[log] I JUST DIIIIIED IN YOUR ARMS TONIIIIIIGHT [closed]

[devoutish]

Characters: Alfie Solomons, Emily Kaldwin, Fiona, Royce Melborn
Location building 41
Date: evening of 157 through morning of 158
Summary: Alfie bleeds to death in the blood house, for maximum Snowhell fun
Warnings: graphic injury, death and dying

Step into the only remaining room in this house and you'll be in for a shock--at first blush, it looks like you've stepped into a room that has blood all over the floor and walls. Look closer, though, and it's actually paint. This was once an artist's studio, judging by the canvases stacked up in the corner. It seems like there were paintings on the canvases once, but now they're muddy or blacked out entirely by thick paint. Some of the paint on the walls has been scraped away, revealing yet more paint. Some of the canvases have had their paint scraped off, or have been taken apart entirely.

Comments

[bywolves]

[ She doesn't give him an explanation, and for about a full five seconds he really considers just slicing her throat open. He almost does. She stole something, she stole it, Maribor-damned con artist thief. He's going to kill her. He's going to - but he doesn't.

Alfie would be pissed. Emily doesn't need to see another death. He shouldn't. He can practically hear Hadrian screaming at him to stop.

Royce is furious, but he doesn't move. Just tightens his grip on her wrist. ]

You took it. Put it back. Now.

[plundering]

[Fiona twists her wrist, trying to break the hold, but it doesn't work. She's too beyond angry to really think straight, and she has a big mouth at the best of times, so she leans forward, letting the blade just break the skin of her neck, voice low enough that only he'll be able to hear. Their faces are uncomfortably close now.]

You gonna cut my throat open in front of a kid, you psychopath, or are you going to stop making idiotic assumptions?

[bywolves]

[ Uncomfortably close, like Royce is so, so uncomfortably close to just saying fuck it and finishing the cut. She's practically gloating. Rubbing it in his face. He doesn't have someone to text him reassuring things, doesn't have someone to pull him back away from the kick of a shovel, not this time, and he could really, absolutely do it. ]

Explain yourself. Or I will cut your throat open in front of a kid, yes. [ He's almost calm with it, low and icy. ]

[plundering]

[She gives her wrist another jerk. For a second, she considers not saying anything, just spitting in his face. He doesn't deserve anything from her, and she is so, so tired of backing down from everything in this stupid town.

But Emily is here. Fiona doesn't move, but she does respond, finally.]

He told me to hold onto it. Now let go.

[empireofrats]

Stop. [Her voice is too quiet at first. Small, weak. She wets her mouth and swallows. She stands up.

Her voice bellows this time, jagged with emotion, but regal, authoritative:] Stop it! [She hides her fears.] Mister Alfie is dead.

And all you two can do is fight!

[bywolves]

[ It could be a lie. It could be, but it probably isn't, and Royce almost doesn't care. It'd feel so damn good to just take this woman apart. Somewhere in the back of his head there's a little whisper that sounds like Merrick, a whisper that says it would feel better, you can't change what you are --

But then Emily shouts, and it startles him. Alfie is dead, and Emily is watching, and Royce freezes for a good long moment before pulling the shiv away. Lets go of Fiona's wrist. He takes a few steps back.

Royce looks at Emily, expression twisting for just a second before he flattens it back out again. Impassive. Fine. He won't fight. ]

[plundering]

[Royce lets go of her wrist and steps back, and Fiona is so angry she's trembling with it, her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She wants to hit him. She wants to slam him against the wall and twist that shiv out of his hand, but Emily is here, so she doesn't. She steps back, too, her breathing a little ragged, and then wipes the blood from her throat roughly. She can't quite look at Emily. Part of her is expecting him to come at her again.]

Sorry, Emily. We're fine. [She says, her voice tense and quiet.]

[empireofrats]

[Emily doesn't say anything. She looks between the two of them, breath quiet but deep by the rise and fall of her chest and shoulders.

She looks disappointed beneath the upset.] Mister Alfie is dead. [She doesn't know who she's trying to convince, them or herself, or what she means by repeating it.]

He's dead.

[bywolves]

[ Royce sneers at Fiona before sliding back another step. Moves a little closer to Emily. Not too close. He knows she's upset, angry. ]

Which was why I said something. [ Royce tells Emily, sharply. ] She's the type to loot his body before he's even cold. We're going to need to hide his things from her.

[plundering]

[Fiona goes rigid, teeth clamping shut, and for a terrible instant, she almost crosses the room and punches him in his stupid, sneering, pretty face. But Emily is right there, and Alfie's body is cold on the floor, and she doesn't.]

I'm surprised you didn't kill me without Alfie to keep you in check, Melborn.

[empireofrats]

[At the accusation, Emily looks at Fiona. Both Alfie and Fiona had openly talked to her about Fiona's "stealing," though they sounded humorous about it.] Stop.

You're still fighting.

[She's young, but she isn't stupid. Her eyes fix Royce with A Look.] We wouldn't let her take Mister Alfie's things.

But if she did--that's okay. Mister Alfie is dead. He doesn't need them when he's dead. [It sounds a lot harsher than what she obviously means. She's ten. She's thinking logically.] We'll help him find new things if they get stolen.

[bywolves]

[ The bad part is that this is one room. There's no getting away from each other. Fiona cuts at him right back and honestly, he thinks he would've preferred a punch. The accusation sours quickly in him, but he swallows it. It goes down rough, tears him up on the inside, but whatever. ]

He does need his stuff. [ Royce tells Emily. ] He'll wake up with it if he returns. It needs to stay with him. Untouched.

It's done. We're through fighting.

[plundering]

[Emily is right. They are still fighting, but her eyes are on Royce. She watches his expression shift when the barb hits home, and it gives her a sick, sharp sense of satisfaction to see it. She revels in it for just an instant, then her focus turns back to Emily.]

I'm not going to take anything.

[She holds up her wrist to show Emily the bracelet, completely ignoring Royce now.]

Alfie told me to hang onto this until he comes back. That's all.

even dead he won't live it down

[empireofrats]

[Wow, super suspicious! Just not in the way either of them think.

Emily regards Fiona for a long moment, silent, then peers at the bracelet. She doesn't know Fiona very well, but she knows Alfie a bit better, and she knows what she's talked to Alfie about.

She looks at Royce again.] It's okay. [Reassuring.] Mister Alfie won't lose anything else.

I trust her. [And a ten year old might not seem the best judge of character to someone like Royce, but the look in her dark eyes. Assertive. Positive.] Mister Alfie says he isn't going to marry her, but he probably is anyway. He said it would be nice to kiss her.

I don't think Mister Alfie would talk about her like that if he thought she was bad. So I don't think she took the bracelet even if she steals a lot. [She looks again at Fiona.] If you lose Mister Alfie's bracelet, you'll be in big trouble.

[There. Compromise?]

[bywolves]

[ Royce watches Emily quietly, almost thoughtfully. He doesn't often underestimate children, but maybe he did with Emily, just a little. Royce doesn't like Fiona, but he knows Alfie likes and trusts the woman, so by extension... Royce doesn't trust her, necessarily, but he won't do anything else to hurt her. He doesn't know how long the truce lasts without Alfie here.

He'll compromise. He'll back down, for Emily. But only for Emily. If it'd just been him and Fiona...

Royce doesn't say anything else. He grabs his own things and retreats to a corner as far away from Fiona as possible, and goes quiet and still. ]

god damn it emily

[plundering]

[Fiona doesn't say anything in response to Emily's argument, although she's impressed by the girl's perceptiveness. Royce retreats to a corner of the room, and Fiona crosses her arms. The anger is draining away, but it's been replaced by a cold, clawing sadness. It takes her a second, but she turns back to Emily again, frowning.]

Thanks. I'll take good care of it, I promise. Sorry about that.

[empireofrats]

[Emily is frowning, too. Half apologetically for Royce, half still mildly suspicious of Fiona.] It's okay. Adults fight a lot. I've heard a lot of adults fighting.

I know you'll take care of Mister Alfie's things. [Because she's guilting you into it RIGHT NOW.] He likes you.

[plundering]

Yeah, I know. I like him, too.

[Fiona sighs, straightening up as she toys with the bracelet absently.]

I'll leave as soon as the doors unlock. No more fighting.

[empireofrats]

[Thankfully, this time the frown isn't so harsh.] We should stay together. Mister Alfie wouldn't want us to split up.

The monsters could get you and eat you.

[plundering]

Don't worry. I'll catch up with John, and I'll be fine. Do you think Royce will take good care of you?

[empireofrats]

[Emily doesn't appear to be convinced.] Who's "Royce"?

[plundering]

Uh, Duster. Seriously, kid, thanks for worrying, but I'll be okay.

[empireofrats]

[WHAT] Um. [She glances at Royce, then looks back to Fiona. Maybe the lady is just crazy. Maybe she's telling a lie. Maybe Royce had told a lie.

All of it kind of worries her a bit.] Oh.

I don't really know you, but Mister Alfie likes you, and I don't want him to be sad when he comes back. [Look, she doesn't know you're from a murderplanet like she's from a murdercity. LISTEN.] And then how will he get his bracelet back if something happens?

[plundering]

Hey, I can take care of myself. Really. You don't have to worry about me.

[She glances pointedly at Royce.]

Anyway, probably better if I left.