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]

Mmm.

[It's definitely something of a surprise to hear Royce say that out loud, phrased in that way. But still, it's-- kind of reassuring? Definitely reassuring.]

I don't think she worries about it.

[bywolves]

[ It's not quite admitting the full truth - a truth he doesn't even really admit to himself. But the words feel true, and getting them out in the open feels better. ]

I don't think she does either. That's mostly why I don't worry more.

[devoutish]

I feel the same for you, you know, as I imagine you feel for Gwen. I've mentioned it in my letters.

[He hadn't for a long, long time, but eventually, he'd worked up the gumption for it.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce squeezes his hand. ]

Yeah. Not a surprise. I've felt it from you before. [ A beat. ] She wasn't surprised either, was she?

[devoutish]

She wasn't. And she wasn't bothered, either.

[bywolves]

She wasn't bothered when I told her either. She understands. I just - worry anyway, sometimes. Not much.

[devoutish]

I suppose there's not much I can do to help with that, eh?

[bywolves]

Not unless you can bring her to us right now. [ Royce says, but it's gentle. ] I don't know how it's going to work out. That doesn't mean that it won't. I just prefer to have everything planned, and this is not something I can do that with.

[devoutish]

Yeah, I know; I've seen it do your head in.

[He sets his coffee aside again so that he can wrap an arm around Royce.]

I'd help you try to come up with a plan, if you wanted.

[bywolves]

Mm. [ He settles into Alfie's grip. ] If you can think of a way to plan this, sure. I don't know what there really is to figure out past - she arrives.

Not to say your help is unwanted.

[devoutish]

Well, we have contact with her. We can all talk about what we'll do when she arrives.

[bywolves]

Mm. We can do that. I think there will be some things we can't figure out until she's actually here, and we know how the three of us work together in person.

[devoutish]

You're probably right.

[Alfie drums his fingers on Royce's arm.]

-- You sleep all right, besides these worries?

[bywolves]

Mmhm. I slept great. [ Royce says, taking a sip of coffee. ] These worries are small and don't bother me that much.

[devoutish]

Good.

[He gets another kiss on the cheek.]

That's a relief.

[bywolves]

[ He smiles a bit. ]

I've actually - I've been okay. I'm learning how to deal with the hunting thing. And the memories. I'm doing better, I think.

[devoutish]

I've noticed - especially with the memories. I've been doing all right with them, too.

[Even when it comes to missing Emily.]

[bywolves]

Mm. You haven't woken up from bad dreams in a while.

[devoutish]

Mm. And I haven't had any that I haven't told you about, either.

[bywolves]

[ Royce takes another sip of coffee. ]

So we're both doing good. [ He murmurs, resting his head on Alfie's shoulder again. ] Maybe next time I go hunting I won't lose my mind.

[devoutish]

I wouldn't put it like that, from what you've told me.

[Which, granted, isn't a lot, but.]

[bywolves]

I don't know how else to phrase it.

[devoutish]

Well, you just struggled a bit, that's all. Yeah.

[bywolves]

[ He frowns. ] More than just a bit. Like I couldn't breathe.

[devoutish]

[Alfie pauses, pulling back so he can look at him.]

Really?