[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

[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.

[howdull]

[A more noble man would tell John that he does not deserve his love or friendship, but Sherlock is not a noble man. He is a selfish man, and he will not refuse the companionship of John Watson whether he is worthy of it or not. He feels some of the tension ease from his shoulders, and he even manages a smile.]

If you would be so kind as to never mention to Mycroft that I am, on occasion, capable of sentiment.

[It's a stupid thing to say, incongruous with the gravity of the situation. It doesn't stop him, though. He steps forward to place a hand on John's shoulder.]

Thank you, John.

[Mary's plan worked. Of course it worked, she was always the clever one.]

[jumpthegun]

[John swallows again as he struggles to maintain his composure once more. The joke is so very Sherlock, even if it's completely inappropriate. The fact that it's inappropriate makes it Sherlock, as is the fact that a part of him wants to giggle at it. Mary snorts beside him, instead.

First thing on the list to tell Mycroft, then.

When Sherlock puts his hand on John's shoulder, he hesitates for a second or two before leaning forward and pressing his forehead to Sherlock's shoulder. It's easier to hide his face for this as a few tears do escape. John brings his arms up to hug the other man for a moment. Just a moment, he lets himself be selfish and cling.

If Sherlock knew what John had done to Mary before her death, would he be so sentimental? John does wonder, particularly after the fit John had pitched about breaking a vow. For now, Sherlock doesn't seem to know, though, and he'll take the comfort of a friendship rekindled.

John pulls back and sniffs, rubbing his eyes roughly with the back of his hand roughly as he turns away.]

We should get food, head back to the shed. I need to pick up my pack in the other room, grab Amber. She wasn't meant to be here.

[howdull]

[Despite never being a particularly tactile person when it came to gestures of emotion, Sherlock allowed the hug and even brought his own arms up to loosely embrace John in return.

The guilt is still there, it'll probably never go away, but he feels remarkably light despite it all. He's good at compartmentalising, and right now he's so happy that the plan worked and he has a friendship renewed that he had thought lost.]

I left a pile of food in the music room, you can take your pick from there if you like.

[Saves them having to go all the way to the cafeteria.

There's so much more that needs saying, but for now he's content to stick with the mundane.]

One too many roughly's up there...

[jumpthegun]

Right. [He clears his throat and heads to the door of the classroom, trusting Sherlock to follow. Trusting... it's not something he can do easily, and with someone like Sherlock Holmes, the lying detective, it shouldn't come at all. Still, the trust comes, even with the anger and guilt and old resentments simmering below the surface.]

Let's go.

[The game is on once more.]

It's just extra rough

[howdull]

[He does follow, and he wasn't lying that there is a big pile of food left in the middle of the music room in the sort of place where it would probably go missing overnight. It's about a week's worth of food.]

John.

[His voice echoes a bit in the classroom, but perhaps things do still need to be discussed.]

You know that Mary is here, John.

[jumpthegun]

[He collects his pack and heads for the music room. They can grab Amber on their way out. The doctor pauses in going for the food, though, when Sherlock speaks up.]

I know. We're meeting with her. I told her after I got you.

[John glances over at his hallucination of his wife, and she shrugs, offering a rueful smile.]

She messaged me. I had to check if... [If she was real. He clears his throat.] It's fine. [It's not really fine.] You're fine with meeting her?

[howdull]

[That's such a tricky question to answer, and he's sure that John is just as ambivalent as he is. He can read it in the exhausted bags under his eyes, the tension in his shoulders, the slight hope in his words. He wants it and he's terrified of it at the same time.

Just as Sherlock is.

But in the end, it all comes down to one simple truth: It's Mary. That's all that matters, really.]

Of course. You're not, but you will be.

[jumpthegun]

Look at you, Mr. Blue Sky.

[He's just going to push it off with a laugh. He's already been emotional enough in the past few hours. John starts shoving food into his pack.

He's not going to understand that reference, my darling.]

ELO. It's a band.

[howdull]

Electric Light Orchestra, yes, I know.

[Sherlock waves it off dismissively and starts to wander the room, looking for anything of interest now that his attention is not so wholly consumed with John. He's not interested in the food at all.]

[jumpthegun]

[That gets a double take.]

You know pop bands?

[No, he knows ELO, that's not every pop band. Still, it's surprising.]

[howdull]

[His nose scrunches up in distaste.]

I had to take my father to one of their concerts a few years ago, somehow they were so repellent that they seem to be immune to deletion.

[jumpthegun]

You remember the lyrics to one of their songs. You were paying attention. So, either you actually enjoyed it enough to do that or you love your dad enough to take an interest.

[Either way, that's adorable.]

[howdull]

[He shoots John the flattest look.]

Don't attribute sentimentality to me, you know me better than that.

[jumpthegun]

Yeah. I do.

[Sherlock is the completely unsentimental man who told him he loves him... and just about killed himself twice to get them back together. And that speech at the wedding... so many years ago now, but John still remembers it.]

Nice to know you love your dad, at least.

[howdull]

[He loves both his parents, Mycroft too if he absolutely had to admit it, but there's no way he's going to say these things out loud. He just huffs and rolls his eyes.]

Aren't you finished picking over the food, yet?

[Yes, let's change the subject.]

[jumpthegun]

Mm... [John, packs away a few more fruit cups before closing his pack and resettling it on his shoulders. He'll allow the subject change. He knows the truth.] You're stocked up on food?

[howdull]

Why would I do that? There are much more valuable things that require space in my bag, and you know that I don't eat while I'm on a case.

[Honestly, how long have they known each other?]

[jumpthegun]

[John gives Sherlock a look.]

This case is going to last at least another couple months. You're eating between now and the end of it. And we won't have to stop for food as often if I'm not the only one carrying food between us.

[howdull]

That's not a lot of faith in my deductive capabilities, John.

[Rude, he'll have this solved in less than two months. He's just as on top of his game as ever, didn't he prove as much with Culverton?]

[jumpthegun]

I have every faith in your deductive abilities, but we're living in a horror game right now. They'll draw out the climax and keep us working until the last minute. Not to mention, deduction doesn't help when it takes you a week to get an item you need from one place to another.

[howdull]

[He huffs, but the travel time isn't exactly something that he can dispute.]

Dull.

[It's not an agreement, but not exactly a disagreement either, and it's the best that John's going to get.]

[jumpthegun]

Are you gonna put food in your pack? Because the alternative is for you to carry some of my other supplies, and I'll carry more food.

[howdull]

[His answer is to pick up some food and stuff it ungraciously into his pack. He's not going to talk again while he does it, sulking. But he does stick close to John until they're back in the shed to settle for the night.]