IC Inbox (v1.0)

[jumpthegun]

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

Comments

[jumpthegun]

[That answers that. It twists in his gut that Alfie's on the other side of this, that he's a sinner.]

Yeah. The town's helped me see what you and the others are doing. I can't believe you... you're a man of faith, Alfie. [John closes his eye, tries to shove down the feelings of betrayal and anger. There's still a rational part of him hanging on, if only barely.] Don't... mm, don't tell me where you are. I'll ask. You can't tell me. Just... hide. Hide or I'll find a way to come kill you, you bastard.

If I wasn't locked up, I'd be after you. We're never gonna get out with you people around.

[devoutish]

Watson, listen to me. The town is not something you can trust. You know that, yeah? Deep down inside, you do.

UGH. HTML screw up.

[jumpthegun]

Deep down inside, I know you're a gang lord who murders people for profit, Solomons. You think I should trust you? You're one of them, and I'm a bloody convenient ally. That's the only reason you want me now.

[devoutish]

Watson.

[He snaps the name, hard and sharp. He's not actually angry at Watson or anyone else who's affected, but he's still hoping he can snap him out of it.]

Stop this fucking nonsense, right now.

[jumpthegun]

You can't control this, Alfie. Stop trying! I can't control it. [John falls silent for a moment, heart warring with his head. Alfie is his friend--John just said something he should never say to a friend--but he's a sinner. He chose to break the town instead of save it. John still doesn't understand why, though.]

Kid. He's got the key to these handcuffs. Keep him away. Fuck! I'm gonna kill him, and I'm gonna kill you, Solomons. [There's the sound of the sink and metal pipes rattling as John strains against the handcuff. His breathing is labored.] You won't see the morning's light. None of you will.

[devoutish]

[Okay. Harshness had... maybe worked? He's not sure whether John's obvious internal struggling is a direct result of that, or if it's something he would have done anyway. Either way, Alfie switches tactics, seeing what something new will do.]

John, John - you're not gonna kill anyone, understand? It's all right. I'll keep him away.

[jumpthegun]

I will if I get out of these cuffs. I've murdered a man before, Alfie. Don't think I won't now. [Oh. Well. That just sort of slipped out there.]

[devoutish]

[Wow, that is definitely something he's going to ask about later.]

I'll fight you off. Pop you in the nose, send you sprawling.

[jumpthegun]

How's your sciatica, Mr. Solomons? Handy being a Army doctor in a fight, y'know? I know just where to hit for a man like you. [Someone who'd not stupidly huge like Joker or Stein, and who isn't a hand-to-hand murdering assassin like Bucky.]

[devoutish]

It'll be two against one. That'll put the odds a bit closer to my favor.

[jumpthegun]

There're more of us than there are of you. Ecks and Clint have each gotten one of you. I... [He falters, breaking through for a moment again.] I told them not to get me out of the cuffs. They could've, but I sent them away. I... I shouldn't've done that.

[devoutish]

Yeah. Yeah, you should have. You're gonna be very happy about that choice later.

[At least he hopes he will be.]

Who did they get?

[jumpthegun]

I dunno. You're all the same.

[devoutish]

Names, Watson. Give me names.

cw: reference to mutilation

[jumpthegun]

I didn't ask, Solomons. Ecks pulled off someone's face. Couldn't make out who it was.

[devoutish]

[Fuck.]

Watson. John. Listen to me. I'm here in a building with two or three people who are like you. I need you to tell me how we can stop you.

[jumpthegun]

Long live the Proph- Nngh... [John shakes his head. This is important. He shouldn't tell Alfie. He needs to tell Alfie. No. He needs to kill Alfie. Alfie is one of them. He can't be trusted and what's more, the man is trying to use him to stop the others. Everyone else has to be free to get Alfie and the others.]

Kill. Kill us. Kill us before we kill you. Lock us up. I can't get out of these handcuffs. I need to get out of them. You're gonna destroy everything if I don't get out.

[There's another loud rattling sound, this one more prolonged along with quiet hisses and grunts from John as he tries to break himself free.]

[devoutish]

Have you got anything strange about you? Extra powers?

[jumpthegun]

Just seeing you lot for what you are.

[So, that's a no. It's growled out again as John slips into the madness once more.]

[devoutish]

And what are we? Do you think I don't want to go home?

[jumpthegun]

I think you'll stop at nothing to get out. You'll destroy this town and everyone in it. You don't care about the people here, about the Prophet and what they meant to this place. What they still mean.

[devoutish]

Tell me what they mean.

[This could be a useful clue, later.]

[jumpthegun]

[Or this could be the wild ramblings of a religious zealot who really has no idea what's going on and is trying to fill in the blanks.]

You'd know if you weren't trying to destroy everything.

[devoutish]

Answer the question.

[jumpthegun]

Long live the Prophet.

[Also fuck you. You're not his boss!]