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

[bywolves]

It's not - is it not like this for you? [ He figures he's suffering more because of his sensitive hearing. Royce presses his forehead against Alfie's, trying to settle his heartrate down. ]

[devoutish]

Not this bad, no. Listen - I can take you to Watson.

[bywolves]

No. [ Royce says sharply. ] You said it'll go away. He's not going to be able to do anything about it.

[ His grip tightens on Alfie's wrist. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah, but I don't know if it's different for elves.

[bywolves]

Yes, because Watson has plenty of experience with working with elves. [ Scowl. ]

[devoutish]

If it doesn't go away in ten minutes...

[He trails off.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce lets go of Alfie to rub at his ears, slowly calming down. ]

Did you kill it? [ He asks, still talking too loud. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah. Just there.

[He points.]

[bywolves]

[ At least his vision still works. He can see the rabbit from where they're at. There's a beat, and then Royce dislodges himself from Alfie's grasp. He doesn't feel right, this way. It's worse than Norfinbury, worse than the muffle from there, and he almost feels off balance.

He frowns heavily, looking upset. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie follows, still looking pretty damn concerned.]

Royce...

[bywolves]

[ Royce doesn't hear him, not facing him. He makes his way to the rabbit, and crouches down to look at it, to examine the damage that the gun did. Quietly, he thinks about how he's glad they're not a thing back home. ]

[devoutish]

[It's mostly a clean shot - though, of course, the bullet will have to be dug out. Alfie puts a hand on his shoulder.]

Let's go back.

[bywolves]

[ Royce jumps. It might actually be one of the first times Alfie has ever caught Royce by surprise. He looks startled too, turned to look up at Alfie, just for a second before he's nodding a little. Right. Right, yeah, okay.

He takes the rabbit by the feet and stands, less fluidly than normal. ]

[devoutish]

Fifteen minutes, and then we go to Watson.

[And he's never going to fire his gun anywhere near Royce again.]

[bywolves]

I need to - I should wish for earplugs. [ Royce says, shaking his head a little. It's getting... not better, but not worse. The ringing is subsiding, at least. ] It's fading.

[devoutish]

That gun's not gonna be shot anywhere near you ever again, mate.

[bywolves]

[ He scowls, looking at Alfie. ] Don't be stupid. I didn't take you seriously enough when you said it was loud. That means I need to take the steps to protect myself from the noise.

[devoutish]

Yeah. But I'm still not gonna shoot it when you're around.

[bywolves]

[ SIGH. But he doesn't argue much further - there's something in him that is very relieved that he doesn't have to deal with it again. A beat. ]

I want you to teach me how to use it.

[devoutish]

Why?

[bywolves]

I want to understand how it works. [ He can't be afraid of it if he knows how it works. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah. Okay.

There's different sorts of guns. I'll teach you about this one. Watson's got some, too.

[bywolves]

[ He nods a little, and then goes quiet. He'll say quiet until they get back to the house - and by the time they do, the ringing has subsided. His head hurts a little, but his hearing is mostly back to normal.

He drops the rabbit in a bowl on the counter, and then stops to run water and sort of just - regroup. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie tries not to hover, but he does stick close by, only leaving to quickly duck into the bedroom to stash his gun away again.

When he comes back out, he's carrying a crayon drawing that he'd found on the nightstand.]

Royce.

[bywolves]

[ This time, he hears Alfie say his name, and he looks over his shoulder. There's relief on his face. ]

What? [ And then he registers the crayon drawing. ] Is that from Zephyr?