Charlotte settled back as well, watching him with a matching smirk. The night was looking up a bit.

John couldn't help it, he laughed.

"We got kicked out of a pub once because Sherlock can't keep his observations to himself," he said. "He ended up starting a brawl."

Sherlock pulled a coin out of his pocket and flicked it over to her with a practiced movement.

Bree had to laugh at that, shaking her head.

"Sounds about right," she said with a grin. "Sounds like you've had about the same amount of trouble I've had."

Charlotte snatched the coin out of the air and examined it curiously. It looked similar to what she had in her own hoard. She studied it for a few moments, and then flicked it back at him. It was his, after all; she wasn't a thief.

"Sounds like," John agreed. "Must be the breed of dragon, I've heard of others who haven't had this much trouble."

Sherlock smirked and tossed it a few times, catching it each time, before tossing it over to her. New game, if a bit silly.

"Yeah. I know fire breathers are unruly. Most other dragons aren't quite so unruly, or so large." Bree shrugged.

Charlotte smirked back and caught it. She flipped it around a few times, letting it glitter and flash in the firelight, before tossing it back.

"True," John said. "But I wouldn't trade Sherlock for anything."

Sherlock smirked and put a spin on it as he tossed it back to her. It would still end up near her chair, but not quite as easy to catch as before.

"Yeah. Charlotte has been great, overall." Bree smiled a bit. Although Charlotte hadn't been her first dragon companion, something that not many people knew.

Charlotte's eyes followed the coin, and her arm shot out to catch it. She had to lean over the arm of the chair, but she did catch it. She looked back at Sherlock with a bit of a competitive gleam in her eye, and she flicked the coin back at him the same way he did to her.

John nodded.

"We're lucky dragons allow themselves to be partnered," he commented. "Though I shudder to think what Sherlock would be like without any sort of companion."

Sherlock smirked and waited until the last moment to move, his arm whipping out as he caught the coin and pulled it back in to himself. He opened his hand to let the coin gleam for a few moments before he tossed it back over to her.

"I think they had an ultimatum," Bree said quietly. "Be partnered off or be sent away or exterminated. But you're right, we are lucky they cooperate as well as they do."

Charlotte's smirk gradually changed to something more like a smile. She had to admit, she was kind of impressed. His reflexes were very good, and he obviously had a taste for valuable things. She blew another smoke ring at him teasingly.

"There is no doubt in my mind that they had an ultimatum," John agreed. "From what I understand, the government had the wild breeding grounds in-hand to use as leverage."

Sherlock actually chuckled, using a bit of steam to blow at her again.

"It wouldn't surprise me," Bree said, shaking her head. She didn't really agree with having forced the ultimatum on them, but then, she wasn't in charge.

Charlotte grinned a bit. Well. It seemed like Sherlock wasn't a bad choice of companion at all.

"I keep expecting to get a letter in the mail calling Sherlock for breeding," John admitted. "He's been of proper age for a while now, after all. Though I can't imagine he'd be pleased about it."

Sherlock smirked and settled in, curling up in his chair and getting comfortable.

"Same for Charlotte. I'm actually kind of surprised, I would have thought they'd call her in almost as soon as she was of age, but it's been a little while." Bree shrugged. "The longer they put it off, the better. She's going to throw a fit about it."

Charlotte settled in as well, although she kept an eye on the fireplace.

"I'm sure," John said. "She doesn't seem the type to easily submit to breeding."

"She won't, when the time comes." Bree sighed. "I am not looking forward to that at all."

"I'm sure you'll manage her alright," John said. "With minimal collateral damage, I'm sure."

"Hopefully." Bree shook her head and paused when they reached the restaurant, glancing over at John. "Well, no more talk of that before I go on a rant about the rules." She grinned at him.

John chuckled and nodded.

"Of course," he said. "Let's go and enjoy dinner."

Dinner was very enjoyable, and Bree was a little disappointed they eventually had to leave and walk back home.

John was also a bit disappointed, and he made sure they took their time getting back to the flat.

"Well, the flat is still standing," he joked as they finally got there. "That's a good sign. Not even a smoking window."

"That's an excellent sign," Bree said with a grin. "No fire trucks, either. This is all good, I like this."

"They're behaving almost too well," John said. "I'm almost suspicious."

"I would be suspicious if I didn't know that Charlotte wouldn't intentionally misbehave, certainly not to the extent that someone else is involved," Bree said contemplatively. "I wonder if they're just getting along?"

"I'm certain they're getting along," John said. "Otherwise, the building would be smoldering."

"Yeah. Well, let's go investigate." Bree pulled out her key and went to go check on the two, heading up the stairs to her flat and unlocking the door.

John followed Bree up to the flat, and looked around to make sure nothing had been charred while they were away.

Charlotte was draped across her chair, absently flipping a coin in one hand with a book in front of her. The fire in the fireplace was still going strong.