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[devoutish]

Yeah?

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

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[devoutish]

What sorts of things is he saying? He told you why?

cw: direct discussion of suicide

[jumpthegun]

No. We haven't really been able to talk about it except for him to tell me it wasn't my fault. I think he's lying.

[Mainly because John can't think of many other reasons and while it might not have been entirely his fault, he places part of the blame squarely on his shoulders. Which... isn't something he's actually mentioned to Alfie, he realizes, belatedly. Not directly. That conversation was with Fiona. Right.]

We rowed just before he went up on the roof. I left... that's when Moriarty got to him. I was talking to him on the phone from down on the ground when he jumped, Alfie. I couldn't convince him then. What the hell do I say now?

He told Davesprite it wasn't what the papers were printing about him being a fake, either.

[There are a few options for what else it could have been. Protecting John from Moriarty is the explanation he can think of. But that last conversation, Sherlock telling him to tell everyone he was a fake. That felt personal. It felt... like something else. John isn't sure what, but that's the part that makes him think the argument played into it, ultimately.]

[devoutish]

Can you guilt it out of him? You're good at that.

[Just because it usually doesn't work on him doesn't mean he doesn't recognize Watson's skills.]

[jumpthegun]

[Everything is about guilting people with you, Alfie.]

You want me to guilt a suicidal man.

[Alfie.]

[devoutish]

To safe his life? Yeah, I do.

[jumpthegun]

[Alfie, you're sort of missing the point here. But John closes his eyes and takes a breath.]

I'll try something else before I try that. Believe it or not, I feel bad when I make people cry, particularly grown men.

[devoutish]

I suppose berating him wouldn't work.

[Never let 1920s guys around suicidal people.]

[jumpthegun]

Berating Sherlock Holmes is like trying berate a brick wall. One that knows exactly where to jab back at you.

[devoutish]

I hope you don't stand for it any more than you do with me.

[jumpthegun]

[There may be what's a suspiciously long pause before his next reply comes through.]

I don't stand for it when we haven't got lives hanging in the balance. Irritation and principles tend to take a backseat when we're on a case.

[devoutish]

[He sees you, Watson.]

Is Norfinbury a case?

[jumpthegun]

[Yes.]

In a way, maybe. It's about saving the people here. I don't just let him walk all over me, though. He knows when I'm upset with him.

[John just does what's asked of him, anyway, even when he's upset.]

[devoutish]

And what does he do when you are?

[jumpthegun]

[Tells him there are more important things to do than sulk and drags him back into the work.]

It varies. He's apologized a few times.

[Once or twice.]

[devoutish]

Is he a kinder friend to you than I am?

[Lookit that self-deprecating humor.]

[jumpthegun]

[That, at least, makes John snort.]

You both have your moments. He knows how to make me laugh, and the first thing he ever did when we met was be kind. He didn't have to be, and he was. I know most people aren't going to believe me, but he's a good man. He's funny and charming and infuriating all at once.

Bit like you, actually.

[devoutish]

I do try very hard to be infuriating.

[Is he serious or joking? Because this is text, Watson will never know.]

[jumpthegun]

You'll be glad to know you succeed a striking amount of the time. If you could tone that down a notch and ramp up the funny and charming parts, I wouldn't be put off, though.

[devoutish]

But that would defeat the purpose of being infuriating, wouldn't it.

[jumpthegun]

[How have they ended up here? John had started this conversation on the verge of a breakdown. Now, he's calmed down and is joking with the other man. Alfie really does remind him of Sherlock in a number of ways.]

I have faith you can find the right balance to strike not to turn me even more prematurely gray.

Thank you, Alfie. I'll figure out a way to talk to him. I just need to make sure I'm ready for the talk, too.

[devoutish]

If it doesn't work the first time you can try again. Go slowly at it if you need to.

[Watson is a lot more patient than he is when it comes to this sort of thing. Maybe that'll work for him.]

[jumpthegun]

Yeah.

Managed to corner Taylor, as well, by the way. He told me he just wants to get home and go back to what he was doing there, and that's why he's playing nice. He also doesn't want heroes like the Avengers or Batman chasing after him. He said he doesn't get along with heroes. He's fine with me or Alphonse watching him, though, if it comes down to it. Apparently.

[He's still kind of annoyed how Sylar had phrased that.]

[devoutish]

Oh, look at that. We've got similar attitudes.

[jumpthegun]

I told him if he steps out of line again, I'll be telling everyone what he is. I don't care how useful Sherlock thinks he is. He doesn't get a free license from me to do as he likes.

[And neither do you, Alfie. But he... trusts Alfie more at this point.]

[devoutish]

If you told everyone, what do you think he would do?