[OPEN]

[drpsychosomatic]

Who| John Watson and OPEN
What| John's been having a lot of trouble sleeping and settling since waking up in the Capitol, and so is doing a lot of wandering for wandering's sake, catching up with friends (or at least people who haven't murdered him) and going on adorable coffee-dates with Effie Basically this is here to catch all
Where| Wandering around the capitol
When| Any time after his death, just let me know when you want to set things in the title of your reply pls
Warnings/Notes| Possible mentions of PTSD?

Death, John decided, was something no-one should have to live through. Where being shot and being absolutely certain he was going to die had been terrible, and had taken months of physical and psychological rehabilitation, dying and being brought back in a perfectly functional body was much more of a disorientating disconnect. He felt detached from reality.

Before Sherlock had rejoined him in the Capitol, John had spent much of his time trying to prove to himself that he was actually here, not always consciously. He walked as far as he could along the streets, visited strange little cafes and bars and hauled himself back to his suite, exhausted and burned out, hoping he'd be too tired to dream. His mood lifted a little once his friend returned, and there were a few notable people whose company he not only enjoyed but looked forward to enjoying, but the itch to get out for the sake of getting out only intensified the longer the days dragged on. There was nothing comfortable about life here, no routine he could settle into and feel like he had a handle on. The long and short of it was, he was useless here in the Capitol, and it was eating away at him.

Comments

[drpsychosomatic]

John smiled, honestly relaxing for what felt like the first time in ages. Effie was certainly of the Capitol, but he sensed nothing but warmth and care from her, and suspected she genuinely wanted to do good- and that, in his books, went a long way, despite his feelings about the Games.

"It is, actually, isn't it?" he agreed easily. The sun was shining, the skies were clear, and he was in a beautifully decorated if slightly over-saturatedly pink cafe. He wondered if maybe he should have brought her something. "It's good to see you, and this place is-- well, it's lovely."

[mannersmatter]

"Cinna suggested it."

With Effie's habits of name dropping so easily, John had heard all about everyone from 12, whether he knew who they were or not.

"So far his tastes have been consistently impeccable." She smiled brightly, settling into chair across from him. "So how are you?"

[drpsychosomatic]

"Better," he said, his smile wavering slightly. It was hard to be honest about how much he was struggling even with himself, and it seemed like it wouldn't be the easiest thing to discuss with Effie, anyway. He straightened up a bit. "I'm definitely being spoiled, here- and with you and Cinna recommending places like this, exploring the Capitol's much more enjoyable. I think you said they do tea?"

[mannersmatter]

"Yes! I was asking around for what place might have English like food. You would think there'd be a place for English food, but this was what I found."

She shrugged. You couldn't win them all. Maybe she would try to find some recipes, send them down to the kitchen.

She hesitated, biting her lip at the expression. It wasn't that she didn't recognize it. It was that she knew most people didn't want pushed into that conversation. "You know, there are some great place to go to relax, too."

Possibly a round about way to discuss issues there, Eff.

[drpsychosomatic]

He warmed up immediately at her mention of her having looked for English food. Of course she had. He had a feeling she would do just about anything in her power to make him feel more at home, more comfortable- and strangely enough, even being able to feel that intention radiating off her soothed his spirits.

"Somewhere to relax might not be a bad plan," he admitted, "But I'm not very good at relaxing. I get anxious. This- this is just fine. English food isn't exactly known for being brilliant, anyway, beyond the tea. I'm not surprised it hasn't survived."

[mannersmatter]

"I personally enjoy the hot springs, myself. There is a wonderful spa there..." She paused, figuring he wasn't exactly a spa type of person. "They have a lot of more...masculine type services too. And who doesn't love a massage?"

"In a way we have a lot of cultural diversity...but it is sad that so much of it has been... diluted to such a level that it is no longer what it was. Although of course the district are creating their own cultures now, most of it just isn't...importable."

[drpsychosomatic]

"I wouldn't mind a spa," he chuckled. "I'd probably manage a day before going mad."

He wet his lips, clearly thinking something over, and then spoke: "I can cook. I'm not brilliant, but if perhaps one day you were feeling brave- I could introduce you to some extremely mediocre food? A lot of English food is diluted from the cultural influences we picked up when we had an empire, come to think about it."

[mannersmatter]

"Well most of it is just hot springs pool. Which could be enjoyable?"

She certain enjoyed them often enough. And she needed the break. And the company would be good too.

Her face lit up again. "Well, as it may be, I happen to have a Kitchen. Although I need to get away long enough to make sure my house is acceptable for guests."

Right now, she really wouldn't know if her house had burnt down, as little as she had been there.

[drpsychosomatic]

He smiled, imagining then in the kitchen together, maybe even with Effie helping him cook- and it was a nice thought, a pleasant idea. In his little daydream, she laughed and wiped flour off his nose and kissed him and made him promise not to tell a soul.

"Really? I was going to ask, actually, if you had a place in the Capitol. They keep you busy enough that I wondered if you even had somewhere else. But hot springs- that actually sounds really good."

[mannersmatter]

"Oh, you have no idea, I might as well not have one! I don't see it for days at a time..." She shook her head, missing her apartment. And having a life.

Though this was a bit of that life back. A nice little bit.

"Perhaps we could spend the day at the hot springs, then go back to my place for dinner?"

It would be hard to tell she was blushing under all her make up. But, well. It'd been a long time since she'd said that.

[drpsychosomatic]

"You know, that- that really sounds great," John admitted with a smile- a very slight blush rising to his cheeks and the tips of his ears. He'd always had an slightly embarrassingly expressive face, and he didn't have the benefit of make up. "I'd really like that. You'll have to let me be an excuse for a day off."

[mannersmatter]

"Well, I certainly think I deserve a day off. And with Katniss and Peeta both back now..."

She smiled, before pressing her lips together. This whole thing was a mess, and she was sure District 12 was being treated unfairly in this whole mess...first them, now Haymitch.

"It will be very nice."

[drpsychosomatic]

He watched her carefully- a little more used to her expressions now than he had been at first- and though it wasn't always easy to read under the make up, he liked to think he could tell when something was on her mind. He wasn't sure how many people bothered to ask.

"I saw them the other day," he mentioned. "Katniss and Peeta. It seems like an awful lot to put on the both of them. I'm glad they have someone looking out for them, though I'm sure they could let me have you for a day or so."

[mannersmatter]

Effie managed to both look mournful and prideful at once. It was an impressive combination.

"I think it helps them that they have each other. I'll admit, I am jealous...to have found such strong love at such a young age." She let out a wistful sigh, picking up the spoon of her tea. "Have you seen their games? Quite romantic."

[drpsychosomatic]

"I've seen bits, yes," he said cautiously, wetting his lips. "I found it difficult to watch, to be honest- I suppose it's a cultural thing- but I definitely wouldn't want to be on Katniss's bad side, that much I picked up."

[mannersmatter]

She let out a quite laugh. "Oh, trust me, none of us do."

She adored Katniss, she really did, but the girl could be such a handful sometime. Luckily Haymitch and Cinna were much better with her.

"There were some...hard places, but Katniss was brilliant, and their romance...it was a first, you know? Having two tributes survive." There was pride there, as well.

[drpsychosomatic]

"They did very well," John agreed with a smile. "And so did you. It can't have been easy, herding those two around and making them jump through hoops. It seems hard enough for the other escorts to keep their tributes in check, and most of us are grown adults. You'd think a rational explanation would be enough..."

[mannersmatter]

"It was much harder before, I think..." Effie was quiet for a moment, staring into her cup of tea.

"With everyone being children, and no one going home...well, I mean, of course someone did, but for Haymitch and I..."

She shrugged, before putting on another smile. A much weaker one. Too many thoughts like this had been creeping up on her lately.

[drpsychosomatic]

"I'm sorry," he murmured. "It must have been awful for you."

He nodded, not quite sure what to do with the urge to slide his hand over the table and rest it gently over hers. Eventually, though, he couldn't help himself, the touch very tentative but well-meaning.

[mannersmatter]

She looked up, a moment of damp appreciation, before gently dabbing at the corners of her eyes with a napkin. The hand he touche stayed still, Effie enjoying the contact.

"Oh, my, I'm going to mess up my make-up. Thank you, though. I...I am sorry, for all of you, but...I am not sorry to send home those two each year."

[drpsychosomatic]

Encouraged, he took her hand in his a little more firmly, stroking his thumb over the back of it in small, rhythmic circles while she gathered herself together, offering a gentle squeeze of solidarity as she spoke.
"You're fine," he reassured her. "Effie, I- well, I can't say I'm happy with everything that's happened. But I am glad that we can save those lives, and I hope we can win a better life for the people we represent, too. I don't want to die, of course I don't - but better that than you or anyone else having to bring out children for Games where they never come back. Always."

[mannersmatter]

She nodded.

"That is...how I feel, it is unfortunate but I wish there was-" She stopped herself before saying 'a better way.' "A third option. Maybe some day, but for now, at least this is...better than before."

Which was the company line, of course.

[drpsychosomatic]

He smiled, lacing their fingers together.
"Who knows. Maybe with all these people the Capitol has gathered, we can think of another solution for everybody. We've certainly got a lot of people far smarter than me from worlds all over the place here, and if we can learn from the people who've lived here long enough to really understand the problem the Games solve for you... well. We'll see, I suppose."

[mannersmatter]

"Well, I do certainly think you are undermining your intelligence, especially compared to the rest of these tributes..." She shrugged. She had watched enough to know they weren't all shining stars. But it couldn't be helped. "But I do think you are, generally, right."

It was a relief. Really, just talking to someone who understood was a relief. It felt like so few here did. The Capitol people...they didn't understand this side of the Games. And the Tributes, especially these Tributes, didn't understand how relevant they were to Panem.

[drpsychosomatic]

"Well, I suppose what I meant was, I'm not a politician," he chuckled, dipping his head slightly to hide the soft blush of embarrassment that had sprung up at her confidence in his intelligence. "And there are enough foreign tributes here that some of them must be. I think most of us are just too involved in how dehumanising it feels to be brought here to die for the entertainment of people we don't know to be investing much energy in coming up with sensible solutions."