[log] forming a super group with knife dad's family [closed]

[mrcreamsicles]

Characters: Davesprite, Karkat, the Cat, Alfie, and Royce
Location: House 124
Date: Night 271
Summary: Two (c/k)ats and a bird meet up with two criminals; friendship ensues.
Warnings: Possibly discussion of event stuff (so, torture), mentions of self-harm relating to Royce. Specifics will be noted as necessary.

124: This house, covered in snow, is dark and cold, but better than outside. The snow presses in on the windows and makes the roof creak and groan whenever it shifts, but it seems to be holding up alright. It's a standard, single-story house with a living room, single bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and dining room. There's a bed frame in the bedroom, but it doesn't have a mattress. The house is sparsely furnished, unfortunately with mostly metal There's a back door leading off into darkness, but it isn't locked. There's a blue smear on the bathroom cabinet. Xs have been carved into the cabinets in the kitchen. There are large smears of black spraypaint on the front and back doors. "Hsiaoke Pass" had been carved into the wall next to the back door, but it's been scratched off crudely with some sort of blade. It's been carved back in again nearby, deeply and with purpose. "ALPHONSE ELRIC, DAY TWO HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN. IF YOU NEED ANY ASSISTANCE, PLEASE CALL @LELRIC." has been written on a wall.

Comments

[mrcreamsicles]

[When Davesprite settles down into the house they've all chosen to meet up in tonight, it's with his guard carefully back in place. There's no way he couldn't notice it, but over the past chunk of days his time with Karkat and Meow Mix has nailed in just how far he trusts them. Karkat especially: moirail is a word with a meaning, and the steadying influence associated with it has been doubly necessary in the wake of what happened to them. Alfie and Royce, however, are outside that sphere.]

[It's not an abject distrust. Royce has firmly landed himself a slot in the friend category, and Alfie has explained himself enough to earn some respect in spite of his treatment of House. Karkat's friendship adds on. But they're not as close (no one here is as close), and for that reason he takes greater care in how he acts.]

[The long and short of it is that, after the initial meet-and-greet, Davesprite takes up a space to himself. He gets settled and comfortable on the floor, draped in the three blankets he's managed to obtain with the colorful "sock" Ginger sewed him covering his tail. He's got a table to poke at, a romance novel borrowed from Karkat that he's finally making some proper progress in, and a coiled up tail that he expects the Cat might come nest on sooner or later.]

[But at some point, if they don't approach him directly, Davesprite is bound to hunt down Alfie and Royce—on their own if he can, together if not—to ask how Royce is doing.]

[devoutish]

[Alfie's curled with Royce for most of the night, though it's not impossible to find him alone. While Royce is sleeping, he works his way through a search of the house, doggedly dragging himself from room to room and giving everything at least a cursory once-over. He also ducks into the dining room to do his prayers - tiredly and hurriedly, but they're done all the same.

Wherever Davesprite finds him, he'll offer a weary wave and a nod.]

Settling in all right?

[mrcreamsicles]

Yep.

[He kind of hates that there's no proper bed or more comfortable furniture here. Trying to sleep on the floor reminds him too much of the cells, but he's not about to ask to cram everybody onto the air mattress Alfie and Royce have, let alone bring up the problem in the first place.]

[He does look tired, but it's a standard look for him in this place. Who hasn't been, after everything?]

What about you and Royce? I know he wasn't doing so great when we talked before.

[devoutish]

I left him sleeping.

[He gives a glance back towards the bedroom. Hopefully, he still is.]

He let Watson look at his hands.

[Which is a very good sign, because Royce and check-ups from doctors generally don't mix well.]

[bywolves]

[ Davesprite will have to come find Royce, because Royce is not doing well.

He's better than he was, at least. He's not mostly comatose and incapable of more than short, stilted sentences, but he's still hurting. Everybody is, he knows it doesn't make him special. He tries to give the others some measure of emotion when they first arrive, but mostly he just ends up sinking back down to the air mattress and curling up under the hoard of blankets they've acquired. He doesn't feel like moving. And he can't sleep well - though he is managing it, restlessly, when Davesprite comes to find him.

He doesn't toss and turn, but he's only very lightly asleep, so when Davesprite comes closer, he blinks open his eyes blearily and looks up at him, trying to focus. He mutters out a very gravelly hey. ]

cw: self-harm mention

[devoutish]

[Alfie's curled right up next to Royce, the way he usually is these days when Royce is like this. He's dead asleep, and won't wake up when Davesprite approaches - or as he and Royce talk, unless they start making a lot of noise. He has a loose hold on both of Royce's hands, in an effort to stop him from picking at his skin, digging his nails into his palms, or - especially - reaching for his razor or anything else that could draw blood.]

[mrcreamsicles]

[Davesprite had been looking over their arrangement, trying to determine how asleep they both were, but caught on the careful hold Alfie has of his hands. He heard already that they've been healing poorly, but he's reminded just the same of himself and Karkat, settled close with hands held to stave off the specter of the cells. He's had trouble even with a bed to sleep in; he's not sure if can manage without it tonight.]

[Royce blinks awake then, and he pushes the thought from mind.]

Hey, man. You alright there?

[He keeps his volume low. This isn't what he'd planned, but he's of no mind to wake Alfie needlessly.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes his way to Davesprite's nest a little later. Alfie's asleep, and Royce has had time to think, to work his way through the numbness. He's got his pajamas on - a cardigan and flannel pajama pants, his hair is pulled back in a ponytail, and he looks like he weighs forty pounds soaking wet, so he's probably the least intimidating thing ever, at the moment.

He pauses, standing in front of Davesprite and rubbing at his neck a little, and then, wearily: ] Can I sit?

[mrcreamsicles]

[Davesprite's gaze flick up as soon as he hears footsteps, but he doesn't lift his head fully until Royce is properly in front of him. He looks ridiculous, honestly, and a part of him is absolutely burning this image to memory, but he doesn't have a laugh in him after earlier. He's just been poking at his tablet; he clicks it off and sets it to his side now.]

Yeah. Go ahead.

[bywolves]

[ Royce goes ahead and sits, cross-legged, elbows on his knees, bandaged hands in his lap. He stares down at the floor for a moment, and then tries his words. ]

I'm sorry. [ He's not sure he wanted to start off this way, but it's what comes out of his mouth. ]

[absentconstellation]

The Cat comes to solicit affection from each of his companions at one point during the evening. Alfie and Royce he doesn't know so well, so he tries to catch them when they're awake and not absorbed in anything serious. He climbs into their laps, or nestles himself next to them as the space allows.

Karkat and Davesprite he cuddles with as they sleep, coming and going as his energy demands. He's much lazier now that mania is no longer a problem, and naps consistently through otherwise waking hours.

He stays under blankets as much as possible. It's bad enough that he was shaved, making his legs, tail and head look ridiculous in comparison to his skinny middle, but he's cold all the time now too. The scars in the shape of connect-the-dots eyes aren't terribly dignified either, and barely covered by the few millimeters of fur that's grown back in the days since they were inflicted.

[bywolves]

[ He doesn't quite know what to make of the Cat, but he doesn't protest when the Cat makes his way over to him. Royce is sitting up against the wall, reading through things on the network, and there's just enough space for the Cat to just settle in his lap. Whichever he does, Royce pauses, and looks down at the Cat with a little half-smile. ]

Feel like I shouldn't pet you. [ Royce says, low and soft, after a moment. ]

[absentconstellation]

[ He climbs into his lap and promptly begins to purr. ]

You should.

[ It's both a correction and a command. The Cat's tail flaps lightly against Royce's leg. ]

[bywolves]

[ Simple enough, he thinks. He does, in fact, start to pet the Cat, stroking his fur first and then carefully running his gloved hand along the shaved part. ]

It's not demeaning? [ Royce asks, curious. He speaks quietly enough so that Alfie won't wake up, from where he's conked out next to them. ]

[devoutish]

Alfie's awake, and right now, he's not absorbed in anything - he's just lying there, open-eyed on his air mattress, holding Royce curled against him. He starts a little when he feels the cat land near his legs, but relaxes when he sees who it is. Okay, that's fine. The talking cat is still a little strange to him, but he's gotten used to stranger things in Norfinbury.

"Yeah? Did you want something?"

[absentconstellation]

"No," he lies easily as he curls up against Alfie's leg. He noticed that little jump and doesn't want to risk getting in the man's lap if he's too edgy for affection just now.

[devoutish]

"What are you doing?"

He's not kicking him away, at least, but somehow he'd figured that a talking cat wouldn't be so... cat-like in his behavior.

[quadrangle]

[It's Karkat's second time meeting Alfie in person and third meeting Royce, but he's talked to both enough to be fairly relaxed in this hive. He only consciously monitors his behavior if Royce or Alfie happen upon him while he's with Davesprite, too protective to want anything to slip even if both have to have some inkling of what's going on between them. He hasn't forgotten Royce's betrayal of his confidence, however minor, and while he's largely forgiven him for it, the delicate nature of his moirallegiance with Davesprite and Davesprite's emotional state in particular means he's unwilling to take any risks he doesn't have to.]

[He isn't shy about seeking the other pair out, but while he'll stick around if they seem available for conversation, he makes himself scarce if he catches them asleep or engaged in any conversation that may seem private. Davesprite and the Cat aren't so lucky; he'll plant his ass right next to the former and read his own book or chat as appropriate while the Cat gets a few scritches behind the ears.]

[devoutish]

[Alfie's often not up - he's been spending most of the night curled around Royce. But at some point, when Royce is asleep, it'll be possible to catch him wandering the halls and searching the rooms for useful supplies and other items, or coming out of the dining room after tiredly saying his prayers.

Like Davesprite, Karkat will get a little nod in greeting.]

Glad to finally catch up with you two.

[quadrangle]

[Hallways are and always will be one of the most awkward places to hold a conversation, so naturally, Karkat runs into Alfie right in the middle of one—not literally, thank god, but argh. He's visibly awkward at first, most likely recalling some of the times he'd made a complete ass of himself when talking to him, but he's quick to try and hide it, his arms crossing.]

Hey. Yeah, good to see you guys too. How long's it been, anyway?

[It'd be pointless small talk if he didn't seem genuinely bothered that he can't put a number to the days that had passed since they'd met in person. It has to have been at least a month, right? Or was it more than that?]

[devoutish]

No idea.

[Time runs together here. Weeks? A month? Probably not a whole month, he thinks, but he's not sure at all.]

Royce is-- sleeping.

[He hopes, anyway.]

I'm just searching the rooms. Find anything useful?

[bywolves]

[ Royce doesn't sleep a whole lot. He pretends to so that Alfie will rest, and then slowly lifts himself up to sit and try to distract himself otherwise. He'd slept for three days and then stayed up most of the night before, with Watson and Ecks. He's still on edge from that in particular.

Karkat can find Royce by himself in several places - in bedroom, trying to force down food, or in the bathroom with the door open, washing and carefully disinfecting his hands. He's quiet and twitchy, but at least he isn't as comatose as the last time.

Either way, when Karkat approaches, Royce murmurs: ] Hello, Karkat.

[quadrangle]

[He doesn't mean to corner him, which is why he leaves plenty of room for Royce to pass if he so chooses, but Karkat still looks a little obstinate about finally getting to talk to him one-on-one as he leans against the door frame, his arms loosely crossed. He doesn't entirely get why Royce is washing his hands right now, but for the moment, it doesn't seem important.]

He, Royce. Doing... uh. Better?

["Doing okay" is unlikely to get a positive answer, so. That.]

[mrcreamsicles]

[When Karkat plops down beside him, Davesprite finds himself more conscious of it than he needs to be. It's kind of stupid, really. He knows Karkat pays mind to being around other people, and he figures Royce and Alfie are less likely to judge than others. (Definitely better than House, for one.) And in the end, it's just for him to sit by him and read, so it's no big deal, right?]

[He puts his attention back on his own book, and reads a little further until his mind is more settled, and he finds a good place to pause.]

So how are you liking your novel?

[He has wondered.]

[quadrangle]

[Karkat, meanwhile, isn't at a convenient stopping point, but rather than get irritated, he enacts his ingenious revenge in the form of finishing the whole goddamn page he's on before looking up, one eyebrow raised.]

It's all right.

[Yes, just "all right," which is why he'd been so absorbed in it. He sighs, elaborating,]

I mean, there's a lot of shit that I want to point out is inaccurate, but it's nothing vital to the plot? And a human reading it wouldn't care anyway. The romance is pretty solid though, which is the important part. What about yours?