Alfie Solomons (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
devoutish) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
snowblindrpg2017-02-23 10:37 pm
devoutish) wrote in snowblindrpg2017-02-23 10:37 pm
[It isn't the best park. In fact, it's barely a park at all. What's left is scrap, miniscule. There's no plants, no trees, no flowers, only snow. More snow. The frozen wasteland has wiped what should be a serene and quiet place off the map, leaving only the quiet behind.
But it's still something to Emily.
She wants to take off in a run, but the ribs won't allow, so she hobbles in a different way as if that will make her go faster somehow.] Look!
There's funny things sticking out of the ground!
But it's still something to Emily.
She wants to take off in a run, but the ribs won't allow, so she hobbles in a different way as if that will make her go faster somehow.] Look!
There's funny things sticking out of the ground!
[When Emily takes her last breath and finally goes still, Alfie makes a sound like a wounded animal. It's a long, low moan that he doesn't even realize is coming from him at first, and when he does, he doesn't bother to try to muffle it. He's been sitting on the floor between the two girls ever since they'd brought them in, and is still holding tight to one of Emily's hands. He doesn't look up yet. He can't.]
[ Royce has Tifa's head in his lap, has Emily's other hand in his. She goes still, and Royce closes his eyes, trying to breathe. He tries, but he doesn't know if he can remember how. It shudders, and he shakily closes Tifa's eyes as well. He flinches at the sound of Alfie's low moan, curling down further into his hood. ]
They're - they're both. Gone. [ Royce says, voice low and ragged. ]
They're - they're both. Gone. [ Royce says, voice low and ragged. ]
[Alfie had settled Emily's upper body on his own lap when Royce had taken Tifa. It would have felt wrong to let either of them lie completely on the floor, even with a pillow. Reaching out, he brushes a hand over Tifa's hair. He still says nothing. He's not getting up.]
[ Royce doesn't say anything else. Tifa just died. She just came back, not too long ago - this wasn't fair. Emily - he can't think about her. He can't look at her. It's too much, it's too much like Mercy, and Royce drags in another rough sort of breath.
He brushes Tifa's hair out of her face. He can't breathe right, it feels - it's a lot. It's too much. He was scared when he died, and now he's numb, almost. ]
He brushes Tifa's hair out of her face. He can't breathe right, it feels - it's a lot. It's too much. He was scared when he died, and now he's numb, almost. ]
[Alfie sits for something close to an hour - not talking, not moving, barely breathing. And then, very gently, he eases Emily's head off his lap and onto a mess of blankets. He'll be back, but first, he has some things to do.
Going over to his pack, he starts pulling things out, moving them into Emily and Tifa's bags. There are things he wants them to have with them, if they wake up. Tifa gets an extra blanket for them both to share. Emily gets the rest of those chocolate donuts that Watson had brought over.]
Going over to his pack, he starts pulling things out, moving them into Emily and Tifa's bags. There are things he wants them to have with them, if they wake up. Tifa gets an extra blanket for them both to share. Emily gets the rest of those chocolate donuts that Watson had brought over.]
[ Royce doesn't move for a while, but he can't sit there for an hour. He can't. He slides Tifa gently down onto the pillows they'd gathered around, and moves away, just - to get his head back. Just to try and pull himself together, but he can't, he just sort of numbs out the rest of the way, not sure how to even... handle this.
He couldn't handle it when Gwen died. He still doesn't know how he managed. Myron helped, but Myron isn't here. Royce vanishes for half an hour, and then comes back, hood up, cloak close, kneeling down next to Emily to stare at her.
He just stares. He doesn't know what else to do, stuck here, not even paying much attention to Alfie, like he's forgotten Alfie is here. ]
He couldn't handle it when Gwen died. He still doesn't know how he managed. Myron helped, but Myron isn't here. Royce vanishes for half an hour, and then comes back, hood up, cloak close, kneeling down next to Emily to stare at her.
He just stares. He doesn't know what else to do, stuck here, not even paying much attention to Alfie, like he's forgotten Alfie is here. ]
[By the time Royce gets back, Alfie is back on the floor again. He has Emily's body back with him, and with Royce gone, he's holding onto Tifa too - lightly brushing a hand across her forehead, over and over again. The girls' bags are slightly more full than before, but one thing is missing: Emily's sketchbook, which he's taken out and set on the floor next to them.
When Royce sits down, he doesn't do anything at first. But then, he reaches out and settles a hand on the other man's shoulder.]
When Royce sits down, he doesn't do anything at first. But then, he reaches out and settles a hand on the other man's shoulder.]
[ Royce startles slightly when Alfie sets a hand on his shoulder, looking up. His expression is pained, his cheeks a bit wet, but he's not outright sobbing. He just looks stricken.
He looks back down at the girls, and sags a bit, reaching for Emily and then faltering. His hand falls back. ]
Solomons. [ Royce says, voice hoarse. He doesn't know what else to say, just - help? He doesn't know what to do. ]
He looks back down at the girls, and sags a bit, reaching for Emily and then faltering. His hand falls back. ]
Solomons. [ Royce says, voice hoarse. He doesn't know what else to say, just - help? He doesn't know what to do. ]
[ Royce doesn't pull away. He moves to settle closer, actually, which he surprises himself with. He sits shoulder to shoulder with Alfie, trying to steady his shaking breath. He sits there in silence for a long while, and then finally manages: ] You took the sketchbook out of Emily's pack.
I'm taking things from their packs. [ To remember them by. Just in case. ] Nothing they'll need. I'll give them back.
[ Royce has never been a sentimental man - and normally he wouldn't tell Alfie, but he doesn't want to look like a looting shithead here. He cares. ]
[ Royce has never been a sentimental man - and normally he wouldn't tell Alfie, but he doesn't want to look like a looting shithead here. He cares. ]
[ Royce makes a quiet noise of agreement, and that's about it. He doesn't know how else to respond, doesn't know what to do with his hands or his gaze. This is far, far out of his depth - emotion like the emotion he's feeling has always been hard for him to express. ]
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