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

[devoutish]

Yeah. A woman who makes her own choices.

[He's quiet for a moment, unsure of whether or not to bring it up, but--]

I felt your sadness, in her scenes.

[bywolves]

[ A long pause. ]

I'm sure you know why. [ Royce says, closing his eyes. He's flat out on the bed, now, rolled away from Alfie. ] Except that it's almost reversed. I suppose I'd be Arwen in this case.

[devoutish]

[Alfie starts to reach a hand out to him, but then changes his mind, withdrawing it.]

I'm sorry, mate.

[bywolves]

[ Royce glances at him, and then holds out his hand to Alfie. If you want to take it, he's not going to say no. ]

Don't be. [ He murmurs. ] It'll work out. Eventually.

[devoutish]

[He takes the offered hand, squeezing it.]

You've still got my sympathies, just as I know I've got yours for the people I'm still missing.

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ He sighs, and moves back over to curl up against Alfie's side, resting his head against Alfie's hip and staring over at the TV screen. He's not in a very talkative mood, but - at least Alfie can feel some of what he's feeling. It's tired acceptance, mostly. He's just tired of being sad. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie shares something of his own - the peace and tranquility that he feels, lying here with Royce. There's an undercurrent of something else, though - a fleeting anxiety, well-hidden but still briefly detectable.]

[bywolves]

[ He catches that little bit of fleeting anxiety, and for a second, Royce thinks it's his own. He doesn't think Alfie often feels anxiety at all, but - no, it wasn't his. There's a beat, and Royce makes a questioning sound. ]

[devoutish]

That's because of you.

[Alfie says, misunderstanding the reason behind the noise.]

That's how I feel when I'm here with you.

[bywolves]

No, I meant...

[ He pauses, a bit unsure, and then nods a little. ] I knew that much. I just thought... never mind.

[devoutish]

[Alfie brushes a lock of Royce's hair behind his ear.]

What's troubling you?

[bywolves]

Whatever was troubling you for a moment, there. [ Royce says, honestly. He tries very hard not to shiver at the hand brushing his hair behind his ear, and mostly succeeds. ] I felt something that I almost thought was mine, but it wasn't.

[devoutish]

[Oh. That. Alfie hadn't actually been completely conscious aware of feeling it, but when Royce brings it up he knows what it must have been.]

Will you accept it if I tell you that it's not anything you should have to worry about?

[bywolves]

[ He frowns a little bit. ]

I can't promise I won't be worried, but I'd like to hear it.

[devoutish]

I don't know that it would be fair to put on you.

[bywolves]

Alfie. [ Just tell him. He rolls on his back to look up at Alfie. ]

[devoutish]

Royce.

[He props himself up on an elbow to look down at him, brushing a hand over his cheek.]

It's about Gwen, that's all.

[bywolves]

[ He looks a little worried. Feels a little worried. ]

What about her?

[devoutish]

[And that makes Alfie wince.]

Just about how things are gonna go, that's all. How she'll adjust-- how Mercy will adjust. My family, as well. I don't want you worrying about it.

[It's not at all the whole truth, but he's bound and determined not to say or do anything to make Royce feel guilty or beholden in any way.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce watches Alfie's face for a moment, studying. He gets that this isn't the whole truth, and he figures Alfie's hiding his concern for Royce's sake - but he's not sure what the concern might be. And even past that, he's not sure he wants to press too hard. ]

It'll take time for them to get used to it. I'm sure it'll take time for us to get used to it. I worry about that too.

[devoutish]

You worry that they won't like it?

[He knows not all of his family would.]

[bywolves]

I think Gwen will. I worry what Mercy might think.

[devoutish]

Really? She wouldn't like racing around the forest?

[bywolves]

For a while. But there aren't many other children here. I just... I don't want her to be lonely.

[devoutish]

My family has got loads of children.