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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[devoutish]

[That assessment of the situation has Alfie gobsmacked - stunned into silence, even, as he looks back at Royce.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce sinks back down to sit, heavily. ]

So much has changed since I saw her last. I'm a different person. It can't be the same because I am not who I was when she died. But you've been with me since I changed - you've been a big part of why I have. I know I have you. I don't know that I have her.

[devoutish]

[That has Alfie reaching for his hand again, if he'll take it.]

I've seen how she talks about you - how you talk about each other. You might have doubts, mate, but I don't. You'll have her for life.

[bywolves]

[ He does take it. He holds it tightly. ]

That doesn't change the fact that I will have a hard time bringing her into my life here.

[devoutish]

I didn't know you felt that way.

[Alfie squeezes his hand.]

I had no idea.

[bywolves]

I don't talk about it. It isn't how I'm supposed to feel.

[devoutish]

[Alfie chuckles humorlessly.]

Yes. Yes, I know how that feels.

[bywolves]

I don't know how she's going to fit. [ Royce says, quietly. ] I love her. But thinking of the change that'll have to happen, that I'm expected to have happen - I don't want to.

[devoutish]

Are any of them changes that she might consent not to make?

[bywolves]

I don't know. [ He stares down at the ground. ] I don't know what she'll say. I want to stay in the same bed as you, but I don't know that she'd be pleased to hear it.

There are some things, sure, but either way, someone is going to end up unhappy, and they'll swallow it be cause they don't want to be a burden.

[devoutish]

[It's time for another look of naked surprise.]

You do?

[bywolves]

Yeah. But I'd want her too, I think, and like I said. Neither of you would be happy with that.

[devoutish]

D'you mean all in one bed, or two separate beds that you'd pass back and forth between?

[bywolves]

Either would work for me.

[devoutish]

[Alfie gives his hand a little tug. C'mere.]

[bywolves]

[ He slides down the rock a bit to move closer, looking unsure. ]

[devoutish]

[He keeps tugging, like he's reeling Royce in.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce sighs, and slides down off the rock entirely to stand in front of him. Now he's shorter than Alfie again, instead of having that slight height advantage. The worst. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie wraps an arm around him, if Royce will let him, pulling him close and resting his chin on the top of his head.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce does let him. He rests his head against Alfie's chest, and brings his own arm around and up to hold at the back of Alfie's shirt. It's easy. This is so easy to do. ]

[devoutish]

Sometimes, mate, I don't understand either of us.

[Alfie murmurs quietly.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce lets out a quiet huff of a laugh. ]

Yeah. I guess I don't either.

[devoutish]

It'll be all right, though.

[He nudges Royce in the ribs.]

I do believe that. I always have.

[bywolves]

[ He just sinks into Alfie, tired. ]

It will be eventually. [ They'll figure it out. Hesitantly: ] Do you understand why I was angry?

[devoutish]

Yeah. But I don't think I did much wrong, either. I don't think either of us did.