[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]

Royce. I don't feel guilt over very much, mate, but this--

[bywolves]

Don't. I asked you to.

[devoutish]

And I fucked it up, right, and I do not fuck these things up. I won't accept more blame than I'm do, but I won't accept less, either.

[bywolves]

You fucked it up. [ Royce agrees, almost sleepily. ] End result is the same.

SCREAMS that should have been "more blame than I'm due" fucking homophones

[devoutish]

How long do you think you have?

I FIGURED

[bywolves]

Not... not long. [ He's getting quieter. ] It's cold.

[devoutish]

What can I do for you?

[bywolves]

Just. Just stay. [ He closes his eyes. ] Listen to Gwen with me.

[ She's still humming. She reaches out and smooths her hand down the side of his face, and Royce chokes a little at the sensation. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah, I'll stay with you. Don't worry, mate. I'll--

[He's not often at a loss for words, but he doesn't know what to say here.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce is quiet for a few moments, just breathing in a labored sort of way. Alfie doesn't have to say anything, as long as he's on the line, but -- ]

... Alfie. [ He's too far gone to try to do the last name thing, it just. Doesn't matter. ]

[devoutish]

Royce?

[bywolves]

If I don't come back. [ He murmurs. ] Don't travel on your own.

[devoutish]

There's nobody else I want to travel with.

[And it's true. Maybe for a few days at a time here and there, but long-term? Anyone else would drive him crazy, he thinks.]

[bywolves]

[ Yeah, Royce knows. But he doesn't want Alfie to be alone. ]

Don't be on your own. Someone has to look after you. [ It's half a joke. Maybe hard to tell with the way his voice wavers in volume, like he can't force the words out. ]

[devoutish]

Let's hope you come back, then, eh? We can look after each other.

[bywolves]

I'll try. [ And really, he wants to say more, but he can't find the words. He just breathes, for a while. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie knows he can't try, because there's nothing he can do to affect the outcome either way. But still, it's nice to hear.]

Sleep well, mate. Royce. I love you, yeah?

[bywolves]

[ It warms him, at least. Just a little. Makes it a little less awful to fall asleep, knowing he might not wake up.

He murmurs something that sounds like agreement, like an you too, and then falls silent completely. Alfie can listen to Gwen singing softly for a while longer, if he wants. ]

[devoutish]

[He leaves the tablet running, but not because of her. It's hard to tell if Royce is dead, asleep, or just not talking, so just in case, he'll keep the feed open - even when he doesn't hear back for hours.]