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]

Be there for him when he wants company. Leave him be when he'd rather be on his own. That's all we can do for him, I think.

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ A beat, then, sort of warily: ] He told me he likes me. Romantically, I mean, he told me he has... romantic feelings for me.

[ It still doesn't feel real. ]

[devoutish]

[Well, that sure is the last thing Alfie had expected to hear. His jaw actually drops, just slightly, and he sits up a little more again.]

Do you think it's the grief?

[It has to be, right? Unless he and Connor weren't as serious as Alfie had assumed they were.]

[bywolves]

[ Yeah, Royce isn't sure how to feel about it either, and he shares that uncertainty with Alfie, rubbing at his neck. ]

I don't know. I know he told me because Connor vanished so suddenly and he wants to make sure I know, just in case the same happened to me. [ He chews at his bottom lip. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie can't really give reassurance, in this case, but he sends over comfort in its place.]

The two of them, then; they weren't actually--

[bywolves]

No, they were. Are? Together. If that's what you mean.

[devoutish]

Yeah. So what then, he wanted to be with both of you at once?

[bywolves]

I suppose so. Like Monty and Renart, I think.

[devoutish]

Yes, but--

[But with Monty and Renart, it seemed like it had mostly been about sex, and K doesn't seem like the type for that (can robots even have sex?). ]

Did he say that's what it was?

[bywolves]

No, not - not exactly like it, just similar. [ Renart and Monty are the only frame of reference that he has for open relationships. ] I get the impression that it was - more romantic in nature.

[devoutish]

Mmmm. And what did you say?

[bywolves]

[ He shifts, and glances at Alfie. ]

That we both need to give it time before we can commit to anything, or if anything will happen. [ He looks down at Alfie's legs, picking at the fabric of his pants. ] Connor just left. I don't want to be a bandage for a problem.

[devoutish]

But you're thinking about it.

[... Huh. That, to Alfie, is perhaps even more surprising than K's confession itself - and he immediately remembers Royce not wanting to lie next to him a few minutes ago. He'd assumed it was just general jitteriness, but, maybe, it was more than that; maybe it was not wanting to do something he wouldn't be able to do anymore, if he were dating someone else. He looks down at his legs too, wondering if he should move them - but Royce still has his hands on them, so he doesn't.]

[bywolves]

[ No, don't move. Royce keeps his hands firmly on Alfie's legs, jaw tense. Alfie gets to feel a flash of anxiety before Royce turns off his connection abruptly. ]

I am. [ He says, not looking at Alfie. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie sighs, wanting to send out some wavery feelings of his own, but holding back instead.]

I'm not angry, if that's what you're worried about. Just-- taken off-guard, I suppose; this is all coming out of nowhere for me.

[bywolves]

It came out of nowhere for me, too. [ Royce mumbles. ] I'd - I'd thought about it, before, but I shut down the idea because I thought nothing would come of it. I didn't want to be the third wheel again, and besides, I'd always gotten the impression that K and Connor were firmly only with each other. It didn't make sense to torture myself, so I just didn't.

[ He rubs at his face. He knows he's talking a lot because he's nervous, but he can't stop himself. ] He'd made that mention of being with me and Gwen and - and I don't know if this is actually romantic in nature or he's just holding onto me because relationships in general are new for him and he doesn't know the difference.

And then there's you.

[devoutish]

[Alfie listens quietly - not interrupting, not moving his legs.]

What about me?

[And then there's you is ambiguous, he feels; it could mean a lot of things.]

[bywolves]

[ His jaw works. ]

For as much as we don't define it, we are - something. Something together. And I care about you as much as I care for Gwen. That isn't something I want to throw away.

[devoutish]

And you would be throwing that way, if you and K--?

[bywolves]

I don't know. Would I? What would have to change, in order to make that work?

[devoutish]

I don't think that's a question that I can answer for you, Royce. But--

[He cuts himself off for a moment, hesitating.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce looks up at him, expression - sad. He doesn't want to be having this conversation, but he knows they have to. ]

[devoutish]

But I've got no interest in being a third wheel either, Royce. And if this is what you want, if K can give you something that I can't--

[Another cut-off. He closes his eyes for a moment, shuddering a little.]

[bywolves]

No. [ Royce says, sharply - and he doesn't even really mean to, it bursts out of him without his permission. He pushes Alfie's legs off of him just enough to move, sitting closer to Alfie so he can lean down and rest his forehead against Alfie's, framing Alfie's face with his hands. ]

No. [ He repeats, a little raggedly. ] That isn't how it is. Both of you add to my life. You are not deficient.

[devoutish]

All right.

[He nudges his forehead into Royce's, sending off a small burst of reassurance.]

All right; I believe you. I'm just trying to understand.