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

post-drinking session

[bywolves]

[ Royce has been - off, the past few days. He's quiet and a bit withdrawn, not sulking necessarily but just not being sociable. He's spent a lot of time in the treehouse, curled up in a blanket and pillow nest with books, just reading to pass the time. But the thing that's the most off is that he hasn't been on any walks in a while. The trees miss him, and he knows it because they whisper their leaves in his direction, just listen for a second, please?

But he doesn't. He wallows. Until he and Renart get real fucking drunk.

By a stroke of luck (or whatever the opposite of that is), Alfie's going to find Royce staggering angrily towards the treehouse, down the road. He is plastered. Alfie saw him drunk earlier, sure, but he's had far, far more to drink since then. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie has been spending a lot of time with Royce, sometimes resting next to him and other times urging him to get up for a bit. On this particular day, he's been trying to strike that balance between keeping an eye on him, but not hovering - so while he doesn't see what leads up to this, he's still able to show up pretty quickly, speeding up the path towards him and wordlessly slipping a stabilizing arm around his middle when he gets there. Hi, friend.]

[bywolves]

Don't fucking -- oh.

[ He nearly tries to rip himself away from Alfie, but when he realizes who it is, he stops himself. Deep breath. He stares at Alfie, eyes unfocused. He is probably the most drunk he's been in a while, slurring heavily. ]

... Alfie.

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[Alfie doesn't drop his arm, but he doesn't tighten his grip either.}

Did you want me to fuck off, then?

[bywolves]

... No. [ Royce says, swaying. His voice cracks a bit, and he drags in a shaky breath, pursing his lips tightly together. After a moment: ] I - no. Don't go.

[devoutish]

C'mere.

[He pulls Royce to him, tugging him close.]

I think we should go home.

[bywolves]

[ Royce nearly collapses into Alfie's side, holding onto him tightly. He's shaking a bit, but not because he's upset - he's angry. ]

Treehouse. [ Royce says, sharply. ] I don't - want. I don't want. People to find me. Us. I -- [ He breaks off into pissed off muttering. Alfie can probably catch Kid's name in there. ]

[devoutish]

Kid?

[Alfie's brow furrows as he pats at Royce's back, and his mind goes to entirely the wrong kid.]

Emily? Are you worried about her seeing you pissed, mate?

[bywolves]

I -- what? [ He slurs, squinting. ] No. I don't want Emily. I don't, I -- fuck Kid. The Kid. Death. S'stupid power that I can't...

[ Sorry, he's pretty much beyond explaining coherently. He leans heavily against Alfie, kneading at him. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie's frown deepens. Gruffly, he asks:]

What powers has he got? What did he do to you?

[bywolves]

[ More mumbling, then: ] He knows. He knows n' I didn't tell 'im.

[devoutish]

I'll hit him if you like.

[He means it, too.]

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ Royce breathes out, looking at Alfie. He's 100% not all there. ] I could kill him.

[devoutish]

[He kisses the top of Royce's head, swaying with him a little.]

I don't think you wanna do that.

[Though it's not said judgmentally, of course.]

[bywolves]

I could, though. [ He mumbles, slumping heavily into Alfie's side. He's losing steam. ] Wanna go home.

[devoutish]

I might have to carry you.

[Alfie says quietly, angling them in the direction of the treehouse. He'll start walking, slowly, when he feels like Royce is ready for it.]

[bywolves]

[ He holds on tightly as they walk. He's okay to, as long as they're slow. ]

No. [ Royce says sharply, trying to pull himself straighter. ] No. Don't carry.

[devoutish]

[He frowns a little, letting his grip go when Royce pulls away.]

I'm not gonna do anything you don't want me to.

[bywolves]

[ He's still clinging, he's just trying to walk straighter or - more soberly. It's not quite working, but he's making an effort. ]

Don't hurt yourself. [ Royce says, pissy. He stubbornly takes Alfie's hand and holds onto it. Or like, most of Alfie's arm, really, because his dexterity sucks at the moment. ] Don't hurt yourself.

[devoutish]

Shhh. Not gonna hurt myself.

[He twines their fingers together as they walk.]

[bywolves]

[ He quiets down at that, curling up against Alfie's side. He'll stay quiet until they get to the treehouse, and then he'll try to climb the damn stairs. Clumsily. Badly. ]

[devoutish]

[Oh no, Royce. Alfie tightens his grip on his arm.]

Wait. Wait; go slower, mate.

[bywolves]

[ Royce stumbles, and nearly falls, trying to steady himself on Alfie. He's in bad shape, and he's stubborn, which is a bad combination. ]

S'fine. S'fine, I can. I can do it.

[devoutish]

Yeah, if you go slow. Keep hold of me.

[bywolves]

[ He's latched on pretty tightly, letting out shivery breaths. He'll let Alfie lead him up. ]