[Oh, Ten Hells. He's a state - he's singed and undoubtedly the source of all the burning. Rev doesn't even think twice about slipping in next to him, sitting down with just enough distance to not accidentally get burned and give Alfred something else to be upset about.]
Alright, Alfred. Let's try and get that sorted out, alright?
[He doesn't reach out to touch him. It's a bad idea when he's still steaming where the water touches his skin.]
Can you take some deep, slow breaths for me? We need to get you feeling a little calmer and safer.
[And then, more softly:]
Your door's still locked. You're safe. I'm here for as long as you need.
[The wandering of Alfred's eyes stops momentarily when Reverie climbs into the shower with him - he focuses on his friend, who he knows is strong, who he trusts, and the glow slowly recedes from his pupils.]
Okay - okay. Okay.
[His voice is hoarse, mind still racing - he tries to shut his eyes a moment to relax, but when he does, he can SWEAR he sees the ballroom, the hungry coven. His eyes open back up, resting instead on Reverie.
Slowly, he tries to draw in a deep breath, letting it back out in a little hiss through his fangs.]
It - it just...made me think - hhhh - about...about....
Yes. Yes, they - they called me food, then, too - s-said I was damned - nothing, noth- ACH-
[His eyes flash again, and more steam goes up. It doesn't hurt, not really, but it's exhausting, like each burst of flame is chipping away at the fight he has left.
Shuddering, he tries again to calm, to focus on what Reverie is saying.]
Safe.
I'm safe.
Safe.
[An attempt to scold himself into listening. His tone is still off, but - he's trying. He's really trying. He wants nothing more than a hug, but he has to stop burning first. He has to stop.]
Come on, sweetheart. Need you to stop burning up so I can look after you properly. There's cocoa and one of Phil's nice movies that are probably funnier if you're a human with your name on it at ours.
[He gently knocks his legs against Alfred's. It's as much contact as he can currently safely give.]
And a good hug. And I'm sure Beans will want to come sit on your lap too.
[The promise of softer, gentler moments help - the imagery gives him something else to latch onto, and the soft knock of his legs helps to pull him outside himself just a little more. He starts to level out his breathing, moving his hands from where they had been hugging his own shoulders to rest flat against the enamel of the tub.
He doesn't have to be alone. He can go somewhere else, he can go where he is safe and welcome. Slowly, slowly, the glow fades down from his eyes, the hiss of steam quieting down.]
[He's still very warm to the touch - but Reverie is cool, and Alfred leans into him, curling a little, sniffling and rubbing water out of his eyes. Imagining Phil getting a little cat and naming it something so cute is a good distraction, and he laughs a little, an almost frantic, breathless little sound.]
Ah - that's - I - I would love t-to meet Beans, th-then.
[Improvement. Much less hollow, much more himself.]
[He presses a gentle kiss to the top of Alfred's head and pulls him closer, reassuring him as best he can. Now that Rev's not likely to burst into flames on contact he's going to lavish his friend with affection until he feels even a little better.]
Good. He's very good at looking after people.
[And then, more softly:]
If it'd make you feel safer, you're welcome to come stay at mine. there's four locked doors before you even get near my apartment, and my bathtub's much larger if you're worried about being too near flammable things.
[It doesn't take much to get Alfred to practically melt into Reverie - he flushes just a little at the kiss, but mostly because it's...nice, it's nice to be held and cuddled and cared for when he's feeling like this.]
I...I think I would like that. I know that I am - I am safe, here, but I....
[A slow breath in and out.]
I think I need to...not be alone here. For a little while, at least. Until I can...can get it out of my head.
[If he's fussing over Alfred, you can't hold that against him. Eventually, though, he pulls himself upright, offering Alfred a hand.]
Well, if you come for a sleepover I can get Phil to come over too, then you definitely won't be alone. And there's the dancers. Lots of people to make sure you know you're alive, you're loved and you're not what they called you.
[In the stillness that happens when the water turns off, he shivers audibly, draped all over now in cold, wet, half-burnt clothes. Reverie isn't warm, not really, but still he stays close. The caring feels warm enough for the moment.
He ventures a tiny smile.]
...Yes. That...sounds nice.
[He sidesteps the last part of the comment, though. In the back of his head, there's still a nagging thought. He's a monster now, so perhaps he's no longer just food....
But is he not still damned?
The only hint of any of this, though, is a dimness to his eyes, an exhaustion etched into his expression. He says nothing of it. It won't help, now, and...and he doesn't want to lose control again and burn Reverie.]
W-will you...help me up? I think using so much magic was...a little....
[He goes for a towel first. Now he's not burning up so badly, getting him dried off and into something not soaked through was a good idea. Rev wraps it carefully around Alfred's shoulders, then, in lieu of just helping him up, scoops him like he weighs nothing.]
Let's get you decent - can't go taking you through the city like this, it'd be a terrible scandal. [He smiles gently, rubbing circles on the small of Alfred's back with one of his hands. Reassuring pressure.] Can have a nap at ours if you want.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-03-29 09:00 pm (UTC)Alright, Alfred. Let's try and get that sorted out, alright?
[He doesn't reach out to touch him. It's a bad idea when he's still steaming where the water touches his skin.]
Can you take some deep, slow breaths for me? We need to get you feeling a little calmer and safer.
[And then, more softly:]
Your door's still locked. You're safe. I'm here for as long as you need.
no subject
Date: 2022-03-31 06:25 am (UTC)Okay - okay. Okay.
[His voice is hoarse, mind still racing - he tries to shut his eyes a moment to relax, but when he does, he can SWEAR he sees the ballroom, the hungry coven. His eyes open back up, resting instead on Reverie.
Slowly, he tries to draw in a deep breath, letting it back out in a little hiss through his fangs.]
It - it just...made me think - hhhh - about...about....
no subject
Date: 2022-04-03 02:28 am (UTC)[He keeps his voice low and soft, leaning in as close as he dares while he's still wreathed in steam.]
I'm sorry, Alfred. That broadcast was... A lot for a lot of people.
[Reverie was not disturbed. It was the grasping hands of those who were young to passing judgement.]
You're safe, friend.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-05 09:39 am (UTC)[His eyes flash again, and more steam goes up. It doesn't hurt, not really, but it's exhausting, like each burst of flame is chipping away at the fight he has left.
Shuddering, he tries again to calm, to focus on what Reverie is saying.]
Safe.
I'm safe.
Safe.
[An attempt to scold himself into listening. His tone is still off, but - he's trying. He's really trying. He wants nothing more than a hug, but he has to stop burning first. He has to stop.]
no subject
Date: 2022-04-05 10:21 pm (UTC)[He gently knocks his legs against Alfred's. It's as much contact as he can currently safely give.]
And a good hug. And I'm sure Beans will want to come sit on your lap too.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-06 06:52 am (UTC)He doesn't have to be alone. He can go somewhere else, he can go where he is safe and welcome. Slowly, slowly, the glow fades down from his eyes, the hiss of steam quieting down.]
...W-who is...who is Beans?
no subject
Date: 2022-04-07 09:09 pm (UTC)Phil got a little cat. It's called Espresso Beans.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-18 07:07 am (UTC)Ah - that's - I - I would love t-to meet Beans, th-then.
[Improvement. Much less hollow, much more himself.]
no subject
Date: 2022-04-19 11:34 pm (UTC)Good. He's very good at looking after people.
[And then, more softly:]
If it'd make you feel safer, you're welcome to come stay at mine. there's four locked doors before you even get near my apartment, and my bathtub's much larger if you're worried about being too near flammable things.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-20 06:53 am (UTC)I...I think I would like that. I know that I am - I am safe, here, but I....
[A slow breath in and out.]
I think I need to...not be alone here. For a little while, at least. Until I can...can get it out of my head.
no subject
Date: 2022-04-20 10:10 pm (UTC)Well, if you come for a sleepover I can get Phil to come over too, then you definitely won't be alone. And there's the dancers. Lots of people to make sure you know you're alive, you're loved and you're not what they called you.
[Another arm gently turns off the shower.]
no subject
Date: 2022-05-03 04:30 am (UTC)He ventures a tiny smile.]
...Yes. That...sounds nice.
[He sidesteps the last part of the comment, though. In the back of his head, there's still a nagging thought. He's a monster now, so perhaps he's no longer just food....
But is he not still damned?
The only hint of any of this, though, is a dimness to his eyes, an exhaustion etched into his expression. He says nothing of it. It won't help, now, and...and he doesn't want to lose control again and burn Reverie.]
W-will you...help me up? I think using so much magic was...a little....
no subject
Date: 2022-05-03 06:32 pm (UTC)[He goes for a towel first. Now he's not burning up so badly, getting him dried off and into something not soaked through was a good idea. Rev wraps it carefully around Alfred's shoulders, then, in lieu of just helping him up, scoops him like he weighs nothing.]
Let's get you decent - can't go taking you through the city like this, it'd be a terrible scandal. [He smiles gently, rubbing circles on the small of Alfred's back with one of his hands. Reassuring pressure.] Can have a nap at ours if you want.