asgardmeridiem | [closed] Do you want my presents or need my help?

Who: John Watson & John Watson.
What: Indulging in a gentlemanly drink.
When: Evening Day 218.
Where: A quiet little pub in Loki.
Rating: PG13 ?

Watson had collected John promptly at quarter to and guided him throughout the city to the pub that had become his local -- a small bar in the Loki restaurant styled after a country pub. There were lots of polished wooden surfaces, a wide bar for patrons simply after a pint and a chat, and a few tables, complete with plush, Victorian style armchairs, for those in the mood for something more civilized.

The bar and the staff have a fair amount of colour, as do the regulars -- easy to see that Watson has been coming here some time. As he and John enter, hanging up their coats, one of the barmaids waves them on to take a seat.

"We've kept your regular table free, Doctor. Had a feeling you might be stopping by tonight."

"Did you? How kind." Watson's certainly happy to take his regular table. "They've come to know me here," he explains, motioning John to take the menu. "I can vouch for their game pie, or their stew. The fish isn't bad either, and the fowl is usually excellent."

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"Yeah, looks like," John comments, eyebrows raised, as he reaches for the meny. "Pretty obvious."

It's definitely a very nice place, and he leans back in his seat with a contented sigh. This is good, nice.

"You're giving me an awful lot of choices."

Watson snorts in amusement at his companion's comment. "Yes, I suppose it is rather."

He settles back, adjusting his tie. "Whatever you choose, I'm sure you'll enjoy it. They've certainly given me no reason to complain, and on the rare occasions Holmes cared to join me for dinner here, he did not complain about the food."

"Would he even bother complaining about it? The Sherlock I know doesn't really care about the food, so I don't know what he'd have to say about it."

Not that he doesn't believe Watson, of course.

"Oh, he would, if he thought it might annoy me." Watson snorts. "It's a shame you never saw both of them together. The contrasts and then the similarities ... I don't know how you'd even begin to describe it."

"I think I can get the idea, sort of. Not sure I want to see it."

But a part of him is also weirdly curious. Not every day you get to see two Sherlock Holmes in one place. It's probably horrible and amazing at the same time.

The most brilliant minds in any universe devoted whole-heartedly to the most petty of arguments. Horribly amazing or amazingly horrible?

At any rate, the waitress is hovering. "I'll have the game pie and one of your stouts, I think. John, are you ready to order?"

A bit of both, would be John's bet. He sends the waitress a bit of an apologetic smile because he's still deciding between two dishes. But after a moment, he orders a chicken dish and a glass of beer, and leans back in his seat.

Watson settles back in his seat at just the same moment John does, and there is an moment's pause as he digests the fact that they both made exactly the same gesture at almost exactly the same moment.

MOVING ON.

"Your impressions of Asgard now that the novelty is wearing off?"

Definitely moving on. John is just trying really hard to not think about the fact that he's having dinner and a beer with some sort of Victorian equivalent of himself. Even if he's... sort of getting used to the idea.

"It's... making my friend worse than usual."

Driving both of them insane and seemingly trying very hard to tear them apart.

Edited 2013-02-19 13:07 (UTC)

"He is -- taking it hard." Harder than the previous two did, at least he is progressing down that path faster and Watson's curious as to just what happened in their world in the interim to precipitate this sharp decline. Curious -- but too much of a gentleman to ask.

"I can only repeat my previous offer. If there is ever any way I can be of service to either of you, don't hesitate to ask."

"I haven't forgotten. I just wish I knew what it could be."

But until he has something, there's no point in thinking about it too much. Not right now, in any case. Sometimes he needs to not do that because there's otherwise hardly anything else occupying his mind. How to help Sherlock Holmes.

It always comes down to Sherlock.

"Otherwise? I guess I'm settling in. Sort of."

"As do I."

Watson considers his counterpart thoughtfully. "Only sort of?" He had a suggestion in mind, but he wanted to assess John's attitude before raising it.

"Yeah, as much as you can when things don't really make any logical sense."

He raises his eyebrows, pressing his lips together. There's only so much "settling" that can be done here, honestly.

"Would a familiar occupation make you feel more at ease? That is, if you think Sherlock can spare you."

Now we're getting there.

He sighs. He's been hoping he'd get to go home and not have to settle further - of course, only if Sherlock could come too - but...

"I guess maybe I should be looking into that."

"You would not necessarily have to look far."

The waitress is back to set their meals in front of them, and Watson pauses to allow her to work, nodding thanks as she sets down the food. He was not exaggerating -- the pie looks done to perfection and the chicken looks pretty darn good too.

"Your predecessor worked at the hospital in Sigyn and it should be no difficulty for you to do the same. However, I was hoping I could interest you in joining the staff at my clinic. Our second doctor recently left us, and we're currently looking for someone to take his place."

Working with his namesake. With basically himself. John wonders how exactly that would be like. Sure, he lives with him but he still doesn't see him the whole day, so it's... not the same.

But at the same time, it would be a way to repay the fact that he's allowed to live there in the first place. And then he can help more with rent and whatnot. It would certainly be fair, and he can at least try, can't he? It might be ridiculous to be concerned about it.

So he shrugs, in the end. "Why not?"

[closed] Do you want my presents or need my help?

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