[network] @ASolomons; audio, morning of 265 [open]

[devoutish]

The fuck is going on?

[He sounds exhausted, as per usual, and his voice is hoarse and raw - he's been doing a lot of non-stop talking these past few days, trying to keep Royce engaged.]

Right - the lot of you, sound off. What happened, and what needs to be done?

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[devoutish]

Royce.

[There's urgency in his voice, because he hears that tablet being set down and what are you doing, Royce, come back, don't you fucking dare go away.]

[bywolves]

[ No, no, just - it's okay. He's okay. Give him a second.

He comes back a few seconds later, and there's that same fumbling. A beat, and then he turns the video on, just for a second. He doesn't show his face, but he lets Alfie see his hands. They're - back to normal, mostly. The fingers are all there. But there are scars, like stitches, around each digit, near the knuckle. They're red and angry and his hands are shaking so bad that he can barely hold the camera straight.

And then the video shuts off. ]

[devoutish]

Oh--

[Oh.]

Bandages? Have you got-- surely you've got something you can use.

[bywolves]

Gloves. [ Royce says shortly. If he doesn't talk much, he won't fall apart. ] I've got gloves. Just need to cover them.

[devoutish]

Gloves. Yeah.

What are you gonna do, are you gonna walk?

[bywolves]

I - I can try. [ He probably needs to. He wants to lay here and rot. ] How far - how.

I - sorry. [ He's just - wildly fighting the numbness, here. It comes and goes in waves. ]

[devoutish]

You wait if you need to, Royce. You understand? I won't have you getting killed.

[bywolves]

[ Okay. Royce swallows hard. He drags in another slower breath and works to settle down. Right now, the numbness will come in handy. ]

I don't know if I can get through the Pass right now. [ He says, honestly. ] I'll - I'll come in. [ His voice sounds wet, though. ]

[devoutish]

I'll do it. I did once already. Wasn't as bad as I expected.

[Some of the buildings on the other side, on the other hand...]

[bywolves]

Mm. [ There's a long pause, as he just breathes on the other side of the line. But that reminds him too much of being stuck in a cell, unable to speak, and it's not doing any wonders for his calm. ]

I - I don't know what to do with myself.

[devoutish]

Talk. I'll talk.

[Hoarse voice or not, he gives no fucks.]

[bywolves]

You've been talking. [ He worries about your voice, buddy. ]

[devoutish]

I'll keep fucking talking.

[bywolves]

I'm - fine. [ He's better. Than he was. He stands up shakily, and makes his way to the bedroom of the house he's in. For the first time in a while, he just wants a bed. Alfie has most of their blankets, but he's got two. That'll have to be enough. ]

I'm fine. [ He says again, like he can convince himself. He sets the tablet down on the bed so he can stubbornly put the bed together. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah. So'm I.

[But which he means he is not fine at all and he knows Royce isn't either.]

[bywolves]

[ He feels the numbness creeping in, and he welcomes it. All he wants is to not have to feel for a while. ]

I can't - I can't walk today. [ Royce says, unsteadily. ] Tomorrow.

[devoutish]

Stay on with me?

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ He curls up around his tablet, like he did before. This time he's cocooned in blankets. It's still not good, but he doesn't hurt, at least. He's so tired. ] I'm fading. Might not - might not be good for talking.

[devoutish]

Don't talk, then. Just don't hang up.

[bywolves]

Alright. [ He won't. He'll probably fall asleep soon, but he won't hang up. At least he has this. ]