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You--

[And now those eyebrows go way, way up, and he sits back in his chair, trying not to look too gobsmacked.]

You and Connor, are you on the outs, then?

[ That has K glancing back up with a startled look. ] No, not at all. The opposite, if anything. [ Unless maybe Connor's said something to the contrary to Alfie? But it seems highly unlikely, given how private Connor prefers to be about these matters. ]

And I doubt Royce'd ever... [ He trails off as his brow furrows. Of all the people (and not-people) in the Meadous whom Royce might have or take an interest in, K's pretty sure he wouldn't be included. ] He seems to have enough complications in his life already.

Right.

[It must be one of those open relationships that are all the rage with the kids these days.]

Are you going to? Start something up with Royce, I mean?

[ The question is clearly surprising, though less concerning than the last. It's a reasonable assumption, considering what K admitted.

Is this maybe the part where Alfie warns him to do right by Royce, or else? He's trying not to smile at the thought. Mostly because he's done his best to do right by Royce all along — romantic feelings aren't required for that. ]

Not beyond what we already have. He's never given any indication that he'd even want— [ But he cuts himself off and pauses, raising his eyebrows. ] He's an affectionate drunk, but that hardly counts. Did he say something?

He didn't, no. He may bring it up at some point.

[Royce often ends up spilling his romantic trials and tribulations to Alfie.]

I imagine he has more important things on his mind. [ Such as missing Gwen, the lingering trauma from Norfinbury and the associated memories... Enough complications in his life already, like K said. And since they're on the topic. ]

I went hunting with him. [ Which seems like something Royce would have mentioned to Alfie. K looks to him for confirmation. ] That's why I invited him for drinks, he seemed to need the distraction after that.

[Alfie gives K a pointed look at I imagine he has more important things on his mind. Really, he wonders if he even realizes he's doing it half the time, when he casually puts himself down like that.]

It didn't end well. Yes.

[He's nodding; Royce had indeed mentioned it.]

I also heard you handled it better than John Watson did.

[ K absolutely doesn't realise he does it; he thinks of himself the way he's been programmed to.

Better than Watson? That's... huh.

Leaning his chin against his hands, he's quiet for a moment as he digests that information. It seems strange, with John not only being a human presumably capable of real empathy, but a doctor, two significant advantages he has over an android designed for obedience and murder. ]

It went better than I thought it would. [ He admits, sounding surprised by this fact. ] He warned me he might snap at me— never did. I talked to him to keep him present. Cleaned his hands when the blood was getting to him. I didn't think he'd let me... but he did.

I'm not surprised, mate; he trusts you. You're one of his closest friends.

[ For a moment, K has a look of incomprehension. Royce has become one of his closest friends, but it's still very unexpected to be told it's reciprocated. ] Oh. [ It's a surprised but pleased sort of oh. And then he's quiet for long enough it may seem that's all he has to say, until: ] He's one of mine, too.

What happened with Watson?

[The surprised little oh makes Alfie grin. He and Royce really are entirely too similar sometimes.]

Ah, he can tell you about Watson, if he wants to; it's not really my place, is it.

[ That bad? he wonders. He has some idea of how bad it can get, from things Royce has described. ]

I doubt he'll want to. But after what happened between them during that rain Zephyr caused, I guess I shouldn't be surprised it didn't go well.

Why don't you think he'd want to? I think he would, if you asked.

He doesn't like talking about these things. It embarrasses him. [ With anyone but Alfie, he assumes. Maybe Gabriel, since he's from the same place and Royce's other closest friend. When it comes to most Norfinbury matters, it's hard not feeling kind of like an outsider. ]

Yeah.

[It's true; Alfie can't deny that.]

But you're close, and you saw what you saw.

...I'll ask him. [ While K doesn't sound wholly convinced, it wouldn't be the first time he's been wrong about a friend's willingness to confide in him. He'll trust Alfie's judgment on the matter. He looks down at his hands again as he elaborates. ]

If it had gone poorly with me, that was going to be that. Just the one time. But he agreed to let me come with him again. [ An agreement that seems even more significant now, after finding out about Watson. That Royce is still willing to trust him with this isn't something he takes lightly. ]

[Fleetingly, a little frown crosses Alfie's face - not because he has any problem with the idea of Royce and K going hunting, but because Royce had seemed very unsure about the idea of going with him. The idea that he'd be willing to go with K again, but not with Alfie--

But no, he's not going to talk about that, and it's only a second or two before he forces his face to smooth out again, as even and level as it had been before.]

He'll get better and better with more practice, if he keeps insisting on forcing himself through it. That's what I'm thinking. I only wish it didn't make him suffer so much now.

He will. He'll get through it. And I'll go with him as often as he lets me. [ It's easy to assume the frown is just from worrying about Royce... and yet. It makes him wish he wasn't so tipsy at the moment, because while it helps dull the headache, it also dulls his senses in ways he doesn't like. ]

It's hard on you too, all of this. [ He ventures to guess. He hasn't given up on trying to offer Alfie a shoulder to lean on, too, despite invariably being turned down. He just attempts to be more subtle about it now. ] Do your hands still bother you? [ The shaking, he means. ]

[He lifts a hand to show K; it is, at least for the moment, still and steady.]

Sometimes. Yeah. But less than they used to, and not at all at the moment. Time and distance, I suppose; that does the trick.

Time and distance, the panacea for most ills. [ It probably sounds funny coming from someone barely a couple years old, but even K understands the truth of it. The good news makes him smile. ]

I'm glad it's getting better. I think it'll be the same for Royce. [ Especially because Royce occasionally accepts help from others. He isn't sure if Alfie does that with anyone but Royce, but is hesitant to actually ask. ]

I'm sure, yeah. And having friends come around like this - that's a help.

[ So he has been a help, in some way. It has him looking noticeably happier. ]

If you ever do want more than that... Like how Royce lets me hunt with him. [ Just putting it out there again. It's been long enough since the last time he offered for it to hopefully not seem like pestering. ]

Are you offering to hunt with me, K?

[He knows very well what he means, but he wants him to come right out and say it.]

[ Tricksy gangster.

The question makes K hesitate only because he'd thought Royce was responsible for the household hunting chores. Maybe Alfie's trying to help him out? ] If you'd like me to come with you, yes. [ Preferably sober, though. ] Or anything else you might want help with. You hunt?

Ah.

[Alfie drums his fingers on his knee, eyes on K.]

So it's about help. Always help, with you. When you were built, what sort of purpose did your creators have in mind for you?

[It sounds like a non sequitur, but he has a point here, he swears.]

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