[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 nudges into Royce again.]

Then we do this.

[bywolves]

[ Royce nods. He settles against Alfie's side, and closes his eyes, bowing his head. And then he starts to murmur the words. He pauses for a second, peeking an eye open to look at Alfie - come on, do it with him - before continuing. ]

[devoutish]

[He does, quietly, repeating the same few lines of the prayer. A couple of times, he gently corrects Royce's pronunciation, but follows it with a kiss pressed to the top of the head.]

You say it well.

[bywolves]

Always been good at language. [ Royce says, quietly, once he's finished. He tilts his head up to look at Alfie. ]

Thanks. Is that everything? Or is there more?

[devoutish]

There's more. Do you want more?

[bywolves]

Yeah. All of it. Tell me.

[devoutish]

[He finishes out the first blessing in the same way - saying it through once, then repeating it slowly so Royce can follow along, and then translating it.]

That bit means "Let no awful thoughts come to me, nor nightmares, nor troubling worries. May my bed be whole. Grant me light so that I do not die in the night, for you are the one that brings light. Praised are you, who brings light to the whole universe".

[bywolves]

[ Royce can see why this might be comforting. He thinks it's nonsense, but he's not going to say that, and he won't give Alfie any indication of that. It's not about the god or the prayers, it's about what they mean to Alfie.

He slowly follows along, correcting where he mispronounces. He murmurs most of it against Alfie's shoulder, holding onto him tightly. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie continues, moving onto the next blessing without prompting. The gist is basically the same - praising God, and asking for his blessings. About halfway through, though, he stops, and just stands there, saying nothing.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce follows along until Alfie stops, and when he does, Royce moves enough so that he's standing in front of Alfie, leaning against him. He reaches up to tilt Alfie's chin up to meet his gaze. Look at him. It's okay. ]

[devoutish]

[He opens his eyes, which are misty and wet.]

It doesn't do anything anymore, Royce.

[bywolves]

It does. It reminds you that there are people home waiting for you. [ Royce says, firmly. ] And it reminds you that somewhere, they're saying the same thing as you. You have people. You have a connection, and the best part about it is that it's words.

[ Royce holds Alfie's face between his hands. ] Words and a feeling, right? Can't really take those from you. Not forever. Can't take the action from you, either.

Even if this is all you have left to fight with, it's still something.

[devoutish]

[He recognizes that Royce is giving his own words back to him - like he'd said, Alfie has told him about this several times before. But something has changed in the past few days, and it feels like it's beyond him to fix.]

You think if I keep saying it, the feeling will come back, then?

[bywolves]

[ Royce nods. ]

It will. And I'll do this with you every night until it does.

[devoutish]

You're gonna get sick of it.

[He says lightly, trying to tease a little.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes a face at him, pressing their foreheads together for a moment before pulling away and patting Alfie on the cheek. ]

Maybe. I've given you plenty of things to get sick of. I'm sure it's my turn. [ That's also light, though. Teasing. A beat. ] I'm serious, though. Every night.

[devoutish]

Every night.

[His eyes - still a little wet - close again.]

My mother would love you.

[bywolves]

I'm sure she'd drive me up the wall. [ Royce says, nudging Alfie with his hip. ] Was there more?

[devoutish]

Mm.

[And he continues again. This time, he reaches the end of the evening prayer set before he stops again.]

"-- And behind me the angel Raphael, and above me God's presence."

There.

[He sequeezes Royce's hand.]

That's all.

[bywolves]

[ Royce follows, and finishes, as Alfie's translating. He holds Alfie's hand tightly, and then leans against the wall, tired. He's losing the fight against the apathy setting in, slowly. ]

Every night. [ Royce reminds him. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah.

[His face is wet when he leans in to peck Royce on the cheek.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce accepts the kiss on the cheek without complaint. He holds Alfie's hand tightly, and tugs at him again. Back to bed, where Royce will try to big spoon him like he has been for the past few days. He hasn't been able to shake the habit yet. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie doesn't pick up his tablet again - it stays off to the side with the rest of his things. He swipes the sleeve of his robe across his cheeks, trying to dry them, and then tucks up obligingly against Royce.]

You're tiny.

[bywolves]

Ever thought that maybe it's that you're too big?

[ Royce asks. It's meant to be a tease back, but he struggles with putting the emotion in his voice. He ignores that the best he can, hiding his face against Alfie's hair. He doesn't mention the tears, if only because he thinks if it were him, he'd want them to go unnoticed.

It doesn't stop him from petting at Alfie absently. ]

[devoutish]

Imagine if I were six feet tall. What a pair we'd be.