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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[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.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce gasps himself awake, trying to sit up, pushing any grasping hands away from him just for a moment. He hunches over, dragging in slow, steadying breaths, running his fingers through his own hair. Like he's reassuring himself it's there. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie doesn't say anything. He just runs his fingers along Royce's back, lightly but still noticeable, up and down.]

[bywolves]

I'm fine. [ Royce says finally, taking a deep breath. ] Fine.

[devoutish]

[He keeps stroking, sitting up a little.]

You don't have to be, mate.

Thank you.

[bywolves]

I know. But I am. Fine. [ Mostly. Manzant was a long time ago. ]

... You're welcome. I guess.

[devoutish]

You wanted me to see. To know.

[bywolves]

Yeah. I do.

I want you to see how it made me.

[devoutish]

Yeah. Yeah, it did make you, a bit.

[Alfie's brow furrows.]

But other things have made you, as well.

[bywolves]

You've seen nearly everything that's made me, Alfie.

[devoutish]

[He touches Royce's cheek, trying to turn his face.]

So I know what I'm talking about, then, don't I?

[bywolves]

Yeah. You do. [ Royce turns his face in the direction Alfie wants, with a sigh. He's pale, sort of shaken. Nauseated, maybe. ]

I wanted it to stop being so present in my head.

[devoutish]

How are you gonna do that?

[bywolves]

Showing you. Living it again. Remembering so I can lock it back up properly.