[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

[bywolves]

I did. It was gratifying for about a minute. [ Royce tilts his head back, closing his eyes for a moment. ] He's not sorry. Not the way he should be.

[devoutish]

We spoke, too. Here.

[It's an audio conversation, and it's longer. But Alfie pulls it up anyway, and hands Royce his tablet.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce listens. And there are a lot of points where his expression sharpens, where his knuckles turn white from gripping tightly at the tablet. This makes him angry. And this just confirms that the apology was not what he wanted - not an apology for the right reasons.

When the conversation is finished, Royce hands the tablet back to Alfie and quietly fumes, trying to gather himself together so he can speak, so he can figure out what he wants to say to this. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie watches his expression carefully throughout the entire thing. When he's done, he gives a sharp nod.]

Yeah.

[bywolves]

[ It takes him a minute. There's a lot to unpack, there. ]

Thank you. For keeping him quiet about Gwen. [ First off. ]

[devoutish]

I hope it'll work.

[He's not totally convinced.]

[bywolves]

We'll see. [ He focuses on slowly loosening up his fingers. He's grabbing at his blanket so tightly it's starting to give him a cramp in his hand. ]

He doesn't think he was wrong. He's sorry I died, but he'll do it again. [ He's trying to articulate why Watson's apology seems insincere, like it doesn't seem like enough. ] Can't trust someone who thinks they make the rules.

He does not understand what House did was a problem. Not fully.

[devoutish]

[Alfie agrees, with every single one of those points.]

He thinks the methods were wrong, not the intent behind them.

[And the intent behind them wasn't wrong, necessarily, not even to Alfie. But it does mean that they're likely to have more problems in the future.]

I do think I got him to understand why tying you up was a bad fucking idea.

I would be happy if he could admit what he's doing, right. If he and all the rest had the fucking balls to admit that they're appointing themselves lawmakers and enforcers of the town.

[bywolves]

There are no laws here. There's no jail, there's no sheriff. No point. [ Royce also sort of considers himself above the law, so there's also that. ] This was none of his business.

[ Royce slides forward, settling on the edge of the couch like he wants to get up and pace. He knows he can't. He's jittery, instead. ] He needs to stay out of my business.

[devoutish]

He's fucking relentless with it, mate. Did I tell you about his ideas for the Joker? Now, that man is more of a danger to the town than you or I, but his plans to subdue him are half-baked at fucking best.

[bywolves]

What, exactly, does he think he's accomplishing? [ Royce stares at Alfie, annoyed. ] What is he doing with the Joker?

[devoutish]

The Joker is ill at the moment - very ill. Watson wants to track him down and hobble him - break his knees, yeah, something like that. It'd make it difficult for him to go after people, but it means he'd be entirely dependent on Watson to stay with him and keep him fed. And if he died and came back, he'd be angry, and at full strength.

[bywolves]

[ What. What the fuck is that plan. Just - Royce gives Alfie an incredulous look. ]

And - is there a particular reason we can't just avoid the damn man? Why does this need to be a witch hunt?

[devoutish]

Take him down when he's an easy target, yeah? When he's unable to cause trouble.

[Alfie gets the concept. It's just the execution that he thinks is terrible.]

I brought up the many fucking flaws in this idea. He suggested he set him up in the grocery store, locked up with food. So with this new plan, we walk in to get food, right, and there's a fucking madman tied up in the corner, struggling to get free and screaming his fucking head off.

[bywolves]

That's a stupid plan. [ He says it flatly enough. ] Both of those plans. Both Watson trying to play keeper and trying to lock the Joker up. There's no reason to even get close to him.

[ This is Royce's survival instinct kicking in. ] Could just keep a damn watch. Let people know when he's around, and then stay far away. Hide, if necessary. Lock him out. He does not need to be taken out.

[devoutish]

Yeah. If there were a way to do it and keep him dead, that'd be one thing. But a twenty percent chance of him popping back up is high enough.

[bywolves]

If there were a way to do it and keep him dead that'd be a different story entirely. I'd do it myself. [ Royce thinks he could probably take him if he needed to. ]

Watson is an idiot. [ Royce rubs at his wrists absently, staring down at the floor. ] Condescending, self-sacrificing idiot.

[devoutish]

The most frustrating thing, right, is that he's not as stupid as he acts.

[bywolves]

Mm. He just wants to do the right thing. To the point of killing himself.

[devoutish]

And others.

[He'll be salty about this forever.]

[bywolves]

... And others. [ Royce agrees quietly. He sinks a little into the couch, pulling his blanket up like a hood. ] I don't want to talk about Watson.

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[Alfie's frown deepens. He's definitely going to keep thinking about Watson.]

Let's keep the kid with us.

[bywolves]

[ So is Royce. He's just tired of feeling so much. ]

Knew you'd say that. Didn't think you'd let me send her off.

[devoutish]

It'll be a group of four. We can split up some nights, if we're headed into a crowded area - her and Tifa, the two of us.

[He just assumes those will be the most natural groupings.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes an agreeable sound. He's fine with that grouping. ] She didn't complain once, walking here.