she's stubborn and might want to do it anyway.]

I said more or less. I'd just prefer that if she decides to try to risk it anyway after we've spoken that you stop her from doing that. I know you don't care for me. You're easier to convince than she is.

[devoutish]

I can talk to her, but I'm not gonna tie her hands behind her back.

[Innocent metaphor or intentional, biting reference? You be the judge.]

Tell me, is it easy to tell yourself that I hate you? Does it make you feel better?

[jumpthegun]

[Yeah, he's reading the biting reference into that. John decides not to comment either way.]

I'm not sure how 'doesn't care for me' translates to hate for you, Mr. Solomons, but that's not what I said or what I was implying. I know I upset you and you don't trust me. It doesn't make me feel any better or worse to acknowledge that.

[It just upsets him for unfathomable reasons still that the gangster's disappointment hurts him at all.]

[devoutish]

You're not the type or exaggerate or see things in the worst possible light, are you. Is that what you're saying? You see my feelings clearly, without adding anything of your own to them.

[jumpthegun]

Am I wrong about how you feel, then?

[Yeah, he's not playing your mind games, Alfie. Or he's going to try to avoid playing them.]

[devoutish]

[As much as Alfie likes trying to drag John into his mind games, he always gets a little bit of respect when he manages to avoid them.]

I've got no forgiveness and little respect for you.

[... But he still kind of likes him. Still. And little respect is not no respect.]

[jumpthegun]

So, I don't expect you'll be wanting to visit is all. Is that about right, love?

[He still remembers you calling him treacle at the beginning of this conversation, Alfie.]

[devoutish]

I'll be in the area, sweetie. I expect we'll see each other once or twice.