devoutish | IC contact for wethelost

And you didn't want him to go through it alone. [ He guesses. Knowing what he does of the two, it's the most logical assumption. ]

Exactly right.

[Alfie glances over his shoulder at him, giving him a look of recognition; of you know us well already.]

[ Alfie and Royce weren't especially subtle about their regard for one another during that dinner; it had been oddly endearing to see. But he doesn't feel it's necessary to point that out. Instead: ] How's Royce handling it?

Well. Better than I worried he would. The Meadous has been good for him; it's given him the strength he needs to get through this.

[ That seems to bode well, at least. But. K's a worrier these days, and he isn't sure what to expect the next time he sees Royce. ]

Think I should hold off with the piano lessons for now?

No, no. Not unless he asks you to, and I don't think he will. He doesn't need to be treated with such a delicate hand.

[Just a bit of one.]

Of course. [ He isn't really inclined to make such a decision for Royce to begin with. He can decide for himself. And if he seems a bit off during any future lessons... at least now K will know why. ]

Do either of you want help with anything for the next while? [ He's choosing his words. Want, not need. An offer that can hopefully be accepted without injuring anyone's pride. ] Chores. Cooking. It'd give me something to do. [ Let him be useful please. ]

Oh, no, no; there's no need for that.

[Sorry, K. Alfie comes out of the kitchen, two hot cups of tea in hand, and sets one down in front of him. Alfie's hand is trembling, just slightly.]

Well, you might ask Royce, as well; perhaps he has something. But we've got stiff upper lips, us.

[ The refusal of his offer earns Alfie a long look, K noting the state of his hands, before reaching for his own cup. ] Thanks. I'll ask him, but I don't expect he'll accept the help either.

[ :c These two. ]

It's not meant as an insult to you, mind.

[He says, as he takes a seat in an armchair.]

We're self-sufficient sorts, that's all.

I know. I'm not insulted. [ He's concerned. Caring about someone's well-being but being unable to help them in any appreciable way is an all too familiar frustration. ] If you change your mind. [ He tilts his head. Let him know. ]

Mm. You'll continue to visit as a friend, I hope?

[ That gets a slight look of surprise. ] If this is an invitation to.

Sure, yeah. You're a friend by now, aren't you? You're welcome here.

[ Achievement unlocked: Friendship! ]

I wasn't going to presume is all. Of course I'll visit. [ A small smile as he sips the tea. Then, in Yiddish: ] So I really am in the private club.

Yeah, indeed you are.

[He replies in turn, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. It's small and tired, but a smile all the same.]

Where's that accent from? It sounds funny to my ear.

[Still clearly understandable, but.]

[ It's strange to think he has an accent, but he supposes he must, especially to someone from an earlier century of an alternate Earth. Who sounds like he's from a version of London, to boot. ]

Los Angeles. Probably a bit different dialect than yours. I can understand yours fine though.

A different place and many years' difference in time, yes. But I'm happy to hear that Yiddish is still around in the future. People of my generation complain that not enough of the kids are speaking it.

Not at all widely spoken, that I've noticed. But still around as a full language. Is Royce the only one you've taught it to?

Yes. It was something we started back in Norfinbury.

[ So much comes back to Norfinbury. The mention of it has K momentarily glancing toward Alfie's hands, again. ]

And he taught you Elvish in turn. [ He assumes. ] It would be interesting to learn it. But... I think maybe that's something between just the two of you. [ Something special, that he doesn't want to intrude upon, in other words. ]

Yeah, a bit. But it's a language, isn't it. They're meant to be shared and spoken.

[So while he does consider it something special that they share, he also wouldn't be offended by Royce sharing it with others, too.]

Sure. Better than being forgotten.

[ He isn't sure he wants to take that as "permission" to learn Elvish too, but at least he won't feel bad if he picks up a few words here and there in the language. It isn't as though Alfie would ever have a reason to feel threatened by his friendship with Royce, anyway.

Which brings him to something he's been wondering for sometime now. ]

You're both very close. [ It isn't a smarmy "wink wink, nudge nudge" statement, more tentatively curious and leading up to something else. ]

Yeah.

[He inclines his head at K, an unspoken go on.]

Yeah, we are. We've been through a great many things together.

[ Not one to dance around a subject, K will just get right to it. ]

Royce mentioned Mr. Navarro's a former romantic interest... Former because of things with Renart. I've gotten the distinct impression you don't care for either of them. [ People in the Meadous seem to lead such ridiculously complicated love lives and it's probably a fool's errand trying to make sense of them, but. ]

I feel like I'm missing something. Where do you fit in the equation?

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