[log] how deep are we gonna go with this?

[bywolves]

Characters: Alfie and Royce
Location: Downtown
Date: Day 292 to Day 295
Summary: Exposure effects, a brief reprieve, and then event shenanigans.
Warnings: Nothing yet, will update if anything comes up.

Starters below!

Comments

[devoutish]

[Once they're both up, Alfie gets to work pushing the mattress across the floor, towards a corner away from the door.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce pauses, hesitating. ]

I - I need to be able to see the door. [ Royce says, like he knows he's being ridiculous. Now that Alfie's pointed it out, he's aware of how on edge he is. ]

[devoutish]

You'll see the door. Come on.

[He keeps pushing.]

[bywolves]

[ He sighs a little, and helps Alfie push the mattress to the corner that Alfie's moving it to. Walls. That's nice, that's good. He'll be fine if he can put his back against the wall. ]

[devoutish]

There.

[He steps back once the mattress is completely wedged in.]

You can still see the door, can't you? Now, on you go. You go on the inside.

[bywolves]

No. [ Royce says, a little more sharply than he means to. A beat. Apologetically: ] No. You on the inside. I want to be able to get up.

[ He trusts Alfie at his back, is what it is. ]

[devoutish]

You're sure?

[bywolves]

Yes.

I want you at my back. [ He'll just say it. ]

[devoutish]

[He nods, understanding, and gives Royce's elbow a squeeze.]

Yeah, okay.

I'll protect you. I'll protect you from here.

[He edges down onto the mattress slowly, mindful of his back.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce sighs out slow, and eases his way down next to Alfie. ]

Thanks. [ He mumbles. ] I know you will. I'll protect you.

[devoutish]

[He wraps an arm around Royce... and maybe reaches for those sugar flowers. Shut up, the candy's good.]

[bywolves]

[ Okay, but it makes Royce feel better. Makes him feel like he did something right. He shifts the pillows so that they rest up against the wall and leans up against it, trying to close his eyes. Just for a second. Just to rest.

It doesn't work well. He ends up opening his eyes again, looking out at the room with a sigh. ]

I don't know how well I'm going to sleep tonight.

[devoutish]

[Alfie lets the sugar slowly melt in his mouth, trying to make it last as long as possible. He brushes a hand over Royce's hair.]

Do you think it's the building doing this?

[bywolves]

I hope so. [ He settles against Alfie, worried. ] I don't want this to be a permanent thing. Don't need it.

[devoutish]

I'll protect you.

[There's a fierce determination in his tone; a sureness.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce turns to nose against the side of Alfie's head. ]

Okay. [ He won't admit how good that makes him feel. Quieter: ] I'm glad you like the sweets.

[devoutish]

I think we should save the rest for later, or we're gonna make ourselves sick.

[bywolves]

There might not be a later. [ Royce says, quietly. ] What if someone takes them?

[devoutish]

Who's gonna take them?

[bywolves]

... I don't know. [ A pause. Logic. Logic, that's all he needs to stop this nonsense that keeps running through his head. ]

[devoutish]

Better sleep.

[Alfie says quietly.]

See if you feel better tomorrow.

[bywolves]

Yeah. Alright. [ He sighs. Royce slides down further, curling up against Alfie and settling under the blankets. He doesn't think it'll be easy, but. He'll try.

[devoutish]

[Alfie doesn't have trouble sleeping. As usual, he'll sleep past the end of lockdown if Royce will let him, despite having gone to sleep pretty early the night before.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce sleeps, and he dreams. It isn't nearly as detailed and when he wakes up, he can only just remember everything, but it's unnerving to wake up from. He groans a bit as he comes to consciousness, sitting up and trying to dislodge himself from Alfie's grip.

He sits up, shivering near immediately, and rubs at his face with one hand. He feels... weird. Anxious. His gaze flicks from the air mattress to the door, to the windows. They need to get out of this house. There's something wrong with it, he just. He doesn't like it.

Royce rests his free hand on Alfie's shoulder. Another day of this. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie murmurs in protest when Royce pulls away, but doesn't wake up just yet. He reaches out blindly, searching, but his hand lands on empty mattress. Now that Royce is awake and looking at him, he'll notice that he's frowning in his sleep. He's having dreams of his own, too.]