devoutish | IC contact for snowblindrpg

So he's your Sherlock, hmm? [John shakes his head, even though Alfie can't see it.]

I expect you've already told him that's ridiculous?

Sometimes people cannot be told. No matter how many times they hear it, they don't believe it.

No, they don't. Expect it has something to do with most of the rest of the people in their lives not actually meaning it when they say things like that.

Mm.

[He knows a bit of Duster's history with regards to that - but that he's not going to share.]

Also remembering how often I split off to see Fiona, no doubt.

Sherlock pitched a fit when I said I was breaking off for a day to come take care of Stein's fingers.

[In his own, Sherlockian, way. And granted, that had turned out poorly, but it's not like that's common. Except... a few times. Minor incidents of kidnapping. And the hospital. Suddenly, John's not feeling quite so light-hearted about this. He clears his throat.]

Anyway, Claire's with you lot now, right? Should make things easier seeing her when you like. No need to break away.

Oh, she's going to head off soon. Patients call.

Patients? [You've pinged his doctorly concern radar, Alfie.] Who's she going to help?

Kid. The Kid; Death the Kid. Same one you were worried about.

Mm... yeah. Yeah, he needs help. [There's regret in his voice.] Don't know if he'll come to me for help again. It's his eye. Stein took-

Wait, he and Stein left around the same time. Did he tell her if Stein was going to be with him? That man shouldn't be around other people.

Mm, she didn't mention. I'll ask.

I'll contact Stein. I dunno what he's... Alfie, I don't know there's anything I can do for him at this point other than- [He breaks off.] I promised Bucky I wouldn't, but Stein gave me full medical advocate rights over him in a message to the Admin a few weeks ago.

[You may be able to see where this is going, Alfie. John would like you to slap down the notion with your logic, please. Because he's considering asking the Admin to limit Stein's violent urges again and knows he shouldn't. At least he can deal with the mania without wanting to hurt people, then.]

What does Bucky have to do with it?

[That's his first question.]

He's the one I asked the Admin about for controlling violent impulses in the first place. It was before I'd learned some things about him and the issues he's had with mind-control. When I did, it didn't seem like something to bring up, but then the Joker...

[And that whole mess. Yep.]

We got to talking about it, then, and I told Bucky I wouldn't ask the Admin to use whatever procedure she has. I dunno if I can convince Stein to request it himself. He is a doctor. [Or at least John assumes he's got the proper licensing.]

Edited 2016-11-29 18:04 (UTC)

You promised you wouldn't use it on him. Yeah? But we're talking about Stein, now, and Stein is none of Bucky's fucking business.

I promised I wouldn't use it at all. That's the problem. [Because John is wrestling with breaking his word to a friend and doing something that will keep people safe from a literal maniac who gave him permission to do it, anyway.]

And, again, it is none of Bucky's fucking business. I don't understand why there's any doubt of what to do, here.

There's a doubt because Bucky's my friend, I gave him my word, and I just spent last night being made to believe I should murder half the people I care about most by the Admin or left to that by her. Including Bucky. He was here and I fucking bit him because I couldn't do anything else to hurt him!

[His voice is more than a little strained by the end of that. Okay, so maybe suppressing everything to do with this isn't working out as well as he'd hoped.]

Mm... Just a moment. Sorry. Just a moment.

[The line goes dead for about a minute as John gathers himself once more. This is the problem with voice over text. He continues in a more level voice after that.]

I'll try to convince Stein to do it himself. He's the one who asked me to test out the procedure on him, anyway. I told him no until we had more information.

Watson, you do not have to consult Bucky for something involving another person, no matter how guilty you feel. Stein has given you his permission, yeah? That's all you need.

Bucky, he's concerned about choice. Isn't he? About having the freedom, right, to dictate his own actions. If you turn Stein down, you're telling him that his choice does not matter to you.

[Alfie, he's a walking guilt complex. Is this really the sagest advice? Regardless, John can see the logic in it, even if it's a morally dubious thing to do. Not to mention, how much will Bucky be able to trust him, if he breaks his word on this?]

I'll talk with Stein. He might be rattled enough from everything that's happened to want to request it himself, especially if I show him the conversation where he asked for it before.

Mm.

Bucky is fucking out of line, here. Honestly, mate, I can't believe you're even considering indulging it.

[That's honestly a bit of a confusing sentiment.]

He has his reasons. And I've done enough to make him mistrust me.

All of which would be a valid argument if he was involved in this in any way.

[John massages his temple on the side that isn't covered in a bandage for the moment.]

Can we table this argument? Please? My face hurts. A lot.

[A cheap way to side-step this, but he does have meds he can take, his own narcotics from back when his leg was a mess. He'd found those going through his stocks and realized he hadn't even really needed to ask Sherlock for morphine.]

Mm.

[That's as much of an answer as you're going to get, Watson.]

I'll talk to you later, Alfie.

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