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[ 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.

[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.]

[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.]

[ 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.

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

Ah, be fair to it.

[He says lightly.]

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

[ 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. ]

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

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.

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. ]

[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.]

You can still see his ribs.

[ Says Alfie, nodding at Royce.]

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.

Bucky and Sherlock are still thinner than I'd like, but they're doing better. [And Sherlock has always had issues eating enough, as far as John's concerned.] Stephen's doing all right.

Yeah? Good. Are you giving check-ups?

[ Heurgh. Royce sinks down in his seat a bit at check ups. Like he's five. ]

Yeah. I have a clinic attached to the house and office hours. Had a run of people turn up when I first offered. People here and there since. Those three haven't come in for anything formal for a while, but I've been keeping an eye on them. I can do the pair of you for a physical, if you'd like, but I'm sure you know what's wrong for the mo.

Yeah, I'd like one, if you've got the time in the next few days. I'll pay you for it, of course.

[He's sure Watson will turn that down, but.]

I don't need one. I'm malnourished and the MN poisoning is still wearing off. Doesn't take a doctor to figure that out. [ Royce grouches. ]

[John shrugs.]

As you like. I'm not planning on forcing anyone into it.

I can do you whenever you'd like, Alfie. I'm around in the mornings for it, mostly. And it's a free clinic. You'd be the first one paying if you did.

Wouldn't be a bad idea just to check, mate.

[He says, quietly, to Royce.]

[ Guhhh. Royce doesn't want to. ]

Maybe. [ Royce concedes, annoyed. ] Never had one before and I'm fine.

[While John might not be in the business of twisting arms, it's nice when other people do it for him.]

Physicals are more to set a baseline for where you are and have something to compare against. And it's a way to talk about things that might affect you in the future. I usually start with a medical history for you and your family, and then move on to checking your vital organs, reflexes, things like that.

[Alfie winces, because a family medical history for Royce? That's not going to happen.]

Should be enough to make sure we haven't got any big problems from our time in Norfinbury, shouldn't it?

Not going to get much that's useful from me if you're looking for family medical history. [ He's just saying. ]

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