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]

"Will your back be all right sitting on the ground?"

[Alfie quotes back at him. He's just saying, buddy.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce sinks down further into the couch. ]

That's not a lie.

[devoutish]

It is, a bit, if you already knew the answer.

[Alfie sinks down with him, nestling his head into the crook of Royce's neck.]

[bywolves]

I didn't know the answer. It isn't a lie to ask you how you're doing or if your back will hurt for some other reason than your sciatica, because of the ground.

[devoutish]

Okay.

[bywolves]

[ That, out of everything, shuts Royce up. He quiets, still tense. ]

[devoutish]

I mean it.

[He squeezes Royce's hand again.]

I believe you.

[bywolves]

[ He's quiet for a few more seconds. ]

It helped. [ He admits, guiltily. ] It helped me. Selfishly.

[devoutish]

Because it meant you could do something for me?

[bywolves]

I could fix something for you that had an effect I could clearly see.

[devoutish]

Everything about me is an effect that you can clearly see, Royce.

[bywolves]

[ Silence, again. He gets what Alfie's saying, but he knows Alfie knows what Royce means, too. ]

[devoutish]

I'm not gonna unwish it.

[He says, finally, after a moment.]

[devoutish]

I'm not gonna unwish it.

[He says, finally, after a moment.]

[bywolves]

... You're not?

[devoutish]

I'm not, no. Seems sort of silly to.

[bywolves]

[ Here, you just get to feel the flood of relief from Royce, Alfie. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie pats his arm. It's okay, buddy, he knows.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce dims it down, and then turns to curl a bit into Alfie's side. He doesn't want Alfie to feel the guilt, just the relief. A pause. ]

Are you still going to talk to Monty?

[devoutish]

Yeah, of course I am. I was gonna go tonight, actually.

[bywolves]

[ He nods a little. ]

He doesn't respond to being roughed up. [ Royce mutters. ] So don't bother.

[devoutish]

What does he do?

[bywolves]

He just stared at me.

He's killed people before, he's not phased.

[devoutish]

Has he?

[That... is actually a surprise to Alfie. He might be very good at reading people, but Monty is also very good at maintaining his persona as a harmless guy.]

[bywolves]

Mm.

In his original world. Not in the Between. [ Sniff. ] Don't spread that around. But he has, and I've seen it in his memories.