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!]

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[bywolves]

But that isn't always what you need.

If it's not that, then what is it?

[devoutish]

I wish you trusted me enough to share those vulnerabilities that you share with K.

[It kind of comes out on its own; he'd been half-planning to hedge again, and he follows it up immediately with:]

But when it comes to things like this, I don't want you to do anything you don't feel comfortable with just because you feel you should.

[bywolves]

[ A pause, and then Royce sits up, staring down at him. ]

It definitely isn't that I don't trust you. [ Royce says, firmly. He's a little drunk, so his words slur just slightly, but he's genuine. ] I trust you more than I trust myself.

S'not that. It's that it's embarrassing. It's - needy, it takes up too much. You're - you always hold me up. I wanted to give you a break from having to do that. From having to deal with my panic when both of us went through what we did. Even though I know you don't think that way.

[devoutish]

I don't think that way at all.

[It's worth repeating, even if Royce logically understands it.]

[bywolves]

I know. But I do. And if I lay all of it all the time on you I - I feel guilty, and that knot comes back. [ He rubs at his chest. ] And I don't want to feel that way anymore.

[devoutish]

I like that you lean on other people. Not because you're overwhelming and they take the pressure off, but because I like seeing you have people you care for dearly.

[He gives Royce's hand a squeeze.]

But I would go hunting with you any day, if you decided that you wanted to.

[bywolves]

[ He rolls a little closer, resting his head on Alfie's shoulder. ]

I care about K. [ Royce says, bluntly. ] And I care about you. Next time we can go. I'll be better.

[devoutish]

I meant what I said about not having to share what you don't feel comfortable with, mate.

[bywolves]

I know. It's not discomfort.

[devoutish]

You're sure?

[bywolves]

Yes. Told you it's just embarrassing.

[devoutish]

Mmmm. All right.

[Not wanting to do something embarrassing in front of Alfie still feels like not wanting to be vulnerable in front of him, but. He decides to leave it.]

Do you worry often about not giving me enough?

[bywolves]

[ There is a very small difference in just Royce's mind. ]

Mmhm. [ He sighs. ] Not always, but - yeah. Memories of Norfinbury exaggerated that worry.

[devoutish]

Which memories? What part of them?

[bywolves]

After the tower. And towards the end. Especially towards the end.

[devoutish]

You mean the tower with the--?

[bywolves]

Yeah. That one. [ His fingers twitch. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie squeezes.]

You do so much better now than you did then. We both do.

[bywolves]

I know we do. It's - built up. [ He sighs, closing his eyes again. ] I've explained this to you before. I don't wanna talk about it anymore, don't wanna be drunk and sad.

[devoutish]

How shall we make ourselves drunk and happy, then?

[bywolves]

We can watch this movie. [ Royce says, glancing down at it. ]

[devoutish]

Mm, all right. Put in your mysterious theater thing.

[With one last squeeze, he lets Royce's hand go.]

[bywolves]

[ Standing, Royce heads over to the television and sets up the movie - he'd picked it because it sounded like something he and Alfie would do. When he flops down (and he flops, because he's nicely drunk) on Alfie when he gets back to the bed, and Lady promptly settles over both of them. Bear watches them hopefully from the floor. ]

[devoutish]

[Poor Bear gets soundly ignored by Alfie, because clearly to pay attention to him right now would be to encourage him. He drapes his arms lazily around Royce, hooking his chin over his shoulder so that he can see the screen.]

You're my favorite place to be.

[He says, which doesn't completely make sense but shut up. He's pretty tipsy by this point, too.]

[bywolves]

[ It makes enough sense to Royce, who lets Alfie feel the happy little spark that runs through him at the affection. ]

You're mine, too. [ Royce mumbles, resting his head back against Alfie's shoulder. He'll sip at the wine here and there as they watch - but not a whole lot, because he actually finds this hilarious. It's a slow start, but he does actually laugh out loud a few times at the jokes, and he's amused the whole way through. ]