[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 know. I didn't know how else to stop you.

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ Royce rubs at his eye very carefully with the palm of his hand. ] It's - it's hard to think.

[ You said that already, buddy. ]

[devoutish]

Look at me, eh? Look at the floor. Just don't look at her.

[bywolves]

[ He nods, and directs his gaze to the floor. As long as he doesn't look at Gwen, it should be okay, right? Right. He digs his nails into the floor, watching and listening as it scratches across. It's better than anything else. ]

Bandages. [ He says, after a moment. ] You should bandage your face. Clean it. There's rust.

[devoutish]

I can't.

[He touches his cheek again.]

Too much hair. It wouldn't work.

[bywolves]

You can't let it get infected.

[devoutish]

I'll wash it out.

[bywolves]

Go. Right now. [ Don't wait, don't let it sit. ] I can sit for a second on my own.

[devoutish]

It's gonna be difficult with these hands, Royce. I'll likely end up making it worse if I do it now.

[bywolves]

[ He keeps his eyes on the ground. Right. Claws. Both of them have claws. He opens his mouth, and then closes it with an alarming clattering sort of sound. He was about to suggest Gwen do it. ]

She's not real. [ He mutters to himself as a reminder. ]

[devoutish]

No. She's not, no.

[He closes his eyes for a moment.]

I'll figure it out, eh? Run it under the tap. That'll be better than nothing.

[bywolves]

[ Royce nods. ] Just can't let it get infected. [ He lifts a hand in Alfie's direction, showing him his nails, which are more like fully-formed claws, at this point. ]

Rust. Can't let you die because of rust. [ Because of Royce. ]

[devoutish]

[... Okay, yeah, that might be a problem.]

If I go wash it out now, you'll sit here and won't talk to her?

[bywolves]

... Yeah. [ He'll try. He brings his knees up to his chest and covers his head with his hands and arms. He can prevent himself from talking to her this way, right? ]

[devoutish]

[And so Alfie reluctantly pulls himself up and lumbers into the bathroom. He'll take as short a time as he realistically can, but operating the taps is difficult with his claws, and so is maneuvering his big hairy head down into the right position to wet the wound on his face. He'll listen carefully for any movement or talking from Royce or the anomalies, though.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce resists for a good amount of time. He keeps his head covered and as docile as he can, trying to keep his thoughts blank, but Gwen slides over to him and carefully lays down next to him. She watches him, hair spread out across the floor, and Royce chances a look at her. That's the end of that - it's all he can do to not try to pull her up into his arms. The only reason he doesn't is because he's afraid he'll hurt her, not because she's an anomaly. ]

You deserve it. [ He murmurs. She smiles. ] You deserve it more than me. You should have never met me. It's my fault.

[devoutish]

Royce!

[Hoarse-voiced, Alfie calls out to him from the bathroom. He can't hear what he's saying, but he can hear that talking is happening.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce startles, looking up, and when he looks back, Gwen is right in his face. He lets out a startled noise and tries to lean away, but she manages to press a kiss to his cheek and speak before he can. ]

I don't blame you for it. And you brought me back to life, Royce. It's okay. [ She says, and Royce brings a hand up to his cheek, staring at her. She pulls back entirely, laying on the floor a few feet away, and Royce is just frozen where he's at. ]

[devoutish]

[The door to the bathroom bursts open, and out comes Alfie. Fiona zooms to his side, but he ignores her, beelining for Royce.]

Other side of the room. Come on. Away from her.

[bywolves]

[ Okay. Royce drags himself to his feet with a wounded sound, and limps to the other side of the room. It doesn't matter much, since Gwen just crawls closer. Royce just looks like the wind has perpetually been knocked out of him. He has nothing else left to give, just hollow, sad pain. He rests his head against the wall and pulls a blanket around himself.

He can't be trusted, right now, he thinks. Can't even think. He feels like he's fading and he's scared of it, more than anything. ]

Alfie. [ Royce croaks, pulling the blanket close. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie does now what Royce did for him earlier, positioning himself between him and the anomalies. He takes another blanket and drapes it around Royce's shoulders.]

Yeah.

[bywolves]

If I try to attack you, you have to kill me. [ Royce says, voice steady. His heart's thudding in his chest, and he's glad, at least, he can still feel that. ] I don't want to be this. If it gets bad - you have to do it before I can't be killed.

[devoutish]

I could turn, too. Look at me, mate.

[bywolves]

I'm - it's happening faster for me. [ Royce is pretty sure. ] It's in my head already.

[devoutish]

I'm not gonna kill you. No.