[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

[bywolves]

[ He scowls, pulling Alfie closer. ]

You'd think she'd find something else to do with her time. [ His tone is pissy. ] She won't come anywhere close to you, either way.

[devoutish]

She's a bit confused. I asked her how long this was going to go on, and she said it had only been four years.

[bywolves]

A lot of people are having trouble with how many years it's been.

She was young to begin with. Four years probably feels like forty to her.

[devoutish]

Still. It's a bit odd, don't you think.

[bywolves]

Mm. [ He rests his head against Alfie's. ] Especially since I was sure it'd been sixty years.

[devoutish]

You think it's an effect Norfinbury has on us? Maybe I'm wrong; maybe it's not been forty years.

[bywolves]

Probably. It's been years, obviously, but I wouldn't put it past Norfinbury to screw with our perceptions of time. Wouldn't be the first time.

[devoutish]

Mm.

[He's quiet for a moment.]

She says she's got a hatchet. If we run into her, be careful.

[bywolves]

I've been collecting knives for forty or sixty years, Alfie. We'll be fine. [ He's not so old that he can't protect the both of them, he thinks. ]

[devoutish]

I wish I weren't so--

[Broken down. Decrepit. Old.]

I don't like feeling helpless.

[bywolves]

You're not. [ Which is only a little bit of a lie. ] If I gave you a knife, you'd still be able to protect yourself.

[devoutish]

My hand would be unsteady.

[He holds up a hand to show Royce, and it is indeed shaking just a little, as it often is these days.]

I couldn't grip it well enough.

[bywolves]

[ Oof, Alfie, he doesn't want to see this. His expression tightens a bit. ]

You can. [ He says, shortly. ] I'll give you something you don't need to be precise with as a weapon.

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[He goes quiet again.]

[bywolves]

... Alfie. [ Royce murmurs, nosing against the side of his head. He doesn't say anything else, just - he's sorry. ]

[devoutish]

Don't--

[The words catch in his throat.]

-- Nah, I was gonna tell you not to worry about me, but you know I don't much like it when you say that sort of thing yourself. So I won't do it to you.

[bywolves]

I appreciate that.

[ He's glad at least that Alfie takes it as worry and not pity. A beat. ] I want to read for a while, but don't let me forget to write up that post for the delivery, later.

[ Sometimes, for people who don't like or trust them, Royce takes things out as far as he can make it in a day, leaves it in a house, and then comes back. ] I need your help with - diplomatic phrasing. People were angry last time I made one.

[devoutish]

I remember.

[His lips twitch up.]

What was that line that got them all riled up--?

[bywolves]

Something about cutting out the tongues of people who took things that weren't meant for them and nailing said tongues to their palms.

[ Shrug. ] I wasn't serious. Mostly.

[devoutish]

[Alfie's chuckling, though; he remembers that now.]

Yeah, I'll edit those things out.

[bywolves]

[ At least Alfie thinks it's funny. Royce's expression shifts into something a little more amused. ]

An unfortunate but necessary task.

[devoutish]

Can I throw in some cursing for flavor?

[bywolves]

Of course you fucking can.

[devoutish]

[More chuckling; good job, Royce.]

They've got to know it was a fucking joint effort.

[bywolves]

[ He's proud of himself, really.

Dryly: ] Well, if we're going that route, you'll need to let me leave in at least one threat of bodily harm, or it won't feel authentic.