[log] a couple of setbacks later [closed]

[bywolves]

Characters: Royce Melborn, Alfie Solomons, Tifa Lockhart, Emily Kaldwin
Location: Building 50 (bonus Building 44)
Date: night of Day 142 (plus, bonus Day 144)
Summary: Reunion log!
Warnings: Will update as necessary!

A standard two-story house with an attic. The first floor has a kitchen, living room, and dining room, while the second floor has two bedrooms and a bathroom. The entire house has been done up inside in Victorian style--it probably cost quite a lot of money, and no detail is spared. The color scheme is a bit dark, though, and it's difficult to see in here during the night. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY EIGHT, TRAVELLING EAST" and "ALPHONSE ELRIC, STEPH BROWN, MAMI TOMOE, FREYA CRESCENT, EDWARD ELRIC, DAY TWENTY-FOUR, TRAVELLING WEST" have been carved into the hallway wall. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, EDWARD ELRIC, GREED, DAY SEVENTY-FIVE, TRAVELLING SOUTH-WEST. DEAR FORMER RESIDENT, WE ARE FRIENDS, PLEASE DO NOT FEEL YOU NEED TO HIDE FROM US. CONTACT LELRIC." has been written on the wall. Written on the wall in blue ink is the following: "This is Building 80 on the composite map. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath is a pretty accurate map showing the house in relation to the south and west snow walls, the school and athletic shed, the funeral home, and buildings 34, 35, 37, 39, 40, 41, 46, 47, 48, 49, 53, 57, 58, and 59. The snow wall is labeled "Snow wall." House 58 is labeled "Entrance to ice tunnels." The school is labeled "School. Food available in cafeteria; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT." The athletic shed is labeled "Shed". The funeral home is labeled "UNSAFE; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT." House 34 is labeled "Medical assistance; hot, clean water. Contact Dr. Epps @claytonator".

Comments

[powersouls]

[Tifa risks moving closer, standing beside him but not touching him just yet.]

You didn't come back wrong. You've been through a lot. You're just shaken up. Give yourself a little time.

[bywolves]

No. [ Royce says, voice unsteady. ] No. This doesn't happen. I'm terrified and I don't get terrified. They brought me back different. My lungs are smaller. I can't walk straight. They forgot parts of me when they put me back together.

[powersouls]

Duster.

[Now she does touch him, reaching for his hand.]

There's nothing wrong with you, I promise. Everyone gets terrified. Cloud was when he came back. Alfie has been having nightmares, too. And... do you remember my friend Barret? I lived with him in Midgar after Nibelheim was destroyed. ShinRa wiped out his hometown, too, and he lost his wife and best friend. He isn't afraid of anything, and he never talks about his feelings. [Like Royce and Alfie, basically.] He's one of the toughest people I know, but we woke each other up with nightmares sometimes.

[bywolves]

[ He doesn't push her away or slap at her hand. Instead, he just listens. Evens out his breathing, slowly, bit by bit, counting. One, two, three, inhale. One, two, three, exhale.

They've all been having nightmares. Makes him feel a little better. But it's not the nightmares specifically that bother him. ] It isn't the nightmares. Had those plenty. These are different.

[powersouls]

I've had them, too. Panic attacks. It doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you.

[And now, since he's calming down, she steps forward to hug him tight.]

It's okay, I promise.

[bywolves]

[ Panic attacks. That's - certainly a quantifiable thing, and he doesn't want to talk about it, doesn't want to talk through it so much, but the fact that it's something she knows and can name? That's weirdly a relief. Tifa slides in and hugs him, and he lets her. Doesn't have the energy to fight it, and besides, he doesn't really want to. She's not going to hurt him. There isn't any point.

Royce leans into it, bringing one arm around to hold tightly at her coat, face hidden in her shoulder. The other hand hangs loosely, awkwardly, but... he'll take the comfort. Not many people in his life offer it this way. ]

[powersouls]

[She's surprised at what she takes as a positive response. He's hugging her rather than merely tolerating it, and despite the circumstances, she can't help but smile slightly. One arm stays looped tightly around him while her other hand rubs circles on his back, trying to soothe him. She'll just stay like this, quiet, for as long as he needs.]

[bywolves]

[ He doesn't do it for long. He takes as much as he needs before slowly and carefully pulling away, not looking at her. He carefully sets himself back against the door frame, reaching up to rub at his face. ]

I'm fine. [ He says roughly. ] It's fine.

[powersouls]

[He's probably not fine, but he's certainly doing better, so she doesn't question it.]

Do you want to go sit back down?

[bywolves]

It doesn't matter if I sit or not, I still... [ But yeah, he'll go sit back down. He's going to try to do it himself, but he won't argue her help. ]

[powersouls]

[She does help, but she tries not to be obnoxious about it, just keeping her hands on his arm and steadying him whenever he tips. When he's settled on the couch, she sits beside him again, tugging the blanket around both of their shoulders.]

It shouldn't last long. Just a couple of days.

[bywolves]

[ He's fine with this, for the most part. He has his days where he doesn't want to be touched - he might his his quota tonight, might go over it, but for now, he's okay. Tifa tugs the blanket around them both and he tips over and just stays where he is, sprawled over the arm of the couch. ]

I know. [ He closes his eyes - and then opens them again, uncomfortable with the idea of sleep. He just stares down at the floor instead, exhausted and zoning out. ]

[powersouls]

[After a few moments of this, when it's clear Royce isn't going to talk but isn't going to sleep, either, Tifa breaks the silence.]

Hey, can I ask you something?

[bywolves]

You can. [ She can always ask. He might just not answer. ]

[powersouls]

Your real name is Royce, right? [Alfie spilled.] What do you want me to call you?

[bywolves]

[ He's glad he was right when he predicted she wouldn't be angry. ] What do you want to call me?

[powersouls]

[She shrugs.]

It doesn't matter. Whatever you want me to.

[bywolves]

Royce. [ He doesn't mind either way, but Royce is more honest. And more... who he wants to be. ] You can call me either. But Duster is someone I haven't been in a long time.

[powersouls]

Royce, then. [She smiles a little.] I like that name. When did you use the name Duster?

[bywolves]

When I was part of the Black Diamond.

[powersouls]

What's that?

[Uh, wait.]

You don't have to tell me if you don't want to.

[bywolves]

[ He shrugs lightly. ] A thieves guild. I was part of it as a bucketman.

[powersouls]

[Tifa smiles, sheepishly this time.]

I don't know what that is, either.

[bywolves]

Assassin. [ So casual. ] Low level. I worked as one for years. I went by Duster. People were afraid of me.

[powersouls]

Oh.

[She doesn't sound surprised, at least, but she also doesn't really know how to respond.]

Is that why you used it here? So people would be afraid of you?