[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]

Yeah. And I'll have a walk around the hotel later.

[He speaks quietly, against Royce's throat.]

It's just one more day, mate. Just a day like any other. No different from yesterday, really.

[bywolves]

[ Royce holds Alfie close to his chest, hand on the back of Alfie's head for just a moment. ]

I know. [ A beat. ] It's just a reminder. [ He's so scared of being alone. Maybe it comes out in his voice a little. ] It's alright. We're going to celebrate.

[devoutish]

I've been trying to prepare you.

[His voice is even quieter now - quiet enough that Royce can ignore it, if he wants.]

[bywolves]

[ Nope. No, he doesn't want to talk about this. Royce is tense and trying to pretend like he's not bothered. He pulls himself up to sit, wrapping the blankets tightly around Alfie. ]

I'm not ever going to be prepared, Alfie. Not worth the effort. [ He says, firmly. He slides off the bed. ] What do you want for breakfast?

[devoutish]

[He almost makes another joke - pancakes, hot oatmeal, and scrambled eggs with a side of fresh fruit, please.

Instead he sighs.]

Have we got any of those crackers left?

[bywolves]

[ If Royce could get him those, he really, really would. But all they have are the meager rations, as usual. A beat. ]

Mm. I have tea. Crackers. Kept a loaf of bread from the bakery, too. We could heat the tea and warm the bread up.

[devoutish]

That sounds delicious. Let's eat it in bed.

[bywolves]

[ Royce finally smiles a little, looking over his shoulder. ]

Yeah. A good birthday gift. It's not all you're getting, but it's a start. [ And he'll go about putting together a fire. It'll take a bit - all he has is a match and not incredibly flammable materials in which to make a controlled fire with, but he can do it. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie goes quiet, and drifts off a little. He never totally falls asleep, but he's happy to just lie there with his eyes closed, listening to Royce move around the room.]

You're a good man, mate.

[bywolves]

[ Royce pauses in putting the water over the fire. ]

You have low standards for good. [ Royce says, but it's gentle and sort of teasing. ]

[devoutish]

I'm not talking about morals. You're good to me.

[bywolves]

I don't have to try to be, with you. [ Not anymore, at least. ] You make it easy.

[devoutish]

Mm. Sweet man, too.

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes a face in his direction. ] I'm already making you breakfast, you don't need to sweet talk me.

[devoutish]

Royce Melborn, the sweetest man in Norfinbury, who I'm lucky to have by my side day in and day out.

[bywolves]

[ At least Alfie can feel good about the smile on Royce's face. It's not a huge grin or anything, but it's there. ]

Incredibly lucky. [ Royce teases. He feels at the cup, testing the temperature. ] Lucky that I put up with this.

[devoutish]

Yeah, I am.

[He sounds serious and honest when he says that - no longer really joking. He knows he's kind of useless these days.]

[bywolves]

[ There's a pause, as Royce steeps the tea. He's got the bread sitting close to the fire as well, just to defrost it enough that they can pull it apart. He takes a moment to just think. ]

You know that I don't mind. [ Royce says finally, looking up at Alfie. ] You know that it hasn't ever been an issue.

DW straight-up did not send me a notif for this wtf

[devoutish]

I know. But I worry, the way you used to.

[And the way he thinks Royce probably still does sometimes, despite everything.]

I don't worry you're gonna leave me, but I worry about holding you back, yeah. I'd worry more if there were more things to hold you back from here.

dw please

[bywolves]

[ The tea and bread are good to go, and Royce decides to leave the fire for now, let it burn out on it's own. He'll keep an eye on it.

He climbs back up onto the bed, nudging Alfie to sit up so he can hand him the tea in the thermos. ]

You're not holding me back. There isn't anything to hold me back from here, you're right, but even if there were, it wouldn't matter. Making sure you're safe has been my purpose for years now. Can't hold me back when you're my priority to begin with.

I understand the worry, though.

[devoutish]

[Propping himself up against Royce's shoulder, he takes the tea, wrapping both his hands around the warm thermos.]

Yeah. I'd lecture you on needing more of a purpose in life than that, but, well--

[Does anyone here really have much of a purpose in life?]

[bywolves]

It isn't like I have anything else. [ Royce says, quietly. He settles close, getting an arm around Alfie. ] We've been stuck here for sixty-something years. It's nice to have a purpose at all.

[devoutish]

Sixty? Oof. I'd be over a hundred if it had been sixty years, mate.

[bywolves]

[ He glances at Alfie. ] Time feels different for me, then.

Could've sworn I was a hundred. Not that I knew how old I was to begin with.

[devoutish]

[He lifts a hand to play his fingers through Royce's hair.]

Have you been paying more attention to my age than to your own?