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[jumpthegun]

1201 Sugar Plum Grove

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[bywolves]

[ Royce really wants to bring up Sherlock, but he also knows John will shut down completely if Royce pushes too hard. He's silent on that front. ]

You realize you've also named about half the people here, if the headcount I've done is accurate.

[jumpthegun]

Half the people here are suspicious, including you two. I don't want anyone to accuse you of snooping though, Alfie. Some of the reasons aren't ones likely to come up in conversation. [He knows he's being contrary and Alfie is going to call him on it, but John will have his moment of being a petty bastard, thank you.]

[devoutish]

[Alfie just gives him a look. It's a nonverbal calling-out. Are you feeling appropriately chastised, Watson?]

[bywolves]

I've done nothing suspicious in my life, John.

[jumpthegun]

Hah! [The bark of laughter breaks some of the tension in the room, and John grins at Royce. It's more aggressive than friendly.]

Killed Sherlock. Pair of psychics who can read minds. He does some weird perception things, turned a room cold on me and disappeared once when he was pissed off. He can blow himself up and took out most of his house along with one of the locals here.

[devoutish]

[Alfie grins too, but it's an amused and proud grin. That was a good one, bud.]

Are we matching up names with this information...?

[bywolves]

[ He just gives John a little grin in return, something shitty and maybe a little mean. ]

Don't know Justin or Sasha, but Milla was the woman we ran into near the food trees. The one who -- [ You know. Reminded him physically of Gwen. He waves his hand vaguely. ]

Ienzo practically explained the Meadous from top to bottom to me. I've heard about the explosions here and there. Have we met Xanthous?

[jumpthegun]

Gave you a list of names and a list of things I've seen or know, respectively. Enough to be getting on with. So, unless you need me for anything else? [He's going to leave while he only wants to punch one of them without actually doing it.]

[devoutish]

Watson--

[He says, a little exasperated.]

We haven't got perfect memories, you realize. You can't rattle off a list of six or seven names and then give their crimes, and expect us to match them up.

[bywolves]

[ Royce rolls his eyes and lets them argue, settling back and thinking about the people he's run into so far. This is how it'd been, isn't it? ]

[jumpthegun]

Whoever said the word 'crime,' Alfie? [He blinks and smiles again, clearly agitated and getting more-so by the moment.] Justin killed Sherlock. Milla and Sasha are psychics. Ienzo's the one who can chill a room and disappear, and Xanthous is the one who explodes. Good enough? Lovely. I should get back to take Black Bart out for his evening walk.

[He hasn't been here that long and Sherlock will take care of that. But he's getting more annoyed than he knows he should be right now, and Alfie has a bad habit of needling. Contrary to what it may appear, John doesn't actually want to go off on him. His gaze shifts toward the door, then toward the other exits available in the room before refocusing on Alfie.]

[devoutish]

Thank you.

[He sits back.]

Stay. We'll change the subject, eat your fruit that you've brought us.

[bywolves]

[ Royce just looks unimpressed, settled back. He needs to behave himself, he knows, but his jaw is definitely working with how much he's keeping back. ]

Rude to dine and dash, Watson.

[jumpthegun]

[He could just leave. There's no compelling reason to stay apart from manners. Unfortunately, manners are an important part of John's life. The doctor stands abruptly, but it's to stalk into the kitchen. He pulls down three bowls and splits the fruit salad up among them. Royce and Alfie have bowls set down in front of them with a little more force than may be strictly necessary. The forks that John grabs next are practically thrown at them before John sits back down and spears a piece of pineapple in his own bowl.]

You have a lovely house.

[Look at him changing the subject through gritted teeth.]

[devoutish]

[Alfie spears an apple slice, twirling the fork in his fingers.]

It has hot water, all the fucking time.

[This is still a novelty for him, okay.]

[bywolves]

[ Okay, Royce now looks amused. John is a big baby, in Royce's opinion, and he doesn't make any effort to politely hide his expression when Jonh comes back with the bowls. For now, Royce doesn't touch his. ]

Has a bed with sheets and pillows. And a stove. [ He glances at the kitchen again. ] Things actually work, here.

[jumpthegun]

Yes. It's very nice for a cage. [He's annoyed enough not to be particularly careful about his comments or tone.]

[devoutish]

Ah, be fair to it.

[He says lightly.]

It's more of a holding cell, isn't it?

[bywolves]

[ Royce doesn't bother with a fork, just grabs a piece of fruit from his bowl and pops it in his mouth. He agrees with Alfie, though, gesturing vaguely at him. ]

[jumpthegun]

People have been here for four years, Alfie. I dunno how long you've ever been in a holding cell...

[devoutish]

No, listen, I'm not gonna try to convince you to settle down and make a new life here, mate. We're all going to get enough of that from the rest.

[bywolves]

Neither am I.

We all have things we're looking to get back to. For now, this place is... it's fine. [ After everything, he's just glad for a bit of a rest. ]

[jumpthegun]

[John relaxes just slightly at that reassurance. It would have been too much to be getting that sort of thing from everyone else and people from Norfinbury.]

Yeah. Got my weight up here. And my eye back. [Which is something, certainly.]

[devoutish]

You can still see his ribs.

[ Says Alfie, nodding at Royce.]

[bywolves]

As you're so fond of telling everybody, yes. [ Royce says dryly, taking a piece of apple from Alfie's bowl as punishment. ] Can see yours, too.