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]

[ He shrugs a little, quiet. ]

Hadrian thought this wasn't real. The Meadous isn't real. Too good to be true. That I'm pretending it is so that I don't have to do what's right.

[devoutish]

And Hadrian had been here for five fucking minutes when he said that.

[It's a worry that Alfie himself has sometimes, and he knows Royce does too - but as far as he's concerned, that's different from Hadrian coming to the conclusion he had. Hadrian was assuming. They were worrying based on experience.]

[bywolves]

[ A long pause. ]

I don't know what to do.

[devoutish]

-- My answer's gonna be biased too, mate.

[bywolves]

Yeah. I know. [ He's struggling, hiding his face. ]

[devoutish]

Rulers who don't wanna be rulers don't do well. That bit isn't biased.

[bywolves]

No, but it doesn't matter, does it? If it's between me hating what I have to do but Elan surviving, or me having a happy ending and Elan being destroyed - it doesn't matter what I want.

[devoutish]

Do you really believe that there's no one but you that could lead the elves?

[bywolves]

Hadrian seems to think there isn't. [ Royce doesn't know. There's probably a thousand people more suited, but. ]

[devoutish]

Well, it's fucking ridiculous.

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ He reaches up to hold onto Alfie's shirt, eyes closed. ] It's fucking ridiculous.

[ He's quiet and upset, and - well, showing off Manzant didn't quite have the effect he was hoping. It's off his shoulders, he thinks, but he can't get the dread and anxiety out of his chest. ]

[devoutish]

{Alfie doesn't say what's on his mind, though Royce likely knows him well enough by now to tell that there's something there. He curls himself closer, bringing his hand up to rest on the back of Royce's head, tangling his fingers in his hair.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce lets the silence sit for a while more, and then he sighs out slow. ]

What is it? [ Because yeah, he knows Alfie well enough by now. ]

[devoutish]

Nothing that needs words right now. It's all right.

[bywolves]

If you don't tell me now, I'm going to worry about it.

[devoutish]

I'm thinking about this, that's all. You. How I want you to be happy.

[bywolves]

[ Royce tangles Alfie's shirt in his fingers. ]

I want to be happy, too.

[devoutish]

I'd help you find someone to appoint, if you wanted.

[bywolves]

Yeah? [ That sounds nice. ] Think you'd probably do a better job than I would.

[devoutish]

Leading a country's like leading a big gang, isn't it.

[He's 65% joking.]

[bywolves]

Kind of is, yeah. [ Sigh. ] Could look at it that way and make it easier.

[devoutish]

I'd never have someone head my gang if they were reluctant about it.

[bywolves]

Not even if it meant the world was ending if they didn't?

[devoutish]

You know my thoughts on that already.

[bywolves]

Yeah, I do.

[ Sigh. ] It doesn't matter now. Can't leave here yet. [ A beat. ] I'll talk to Gwen.