[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]

Either. Both.

[devoutish]

Would you accept it if I told you I wasn't hungry?

[bywolves]

Would you accept it if I told you I wasn't hungry?

[devoutish]

Right now I think I would, yeah.

[bywolves]

[ Royce sighs, and then plops down where he's crouched. He's cold, but he's tired from the weight of all of those years on his shoulders. ]

Yeah. All right.

[devoutish]

[Alfie just looks at him, because Royce, why are you all the way over there when you could be back in bed with him. Pls.

He's too tired to try to cheer Royce up. He's too tired for jokes; too tired for anything but this monosyllabic conversation they're having right now. He still feels eighty years old.

Quietly, he starts to hum a Russian lullaby - the same one he'd sung for Royce that last night in the shed.]

[bywolves]

[ It's a fair enough question, which Royce thinks about as he sort of just flops there. When Alfie starts to hum, Royce pulls himself up to stand, shivering, and then heads back to the bed, sliding under the covers. He's less - hesitant isn't the word, but maybe reserved. Before, curling up with Alfie was always with just the slightest bit of holding back. Like a cat on a stranger's lap, comfortable but ready to bolt if necessary.

But now, with years in his head and the lack of personal space from all those years, he just curls up right against Alfie's side, almost instinctively trying to big spoon him. Melts right there. He rests his head on Alfie's shoulder and closes his eyes, listening. ]

[devoutish]

[He doesn't break with the humming at all - he just keeps going, dropping an arm around Royce as he does so. After a few more bars, his voice stutters, uncertain.]

I forget this bit. What comes next.

[bywolves]

[ A beat. Royce thinks about that. It hurts to hear. ]

Make it up. [ He says, firmly. ] Make it your own.

[devoutish]

Oh, I can't do that; I'm no musician.

[But he tries! It actually doesn't sound terrible - it's simpler and more repetitive than the original tune, but melody-wise, it fits with it well.]

[bywolves]

[ When there's a point that he pauses, Royce noses at his neck. ]

Clearly you can. [ Believe in yourself, Alfie. ]

[devoutish]

[He tilts his head a little to give Royce better access. It's a half-unconscious movement.]

Alfred Solomons, composer.

[bywolves]

[ Royce settles there, pretty much just warming his face. It feels weird, but it feels natural, too. ]

Missed your true calling. [ Royce murmurs. There's a pause, then: ] Alfie.

[devoutish]

Mm?

[bywolves]

[ He doesn't know how to phrase what he wants to say. Don't ever get old? That's stupid. Please don't get frail? Also ridiculous. Royce swallows hard, trying to articulate. ]

I'll stay with you. [ He says finally. It's not what he wants to say, but what he wants to say is more of a feeling than anything. ] Until the end.

[devoutish]

Come here.

[They're already as close as they can get, so there's really nowhere for Royce to "come here" to, but Alfie takes his hand in both of his.]

All that - that's a long way off.

[And it's an end that - for one reason or another - he doesn't think he'll get here.]

[bywolves]

Yeah. I know it is.

[ He lets Alfie hold his hand - he even holds on in return, loosely. ] Not that long, though. Sixty years for me. That's a long time, but it didn't even feel that much different.

[devoutish]

Forty years.

[Alfie corrects, gently and noncommittally.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce huffs. ]

And something like twenty years for Davesprite and Karkat. Four for Ecks. Thousands, for Castiel.

[devoutish]

Ridiculous. It was forty.

[bywolves]

[ Royce just pulls away enough to give him a flat look. ]

[devoutish]

[He grumbles, and tucks himself further into Royce. He can be the big spoon if he wants.]

[bywolves]

[ He's fine with that. Royce wraps his arms around Alfie and tucks his head under his chin, with a little sigh. ]

Do you want to stay here for another day?

[devoutish]

Yes.

[Absolutely, one hundred percent yes.]

In this bed, preferably.

[bywolves]

[ Royce snorts a bit. ]

Mm. I have some calls to make, but I'm fine with that.