Charlotte was quiet for a moment, considering.

"Will there be mint tea?" she asked. "And will there be many other humans about?"

"There will be mint tea, a few types if I recall correctly, and there shouldn't be many other humans around. Maybe one or two besides the guy we're going to meet."

"...Perhaps it will be okay," Charlotte acquiesced. Mint tea sounded lovely, as did fresh scones. She could put up with people for that.

Bree nodded, relieved, and sent John a quick text telling him that plans were good on her end, in between working on dinner for the two of them.

John grinned a bit as he read the text, and sent one back that everything was set and he'd meet her then. Then he glanced over at Sherlock, who was sprawled across the couch.

Sherlock didn't lift his head, instead busy contemplating a ruby he had set up where the light glimmered off it. He tilted his head a bit before he snorted and rolled over onto his side instead.

"Sherlock," John said after a moment. "I'm meeting someone for tea tomorrow, do you want to come?"

Sherlock did look up at that. "You?" he asked. "You're meeting someone? Who and where?"

"Yes, Sherlock, I actually met someone," John replied. "A rather nice girl at the group meeting earlier. We agreed to meet for tea."

Sherlock made a face. "You shouldn't go," he said. "Say you got sick."

"Sherlock, I can't just up and cancel, tea was my idea," John protested. "Besides, it's just tea. It's not like we're getting together for a shag or something."

Sherlock made another face. "Fine, I can see you are going to be stubborn," he said, pouting and settling in for a good sulk.

John sighed.

"Come on, now," he said, "there's no reason to be that way. It's just tea."

"You said it was just dinner last time," Sherlock snarked. "And that turned into two months."

"Sherlock--" John sighed again. "Humans are not like dragons, Sherlock. Humans occasionally do need the company of other humans."

"You go see other people," Sherlock said dismissively. "At those meetings. And when we're out." He shrugged.

"It's not the same, Sherlock," John replied. "Now, you can come with me or not, but I'd like it if you did. Bree is likely going to bring her partner, as well."

Sherlock grumped. "What kinds of tea do they have?" he asked. Because he could be extremely picky when he wanted to be.

"Several," John replied. "I'm sure they'll have something you like. And they have fresh scones."

Sherlock huffed. "Very well," he groused. "But we're not staying if I don't like the place."

"Hopefully there will be another dragon there for you to commiserate with," John said. "Just please behave, Sherlock? I don't want it to be a repeat of the pub incident."

"I make no promises," Sherlock said with an indignant sniff. Because, really, it hadn't been his fault at that pub.

"I just ask that you try," John said.

Sherlock nodded, rather grudgingly, and went back to sulking for a bit. At least he'd get tea out of it, and he could get John to leave whenever.

John nodded in return, and went back to settling in for the night. The next day, he herded Sherlock towards the tea shop, looking around for Bree.