[log] Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary [closed]

[jumpthegun]

Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes, Mycroft Holmes, Royce Melborn, Alfie Solomons
Location: Building 29
Date: Night 281
Summary: Team meet-up turns to grieving when Mary is lost to an anomaly.
Warnings: Character death, dissociation, hallucination

[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.]

Comments

[devoutish]

Can you?

[He cracks an eye, looking at him, trying to see his face in the dark.]

[bywolves]

Yes. [ It's not technically a lie, because he will, eventually. Royce keeps his face hidden, eyes closed, but - if Alfie's listening, if Alfie can see well enough, he'll hear Royce's unsteady breathing and see his damp cheeks. He doesn't want to make a big deal out of this, especially with Sherlock and Mycroft in the room. ]

[devoutish]

Wanna talk about it?

[He says it as quietly as he can, which is very, very quietly, considering how close his mouth is to Royce's ear.]

[bywolves]

No. Not here. [ Or ever, really, the hypocrite. He's tense where he's curled. ]

[devoutish]

[Okay. That's fine.

Alfie rubs his back, trying to relax him, and hums a quiet tune - one that might sound a little familiar to Royce by now, because Alfie's sang it more than once.]

[bywolves]

[ For as much as he doesn't want the others to hear, the quiet song makes it easier for Royce to relax. His shoulders ease up, and he starts to go limp, slow and gradual. ]

[devoutish]

[After humming a few bars, he adds words in - it's in another language, but not Yiddish.]

[bywolves]

[ After a moment of listening, body limp and tired, Royce murmurs: ] What language is that?

[devoutish]

Russian. A lullaby.

[Sung for kids, really, but whatever.]

[bywolves]

[ A pause. ]

You don't have to sing me to sleep like an infant. [ But it's very soft and there's no malice behind it whatsoever. He just - Alfie doesn't have to, is all. ]

[devoutish]

I'm not singing you to sleep like an infant, I'm trying to help you relax. Helps adults, too.

[bywolves]

Okay. [ Royce mumbles, shivering and sinking into Alfie's side further. ] You can keep doing it, then.

[devoutish]

[ He does, quietly, interrupting himself once with a mumbled:]

You're freezing.

[bywolves]

Always like this after I die. [ Royce says, eyes closed. ] I can't warm up.

[devoutish]

Let me in your cloak.

[He tugs lightly at one end of it, pulling the blankets tighter around both of them.]

Easier to share body heat.

[bywolves]

[ Royce hums, and then moves just enough for Alfie to get into the cloak with him. He's too cold to care about appearances, now - if the Holmes make fun of him, he doesn't give two shits. ]

[devoutish]

[He burrows down into it, deep enough that only his head sticks out.]

Better?

[bywolves]

[ A long sigh, and Royce goes boneless against Alfie, worn out. ]

A little.

[devoutish]

[Boneless is much better than tense. He leans back, eyes closing, starting up with the quiet humming again as he starts to drift off himself.]

[bywolves]

[ The humming relaxes him the rest of the way. Royce will probably fall asleep before Alfie - and they'll probably both sleep past lockdown, too, considering their respective poisonings. ]