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

[bywolves]

I believe it too. [ Sigh. ] I still don't like doing it.

[devoutish]

I'm grateful for it, this time.

[bywolves]

Are you?

[devoutish]

Yeah. We didn't solve any major problems, not really, but-- we're in it together, now. I always feel better about problems when we're in them together.

[bywolves]

[ There's a long pause, and then he finally nods, sinking into Alfie heavily. ]

Yeah. Me too.

[devoutish]

You wanna go back to the treehouse?

[bywolves]

Yeah. Please. [ He lets Alfie feel a little more of his relief at that idea, though he's reserved when it comes to sharing. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie hesitates.]

Do you trust me less, now?

[bywolves]

No. [ Royce says, and that's honest. ] I just don't want to overwhelm you. And I don't always want you to feel everything that I'm feeling.

[devoutish]

Mm, all right.

[He nudges away from Royce, then stands, holding out his hand to him.]

Fucking hell, my legs are sore.

[He says it lightly; it's sort of true, thanks to crouching on that rock, but he's not too fussed about it.]

[bywolves]

Sorry. [ Royce says, taking Alfie's hand. He doesn't sound upset about it, so he's not taking it too hard, but. Off the rock they go, and back up the beach. ] You barely even did anything to make them sore.

[devoutish]

[Before they start walking, Alfie's just going to take Royce's face in his hands for a moment, kissing him once on each cheek.]

It was the way I was sitting. Not used to perching on rocks like a seagull.

[bywolves]

[ There's a little - surge of emotion, specifically when Alfie kisses him on either cheek. It isn't bad, at least, it's just a sharp and strong hit of... something. Love, maybe, or appreciation, or both? In either case, it's short and desperate and almost hard to catch. ]

You shouldn't do things that make you hurt. [ :c ]

[devoutish]

I wanted to sit on the rock with you.

[And some days, pretty much everything makes him hurt, so he's gotten used to it.]

[bywolves]

[ It doesn't have to. He has to dim his emotions again because the urge to fix is so strong. It's so easy, it'd be so easy - but he can't and it kills him a little. ]

I'll massage your back when we get to the treehouse.

[devoutish]

Okay.

[He bumps his shoulder into Royce's.]

I'll exercise a bit more tomorrow, as well. It'll help.

[bywolves]

[ He holds Alfie's hand tightly. ]

Okay. [ He keeps moving. ] If there's anything else I can do, tell me.

[devoutish]

Come swimming with me later tonight?

[bywolves]

[ A beat, and finally he smiles a little, glancing up at Alfie. ]

... Yeah. All right. [ He can do swimming. ] I will. The weather will be perfect for it.

[devoutish]

Might as well enjoy it while it lasts, eh?

I've got something to show you at the house, as well.

[bywolves]

[ He raises an eyebrow. ]

You do? What?

[devoutish]

Well, you'll have to wait and see next time we're at the house, won't you.

[bywolves]

[ He wrinkles his nose at Alfie. ] I hate surprises.

[ But he doesn't say it seriously. He sounds like he's trying to be grumpy as a joke. ]

[devoutish]

It's a good sort of surprise.

[bywolves]

You could just tell me.