IC contact for wethelost

[devoutish]

Solomons & Melborn
1108 Sweet Cream Street

[Feel free to use this space for letter/package deliveries as well as visits/knocks on the front door!]

Comments

[devoutish]

[Alfie, who's keyed-up from the memory experience as well as just not very tired in general, stays alert. He'll stay on the mattress with Royce, though, cradling him close and staring up at the darkening sky. It's just as well that he's not sleepy, he thinks, because he won't be at all surprised if Royce has nightmares.]

[bywolves]

[ He doesn't sleep well, that's for sure. Eventually he sinks down into actual sleep, but it's restless, and he shifts a lot in his sleep. If Alfie can see his face at any point, his expression is drawn and tense, furrowed. ]

[devoutish]

[Oh no, Royce...

Alfie doesn't plan on waking him up unless he needs to, but he is going to quietly stroke his cheek and nose here, trying to smooth away those furrows.]

[bywolves]

[ The stroking gets him to calm a little. He's not in danger of waking up, at least - Alfie's good at helping with that. But nothing can stop the tears that happen an hour or so later. He mumbles something unintelligible and his breath hitches, body scrunching up as quiet tears drip down his face. ]

[devoutish]

[Oh no, Royce. He'll get to wiping those away, smoothing his fingers over his face, ducking his head to kiss his salty cheeks.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce tilts into the fingers, letting out a shivery noise. The tears don't stop, but he tosses and turns less as Alfie takes care of him. The crying never rises past the tears and occasional shivery breaths, at least.

When the tears do finally subside, he's left clinging to Alfie a little desperately, still fast asleep. ]

[devoutish]

I'm so sorry.

[He murmurs again, because what else can he do? At least Royce is resting. At least Royce is still, for the most part, solid and whole.]

[bywolves]

[ It's hot, which is why Royce is sprawled out on the floor of the living room of their little hobbit hole, in a tank top with his pants rolled up to his knees. It's cooler down here, and besides, nobody but Alfie's really going to run across him like this. He's not embarrassed to be caught completely relaxed. Lady keeps trying to crawl up onto him and sleep on his chest or stomach, and Royce keeps pushing her off him with a grumble. Too hot.

Alfie will find him there, with a pillow under his head and a book in his lap, reading lazily and occasionally pushing his cat (and Bear, too, if the dog's around) off to the side. It's early evening, at least, so the heat is dying down. ]

[devoutish]

[Bear, too, has spent the last hour alternately trying to walk over him or lie down on top of him; apparently, even with all that fur, he's still not feeling overheated. He's given up for now, though, and when Alfie walks through the door, he's flopped out on the floor a few feet away from Royce, panting.]

Some men here wear pants that stop at the knee.

[Alfie comments from the doorway, as he's taking off his shoes. Even with the heat, he dresses pretty much the same as always when he goes out - slacks, a long-sleeved shirt, and a hat. He's unbuttoning the shirt now, though.]

We could get you a pair of those.

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes a face, peering up at Alfie. ]

No. This works fine. [ A beat. ] Can't believe you went outside in long sleeves.

[devoutish]

It's lightweight. Men don't wear these ridiculous "t-shirts" in public, where I'm from.

[Says the man who goes skinny-dipping in the lake sometimes. He heads into the bathroom with his half-unbuttoned shirt, undoing his belt as he goes, and reappears a few seconds later in an undershirt and boxers.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce looks amused when Alfie makes his way back into the room. ]

I can smell you from here. All that sweat. [ Royce teases. ] And here you are, half naked.

[devoutish]

[Rude! Alfie gives his side a shove with his foot, then flops down on the floor next to him.]

I'm in my own home.

[bywolves]

[ Royce shifts to let Alfie lay on his pillow, too. ]

Hm. Guess you are. Where did you go today?

[devoutish]

[Thanks, bro. He shifts onto it, trying to get comfortable. Lying on the floor is hard.]

Took a walk. I found Quark, earlier.

[bywolves]

You found Quark? [ He sounds surprised. ] The one from Norfinbury?

And you didn't immediately take him home? Or did you, while I was out?

[devoutish]

You were out, yeah. I brought him here and fed him some bread.

[bywolves]

[ A pause. ]

He okay? [ Royce didn't know him as well, but. ]

[devoutish]

Not at all.

[He sighs.]

I'd like to have him back. For dinner tomorrow, perhaps.

[bywolves]

[ Royce shifts, glancing back at his book. ]

If you want.

[devoutish]

Would you rather not?

[bywolves]

You can bring him, if you want. I don't know him like you do, so I'll stay out of the way.

[devoutish]

[He frowns, and rolls to face Royce.]

You know I don't want that.

If you'd rather I not, I can bring him something at his, before we have our dinner.

[bywolves]

I want you to do what makes you happiest.

I'm not going to adopt another child. That's all.

[devoutish]

I won't ask you to.