"You could have just taken plates from the house." Alex would be surprised to know that Richard did, in fact, own a picnic basket. Once. He wouldn't be able to tell you where it is now. Probably sold or thrown out or somewhere under a million forgotten things from the past of a happy husband and father.

Still, he unwraps his sandwich and takes a bite, chewing thoughtfully before asking. "Better?" Because really, this was all Alex being Alex rather than anything designed for him.