[log] things fall apart [closed]

[devoutish]

Characters: Alfie Solomons, Emily Kaldwin, Royce Melborn, Tifa Lockhart
Location: building 92 and the surrounding area
Date: night of 213 to morning of 214
Summary: another one bites the dust bum tish
Warnings: character death

CATCH-ALL FOR TRAUMA

Comments

[empireofrats]

Okay. [She smiles a little, winces, and then tries for another smile. Or the continuation of the one she had before.] I would like that, I think.

[devoutish]

[He says the blessing slowly and quietly, enunciating every word so that she can hear them clearly, even though she won't be able to understand the Hebrew. He's nearly done when the first tear rolls down his cheek and hits her forehead.]

[empireofrats]

[Even when the tear hits her forehead, she's still smiling reassuringly and small.] Thank you. [She's still holding his hand enough to squeeze, but it's very soft.] I'm sorry I got on the strange things, Mister Alfie.

I should have been more careful.

[devoutish]

No, no - don't feel bad, understand?

[He doesn't want her last thoughts to be guilt or upset.]

You wanted to play. That's all. You wanted to be happy.

[empireofrats]

It's okay. It was fun, even if I fell. [Maybe a bit horrifically, she goes kind of quiet for a bit, eyes closed, smiling. But her chest is moving, thankfully, and she opens her eyes again.]

You and Royce should be careful, so the monsters don't try to eat you. And--you can take my notebook. In case someone tries to steal it.

[devoutish]

We're gonna leave all sorts of things with you, so you can have them when you wake up. I'll give you the rest of the chocolate donuts.

[empireofrats]

What if you get hungry? You can leave me one, and that would be okay. They're good... so... you should eat them. [She squeezes his hand in a way that says it's okay if you do.] Then... they won't go bad.

And you won't be hungry.

[devoutish]

I've got other food to eat. These I got for you.

[And he's absolutely going to leave her all of them.]

[empireofrats]

[What a nice man Alfie is!! Even if she's pale and there's some pain, some numbness, her smile reaches her eyes.] Okay.

Do you think... if I woke up in another place... the donuts would come with me there, too?

[devoutish]

In another building, you mean?

[In the morgue.]

Yeah, they will. Yeah. You'll have them right there with you.

[empireofrats]

No... not another building. [Silly Alfie.] Somewhere... different. If I wake up in another place.

Not home, but... not here.

[devoutish]

I don't know where else you'd wake up, sweetheart.

[empireofrats]

That's okay. It will be here or home. [Hoping for the best here.] You'll be careful, right, Mister Alfie? You... and Royce.

And... you'll pick us up, and then... we'll find out how to leave. Together.

[devoutish]

[He should tell her not to count on home, because he isn't sure he really believes anyone goes back. But he can't tell a dying girl that.]

We'll do our trade business. I need you for that; you're fucking invaluable, you are.

[empireofrats]

Yes. We'll do that. [Alfie, you said a bad word!!] And... we'll trade a lot. With everyone... And they'll have things.

And then we'll get out... and go home. [Even if she's still smiling somewhat, her voice lowers.] Is it bad... if Empresses are scared? I'm... a little scared.

[devoutish]

No, it's not bad. It's all right. But we'll keep it a secret if you like, eh? Just between the four of us.

[He pushes back the thought that it'll soon just be the two of them, and smoothes a thumb lightly across her cheek.]

I was scared too, when I died.

[empireofrats]

[This makes her smile just a tad, glad she isn't the only one.] It's okay, though. You and Royce are here. And then I will see you when I wake up again.

You have to promise me you will be okay. That you and Royce will protect each other. Until we wake back up.

[devoutish]

I promise you. We'll keep each other in line.

[Oh hell, there's another one of his tears landing on her face again. He wipes it away for her.]

[empireofrats]

Okay. Good. Because Royce can be silly sometimes. Like when he climbed the wall. [Oh NO. STOP CRYING ON HER, ALFIE.] You're raining on me.

[Pulling her hand away, she reaches up toward his face, but, of course, can't reach.] It'll be okay, Mister Alfie. If I don't come back, it'll be okay. I know you can do it. You're really smart.

Thank you for being nice to me.

[devoutish]

[He leans down to help her short little arms with that, half-reclining next to him on the floor. It's murder on his back, but he doesn't care a bit right now.]

You don't worry about me, all right? Tell me what you want instead. Anything you need.

[empireofrats]

[Better. Now she can touch his scruffy face gently, though he fingers are chilly.] I want... you to be safe with Royce. And... I want... you to go back home to your family. And for Royce to go back home... to Miss Gwen and Mister Hadrian. Because... he's a king now.

[Her hand rests on his face, and she's quiet for a little bit, maybe worrisomely, but he can still hear her slightly ragged breaths.] If... I don't wake up... I love you, Mister Alfie... and I will miss you.

[devoutish]

[You are breaking his dark little gangster heart into a million pieces, Emily.]

I know you do, sweet girl. I love you too, very much.

[He covers her hand with his, wanting to warm it up even just a little.]

What do you need, right now?

[empireofrats]

A nap. I think... Just a little one.

[devoutish]

Here. Take another pillow.

[He carefully slides one under her neck.]

Would you like a story from one of your books?

[empireofrats]

[The pillow is nice, she thinks. But she can't exactly tell if it's any better. She can't exactly tell anything much anymore. Her feet are icy and numb. Her hand doesn't leave Alfie's face.] No...

I want... a story from you... Okay?

A story about you traveling... Tell me an interesting story... about when you traveled.