(no subject)

[devoutish]

[When the car radiator overheats for the third time in a week, Alfie takes it as a sign that it's finally time for more than just another quick tune-up.

They're in a deserted area, which is both good and bad. On the one hand, most of the dangerous gangs are still in urban areas, the way they had been before the world had gone to shit. Out here in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by miles and miles of fields with only the occasional small copse of trees, they're not likely to run into anyone at all, much less anyone dangerous. But on the other hand, if they do come across anyone, there won't be anywhere to run to or hide. Alfie, as always, has his pistol tucked into his coat pocket, and they have more weapons stashed away in the trunk. But they're a small group - no match for the bigger gangs with armored trucks and heavy artillery. If they meet one of those, they'll be slaughtered.

With his sleeves rolled up and the hood of the car open, he leans in with his tools, carefully tinkering away. He can't afford to make a mistake here - replacement parts are rare and precious. When he hears footsteps behind him, he doesn't dare look away from his work as he says sharply:]

Stay back. You don't want hot steam to the face.

Comments

[bywolves]

[ It's the please that does it. He jabs the shovel into the ground, and doesn't move, just stares down at the start of the grave. Taking a break. Right. He'll take a break right here, for five minutes, unless otherwise instructed. ]

[devoutish]

Mercy, Mercy.

[He gives her a little squeeze.]

How do you feel about going over to your dad and sitting under that tree with him? Shall we do it?

[bywolves]

No. [ Mercy says stubbornly, wiping her face. ] I don't want to sit with him if he's going to be mean.

[devoutish]

Is he mean because he's burying your mum?

[bywolves]

Yes. [ Mercy insists.

Royce gets a little smaller, staring hard down at the grave. ]

[devoutish]

He's being very brave right now, little girl.

[He pets her hair, rubbing a calloused thumb along her cheek.]

He's doing the only thing he can.

[bywolves]

[ Royce goes back to shoveling - he doesn't want break time, he just needs to get this over with. ]

Why can't we just take her with us? [ Mercy asks, angrily. ] We're not supposed to leave anybody behind!

[devoutish]

She isn't alive anymore. She's-- gone on without us. Nobody's fault.

[Except the guy who shot her.]

She didn't want to, but none of us had a choice in the matter.

[bywolves]

[ Mercy drags in a breath, scrubbing at her face, and then - squirms away from Alfie and climbs into the driver's seat. She curls up there and puts her back to him, knees pulled to her chest, and sniffles. That's not what she wants to hear at all. ]

[devoutish]

[He lets her go, turning to walk over to Royce instead. He keeps one eye on the car, looking out for any movement - like Mercy getting out again, or scrambling into the backseat with Gwen's body.]

How deep will it need to be?

[bywolves]

I don't know. [ Royce says quietly. He doesn't look up. ] I can dig six feet.

[ Something to keep his mind off this. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah. Six feet should do it.

She's not really angry at you.

[bywolves]

I know. [ He's flat, anyway. ] She doesn't understand.

[devoutish]

She will, someday.

[And then she'll be sad because of that, too.]

[bywolves]

[ He doesn't answer. It doesn't make him feel better, either, not that he expected it to. He continues to dig for a few moments, and then, without stopping: ]

If something happens to me, you have to promise to take care of her.

[devoutish]

I'll never leave her. You have my word.

[bywolves]

Mm. [ Good. He's got that promise. He keeps digging until he's got a deep enough hole - he's shut down entirely, so he won't be speaking unless he's spoken to. ]

[devoutish]

But nothing is gonna happen to you, mate.

[Don't go run off and do something stupid, Royce.]

[bywolves]

You don't know that.

[devoutish]

Royce. Don't leave. Not even for a day.

[bywolves]

[ Flatly: ] I don't plan on it. She didn't plan on this, either.

jumps back to this one

[devoutish]

[He runs a hand down his face.]

You know what I mean. Mercy needs you now more than ever.

quietly dies

[bywolves]

[ He keeps digging. ]

I'm not leaving.

[devoutish]

Royce. I'll take over for you, if you need a rest.

[bywolves]

No. I don't need a rest. [ He's almost mechanical about this. ]