[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

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[heavensreader]

[Dead is decidedly not easier, but Kesara decides not to argue that point. She glances down at his question, visibly sullen.]

What choice do I have? I'll go back to doing what I did before. I have so much exploring to do. [She doesn't sound nearly as excited about it as she was once.]

[bywolves]

[ He notices how unenthused she sounds. ]

Grown out of exploring, have you?

[heavensreader]

No. [That, swiftly. One doesn't grow out of exploring.] Only that this is no real exploration. All we ever discover are more horrors.

[bywolves]

You're not wrong. It's why we stopped doing it, Alfie and I. We just run supplies, now.

[heavensreader]

You both must be terribly tired. [She has a frame of reference for such exhaustion now. She remembers Connolly's letters, what he wrote in his cell of feeling his soul rot.]

You must still move, though. Even if you don't push forward, I know you mustn't stay still.

[bywolves]

We're moving. [ A beat. ] Neither of us can move as well as we used to, but we're carrying on.

Where are you going? What's your plan?

[heavensreader]

I haven't a plan yet. [It's a small snap. She just got here, Duster!] Perhaps I will go to visit Miss Samantha's house again. She will want to hear from me.

[bywolves]

[ He's just curious!! ]

Yeah. Probably. [ A beat. ] Solomons and I won't say no to your company should you want to travel with us a day or two. Just so you know.

[heavensreader]

[The beat echoes on her side. She immediately wants to go to them, and immediately chastises herself for it.]

Thank you, Royce. But I need to be pushing out. I will come see you if you are in a part of the town I haven't seen yet.

[bywolves]

Mm. [ He's a little disappointed, but he doesn't argue. She's got better things to be doing. ] Open offer. We're out past your tunnel, right now.

Heading downtown, though.

[heavensreader]

I'll maybe run across you, then - I'm in the chapel, it's not far - and I ought to go see my tunnel. How it's been kept.

[That would be excusable, wouldn't it? Just to say hello along the way?]

[bywolves]

[ His lips twitch a little, on his side. Almost, almost wryly: ] If you can make time for us, sure.

[heavensreader]

It's not about time, Duster. [But she doesn't want to say what it is about. So she leaves it at that, a mostly affected pout.]

[bywolves]

Royce.

[ He says quietly. ] You can just call me Royce.

[heavensreader]

I know. [She goes quiet as she tries to think of how to explain. Duster isn't his name but it's the name she knew him by before, and now she doesn't think anyone knows him by it anymore, and it feels, somehow - she can't explain.] You like it better, don't you?

[bywolves]

It suits me better.

I'm not Duster anymore, unless I absolutely need to be. [ And he still can be. He just keeps that part of himself quiet, most times. ]

[heavensreader]

[It's a strange way to put it, and she understands, though again in a way she can't quite explain. She gives a solemn little nod.]

Royce. [And after another small thought:] Do you have a surname, Royce?

[bywolves]

Yeah. Melborn. You can call me Melborn if you want. It's the same difference.

[heavensreader]

If you want me to. I call Mr. Solomons like so, but you are not as old, and... Ho to say it.] You are not as...

[bywolves]

Respectable? [ He sounds vaguely amused. ] It's fine. Call me Royce or Duster. I don't care.