ic inbox

[enarms]

"John Watson's phone. I'm either busy or ignoring you, in which case you'll know who you are. Leave a message."

(text | voice | video | snail mail | action | honestly whatever)

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text

[nineteenfortyfive]

[She debated for a while whether to call or text. Or maybe just corner him in person, but she doesn't really like looming over people, especially when she's annoyed. That's just unfair. So, text it is.]

Does Bilbo Baggins' appearance really bother you that much?

[enarms]

Yes.

[ he doesn't dally on it, doesn't let it sit or fester. as soon as he receives the text he shoots the message back, plain and to the point. it does. it honestly does, and while he's frustrated to know his business has landed in Claire's lap, they may as well get this conversation done with. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

Why?

[Here's his chance to explain himself.]

[enarms]

You've seen him. Heard him, I'm assuming.

[nineteenfortyfive]

I have. He looks like you, but he's no more similar to you than the fictional John Watson.

[enarms]

I understand that.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Then what is it, John?

[enarms]

Forgive me if I've not spent an awful lot of time preparing for the day I meet a Hobbit with my face and my voice. Bilbo Baggins, Claire. My face. It's like listening to a shrill answerphone recording of myself and I'm not in any hurry to get used to it.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Sass isn't necessary right now.

You've certainly not made it any easier for him, either. The poor fellow asked me if he was awful to look at. I saw the conversations you two have had, and him and Sherlock. It really needn't be so messy.

This might not be the only time someone comes here that looks like you.

[enarms]

The first time was unfortunate, yes, but I wasn't exactly expecting him. After that I was as clear with him as I could be. If he's not disconcerted, fine. We are.

I've given him some advice and he seems to have taken it, problem solved. I'll talk to him again when I'm good and ready, he's welcome to text me in the meantime but as you've already read I don't know why he would. Exactly how you're expecting it to be any less messy than that I'm not sure.

Wonderful.

[nineteenfortyfive]

I expected you to handle it with a little more tact than what I saw.

[enarms]

Really? Well. Lesson for the future, lower your expectations.

[nineteenfortyfive]

[Can you hear the sigh?]

John.

[enarms]

[ loud and clear ]

What?

[nineteenfortyfive]

Nevermind.

[enarms]

Right. Will that be all?

[nineteenfortyfive]

Unless you have anything you'd like to say to me.

[enarms]

[ there's a longer break between this one and the last. if nothing else can be said for him, he does know when he needs to take a breather. so it's not minutes, but about an hour later when he eventually sends another message through, time enough to take a break away from it and then come back, read through the conversation again ]

Sorry, Claire.

But next time, best to leave me to walk in through on my own.

[ evidence being: this entire conversation. he never means to, but he gets like this. and if he can spare her that, spare her the need for his apology, that's likely for the best.

it's less a suggestion than a request. ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

[The apology helps, as small of a thing as it is.]

You know how I am.

[enarms]

Yeah.

[ but you don't know enough about how I am for the learning process to be anything other than a clunky uncomfortable state, and he's not looking forward to it in the slightest ]

Don't forget to look out for yourself.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Is that a warning?

[enarms]

It's whatever it needs to be for you to take it on board.

[nineteenfortyfive]

Don't worry about me. I do fine on my own.

[enarms]

So do I. Which won't stop you.

[ the so that won't stop me goes unsaid but loudly implied ]

[nineteenfortyfive]

No. You're a good friend of mine, and I care about you even when you don't meet my expectations.

[For some reason.]