[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]

[ 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?]

[bywolves]

[ It takes him a couple of seconds to unwind. It's a terrible instinct, but that's what it is: instinct. Sometimes he's annoyed by just how much the dog comparisons are true.

There's a little part of him that feels bad about the look on Emily's face. He ignores that part.

What eases him further is Alfie's quick sign at him. Familiar. Easy. Royce rests on the floor near his bag for a second and signs an okay back. He's fine. ]

[powersouls]

[Tifa sees that look on Emily's face, and she gives the girl's hand a little squeeze as she takes the scissors, shooting her a comforting smile. Royce and Alfie are signing something in that little secret language they use, which Tifa assumes means Alfie is handling it, so she stays focused on Emily.]

Thank you, Emily. We'll find you something prettier than twine eventually, okay?

[She cuts a length of twine, then offers it to her.]

Would you like to tie the whistle on or should I?

[empireofrats]

[Patiently, she waits for Tifa to cut the twine, and when she gets it, she tugs each end to straighten it out. The string end goes through the whistle's tiny notch, then she offers it all back to Tifa.]

You tie in please. I don't have good knots. Mister Samuel showed me one that sailors use, but I can't remember it.

[devoutish]

We can fix that. I'm sure we know many knots, between the three of us.

[bywolves]

[ Royce just stays down here on the floor because he can't be assed to get back up and crawl onto the couch. ] I know a few.

[powersouls]

[Tifa takes the whistle and ties a simple overhand knot around the loop to keep it from sliding around on the cord.]

Well, I'm not a knot expert. Maybe someone else should do it, huh, Emily?

so ur...KNOT an expert tifa

[empireofrats]

No, I like this one. [Simple. About as good as she could do. (And it doesn't have boy cooties.)] Thank you.

[It is big enough to fit right over her head, but small enough not to fly easily off. She inspects the whistle a moment more, then lets it hang on her chest. She looks between the three of them. Then:]

I'm a little tired.

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[Alfie's pretty tired himself. He leans back, sinking into the couch.]

We'll give you and Tifa one of the beds. Sound all right?

[bywolves]

[ Royce waves his hand vaguely where he's curled up around his bag, pulling his hood up. He doesn't care if they take the beds. It's not like he can get up the stairs, anyway. ]

I'M GLAD YOU GOT IT ANNA

[powersouls]

[Tifa nods, then shoots a smile at Emily.]

Sure. You don't mind sharing, do you?

[empireofrats]

[Tifa's smile is reassuring, and Emily smiles a little, too.] No, I don't mind. [It'll be better, she thinks, than having to sleep alone like usual. Like she had to in the Hound Pits.

It's a bit refreshing not to be treated like an empress here.]

Don't you both want to sleep on a bed?

[devoutish]

He'll take the couch, I think.

[He nods at Royce.]

The stairs will be hard for him.

[bywolves]

Couch is fine. [ Because yes, the stairs are hard. He closes his eyes for a second to try and make the room stop spinning. ] Take a bed. Makes it more difficult for the monsters to eat you.

[ Of course, if Royce is the only one downstairs and they get attacked, the anomaly will... eat him, but hey. He's leaving that part out. ]