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]

[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.

[bywolves]

[ Royce takes a deep breath, and tries to even himself out. He goes when Alfie pulls him, shoulders hunched up. But he listens. ]

I know. [ He swallows hard. ] I almost lost you here. In the Meadous. Where that isn't supposed to happen. Sorry.

[devoutish]

[Alfie leans forward, resting their foreheads together again.]

You saved me. That's the most important thing.

[bywolves]

[ Yeah, he did. He did save Alfie, and it was all Royce. ]

I sang to you. [ He mutters, crouching down so he can stay pressed forehead to forehead for a moment. ] I had the ability to heal things if I sang. Only in the water.

[devoutish]

Really?

[He raises an eyebrow in surprise; both of those things are news to him.]

What did you sing?

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ A little embarrassed: ] One of the songs from Prince of Egypt. It was all I could manage.

[devoutish]

[That really is very sweet, and Alfie sends him a quick little snip of gratitude.]

It was a good choice. I wish I had been awake for it.

[bywolves]

I think it helped a little. [ He squirms slightly. ] You weren't as pale when I got you out of the water.

[devoutish]

Don't be embarrassed.

[He nudges his forehead into Royce's.]

Thank you.

[bywolves]

It's ridiculous. [ Royce grumbles, but. Okay. He'll try. ]

You're welcome. Can I go get you water, now?

[devoutish]

Yeah. Can I come along?