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]

[When Alfie's done with his food, he sets the bowl aside and sinks against Royce even more. He'll also pay attention to the movie, of course, but he also takes frequent peeks at the skylight above them, waiting for the stars to come out.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce, on the other hand, is very much into the movie. The elves in Rivendell almost sort of make him homesick, somehow - he's very quiet and solemn during these parts, sinking down into his hood as he watches.

The sky starts to darken as they get to the end of the movie. ]

[devoutish]

There's two more.

[He says, quietly. He figures they're probably getting close to this one being done.]

[bywolves]

I'd like to watch those too. If you're willing. [ Royce says, eyes on the screen. They're at the part where Boromir attacks Frodo, which is why he's distracted. He's very into the plot, for some reason. He's not even sure why. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah, I like them. Oh--

[HOLD ON, BOROMIR BEING FENDED OFF]

[bywolves]

[ Royce leans forward a bit, totally distracted. He's quiet all up until the point that Boromir ends up dying to the orcs. The whole scene is actually sort of upsetting for him, and he pulls a knee to his chest, resting his chin on top of it.

It's not exactly the same, but. Boromir and Aragorn do remind him a lot of him and Hadrian. ]

[devoutish]

Mm, even the dying looks real.

[ He says quietly. ]

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ Royce says, just as quietly. It's unsettling. ] It does.

[devoutish]

[ Alfie nudges against him. ]

All right?

[bywolves]

Fine. It's just a film. [ Royce says, pulling his hood down a bit further. ] Not real.

[devoutish]

Tell me?

[ He says more quietly; more gently. ]

[bywolves]

[ When he'd been told that the film wasn't real, that it wasn't a documentary or a film with actors that were elves or hobbits or whatever, he'd actually been disappointed. He thinks that's silly - and he thinks this is silly, getting upset over characters not-really-dying.

But after the elves on screen and Boromir's death - I would have followed you to the end, my brother, my captain, my king - he can't help but be upset, and be embarrassed that he's upset. ]

There are a lot of things in this film that remind me of home. People, places, events.

[devoutish]

[ He pulls Royce closer. ]

Who does Boromir remind you of?

[bywolves]

[ Royce settles against Alfie's side. ]

Hadrian, in a way. Not because they're similar in personality, so much, but because Hadrian would've done the same thing. [ And a little of himself, too. Because he'd also do what Boromir did for Hadrian. ]

[devoutish]

I'm glad you've got him, mate.

[bywolves]

[ Royce is silent for a moment, staring at the screen. ]

He's the only constant I had at home, other than Gwen. [ The movie is on its way to ending, but Royce keeps talking, soft. ] Did I ever tell you about the wagon full of mir?

[devoutish]

No, you didn't.

[bywolves]

We accompanied Arista on a journey. Princess. We ran across soldiers asking us for documentation, and they had four wagons. Filled with elves. Packed like fish in a shipment crate. Men, women, children, dirty and starving. Pleading for water.

[ Royce's fingers dig into the fabric of his pants, kneading out of anger. ]

[devoutish]

[He'll feel Alfie stiffen too, going still.]

Where were they going?

[bywolves]

Don't know. We were posing as nobles, and nobles wouldn't have cared enough to ask.

[ His voice is careful and calm, but it's clear he's furious just thinking about this. ] Hadrian had to pull me aside. I wanted to kill every soldier responsible, but he reminded me why it would've been a bad idea.

[devoutish]

Why would it have been?

[Alfie, for all his faults and willingness to murder, isn't trigger-happy, and he's a big proponent of waiting for the right time to act. But what Royce is describing, with women and children...]

[bywolves]

Didn't have the resources. The power to do so. We were outnumbered, and as good as we are, trying to protect the Princess and fight off a troop of guards would've ended with us dead.

I should've done it anyway. But I am alive because of him.

[devoutish]

[And Alfie's immeasurably glad that Royce is alive. He goes boneless against him, and is quiet as the credits roll.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce is too, resting his head against Alfie's and watching the credits. He's hesitant, and he almost doesn't say it - when he does, it's quiet and almost reluctant, but. Alfie will understand, he thinks. ]

It isn't a real place, but I would like to visit Rivendell.

[devoutish]

To see more of how they do it, you mean?

[His voice is still quiet and a little hoarse.]