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[obeir]

KD6-3.7
3313 Creampuff Way


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[devoutish]

[Several hours later, there's a scratching sound at his door. If he peeks out the window, he'll see Bear milling around on his front stoop, a note tied to his collar. It reads:]

Would you like a visit, then? Keep the dog and I'll come by, send him back if no.

[obeir]

[ Aww, Bear. He gets a treat and some pats for being a good delivery boy. K would like to borrow him for a while just to hug, really, but he doesn't want Alfie going to the trouble of coming to him. So after making himself a bit more presentable, he takes Bear back home and knocks on the door.

It's a very strange feeling, still, having people show concern for him. But a short visit might be nice — to see what kind of shape Alfie's actually in, too. Royce had been vague about the octopus attack. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie opens the door, eyes widening slightly in surprise before a small smile overtakes his features.]

Ah, there you are. Have you just come to return my dog, or can I convince you to come in for tea, as well?

[He bends to ruffle Bear's ears, moving a bit more stiffly than normal, and when his shirt collar shifts K will be able to see the bruising that still decorates his neck.]

[obeir]

I wouldn't mind the tea. [ A pause, then an attempt at humour: ] Heard you almost got eaten by an octopus. I was curious to see what's left of you.

[ At least Alfie's on his feet, if still obviously recovering from the undersea adventure. It's good to see that maybe Royce wasn't downplaying things too much. ]

[devoutish]

Ah, don't worry; the arm grew back.

[He deadpans, stepping back to let K into the house. Bear follows at his heels, happily nosing at his palm.]

I hope he told you he was heroic and all.

[obeir]

He said something about having to step in. It was that bad? [ Sometimes it's hard to decipher Royce-speak, and he hadn't seemed to want to get into the details either of the times it came up.

K's happy to continue giving Bear all the petting he wants, only pausing long enough to take a seat. ]

[devoutish]

He waved my life, yes.

[Alfie waves K vaguely into the living room, letting him decide where to sit, before stepping into the kitchen. The tea is already pretty much ready, so he just pours a cup for each of them, setting out milk and sugar if K feels like partaking.]

There I was, minding my own business, right, when five tentacles came out of fucking nowhere. Yeah. The thing tried to rip me in two, and strangle me, all at once.

[obeir]

[ As always, K prefers his tea plain. Why try and cover up the flavour with other things? ]

They're unusually aggressive by Meadous standards. I accidentally sort of ate one and all the rest seemed to have it out for me from then on. [ And they probably would've tried eating him, too, if he hadn't been a rather large dragon capable of electrocuting them at the time. Alfie's description has him frowning though, especially combined with the telltale stiff movements. ]

Sounds a lot worse than Royce let on. Did Zephyr have to help heal you?

omg that was supposed to say "saved"...

[devoutish]

[Alfie shakes his head, coming over to settle on the couch. Bear gives him a cursory sniff before quickly turning his attention back to K, who is automatically more exciting because he doesn't live here.]

I went to the clinic. To John. He healed me up well enough.

[He is, actually, pretty surprised that Royce hadn't tried to insist on an insta-healing from Zephyr, but he's not complaining.]

[obeir]

[ Bear's very hospitable and K's definitely going to try and borrow him at some point, just to have company while he gardens or reads. It's convenient, living so close by.

A little dryly: ] That should've made John happy, having something to do.

[ Between Alfie and K both, John's been kept busy the last few months. There is, as ever, the urge to offer his help as well, but he's learned better by this point and instead leans down to sort of hug Bear's head. ]

What happened to the octopus culprit?

[devoutish]

[Alfie lets out an amused snort, another smile tugging at his lips.]

Right. Well, not long after, Royce went off, and when he came back out of the sea, he was dragging the thing behind him.

[Alfie did not witness this, but he kind of wishes he had.]

[obeir]

[ K tilts his head in acknowledgement. ]

I figured he'd take care of the problem. I'm glad it wasn't worse. Bigger octopuses can easily break bones with their beaks, and it sounds like Zephyr's version may be capable of the same.

[ The residents who want a more dangerous world are probably responsible for that decision of Zephyr's. ]

[devoutish]

Mm, and this one may not have been the biggest one down there. There's certainly enough room for bigger ones.

[Alfie settles back with a sigh, wrapping both his arms around his teacup.]

Listen, mate, I did want to tell you how sorry I was to hear about your Connor.

[obeir]

[ Time has done little to ease his raw emotions and it's clearly reflected in the way his expression falls when he sits up from petting Bear. The look settles into a thousand-yard stare directed at the floor as he wonders what he's supposed to say to that. This never gets easier. ]

... Thanks. For caring. [ He eventually manages, uncertainly. ] For— inviting me over, too. But I should probably let you rest. [ What with still recovering from the attack and all. ]

[devoutish]

I'm not gonna make you talk about it.

[Alfie says, lifting a hand in reassurance.]

And you're welcome to stay and chat, if you like; I'll change the subject. But I wanted those words to be said between us.

[obeir]

[ It's very difficult talking about it, and yet it feels somehow worse not talking about it, as though he's doing Connor a grave disservice. Part of the reason why it's been easier keeping to himself for the most part and grieving privately. ]

It's all right. I don't know what to say... What can be said in these situations?

[ He knows Alfie's been through it before with Emily, and possibly also with others he was close to here or in Norfinbury. So at least there's that shared understanding, as terrible as it is to have. ]

[devoutish]

Nothing. Often, there's nothing at all to be said.

[He slumps a little, and Bear looks over at him, concerned, before going back to nudging at and leaning into K's hand.]

There's the cliches, of course, but I'm sure you've heard them already, from others or from yourself. I'm not much of one for cliches, me. Bringing food is the only one I'll stoop to.

[obeir]

[ Seeming to come back to himself a bit, K looks up from the floor to continue petting Bear. In an odd way, he's suddenly reminded of Royce somehow knowing how best to comfort him when they'd talked about this. He could've learned it from Bear, K thinks, privately maybe a little amused by the thought. ]

Gabriel and Phil have been doing that, with food. It's a kind gesture. I just... haven't wanted to eat. [ He admits, sounding regretful that he hasn't been capable of properly appreciating their kindness. Not that he intends to waste the food completely. ]

[devoutish]

You know, I've never asked if you need to.

[He says, looking thoughtfully at K. He knows that he can, of course; he's seen him eating at their dinners often enough.]

[obeir]

I need to for the same reason humans need to. [ K explains matter-of-factly. ] Androids like Connor are different, they have no use for organic food. And... can't actually taste it, anyway.

[ He tilts his head. ] That's why he always gave me his food at dinners and parties.

[ Alas, now he'll only be eating for one instead of two. So much for his plans to get fat during his "retirement". ]

[devoutish]

Yeah, I did know that about him; he was a good sport to come along regardless.

[Though Alfie suspects it had been mostly for K's benefit, he'd liked the man all the same - liked him even more, maybe, because of that.]

You know about the memorial wall?

[obeir]

Over in Bucky's yard, yes. [ He frowns thoughtfully. ] But Connor isn't dead.

[ Even though, considering the world and circumstances Connor was returned to, the probability is much higher than K cares to think about. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie can't help but smile just a little at that.]

That's always been my reaction, yes. But it's helped Royce with Emily. When I brought up the issue with John, he reasoned that memorials are for the dead, but a monument can also be for a living man. Perhaps you could make him a monument, eh?

[obeir]

[ It's surprising to hear that it's helped Royce with Emily being Unlost — K would've thought that would seem too much like giving up on the hope of ever seeing her again, for Royce. But he'll keep that thought to himself. ]

A monument sounds better. A reminder. I could do that... [ In some place that had meaning for Connor here, maybe. Something he can show Connor if Zephyr ever finds him again. ] It'd be nice. Thank you for the idea.

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[He's glad he can help in some way, at least. All too often, that's impossible to do, when friends of friends go missing.

He opens his mouth and leans forward a little, like he's going to say something more; then, changing his mind (or at least considering it), he sits back again.]