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!

[CAPTCHA-avoiding continuation of this post.]

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christens this new post with royce angst tm

[bywolves]

[ The town meeting is over, and Royce has talked to Gabriel - but he's still angry, and the walk home really just works him up again. He vanishes before Alfie can catch up with him, but when Alfie comes back home, he'll hear the shatter of porcelain, and the thud of a knife hitting a wall.

Royce is in the kitchen, hood up, sitting on the table. Across the room from him, a pretty vase that neither of them are sure belongs to who is shattered in pieces on the floor, and Alverstone is sticking out of the wall where the vase once was resting against. The angry thundercloud over Royce's head is practically visible, and the book that he's been refusing to read is still bonking him against the shoulder every few minutes. ]

as it should be

[devoutish]

[Yup, this is about what he expected. Alfie bats at the book, more for the satisfaction of it than because he thinks it'll actually do something, and sits himself down next to Royce. Yes, on the table. He's willing to compromise for love.]

I never liked that vase much anyway.

[bywolves]

[ Normally, Royce might answer, but he's buzzing. He's practically vibrating with how angry he is, jaw clenched tight. If he opens his mouth he might start shouting, and he refuses to take it out on Alfie.

As it is, his connection fuzzes with how much he's trying to keep his anger to himself. He'll let Alfie have a low level of it - mostly it's hurt, because town meetings always are like this for him. He speaks up, and the do-gooders talk down to him, brush off his efforts and feelings. It was particularly bad this time - it stung. He doesn't know why he bothers. Next time, he won't go. They don't want to hear his opinion anyway. ]

[devoutish]

Just let it out, mate.

[Alfie says, giving his elbow a squeeze.]

Don't sit there stewing in it.

[bywolves]

I wasn't antagonizing them. [ Royce snaps. ] I didn't search the damned bugs out. They came to me. I defended myself.

[devoutish]

Would you like me to play the part of the others? "Ah, no, but we can't fight back; that would be teaching Zephyr that excessive kindness and passivity aren't the solutions to every problem. Far better to coddle them as much as possible".

[bywolves]

[ A burst of that anger slips out - he's on the verge of seeing red. ]

I hate the way they talk to me.

[devoutish]

Mm. They look down on us, even if they don't think they do.

[bywolves]

[ He swallows hard, pulling one of his legs up to his chest. ]

They always do. I'm not going to the next town meeting.

[devoutish]

[From here.]

And House allowed this? Is it because he thinks you're pretty?

[furgood]

Oh it was definitely because he thinks I'm pretty. He's hardly subtle.

[devoutish]

I can't say I've ever wished to be a pretty girl more than I do now.

[It would open up a whole new set of exciting ways to mess with House.]

[furgood]

You'd be gorgeous I'm sure. Though using your powers for evil.

[devoutish]

I'm already gorgeous.

[He quips, nudging her shoulder with his.]

[furgood]

A diffurent sort of gorgeous for sure. Longer hair, maybe a few more curves. Still witty and grumpy.

[devoutish]

Do you think Zephyr will ever send us to a world where we change sex?

[furgood]

I can't imagine it but I guess it's possible. I don't know how I'd feel about it honestly. I like being a woman, never thought of being anything else but I've known people who cared less.

Around Christmastime

[termineur]

[ On the same day he leaves a present for Royce, he leaves a silver and green package labelled "For Alfie". This one is slightly larger, but only slightly. It contains a gold pocketwatch and chain. The face- really, the exposed gears in the center of the face- have a delicate pattern of inlaid yellow crystals from Volcano Island. He'll find they glow softly when he opens the watch, so it can be read in darkness.

A small note is attached. ]

Merry Christmas, Alfie. Or Wintertide or Hanukkah, or whatever you want to call it. For me it's an opportunity to say: I'm glad you're here. -Gabriel

letter

[devoutish]

Christmas, Wintertide, and Hanukkah are three separate holidays, Gabriel.

Come for tea, will you?

- A.S.

[termineur]

[ Instead of writing a response letter, Gabriel follows the request and comes by.

A light snow falls. But he looks unperturbed by it, bundled up with his knit scarf and gloves like he is. It's early afternoon when he knocks on the door. ]

[devoutish]

Is that Gabriel?

[Calls Alfie's voice from inside. There's a thump against the door as Bear hurls himself against it, panting with excitement.]

Come in; it's unlocked.

[termineur]

[ Gabriel laughs at hearing the thumps. ]

C'mon, Bear, you've got to let me open the door, or I can't get in. We've been over this.

[ He says it as he pushes the door open, ready to give Bear a proper patdown as soon as he's inside. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie's already heading into the kitchen, putting some tea on and searching around for a good loaf of bread.]

I haven't got gifts, I'm afraid.

[He says, waving Gabriel into the living room.]

But I hope you'll share food with me. Royce baked this.

[termineur]

[ He waves off the warning of gifts. He didn't expect anything- but it's honestly been fun putting together things for others.

And of course he'll share food with you, Alfie. That's not even a question. Gabriel heads into the living room and finds himself a seat. ]

Royce baked it, huh? I thought you were the baker of the house. Have you been giving him lessons?

[devoutish]

Yeah, he's picked up a thing or two.

[Alfie says, a note of pride on his voice.]

Tell him what you think, the next time you see him; bread isn't easy, but he does it well.

[He appears half a minute later, carrying a loaf of bread on a platter. Setting it down, he opens one flap of his vest, letting Gabriel see that his new pocket watch is hanging inside.]