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[jumpthegun]

1201 Sugar Plum Grove

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[devoutish]

Yes.

[That's a quick, easy answer.]

Not screaming, mostly, but awful nightmares - yes.

[jumpthegun]

We could try some medication that'll help with the sleeping, at least? Irregular sleep isn't going to help you much. Have you been able to talk to Royce about the things you remember?

[devoutish]

Yeah. This isn't from lack of support. I do know that.

[Up ahead, the wishing pond comes into view, and Alfie keeps them on a firm course for it.]

[jumpthegun]

[John feels his tension growing, but he remains in his gun form.]

Maybe you need support from someone else. Are there things you feel like you can't tell Royce? Or don't want to tell him?

[devoutish]

Not normally, no.

[Only when things are tense or they've been fighting, but they're not right now.]

It's been a very long time since I've felt there were things I couldn't share with him.

[jumpthegun]

Mm...

[They come up to the edge of the Wishing Pond, and John can't help being distracted.]

Please, Alfie, could you just shoot me once or twice? It won't change anything if you're making a wish. I want you to feel it. Maybe it'd help with your hands shaking? There's a sort of magic in it.

[devoutish]

John Watson, it's strange enough carrying you around as a gun, and now you want me to use you as one? How do I know it wouldn't do something strange to me?

[jumpthegun]

Other people have fired me. [He protests.] It hasn't done anything strange to them.

[devoutish]

No? It's not gonna fuck with my head and make me not want to get you changed back?

[jumpthegun]

[Maybe a tiny part of him hopes that might be the case, but...]

Alfie, I'm a magic gun, not a mind-controlling one. You might like shooting me because it feels good when our souls align for it, but we're not perfectly aligned, so you might not. It's not gonna muck with your head beyond helping you decide if I'm a good fit for you as a Weapon.

[devoutish]

You don't get off on this, do you?

[HE HAS TO ASK.]

[jumpthegun]

[There's a long, incredibly judgmental silence.]

If I did, d'you think I'd really be asking you to pull my trigger?

[devoutish]

[Alfie just gives him a flat look, clearly waiting to hear that verbal no, I am not getting off on this.]

[jumpthegun]

[You're giving a flat look to an animated skull on a gun's handle, Alfie. This is what your life has come to.]

It feels good, but it's not sexual. Don't be weird. It's the same sort of 'good' I get when Sherlock runs me 'round on a case.

[devoutish]

Mmmm.

[As he considers this, he heads towards the pile of throwing rocks.]

[jumpthegun]

Oh, come on. You know it's not sexual with me and Sherlock.

[devoutish]

I believe you, mate. I'm giving it a think, that's all.

[Trying to decide if going through with it would be an interesting experiment... or if it would be enabling.]

[jumpthegun]

You have to think about shooting a gun? Really?

[devoutish]

When that gun is a person that ought not to be one, yeah, I do. I don't wanna encourage all this.

[jumpthegun]

You're already here to make a wish. What exactly is it encouraging when you've already made up your mind not to help me fight Law or talk to my meis- to Sherlock?

[devoutish]

It would put the fucking nail in the fucking coffin, is what it would do. But--

[On the other hand...]

But I suppose there's no harm in giving you this, given all the rest. Yeah.

[And with that, he swings his gun arm up and fires one smooth, clean shot, clear across the pond.]

[jumpthegun]

[A bright ball of white light explodes from the end of the barrel and flies until it hits a tree in the distance, blasting off one of the larger limbs. As far as shots go, that's the best one he's felt so far. It sends a bolt of excitement through the Weapon and he all but hums in Alfie's grip, radiating excitement and pleasure.]

Go on and go again! That was great, Alfie!

[On Alfie's end, he might be able to feel the power flow through him with the shot, but it shouldn't be unpleasant, more like a wash of heat and exhilaration.]

[devoutish]

Nope. One and done.

[Even if it did feel awesome. He sets Watson down on the ground gently enough (he isn't sure how quickly the change back will take hold, but suddenly holding a fully-grown man in one hand doesn't sound like something that would work out so well), and picks up a rock.]

I wish for John Watson to go back to as he should be.

[He tosses the rock into the pond.]

[jumpthegun]

[Reluctantly, John transforms back to his human form and watches the rock sink into the water. Several seconds pass and absolutely nothing happens.]

Hmm... usually takes a day or so, I'm pretty sure.

[devoutish]

All the same, it's better for me not to have to carry you back.

[He rubs his chin thoughtfully, considering John.]

It's been a while since I've shot a gun, you know. Yeah.