[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]

[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.

[devoutish]

Karkat and Davesprite?

[bywolves]

Mm. Gabriel. Castiel, maybe.

Been meaning to call the newer Rhys and the librarian.

[devoutish]

Look at you.

[He rubs his fingers over the ends of Royce's hair.]

Popular man.

[bywolves]

[ He makes a face. ]

Trying to be useful. I don't want to call the last two.

[devoutish]

Why not?

[bywolves]

Don't like either of them much.

[devoutish]

[He raises this eyebrows, and nudges into Royce's chest. The repeated why not? is left unspoken.]