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[devoutish]

Yeah?

[That's it, that's all you get.]

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[jumpthegun]

Wha- no! Sherlock's just been insufferable since his violin string snapped. We found more strings in the school just today, but I didn't realize they'd be there. Mary went to trade for some other violins while I did this. I wanted Sherlock to go with her, but neither of them wanted to leave me alone with just Mycroft. Stephen was heading that way... Mary's more personable for travel with other people.

[devoutish]

Mm, all right. My apologies. Yeah.

You're not offended that I'm holding off a bit on the transfusion idea?

[jumpthegun]

No. [He had been a little bit, but as long as it's not about him, personally, and just the procedure, in general, that's fine.] You do what you think is best for you, Alfie. I think it could help lift your mood, honestly, but if you're not comfortable, I'm not going to force you at knife point or anything.

[There's a break, and then Alfie will hear John swear quietly and rather colorfully.]

Well. Brilliant. Clint's stuck with the Joker. He was down in the Entrance Area a little bit ago. Might be in the Ice Tunnels. Checking now.

[devoutish]

[Well, that's a good way to banish all thoughts of literally everything else from his mind.]

Come back as soon as you find out.

[jumpthegun]

[It's a few minutes later.]

They're in the entrance area, heading toward the aquarium. Clint said the Joker's in a bad way, and they've got Harley with them. He's gonna try to clock the Joker, grab the girl and her hyena, and make a run for it.

[devoutish]

Harley was with the Joker to start with, or with Clint?

[jumpthegun]

Does it matter? All three of them are together now. [And that's the bigger problem, as far as John's concerned.]

[devoutish]

It matters. Yeah. Find out if you can.

[jumpthegun]

[Why does he have to do it?]

Are you worried the Joker's been doing something to her? I think he would've mentioned.

[devoutish]

Watson, just tell me what you find out, eh? About all of this. They've got to have a better plan than knocking the Joker about.

[Like killing him, for instance. Why can't they just do that?]

cw: discussion of mental illness and abuse

[jumpthegun]

[There's an irritated huff before John goes quiet. He's not your errand boy to order around, Alfie.]

I'm asking. And I'd rather Clint just get Harley away from him than worry about murder. She's worried about the Joker, apparently. She might attack Clint if he tries to kill the Joker. She's not mentally stable, Alfie. The Joker has a hold on her that's not going away any time soon, even if she has 'left' him. That's not how relationships like their work.

[devoutish]

Why are you so concerned about her, then? She's made her choice.

[jumpthegun]

Because that's not... Alfie, it's not a choice. She's sick. And the Joker's preying on that. I'm concerned because she needs to be protected from herself as much as him. He'll just keep using her and twisting her if he's allowed to keep hold.

[devoutish]

Sick in the head, you mean. That's what you're saying?

[jumpthegun]

Sick in the head is sick, but yes. The Joker abuses her and she's... people like that sometimes get trapped in a cycle. You must have seen it. Men who abuse their wives, but those same wives defending them when they shouldn't, when it's hurting them to. It's not just them being fickle. Abusers know how to mess with people's heads. The Joker's done that with Harley from everything I've seen.

[devoutish]

Sure I see it. Yeah. They do it because they're in love; because they're in denial. They want to make the best of things, and they they think the best of their men because of it.

It's very sad, but none of us are in a place to solve a woman's relationship problems, least of all you.

[jumpthegun]

[Okay, they'll get back to the important part of this soon, but first...]

What d'you mean least of all me? I'm married, not romantically dead.

[He's assuming this is something to do with him being married.]

[devoutish]

What does you being married have to do with anything?

[jumpthegun]

We're talking about relationships. I think I have an idea how those are meant to go because I'm married is what I'm saying.

[In theory. Maybe he and Mary aren't always the best at it all...]

Why am I the least qualified in your mind to help Harley? That's what I'm asking.

[devoutish]

It's not a matter of being unqualified. You're not in a place to. You try to solve all the problems in the city, and you spread yourself too thin.

[jumpthegun]

[John scoffs, but that's less insulting than he thought.]

I know how far I can spread myself, thanks. And Clint said Harley was with him first.

[devoutish]

How far you can spread yourself and how far you think you ought to be able to spread yourself are different things.

[jumpthegun]

Do you want me to ask Clint anything else?

[He's done with this topic, Alfie.]

[devoutish]

John. This is out of concern for you, you understand?

[jumpthegun]

[Or apparently not. It's harder to be dismissive when Alfie says things like that.]

I know. I just... Mary and Sherlock are already coddling me. [As much as Sherlock can be said to coddle.] I don't need more people acting like I'm a bloody chipped piece of china that's liable to crack.