[log] Getting the last laugh [closed]

[howdull]

Characters: Sherlock, John, Amber, and the Joker
Location: The school and the school shed
Date: During the day for the fight, then in the shed for the evening
Summary: Joker and co meet up, have a fight, and the clown gets away
Warnings: Violence, probable talk about drug use

[29: A small shed outside the school, going inside reveals sports equipment is being stored in here. There are hurdles, various sports balls, giant mats, and the like. There's nothing that could be used as a weapon, though, unless you're going to try to hurl a basketball at someone's head. This is the only place on the campus it's possible to stay in overnight--if you try to stay anywhere else, you'll be made to leave at 7PM. The following is written on the wall in blue ink: "This is Building 46 on the composite map. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath is a fairly accurate map showing the shed in relation to the school. The school is labeled "School. Food available in cafeteria; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT." The shed is labeled "Shed". Behind the shed is a small army of snowmen armed with sports equipment. There's a drawing spraypainted on the inside of the shed. It has been labeled "GEROMY". The skin color has been left blank. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SIX, FOR ANY ASSISTANCE PLEASE CONTACT @LELRIC." is written on the wall.
30: A school that has begun to fall apart, bisecting the building. The only way to enter it is through the center, making it a bit difficult to properly search. There's a snowman outside with a sign in its hand reading "Z.D. <3 J.H". The school consists of two floors, both of which have scattered Ⓧs drawn on the boards in the classrooms (see setting page for further description).]

Comments

During the day: Sherlock -> Joker -> John -> Amber posting order

[howdull]

[This is finally where things might take a turn for the better or worse. Either John will come today or he won't, to 'save' him and save himself in the process. Sherlock looks pretty awful, hands trembling where he's holding his violin case and bag, pale, and swaying slightly.

He looks over to where he hears a sound, the first of today's players, and smiles.]

How kind of you to come and play.

[harlequinofhate]

[Joker staggers through the door and responds with a grin of his own.

He does not look well either. His face is worn and he wears bloodied lavender cloth wrapped around his head, binding the gaping would where one ear used to be.]

Sherlock, my stars, is that you?

[He drags himself inside and closes the door behind him.]

You look haggard, handsome. Long day?

[howdull]

[The smile he gives back is nothing short of delighted. He knew he could count on the clown to be here, and it's almost soothing to reaffirm that he's not lost quite as much of his deductive capabilities as people think.]

Not nearly as bad as you, your MN poisoning is truly taking its toll.

[Just an observation.]

I suppose that finally dispels the old wives' tale that laughter is the best medicine.

[harlequinofhate]

[He laughs and coughs into his fist.]

You say that but I'm alive, aren't I?

Too bad, that. So sad.

[There is a loud scratching on the door and Joker sighs. For a moment he debates whether or not he should ignore it, then he turns and opens the door for a large spotted hyena.

The beast steps in, shakes snow from its fur, and sits back on its haunches.]

Now what was it you wanted to talk to me about again? Ponies? I hope it's ponies.

[howdull]

[That's a hyena. That's a hyena.

Even Sherlock's big brain stalls at the sight of a hyena entering the room as if it's completely normal, staring for a few seconds before the Joker drags his attention back.]

I can only assume you want a pony to feed your pet, unwise, horseflesh is not the natural diet for a hyena.

[Don't ask how he knows that.]

It is a little cliche, don't you think? A laughing animal for the clown.

[harlequinofhate]

Hyenas always get the joke!

[A sharp cackle.]

But if they didn't, the mangy beast ain't mine.

Day 210

[jumpthegun]

[John arrives at the school shed late, knowing he's cutting it close. A part of him wants to stock up on food out of habit, but there isn't time, and anyway, his pack being lighter will be good for any confrontation with the Joker. It's about an hour until lockdown, and he sits himself down on some play mats with a piece of metal rubble from outside. He pulls out his scalpel and starts to sharpen it, not particularly thinking about the fact that he'll probably look like a bit of a psychopath to anyone walking in.]

[wilsonsheart]

[If John is cutting it close, Amber is being just plain dangerous. At first, she doesn't notice what John's doing with her attention focused on barely making it into the shed on time. But then, of course, he's all she really has to look at. She raises an eyebrow at him.]

Bad day?

[jumpthegun]

[John pauses, looking up at Amber for a long moment as she enters. When he sees it's not the Joker, he relaxes minutely.]

Probably one tomorrow. You'll want to stay here and wait a day if you're looking to get food from the school.

[He sets aside the rubble and pockets the scalpel, rising up to greet her.]

Dr. Volakis, I presume?

[wilsonsheart]

The one and only.

[She pauses to think, shrugging her pack off of her shoulder and leaning her makeshift-spear against the wall.]

That doesn't sound particularly promising. What's happening tomorrow?

[jumpthegun]

[John's eyes go briefly to the spear.

Yeah, like she's gonna use that on you. Mary snorts. The doctor turns his gaze back to Amber.]

Trouble you don't need to be a part of. [His tone is brusque, moving past it quickly.]

How are you? How are your patients?

[wilsonsheart]

[Amber's eyes narrow a fraction. Not exactly the sort of answer she was looking for, but it doesn't seem wise to press it. At least not now. They have all night, after all...and she'd rather not make things awkward.]

As well as I can be, I suppose.

[She almost adds a "what patients?" but remembers their talk about self-deprecation and stops herself with a tight smile.]

Al and Sylar were doing as well as can be expected when I last saw them. And Stephanie is being safe.

[No elaboration required. Amber gives him a once over.]

And you?

[She pauses.]

I'm glad you came back to us.

Afternoon 211

[howdull]

[The Joker is gone, fled before he could be properly captured, and that leaves Sherlock with John and Amber. He didn't miscalculate on any count; Joker came, John came, and now he is left to see if the payoff will be worth it. Has he saved John?

He looks a wreck, dark smudges under his eyes, hair wild and unwashed, unshaven. The way his clothes hang from him suggest that he's significantly underweight now.]

So. You came.

[Obvious. Stupid.]

[jumpthegun]

You idiot.

[John steps toward Sherlock, angry that the Joker's escaped once more, but more concerned with seeing the other man is all right. He could probably leave that to Amber, pursue the Joker on his own, but John doesn't want to leave it to her. When he's close enough, he can't quite decide whether to punch or hug the other man.

I don't think you want to punch him again, love, Mary says. But he's not ready to hug him, either, so John just stands, looking up at the consulting detective.]

If you do that again, I swear to god, I will not come running.

[John, do better. Tell him what he needs to hear.

John sucks in a breath and balls one hand into a fist. He tries to keep his voice low, keenly aware of Amber's presence. He's having trouble saying what actually needs saying with her there. So, an apology, instead.]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry for hitting you like I did. For... that letter Molly gave you. For everything. I was angry. That's all.

[howdull]

[Objectively, the apology is good. It signifies that John is moving past his intense anger and is more receptive to being pulled back from the brink, it says that Mary's plan has worked.

Emotionally, it's a bit not-good. It claws at the guilt still in his stomach and makes him remember the way that no amount of intelligence could stop the inevitable once blood began to flow.]

You had a right to be angry, John.

[He glances down to the right, unerringly to where the apparition of Mary is appearing, lips twisting to a bitter smile.]

Is that not what she tells you?

[jumpthegun]

[He can't help stiffening. His eyes turn not to Mary, but to where Amber is.]

Could you give us a minute?

[Assuming Amber is polite enough to go and explore some other nearby area of the school, John will turn his attention to Sherlock once she's left.]

She hasn't said anything about that. [He closes his eyes for a moment and takes a breath. His voice is strained when John continues as he has to work harder to keep his emotions down.] This kind of thing, it's hard for me, Sherlock.

[Go on, Mary encourages.]

I had a right to be angry. Yeah. You shot your mouth off... don't doubt you did. [John.] But you didn't shoot Mary. That woman, Norbury, she did it. And Mary did what I would've done. [What he should have been there to do, instead.] She did what she wanted to do. God knows no one could ever stop her doing that. [Beside him, Mary quirks a sad smile.]

But this? You do not throw your life away, Sherlock Holmes. [His expression shifts and his eyes sting, but he doesn't let himself cry.] Not for me. Not for anyone. I don't care what Mary told you. I'm not that man. I walked away from you. I was gonna walk away after putting you in hospital and then I saw the DVD. I saw her tell you I'd be the guy to save you. I'd be the one who'd always be there for you. But that's not who I am.

[He has to break, swallowing and blinking rapidly for a moment.]

Mum and Dad, Harry... I didn't save them. I walked away in the end. [And his parents had died without him feeling much of anything, while Harry had fallen into the bottle over and over again.] I'm not a hero. That's who she wanted me to be. It's who I want to be, but I'm not. I wasn't going to rescue you, I came here because of her. Because I want to be that guy.

[howdull]

[Sherlock can't help the deductions that push into his head while John talks, it's just natural no matter what else is going on. He feels guiltier about Harry than his parents, and there's definitely some guilt there over Mary. Why? Something he's done to make him believe he's not the man she saw, something in John's particular morals that would be abhorrent.

His eyes sharpen, following that thread of deduction further, until all of a sudden John has stopped talking and he has to rewind through the words to realise what's been said.]

There are no heroes, John.

[It's softer than the last time he said that.]

But there are people who can do heroic things, and you do yourself a disservice if you don't count yourself among them. We all make mistakes, some much greater than others, but that is what it is. You came for me, John, whatever your reasons. Thank you.

[jumpthegun]

[A mistake. There's a dangerous word. Is it a mistake if you're purposeful about it? John can't help glancing over at Mary as he continues to fight down tears. He doesn't want Amber to catch him crying. It's bad enough Sherlock's going to see him like this. He can't break. There's no time to break. He still has to get to Mary to make sure she's safe, and then help Bucky, and then... whatever the next 'and then' is. There's always something. There's almost never a reprieve for very long in Norfinbury.]

Some mistakes shouldn't happen.

[But that's a mistake he should discuss with his wife, first, even if it's eating away at the edges of him.

You still haven't told him what he needs to hear, Mary says, tone firm.]

I love you, too. [John closes his eyes for a moment, and then looks up at Sherlock. His tone is quick, tense, and low. This is an incredibly awkward thing to say with Amber potentially listening in nearby. Sherlock might not care, but John is still aware of her presence... along with the potential for the Admin watching.]

You said it to me in your messages. It's the first thing I heard when I woke up here. I didn't say it back, but I do. Bloody sentimental, y'know? I told you before, I'll always love you... even when I hate you. [He glances at Mary briefly.] Maybe especially then.

Before Lockdown 211

[coyoteking]

[Charles and Quark shuffle in somewhere mid-day. Charles isn't confident they can make it to the school and back before lockdown, and anyway, there's something he wants to do there that'll take more time than rushing would allow. He's kind of focused on that (and shutting the door) so it takes him a second to notice there are a few people here already.

Watson he knows, but the other two, not so much.]

Uh. Hi.

[Later, after any awkward introductions, Charles will be found flipping through network posts on his tablet, probably wedged in a corner somewhere, as usual. He's not as jumpy now as he has been in the past, so approaching him isn't likely to start anything.]

[jumpthegun]

[Awkward introductions, indeed. John offers a polite greeting. There are too many people in this shed, but there's not much time to do anything about it. Five... five is at least one too many. They'll have to hope no anomalies turn up in the morning.

He seeks out Charles once things have settled. It's a little easier to be sociable with Sherlock safe and some of the problems between them resolved. Mary is the next hurdle.

Well, thanks for that, she says from where she's huddled against a nearby wall. John tries very hard to ignore her. There are too many people here to let it slip that he's hallucinating.]

Hey, how are you doing? Mind if I sit?

[howdull]

[His gaze sharpens on the newcomers, particularly interested in Quark. This must be the delivery that he's been waiting for... The older boy, however, he is instantly recognisable from the two words he says.]

Charles.

[He gets a nod in greeting before Sherlock takes up a position against the wall not too far away, ready for illicit deals with Quark or further conversation with Charles.]

[averytinyparticle]

Hey!

[He might not have been the one that Sherlock was talking to, but he didn't miss the way that Sherlock's gaze lands on him, too. And besides, he has plenty of business with the man. So he heads the rest of the way over, shoving his hands in his pockets.]

How's it going, Mister?

[howdull]

[Good, he knows how to be subtle. Likely one of the reasons that he was chosen for this sort of work.]

Well enough, but I believe I may be improved by a short time in the fresh air before lockdown.

[The implied invitation to accompany him remains silent.]

[averytinyparticle]

That's a good idea! I'll go with you--this place is pretty distinctive already, but it never hurts to set up markers.

[He doesn't really have any interest in doing that, of course, but who's going to question a child for wanting to build a snowman? Quark grins as he adjusts his pack on his shoulders, turning right back on his heel to head outside again.]

[howdull]

[There are at least two people in the shed who might think it's odd that Sherlock Holmes is going willingly for a walk with a child, but he doesn't pay anyone any mind as he follows Quark outside.

He waits until they're definitely out of earshot.]

So, you have something for me?