consequences of haste

[searchingfordistraction]

He'd intended to refrain from using anything other than telekinesis until he'd got at least the bones of the new system in place, but.

But conversation with the Bar confirmed that Milliways's built-in safeguards would step in to regulate his magic use in lieu of his magic being able to regulate itself. It would, after all, require a remarkable series of stacked coincidences for Milliways to sustain any kind of damage; nothing Jim could do now would be anywhere near enough to set off that kind of cascade.

He still takes the precaution of having a room with extra buffers set up, just in case.

There is, of course, nothing Milliways can do to prevent Jim from injuring himself as he practices, and he finds very quickly that without his own system to guide his focus, his control over anything non-telekinetic is exceedingly poor.

It was worth experimenting with, anyway. And at least the infirmary is handy.

Comments

[jumperfucker]

"And I'm supposed to believe that you've suddenly developed a streak of altruism?" asks John. "What do you care about Sherlock in the first place? We were doing just fine before you showed up."

He's not going to give Jim the satisfaction of mentioning the whole rehab after being clean for five years thing. Jim doesn't need that satisfaction right now. Or ever.

[searchingfordistraction]

"He's interesting."

Jim grins at John.

"I actually underestimated him. It's been a very long time since anyone has managed to get me to do that."

Someone else might find that embarrassing. Jim thinks it's exciting.

"I'm not being altruistic. I'm completely selfish. It just happens to have the same result as altruism would this time around. If furthering your understanding of why he's doing what he's doing will help, and I think it will if you'll let it sink in, then that's what I'll do."

[jumperfucker]

"He is a genius," John says. "Not like some TV genius where someone writes something they think is clever. But he's shit with people. Even worse than yours is, and I'm sure you must have noticed that by now."

John is, of course, breaking the rules Sherlock set at the beginning of their relationship, but it seems like one of those exception moments.

[searchingfordistraction]

"Of course," he says readily.

If Sherlock were any good with people, this conversation wouldn't be necessary, because he would have had it with John himself by now.

[jumperfucker]

"Then surely you don't need me to point out what that means."

It does occur to him that this is exactly why Jim has decided to make Sherlock his latest project.

[searchingfordistraction]

"Why do you think we're having this little chat?" he asks. "One of us has to keep you in the loop. It's not going to be him. If I have to play minder to get my way, that's fine. It's worth the trouble."

For now.

[jumperfucker]

John sighs. He's not sure that what he's about to do is the wisest thing, but maybe it'll help.

"And you really think the best use of your time is dicking around with someone who has an autism disorder?" he asks. He's probably letting his anger show, but fuck it. He is pretty fucking hacked off.

[searchingfordistraction]

Jim gives him a blank look.

"Does it affect his intelligence?"

He continues without waiting for an answer, because he knows the answer.

"Then I don't care. It's just another detail." A facet of Sherlock to be kept in mind and dealt with when it makes itself relevant, but not dwelt upon unnecessarily.

[jumperfucker]

"Yeah, that's... That's... OK. Moffat got you completely wrong," John says. "You're not a psychopath at all. You're a fucking sadist."

[searchingfordistraction]

Jim raises his eyebrows.

"I'm sorry, should I be treating him like a hopeless cripple?"

[jumperfucker]

John has by now definitely let Jim get to him, and is practically seething.

"I think you should be going home."

[searchingfordistraction]

"If I weren't prepared to deal with it appropriately," he says mildly, "I wouldn't be here at all. If you'd like to tell me where I've gone wrong with your fists, you can certainly try, but it might be more effective to use your words."

On the off chance he says something useful.

[jumperfucker]

"I guess I just can't see where the fun is in trying to con someone who can't tell when someone's trying to fuck with him."

This is John's not amused face.

[searchingfordistraction]

The corner of his mouth turns up.

"One of us isn't giving him enough credit," he murmurs, "and it's not me."

His expression smooths out again.

"He's more than capable of keeping up with me. He's proven that. I wouldn't be interested if he weren't."

[jumperfucker]

"Well, I'm the one who lives with him," John says. "I think I'm probably more qualified in this area than you are."

[searchingfordistraction]

Now who's underestimating him?

He doesn't say it.

Instead he says,

"I think we know different sides of him."

[jumperfucker]

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" asks John.

[searchingfordistraction]

"No," he says, accurately.

[jumperfucker]

"Shame."

[searchingfordistraction]

"It's interesting - well, no, it's not, but it's worth noting that you accuse me of running a con when I've been nothing but honest for this entire conversation," Jim observes.

"You're not paying attention, Dr Watson."

[jumperfucker]

"Well, you'll have to excuse me for not trusting you," John says. "But you've not really given me much of a reason to."

[searchingfordistraction]

"Oh, god no, don't trust me," Jim says, as though the prospect of such a thing is vaguely horrifying and just a touch insulting. "But do listen to me. To me, not the caricature passing for Moriarty that exists in your head."

[jumperfucker]

John fails to see the difference.

"Was that supposed to be reassuring?"

[searchingfordistraction]

Jim rubs his good hand down over his face.

"It's like talking to a rock."

[jumperfucker]

"Maybe you should try it. You might have more luck getting it to believe you."

Maybe John can talk Jim into an early suicide. Not that he'd deliberately try to do such a thing. Oh, no.