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[jumpthegun]

1201 Sugar Plum Grove

Comments

[jumpthegun]

So, you don't need my help. That's really all you needed to say.

[He knows Alfie's probably making a point about them not being so different, but he's going to ignore that for the moment, thank you.]

[devoutish]

I've got a knife, as well.

[He flips up his hem on the other side, showing off the hilt of a very ornate-looking ivory dagger.]

But that's not what I said. I'm having a think about it.

[jumpthegun]

So've I. I'm guessing Royce has fifteen knives on him at any given time.

[There's a switchblade knife that he pulls from his pocket briefly.]

And it already seems like you've got it covered. What are you thinking about?

[devoutish]

Thinking about having you along regardless. You've been the police; why not try the other side of it, eh?

[Inviting him over to sincerely mend fences, and then immediately instigating: it's the Alfie Solomons way.]

[jumpthegun]

I've worked with the police, Alfie. I've never been a police officer.

[devoutish]

Yes, yes, yes. Do you think you could menace a beetle with a gun, if you needed to?

[Now he's definitely trolling.

[jumpthegun]

[John rolls his eyes.]

I already have. Flynn didn't much like it.

[devoutish]

Did you really?

[He raises his eyebrows, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.]

I haven't heard this. Tell me about it?

[jumpthegun]

[Really, Alfie?]

There's not much to tell. There was a Beetle blocking him from getting into the library, so I shot near its feet. It panicked and skittered off to the side. Flynn was trying to reason with it and freaked out a bit. Also tackled a few of the Beetles that were stopping Royce getting where he wanted to. Me not taking it especially seriously pissed him off, though.

[devoutish]

Yeah, I heard about that bit. You should tell him about the gun, though.

[jumpthegun]

Why? He doesn't like guns.

[devoutish]

It's the principle of the thing, innit. You took them seriously enough to shoot at them.

[jumpthegun]

Not... really. I mean, it was just the easiest way to scare them wasn't it?

[devoutish]

That you cared about scaring them at all means something, I should think.

[jumpthegun]

[Jon sighs.]

I'll mention it. Still don't think it'll help much. He needles, y'know? Like you. Has to get at the reason behind it. And if it's not good enough for him, then anything you do doesn't mean anything.

[devoutish]

Mmm. Do you think he's picked that up from me?

[jumpthegun]

Yes. [Flatly.] You are a terrible influence on people. Look how you got Ecks talking.

[devoutish]

[In a sketchy imitation of Eck's flat tone:]

All right, mate. Yeah.

[jumpthegun]

[His lips flicker as he tries hard not to smile.]

Ruining the youth, Alfie. Ruining the youth. You and House.

[He might be needling just a tiny bit.]

[devoutish]

Royce has picked up the "yeah", too; I'm ruining the elders, as well.

[jumpthegun]

Cockneys, you lot ruin things all the way down, don't you?

[John shakes his head.]

Bloody plague on the English language, yeah, mate? Ack! There's me doing it, too! You're infectious!