I think I might have some experience with reading the room, Doctor. It's a good resource to have an open network to review when looking into a person.
Has he? A doctor with access to prescriptions sounds rather dangerous when openly admitting to be an addict. I do hope there are checks and balances in place to limit his abuse. I hope the Joker doesn't harm anyone; it would be a shame for someone be hurt by his madness. I suppose with Doctor John Watson and Sherlock Holmes on the alert, they can investigate any mysterious murders.
[The very, very open network. John tries to think of anything incriminating he's said on the network. Really, the worst things he's reserved for Bucky and Alfie's eyes and ears alone. And Sherlock already knows everything about him, anyway. There had been the casebook with his private thoughts, but he'd gotten that screened by the Admin, so that was safe unless Pierce found someone with a copy.
There had been Davesprite telling everyone about his injuries in the aquarium and the firestorm that led to, though. Is that where Pierce is going to go with this?]
No doubt. Not everything's told over the network, mind. Some of the most important conversations still happen privately, as they should.
It's my understanding that his prescription's been cancelled and he's not able to prescribe to himself.
I can assure you, if the Joker commits a murder, it won't be mysterious. He's more the sort to crow about it.
[Which.............. rather undermines John's request to have Pierce go and look for Batman's potential corpse. John's going to pretend like that didn't happen and hope Pierce has forgotten.]
[Pierce was still in the process of going through the network and all the information that happened to be stored upon it. Of course Watson was right about keeping things private; he was certain there was a bounty of information locked away in all the tablets, his own included. He made certain to keep his interactions as pleasant as possible there.]
Of that, I have no doubt. Imagine if one could ask to see all of that information. Quite the stir that could cause I have no doubt as people only have secrets here.
And no one of any level of brilliance can't work their way around the rules, now can they? Addicts are never desperate enough to steal, manipulate or coerce for what they require.
Unless it's Batman, yes? Since you came to me for help and convinced me to search a very specific location for signs of a struggle. Goodness, I doubt you would do that for any reason but you being honestly concerned about Batman.
[He has most certainly not forgotten. However, he does enjoy people outing themselves as liars.]
Not all secrets are bad things, luckily. But I like to take an optimist's view.
Is there a reason you're so worried about addicts, Mr. Pierce? I've been in contact with the other doctors to discuss some of the issues with that and steps we can take.
[And damn, damn, triple damn.]
I thought he might still be alive at that point, Mr. Pierce. The Joker might well have kept it quiet if he'd clubbed the man and tied him up.
This is true. I've had many delightful conversations with people privately. Such wonderful personalities.
Considering you've just indicated that the supply of pain medication is running low, I am only concerned that the kids will not have what is left. I like to think I look out for the greater good of the many.
[You can't play this game and win, Doctor.]
But you just said that the Joker would crow about his kills? Which is it?
[That's about as far as that first little exchange can be taken. John's becoming more nervous about the rest of it. Should he just hang up? That might look worse.]
The addicts aren't interested in the low-level stuff, Mr. Pierce. That's not what gets you high.
Kills, not tying someone up, sir. I must have misspoken when we talked about it. I was a bit distracted.
[He is curious how far Watson is going to take this. He is perfectly fine playing this game after all. He was more or less in his element and it's not like he's planning on moving out of the house he's residing in today.]
What does get you high in a place like this, Doctor Watson?
You do seem to not have your ducks in a row on this matter. What does that say about your potential doctoring skills if you can't even keep details like what you ask someone to do for you? Do you suffer from PTSD?
[He can almost feel the trap closing and the shift in the texting. And here he was just minding his own business.]
And what am I looking for, Doctor? You've clearly come here for a purpose, and I don't yet feel like we've reached the conclusion that you're aiming for.
I don't suppose that it is, unless the lives of your patients could be put at risk because of it.
I just wanted to check-in on you, Mr. Pierce. That maze was a bit of trouble for everyone. I don't know what you're looking for at the moment, but it seems to be something, as well. But maybe you'll find it on the network.
You're free to speak with any of my patients if you believe I've been compromised in some way. I'm certain they can reassure you about my prescriptions and my surgical capabilities.
Was that all? I think the next time you check in on me, you should stick to being frank and honest about your purpose. I respect a man who can approach me with honesty rather than skulking around with warnings not to speak and to send me to a place he has clearly designed to bring me harm.
Then I would like a list of your patient's names in order to investigate this matter.
You know exactly what it means. I know you're gonna use anything I say against me out of context, so figure out the specifics on your own damn time if you haven't got it.
This isn't about you being a politician, Mr. Pierce, but I'm sure you're a very good one. And that's your game, isn't it? You don't lie. You just omit and you insinuate and you never actually incriminate because you're too clever for that.
[Now that was better. Why couldn't they be at this point all along?]
Is that what you were told? You do realize there are two sides to every story. I suppose because you're emotionally invested, you'll only hurl words and accusations at me because it's easier than investigating other avenues of truth.
[He knows it's true. He knows it's true. And so does Pierce.]
I'm going to tell you a story, Mr. Pierce. It's about a man named Richard Brook. He wasn't a very nice man. In fact, he was very bad man, one of the worst London had ever seen. But no one knew it. Rich Brook was a children's television presenter, you see. Nothing wrong with that. He had a whole portfolio, appearances, awards. There was one problem.
Rich Brook never existed.
Here was a man who could pull on any mask and wear it perfectly. He had the resources at his fingertips and the brain to become anyone he needed to be. One day he was Rich, another day he was just an IT man or a tourist, but most days, on the days when he let his true colors show, he was a spider of a man named James Moriarty.
Rich Brook, James Moriarty, managed to convince the world that he was something that he was very much not, and he used that to bring better men down, to drag them through the mud and put them through hell. Because wouldn't someone, anyone just listen to his side of the story? And he had such a story. People ate it up. It was the story they wanted to hear, a fairy tale complete with a villain and a hero and the unmasking of a king.
You want to know the best way to sell a lie? Wrap it up in truth. You can make someone swallow anything, even yourself, if you make it palatable with the truth.
[There was a long pause before his reply, mostly because he was actually writing down the key points of this story to have it physically on hand so that he could dissect it over the course of the coming days. This Mr. Moriarty seemed like an excellent man to seek a recruitment for in HYDRA after all.]
And what was Mr. Moriarty's motivations? Why did he do all of these things that he did? Why put on a mask? Why drag other men through the mud? To what end was he playing this apparent hand of his?
Well, he had a business to run, didn't he? The world's only consulting criminal. And better men got in his way. He promised to burn the heart out of the best and the most amazing man that I know because he got in the way.
And he stopped him. James Moriarty was stopped. Just like you will be.
But please. Tell me your story, Mr. Pierce. I'm sure it's a good one.
[A consulting criminal? What a dastardly notion to consider, but it was a bit too colourful for his liking. The world needed less criminals, not more.]
Was that all? He was a businessman and had no other personal motivations for what he was doing? I'm apologize if I find that a bit too flat. People are complex. They are layers of motivations, some even conflicting each other.
Who did he try to burn and fail?
I'm sensing sarcasm, which means you don't honestly believe any of that statement. I don't waste time on close-minded men, not even ones that I respect.
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Has he? A doctor with access to prescriptions sounds rather dangerous when openly admitting to be an addict. I do hope there are checks and balances in place to limit his abuse. I hope the Joker doesn't harm anyone; it would be a shame for someone be hurt by his madness. I suppose with Doctor John Watson and Sherlock Holmes on the alert, they can investigate any mysterious murders.
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There had been Davesprite telling everyone about his injuries in the aquarium and the firestorm that led to, though. Is that where Pierce is going to go with this?]
No doubt. Not everything's told over the network, mind. Some of the most important conversations still happen privately, as they should.
It's my understanding that his prescription's been cancelled and he's not able to prescribe to himself.
I can assure you, if the Joker commits a murder, it won't be mysterious. He's more the sort to crow about it.
[Which.............. rather undermines John's request to have Pierce go and look for Batman's potential corpse. John's going to pretend like that didn't happen and hope Pierce has forgotten.]
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Of that, I have no doubt. Imagine if one could ask to see all of that information. Quite the stir that could cause I have no doubt as people only have secrets here.
And no one of any level of brilliance can't work their way around the rules, now can they? Addicts are never desperate enough to steal, manipulate or coerce for what they require.
Unless it's Batman, yes? Since you came to me for help and convinced me to search a very specific location for signs of a struggle. Goodness, I doubt you would do that for any reason but you being honestly concerned about Batman.
[He has most certainly not forgotten. However, he does enjoy people outing themselves as liars.]
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Is there a reason you're so worried about addicts, Mr. Pierce? I've been in contact with the other doctors to discuss some of the issues with that and steps we can take.
[And damn, damn, triple damn.]
I thought he might still be alive at that point, Mr. Pierce. The Joker might well have kept it quiet if he'd clubbed the man and tied him up.
[Maybe. Possibly? Probably not. John winces.]
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Considering you've just indicated that the supply of pain medication is running low, I am only concerned that the kids will not have what is left. I like to think I look out for the greater good of the many.
[You can't play this game and win, Doctor.]
But you just said that the Joker would crow about his kills? Which is it?
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The addicts aren't interested in the low-level stuff, Mr. Pierce. That's not what gets you high.
Kills, not tying someone up, sir. I must have misspoken when we talked about it. I was a bit distracted.
[This is bad. This is really bad.]
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What does get you high in a place like this, Doctor Watson?
You do seem to not have your ducks in a row on this matter. What does that say about your potential doctoring skills if you can't even keep details like what you ask someone to do for you? Do you suffer from PTSD?
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I believe Dr. House uses Vicodin. Narcotics, in general, could probably get you up. But I know you're not looking for that, Mr. Pierce.
I don't believe my medical history is any of your business, either.
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And what am I looking for, Doctor? You've clearly come here for a purpose, and I don't yet feel like we've reached the conclusion that you're aiming for.
I don't suppose that it is, unless the lives of your patients could be put at risk because of it.
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You're free to speak with any of my patients if you believe I've been compromised in some way. I'm certain they can reassure you about my prescriptions and my surgical capabilities.
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Then I would like a list of your patient's names in order to investigate this matter.
[No, he just wants a list of names.]
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You're one to talk!
And you can bloody well ask for people on the network to volunteer. I'm not breaking their confidentiality by giving you a list.
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Well at least you have some sense of propriety.
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Let's make a deal, shall we, Doctor Watson?
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[But it wouldn't stop him from destroying you if you get in his way. At least he was being honest?]
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[Well, there's the plan to not be overt out the window. John can't help it. The clandestine sniping is better left to people like Natasha.]
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Is that what you were told? You do realize there are two sides to every story. I suppose because you're emotionally invested, you'll only hurl words and accusations at me because it's easier than investigating other avenues of truth.
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I'm going to tell you a story, Mr. Pierce. It's about a man named Richard Brook. He wasn't a very nice man. In fact, he was very bad man, one of the worst London had ever seen. But no one knew it. Rich Brook was a children's television presenter, you see. Nothing wrong with that. He had a whole portfolio, appearances, awards. There was one problem.
Rich Brook never existed.
Here was a man who could pull on any mask and wear it perfectly. He had the resources at his fingertips and the brain to become anyone he needed to be. One day he was Rich, another day he was just an IT man or a tourist, but most days, on the days when he let his true colors show, he was a spider of a man named James Moriarty.
Rich Brook, James Moriarty, managed to convince the world that he was something that he was very much not, and he used that to bring better men down, to drag them through the mud and put them through hell. Because wouldn't someone, anyone just listen to his side of the story? And he had such a story. People ate it up. It was the story they wanted to hear, a fairy tale complete with a villain and a hero and the unmasking of a king.
You want to know the best way to sell a lie? Wrap it up in truth. You can make someone swallow anything, even yourself, if you make it palatable with the truth.
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And what was Mr. Moriarty's motivations? Why did he do all of these things that he did? Why put on a mask? Why drag other men through the mud? To what end was he playing this apparent hand of his?
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And he stopped him. James Moriarty was stopped. Just like you will be.
But please. Tell me your story, Mr. Pierce. I'm sure it's a good one.
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Was that all? He was a businessman and had no other personal motivations for what he was doing? I'm apologize if I find that a bit too flat. People are complex. They are layers of motivations, some even conflicting each other.
Who did he try to burn and fail?
I'm sensing sarcasm, which means you don't honestly believe any of that statement. I don't waste time on close-minded men, not even ones that I respect.
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