[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

action;

[lacecase]

[This could be a little while after England and John broke open the wine; Ginger wouldn't want to get in the middle of a Nation-Citizen thing. But she saw the Network post, of course, and she's torn. On one hand, she's so glad he's back. On the other, poor, poor John! Poor John!!! He must be feeling so awful. She just needs to give him a hug. So she'll finally give in and come to peek at him.]

Joooooohn?

[She's practically pouting, her expression all twisted up in worry.]

Would it be okay if the hug police took you aside for some questioning?

action;

[jumpthegun]

[John's... rather drunk at this point. He looks up from where he's sitting and waves t her.]

Hmm? Yeah, sure. [He giggles for a moment.] Sure D.I. Hale. That's Detective Inspector. Americans have... 's just detectives, right? Detective Ginger Hale.

[The doctor tilts his head and nearly topples.] Why's it Ginger? You're not a ginger. I mean, if you were a ginger, that'd be fine. D'you dye your hair? You'd be lovely as a ginger. But you're lovely blonde, too. Mary's blonde.

[lacecase]

[Oh my goodness.]

Detective Ginger, on the case! I like it!

[Honey you are so drunk. She's just gonna come in there for that hug now, partially to make sure he doesn't topple over. It's a good thing he's sitting. Flopping down next to him, she takes his hand and gives it a squeeze.]

I think, like, after the flower. My parents were florists! Or maybe it's 'cause I'm so spicy!

[Ginger's a spice, right? She has no idea.]

I'm a natural blonde. But, like, maybe I'll go red someday? You're right it could be cute!

[jumpthegun]

[John squeezes back on reflex. He's in that pleasant world where everything is all right, like he'd been with his disastrous bachelor party with Sherlock. It hadn't really occurred to him that he's not had a drop of alcohol in months and this is his younger body when he hadn't been a heavy drinker, either. He's a complete light-weight.

But ginger is a flower. He always just thinks of the root. It probably has flowers, though.]

I like that. Flowers. You're like a flower. You'd look great however you are. Mary dyes her hair. Me, I don't dye. Probably should. Going gray. But we're all blonde here. You're blonde, I'm blond, England 'n America are blond. Different eyes, though. Like your eyes.

[lacecase]

You do? Aww, sweetie! I've always thought my eyes should be blue, that's, like, normal for blondes, right? Or green eyes, they'd be really pretty too. Nobody's ever complimented my eyes before.

[She does not care how drunk he is if he keeps saying such nice things to her, honestly.]

We can all be a big cute blonde club!

[jumpthegun]

No, no. They're great 'cause they're not normal, right? Special. You're a special girl. Everyone loves you here Ginger. [A frown.] You... you. You shouldn't be here. Nah. Plenty of people might deserve it, but not you. You're like sunshine, y'know? Yeah. Blonde sunshine.

[lacecase]

[Ginger shakes her head, a sad look coming over her face.]

Oh, no, I don't think anyone deserves it at all.

[Maybe...maybe the Joker. But nobody else. Not even House.]

Maybe that's why I'm here. Cause, like, everyone would go crazy without a little bit of sunshine, right?

[jumpthegun]

See, that's why. You're good, right? I could name you a few. Bad men. The worst sorts of blokes. Did all sorts of terrible things and got away with most of it 'til Sherlock stepped in. Me'n Sherlock. We were a good team. Better when we had Mary. She was like sunshine, too. Thought she was.

[lacecase]

What do you mean? You have her right now, and I'm sure she's lovely!

[Like, not right now this second, but she's definitely here! That much Ginger knows because she sometimes pays attention to what's going on. Unless Mary's name is about to show up on an obituary...goodness, Ginger hopes not.]

Gosh, I'm sorry, I shouldn't pry.

[jumpthegun]

[John gestures vaguely. There's a part of him that knows he shouldn't be telling her this, but she looks so soft. Her eyes are kind.]

She's dead. When we go back home, she's dead. In the aquarium. [He giggles, but it's not so much amused as mildly hysterical now.] Should've been me. I have here here, yeah. Enjoy it while it lasts, right?

[lacecase]

[Oh. The admission takes Ginger's breath away--in the worst kind of way possible.]

I had no idea.

[And she's not even going to ask for permission, she's just going to go from holding his hand to wrapping him up in a hug, because sad man. Sad man! Ginger doesn't want him to feel so sad.]

It must be so hard...I can't even imagine.

[Her hands squeeze him tighter. She wants to make this all disappear...but she knows that's not how it works.]

[jumpthegun]

[John doesn't know what else to do but hug her back. Everything is a haze right now. Even the pain of it is rather distant.]

Shh... it's okay, love.

[Was he comforting her? Yes. She seems very upset.]