[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]

Ah, no. He's a bit too moral to be like me, don't you think?

[bywolves]

He didn't used to be. But yes. Bit too moral. [ He shrugs absently. ] That's not why you do.

[devoutish]

Yeah. We both love you.

[bywolves]

Mm. [ Yeah. That's mostly why. Royce closes his eyes. ] Yeah. Even when you shouldn't, you do. I like that.

[devoutish]

Don't be ridiculous. I should always.

[bywolves]

You should also try resting.

[devoutish]

Yeah, my mother would really love you.

[bywolves]

[ Royce snorts. ] Must be channeling her.

[devoutish]

Mm, you think the praying is what did it?

[bywolves]

Yeah. [ No, but he sounds very confident that this is the case. ] See? Makes me into a mother hen. Useful.

[devoutish]

[It makes Alfie chuckle - but then his smile fades.]

It felt different, mate. That connection I felt before--

[He slices a hand through the air in a severing motion.]

[bywolves]

Mm. [ Royce nuzzles into him. His voice fades in and out of monotone. ] I know. It feels like any memory of Elan is... distant. The people there aren't as present in my mind. I feel like we've been here so long.

But we haven't. It's only been a few months.

[devoutish]

Six months is still a very long time to be in a place like this.

[But he knows what Royce means. He feels the same.]

[bywolves]

Spent a year in Manzant. [ Royce says, soft. ] It felt like fifty.

[ Still. He pets at Alfie's hair a bit. ] That connection will come back. You can't give up on it.

[devoutish]

Royce.

[He shifts around so that they're face to face, forehead to forehead.]

Will you tell me whether or not you really believe that?

[bywolves]

[ Fight the apathy, Royce tells himself, reaching to hold onto Alfie's shirt for a second. Be honest. Use emotions. ]

Yeah. [ He presses their foreheads together firmly. His voice is steady and confident, as genuine as he can get it to be. ] I believe it.

[devoutish]

[Alfie looks him in the eye for several long seconds. Then, holding Royce's cheeks in both hands, pulls back to kiss his forehead twice.]

I know you don't. But thank you. Thank you.

[bywolves]

Mm.

[ Royce sighs, a little, frowning, but he leans into each forehead kiss. He doesn't argue, because there isn't any point - whether Royce believes it or not, Alfie doesn't think he does. ]

We're still going to do them every night. [ Royce tells him, closing his eyes. ]

[devoutish]

We will.

[He agrees.]

But I wish I could do more to help you in return.

[bywolves]

You do. You do more than me. [ Royce says, firmly. ] This helps me.

[ A beat, and he pulls Alfie closer. ] The prayers gives me a connection to you.

[devoutish]

It means a lot to share them.

[bywolves]

Good. I don't know how much weight they carry, but. [ Royce sighs. Muttered: ] Anything that keeps me closer to you, I'd like to have.

[devoutish]

You're saying them with me. That carries weight.

[bywolves]

Yeah. Good. [ That's what he wants. ] Then they're not just for your benefit, then.

[devoutish]

That makes me feel better. Yeah, that helps.

[If the ritual can't bind him to his people at home anymore, at least it can bind him to Royce.]