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]

[ Sigh. ]

I just want to be sure.

[devoutish]

[Alfie exhales a breath that's just a little bit shaky.]

Do you want us to do it now, so soon to winter?

[bywolves]

-- Us. [ Royce says, frowning. ] You don't have to.

[devoutish]

I'm not letting you do this on your own, Royce.

[bywolves]

[ Still frowning, but. ]

We can wait until after winter. [ He says, quieter. ]

[devoutish]

Would you rather wait, or rather not?

[bywolves]

It's probably a better decision to wait.

[devoutish]

Mmm.

[Something about Royce's phrasing gives him pause - "it's probably better to wait" instead of "I want to wait". But he won't press.]

I wonder if it's even possible, wishing for this.

[bywolves]

Maybe it's not. Might solve the issue. [ Royce says, glancing away. ]

[devoutish]

How important is this to you, mate?

[bywolves]

Moderately. [ A beat. ] I'm not in a rush, and I don't need you to do it with me, Alfie.

[devoutish]

[Firmly:]

If you're doing it, I'm doing it.

[bywolves]

[ His expression shifts to something a little more sour. ]

And how much am I going to hurt you if I do this? How selfish am I being, then?

[devoutish]

You're not forcing me into anything. This is my choice.

[bywolves]

But you won't do it unless I do.

[devoutish]

No, and I'm not gonna hide that the idea terrifies me. But if you need it, if it's important--

[bywolves]

[ Is it important enough to make Alfie suffer? He doesn't know. He goes silent, looking away. ]

[devoutish]

[The stew is threatening to bubble over, so Alfie reaches over again, cutting the flame under it.]

Royce.

[bywolves]

What?

[devoutish]

I want you to believe me when I tell you that this is my choice.

[bywolves]

I do believe you, Alfie. But if you will only do this if I do it, then I have to decide if it's worth it to make you suffer along with me.

[devoutish]

[He grunts, annoyed.]

If you think you're making me do anything, then no, you don't believe me.

[bywolves]

[ Huff. ]

I know I'm not making you do anything. It's cause and effect, Alfie.

[devoutish]

Yeah, and the effect is avoidable. I'm choosing not to avoid it.

Don't put this on your shoulders.

[bywolves]

[ All of the humor in him is gone. ]

What do you mean, don't put this on my shoulders? Either I choose to do this and you do as well, meaning both of us remember. Or I don't, and neither of us do.

There's no way for this to only affect me. So I am responsible for the extra trauma you'll have if I decide to do it.