[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]

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

[bywolves]

None of it makes sense. [ He curls in on himself, the cloak enveloping him. ] None of any of this adds up to something logical.

[devoutish]

I've wondered if the lights might be something like souls.

[But that feels like morbidity talking.

Fiona saunters over to him, running a teasing finger down his arm. He shivers.]

[bywolves]

I wondered the same thing. [ Royce mutters. He doesn't know if he believes in them, but. The static in his voice gets worse from where he's curled up. ]

Stop touching him. [ He sees. ]

[devoutish]

[She never touches for more than a couple seconds, Alfie notices. She doesn't drape on him, or curl up against him. She just sort of... pokes.]

I'm ignoring it.

[His voice is tight.]

[bywolves]

Keep ignoring it. [ Royce says. He drags himself up and standing again, and then slowly limps his way over to Alfie. ]

If we can't get rid of it, might as well sit in the other room with the blankets. [ Come on, friend. ]

[devoutish]

She'll follow.

[She ghosts a thumb over his lips, and smiles. She absolutely will follow.]

[bywolves]

Better to be warm. [ Royce offers a hand again. ] She's going to follow. You don't need to freeze because of it, especially without socks.

[devoutish]

I won't. I'll wrap up.

[He takes Royce's hand, very carefully. His claws scrape a little.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce helps pull him up with a muffled, low groan of pain. The claws don't bother him. Royce has got a little of that going on himself. ]

Yes, you will. Can't do that in here.

[devoutish]

Careful.

[He heard that groan, and doesn't want him to hurt himself. Still, he's grateful for the help - he's still getting used to walking on claws.]

[bywolves]

Everything I do hurts. Can't be careful. [ Royce says, dismissing it. He takes a deep breath, and helps Alfie walk back to the main lobby. Maybe he leans a little on Alfie in return.

And of course, they're not alone. Fiona follows - and sitting in the blanket nest is a dark-skinned woman with long black hair and green eyes, watching them with a gentle sort of smile.

Royce freezes. ]

[devoutish]

[And so does Alfie, but it's Royce he's watching.]

Mate, go back into the other room, eh? I'll bring you the blankets.

[bywolves]

It's okay, love. [ Gwen says, standing. She tucks her hair behind her ear and Royce stops breathing for a good few seconds. ] Thank you. I asked you for your light and you gave it to me, without hesitation.

[ Royce stumbles back, and she frowns. ]

[devoutish]

Royce, go on. Please.

[bywolves]

[ He tries. He moves to the other room, but Gwen sighs and wraps her arms around herself before following him. Royce just ducks down in a corner and stares up at her as she approaches. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie scoops up as much of the bedding as he can, fumbling with it with his claws. Fiona's still there, but having Royce's stress to focus on now is a distraction that makes it a little easier to ignore her (and this, he thinks, is probably how Watson feels every day). He'll follow them into the back room, Fiona at his heels.]

[bywolves]

[ Alfie will find Royce practically cowering in the corner, Gwen reaching out to rest her hand on his cheek. She looks sad, and Royce looks horrified. When she touches him, he flinches, but he can't - he can't pull away. God, her hand is warm. ]

[devoutish]

Fuck off.

[Now it's Alfie's turn to be super protective. He tosses the blanket over Royce, wanting to put at least some kind of barrier between him and the anomaly.]

[bywolves]

[ Gwen glances at Alfie with a sigh. ] There's no need for that. I'm not going to hurt him.

[ Royce pulls the blanket up, and Gwen backs off a little, sitting close by. She pulls her knees to her chest and watches him with that same sad expression. ] You know that. I love you, Royce.

[ Royce closes his eyes. ]

[devoutish]

[He hunkers down on the floor next to Royce.]

Don't look at him. Don't talk to him.

[Fiona laughs, and he tries to ignore how much he's missed that sound.]

[bywolves]

[ Gwen ignores Alfie entirely. She also ignores Fiona. It seems like she doesn't want to be close for too long, but every once in a while she reaches out to rest a hand on his foot and murmur thank you, Royce.

Royce has gone very, very quiet, and very, very still. Sorry, Alfie. He's shutting down. ]

[devoutish]

Royce, say something so I know you can hear me.

[He starts wrapping up his own feet, hands shaking a little.]

[bywolves]

[ He makes a sound. It's acknowledgement. He can hear Alfie, he just can't pull himself together enough to come out with something intelligible. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie leans his shoulder into Royce's, more lightly than usual but enough to make the contact obvious.]