[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]

[Somewhere along the line, Royce had switched to being the big spoon more often than not - Alfie's all but withered away. He'd been too skinny before, but now he's practically skeletal (though he doesn't eat any less than he'd used to), and he's lost a good six inches from his height. He can't wrap Royce up so easily anymore.]

Awake?

[He says it very quietly, not wanting to disturb him if he isn't.]

[bywolves]

Mmhm. [ Royce hums, not opening his eyes. He pats carefully at Alfie's arm, almost absently. He worries. Consistently. It's a constant thought at the back of his mind - will Alfie wake up the next morning? He's never sure. ]

I'm awake.

[devoutish]

I wonder what day of the week it is.

[He does this sometimes, always either very early in the morning or very late at night. Is it the Sabbath? A workday? A holiday?

What would he be doing if he were at home?]

[bywolves]

[ Royce noses at him. ]

What day do you want it to be?

[devoutish]

Saturday. I'd like it to be Saturday.

[bywolves]

Then it's Saturday. [ Royce tells him. ] Saturday and -- [ A pause, and he's a little more somber. ] And your birthday.

[devoutish]

My birthday? Really?

[He shifts so he can see Royce's face, trying to tell if he's serious or not.]

I haven't been keeping track.

[bywolves]

[ He's serious. Unfortunately. He closes his eyes again. ]

Mm. I keep track. [ Meticulously. ] Eighty-one. You've had a lot of them.

[devoutish]

Eighty-one? Well, that's not so old.

[bywolves]

[ A long pause. ]

Still older than me, anyway. [ He's trying to make a joke out of it. Trying. ]

[devoutish]

Nah.

[He kisses Royce on the cheek.]

You've got to be a thousand by now.

[bywolves]

I feel a thousand. [ Royce says, pulling the blankets closer around them. The kiss on the cheek just makes him smile a little. ] Bones and joints are as creaky as yours.

[devoutish]

Nah.

[He repeats, curling closer.]

You could walk for days, I think.

[bywolves]

If I had to. [ Royce murmurs. ] I'm still part human, Alfie. Still old. Just not as old.

[devoutish]

I'm only joking.

[He pokes Royce in the stomach.]

Have you got a present for me, then?

[bywolves]

[ Royce huffs a little. It's not a very good joke, Alfie. ]

I do, yes. You're going to have to wait until later for me to give it to you, though. We'll see if you deserve it. [ c: ]

[devoutish]

Cruel man.

[bywolves]

[ Royce presses a kiss to the side of his head. ]

Not to you.

[devoutish]

Mm.

[Royce kisses are the best kisses.]

Only a bit cruel, then.

[bywolves]

Absolutely. [ He keeps very close, making sure Alfie stays warm. They have problems with heat generation, these days. ] Never to you, but to everybody else, I don't care.

[devoutish]

Oh, that's not true. You've got others you care for, as well.

[bywolves]

Nobody that I'd put above you. [ It's been forty or sixty something years, he doesn't have much issue saying things like this out loud anymore. ]

[devoutish]

But you do care about them.

[Reminding Royce that he has other people in his corner is an important goal of Alfie's - especially lately.]

[bywolves]

[ Poor Alfie. He tries, but Royce doesn't want to hear it - especially lately. ]

Right. [ He says dismissively. ] How are you feeling today?

[devoutish]

Young and spry.

[He sounds exhausted, still, and his voice croaks a little.]

I think I'm up for a jog around town, how about you?