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[jumpthegun]

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

Comments

[devoutish]

A quirk of the universe. We've seen stranger than twins from other worlds.

[jumpthegun]

[Stranger than Strange. There's a part of him that wants to laugh at that, but it would come out sounding just a little mad, and he'd rather not.]

Maybe.

[He doesn't sound convinced, and abruptly changes topics.]

The Joker's in the house tonight. He escaped Batman.

[devoutish]

Well. I, frankly, am shocked, and I did not see that coming from a mile away.

[If his voice were any drier, he could use it as kindling to start a fire in this FREEZING COLD HOUSE]

[jumpthegun]

[That gets an equally humorless smile from John.]

They won't let me kill him. Put us in separate rooms. Probably for the best.

[Only probably.]

[devoutish]

Do you know, I've been thinking about it, and I've been considering killing him anyway. The benefits might outweigh the risks.

[jumpthegun]

[Alfie, you really shouldn't encourage the emotionally distressed man.]

He's sick again, but that probably won't disappear if he's revived. And it'd take him out of the picture for a day or two, might lose him something he'll miss a lot.

[devoutish]

It might take him out forever.

[jumpthegun]

[There's a long pause as John does consider that. He wouldn't feel bad, ultimately. The Joker is a very bad man. He's hurt and killed people. He will continue to hurt and kill... but no one is presently in danger from him. John almost suspects the man is playing at this to make it harder for John to hurt him. His conscience would gnaw at him if this were done in cold blood.]

If he could attack someone tonight, it'd give me a reason.

[devoutish]

[Alfie lets out an incredulous sound, almost a laugh.]

Do you need one?

[jumpthegun]

I'm not going to commit murder in cold blood.

[devoutish]

Right, of course, yeah. It could do us all some good, save us a lot of fear and grief, save his future victims' lives - but this way, your conscience will be clear, and that's really the most important thing, isn't it.

[But he doesn't actually want to convince Watson to 100% kill the guy, so he amends:]

There are good reasons not to do it, but that - that isn't one of them, mate.

[jumpthegun]

[Wow. Okay. John's not in the mood.]

This isn't about my conscience, it's about what's right.

[devoutish]

I'm sure that'll be a comfort to the loved ones of the next person he kills.

[jumpthegun]

Goodnight, Alfie.

[He hangs up. Those thoughts have already been swirling around in John's head. He doesn't need an outside voice that he trusts and respects amplifying them.]