devoutish | IC contact for wethelost

[ It's a while after the tree has been here. And after all the dreams in that strange forest world, there are certain things that have been weighing heavily on Royce. He has a lot of nightmares. They seem to surge up and come in droves, and they're all based around two things, two of the worst things Royce has ever been through - Norfinbury, and Manzant.

It's the worst when they combine together. Alfie probably wakes to Royce thrashing a few times, or to an empty bed, with Royce out in the kitchen curled up in the booth-table with a cup of coffee, trying to keep himself awake.

The only way to get these out of his head, he thinks, is to go through it again. Like listening to a song that's been stuck in your head. There's really only one person - well, one person here - that he trusts to pull him out if it gets too bad. And... well, he wants Alfie to see it. He's been meaning to.

So one afternoon (after a night of particularly terrible sleeping patterns), Royce goes to find Alfie, leaf in hand. ]

[Royce will need to look beyond the house to find Alfie, because he's out trudging through the snow, on the way back from the library with some books and movies he's borrowed for Emily ("borrowed"; time will tell whether he ever gives them back). The paths are shoveled, but he's going slowly, tapping his cane out in front of him to test for icy patches. No matter where he sees Royce - coming toward him along the path, maybe, or just peeking at him through the window - he'll lift a hand in greeting and call out:]

Cold out today!

[ There ain't no way in hell Royce is going outside. Not right now. In fact, the only thing that can make Royce go outside is Alfie trying to make his way over an icy patch. Royce is out the door in seconds, hurrying to Alfie's side and hovering close to make sure that Alfie doesn't fall. Give him a heart attack, why don't you. ]

Cold out every day. [ Royce mutters, trying to carefully lead Alfie back into the house. ]

I'm fine, I'm fine. Not an invalid, am I.

[He waves a hand at Royce in a shooing motion, but doesn't actually try to stop him from taking his arm or helping.]

Everything all right? You were hovering at the door.

[ Ice is slippery even if you're an elf, Alfie. Huff. Royce does take his arm. ]

I'm fine. I was waiting for you to get home.

Was there a reason for it, or did you just want to see me?

Both. [ He sighs. ] I want to show you something. Are you busy?

I'm not, no. What is it?

[ Royce hesitates, and then leads Alfie into the house. He settles on the couch, and then shows Alfie one of the Memory Tree leaves he's got in his palm. ]

[Based on the way that Royce is acting, he knows it has to be a serious one. He slides a hand under Royce's, cradling it as Royce cradles the leaf.]

Come up to the treehouse with me.

[He knows Royce likes the treehouse best; knows it makes him feel safe.]

[ It's probably a better place, anyway. Royce hums soft, and stands back up. ]

Yeah. All right. [ Treehouse it is. He pauses, though. ] It's - a bad one. So if you don't want to see something awful right now, tell me.

[Alfie stands with him, and doesn't let go of Royce's hand.]

I do wanna see, yeah.

Mm. [ Okay. Royce sighs, and then pulls Alfie along with him back outside and to the treehouse. He sticks close and keeps quiet, mostly, on the walk. He's lost in his own head a bit. But he'll lead them just fine. ]

Will you tell me about it?

[Alfie says quietly, after they've been walking for a few minutes.]

It's Manzant. [ Royce says, quietly. He rests his head against Alfie's shoulder as they walk, a bit clumsy. ] At the worst of it.

It's in my head and I need to lock it back up. This is the only way I can think to do it, and - I've been meaning to show you what it was like, anwyay.

[Alfie nods, slowly, tightening his grip on Royce's hand.]

-- All right. Yeah. All right.

Are you sure? [ Royce asks, not looking at him. ] I'd understand if you didn't want to.

[He rests his cheek against Royce's head, sandwiching him between his face and his shoulder.]

I'm absolutely sure, mate. You show me whatever you wanna show me.

[ Royce hums, and takes Alfie with him, slowly, to the treehouse.

When they get there, he sits on the bed, making himself comfortable, and then he offers the leaf out to Alfie. His expression is vaguely tense, but resolved. Let's go, buddy. ]

[Alfie settles next to him, fussily arranging the blankets over Royce's legs and around his shoulders before taking the leaf. He wants to make you comfy, buddy.]

[ Cute. Royce sort of smiles a bit at the fussing. Carefully, he settles down against Alfie, and then, after glancing up at him to make sure he's ready, pulls on the leaf.

It breaks. And they go under.

When Alfie comes to, he'll find himself in what is clearly an underground tunnel. It's damp and smells salty, like the ocean, cold in that cave way where it's musky and hard to breathe. There's nobody in this part of the tunnel, but there's the sounds of people talking, murmuring to each other, the sounds of metal hitting a cave wall down the way. It's barely lit in here, a few torches on the walls, but even with those, it's hard to see. There's no sign of Royce quite yet, but he has to be close. ]

[Dream or not, Alfie's not wild about moving even an inch until he gets an idea of where Royce - he doesn't want to approach those voices and discover that they're a marauding band of people who have been driven insane by years underground. He stays put and squints into the darkness, trying to see if he'll be able to make out more once his eyes adjust.]

[ When his eyes adjust, he can see a few crevices in the tunnel walls. They're not big, but looking closely reveals that there are people hunched up in some of them. Three, maybe four - one of them is quietly sobbing to herself closest to Alfie.

But down the way a bit, there's a man in rags, curled up, fiddling with the manacles around his wrists. He's got a shaved head and more angular features than normal, but - it's definitely Royce, trying to pick the lock of the chains. ]

[Alfie approaches slowly, not looking at any of the people he passes by, no matter how miserable they are - all his attention is on Royce. When he's a few feet away, he says his name quietly.]

Royce.

[ Royce hears him coming before he even says anything. He freezes when Alfie speaks up, and then looks up at him, expression harsh, sharp. There's no recognition in his eyes. ]

Not my name. [ Royce says, in a low voice, ground down and raw. ] Go away. Not helping you with anything.

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