[log] surrounded by balls [closed]

[devoutish]

Characters: Alfie Solomons, Royce Melborn, Sylar
Location: building 29
Date: evening of 249
Summary: everybody hates the fucking shed
Warnings: n/a; will edit if anything comes up

A small shed outside the school, going inside reveals sports equipment is being stored in here. There are hurdles, various sports balls, giant mats, and the like. There's nothing that could be used as a weapon, though, unless you're going to try to hurl a basketball at someone's head. This is the only place on the campus it's possible to stay in overnight--if you try to stay anywhere else, you'll be made to leave at 7PM. The following is written on the wall in blue ink: "This is Building 46 on the composite map. Contact @CaptSteveRogers for details." Underneath is a fairly accurate map showing the shed in relation to the school. The school is labeled "School. Food available in cafeteria; DO NOT STAY HERE OVERNIGHT." The shed is labeled "Shed". Behind the shed is a small army of snowmen armed with sports equipment. There's a drawing spraypainted on the inside of the shed. It has been labeled "GEROMY". The skin color has been left blank. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND SIX, FOR ANY ASSISTANCE PLEASE CONTACT @LELRIC." is written on the wall.

Comments

[devoutish]

What made that change, eventually?

[termineur]

I'd hope experience would get him to be a little less trusting, at least.

Why did you have to be around him, anyway?

[bywolves]

[ Royce sinks into his cloak. ]

We were assigned to steal a book from a tower that, before us, had never been broken into. When we brought the book back, our - employer. [ Employer, because he still hates to think of Arcadius as his owner, even if that sort of what he was for a while. ] Our employer asked us to put it back.

When we did, we were ambushed by guards. Hadrian saved my life, instead of leaving me to die on top of that tower. Like I would've done.

[devoutish]

Were you angry with him at first? Confused?

[termineur]

[ Sylar perks an eyebrow up when Royce hesitates on 'employer', but he decides not to ask about it. The story itself sounds like it must be very simplified- 'steal a book and then put it back' isn't usually how that goes. ]

I'm betting confused.

[bywolves]

[ It's very simplified. It's a whole book of a story, really. ]

Confused, yes. Angry, a little. He didn't have a great answer for me either when I asked him why he did it.

[devoutish]

Did he like you any better than you did him?

[termineur]

[ Alfie's question was not at all what Sylar thought of. ]

Why did he save you? What was his reason?

[ Sorry, Royce, it's apparently 20 Questions time. ]

[bywolves]

[ He doesn't seem to mind that much, though he is starting to sink down into his cloak. ]

No. He didn't like me. [ Royce pauses. ] His reason was that it's the type of person he is. Doesn't matter what they're like, if he can save them, he'll save them.

[devoutish]

And I bet you thought he was lying at first, didn't you.

[He's got your number, buddy.]

[termineur]

[ Sylar's noticing the sinking, at least. ]

Even my world has idiots like that, though. They're unusual, but they exist.

[ He smiles as he says that. ]

[bywolves]

[ He gets prickly when he has to talk about himself a lot. ]

Mm. It's the person he was trying to be. It took a while for me to figure out he was serious, and even longer to listen.

[devoutish]

Mm.

Having a man like that in your life can be a good thing. I wouldn't go into business with one, mind.

[Men who are incredibly concerned with being good and moral but who also happen to be criminals tend to be giant hypocrites, in Alfie's experience.]

But they're good to have around.

[termineur]

Yeah, somehow I doubt that'd work real well with your type of business. But I agree, they're not bad to have around. Keep you a little more honest than usual.

So Alfie, I think it's your turn now, right?

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes a hmpf sound. He's done talking, he thinks, so it's a good thing that Sylar asks Alfie what he does. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie's turn. Excellent. It's time for Operation Try to Make Royce Laugh at Least a Little.]

I'm a very good dancer. I once caught a live grenade with my hands and it didn't go off. When I was a baby, I pissed on one of the most important men in my community.

[termineur]

[ Sylar raises an eyebrow and lets out a huff of amusement. ]

The first one.

[bywolves]

[ Royce snorts. ]

The first one.

[devoutish]

[Alfie raises his eyebrows, and moves to stand. There's not a lot of room in the shed, and he's sore and creaky even on a good day - but he puts both his hands out to the side like he's holding onto people on either side of him and does a few moves, moving in a tight circle. It's shuffly and tired-looking, but there's some intricate footwork and a little bit of kicking that he does well. He's no pro, but he's clearly long familiar with it.]

[termineur]

[ Okay, that gets Sylar to smirk. ]

So, accounting for Norfinbury, seems like we both guessed wrong.

And now I've got no idea which one it is.

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes a pffft sound. ]

Good dancer is subjective. Second one?

[devoutish]

[He lightly shoves Royce's head as he comes back to sit down next to him.]

Yeah. Knew a man who could, though.

[termineur]

Really? That's impressive.

[ More importantly, though...]

So who was the unlucky guy you embarrassed as a baby?

[bywolves]

[ Royce huffs at the push! He listens, though - he's curious. ]

[devoutish]

The mohel. That's the man who does the--

[He makes a snipping motion with two of his fingers.]

I still know him, actually, though he's getting on in years now. He teases me about it sometimes.