[ Joan lifts a hand when John says us like she's about to try to brush the concept of us aside. But she pauses cause that's not entirely true. There was an us the moment she stepped on that train and accepted an empty seat from a tired looking man with a red cross on his bag. The moment she asked him about surgical tools or that he brought her a pair of shoes. (No, arguably there was an us the moment she woke up in this place. Realizing it was just a matter of time.)
Rather than use the hand that she'd lifted to brush through the air, Joan places on the table between them like a card player revealing her hand. ] I'm going to be honest with you, John, I like you. You're a nice guy, you've got your head on straight and as far as I can tell you're a great doctor. [ Joan pauses and half-groans, looking up at the ceiling. ] All of which sounds so incredibly narcissistic, given the circumstances, but—
[ She fixes him with a look. This entire exercise is strange. Strange and weird. ] —but I don't want things to be awkward between us just because we're — us. I mean, you're you and I'm me and— [ Argh. ]
[The first time they met John had brushed it off as them having similar names, the second when she'd asked for medical supplies he'd thought it odd. But then she announced herself on the network the other day as a sober companion. Clearly there were differences in their past and present.]
[Another longer sip at his tea.] It makes sense. You're Joan and I'm John. Already I can see the differences.
[ Joan laughs in a kind of incredulous way at John's seeming reticence on the matter. Or maybe he was just being British — her experience was mostly limited to Sherlock and some of his compatriots, past and present. Joan didn't know John well enough to tell. (Though maybe she could, if she tried harder; was she putting blinders on herself?) ]
So this isn't weird to you at all, [ she asks, a little expectantly. ] In the grand scheme of pan-dimensional, multiverse, string theory whatever — you're okay with this.
[To be honest, he's attempting to be more accepting. If he can accept beings that don't exist in his world, magic and facetwins then why not doubles? It helps that they look completely different. They're not even the same gender.]
Well, I can honestly say that I never expected to meet another version of myself but after what I've seen in this place, it doesn't come as that big of a surprise.
[He takes a sip of tea as he considers something. Now the horror sets in but not about them.]
Oh, no, [ Joan's reaction is immediate, almost laughably vehement. ] I've spoken to your Sherlock, they are not the same person. Okay, so they're both British, they're both woefully intelligent, and they both wouldn't understand social grace if it hit them in the face with a two-by-four.
But — they're different people. They just happen to have the same names. [ A beat. ] And Watsons.
[That makes him laugh, almost amused.] If I'd known I would have told you about him. He can be a giant pain in the arse especially right now. [Even if John is still angry with him.]
And I'm certain if we looked you and I would have our differences. Like you are a sober companion and I'm not.
PLS CAN THEY HAVE TEADATES WHEN SHERLOCKS ARE BEING IMPOSSIBLE
[ Joan makes a face, recalling her conversation with Sherlock. ] Oh, I can imagine. The fact that I'm a former sober companion immediately put him on the offensive. [ A beat. ] But, given that it's Sherlock, I'm guessing offensive is his default setting. [ See what I did there, John?
Leaning over her mug, she gets a conspiratorial look in her eye. ] Siblings?
[A nod of his head, John can imagine considering his conversations with Sherlock during their time in Rapture.] Probably doesn't help that me and him had a row about the whole thing. Might've thought you would have gotten on his case about it too. [Sherlock on drugs is less tolerable than normal.] He's not so bad on a normal day but offensive is definitely a Sherlock trait.
[And now they're going to gossip about themselves.] One, an older sister. Harry - Harriet. You?
I tried to hedge my bets a little when it came to getting on his case. I mean, obviously I was on your side, but I wanted to know more about him and I thought going all out would just make him clam up. [ A beat. ] He's— [ She means her Sherlock, not his. ] —like that with me sometimes. You know, a little petty.
[ Harriet. Joan smiles at the name. ] One, an older brother. Oren. [ She waggles her head. ] That's kind of close.
He was a bloody idiot for taking it. I got angry and obviously would not make a very good sober companion. [He has to hide Sherlock's cigarettes after all and search for other drugs on occasion.] God help us if they ever met and got on. [That would be like some sort of nightmare.] As it is I've got a seven year old miniature version of him living with me.
[Thinking of his sister brings up mixed emotions - though her comment about it being close is amusing. Sherlock thought he had a brother.] Is he a pain in the arse or do you get along?
[ Oh god the thought of two Sherlocks. ] I'm not exactly sure they'd be able to be stand in the same room together. All that ego and hot air in one place. [ She laughs in a way that's both rueful and fond. It's maybe a little obvious that she misses Sherlock. Things aren't quite the same without him around. ]
[ Joan sips her tea when she considers her brother. Eventually she makes a noncommittal sound. ] A little of both in that kind of brotherly way? Ever since I changed careers, things have been a little strange, but that's just growing pains I think. [ A beat. ] You?
[Completely horrifying.] I don't know about yours but the one here would make witty cutting remarks. It's what he does. [She is welcome to borrow his Sherlock anytime she wants. Even Watsons need a bit of a break every now and then.]
[He licks his lips at the question.] Harry is...an alcoholic. It ruined her marriage and she's trying to fix her life. We don't always get on but she was there when I got discharged from the military and I'm helping her stay sober.
PROBABLY FOR THE BEST. OTHERWISE IT MIGHT GET WEIRD
[ Joan's expression changes at the mention of Harry's alcoholism. She's a sober companion (or was, up until very recently) so she understands what that means, has an idea of the impact that must have on his personal life. There were a dozen questions she could ask — standard fair, really, for getting on with a new client — but her newly-revealed connection to John made them feel strange and inappropriate. ]
I'm sorry, John, [ she says at length and it isn't emotional pandering in any way, it's genuine and sincere. ] I know how difficult that can be from experience. Not just from just a professional point of view but a personal one, too. And— I don't want to sound like I'm headshrinking you, but if you ever want to talk about it—
[If his sister ever did show up here, John would direct Harry to Joan. He's not exactly someone who can help her through her alcoholism. There's not anyone else he'd trust with the task on this boat and lord knows there's sometimes alcohol to go around.]
It's fine. [Okay, not really.] I mean, there's not really anything to be done from here but if she shows up I might take you up on it.
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consultantsdoctor) wrote2013-02-06 05:16 am
no subject
Rather than use the hand that she'd lifted to brush through the air, Joan places on the table between them like a card player revealing her hand. ] I'm going to be honest with you, John, I like you. You're a nice guy, you've got your head on straight and as far as I can tell you're a great doctor. [ Joan pauses and half-groans, looking up at the ceiling. ] All of which sounds so incredibly narcissistic, given the circumstances, but—
[ She fixes him with a look. This entire exercise is strange. Strange and weird. ] —but I don't want things to be awkward between us just because we're — us. I mean, you're you and I'm me and— [ Argh. ]
Is any of this making sense?
no subject
[Another longer sip at his tea.] It makes sense. You're Joan and I'm John. Already I can see the differences.
[And not just the physical ones either.]
HOMG SORRY I LOST THIS NOTIF ;o;
So this isn't weird to you at all, [ she asks, a little expectantly. ] In the grand scheme of pan-dimensional, multiverse, string theory whatever — you're okay with this.
IT HAPPENS TO ALL OF US
Well, I can honestly say that I never expected to meet another version of myself but after what I've seen in this place, it doesn't come as that big of a surprise.
[He takes a sip of tea as he considers something. Now the horror sets in but not about them.]
Does that mean there's more than one Sherlock?
SWARMS BACK TO
But — they're different people. They just happen to have the same names. [ A beat. ] And Watsons.
CLINGS TO
And I'm certain if we looked you and I would have our differences. Like you are a sober companion and I'm not.
PLS CAN THEY HAVE TEADATES WHEN SHERLOCKS ARE BEING IMPOSSIBLE
Leaning over her mug, she gets a conspiratorial look in her eye. ] Siblings?
YES IT'LL BE NEEDED
[And now they're going to gossip about themselves.] One, an older sister. Harry - Harriet. You?
OR WINEDATES AS THE CASE MAY BE orz
[ Harriet. Joan smiles at the name. ] One, an older brother. Oren. [ She waggles her head. ] That's kind of close.
STILL DRINKING OUT OF TEA CUPS
[Thinking of his sister brings up mixed emotions - though her comment about it being close is amusing. Sherlock thought he had a brother.] Is he a pain in the arse or do you get along?
OKAY THEN WE CAN STILL CALL THEM TEADATES I GUESS
[ Joan sips her tea when she considers her brother. Eventually she makes a noncommittal sound. ] A little of both in that kind of brotherly way? Ever since I changed careers, things have been a little strange, but that's just growing pains I think. [ A beat. ] You?
THAT'S WHAT WE TELL EVERYONE ELSE AT LEAST
[He licks his lips at the question.] Harry is...an alcoholic. It ruined her marriage and she's trying to fix her life. We don't always get on but she was there when I got discharged from the military and I'm helping her stay sober.
PROBABLY FOR THE BEST. OTHERWISE IT MIGHT GET WEIRD
I'm sorry, John, [ she says at length and it isn't emotional pandering in any way, it's genuine and sincere. ] I know how difficult that can be from experience. Not just from just a professional point of view but a personal one, too. And— I don't want to sound like I'm headshrinking you, but if you ever want to talk about it—
[ She leaves that sentence as is. ]
YEAH DON'T WANT WEIRD
It's fine. [Okay, not really.] I mean, there's not really anything to be done from here but if she shows up I might take you up on it.