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[jumpthegun]

1201 Sugar Plum Grove

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[devoutish]

It's Saturday that's the Sabbath.

[But he gets the sentiment, and appreciates it.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce keeps that in mind, at the mention of it. ]

Mm. We have a February. That isn't a thing I thought would be similar between our worlds. [ A beat. He opens his mouth - and then closes it and looks away. He was going to bring up Emily and her world's calendar, but he doesn't want to, so much. ]

[jumpthegun]

[John doesn't actually know why the months have the names they do, so he just hums thoughtfully as he sucks on a piece of pineapple on his fork.]

Well, I s'pose you could just ask. Not sure if Zephyr's keeping track, but they're using some sort of calendar right now. Seems mostly like Earth's.

[devoutish]

Holidays and dates wouldn't work - those change from year to year. But Saturdays - yeah. I could ask about that. Worth a try, eh?

[bywolves]

Worth a try. [ Royce shrugs a bit. ] Never much has mattered to me what day it is. I'll keep track of how long we're here, though.

[jumpthegun]

Easter is always supposed to be on a Sunday. [Just pointing that one out.] But it's probably easier to just ask instead of waiting for that to come around.

[To Royce:]

I've been tracking the number of days since Sherlock and I woke up here. It's mad to think I've been stuck here longer than I was in Norfinbury.

[devoutish]

You celebrated Easter here?

[That's a surprise.]

[bywolves]

[ Oh, that - he doesn't know how that didn't register. ]

You've been here longer than you were in Norfinbury.

[jumpthegun]

No, I haven't... [John holds up a hand for a moment.] I just mean it's the first holiday I can think of. And Ienzo said they had Easter once I think. It was mentioned on the Calendar he put together. But, yeah... I was only in Norfinbury a little more than a hundred days. It seems like time here goes so much faster.

[And yet, so much more slowly.]

[devoutish]

I didn't mean you personally. The town.

[But okay, Royce's question is probably the more important one here, so he switches to that.]

How long has it been for you here, again?

[bywolves]

[ Yeah, he can't remember. Royce is quiet, just listening. ]

[jumpthegun]

One hundred forty-eight days.

[He's not particularly happy about it, either.]

[devoutish]

Mm.

You even count like it's still Norfinbury.

[Something about that sits uneasily in Afie's stomach.]

[bywolves]

[ Yeah, Royce caught that too, and he doesn't like it much. ]

It's still very much a prison for you. [ Royce says quietly. ] Easier to count the days than think of the time like you might if you were home.

[jumpthegun]

[John balks a bit as he polishes off the last of his fruit salad.] I count the days because I don't know the bloody date.

[But he's not disputing the prison comment.]

[devoutish]

Yeah. That, too. But don't snap at him, he's being sympathetic.

[Always defend the boyfriend.]

[bywolves]

[ Thanks, Alfie. ]

No, clearly I'm being rude just to spite Watson.

[jumpthegun]

[John casts a mutinous look at Alfie, rather than Royce, but relents after a moment or two. He's still agitated from earlier, but letting that run him isn't going to help him.]

Sorry. [The apology is short and directed at Royce. He wants to get up and walk around to work some of this off, but doesn't want to be rude again, either.] Some people like it here. It's not a prison to them.

[devoutish]

Sure it is.

[He stretches his legs out with a little groan.]

They're still stuck here, aren't they. It's just a prison that they like.

[bywolves]

[ Royce watches John for a long moment. He's not that offended. ]

It's not bad as far as prisons go. I'd prefer this one to Norfinbury, at least. [ He spares a quick glance at Alfie, just out of his typical urge to make sure the guy is okay, and then leans forward to rest his arms on the table, folding them so he can rest his head on top of them. ]

Are we walking you home, John? [ This is almost teasing, actually. ]

[jumpthegun]

[John's brows knit as he watches Royce lean in, confusion pushing out most of his other thoughts.]

... What?

[He's really not used to playful Royce. At all.]

[devoutish]

[He gives Royce a nod. He's fine.]

Should do, yeah. He's right.

[bywolves]

You heard me. [ Royce's lips twitch a bit. ] I don't know what you do with guests after they've been over, but I assume walking them home isn't out of the question.

[jumpthegun]

Uh... I'm a grown man, mate, not a young maiden who might be ravaged by villains on the way under the bridge.

[devoutish]

And now he's being courteous. Let him be courteous, mate.