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]

No. Not to my knowledge, no. What do you mean, they got wiped out?

[voiceinthephone]

[A haunted look takes over Phil's expression as he cuts a slice of cake]

Murdered, sacrificed, no longer living. I dunno if my friends survived. One was stolen before the massacre.

[devoutish]

Have any of the dead found themselves here, alive again?

[voiceinthephone]

None of them as far as I know. I keep an eye out anyways, might need a good meal and a familiar face.

I'm sorry for laying all this on you.

[devoutish]

Well - try to keep things like that inside, and it all comes dumping out sooner or later.

[At least, that's how Alfie is assuming this is going down for Phil. He's pretty used to men being really into repression.]

You're wanting to stay here for good, then? Keeping an eye out for your people?

[voiceinthephone]

You bet I'm staying here for good. I'm not letting my old mistresses take me so easily...just like you're not going to let Norfinbury steal you right back.

For a mob kinda guy, you're all right.

[devoutish]

You barely know me, mate.

[voiceinthephone]

I know enough to know I can trust you. Don't be too much of a hard-ass...the fact that you're here says a lot more than your words.

[devoutish]

[Alfie gives an incredulous little scoff.]

We've talked for ten minutes, you've heard I'm a gangster, and you know me well enough to trust me?

[voiceinthephone]

Are you willing to prove me wrong?

[Phil isn't afraid of Alfie or any reactions that could with his questions. He'd be disappointed though]

[devoutish]

No, no, that's not my point. But you're overly trusting, aren't you. Were you always like this?

[voiceinthephone]

...Maybe...

[That's a yes. He let a serial killer in because he gave a good phone interview. He trusted and acted in good faith to a company that was blatantly hiding crimes.]

Yes, I was.

[devoutish]

You've had a long time to learn not to be, then, and you haven't. You're a lost fucking cause, mate.

[His tone is pretty jovial, though.]

[voiceinthephone]

[If it wasn't because of the joking tone, Phil would've been hurt. And part of him acknowledged that yeah, he was a lost cause.]

Hey, this lost cause can kick ya out if he feels you're being too honest with him.

[devoutish]

Ah, well, don't do that. This pie is to delicious to give up.

[He lifts his fork in Phil's direction in a kind of toast.]

I'd like to take some back to Royce, if that's all right. He's not always one for sweets, but--

[voiceinthephone]

I'm very glad my pie's worth it.

[He ponders for a bit before he starts to set up a small box of assorted sweets and pie slices.]

These should at least help him find one thing he likes. People have a sweet tooth whether they know it or not.

[devoutish]

Oh, I'm gonna find that thing if it exists, yeah. I'm gonna be cooking him up some of my own pastries, when I get the ingredients for them.

[He leans over the counter to get a look at what Phil is putting together - a little surprised, but genuinely grateful.]

Thanks, mate.

Wrap?

[voiceinthephone]

Anytime, and my kitchen's open if you ever need any ingredients. I know how much of a hassle some things are to get in here.

Save for alcohol.

[For all their previous bickering and discussion, Phil offered a kind smile for the mobster.]

o7!

[devoutish]

I'll be back to barter eggs away from you soon, then.

[He tips his hat to Phil, then stands.]

Think I'll go put these away, now. Take care.

[bywolves]

[ Like always, he's cold after he revives.

They go home, after they take down the worm. Royce is completely silent - he'd helped fight, but he hasn't spoken since before he died. It's not the dying that gets him, because he's used to that (it's a little bit how violent it was). No, it was where he went, for a split second. The Nightmare, he thinks. He was alone. And it was - it was.

When they get back to the house, Royce goes to the bedroom, knowing Alfie will follow. Bear follows as well, and Royce doesn't say a word when the big dog jumps up after him onto the bed with a quiet whine. And maybe to Alfie's surprise, Royce actually wraps his arms around Bear's neck, shivering. It's okay. He's alive. It's fine. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie would have carried Royce the whole way - had been planning on it, actually, but then Royce had started walking on his own and he wasn't going to tell him not to. So he just follows, sticking close, wrapping an arm around the other man's shoulder if he'll let him.]

Once they're back and in their bedroom, he drapes the warmest blanket they have around Royce, tucking it around his shoulders.]

Here you go.

[bywolves]

[ Royce doesn't answer, resting his head against the scruff of Bear's neck. He hunches into the blanket, staring down at the ground, and then reaches a hand out to Alfie and tries to get him to get onto the bed. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie obliges without hesitation, sitting close and putting that arm around him again, burritoing him in the blankets.]

Royce.

[It's quiet, a near-whisper.]

[bywolves]

[ He drags in a slow, steadying breath, and Bear rumbles low, snuffling at Royce's face. Royce shifts away from Bear to curl into Alfie's side, burrowing, hiding his face in the crook of Alfie's neck. Bear flops out in Royce's lap, and partially in Alfie's. ]

I'm here. [ Royce says, in that same near-whisper. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[His voice cracks, and he opens up one side of the blanket to bring himself into it, cocooning them both.]

What do you remember--?