[log] we wear red so they don't see us bleed [closed]

[bywolves]

Characters: Royce Melborn, Alfie Solomons
Location: Building 141
Date: Day 242, morning
Summary: Both boys are monsters, figuratively and literally.
Warnings: Body horror, possible gore, warnings for other things in subject headers

141: A post office, long-abandoned. There are a few empty white plastic bins where mail was once piled up, and the lobby area is still remarkably clean and polished. The back area isn't locked, so if you like you can go through the back and see the office with its locked safe and the back door that leads to the downtown area. Trees, impossibly tall men, and lots of Ⓧs have been drawn on the walls, along with ball-like things that are made up of tentacles and beaks and death and one circle in green crayon that's been scribbled over in charcoal.

Comments

[devoutish]

Are you--

[But he stops, suddenly, because out of the doorway behind Royce steps Fiona. Not an anomaly, but properly Fiona, looking just like she did the last time he'd seen her; just like she does in the pictures he has of her. She looks entirely real, even though he knows she can't be.]

Royce.

[His voice is suddenly hoarse.]

Do you see that?

[bywolves]

[ Royce looks up, and immediately goes for one of his shivs. It's a painful movement, but he won't be caught without it. ]

Yes. Fiona. [ Royce confirms, voice hoarse. He's tense - last time he spoke to her, she'd nearly punched him. ]

[devoutish]

[She doesn't even look at Royce - it's like he's not even there. Instead, she passes by him and goes straight to Alfie. She takes hold of his shirt collar and gently tugs him down to her height, giving him a brief kiss on the lips before letting him go and stepping away.]

Hey. Thanks for the light.

[His breath hitches.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes a noise that's half angry, half startled at the way Fiona just walks right up to Alfie. He stumbles forward, grabbing Alfie by the wrist and pulling him back. Nope. Stay away from her. It. ]

Not her. [ Royce says sharply. ] It's not her.

[devoutish]

I know.

[And he does, but... god, she'd felt real. He lifts a clawed hand towards her. She smiles.]

[bywolves]

Stop. [ Royce says sharply. Come along, Alfie. Away from the thing with Fiona's face. ] Don't look at her.

[ He's terrified. If Fiona is here, that has to mean... he shakes his head, breath harsh from the grinding of his bones. ] We have bigger problems than her.

[devoutish]

You don't need it back, right?

[Fiona's smile grows wider. She reaches out again, playing with his shirt collar.]

You always gave me things.

[Alfie takes one tiny step back, towards Royce - but that's all.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce just puts himself between Alfie and Fiona, watching her. Without really thinking about it, he's baring his teeth, like an animal, like he's going to defend Alfie. From what, he doesn't know, but he's not going to let her fuck around, here. ]

You don't have his light. I do. [ Royce hisses. His voice echoes with that dual-tone almost static sound from before, when he was completely turned. ]

[devoutish]

[She looks him up and down, her smile teasing.]

Do you?

[You don't look like you do, Royce.]

[bywolves]

[ Wow. Rude. Royce tenses, and his teeth gnash a bit in her direction. ]

I took it. So yes. [ But he doesn't sound sure. ] Leave. Now.

[devoutish]

[Her eyes slide off of Royce again, back to Alfie.]

Alfie wants me to stay.

[He clicks his tongue hard.]

No, I fucking don't.

[He doesn't sound like he has much confidence in his words.]

[bywolves]

You heard him. [ It's alright, Alfie. Royce is full of much more conviction. ] You're not wanted here. You're not her, either.

Turn around and walk out the door or I'll make you do it. [ Not that he can follow through so much on that, considering he's barely standing. ]

[devoutish]

Royce, the other room.

[Alfie bumps his elbow very lightly against Royce's shoulder, and finally turns away from Fiona.

When they go, she follows.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce follows Alfie back, to the backroom - and when she follows, he shuts the door in her face. She can stay out, thanks. She can probably also open doorknobs, but Royce isn't going to let her in because he just goes ahead and slides down to the floor in front of the door, holding it closed. His eyes are closed, too, expression a grimace. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie leans heavily against the wall, closing his eyes. He opens his mouth to say something, but before he can--]

Come on, boys.

[His eyes pop open. There's Fiona standing across the room, arms folded over her chest.]

I just want to thank him.

[bywolves]

[ What the fuck. Royce startles, and reflexively hisses at her, a noise that's static-y and inhuman. He drags himself to his feet again, making the sort of sounds animals make when they have to move even though they're injured, and drops into a defensive stance. His mind is getting away from him. ]

[devoutish]

[She rolls her eyes, still looking at Alfie more than Royce.]

So dramatic.

[Alfie interjects:]

Might be better to just ignore her. It. Yeah?

[bywolves]

[ He lumbers forward a little, and then - stops. Stops moving. Right. Right, human. You're human. You're mir, you don't act this way. Royce pulls his cloak closer to him, sinking down onto the floor right where he's at. Okay. Ignoring. Ignoring everything, he's fine. A beat. ]

Yeah.

[ Hoarse, with a background of white noise. As long as it's just Fiona, he can deal. ]

[devoutish]

[He closes his eyes again, and for now, at least, Fiona stays back.]

It touched me, Royce, and I didn't go unconscious. It felt--

[Normal. Like a person; like Fiona.]

[bywolves]

She'd be trying harder to convince you it was her. If it was.

[ It's not right. That white noise continues. ] She can't have your light. How would she have gotten it?

[devoutish]

No, I know it's not her.

[But it's still so fucking creepy.]

I don't even know what these lights are, mate. You took mine off me, but where did it go?

[bywolves]

I don't know. I don't even know if I have mine. Nobody took it and I'm still this.

Unless I never had one to begin with.

[devoutish]

Why wouldn't you have?

[He sounds almost affronted at the idea. Of course Royce had a light.]

[bywolves]

I'm not sure. You didn't turn the first time. I did. You had your light stolen. Now you're turning. [ He's not making any conclusion here, this is just what happened, and there's a logical end to it. ]

[devoutish]

I don't feel like going out and stealing anybody else's now.