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[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!

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[bywolves]

[ He leans into the petting, closing his eyes. ]

I don't want to let it rot, either. [ He admits, swallowing hard. ] It will, if I let it.

[devoutish]

Then let's not. Was it just John and Meulin mouthing off, then, or did the others bother you as well?

[bywolves]

No, it was just them. [ Royce mumbles. ] He was - it wasn't. Condescending. It was... dismissive. Meulin wasn't as much. Watson, though.

[devoutish]

Watson makes an art of it, yeah. The way he went on about us as if we were advocating for wiping the beetles off the map. Fucking ridiculous.

[bywolves]

I wouldn't. Systematically wiping out another species is not something I would do. [ Royce rubs at his face. ] I haven't actually attacked them past the guard tower. But they were throwing rocks.

He's - disrespectful. Feelings don't matter unless they're his feelings.

[devoutish]

Or Sherlock's, of course.

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ Royce plays with that thread again. ] It bothers me more than it should.

[devoutish]

[Gently, Alfie winds his fingers through Royce's, holding them still.]

I wouldn't say that. A man shouldn't get used to being dismissed and disrespected.

[bywolves]

[ Royce lets Alfie still his hand with a sigh. ]

You're right. It is frustrating to deal with someone who never takes you seriously, however. [ A pause. ] Maybe I could show him.

[devoutish]

How?

[bywolves]

Give him a memory of mine. Make him see what it's like to have everything taken from you over and over.

He hasn't had a thing taken from him in his life.

[devoutish]

Do you think he'll agree to it?

[bywolves]

Maybe. I wouldn't do it without his permission, either way.

[devoutish]

If he's stubborn about it, explain why. Browbeat him about it if you need to, yeah?

[bywolves]

Yeah. I will.

I just want him to understand. [ Royce murmurs, finally easing up just enough to rest his head against Alfie's shoulder. He's still tense and uncomfortable, but - less so. ]

[devoutish]

I know, darling.

[He buries his fingers in Royce's hair, lightly flexing them against his scalp.]

Tell you what - if he refuses, that's when we'll set his house on fire.

[bywolves]

[ He lets out a shivery little sigh at the fingers in his hair, comforted by that - and this time he does actually laugh. ]

Hm. Sounds like a deal. [ Royce huffs. He closes his eyes. ] Thank you, Alfie.

[devoutish]

Ah, what are you thinking me for? I feel like I haven't done enough here.

[bywolves]

You've done what you can. [ Royce squeezes his hand. ] The rest I have to do.

[devoutish]

Yeah.

Don't think it doesn't anger me, too. I'm not-- unaffected by it all, the town hall stuff.

[bywolves]

I know it does. [ Sigh. ] You're better at keeping your head, though.

[devoutish]

Mm, I have to be. Wouldn't've been in charge at home, otherwise. I might've been dead.

[bywolves]

It was never like that for me. Wasn't in charge of anything other than myself. And Hadrian, at times.

[devoutish]

Yeah, I know. I don't want you to think I don't understand.

[bywolves]

Mm. No, I know you do. [ A long sigh. ] I don't know how I feel about being that angry.