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[ 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.

[ Oh. Maybe Alfie hadn't seen his mailbox, then. ]

KD6-3.7. My handler calls me K. [ And so he calls himself K, since he can't name himself. Then, tentatively: ] I've gotten the impression people from Norfinbury don't like us.

[ Royce has been different, though. ]

[Alfie shrugs, noncommittally.]

We had bad experiences with AIs, but we had one trapped there with us, as well. And myself-- well. I didn't understand how something that was created by man could truly be a living and thinking creature like the rest of us.

[Didn't understand, past tense - and he still doesn't really understand it, honestly, but despite the bluntness he's at least more open to the idea.]

Why not give yourself a proper name, then?

[ It's more that Royce doesn't care what K is. He'd care just about as much if K were an orc or something, which is to say not at all. ]

Still trying to find a good one?

Doesn't really work like that. [ A lack of personhood and free will make it difficult. ] And my handler never cared to name me. [ Alfie's explanation only makes him increasingly concerned about the recent goings-on in Zephyr's world. ]

There's more Norfinbury people being brought in every day... [ But it isn't his own safety he worries about. He isn't the only android in the Meadous. ]

I don't think you're gonna have to worry about attacks on the street, mate. Just a bit of wariness sometimes, that's all. What did House say, exactly?

[ He scowls down into his stew, a bit. ]

Nobody is going to harass you. [ He says, firmly, glancing at K before looking back down at his food. ]

[ There's been a stream of armed newcomers showing up at his door and lurking in his yard. It's sort of hard to assume they all have neutral intentions, but he isn't going to argue the point. Fortunately none have caused any trouble for Connor yet, as far as he's aware, and that's what matters. ]

If he's the worst that shows up, then I'll be glad. [ As for Alfie's question. It requires a little more context for his answer to make sense. ] He knew about the Three Laws of Robotics...

Were they common knowledge in Norfinbury? [ Do Alfie and Royce know what they are, in other words. ]

[Alfie's brow wrinkles.]

They're nothing I've ever heard of, no.

I remember House making a big deal about them a long time ago. Do you remember when people were paranoid about there being a mole in our midst? [ Royce asks Alfie, wrinkling his nose. ] I don't remember what the laws were specifically.

House lived in a world where worlds like ours were fiction. He figured out I was mir by a lucky guess because I said by Mar rather than my god. [ Royce has had several months to figure this out, after reading a lot of earth-based fiction. ] He cheats.

The Three Laws of Robotics state that a robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Robotics became the foundation of android technology in the world I'm from. The laws have largely remained intact when possible, as far as I know. Modified in my case to allow me to do my job effectively. [ Which also means that, in the unlikely event his handler issues him an order to kill a human being, he'll have to obey. He's reluctant to point that out, considering. He's hoping to at least be on good terms with Alfie and Royce, if not friends. ]

House thought it was amusing testing my obedience. [ He tilts his head in lieu of a shrug as he resumes eating. ] Had a lot of questions about what I am. How I bleed. [ While armed with hedge clippers and a knife, that was fun. ] Is that like what he did to you when he guessed what you are?

That was fucking hypocritical of him, seeing as he doesn't like his own obedience tested and all. But I'd wager he was harder on you than he would have been on most others. He doesn't see you as a living, thinking being.

[Which... again, is a mindset that Alfie understands, even though it's one that he's starting to move away from. His eyes flick to Royce, waiting for his answer to K's question.]

House, hypocritical? I'm so surprised. [ Royce says dryly. ]

He didn't ask me how I bleed, but he found a sensitive point and kept pressing it until Alfie had to intervene. [ It was the first time Alfie proved himself to be a friend. ] It was the only thing that could've made me react that way. I wasn't expecting it - I thought he could read my mind.

[ While K is very much alive and sentient, he doesn't actually consider himself a person, which contributes to his being relatively hard to offend when it comes to these things. House had primarily been an annoyance. The mention of Alfie's intervention has him glancing toward him with a look of understanding, thinking they seem rather like himself and Connor in that regard. Well. In several regards. ]

And he continued to escalate things until you killed him. [ If he's got the story straight. It brings him back to his earlier question for Alfie. ] Is that why he's afraid of you? You killed him too?

[ Maybe Alfie murdered him extra-dead compared to what Royce did? ]

I've never asked why he fears me more.

[Alfie says, eyes flicking over to Royce.]

I do know that I remind him of someone from home that he fears; I suppose that's got something to do with it.

Likely because you're more menacing. I've shown my hand. The worst I can do to him is kill him. The worst you can do is exactly that - remind him of someone he fears.

[ It is very clear Royce is annoyed by this. ]

Interesting priorities. [ K says mildly. That annoyance has him deciding not to linger on the topic, and he nods toward his bowl of stew. ]

It's very good, by the way. [ And he's privately grateful for their not being surprised about him eating "people food". Some folks have very strange ideas about what androids can live off of. ]

Ah, I'm glad you like it, mate. Royce here, he does the hunting--

[Alfie elbows him lightly in the ribs.]

-- and the two of us do the cooking together. And for dessert, we'll all have your lovely cake and wine.

I also do the skinning, because Alfie thinks it's gross. [ That's teasing, and probably way exaggerated. ] He's a city boy.

Is that the same wine from before?

It can be a bit gross. [ K says lightly, obviously in jest. In reality he handles his own butchering without issue. He handles most things that are likely to trigger disgust in humans without issue. ]

It's too bad you didn't want to share your meat. [ It's said with a perfectly straight face, and just the faintest hint of amusement, referring to his and Royce's agreed upon trade for the piano lessons. Now Alfie can enjoy the not-quite-innuendo too. ] If you'd have saved me the hassle of skinning. It's the red wine from the Phone Tap, yes.

[Royce gets a good-natured swat on the arm at that comment, even though it's completely true. But K's, though - it actually takes him a second to get it, mostly because he's only passingly familiar with meat being used as a euphemism. Only K's little grin (and, possibly, whatever Rocye's reaction is), gives it away, and he stifles an amused snort.]

Fucking hell-- here, we've got wine of our own, as well. Shall we open up both bottles? Let you try some of the Montemorcey?

[ Royce's reaction is to flush slightly and choke on his food a little. God dammit, K!! ]

Maribor above. [ Royce mutters. He doesn't seem bothered, at least, because he's trying not to grin, rueful. ] Yes, let's drink.

[ These reactions only serve as encouragement. It's nice, feeling like maybe it's okay to let his guard down a bit more than he usually would, though he'll always be careful about any boundaries he's aware of. The precise nature of Royce and Alfie's relationship is something he's still trying to figure out. ]

I won't say no to that. You've already started making your own wine, then? That was fast.

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