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[ Royce laughs. ]

The prettier you are the more likely people are to underestimate you. [ He nudges Alfie back, and scoots over to K to collect his cat. Lady mrowls and jumps to his shoulder. ] You were possibly more graceful than me as a full elf with a bushy beard.

It was an interesting choice. Most went for Dragonborn. [ Compensating for something, he thinks but doesn't say. ]

Is it unusual for elves to have facial hair? [ As he's eyeing Royce's, presumably the result of being half-human. In fantasy novels he knows it's an extremely rare occurrence for elves, but he's curious about the real people from Royce's world. ]

I wanted to be an elf, because of--

[He gestures to Royce. And then he goes quiet, waiting for his answer to K's question.]

I've not seen many. But it was unusual for the ones I've seen to have any hair at all, except for their eyebrows. [ Sniff. ] I'm half. I don't count.

[ —Oh. That detail about why Alfie chose to be an elf is rather more interesting than elven facial hair. It seems sweet. K looks between the two with a slight smile, asking Royce: ] Then were you a human in the game?

[ It's the logical conclusion to draw, clearly. But he also isn't going to ignore what seems to be self-deprecation. ] There's that saying about the best of both worlds. [ Hopefully Alfie won't mind his househusband being complimented like that. ]

[Apparently he doesn't, because he agrees:]

The best of both worlds, yeah. Imagine you bald.

[ ALFIE PLEASE. ]

I've had my head shaved once or twice in my life. Let me assure you it is not a good look for me. [ As for K's question: ] I didn't really play in the game, unfortunately. I was sick for most of it.

Alfie dragged me in on the last day and I went with what I am. I didn't exactly feel like not being able to hear or see.

[ Aw, that's not very imaginative, Royce. K's tone is a little teasing. ] Should've been a gnome and had Alfie carry you everywhere, like I did for Harley.

[ The other part is genuinely puzzling, though, and it shows in his expression. ] None of the races were blind or deaf, from their descriptions.

[Alfie doesn't say anything in response to that - Royce's enhanced senses are his to explain (or not explain) as he sees fit. The stew is pretty much ready by this point, so instead, he'll busy himself with sorting that out, taking it off the heat and starting to portion it into the bowls. K's goodies will finally get some attention here, too - he picks up the bottle of wine, examining it, and then lifts the cover on the cake box to peek in.]

I can hear and see much better than humans can. [ Royce explains. A beat. ] Was that gnome comment a height joke?

[ u callin him short, bucko - no, he knows K isn't, he just likes teasing back. ]

... Oh. Of course. [ It was just hyperbole then. He feels a bit dumb. But to be fair, he just hadn't been assuming Royce was necessarily like the elven fantasy tropes in that respect. He raises his eyebrows, trying not to smile. ] It wasn't, but now that you mention it. He could just as easily carry you around as you are now, huh.

[ To Alfie, when he notices him checking out the cake: ] I asked Phil to make it kosher. In case.

[ Royce had mentioned House harassing Alfie over being Jewish. K remembers details like that. ]

Did you?

[Alfie turns to look at him over his shoulder, surprise - a pleased sort of surprise - naked on his face.]

Thank you, mate; how did you know? Royce told you, I suppose. Or you saw the--

[He gestures to the top of his own head. He's not actually wearing his yarmulke now, and he hadn't worn it in the game world, but he wears it around town often enough.]

[ Royce makes a face at K, playful. It's really almost amazing how much more comfortable he is in Alfie's presence - and how loose he is in his own home. ]

I mentioned you're Jewish, off-hand. I shouldn't be surprised he remembered. [ Royce says, wandering to the table. He scritches at Lady, who purrs like a motorboat. ]

Came up when we were talking about what House did to you both. At least something good can come of it. [ Because the apple cake is definitely good. He got to try the practise-run that Phil baked first.

He'll follow Royce to the table, but wait to either be told where to sit or take whichever place is left after the hosts are seated. The number of times he's been invited to dinner can be counted on one hand with fingers left over, and never with more than one person before, so this is very, very new to him. ]

[Alfie, for one, doesn't direct him to sit anywhere in particular - and it's a pretty big table, with bench seats, so he'll have options. Once all three bowls have been brought over, Alfie slides in next to Royce.]

This, if you were wondering--

[He gestures to his bowl of stew.]

-- is not entirely kosher.

[ Royce also doesn't tell him to sit anywhere. K is free to make his own decisions, as far as Royce is concerned. Lady jumps off Royce's shoulder to go entertain Bear - the three of them will likely hear her mrrrrowl out into the living room, trying to figure out where he went. ]

I'm not a kosher butcher. [ Royce adds, settling in his seat. He has to have room to eat, obviously, so he doesn't get in Alfie's space. ]

[ Sitting across from them seems the best place, so that's where he goes, taking one of the bowls of stew for himself. ]

I read about that — shechita. [ Because he's become increasingly curious about these religious practises. It's something that never really came up in his homeworld, where it's strictly illegal for androids to practise any religion. ] It seems a kind practise, minimising any suffering.

Yeah. Royce is quick and humane about it, mind, but he's not a shochet.

[But now he's curious.]

Did you look this stuff up on my account, or did you read about shechita earlier?

[ Royce is quiet for the moment, waiting for the answer to that question. ]

Because of you. [ He confirms between spoonfuls of the stew. Might as well be honest, even if it may make him seem a bit overinvested to have researched it for only that reason. ]

Didn't occur to me to learn about these things before. If I even could have. Androids aren't permitted to practise religion where I'm from.

You're an android?

[That throws Alfie for a loop, enough that he lets the other subject lie for now. He's met enough extremely advanced AIs to not be completely shocked, but not quite enough to take it completely in stride, either.]

Huh. Suppose I should be more used to this now, shouldn't I.

[ Oops. Royce glances off to the side. ]

Doesn't really change much about him. I didn't think it was relevant.

[ Alfie's surprise has K shifting an uneasy glance toward Royce. You didn't tell him?

He's had the nagging impression Norfinbury refugees aren't very fond of androids. House's line of questioning had only reinforced it. Maybe that was just House, or maybe he should be making his excuses to leave now. The indecision is written on his face as he looks between the pair. ]

I thought you knew. [ Would he have still been invited if Alfie'd known beforehand? ] I don't hide it. Kind of hard to when I don't even have a name, just a serial number.

[He shakes his head at I thought you knew, but lets him go on without interruption.]

Did you name yourself K, then?

No. That's his serial number, shortened.

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