[network] Noisy Black, Part Three [open] [horror/surgery effects/note specifics please]

[snowblindmods]

[Talk to the sinners. Plan a way in. Plan a way out.]

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[bywolves]

[ The town. They're in Norfinbury. He is Royce. Royce is in Norfinbury and he didn't forget. ]

Nightmare. [ Royce answers, shuddering. ] In Norfinbury. Don't forget.

[termineur]

Yeah. Yeah, a nightmare. I'll try not to forget.

[ He lets out a long, shaky sigh and a murmur of 'Norfinbury'. ]

Thanks, Royce. Drugs usually don't hit me this hard. Gotta find a way to keep it together.

[bywolves]

[ Royce hums something - Sylar might not hear it but he does. ]

Talk. [ Royce tells him, sluggish. A beat, then: ] Alfie helped.

[termineur]

Talking helps? I'll- I'll try that.

[ Of course Royce talked to Alfie. He'd know. ]

I'm tired. It's gonna be hard to talk if I'm asleep. And I don't have too many people to talk to, either. Al's...not here.

[ There was someone else, but he can't remember her name. Elle? ]

[bywolves]

[ It helps. Royce nods a little. ]

Tired too. [ Royce struggles to think of people who can help. Who else does Sylar talk to that isn't in here? He can't remember. ] Use network.

[ That's all he can think to suggest. A beat. ] I'm here.

[termineur]

[ Seriously, who was that? She was blonde and petite. Claire? ]

Yeah, you are. I'm sorry you're here.

I never had a hard time babbling at you before, did I? I can't remember most of it now, though. It's- I keep trying to remember things, and then it turns out they happened a long time ago. There's someone I used to talk to, but I think she's gone now. Or was back home, or both. She had electrokinesis- she could hit anyone like a lightning bolt. And she was such a mess. We were good together.

...I think I killed her.

[bywolves]

[ Royce listens. He can't talk back a lot, but he's hearing all of this, at least. ]

Know that feels. [ Royce taps carefully. He remembers - a man like him, on a rooftop, with a bottle of wine and a smirk. Brown hair, thin and smooth and slicked back. He remembers him but he can't remember his name - can remember his face as he fell back over the bridge.

Royce drags in an unsteady breath. ] Name?

cw: suicide

[termineur]

[ He regretted saying it shortly after he did, but following Royce's taps tells him why he likes talking to the guy so much. He understands, at least some of it. ]

Her name was Elle Bishop. She was- she showed up in my shop when I was trying to hang myself. I had killed someone and- and at one point that mattered to me. She saved me, and then pushed me to kill again. She was following orders, but she lied to me. I needed help...

And she needed help, too. The Company- it screwed us both over. It always does.

[bywolves]

[ He'll remember this for Sylar, just in case things get bad again. ]

Elle. [ He taps, slower. He's struggling, a little. And then, as a reminder: ] Norfinbury.

[termineur]

[ His face is wet and Sylar has no idea why. But the word does keep him grounded a little. ]

Elle. Elle Bishop. And we're in Norfinbury. Yeah.

[ The slow taps made him wonder how Royce is getting along. ]

And you're Royce. And- you have people too, don't you? I don't- Alfie. Alfie is one.

[bywolves]

[ Royce drags in a wet, wheezy sort of breath from his cell. ]

Alfie. [ Royce taps, closing his eyes. There was - there was someone else. He drilled it into his head, he needs to remember. A beat, and then: ] Mercy.

[ Mercy, Mercy, Mercy. ]

[termineur]

Mercy. Yeah, that's the important one. [ Right? He thinks. ]

Remember Mercy. And Alfie. And I'll remember Elle. And Norfinbury.

[ This is probably going to be however long he can manage of just repeating names back and forth for awhile, now. It still feels like more than he had before. ]

[bywolves]

[ That's the important one. He can't remember who she is, but he knows she's his, and he has to make it out of here for her. For now, Royce just hums listlessly, rolling on his side slowly and pulling the tablet close.

He won't talk more for now, hand throbbing, but he'll check in with Sylar here and there. Elle. Norfinbury. Gabriel. Just to make sure they're both still okay. ]