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]

Do you think getting the memories will help?

[bywolves]

I don't know. Maybe.

[ Absently, he brings up the hand resting against his other arm to rub at his chest. ]

I want closure, mostly. I want to see if there was an end.

[devoutish]

If we do it, mate, no matter what happens or what we see - I don't believe it will break us.

[bywolves]

No, I don't think it will either.

I just don't want to see the way your face gets when you bury what you're feeling in order to help me. I don't want you to resent me because you have to comfort me again. I don't want to see you get angry and upset and lost when I shut myself off to try to stop you from having to comfort me. I don't want to see you sigh and be disappointed when I can't get out of bed for the third day in a row.

[devoutish]

[Alfie's shoulders shudder. He doesn't want any of those things, either.]

[bywolves]

That's what I mean when I don't care what it does to me.

It wears you down. I can't be the cause of that, not again. Not matter how much I try and help you in return, it is always uneven.

[devoutish]

[He closes his eyes, heaving a sigh.]

I can keep saying it over and over again, Royce, but will it make any difference?

[bywolves]

[ He bites his bottom lip. Chews at it, almost, almost enough to make it bleed. ]

I'm working on it.

[devoutish]

Okay.

[Just hearing that is enough. Slowly, he slides down the wall until he's crouching on the floor again.]

[bywolves]

[ No, no. Royce pushes off from the sink, moving over to Alfie. He offers his hands, concerned. ]

Don't. Sit at the table if you need to. You don't have to crouch on the floor.

[devoutish]

Come crouch on the floor with me.

[He suggests, giving Royce's hand a gentle tug.]

Help me clean up the glass.

[bywolves]

[ Royce crouches, still chewing on his bottom lip. ]

Sorry for breaking it in the first place.

[devoutish]

[Alfie lifts a shoulder in a shrug, and starts sweeping the shards together with his hands.]

It's not from home; not really.

[bywolves]

[ Royce helps, trying to make sure Alfie doesn't cut himself on the glass. ]

It's not from home?

[devoutish]

It looks like it's from home, but it's not an exact item I recognize, no.

[bywolves]

Oh. [ He sweeps up the rest of it. ] There's more things in our house that look like they came from your world than mine, I think.

[ Not that he minds. ]

[devoutish]

Do you want more things that look like they come from your world?

[bywolves]

It doesn't really matter to me. Reminders of Elan aren't comforting like reminders of London might be for you.

[devoutish]

Mmmm.

[He adds one more stray piece to the pile of shards, then gives Royce's arm a little tug.]

C'mere.

[bywolves]

[ Royce goes willingly, all the anger in his body language extinguished. He just looks worn out. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie leans into him, burying his face in his chest.]

You're a comfort to me.

[bywolves]

[ Royce wraps his arms around Alfie and rests his head on top of Alfie's, holding him close. ]

You're a comfort to me. [ He murmurs. ] If we go through with getting memories, Alfie... [ A beat. ] I'll try to take it well.

[devoutish]

Mm. Don't try to ignore or push away your feelings, though; that wouldn't be taking it well.

[bywolves]

I know. There's only so much I can do to deal with it. I'm going to try but I can't - promise I won't falter.

[devoutish]

I've never wanted perfection from you, Royce. You've certainly never required it from me.