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[devoutish]

Solomons & Melborn
1108 Sweet Cream Street

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[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.

[bywolves]

[ A pause. ] Yeah.

[ But if they don't come here, or if it's just Gwen and Mercy and Royce, if Alfie goes home and can't come back, or -- there's so many different outcomes, and Royce just... shuts down the line of thought. ]

I don't want to think about it, there isn't - there isn't any point in worrying about something I won't be able to control.

[devoutish]

Okay.

[Alfie pats his arm.]

Okay. Don't worry about it, then.

[And he tries to send him some more of his calm, relaxed feelings - but it's hard to consciously block out emotions, and while Alfie is practiced at not showing them in his voice, face, and body language, he has no experience with suppressing them entirely. So that undercurrent of worry comes along for the ride again, and this time, it's more clear: a dual stream of when Gwen comes, everything will change and Royce can never know that I'm concerned about this.]

[bywolves]

[ Alfie.

Royce startles slightly, glancing up at Alfie with a sort of confused look. For a long moment he sort of just stares, taking that worry and digesting it, trying to figure out the source. What he gives back is worry and an urge to reassure, and then frowns. ]

If there are things you don't want to tell me, you'll need to make sure you keep your ability turned off. [ Royce says quietly. ]

[devoutish]

[... Well, shit. Alfie goes stock still.]

Royce.

[bywolves]

I'm not angry. [ Royce says in that same quiet tone. He sits up, and takes Alfie's wrist in his hand, fingers on Alfie's pulse. He presses forward concern and worry, without a trace of anger - maybe a bit of frustration, but. ]

You're worried it'll be different when Gwen gets here.

[devoutish]

I didn't think you'd be angry. I thought you would be like this.

[He doesn't pull his hand away, but he makes no move to touch further.]

This is not something that you should have to reassure me over, mate, and not something I will accept reassurances on. All right? And that's the end of it.

[bywolves]

[ But...

Royce doesn't pull his hand away either, but he pulls back the emotion he's pushing forward, looking just a tinge hurt. He knows Alfie's looking out for him, but there's a part of him that wishes he could be concerned without Alfie thinking it was going to break him. That's the frustration, but he smushes it down and away and shuts off his emotion entirely. It feels kind of cold.

His jaw works. He's trying to figure out what to say to this. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie sighs, turning his hand around in Royce's so he can squeeze.]

It's not because I don't trust you.

[bywolves]

No, it's because you don't want to trouble me with it. I get it, Alfie.

[devoutish]

No. It's because you deserve this as something that's uncomplicated. Do you understand?

[bywolves]

[ Royce shakes his head. ]

But it isn't uncomplicated, and I'm not going to pretend it is when I know there is something upsetting you. You wouldn't leave it alone if our roles were reversed, here.

[devoutish]

It's not upsetting me; that's too dramatic.

[bywolves]

I felt it. [ Royce says, firmly. ] It was worry. And it weighs on you.

[devoutish]

Not as much as you think, all right; you got one little bit of it, that's all.

[bywolves]

[ Royce doesn't have his emotion sharing on, but the annoyance is clear on his face. ]

What did I say about self-sacrifice, earlier? [ You know, how it's stupid. He knows he's being a hypocrite. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie does a disbelieving little laugh.]

Self-sacrifice. You're gonna talk to me about self-sacrifice.