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]

[Lame, Royce.]

That's a shame. I would've liked a photo.

[bywolves]

I bet you would've.

I'll bring one home next time, but you can't take a photo.

[devoutish]

What if I let you put it on me?

[bywolves]

I will happily do that anyway. Still no photo.

[devoutish]

Royce Melborn, you drive a hard bargain.

[Pause.]

Are you lot gonna have holidays and things?

[bywolves]

... Huh. I don't know. [ Royce says, after a moment. ] Maybe. That's what proper religions do, right? I don't know how proper we are.

I'll have to bring it up.

[devoutish]

If you do-- well. I'd come along, for something that was public.

[He has no interest in worshipping Zephyr, but Royce has celebrated his holidays with him, and he wants to do the same in turn.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce isn't even really interested in worshiping Zephyr either. The way the meeting went today feels more like his speed. ]

You would? [ Royce asks, lips twitching into a smile. ] If it was going to be something, it'd likely just be... ah, I don't know. A music festival with plenty of food. Like Zephyr's birthday.

[devoutish]

I would, yeah. No matter what it is. I'd want to be there for you; I'd want to celebrate with you.

[bywolves]

[ Ah, a real, full smile from Royce. ]

... Thank you.

[devoutish]

[Alfie smiles back, and settles further into his side.]

Everything that is important to you is important to me. There aren't any exceptions to that, mate.

[bywolves]

[ Royce pulls him as close as he can without hurting him. ]

If I didn't know that by now, I'd really be an idiot. [ Royce murmurs. ] It is important, though I still hesitate to really call it... a religion. I don't think it is, really.

[devoutish]

Then what would you call it?

[bywolves]

I don't know.

A support group? An encouragement group? [ a collection of wannabe zephyr dads ]

[devoutish]

That sounds nice. Perhaps Zephyr themself with start coming to your meetings, eh?

[bywolves]

[ Alfie gets a little pulse of happiness and pride from Royce, at that. ]

Maybe. I'm going to send them a letter and tell them we're holding them. If anything, they can at least listen to the piano that K plays. And that I play, eventually.

[devoutish]

[Royce gets the exact same feelings back. The happiness is self-explanatory, but the pride is specifically pride in Royce: pride that he's actively trying to find a place in this world, and pride that he cares so much about its development.]

Have you got a favorite song yet?

[bywolves]

Yeah, but I don't know the name of it. I've been trying to learn it. [ And you know he's basking in that pride. That feels good. ] I can play it for you sometime.

[devoutish]

Hum it.

[He suggests, starting to hum something himself (a popular tune from home, though he also can't remember the name) and then stopping near-immediately as he breaks into coughs. Humming is harder on his throat than talking, it turns out.]

[bywolves]

Alfie. [ Royce says, in that same tone as before, reaching a little frantically to rest his hand on Alfie's chest. Like that's going to help. ] Don't. Mar's sake, just - are you okay? Do you need water?

[devoutish]

[Still in the midst of his coughing fit, he shakes his head.]

No, no, I'm-- well. Yeah. Yeah, all right. But don't think you'll--

[Cough, cough.]

Don't think you'll get out of singing me that song, mate.

[bywolves]

[ Because their connection is on, Alfie gets to feel the twisty upset feeling he gets at Alfie's coughing fit. There's a hint of guilt in there too. ]

Fine, just. Hold on a minute. [ And he very carefully slides out from under Alfie to go get him water. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie scoots into a sitting position, getting up to follow.]

I really am all right.

[His voice is more gravely than it had been a few minutes ago, but he doesn't seem to be struggling to get his words out, at least.]

[bywolves]

Lay down. [ Do nOT GET UP WHAT - the blast of fright and guilt might hit kind of hard before he can tamp it down. Royce stays where he is for a second, hand on Alfie's chest, trying to push him down gently. ] Just lay down. Stay there and let me get you water.

[devoutish]

[Even though he's fully expecting the worry and anxiety by now, the blast of fear hits him hard enough to make him stumble back. He lets Royce push him back, but then he reaches for him, trying to put a hand on each of his shoulders and pull him down to his level.]

Royce, Royce - listen to me. I promise you that I am going to be all right. Yeah? You saved me. I'm recovering well.