[log] justin! he's punching all my blood out! [closed]

[bywolves]

Characters: Royce Melborn and Alfie Solomons
Location: House 12
Date: Day 351ish
Summary: We'll see if they both last the night, honestly.
Warnings: violence, extra stuff will be cw'd in the subject lines.

BUILDING 12: This bizarre house, while fully intact, only consists of one very large empty room and a hatch that leads to the maintenance tunnels.

Comments

[bywolves]

[ He stops cleaning for a moment, and then digs around in his bag again. He pulls out a bottle of red wine, and presses it into Alfie's good hand. ]

I need to stitch this. [ Royce mutters. Businesslike. He feels better doing something. Anything. ] And it's going to hurt.

[devoutish]

[Alfie takes a sharp breath in, and nods.]

Let's set up the mattress first. Get me on it.

[He just hadn't had the energy to do it himself.]

[bywolves]

[ He nods a little, and gets to work. He sets a few things aside, and then grabs the mattress, starting his work in blowing it up. That takes a bit, and he has to take breaks in between, but he manages.

At the end of that, he gestures for Alfie to get down onto it, pale but stubborn. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie flops down onto it with a sigh of relief. That's so much better. Spending the night on the bare floor had been awful on his back and other sore muscles.]

Thanks, mate. Will you rest for a moment first, as well?

[bywolves]

I can rest when your arm is wrapped again.

[ Royce says, firmly, holding out his hand for Alfie's arm. ] Give it here. You should start drinking now if you're going to.

[devoutish]

I'm fine. I'm all right.

[He holds out his arm, gritting his teeth.]

[bywolves]

[ Yeah, totally fine. Royce has to stop for a second to even himself out so his hands don't shake. Not because he's upset so much as because he's angry - pissed off that he has to fix his other self's mistakes. Lips pressed tightly together and expression focused, Royce starts to stitch, going as fast as he can while still being careful. ]

[devoutish]

[It's not the first time in his life that he's been stitched up without anesthetic, so he knows what he's in for. His teeth grind together harder when Royce starts stitching, but he doesn't make a sound.]

[bywolves]

[ Distantly, Royce appreciates Alfie trying to be silent. It makes it easier - he can concentrate on getting the job done without letting the guilt overwhelm him. It's not exactly an easy time, but he doesn't run into any significant snags or trouble, and he's silent the whole way through.

Once he's finished, he pulls this bright purple stretch-knit fabric from his bag, and carefully wraps Alfie's arm with it, snug. He's got quite a bit of it, so he figures it can actually serve a use, now. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie's pretty glad to be able to lie down for this. He trembles when Royce pulls the needle out for the final time, closing his eyes.]

Thanks, mate.

[He murmurs, sounding a little distant and out of breath.]

[bywolves]

[ Royce makes a quiet affirmative noise before standing up to go drag his blankets over to the air mattress. He makes a nest for Alfie, covering him in blankets and pillows, and then grabs for the Tylenol. ]

Pain pills. And then I'll let you sleep. [ He's insistent. ]

[devoutish]

I'd like you to sleep, as well.

[He'll swallow the pills dry, unless Royce presses some water at him too.]

[bywolves]

[ He absolutely pushes water at Alfie, fussy. Once Alfie's taken them, though, Royce's shoulders slump, like he's used up all of his energy. He nods a bit, climbing into the nest with Alfie if only because he knows they need each other to generate warmth.

Right now, he doesn't feel like he deserves that much comfort, but this is a good way to make sure Alfie stays comfortable, so. Royce settles around Alfie, careful of Alfie's arm. ]

[devoutish]

[Alfie lets him wrap around him, reaching out to settle a hand on his cheek for a second.]

I missed you.

[bywolves]

[ Royce leans into that hand, just for a moment, and then shifts to tuck Alfie's head under his chin. ]

I missed you. [ Even if he didn't know it. ] Rest.

[devoutish]

I'm resting.

[He's lying down and his eyes are almost all the way closed; that's good enough, right?]

Not gonna be up for walking today.

[bywolves]

Me either. [ Royce mumbles, closing his eyes. ] Haven't slept well.

[devoutish]

Too busy waiting for me to come slit your throat?

[bywolves]

[ He's silent for a moment. Quietly: ]

Too busy waiting for everybody to come slit my throat.

[devoutish]

Mm.

[Alfie's brows knit together.]

I'm sorry I lied to you. I wouldn't've done it under normal circumstances.

[bywolves]

I was convinced you were trying to get me to let my guard down. [ His voice is still soft. ] I just got out of Manzant. You knew so much. Last person to know that much --

[ Well. You know. ]

[devoutish]

Mm, yeah.

In the beginning, I didn't want to add on to all the people trying to convince you that you knew them. And then, well - admitting I'd lied seemed like a bad sort of plan.

[bywolves]

There wasn't really a way you could've done better. I wouldn't have trusted you even if you'd told the truth.

[ Royce breathes out slow. ]

I thought about killing you.

[devoutish]

[He pats Royce's cheek again.]

I would've won you over eventually.

[bywolves]

You did once already. [ He closes his eyes. ]