[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]

[Alfie strokes Royce's knee - the closest place he can reach - and says nothing.]

[bywolves]

[ The strongest part of the dream was her, in her bed, her safe room, in a pool of her own blood. He won't let that happen. Deep breath. At least he feels it. That's nice, in a weird way. ]

Alfie. [ He says, after a moment. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[bywolves]

How long have we been here?

[devoutish]

I dunno. Six months, right? Something like that.

[He pauses. No, that doesn't seem right.]

Eight, maybe.

[bywolves]

Are you sure? [ He's trying really hard to remember, here. ] I don't remember the day I arrived on. Or what day it is now.

[devoutish]

It's--

[He pauses, trying to get his bearings. He's just woken up - they both have - and obviously, that's confusing things a bit.]

Something in the 300s, I think.

[bywolves]

Mm. [ Right. Yeah. ] 393 sounds too high, right? The 93 sounds familiar, though.

[devoutish]

It might be 393. It's been over a year, then.

[bywolves]

Over a year. [ Fuck. He stares up at the ceiling. ] Weren't we only supposed to have a year to begin with?

[devoutish]

Mm. But look at us. We're still here.

[bywolves]

Yeah. Still here.

[ Royce goes to move, to turn to curl up against Alfie, but something in him says no. Don't turn your back on the door. Lockdown is up. What if someone comes through? Alfie won't catch it. Not like Royce does.

Instead, he rolls back down on his back and looks vaguely frustrated. ]

Maybe we had more time than we thought. [ Or maybe they failed, and this is their punishment. ]

[devoutish]

[Even though he's the bigger one, Alfie curls up against Royce instead, giving him that closeness.]

Do you want to stay here today?

[bywolves]

[ Royce wraps an arm around Alfie, turning his head to rest against Alfie's at least. ]

I wanted to go to the hotel. Real beds. [ But that's not a no, really. ] I think we can probably still make it if we don't stop on the way. It's not far.

[devoutish]

All right.

[Real beds sound pretty good to him.]

We can stop and search more later. On the way out, I suppose.

[bywolves]

Mm. Make a second stop at the bakery on the way out. [ That's almost hopeful. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie lets out a sigh that's almost contented.]

[bywolves]

[ Somewhere, Royce realizes that it's kind of sad that just this much sounds like luxury, but. He'll take what they can get. ]

We should go soon. [ Royce murmurs. He's already squirming. He needs to check the windows and doors before they leave, just to make sure. ]

[devoutish]

Ten more minutes.

[Bargaining time.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce snorts. Carefully, he starts to try and dislodge himself. ]

You rest for ten more minutes and I'll go check the house one last time.

[devoutish]

Mm.

[Good plan. He closes his eyes and settles down further into the blankets.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce pulls himself up, and does in fact go to check the rest of the store. There's not a lot here, nothing worth taking, but it isn't just about searching for items. He carefully looks over the windows and doors for traps, for triggers, for cameras, even. He doesn't find anything. It reassures him a little, but he still feels like he's missing something.

Ten minutes pass, and Royce makes his way back to the blanket nest, crouching down in front of it. He's tired and cold, but they need to move. They can camp at the hotel for a few days if they really need to. ]

Come on. [ Royce murmurs, reaching to shake Alfie's shoulder. ] Have to get up, Solomons. Who knows when I'm going to have motivation like this again.

[devoutish]

[And hearing that is, in turn, motivation for Alfie. He eases himself up and starts pulling his things together - not that he'd done much unpacking the night before.]

Over a year, mm? Funny thing.

[And yet, it seems to make more and more sense by the minute.]

[bywolves]

Yeah. Seems like it's almost been even longer than that. [ He squeezes Alfie's shoulder. ] I know how this sounds, but. It's good to have you here.

[ He wishes they could both go home, but if they can't, at least he has Alfie. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[Standing now, his coat on and his bags shouldered, he leans into Royce.]

I'll never leave you, mate.