IC Inbox (v1.0)

[jumpthegun]

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

Comments

audio

[devoutish]

John, I don't want to talk on text. It's absolutely fucking pointless.

>audio

[jumpthegun]

[I don't want to talk, John thinks petulantly. But he needs to be social. He needs to not fall back into the aquarium, losing himself and time in a place that only exists in his mind now.

John sounds fairly neutral.]

I talk to people on text all the time. There's nothing really that wrong with it.

>audio

[devoutish]

It's the worst option when we've got others.

[His voice sounds dull. He still fully believes this, but he's just saying it by rote memory, now.]

It's words on a screen; that's all. Meaningless.

>audio

[jumpthegun]

It's written words, recorded. Easier to go back to and read than listening to something.

[Why are they arguing about this? It's pointless. John sighs.]

Are you two still heading to meet up with Karkat, Davesprite, and the Cat, or did you reach them?

>audio

[devoutish]

We're with them tonight. They all seem to be doing all right - or as well as can be expected, eh? It's much the same for you, I suppose.

[jumpthegun]

Yeah.

[That's far too brief.]

I'm... some things happened with Sherlock. Talked it out with Bucky. Think we can sort it.

[Or at least he thinks he's managed to glue himself back together enough to carry on.]

[devoutish]

What was it?

[jumpthegun]

Just some things he said. I think he's scared and there's something wrong with the body he's in. He's still having trouble controlling it, even though he's back to himself. Doesn't usually get to me when he says things to push away. It just sort of did this time. There's a lot going on.

[devoutish]

Yeah. Anything else going on that I don't know about?

[jumpthegun]

Mary's not back to herself, yet. I'm starting to get worried.

[And that's... really the tip of the iceberg, but he hopes it will be enough to get Alfie to not ask too many more questions.]

[devoutish]

How long has it been, again--?

[jumpthegun]

It's been more than ten days. I don't remember anyone having a price last longer than that.

[There's a silent question, one he doesn't want to ask, but it hangs in the air for Alfie to see and pick up on.

'Do you think it's permanent?']

[devoutish]

But there's never been one that's permanent. Eh?

[jumpthegun]

Not yet, no. [Yet being the operative word here.]

I just... miss her. [His voice breaks a little bit before John pulls it back together. He lets a little more slip, though.] Mycroft's furious at me, as well. I told him I won't help him kill Stephen so we can put Sherlock back in a body that looks like his own. He's going insane. He's always been off where Sherlock's concerned, but not like this. I don't think.

[devoutish]

Watson.

[Alfie leans towards his tablet. It's audio, so John won't be able to see, but his voice will sound a little closer.]

Will you take advice from me on this?

[jumpthegun]

I'll listen.

[Taking is another matter. But he'll listen to his friend.]

[devoutish]

Fuck Mycroft. Yeah? Just fuck him, mate. Handling him is not your fucking responsibility right now.

[Or ever, in Alfie's opinion, but right now especially.]

[jumpthegun]

Well, yeah. I told him to fuck off, but if he tries to send someone after Stephen... I've warned him, at least. But I'm still worried about him.

[devoutish]

And you can't write him off?

[jumpthegun]

He's Sherlock's brother and he's dangerous. I can't write that off, no.

[The 'unfortunately,' remains unsaid.]

[devoutish]

He's Sherlock's brother, not your own.

[jumpthegun]

Sherlock loves him and wants to protect him. That makes it my problem as much as his.

[devoutish]

Sherlock loves and wants to protect you too, doesn't he.

[jumpthegun]

I'm not gonna make him choose between me and his big brother.

[devoutish]

He doesn't have to choose. He has to stop expecting you to babysit the man.