(no subject)

[have_no_mercy]

Tess is dressed down today, yoga pants, a tea shirt and cardigan, with her feet curled up under her as she sips a cup of tea on a sofa. She has brought work with her to do, but it lays beside her on the couch, untouched since she sat down.

It's been a Day.

Comments

[just_cant_lose]

'For fuck's sake, of course he will. Even if only to annoy the crap out of you.'

Wow, how blind is she?

[have_no_mercy]

She just doesn't care. She couldn't, in fact, care less right now. Jim and Jim are going to have to work their own issues out.

"Then he's an idiot. Don't ask me to censor myself because it isn't what you want to hear."

She runs a hand through her hair.

"You know, this is why I keep telling everyone that time travel, or whatever this classifies as, is a bad idea. Nothing good ever comes from it."

[just_cant_lose]

'It's nothing to do with me.'

Oh look, he's getting angry despite himself. This is the damn 'don't say you're my wife' conversation all over again. Her refusing to take responsibility.

'I'm only talking to you about it because I know him. You think you can say what you want and he'll deal with it like you would, or like any other normal person would. He won't. And seeing as it's my life you're going to screw over, of course I'm going to talk to you about it.'

Talking like a rational grown-up is also boring, but he's making an effort. He'd far rather play a game with some bombs and timers. People learn so much quicker that way.

[have_no_mercy]

She'll get angry right back.

"Jesus, Jim, it has everything to do with you because it is you. Of course he won't act like everyone else, he'll act like you. If that's too much for you to handle, tough."

And she means it. Young Jim isn't her responsibility. It isn't up to her to make sure he doesn't do anything wrong.

"I'm not your babysitter. Keeping him in check is not my job, you jackass. It's yours."

[just_cant_lose]

'It was me eighteen years ago. And in case it escaped your notice, I can't talk to him. Not face-to-face, where it'll make any difference.'

His younger self will listen to him to a degree, because he's always been the only person he trusts. But not when he's the person he himself is furious with, egged on by people like Tess being thoughtless.

'No one's asking you to babysit. I'm telling you to watch your mouth, and keep your opinions on my love life out of your conversations with him.'

He does not feel this is unreasonable.

[have_no_mercy]

"Then aren't you just fucked to have him around."

That's pretty much her opinion on the entire situation. If it isn't her, it'll be something else.

"I will not watch my mouth for your benefit. If I have something to say, I will say it. Maybe if you'd man up and tell him things he should probably be aware of this wouldn't happen."

[just_cant_lose]

....okaaay, it's going to be like that.

He really didn't think she was this stupid.

'But it's not for my benefit, darling,' he says, in a tone that's probably deceptively mild. 'It's for yours.'

He is going to ignore the last comment. 'Manning up' doesn't come into it. He's not ruining the game with Sherlock by talking about it, because that will also ruin his life with Sherlock. He'll die much earlier than thirty five if that happens.

'If it had been a thoughtful comment you'd made, I could understand your argument. But you threw it out with no care for the consequences, and that's just dumb.'

He has no respect for dumb.

[have_no_mercy]

It's not mild and she isn't stupid. She's just done.

"I'm aware. I'm dumb, I'm stupid, I'm normal. I just can't possibly get anything your genius mind spouts out of your mouth. I can't ever comprehend that you're different and not like everyone else, no matter how desperately you act like it."

And yeah; it's going to be like that.

[just_cant_lose]

Jim stretches his neck to the side until it pops. And he'd been doing so well at acting normal too.

'You're being very stupid.'

His tone is still mild, except it's also pure venom.

'Tess, be very clear. I will kill you without even blinking to keep him safe. And to protect myself. I think you know that, my dear. All I'm asking is for you to think before you speak.'

How suicidal are you actually feeling, Ms Mercer?

[have_no_mercy]

This wouldn't be the death she expected (neither were the other two) but she isn't a risktaker for nothing.

"I know you will."

Her tone is bored. She's heard this before, too.

"And right back atcha, baby. So how about you live your life and I live mine, hmm?"

[just_cant_lose]

Well, there it is. She'd better hope the kid is too busy having fun with his new friend to pay Sherlock any undue attention. Because if he does: game on.

Jim stands smoothly and looks down at her, hands loose by his sides. There's not an ounce of tension in him; he might as well be discussing the weather.

'I wanted to think better of you.'

But it's the same old story. People never fail in never surprising him.

'Have a lovely day, my dear.'