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[devoutish]

Yeah?

[That's it, that's all you get.]

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[devoutish]

What a family. Have you met the parents?

[jumpthegun]

No. Though, apparently, Sherlock thinks I have. Reckon they were over sometime when I was out. He doesn't notice when I'm gone sometimes.

I can't even imagine what they'd be like. Except posh.

[devoutish]

Wealthy?

[jumpthegun]

He works for free for the police and doesn't care about money. His coat must have coast £300, he wears tailored suits, and spends far too much money on products for his hair. I'm pretty sure he's got a trust fund or an allowance or something. He doesn't talk about it, but he's definitely not poor.

[devoutish]

Goodness. Does he pay your rent?

[jumpthegun]

No. [There's a brief flare of irritation in his voice, followed by a pause.] Sometimes. When work was light. I paid him back, though. We each pay for half of everything. He was looking for a flatmate because flats are expensive in London. That's how we met.

[John isn't really sure how to square that with what he knows of Sherlock's financial situation, but this isn't really Alfie's business, anyway.]

[devoutish]

Only teasing a bit, mate. Him more than you.

[jumpthegun]

[John huffs quietly.]

Money's not the best thing to tease about, mate.

[God knows he's had enough trouble balancing it since getting out of the army. A pension check only gets you so far, even with military discounts and the like.]

Not all of us can run successful bakeries.

[devoutish]

You think I'm wealthy?

[jumpthegun]

No. That jewelry you wear, those rings and the like are the most expensive things you own, I'd guess, and they look like heirlooms. I think you're probably better off than some, though, with a steady income and a business that was already a well-run machine when you took it over.

I don't know you well enough to know where exactly you fall, but you're no high society elite. You're not scraping by, either. Somewhere in the middle, right?

[devoutish]

Somewhere in the middle. Yeah.

[Watson has it pretty well summed up.]

[jumpthegun]

I've got a pension back home from the Army. Covers about half of what it needs to. When I was working with Sherlock, I couldn't hold down a regular job. I got most of our cases through my blog, but when he was in one of his sulks and said every case was too boring to take, things got a bit lean.

[Trials of relying on someone else and their moods for your own paycheck.]

[devoutish]

Fucking hell. You shouldn't stand for that.

[jumpthegun]

What? [There's an honest moment of confusion as John figures out what exactly Alfie's getting upset about.]

I'm the one who tied my livelihood to him. I can't exactly complain when he doesn't want to work.

[devoutish]

Yes, making you partners. Making it not only his decision.

You could leave. Get reliable work, do better for yourself.

[jumpthegun]

Well, it's a bit of a moot point now.

[Just pointing that out.]

Even if it weren't, I was helping him do something important. It wasn't about the money, and he helped cover for me on the basics when I came up short. [Humiliating as it was when he had to ask.] I sure as hell wouldn't leave him. He's my best friend as well as my partner, y'know?

[devoutish]

Mm.

[Just make sure he treats you like one too, Sherlock.]

Loyal man.

[jumpthegun]

He's saved my life so many times in so many ways. He's earned it. Reckon you've got your own men like that, hmm?

[devoutish]

Well - I haven't got a partner. I've got underlings. But I picked my right-hand man for a reason.

[jumpthegun]

Is he your friend? Or is that the sort of thing that's hard to come by in your position?

[devoutish]

More of a protégé. But we're friends, in a way. Yeah.

Here, there's Royce. He's more of a partner than any I've had since the war.

[jumpthegun]

He's a difficult man. I'm glad you've got each other, though. I can tell he cares about you a lot.

[devoutish]

He drives me up the fucking wall.

[But there is absolutely fondness in Alfie's voice.]

He means well, with me.

[Not necessarily with everybody else, but...]

[jumpthegun]

[That certainly sounds familiar. John's own lips quirk up in a soft smile, even if Alfie can't see it.]

I'm sure he does. At least they make it worth it.

Is Duster doing any better with the mania at all?

[devoutish]

If anything, he's getting worse. He's not sleeping. He's insisting he doesn't need it - but his body's gonna crash, even if his mind doesn't.