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]

Well, all right, but we'll out-scheme you.

[bywolves]

[ Royce rolls his eyes, and takes another swig of wine. That one has him flopping out on the bed, closing his eyes. ]

We've been talking a lot about you lately.

[devoutish]

Mmm. Dare I ask?

[bywolves]

Nothing bad. I told her about hunting, and how K helped me, and she asked me why I didn't invite you to go. I told her it's because I hate to look weak in front of you, when you're strong all the time.

She told me I was being an idiot.

[devoutish]

Ah, Royce.

[He gives Royce's hand a tiny tug.]

You know I'm not strong all the time.

[bywolves]

[ Royce scoots closer. ]

I know that, rationally. [ A pause. ] When you showed me that your hands shook, it - I was glad. Not because you were hurting, but because I wasn't the only one.

[devoutish]

That still happens sometimes, you know.

[bywolves]

[ He squeezes Alfie's hand again. ]

I'm sorry.

[devoutish]

It's all right. I'm dealing with it.

[He looks over at Royce.]

You are, too. You're doing well.

[bywolves]

I can help you deal with it. If you need. [ Royce tells him, glancing at him. ] And - I'm trying. That's all I can do.

[devoutish]

I know you can. You do help me, you know.

[He pauses, like he's going to say something more.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce links their fingers together. ] Yeah?

[devoutish]

[Royce Melborn, you read him too well.]

Nothing important. You help me every day. That's the important thing.

[bywolves]

[ A pause, and then, softer: ] I'm glad I do. What's the not important thing?

[devoutish]

Something that would make you feel bad, despite being something that's not at all your fault.

[bywolves]

[ He doesn't know what to say to that, so he sort of just looks over at Alfie. ]

I help you in some ways, but not all of the ones you need.

[devoutish]

No. No, no, no.

[He looks at him, wide-eyed.]

Royce, you help me in every conceivable way.

[bywolves]

[ He frowns. ] It's okay if that's the case. I'm not upset about it. There are some things I'm not equipped to do for you.

[devoutish]

Like what? Name one thing you can't do for me.

[bywolves]

Be Jewish. Share your culture the way your family would.

[devoutish]

You share my culture in your own way.

[bywolves]

But that isn't always what you need.

If it's not that, then what is it?

[devoutish]

I wish you trusted me enough to share those vulnerabilities that you share with K.

[It kind of comes out on its own; he'd been half-planning to hedge again, and he follows it up immediately with:]

But when it comes to things like this, I don't want you to do anything you don't feel comfortable with just because you feel you should.

[bywolves]

[ A pause, and then Royce sits up, staring down at him. ]

It definitely isn't that I don't trust you. [ Royce says, firmly. He's a little drunk, so his words slur just slightly, but he's genuine. ] I trust you more than I trust myself.

S'not that. It's that it's embarrassing. It's - needy, it takes up too much. You're - you always hold me up. I wanted to give you a break from having to do that. From having to deal with my panic when both of us went through what we did. Even though I know you don't think that way.

[devoutish]

I don't think that way at all.

[It's worth repeating, even if Royce logically understands it.]