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 good. Alfie tells him, again and again and again, and Royce believes it. This is different. Alfie represents a whole lot of important people all compressed into one and Royce doesn't know what he'll do when he loses it.

He's raw and ripped through, but he tries words anyway. ]

Love you. [ That's what he can manage. It's a lot, and it's weak and he's a little scared to say it out loud (because what if it means Alfie dies, like everything Royce loves), but it's true enough. ]

[devoutish]

I know.

[Even though he rarely says it, he doesn't need to for Alfie to know it's true. There's a part of his head that keeps saying it now - I love you, I love you, I love you - but he doesn't say it out loud, letting it hang silently in the air instead.]

[bywolves]

[ There's a long pause, as Royce just absorbs it. The words settle him down the rest of the way, and he finally lets go of Alfie, coughing as he clears his throat, wiping at his face. He sniffs, and then just goes ahead and drops down into the sand, sitting.

He gestures for Alfie to sit with him. He just wants to stare at the waves for a while. ]

[devoutish]

[Even though he hates having sandy clothes, he follows without hesitation, stretching his legs out in front of him.]

It's heartbreak either way, isn't it.

[bywolves]

[ Royce has a bunch of their clothes squirreled away in the treehouse, at least. He pulls his knees to his chest. ]

I don't see a way for anything to end without it. [ Sigh. ] I don't want to lose you like I did her.

[ He knows Alfie will know who he's talking about. ]

[devoutish]

I'd get away from London.

[He squeezes their shoulders together.]

I promise you.

[bywolves]

Okay. [ He doesn't think Alfie has a way to guarantee that, but he goes quiet anyway, leaning against Alfie's side. ]

[devoutish]

[He doesn't, and that hurts too. Heartache, heartbreak.]

I don't want to leave you.

[He whispers it as quietly as he can while still being audible.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce takes a deep breath. ]

I don't want to leave you either.

[devoutish]

[He holds Royce against him, and closes his eyes.]

[bywolves]

[ He stays there for a while, and then sighs out slow. ]

Let's go back. [ Royce murmurs. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie noses into Royce's hair.]

You're sure?

[bywolves]

Yes. I'm sure. [ He shifts a little, aiming to get up when Alfie lets him but not pushing for it. ]

Got the nightmares out of my system.

[devoutish]

[Alfie sits up to let him stand, holding a hand out to him.]

Help me up?

[bywolves]

[ He offers a hand to Alfie, helping him up all the way. ]

[devoutish]

[He muffles a groan, the way he usually does when moving into a standing position from the ground (something he does not do often). When he's up, he keeps ahold of Royce's hand.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce keeps his grip on Alfie's hand, shifting to stand a little closer, concerned as always about Alfie's back. ]

Careful. [ Royce murmurs, and then he pulls him back to the treehouse, casual and easy. ]

[devoutish]

I'm okay. The massages are helping.

[And back they go, across the sand, into the trees, and up the stairs.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce murmurs a good, softly. He's glad the massages are helping. Up the stairs and to bed they go, and this time when Royce settles down, he settles right up against Alfie, on his side, back to Alfie's chest. He makes sure they're touching, and sighs out slow before attempting to drift off.

He was right, at least - he wore himself out. ]

[devoutish]

[Carefully, Alfie drops an arm around his middle, pulling him just a little closer and hunching around him protectively.]

G'night.