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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Post Shadows Event

[bywolves]

[ Royce runs.

Very rarely does Royce sprint like this, full on across the Meadous. He leaves Valinta and just runs, breathless, frazzled. The trees reach out to him, worried, and he ignores them in his panic, the dirt path under him the only thing he's focused on. He needs the Wishing Pond, and he needs to do this right now, because there is no way he can do that again.

Of course, he's probably going to catch attention, this way. Especially if a certain gangster is out here walking - Royce very well may run into him, on accident. ]

[devoutish]

[Oh, he definitely does. And what does Alfie do? He turns right around and starts jogging after him, of course.]

Royce!

[bywolves]

[ The sound of his name has him flinch - he falters in running, looking at Alfie, and then he slows down, hesitant. He needs to go, but he can't ignore Alfie, so he just walks backwards instead, letting Alfie catch up. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie comes, huffing and puffing, until he finally slows to a walk next to Royce.]

What's wrong? Eh? What's happened?

[bywolves]

[ He'll be able to see that Royce is pale. He shakes his head a little. He keeps walking. ]

I need to go to the Wishing Pond. First. Right now. Before anything.

[devoutish]

Okay. Okay, why is that?

[bywolves]

[ He shakes his head again and turns, speeding up. He doesn't answer, but he sends a spark of fear and nausea in Alfie's direction, the sensation of being violated. Wishing Pond first. Off he goes. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie's stomach tightens, but he follows without question, moving back up to a jog to keep up with him. Okay, Wishing Pond first. Questions later.]

[bywolves]

[ When he reaches the Pond, he crouches near the edge, and tosses a stone into the pool. In a tense and upset voice, he says: ]

Zephyr, I wish for the ability to be able to block out any sort of control over me. I don't want to be able to be mind controlled, have anybody change my emotions, or do anything to make me do something I don't want to do with magic or suggestion or -- just give me the power to choose what is done to me.

[ And then he exhales shakily, still crouched, bowing his head and running his hands through his hair. ]

Please.

[devoutish]

[While he's talking, Alfie silently reaches to take his hand.]

[bywolves]

[ He holds onto Alfie's hand with another shakily exhale. He stays where he is for a moment, and then looks up, out over the pond. ]

Renart's shadow used mind control on me. [ He says finally, trying to calm down. ]

[devoutish]

Fucking hell.

[He lets go of Royce's hand, but only so he can shift an arm around his shoulder.]

Was that just now?

[bywolves]

Yes. She made me fight a bear. A shadow. If I didn't have my persona, I would've - I would've died.

[devoutish]

[Alfie's brow furrows deeply.]

I hope you at least got a good punch at her in.

[bywolves]

No. I ran. [ He's still very pale, tone short and tense, like a tripwire. He's barely keeping himself together. ]

[devoutish]

That's all right, too.

[He says quietly.]

Let's go home, mate.

[bywolves]

Right. [ He says, nodding. Swallowing hard, he stands up, and grabs for Alfie's arm. He links their arms together and presses close, holding onto Alfie rather than just his hand. ]

[devoutish]

You should talk to her.

[He says as they walk, voice still soft.]

Not today, but soon. Before you lose your nerve for it.

[bywolves]

I will. [ His throat is tight, and it makes it hard to talk. ] I will later. I don't want to think about that right now.

[devoutish]

Yeah, okay.

[He tilts his head to the side, resting his cheek against the top of Royce's head.]

[bywolves]

[ He leans into the comfort, and quietly lets Alfie lead him off to their home. When they arrive, he sort of sags against Alfie, as Bear comes up to them and basically bodychecks them. ]

I wish we had a coffeemaker, here. Should've - should've thought of that a few minutes ago. [ He jokes, weakly. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie murmurs down, down to the dog, who thankfully obeys.]

Will tea do?

[He gives Royce's chest a gentle rub - right where Royce usually rubs it himself, when he's upset.]

[bywolves]

[ The touch surprises him and he startles a bit, but - it feels like a weight being lifted. Alfie's comforting him, in a way that he learned through watching, and that little bit of intimacy, of someone having paid attention - it makes this easier to deal with. For a moment, Royce sort of just looks at Alfie with a very faint smile. ]

I - yes. [ He rests a hand on top of Alfie's. ] Tea is probably a better choice.

[devoutish]

You sit down, then; I'll make some for you.

[He says, ushering both him and the dog inside. He always likes having a good excuse to spoil Royce.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce heads into the living room, settling down on the couch. Bear flops down at his feet, covering them, and Royce closes his eyes, just for a moment. It's warm, here. Comforting. He's okay. ]