[ Zell is done. Everything sucks, nothing is real, and everyone keeps becoming static. He’s sitting on the floor close to Jim. His knees are crossed and he has his tablet in his lap. There is a candle sitting between them casting a flickering, some times static-y light on the walls. Even if everything was fake, including Jim and the others, he still wanted to keep an extra light going for him. An extra vanilla scented light.
He skipped his pain meds to try to differentiate what’s real or not, but it hasn’t helped. Nothing is frickin’ helping. Touching others just makes them flicker and vanish when he does. He really, really wants to grab onto Jim. He can reach out and touch him with his fingertips if he just reached over. Issue was, he would be dragging him through the same flickering shit he’s going through.
Looking sideways at him as rests his chin on a closed fist. That’s his boyfriend. His beautiful, flickering, and possibly imagined boyfriend. Zell’s tablet beeps occasionally as he gets messages in turn. At least something is dedicated to keeping up this...whatever it is. He’s hoping it’s real. He wouldn’t have ever come up with Jim on his own.
He starts to reach over, tempted to tuck his hair behind his ear, but he stops. Closing his hand and letting it drop back at his side. Looking back at his tablet as he starts tapping against the screen. Talking fails. Video is terrible. Audio is bad.
Texting is the only thing that’s mostly reliable. Shooting a message to Jim. ]
[ The idea that this might all be a dream or something else fake has occurred to Jim, yeah, but it's never been something he was caught up on. He can - usually - see and touch, and even if the admin is screwing with their heads he's sure that what they're feeling is real on some level.
Today is something different.
He'd resisted the thoughts as long as he could, the same way he fights the feelings of being right back where he died sometimes. But they're overpowering even though he knows they aren't coming from him.
Kill the prophet. None of this is real. Kill the prophet. None of it's real, they're not real, he's not real -
His hands tighten on themselves where they're clasped in his lap. He's staring straight ahead, not at Zell or at the candle. He startles when his tablet sounds, nearly upsetting the candle and Mochi, but hesitates to ready it. When he does, his heart stutters and he can't help but glance at Zell.
It's a mistake: for one second he can see his boyfriend, close enough to touch and waiting for him before Zell's gone again. Jim's face is slack with shock and then crumpling in on itself to hold back tears as he shakily types something on the screen. ]
[ Jim is turning to look at him. His heart picks up speed and he can feel happiness starting to expand in his chest like a balloon. It's not long before it pops and drops to the pit of his stomach as he sees that face. Jim isn't okay.
The hard part is, Zell can see himself clearly. It's Jim that's starting to distort and flicker away. Flinching a bit as he reaches for him once more. There has to be a way to tether him. To keep him there.
They dealt with shit similar to this months back, but it... it was only Kunsel and Zack blinking in and out of existence then. It was Zell losing all of his senses bit by bit and Jim was seeing things. Seeing memories or something.
Why couldn't it be that way again? Kunsel and Zack had something about them that said they will pop back up. Like daisies. Zell can handle them vanishing for a moment from view because he knows they will be back.
He's scared that each time Jim flickers out of view, that'll be it. He won't see Jim ever again. Jim will be taken away from him by the shadows, the frickin' prophet, or the admin. Whatever is responsible will take the best thing about this place away from him.
The beeping on his tablet brings him back to the moment. Back to the feeling of his eyes stinging hot with tears and his shoulders shaking. Taking a deep breath as he rubs at his own eyes to try to focus. Try to see past all the blurs and static to read the message.
He swallows as he sees the sun in the midst of it. Several suns. ]
[ Jim types the message in a panic, unable to think of anything else as he's left alone. It even feels colder without Zell by his side; had he imagined the warmth? All the kisses, and hugs, and - the hotel, the fire station. Had he been alone all that time, just moving through the motions with a ghost?
The static starts to fade again and he wipes his eyes harshly with the back of his sleeve, unwilling to let Zell see the whole of what this is doing for him. He has to be strong; one of them has to be strong and he knows how much this has to be huring Zell.
If Zell is real.
The thought has him curling tighter into himself and turning away before he can see his boyfriend's face clearly again. He can't take it. ]
still ͕͖̱̹͎̭͕̗̰̦͂̀̍̄͑͗̀̋̑́ here [ He can't do it. Everything hurts so much and he wonders again if it would be best not to feel anything. He's about to plant his face in his hands, when he catches sight of the bracelet. The very bracelet that he wouldn't have ever dreamed up.
Clenching his fist as he takes in a shuddering breath to try to calm down. Blinking back the tears as he reaches over to touch Jim. To feel the warmth against his finger tips. It's fleeting before the static overcomes his boyfriend, but it's enough to let him feel a little burst of hope. Closing his eyes as he keeps his hand against the static as he waits for it to pass.
Once he can feel the warmth of a body again, he opens his eyes to look at his boyfriend. He wants to say hi, but hearing the static is so much worse. He's not sure if he can handle it just yet. ]
[ Maybe if reality had been slightly different: had Jim been lost amongst everyone else when Zell was new to Snowblind. If he'd never seen Zell fall in a pit. If Zell's path hadn't crossed with theirs, or if he'd decided Cissnei was a better prospect. If Jim had stayed dead. If they hadn't made this leap together into the best thing Jim knows, kissed and told secrets and spent nights together - maybe, then, this would hurt less.
Jim doesn't think so.
He feels the warmth of Zell's fingers as they come back, and the relief that comes with it is so strong it almost erases the pain altogether. He can't help looking now, a little hope naked on his face. ]
[ His heart is hammering away in his chest. The corner of his lips tug up into a slight smile as their eyes meet.
It's real. It's real. It's real. It has to be real. He remembers how Jim feels like in his arms and the taste of his skin. Thinking about the sound of his voice and just how his laughter can make everything better in an instant. None of that can be imagined.
Swallowing again as he navigates past the limbs pressed close to find Jim's heart. Placing the palm of his hand against his chest as he waits to feel his pulse. He's not really sure if it's his own he can feel, or if it's Jim's, but it's something. Trying to remember how to breathe again as he nods to Jim. Meeting his gaze straight on and trying to tell him to come here without opening his mouth.
Gesturing with the fingers posed above the screen, before typing in the words. ]
[ Jim tries to meet the smile as best he can, though it's marred by the tears in his eyes. He dries them roughly on his sleeve, the way he always does, and uses both his hands to guide Zell's wrist upward to the pulse point on his neck. His heart's going too fast, and he gulps before he glances at the screen to see what Zell was typing.
It's clear enough to read, this time. Jim thinks - hopes - that the static's leaving them alone for a little while. He hesitates for a moment, knowing that if they're on top of one another when they disappear again it will only be worse.
The hestiance doesn't last long, the offer of comfort more tempting than the fear of what might happen. He scoots closer, until they're touching knee-to-knee, but waits for Zell to do anything further. ]
[ Whoa. That's definitely not good. Caressing his neck with his fingers as he wonders what he can do to help. Throwing all of his focus on making sure Jim feels better and ignoring the static and the shadows. Knee-to-knee was good enough for now as he started to touch his screen with one hand. Typing a message in notepad instead. One he finishes, he's putting it on Jim's lap.
Close your eyes is written on the screen. The words only have a touch of salt and pepper on the edges of the screen, but it seems to be getting better.
Turning his body to face Jim as he moves up to press a kiss against his cheeks where there were tears earlier before Jim wiped them up. Cupping the side of Jim's face as he smiles against his jaw. Breathing in deeply to try to steady his own erratic heartbeat.
He doesn't care if it could be a bad idea or not, he's hooking an around Jim's back at his midsection. Throwing his other arm across his thighs to grab on and lift his boyfriend into his lap. Shifting his arms to wrap tight around Jim as he buries his face against his neck. Drawing in a shaking breath as he fights against the urge to cry from all the emotions trying to tumble out. ]
[ Jim watches Zell type from his shoulder, silent and still until he finishes and hands it off. The writing is almost clear, the same as his words had been. He trusts Zell enough to close his eyes at Zell's request and wait for his touch which is real and warm and solid.
He lets himself be pulled and lifted into Zell and sets the tablet aside so that he can wrap himself around his boyfriend's shoulders and use his forearms to hold Zell's face close. ]
It's okay, it's okay-
[ That one comes out with no static, though Jim doesn't notice. ]
[ Feeling Jim on him is one of the best feelings in the world at this moment. Wrapping his arms around him tight. He can see the static settling away from them. A part of him was hoping maybe it was giving up it's fights. The fear was slowly dissipating with every breath he takes.
Then he heard what has to be the most beautiful thing ever: Jim's voice. It came out clear without the taint of the stupid static. He heard every word perfectly.
Leaning his head back as far as it'll go with Jim's hold as he stares incredulously at his boyfriend for a tick or two. ]
I hear you. [ Beaming bright as he laughs. ] I can hear you! Oh yeah, baby! [ Bumping his lips against Jim's head with a little too much force. He's going to feel that on his mouth for a while, but he can feel that still. ]
Stars! I can hear you. [ Now, he's shaking for another reason. He's laughing as he feels the tears slide down his face. Relief is flooding in. Sure, it might not be over, but it's better. It's definitely better. ]
[ Jim is still, subtly, bracing himself: even he doesn't even realize the way he keeps a little of his weight on the floor rather than Zell, prepared for the moment he dissipates again. Even so, Jim can't help but enjoy being enclosed in those arms again.
He wants to stay like that as long as they can, but he feels Zell leaning back and matches him. He stares, not quite believing what he's hearing, but -
Yeah, that's Zell. And it's so clear and it's real. At least, Jim thinks it's real. He's not sure he cares just then. ]
You're back. [ They both are. Jim wipes Zell's tears and he's hyperaware the warmth of them and the texture of Zell's skin. ] Clearest either of us have been in a while.
[ At the touch, Zell tips his head up to try to catch Jim's hand against his mouth. A part of him wants to feel and taste his boyfriend to make sure the memory matches with the present. He holds himself from it as he looks at the shadows beyond his boyfriend.
Breathing out a slow, shuddering breath as he rubs his face against Jim. ]
I'm back. You're back. I missed you so much, Stars.
[ He can feel the different lengths of his hair. He can hear him breathing.
But the static remains in the darkest parts of the house. Jim fills him with ease, but seeing it still leaves a bittersweet feeling. The static can snatch this away any moment. Closing his eyes as he presses a kiss against his Stars' head. ]
[ Jim's caught between the urge to check for whatever it is Zell's staring at and the urge to keep his boyfriend in his sight for as long as he's visible. Now that he's allowed himself to look, he's staring like he might never get to again. ]
Today sucked.
[ There's a little bit of a whine in Jim's voice, there. He keeps both his hands braced on either side of Zell's face and even when the kiss is done keeps him close. ]
Today sucked. He couldn't put it better than that. His heart once again feels heavy again as he wonders what they can even do to frickin' fix it so Jim won't ever cry. He needs to find a way to make it that neither of them that to worry about if any of this is for real or not.
Gently brushing his lips against his mouth. ]
I could draw another. Some where you can actually see.
[ Jim leans his forehead against Zell's and closes his eyes, letting go of the paranoia and holding on to the warmth between them. Beyond everything else, the evening had been bitingly cold without any of his loved ones nearby. ]
I... guess I know how you feel, now. It felt like all of this had just been a dream.
[ Jim reaches between them to fish out his necklace from where it rested against his skin. The feather itself is a little bedraggled, but Jim makes an effort to keep it clean and safe. He touche Zell's jaw with it idly as he deeps the kiss. Not too far - reality is still too fragile - but maybe enough to reassure Zell for the moment. ]
I kept thinking about this, looking at it. And the bracelet. [ The gil, which didn't look like any coin Jim had seen before. ] They felt real.
[ There's a 'but' hovering around there somewhere. ]
[ The touch is almost ticklish as he chases the kiss with another. He'll hold in all the exploring touches and deeper kisses until the static goes away. Pressing a kiss against Jim's cheek next as he lets out a shuddering breath. It'll be okay.
The face that his gifts actually were useful helped ease some the chill. Curling his hand around Jim's wrist to trace along the coin as he nods. ]
It was still hard, right?
[ He knows that feeling. Reaching up to trace the outer edge of Jim's ear. ]
I'm not letting you go tonight. [ He wants to tell him he won't ever let him go, but he knows how much that promise is worth here. The day after their date in Andromeda's house proved he couldn't let go. ]
[ Jim lets the necklace drop from between his fingers onto Zell's shoulder, let go now that he can feel Zell's ragged breathing for himself. His breathing, the way his hair is too long and tickling the edge of Jim's face when they lean close. The little pinpricks of his teeth when they kiss and the texture of the calluses on Zell's hands. Everything about Zell feels more real than real, like the truest thing Jim's ever felt.
But. Maybe he's not. And if not, there's something Jim needs to say. ]
I kept thinking - what if none of it was real? What if I just made you up, because you couldn't be this good and still exist? But... I realized something, I guess.
[ Lifting his head to press a kiss against the corner of Jim's eyes. The tears were no longer there, but he could taste the salty trails they left behind. Next he's pretty a kiss between his brows. ]
What did you realize? [ He didn't want to cover the is this real part. He knows there is no way in hell he could make anyone like Jim up, but...
This place found a way to keep whispering that addition. It keeps turning everything he knows on it's head and making him feel hopeless at times. It made him hesitate every so often on if he really is going the right direction or can help anyone at all.
Because you couldn't be this good and still exist...
His breathing stills as he waits for Jim to finish what he's saying. Bumping his dry lips against his boyfriend's hair line. ]
I realized - [ Jim stops, taking a breath and licking his dry lips out of habit as he wonders if saying what he's been thinking will help Zell or hurt him. The thought's bubbling around now, though, doing its best to spill out whether Jim likes it or not. ]
-I realized that it didn't matter. Not really.
[ That's not quite right. Of course it matters - fear wouldn't still be coursing through him in waves if it didn't - but it's getting closer. Jim tries again: ]
It - if I made you up, or if all of this is a computer and we're not really here... then it was still worth it. Whatever this is, I'm glad to have had it.
[ He feels himself holding his breath at the first set of words. It didn't matter. It hurts a lot, and he finds himself tensing up at it.
He refuses move from this position in case this was it. In case Jim was saying good bye or something. Curling his fingers into fists as he waits for Jim to finish what he's saying.
Then the rest of the words are out. He sucks in a breath and feels himself relaxing once again. It's still worth it. It's all still worth it to Jim and he's glad to have had it. ]
Stars. [ He couldn't help that sob or the ache in his voice as he buries his face the side of Jim's neck. Just give him a few moments to cry and shake all over again.
Taking in a shuddering breath as he tries to figure out how to word again. ] It's worth it to me, too. You're worth every bit of this place. [ And more. So much more. ] Even if we fade... [ Adjusting his arms to give a squeeze. ] Even if we vanish after this, I want to go with you. I want to vanish with you. [ If they are to go or be erased at the end of this night, then he wants it to be together. He wants to fade with Jim. ]
[ They’re close enough that Jim can’t help but feel the tension in Zell’s body, the way he freezes up as if steeling himself against Jim’s words.
Then, it changes. Zell is sobbing in his arms, and Jim’s only seen him like this a handful of times – maybe never this bad. He’s trembling and Jim’s neck is wet with tears and so are his eyes, now, because he’s certain he’s broken something important, but.
But no, he hasn’t. For once he hasn’t, and this thing that they have – as fragile as it feels in the face of today – continues on even when it seems impossible. ]
I –
[ He chokes on his own tears. He is sharply aware that even if this isn’t the end, something else could be, for either of them. And they’d have to go on. ]
-I don’t want you to ever vanish. Even. Even with me, Zell, you can’t - Don't ever go out.
[ Rubbing his face against whatever dry part he can find on his boyfriend until he can feel Jim's tears. Lifting his head to look at him, bringing a hand to brush the tears. Look at them, they were a mess, but it reaffirms something to him. Pressing dry lips against the salty streaks on Jim's face to kiss away the tears. ]
I can't do this without you, Stars.
[ Pulling him close again as he shakes his head. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
159 (evening-ish?); @zd; action/text
He skipped his pain meds to try to differentiate what’s real or not, but it hasn’t helped. Nothing is frickin’ helping. Touching others just makes them flicker and vanish when he does. He really, really wants to grab onto Jim. He can reach out and touch him with his fingertips if he just reached over. Issue was, he would be dragging him through the same flickering shit he’s going through.
Looking sideways at him as rests his chin on a closed fist. That’s his boyfriend. His beautiful, flickering, and possibly imagined boyfriend. Zell’s tablet beeps occasionally as he gets messages in turn. At least something is dedicated to keeping up this...whatever it is. He’s hoping it’s real. He wouldn’t have ever come up with Jim on his own.
He starts to reach over, tempted to tuck his hair behind his ear, but he stops. Closing his hand and letting it drop back at his side. Looking back at his tablet as he starts tapping against the screen. Talking fails. Video is terrible. Audio is bad.
Texting is the only thing that’s mostly reliable. Shooting a message to Jim. ]
▒❤▒█
@jphawkins action/text
Today is something different.
He'd resisted the thoughts as long as he could, the same way he fights the feelings of being right back where he died sometimes. But they're overpowering even though he knows they aren't coming from him.
Kill the prophet. None of this is real. Kill the prophet. None of it's real, they're not real, he's not real -
His hands tighten on themselves where they're clasped in his lap. He's staring straight ahead, not at Zell or at the candle. He startles when his tablet sounds, nearly upsetting the candle and Mochi, but hesitates to ready it. When he does, his heart stutters and he can't help but glance at Zell.
It's a mistake: for one second he can see his boyfriend, close enough to touch and waiting for him before Zell's gone again. Jim's face is slack with shock and then crumpling in on itself to hold back tears as he shakily types something on the screen. ]
☼̥̜̆ͭͮ̚☼̬͔͙̣͇̼͈͇͗͛ͨ̂̄͜
͈̯̯̜̳͓̂̋̔͛͋̋̃ͧ͛͞ͅ☼͓̙̟͓ͪ̊̏̀͜
̴̯͈͔̯̻̼͇̖̽ͯ̈̓͂̎̚͘☼̸̙͇͎́̽̓
̵̯͕̞̟́̍☼̟͉̖͓̙̐̈̅̊͘͘
̪̥̹̻͚̱͎͙̲̓͑̈͒ͭ́͑̂͡☼̸̵͇̮͙̬̘ͫ̔̀ͨ̀͛̆͝
͇̙͙̞̻̼̘̣̑̂ͧͧͮ̌☼͎̘̦͙̊ͨͬ̒̆ͪ͟͝
̶̜̘̟͇͛ͦ̎ͦ̐ͭ̆̍̕ͅ☼̤̣̬̗̩ͣ̉ͅ
̠̲̬̪̑̓̋ͩͩ̈́̈́̐
Re: @jphawkins action/text
The hard part is, Zell can see himself clearly. It's Jim that's starting to distort and flicker away. Flinching a bit as he reaches for him once more. There has to be a way to tether him. To keep him there.
They dealt with shit similar to this months back, but it... it was only Kunsel and Zack blinking in and out of existence then. It was Zell losing all of his senses bit by bit and Jim was seeing things. Seeing memories or something.
Why couldn't it be that way again? Kunsel and Zack had something about them that said they will pop back up.
Like daisies. Zell can handle them vanishing for a moment from view because he knows they will be back.He's scared that each time Jim flickers out of view, that'll be it. He won't see Jim ever again. Jim will be taken away from him by the shadows, the frickin' prophet, or the admin. Whatever is responsible will take the best thing about this place away from him.
The beeping on his tablet brings him back to the moment. Back to the feeling of his eyes stinging hot with tears and his shoulders shaking. Taking a deep breath as he rubs at his own eyes to try to focus. Try to see past all the blurs and static to read the message.
He swallows as he sees the sun in the midst of it. Several suns. ]
̧͍̝̫̺̳̗̖̪̂́̾̑̀̈́̀͘̚͝ͅ★̡̛͚͔͚̲̯͖͕̟͒̄̈̃̾̆͋́̈ͅ
★̡̛̛̻̺̮̰͉̙̝̥̣̓̂̆͑̑͊́͝ ̻̜̦̜̣̣͖̼̗͑̍̽̃̀̎̌͆̀͠ͅ★̡̼̣̲̺̟͎̺͕͋̃̇̅͂̊̍̀̌͜͝ ̡̻̹̲͕̩̜̠̰̳̽͒̈͊̐̏͐͊͘̕★̦̲̝͎̖̪̞̟̟̗̈́̏́̋̀̆͋͘͠͠ ̡̛̪̞̙͍̞̲̻̤̦͗͆̃̈̊̾̔̌́★̛̤̼̦͖̫͙̩̯͍̱́̂̏̿͆̏͠͠͠ ̠̱̘̖̦͙͎̥̭́͊́̈͑̆̍̏͝͠ͅ★̡̡̧̖̳̼̲̠̩̠̂͒̐̅̋̐̕͝͝͝ ̨̙̩͚̣̭̘̪͖͈̄͂̓̂͊̿͂̓͘̕
M̩͚̰͔͉̬̠͓̼̈́̓̍͛̍̌̎̈́͋̄ͅy̢̨̛͙͙̝͓̺̞͇͙͊̃͌̀̃͌̐͝͝
Stars
no subject
̷̝̱͕̯̔ͧ͜w̵̻̤̜͍̫͛́h̷̛̹̘̦̝̪̺̩̦͑͆͐ͧ͞e̵͉̳͚͓ͭr̸͕͎͆̾̎̓̌e͍͚̼̘̹̪̠̩ͣͬ̅ ͔̦̱̙̤̝̥̠̞ͩ̏̈̓̆̑̃ͮ͝a̬̦̗͓̱̻͇̰̹̐͌ͧ͊̀̚͞r̨̛̪͖̻̰͖͖̼ͫ̃̍̇e͓̼̲̯̹̠̰ͯ̈͆ͯͯͭ ̴̱͉̗̯̫͙̍̔̍̊͢y̼͎̼͌̑̔͟o͍̬̤͔͓̣̹̟̤̿̎̑̿̀ͨ͢u̸͔̤̜̙̤̱̓̿ͤ͑ͭͥs̩̻͐ͤ̆̋ͩ͂ͅt̺̪͓̗͚͙̲̽̃ͥ̈́ͯ̾i̭͍͚̙̫ͨ̒ͥͯ̀͠l̵͖̱͈̙̲̣̆̊ͨ̅̓́̚ļ̢͍̜͕ͤ̏h̛̭̅͋̔ͫͮ̑͆͢e̵̞ͧ͆͑̐r̖̘̗̩͚̱͍̹͐͜ĕ̸̬̗̳̣̼̼̥̦̻̐̈̊?̖͕͖̘͙̲̐͌͐̽ͯ́͝ͅ
[ Jim types the message in a panic, unable to think of anything else as he's left alone. It even feels colder without Zell by his side; had he imagined the warmth? All the kisses, and hugs, and - the hotel, the fire station. Had he been alone all that time, just moving through the motions with a ghost?
The static starts to fade again and he wipes his eyes harshly with the back of his sleeve, unwilling to let Zell see the whole of what this is doing for him. He has to be strong; one of them has to be strong and he knows how much this has to be huring Zell.
If Zell is real.
The thought has him curling tighter into himself and turning away before he can see his boyfriend's face clearly again. He can't take it. ]
no subject
still
͕͖̱̹͎̭͕̗̰̦͂̀̍̄͑͗̀̋̑́
here
[ He can't do it. Everything hurts so much and he wonders again if it would be best not to feel anything. He's about to plant his face in his hands, when he catches sight of the bracelet. The very bracelet that he wouldn't have ever dreamed up.
Clenching his fist as he takes in a shuddering breath to try to calm down. Blinking back the tears as he reaches over to touch Jim. To feel the warmth against his finger tips. It's fleeting before the static overcomes his boyfriend, but it's enough to let him feel a little burst of hope. Closing his eyes as he keeps his hand against the static as he waits for it to pass.
Once he can feel the warmth of a body again, he opens his eyes to look at his boyfriend. He wants to say hi, but hearing the static is so much worse. He's not sure if he can handle it just yet. ]
no subject
Jim doesn't think so.
He feels the warmth of Zell's fingers as they come back, and the relief that comes with it is so strong it almost erases the pain altogether. He can't help looking now, a little hope naked on his face. ]
Z̪̯͎͙̠̣̏
ell?
no subject
It's real. It's real. It's real. It has to be real. He remembers how Jim feels like in his arms and the taste of his skin. Thinking about the sound of his voice and just how his laughter can make everything better in an instant. None of that can be imagined.
Swallowing again as he navigates past the limbs pressed close to find Jim's heart. Placing the palm of his hand against his chest as he waits to feel his pulse. He's not really sure if it's his own he can feel, or if it's Jim's, but it's something. Trying to remember how to breathe again as he nods to Jim. Meeting his gaze straight on and trying to tell him to come here without opening his mouth.
Gesturing with the fingers posed above the screen, before typing in the words. ]
C̢̲̬̤͇̘͚͍̭̬̅̋̓̌̂̃́̑̐͠ ̧̧̰̣̩̘̗̤̞̲̐̾̒̽̑̓̐͊̀̚ọ̪̪̞̫̬̹̗͔̙̇̈̀̈́̈̎͒̇͠͠ ̮̘͇̺̲̳͙̼͖͊̓̋̋̄͑̕̚̚͜͝m̧̙͎̻̞̝͖̖͙͈̀̾̑̂̃̃̊͆̈́͠ ͚̙͚̝͎̬̬̰͍̩̃̈́̈́͊͂̀͐̚͝e̩̻͕̼̩͕͚̤̺̊͂͆̑̍͊͛̈́͐̕͜ ̖̞̪̙̮̣̜͉͇̠̓̓͋̆̓̊͆͛̚͝ ̛͔͉̭̟̣̖̗̺̱̣̅̾̆̄́̔̃̑͠h̢̡̤͔͕̫̫̭̪͈͑͑́́͒̎͗̋͘͝ ̨̖͚̲̹͍̳̗͕̲̓̈̎̍̏̇̍̑̄̿è͉͎̟̙͇͍̪̯̪̖̿́̈͂́̇̀̈͘ ̧̢̝͈̲͚͔̝̳̳̈̅̽͌̄̍͒͐̏͒r̛͖̜̺̣̻̲̤̬͎̆̊̽̍̀͗̉͂͝ͅ ̡̨̼̱̼͔̗͍̯̰̃́͆͐̀͒͊̕͘͝ȇ̡̨̼͙̠͉͔̪͉̽͑̃̉̃̊̄͠͝ͅ.͈̞̼̯̰̯̼̰̪̳̎͐̊̿̈͒̃̋͒̅
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It's clear enough to read, this time. Jim thinks - hopes - that the static's leaving them alone for a little while. He hesitates for a moment, knowing that if they're on top of one another when they disappear again it will only be worse.
The hestiance doesn't last long, the offer of comfort more tempting than the fear of what might happen. He scoots closer, until they're touching knee-to-knee, but waits for Zell to do anything further. ]
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Close your eyes is written on the screen. The words only have a touch of salt and pepper on the edges of the screen, but it seems to be getting better.
Turning his body to face Jim as he moves up to press a kiss against his cheeks where there were tears earlier before Jim wiped them up. Cupping the side of Jim's face as he smiles against his jaw. Breathing in deeply to try to steady his own erratic heartbeat.
He doesn't care if it could be a bad idea or not, he's hooking an around Jim's back at his midsection. Throwing his other arm across his thighs to grab on and lift his boyfriend into his lap. Shifting his arms to wrap tight around Jim as he buries his face against his neck. Drawing in a shaking breath as he fights against the urge to cry from all the emotions trying to tumble out. ]
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He lets himself be pulled and lifted into Zell and sets the tablet aside so that he can wrap himself around his boyfriend's shoulders and use his forearms to hold Zell's face close. ]
It's okay, it's okay-
[ That one comes out with no static, though Jim doesn't notice. ]
It's going to be okay.
moment ruined
Then he heard what has to be the most beautiful thing ever: Jim's voice. It came out clear without the taint of the stupid static. He heard every word perfectly.
Leaning his head back as far as it'll go with Jim's hold as he stares incredulously at his boyfriend for a tick or two. ]
I hear you. [ Beaming bright as he laughs. ] I can hear you! Oh yeah, baby! [ Bumping his lips against Jim's head with a little too much force. He's going to feel that on his mouth for a while, but he can feel that still. ]
Stars! I can hear you. [ Now, he's shaking for another reason. He's laughing as he feels the tears slide down his face. Relief is flooding in. Sure, it might not be over, but it's better. It's definitely better. ]
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He wants to stay like that as long as they can, but he feels Zell leaning back and matches him. He stares, not quite believing what he's hearing, but -
Yeah, that's Zell. And it's so clear and it's real. At least, Jim thinks it's real. He's not sure he cares just then. ]
You're back. [ They both are. Jim wipes Zell's tears and he's hyperaware the warmth of them and the texture of Zell's skin. ] Clearest either of us have been in a while.
sorry this isn't good
Breathing out a slow, shuddering breath as he rubs his face against Jim. ]
I'm back. You're back. I missed you so much, Stars.
[ He can feel the different lengths of his hair. He can hear him breathing.
But the static remains in the darkest parts of the house. Jim fills him with ease, but seeing it still leaves a bittersweet feeling. The static can snatch this away any moment. Closing his eyes as he presses a kiss against his Stars' head. ]
I'm not letting go.
it's good <3
Today sucked.
[ There's a little bit of a whine in Jim's voice, there. He keeps both his hands braced on either side of Zell's face and even when the kiss is done keeps him close. ]
Kept wanting to look at what you drew.
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Today sucked. He couldn't put it better than that. His heart once again feels heavy again as he wonders what they can even do to frickin' fix it so Jim won't ever cry. He needs to find a way to make it that neither of them that to worry about if any of this is for real or not.
Gently brushing his lips against his mouth. ]
I could draw another. Some where you can actually see.
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[ Jim leans his forehead against Zell's and closes his eyes, letting go of the paranoia and holding on to the warmth between them. Beyond everything else, the evening had been bitingly cold without any of his loved ones nearby. ]
I... guess I know how you feel, now. It felt like all of this had just been a dream.
bam
Then Jim's words stick an icicle inside of him. Cringing for a moment as he squeezes his boyfriend tight. ]
I wish you didn't. [ No one ever needs to feel like that. Like they were alone here of all frickin' places. ] I really wish you didn't, Stars.
[ Pressing a chaste kiss against his mouth, needing just a bit more, but being afraid of pushing his luck. ]
Re: bam
I kept thinking about this, looking at it. And the bracelet. [ The gil, which didn't look like any coin Jim had seen before. ] They felt real.
[ There's a 'but' hovering around there somewhere. ]
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The face that his gifts actually were useful helped ease some the chill. Curling his hand around Jim's wrist to trace along the coin as he nods. ]
It was still hard, right?
[ He knows that feeling. Reaching up to trace the outer edge of Jim's ear. ]
I'm not letting you go tonight. [ He wants to tell him he won't ever let him go, but he knows how much that promise is worth here. The day after their date in Andromeda's house proved he couldn't let go. ]
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[ Jim lets the necklace drop from between his fingers onto Zell's shoulder, let go now that he can feel Zell's ragged breathing for himself. His breathing, the way his hair is too long and tickling the edge of Jim's face when they lean close. The little pinpricks of his teeth when they kiss and the texture of the calluses on Zell's hands. Everything about Zell feels more real than real, like the truest thing Jim's ever felt.
But. Maybe he's not. And if not, there's something Jim needs to say. ]
I kept thinking - what if none of it was real? What if I just made you up, because you couldn't be this good and still exist? But... I realized something, I guess.
fact* And proced he couldn't make that promise*
What did you realize? [ He didn't want to cover the is this real part. He knows there is no way in hell he could make anyone like Jim up, but...
This place found a way to keep whispering that addition. It keeps turning everything he knows on it's head and making him feel hopeless at times. It made him hesitate every so often on if he really is going the right direction or can help anyone at all.
Because you couldn't be this good and still exist...
His breathing stills as he waits for Jim to finish what he's saying. Bumping his dry lips against his boyfriend's hair line. ]
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-I realized that it didn't matter. Not really.
[ That's not quite right. Of course it matters - fear wouldn't still be coursing through him in waves if it didn't - but it's getting closer. Jim tries again: ]
It - if I made you up, or if all of this is a computer and we're not really here... then it was still worth it. Whatever this is, I'm glad to have had it.
much dramatic whoa
He refuses move from this position in case this was it. In case Jim was saying good bye or something. Curling his fingers into fists as he waits for Jim to finish what he's saying.
Then the rest of the words are out. He sucks in a breath and feels himself relaxing once again. It's still worth it. It's all still worth it to Jim and he's glad to have had it. ]
Stars. [ He couldn't help that sob or the ache in his voice as he buries his face the side of Jim's neck. Just give him a few moments to cry and shake all over again.
Taking in a shuddering breath as he tries to figure out how to word again. ] It's worth it to me, too. You're worth every bit of this place. [ And more. So much more. ] Even if we fade... [ Adjusting his arms to give a squeeze. ] Even if we vanish after this, I want to go with you. I want to vanish with you. [ If they are to go or be erased at the end of this night, then he wants it to be together. He wants to fade with Jim. ]
i've had 2.5 hours of sleep this may be gibberish
Then, it changes. Zell is sobbing in his arms, and Jim’s only seen him like this a handful of times – maybe never this bad. He’s trembling and Jim’s neck is wet with tears and so are his eyes, now, because he’s certain he’s broken something important, but.
But no, he hasn’t. For once he hasn’t, and this thing that they have – as fragile as it feels in the face of today – continues on even when it seems impossible. ]
I –
[ He chokes on his own tears. He is sharply aware that even if this isn’t the end, something else could be, for either of them. And they’d have to go on. ]
-I don’t want you to ever vanish. Even. Even with me, Zell, you can’t - Don't ever go out.
your tag is a good <3
I can't do this without you, Stars.
[ Pulling him close again as he shakes his head. ]
I don't want to do this without you.
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