[action] in which there is awkward headpatting, icecream and a little velvet box
[the minute Alfred deletes the voicemail, he goes to Ivan's house. There, he lets himself in with the key Ivan gave him and hurries up the stairs in case Ivan is there. Which would be awkward. On the bed, he leaves the key before reaching into a pocket, pulling out the black velvet box. In reality, Ion's circling of the rings hadn't been that far off, just a month late. Ever since their disastrous night at the hotel, the item (his 'retainers') that had been burning a hole in his pocket for exactly thirty-one days.
"I knew this would happen, you bastard." He places the box, ever so carefully, on the middle of the bed, balancing the key on top before hurrying out of the house.
Back at the Myrtle House, he finds Dewi watching BBC's Pride and Prejudice while eating icecream and curled up under blankets. Already, he notices that at least two tissues boxes have been used and a third is already half empty. Alfred joins him after grabbing his own bucket of cookie-dough. They're quiet until Alfred opens his mouth. "I broke up with Ivan." he says over Mr. Darcy's snark. Dewi doesn't say anything and just tosses some of the blanket over him.
When this the show is over (and Dewi's on the fifth tissue box), Alfred goes to his room and curls up around a pillow, staring hard at the wall. He thought he'd be sadder but all he can feel is... nothing. Emptiness. And acceptance because he knew this would happen. Closing his eyes he hears a small snuffling at his feet and sees Rosie, tiny and struggling to get up on the bed, he reaches over, helping her up and holding her to his chest. The tiny pink tongue flicks out and licks his cheek.
And then a hand is on his hair and the bed depresses near his back.
"I didn't hear you storming around and I figured you were dead or had gone mute. I had to check for myself, though both require celebration."
Alfred doesn't even both to look up. "Arthur... Hey."
The hand in his hair pats it once, then pulls back. The Brit drinks his tea and Alfred pulls the covers a little higher.
"At least your double-chin is getting better."
"Thanks Artie."]
"I knew this would happen, you bastard." He places the box, ever so carefully, on the middle of the bed, balancing the key on top before hurrying out of the house.
Back at the Myrtle House, he finds Dewi watching BBC's Pride and Prejudice while eating icecream and curled up under blankets. Already, he notices that at least two tissues boxes have been used and a third is already half empty. Alfred joins him after grabbing his own bucket of cookie-dough. They're quiet until Alfred opens his mouth. "I broke up with Ivan." he says over Mr. Darcy's snark. Dewi doesn't say anything and just tosses some of the blanket over him.
When this the show is over (and Dewi's on the fifth tissue box), Alfred goes to his room and curls up around a pillow, staring hard at the wall. He thought he'd be sadder but all he can feel is... nothing. Emptiness. And acceptance because he knew this would happen. Closing his eyes he hears a small snuffling at his feet and sees Rosie, tiny and struggling to get up on the bed, he reaches over, helping her up and holding her to his chest. The tiny pink tongue flicks out and licks his cheek.
And then a hand is on his hair and the bed depresses near his back.
"I didn't hear you storming around and I figured you were dead or had gone mute. I had to check for myself, though both require celebration."
Alfred doesn't even both to look up. "Arthur... Hey."
The hand in his hair pats it once, then pulls back. The Brit drinks his tea and Alfred pulls the covers a little higher.
"At least your double-chin is getting better."
"Thanks Artie."]