[network] @ADMIN; Arrival

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Comments

[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.