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[jumpthegun]

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

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[nursetemple]

[She lets out a small laugh, more of an amused breath out than anything else.]

Alfie is who he is. There's good and bad there, but I'm not going to pretend he's a hero. [She's had enough of that at home. The self-sacrifice, martyr thing...which John seems to like doing, too.] But by all means, I don't think he tries to be a bad boy. [He's too old for that, John. It's not bravado; it's just the way he is.]

Yeah, I've talked to Emily a little. She's a sweet girl. And with Tifa too, but it was like pulling teeth.

[jumpthegun]

He's complicated... and frustrating. Sometimes it's in a good way. [Sometimes he wants to punch the man.]

Anyway, I'm surprised you've had trouble talking with Tifa. The times I've traveled with her... well, she's not chatty, but she's usually nice enough for smalltalk.

[nursetemple]

Hm.

[Claire doesn't say anything else - she agrees, to an extent, but there's a lot she still has to think through herself before she can really come to any of these conclusions herself.]

Tifa, she - she's not doing well. I don't blame her for shutting down. The other night took a toll on their group.

[jumpthegun]

[There's a pause.]

Alfie told me... She's got to know none of what happened was her fault, though. I wanted to kill Alfie and some of my other closest mates. I would've if I'd been able to get to them.

[nursetemple]

She might know it, but that doesn't prevent someone from feeling guilty. I don't know her well, I don't want to assume, but I imagine that it must be difficult to stop thinking about what she did, even if she wasn't responsible.

[Claire pauses, licks her lips as she thinks.]

I mean, even I can't stop thinking about what I wanted to do. It makes me sick.

[jumpthegun]

[Yes, well, John wouldn't know anything about unwarranted guilt. Nope. there's a bit of a pause before he replies.]

Yeah. It wasn't a good thing last night. [To say the least.] I'm not sure it's done, either, with some people keeping those eyes.

[nursetemple]

[Claire reaches up to touch her face, fingers pressing against her eyelids for a moment. She'd tried to rub it off, but to no effect, obviously. She sighs.]

I...yeah. I still have them.

[jumpthegun]

[Right. Lovely.]

I wonder if there's any pattern to that. I didn't manage to kill anyone last night, either, but mine are gone, so it can't be that. Are you a, uh... spiritual person?

[nursetemple]

To an extent. If you're asking me if I believe in God, the answer is yes. If you're asking if I'm a devout Catholic, the answer is no.

[She sighs.]

I don't know, John. I want to find sense in everything this town is inflicting upon us, but...maybe there isn't any to find.

[jumpthegun]

I think there is. I dunno what it is. But there's got to be... there can't just be no reason. Even if it's a bad reason, there's a reason. [Because John refuses to believe that most people people or the systems they design would be that cruel.]

[nursetemple]

I hope there is. I'd prefer it, to anything else I can think of. Everything else is just...Yeah. It hurts to think of. All of this - this is torture.

[jumpthegun]

We'll figure out what it really is, Claire. I promise. It might just take a little while.

[nursetemple]

[She can't help the slight humorless chuckle that escapes her.]

I appreciate your optimism, John.

[jumpthegun]

[He'll just let it falter with Alfie, Claire. Don't you worry.]

Hope is what'll get us through this, right? And more than a little bit of hard work. Happy to chip in with the first bit where I can.

[nursetemple]

[It's okay, she's kind of in the same boat.]

I think the hard work's more important.

[And now she's just teasing him.]

[jumpthegun]

Well, I can help with that, too. Seems like it'll be more of a lift, though. Think we could just leave it to the youngest crowd? They're more strapping.

[nursetemple]

Now, now, are you calling yourself old?

[jumpthegun]

Have you heard about the average age-range around here? I think it's something like 20.

[nursetemple]

Huh. I keep on stumbling upon the elderly population, then. Most the people I've met are older than that - or children. But I'll take your word for it!

[jumpthegun]

[Maybe he's exaggerating a little.]

We've got a few at either end, but the bulk really do seem to skew to the under-30s. Anyway, please let me know if you need anything, Claire. I'll do my best to help. And keep as safe as you can out there.

[nursetemple]

You too, John.

[She hangs up.]