jumpthegun | IC Inbox (v1.0)

[John winces at the Blingee text. That's... well. That's something. Honestly, he's still annoyed with her rather a lot, but Steph's said the magic words to get him to set that aside immediately.

'I'm really scared and I need help.']

What can I do to help?

I don't know. Talk to Alfie? Help me talk to him? I know he doesn't plan to kill the Joker, but whatever he does try to do it's going to end badly.

[John sighs. He doesn't want to betray Alfie's trust here, but he had said Steph finding out might not be the end of the world.]

I'm already talking to him, and it's like I told you, Steph, he's the one who had to talk me down. He doesn't want to kill the Joker. Well, he does, but he knows that's not practical. Neither is any punishment we could inflict. It'd be pointless and he knows that. We just want Fiona's things back. That bastard stole some of them.

But Alfie's angry right now, and he's getting it from all sides, people making demands on him. Assuming he's going off half-cocked. He doesn't do that. God, I wish he did sometimes. He's too bloody calculating.

I believe you. But it's still going to go badly. If he and Batman don't work something out together there's going to be chaos, and the Joker is going to use that to his advantage. I don't care what happens to the Joker. I don't even really care what happens to Batman or Alfie. But I can't take it if something happens to Al that I could have prevented. I can't.

Then Mr. Wayne needs to contact Alfie directly and speak to him respectfully. Alfie's a gang leader, Steph. People talk down to him and condescend, I imagine he's a lot less nice about it at home and in person than he is here over the network.

[John's pretty sure a few people would have gotten shot in the face at this point, actually. But that's not here.]

None of this ordering about. None of the condescension and assumptions. That's what's putting Alfie on edge. He's not going to back down, and I'm sorry, but I don't have that kind of sway over him. He listens to me a bit, but he doesn't listen to me that much. And honestly? I think it's Mr. Wayne who needs to adjust his attitude here. Ever since he's arrived, he's been a dick. I can deal with it. Other people don't take it as well.

Edited 2016-10-04 02:05 (UTC)

[ It goes against every instinct to use his real name, but. ]

Bruce isn't going to back down either, and I don't have that kind of sway over him. I know I didn't deal with this well. But I'm trying to stop two freight trains from colliding and I don't have the resources I had back home either. I don't know what to do.

How about we start with this: Can you convince Al to leave? Get away from that before Alfie and Mr. Wayne run into each other?

I already tried. You know what Al is like. He thinks all this is his responsibility. He'll stick to the Joker if it kills him.

I could probably get Bruce to break away from Al, but Al would never forgive me.

Al's been stuck with the Joker twice from what I understand and lost control of him both times. I really don't think he needs to be around the Joker. This isn't even about Alfie or Mr. Wayne or that nonsense. I know he wants to help, but he needs to find a better way. One that isn't going to keep hurting him.

If I ask him to go he'll only stay and be mad at me. Trust me, so far my record is 100% people being mad at me when I'm trying to help. And before you ask, yes, I have tried not being a brat.

I wasn't going to ask that, Stephanie.

[They're being civil and serious right now.]

Batman usually works alone. Would Mr. Wayne be willing to take the fall for you here? Get away from Al with the Joker and tell him it's for his own good?

[ He would have thought it though. She knows he would have. ]

He likes to think so, anyway.

I don't know. I don't think he'd lie for me. He tried to convince me that it isn't worth it making friends here, that it would just cloud my judgment or something. He's not exactly wrong.

So, he just snaps up impressionable young boys for his Robin who don't cloud his judgement? Right.

[Honestly, this is why he likes Marvel more, Steph.]

I'll try talking to Mr. Wayne. I don't know that I can convince him of anything, but I can try.

And he's only half-right Steph. Friends cloud your judgment, but they are absolutely still worth making, even if it's difficult for some people. Don't believe anyone who tells you otherwise. They've just got a hell of a lot of baggage they're bringing into things.

Edited 2016-10-04 05:09 (UTC)

I know. Being alone clouded my judgment way more. Thank you, Mr. Watson. I'll do better next time. I'll try.

You can just call me John, Steph. Take care of yourself, and try not to worry yourself into a panic, okay?

I'll try. You take care of yourself too, John.

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