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]

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

[bywolves]

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

[devoutish]

I'm not, no. What is it?

[bywolves]

[ 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. ]

[devoutish]

[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.]

[bywolves]

[ 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.

[devoutish]

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

I do wanna see, yeah.

[bywolves]

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. ]

[devoutish]

Will you tell me about it?

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

[bywolves]

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.

[devoutish]

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

-- All right. Yeah. All right.

[bywolves]

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

[devoutish]

[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.

[bywolves]

[ 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. ]

[devoutish]

[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.]

[bywolves]

[ 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. ]

[devoutish]

[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.]

[bywolves]

[ 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. ]

[devoutish]

[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.

[bywolves]

[ 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.

[devoutish]

[He doesn't try to come closer, but he doesn't move away, either.]

I'm Alfie. I don't want your help. Eh? I just got here.

[bywolves]

[ Royce edges out of the crevice, slowly. ]

And? What do you want me to do about it? [ He's twitchy, jittery. Like he's getting ready to bolt. ]

[devoutish]

Sit and talk a bit.

[He glances down at Royce's wrists.]

Let me help you pick that lock.

[Royce is far better at lockpicking than he is, but this Royce doesn't know that.]

[bywolves]

[ What. Royce scowls. ]

What do you want? [ He insists - he's out of the crevice, and he's looking like he's going to take off, still, but. For some reason, he doesn't move. ] Don't touch me.

[ There's no way Alfie's just going to help him with no strings attached. Royce knows that. ]

[devoutish]

You're the first face I've seen that looks decent to talk to, mate. That's all.