[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

[devoutish]

[He takes it from her, setting it on his knees. He hasn't wrapped anything up nicely the way Tifa had, but there are a few things he's separated out. But first, he asks--]

Have you got something sharp to defend yourself with? Something like a knife?

[powersouls]

[Tifa doesn't hug Royce too long, at least, and when she's done, she sits down on the couch beside him, watching Alfie and Emily for a moment. Her mouth twists a bit at Alfie's question, but she doesn't interrupt.]

[bywolves]

She has a pocket knife. [ Royce offers from his huddle on the couch. Tifa sitting on the couch next to him doesn't seem to bother him much - he doesn't pull away or flinch, just eases up further. ]

[empireofrats]

[Wow, thanks, PAPA ROYCE. She can tell Alfie herself!] Um, ye--

Yes. [>:(] I have a pocket knife I found in a house with these shoes. It's very sharp. It's kind of small... [Well, not compared to Emily, but she thinks it's small because it isn't a sword.

She takes the 8 1/4" wooden knife out of her pocket, showing Alfie it in her palm, folded closed.] I just have one. Duster has a lot of knives. He told me.

[devoutish]

Yeah. It's good to have back-ups.

[He starts taking things out one by one - a hairbrush, a child-sized yarn hat in the shape of a dinosaur, an umbrella, and a teddy bear.]

For you. If you don't want something, you trade it or repurpose it. And this--

[He adds a whistle to the pile.]

You keep this. Don't get rid of it. If you get into trouble, blow on it, loud and hard.

cuts in line

[empireofrats]

[Oh--MY GOD, the HAT. Emily immediately pilfers it while Alfie is getting the other things out of the backpack. She tries it on.

It looks as ridiculous as expected. But she's totally amused. (She doesn't know what the hell a dinosaur is, though.)] Okay. People in Dunwall do that sometimes--trade. [Ohh.

Intrigued, she picks up the whistle to turn it around. The bead inside jumbles about. She at least knows a whistle. City Watch use them. Of course, she tests it, putting it to her lips and blowing. Not as hard as she could, but hard enough to get a sharp noise.] It works. I like it.

Do you think it can scare monsters?

[bywolves]

[ Royce just casually winces at the sound of the whistle. He doesn't comment, but he does bring his hand up to rub at his ear. Dulled down senses or not, he's still sensitive. ]

Doubt it. Don't try. [ Royce says grouchily, in response to the scaring monsters part. ]

[powersouls]

I don't think anything scares the monsters here. Just run if you see one, okay?

[devoutish]

Yes. Run and whistle for help. If it scares them, then all the better.

[empireofrats]

[Oops, sorry, Royce. She forgot you were dizzy. At least she looks apologetic for a moment?] Oh. Okay. [She hates running, ugh! Corvo wouldn't run, she doesn't think...]

I don't have anything to give you both back.

[bywolves]

They gave you things in return for bringing me here. You don't owe anything. [ He says it kind of muffled because his face is now buried in the couch arm. If he just closes his eyes and covers them it's a little better... ]

[powersouls]

[Tifa nods!]

They're gifts. We want you to have them.

[devoutish]

Some of 'em are good for survival, too. You're gonna need 'em.

[empireofrats]

Okay. [She turns the whistle over in her palm, then manages a small smile.] Thank you. [She holds the whistle out.] Do you have a string?

[bywolves]

[ In that muffled way again: ] I have twine. Something like string.

[empireofrats]

[So helpful, you hoarder.] Okay. I would like to put some string on it so I can wear it like a necklace.

[devoutish]

That's a very good idea. Yeah. Duster, would you give her a bit of twine?

[bywolves]

I wouldn't have said I had it if I was intending on keeping it from her, Solomons.

[powersouls]

[Duster... what are you waiting for...]

Do you need me to get it?

[empireofrats]

[Emily is already ahead of Tifa, hurrying for Royce's bag.] I'll get it!

[Because surely, Royce is going to be completely okay with a little girl leaping to rummage through his bag? Surely. ROYCE, IT'S JUST A LITTLE GIRL.]

[devoutish]

[Oh, shit. As much as Royce seems to like her, Alfie is pretty sure he won't be okay with that.]

Emily. Let him get it, yeah?

[bywolves]

[ Predictably, Royce tenses when Emily leaps for the chance to go through his bag. It's instinct. He's too dizzy to get there first, and he looks vaguely murderous (just a little) until Alfie asks Emily to stop.

There's a pause, and Royce gets up enough so he can pull his bag to him, watching Emily with a bit of a scowl. But hey, she gets her ball of twine and a pair of stupidly sharp scissors to cut it with. He'd do it himself, but he doesn't trust himself not to cut off a finger in the shape he's in. ]

Let Solomons or Tifa cut it. [ Royce says firmly. ]

[powersouls]

[Tifa watches this carefully, then holds out her hands for the twine and scissors.]

Here, I can do it.

[empireofrats]

[Alfie's warning at least makes her slow her roll. The look Royce has, though. She's seen quite a few of those in recent months. Something like it. Something primal and instinctive.

She stops suddenly, clutching the whistle in her fist like she has the right mind to use it now. They have a little, mini cat stare-off. Emily doesn't blink or look away. Her dark eyes piece Royce's face with an unreadable expression until Royce is the one who has to move first and get the twine.

At first, she doesn't take them when they're offered. Her eyes go from Royce to the twine, then finally back to Royce. Momentarily untrusting. She has learned something like a secret. She has learned Royce will bite even someone like her when his boundaries are crossed.

All at once, she takes them with careful, light fingers and quickly takes them to Tifa.

She's quiet.]

[devoutish]

[When she passes him on the way to Tifa, Alfie reaches out and gives her hair a little tousle. He then turns to look a Royce, searching his eyes, flashing him a quick sign: okay?]