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'd like to not have it happen at all.

[devoutish]

This goes back to that bit about you being too hard on yourself.

[bywolves]

[ Another sigh. ]

It never used to be this way. I know now it's just - who I've become, what I've been shaped into. I just wonder if I should be stronger.

[devoutish]

But we've talked about this, yeah? It was different before because you never let yourself feel anything.

[bywolves]

I know. I know that's why.

[ He makes a vaguely frustrated sound. ] What Monty said to me really bothered me, I suppose. I can't shake it.

[devoutish]

[Which Alfie knows he can only help with so much. He tucks Royce closer to him, petting his hair.]

[bywolves]

I need to speak with him. [ He leans into the hand in his hair. ] Both him and Renart.

[devoutish]

Yeah.

I do believe you'll be all right, mate.

[bywolves]

I'm already doing much better than I was. [ In fact, here: Royce lets Alfie feel that knot of anxiety and dread, the one that had been so gnarled and full of thorns that it'd been hard to breathe. It's much, much less, just a small, easily managed ache, something that he's not sure he'll ever be entirely free of. It's worries and hopes and fears, but it's - softer. Feels less like he's dying. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie exhales, relieved, and rests a hand over Royce's heart. Okay. Good.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce rests his own hand over Alfie's, and settles back down. ]

[devoutish]

We should have dinner soon.

[He murmurs, his eyes falling shut again.]

I'd like to have it cooked up when Emily comes home.

[bywolves]

[ He makes a sound of agreement, yawning, and totally does not get up. What if he just slept here for a while more instead, though, is that a thing. ]

[devoutish]

[It's not a thing that Alfie's resisting, that's for sure. Zzzzzzz.]

[bywolves]

[ Sweet, he's out.

But - eventually, Royce mumbles something and snuffles before untangling himself from the hold. He stretches, heads off to use the restroom, and when he comes back, he nudges Alfie's foot with his own, yawning again.

If he can get Alfie to get up and go make food, Royce trails after him to help. Or get in the way. Both, really. Royce climbs up on the counter, as is his usual, watching Alfie cutting up food and reaching to snatch vegetables off the cutting board when he thinks Alfie isn't looking. ]

[devoutish]

[Oh my god, Royce, how is he supposed to make rabbit stew when you're like this. He starts swatting at Royce's knee every time he makes a grab for something, which quickly turns into swatting it whenever he so much as sees him twitch out of the corner of his eye.]

Fuck off.

[He says pleasantly.]

[bywolves]

[ The last swat has Royce laughing like a big child, shoving a vegetable in his mouth quickly so Alfie can't stop him from doing it. He gives Alfie a big grin with his mouth full. ]

No.

[devoutish]

Pest. Raw vegetables are awful for you.

[bywolves]

Are not. [ He says, offended. ] I've been eating them raw since I was a child.

[devoutish]

Yeah, all right, but they're better for you when they're cooked up.

[bywolves]

[ He makes a face. ]

I like them better this way.

[devoutish]

[Faux-offended:]

You don't like my stew?

[bywolves]

[ A beat. ]

Don't you try to trap me with your words, Alfie Solomons.

[devoutish]

[Alfie grins at him and, tossing the remaining chopped vegetables into the broth to simmer, hoists himself up onto the counter next to Royce. Hi.]

[bywolves]

[ Oh, hello. Royce makes another face at him, but he's grinning after, still. He's secretly pleased that Alfie does, because it means he doesn't hurt. ]

Thought sitting on the counter is unsanitary.