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 know what he is.

[ Royce says, softer. ] I've known what he is since nearly the start. He told me that he could not just allow what happened to happen without his involvement. It was none of his business, and I'm sure Renart would agree with me.

He told me next time he'd come to me for an appropriate punishment, and that I was welcome to do the same with him, if any of the people he considers dearest to him offended me.

He missed the point entirely.

[devoutish]

He does seem to be making a habit of that.

[Alfie grumbles, toeing his shoes off and letting them fall to the floor. He'll reach for Royce's next, if Royce doesn't object.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce allows it. He's kind of just a lump right now, too miserable to do anything resembling function. ]

I don't know what to do. [ He says, quietly. ] I like him. I know who he is and I like what he is. I enjoy that he is clever and a sneak.

But not when he is that to you. Or to me, even though he swore he would never.

[devoutish]

Did you believe him?

[bywolves]

That's the problem. I want to. I don't know if I can.

I think I do. But that doubt will always be there.

[devoutish]

It sounds to me, right, like he goes off his fucking head wherever Renart is concerned. He's not this much of a fucking idiot all the time, is he?

[bywolves]

No. He's not. He's not that much of an idiot.

[devoutish]

Well. He is some sort of idiot.

[He curls himself around Royce as best as he can, making sure the blanket is secure around his shoulders.]

And you're wonderful.

[bywolves]

He's some sort of idiot. [ Royce says, with a slow, heavy sigh. He's quiet, just being held for a moment, and then: ]

I don't... I don't want to cut him off entirely.

[devoutish]

What do you want, then?

[bywolves]

[ He shakes his head. ]

I think if I knew exactly I wouldn't be this upset.

[devoutish]

Give it time, then, eh? That's very reasonable.

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ He reaches for Alfie's hand. ] That's all I can do these days.

[devoutish]

No, it's not.

[Alfie squeezes his hand, then kisses his knuckles.]

You do very well, most days. You do more than just hang on.

[bywolves]

[ He watches from under his hood. ]

Most of my problems are just things I have to wait on, right now. That's all.

[devoutish]

[Alfie hangs on his next words, thinking something hard but not letting it come out.]

[bywolves]

[ A beat, and then, softer: ] You can say what you want to. My day won't get any worse.

[devoutish]

No, it's only--

[He stops.]

[bywolves]

Alfie. [ He sounds a little worried, but. ]

[devoutish]

It's nothing awful, Royce. Just-- my back.

Did you wish my back fixed?

[bywolves]

[ Silence. Fuck. He can't - lie, he can't lie, but. If he says yes...

Just silence. ]

[devoutish]

Royce?

[bywolves]

Yes. [ He holds on very tightly to Alfie's hand, sinking further into his hood. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie nods, slowly.]

Yeah.

[bywolves]

[ More silence. He doesn't want to say anything else until he knows how angry Alfie is. ]