[network] @jwatson; text; Bite the Bullet [Night 250]

[jumpthegun]

[This is an incredibly embarrassing post to have to make, especially after the one he'd put out a few days earlier. Reading through those replies makes him want to curl up and hide from the world for people seeing what he'd been like straight out of the Army. The messages to his friends are a particular humiliation. But it is what it is and he has to deal with this now. Man up, Watson.]

I'd like to apologize to everyone for my attitude and behavior the last several days. My death price has ended and my memories have returned. I can't take back the things I said to any of you, but I'm really very sorry. I was in a bit of a bad place where I was set at.

For anyone who was asking me, I'm in the Entrance area with America, England, and Ginger.

I'm also sorry to report that the cause for Clint Barton's death was the Joker. He mortally wounded Clint, but I'm pretty sure Clint was able to escape the situation along with Harley Quinn. Clint was able to mortally wound the Joker, as well. I'm not sure where the Joker is right now, but please be on your absolute guard. He is well-armed and he'll have been healed up after his revival, even if he might still have severe MN Poisoning.


Action for Team Blonde
[Prior to sending out the message, John is rummaging around the new building they'd made it to for the night. He thinks he's getting the hang of this and he's relaxed a little more around his companions since they've not attacked him suddenly or stolen from him for several consecutive days.

He opens a cabinet in the kitchen and discovers a bottle of white wine, which is surprising, but not unwelcome when everything returns to him in a flash. It's like someone turning on the lights, full power when he's been completely in dark. It hurts.

John squeezes his eyes shut as the swirl of memories pours in, mixing, jumbling, resorting into the proper order and finally stopping when everything is settled. He's clutching his head, breathing hard. One memory in particular sticks out, though, the last one he'd had before dying...]

Fuck!

[Hope the rest of the house doesn't mind swearing.]

Comments

@duster, private, audio

[bywolves]

Good to see you alive again.

[ That's all. ]

private, audio

[jumpthegun]

Good to be myself again. [He'd been alive, Royce. Don't be weird about it.] Alfie said your thing's let up as well. Sorry about being a dick.

permaprivate

[bywolves]

[ He mostly says it because he couldn't say it before! But also because John's death loss didn't count as him being back, in Royce's opinion. ]

Thank Maribor it is. [ There's a distinct lack of any sort of emotion in his tone, but - he is glad. ] Isn't this the second time you've had a loss that's made you not recognize people?

[jumpthegun]

No? I mean, this is the first time I've actually forgotten people. Last time it was... Mm. It's like I knew who they were, but everything was a dream. It didn't seem real. Here I just... I lost all my memories from right before I met Sherlock.

[bywolves]

Ah, yes. Second time you've acted like a prick, then. Good correction. [ He sounds vaguely amused. Also, Alfie's language is slowly rubbing off on him. ] It was interesting. The person you were.

[jumpthegun]

[John huffs.]

No. It wasn't. I was a paranoid arsehole. [He doesn't particularly like the man he'd been before Sherlock.] It was just a very... angry period in my life. [As opposed to now. When he has no anger issues whatsoever.]

[bywolves]

No, I find that interesting. Was that before you met Sherlock?

[jumpthegun]

Yeah. [He's not sure where Royce is leading with this.] I'd been discharged from the Army a little while before for medical reasons. Couldn't really work until I met him, and he helped out with a problem I was having. That... fixed a lot of things.

[bywolves]

Hm. Amazing what one person can do.

[ That's maybe a little sad. A beat. ] Are you going after the Joker?

[jumpthegun]

He was like no person I'd ever met, and he managed to do in one night what weeks of therapy hadn't managed.

[There's a beat as John realizes how that might sound.]

I mean he cured my limp. My leg. We went for a run. Chasing a cab. A suspect we thought was in a cab.

[He clears his throat.]

No. I'm not going after the Joker. I just want to know where he is and keep his focus on me as opposed to other people.

[bywolves]

How many people have told you that's a stupid plan and that you really should stop being a martyr? [ He asks idly. A beat. ]

You know, it's a good thing you don't say things that sound incredibly suggestive about Sherlock and then get angry when people assume you're a couple. [ Oh wait. He sounds amused, though. He's in the same boat with Alfie, it's not like he can talk. ]

[jumpthegun]

Piss off. [But he just sounds exasperated rather than angry.]

You're the first to tell me. But I'll be sure to keep a running tally and get back to you.

[bywolves]

[ Royce snorts. He likes giving John a hard time. It's also harder to be angry at him when he doesn't feel much. ]

Most sensible people are going to tell you it's a stupid idea. You really should just leave him be. Or set him on people who can manage to interact with him without getting killed.

[jumpthegun]

I've managed to interact with him before without getting killed. On multiple occasions, actually. If Harley hadn't stepped in, I might have been all right.

[bywolves]

All right like that time that you dealt with him and then got left in a snowbank?

[jumpthegun]

Like the time I chased him off from the school. Or the time Sherlock, Mr. Gray, Sheena, and I caught him.

[bywolves]

Mm.

This isn't an attack on your ability. Maybe your common sense, but not your ability.

[jumpthegun]

Look, I'm not planning to take him on alone or anything. What happened was an accident. When Sherlock and I are together, we can handle just about anything that comes at us. Mary, as well. Honestly she could...

[He trails off. It's another case of maybe saying too much. But, well... Royce is his friend.]

She could probably handle the Joker herself.

[bywolves]

I wouldn't be surprised if she could. She seems like that sort of woman.

[ He hasn't spoken to her, but he does a lot of stalking on the network. ] I just don't see why it's necessary to do anything about him at all. Let him throw a tantrum. Stay away from him and he can't do anything.

[jumpthegun]

Yeah... [There's a long pause.] She's, uh... one of your lot. Formerly.

[John clears his throat and moves on.]

It's necessary because he wants attention and he'll go after other people if he doesn't have it.

[bywolves]

One of my lot. [ Hold up. Hold on. ] You're going to have to explain that one.

[ Joker's on the backburner, right now. ]

[jumpthegun]

[He should have expected that. There's a sigh in his voice.]

An assassin.

[bywolves]

You married an assassin? [ Hee. ]

[jumpthegun]

I didn't know she was an assassin until after we were married. She was a nurse when I met her.

[bywolves]

And now I'm curious as to how you figured it out. [ But he doesn't ask directly. Because he knows wives are a touchy subject. ]