[network] Noisy Black, Part Two [open] [horror/watching surgeries/note specifics please]

[snowblindmods]

[Maybe you'd like to watch the video feed and give your comments. Maybe you'd like to try and organize something to fix what's happening. Maybe some of the sinners will be able to get on and join you, eventually... Please note what night/day/morning your post is on and note warnings as necessary.]

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[bywolves]

[ Okay. Okay, that's a relief. He breathes out a shuddery, upset sound. ]

Talk. [ He taps back. Everybody is going to be able to hear, but he wants Alfie's voice. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie doesn't care a whit if everyone else can hear - even though his voice is hoarse from yelling. Even though it shakes and cracks.]

This won't last forever. It never does, eh? If they don't get you out--

[And they probably won't. He can stop himself from saying it, but he can't stop his brain from thinking it.]

-- If they don't get you out, you'll be let out. Put right back where they picked you up. Healed, like the last time. I picked up a new blanket a few days ago. I'll keep you warm.

[bywolves]

[ It won't last forever. But what if it does? What if this is the last time? This feels like the last time. It feels like things are picking up, like this is the last time he's going to be himself. They're trying to convert him. He lets out a sob, not meaning to - but he can't keep it in. This is the first time he's cried since everything. ]

Convert. [ Royce taps slow, laboriously. ] They want.

[devoutish]

[It's a thought that has occurred to Alfie, too. Last time, it had ended up like it had never happened at all - injuries had been healed, the dead had come back without even showing up in the morgue, mind control wore off. It had been horrifying, but it had ended neatly. They'd been lucky once, but there's no promise that they'll be lucky again.]

Then--

[His voice breaks.]

You'll fight till the fucking end, won't you. No matter what happens after.

[bywolves]

[ Royce pulls his tablet closer, like he can get some sort of comfort out of it. He'll fight to the end. He's not going to let them, not unless they cheat. If they change his head, if they just make him convert, he can't do anything, but it will never be willingly. He lets out another whimper, this one more pained.

A bit of blood drips from his mouth to the tablet and he's too tired to try and wipe it away. What if he never gets to go home? ]

Mehr. [ Royce tries. A sob. ] Merrrhhee.

[devoutish]

[Alfie's trying not to let out any sobs himself, honestly.]

I know. I'm sorry.

[bywolves]

[ He lets out another shivery, miserable sound, trying to cushion his head against his arm. Trying to make himself comfortable in any way possible. It's not going to happen, but.

He keeps himself quiet as he can, pulling the black cloak around him close - or trying. It's hard.

Eventually, he taps slowly: ] Fight. To end.

[devoutish]

I love you.

[Also not caring who hears that, fight him.]

[bywolves]

[ Stop, he's going to cry again. He doesn't want to ruin it with his slurred, indecipherable speech, so he taps out you, too in return, not really caring who else is listening. It doesn't matter.

This is better than dying alone, with your best friend unable to even see you. ]

[devoutish]

You'll get back to take care of her.

[And because he doesn't want Royce to think he's just giving out platitudes, he adds:]

And-- if you can't, she'll be cared for. Hadrian wouldn't leave her on her own, would he.

[bywolves]

No. [ Royce taps, closing his eyes. It almost hurts more when he does, though. There's a long pause, as he thinks about Mercy - about Gwen, both of them, in a place where none of this ever happened. And then: ]

How much. [ How much did you see, buddy? He knows you had to have seen the live feed. ]

[devoutish]

All of it.

[His voice is quiet.]

Didn't feel right, making you go through it on your own.

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes a quiet noise of acknowledgement. ]

Thank you. [ Even though they both know there wasn't really any other option. Royce would've watched it, if it'd been Alfie. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah. Yeah, and I'll stay on with you, now. I'll talk. Whatever you wanna hear about, mate.

[bywolves]

[ Maybe it's selfish, but not having to be alone is really, really nice.

It's about this point that music starts playing, a few cells down. Royce is quiet for a moment, listening, and then, soft: ] Hear?

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[He has no idea what it is or how it's being played, but he hears.]

[bywolves]

[ He listens, for a few seconds more. Then there's shifting, as he slowly tries to inch himself closer to that side - to the side with Karkat, and Stephen. It's awful, and he makes noises like a wounded dog as he drags himself over, unable to move his legs. ]

[devoutish]

Royce-- no, don't move. Don't.

[bywolves]

[ He collapses in a heap in the corner, breath harsh - after a second, he tries to tap something, but his hands are shaking too badly for him to do it, so the message is garbled and doesn't make sense. ]

[devoutish]

I've still got tea.

[He closes his eyes.]

And that pot. I'll make some for us, and we'll just rest. Stay warm.

[bywolves]

[ Tea. Royce could go for tea. ]

OK. [ Please. He's not sure if he's cold or not, right now, too distracted. It's just. He takes a deep breath to steady his hands. Come on. ] Drink hurts.

[devoutish]

You'll be better by then. It'll be all right.

[bywolves]

[ His hand hurts, but he's reluctant to give up his one way of communicating. ]

What if not.

[devoutish]

I don't know, Royce.

[bywolves]

[ Okay. That's fair. Royce doesn't know either. He rests his head closer to the tablet. Alfie's going to get to hear his labored breathing up close and personal. ]

OK.