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!]

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[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.

[devoutish]

Who are you?

[He doesn't expect a straight answer, but.]

[bywolves]

A friend. [ Nim hums, running a hand up over his shaved head with a bit of a smile. ] Can I offer some advice?

[devoutish]

[Alfie inclines his head. Advise away.]

[bywolves]

Don't give away your food. You never know when you're going to get more, unless you're one of the favorites.

[ Royce crams the rest of the bread Alfie gave him in his mouth, unwilling to give it back. ]

[devoutish]

You just gave away your food.

[He points out.]

[bywolves]

I already ate. [ He says, serenely. ] Royce doesn't like to share. Don't expect him to.

[devoutish]

Mm. I'm not gonna give food to anybody but him; it won't be an issue.

[And he knows he won't be here long enough to start starving.]

[bywolves]

[ Nim opens his mouth to speak, but Royce immediately reaches for him, grabbing his arm, still again. He stares intently out through the crevice, and Nim goes silent. Someone is coming. A lot of someones. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie stiffens, stock-still. His eyes are on Royce.]

[bywolves]

[ The footsteps get louder - and then the shrieking starts. It's almost... it's almost like laughter, like a pack of hyenas cackling at top volume, screaming for blood. They crash and clang and clatter down the corridor of stone, and Royce instinctively moves back against the far wall, expression frightened.

Nim doesn't move, but he does take Royce's wrist, holding it. There's another shriek, and then - snuffling, by the entrance to the crevice. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie wants to move in front of Royce, to hide and protect him, but he doesn't dare to shift even an inch. He doesn't know how much they can hear from out there, or see - they might, he suddenly realizes, even be elves or half-elves like Royce. With how they're treated on this world, there have got to be tons in a place like this.]

[bywolves]

[ He's not wrong - there's half elves, down here, but none of them are favorites. Luckily. The snuffling continues, and then, a hand shoots through the opening, grasping around for something, anything. Royce starts, but keeps his mouth shut, and Nim does as well, reaching gently across to rest his hand on Alfie's knee.

A long, long pause, as the hand gropes around, and then, just as suddenly, withdraws. There's a frustrated noise, and then, right outside, howling. Screaming. Like a pack that's found it's prey. There's the sound of people fighting to force their way in, and --

And that's about when Alfie's going to feel a hand on his arm - Royce, with an expression that's full of recognition, says: ]

I think that's enough.

[ And if Alfie doesn't protest too hard, Royce is going to wake them both up. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie doesn't have time to protest, but that's okay - he wouldn't have. It's Royce's memory, Royce's nightmare, and Alfie won't ask him to stay in it for a second longer than he's comfortable with. He covers Royce's hand with his, squeezes - and then they're back in bed in the treehouse, curled into each other.]