devoutish | IC contact for wethelost

[Unlike Royce, Emily tried to wrap the gift; however, like Royce, she is shit at any attempt, so it's kind of janked up.

Regardless, she cons Alfie into sitting down in preparation, and begs Royce to come along despite the two's little "argument" a while back. She thinks maybe it'll help them reconcile a little more. Besides, Royce somewhat helped in the decision making.] It's okay. You don't have to close your eyes. I put it in paper.

[It's weird. Not a small present, definitely shaped strangely. Looks like a stick wrapped in paper, perhaps about three feet in length. She presents it to Alfie by holding it out in two palms.]

[ At least she tried. Royce straight up just doesn't wrap anything.

In any case, Royce comes along with her to help her deliver her present, lips twitching at the sight of the janky-wrapped present. It's cute. He stands right behind her and bit to the side, hand on her shoulder as she presents Alfie with his gift. ]

Oh, now, look at this.

[He murmurs in surprise, carefully taking the wrapped present and settling it in his lap as well as he can. He starts unwrapping it from one end, slowly bringing the paper down.]

Look at this. Is this from both of you?

Yes! [She's probably more excited than Alfie about it being opened.

It's not hard to tell they both had a hand in at least discussing what the present should be. About what Alfie could expect from how it looked wrapped: not a tree branch, but a cane. Sturdy, weighty, and decorated elegantly.

Emily hadn't known much about Jewish symbolism, so she asked Royce and then asked Zephyr to help cast the top with an engraving of the Star of David.

What's more, the hefty notch around the top means it can be slid open. Surprise! There's a hidden blade inside no thanks to Knifedad.] Do you like it, Alfie?

The cane you had from Norfinbury was old. So I wanted you to have a new one.

I imagine you can't guess who suggested the knife. [ Royce says, dryly, poking fun at himself. ] It's mostly from Emily. She came up with the idea.

[ He reaches to smooth her hair back gently, smiling a bit. ]

I love it. I love it.

[ He's a little choked up, even. He runs an admiring hand along the length of the cane, then hooks his arm around Emily's shoulders, pulling her in to kiss her on the cheek. Look out, Royce; you're next. ]

Yes! Royce said we should put a sword inside because you would like that. [Grinning, she gives Alfie a big hug after and a return kiss on the cheek. Then it's Royce's turn.] I wanted you to have a new cane for walking.

I don't really know anything about being Jewish except what you told me, but Royce and Zephyr helped me. So we put the star on the top. It's supposed to be special, right?

[ Waugh. He doesn't squirm away or anything, but he does look vaguely disgruntled about being pulled in for a kiss on the cheek. The disgruntled look softens when he notices Alfie's a bit choked up. ]

There are books on it. [ Royce says quietly. ] I should know more about your symbols, but that was what I remembered.

You know this.

[He rubs a thumb over the star of David.]

Thank you.

[Then, to Emily, faux-conspiratorily:]

Does he get like this when you kiss him, too?

[She giggles and covers her mouth.] Sometimes. [While Royce is near, she reaches out to hug his neck and give him a cheek kiss too. Just to see!]

[ You menaces. He makes a huffy sound when she kisses his cheek, though this time it's more for show than anything. He'll play along, if only to hear Emily laugh. ]

Are the two of you done? [ He asks, ruffling Emily's hair. ] We're going to have to teach him how to use the sword in there, Emily.

Now, is this a sword or a knife?

[He pops open the top, drawing out whatever's inside.]

[Quickly and suddenly, she gives Royce a look, as if she is second guessing herself and doesn't know exactly what to call it. They may say different things.] A sword!

[That sounds better anyway.

It's honestly in between. Too long to be a mere knife, too short to be a legitimate sword. Just right for needing a sharp, pointy stick to get someone with in tight situations, and the end extends down enough to make a good handle.]

Both. [ Royce says, with a shrug. That works as an explanation, right? Right. ] It won't take much. All you do, you see, is use the sharp bit to stab whatever is bothering you.

[Alfie rumbles approvingly, testing the blade's sharpness by pressing his finger to the tip hard enough to indent the skin but not hard enough to draw blood.]

Fucking magnificent. You said there's books on it.

[He examines the etched designs along the length of the cane more carefully.]

[Emily is excited by Alfie's excitement, even if subdued. She backs up with Royce to give Alfie room to turn the cane and blade over and over.] Royce could teach you. He knows how to use it.

And me, too. [Because don't leave her out of sword fighting, hello.] It looks very strong. I'm glad. It looks just like a cane, but then when you pull the sword out, it looks like a real sword.

I was going to get you one like Corvo's. Piero helped make his fold so it was small. But I wanted you to have a new cane, too.

Maybe I'll get Corvo's later.

I'll teach both of you. [ Royce says, with a bit of a smile. ]

There are books on your symbols, I meant. The cane I've seen in use before, there wasn't any need to research that. Either way, like I said, it was Emily's idea to begin with. [ A beat, and Royce strokes at Emily's hair a little. ] She deserves the credit for it.

You both deserve credit.

[He unsheathes the blade completely, finally, and tests out the weight of it.]

What do you think - lessons tomorrow, then?

Yes! [slams excite button] Yes--please, Royce? We can practice a little tomorrow, right? [She reaches up to tug a little at his clothes.] Pretty please?

So if any monsters come out of the snow, we can fight them.

[ A beat. Royce crouches down to be mostly at level with Emily. ]

They won't come out of the snow, here. Good to be cautious, but I don't want you to worry about that. [ Royce tells her gently, taking her hands. ] But yes. We will practice tomorrow. All three of us.

Mmmm.

[Alfie hums, affirming.]

Yeah. Here we'll just use our knives to impress people. Make them very jealous about the skills that they've got.

[She offers a small smile, squeezing her fingers around Royce's hands.] Okay. [She'll get better at not worrying when they don't show themselves like before.]

Tomorrow then. Royce will show us how to use a sword. I'm excited.

We can make a day out of it. [ Royce says, glancing at Alfie. ] All of us make pancakes and then head to the lake to practice.

[ You know, like a weird family. ]

We'll have to find a spot where the snow's not too deep.

But there's snow everywhere. Except if the lake is frozen. But if we practice on the lake, we'll slide around and fall down.

IC contact for wethelost

a present

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)