snowblindmemes | AGE-DOWN MEME

[Alfie isn't particularly fussed about drawing the kid out - until he gets a good look at him, and realizes that it's Royce. Then he tries the food trick. He wanders around the house, pretending he has no idea that Royce is there - and during one pass through the kitchen, he lays down half an apple on the table, muttering:]

I'll finish that later.

[Then he half-turns away - not enough that he won't be able to see the table out of the corner of his eye, but hopefully enough that Royce will think he's not watching.]

[ Aha. Finally.

Normally, Royce might be a little more cautious with coming out from hiding, but that's food. And Royce has learned never, ever to pass up food. Not when he has no idea when he'll find it next. The apple is far too tempting to leave, which is why when Alfie turns around, Royce carefully and silently crawls out of the cabinets and sneaks his way to the table.

Eyes bright, Royce snatches the apple off the table and immediately shoves it in his mouth. He's so hungry that he forgets to account for the crunching sound it makes as he bites into it, but - he doesn't care. Food. At least if he gets caught he got to eat something. ]

Hello there.

[Alfie doesn't turn around, but who else would he be talking to?]

[ FREEZE. Maybe... if he doesn't move, Alfie won't see him. There's a pause, where he thinks that might work, and then he bolts. He runs right past Alfie, though, since there's not really any other place to go. ]

Hey.

[He steps quickly in front of the door, blocking his past.]

Slow down. I'm not gonna hurt you.

[ Royce stops, dropping down to almost a crouch, hands curled so that he can claw and rip at things should he need to. He doesn't speak, just stares up at Alfie, completely still except for the heave of his chest, breath harsh and panicked. He's frightened, in a way his older counterpart wouldn't have been. ]

It's just me here. Nobody's gonna jump out of the corner at you. I've got a friend who's here, sometimes, but he's out tonight - not coming back until tomorrow.

Get out of my way. [ His voice is small, but he's trying to make himself sound scarier. It's... not incredibly successful, since he looks like a light breeze could knock him over. ] I'll hurt you.

You can't go outside. There's gonna be lockdown in a few minutes. That's when they lock the doors, right, and you're not gonna be able to get in anywhere else.

I've been in the cold before. [ But not like this, he knows. He's frozen to the bone indoors, and he's seen the snow starting to fall. He'll die out there, but he'll probably die in here, too. He can't trust adults any more than he can trust little kids.

A beat, and then he makes another break for it, this time trying to go through between Alfie's legs. ]

Fucking hell, kid--

[But over in the living room, he hears the locks click shut, so he just lets him go. As long as he can't run out the door and to his death, he can have the run of the house, as far as Alfie is concerned.]

[ The door is locked, and Royce panics.

He makes a gaspy little sound when he tries for the door and gets nothing. He's locked in here, with someone he doesn't know who is a lot bigger than him, and he can't get out, which means he needs to hide. There's just not a lot to hide under or behind, in this house. The kitchen had been his best bet, but Alfie is in there, and now he's stuck.

Royce turns, making eye-contact with Alfie, and does his very best to not look like he's terrified out of his mind. ]

I'll - I'll make you a deal. [ He tries, voice cracking a little. ]

Listen.

[He's not sure Royce will, or even can, listen right now, but he's going to try.]

I am not keeping you here. The doors lock every night, and I can't unlock them. If I had let you run out into the cold, you would've been stuck out there, and you would have frozen to death. All right?

[ Royce wraps his arms around himself, swallowing hard. He shouldn't trust what this guy says, but he hasn't quite gotten to the point where he immediately assumes everybody is lying to him yet.

So instead, he sort of just sinks back against the door and takes a deep breath to try and calm himself down. He doesn't take his eyes off Alfie. And like he's warning Alfie: ] You can't hurt me. I won't let you.

I don't wanna hurt you. I'll take the living room, you take the bedroom. We'll stay out of each others' ways, if you like.

And if you've got anything against the Mir, just stay quiet about it, because that's the one thing that I won't stand for.

[He's definitely not going to tell baby Royce that he knows what he is, but he wants a roundabout way to let him know that he isn't a danger on that front.]

[ He - oh. Royce looks shocked for a good couple of seconds before he manages to wrestle his reaction under control. How did he... he can't know. He's just warning Royce, he doesn't think that Royce is one. Okay. He can handle that.

But it's such a weird warning. Royce has never heard anybody stick up for them before, and before he can stop himself, he accuses: ] You're lying. Nobody likes them.

Now what did I just tell you?

[He raises his eyebrows at Royce.]

My friend, the one I mentioned, yeah - he's Mir. And if you're gonna start up like everybody else, you can fuck off to the other room. I did give you a fair warning, because I know how the world is.

[ Royce hunches down, watching Alfie suspiciously. ]

I don't hate them. [ He says stubbornly, scooting away from the door. He flits across the room in little bursts, until he can hide behind the arm of the couch. Not quite out of sight. He also maintains eye contact the whole way. ] How are you friends with a mir? Did - did you buy him?

I did not. I would never do such a thing. No, mate, he's free, and we've killed men who tried to change that.

[ Hello, Royce's new hero. Royce stays where he is, but he peeks out further from the couch. ]

Really? [ Oop. He hates how hopeful that sounds, and he flinches back down. A beat. ] Do you have food?

I've got more apples. Here.

[He takes one out and rolls it across the floor towards Royce.]

And a few more things besides. Wanna take a look, then?

[ Royce snatches the apple up off the floor and holds it close to his chest. Hides it. People can't steal it that way. He's reluctant to move out from where he's hiding, but this guy... ]

No. [ Royce says, but it's less resolved than he wants it to be. ] What do you want for it?

Your solemn promise that you do not hate the Mir, and won't tip off anyone that my friend stays here sometimes. Now, he is unashamed of what he is. He tells me, "Alfie, don't try to hide me. If somebody wants to fight me over what I am, let them come." But I worry, you see?

If you promise that, I'll give you a sandwich.

[ Royce is much better at taking deals as a child. He frowns deeply, thinking about it, and then finally nods a little. ]

I don't hate the mir. [ Royce says, as solemn as possible. He holds the apple in his hands tightly as he inches a little closer, skittish. ] They've never done anything to me.

A whole sandwich? [ That sounds fake but okay. ]

Here.

[He pulls the wrapped sandwich out of his bag.]

Do you want me to take a bite first, so you know it isn't poisoned?

[With anyone else, it would be a joke, but he thinks it might actually be a valid concern of Royce's.]

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