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]

Trying to find me. [ Royce says, softer. ] They're going to chase me. Single-minded. Either they die or I do.

Nim's going to be angry.

[devoutish]

He's not gonna like that you helped me?

[bywolves]

No, that he'll be happy about. He won't be happy that I killed one of the favorites.

[devoutish]

What does he like about them? Who's favorites are they anyway, eh?

[bywolves]

Doesn't like them. But they're trouble, and they won't give up.

[ He rubs at his wrists absently, looking away. ] Favorites of Ambrose. He likes them because they keep order down here. They get more water than we do.

[devoutish]

[Alfie scoffs.]

And he's in no danger of having them turn on him, I expect.

[bywolves]

No. He's not down here. Never is. Never was.

[devoutish]

Who brings the salt up?

[bywolves]

We do. [ He swallows hard. ] In exchange for water. Good water. Not salt water.

[devoutish]

Do you see the sun?

[bywolves]

No. [ Rub it in why don't you. ] I haven't. For months. You won't either.

[devoutish]

[Alfie fiddles with the makeshift bandage on his arm, saying nothing.]

[bywolves]

[ Outside, there's the sound of footsteps, and Royce goes completely still, holding his breath, watching the entrance to their little crevice with sharp, alert eyes.

[devoutish]

[Instinctively, Alfie reaches out to put a hand on Royce's arm. He sits stock still, not making a sound.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce flinches away from the touch, not expecting it, but he doesn't make a sound - not until there's a soft, gentle voice from outside the crevice. ]

It's all right, Royce. [ And Royce relaxes, as a thin, wiry young man, shaved and... softer, almost, makes his way in. He's got a handkerchief in hand, filled with something. A beat, as the man takes them both in. ]

Well, then. I wasn't expecting you to pick up a stray. [ He sounds a little amused. ]

[devoutish]

A stray, yes.

[Alfie lifts a hand in a wave, his voice barely more than a whisper.]

Hello. Nim, was it?

[bywolves]

Nim. [ The man confirms, and Royce sinks down into the cave floor a little further. Nim settles down on the floor next to Royce, not too close, and reaches to pat Royce on the shoulder once before untying his handkerchief.

There's bread, inside. It's old, hard, but it's bread. He breaks it in two, and hands one piece to Royce, and the other to Alfie. ]

You must have made quite an impression on Royce if he brought you here.

[devoutish]

We feel like we know each other.

[He rips off a bit of the bread, smelling it. Wondering if it's moldy.]

Maybe in another life, eh?

[bywolves]

[ Amazingly, it isn't moldy. Royce has realized this and is scarfing it down as fast as he possibly can. Nim smiles, though it might be hard for Alfie to see. ]

Perhaps. Are you alright? You're bandaged... and it smells like blood.

[devoutish]

We ran into some trouble.

[He hands his chunk of bread to Royce too, minus the little bit he tore off, which he pops into his mouth.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce scowls at Alfie, and then snatches the piece of bread before looking it over closely. What's wrong with it? Why doesn't Alfie want it? Nim clears his throat a bit. ]

Trouble? [ To which Royce pauses, and sinks down even further, guilty. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah. My fault, not his.

[bywolves]

I killed a favorite. [ Royce says quietly, and Nim sighs, glancing between the two of them. His expression is more disapproving than angry. ]

Was it to save him? [ Nim asks, gesturing at Alfie. ]

[devoutish]

Yes.

[He answers quickly.]

Completely my doing, as I've said.

[bywolves]

[ Nim's lips twitch a little, and Royce's scowl comes back. He munches on the bread, vaguely annoyed, and Nim glances at Alfie. ]

Well, then. Welcome. I'll do my best to keep you alive, as well.