rattlingthestars | IC Inbox

I know we haven't talked much, but I'm afraid I need your help for something.
You're probably about to get a very strange message from the username @rileysung. I am sorry in advance for this. I can talk you through it, if that's okay with you. There should be good information in it for you if it all works out.

- Clayton

Uh.

Okay.

What?

Thank you.

Your name is Gary Epps. You're my 30-year-old twin brother from Granite City, Illinois. You're a reporter, and you just moved here with me (Clayton Epps, emergency physician) a couple months ago to follow the protests happening in this town. You have multiple leads but nothing to connect them. You're trying to stay mostly undercover for this operation, so you intentionally chose a false username to confuse people. You should be annoyed that I gave your name out to someone.

I know this is a lot to ask. You have that "filter-hack" program though, right? Maybe if you show them and do some digging for old private messages under the new usernames that started appearing today, you'll earn their trust and get them to open up a little bit. They seem really paranoid with everyone else; I figure giving them the opportunity to speak with a fellow reporter should ease their nerves some.

Sorry again for the trouble. If you have any more questions, let me know. Just try to stay consistent.

[ Well, that answered the 'why me' question, at least, though it's ... a lot to deal with. Jim's had his own issues to deal with this week without the craziness on the network.

That is still a lot of information.]

You don't think they're going to look back through the network and see that I'm not a 30-year-old? It's pretty obvious.

[ What with actually being a squeaky-voiced fifteen-year-old and all. ]

[...That is an interesting problem, actually.]

I'd say we could alter the story so you're my younger brother, but I think the experience is more important. Let's say, since you're apparently good enough with computers to come up with the hacking program, that you've also developed a really convincing voice synthesizer and you've aged really well.

Yeah okay. I'll try.

[ It's really too bad that complete lack of faith doesn't show up in text very well. ]

Thanks, bud. I owe you one.

[This would be the part where he offers him beer, but...]

[...okay he might end up offering him beer anyways by the end of this.]

It's Jim.

Edited 2015-09-28 03:47 (UTC)

Well it's nice to meet you formally, Jim. I hope everything works out okay where you are.

Yeah. You too.

Jim, it's Kunsel. I have a favor I'd like to ask of you.

[And it's a serious one, judging by the tone of Kunsel's voice.]

Remember that conversation I told you about last night?

[Jim can probably figure out which one Kunsel means]

Edited 2015-10-26 12:58 (UTC)

- Tell me that guy didn't find you.

[ Obviously not, because if he did there wouldn't be a lot Jim could do, but he has to ask. ]

He didn't. At least, I don't think so. But I'm not finding much on him. Here.

[He sends Jim a few quick links.]

Either Angel's wrong about him, or he's really good at putting up a false, if less than shining front in public. That's the most suspicious behavior I've seen from him so far. I can't confirm without more information, but the only way to get it...

[He pauses, takes a breath, then just plunges ahead.]

Normally, I wouldn't ask you to put yourself at risk, but she specifically said that you're in as much danger by association as me. Jim, I'd like you to use that program you found to see if this Jack has any private network threads that can tell us what we're really dealing with.

Give me a second.

[ It's calm, more of a 'wait while I read' than a 'I need time to make a decision.' It doesn't take long to come to the conclusion that this Jack guy's probably a piece of work, and that's before he turns on the filter program. ]

[ After he turns on the program, there's no doubt in his mind. He sends Kunsel over a series of screenshots, and then another. ]

-He's her dad. And he's threatening to kill someone, looks like he's already done it before. A lot.

[Kunsel curses under his breath - the kind of curse that is most definitely not PG. Something new for Jim's vocabulary.]

Dammit. Not that I wanted to think she'd lie, but-

[But no one wants to deal with a homicidal psychopath. He releases a rough breath, scrubbing a hand through his hair.]

Well. Now we know she told the truth. I'll show this to Zack when he wakes up. Jim, can you do the same with Cloud and Hiro? Make sure to emphasize that we all need to watch what we say. Don't engage this man. Don't draw a target on your head. We don't know what he's capable of here, but we don't want to take any chances - especially Hiro.

[Because Hiro's the least capable of defending himself if it comes down to a fight.]

Edited 2015-10-26 14:05 (UTC)

[ That about sums up how Jim's feeling looking over all this. What do you even do about this? ]

Yeah. Of course. I'll let them know. We'll stick to the wall as long as we can, avoid anyone if we see them. Nobody's going to talk on the network, but ... that video. With your eyes. It's already up there.

[ There are a lot of non-PG words running through Jim's head right now - cursing like a sailor is pretty literal, as it turns out - but he bites them back. ]

[Kunsel grimaces at the reminder of the video Jim took of that prank that Hiro tried to pull.]

Nothing we can do about that now. We'll just have to hope that people pass it off as a trick of the light. No one called us on it then, at least.

[It's not like their eyes are as bright as flashlights.]

It was brief, too. A lot of people might not even notice.

We're going to have to do something. Eventually.

[ Not about the network, about Jack. ]

-A guy like that running around is a disaster waiting to happen, if he's going to go through with any of that. We're going to have to do something.

We'd need to find him first. Preferably before he realizes that we know about him. Unfortunately, I don't know what he looks like. Angel just mentioned he has a mask.

For now, keep an eye out for any mention of a location on the network, or any specifics about his surroundings. I'll do the same. Maybe we can track where he is.

Yeah, I'm going to be searching for private threads, too. It sounds like he may be a danger to everybody, not just people with enhancements. Whatever we do is going to have to be permanent.

[ Since apparently thinking's the only thing he can do right now, he changes the subject: ]

Have you found anything about Clayton yet?

I'm not certain how permanently we can deal with him. There's reports that death isn't always permanent here. [He's not certain how much credence he can give those claims, since it's possible that people were just mistaken about how dead they actually were, but if the possibility exists, it's one he needs to take into account.] But we'll figure something out.

[If nothing else, surely they can make Jack think twice about trying to kill anyone here.]

Zack thinks he has an idea where he is. Assuming nothing stops us, we think we can make it in a couple days.

Mm.

[ Jim's seen enough to know they don't always come back - Tadashi was proof of that so far. ]

Keep in touch, alright?

[ Jim realizes he sounds like his mom when he says it, but the stakes are high. He really needs these guys not to disappear somewhere. ]

[Kunsel doesn't mind the sentiment. It's one he's expressed more than once to friends in the past.]

We will. Same goes for you. If you guys find anything, let us know, alright?

[Just because they've had all this suddenly dropped in their laps doesn't mean that the things they were doing before aren't still important, too.]

Yeah, we're working on some stuff. I'll let you know if anything comes of it.

Alright. Good luck, Jim.

[And now he should really try to get some sleep, at least as much as he can with all of this on his mind.]

[He was bored and Jim is now his new friend (regardless of what Jim thinks), so he's bugging him!

Sending him a pic of the slope!]

How easy do you think it'll be to make snowboards?
Found pieces of metal that works for sleds.

You got that idea too, huh?

[ Jim had been thinking about it since the first time they saw the slope, though at the time they'd been mourning Tadashi and nobody'd really had the heart for it.]

I think as long as you can balance on it, it's worth a shot.

Yeah. I've been using a torso sized piece of metal to haul my stuff when it gets too heavy.

It'll be easy compared to the T-boards from home.

What's a T-board?

[ Please let it be as cool as a monster truck, please let it be as cool as a monster truck... ]

A hover board with turbo boosters on it.

[Not quite monster truck level.

[ Still pretty epic. ]

Like a solar surfer?

Edited 2015-11-18 06:18 (UTC)

[That sounds like something he'll like.]

Is a solar surfer a hover board powered by the sun?

[ Jim sends over a copy of the drawings he did for House the other day. ]

It does more than hover. The solar cloth gives you enough lift to get really high, the thrusters control the trajectory and the speed.

Edited 2015-11-18 06:48 (UTC)

[Okay. THAT IS AWESOME. It's pretty much a big step up from his T-boards.]

WHOA!!! THAT IS AWESOME!
It's like that, but without the solar cloth. It just hovers a couple feet above ground.
Man, I would love to try that out.

I'd love to be able to build another one. Haven't even been close to a real one in months, even before I came here.

[ The 'part of a deck wielded to part of the ship that was actively falling apart' does not count. ]

You built your own?
That is soooo cool!
Too bad this place seems stripped of it's tech, man.

Edited 2015-11-18 07:21 (UTC)

Yeah, I've built like three or four? I almost had the last one just right but it got impounded.

You didn't build your T-board?

[Yikes.]

I know that pain. I had one of mine confiscated.
Didn't build my first one, but the second one I did.

Cops are the worst.

So you're into this kind of stuff too?

Them and Faculty jerks.

Yeah! Keeping my hands busy kept me out of trouble.
Well, kept me out of trouble most of the time.
I used to help out at the garage down the street where I lived with my Ma.

Keeping my hands busy tends to keep me in trouble.

That's really cool though, that you got to do that. Not really anything like that where I lived. Why'd you stop?

Oh? What did you do?

It was pretty cool. I stopped because I actually got in Garden when I was thirteen. It's a school that trains elite mercenaries. No one really thought I could make it, but I did.

Got caught three or four times because I kept flying it into restricted areas. Went to juvie, once, for a couple weeks. Thought my mom was going to take all my tools and murder me.

You're a mercenary?

[ Zell does not have the personality for what Jim imagines when he hears the word, but maybe that just makes it cooler. ]

[Not the tools!]

Whoa. Good thing she didn't murder you. I've boarded in places I wasn't supposed to. Not sure what's the big deal, man. No one was around and I was careful.

Yeah! We're called SeeD and I'm an A Rank!

[He's super proud.]

[ nah she just sent him into space for a few months, it's cool. ]

Yeah, that's what I always said. Apparently private property's a big deal even if anyone's not around.

A-rank sounds pretty impressive. What'd you have to do to earn it?

I think they just like being pains in the asses.
It's the highest rank.
We completed some missions, took a quiz, and also saved the world.

Saved the world?

[ Zell's winding him up... right? ]

Yeah. Long story.
All you need to know is that Sorceresses are evil
Well, not all of them. Most of them.
They like world domination and killing SeeDs.

[He...isn't sure if he wants to get into the whole thing about the main bad was from the future.]

[ -Definitely messing with him. Probably. ]

That does sound like some story.

Remind me to share it some time. When we get the chance to hang out.

[Not if. When.]

I'll look for more pieces we can use to hit this slope.

Build something awesome, 'cause I've got one word for you: snow loop.

Sweet!
I'll do my best.
Oh! I should get going. Going to try to climb it. Talk to you later!

see you around, man.

[Have a tattooed blond waving. He has a beanie pulled down over his ears and was sitting on the floor with a guitar in his lap. The strings were missing, but it didn't seem to bother him.]

Yo! It's Zell. Still alive. [Flashing an easy smile.] I'm trying to find strings for this at the moment. [His brows will raise as he looks concerned.] So, how are you guys?

[ Jim's looking pretty rough, but he answers video for video anyway. It's been a long two days of searching, but he summons a smile from somewhere. ]

Hey, man. Glad to hear it. Are you still on your way to the park?

[ That's not an answer, and it's not an accident. ]

[That is enough of an answer.]

That bad, huh? [He taps a beat on the guitar.] I was. Zack doesn't think it'll be a good idea because Beckett is going to be there.

[You know, that dick.] I might go back to actually restock at the convenience store.

- The vampire guy?

[ Not the Vampire Guy. He's the worst. ]

You dodged a bullet. He's a asshole. Going alone might even be better than that.

Yeah, that guy. Wait. Do you think he really is a vampire?

[That's what they need to add on to the monsters...blood suckers.
Zell gave a sheepish look as he scratched the back of his head.]

I know he's an asshole. [And he was going to go meet him anyways.]

He thinks he is. He was asking people to give him blood on the network and everything.

He wanted me to try and let those ghosts possess me, too. Didn't care if I got hurt as long as he got what he wanted.

[ In other words: do not trust this guy, Zell, even if you do go with him. ]

[Okay. Now that's creepy.] That's frickin' weird man.

[He's going to reach for his own neck as if to make sure it's still in one piece. Imagine if he had crashed in the same place as the guy.]

Not the same thing, but he did want me to try to destroy my own tablet. He wouldn't let off until I told him I promised Al I wouldn't do it when I'm alone. [Taking off his beanie to mess with his own hair and get it out of his face.] It's a good thing he didn't manage to convince you though.

What -? That would be suicidal.

[ Jim's indignant on his new friend's behalf. ]

Just. Don't do anything he tells you; you don't have Zack to talk you out of it when he starts messing with your head.

That's what Al said.

[He's actually smiling after that. Placing the guitar to the side as he gets up. IGNORE THE STAR LEGGINGS PEEKING FROM UNDER HIS BOARD SHORTS OKAY. Picking up the tablet to take with him.]

Don't worry. I'm not going to trust that guy.[Zell gives him his most confident grin.] I was trained as an elite mercenary.

- Right, I - [ Well, he forgot, actually, because it's hard to reconcile the side of Zell he knows with elite mercenary. Case in point: star leggings peaking out under shorts. ] - just don't want to lose any more people.

Edited 2015-11-23 06:56 (UTC)

[Star leggings are manly as fuck.]

It's going to take a lot more than some wanna-be blood sucker to get me down. And I still have my phoenix down.

[Zell isn't even sure if it would work here. He's going to walk towards the kitchen] Oh, wanted to ask. Do you think anyone has found anything under floor boards? There are a bunch of rotted ones here and in the bathroom. [Slowly turning his tablet to show what he means.]

Phoenix -? [ Jim starts to ask, but he's distracted by the question about the floorboards. ]

Not that I've found. Some guy earlier today was talking about ripping them up and finding a metal foundation under them, but it didn't sound like anything too interesting.

[Yay distraction. Turning the tablet back to himself.]

Oh! You mean the guy who mentioned Kain and Dr. Hotstud. [He makes a face at Dr. Hotstud, but because that guy is another jerk.] There should be tunnels or something leading from house to house. [Jim might hear floorboards creaking bad as Zell prods the damaged floor in the kitchen.] Don't think it'll take much weight.

[He's looking around for something to use.] Are you free the next few minutes? [He misses actually talking to people, so this is the next best thing.]

That's the one.

[ Jim makes a different kind of face at the name 'Dr. Hotstud;' he likes House well enough to find him amusing. ]

You think they're underground instead of in the vents? I've got to see this.

[What is up with nice people liking the iffy jerks.

Going back to his pack to dig out his screw driver and a pan. Tablet is then placed against his bag so he can strip off his coat. Hammering away at things can be a work out.]

I think the vents are connected to tunnels. With how fast the response seems to be, they might assign a spider to follow a person. [Which sucks big time, but it wouldn't be his first time followed by spider machines.

Shrugging out of his short-sleeved leather jacket and then picking up his tablet and tools.]

Our own personal spider. Great. [ Jim's going to pretend his voice didn't squeak, okay? Okay.

At least it was a distraction from watching Zell take off his coat. ]

-That would make sense, though, to have a couple big tunnels running under the town. Maintenance access, if there are any bigger robots or people around to take care of the mechanism.

It's just another theory, but I like it much better than the idea of them sticking something in our heads, you know? [Pick your nightmare fuel, Jim.

He's going to look over at the kitchen cabinets from his spot as he tries to figure something else.]

Be right back.

[Positioning the tablet so Jim can watch and leaving his tools as he carefully moves to the table to flip it over on it's top and push it over the rotting boards.] Okay, here I go.

[He's going to walk across the table and hope that his weight being distributed evenly over the space will keep it from breaking. So far it seems to be working!]

[ 'Sticking something in their heads' calls to mind Silver's false eye and ear rather than what Zell might be thinking of, so it's a different kind of nightmare fuel.

Still awful, though.

Jim settles in to watch even as he begins to have the slightest twinge of a misgiving. ]

Be careful, you don't want the whole thing collapsing -

[Imagine what if they all became cyborgs?

Looking over to the tablet as he gave a grin.]

I'm fine. [And he's moving further on the table as he talks.] It's a lot more stable than I thou- [Spoke too soon. There was a loud crack almost like distant thunder, and then the whole thing fell taking Zell with it.]

[ NO.

Jim raises his eyebrows skeptically in response to the grin, but it's more of a dare to keep going than a 'stop doing that' kind of look. Guy's an elite mercenary, he probably knows what he's d-

WAIT NO NEVERMIND. Jim flails with the tablet, fighting the instinct to get up and run when he knows perfectly well that he can't get anywhere close to his friend. All he can do is yell into the tablet. ]

HEY! Hey, c'mon, please tell me you're not -

[Sorry, Jim for the scare.

Thankfully the table took the brunt of the fall. Jim could probably hear it breaking when it impacted the bottom of the sink hole. Zell is momentarily winded from the landing, which is why Jim hears silence for a few moments longer before Zell starts coughing.]

M' fine! Frickin' hell... [More coughing as he gets back up on his feet. Nothing feels broken, but he knows he's going to feel the bruises from the fall tomorrow] It's pretty big down here! It's almost a room on it's own. [Could be useful for a way to trap monsters if that is ever needed.

Searching along the dirt walls of the hole carefully.] There's nothing down here. [And it looks like it's going to be all kinds of fun getting out.]

[ Jim thought he was dead, and the only two substitutes for Doctor McCoy in this place don't inspire confidence.

He sinks back down onto the floor when he hears Zell's voice and only bangs his head against the wood once as he stares up at the ceiling and thanks somebody that Zell hadn't actually managed to kill himself.

Yet. ]

Can you reach the edge? Or find anything to climb on?

[ It's a stretch. Well, a jump and a stretch. ] There is the table- [ Um. ] It's broken, so I can't use it. I'll have to jump. It's no sweat though! I've climbed a lamp post before.

[ He'll pick the edge closest to the living room. It looked the most sturdy. ] It's weird though. Usually there is metal under these floors. [ It's going to take a couple of tries before he finally gets a hold of the edge and pulls himself out. All of those pull-ups came in handy. ]

[ Jim watches, holding his breath, until he sees Zell's hand grab the edge and his body begin to follow. He lets out a long huff and rubs his face to let a little of the stress out.

In retrospect that was a terrible plan.]

Maybe they were built at different times. Or they're over a deeper part of the mechanism...

[Crawling until he's off the kitchen floor and a lot closer to his tablet. Zell is a little shaky standing up. He was definitely going to feel this tomorrow.]

Yeah, maybe. Or they meant to put a basement in and never got to it. [He's looking over at the hole again as he ponders on going back down there. Maybe after he gets a shovel.]
I still have the bathroom floor to try... [And it's in the same state as the kitchen. Goody.]

Are you crazy?!

[ As much as Jim can appreciate an idiotic yet potentially effective course of action when he sees one, he'd rather not watch Zell maybe-die on camera for the second time tonight, thanks. ]

[Whoops.] I'm jus' going to to lift up a tile close to the entrance. Not going to try to walk across.

[Besides, what are the chances of a house having two sinkholes?]

[ Jim relaxes at that and tries to pretend that he never upset in the first place. Obviously it's all fine. ]

-Right, yeah. Just... be careful.

[ Is this how his mom feels all the time? ]

[This is like dealing with Squall pretending not to care ~~only much cuter~~]

Yes, sir. [He's grinning as he says that.

Not going to do it immediately though. Plopping in front of the tablet.] Did you want to watch to make sure I don't fall in another hole? [Looking past the tablet at something on the wall.] I do have to wonder how Al went through here without falling through.

[ ~~Well duh.~~ Jim huffs at him, taking the question as a joke at his expense now that everything's fine, but the logistics of Al's armor catch his interest. ]

From what his brother was telling me, his armor's lighter than it looks. Some kind of alloy. That or it was in better shape when he passed through.

Find one of his messages?

Yeah. It looks like it's from a week before they came to pick us up.

[He's thinking about Al's armor a bit.] Ever see them spar? It's pretty cool. Next time I see them, I'm going to take them on.

[Zell seems pretty excited about that prospect]</small.

What, Ed and Al? Ed's like four feet tall, what's he going to do, turn around his knee joints?

[Sorry Ed, Zell has to laugh at that.]

He can jump really high, man. I was surprised. They both are really fast.

[He should have recorded it. It's still amazing how quick they are even with all of that metal between them.]

You wouldn't think so with the armor. [ Supporting the general idea that Al's built like a brick under there. If Jim hadn't seen Al's brother, he would've never believed he was a teenage human. ]

So you think you can take them both on? Or one at a time?

I can take them both on. [He watched them enough to be able to gauge it.

Man, Ed's arm is pretty cool. I want to meet his mechanic. [A pause.] Not here though. That would suck.

You and me both. That thing - it's way better than what we've got back home, even if there's less you can do with it. It's like a real hand.

[For the first time since she's arrived, Tifa is in a decent mood. She's been going crazy, feeling like they're spinning their wheels with Cloud, with Sephiroth, with this entire place, but they've finally been able to do something concrete. Something with immediate, observable results, and she can't help the odd, bubbly affection she's feeling for everyone. Kunsel, of course, is a genius - she's sure she's told him that about a million times. Even the disgusting, moldy state of the kitchen in this house, or the fact that she still can never get completely warm isn't dampening that pleasant, accomplished feeling. And who knows how long it'll last, especially when she has time to think about Cloud and Sephiroth again, but for now, she's clinging to it.

And there's no better time to get to know the rest of them a little better, right? Jim is reading on the couch, but... Maybe he won't mind some company. She'll take her chances anyway, sitting down beside him.]

Anything interesting?

[ Jim's huddled on the couch under his blanket with the now much-battered sci-fi novel in his hands. He's scowling at the pages faintly because everything about it is weird. It's fiction, yeah, but it seems to start from assuming some really weird things about space.

Maybe this was from one of the cultures that hadn't actually achieved space travel yet, he muses. That he's got the energy to read at all, much less think about it, is a testament to how good the day's felt. Sure, they lost Hiro's tablet, but they'd learned something important too, and for once there's a plan for tomorrow. One that doesn't make Jim edgy, even. It's been a pretty decent day all around.

Tifa approaching him is a surprise, but he offers her a seat and an edge of the blanket anyway. It's big enough they can fit without actually cuddling. ]

This whole book's weird, but I found it right after I got here and there's nothing else to do...

[She takes one side of the blanket gratefully, smiling at him as she does. Then she's peeking over at the book, trying to see what's so weird about it. It can't possibly be as bad as those books she, Zack and Kunsel had burned.]

Hmm. What it is about?

[ The cover is brightly colored and futuristic, with a pair of flying ships. The book's clearly seen better days than the bottom of Jim's pack, and he's broken the spine to read it more easily. ]

This guy figures out a way to predict how an empire's going to fall in thousands of years if they don't do anything to stop it. He's put on trial because that's treason, but he convinces some people that he's right. They basically give him his own planet and let him start working on a solution.

[ At least, Jim thinks that's what's happening. The prose is so dry he thought it was a history book at first. ]

Edited 2015-12-07 08:27 (UTC)

Oh. That sounds...

[Well, yeah, Jim is right.]

Weird.

[She feels like she's missing some vital information about the plot, here.]

Why does he need his own planet, exactly?

[ That's not even the weird part yet, Tifa. ]

To keep him away from everyone else in the Empire, so they won't know it's going to fall and overthrow it or something. The weird part is how they write about space...

[Oookay. She raises her eyebrows a bit. Is there a possible way to make space weirder than it already is?]

What's strange about it?

No mention of the Etherium at all. Everybody rides around in closed ships. Maybe something happened to destroy it...?

[ You'd think they would have put in an explanation if that were the case. ]

[Okay... Okay, Jim, back up. Tifa's got the most confused look on her face ever.]

What? What are you talking about?

The Etherium?

[ He makes a little sweeping motion with his hand, one that's meant to suggest sailing. ]

The part you can breathe?

[She only looks more confused, if that's possible.]

I don't... know what you're talking about.

Which part?

[ What's so hard to understand about breathable space? ]

All of it.

[Jim please explain.]

Right. I guess - is Gaia one of those planets where nobody's been anywhere else yet?

[ Where does he even start. ]

[She nods.]

Shinra had a space program, but the first launch failed and they abandoned it.

-Right.

[ Jim still doesn't understand how that's even possible, but whatever. ]

Once you get up, past the local atmosphere, you're into something called the Etherium. It's breathable - supports life and everything. All the habitable planets in the empire are there, including Montressor - where I'm from. The ships are open, same as you'd use for sailing on water.

[Well, oxygen in space is... New. Definitely.]

Really? That's amazing!

[She wishes she could just stick Jim and Cid into a room and listen to them talk.]

Have you ever been on one?

I was on the RLS Legacy when they -

[ Anyway, moving past that. ]

It's a galleon. Huge. We got a lot of sailors coming through my mom's inn, too, whenever they were on leave.

[It isn't as though she misses the way he cuts himself off there, but she isn't going to push.]

Really? What was space like?

Hard work, mostly.

[ He's grinning, though, so that must not be all there was. ]

I was under the ship's cook so I spent a lot of time cleaning everything, but whenever there was free time I used to go up in the rigging and just look out at everything. You really can't describe it.

[She tugs her knees up to her chest, sighing a little wistfully.]

The stars were beautiful in Nibelheim. It was so far away from any cities that you could see all the constellations perfectly. I can't imagine how amazing it was to be up there.

[ The mention of her hometown gives him a pause - he's not sure how much it's okay to talk about, just like he's not sure how much it's okay to talk about Cloud, or Tadashi, or any of the other awful things.

She doesn't seem upset, though, so he thinks it'll be alright. ]

From the middle of nowhere, huh? Me too.

[Tifa actually isn't feeling awkward at all. She does have good memories of Nibelheim, and it's nice to remember them instead of what happened, sometimes.]

Really? What was your hometown like?

It's a place called Benbow on the planet Montressor. Really backwater except the spaceport - my mom ran an inn and we mostly got spacers on shore leave in. Other than that there's not a lot of humans around other than me and my mom.

That's how Nibelheim was, too. Just the Mako reactor and not much else.

[She pauses for a second.]

Um... If there weren't a lot of humans, what kind of people were around?

The Benbownians. They're, uh, evolved from frogs.

[ He'd talked to Freya enough to realize that this is going to sound weird to her. ]

Couple other species scattered around, too.

Oh.

[Well that's... a weird way to grow up, she thinks.]

So... Is it strange for you that there are so many humans here?

So weird.

[ Finally, someone gets it! ]

I was the only human where I was taken from, too. Thought for a while that was the common factor, but then I found out there was at least one person here who isn't.

[She humans thoughtfully.]

We have mostly humans on Gaia, I guess, but... there are a few intelligent species that aren't.

[It is really weird to talk about people this way for her. It feels strange and clinical.]

There are a couple planets like that where I'm from, but not many in the empire.

[ He shrugs one-shouldered. It is really weird to think about. ]

People kind of spread out all over.

So, where did humans come from, then? Do you know?

A planet called Earth, originally. But that was so long ago it's hard to believe there are people here really from there.

[There is a silence as Zell tries to figure out what to say, but the words aren't really coming. He'll draw in a slow, shaky break, before hanging up.]

Hey...[What was he going to say?] I... [He draws in a breath loudly and then lets it pour out.]

You're going to come back, right? You're going to be okay. You have to be there to catch me. So, you gotta...gotta come back. Come back, please.

[His voice just gets more raw and emotional with each word. He hangs up as soon as he finished, feeling all of the emotions rising back up. He's going to be sick...]

[ It's been a long, jumpy night and Jim's exhausted, but he can't bring himself to sleep alone. Instead he's been glued to the tablet all night, talking to anyone that will talk back. It's only now, when he's half asleep, that he thinks to ask the tablet if he has any new inbox messages.

It's amazing how quickly you can wake up. First he hears that shaky breath, and then -

No, this isn't right. Zell's not supposed to sound like that. Ever. That's what has him responding to the message even though he's exhausted and it's two days old anyway.

As gently as he knows how, he says: ]

Zell. Hey. I know I screwed up, but it's okay. I'll catch you.

[He didn't really sleep, but that's how it's been since that night. Just now instead of simply missing the snores coming from the shortest of the group, Zell is staying up because they are going to get him back soon. And he's been working on something for him.

He leaves Dumpy to fly into Mochi's side a dew times as he checks his tablet.

Oh!!!]

Morning, Jim. [He sounds maybe a little confused at first, but soon enough he remembers the messages he left.] It's...[Not okay.]

You're back, and that's all the matters. [He's smiling, even if Jim can't really see it. His chest still feels heavy, and he knows that weight will stay there until after they get him back.] I'm going to hold you to that, you know.

[ Jim's not convinced it is all that matters; he really screwed up this time. Even if no one's yelling at him about it yet, he can tell.

He tries to put a joke on it, though, or at least something less heavy. ]

Not falling is still an option.

[They took all of their yelling out on furniture.]

I can't make any promises. [There is a pause as he peeks in on the others. He can tell already that the Soldiers are likely already up. They are all anxious to get moving.]

Besides, I might want you to catch me.

[ Yelling is a renewable resource. Jim has personal experience; that time he went to juvie had gotten loud. ]

I know you can't promise...

[ None of them can and Jim knows that. He at least wants to believe Zell won't jump - not that he has a right to ask that of anyone at this point. ]

I'm just scared I might not be able to hold on.

I can promise I will do my best for you.

[He will! And it might extend beyond falling or doing dumb without him.]

I'll help, too. I don't...really want to let you go. [Not again. Especially considering everything that happened.] I missed you, man.

[If he could, he would see how much time he could save by going ahead on his board, but the group says to stick together.]

I -

[ Jim wishes he could say that he'd missed Zell, too, but in all honesty he hadn't had time. Giving up the struggle against the monster and blacking out had taken seconds; startling awake in the morgue he'd felt like no time passing at all.

Then again, the past day and a half - well. Maybe he could say it even if they'd been in constant contact over the tablet. ]

I miss you too. You, uh, you should be here soon, right? If you make good time?

[He didn't expect Jim to say it, so he's quiet for a second. ~~Fuck he's too cute~~]

Yeah. According to the map we aren't that far. We should be there before night. [Though...Jim wouldn't be able to see when it was night. :<]

Thanks, Jim. [He's grinning, even if it's audio.] I have pics to show you when you can see again.

[ Jim's sense of time isn't great right now, no. He's trying to stay positive and think 'soon,' at least. Not that far.

He does find himself smiling softly at the obvious happiness in Zell's voice. ]

Pics of what?

me naked ;D

Kunsel covered in glittery stickers. If we're lucky, he might have missed one or two.

[He only sounds better because Jim's back.]

did you

did you throw a party while i was dead

(did you throw a party BECAUSE i was dead)

there was blackjack and hookers

zell if you lost your virginity to a hooker before i got there i swear to god

nah the hookers were more interested in tifa. poor kunsel. still unlucky :

[ That gets an actual snicker. Still not genuine happiness, but if Jim can't make fun of people he's not actually Jim anymore. ]

-Okay, there's got to be a story there. What the heck did I miss?

We wound up crashing in the same place as Angel, Rhys, and Stephanie last night.

[And he might have upset Stephanie again. Whoops. Not sharing that. Jim was snickering, and he doesn't want to kill the mood.]
She found these sparkly tablet stickers. The next thing I know, I see Angel and Zack sneaking stickers on him.

Sounds like a party.

[ One Jim desperately wishes he could've been at, but he doesn't want to kill the mood either. ]

Can't believe I missed that. Tell me somebody got his helmet?

I guess it was. It was missing something important, though.

[Thinking about it.]

Yeah, I think Zack did? I have a couple stickers on my tablet if you want to help out later.

[ As much as he hates the separation, it feels good to know he was missed. That Zell missed him. ]

You know, a little while before we met you, me n' Hiro -

[ He stumbles a little over the name, but presses on instead of leaving it hanging. It was a funny story, or parts of it were. ]

-me and Hiro managed to paint a face on there. Made us scrub the whole thing down in the middle of the night, but it was worth it.

[It sounds a little familiar. His attention is moving to look at Zack’s backside a moment. He remembers the pranking video that ended badly for Hiro. He also recalls a familiar glow that he now knows as Zack’s and some times Kunsel’s eyes.

Did it show the helmet? It must have if he remembers their eyes, but at the time he was too caught up with the newness.

It takes a moment before he remembers the black face drawn on the helmet. It’s pretty funny now looking back at it and knowing them. Giving a chuckle as looks back at Jim’s name on his tablet screen.]

I remember. Pretty incredible considering who you guys were sneaking up on. [His tone of voice sounds a mix of awe and fondness for his friend.]

Man, I wish I knew you guys then. I got here the day after that.

[ ~~Admiring Zack's nice pair of legs there, Zell?~~

Jim likes the sound of Zell's laugh. It's comforting to hear something happy in the dark, and he ... well, he'd like to make Zell laugh again.

Except then he's saying he actually did see that, and Jim's a little embarrassed. That was not their finest hour. ]

We, uh, didn't think it all the way through.

[ Jim shrugs, one shouldered. Zell should be familiar with Jim's planning abilities by now. ]

I wish you had, too, though. [ Was it messed up to be glad someone was here? Jim thinks it probably is, but he can't really help it. ]

[~~The view is blocked by dumb SOLDIER pants. Rude.~~

He understands not thinking things all the way through.]

Still amazing you were able to get one of them before waking them up.

[Stop being so great, Jim.]

We're together and know each other now. [That's all that matters, right?] Well, not together now, but that will change as soon as we get there.

[ ~~SOLDIER pants are a menace~~ ]

Felt pretty bad, freaking them out like that when we were just having fun. Zack almost -

[ Talking about Zack breaking Hiro's nose probably is a little too soon, especially with teh way thins were in the group. Instead of finishing the thought, he clears his throat and focuses on how glad he'll be to have Zell by his side again. ]

Right. You said soon. Tonight.

[ He looks like he wants to ask something, but then shakes his head and lets it go. ]

[~~DOWN WITH SOLDIER PANTS~~

He did see what that led to. Talking happier times isn't bad, but he could see why Jim might not be keen on it. Especially if what he feels is similar or the same as what they felt before Jim came back.]

Yup! Just a few hours more. [He really wants to just book it or use his metal to board there. But he knows that's out of the question ~~Because the others suck~~ due to safety concerns.

Placing the tablet between his shoulder and ear as he shifts around to get to to his bag.]

We ran into that Nathan guy.

[In case he needs noise ]

The - [ - Zell might not be able to see it, but Jim's making a jerking gesture with his fingers curled loosely. It's probably universal - ] guy?

[ Talk about terrible luck. But hey, imagining how that encounter went is at least pretty funny. ]

Edited 2016-01-18 12:08 (UTC)

[It's probably a good thing he doesn't see it.]

Yeah, that guy. He's pretty much the same in person. I gave him something to use for his issue though.

[Only sharing as much because he's distracted with riffling through his stuff. Jim can probably hear it.]

Don't encourage him!

[ Zell missed that whiny voice right? It's charming. ]

He's gonna freeze it off and then complain to the network about that.

[ Also there's a chance that Jim might be just the tiniest bit distressed that Zell is helping someone else out with their issues.

The tiniest of bits. ]

Hey, if he's busy with that, then maybe he'll be on the network less. You know?

[Right? And yeah...he did miss that tone of voice. ~~It's cute~~. He's smiling still even with the other not sounding happy.]

If he freezes it off then that's on him. Hopefully he keeps that message to the doctors here. Could you imagine him calling Epps or Hotstud up with that issue?

[Both terrible and kind of funny when you think about it.] Told him not to mention it ever.

[Not a big deal, right?]

Even-odds Hotstud would post it on the network for everyone to make fun of, and then we'd be right back where we started.

[ Clayton'd probably help him, from what Jim knows of the guy, but it's still pretty funny to imagine anyone having to deal with that. It gets an amused snort out of Jim, anyway. ]

I guess we should stop mentioning it, too, then. Less we talk about it the less we have to think about his ... business.

[ NOT THAT JIM HAS EVER THOUGHT ABOUT ANYONE'S BUSINESS. Certainly not at, ahem, length. ]

Then he'll some how turn it into taking shots at those who haven't been interested in that.

[Jerks who are interested in people's sex drive, man. Zell isn't upset, though. He still sounds like he finds this whole thing funny.]

You know, I like it when you sound like this. [The snort and the amusement in his tone is what he means. Jim sounding happy is nice.]

It's nice. [And for a change of topic, that will hopefully keep Jim happy. He's looking at the others for a moment to make sure they aren't listening.] Hey Jim? I'm going to share something and you can't repeat it, okay?

[ Jim's a little startled by that pronouncement. He still feels hollowed out and restless waiting for the others, hungry, cold, but - yeah. Talking with Zell, he's happy, too.

He leans into the tablet a little, as if that might help him see whatever Zell is up to now. ]

-Alright. Lay it on me.

[Another look at the others.] So, one day I brought my T-board with me on campus. It's against the rules, but I figured if I was quick enough, no one would catch me. I was riding it down the halls when I had to make a sharp turn to avoid hitting someone.

[There is a bit of a pause here.] I wound up going straight into the women's restroom.

[ Jim's quiet for a long moment and then something that's very much like Jim's usual laughter bubbles up, even if it's ragged. ]

You - was anyone in it?

[Making a face as he remembers it pretty clearly.]

Yeah, including one of my instructors at the time. [And Quistis would have to share the story again any time she was reminded of it.]

Normally she's my favorite instructor and she did give me back my T-board later, but man I thought I was I was going to die of embarrassment. I'm pretty sure she shared the story with several people.

[He's still amazed it didn't reach Balamb.] Well, she used to be an instructor. She's part of the group.

[ Yeah, sorry, Jim's still snickering a little. He never managed to get into any funny trouble on his surfer; the novelty's nice. ]

So after she stops laughing at you, how busted were you? Can't have been too bad if she's part of your ... group.

[ There's a question there, too; what kind of group is Zell talking about, exactly? ]

[Well, mission accomplished. Not sure how much it'll last with where their conversation is heading.]

She let me off easy, but probably because she thought taking my board and the embarrassment was enough.

[He pauses in answering the next part. He brought it up once before with Jim and things went a little...awkward for a second. It's the same thing with Cissnei. Sure, he was a little taken aback by the news when it finally sunk in, but he had bigger things to worry about and it became normal pretty quick like everything else.]

She's part of the kicked sorceress' butt to save the world group. She also went to the same orphanage. So, we didn't really remember each other at first.

Edited 2016-01-29 20:42 (UTC)

Is she the one that did the ... possessing someone's body thing? [ Yep. Still weird to talk about. So's the orphanage thing, the one that sends a little pang through Jim's chest. He doesn't like the idea of Zell in a place like that without anyone caring for him.

Though... didn't Zell mention his mother, too, during that awful walk to the ? Maybe he'd been adopted. Jim hopes that's so, and not the alternative. ]

You were really serious about the saving the world thing?

Possessing someone’s body thing? [It takes a second before he remembers.] Oh! No, that’s Ellone. She was like our big sis before she left.

[There’s a lot he should probably explain, and they actually have the time. Jim came back. He smiles at the reminder that he’s waiting for them.]

Yeah, I'm really seriously about saving the world. Did you want to hear about it?

No, that sounds like a boring story.

[ Jim's voice is perfectly dry before he snorts and shakes his head. ]

Of course I want to hear about it, you saved a planet!

[His shoulders do slump a moment, but it's not the first time someone isn't interested in his stories.

The snort and next words from Jim's mouth has Zell perking back up.]

Yeah, I actually did something right. [He didn't mean to say it like that, but he is actually...happy? Pretty proud even if it didn't go down the way he imagined.]

There was a war happening when I was small. I don't remember any of it, in fact I don't remember anything from my childhood. [Which hopefully explains why he's totally okay with orphanage talk.] Most of us came to the orphanage because of it. Our Matron raised us until we were adopted or went on to train to become SeeD.

[This is the weird part. So, he'll pause to let that sink in before continuing.] After the war was over, Matron inherited powers from a dying Sorceress. It's then she knew that some day she'll be a threat to everyone and decided to create Garden to put an end to her and the threat to come.

[ Zell's first words hurt. It's an old ache - sympathetic - and Jim remembers what Zell'd said back when he first joined them. For reals? You want me to stay? Like he could believe someone would.

There's no denying the happiness in his voice, though, and Jim offers him a weak little smile that turns back into a thoughtful little frown as he listens. ]

You were adopted, weren't you? You said your mom home schooled you, until you went to...

[ Oh. ] You trained to become a mercenary just to fight that sorceress?

[He's pretty unaware of what Jim is feeling, but he does hear something might be up. He lets it go the moment Jim starts asking.]

That's right. I was adopted by my parents and moved to Balamb. It's a town by the sea famous for it's fish. [There is a pause here.] Eventually it wound up being just Ma and me.

[How many aches can Jim's heart take?

He shakes his head, even if Jim can't see.] They keep that part of Garden a secret. I joined because I want to be like my Grandpa. He was a hero that played a big part in the last war. He wasn't just strong, but he knew how to keep his cool on the battlefield. He lived a life full of battles and died protecting those he cared for. That's what I wanted to do. [And how he imagines his life will end.]

[ -Oh. Jim clutches the tablet a little tighter; he hadn't known. Zell seemed so much more together than he is; maybe he just dealt with it better. He had other problems, apparently. ]

I think -

[ He hesitates, unsure if it'd be welcome, if he's assuming too much, but: ]

-I think he'd be proud of you. Rank-A, saving the world...

[Thump-thump. No one really said that to him. Usually he gets told that his grandpa sounds the complete opposite from him. He's quiet as he stares at the tablet with Jim's username on the screen. Then he slowly smiles big.]

Thanks, Jim. That-[A pause.]That means a lot. [Warmth and fondness seeps into his tone. Why couldn't they get to Jim faster?] I can't take all the credit. I had help from my friends. [Just like here with Jim and everyone else.]

It's just the truth. [ Jim shrugs, but he's got that faint little almost-smile again. ] You grandpa wasn't in the army by himself either, was he? He's still a hero.

[ And so is Zell, if he really did save a planet from witches of all things. ]

So you joined the Garden and became a mercenary...

[Nodding, even if the other can't see. Getting used to him being blind is going to take a while.

People tend not to hear about the other guys in a war. You just hear about the ones who died in combat.

~~He'll be Jim's hero~~]
Right. I joined Garden and became a mercenary. It hasn't been that long since I became one, you know. [Feels much longer. Like a year ago but it's only been a few months.]

We had our first mission helping out a resistance group. This mission was to follow the client's orders until Timber gained it's independence. It wound up going south and we had to lay low in Galbadia Garden until things cool down. [Going south was putting it lightly.]

It was there we were asked to go to the Galabadia city to assassinate Sorceress Edea.

[ ~~Good, since Jim's holding out for a hero in the hospital~~.

Anyway, Jim can't see the nodding, but he hopes Zell took his point anyway. he's leaning a little closer to the tablet to listen, interested in the story. It's a little shocking to hear Zell talk about assassinating someone - his eyebrows shoot up - but he doesn't comment. He's not naive, he knows what a mercenary is, and Zell told him he was one before they even met in person. Anyway, it seems like Sorceresses are bad people and this is all so distant.

So he doesn't comment on that, just nods for Zell to continue. ]

Guessing it got complicated?

[Complicated might be an understatement. Zell was on gate duty, while their leader and the sharpshooter were on take out duty. He remembers the tang of magic in the air as the bullet was blocked. Remembers seeing the fight and Squall falling...

He makes a slight sound as his voice drops a bit.] You could say that. She was much stronger than any of us could really handle. The mission failed. Our leader was hit and we didn't know if he was alive until after we were locked up.

[Not only assassinations but jail time. Good times, right?

He's going to skip the getting the crap kicked out of him because it wasn't important.] We broke out and learned that the Sorceress ordered an attack on all the Gardens. They shot missiles to one, and had Balamb as their next target. [He stalls a moment.] The youngest you can enroll at Garden is five years old. We had to split up to stop the missiles and warn Garden before it was to late

[ Jail time is at least old hat to Jim! ...the police brutality not so much, but clearly he doesn't need to know about that. He's already worried enough by the drop in Zell's voice, and... ]

She was jut going to kill a bunch of little kids? [ Yeah, assassinations, fine, but murdering a school full of children not so much. ] You got there in time, right?

She wanted to eliminate all SeeDs, which included future SeeDs.

[He's going to skip the chaos they came back to.]

We got there, but didn't have enough time to organize an evacuation. The Headmaster did share another way to save everyone. You see, the Gardens used to be evacuation ships from Centra. A school the size of a frickin small town can actually fly. We had to rush around to get it operational, but we did it, baby! We managed to move it just in time to avoid the missiles. [They were very close to not making it.]

We were left alone after that. They probably thought they took care of us and turned their attention to finding Ellone. [Rubbing the back of his head.] This is where it gets pretty weird. Ellone has the ability to send people's consciousness back in the past. It only works for people she knows. Before she came to the orphanage, she was kidnapped by a different Sorceress and used to make a machine that copied her powers. A sorceress in the future found the machine and used to it control other Sorceress' in the past.

[ Jim can't help but grin at Zell's excitement over having moved the entire school. He's proud on his friend's behalf - it sounds like they saved a lot of people, and doing it by flying their school doesn't sound all that strange to Jim.

The rest of it, though... he feels like his brain may be melting out his ears, because none that made any sense. He goes quiet for a minute, in fact, a look of concentration creasing his face. Finally, slowly, he says: ] ...so the witch from the future was making all the other witches evil? She was the one controlling the witch attacking SeeD?

[Sorry Jim, even Zell thinks it's pretty nuts.] Yeah, that's pretty much it.

[There was another evil one, but he's not going to get into that.] She was pretty crazy, man. She wanted to basically end everything until she's the only thing left. She was hoping to fine Sis to use her powers in order to do this. We came up with a plan to let her find Ellone and let her start time compression. Then we'll send her back to her own time and follow her back to kick her butt.

[ Him has so many questions. What's time compression? Is Ellone actually Zell's sister, not his friend? Adopted or ...? Would you be really bored all the time if you ended everything except yourself? Would she actually have ended everything or just the one planet?

Okay, sure, Time Compression was probably more important to the story, but Jim wants to know about Zell. ]

So your sister...? Her plan worked?

[Some crazy people just don't think about bringing entertainment with them.]

Ellone. She was the oldest in our group, so we call her our sis. [Even if he can't remember much of it, it still feels normal to call her that.] Yeah, it worked. We kicked Sorceress butt and came back.

[ Those crazy people are going to be really sorry, in Jim's estimation. ]

-Oh.

[ Not a sister, then, but that's less important than: ]

So you really did save the world from time traveling witches. Not bad, man.

[ The tone's a lot more impressed than the words imply. ]

[He can't help but give a quiet laugh at that.]

Yeah. It sounds pretty nuts when you think about it.

[At the time he didn't think about it. He was WAY MORE focused on kicking ass and saving the day.]

When I woke up here, I thought that maybe all the stuff happened afterwards was my mind playing tricks on me. That maybe I was still stuck in time compression. Seeing actual people on the network helped with that.

[Seeing Jim's and Hiro's shenanigans really helped the initial panic of oh fuck I'm stuck in time compression alone.]

You sure it's not?

[ Jim's question is hushed, but he has to ask. ]

This girl was telling me about how this place makes time pass strangely back home. She thinks maybe my mom doesn't even know I'm gone.

Yeah, I'm pretty sure. We can actually talk to each other and touch each other here. You couldn't in time compression.

[Which is terrible for someone who really likes touching and talking. Making a bit of a noise at thinking about it. It's done and over with. He reminds himself to think of the here and now. They are going to get Jim, kick butt of whatever is responsible, and get out of here.]

That's probably true. [Which is both a relief and a little depressing.] What's your mom like?

Sounds pretty awful.

[ It's not a direct question, but an invitation. If Zell wants to talk about it, Jim's listening. The question about his mom brings up mixed feelings and he hums wordlessly as he thinks. ]

She's ... it's just me and her, you know? And she runs - ran - the inn all by herself, too. So she's pretty amazing to do all that and put up with a kid like me.

[Jim is blind and alone at a creepy hospital. He does not need to hear how crappy it was to wander alone in a place that messes with your memories and how you have to keep in mind your destination or get lost forever.

So, he'll concentrate on the talk of his mom.]

She was running an inn alone? Whoa. That's impressive. [The raising a rowdy kid on their own is something he's seen. Adding that to running an inn?] She sounds amazing.

[Though the whole correction doesn't go unnoticed.] What do you mean by ran?

[ He really doesn't, but he still wants to. Because it's Zell. ]

She is. My dad was a spacer so she was doing it by herself even before he ran off. She's gonna kill me if she thinks I ran way, though, she was pretty sick of my crap when I left home a few months ago. [ He rubs his face. IN all honesty, he'd do just about anything to hear her fussing at him just then. ] That was when the inn burned down. Three months before I came here. I've got the money to fix it, I've just got to get home.

[Welp. So much for not hitting on bad while he's alone.]

Sorry, Jim.

[Was a spacer and he ran off.] Spacer? As in outer space?

[Is that a thing or is this spacer as in someone who finds space for people in their homes or businesses?]

Huh?

[ To Jim, it's a minor detail, so it's a confused moment before he gets what Zell's asking about. ]

-Yeah. He worked on merchant ships, mostly. Works, I guess.

Whoa. Really? That's really cool.

[Spaaaaaaaaaaaaaaace.]

What do ships look like where you're from? Have you been in space?

[When he can see again, Jim is going to have to draw Zell ALL THE SCHEMATICS and stuff.]

That's where I was when they took me - I'd been out in space for three months. We were in sight of home. [ Home, in this case, being an entire planet - but close enough for Jim to count. And as cool as space might be to Zell, it's not where Jim's focus is. He misses the boring ball of mud that he came from more than just about anything, right then. ] Mom was going to be waiting for me at the port.

[He's super excited about his bright friend going to space. However, even he can pick up enough of where Jim's mind might be.]

You miss her a lot. [His voice is going soft as he says that. It's not a question, and it's something he can get too. Even if he tries not to think about what his Ma might be up to or if she's wondering where he is. If time slowing down or stalling isn't a thing, she's most likely assuming he's out on missions. Jim was almost home when he was pulled here. There was probably a guess on when he'll be back and it hurts to think of someone's mom waiting for them. Jim's mom waiting for him.]

I'd like to meet her. If you're great, then she must be as well, right? [If they were all brought here from different worlds, times, and universes, then there has to be a way to visit all of the places, right?]

She'd like you. [ Jim doesn't answer about how much he misses his mom, but imagining Zell standing in the kitchen at the inn, his mother shoving a spoonful of soup in his general direction and demanding he see if it tasted right… it makes him miss her all the more, but somehow it isn't as painful.

Zell would be hanging out in front of the fire, maybe, put to work because nobody got to sample the inn's food for free, but his mother would be humming something and maybe Zell would be tapping his feet as the two of them worked.

Jim'd come in from the cold and the two of them would be waiting for him and he'd be -

he'd be home. ]

I hope you can meet her one day.

[He's smiling even if his friend can't see it. Smiling huge. There's something about meeting Jim's mom that makes him feel a little excited and a little nervous. Normally he doesn't mind when adults like him or not, but Jim's mom is different. He really does hope she likes him.]

I'll do my best. [To meet her. To have her like him. To see Jim's home. To know all about Jim and more. It's becoming important to him. Could it be because Jim just came back? Is it because Jim is starting to go from a friend to something like a best friend? He's not sure. He doesn't really want to worry about it too much. If it happens, it happens, right?]

We'll find a way.

Yeah. I can almost believe that when you say it, you know?

[ Jim aches to hug Zell, just then. He grips his tablet tight instead and closes his unseeing eyes, imagining their future together. The course they'd chart. ]

There is one way to find out. Stick with me and we'll find out together.

[If they could bring them hear in the first place, there has to be a reverse. They should be able to even visit other worlds. They were all linked now. He's gripping his tablet and pulling it close to bump the top of it with his forehead. Zell feels like they can do anything as long as they are together.]

It's a promise.

I'll remember that. [~~Eeeey. Does Jim want it and other things held against him?~~]

[ He's placing his bets that Zell's already told him this. Hell, he can hear their chatter from where he's at and that's alright. It seems to settle Zell's nerves and no doubt Jim needs someone to talk to. Someone to distract him from where he is and how he is and... It's still. Really unnerving knowing he's by himself, blind and alone, but... But they'll keep moving forward. They'll get there. It'll... be alright. Hopefully.

Reassurance never hurts. And that might be why he leaves the message he does. Now that the initial panic and urgent feelings have declined though, it... feels hard for him to think of what to say. But only for a passing moment. Priorities. Take to them. ]

Hey, Jim. It's me. I.. figure you already heard this from Zell, but we're right at the entrance to the tunnels now. Gonna head out first light tomorrow. From what we figure... with any luck? We should be there by nightfall. Maybe sooner. We'll see.

Anyway... Just figured I'd give you the update. We'll be there before you know it.

[ It cuts out right after. ]

Edited 2016-01-04 02:04 (UTC)

[ Jim is shocked to see Zack's network handle when he next checks his messages. He isn't sure what to expect anymore with how their relationship stands. Things had been been bad before he - died, he can think it now even if he can't say it - but Jim doesn't want them to be. Once again an apology rises and makes it as far as his lips before it dies in his throat.

Instead, all he can do is rasp out: ]

Thanks, Zack. For the update. I'll see you soon.

[ Jim keeps half an ear on his messages for the rest of the morning as he dozes on and off between trying not to think about food. he's not sure why he even expects an answer; it's not as though he'd actually said anything that required a response. Alone, miserable, and hungry he can admit that maybe he just misses Zack. That's why, when he's finally given up hope for a response, he sends a second message: ]

Zack? It's - you know who it is. Me. I wanted to - check in, I guess. See if you were okay. But I can just ask one of the others, it's okay. I'll see you later.

[ It's... Wow. To find these messages so belatedly... No wonder Jim had been so shell shocked to see him act the way he had. Poor cadet must'a thought he'd been ignoring him. And while they're on the same page now, while they're okay... Zack can't help but turn these messages over his in head, regardless. Can't help but sit and think on them.

It takes him a little bit to find a corner to himself, undisturbed. In contrast, it doesn't take long for words to come to him. He'd always been one to wear his heart on his sleeve. He starts out with a soft expression to his features. ]

Jim...

Hey, it's me. I just wanted you to know you can always check in with me. No matter what. I still don't blame you for being mad at me. But I'm glad we've finally talked things out. If you haven't figured it out already, I might have missed talking with you. [ There's a distinct pause for effect before he tags on with a hint of a smile touching his lips. ] But you know. Just a little bit.

[ As in a hella lot, you little shit.

Zack clears his throat. It doesn't entirely alleviate the bit of hoarseness in his voice when he starts again, but that only lasts the first few words before his voice goes solid again. ]

Look... No matter how mad or upset we get at each other sometimes, I wanna know you're okay. I wanna help get you back home. And no matter what happens, that's never going to change. Or at least- it'd take a lot to change. Because we're friends, right? So, we look out for each other like that.

So, don't be afraid to check in with me... you hear?

Edited 2016-01-13 06:03 (UTC)

[ Turns out you can roll your eyes even if you're blind. Which Jim does, even if he's tearing up a little. He's glad he asked TIfa to step away for a second and give him some privacy, even though there's a part of him that wants a description of exactly what Zack's doing in the video too. He just... missed him,, not just in that time they were physically apart.

He's smliing when he turns on the camera. ]

You could've just walked upstairs. [ Not what Jim meant to say, but ... well, if Zack couldn't take a little gentle teasing, he wouldn't be Jim's friend, and he was. He said so, Jim had a reccocrding for proof this time. ] You know, if you missed talking to me so much.

[ His face does fall into a more serious expression after that, but it's just such a relief to be talking again that he can't be too upset. ]

I'm not afraid to message you - even if we're mad at each other. Just afraid you wouldn't answer. [ The last is a quiet confession, not a bitter one, and Jim gives a little shrug. Obviously Zack would, eventually. ] I want us both to get home. If anyone deserves to...

[ Wait, too sappy. Jim clears his throat. ]

Anyway. Thanks. For saying something.

[It’s another one of those up and down days. The weather is too severe to really go anywhere, which led to both mischief and arguments. Zell finally has some confirmation that the beating his heart wasn’t related to boys. It’s only related to Jim. He has a crush on his friend and he’s not even sure what to do or how not to mess it up.

Thankfully House and the @admin gives him a brand new distraction to throw all of his focus in. When his medical record comes in, he’s curious about the numbers. If he were smart, he would have asked for his records when the @admin warned them of side effects. He didn’t because he had no plans on sending them to any of the doctors at the time.

Rubbing the back of his head as he peered around for his friend. It doesn’t take long to locate Jim where the others are. Holding out his hand automatically for his friend both because it's habit and he really enjoys it.] Hey, Jim? Can I show you something?

[Nodding his head back towards the bedrooms. He doesn’t even realize how that might even sound like.]

Got a candle or a light? It's still pretty dark back there.

[ Jim's staring down at his tablet in thought when Zell finds him. There's a lot there that he doesn't understand, but what he can work out isn't good, even if he doesn't understand what "disrupted sleeping pattern" is doing on a doctor's notes. Zell is a welcome distraction from the whole thing.

The accidental innuendo sails over Jim's head;
He just glances into the darkness before tugging Zell over to where he'd stashed his bag. After a bit of rummaging he manages to find a tall white candle stick and a lighter. Combined with the tablets it'll be enough light to get by with. Enough that Jim's not thinking about it, at least, and that's good enough for him. ]

Here, this should do it, huh?

[ He sticks the candle in one of the mugs he's found on his travels - a makeshift candle holder - and leads the way, though he lets Zell go in first and, on impulse, closes the door behind them. ]

What was it you wanted to show me? Find something else in this house?

[Too bad Zell isn’t offering that kind of distraction.

He follows along with Jim as he’s lead, finding himself smiling all by himself like a moron as his friend went through his belongings. He’s not sure why, but it’s pretty cute. A lot of normal every day things are pretty cute now.]

Yeah, that should work.

[Staring at a tablet screen in darkness isn’t good. That and he knows Jim leaves his tablet on at night as a nightlight. Once they are both in the room he pulls out his tablet. Clicking until he finds his records.]

Something else actually. Let me take that, while you look at this. [Closing his hand around the mug with the candle.]

Let me know what you think about the MN levels.

[If Jim ever wanted to know his birthday or medical history, there it all was. Including history of broken bones in the past and
multiple abrasions on his torso.]

I didn’t get my records from them the first time around.

[ Jim may be sending a copy of this to his own tablet. He just... wants that information on hand in case he can ever make sense of the date or something. It warms something in his chest to know that Zell shared the whole thing with him so easily even as he's frowning at the description of what sounds like a beating. He sinks down on the bed and pulls one leg up to rest his elbow on as he scrolls through the information, trying to make sense of all the terms.

But... The MN level. Right. Jim looks at the number and frown, then pulls out his own tablet to glance at them side-by-side. They're pretty close, and Jim knows that rules out a lot - dying, time they'd been here, time they'd had beacons on... ] Here, look. Really close, right? I didn't get my readings from before either, but if they're that close to yours it couldn't have changed much, right?

[Placing the candle over on the night stand, before plopping down rather roughly on the bed. He doesn't even watch to see what Jim is doing on his tablet. What he watches is Jim's expressions. Something seems to have bothered him about his records.

Getting the okay to look, Zell scoots closer to look at the two screens. Helping himself to lean against his friend as he read the MN levels. They are close, huh. That rules out a lot of theories.]

So, we're both are still low. [Not that he's worrying about himself, but seeing Jim's number being close to his own...
Jim has more time and monster experience here.
It's not bad then, right?]
We could ask the others if there is a big difference in their numbers. [He remembers seeing Tifa requests hers previously. He doesn't make any attempt to more, nor does he take his tablet back. Jim can look as long as he likes.]

Yeah. I mean, we don't know how it stacks up against anyone else here, but ... must not be too bad.

[ Jim, wordlessly, passes over his own tablet. Does Zell want to see? If so, now's his chance. Jim isn't even looking at him because he's a little embarrassed even offering. Instead he's staring sightless down at Zell's tablet. ]

It's weird that they know all this stuff about us from before we got here, isn't it? It's got our ages and our birth dates - it even updated when mine passed.

[ He sounds like he's talking more to himself than Zell at this point as he's back to reading, too. ]

You got in a lot of fights, huh, buddy?

[Looking from Jim to the tablet as he slowly smiles. Jim sharing this makes him feel pretty good. Taking the tablet and scanning through the words on the screen.

The sleep issues aren't a surprise. The rest of the words were nudging at something familiar. Then Jim's words catches up.]

Huh? Wait. Yours passed? While you were here? [He's looking at the date again. The corners of his mouth are tugging up as he gives Jim a dopey affectionate look. Throwing his across Jim's back to give him a quick side hug.]

Happy Birthday, Jim.

[When they get the chance to, he is putting a candle on a cake, ice cream, or even one of those freshly baked breads mentioned on the network. He doesn't care how big the candle is. It's going on it.

The next thing out of Jim's mouth has Zell curious. He did get into a lot of fights as SeeD. It's part of the job, so he can't really deny it. He peers over at the screen of his own tablet.]

The bones were from climbing something I shouldn't have when I was younger. [Unless he means the abrasions part. Poking the word on the screen.] I think they mean the scars I got from D-District Prison. Remember how I told you they locked us up? They had a magic jamming field turned on. Selphie and Quistis couldn't heal me before it left a mark. Did you want to see? I still owe you a look at my tattoos.

Edited 2016-02-13 09:41 (UTC)

[ Jim ducks his head in acknowledgement of the birthday wish. He hasn't tried to go back and work out exactly what day it'd been, but he kind of hopes it was one of those two days when he had his sight back and he and Zell could just goof off together without worrying for once. That had been a good day.

The warm feeling dissipates, though, with the knowledge that someone had beaten Zell badly enough to leave a scar. On his stomach, too, where a well-placed kick or punch could've killed him, magic feathers or no. Jim's arm gets a little tighter around Zell for a second before he eases up, pulling away and sitting cross-legged on the bed. ]

Yeah, you do owe me for the tattoos. Let's see 'em.

[ Better than thinking about the scars, though Jim intends to check those out, too. He glances over at the door - partially to advert his eyes while Zell strips off his shirt, and partially to check if it's closed again. He's not sure why that's important. ]

[He’s a little reluctant to, but he gives Jim back his space. Placing the tablet down beside his friend. Sliding off the bed to avoid elbowing his friend as he shrugs of his coat. He moves to stand in front of a dresser as he strips off his jacket, tank top, and shirt. Draping each article of clothing neatly and giving Jim a pretty nice view of his back. Turning around and feeling a little embarrassed as he pads over to stand in front of Jim.]

Here. [He points to the crescent shaped scarring on his stomach. If Jim can put together it’s from a boot, then he might even be able to put together that Zell wasn’t standing when it left the mark. He had been knocked down and winded.

There’s also a hip tattoo that’s similar to the one on his face.] What do you think?

[ Jim tilts both tablets that way, directing the light onto Zell's back. It's really not a bad view at all, though he valiantly tries to focus on the ink and what Zell had just told him. Even so he finds himself reaching a hand up to touch the flag - Zell's home? - before realizing he's too far and dropping it back into his lap.

The flickering of the candle picks out the curves of Zell's muscles and the dark patch on his hip, but it's not until he's very close that Jim can make out the scar. Even then it's faint, faint enough that he does give in to the urge to reach out and run his thumb over the arc of it. His mind being what it is, he's already putting together the shape of the scar, the angle it had to come from, and arriving at a picture that just makes him helplessly angry. ]

Zell...

[ It's over, he reminds himself. Obviously it didn't kill Zell; he doesn't even seem that torn up about it. Doesn't stop Jim from spreading his hand flat across, covering the scar, before he turns his attention to the hip tattoo. That one is cool, the lines of dark ink against pale skin that he already associates with Zell. It draws his eyes to Zell's hipbone, and down, before his eyes snap back up to Zell's face. ]

It's -

[ Wow that came out really high and way too obvious. Crap. ]

[It’s not the first time Jim has gotten mad for Zell. It’s incredibly touching and he can feel his stomach doing flip-flops with the surge of affection he feels towards his friend. He almost shivers at the touch and finds himself leaning into Jim’s touch.

If the handholding and chat with Tifa didn’t cement it to him, then this did. The way the lights cast enough of a glow that Zell is tracing along his face with his gaze. He swallows a nervous lump that’s forming inside of his throat.

And then he notices the way Jim looks at his tattoo and the way his voice jumps up a few octaves. That’s certain new.

His own face feels warm and he’s pretty sure he’s blushing. Covering Jim’s hand with his own as he guides it over to the tattoo. Clearing his throat.]

Is something wrong? [He lets his hand linger a little too long over Jim’s as he tries to deciphers his friend’s face.]

[ The little part of Jim that's responsible for trying to stop him from letting himself get hurt again is screaming. For a moment it has him looking away, trying to hide the emotion that has to be written all over his face.

Like no-trespassing alarms and anything else that screams DANGER, JIM HAWKINS, though, in the end it just makes him go faster. That's why he's standing in the too-little space between Zell and the bed. It's easier when they're staring eye to eye, chest-to-chest to ask, quiet but stead: ]

Zell. What are we doing?

[~~Helping with the blue balls~~.
Well, he did want Jim closer, but he feels his throat going dry at this. The obvious answer is to say they were checking Zell’s tattoos, but Zell knows from the expression Jim is wearing that he’s referring to something else.

It’s the we that’s throwing him. He knows that his quick pulse and feeling heat on his face and ears from Jim’s proximity is because of his crush.

He doesn’t know what Jim means by both of them.

Tifa told him to be honest and he doesn’t want to hide anything from Jim.]

I don’t know about what we’re doing, but I do know what’s going on with me. [And he’s pretty sure it’s obvious if Jim is asking that.]
I’m pretty sure I like you more than a friend. When I’m near you, my heart beats like crazy and it’s hard to breathe sometimes. All I want to do is hold your hand or- [ Kiss him. His attention drops from Jim’s eyes to his mouth. That probably wasn’t subtle at all.]

[ Jim's still checking out Zell's tattoos, if the hand remaining at Zell's bare hip counts as 'checking out.' He isn't looking, though; his eyes keep darting to Zell's face, studying it, and hten away as he waits for an answer. It's hard to tell a blush in the lighting, but Jim can feel his own.

He listens in nervous silence and he still can't quite believe what he's hearing. It just - it doesn't make sense that something would work out like this. That Zell would feel the same way, that everything he'd been doing meant exactly what Jim thought.

It doesn't take a second for Jim to react; one minute he's catching Zell's eyes darting down, and the next he's kissing Zell. It's just a light brush of lips because he's not really certain what to do once he gets there, but he's also hooking his free hand around the back of Zell's neck and keeping him close while he tries to figure it out. ]

[Brain is going to need a few seconds to reboot. Jim is kissing him. Jim, his good friend and crush, is kissing him. Everything feels like warm mush on the inside.

He rests his hands on Jim's waist as he tilts his head to return the kiss with a brief touch of his own. Then he's smiling really wide, before trying it again, but longer and firmer.

Does this mean Jim likes him too?

After another moment, laughter bubbles out of him as he slides his arms around Jim to keep him close. He really couldn't believe that Jim might actually felt the same or even wanted to kiss him. Giving kiss for every kiss Jim gives.]

Edited 2016-02-15 20:23 (UTC)

[ When the first kiss breaks, as Zell laughs, Jim huffs and mumbles: ] I was really hoping that's what we were doing.

[ He doesn't feel like mush. He feels like there's a solar sail expanding in his chest, getting bigger and warmer by the second, until he's not sure how it even fits anymore as they kiss. He's not sure, but he thinks he gets it now. He's definitely getting why people do this, why he's had the all-powerful urge to do this. It's like that night in the basement but better.

Eventually, though, when it's expanded too much and his breathing is coming too fast, Jim breaks the kiss and - after the barest hesitation - leans his head on Zell's shoulders again. One of his hands is still on Zell's neck, tangled loosely in his hair, and the other wraps around in a loose gesture that's half hug and half you stay right there restraint.

He's smiling but quiet, at least until he realizes that they're pressed chest-to-chest and that's ... well, that's probably moving too fast, whatever this is they're doing. He disentangles reluctantly and settles back on the bed, eyes never leaving Zell. There's a question there - what now? - but Jim doesn't voice it. ]

[Jim was hoping- no, not just hoping, but really hoping this is what they were doing. A part of him wants to lift Jim up, while another wants to make sure this is real. He didn’t pass out on the couch and dreamed this all up, right?

Moving his hand up Jim’s back to play with his hair as he sighs contently. He’s okay with staying still and letting Jim stay on his shoulder for however long he needs. Zell being shirtless and the feeling of Jim’s shirt moving against his skin with every breath he takes is becoming a bit of an issue.

Seems like Jim might have had the same idea as the space between them returns and he’s back on the bed. He should go get his shirt back on, but there’s something more important to do than that. He pinches the back of his hand.] Ow. Okay, this is real. [He’s talking to himself more, but gives Jim an ecstatic smile.] That really just happened.

[He’s torn between getting his shirt and grabbing Jim. Screw it, Jim has pretty much felt him up when he was blind, and it’s not that big of a deal, right? He lets a leg dangle over the side as he sits sideways on the bed to face Jim. Reaching for his friend’s hand to slide his fingers in-between each of his.]

So, do you want this, Stars?

[ Jim watches in confusion while Zell pinches himself - at least until Zell announces what he'd been doing. Then Jim laughs helplessly, not really managing to hide his smile behind his hand even if he does try. ] I - yeah, it's real. Or we're hallucinating together and it doesn't matter.

[ Yeah, it would be just like Norfinbury to give them something this good and then yank it all away, but Jim's not thinking about that. He's too busy grinning at Zell, because he can't quite believe this is happening, either.

Though what this is, Jim still doesn't know. He just knows one thing as he threads his fingers between Zell's. ]

Yeah. Zell, I want -

[ It's not going to be anything like a normal romance. To be with you sounds silly when they already spend every waking moment together. Jim struggles with a word for what he's feeling and it comes back to the same thing, in the end. He regards Zell seriously for as long as he can without smiling and finishes, lamely: ] I want this so much.

Edited 2016-02-16 10:16 (UTC)

[If they were hallucinating, then he'll just repeat it all when they wake up.

I want this so much. Man, it is like a dream. When talking to Tifa he really didn't think Jim could like him back. He thought he would confession, he get turned down, they laugh it off, and move on. You only live once or twice here.

Giving his goofy affectionate look as he squeezes Jim's hand.] Then I'm all yours, baby.

[ Now's probably the time to admit that he has no idea what this is, this thing that he wants. It might be a good plan to talk about boundaries, or telling people, or any of the million things he's not sure of.

But none of that's on his mind, not really. All he can see is the boy in front of him and all he can hear is baby. It should be insulting or gross or funny, but it just makes Jim grin so hard his face wants to split in half. He squeezes back, and this time he does give in to the urge to raise Zell's hand and kiss the back of his knuckles. ]

C'mere, sunshine.

[ They're too far apart. It has Jim letting go of Zell's hand to climb across him and settle half on the bed and half on Zell's thigh. He stops to study Zell's face and finds himself reaching easily to tuck Zell's overly-long bangs behind his ear.

He grins, quiet, pleased with himself, and then kisses upmost tip of Zell's tattoo. ]

-Get to do that when you're awake this time.

[He’s too busy being caught up in the sensation of Jim’s lips against his hand. Zell is more than happy to oblige to his request. Once Jim is comfortable on him, he places a hand on the back of Jim’s neck to bury his fingers into his hair.]

Sunshine, huh? [It’s the second time Jim referred to him as that. He assumes it’s probably because of his hair or the flames on his jacket. Wrapping his other arm around Jim to keep him close.

Whoa. Wait] Huh? Awake this time? What do you mean by that? [He’s trying to think about any time that Jim might have ninja'd a kiss on him, if that’s what he means.]

Sunshine.

[ Jim grins and ruffles Zell's hair, confirming where his thought process came from. Part of it, anyway; that Jim's thinking about his smile and the way Zell makes him feel are things that he doesn't know how to put into words just yet. It would probably get all tangled up and sound stupid anyway.

Stupid, like - well - ]

That night we fell asleep together on the couch, remember? I wasn't sure if you knew what happened.

[Making a happy little him at the ruffling as he helps himself to giving a kiss to the corner of Jim's mouth.

Thinking back of the night on the couch in the sports house and Jim leaving. He remembers feeling something and seeing Jim there. He thought the feeling was a dream. Jim did seem off, but Zell was too sleepy to think it over at the time.]

Wait. I didn't imagine that? [That makes him incredibly happy for some reason.] I thought my mind was messing with me after all of that crush conversation.

[ They've been all over each other since Jim came back, but the little kisses are a new intimacy. New enough that Jim starts, a little, and his heart goes off beating like crazy as he reminds himself that this is something they're doing. Something they can do.

But- ]

Wait, crush -? With who?

[ Jim probably should've realized Zell would have talked to someone about it - he's not like Jim, who was perfectly content to think about it until his head felt like it was going to explode. ]

You didn't imagine it. Just... after all that, I couldn't help it.

[He's testing boundaries a little bit, and just likes being able to do this. It's exciting and he didn't think he could ever do this.]

Yeah, I was trying to figure out why I kept thinking about you or wanted excuses to touch you. I thought it's because we lost you and all-[Gesturing around with a hand] All of the stuff we've been through. So, I ended up talking to Tifa about it that night.

[That night that Jim kissed his forehead. Placing his chin on Jim's shoulder.]

I'm glad I didn't imagine it. [He's giddy all over again. He laughs quietly and he buries his face against Jim.] You like me back. [He hopes it's true. It would explain why Jim kissed him. And it happened the night he got confirmation that Jim is special to him. A brand of special that was different from just being friends and partners.]

Of course I do.

[ Jim's not sure where the boundaries are, either, but he knows Zell hasn't hit them yet. He also knows that Zell talking to Tifa about it makes him squirm a little, though, and he's buring his head in Zell's shoulder. ]

Is this - do people - how does this work on your world?

[ Help him figure out the boundaries. There's no one for him to watch and see how it's supposed to go, and he doesn't want to do it wrong. That thought in his head, he puts a little kiss on Zell's shoulder. ]

[He's making a happy hum at getting actual verbal confirmation. Giving a quick peck to Jim's neck.]

Lucky me.

[From his tone, he really does feel happy and fortunate! He doesn't even know what he did to catch Jim, but he did. He ponders on letting go at the squirming, but Jim isn't trying to regain his space. Casually playing with the hair on the back of Jim's neck as he thinks over what going out actually means.]

It's not that different then what we've already been doing.

[Between the line being blurred for a while and all of the touching. The more he thinks about it, the more he knows he wouldn't do that to just anyone.]

Usually people date to see if they want to be exclusive first. You go on outings to play games, see movies, eat together, or just have fun. [Considering where they were, some of it isn't really possible. They'll just have to get creative.]

You're not the one that's lucky. [ Jim's a mess, after all. Zell isn't, Zell is amazing, and when Jim slows down to think he's going to be angry all over again that Zell doesn't know that.

For now, though, he's listening intently to the explanation. It's nothing back home - and Jim's not even sure what a movie is - but it sounds like just doing things with a friend. A friend you want to court. A friend, who, impossibly, wants to court you back. ]

Huh.

[ He's going to file away that niggling question about exclusive and focus on the good, anyway. ]

Back home - if you were a girl - I'd go see your mom. Ask her if I could see you. If she liked me - [ and Jim's aware that is a long shot ] - she'd say yes, and I'd come over to your house. Bring you presents and stuff. [ Until they were ready to get married, but Jim's sitting on that for now. He's way too young to even be thinking about it though he is. ]

[He's not sure why Jim is the lucky one, but he's not going to argue it now. Lifting his head as he tucks Jim's hair behind his ear.

As far as he knows, they already are going to exclusive. He's just too dumb to realize he needs to vocalize that immediately.

Running his hands down Jim's back and tracing along his spine as he listens to how it's like in his world. It sounds pretty outdated and reminded him a lot of the stories of knights and sorceresses.]

I already know my Ma will like you. [And probably adopt him pretty quickly.] You're amazing. [Nuzzling against him as he lowers his voice.] And I'm totally into you.

Guess that's all that matters, huh? [ It is, in the end. No matter how uneasy he might feel about some things, they're totally outweighed by how much he likes Zell. How much Zell seems to like him. ] I don't make the best impression on [ anyone ] adults. But I'd try, for you.

[ He's aware, again, of how close they are. How far into his personal space he's let Zell again. It's strange, and maybe a little too much right now. He gives Zell a kiss on the lips before withdrawing, slowly, and stepping away to find Zell's shirt. ] Here. Let me?

[He's elated that Jim wants to try for him.]

Just be yourself. [He already thinks Jim is incredible as he is.]

If she can love me, then you'll have no problem. [Zell knows he probably wasn't easy to raise.

Returning the kiss just before he's out of range. For a moment he wonders what's up, but then Jim has his shirt. Oh. Yeah. That should probably go back on. Scooting to sit on the edge of the bed and face Jim. Holding out his arms to make it easier. Have at it, Jim.]

You're easy. [ To like. To love, maybe. Jim gives him an encouraging little smile as he slides the shirt back onto Zell. Dressing him is a little more intimate than Jim was expecting, enough that the giddy feeling is rising in his chest again. Did that ever go away? Was that why people were so stupid about this, sometimes? Once Zell's got his shirt back on, Jim tugs him up. ]

We should go do something. C'mon. A … date?

[It's making him a little self conscious as Jim's hands are on his top and pulling it down. He wants to keep those hands on him, maybe even pull him back on the bed and him. Instead, he'll get up with Jim's tugging. He can feel his heart leaping in his chest as Jim says date.]

We do have a candle going. [There is a pause.] Do you have something in mind? [They can go steal Zack's tablet to play a game, or mess around on one of their tablets together. Instead of suggesting any of that, Zell is going to snag Jim's hand to press a kiss against his knuckles.]

[ Jim's smile turns soft and shy again at the kiss of his knuckles, but it doesn't stop him from using Zell's grip on them to reel him in for a quick kiss on the lips. ] Nope, but we'll figure something out. We always do, right?

[Lockdown is so boring, and it's even worse when Tifa is antsy. She just wants the doors to unlock so they can start heading in Cloud's direction. So... Might as well bug Jim, right? She's just going to send this over:]

Want to play?

Edited 2016-02-14 06:28 (UTC)

[ Jim snorts audibly. Of all the things to be universal, random boredom-games wasn't one of the ones he was expecting. ]

Yeah, okay. 'A'.

Good guess.

[That is like the first thing everyone guesses in hangman. Apparently she's easily impressed.]

[ Usually, he's good with settling in his space for the night. It gives him time to catch up with the network. Time to let the others have their own space. Time to let himself have his own, to occupy himself with thoughts and plans and a never-ending reel of questions.

The thing is they haven't been traveling that day though. They've been cooped up all day for that matter. And on top of it? There's been another release of medical records. And they haven't been good. His levels have gone up. Maybe not intensely alarmingly so, but still enough for him to be uneasy. Because there's so much just not known about MN. Nothing the administrator will tell them in specific. And nothing Winter ever admitted to either.

And it makes him uneasy. Enough so to go out of his way and seek out the cadet. It doesn't take him long to track him down, but he casually makes his presence known all the same before stepping into the same room. ] Talk about crazy weather, huh.

[ Jim's been quietly studying his own records with a look of deep concentration on his face. MN levels he expected, but the other stuff... okay, he understands sleep disruption. Nobody's sleeping right now. But he doesn't know what cortisol is, or why it's messed up. He can almost work out hypervigilance, but why would that be a bad thing? Here?

It's frustrating and vaguely worrying enough that he's glad for Zack's distraction even as he's giving him a deadpan look. ]

Yeah, that snow sure is unusual.

[ See Zack stare. See Zack stare and then roll his eyes. ] You know what I meant.

[ The ice, kid. The ice. It's only a momentary touch of annoyance- barely there -before Zack makes himself at home next to Jim on the floor. If not... well, without a careful hesitance. He's not oblivious enough to not catch onto Jim's mood. Onto the way he had been staring down his tablet. Which might also explain the gentle touch to his shoulder. ] Something up?

[ That gets a little smile out of Jim; yeah, he knew what Zack meant, he was just being a shit. Nobody ever said Jim was above annoying people when he was annoyed.

He doesn't notice the hesitance, absorbed in the tablet as most of his attention is, but he does jolt when Zack's hand touches him. He purposefully makes himself relax and then gives Zack a nod. ]

Guessing you didn't come in here to talk about the weather.

Not exactly. [ ...Haha. Pun. You see that pun there? Yep.

....Okay, he wasn't actually going for one this time. But... what he is going for, well. First, he'll be giving Jim a reassuring squeeze on the shoulder. And then, he'll be taking out his own tablet and waggling it in Jim's direction. ] You get a hold of your medical records, too?

[ Jim gives him an almost-smile at the shoulder-squeeze, but doesn't quite meet his eye. ]

Yeah, I sent 'em to the doctor. [ Jim knows Zack's not going to like that - or do it with his own - but he does want the results. It's something he's worried about. ] Did you want to see? There's some stuff on here I don't really understand.

[ Maybe Zack'll know what these things mean. Part of Jim is wary of handing the full thing over, but it's Zack. ]

[ An almost smile is better than nothing. He'll take it considering the look Jim was giving his tablet prior.

That... doesn't make it any easier for him to hear he trusted House enough to send him those results and he frowns obviously as much, but... But right then, Jim's worried look takes priority. Enough that he's nodding shortly after. He takes only a moment to pocket his own tablet before reaching out with his now freed hand. ] Lemme have a look.

[ Jim shrugs, a little defensively, at that frown. He trusts house enough to show him his MN levels and compare them to everyone else's, and no further - even if there is part of him that kind of likes the guy. It's like he said: it's a public resource. They can't figure out anything if they don't compare notes.

That's an argument for another time, though, so Jim just passes the tablet over with no comment except: ] -You're not allowed to make fun of my middle name, though.

[ It might be a public resource... but Zack still thinks he can take that old man walking cane of his and shove it up his ass, okay. Fucking jerk.

But yes- another time, another place. In the end, as long as Jim's okay and not getting into a mess involving him, Zack can deal. Besides, he's a bit on the distracted side when Jim hands him the tablet and mentions- ]

...How do you even pronounce that?

[ He is seriously not making fun of you, cadet. ...Even if a smile is kinda playing on his lips. Just a little. ]

Edited 2016-02-25 23:20 (UTC)

[ Jim's busy with his own mess, or at least the after-effects of it.

He makes a face at the question before he realizes, oh, Zack's serious. ] Plea-ah-dees. It was my great-grandfather's name, I kind of got stuck with it. [ At least James is easy to pronounce, even if there are a million annoying nicknames to go with it. ] Usually only hear it when I'm in trouble.

That wasn't the part I was worried about, though.

[ The face is expected and easily glanced off. The way that middle name's said though? He has to try it once aloud, himself. 'Plea-ah-dees'. Okay, got it... I think'. He quickly files it away. For later shitposting purposes? ...Maybe.

But that's not what his main concern is right then. No, right then, well... He frowns uncomfortably at the first addition before his eyes run to the rest of the additional information that had been added. In the end, he gives it a frown as he thinks on it. The odd sleeping patterns? That doesn't surprise him. Jim's been up hanging with him an odd amount lately. The other things... ] Cortisol dysregulation... That might be something to ask the old man about. [ But...those things definitely weren't any standard listing. Coupled with the unpleasantness prior to listing that, well.. ] You been feeling any different?

Edited 2016-02-28 02:55 (UTC)

Mm. [ Like hell Jim's taking his problems to Doctor Hotstud. He'd just tell Jim to suck it up and get over it, probably, and that's what Jim's trying to do anyway. So Zack gets a noncommittal shrug. ] I'm not sick or anything.

[ He just... can't sleep. Or be alone. Or stand to be in the dark. But that's not being sick. ]

[ That just... gets a little raise of a brow from Zack, himself. Jim... has been acting weird. Zack's not exactly clueless. Is he physically sick? Perhaps not, but... In the end, Zack hums and returns Jim's tablet back to him. If not... reaching up to gently ruffle his hair afterward. ]

Well, keep me updated on it. [ He might look into it. No matter how much he doesn't like House... he doesn't like this unknown more. Something just hasn't felt right. And this just adds to that feeling. He watches Jim a moment longer. Then breathes out a sigh. ] Looks like your MN levels have gone up, too.

[ Jim doesn't miss that raised eyebrow. He sinks into himself a little more, even with the hair ruffle. If Zack's noticed, then that means he's not been doing as good of a job hiding it as he'd hoped.

Well. Maybe he hadn't entirely wanted to hide. ]

-Sure. I'll keep you updated.

[ Spoilers: no he won't. ]

Yeah, the MN levels have. But … doesn't make sense. [ The levels don't. None of the things House was asking about seemed to really line up with how the levels compared. ] - Could I see yours? House wanted me to ask you for 'em.

[ He doesn't miss the way Jim's body language reads. But whether he intends to acknowledge it or not goes out the window when he touches on his own records. It might have left him in an awkward limbo right then. A back and forth. But the moment he mentions House, Zack immediately shakes his head with a frown. ] Well, House is outta luck.

[ The very fact that House tried to get him to dig for his records leaves an unpleasant taste in his mouth. But the very fact that Jim went along with him and asked in his stead... Zack looks away with a slight glare to his eyes as he rubs at the bit of five o'clock shadow on his chin. ]

[ Jim winces at the glare - he's had Zack mad at him, he doesn't want to do it again - but he just shrugs defensively. ] Alright. I said I'd ask, now I asked.

I just gave him my MN levels so he could compare them to everyone else's. Didn't tell him anything about … other stuff. Whatever this is.

[ The glare at least retreats as quickly as it came about. Jim's letting this go. That's good enough for him. He nods just a little, taking a moment to take a deep breath. Letting it out slowly. ] Well... Let's keep tabs on it. I'd check in with the administrator again in a few weeks.

[ As much as he doesn't trust them... the medical records haven't seemed inaccurate or meant to spook them. So far anyway.

There's a hesitance before he reaches up to gently ruffle Jim's hair. Just a little reminder. They're still cool. ]

[ Jim squawks and bats Zack's hands away from his head, but he's smiling a little. ] Hey, hands off the hair! [ He gives Zack a playful shove, releasing the tension of a few moments ago. ]

I'm planning on it, next time anything weird happens.

[ The shout garners a laugh out of him. The shove? It's just going to earn a casual little shove back in turn, smile wide. After a nod, he seems to think on something for a moment before pulling out his tablet, tapping through a few things. ]

So, feel up to crushing my latest high score, so I can crush yours back? [ He waggles PacMan in front of him in emphasis. It's not like they're going to have much else to do that night considering they're stuck inside. ]

Oh, you're on. [ Jim grabs at the tablet, the grin never leaving his face. ] As if you could.

Edited 2016-03-10 13:44 (UTC)

There's always a First! [ Did you see that pun? Probably not! Either way, he'll be trying to kick ass and take names for as long as you want, cadet!! They have all the time to kill in the world anyway. ]

[Guess what Jim?

Guess what?]

❤

[ Jim has been in Norfinbury long enough to pick up emoticons! Go Jim! ]

:o <3

Edited 2016-02-22 12:17 (UTC)

( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ

[And sending a couple pics! First being Zell and Mochi and the second is Jim looking at his tablet just moments ago. HI]

[ In response, Jim just holds up his tablet and takes a picture of Zell right then. Ha! Or something. ]

£:3

E:3

?

[Or something. He's grinning and moving over to sit close to Jim. After giving a cursory glance to make sure everyone was still occupied with spooky cat, he's lifting up his tablet to snap a pic of them as he leans in to press a kiss against his cheek. Take that for being so cute.

AND SENDING ANOTHER MESSAGE.]

(๑•̀ㅂ•́)و

[Not even going to try to do his bangs on here.]

[ Jim glances over when Zell does, and keeps his laugh quiet, but he's more concerned with poking the tablet until he finds whatever different language setting Zell's using.

Yeah, he's more focused on emoji'ing Zell back than kissing him back. A+ boyfriend material. ]

(•‾⌣‾•)و ̑̑♡

[ at least he's cute? ]

[Jim is probably doing his focused look, which is very cute. Like how he looks in Zell vision all the time.]

(´∀｀)♡

[If Jim tries sending something back, he's going to try to grab Jim's hands to mess around.]

[ It's really hard for Zell to hide his emotions, so he pretty much cringed earlier when he heard the beginning of the conversation with Emma. Zell didn't listen to the rest of it, keeping busy with his own messages or feeding the cat up until it's bed time. He waits until after they both crawl in before he's putting a hand on his boyfriend's wrist to feel for a pulse.

...doing the same stupid stuff over and over again because the only other choice is to lock yourself up and go crazy or die.

Swallowing hard as he thought about those words. Is that what Jim was going through when he did what he did? Was it on purpose? They never touched on it because he was just glad to have Jim back. What if he's still feeling that way? His heart twisted up at that and he really hopes it's not the case.

Sorry Jim, you going to have Zell be clingy. Wrapping his arms around him and pulling him close. Not even going to care if Zack notices at this point.]

Hey, Stars?

[ Jim had been too absorbed in the conversation to notice Zell's reaction, and he's still struggling with everything that the talk brought up. His instinct is to do that struggling alone - the same way he's solved every emotional problem since his father left and the weird rift happened between he and his mom - rather than drag Zell into it, but he's almost pathetically grateful to be close again when Zell joins him under the covers.

His pulse picks up, just a little, the way it usually does these days when Zell touches him. The smile that usually comes with it is absent, but he's content enough to let himself be pulled and burrow in. ]

Mm?

[ He doesn't return the pet name, but his hand does find its way to Zell's damp hair. ]

Everything alright?

[The usual smile is absent from Zell's face. He's tense and trying to figure the best way to approach this. Braining out the words to say isn't really his strong suit. This is also too important to ignore. Letting out a huff of breath as he gives Jim a squeeze.]

You tell me. Is everything alright? [Leaning into the hand in his hair.] Is everything still the same stupid stuff to you? [He couldn't stop the crack in his voice as his emotions threaten to spill out. He knows they made a pact. Knows Jim wouldn't ever do something like that again, but he has to wonder if it's only because of how much it hurt the group.]

[ The absence of a smile makes Jim tense in turn, unsure where this is going until -

Oh. That. That's kind of the last thing Jim wants to talk about, with anybody, but his own fault for not making the conversation private and text. His arms tighten around Zell and he's quiet for a long time. He could lie - blow it off, make it a joke or just refuse to talk about it at all - but he owes Zell more than that. It's why he forces the words out, even if he won't look at Zell while he's talking. ]

Sometimes. [ It's a whisper. ] It's - you know how it is. Like he said. You keep walking in circles and usually nothing changes except to get worse and we're - we're helpless. I hate...

[ He trails off, takes a deep breath against Zell's clean skin. ] But -

[The silence is heavy and it's taking every ounce of his will not to get up and pace. He's watching Jim, wondering if he isn't happy that Zell heard it. Is he going to even talk about it?

Once Jim starts talking, he'll release a breath he didn't even know he was holding.

When Jim says I hate, Zell finds himself cringing again. There is a sharp ache inside of him and he almost misses the but at the end of that. It feels like there is a lump in his throat and he tries to gulp it down.]

But?

[ Jim hates that he's making Zell upset by talking about this. Hates that he felt that way in the first place, and more than it comes back sometimes when he doesn't want it to. ]

-But things have been different since I came back. [ Since this started, he doesn't say, but means. ] It hasn't been as hard to keep going, even when it feels pointless.

[ Maybe Jim should tell Zell more about how it felt, before he lashed out, why he'd done it. But he doesn't really know how, and it just comes out lamely: ]

I never wanted to die, though. Just to do something that mattered.

[While Zell hates feeling useless with helping him. It's almost as bad as that time where he could hear Jim breaking down and a door stood between them. At least now he has Jim in his arms and he's talking about it.

Reaching up to cup the side of Jim's face. Brushing his thumb along his cheekbone as he listens patiently.

Hearing him say he never wanted to die does ease some of the wretched feeling. Things are different since he came back. He did say it just makes everyone sad to Emma.

Slowly relaxing a bit, but still not quite fully smiling. Burrowing his face against Jim's hair as he breathes in deeply.]

Do you know why I call you Stars? [And time to lay on the sap to his boyfriend. He's not even sure if it'll even help, but he wants to say it.] Because you're my light in the darkness. [Pressing a kiss against him.] You made all of this better. You're bright, amazing, and I feel like I can do anything when you're near. [So, Jim has mattered and still matters to Zell.]

[ Jim's hand comes up in a mirror of Zell's to cup his face, his thumb resting still just under Zell's eye. His own breath catches in his throat and he's caught in a memory for just a moment. A memory of someone else believing in him that much, but this is real.

Jim pulls back enough to prop himself up on one elbow and study Zell's face as best he can with the tablet's light. It's sharp edges and bright blue eyes full of feelings and soft blond hair, and Jim's chest is tight with the emotion it inspires. He swallows hard a few times before giving up on speaking and sealing a kiss against Zell's lips instead. He hopes Zell gets it, what he means. How he feels. ]

Thank you., [ He whispers into Zell's lips, nearly unintelligible. ] Thank you.

[Searching Jim's eyes for his words to actually hit home. Maybe he should consider writing compliments on his boyfriend like he told Zack. Then he sees it. He sees the emotions etched across Jim's features and Zell finds himself wondering if anyone has told Jim how wonderful he is. If anyone has actually taken the time to let him know he's beautiful and brilliant.

He barely makes out the thank yous as he reciprocates the kiss with a few of his own. Threading his fingers in Jim's hair to keep him in kissing distance.]

I'll remind you every time you need it. [Giving another smooch.] And any time you don't.

[He can feel the bed shifting on the other end. Feels like Mochi is stirring. Uh oh.]

I'm going to pull the blankets up. [Keeping his tone low for Jim's ears only. He wants to keep kissing him without any interruptions from cats climbing between them or guard porcupines watching them. He gives Jim enough time to make sure his tablet is still illuminating. Rubbing the tip of his nose against Jim's as he slowly pulls the covers up over their head.]

[ Jim pulls in a deep breath as Zell pulls up the covers, but slowly lets it out again when it's done and the two of them are enveloped in warm cocoon, lit softly by the light of Jim's tablet. He presses them tighter together by threading his legs around one of Zell's, throwing his arm over Zell's waist. It's comfortable in a way Jim rarely is, and as miserable as the conversation earlier had been he's glad for it. More than that: ]

I'm glad you're here. [ A kiss. ] I'm glad you stayed.

[He can feel the furball padding his way to curl up against Zell's back. Pressing his forehead against Jim's as he tucked his fingers into his hair. Giving him a longer kiss in return, before smiling against his lips.]

I'm glad you asked me to stay. [Giving him another kiss.] I'm glad you came back. [Kissing the corner of his mouth this time.] I'm glad you gave me this chance.

Anybody would be crazy not to. [ Jim really believes that, the same way he so casually called Zell good-looking earlier in the night. He can't understand anyone who wouldn't want someone like Zell to always be by their side, always looking out for them, always believing in them, always looking at the world in a way that Jim doesn't quite understand, but wants to.

Already the idea of being without Zell is something he can't think about too closely, as dangerous as that is here. ] You know that, don't you, Sunshine?

[Playing with his hair as he rubs his nose against Jim's nose]
It's enough to know that you think so. That someone as amazing and beautiful as you wants me around. [Giving him a few more kisses] I know it's hard here and I know it's not over. We might not always have happy times, but there are happy times because you're here at my side.

[He wants it to be forever, but there is no way to promise that here. Not with how this place takes people away and not with both of them seeing failed marriages in their lives. Jim more than Zell has seen people walk out on you. He really, really wants to try though. He wants to keep proving everything and everyone wrong in both Jim's life and his own.] Our time together, your life before me, and everything connected to you matters me.

You should know that it's true, doesn't matter what I think. [ Jim knows first hand how badly other people can make you feel about yourself, and how hard it is to hold on to the knowledge that you're not what they think, but Zell doesn't seem to do that. It's like he believes it, and Jim hates that. But Zell's still talking, so Jim's listening. The words… it's the kind of thing Jim wants to believe. That he matters to Zell as much as Zell matters to him. That he's wanted and needed and makes things better, not worse, better the way Zell makes him.

It's just as well Zell doesn't say forever, because if Jim thought about it at all, he's not sure he believes in it. But as long as they can, as long as they both feel like this… Jim's going to hold to it, as tight as he can. As tight as he's holding Zell now. ] I didn't think I had a future. [ It's random, but not in JIm's mind. ] Back home, and then here… but you… I want to have a future with you, Zell.

[It really does matter what Jim thinks. He's part of Zell's strength and his compass here.

Then Jim says those words. That he didn't think he had a future, and now he wants one with Zell. He's going to grin as big as he can possible as he moves his hands around Jim to give him a tight hug. Placing his forehead against Jim's as he takes a moment to really absorb those words. He wants a future with him. A future wasn't something he imagined or ever planned. He liked living the moment, especially when his job meant a shorter lifespan. A life of missions and battles left no room to think about the future.

He's starting to see things differently though. Starting to hope for more than just that. He now wants to see Jim's world. He now wants to go to the beach with Jim or watch old movies with him. Maybe sleep with him in a bed that actually belongs to one or both of them.

It's hard to see Jim's face while being this close. Settling with closing his eyes as he draws patterns lazily into Jim's back.]

I want to have one with you, too.

Then we'll keep going until we find something that'll take us out of here. [ And then… well, Jim's not sure what happens then. Zell's not like Kunsel or Zack; he has a life and a future to go back to. A world that he - incredibly - saved, where he's a hero. Where his family is. Jim wants to get him back to that, safely, but he selfishly wants to keep Zell by his side, too. He'd spent so much time thinking about the crappy, lonely future ahead of him where no one would ever understand what was going on inside his head… the idea of finding someone like Zell and giving that up? He can't even think about it right now. They're smart, they can make it work. That's why: ] I know going to be okay, Sunshine.

I still have to meet your mom. You also have to meet mine, right?

[He still has every intention of going to Jim's world. If there's a way to bring people here, there has to be a way to travel between the worlds.

Giving him a light kiss.] I know. [And then quietly he repeats it] I know. We'll get through this.

Edited 2016-04-11 02:27 (UTC)

[ Jim nods, and noses a little closer to Zell to try and get some sleep. ] I believe it when you say it.

[ There had been at least one upside to waking up in the tunnels. It certainly makes traveling faster. Without consistent snowfall, he doesn't meet the same resistance out in the major residence area. Which means he's been jogging his way for as much as he can as soon as he figures out his own location. Ideally, he hopes to meet Jim at the hospital that night if the cadet can find his way there, too. He's not sure if that's going to be a thing for sure, but he's hoping for the best. At least this time, he makes a far better effort to keep him updated and keep in touch for as much as Jim seems to need from him. He knows how shook up he is. There's no way Jim could have hidden it and Zack gets why. The sooner one of them gets to him, the better.

So, it doesn't matter how his lungs are recovering from burning by the time he gets there or if his muscles ache. That doesn't stop him from being cautious at every new corner and especially at the hospital's entrance, but the edge he takes is double-edged. As much as looking for new monsters as it is looking for a familiar cadet, aiming his tablet all around as- ] Jim!

[ He calls out into what looks like an empty foyer, but it's hard to tell when the light only reaches so far. Still, it doesn't take him long to realize he's not there which means once he knows for certain he's in the clear, he'll be quickly tapping at his tablet again. ]

Jim, hey! It's me. Just got to the hospital. I'm right at the door, okay? I'll be waiting for you.

[ Please ignore how winded he sounds, kiddo. He's completely fine, okay. It also might be because he's trying his best to stuff his worrying thoughts off into the corner of his mind as much as he can. He's so tempted to run out and try to find him out there, but he forces himself to hold his ground. It's familiar if not painfully so and it's a giant landmark. If there's any way Jim's going to find him, it's going to be through it. So, he'll just have to wait it out as best as he can. ]

[ Jim's not as used to running long distances as Zack - he's fit enough, but he isn't a soldier yet, and the kind of endurance needed to jog all day just hasn't been built up. He jogs when he can, lopes when he can't, and the entire time keeps his tablet on like a beacon to whatever might be out there in the darkness. It's almost like being underwater or lost in stardust, Jim thinks more than once - the dream like, wavering shadows of the ice above him make him feel like he's drowning.

The stream of messages he sends to Zack and the rest of their friends is a comfort, though he's rapidly running out of things to say. He wants them here, and they can't be, and he's just going to have to keep moving because sitting down in the snow and stopping isn't an option.

He never thought he'd be so relieved to see the hospital in the distance, and even more as he gets Zack's message at the same time his tablet flashes the one-hour warning. It gives him an extra burst of energy and he's all but sprinting when he finally busts open the door. He's barely thinking about the fact that he's coming back here of all places when he barrels into Zack, arms thrown wide.

It's been less than twenty-four hours, but it feels like years. He's drained, both emotional and numb, and barely able to think beyond hanging on for as long as he can. ]

You're still here. I thought -

Edited 2016-03-24 12:44 (UTC)

Heeee's stttilll heeeeere

[ One moment, all he knows is dread. His tablet's flashing and there's no more word from Jim. Is he close? Is he going to make it? Or was he too far away? Maybe he'll just find another house to stay in, but another part of him can't help but dread that in all the rising panic he's heard from Jim's voice, thrumming higher and higher with each message, that that's everything Jim's fighting against. That he won't stop. That he'll just keep going, regardless of that warning. Not another night alone. Not another night without at least one of them with him. It's already so dark out. It's hard to see outside of the light of his tablet. Zack can only imagine how he's feeling out there hurrying as fast as he can to get somewhere- somewhere better than the anywhere of being alone, but what if, what if-

Then the next moment comes, quick as a flash. His only warning's the crash of the door as it opens and instinctively his knife hand's raised, ready for one of the anomalies, when he almost gets the wind knocked out of him instead by the crash of the warm body against him. It only takes the swing of those arms looping around him to connect the dots with what's happening before he lets his knife clatter to the ground, catching the cadet in the tight circle of his own arms. ]

You thought what? That I'd leave you here by yourself? Not a chance! [ As if to further emphasize that, he lifts the cadet briefly in the most crushing bear hug he can muster without actually bringing any harm to him. ] Gaia, is it good to see you!

Edited 2016-03-26 22:59 (UTC)

[ Jim doesn't notice the knife, or even hear it clattering to the floor once it's dropped. Fine tremors are running through his body as he holds tight to Zack. Finally making it here doesn't feel like a victory, just a relief that he can stop moving. The worst hasn't happened, even if he feels deep down like it still might. ]

That it'd move you again, or you wouldn't make it in time- [ That I would be alone another night. But Zack is here, familiar arms warm and strong and safe even if it's just the two of them. Jim takes a deep breath that doesn't quite feel like enough before he breaks the embrace to look around them. Just checking that everything is alright and there are no monsters here. When he's relatively certain there alone, he's turning back to Zack and ducking his head, embarrassed at the overreaction. ] -It's good to see you too.

[ He's not lost to the way he trembles in his arms, minute as they are. It's hard not to feel them when he's holding onto the kid as close as he is. Nor is he lost to the words that accompany that feeling and the tone it sets if not only in the vocal fear. It's enough to get him frowning even as he lets Jim have his space again, lets him look around to prove to himself that it's just them. That nothing's followed them- and nothing has. He's checked. They're safe far as he knows. But he can't blame Jim.

It's only when the cadet looks back at him, when he ducks his head like that as if ashamed and says that- that's when Zack acts again. That's when he reaches out a hand and gently ruffles his hair with a softer expression. ] We're in the clear. I checked it out before you got here. Nothing's gonna bug us tonight. You eat anything lately? [ He honestly doubts it. Fear has a habit of making appetite a lost cause which might be why he's already going for his pack.

Besides, Jim seems like he could use as many distractions as possible at this point. ]

No. [ Jim's not admitting that he hasn't eaten anything since the night before, because he knows Zack well enough to know that Zack would do the same thing in a heartbeat, but he'd get an earful if he knew Jim did it.

At least it does distract Jim, just like Zack wanted. He's not really sure he can take someone's word for it - even Zack's - but his stomach rumbling is at least a problem he can do something about. ] I wound up with one of the pillowcases, so we should have plenty. Kunsel said... [ Jim trails off, staring into a shadow before shaking it off. ] ... said he was swinging by the school to pick up some more rations.

[ At least he's honest. Kinda.

Yeah, he's definitely going to dig out something to eat- which perhaps is moot considering the pillowcase mentioned, but he's had something specific in mind, even as he speaks over his shoulder. ]

So I heard. Then he's headed down this way. [ Still a ways away, but... he'll just have to trust Kuns. He's SOLDIER. He'll make it through and find his way back to them. Something else for him to worry about. Not Jim. Catching the cadet looking off to the side like that... Zack doesn't hesitate to rope the kid back in with an arm around his shoulders. He leads him to the closest wall where he decidedly trades out something wrapped in a napkin- ] Here, take a seat and eat this. [ Rather than wait for an answer, he helps collect that pillowcase- and then Jim's own pack to settle on the floor in exchange. ]

[ Jim lets himself be guided easily enough, though his gaze is still toward that shadow as he makes a vague noise of not-really-listening acknowledgment to Zack's comment about Kunsel. The offered napkin gets the same noise before it catches his attention enough to get him to accept it. He sniffs before looking - a habit picked up when he was blind - and then actually grins at Zack in acknowledgement before settling down and tucking into it.

The way he's eating might betray that he understated things a bit, or it might just be that he's a teenage boy. Either way, it's disappearing with speed - but not entirely. He breaks off a piece for Zack and offers it back easily. ]

-Here. Think there are some of those peanut butter cookies left from the school, too.

[ If he notices just how distracted Jim is, he doesn't say anything. But then what more is there to say in that sense that'll not just make him worry more? At least the quiet click as the door finally seals... that's reassuring in its own way. Not that staying in the hospital's his ideal spot. The tension under his own skin won't be going away any time soon, but...

But that's something for him to worry about. Not Jim.

Jim... At least Jim's settling in. And eating hella fast for that matter. It almost looks as if he'd been starving as Zack collects the knife he had forgotten before coming back and sliding down the the wall to settle beside the cadet. Just in time, too, as he's offered out the last piece of jerky. The SOLDIER hesitates briefly before taking it with a soft 'Thanks' and nibbling away. Just because he doesn't have much of an appetite doesn't mean he ought'a not eat when that might rile Jim up more. -But then he mentions- ]

Cookies, huh. [ He... is going to attempt not to look too excited over those. It helps if not perhaps in the best of ways that they're in the hospital. Doesn't stop him from setting his tablet down on the ground close to the pillowcase, so he can better see what he's doing. Doesn't stop him from glancing up here and there out of habit, but... There's a vague smile as he continues digging. ] ..Sure you didn't eat 'em all?

[ Being sealed into the hospital's less reassuring than it could be, that's for sure. Jim knows there's nothing outside but freezing to death, yet the feeling of being trapped in the place that makes his and Zack's skin crawl is heavy.

Jim can at least focus on Zack being a dork about the cookies. They're square things, uniformly brown things that Jim didn't realize were cookies until he ate one, but they're still cookies and Jim saved them for a night like tonight. ] Should be in one of those clear bags so they don't get crumbs all over the place. [ Jim holds up his own tablet to help Zack look. ]

[ The additional light from Jim's tablet definitely makes the task at hand much easier and Zack's smile grows the faintest bit wider as he redoubles his efforts. The only downside perhaps to the speed in which he recovers the cookies lays in the fact that the sooner they do eat, the sooner their minds will wander once more.

But that's really inevitable.

First things first though and that's yanking out one of those ziplocks with a- ] Ah-hah! [ He grins perhaps ridiculously so as he holds up the finding. So much for not looking excited. Or maybe it's not so much that as...

Well, they have cookies now. And he's going to be popping open that bag shortly thereafter and holding one out to Jim first, even as he prompts: ] Wanna know something gross?

-I'm not sure.

[ Jim's accepting the cookie, though, and he looks intrigued waiting for Zack to continue. It's better than thinking about the way he keeps almost seeing a monster in the corner of his eye even though he knows the room is empty of anyone but them.

It's good to see Zack smile, though; Jim knows he's going to be tense until they're all under one roof again. ]

But you're gonna tell me anyway, huh?

[ It's obvious, isn't it. How much he doesn't like that place. How much it's already bugging him. But still, he tries to hold that smile as he settles back down next to him. It's at least not so hard when Jim's prompting him like that and he huffs out a hint of a chuckle. ]

Of course. You remember when I told you about that one time half the barracks turned into TouchMes? [ He lets that reminder fall for a moment, letting Jim catch up with that train of thought before he continues. It gives him a moment to bite and chew thoughtfully on the cookie he plucked for himself. Then, he's making a face as he adds: ]

You know you get their instincts, too, right? Guess what those guys like to eat.

Edited 2016-05-14 18:27 (UTC)

Flies? Jelly worms? [ If Zack was expecting grossed out about this, he probably shouldn't be telling this story to a kid who lives on a planet full of frog people. Not that Zack knows that. ] Did you have to go catch 'em some grub?

[ Jim picks at his cookie as he watches Zack settle into his story. ]

[ Not the exact reaction he was expecting, but. Well, some people just weren't that easily grossed out anyway, huh. He does chuckle a little at that question though. ]

Oh, believe me. They caught it, themselves, well enough. I'm pretty sure we didn't have to worry about any kind of bug infestation for the rest of the month. Not that the barracks were that bad, but you know.

[ He shrugs vaguely before another small smile tugs at his lips if not barely there. ] Makes me wonder how they felt about hanging with some guy from Gongaga though. TouchMe legs are considered a delicacy to some people from there.

[ That startles a laugh out of Jim, anyway, though it's a quiet one. ] Hope you let 'em know that while they were still frogs. You know... [ Jim pats his stomach and makes an 'mm-mm' sound. ] 'Sure am hungry for some touch-mes...'

[ It's what Jim would've done, if Jim were half as outgoing as Zack. ]

-Huh? [ Wait a moment.

Wait. A moment. ]

Man.. You're right. That's what I should'a done. [ He lightly bangs a fist against his own knee in what seems like disappointment. He's usually good at these things. Though if the faint smile and the shake of his head's anything to go by, he's not all that emotionally devastated over this. ] Too bad there aren't some of them around here, huh.

There are definitely a few people around here I wouldn't mind turning into frogs. [ Jim lets Zack fill in his own list, but they probably aren't that different. The smile that'd formed on his face starts to fade a little as he runs out of things to say and stares out into the darkness beyond their circle of light. He casts about for something almost desperately before the darkness can creep back in. ]

-Kunsel. [ Wait, that wasn't a complete thought. ] Ever get Kunsel good?

[ Okay, that. That gets him to laugh. Just a little bit. Just a hint before he shakes his head, watching Jim out of the corner of his eye... how his posture seems to change again. How awry he appears... Zack takes another bite from that cookie before he gently curls his free arm around Jim's shoulders. ]

Of course! [ Admittedly, he kinda has to think a second to decide which story to share, but... if the little smile's any indication, he's come up with a good one. ] You've probably noticed by now how attached he is to his tablet, huh.

If I didn't know better, I'd think he was a cyborg. [ Jim's tone is flat, maybe still a little distracted, but when he turns to look at Zack as he wraps his arm around him, there's mischief in his eyes. He had, after all, thought they were cyborgs for the first two months they traveled together. ] He was like that before Norfinbury, huh?

[ It's good to see that mischief all the same. Good to know that even through the fear, there's the Jim he knows underneath the surface. That resilient Jim that wants to push forward and brave through even the worst of moments. It helps him keep a smile, weak as it is. Cyborg, huh. That's new.

But the question gets a certain nod out of him and he... can't help how his smile grows a little more real, a little trouble-making. ] Like he couldn't live without it.

Guess who decided to hide it back when we were still cadets.

You didn't.

[ Jim gives Zack a flatly disbelieving look. Good job distracting him, since now Jim's busy trying to tell if Zack's messing with him. This story absolutely has to be crap, okay, because: ]

How're you still alive?

BECAUSE FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC, JIM

FRIENDSHIP

IS MAGIC

[ The more Jim looks to deny all of this, the more real and certain Zack's smile gets to the point of almost shit-eating grin. His eyes have that sure gleam that doesn't come from the mako in them as his attention finally shifts eye-to-eye with Jim. ]

I still ask myself that to this day. By the way, I also mailed a rumor out from it to half the company of him declaring his love for some girl in his contacts.

[ He'd been lucky.

Way too damned lucky to have survived this, Jim.

But believe him. Kuns got him back, alright. ]

Edited 2016-06-08 10:32 (UTC)

Zack.

[ Okay, Zack's expression at least convinces Jim that he's telling the truth, which in a way makes it way worse. Because Jim's imagining Zack doing that here, to him, and - ]

Whatever he did to you, it wasn't enough.

[ Also Zack is never, ever touching his tablet. Ever. ]

Oh, believe me, it was. I never touched his PHS again. That's for sure.

[ He's just going to lean back against that wall now, grin already starting to fade. His eyes haven't strayed just yet from Jim though- which might also explain his light prompt. ]

But eh, I was young. Thirteen? Something like that. You do dumb things like that when you're bored and believe me. It could get really boring sometimes back then. [ Whether that's meant as reassurance or not? Who's to say.

Seriously though, Jim, he's not going to go that far these days. ]

[ Jim's just... not going to point out that he's not all that far out from being thirteen himself, if Zack isn't, though it would probably put the whole earring business into perspective.

The strength of Jim's expression - half-real, half-exaggerated for Zack's amusement - fades with Zack's smile. He leans against Zack without much self-consciousness at this point. He wants to close his eyes but he can't quite make himself in this place, so sticking as close as he can to Zack seems like the next best thing. ]

Mm. And you'd never do anything dumb when you're bored in snowhell, huh?

Tch. You already know that answer, kid.

[ Just gonna take a moment to ruffle Jim's hair roughly there. Jim, you're a shit.

Less bored though... More knowing how this place can otherwise... yeah. They seriously need all the distractions they can get sometimes. ] It's all in good fun anyway, right? Besides, it's not like you can talk. I'm pretty damn sure I wasn't the one scrubbing Kuns' helmet off last time I checked.

[ You know.. Not that he's never done similar before. Of course not! ]

[ Jim butts his head back against Zack's hand. Stop that! Except, well, don't. They'd been apart and awake for twelve hours, but it felt like a lot longer, and Jim's not going to actually tell Zack to stop touching him any time soon.

Jim does make a noise of objection to being blamed for the doodling on Kunsel's helmet; Hiro had done most of the scrubbing, thank you. It's strange but he finds it a little easier to think about Hiro, like it's finally starting to scab over and they can joke about the things they did now. ]

That wasn't stupid, that was art. Not my fault you can't tell the difference.

[ It's still hurts- if he thinks too much of the other kid. He still thinks of what he could have done back then, how he could have changed things. He thinks of walking back in the house, unable to meet the eyes of the others, unable to face the truth outside of a shake of his head before he'd dismissed himself.

But at some point, not facing that truth had seemed shameful. He'd been given a chance- a chance to carry on and do all he could for others. From a small, seemingly powerless kid of all people. A month past and he knows... all he can do is move forward and use the time he's been given to have their backs.

So, maybe that's why it's easy for him to push back against Jim's head. Maybe that's why it's easy, too, to try and cuff him by the side, to try and pull him gently into a weird one-armed quasi-hug against his shoulder with a huff at that comment. A huff that turns into a breath of laughter. ] If you call stick figures art, sure.

[ He leans in close then, voice suddenly hushed. ] Besides, if you wanna leave a permanent mark, you should'a gone for the markers. [ Not that he's done that before when they were younger, nope. Not at all.

You don't see that faint gleam of mischief touching his eyes.

Or maybe you do, Jim. Maybe you do. ]

[ Jim clumsily catches the hand trying to cuff him, but only uses it to make the side-hug a little tighter. If asked, he'd object to the idea that he's clinging, that talking about the past this way makes him want to cling.

But he is, and he's also not letting go of Zack's fist even if it makes it awkward to twist and catch his expression. ]

You're the one with the Kunsel-shaped death-wish, buddy. [ The other benefit of holding Zack's arm that way is that it leaves Zack's side wide-open for being gently elbowed. ] Not me. Now if you want to borrow the markers when we get back...

[ He's expecting to maybe get his hand shoved away when Jim catches it, especially with the smart remark about the stick figures which he's sure Jim's not gonna be feeling. But no- instead, he's feeling it being taken and pulled with and he blinks just a little in surprise. Surprise that turns into another smile-

-if not interrupted by a soft 'Oof', more out of reaction than any real hurt at that elbowing. But that offer? That offer's got him all teeth again as he coils his arm around the kid just a touch tighter. Reminding him again and again. He's there. Jim's not alone. They'll get to the others again soon enough. ]

As much as I'd like to, I think he'd really lay it on me here. It's not like we have anything good to wipe it off and there's no replacements around here. [ Look at him being good.

Look at that grin failing to fade: ] But if you find anything dumb we could sneak in his pack, well... [ Or Zell's. He needs to find something else dumb to put in his. ]

Chicken.

[ Jim shakes his head, mock-dramatically disappointed with Zack's cowardice in the face of Kunsel's wrath. He wants to call Kunsel's attention to it - hey, man, I think Zack's scared of you - but of course Kunsel isn't there. Jim is glad for that tight squeeze just then. ]

We'll look for something good on the way. Got ... a couple days to plan, right?

[ That's definitely met with an 'I'll give you chicken' followed by a fierce hair ruffling. Don't be a shit, Jim. He's just being nice. You know. For once.

It might also be a good way not to think about the fact that Kunsel isn't there. That him and Zell are a ways off and it's gonna take time for them to get to 'em. But they'll get there and that's more than enough reason for Zack to drum up a cheeky smile at the idea, to give him a little literal shake. ] Yep, plenty of time to think of something, right?

[ His eyes are on Jim's now, that conspiring glint to them although that warmth underneath never escapes his expression. ] We'll get 'em both good, yeah?

They won't know what hit 'em. [ It's a good distraction, a way to think forward to the reunion that's always somewhat uncertain in a place like Norfinbury. Jim can look forward to it, they both can; he knows how hard it hits Zack to be away from Kunsel, as hard as it hits Jim to be away from Zell.

That, and the warmth of sitting together and talking, gets them through a long night of darkness. ]

[Today was an adventure. An exhausting adventure that makes Zell really glad he started on his project before today. Downstairs still smelled of burnt wood and fire. Everyone was thankfully alive and well, albeit pretty shaken up. Jim more so than the others, even if he does his best to hide it.

After borrowing a tent, he set up the glue dots to put up all the space posters and dark color paper up to block out the terrible yellow from the inside. He also used some thread to hang paper stars around on the inside. Not a lot, but a few of them here and there. Finally, he made a cardboard and poster board star projector. It wasn’t illuminated yet because it needed his tablet.

The tent itself was set up on the master bed. It took some creativity, but he did manage to secure it to the four posts of the bed. The star comforter was dragged inside of the tent and laid out on the floor. It’s going to be nice and cozy since the tent is made for one person, but can squeeze two in.

After dropping off Mochi with Zack so they can have quality legacy bonding time, he sought out his boyfriend. His heart was beating like crazy as he found him in the main room.]

Hey, Stars. [Holding out his hand much like the night they first decided to go out.] Can I show you something?

[He waits for his boyfriend to take it before leading him up the steps and into the master bedroom.Turning on his own tablet to help with the light as he opens up the master bedroom. He could probably see the yellow tent even without the light from the tablet.] Close the door behind you. [A pause.] Let me know if you need more light. I have candles.

[ Jim is really done with today. He's found his own corner - still in the main room with everyone else, but apart enough that he's in his own little world for long stretches. He's rolling the nearly-empty can of bug spray between his hands and keeping half an eye on an already guarded window. Those things… bad enough they were monsters, but they were Morph. His friend, an animal seemingly incapable of feeling anything deeper than happiness or sadness. He'd never have hurt Jim or anyone else, but of course @admin found her own ways of ruining everything.

He's too busy brooding on it to think much about Zell's disappearance, though he does reach up sometimes to stroke the feather hanging around his neck. No one had to try and use it today, and for that he'll be grateful. They're safe.

When Zell comes back, Jim notices. He tracks his boyfriend's movement through the room with his eyes, though he still hasn't moved from his spot when Zell comes to join him.

The hand is taken without hesitation. Jim uses it to pull himself up. ]

Lead the way.

[ And he follows in curious silence with his tablet lighting their way until Zell turns off into one of the bedrooms. Jim stops at the open door and looks around, but all he can see from here is the tent on the bed. He raises his eyebrows at Zell but does as he asks, stepping inside and shutting the door softly enough that it won't be heard throughout the house. ]

Think we've probably had enough fire for one day, Sunshine.
[ Once the door is closed, Jim is slipping past Zell and lifting the flap of the tent. He casts his tablet light around. It bounces off a million little stars and Jim's breath catches. ]

-You did this all for me?

[ He doesn't wait for an answer; instead he's pulling Zell close and wrapping his arms around Zell's shoulders to kiss him deeply. Between this and Jim's own private birthday party, he's starting to really think this whole dating business is a great idea. One of the best that he's heard from other peoples' universes, in fact. ] C'mon. Show me the stars.

[He finds himself unable to comment about the fire. His attention is solely on Jim and his expressions.. It would be a lie to say he’s isn’t nervous. Jim could not be in the mood for something like this after they almost caught the house on fire on fire. There is also the possibility that he could not like this or think it’s lame. His heart beats hard in his chest as he follows Jim to the tent. Watching him lift the flap of the tent and catching the sight of the little stars all over,

Before Zell could get a word out to answer Jim’s question, he feels his arms around him.
Now that’s a kiss. Putting his hands on Jim’s hip as he returns the kiss as he feels relief come over him. That means he likes it, right?]

All for you. [Giving a kiss to Jim’s nose as he reluctantly lets go of his boyfriend.] It’s been fifty days since we met. [A pause.] Tomorrow it’ll be two weeks since we started. [Maybe they can stay up until midnight to have a mini celebration. Lifting the flap of the tent to crawl in first and sit close to the middle. Patting his lap as soon as Jim comes in.]

What do you think? Oh, wait. Let me...[Sliding his tablet under the “projector.” It’s a tube with holes poked all over it just to cast stars on the walls and ceiling of the tent.] There. Now what do you think?

[ Jim crawls into the tent after him and zips it up, though he leaves the flap half-undone without really thinking about it. He's grinning when he turns around, though, and straddles Zell's lap so that he can lay his head down on Zell's shoulder as he watches him fiddle with the projector. He makes a quiet, delighted noise when the whole place lights up with stars - the ceiling, the walls, and the both of them.

Once it's settled, he captures Zell's hand instead and draws it close to him with their fingers linked. He can feel the coin around Zell's wrist against his own and he feels a little thrill at the thought of it. Fifty days. Two weeks. Either could be forever here, considering how hard they have to fight just to survive. It's worth it in moments like this - ones that matter. ]

I think it's perfect. [ I think you're perfect. ] It reminds me of home. When it was dark, after all the lamps were put out, and I could climb up on the roof and see the spaceport and the stars. [ That's not something he's ever told anybody about, That alone keeps him going: ] It was so quiet I felt like I was the only person in the universe sometimes. [ Jim sat up enough to meet Zell's eyes, the grin fading to something softer but no less happy. ] And right now it feels like just the two of us.

[His heart beat picks up as soon as his boyfriend is on his lap. He gently traces some of the stars on Jim's skin. He's always been great and nice looking to Zell, but right now he's getting hit all over again over how beautiful he can be.

Giving their joined hands a squeeze as he searches Jim's eyes. Jim thinks it's perfect. He's elated at hearing those words. If they weren't sitting down in a small tent, he would be picking his boyfriend up and spinning him. He's being patient as he continues counting the stars the manage to land on Jim's face, as he listens to him share about his home. He closes his eyes, trying to imagine something like this but outside. Standing out on the balcony of Balamb Garden pops in his mind. He could see Jim climbing up on the outside of the Garden, even while it's in motion

Zell moves his hand to cup the back of Jim's head.
Just the two of us. He knows those feelings. Every so often, it feels like that. Especially when they are getting close and intimate like now. Feeling every time Jim chest expands with air for every breath he takes. He thinks he can feel his heartbeat, but it might be his own thumping loud and hard in his chest. It's times like these where all he can really see is his boyfriend. And times like these he wants to explore further. To map out every inch of him with light touches and kisses.

He reins in his thoughts about going further to throw himself into the feeling like home topic. Zell knows where his home is back in his world, but more and more the word is taking on a new meaning. It's starting to switch from being about a place into being about a person. The same person sitting in his lap and holding his hand. Closing the remaining space between them as he lowers his hand to Jim's back. Giving his lower lip a kiss.]

I think you're perfect. I'm glad you like it. [More than glad. Kissing the corner of his mouth. Hovering there to feel Jim's breath on his skin for a second before planting a deep kiss on his mouth. Really, he's more of an action guy anyways. Hopefully Jim gets how much he means to him with this.

He wants to see Jim's world. To see what he was describing himself. To meet his mom. And probably to spend the rest of his life with him.]

Edited (AND THERE HAD TO FIX/ADD THINGS) 2016-03-27 21:23 (UTC)

[ Jim wants to drag Zell out on that roof and show him the stars. He'd wake him in the middle of the night when they're both sleepy and stupid and pull him up and out into the air. Maybe it's just at the edge of fall, so they're escaping the heat of the inn - the heat he dreams of, sometimes - into the not-yet-biting chill. They'd be warm, sitting together, and Jim would trace for Zell the path he took across the galaxy. The dream of it's so nice that Jim keeps it to himself for now. Something to hold onto and to give to Zell when things are darker.

For now, he's fondly shaking his head, sending his hair down into his face. I'm not- he wants to protest, but then Zell is kissing him, and yeah. He feels a little perfect when Zell kisses him that way, because they fit so easily. Jim's quiet for a while, busying himself with kissing until he's flush and pulling away to catch his breath. It's warm in the little tent and Zell's hair is now a mess from Jim running his hands through it. ] I love it. [ Among other things and people, maybe. Jim catches the back of Zell's neck and presses their foreheads together. He likes feeling alone in the cosmos with this boy. ]

[ Eventually, his hands start to wander again, this time to nudge Zell out of his thick outer coat. He wants to feel closer, to see more of him in a way he usually only has the chance to during training. ] You must've been planning this for a while.

[Things started to get really warm as he felt those fingers through his hair and mouth against his. When they break apart, Zell is panting for air. He feels pretty split between wanting more and knowing Jim is going to notice something was up.

The word love was enough of a distraction. Sure, Jim means what he did with the stars, but he couldn’t help but hope maybe it went beyond just that. Maybe Jim loves Zell like Zell loves Jim. None of that comes out though with Jim’s hand being on the back of his neck. Foreheads together and he finds himself smiling despite the dull ache of the bruise there.

His own hands move down along Jim's spine to his lower back. At the nudging, he fumbles with buttons before shrugging out of his wool coat.]

Been thinking about it since the others went through here. [During the beginning of the group splitting up, so it’s almost been a week. Being impatient, he snags the layers fabric he can feel and starts untucking them from his boyfriend’s pants. Ducking his head to Jim’s neck to give a love bite.]

I do have something else for you. [Once the sides of Jim’s tops were pulled free, he’s sliding his hands under to touch actual skin.]

[ It's a little too warm, just then. Jim tilts his head back and stares up at the constellations as he takes a few deep breaths and tries not to notice anything, up or otherwise. He's not really thinking when he slides his hands down and gently takes Zell's wrists to relocate them to his neck.

It's not actually any less sensitive, but it makes it a little easier to talk again. ]

No distracting me if you've got a present. [ Focus, Zell! Jim pulls back enough to give Zell room to move if he needs to. Something on one of the posters catches his eye and he smiles, making a note of it for later. ]

[He doesn't protest or even try to fight the relocation of his hand. He'll hum in agreement over not distracting Jim as he smiles.

This means he wants more of a distraction? Right? Making full use of how big everything is on Jim by sliding his hand down the collar of his shirt to rub between his shoulder blades. Giving a smile as he does.]

Yeah, it's in my pocket. I borrowed your idea. [He thought for a moment of seeing if Jim would poke around for it, but that would be a bad idea.

Lifting a hip as he digs in his pocket to pull the bracelet out. Sadly, it's not made from any sentimental leather, but it does have a coin from his world with a hole in the middle. There's a little sun charm hanging off the leather straps.] I put a star charm on the one you made me. [Lifting his arm to show]

[ Jim watches in silent, hopeful curiosity as Zell digs around in his pocket. The bracelet, when it comes out, gets a giant grin. Another reminder of Zell, another little piece to keep all to himself. He offers his wrist and a kiss at Zell's temple. ] Copycat.

[ He can't even manage to sound teasing, though; it just comes out adoring anyway. ]

Let me see. [ He means the one Zell did on his own bracelet. ] You found these here?

[Grabbing his offered hand to press a kiss against his wrist and then the palm of his hand.]

So we can match. [Tying the leather strips around Jim's wrist. Once it's secured, he'll bring up his own hand to show the charm.]

Yeah, there was a silver charm bracelet here.

[Which he stashed in Jim's stuff. Have fun finding that later. Lacing their fingers together and hooking his other arm low on Jim's back.] Now can I distract you? [Grinning as he moves to kiss the tip of Jim's nose.]

Letting everyone know who I belong to?

[ Like wedding bands pops into Jim's head, entirely without his permission. The thought's ridiculous and a little scary, but he's grinning anyway as Zell kisses the tip of his nose. ]

-I guess that depends on how you want to distract me. I have something to show you, too.

[Going to take the question seriously as he shakes his head]

Reminding you I think you're worth it. That I belong to you.

[Besides, people are going to eventually find out about them eventually.]

If you want me to let everyone know though...I could always leave marks higher on your neck.

[Pressing his lips against the corner of Jim's mouth.] Or send Angel pictures. [Giving a grin as he places his hands on Jim's waist. Nuzzling the side of his face. Not answering about what he's thinking about for a distraction because Jim mentions having something to show him.]

Huh? What do you have? Should I close my eyes?

[ Jim's hand goes up to cover his neck as he flushes hot and buries his face into Zell's shoulder again. He's alright with people knowing, just maybe not that way. ]

It's nothing like that. I just noticed something on the poster a second ago that I wanted to show you.

[ He pulls back, still red in the face and not quite meeting Zell's eyes despite his smile. ]

Here, look.

[ He taps a spot on one of the posters. ]

This is Pleiades.

[Looks like he managed to distract him anyways. Sliding his hands to Jim's back to rub up and down his spine. Why does he have such a cute boyfriend?

Following his fingers as he looks at the poster.]

Pleiades. [Reaching up to touch the edge of the poster as thinks about where he's heard it before. Then it clicks. Jim's middle name on his records.] James Pleiades Hawkins.

[Just going to press a kiss against Jim's neck. Not biting, even if it's tempting because of that face. He's going to keep the poster. Looking up at the poster again.] Your mom must have known how bright you would be.

Edited 2016-04-21 09:45 (UTC)

[ Jim's neck is hot from the flush, and he squirms a little at the complement. ]

It was after my grandfather - mom's dad. His father came from around there.

[ He leans forward to study the poster before shaking his head. ] I don't think Montressor's star is visible from this planet.

[Careful with the squirming, dude. Zell nuzzles his neck.]

That's pretty cool. Did you know your grandfather?

[Talking about family helped to calm down and not be tempted to flip his boyfriend onto his back to kiss him all over. He is going to pull Jim as close as he can get him as he rests his chin on his shoulder. Doesn't help with the wanting to flip him over, but he wants to be close. Keeping his hands on Jim's back.]

Do you know where it is in relation to Pleiades? I have white out. We can add it in. [A pause as he thinks about the word.] What's Montressor?

Died before I was born. They were pretty old when they had mom. [ The family and something to focus on is helping with other problems, though Jim is enjoying Zell's hands on his back a little too much. Maybe it's only that he's so used to being wrapped up in layers that his skin his hyper-sensitive to any touch.

Probably, though, it's just Zell. ]

Montressor is the planet I'm from. [ Jim seizes one of Zell's hands and uses it to trace the path from Taurus to Pleiades and stops just beyond, over an unlabeled cluster. ] This isn't it, but I think the light from it's why it isn't visible from here. Or it doesn't exist in this universe.

[ He shrugs and leans back into Zell as he brings Zell's fist up to his chest, keeping his hand captured. ] That's a lot of questions. Going to have to start making you pay them back.

[Probably doesn't help that Zell's mouth is against his neck. Humming against his skin as he feels his hand being snagged. Looking up as he follows the path Jim is showing him.]

You probably can't see it from here. [He wonders if the same star clusters exist in his world. If they happen to share any stars.

Looks like his hand is now a hostage. He's more than okay with that and wouldn't mind more being snagged and held onto. Giving a smile a bit.]

What did you have in mind for pay? [Moving lower to nip at his collar bone. It's there and all exposed thanks to Jim's taste in large clothes. He's helping :D]

Zell...

[ Jim's voice is ... well, it's trying to be a warning. It's not doing a very good job, but the point is It's trying. ] We need to... uh.

[ Jim releases Zell's hand to put his own over his face. ] Can we slow down for a second?

[It does get him to stop. Taking in a deep breath to try to calm down as he nuzzles Jim. Planting his chin on his shoulder.] Yeah we can. [Putting both hands on high on Jim's back.]

I don't think I ever met my grandpa. [He raises his shoulders a bit to kind of shrug. He doesn't remember much of his earlier years.]

That war ended when I was small.

Made a pretty big impact on you for someone you never met. [ Jim remembers Zell talking about how it was the reason he joined the garden, how the guy died protecting those he loved. ] He was... your Ma's dad?

[ He's still puzzling out exactly how Zell's family works. There's a possibility that the guy was related to Zell by blood, but given how little he seems to know or remember about those people Jim doubts it. ]

[He'll give a nod against his neck.] I used to hear stories about him from my Ma and people in town. I have a picture of him in my room with all of his guns.

[It's hard for Zell to keep still, but it helps that he can feel every breath Jim takes. He can heart his heartbeat and just holding him like this is nice. It's warm, and pretty comfortable in it's own way. Might be more comfortable if he wasn't excited.] When I had the time, I would maintain them. [~~So he's really good with handling guns ;D~~]

Huh.

[ Wow. The guy must've been really famous, but Zell had said he was a war hero. Someone like the Captain, maybe; he can imagine people telling stories like that about her. Or like Zell may be now, considering what he'd apparently done back home. Saving a planet probably earned you a few amazing stories told about you, and Zell deserves the glory. The idea of people - lots of people - saying those kinds of things about Zell makes him happy.

Jim doesn't voice any of that, though his silence is thoughtful until: ] Who taught you to shoot? Or were they just decoration?

[ Jim's own marksmanship had been less-than-satisfactory when it counted, but he's betting Zell is good at it. ]

[Kissing the fabric of Jim's shirt.] My Ma and the guy across the street did. He owns a weapon shop. It was pretty cool watching him work. I made sure the guns were in working order. Kept them loaded and everything in case Ma needed it.

[Not that she used them when the town got taken over by soldiers, but she was also trying to keep the peace to make sure everyone would get out of it unharmed.]

What about you? Any weapons experience before coming here? [Turning his head to bump his nose against Jim's cheek.]

Your ma can shoot?

[ Jim sounds pretty delighted about that. Now he's picturing her as someone a lot like Zell, which would make her pretty amazing. ]

I didn't, until everything happened with Silver. Captain threw a pistol at me and I shot it a few times before I lost it.

[ He shrugs, careful of Zell's head at his shoulder. ]

Never really had to fight before all that. Just... fistfights at school and stuff. Didn't know I had it in me until I stabbed Silver.

Yeah she can, but only if she needs to. I think her pa taught her.

[It does fill him with pride that Jim seems to like this fact.

He still hasn't heard what happened with Silver. He knows someone tried to kill him who wasn't Silver. He also knows Silver betrayed Jim, but in the end saved Jim. And he would give him another chance. Zell is pretty mixed on this information with the gun, too. Jim's learning curb seems to be hitting the ground running. He also stabbed Silver. Thinking back when they were besieged with the creatures that took on the appearance of people they knew. The one Jim identified as Silver had something leaking from that peg leg, right?]

I can teach you to use shot guns or anything else. [Lifting his head to press a kiss against Jim's jawline.]

I never got the full story about your trip. [Is date night really the best time to have this conversation?]

That's really cool. [ Jim smiles at the kiss, moving his jaw under Zell's lips, before he pulls back to regard him again. He just really likes looking at Zell, alright? Especially when Zell is looking back at him and Jim can see his eyes brightened by the tiny spots of light from the projector.

The mention of his trip dims Jim's smile just a touch, but he shakes it off and his expression grows a little mischievous instead. ] It's a pretty long story. I feel like I should get something if I'm going to tell you all that.

[ He pecks Zell on the lips and pulls back, tilting his head until his bangs fall down into his eyes. ]

How about I get a question about you for every question I answer?

[Hey, he's not done with that jaw yet.

Reaching up to tuck hair behind Jim's ear as he holds his gaze. It's strange to see someone look at him like that. Like Zell really is something special and amazing. It makes him feel like he really could goo do great things. It also makes him yearn to have Jim to keep looking at him like that weeks from now. The future is the future, but it's nice to start to think about it a little bit. To think that tomorrow, he'll still have Jim waking up beside him still liking him.

That mischievous look gets him to tilt his head to the side a moment. Really, going to tease him while in his lap? Making a soft noise as Jim finally says what he's after before moving in for another kiss. This one lingering for as long as Jim or his lungs allows it. Not quite as bad as sharing the cake at least. His cheeks are still a bit warm as he leans back.]

It's a deal. [A pause. He's not sure what else Jim has to ask still. It's probably boring.] I'll go first. [:D] What started the trip?

The trip.

[ Jim lets out a long breath, trying to trace the whole story back to the beginning. He'll leave out the 'almost being arrested' part and skip to - ]

I was sitting up on the roof, just getting away from people, and I see this little ship crash land on the dock. The guy who was in it, Bones, was hurt real bad. I got him out, but he really only lived long enough to hand me a map and tell me to stay away from the cyborg. [ Jim looks wry for a moment, but doesn't want to let the bitterness seep into this moment, so he leaves off the comment about how he should've listened. ] Two minutes later, pirates are bursting into the inn and burning the place down looking for him. We took off to Dr. Doppler's place and from there it seemed like the only option.

[ That probably counts as the beginning, right? Zell'll have to use another question if he wants more. Jim looks considering for a moment, wondering if he should ask about something serious, but there are so many little things about Zell that he wants to know that he asks instead: ] Tell me about your best friend from home.

[Jim has told him he got busted by the coppers in the past.

Keeping his hands still as Jim shares the answer. There's a little of a smile as Jim shares that he helped someone. It doesn't really surprise him in the least. The mention of a cyborg and the look that crosses Jim's features is enough to cause Zell to tense for a moment. Brushing his thumb against his cheek as more questions pop up in his mind. Doppler sounds like a neighbor? Family friend?

So, they went to Dopplers and decided to go on the trip. He fits the pieces in what he already knows for now as he watches Jim figure out what to ask.]

Squall. [He grins a bit as he kisses Jim's chin.] Some times he can be pretty cold, but he actually cares a lot. He's part of the orphanage gang and he's the leader of the group. He's pretty honest and strong. He saved my life before, which was pretty amazing. I didn't think he cared until he swooped in with his gunblade and took out the soldiers.

[That's what Jim wants to know, right? Leaning back as he thinks about what to ask Jim.] Tell me about your friends?

[ Jim still doesn't like to bring that up to someone he wants to think well of him, now that he really cares about Zell's opinion. Speaking of, he watches Zell's expression closely to see his reactions to the story, at least until the kiss distracts him entirely. He gives Zell one on the nose to match. ]

Squall. [ He sounds... a little unimpressed, just because he can't help but remember the way Zell had seemed surprised that people wanted him around. Someone else that Jim could blame for that, apparently, though he doesn't bring it up just then because he doens't want to spoil the moment. Instead he smiles softly. ] Have to thank him one day for that.

[ The question about friends gives Jim pause. How to answer...? Ah. ] Well, I told you about Silver, but I don't think we talked about Morph. He's... a morph, about this big - [ Jim makes a fist to demonstrate. ] - little pink blob, but he can turn into anything.

[ Not... unlike the monsters outside. Huh. ]

His favorite trick was hiding one of my boots and then pretending to be it until I tried to put it on.

[Letting out a soft chortle at the kiss on the nose. Nuzzling against the side of his face as he listens to Jim.] It was that time when we were locked up.

[Sharing just a little more. He does think Squall is really cool, and he's been pretty famous even before becoming leader. It's still pretty amazing how far they came together as a team and Squall actually caring.

He's distracted from his thoughts as Jim continues to talk. Giving him his full focus about his friend Morph as he tries to picture it. He already sounds leagues better than Silver.]

Keeps you on your toes, huh? He sounds pretty great.

[All this does is give Jim more points in the being adorable. He helps people and counts Morph as a friend. He's already pretty amazing to Zell, but he keeps getting better with every new thing he's learned.

He's not really going to make the connection quite yet about the monsters outside. Jim being cute and on his lap is proving to be a formidable distraction. Capturing his hand for a moment to press a kiss against the back of it.] How did you meet him?

[ Jim's silent at the mention of being locked up, unwilling to take them back to dark places just yet, but he can't help but touch where he knows the scar from being kicked is under Zell's clothes. So many little things that could've cost Zell his life before he even got to Jim, or the other way around. It's a miracle they wound up here together.

Jim lets Zell capture his hand and kiss it, distracting him from the path his thoughts kept trying to take, but grinned and withdrew it as soon as he was done. He holds one finger in the air, wagging it at Zell's face. ] Nuh-uh, mister, that's two questions. There should be some kind of penalty for that.

[Amazingly, he does notice the shift in mood. Feeling Jim’s hand over the crescent shaped scar is a pretty big hint to where Jim’s mind goes. He doesn’t know the extent of Jim’s thoughts though, and pretty soon he’s back to being playful.

Smiling as he teasing opens his mouth for that wagging finger. Not going to bite though.] You’re the one who didn’t take a turn. [Sliding his hands up Jim’s back.] Have a penalty in mind? [He’ll probably go along with it because he’s wrapped around Jim’s finger.]

Hey, you didn't give me a chance!

[ So there, Zell.

Jim seems to be thinking about this pretty hard, actually, judging by the little crease that appears between his eyebrows and the way he taps Zell's lip in a reversal of what he usually does when he's thinking. ]

Every time you skip a turn, you have to tell me a secret.

[Okay, Jim is really cute. He's just going to give him a smitten look at that look he gets. He kisses that tapping finger.]

A secret, huh? [Snagging Jim's hand press a kiss against his wrist. Sliding each finger in between Jim's as he lowers it to press it against his own chest. He's thinking about it for a bit. He doesn't really hide much from Jim, which makes it hard to figure something out. And then something pops up, which is a little embarrassing.]

I used to be known as a cry baby. [How's that for a secret?] I don't remember much of it. [He actually forgot it completely until Irvine brought it all up again.]

You? A crybaby?

[ Jim sounds a little disbelieving at that. Zell's not exactly a whiny guy. He gives Zell's hand a squeeze and wonders why he finds that secret cute, of all things. ]

-That wasn't a question.

[ It doesn't count! Just so Zell knows. ]

A question is... tell me about your favorite place back home, what you liked about it.

[He nods, but because Jim is quick to insist it’s not a question, he won’t divulge further. Grinning a bit as he leans forward to press a kiss against the corner of his mouth.]

I’ll wait for you to ask about it then.

[Returning the squeeze as he thinks about the different places.]

My favorite place was Balamb. [Reaching around to play with the hairs on the back of Jim’s neck. Keeping his touch feather light as he tries to pick the main reason.] Besides my Ma being there, it’s really pretty. The sea breeze, the sun, the water...it’s all great. [It’s pretty relaxing.] I want to show you. [Just imagining soaking up the sun or surfing with Jim makes his heart pick up it’s pace. Whoops, don’t think of boyfriend shirtless.]

How did you meet Morph? [Since it’s his turn! He’s taking it before his brain wanders too much.]

[ Jim's neck twitches minutely; that tickles! But he doesn't laugh or tell Zell to stop, because he's too busy listening. Trying to picture it, and Zell when he was younger. There aren't any beaches where Jim's from, it's damp and dreary for most of the year, but Zell seems like he belongs on one. His brightness and warmth would fit there the way it doesn't in the snow and darkness. ] I'd like to see it with you.

[ The next question brings them back to the trip. Jim hums before he answers. ] -It was on the trip. He belonged to Silver, so when they showed me down to the kitchen and told me I was going to be working there - he was pretending to be a spoon, then a straw to suck up all my soup.

[ And, since Zell seems to be hinting: ] You were really a crybaby, huh. What changed?

Edited 2016-06-19 17:29 (UTC)

[ There are a lot of places he wants Jim to see. Esthar, the Orphanage, Balamb Garden, and Winhill are on top of the list after his hometown. Digging his fingers into Jim’s hair as he bumps Jim’s cheek with his nose. ] There’s a lot I want to show you. [ Like the private rooms SeeD members get on the trains.

Nuzzling against Jim’s shoulder. A friend that used to belong to Silver, huh? Fitting that into what he has so far on the asshole and Jim’s trip. Chuckling softly as Jim shares the part about the straw. Definitely kept him on his toes. Though he probably wouldn’t appreciate if Morph ate his hot dogs. ]

Yeah, I was a crybaby. [ Thinking about what changed. Lifting his shoulders a bit. ] I got adopted. That gave me a break from Seifer for a few years. [ Kissing Jim’s shoulder. ] Now, I’m known as being lively and loud. [ He will take that over being called a crybaby.

So, they found a map and he met a friend on the trip. ] What was the biggest thing that happened on the journey to the place at the end of the map?

Lively sounds more like it. [ Jim's small laugh is easier felt on Zell's skin than heard as Jim leans forward, hooking his chin over Zell's shoulder and wrapping his arms around to brush over Zell's back. He wants to finish what he'd started with Zell's outer jacket, but for now he'll be content resting his hand between Zell's short sleeved coat and his undershirt.

Anything more would probably be a bad idea in quarters this close, but Jim can't help but imagine...

Or at least he can't util he has to force his mind back to something unpleasant. The hands that had been caressing tighten until Jim's almost clinging. ] The biggest... you've heard a lot of it, haven't you? About how Silver betrayed us for it.

[ Shivering at sensation of his laugh against his skin. Zell feels like they can stay like this for a while even at the risk of limbs falling asleep. Breathing out a content sigh at the affection and very little space between them. A part of him really wants to find a way to make them physically closer, but that means moving to shrug out of another layer of clothing.

Then the moment changes as he feels Jim tightening up his hold. And then things fall into place as to why the shift in mood. Sliding his hands up and down Jim’s back in a soothing pattern as he presses a kiss against his hair. If it wasn’t so serious, he might tease and ask if that was a question that counted in this game of theirs. Pressing more kisses against what he could reach as mumbles a quiet yes for Jim’s ears. ] You were following a map, he betrayed you, and then gave up the thing he’s been searching for to save you. [ A pause as he slots pirates and map together. ] It was a treasure map and he was after the treasure?

Not just any treasure map. [ Jim's fingers trace out a circle crossed with a flat X into Zell's shirt, unconsciously. The storybook image is burned in his brain; it's funny that he never really got a chance to see it from space. ] It was the treasure map - the one to Flint's trove. Treasure planet - loot of a thousand worlds, literally.

[ His voice takes on the tone of someone telling an old story, now, because it's easier to tell the story than it is to deal with the reality of dying Billy Bones heavy on his back, the enveloping smell of the fruit-barrel, the ache of his shoulders as he's marched and shoved. ] A hundred years ago, a pirate named Captain Flint was the most notorious pirate in any galaxy. He'd swoop in out of nowhere and vanish without a trace - robbed whole planets blind. We found his trove.

[ That feels pretty nice. Nuzzling against Jim’s neck as he draws it back on Jim to try to figure it out. ‘X’ marks the spot, huh? The loot of a thousand worlds, huh? Sounds pretty amazing. ]

Whoa. That sounds like an adventure. [ The interest in his trip is pretty evident from his tone of voice. Pressing a kiss against the pulse point on his neck. ] You’re worth more than that anyways. [ And in a way he is glad Silver saw that if he threw away his dream to save Jim at some point. He wants to ask more or ask specifics, but that’s cheating again. Opening his mouth for a moment before closing it lightly against his skin as he rubs circles against his back. ]

Your turn to ask something. [ Zell sounds a little reluctant here. He’s being good and following the rules even if he really wants to know more. ]

It was - pretty cool. Used to read about that place in storybooks, but... I always knew it was real. [ As for Jim's worth, well - at least Zell, and apparently Silver, thought so. That's enough for Jim, and even if it's nto true yet, one day he's going to make it true.

That's a secret Zell won't get without a direct question, though, and even then - well. It's easier to laugh softly at his boyfriend's reluctance and tilt his head back to look at the stars on the roof of the tent as he thinks. ]

What's your favorite thing you ever made?

[ There's something about the way he talks that brings a smile to his face. Storybooks, huh? He could almost see a younger Jim being into the story and putting all of his belief that it's real. It melts his heart and makes him want to actually see it. A younger Jim full of wonder and a present Jim also filled with the same.

He catches it when Jim's brain starts churning over an idea and he starts figuring things out. Zell wonders if there are any other ways to start bringing that out. It's something to explore, much like everything else this partnership- this relationship brings. It's starting to turn the future into something brighter.

Taking the opportunity presented to him and kissing that neck after Jim asks his question. Kissing down the front of his throat to his collar bone. Pausing to bump his forehead against the spot gently as he thinks. ]

A necklace for my Ma. It was one of my first pieces that I completed on my own. She wears it all the time. [ And deciding to give him a freebie ] I had plans on making a ring for a friend. It's going to match the one Squall owns.

Wh- [ Nope, 'why' is a question. No good trying to trick him with those freebies, Zell!

Jim has to grin at the idea of Zell making something like that and his Ma being proud enough to wear it everywhere. He knows, because Zell made it, it must be nice. But he also knows how sometimes Zell doesn't seem to know his own worth. ]

Bet it's beautiful. Mine is.

[ Alright, so it's a beat up coin on two tatty pieces of string, but it's beautiful to Jim. ]

[ He first thought Jim is referring to the necklace. Then he realizes he means the bracelet he just gave him. When they find a way out and a way to visit each other, Zell is going to make him something better.

Seeking out the bracelet to walk his fingers up the band and trace the coin. ]

I'll show you. [ Some day when Jim meets his Ma, he'll show him. ] I'll give you a demonstration. Maybe we can make something together.

[ The more he thought about it, the more he really wanted it to happen.

As much as it's tempting to get lost in the future, he really wants to know Jim's past. Normally it wouldn't have mattered, but he finds himself wanting to know and see everything about his boyfriend.

So, he finds a map, go on an adventure, meet new friends, get betrayed, and then is saved. ] How was the trip on the way to Treasure Planet?

I'm not very artistic, but - I like the sound of that.

[ They'll just have to let Zell design it, Jim thinks, confident that he'll come up with something nice. The softly glowing tent they're in now is evidence enough for Jim that Zell can make beautiful things.

The question has Jim quirking his lip. It's back into easier territory. ]

Spent most of it working my butt off. Swabbing the deck, scraping mollusks off the hull, scrubbing ten million dishes... [ Jim doesn't even know why they had that many dishes, damn it. ] But it was beautiful up there. Free. Felt like it was where I belonged, until the black hole.

[ Grinning as he ducks down to bump Jim's shoulder with his forehead. ] You drew those plans. [ That's pretty artistic in his opinion. He's seen those doodles, too. They weren't the best, but they were still pretty cute.

~~Is that where his butt went?~~ Touching a bicep and sliding his hand down. ]

Feels like it. [ Jim is pretty strong for someone lanky and still growing. Probably helps that they started to train him. ] I bet it is pretty awesome. [ Looking up at the dots scattered across the tent. Seeing something like that close up would be amazing. Where Jim belonged, huh? That earns a chuckle. ] You are Stars. [ The idea of Jim being faraway though squeezed his heart. Something bittersweet that he's not sure if he likes or wants to dwell on it. ] Whoa. Wait. A black hole?

[ Jim quirks an eyebrow, but doesn't call him out on the second question because Zell's complimenting him just then and he's not a complete butt. ~~Sometimes~~. He may or may not be trying to flex his arm where Zell can feel it.

This is a great distraction from the awful thing at the heart of talking about the black hole. ]

Mm. Whole ship almost got pulled in. Not everyone made it.

[ He hasn't really had the time to let it sink in too hard that Arrow wasn't his fault, but it makes thinking about this less painful now. ]

Remember how I told you there was a guy on board that really wanted to kill me? He killed the first officer that day. It was my job to secure the life lines, but in the chaos he cut them.

Edited 2016-07-22 08:51 (UTC)

[ If only he knew complimenting Jim could get him off the hook. In his mind, he's just telling the truth. He grins at the flex as he caresses Jim's arm.

His attention is back to Jim again when he says the ship almost got pulled in. It's unsettling thinking about what if he never met Jim. He wouldn't know the warm and comfortable weight of someone in your arms, or, in this case, in your lap.

Sliding his arms around Jim to give him a tight squeeze for a moment or two. ] Whoa. [ Making a face. ]What a loser. [ He has other words he's thinking of using, but that sums it up well. Though... ] How did you find out he did it?

[ Jim leans into the squeeze as he thinks over his next words. Loser is right. Psycho, too.

Somehow Scroop's a little easier to talk about than what comes next, though. ]

I - when I found out about Silver. I'd followed Morph down to the galley, few days after the black hole. I climbed into a fruit barrel to catch him, and hid in there when the rest of the crew came down. He - Silver - was hollering at Scroop about what he'd done, 'cause it could've given the mutiny away early.

[ He's hoping Jim didn't blame himself until the reveal, but considering how it went with Cloud...

Putting his chin on Jim's shoulder. It sounds like Jim came close to dying a bunch of times on the trip. Breathing him in as he thinks about it all. ]

I owe you, huh. [ Drawing circles into his back as he tries to figure out anything embarrassing to share. ] What do you want to know? [ Before he winds up asking more things. ]

Mmhmm.

[ Jim's... a little surprised that he stopped asking questions there, but he's okay with it. Maybe they'll get back to it, maybe they won't, but - it's all in the past, anyway. ]

What's the biggest thing you want to do in the future?

[ 'Before you die' sounds morbid, but it's what he means. ]

[ He wants to, but he really doesn't want to keep forking over embarrassing things to his boyfriend. He has to look cool, right?

The next question gets him looking up at the ceiling of the tent. ]

I want to be like my grandpa. [ He grins easily at the admission. ] That's about as far as I've thought. [ Since dying a hero is pretty much an end game thing. ] I want to protect the people that matter to me. [ Looking at Jim as he said people that matter. ] In any situation, he was cool and kept his composure.

[ Bumping his nose against Jim's chin. ] You can go again.

[ He always looks cool. He is the coolest. Jim's glasses are very rosy.

They get rosier - not because Zell says that he'll protect Jim, but because Jim matters. It's Jim's turn to look away, biting his lip as he thinks. ]

What about -

[ He cuts himself off, possibly looking even more flustered. ]

Um. What about getting married? Or kids?

[ His gaze lingers on that lip bite. Reaching up to touch that mouth only to find himself stop as the words are out of Jim's mouth.

Whoa! What?

Feeling himself growing red at the question as he drops his head back down to bump his forehead against Jim's shoulder. ]

I- I haven't really thought about it. [ Not entirely accurate. He's serious about courting Jim and seeking approval from his mom. And that could eventually lead down there...

Shaking his head. ] Well, I have before but never really thought it was possible for me. So it didn't seem important to actually think about. I'm a SeeD and I don't want to leave whatever loved ones I have behind when something happens to me in the line of duty. [ Giving Jim a squeeze as he says that. ] What about you?

[ Jim catches that when, not if, something happens to him in the line of duty. He doesn't like it, but, what can he do? They don't even know if Zell will ever make it back to SeeD. Still, he returns that squeeze a touch too tight. ]

I... guess I just thought I would. Most people do, right? [ Well, not everyone. There were always people like Doppler, though he and the captain had been looking pretty cosy last time he'd seen them. ] Though it's harder when it's... y'know. Like us.

[ Sorry, Jim. He's pretty sure he's going to die in battle and that's how it always made sense to him. There is a certain appeal to going down in a laze of glory and looking cool while you did it.

But he's been thinking of more than just that. More than just kicking butt and being a SeeD. He has promises to keep and someone to stay beside.

Pressing his fingers on either side of Jim's spine as he locates any knots that might be there. ]

I guess. [ Not that he really had a lot of role models for that. Sure, the neighbors were still together and had a daughter, but he didn't get along with the owner of the Inn.

It's too soon to think about marriage, but he really would love to wake up next to this tomorrow, the day after that, and weeks later. ] There is always adoption.

[ Jim mostly thought he'd get old and miserable trapped in a small town on a nowhere planet doing what everyone else did. In some ways, Zell's vision of the future is better - but it doesn't mean Jim has to like it.

He arches his back, taking advantage of his boyfriend's hands easing the tension, as he thinks about the idea. ]

Mm. Guess so.

[ It'd be kind of nice, maybe - taking in some kid that didn't have anyone. He thinks Zell would be good at it. But... it is way too soon to think about any of that. ]

Your turn?

[ He's thinking the similar with Jim and his tendency to help others. Jim would make a good parent some day.

He hums with concentration as he finds a particular spot on Jim's back. ]

What happened after you were in the fruit barrel?

That feels really good.

[ Way to keep asking him about his trauma when he's really distracted, Zell. ]

The fruit -? Oh.

[ Right, that. ]

Overheard Silver telling the others that he'd just been distracting me. [ And... not really getting into that. ] And then we arrived at the planet, so they decided to get the party started right then. I had to stab Silver's fake leg to get out of there.

Here? [ He murmurs the question as he continues his ministrations on Jim's back. As Jim talks, he shifts close to Jim's neck again. He recalls the leaking black stuff from their encounters with the monsters. Lips pressing gently on the underside of Jim's jaw. ]

Good job escaping. [ He really is glad Jim got out. Just how much danger was Jim in? He's also wondering on that distraction part. Silver saved him in the end. Jim is wonderful and a blast to be around, so it makes sense that anyone would grow attached to him. Silver had to care to save him, right?

Zell isn't sure he wants to stick him in that category though. Jim doesn't think himself worthy. His eyes watered up from Zell telling him he matters. The inability to really put Silver in any box isn't settling well in Zell and he really hopes he never has to meet the guy. He would love to punch him one and be done with it, but what would that do to Jim?

Rubbing the crown of his head against his boyfriend as he breathes him in. It's been a few days since they came across the house with a bath tub and pierced Zell's ear. He thinks he can still smell the soap ever so faintly there on Jim. ] How much of the crew were in on the party?

[ Jim doesn't answer Zell's first question in words; instead, he wiggles until he's positioned perfectly for Zell to get at that spot on his back. He has to smile a little as Zell asks another question; his boyfriend really is bad at taking turns. Maybe he should release him from the agreement, but... when else is he going to get the chance to ask all these questions himself? Anyway, it takes some of the heat off Jim telling this story. They're well into the worst of it now. ]

-Whole crew. Doppler hired 'em through Silver, they were all his guys. In the end, it was jut me, the Captain, and Doppler that escaped to the planet, and the Captain was injured.

[ Why are you wiggling, Jim? Stopping for a moment as he really tries to avoid thinking bad thoughts as he swallows hard. Once Jim is ready for him, he starts rocking his palms against the spot.

Sorry, boyfriend. He really, really wants to know. The more he hears, the more he counts his lucky Stars because Jim is still there. Jim is still alive and in his arms. ]

Whoa. [ This is probably a big part of why it takes time for Jim to warm up or even trust a person. Not just the betrayal of Silver, but the whole crew. ] How did she get injured and how did you guys escaped? [ Give him deets, man. ]

You sure you want to hear about all this, Sunshine?

[ That counts as a question, right? Jim's going to let it count, otherwise Zell's going to run out of embarrassing stories to tell later.

That's what he tells himself, anyway, as he hesitates over the rest. There are parts that are a complete blur, but all the ones with Silver stand out a little too sharply in his memory. ]

Doesn't seem like a fair trade for the back rub.

I can throw in a few kisses, too. [ He'll gladly have any excuse for more kisses. Zell leans back to let Jim see his expression. ]

Yeah, I'm sure. I want to hear it all.

[ SeeD honor! ] It is about my best friend and boyfriend.

[ His favorite person in all of Snowhell. A part of him niggles at the fact that Jim might think he wouldn't want to hear about it. That it might speak to Jim's self esteem issues again. ]

I meant you were giving more than you're getting. For this part. It's not as good as finding a treasure or escaping a black hole.

[ Jim kisses him anyway, for courage. ]

-Or saving the world.

[ Jim's best friend had a much better story, in Jim's opinion. ]

But - if you want to hear it. We just made for the long boats as quick as we could with the map. They were trying to shoot us the whole way, and trying to shoot the longboat out of the sky - someone must've got the Captain during all that. She held it together until we crashed on the planet, but... couldn't exactly walk.

[ Oh. He reaches up to comb his fingers through Jim's hair. Chasing the kiss with another. Massaging his scalp as he plants a kiss against the tip of Jim's nose.

He nods enthusiastically at the wanting to hear it, but keeps quiet as Jim speaks. He's being good. Playing with his hair and feeling the difference in lengths. ]

Guessing they didn't really give you a break after that. [ Especially since they had the map that's needed. ] What happened next?

No, it all started going pretty fast after that. [ Jim half-smiles. At least the next part wasn't so bad - he'd made another friend. ] The captain sent me out scouting and I ran into this guy - B.E.N. He was Flint's navigator and he'd been stranded on the planet for a hundred years. And -

[ And Jim wants to draw out the good part a little while longer. ]

-you owe me another question.

[ This guy Ben who was stranded for a hundred years, huh? How can someone live for that long?

Jim did say he knew a robot around the time they found Dumpy. That was right before he died...

Feeling along his spine as he smiles. Pressing a kiss against Jim's shoulder. ]

Yeah, I do. Hit me with you best shot, baby. [ His voice is warmed by affection. ]

Heh. [ Jim taps the side of Zell's head and makes a little laser noise. ] Bam.

[ He has to think about it for a moment; he'd got too wrapped up in his own story. ] -Tell me something about the garden that you haven't told me before.

[ Chuckling at the gesture and sound. ~~Isn't is supposed to be blam blam~~. Turning his head to jokingly try to catch the finger gun with his mouth. Missing on purpose as he resumes the back rub. He knows he skipped over quite a bit when he shared his story with Jim. ]

Something bad, happy, or weird? [ There is a pause as adjust his hands to start tracing out the map of the Garden in his back. ] When it was still stationary, the entrance faced south. [ Starting low on Jim's back and skirting close to booty territory. He travels up the spine and starts drawing both sides of the circle. Pausing on Jim's left to draw a branching path. ] This is the infirmary.

[ Moving up on Jim's right side to make a branch. ] Library.

[ Left again. ] This is the Quad. It's where the summer festival usually takes place.

[ Back to the right. This path leads to another looping circle against Jim's side. Pressing a kiss against his cheek as he purposely pokes a tickle point. ] Training center.

[ Left, which is high up by Jim's shoulder blades. ] Cafeteria.

[ Bringing both hands together at the base of his neck. Walking his fingers up into Jim's hair. ] And this is where the dorms are. [ Kneading the back of his head. ] There elevator is in the middle. It takes you up to the class rooms, the ballroom, and the headmaster's office. Going down takes you to where the Garden Master used to be.

[ When Zell misses, Jim decides to just poke the side of his nose instead. That's affectionate, right? Right.

Instead of answering the question, Jim's paying attention to the map, trying to form the loops on his back into a coherent picture in his head. Later, he'll try to draw the place out into his sketchbook; it sounds huge, a lot different from Jim's school, though at least Jim recognizes all the words for the individual parts.

The poking of one of his ticklish spots makes Jim squirm and quietly object. ] Zell

Your school had a ba- [ No! Not the question he wants to ask, though seriously, what the hell? ] - How's a Garden Master different from a Head Master?

[ He'll take it as affection. Laughing at the poke as he starts tracing down Jim's back again. Going to the middle of the circle he drew to rub the center. ]

Jim. [ Kissing his ear. ] Garden Master is- was the proprietor of Balamb Garden. Cid didn't have the money to start up Garden, so he partnered up with this greedy Shumi named Norg. Man, he looked pretty weird. More frog than Shumi. He had this big throat pouch that went almost down to his frickin' knees! [ Exaggerating, but maaaan it came really close. ] He was a greedy bastard.

Pretty ugly guy, huh? [ Jim wants to know more, but he also doesn't want to give out any embarrassing secrets just yet. Zell has plenty of time ot figure out what a dork he is without Jim going and volunteering the information.

Not being a dork is kinda ruined by the way Jim uses his hand to make a little throat sack on Zell's neck and expand it with a little 'ribbit.' sound. ] Your turn.

[ He laughs at Jim's imitation. ] That's pretty close. He's very ugly. Man, I can still hear his voice yelling about colors. [ He'll get the embarrassing secrets some day. For now, he thinks about it carefully. Where were they?

Oh. Oh yeah. ] What happened next in your story?

[ It's BENeficial for Zell to know. He's hooked. ] You met Ben and then what happened?

Edited 2016-09-02 07:39 (UTC)

Colors...? [ Jim shakes his head and mentally adds that to the list as he clears his throat. ]

Then he took us back to his place. It was crazy looking - everything on the planet was. Weird shape and writing all over that Doppler thought an ancient species wrote. You would've figured it out. [ There was a lot of history there. Or, at least, a lot of stuff older than anything Jim could imagine. ] But it's all gone now, the whole planet is.

Anyway. [ Jim looks up to study the stars projected on the top of the tent. ] - After that, the pirates show up. Set up camp and start trying to shoot at us, until Silver wants to negotiate with me 'cause he thought we still had the map. Didn't know we'd accidentally left it up on the ship.

[ But that's enough for Zell for now. ] What did Frog Guy get out of founding the school?

[ He would have given him a freebie then he's thrust back into Jim's story again. Zell listens as he continues tracing shapes and designs against his boyfriend's back. Brightly smiling at the mention that he thinks he would've figured them out.

While he looks up, Zell's attention moves down Jim's neck.

So, they didn't have the map. Did it fall during their escape? It sounded like Jim was sure they had it. Mulling over these thoughts as the frog guy came back. Zell ducks down to press a kiss against Jim's pulse point in his neck. ]

All missions went through him and he kept a large part of the prophet. He was pretty angry when Cid took on some missions behind his back.

[ Kissing his chin. ] How did negotiations go? [ It comes out before he can really think it over. ]

Shouldn't you get most of the profits? They're not the ones out there risking their skins.

[ The thought of it's clearly annoying Jim, judging by the way his eyebrows scrunch. As far as he's concerned, Zell - and his friends - should get all of it.

He winces and buries his face in Zell's shoulder again at the question. It's comfortable there, he likes it. His answer is a little muffled: ]

Negotiations, uh. Negotiations went badly.

[ And he's tempted to leave it like that. Technically he answered the question, right? But it's not really fair to Zell, who wants to know all of this stuff. ]

That was when I realized how full of it he was, when he tried to convince me to join him again. Told him I was going to stick to it, just like he taught me, and walked away.

We still get paid pretty well.

[ Well, he does considering his rank. Jim has been angry for him, argued against Beckett for him, and is now annoyed for him. He shouldn't be as happy as he is, but he's really happy. ]

More money should have gone to the school instead of his frickin' grubby hands. [ They could have been closer to Galbadia for resources then. Even if he didn't really care about the place.

The motion of his hands went from deliberate designs to rubbing in a reassuring way as Jim buries his face against him. It's nice feeling him so close. He's still staying on him and he's glad Jim is still sharing.

And sharing when he became disillusioned by Silver. Zell could almost picture Jim telling the anomaly version of Silver to basically blow it out of his rear. It was likely a shitty moment for his boyfriend, but he still feels pride welling up inside of him. That Jim stood up to someone who tore away his trust and betrayed him. ] Good job, Stars. [ There is a clear note of pride as he adjusts his arms to hug his boyfriend tightly. ]

What happened after that? [ Cause Jim did ask a question. ]

[ Technically, Zell. He technically asked a question. His grip eases a little, and he's willing to come out of the safety of Zell's shoulder for this part. It's one of the better parts of the whole sorry mess, anyway, though that's relative. ] Thanks. [ He shouldn't be surprised by the 'good job,' but he is, and it makes him feel warm where before he was cold. It'd been the right decision to share all this with Zell. ]

- I went back up to BEN's place, Silver went back to camp. BEN ended up showing me a way out the back and we used it to sneak back on board the legacy, looking for the map. Would've worked, but Scroop was up there and he caught me.

[ Jim eases his grip, enough to climb out of Zell's lap and offer his arms instead. ] Lay down with me? And that's not the question.

[ He's going to take it. It's only fair, right? He's happy that Jim is coming out of hiding. Giving a quick cheek smooch at the thanks. No thanks is needed for telling the truth.

And Scroop again. He opens his mouth to ask if this is when he tried to kill Jim, but soon closes his mouth. Already missing the warmth of Jim being on him as he takes his arms. Instead of answering, he's going to pull Jim down as he lays back. ]

Better? [ Grinning as he waits for his boyfriend to get settled. ] That's not a question either. [ Snickering as he says that. ] Your turn.

Why was Cid taking missions behind Ribbit's back?

[ Jim asks as he settles in beside Zell, comfortable on his back where he can look up at the fake stars. ]

[ Shifting to lay on his side to face his boyfriend. Propping his head up on his elbow as he places his other hand on Jim's stomach. ]

Sometimes he took on missions for free because it's the right thing to do. [ Which means Ribbit doesn't get paid. ] My first job as a Seed was to help liberate a town for free. [ Drawing out the shapes of a train across Jim. ]

The other one was in collaboration with another Garden for an assassination mission.

Assassination mission?

[ Yep, Jim will totally spill an embarassing secret if Zell wants to hold that ~~or anything else~~ against him later. He twists and sits up a little so that he can get a good look at Zell. For all he knows that Zell's powerful and capable, it's still strange to think of him taking a life outside the heat of battle. His hand finds Zell's and strokes over his knuckles. ]

Edea?

[ As long as Jim is cute or doesn't remind him that he owes him, then he might get away with the extra questions. He nods his head as he looks down Jim's shirt to watch his own hand for a moment. ]

Yeah, that mission. There are a couple of things I skipped when I shared that with you. [ Feeling along Jim's ribs. Before, Jim was blind and alone in a freaky ass hospital. Now they are both safe inside a tent. ]

Edea is also my Matron and she's Cid's wife. Garden was actually her idea in the first place.

[ Jim has not yet learned that he has that kind of power over Zell, which is a good thing for all parties concerned. ]

You... had to assassinate Cid's wife? Or tried to? She was one of the witches?

[ This is already giving him a bit of a headache. Good luck, Jim. ]

[ Some day he might learn and then Zell will be doomed. Dragging his hand down Jim's back while giving a nod. ]

Yeah. She was one of the ones taken over by the one in the future, Ultimecia.

[ Is still another one? Who even knows. ]

Seifer was her knight.

Is that why he was such a jerk?

[ Jim kind of hopes he has a decent reason for bullying Zell, but honestly? He probably doesn't. Jim'll get fierce about that again if he has to. ]

He was actually easier to ignore as an enemy. You know, besides fighting against him. He wasn't really himself. Even his best friends didn't recognize him.

[ Yeah, a guy like that had best friends. ]

He ordered an attack on Garden and even tortured Squall. [ Much complicate. So weird. Whoa. Zell is frowning as he shares. It was a pretty crappy time. ]

[ Jim sees that frown. As important as the info Zell's sharing is, the frown's more important. For once they're comfortable and warm and togethere.

Rather than ask anothe question, Jim reaches to smooth out Zell's eyebrows and, after a moment's thought, poke gently at the corner of his lips. He knows he's being completely stupid, but he just wants to make Zell smile. ]

Probably helped that you got to punch him in the face.

[ He finds himself smiling at the poke. Trying to capture that hand with his own. If he's successful, he's bringing it up to press a kiss against the poking finger. ]

Yeah, I did. We eventually got him back after it was over with. Last I heard, he was out in Balamb. [ So even the asshole was saved. ]

What happened next in your story? Scroop caught you and then what? [ Back to you, boyfriend. ]

[ Oh. Right. That. Jim lets Zell take his hand and looks up at the tent. ]

Then I killed him. Kind of.

[ That requires a little more elaboration: ]

The gravity on the ship got turned off and he chased me up the mainmast. I was barely hanging onto the flag and he starts trying to cut it free, so I pulled hard enough to get some momentum and kicked him loose. He floated off into the Etherium.

[ Which is breathable - so he likely starved to death, or froze. ]

[ He's keeping this hand forever now. Opening up the hand to press light kisses along the lines of his palm. Going down to his wrist to kiss his pulse point.

There is only one thing that really sticks out in that whole thing as odd- ] Etherium? What's that?

[ Please elaborate. ]

It's -

[ Jim had this conversation with Tifa, and it was pretty confusing, so at least he's ready to have it again. Even if Zell is being distracting. ]

Back... where I'm from, my universe. There's a layer of space that you can breathe in and sail on. It's what we move through on our ships, there are animals living in it. Kind of like an ocean, but... everywhere.

[ Whoa! That sounds... pretty awesome actually. It doesn't make sense, but every world seems to be different. ]

Really? That's frickin' cool. [ Can they go back to Jim's world to check it out? ] We don't have that in my world. You have to wear a suit out there.

[ He remembers hearing from Rinoa how that little venture went. ]

Thanks for surviving that. [ Fighting against and ending murderous assholes was easy for Zell. He's not really sure if that was easy for Jim. He remembers it was hard for Rinoa. How she really wanted all the fighting to stop. ] Were- are you okay?

I hope you get to see it some day. There's nothing like it.

[ Jim still thinks it's a little strange that no other world he's heard about has an Etherium, but he can't wait to show Zell something new. ]

I was fine. Got the map, went back down to the planet surface. [ Jim's quiet for a moment. ] You ever - when you're on those assassination missions and stuff, you ever do something and think maybe you should feel bad about it, but you don't?

I want to.

[ Jim needs to show him a whole new world. To infinity and beyond.

The fact he has to actually think about it might be telling in it's own way. Reaching over to run his fingers through his hair. ]

I never gave myself time to think about it. For what it's worth, I think it's okay not to feel bad. [ The lobster dude was trying to kill Jim. Him landing the death he intended for Jim was what he deserved. Playing with the strands of hair as he watches his boyfriend. His boyfriend as of two weeks once tomorrow arrives. It's still new, but it's really nice. He can't really imagine wanting to wake up next to anyone else. ]

Were you scared when he was chasing you?

Terrified.

[ He wants to be a tough guy in front of Zell, but they've shared too much tonight to even try. Besides, Zell's already seen him at his worst more than once. ]

Thought I was going to die up there, and the Captain and Doppler and BEN would be stranded forever. But I wasn't.

[ Jim leans into the hand. Tomorrow may be getting pretty close; they've been talking for a long time. ]

What would you have done?

[ Smiling at the lean as he lowers his hand to cup Jim's cheek. ]

I'm not really sure. [ He's not sure if that's what Jim wants to hear, but it's the truth. He really doesn't know. ] I think you were pretty brave. You survived and did the best you could in the situation. That's really amazing.

[ He feels a surge of warmth as he says the words. He really is proud of his boyfriend. He lives through something he didn't have training for, and still made it out of that in one piece. ]

Still think about it? That time and him?

[ The praise feels unearned, but Jim glows under it anyway. ]

Sometimes.

[ And sometimes it's one of the dreams that Zell's probably familiar with by now, though it's rare enough that Jim welcomes that nightmare as a change from the usual. ]

Hallucinated him here once.

[ That Zell doesn't have an answer for what he would've done and doesn't pretend to is endearing by itself. He gets a kiss for it. ]

Was Squall alright?

[ Not going to touch the hallucinating part. He knows how that goes here.

He needs to praise Jim more often. Chasing the kiss with one of his own as he hums a note of appreciation. He could get used to this. Just laying around and pretending they are the only ones in the world for the night. No monsters outside or anything like that. ]

Squall? [ It takes him a moment to work back to where they were before talk of taking out lobster spiders. ] With the assassination or Seifer?

[ There are a number of other incidences where that question could also apply. ]

The torture.

[ Though yikes, poor Squall. Jim snuggles closer as he waits for an answer, content to get the attention off his own story. ]

Your life is kind of crazy, you know that?

[ Oh. The torture. He remembers seeing Squall there leaning against the thing that held him moments earlier. It was the first time Zell had seen Squall in such a state.

It was hell... ]

He met some friends that helped him out. It wasn't good, but we didn't have a whole lot of time. We had to move.

[ He thinks a moment if his life is crazy. ]

Huh. I guess it is.

You guess? [ Jim's a little disbelieving that Zell might ever think his life is normal. Dangerous and exciting and, if Jim' being honest, really cool, but not remotely normal. ] Sunshine, every time you talk about your job ...

[ 'It scares me' is a little too heavy, so Jim just shakes his head. ] You're really brave.

[ Giving him a quick smooch. ]

I'm just good with these. [ Lifting a hand for a moment. ]

It's all in these fists of mine, baby. [ Closing his hand and brushing along the side of Jim's face with the feather light touch of his knuckles. ]

I hope to show you. Not just my jobs, but everything.

[ There's nothing dangerous. Just ignore the giant t-rexaur and whatever else that roams the lands. ]

What happened next after you got back with the map? [ His turn, right? ]

I want to see it. Everything - your school, your house, the T-board, the beach...

[ Everywhere Zell's been. Everything that made him Zell. Jim kissed Zell's fist, still grinning about the idea of him being good with his hands.

Zell's question brings him back down again. ]

They were waiting for me. Silver, the pirates. Had captured Doppler and the Captain and snatched the map as soon as I got there. They were too stupid to use it, though.

[ Stretching his fingers out after the kiss to poke Jim in the lips lightly. ]

You will. [ He's sure they could find a way to hit up both of their worlds. If they can be brought here, then the reverse has to be true. Visiting back and forth should also work! ]

I'll even let you in my room.

[ He doesn't like people in his room normally, but the idea of having Jim there is special.

Now they were swapping gears again, thanks to him nudging for more story time. ]

You weren't. [ Too stupid to use it. He's seen Jim look over a car magazine they found at the gas station and figure it all out. There is a feeling of pride growing steadily bigger inside of him. It's similar to the pride he has in his fighting capabilities. Pushing himself up for a moment to plant a kiss between Jim's eyebrows. ]

I wasn't. [ Jim's eyebrows smooth out under the kiss as he preens under Zell's pride. He knows Zell knows what he's talking about, has the know-how to judge his abilities and still thinks he's good. ] They held me them gunpoint until I opened it, but... by then I wanted to know what would happen, too. We'd come all that way.

[ The puzzle'd been the important thing, then. ]

When the map opened up, this time it gave us a line of light to follow all the way to the treasure.

[ Jim walks two fingers up Zell's shoulder to demonstrate following the line. ]

Tell me about your house? I want to imagine you in it.

[ That look goes straight to the heart. Giving a kiss against the tip of his nose as he returns to focusing on the story instead of just the cute boy at his side. He does react with an animated expression at the held at gun point, but manages to keep his mouth closed.

He wanted to know what'll happen. That earns a smile. Relaxing as he tries to imagine the line of light to follow. His imagination fell towards something from Esthar with it's blue lights and it's moving platforms. Moving his fingers to meet Jim's walking pair to mess with them a moment. ]

My house? [ Snagging Jim's hand to trace out the street. ] It's down the main road. At the corner where you start heading down to the Hotel and the docks... [ He draws a curve. ]

It's right there. A lot of the stuff has a curve. The doorways, windows, and some of the furniture. [ Drawing the arches now and designs. ]

You walk in and to the left is the kitchen. To the right is a long table where Ma has plants and a large seashell to keep baubles in. Further in on the left are the stairs to the bedrooms. Mine is at the very top of the steps. [ He draws a small spiral for the stairs. ]

I have a smaller punching back and a closet to the left. Then my bed is against the wall. [He draws an "L" shape for the walls. ] Have a built in bookcase there at my bed. [ The he draws the slant for next wall, followed by a straight line for the one after that. ] I have a dresser here. My grandpa's guns, picture and flags are above that.

[ Then drawing his large punching bag followed by his curving desk. ] I have another punching bag then my desk.

[ Jim listens raptly, filling in all the little details with his mind as he imagines Zell running up adn down that street, showing off and getting into trouble. He watches as Zell sketches out the curve of the road and the shape of the buildings, imagines a kitchen not too different from his own.

Something Zell says brings a little grin to Jim's face, but he doesn't interrupt until Zell's totally done. ]

Two punching bags?

[ Yep, that's another question. Nope, Jim doesn't care. ]

Two. [ Drawing a two now as he grins. Time to share some knowledge! ] A smaller one hangs high on the ceiling. It's for speed. The other is a heavy bag. That one is used to help strengthen.

[ Moving to curl Jim's hands closed into a fist. Then he's bringing it to his lips to kiss the knuckles. ]

So, you were led to the treasure. What happens next?

Lots of training before you went to the garden, too, huh? [ Jim lets his knuckles be kissed, beaming, before he moves his hand to squeeze Zell's bicep. It is very impressive, and maybe Zell can pick up on the thought by the way Jim's mouth quirks and his eyebrows raise. ]

After that... it actually lead us right to the middle of a cliff, in the middle of nowhere. They thought I was lying or stupid, but it was just another piece of the puzzle. Lucky I convinced them of that before I got thrown off a cliff.

I had to shove the map into a slot on the cliffside, and it opened this enormous door that would take you anywhere in the galaxy. We had to go through it to get to the center of the planet - that's where all the treasure was hiding.

Yup! Did I tell you I'm famous back home?

[ For all of his training. Flexing under Jim's squeeze to let him really feel it as he beams with pride. He's pretty happy with where he's at physically. ]

Like what you see?

[ What do you mean pick something up? He does figure it's a positive reaction, but hearing it from Jim's mouth would be better.

And he really wishes he could have seen Jim solve it and showing those stupid pirates how great he is.

But he's going to focus on something pretty interesting. ]

Anywhere anywhere? Whoa. That sounds amazing.

Am I going to have to compete with all your fans? [ Jim's not really serious, though the thought that he really doesn't deserve this boy does flash across his mind again. ] Of course I like it. I like you.

[ Maybe that will settle any questions Zell has. ]

And yeah. Anywhere. We saw stuff that was across the entire galaxy - I even got to program it to show Montressor.

[ He thinks about it before shaking his head. ]

Nah. They just know me as a rambunctious rascal. I climbed up on this sign that hangs over town and did one hundred pull-ups on it.

[ Which is pretty impressive given the height. Zell is positively beaming at the liking it and that Zell likes him. ]

I like you, too. [ And he's finding he looks forward to waking up to find Jim there every morning. To be able to just reach out and touch him when he wants to. It's been pretty amazing. ]

Man, that must have been awesome. Being about to just jump any where in the universe. [ And he wonders for a moment if it's possible to jump between universes with it. ]

How did it work? How did you pick where to go?

Heh. Could't picture it.

[ Yep, Jim's teasing again. He can picture it perfectly clearly, the same way he can see Zell joining him in roof-climbing shenanigans. ]

The map was... [ Jim pauses, aware that he hasn't actually seen a hologram since he got here. ] Do you have holograms back home? Little light projections?

Guess you'll have to wait for me to show you in person.

[ He'll do a repeat performance and everything.

Nodding his head. ]

Yeah, we do. Not really common, but a few places have them. They are pretty cool.

Yeah. The map was like that - projected a map of the whole galaxy.

[ Jim sounds faint and distracted because he's currently trying to push away an image of Zell doing pull-ups shirtless and flushes. Then remembers he doesn't actually have to, anymore, because they're dating. This is a date.

With a shy grin, he asks: ]

Going to do it in your tank top?

[ Turning his body towards Jim as he gives a smile. Reaching over to poke him in a nose gently. The flushing is adorable, but he's not really sure why he's making that face. ]

It is easier that way. [ Then taking a little risk ] I can do it without a shirt, too. [ Not that it's anything new to Jim since they hooked up, while Zell was shirtless. Does that count as a question from Jim? ]

Man, though. A projected map of the whole galaxy sounds amazing. [ Probably much better than the hand made star projector he made. Laying back down flat on his back as he connects some of the stars with a finger ] How much loot was there in the center?

[ Nothing new - Jim had seen Zell bathing and training long before they started dating - but it doesn't make it any less interesting than it had been the first time Jim got to see. ]

A lot. More than anybody could ever spend. More than a hundred people could ever spend. What's in my bag is going to rebuild my whole house.

[ Jim's excited about that, sure, but he's also thinking about something else. He gives the skin of Zell's collarbone the lightest of pinches. ]

Would you do it shirtless if you had marks?

Whoa! Sounds like that would have been a sight.

[ He can't even begin to imagine it. More than a hundred could ever spend, and he's seen what people could spend and build.

Snagging the pinching culprit to bring to his mouth. Pressing a kiss against them. ]

Going to pinch me all over? [ Those kinds of marks? ]

Not really what I had in mind.

[ Jim lets himself be distracted, though, with Zell kissing his hand. ]

It was beautiful. So distracting that we didn't realize we'd set off the booby trap until too late.

[ Booby traps. He's reminded once more how fortunate he is that Jim actually lived through that whole thing. ]

What kind of booby trap and- [ Tugging up his own shirt to expose his stomach. ] what kind of marking did you have in mind?

A tripwire that set off an -

[ Jim bites his own lip and closes his eyes rather than stare. ]

- explosive -

[ Oh boy. He started this, it was his fault. ]

- in the planet's...

[ Try again later, Jim's lost his train of thought. ]

[ Uh oh. ~~He broke the boyfriend.~~ Looking at Jim curiously. The lip biting is distracting on it's own. Reaching over to place a hand on Jim's chest, brushing his thumb over where his heart is. ]

In the planet's? You okay, Stars?

Yep.

[ More than okay, but Jim's still reaching out a hand to pull Zell's top back down before he looks again. ]

-In the planet's core. It set off a chain reaction.

[ Don't like the stomach? Zell is looking down as Jim does it. Putting his own hand over Jim's to keep it in place. ]

Whoa. [ That's in response to the planet core. ] The whole thing was man made, huh? Man, just think of the work it would take to make your own planet. [ Or hollow one out to make it more machine. Rolling over partially to throw a leg over one of Jim's and rest his head on his shoulder. He's careful of certain places. ]

How long did it take until things went to hell?

It's not something just anybody could do in my world. Wish I knew who built them. [ Jim, too, can't imagine the kind of machines it must've taken to build something that massive and intricate.

Depending on how Zell throws himself, he can probably feel exactly what Jim thought of his abs. ]

Maybe fifteen minutes? Me and B.E.N. were trying to rig a boat to escape when we realized what was going on.

Maybe you'll figure it out. Wouldn't that be cool? [ Then he pauses. ] And being able to travel to any world.

[ His eyes widens as he thinks about it. They could visit each other. They could go on dates on each others' worlds.

He's not going to let on if he feels anything happy to have so close. ] Rigging a boat? [ ALSO TELL HIM ALL ABOUT BEN :D ]

-Any world?

[ Jim's catching onto the idea, and he's distracted from his story. Zell's gone way too long without having to answer any questions, anyway. ]

Mm. Where do you think you'd go, if you could?

[Whoops. Not that Zell really minds. ]

Your world. I have to meet your mom, right?

[ He has to make a good impression ~~so he can marry her son~~. And then thinking about it as lines the pads of his fingers up with each of Jim's. Pressing his palm against his as he smiles at the differences. ]

After that I think I would like to visit everyone we met here. Go visit their worlds and meet their friends.

There'd be so much to see.

[ Not necessarily visiting, but just the sheer idea of an unknowable number of universes spread out for the taking. ]

We could probably spend the rest of our lives wandering through them and never get bored.

[ He doesn't miss that we there. It actually feeds his excitement as he puts his arm across Jim's chest to plant his chin there. Beaming down at his ~~new body pillow~~Jim. ]

Could you just imagine? What if we went to Emmanellain and Haurchefant's world? It would be a world full of knights and stuff.

[ Which is pretty cool and something he does remember being into as a kid. Thinking about it, he decides to give Jim a freebie. ]

You know, we used to watch this movie in the orphanage.

[ Jim is an excellent body pillow, he doesn't even seem to mind Zell's chin being pointy. Instead he raises both eyebrows, urging Zell to go on. ]

Yeah? What was it about?

One of the good Sorceresses in history and her knight. Maaaan, I still can't believe the actor turned out to be Laguna.

[ He's shaking his head with a little smile. ]

It's one of the few things I can remember from then. We used to watch this movie all the time. There's this scene where the knight encounters a red dragon. It turns out that the dragon was frickin' real! It wandered on the set without the actors even knowing.

[ Jim is sitting up quickly enough to move the tent a little when hi head hits the top. ]

A dragon.

[ That's not even a question, it's just a statement. That statement sounds an awful lot like 'bullshit.' ]

[ Jim sitting up means Zell loses his pillow. Carefully sitting up himself as he tries to figure out what Jim means by that. ]

Yeah, a dragon. Do they exist where you're from? [ He knows in Zack's world they do. Also Haurchefant's world! ]

They're just fairytales.

[ Like Treasure Planet, actually. So- ]

At least, as far as I know. Dragons. [ The last of this is more Jim talking to himself than talking to Zell. ] Why is everything about you so cool?

[ The excitement is contagious. Reaching up to poke Jim in the nose as he grins. ]

That means you're cool, too. [ Since everything about Zell is cool, that covers his boyfriend. Right? ]

You have actually gone in space. [ Also took on pirates. That's super cool. ]

Thank you for making me cool.

[ Jim says, looking solemn before he cracks a grin. ]

Space was pretty great, but you're gonna see it one day. Then what will I do?

[ Snickering as he shakes his head. ] You were pretty cool long before I came around. I just help enhance it. [ Stretching out as best as he could in the tent before he moves to plop his head on Jim's leg. ]

You'll just have to keep taking me to new and exciting places after that.

[ Jim's still, watching, before he grins and rests a hand in Zell's hair. ]

-Guess so. I'll have to be pretty creative, right? What kind of places do you want to go?

[ That feels nice. Tipping his head to press a kiss against Jim's pants as he sighs contently. ]

Places you've been. Where you grew up and played. Your favorite spot to solar surf. Then we'll find some where new!

[ He draws a trail with his fingers against Jim. ]

Too bad we can't see Treasure Planet.

Plenty of other galaxy out there to see.

[ Jim's fingers intersect Zell's, drawing him down a different path. ]

Other pirates to fight, if you wanted to. Treasures to find.

[ Bumping his fingers against Jim's as he grin. Looking up to watch their fingers a moment. It's nice being able to forget all the things and remember he has a boyfriend. He actually has a boyfriend. Tomorrow, they would have been dating for two whole weeks. And they met each other over a month ago. ]

Guess it's good I have someone who's dealt with pirates at my side. [ Jim, the pirate expert. ]

What about creatures? Anything cool?

I'll protect you.

[ Yep, Jim's mocking himself a little, and teasing Zell. ]

Just about any kind of creature you could imagine. What kind would you like to see?

I believe it. [ Untangling their fingers to reach up and poke one of Jim's arms. ] You've got the guns for it, man.

[ Grinning as he lays his hand flat on his stomach now. ]

Something that you can only find in space.

If not, there's always the canons.

[ Jim flexes his arms anyway. What flexible sticks. ]

The orcas galactucus was pretty cool. You know, as long as you don't get too close.

[ ~~Swoon.~~

Orcas? As in whales? [ Does. Does he have whales in space? ]

What happens in you get close?

Space whales.

[ Even Jim's pretty amazed by those; he knew they existed, sure, but seeing them in person? Totally different. ]

Space whales with blowholes.

Whoa! That's amazing! Are there space dolphins, too? What about crabs?

[ Not counting psycho lobster of course. ]

Are they huge? Did you get pretty close?

Didn't really run into any, but they're out there. Had to scrape a ton of barnacles off the bottom of the ship, though.

[ Space barnacles. Figure that one out, Zell. ]

The whales came right up to the side of the ship. I was up in the rigging, but Doctor Doppler got a face-full of gunk.

Edited 2017-03-30 07:22 (UTC)

[ Space barnicles. How does that even happen? ]

Do you tether yourself to the ship to clean them off?

[ That sounds amazing and a little terrifying. Since SPACE. Walking his fingers up Jim's stomach to rest it against his chest. ]

Face-full of gunk, huh? [ What...gunk do they push out if they aren't in the water? Space dust?

Rolling over and scooting up to rest his chin on Jim's belly. Looking up at him. ] Bet it was amazing out there. Even with the the danger of space gunk.

[ Jim makes a motion with his hand like something exploding in Zell's face. Face full of gunk! ]

Nah, no tether. Just sent a board over the edge on two ropes and a pulley.

[ TOTALLY SAFE. ]

View would've been great but I wasn't paying attention.

[ Does Jim need a reminder of how badass he actually is? Cause Zell is making a noise ]

Whoa! Just that? Weren't you afraid of falling off?

[ It doesn't seem sturdy and he already heard about what happened with old psycho lobster. Rubbing his face against Jim's stomach. This is actually softer than he thought it would be! ]

Maybe we should try it. Sneak on down to check out the view.

[ Just making a list of things they should see and do. ]

What was the best time you had on the ship?

Silver would've caught me. Probably.

[ Jim doesn't sound terribly concerned about that, though he's picked up on how impressed Zell is.

-The face on his stomach derails his train of thought entirely and it takes him a little too long to stutter out a response. ]

Us? Uh -

[ Jim stops and clears his throat. ]

We can take a skiff. Get further out that way, and faster.

That was one of the best times. Chasing a comet. The others... he used to tell these crazy stories, you know?

Probably? [ Just going to look skeptical for a moment. Though now Jim sounds different for some reason? He's stuttering.

Looking up at Jim from his new pillow with a raise brow.

Where ever his boyfriend's brain is, the expression on his face is pretty cute. ]

Wait. You chased a comet? Out in space on a skiff? [ Why does Jim not think of himself as amazing? ]

Sounds like you two got pretty close on the trip there. [ Which falls into weirdo grey area category again. He remembers when they talked about him after everyone had a tailor made monster after them. ]

[ Jim's still blinking down at him looking flushed when Zell looks up, but he does sound a little more normal. ]

Yeah. I guess you can't do that kind of thing in your world, huh?

[ What with the whole... can't breathe in space thing. Seriously, everyone else got a raw deal on that. ]

Me and Silver happened to catch one when we were out in the skiff. He let me drive.

I'd never really been that close to anyone outside my mom. Do you have someone like that?

[ He relaxes as Jim's voice turns more normal. ]

Nothing that you can chase.

[ He has magic that lets him summon space rocks to fall on an enemy, but he's too busy trying to imagine how it must be.

Jim's question has him thinking again. ]

Do bosses count? I worked part time for a mechanic down the street. Didn't really get that close to any other adult. A lot of them stick their nose in your business to make sure you're behaving, but that's it.

[ Thinking about it. ]

How far can you get on a skiff?

Heh. You're not wrong about that. Even Silver... man, for a pirate, he was a hardass, you know? Guess it was part keeping me busy.

He did let us take the skiff pretty far out. You could go as far as the wind would take you, but you don't want to get too far from the ship or you'd be left behind.

[ Jim takes Zell's hands and feels over them again, the calluses on the inside rather than the outside this time. ]

What did you do for the mechanic?

I helped out with engine maintenance and did errands for them.

[ Getting parts from down the street or helping lift things. Nothing exciting. ]

So, what happened next? You guys made it to the treasure room.

[ He hasn't forgotten where they left off at. ]

Here I was hoping you got distracted.

[ Jim reaches out to wrap his hand around Zell's wrist, squeezing just a little. ]

They forgot all about me in the rush. They also forgot to check for tripwires. By the time anyone realized, it was already too late. The planet was melting.

It'll take a lot more than that to distract me.

[ Like maybe Jim's face being low on Zell...much like Zell's is right now. Not that it's intentional as he rubs his face against Jim's shirt to help stifle a yawn. ]

Man, you would think pirates would know about traps or something.

[ Must have been some loot. ]

What did you do next?

[ Jim's not even sure why that inspires the feelings it does. He makes a noise low in his throat and shakes his head. ]

There was a skiff in t he hoard, I guess one of Flint's that he used to come in and out. I hotwired it, but by the time it was working Silver'd caught up to us.I got thrown off the boat, he didn't. That was when I thought I was gonna die.

[ Too early to explore that just yet.

There's a lot to be impressed by. That Jim managed to avoid death once again. He thought to hotwired a ship to get out of there. ]

Thought you were going to die? Was it high off the ground? Or was everything melting already?

Everything was melting and the ground was kind of... coming apart. [ He sketches it with his hands, the way the pieces of the planet's core had drifted from one another. ] There was plasma down below. I slid off one and was just hanging onto the side. Would've fallen in, but I guess Silver had a change of heart.

Whoa! What. What's the count on the times of you almost biting it?

[ Nuzzling against his stomach and then pressing a kiss against the fabric there. ]

Man, it's making me realize more and more just how lucky I am. [ He could have lost him, lost this without ever knowing it. ]

Oh! That's what you meant by him saving your life. [ Right? ]

Heh. Three or four? Story's not over yet.

[ Jim hadn't really had the time to think about that, not when most of them happened so close together and then he'd woken up here. ]

I'm the one that's lucky. Pretty sure you've lived through a lot more than me.

[ Thankfully he doesn't think about how that implies there may be ANOTHER TIME OF ALMOST DEATH. Not yet at least. Beaming up at Jim as he moves to fold an arm under his own chin. ]

I had friends to back me up.

[ Friends that weren't cute blobs or those who shouldn't be named. ]

I'm listening, Stars. What's next?

[ Jim gives Zell a slightly sardonic look, but well. He wasn't wrong about the friends. ]

After that we managed to get back on the ship, but there was a problem: we couldn't move fast enough to clear the explosion in time. I had an idea, though - the door that lead to the treasure could be reprogrammed, take us all over the galaxy. We just had to change it in time.

[ He didn't mean it like that. He meant the whole, had a bunch of people fighting at his side. While Jim was practically solo there.

He does lift his brows at the look trying to figure it out. ]

Wait. You had to go back to the door to the center that was melting everything. Were you scared? What was your plan?

[ He feels a creeping kind of on-the-edge-of-your-seat kind of feeling. ]

Terrified. Don't tell anybody I said that.

[ Jim admitting it is for Zell's ears only. He presses a finger to Zell's lips to emphasis the point. ]

But someone had to do it, and nobody was really listening. Silver helped me weld a thruster onto a piece of scrap, and it worked well enough as a surfer.

[ Pressing his lips against that finger. ]

Your secret is safe with me.

[ Not that it'll be hard to keep it a secret. Zell thinks it's incredibly brave Jim did it even knowing he was afraid. That's incredible and he feels himself growing even more in pride and fondness for his boyfriend. ]

Whoa. So you just rigged yourself a hover board?! [ He's impressed. Stop impressing him so much dude. Shifting to brace his hands on either side of Jim as he pushes himself up higher. Just high enough to kiss Jim's chin. Just going to hold himself over Jim, keeping a few inches above him. ]

That's one way to make 'em listen.

[ Jim relaxes his hand when Zell kisses it, and moves up to brush across Zell's tattoo again. He trusts Zell to keep his secrets. ]

A surfer, yeah.

[ Jim sounds a little breathless; it's hard not to with Zell on top of him this way. ]

Yeah, they got it eventually. Went through just as the whole thing exploded. And then a few hours later I woke up here.

[ He really wants to distract him. Kiss Jim until neither of them can think or breathe, but he also really wants to hear the story. Hear the ending before Jim can scatter his thoughts or try to get him to forget. Turning his head into the touch. Carefully to avoid bumping the light, he settles down beside Jim. Letting a leg settle over one of his and his arm against his chest as he helps himself to using Jim's shoulder as a pillow.

And record scratch. ]

Wait wait. Just that? Whole thing exploded and a few hours? Nothing else?

[ Explosions are really, really cool, but is there more? ]

What happened to Silver? Was he locked up? Did you guys make it home immediately? How dangerous was it to try to click the right place in the door?

[ Jim shakes with laughter underneath him, unable to help himself. ]

That's a lot of questions!

[ And a lot of things he doesn't really want to talk about, but it's Zell. ]

You're gonna owe me big.

[ Snickering. ]

What can I say? I want to know about you.

[ Everything. All the things that make Jim Jim. All the scars inside and out. Just... everything. ]

Whatever you want. I'll give it to you.

[ Several different things flash through Jim's mind all at once. He takes a deep breath and lets it out. ]

We'll figure something out.

[ He rubs the back of his neck and looks up at the ceiling. ]

I almost didn't make it back to the door. The thruster we used for the surfer gave out over a crevice in the ground and I was nearly toast. I guess that's number three?

[ He can think of things he wouldn't mind trying... He does write off the breathing and looking up as just recalling the events instead of anything else popping up.

Drawing a circle on Jim's chest. ]

I know you will.

[ Grinning a bit as he presses a kiss against ~~the side of his nonboob~~ his shirt. ]

Just three? [ He'll worry about doing a count later. ] Did you fix it midair?

Kicked it until it worked again.

[ Jim's still paying more attention to Zell's hand - and his mouth - than the story. ]

Wish that worked here.

[ Zell doesn't know the power he possesses over Jim at the moment. He does draw a large board though as he tries to imagine what it looks like. Snickering as he looks up at Jim. ]

I'm sure we can find something for you to kick into working order. [ A pause. ] Or someone.

[ Thinking about how attractive he was when he stood up to Beckett. ] You are picking up moves fast.

There are definitely a few people I'd like to kick.

[ Both here and back in their respective worlds. ]

I've got a pretty good teacher.

[ Scooting up to nuzzle under Jim's chin. ]

Make a list. I can show you where to hit them.

[ Or at least prepare him for if he does wind up picking a fight with someone much bigger than he is. Pressing a kiss just under his jawline on his neck. ]

You make it pretty rewarding. [ Zell is beaming at the compliment. ]

What happened to Silver?

[ He remembers Jim being unsure of their friendship or whatever it is back before Cloud came back. ]

Think we'd probably get into some major trouble.

[ That's really not an objection on Jim's part. He may or may not be mentally drafting one right now. ]

Silver... The captain told him he'd go before a judge. [ Jim, unconsciously, touches his own neck. ] So I caught him trying to sneak off, later. Him and Morph.

Could be worth it.

[ He sees the touch and the meaning is clear. Pressing a kiss against his throat.

It's not hard for him to figure out what happens next. ]

You let him go.

[ Jim's throat works under Zell's lips as he swallows hard, past the lump that forms at the memory. ]

-Yeah, I did. He asked me to come with him, too. I thought about it.

[ Zell is trying to line that up with if Seifer asked him to come, but he would say no frickin' way.

Maybe comparing Silver to Matron or Cid would be better? It works better, in a way that still doesn't fit into any clear places.

He's quiet for a moment as tries to wrap it around before finally asking ] What did you say to that?

I thought about it.

[ It's quiet, and there's a pause like he's waiting for Zell to judge him. ]

It sounds nice, doesn't it? No expectations. No rules. Just taking whatever you want and going wherever you want and doing whatever you want without worrying about anybody else.

[ Thinking about the no rules or expectations is hard. Zell's whole life consists of rules and expectations. Have to maintain the reputation of being SeeD and everything with that.

This place is closer to that. No rules or expectations from anyone really.

Then he'll make a noise as he realizes that for someone who feels like they let people down a lot, it would be nice.

Scooting up to press a kiss against Jim's cheek. ]

Yeah, it might be nice. Never really thought about it before, Stars. [ A part of him wonders if it would be nice with Jim. Like after all of this place, it could be nice to just not worry about anything for a while. ]

Really? Never?

[ Jim's spent so much time thinking about it he can't imagine not daydreaming of freedom sometimes.

He strains to look down at Zell. ]

No orders. No worrying about letting anyone else down. No cops or - or teachers telling you where you could ride or where we could ...

[ The thought stutters out. He doesn't have the words for 'make out' yet. ]

... could do this.

Never. I couldn't wait to get into Garden and make SeeD. [ Thinking aout it again as he nuzzles against Jim's cheek. ]

Could also be because I didn't have a lot of expectations growing up. My ma was good with whatever I decided.

[ Walking his hand up to put his hand on Jim's cheek to turn his face towards him. ]

This?

Not surprised. You're good at it.

[ Good, in general, Jim thinks. At everything.

He shifts around until they're in a better position for this, Jim flat on his back and Zell on top of him. ]

-This. Not good for the garden's reputation, right?

[ If he's trying to distract him, then it works. Back on top again and already leaning close to brush his lips against the corner of Jim's mouth to tease a little. This whole making out and having a boyfriend thing has been pretty great. He still feels giddy and fluttery on the inside when they get close and on the verge of wanting to go a litter further, but holding back because it's still early. They can take their time figuring it all out.

He's also hoping they can keep going like this long term. To give it his all to keep Jim coming back for more.

Thinking about the Garden's reputation for a moment before shaking his head. ]

I already made SeeD. So long as I'm not doing this in the middle of the hallway, then I don't think they'll care.

[ Maybe. Pressing his mouth on the other side of his face. ]

What about you? What about your world? Is this good?

We could always try it and find out.

[ Zell's giddiness is catching, apparently, or maybe it's just the position they're in.

Jim makes a thoughtful noise and tips his head, trying to give a serious answer. ]

It happens, you know? Some people don't like it and nobody ever really talks about it, but...

[ He shrugs as much as Zell's weight will allow. He doesn't think he'd mind making a big show out of it. ]

If you were a girl we probably shouldn't be doing this.

[ Bumping their noses together as he keeps his mouth barely an inch away from Jim's. Placing his arms on either side of his head to tangle his fingers in his hair. ]

Yeah, we can. We can try it as much as you would like. [ And in as many places possible. Brushing his lower lip against Jim's. ]

Are there more rules about dating a girl?

Hmm.

[ Jim thinks he'd like to try a lot, especially since it seems like people would kick up less of a fuss in Zell's world.

He snorts at the question. ]

Well. Don't have to worry about your reputation. Or... you know.

[ He glances down at Zell's stomach, or maybe something else. ]

A baby.

[ He starts to follow Jim's look down, and figures it's probably the stomach. It does bring his mind back down into places neither of them are ready yet. Instead of answering, he steals a quick kiss. ]

Wouldn't care about my rep anyways.

[ Not after this. Not after knowing how this feels. ]

Heh. Well, mine's already pretty bad.

[ Back home, Jim means. He's laughing about it right now, though. ]

You're pretty upstanding. Maybe people will think you're a good influence.

Not that upstanding. They think the only reason I became SeeD because they just judged on strength alone.

[ Which is a biiiiiiig no. Despite the topic though, he's smiling along. Fingers tangling in Jim's hair as he gives him another kiss. There is something amazing about this. A kind of warmth to this whole moment. ]

You know, I like this expression.

Then they don't know a thing about you.

[ And now the amused expression is turning a bit mullish. Dumbasses who don't appreciate Zell are both dumb and asses.

It's hard to stay fierce in a moment like that, though, so Jim just vows to appreciate Zell enough to make up for all those people.

Except: ]

-It's just my face.

[ Sucks for Jim because that expression is cute, too. Reaching up to try to smooth his eyebrows. ]

You were laughing.

[ Bumping noses as he grins. After the day they had, it's amazing to just forget it all and be able to smile like this. That all worries and all the bad is outside of the tent just for this moment. ]

This one is good, too.

[ Giving him a lingering kiss this time. ]

If I knew making faces at you was all it took -

[ Jim takes a moment to steal another lingering kiss in the middle of his sentence, because it's just that important. ]

- Would've done it ages ago.

[ As soon as he's done talking, Zell kisses him again. He's hooked on the taste and the feel. ]

And the hand holding.

[ Jim's expressions really did help endear him to Zell. Also him trying his best and exploring options despite the danger. Sliding his fingers through his hair as he gives him a slower and much longer kiss. It's nice. All of this is nice. ]

Remember when we were styling our hair the first time?

It's still on my tablet.

[ Jim hasn't set it - or anything sentimental - as his background. He doesn't want anyone looking at his tablet to know that much about him. But he he keeps it in a folder he can get to quickly and looks at it, sometimes. ]

Wouldn't mind doing that again. Not... the dressing up like Zack part.

Maybe I'll style your hair like mine.

[ He messes Jim's hair up to see if he can get it up into an appropriate crest. ]

Or maybe we can style it like Kunsel's?

[ Laughing softly at the thought. ]

[ It's pretty long these days, but Zell might be able to manage it. ]

As long as you're playing with it, I don't care.

Even if I add bows?

[ Brushing his lower lip against Jim's. Cupping the side of his face instead as he settles his weight on Jim. ]

Are you going to grow it out?

Maybe. It'd be easier than trying to keep it cut.

[ Jim shifts around to make sure Zell's balanced comfortably on top of him. ]

What do you think?

[ Careful with the shifting, Jim. ]

It could work. We can pull it back in a ponytail.

[ He tugs it back and finds that it might be a little hot. Giving him another kiss. ]

What about mine? Think I need a trim?

[ He's already beating Cloud with his crest. ]

[ Jim is mostly discovering that he really, really likes it when Zell plays with his hair. Maybe uncomfortably so.

He blinks up at Zell and shakes his head. ]

Maybe when you've got too much to spike it.

[ Until then, though, Jim likes it long. ]

You look good either way.

[ Beaming at the compliment. Jim, you're bias ]

If I grew it out, I might have to wear it back.

[ Then he tilts his head a little as he looks at Jim. Checking his features out slowly and taking it all in. Little marks, the shape of his eyebrows, and everything. ]

Has anyone ever told you your eyes are pretty?

Huh.

[ Jim pulls back Zell's hair to consider it and decides that yeah, that would be acceptable. ]

Looks pretty good. Not as cool as your spikes, but I can play with it this way.

[ The hair gel is inconvenient like that.

Jim blinks back at Zell, feeling himself be studied, and then looks away. ]

-I promise, nobody's ever told me my anything is pretty.

I guess I'm your first then.

[ Beaming with pride over that for a moment, and then brushing his lips against Jim's. ]

I can tell you what else I find nice.

[ Might be obvious from how he can't seem to manage longer than a minute without going for a kiss. ]

Is there anything you regret?

[ Your first makes Jim's heart stutter for a moment. He has a second of being so indescribably happy that all he can do is smile and bump their foreheads together, because what else can he say?

It all comes crashing down a second later; Zell's question is like a bucket of ice water. ]

-About this?

[ Whoops. That was probably a dumb place to ask or let his mind wander about their earlier topic. Taking a moment to kiss Jim to reassure him. ]

No, not this. I mean your adventure before here. Before us.

[ Jim chases the kiss with a few more, just to be completely sure, but after that he sits up and puts a little distance between them. ]

I... don't really know. I regret getting fooled. Regret Mister Arrow dying, not that I could've stopped it.

[ Already missing the contact, but not going to try to regain it. Reaching up to brush his knuckles against Jim's cheek. ]

The first mate? [ Tracing along his jawline ]

There was a lot happening with the black hole. You were doing your best, Stars. [ Being put in charge of the crews lives and securing their lines. He knows Jim wouldn't slack off on such a task. ]

Yeah, the first mate.

[ Jim knows he did his best, now. It had been Scroop that ruined everything. ]

He was a good man.

[ Leaning close to kiss his cheek. ~~going to die without kissing him for long~~. Combing his fingers through his hair. ]

Yeah? Any stories there?

[ Jim can think of better uses for Zell's hands.

In fact, he's reaching back to capture it in his hand and hold it there, because it belongs to him now. ]

-Nah. Not any fun ones. He was kind of a hard-ass, too. Don't think he liked me much.

[ He's willingly captured. Leaning close to press a kiss against the tip of Jim's nose. ]

Yeah, I know the type. [ Still can't imagine anyone not liking Jim though. Moving his free arm to hook around Jim's back. ]

What was the crew like? Besides being blood thirsty and back stabbing.

Weird.

Like, I grew up my whole life around spacers, but these guys were weird. There was a guy who spoke in farts.

[ Jim pauses. ]

It was hilarious until he had the berth above mine.

[ He can't keep a straight face at the farts part. ]

Really? In farts? From his butt?!

[ Dropping his forehead to Jim's shoulder as he laughs. ]

That must have sucked when people tried talking to him.

[ He can't. He can't even imagine the smell and being in a confined space. ]

In farts.

[ Jim can't help but laugh too, though he tries to cover for it. ]

He had these... tubes on his back that he could blow through to make noises. The part that really sucked was that he snored.

So you had to hear that all night?

[ Laughing. Oh my god, that's terrible. ]

Is it worst or better than the snoring from the others here?

[ Zack's snoring and Mochi's morning breath can be bad. ]

Zack's snoring doesn't smell.

[ Really, it's more terrible than anything Zell could imagine. ]

They all smelled though. The whole... cabin. It was bad.

No baths or anything on the ship?

[ How did you keep clean? ]

Guess it's good you like sleeping with me, huh.

[ He means it innocently cause they aren't there yet. But he does keep himself decently cleaned. ]

You smell good.

[ Most of the time, anyway; sometimes things get a little gross between being able to do laundry.

Right now, he smells good. ]

There were baths, they were just... pirates.

[ Beaming up at him. Then he's going to lean in close to smell Jim. Hey bb lemme whisper in yo ear. ]

You smell good, too. [ Even if he does snore and drool. Reaching over to hook his hands in Jim's belt to pull him close. ]

So smelly and gross? Were they all alies?

None of them were human.

[ Which is what people around here seem to mean by alien. ]

None of 'em were even the same species as each other.

[ He tilts his head and then realizes whoops. ]

I guess it's different when everyone is from different worlds, huh?

[ Even Jim. Leaning forward to press a kiss against the tip of his nose. ]

Must have been something to see. I'm used to just seeing... [ Gestures between them. ] Humans.

[ Brushing the back of his knuckles against Jim's cheek. ]

Doesn't it get boring?

[ Jim doesn't mind being surrounded by humans - it let him find Zell, and he doesn't know that he ever would've had something like this back home - but he likes meeting people so different he doesn't even know what they are. ]

Everyone looking and sounding the same?

Everyone looking and sounding the same?

[ ~~dats racist jim~~ ]

I don't think we all look the same. [ Reaching up to try to spike his own hair. ]

Do I look like Zack or Kunsel?

[ And then he thinks of something! ]

We have Shumi people up north. Also Moombas but they might be related to Shumi.

You look a lot more like them than you do the Doppler or Silver.

[ Not... that Zell would know what any of them look like. ]

the Shumi are the mushroom guys, right?

[ You sure there isn't a resemblance to Doppler at all?

He's already thinking of the cyborg. He looked... human-ish? There were some odd things. ]

What does Doppler look like?

[ And then thinking about it. ]

They do look a little like them. Do you know what a mole is?

Do you have dogs on your world?

[ Yes, this is a relevant question. ]

And yeah, we've got moles. They're mole people?

Yeah, I do. My friend owns one.

[ And thinking about it. ]

Pretty close to moles. They live underground and their faces have these wrinkles. [ Tracing out lines on Jim's face. Poking the tip of his nose with his thumb as he smiles fondly. He really can't get enough of how cute Jim is. That he actually has a boyfriend. ]

[ Jim tilts his head up and bites the end of his thumb, then lets it go quickly. ]

Doppler's... kind of a dog person.

[ Actually a dog person. ]

Amelia's a cat. Silver's a bear.

[ ~~He has much better things for biting~~.

That earns a fond look. His thumb must regain it's honor by poking Jim's mouth.

Then both eyebrows will rise as he thinks about BEAR]

He's a bear?! [ Whoa. ] That explains the size. Man, bet he could pack a mean punch if he wanted to.

[ Or shove. His attention is on his boyfriend's lips though. There's a feeling there and he's not really sure what to make of it. Like he wants to test Jim's limits again to see what he could do.

He doesn't though. He doesn't want Jim moving away again. It's warm in the tent, more than he's used to, but it's nice. ]

Doppler is your mom's friend? And Amelia is the Captain, right?

[ Jim catches the look, and he wants to push the limits a little, too.

He behaves, though, and settles for licking his lip and taking a deep breath. ]

Yeah, that's right.

His arm turns into a freaking canon, though, so I don't know if he'd even bother with a punch.

[ Jim, that doesn't help at all. Just going to swallow, not sure what he wants with that mouth, but knowing he wants it. Sliding his hand up to cup the side of his face. ]

Wait. A freaking canon? Really? I know I saw something on his arm, but I didn't know it could do that.

[ That's...pretty cool. ]

I didn't either. [ Jim lets Zell feel his face for a moment, enjoying it, before taking his hand and marking off just below the elbow. This might be an excuse to trace his skin. ] It's hollow, two pieces going right here, and pieces swing in and out of it. Like an army knife. He stuck one down into his leg and came out with a canon.

[ Jim's touches leave a warm trail in their wake. He wants to feel more of it, his hand moving to rest on Jim's leg for a moment to try to trace out where the canon can be. ]

Here?

[ Then thinking about it. ] Must have been heavy. Did you ever get a close look at it? [ You know when you weren't stabbing it or staring down the barrel. ]

Not really. I wish, but by the time I realized it was there he was shooting it at our head.

[ Jim huffs, sounding offended by that. ]

Maybe if we meet again.

[ A part of him really doesn't want them meeting again. At the same time, maybe that'll help clear things up for Jim. Draw some lines or something. Walking his fingers up Jim's leg and then skipping where it connects to the hip to put his hand on Jim's waist. ]

That wouldn't be enough time to figure it out.

[ Brushing his thumb against Jim's side. ]

I could help you. If you really wanted to meet him again. I'm an Elite SeeD, remember?

Wouldn't forget.

[ Since Jim thinks it's basically the coolest thing he's ever heard, and it shows. ]

What are you gonna do? Punch him?

I wish.

[ Brushing his knuckles against Jim's cheek. ]

You wouldn't be happy if I did. He did save you after all. I just... he did point an arm canon at you.

[ Among other things. ]

You being happy is all that really matters, so I'll respect what you decide.

To be honest, he probably deserves it. Just don't want you hurting your hand.

[ Jim's not sure exactly how much metal Silver has under the skin of his face, considering his eye. ]

It's a mess.

[ Lifting up both of his hands to show Jim. ]

I can handle it.

[ He leans in close to steal a quick kiss once Jim is inspecting his hands. ]

I'm pretty strong. I punched a train before.

A what?

[ Yeah no not warning Zell about the metal in Silver's skull. He's been derailed. ]

[ Train. Silver skull. There's not much of a difference between them, right? ]

A train. [ This line of conversation requires his hands. So he's going to snag Jim's and close his fingers one by one until only the index fingers on each are out. Then he'll line them up so they are parallel. ]

It's a steam powered cart that runs on rails like this. [ Running his own fingers over the top of Jim's rails. ]

[ Both should totally break a sane person's hand, so nope, not that different! :D

Jim, still looking bemused, lets Zell use his hands as a ruler. ]

No, buddy, I know what a train is.

[ He turns his hands, holding onto Zell's. ]

Never heard of anybody needing to punch one before.

[ At least he had an excuse to play with Jim's hands. Sliding his fingers between his. ]

Sorry. Gotten used to try to explain them to people here.

[ These are his hands now. Pulling them close to press a kiss against the back of his palms.

Thinking for a moment. ]

I was pretty mad. Irvine, a friend of mine, just joined the group. He was going around trying to be some stupid big shot. Kept goofing off and flirting with the girls in the group.

[An attachment is being sent Jim's way. It's a picture of a dripping wet boyfriend with a towel wrapped around loosely around his hips. He's pretty warm looking from the hot water.]

Found another house with hot water.
Wish you were here, Stars.
❤❤❤

[His hair is still wet and it shows him out in a hallway. He's trying not to disturb Brian or Mochi with his message. He's leaning against the opposite wall from the window as he gives a smile to the tablet.]

Hey Stars, I don't know if you're awake still. [He looks down the hall for a moment or two.] I ran into Brian. I think he's asleep right now.

[There is a light shrug.] He wears a mask. Not like the one Tim wears. This one isn't really creepy. It's just black with a frown painted on.

[It's almost silly thinking about it. Ruffling his own hair a moment as he glances at the bottom corner of the screen.] I keep thinking you'll be here. That I'll reach out and be able to to touch you like I usually do. I keep thinking about the night before and how beautiful you were.

[He's giving a sad smile as he looks at the device's camera. He really misses Jim and he feels apprehensive not being able to actually feel him. He's at the hospital and his heart aches over that.]

Anyways, let me know if you're still up. If you aren't, then I'll see you later. [He's going to lean forward to bump his forehead against his tablet and whisper something that sounds like I love you before ending the message.]

[ Jim's hands clench down on the tablet as he listens to Zell's message. He's alone in a house with Brian, the guy who kidnapped Clayton and tried to stab Kunsel. Sure, he said he'd had good reasons, but who knew what those were in his head? He might decide Zell was a liar, or too valuable to let slip away, or any number of things. It's only knowing how strong and capable Zell is that makes Jim able to relax enough to listen to the rest of the message.

A mask, and Jim is picturing that creepy thing Tim wore in the shed outside the school, the strange tense night that seemed more like a dream than anything. Jim wants to be between it and Zell, but he's a day or more's travel away, locked in the echoing hospital.

That's why all he can do is listen in slightly pained silence as Zell talks about how beautiful he was. How badly he wants to reach out for Jim.

And then -

And then -

Jim's voice is scratchy and close to the microphone when he answers. ] What did you say, Sunshine?

[His heart leaps as he gets a response. He's honestly before surprised and happy that Jim is up still. Hearing him now is infinitely better compared to hearing him from the past.]

Hey, you. [His voice is full of affection.] Which part? Where I'm with Brian?

[He almost looks around for his masked friend as he says this. That's the only thing Jim would be getting clarification on, right?]

Hey.

[ Jim's still talking close to the microphone - close enough that the sound of his laughter causes staticky feedback. Of course Zell wouldn't get what he was asking or play dumb. But... Jim's pretty sure of what he heard. ]

No, I got that part. The... the end.

[He loves the way Jim laughs even with the static. Also, he loves the way Jim says hey. Smiling wide as he sits on the floor. Tracing the image he has up on the tablet carefully. It's screen that isn't really warm, but he has a lot of pictures stored. ]

The end? [He thinks about what he said. It wouldn't be the part on if he's still up or talking to him later. The only thing that makes sense is the very last part. Did Jim hear something else? Rubbing the back of his head as he leans back.] Do you mean the I love you? Did you hear something else?

Edited 2016-04-04 10:03 (UTC)

You mumbled. [ Jim's smiling shyly at the camera. He feels silly now that he's made Zell repeat it, but it was important to hear. It's the first time Zell's said it - the first time that anyone's said it to Jim outside his family - and just thinking about it makes his heart pound a little faster. Love seems big, and even scarier than the giant unnamed feeling it had been before Zell put a name to it. ] I really wanted to hear you say it out loud.

[It doesn't feel like the first time he's said it, but that's because he already used the word when talking to Zack. Whoops.] I will say it as many times as you wish, Stars. [And times he doesn't ask for it, but might need it. Or times that Zell just feels like saying it.

Pressing a kiss against the screen.] Sorry, can't really play anything. Might wake someone up getting my guitar. [That being Brian or the cat.]

[ It definitely feels like the first time for Jim, who's still looking somewhere between smug and poleaxed. So poleaxed that he's forgotten to say it back, but he won't realize that for a while yet. ]

You'll just have to save it for when we're in person. I expect a concert, maestro. Three instruments at once or my money back.

Don't think I've gotten the hang of playing three at once. Do you take other payment?

[Pausing as he dug through his pockets to pull out a kazoo.] I do have this. It's not very soothing though. [Giving a grin as he puts it on his mouth. Looking over to the door a moment. Who even knows if Brian sleeps, so he'll just hum a couple of notes into it. So romantic, right?]

Sounds like a guy I met once who talked like that. [ Well... not exactly like that, but Zell doens't need to know the details. It's probably enough that something about it is clearly amusing Zell. ] Either you've got to practice really hard, or we're gonna have to work something out.

[He's grinning a bit at that.] Yeah? I can do it when I wake you up in the morning if you like. [Is he serious? Is he teasing? The smile will probably say he's teasing, but he is giving a look that says he's considering it.] I'll do my best, but if your take kisses and back rubs for payment... [Then he might go with the payment option.]

If you're going to use it to wake me up, you're going to rack up some major debts, Mr. Dincht. [ The look Jim's giving Zell says that he knows Zell's joking, but also that he wouldn't put it past Zell to try it at least once. ] Shouldn't live beyond your means.

[Zell can think of some better ways to wake up his boyfriend that didn't involve the kazoo. Though Jim's words does make it a little tempting. He'll rub his chin in consideration for a moment before giving a coy look.]

Guess that would mean keeping me around for a long time until I pay you back, huh?

Guess so. No getting out of it, remember?

[ Jim holds the bracelet up to catch the tablet light, a visual reminder. ]

Just... as soon as you get back.

Is there going to be interest involved?

[Then he's going to smile at seeing the bracelet. Tracing it on the screen for a moment.]

Wouldn't even think about getting out of it, Stars. I'm all yours.

[For as long as Jim will have him. Holding up the bracelet Jim made him and placing a kiss against the coin.]

I'll make it back to you in one piece.

Good. That's a promise. [ Jim echoes the gesture and takes a deep breath. ] No big risks unless we can make them together.

[It's cute when Jim does it. He feels his heart ache watching the motion. Messing his own hair up as he smiles a bit.]

Speaking of risks, there is a lot of rubble that needs to be cleaned out here. We should come back. [There is a pause.] Enjoying the shower is a plus. [Sneaking peeks of his boyfriend in various stages of missing an article or more of clothing is definitely a plus. Flushing a little bit when he thinks that as he looks away.

Clearing his throat.]

Wha-what are you going to sing for me?

Zell. [ Yeah, Jim knows exactly what he's thinking about - at least, if he's flashing back to that night they'd taken a bath together, before they pierced Zell's ear. And it's not even fair to bring it up when Zell is days away and not right here where Jim can hold him. ] I'd like that.

[ He clears his throat and shakes his head. ] An old ballad. It's about a man who's going to be sacrificed to the devil if his lover doesn't hold on to him no matter what.

What? [Can you really blame a guy for thinking about his boyfriend naked? Sheepishly smiling as he looks back at the tablet's screen. It's not like he's sending Jim near nude photos of himself- oh wait. Already covered that earlier. Jim would like that. He looks happy that he still would like to clean up rubble and shower with him even after the path Zell's mind went.

And even more happy looking because Jim is actually going to sing for him.] Sounds good.

[ Jim opens his mouth and then closes it again, looking away. ]

-It's been a while. Promise not to make fun of me?

[He postures straightens as he gives him a salute.]

I promise I won't make fun of you.

At ease.

[ Jim kisses his fingertips and touches them to the tablet screen again before he clears his throat and starts to sing. His voice is nothing amazing, but it's a song he knows well and it makes the hospital seem just a little less oppressive and Zell just a little closer. ]

[Stop being so cute and far away. The kiss makes his heart do flips and ache all at once. They will have some making up to do as soon as they find each other again.

Bringing his knees up and resting his chin in his hand as he listens. He is so glad this is on video. Hes going to re-watch this probably for the rest of the night!

Once Jim is finished, he'll give a super adoring face. Jim could have a frog in his throat and Zell would still love his singing.]

Know another one?

Lots. [ He feels... intensely stupid singing to the tablet, but it's worth it to see that look on Zell's face. Jim wants to kiss him so badly it hurts, to tell him - to answer back that I Love You, in person, a thousand times over. ] Want an adventure or - uh, a love song?

[Lots, huh?] You should teach me all the songs you know some time. I can teach you how to play. [Play what might be the surprise. Maybe he'll pull the kazoo out just to tease.] Adventure. Save the love songs for when I can actually touch you.

you just want to see me blow something

I'd like that, when we have time between training. [ Or whenever Jim can distract Zell from training; he may already be plotting. ] Alright, one thrilling adventure yarn, coming right up.

[Bring on the distractions. It won't really work unless Jim decides to take off some layers of clothes.] I know you'll figure it out. You're a fast learner. [And he's very good with his hands. The same hands his own was missing. Grinning as he leans back to wait for the song. He really has the best boyfriend if he's willing to sing to him.]

[ A strip tease is a little advanced for him ~~unlike other shameless people Jim could name.~~ ] You're a good teacher.

[ Y'know, when Zell wasn't letting himself be distracted by his sometimes-lazy student. ] You'd be a good teacher one day.

[ It's soft, and the realization comes out of nowhere, but Jim thinks it's true. ]

[Zell might do one, but entirely on accident.] Huh? Really?

[Rubbing the back of his neck feeling pretty pleased and bashful as he grins.] Thanks. I do like teaching you. [It comes with a lot of rewards. He also likes sharing what he knows with others. It's been pretty exciting.

Thinking about being a teacher some day though... he could apply to being an instructor now that he's a SeeD. Even if he can't feel that victory because it's been taken from him, he still knows that's what he is.

Though he also wonders about Jim's world. Would that be something he could do there?]

I get to be Zack's teacher soon. He wants to become a mercenary. [So Zell will show him the ropes. :D]

A mercenary like you?

[ It's more thoughtful than an actual question. Jim's sure that Zell would teach him well, but in all honesty Jim would like both of them in a nice, boring job behind a desk.

Wouldn't be Zack, though, and it sure as hell wouldn't be his kick-butt boyfriend. That's why in the end Jim can only smile and hope one day Zell is ready to settle down and show someone else the ropes full-time. ]

I like learning from you. [ Jim's pretty biased, though. ] If he doesn't, you can always beat it into his skull. [ Jim taps his forehead with his knuckles gently. ]

I think you like distracting me more.

[Teasing just a bit. It does feel him with pride that Jim is saying these things. It makes him feel like he really can do it.

Settling down might take some time though and the right guy being still at his side after all of this was over.]

I think I've done enough beating things into his skull. [Zack had a hard head. Maybe that's why he didn't wear a helmet like Kunsel?]

No kiddin'. [ In the absence of being able to rub Zell's forehead, Jim rubs his own. ] Let's not have a repeat of that when we all meet back up.

[ Jim doesn't answer the accusation about distracting Zell, but he does grin shamelessly. Yes, yes he does. ] Hopefully you'll be too busy for that.

[Seeing Jim touch his forehead causes Zell to mirror him. The bruise is getting better, but it's still visible. It only hurts when he presses against it.

At Jim's next words, his expression gets pretty dopey as he looks Jim over from what he could see on the screen.] I do have a lot of debt to pay off. [With a bunch of kisses and not leaving Jim's side again.]

Looking forward to it.

[ Zell's not the only one looking dopey, at least, as he presses another kiss to the screen. ]

Looking forward to it. But... [ he's reluctant to say it, but: ] You should get some sleep, Sunshine. One more song?

[Pressing the tablet against his chest for a moment as he takes a deep breath. His heart is going to burst from how cute Jim is.]

One more song. [He's not touching the sleep thing. Can't make any promises he knows he can't keep. He knows he won't be sleeping, but at least he has plenty of conversations and pictures to look through if he needs it. Pulling the tablet back to look Jim's face.]

[ It's filled with love and gentle worry, longing more than anything. Jim knows Zell probably won't sleep, but he was to try to take care of him, even when they're apart. That's what this is, what it means - what Zell said earlier.

Love. ]

[He's going to send a file over with a message even if they are right by each other.]

Secret training (´∀｀)♡

[If he installs it, it'll be the pacman program Zell got from Winter.]

[Rhys wasn't doing well. Stephanie wasn't doing well. Ed was dead. No one has heard from Al as of yet. Jim hasn't been doing okay for a while. The mannequins are freaky as hell. Then there is Kunsel's information on the network about how how many people actually come back.

Someone might be hoping Zell didn't see, but it doesn't hurt as badly compared to the other things. It's a bunch of numbers and words on a screen. Seeing the effect of people dying or seeing people hurt held more weight than words on a screen.

It did reaffirm how lucky they are to have Jim actually come back to them. With that in mind, he's snagging Jim's hand much like he has a couple of other times in the past to lead him away from the office where the mannequins were. Away from Kunsel's tense mood and Zack feeling him up with plastic dolls.

Jim might catch the sound of the pill bottle rattling in Zell's pocket as he leads him to the far corner of the store. Letting him go as soon as they reach it and making sure his tablet is set to stay on and illuminated before placing it on a shelf next to a pair of short shorts.

Turning around to touch the side of Jim's face.]

Hey, Stars. Think there is a pair of shorts over here with your name on them.

[Not really why he brought him there, but he's trying to keep things lighten. The teasing doesn't quite reach his face though.

29% chance of revival, huh? Ignoring that the pain killers he took earlier for training were wearing off as he studied Jim's face carefully. Tracing along his cheekbone and trying to remember every part of it.]

[ Jim's mind has been circling around that figure - 70% of staying dead, as far as they know. That their chances seem to get smaller and smaller the more they die doesn't do a thing to lessen Jim's determination to take it on himself again if the time comes. He's not going to let any of the others feel the way he felt, not going to let them get twisted up the way he is now. The resolve thrums through him as he lets Zell lead him wherever he wants - no matter how badly Zell might want to be a hero, Jim won't let him fall.

There's a bit of that fierceness left in Jim's eyes as Zell turns and cups his cheek, though it's blunted by momentary confusion as he glances over at the shorts and - oh. That. ]

Think maybe they'd fit you better.

[ The teasing doesn't really reach Jim's voice, either. His voice is flat as he watches Zell watching him. ]

- you don't have to memorize it, you know.

[He won't look away from Jim, but it's clear he's thinking of something. Whether it was the shorts or something much more serious was left a mystery. Allowing silence to lapse between them for a moment before ] I can try them on if you want to see for sure. There's also sundresses and tank tops.

[Does Jim want to see his boyfriend in a sundress? Tank tops were more normal for him. Maybe he could nab some if the tanks when he was less occupied. For now, he's tracing down along Jim's jawline as he slowly smiles. His gaze shifts into something warmer and affectionate.]

I know. [There's a pause as he leans close to kiss the tip of Jim's nose.] I just want to. I love you, Jim. [And he's lucky that Jim came back. So very lucky he was given the chance to see him smile and laugh. To see him get mad for his sake or watch him puzzle things out. It's been great. It's been wonderful, bright, and warm.

Rolling his shoulders a moment to try to soothe the ache. Moving his hand down to brush his thumb against Jim's lower lip.] I love you. [His voice lowers as he repeats the words. He doesn't really get to say it often with everything happening.]

Edited 2016-04-23 00:39 (UTC)

[ Jim huffs a laugh at the image of Sunshine in a sundress before shaking his head and scrunching his nose under the kiss. The thrill of hearing those words again is almost enough to distract him from the way Zell rolls his shoulders. The motion, together with the now-remembered rattling of the pills, has gears starting to turn in Jim's head.

He wraps his arm around Zell, not to pull him into a hug (though that's a good side effect) but to carefully rub between his shoulder blades. He's quiet, matchign Zell's tone, when he answers: ] Love you too. It's - you don't have to memorize it because I'll be here. And so will you.

[He's going to count it as mission accomplished if Jim is laughing at the idea. He lets Jim pull him closer as he moans quietly at the attention to his back. Carding his fingers through Jim's hair as he bumps their foreheads together.

He still isn't used to hearing those words, and he'll smile big at hearing them. They both will still be there. Giving him a quick peck.]

What about when I close my eyes? [Leaning against him as he buries his face against his neck.] Yeah, I'll be here. I don't plan on going any where without you. It still hits me sometimes how lucky I am to have you. How lucky I am that you gave me a chance.

[ The attention to his back doesn't let up as he takes Zell's weight. Jim isn't used to saying those words yet; it's not something that comes natural. This is, though, the way he's touching Zell and sneakily trying to figure out how he's doing. ]

Mm. Pretty sure I'm the lucky one. [ Zell's got to realize that at some point, right? Jim's sure he has to. It's so obvious. ] Nobody else here has a boyfriend this great.

[ A boyfriend with quite the knot in his shoulder. Jim frowns and prods it experimentally, drawn out of the sap spiral. ] -Does that hurt?

[No u. ]

That's because I'm dating someone who is better.

[Stretching out as Jim explores his back.] Don't really notice it if it does.

[Compared to the whole everything else being achy and in pain or it all being silenced with the pain meds. Pressing a kiss just under his ear. Placing his hands loosely on Jim's back.] I can do yours if you want.

[ Jim gives him a Look, either because of the 'someone who's better' comment or the fact that he's not sure Zell's telling the whole truth. His hands keep rubbing but dip lower and lower on Zell's back until...

He dips into Zell's pocket and comes up with the pain pills, which he rattles meaningfully at Zell. ] Sunshine. [ It's flat, maybe hiding Jim's worry, maybe making it all the more obvious. ] How long has it been worse?

[It is true. He nabbed the best boyfriend himself. The best boyfriend who is moving his hands lower, which is pretty nice.

The best boyfriend who's only moving his hands there to grab his pills. Zell looks Jim's features over to try to discern if he's mad or worried. After a moment, he leans in to press a kiss against Jim's nose.]

Since the post office. Didn't really think to bring it up with everything going on. [There were bigger concerns, like making sure no one else got sick from stress and lack of sleep. He could have told him at the toy store, but their hands were pretty occupied with lock-picking and each other.] Can you get one out for me?

Zell.

[ Jim's voice is an exasperated whine that is... honestly not very attractive. ~~Definitely enough to knock him out of the best boyfriend category, if pill-theft didn't. So there.~~ His face definitely looks worried more than anything, even after the kiss; it's been days since the post office.

He dutifully takes out a pill and offers it straight to Zell's mouth rather than handing it to him. ] None of that's... [ More important than you, he means to say. ] - I wish you'd told me.

[Him being concerned is very touching. He opens his mouth to respond to his name being said like that, but there is a pill in front of him. He catches the offered fingers with his teeth as he plants his hands on Jim's hips. Opening his mouth wide to let Jim drop the pill in before swallowing it. Then he's giving Jim a kiss on the corner of his mouth. Sorry if he tastes like the coating they put on the pill.]

I was going to. [He really was!] I just was too caught up making you were alright. You getting rest is more important than a little pain. [Jim > Zell.]

[ Jim's too happy for the kiss to much care about the taste, though he does lick it off his lip as soon as they part. At least Zell's taking the medicine rather than trying to tough it out, and if he's taking it often then that means it must help at least a little. It also means Zell is taking care of himself, so Jim doesn't really have anything else to object to. At least not toward Zell, and he doubts @admin would listen to him if he asked her to leave Zell alone. ]

You being in pain is more important than a little rest.

[ That, at least, is something Jim can be grumpy about. Even as he's speaking, though, he's stepping around behind Zell and putting his hands on Zell's shoulders. ]

- Can I?

[Jim why? His attention will be on that tongue when he licks it off. Yeah sorry, but he is finally living up to the expectations of being a teenager.

Shaking his head at both where his mind tried going to and Jim saying his pain is more important. Jim staying healthy is important to him, especially with little he actually sleeps.]

I don't want you getting sick like Zack did.

[Not here at least. If this was home or some where safe and warm, then he wouldn't mind spoiling Jim whenever he falls ill.

Giving a nod at the question.]

If you let me return the favor later. [Turning his head to try to get a peak at his boyfriend.]

Want me to take it off? [His jacket and any other layers Jim wants.]

Edited (adding some words. Sorry ) 2016-05-13 20:01 (UTC)

[ Jim catches the look and feels the same excited, happy, strange feeling as he always does whenever he sees Zell looking. It seems like there should be someone else over his shoulder and not just plain Jim attracting that kind of attention, but unbelievably, it really is directed at him.

He'll store that away and think about it later, though, because right now he's got bigger things to worry about. His arms, still wrapped around from behind, squeeze Zell in a hug before he starts to undo the buttons himself. ]

I'm not gonna get sick, Zell, I'm fine. You're the one that's sick.

[ Or... something. MN poisoning? In any case, it's not great. He doesn't answer Zell's comment about wanting to return the favor, because ... well, he'd like that, but the focus should be on Zell right now.

~~Stop trying to distract him.~~ ]

[There's something very nice about Jim unbuttoning his jacket. It's intimate and sends a warm feeling spreading through him. It's one of those moments where he can see Jim helping him change days, months, and maybe even years from now. Reaching up to skim lightly across the back of Jim's hands.]
We both are. [He hates to think about it, but everyone has it. Zell waits until Jim gets the last button free to capture his hand. Bringing it to his mouth to press his lips against Jim's wrist.]

Want to hold on to them for me? That way you'll know how often I take them and if there are any changes. [Kissing his palm.] And you let me take care of you.

'M fine.

[ As for the pills, well: there's a part of Jim that wants to take him up on that, so he can know and so he can be the one to take care of Zell. But as Zell kisses Jim's wrist, he worries that Zell won't put himself first long enough to ask for medicine when he needs it, either because it'll worry Jim or because he thinks something more important is happening.

Jim slides his arm out of Zell's grasp when he ends the kiss and uses it to pull both Zell's coats off his shoulders, leaving the tanktop in place. He gets it halfway down Zell's arms before he has to lean in and nuzzle the back of his neck. He gives it a gentle kiss and rests his face there. ] Promise you'll ask for them if you need them?

[He ponders on a moment if he should protest. If he should point out Jim's sleep patterns and the note about the monsters he has tucked away in his note book. How Jim is a mess every time a monster shows up. How neither of them are fine.

However, his brain goes totally blank at the contact against the back of his neck. A tingling feeling runs down from his neck, all the way down his spine. It's very nice and he softly hums as he places a hand over Jim's hand.]

I promise, Stars. [Giving his hand a squeeze before dropping it to let Jim finish.] Could you write me more notes? About your thoughts and what you're feeling?

Yeah. [ Jim's cheating a little, turning his nose to nuzzle at the nape of Zell's neck where his hair's a little overgrown. ] If you want to hear about it, I guess.

[ He works at the buttons until they're loose and he can slide the coat off Zell's shoulders and the smaller, short-sleeved jacket with it. He hesitates over Zell's tshirt, but in the end keeping him some kind of warm is more important than getting skin-to-skin contact. ] Want to sit down for this?

[Definitely cheating if the shudder is anything to go by. It's amazing what a new kind of contact from your boyfriend could do.] Y-yeah. [Clearing his throat.] Yeah, I do want to hear about it. [And with more conviction:] Jim, I want to hear everything.

[There is something important he really wants to hear, but stripping seems more important at the moment. Jim's well intentions about keeping something on Zell isn't known to Zell as he pulls off the last layer himself. Check out how those back muscles move, Jim.] What's easier for you?

[ Jim does, and then reaches out both hands to feel the muscles move under them as he takes a long, deep breath and lets it go. ] Just a second. [ He kisses the point of Zell's shoulder before he steps away, holding up one finger as he goes back to their packs to retrieve a few of the blankets and returns to lay them out for Zell to sit on. ] This is better. Can lay down on your stomach for me?

[Zell sucks in a breath at the contact. He stretches his arms and flexes just a bit to give him something to feel back there. He starts to try to look behind him as Jim speaks, but the kiss shuts down his ability to brain for a second. Looking over his shoulder to see that finger and remembering Jim’s words.

Then Jim is and laying the blanket on the ground. He has the best boyfriend. Taking the time to press a kiss against Jim’s cheek before he lays down on the blanket.] Thanks, Stars.

[Folding his arms to use as a pillow as he turns his head to look at his boyfriend.] This good?

[ Jim's cheek is hot when Zell kisses it, his eyes turned toward the ceiling until Zell settles on the blanket. It's hard not to want to stare when he's laid out like that, completely visible in places that Jim can usually only steal piecemeal glances at. He touches the tattoo between Zell's shoulder blades first, hand just resting there as he's overwhelmed by how much he loves everythign about this boy. ]

-Perfect,

[ Belated. He shakes his head and palms some of the lotion that he'd snagged when he went to get the blanket, holding it between both hands and blowing on it to try to warm it up. When he's sure that it's not going to hurt Zell more than it helps, he smears it down Zell's spine in one long motion and then realizes that he actually has no idea what he's doing here. ] Tell me if this hurts, okay?

[His heart is beating fast in his chest as he feels Jim's hand on his back. It feels good, and also adds fuel to his imagination to imagining that hand else where. Swallowing a bit as he buries his face against his arm as he counts backwards.

His face is still warm as he turns his head to try to look at Jim. When he drags warm hands covered in lotion down his back, his brain goes rocketing back to untoward thoughts as he makes a low moan.]

Are you going to kiss it better if you do?

[ Jim's next word is a curse in an alien language, harsh not only because the sound wasn't meant for a human throat. He wants to put his face in his hands, but they're kind of covered in lotion at the moment.

Instead he'll just look at the ceiling again and hope certain problems go away eventually. ]

Don't think that's a good idea -

[ He says, but it's faint. He clears his throat and it's a little more confident this time. ]

- Not if you want to talk.

[His brows raise with concern over the cursing. Zell lifts his head up for a moment to try to get a good look at his boyfriend. It doesn't take long for him to guess they both are both probably dealing with similar issues.

Then Jim mentions talking. Regardless of what any other part of his body thinks, talking is more important than trying to put the moves on his boyfriend.]

Not sure how much talking I can do with your hands on me. [He answers truthfully.] I can listen.

[It helps that he's just as smitten with Jim's voice as he is with the owner. He's lifting his head enough to free one of his arms. Moving it back to brush the tips of his fingers against Jim.]

[ Jim's face is hot and so are his hands as he starts rubbing Zell's back. It's very purposefully not sensual, and maybe a little too rough, but he's never done this before. He just wants Zell to feel better, without the two of them getting distracted for once.

Talking, though, is as difficult for Jim right now as it is for Zell as he sits on his knees over his boyfriend, staring at his own hands. Eventually, he admits: ] I don't know where to start.

[He’s more than good with the rough hands. Sighing contentedly as he arches into Jim’s touch. So much for staying still.

Jim doesn’t know where to start. Him even admitting that much is something. Thinking about it for a moment or two.] You could start with what you think when it happens. [A pause.] Or what you were thinking when responding to Kunsel earlier. [Sorry love, he’s seen the message on the network.]

[ Jim's quiet again, trying to get his thoughts in order as he rolls his palms over the small of Zell's back. The truth is, it's hard to think when it's happening - everything gets noisy in his head and all he can do is feel. The fear's always so strong it keeps threatening to overwhelm him, get him killed, get everyone else killed.

Sure, he's been afraid before. But back home, every bad thing that happened, he kept pushing past it. This he can't seem to shake, and when it ebbs he's left feeling like a coward.

It's easier to talk about what he said on the network, though it doesn't feel as honest. ]

About how lucky I was, mostly. I did something stupid and it could've - [ He pauses and seems to focus on the massage. ] - So much has happened since then. Me and you. Could've missed that.

[He’s split between wanting to roll over to engulf his boyfriend into a hug or letting Jim work those hands on his back. At the moment, he’ll settle for curling his fingers around Jim’s thigh.]

I know the feeling. [If earlier wasn’t obvious enough. Spreading his fingers wide on Jim as he tries to feel just a little more.] It’s okay to be scared, you know.

[There is a pause as Jim hits a spot. Sighing with pleasure as he tries to remember what he wanted to say.]

Even I get scared, Jim. I’m so used to being able to punch anything that gets in my way and I can’t with these monsters. Not yet. [But he is determined that they will find a way to kick their asses.]

I'm here though. If you let me, I will keep you safe. I will keep holding on.

[ Jim's hands don't stop moving when Zell reaches out to touch him and his smile is invisible, but it's still there. So is the way he changes direction, subtly, to run back over that spot when Zell makes a happy noise. Means Jim's doing something right.

The smile fades, gradually, only to turn wry at the not yet. Of course Zell hasn't given up hope of punching the monsters. It's one of those moments where Jim feels a swell of love so strong he thinks he might be physically lifted by it. He wants to turn Zell over and put this privacy to good use, but Zell's back feeling better is more important. He lean down enough to kiss between Zell's shoulder blades, barely there and then gone.

He's quiet for long enough that it might seem as though he's not going to say anything at all, but he's just marshaling his thoughts again. ]

I know you're here. I trust you.

[ That has never been the problem, not since this began. ]

Just - Zell, if I choke, I'll stop moving. [ Like a coward. A coward who can't keep anyone safe, who always has to be guarded by the other three. ]

[ Little does Jim know, to Zell he always does something right. Making a content sound as he wiggles a little under Jim. He wants more touching and just more of Jim in general.

There is a smile as he feels that light touch. Warmth seems to sprout and spread from the spot between his shoulder blades. Zell definitely feels loved at that moment. Hopefully the lotion doesn’t taste bad.

Jim’s words, has Zell trying to look behind him to catch his expression. Trying to twist just his upper body to better see his boyfriend. ]

Jim. [ His voice is full of warmth as he says his name. ] It didn’t stop you from saving me. [Lifting his hand up to wiggle his fingers… and then he’s going to try to turn the rest of his body over to lay on his back. Sorry Jim, back rub is going to be put on hold, but feel free to enjoy the new view. Grabbing the fabric of Jim’s top to give it a tug. ]

You braved all those monsters to grab me and pull me to safety. [ Moving his hand to rest over his boyfriend’s as he laces their fingers together. He’s still very proud of Jim for that. He knows he has his back and knows they’ll look out for each other. ] We’re partners, right?

I couldn't lose you.

[ Is that bravery? It feels selfish. Maybe if he'd done it for a stranger, like Zell had for Kesara that day, it might've been different. Jim's just unwilling to lose one of the best things that's ever happened.

The best thing that's ever happened and who keeps resisting Jim's efforts to help. Zell earns a slightly reproachful look when he turns on his back, but Jim doesn't put up any real resistance to hand-holding. ]

Of course we're partners. That's why I can't - [ He bites off into frustrated silence. ]

Six monsters, Jim. There were six of them out there at the time.

[ Including Silver. And they were all closing in to go after their respective person with Zell heading towards them. ] It was before I even realized that I had a crush on you. [ And that moment did take a toll on Jim. He went off to shut himself away from everyone to fall to pieces. He held it together just long enough to get Zell to safety and then shut himself away.

The reproachful look is met with a sheepish look. Bringing their links hands to his mouth to press a kiss against the back of each of Jim's fingers. ]

Not anyone would do that. Hell, Tifa was right there and she didn't even try to grab me. She was frozen and it wasn't just her. Everyone froze when they saw them, Jim. Only you moved into action to grab me.

[ He sits up using only his stomach muscles to pull himself out ~~check it out Jim~~. Reaching with his other hand to cup the side of Jim's face. Normally he wouldn't push this, but Jim needs to understand that he's amazing. ] There's no other place I'd rather be than at your side when things get tough. I know you'll have my back or will fight to protect me from cranky vampires.

[ He knows Jim will at least sass at Beckett, and has a feeling he would protect him more than just that. That when he says he rather it be him that the monsters kill. He'll brave all of that all over again to keep Zell and anyone safe. It made Zell worry, but at the same time proud. ]

If you can't move, I'll help you. I'm not going to let go. I'll catch you when you fall. [ And he means more than just falling from the top of desks that are precariously balanced on top of each other. ]

I couldn't lose you, even back then.

[ He repeats it again, in case Zell doesn't understand. It hadn't been a decision, as far as Jim's concerned. Even if they hadn't known yet... well, Jim'd already had an idea. Jim kissed Zell in his sleep that night.

He breaks a hand away from Zell's to nudge his boyfriend's hair gently away from his eyes, though he avoids meeting them even when Zell cups his chin. ]

I will protect you. I'll catch you.

[ Jim's silent, thinking about how he should answer the other part of Zell's question - what else he'd been thinking about when Kunsel posted those statistics. How he wants to catch Zell, but - not the other way around. Not if it means Zell dying for him, because he can't think about that.

The thought stays buried. ]

I won't choke.

[ He feels a small amount of trepidation as he watches Jim. There is something... something more to this being left unsaid. Zell knows Jim will have his back, but he's not sure if he'll like what Jim has in mind. He remembers the conversation that was sparked by Emmanellain. The way Jim doesn't meet his gaze is troubling, too. Scooting close enough to press his forehead against Jim as he murmurs a quiet hey to his boyfriend. ]

Stars. [ Zell leans back and waits for Jim to look at him. ] If you choke, I will haul you out of there. That's what partners do, right? We're there for each other. I'm not going to leave you. Not again.

[ He will save Jim from whatever gets him or he will be there at Jim's side when it does. There are no maybes. Zell will go down with Jim if he can't save him. ] I'm not going to let you go. [ He can't lose Jim. Not again. ]

You won't.

[ Jim knows without asking that Zell's picked up on at least some of what he was thinking. It's what brings his gaze to meet Zell's, finally, though by then there's a weak smile on his lips. It's a shameless attempt at distraction when he kisses Zell this time, but he's sincere when he says: ]

I believe in you. You're the best person I know.

[ Handsomest. Brightest. Kindest. ]

Now are you going to let me finish what we started?

I won't. [ He says it again as if to make sure Jim really knows that. Jim is the reason he remembers what it means to be someone's partner after the whole night of maintenance.

The kiss does work as a distraction for the moment. Giving him a kiss in turn as he thinks about letting Jim finish what they started. ]

We could do it like this. [ After saying that, he practically throws his arms over each of Jim's shoulders and leans most of his weight on him. Nuzzling against his shoulder and neck. ] To me, you're the best. I love you, Stars.

Love you too.

[ Jim doesn't object to this arrangement too much as he slides his arms under Zell's and around to rub at his back. He can't really do much from this angle except warm Zell up, but it seems to be what his boyfriend wants, and Jim will do his best to give him whatever that is - both in the little situations and the big ones, until he can live up to being the best. ]

[ Sighing contentedly as burrows his face against Jim. This is pretty nice, too. Probably would be better if he could get some layers off of Jim as well. He has to focus though on more serious matters because it deals with his boyfriend. Zell wants to help pick up the pieces. ]

Stars. [ Kissing his shirt. ] Speaking of finishing what you started...[ He means more than just him getting hands on. ] You can take your time. I'm not going any where. [ In Zell's mind, they have a lot of time together. They will kick butt here and see other worlds together.

And he's pretty content being on Jim at the moment. Tip-toeing his fingers up the back of Jim's neck and carding them through his hair. ]

I know.

[ He could get some layers off if he asked, probably, though Jim's still worried about Zell's pain despite the conversation they just had. Still, it's too comforting for both of them to pull away when Zell's got his hands in Jim's hair. Instead he keeps rubbing what he can reach of Zell's back, up to his shoulders and down to the waist of his jeans. ]

I know you aren't.

[ Grinning against his neck, before he presses his lips together and hums against his skin. To mess around just a bit more. It's really hard not to just melt into this and let Jim do as he pleases. He just really needs to repeat something to his boyfriend first. ]

It's not just because you asked me to stay. It's ecause you're worth it to me. [ It really is tempting to write that on Jim. On his arms or some where he can see it to remember. ]

Because you matter to me. [ So, he wants it all when and if Jim lets him have it. Jim's issues are important. Jim's health is important. Just like Zell's pain is important to Jim it seems. Nudging at Jim's chest to ask him to lay down. That will definitely help with this back rub, right? ]

[ Yes, it'll absolutely help. Not.

Jim's actually doing what he's told, though, at least for a moment as he lays himself down on the blanket, looking up at Zell with a half-smile on his face. He shrugs his arms out of his jacket, leaving it laying under him, before reaching for his boyfriend and pulling him down, too.

If they have time, then they can stay right here together. ]

@quark; voice

Hi Jim! I know it's been a really long time since we talked, but if you aren't busy or it's not a bad time I was hoping you could maybe help me with something?

Yeah, any time. [ Jim sounds pretty happy to hear from Quark. ] What do you need help with?

((ooc: and I'm way behind on search requests so I can take care of it for sure!))

Mr. House said that it might be a good idea to see if there's anything special we can decrypt from Miss Winter's messages--just like we did with the admin. Do you think we could try and do that?

[He knows Hiro's not around anymore...but it would still mean a lot to him to have Jim's help.]

[He remembers. He remembers a hand finding his in those last gray-edged moments before death. He remembers his helmet's visor sliding up so that he could look at Zack. He remembers someone helping him find Zack's hand.

He remembers.

And it makes his voice rough.]

Jim.

[ Jim's own memories have a rather different slant: he remembers watching as the life slid out of Kunsel's glowing eyes bit by bit, until there were two corpses on the floor instead of one. He remembers closing that visor and stumbling away, the two of them barely remembering to grab the key.

It's only been a few hours since he talked to Zack, but that's where his thoughts fly anyway - the two of them died together, and apparently they came back together, too, and Jim shouldn't even be surprised. ]

Kunsel.

[ Most of his fury was drained earlier, and all Kunsel gets is honest relief. ]

You're back.

[Kunsel hesitates for a moment. He usually doesn't use video. He's avoided it from the start, at first to avoid giving whoever kidnapped him anything more than they had, then to avoid being recognized by anyone from his world. Anyone who recognized him and realized he was traveling with Zack would be able to figure out who Zack is, and with what happened to Zack before he came here...

Yeah, that wasn't necessarily a good idea.

And then Angel had warned him about Handsome Jack, and that had just been another reason.

But his face has been on the network now. His name will be, too, soon enough. And he knows enough now to think he can deal with Handsome Jack.

The reasons not to use video don't seem like they're as big as they were anymore.

So after that moment, he switches to match Jim, letting the teen see that he's alive and well, even if his clothes are still bloody (but mended). He offers a wan smile, tired and strained - but still genuine.]

Yeah. I'm back, and I'm heading back to join you. Just need to grab Zack first.

How're you holding up?

How am I-? [ Jim almost laughs, but there's no humor in it, just disbelief that he's the one that Kunsel is worried about just now. That, and disbelief that Kunsel's actually using video - without Jim having to ask, even, and he's absurdly grateful for that.

It makes it easier to answer, and when he does Jim's holding out on mentioning the elephant in the room for a little longer. Zack's already upset enough, and Jim's not willing to ruin that honest smile just yet. Kunsel's alive and already moving with a plan. ]

We're okay. We weren't hurt, we're fine. [ Though Kunsel seems to remember more than Zack, but Jim's not sure how lucid those last moments were. And 'fine' is a massive overstatement, though one that's a little closer to the truth now that he's heard from Kunsel. None of them are gone, just separated, and they'll be here. Soon, Jim hopes, if the weather holds. ]
Where-?

Edited 2016-05-29 08:07 (UTC)

[Don't think you have Kunsel fooled, Jim. He knows how hard death hits the boy, especially when it's someone close to him. And two at once, two of the closest people to him here...

He's not 'fine,' and Kunsel knows it.

But Kunsel also knows that sometimes the only way to cope is to pretend you're okay until you are.]

I woke up in the funeral home. Zack was in the chapel.

[His voice softens.]

I'm glad you weren't hurt.

[It's the only thing that makes his death - Zack's death - tolerable, knowing that at least they'd protected the two boys by keeping them out of the room.]

Edited 2016-05-29 23:35 (UTC)

[ Jim knows Kunsel probably doesn't buy it, but he needs to try anyway, if not for his own sake then for Kunsel's. He needs less to worry about until they're reunited; Jim knows from experience what a mess his head might be right now.

His eyes dart back and forth, clearly thinking as he tries to piece together where both those places are. He's never been to either, but they've skirted around the barren field surrounding the church enough that he didn't even have to glance at the map to have a decent idea of where Zack is.

Kunsel, on the other hand... well, he's never been to the funeral home. He pulls up the map app silently and studies it, relieved to find that Kunsel is closer rather than further away. ]

-Just scratches, [ He says, quietly, and doesn't point out that most of them didn't even bleed. Louder, he adds: ] Are you - can you move?

[Jim could be downplaying the severity of any injuries he might have received, but Kunsel doesn't think he is. He can see a few of those scratches on Jim's face right now, and if the rest are like that, he'll be okay. Physically.

But still, he'd needed to ask, for his own peace of mind if nothing else.]

I can move. Nothing seems to be wrong with me. If I've lost something, I can't tell what it is.

You remember us and who you are, all your senses - you really can't tell?

[ Jim knows there've been little things, like personality changes or the ability to lie. It could be one of those, but right now he's just going to be relieved that neither of them seem to have gotten anything devastating. Or, if it is, at least so far it's something they're blissfully unaware of. Something to worry about later, though, because Jim can't quite help the little smile forming on his face. Kunsel's alive; the one or the other of them coming back was unlikely, both is practically a miracle, but their family's survived. ]

Man, everyone is going to be so glad to see you. Kesara...

No. I really can't tell.

[Because who can really tell they can't taste anything until it comes time to eat? And that's something he hasn't done yet.]

Kesara... You told her?

Kesara. Steph, for the network. Watson. [ Kesara took it hardest, of course. ] I... wasn't sure who you'd want me to call, but I thought she should know before your name popped up on the obituaries.

No, you're right. That... That wouldn't have been good surprise for her.

[Not that it would be a good surprise for anyone, but definitely not for her.]

Thank you, Jim. That couldn't have been easy for you.

[Jim doesn't have to say it for Kunsel to know. In shock and grieving, and then having to break the news... That's more than he should have had to do.]

[ Jim's jaw works silently and he doesn't meet Kunsel's eyes. It hadn't been good for her - the entire conversation had been awful - but Kunsel doesn't need to know that. She'll be happy that he's back and he can just move on from it without knowing.

Jim hopes.

The thank you snaps his eyes back up, though, a sudden flash of bright blue beneath his dark brows. Thank -? ]

You would've done the same.

[ Had, for all Jim knows. ]

Doesn't change the fact that you did it. Doesn't change the fact that I'm grateful.

[It really doesn't. No matter what anyone else has done, it doesn't mitigate Jim's strength here.]

You going to be alright until we can get back there?

We've -

[ Jim hesitates, aware of how badly Zack had reacted. Aware that Kunsel might take it better, but might not. The uncertainty and then the resolve are clear on his face. ]

We've got plans. Everything will be alright when you get here.

[The way Jim phrases that doesn't raise any red flags - though when Kunsel gets more details from Zell, he isn't going to be any happier than Zack. But for now he relaxes at the reassurance.]

Good. I'm gonna hold you to that, Jim.

I guess I better contact a few people now. Let them know I'm alright.

...Yeah.

[ Getting away with it almost feels worse than getting called out on it, but what can he do?

Nothing, at the moment. And Kunsel's right - there are a lot of people that want to hear from him. ]

I'd start with the small one.

...right.

[He's... really going to have to figure out how to do this, especially with Kesara.

But that's a bridge to cross after this.]

See you soon, Jim.

Okay.

[ Jim doesn't really want to end the conversation, but - Kunsel's right. He has others to talk to, and Jim has to keep his promise to explore the toy store. ]

Can I - [ No, that's probably no good. ] - I'll call you again when we stop.

[Kunsel can guess what that aborted question was, and he figures he'll answer it anyway.]

Sure, if I don't call you first.

Take care of yourself, Jim. Kunsel out.

[He turns the tablet off. For now. But Jim will definitely hear from him again, one way or another, before the day is out.]

[ Jim's alive. That's at least one thing Zack knows for sure as soon as Zell contacts him. He wouldn't have seemed surprisingly calm considering otherwise... although he had certainly still been pretty stoic. That just came with the territory of that hallucination though, right? That's all it was... right?

In the end, he forces his focus on Jim, on how he must be feeling... and hopefully, the relief that will come to him to hear the news personally. ]

So... just for the record... that wasn't exactly the kind of ticket I was looking for to get outta here.

[ He knows it's not funny. But he also knows focusing on whatever happened back there probably won't do him any favors right then. Focus on the now, Jim. Focus on the fact that he's alive. ]

Jim.. Hey.

Edited 2016-05-25 23:30 (UTC)

You -

[ Jim sounds furious for that second, but it gets caught in his throat. He's alive alright, face flushed with emotion, eyes bright with unshed tears. He spent last night dreaming of Zack's hell and this morning contacting friends to give them the news that Zack and Kunsel were gone, and it made him furious at Norfinbury and himself and (though he would never admit it, even in his own mind), at Zack and Kunsel too. The fury threatens to overwhelm him, but -

But that fury is nothing compared to the wave of relief that comes after it, completely replacing anything else. Zack's alive. His end isn't bleeding out without time for last words and being left lying at Kunsel's side because they couldn't do anything else. It could've been, but it wasn't. ]

You were gone. I saw it.

[ Jim can't quite believe he isn't for long enough to focus on anything else. ]

Edited 2016-05-26 04:16 (UTC)

[ If it's not that one word that tells him how tasteless his words were, it's the way Jim can't talk for a moment after, the way he looks at his tablet as he speaks into it... the way he whispers those words that gets Zack to falter. In the end, Zack... has to take a moment, himself. A moment that takes longer than necessary when he hears back from Zell. When he hears what happened to Kunsel.

When he almost completely shuts down in that moment. When he wants to, but they... Jim and Zell... They need him, don't they? So, he can't, even if...

It still probably takes him longer than Jim would like and he still hasn't turned on his video. But the rawness in his voice that wasn't there before might explain why. ]

So I heard...

[ Whatever had happened to him... it'd happened to Kunsel, too. In the end, going in with him still hadn't changed that. But at least he'd been there that time. At least he had done all he could have. At least he hadn't died alone like the countless friends he's lost there.

But it'd left them alone instead. ]

I'm sorry.

You were gone. [ It's quieter this time, snapped out almost before Zack's apology forms, but no less heartfelt. Jim's gripping the tablet like he wants to break it, but he's not strong enough. His family had broken in half, narrowed down to one important person, and he'd been right: for Jim, it had felt a thousand times worse to be left behind than it had to die.

Eventually, when the silence beyond Jim's ragged breathing has stretched too long, his brain sluggishly processes what he's hearing. ]

You didn't know? You-

[ Jim rubs his eyes, dismissing the thought as quickly as it'd come. It's not important. Zack being back, that's important. But he still needs something Zack hasn't given yet, and until he does there will still be the nagging fear that this is another waking dream. ] Can you turn on the camera?

Edited 2016-05-29 06:52 (UTC)

[ The sharpness of those words- it would have probably been enough to stun him into silence if he... wasn't already struggling with words as it was. Hearing it the first time had been bad enough. Hearing it repeated only makes it sink in more with a sickening feeling that only grows worse knowing what he knows. He'd died and Kunsel's dead- Kunsel's dead- His best friend's gone just like that- Just like that, he'll never-

That first question pulls him to the surface of his thoughts again and he nods weakly to the first one out of habit before realizing Jim won't see, before trying to open his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out. Nothing at all because then that next question hits and he's frozen for a moment. Frozen and for once unsure of what to do... how to act... what to say...

Seeing him won't make him feel any better, he argues. Seeing him might just make things worse. Not like this. Not like this...

But not seeing him might do the same. It's not the first time Jim's panicked and asked this of him. But as he toggles on the camera... he wishes it didn't have to be like this.

He wants to try for a smile. This is where he usually would. But his thoughts keep drifting to dark places. Still, through his watering eyes, there he is. His hand's just moving away from his cheek and there's a hint of smeared remnants of tears. For the most part, it's too dank and dark to see where he is... but he can none-the-less catch onto what he's wearing and how much darker the color of it is in certain areas. Doesn't hide the way that tablet lights up the new scar on his forehead where previously he'd suffered injury from that axe. ]

There- That should.. Sorry, kid, is that better..?

Edited 2016-05-29 14:07 (UTC)

[ Jim waits in heavy silence as Zack makes his decision. It should be a small one, but it isn't to Jim, and apparently it isn't to Zack. It may not come easy, but Jim won't really believe Zack is alive until he can see the man with his own eyes, replace the fractured dream-images and the bloody jeweler's with something more real. He doesn't care what it is, triumphant or defeated, as long as it's real.

And - it's real, alright. For a second Jim regrets his decision to seek it. But he's been brave in the face of reality before, and he knows he has to be now, too. That's why he's trying to meet Zack's eyes through the camera, avoiding looking too long at the bloody stains and the new scar. The light in his eyes is what's important; Jim hadn't even seen it fade out; Zack had been dead before they even really knew something was wrong. ]

It's good to see you.

[ And it is, however much this sucks. ]

It's ... we should've figured out a better way. [ Jim should have figured out a better way, or managed to get in there first. That's what he's going to do this time, though like hell he's telling Zack that just yet. ] But I'm so glad you got a second chance.

[ He sees the way Jim's eyes wander too easily and a part of him lurches at that. A part of him wants to shut off the video again, to prevent anymore of the pain he's seeing even in the relief that he's there, that he's alive. But it's in knowing how much it matters to the cadet on the other side that he forces himself to stay his hands, to look him straight back in the eyes.

Zack's own eyes soften at that first comment... even as he stiffens at the next. There's something on the tip of his tongue, something that gets turned over again and again instead as he struggles to find his own words. He's usually good at finding them, but in that moment, it feels impossible. In that moment, it feels like 'should have's are an understatement. 'Should have's make something in him boil, make his eyes sting all over again. And that feeling only worsens by that last comment, barely discernable as it is.

Something in him twists hard and he covers his face with a hand, pressing tight as he struggles to keep his breath even, thoughts spiraling and ironic in contrast to just seconds before.

'Should'a been Kuns.'

'Should'a been Kuns.'

But those aren't the words he needs to hear. Those aren't the words that are going to make things any better. Those aren't the words he'd want to hear.. He sucks in a sharp breath but fails to lower his hand from his face. ]

I said I'd... We still gotta get those tickets out of here. I meant it and I'm not about to go back on my word. [ Just before there were three.

Now, there's only two. ]

Edited 2016-06-03 02:09 (UTC)

[ Jim's seen that softening look so many times before that, more on instinct than conscious thought he starts to relax with it until something between him and Zack seems to go wrong and Zack looks so lost.

And then - then he's crying, Jim thinks, not the relieved tears of someone happy to be alive. Jim wants so badly for Zack to be here for this, not flung halfway across town. He thinks it would be easier, but maybe it's wrong - maybe it would be harder to feel the way Zack's breathing is going funny.

Jim will never know. His mind is just cycling through possibilities in that silence, should haves that were never up to him in the first place, but it stops whenever Zack actually speaks.

Jim nearly misses the words, muffled as they are by Zack's hand, but they're ones he's heard time and again. Ones he has written in the sketchbook that belonged to a boy who hadn't gotten one. Words he tells himself when he wakes up and when he sleeps.

If nothing else, this is a reminder of how fragile that promise is. How easy to break. Jim doesn't call attention to that, though, just states a simple fact: ]

I'm not going without you. Don't make me.

[ At first, it doesn't seem like Zack registers those words. He's stiff and silent, the only notable movement being in the way his chest rises and falls with each uneven breath. Breath which seems to catch in his throat when the full impact of what the cadet on the other end said finally hits him.

Even then, for a time... nothing's spoken in return. He licks chapped lips and keeps that palm pressed where it is. Takes one... two false starts with mouth moving and fidgeting but nothing coming out. Nothing until he breathes a sharp inhale through his nose, finally fighting through to gain enough composure. Just enough to croak out some semblance of a rocky, almost whispered answer, hurried and broken up by the rawness but no less honest. ]

Like hell I'd ever want that. I don't wanna-...

You and Zell and.. [ He takes a moment to swallow hard, losing his voice a moment. Gaining it the next hoarsely. ] You're all..

[ His friends.
His companions.
His family.

His everything.

All he has. ]

Edited 2016-06-09 22:08 (UTC)

[ The silences are getting worse, not better, though Jim's starting to adapt to them. At least he can see Zack and know that something else hasn't got him. Doesn't make it easy to watch him struggle for words; each time he begins to speak, Jim nearly says something in turn, but he forces it back behind his teeth and shuts his mouth.

I don't wanna - well, of course he doesn't. Of course Zack wants to go on living - not like some of the people here who seem to have given up. But it seems obvious now that Zack's more worried about Jim's ticket than his own.

And Jim -

Well, Jim feels the same. He makes a low, animal sound that seems like it should've come from someone else and looks away from the tablet rather than watch Zack cry. ]

I know.

[ Zack doesn't have to complete the thought for Jim to understand. ]

I know, and I'm not going to lose either of you.

[ Silence answers him for a stretch of time- though perhaps not unexpected silence when Zell's tablet's blowing up. When there's text after text from Zack, words getting progressively riddled with more and more typos the more the conversation goes on. The more reckless the words become when it does up until there's nothing on his end. Up until he's cut off and ignored. That's when he shoots another message back at Jim.

This time, his face is no longer covered. No, it's clear to see and an open book of desperation, of discouragement and dread while his tablet creaks under the grip of his hands. His eyes have a sheen to them not from the mako as he speaks, voice gravelly but no less firm. ]

But there you are going along with him after what just happened, aren't you. [ He comes off short- maybe too short, but it hurts. It hurts so much and suddenly in a much different way. In an ironic way where suddenly everything is out of his grasp instead. Where he can only watch as the two of them possibly...

And then they could be gone and dead. Just like- ]

Edited 2016-06-15 13:46 (UTC)

[ Jim knows why Zack goes silent on him, though it doesn't make it hurt less. While he doesn't read the messages themselves, he has a general idea of what's happening, and he's braced for Zack's return.

If Zack does return. He still remembers - but that had been an accident. Zack hadn't seen that message. Not the same.

Not the same because then Zack's back and however Jim had tried to steel himself for the anger or disappointment, it never would've been enough. He wants to be the person Zack wants him to be, the person Kunsel thinks he is, the person Zell sees. He wants to do what'll make the people around him happy and safe.

But... he also wants to do what's right. What he and Zell have both agreed has to be done to protect the rest of their family.

His gaze flutters away for a moment but when he does meet Zack's eyes through the tablet, his expression is steady and determined. ]

Wasn't just his idea.

[ They're equally to blame. It's important, somehow, that Zack know that. ]

Tell me - tell me, honestly, you wouldn't do the same thing if you had a chance to keep me out of trouble right after I died. Tell me that, Zack.

[ He wants to see that person he knows Jim can be. He... He really does.

He knows Jim can be that person.

The rational part of him knows, too, that they're not fools. That they're both capable. That they won't just rush in on this. That they've seen what one mistake can do. That they're holding it heavy in their hearts.

But in the heat of the moment, all he can think of is Kunsel. All he can think of is him dead and gone and how fast and how easy it was for that to happen, a matter of seconds for him to be gone, too. There one moment, life over the next. He's known, he's known, he's known, and he's seen death so much now in this place, but there's a part of him that had sworn not them, never them. Not if I can help it. And yet, here they are.

And for all the pride he should feel for Jim, all the elation he should hold to in that look, in that moment of solid belief, all he can feel right then is everything just splintering and crashing in on him. A whirlwind of messed up emotions, desperately churning and boiling in him until they finally rise to the top in answer. ]

Ifrit's hell, Jim, you even have to ask? The whole reason why- [ He cuts himself off, a string of curses rolling of his tongue as what cool he attempted to keep completely shatters. He can't say it. He can't say 'We'. It's still too soon.

Too damn soon and too damn hard and his eyes are stinging again and his expression's tight, face pale and worn like he's seen a damn ghost. But he pursues, voice growing louder and words spoken faster by the second. ] Kuns is-! He made that choice- I know he did, but he's gone and now you're telling me you and Zell are gonna go in there anyway! Damn it, I didn't do what I did for you to- I don't want to lose you and Zell, too!

[ So, stop. So, wait. ]

[ Jim flinches back as if struck, and there's a moment - over in a blink - where he wants to press the button to switch them back to audio or even text. It would be so much easier to explain that way, to find the right words in the right order until Zack understands everything. The promise, the failure, the lingering dream, the person Jim wants to be. Until Zack can agree that it's right.

Jim's finger brushes the button but doesn't press. ]

I'm sorry!

[ Echoes in the snowy silence of Norfinbury, a harsh burst of static for Zell, and hardly time for a harsh breath before: ]

Zack, I'm sorry. You - you didn't come back for nothing. You got a second chance, and that's more important than anything, and I'm not going to lose either of you if I can help it. I'm keeping my promises.

[ A ticket out of here, for everyone. Catching someone when he falls. It's worth it, even if Zack can't see that, and he's going to do that even if it means going back to the awful silence between them. Better a hot, angry silence than a deathly cold one. Better Zack alive than dead. ]

Edited 2016-06-29 06:59 (UTC)

[ It hurts to see him flinch. It hurts in the worst ways because it was bad enough hurting him once back then, bad enough almost losing what they'd built and acting like strangers and hell if he would ever want to revisit that. But at the same time, so much just seems so wrong and he can't- he can't-

But he's apologizing. He's apologizing and it's disarming, so much so that Zack just freezes for a moment, eyes wide and lost, mouth moving but words suddenly lost at that shout. He's dumbstruck and thrown off and it takes him a moment to even catch on and catch up to everything Jim says, for context and meaning to actually sink in.

Didn't come back for nothing. A second chance more important than anything- anything? It- It is important to make sure they get out of there. That's important- and if he can be there to help get them that chance, to get them that ticket out. A promise already falling apart but a promise he still wants to fulfill if it's the last thing he does. That's what's more important than anything. And that's more than enough reason for him to level his gaze back on Jim, to find his voice again, strained but no longer yelling. Yet somehow more firm. ]

Then wait, damn it. Just listen to me and wait.

[ There's a plea there. In his words. In his eyes. Don't do this.

Please. ]

[ And then jim said NO FUCK U YOU OLD GEEZER and ollied out to the toy store and died. ]

[ And then Zack went OH MY GOD FUCKING CHILDREN. ]

[ THEY ARENT FUCKING YET WOW ]

I can't do that.

When - later, when we're older -

You'll understand.

When I say.

Some things aren't that simple.

WHEN YOU WALK AWAY

YOU DON'T HEAR ME SAY

PLEEEEEEASE

OH BABY

DON'T GO

[ In a way, Zack freezing helps - just not the way Zack would want it to. Sometimes Jim's let himself forget that Zack's human, too, just as lost as Jim is. He'd seen it when they fought, when he'd come back from the dead, when Zack collapsed and then -

Well, there's no reason to think about the last time he'd seen it. It's over, Zack's alive, and it's not going to happen again, because Jim's not going to let it. ]

I'm listening.

[ Zack can probably feel the 'but' coming in the way Jim steels himself to meet Zack's eyes through the tablet, the breath he sucks in and lets out in a rush. ]

But we can't wait. I'm sorry. We'll take care of each other and - talk to you soon.

[ And with that Jim, too, will cut the connection. ]

Edited 2016-07-21 19:28 (UTC)

[ Much like with Zell, message after message follows him after that. Whether Jim answers him or not, this continues for a time.

Perhaps- in some ways -because they're the messages he should have sent that time once before. That time when he didn't.

At some point, just like with Zell's, they eventually stop. ]

Edited 2016-07-21 19:40 (UTC)

[ Later, an answer from Jim comes. It's short and to the point, text because it's easier than looking at Zack. ]

Zell told you, but we opened the door. No traps yet - nothing really. We're safe. Going to try a few more things in the morning.

Be careful out there.

[ For as upset as he was earlier, he doesn't hesitate to shoot a response back not long after he finally hears back from him. His own message is brief. Far from the charge emotion from before but still enough to make his point. Nothing that feels impersonal like that one time long before. ]

you take care of yourself out there. both of you. I don't want either of you turning up in the obituaries too you hear?

i did it first you poser

FUCK YOU

We'll take care of each other.

I'll see you soon. Goodnight, Zack.

sooner the better. night Jim.

[ Shiva, Infrit, whoever the hell or whatever forces would ever bother... Don't let anything happen to those two. ]

[It wasn’t a slow awakening like usual. It was violent and he jerked upwards into a sitting position quickly. His heart was racing as he mind reeled with all the information. People were there. People he knew or seen on the network. He could see them, even when they were just floating there in a dimly lit place.

He looked at his own hands and flexed his fingers. It was just a dream, right? No one else would remember that when he asked, right?

Zell turns his gaze over to his boyfriend beside him, but it wasn’t Jim there. It was Riley.]

The hell?! [He immediately kicks off the cover and scoots back against the wall as he looked at “Riley”.] Am I still sleeping? [He pinches his wrist and felt pain. Nope, he’s awake.] Where is Jim?

[ Jim's had people rolling around in his dreams all night and he wakes with something like a hangover. No headache, but he's sluggish like he hasn't really rested when he hears Zell sit up suddenly.

Unfortunately, one or the other of the group startling awake from nightmares isn't exactly an uncommon occurrence; the most he thinks to do, at first, is to scoot after Zell and try to draw him back down. ]

W'huh? [ No one ever accused Jim of being articulate in the morning. ] M' right here, Zell, come back to bed.

[~~Seriously, dude. You're supposed to buy a guy dinner first before joining them in bed.~~

He missed most of what is said thanks to still waking up and his heart hammering loud. He looks at what he perceives as Riley and shakes his head.] No, Riley. Just tell me where Jim is. Please?

[His voice is still thick with sleep, but there is an edge of desperation as he rubbed his eyes. He's not afraid of Riley, but it's startling as hell that his boyfriend was no where to be seen, on top of the creepiness this whole thing was.]

Riley-?

[ That wakes Jim up enough to sit up and join Zell, a frown of concern marring his features ~~not that Zell can see that.~~ He reaches out instinctively to take Zell's hand. ]

Sunshine, it's me. Jim. I'm right in front of you.

[ And sounding a little freaked out. Last time Zell lost touch with reality, he'd punched someone and beaten himself up about it, and he knows how badly Zell responds to having his head messed with. ]

[He draws his hand back for a moment, really not in the mood for this right now. He an feel panic replacing sleep because Jim still isn't there. He's about the ask again but ... ..- -. ... .... .. -. . catches his attention. Looking at what appears to be Riley as he taps against the floor with the code.

It's Jim? Right in front of him? Squinting to try to make out the beautiful blue eyes from under the eyes of mask, but he can't really discern anything out through them. Reaching up hesitantly for the mask, and pausing before placing his hand on side of "Riley's" face. He can feel skin there.]

I don't...[Swallowing a bit as he traces down what feels like the jawline, but looks like is only mask.] I don't understand. [Dropping his hand quick.] You're wearing a mask. [But he doesn't feel the mask and it's freaking him out.]

[ Jim watches, still as a stone, as Zell reaches out to touch him. They're rarely this hesitant with one another and that more than anything drives home exactly how worried he should be.

Tapping. Zell had been tapping and it sounded like a pattern, though not one Jim recognizes immediately. He files that away, one piece of a puzzle he's only just started, as Zell speaks. ]

Zell, I'm not - I look like I did when we went to bed. No mask.

[ Jim captures Zell's hand and pulls it down, past his jaw and neck and to the feather that hangs over his heart. ] See? It's just - admin is messing with your mind.

[He repeats tapping out . --- -- .- ... -.- a couple of times as he lets "Riley" guide his hand to a necklace. A necklace he didn't see, but he could feel. He looks down to see it, but he can't discern anything different on him. He can't really see the necklace. Everything looks the same as Riley from his dream. Squinting his eyes for a moment and then shaking his head as he closes them. He can't see it and it was freaking him out.

-- . ... ... .. -. --.
.-- .. - ....
-.-- --- ..- .-.
-- .. -. -.. .-.-.-

Moving his hand from the feather to Jim's chest to feel the heart beat there. Still keeping his eyes closed so he can just focus on the sounds and not on how what he's seeing doesn't match with what he feels.]

I don't see you. I only see Riley. I can only see him or hear...[Tapping out the words again.] this.

[ The icy feeling that had started to form in Jim's chest exploded outward, freezing him for a moment. Zell's hallucinating, again. Zell's eyes and ears are lying to him and all Jim can think of is how badly this will set him back.

Unconsciously, he tap an of Zell's pattern with his own finger on his knee. A pattern, something Jim remembers reading about in the cipher book. Not something he'd memorized, because it didn't seem relevant at the time, but now it's suddenly very relevant. He needs to be able to communicate with Zell - they have to be able to talk. ]

Can you understand what I'm saying when it sounds like that?

[ He says it slow, loud in the early morning silence, as though that will help. ]

[He can feel every rise and fall of his chest. This is real. Opening an eye to try to see Jim, but again he is greeted with Riley. Wrinkling up his face into a cringe as he closes his eyes again. It's real and this is Jim. It's real and this is Jim.

He can here the weird static Morse code. This time he taps directly against Jim's chest. Understand. Sounds like that. He'll nod mutely before drawing his knees against his chest. Wrapping his other arm around and then bracing himself as he cracks an eye open again. Still Riley.]

It's Morse code. It's all in static, not your voice. I can't...[Swallowing down the wave of emotion as he drops his gaze to look at the floor.] I can't hear your voice. I can't see your face.

[It's hard. It's really hard. What if this isn't real? He knows he pinched himself, but that might not have been enough, right?
And if this is real, what if he'll never see Jim again? What if he'll never hear him again? He chokes back an anguish sound as he moves his hand off of Jim.] Frickin' hell. I can't... [Just going to slam his closed fist into the floor beside him.]

[ Riley, maybe, but every line of his body language is etched with concern. Jim keeps wanting to reach out and pull Zell into his arms, but it may not be welcome. Not with the way Zell's curling in on himself, away from Jim, not looking. Not able to see Jim. The irony's lost but the pain isn't as his throat clicks around any attempt to speak.

Morse code. He can learn that. He can do that. Would that help? Would any of it? Is there a single thing Jim can do when Zell is wrapped in whatever Norfinbury is doing to his head? Frozen with indecision he sits still, letting the only point of contact between them be Zell's hand on his chest.

But then it's gone too, slamming into teh floor hard enough that Jim startles and finds himself watching, warily, for another reaction. When one doesn't come he shakes off the fear and indecision and reaches out slowly to try and unwrap Zell until he can get to his shirt, and his hip.

Look he thinks hard, but doesn't say. Look, it's real. ]

[The prickling sensation on his knuckles tells him he probably broke skin with that punch. It's not a dream, or it's a dream where you actually feel things. Zell isn't sure what would be worst. What if he wakes up and there's nothing there?

As his mind starts racing towards the worst case scenario, Jim goes into action. Even without looking, he can tell it's Jim. Zell lets him work him out of his position, but he keeps his eyes shut. Trying to focus on the sounds he can pick up. There a soft clink sound of a charm tapping against the coin on one of their bracelets.

Then he can feel his top being pulled up. That stills his thoughts completely. Opening his eyes to look from the masked person before him, to what he's trying to ascertain on Zell. Then it hits him hard like a ton of bricks. Zell pulls up his shirt to look at the marks drawn on. He remembers when they did it. The feel of the marker pressed on his skin and Jim blowing against his stomach.]

Home. [A pause as he looks up to Riley!Jim.] Your home. [He hooks an arm around Jim and pulls him close. It's weird trying to pull someone who doesn't look like your boyfriend into your lap. It's almost wrong, but he definitely smells like Jim. He definitely feels like Jim.]

Jim... what if I can't ever hear you again? [What if he can't ever see Jim or anyone else again?]

[ Jim doesn't try to show Zell his corresponding mark; he can't be certain that Zell will be able to see it past whatever illusion's gripping his mind, and he thinks that would make it worse. Instead he goes, silent, where Zell seems to need him.

Home usually feels more like this these days than the million-years-ago memories of the inn - it's been almost a year since that home was burned to ash, a month an a half since he found this one. And now Norfinbury's found a way to twist it until it feels strange and unsafe for at least one of them.

Think, Hawkins. Think. It's hard when Zell's question won't stop bouncing around his head. What if, what if, what if?

But Jim's not going to give up that easily. If Zell can't hear and can't see him - well, there are other options. The closest one is the tablet, but Jim knows how little Zell trusts it. That's why he's leaning away a little further to retrieve one of his paper stashes and pens to scribble a note. ]

Then we'll write. Until you can. This won't last forever.

[ At least if Zell can't see his face, he can't see Jim's doubts. ]

[When he feels Jim start to move away, he stops breathing. Fear grips tightly on him. What if he loses Jim because of this? Gripping tighter for a moment before letting go of his boyfriend as his shoulders lower. He told him he’ll be there for as long as Jim keeps holding his hand. If Jim doesn’t want him like this…

Then Jim is back and he can breathe again. Not that he moved far in the first place. He can hear the scratching on paper and he peeks to see what Jim is doing. His boyfriend is clever and his heart is feeling lighter already. Reaching up to feel Jim’s cheek to make sure it’s still him and to locate it before pressing a quick kiss there.

Snagging the pen to write a quick message back.]

You’re right! ❤ You’re great, Stars! Thanks.

[Rubbing his face against Riley!Jim’s shoulder. He’s not going to leave him before then, right? This is temporary. He’ll be good again in a few days.]

Edited 2016-06-13 20:02 (UTC)

I've got you.

[ Jim writes, but doesn't try to get Zell to look. Instead he tucks the pen back in the book and pulls Zell close, hopefully close enough that he's not looking at Jim and seeing someone that's wrong. Something other than the boyfriend that loves him. He doesn't quite understand what happened to Zell yet. Something he picked up from wandering in and out of dreams? After he fell out of Jim's, maybe. Or maybe it's something that will take Jim too as the day wears on.

The thought tightens his arms around Zell. He needs to stay sane. He needs to be here, because Zell so badly needs to be caught. ]

[He's going to take it a step further and bury his face against Jim's neck. If he can't look, then it'll be okay. Right? Reaching up with shaking fingers to dig into Jim's hair as he takes a deep breath. Again steadying his heart beat as he takes in Jim's smell. Jim still feels right in his arms.

Allowing a moment of silence to fall between them as he gives Jim a squeeze.]

It started off similar to Time Compression. [His voice comes out quietly.] I wasn't alone there. Steph and a bunch of others were all there with me.

[ Jim makes an agreeing noise, and then winces at himself. It's hard not to talk back or ask questions when he just wants to know. More than knowing, he wants to be able to solve the problem, or have enough information to maket hings better.

Instead he's still, letting Zell play with his hair as he holds Zell to his neck.

Something occurs to him, then, and he's wiggling around without actually moving away again. It only takes a few seconds to slip out of his leather jacket and wrap it around Zell's shoulders. Jim hopes Zell can see it if Jim's not wearing it, feel and smell it the way he always can.

Time compression - always comes back to that. Why does it always come back to that? ]

[ The cold mixture of fear and dread started to ebb away with each breath. Slowly he starts kneading the base of Jim’s scalp as he thinks over the weird ass dream. He doesn’t seem to move as Jim wiggles beneath him. It’s not until he feels the weight of his jacket that he opens his eyes and leans back. Looking at the jacket that’s now draped on him and just smiling slowly.

He can see it as well as feel it’s weight on his shoulders. Slowly grinning as he looked at the coat with his favorite pockets. Then his attention goes back to Jim, forgetting for a moment about their predicament. All he can see is the mask staring at him. For a moment his expression falls, before it goes back to a smile. Reaching up to cup Jim’s face to brush his thumb against his cheek bone. ]

I can see your jacket. Guess I can see clothes when they’re off of you. [ Which sucks, especially considering he knows Jim could drop some layers, but being unable to fully enjoy it. He’s watching his own hands now move down what appears to him as the gas mask, but he can feel skin. Locating Jim’s mouth is a bit of a trip. It should be where the filter is on the mask, but it’s his mouth. Brushing his fingers against Jim’s lips. He’s glad he took the time to trace and memorize everything that one night. ]

We could all talk to each other in there, but it got hard to concentrate on them once they showed up. [ Continuing on with the dream. ] The original residents from Norfinbury appeared to talk to us, but they weren’t themselves. I think one was missing their face even. I had Riley talk to me

[ Jim always likes putting Zell in his clothes; even under the circumstances it gives him a little thrill of rightness when Zell's wrapped in the beat-up old jacket that's been with Jim through enough life-rocking moments he can't even count them anymore. It will see Zell through this one, too, Jim hopes as he puts a hand over Zell's bruised one.

His mind goes back to that night, too, when he'd foolishly told Zell that he didn't have to memorize Jim's face. Stupid, now, when Zell has to result to feeling around and looks so lost.

Jim's so caught on that, he misses the first of what Zell was saying - he has to replay it in his head. They could talk to each other, until they couldn't; he can see the parallels to Time Compression already.

He has to reach for the notebook to prompt Zell on, his usual surprisingly neat penmenship just spikey chicken scratch in his haste. ]

What did he tell you?

[ What Jim wants to know, but doesn't ask: Anything that makes this worth it? ]

[ Pressing his thumb against Jim’s lower lip. Normally the sensation of his hands brushing against Jim’s lips sent shivers and excitement all over. Sleeping on his stomach probably stripped off the petroleum jelly from his lips.

He hears the scribbling and waits for the sound of pen on paper to cease before glancing down. Zell can see the difference immediately, which makes him pause a little longer. Looking back at the masked!Jim, with his hand being over what should feel of rubber or plastic, but felt like his mouth. Lowering his hand as he leans close to bump his forehead against Jim’s. ]

We’re running out of time. [ He feels emotions trying to claw their way out of his throat. They have four months left and he can’t even see Jim as he shares the warning. Making a frustrated noise as he puts both of his hands on Jim’s shoulders to give them a squeeze. ]

He wanted to tell us we need to hurry before the town eats everyone like it did to them.

[ Jim's lips are drying out by now but the heat of his breath is a contrast to the rest of his skin, which is rapidly cooling off now that he's donated his jacket to Zell. Where he would often turn a touch to his lips into a kiss he's now still, unwilling to make things stranger for Zell than they already are. He's frozen in place as Zell moves to press their foreheads together.

We're running out of time.

The words are a blow hard enough that Zell can probably feel them hitting Jim. Out of time - to live, to be together, everything, and they're making no progress. It's not the first time Jim's thought that they're all going to die here, but it's the most immediate. His curse is probably lost in a haze of static, but the way he clings tighter to Zell isn't.

In a moment he'll be able to try and reassure Zell, write something that makes sense. As soon as he knows what to say. ]

[ He hates that he has to tell Jim like this. Hates the way he feels him tenses up and clings tighter without being able to see the emotions. Zell has a pretty good idea what Jim might be feeling. Zell himself is has tangled feelings of panic and helplessness trying to nestle its way inside of himself. Jim already has a lot of issues and this definitely isn’t helping any of it.

Trying to temper his own feelings down as he presses his mouth against Jim’s own. Closing his eyes to rely on his other sense as he feels Jim’s dry lips with his own. It’s weird, but like this with his eyes closed he can deal with the weirdness. Needing to feel Jim and to assure him in some way was overriding the weirdness of his senses lying to him. ]

I’m going to find out what the others heard in there. [ Rubbing up and down the length of Jim’s arms to make sure he stays warm. ] We can figure this out. We’ll beat this thing together. [ He’s not sure if any of this is working on his boyfriend. He can’t really see if his expression is changing. Zell feels himself waiting for the sound of pencil against paper or a change in demeanor. ]

[ It's - so strange, even for Jim who can see Zell with his own eyes. It doesn't feel right, He in a moment that he so wants something to feel right. So rarely does something between them feel wrong, but this does, Jim thinks even as he chases the kiss. Just a little. He needs every single one.

Running out of time. The sense memory of his fists so tight around the hocky stick, raising it in the air, screaming -

It's gone. He's okay. He's okay, and it's more important to reassure Zell, who he hopes can't see the way he fumbles with the book. ]

I believe in you.

[ He lets out a breath he didn’t know he was holding the moment he heard the sound of Jim writing on the paper. Not looking at the words quite yet as he slowly drags his nails along the back of Jim’s neck. Feeling the little hair, the differences in lengths, and just reveling in the familiar feel of Jim’s scalp under his fingers. He’s looking again, watching as what should be straps to a mask was actually hair. Pressing a needy kiss against Jim’s jaw as he looks down at the words on the paper.

He remembers Jim saying similar words to him in the past. How he almost believed it from it coming from Zell. That was before they were together and when they were separated. ]

Thank you. [ He says it quietly as he presses another kiss against the mask. He says thank you again against Jim’s cheek. Later on he’ll wonder if it’s everyone who is hidden from his view, but right now only Jim is in his world. Only Jim matters for this moment. ]

[ Like before, Jim stays as still as he can, letting Zell do whatever he needs to do but not initiating anything until he knows what's going to help and what's going to hurt. His hand fidgets with the pencil, twirling it and making a fist around it only to let it go and pick it up again.

His handwriting's really not improving, and Zell probably can feel the shaking from his position as Jim writes out as carefully as he can: ]

How long?

[ And then, after a moment of hesitation: ]

& what do we do now?

we can always see if being blindfolded is one of my kinks and make the most of the time we hav e now ;D

[ There's a lot of things he'd like to do right now, like punch a wall or gather Jim up close and hold until he stops shaking. He's not sure which will help Jim, especially when Zell can't really see his boyfriend.

Swallowing as he thinks about the time they have left. ]

We... I think I heard something about how we're close to the halfway mark.

[ If it's been a few months since the first arrivals... well. Only a few more months. He feels cold and it frickin' sucks. Reaching over to ensnare one of Jim's hands to place it on his own face. Trying to encourage Jim to touch him on his own. ] We need to find the center.

[ With the implied permission, Jim sets the pencil aside for the moment and puts both hands on either side of Zell's face, bringing him in until they're forehead-to-forehead.

It only lasts a moment, because Jim needs to reply, but he kisses Zell's forehead before he pulls back.

Half way. It's been... almost four months since Jim came here. Four months until - whatever it is comes for them.

They won't take us this way. ]

How do we do that?

[ He misses the contact as soon as Jim starts writing again. Reaching up to touch his own forehead to give a small smile. ]

Figure a way to open that frickin' metal wall. Winter said townhall is on the other side. [A pause as he remembers the whole follow the spiral part. ] Or find the way around it. We'll just have to check everything. We found another key, right? We'll keep following them. With this much trouble for them already they have to lead to some where good, right?

[ No one else has found keys like these! So it's definitely something new. And traps were another thing pretty new.

Wrapping his arms around his boyfriend as he gives him a squeeze. ] Maybe if that fails we should try bombing one of the snow walls. [ If Kunsel will let them do anything rash. BOOM BABY ]

Edited 2016-07-17 10:35 (UTC)

[ That smile is good. Jim wants to keep it in place, which might be why he scribbles an upside down spider with a frowny face, surrounded by explosion lines. Exploding the spiders is a great plan, right? ]

Nobody goes through that much trouble for something that's not important. Wishing we had a treasure map right about now.

[ That's the kind of puzzle Jim's good at solving. He huffs in Zell's arms and then immediately hopes it's not a painful noise on his end. ]

But you're right. We're not wandering in circles anymore.

[ He's going to snort at the drawing and then turn to look at his masked boyfriend long enough to press a kiss against his cheek or jaw (whatever was closer). ]

Yeah, they wouldn't.

[ The huff comes out normal enough. It seems like the infliction is only when people talk. ]

A treasure map would be nice, but I have the best treasure already. [ Even he can't see or hear him at the moment. Nuzzling his shoulder. ] A map definitely would be helpful. Even if everything is messed up, we could figure out what way to go to kick some ass.

[ Moving to snag the corner of the blanket to drape it lightly on Jim's back. ] We just have to keep moving. [ A pause. ] Not immediately. Can we stay like this for a bit?

[ Zell's ability to be sweet but cheesy in the face of their doom would usually at least get a laugh out of Jim, but right now he can only manage a little smile that's invisible anyway. Instead, he answers with a drawing of a sun and a few stars scattered around it, seemingly at random, and writes: ]

As long as you need.

[ He doubts the others are going to object, once they know what's going on. For now he grips the corner of the blanket and pulls it tight around the two of them so that he can hold on. ]

[ Tracing each of the stars that were drawn. He already misses the sound of Jim's voice, his laughter, and being able to see him smile.
It's temporary. Just had to keep reminding himself of that. Closing his hand over the one holding the pen to guide it into drawing a heart around one of the stars. ]

Thanks. [ Nuzzling against the mask- Jim's face. ]

[ He adds a sun in the heart, and:]

Anytime.

[Haunted between dreams and the creepy toy store they were currently stay in, Zell sat up quickly. Resting his forehead against in his hand as he tried to calm his breathing. His fingers seek after the familiar wrist of his boyfriend laying beside him to feel for his warmth, his pulse, and the bracelet adorning his wrist. It takes a moment of before the ragged breaths slow and the beat of his heart goes to a slower tempo. He can still feel the claws of fear prickling coldly against his back, but knowing he can still feel it’s Jim beside him is reaffirming that he’s awake and this is real.

He glances over at the wrist he has captive to memorize the contours and lines of Jim’s hand. Zell can see the gil in the dim light of their tablets. Tracing it over as his brain niggles that something is weird about being able to see the bracelet clearly. His attention shifts up from Jim’s hand to his face. Jim is normally keenly aware of his partner’s movement or when he wakes up, so Zell can only enjoy the serene look for a moment longer.

Then it hits him like a pile of bricks. He can see the coin bracelet clearly. He can see Jim’s face clearly. Riley’s awful mask is no longer there. He can frickin’ see Jim again. A grin spreads wide on his face as any hope for sleep disappears with excitement bubbling over. He can see Jim’s beautiful face, his hair, his brows, nose, and lips. He can distinguish Jim from others again.] There’s the face I love.

[His words come out in a murmur as he lifts Jim’s hand to press a kiss against each knuckle. Really, he just wants to climb on the slumbering form of his boyfriend and kiss him silly, but he’s holding himself back. Opening up Jim’s hand to press a kiss inside of his palm, then down to his wrist.]

[ Much like the morning that Zell's hallucinations took hold, Jim is sleeping soundly when Zell wakes. He's a heavy weight on Zell's side, not quite clinging but with possessive limbs trying to drag his boyfriend back down even when he moves. Jim may be lost in his own dreams, but at least tonight they're quiet ones that leave his face smooth and peaceful until consciousness starts to take hold.

It starts with the little crinkle between his brow and then a frown that appears and disappears on his face. One eye opens, closes, then the other, then both to squint as Zell kisses his hands.

It slowly starts to strike him as something strange and that gets him moving enough to prop himself up on one elbow. ] S'mthing wrong?

[ He doesn't think so, but this being Norfinbury, of course that's his first question. ] Something happen?

[Normally, he would succumb to Jim trying to drag him down, but he’s too excited to go back to sleep just yet. He nearly bounces with anticipation as he waits for Jim to be awake enough. All of his faces his boyfriend makes are pretty cute, which makes it tempting to try to wake him up with little kisses more often. He reaches for his tablet to capture the moment, but it’s sitting just out of range. The tablet is still casting a gentle light upwards against the sheet stretched above them.

Their own little private space just behind the counter and away from the eyes of the pair sharing the toy store for the night.

Deciding Jim is roused enough to bother, Zell leans down to nuzzle against the side of his face. Laying back down and slipping an arm under Jim to pull him on top.] It’s the opposite, Stars. Something is right. [Pressing a needy kiss against the corner of his mouth] I can hear your voice. [He laughs quietly as he says this.] I can see you.

-Oh.

[ Jim, still half-asleep and dopey, simply sounds happy because Zell is happy, and kissing him, and then cuddling him close. It's been a miserable few days with little enough room for this kind of affection and Jim basks in it even before he's awake enough to understand why.

Eventually, though, the reality of Zell's words sink in and then Jim is wide-awake and blinking at him. ] You -

[ The surprise and disbelief gives way quickly to a delighted grin as Jim goes in for another kiss. A real one. Because Zell can see him again. ]

-You're back.

[ Of course, he hadn't left - not like other people Jim could name - but there had been that distance between them that neither could overcome. ]

[Seeing the expressions change on his face makes it almost worth it.] I'm back.

[He understands exactly what Jim means. Giving him a hungry kiss as he rolls them both over to be on top of Jim. Hands moving to either side of his boyfriend to help keep some of his weight off as he kisses him until they both need air.]

I missed you. [He murmurs as he waits to catch his breath. Tracing his brows, eyes, nose, and lips with his gaze as he realizes just how badly he missed it all. He missed the sound of his voice and he finds himself laughing again because he can actually hear it. Pressing a series of kisses from his mouth up to his ear, and then down his neck.] My Jim. My Stars.

[ Jim rolls easily, with only a little exhale as he lands on his back looking up at Zell. It's quickly forgotten in their kisses as Jim alternates between shh, shh! and laughter. The toy shop should be worse than the house with the clowns, but with the tent blanketing them and the urgency of their feelings it's easy to forget where they are.

So easy as Jim gazes up, watching Zell watching him. For the first time in days he's tracking Jim's real features, seeing what's really there, and Jim can't stop smiling as he runs his fingers through Zell's hair, down to cup his cheeks and try to bring him back up. ]

Right here. [ Not that that really makes sense on its own, but the rest of the sentence is probably lost in the kisses Jim's giving every part of Zell he can readily reach. He's been holding back, there's a lot to make up for. ] Never left.

[Every touch aligns with what he could see. He can see Jim’s features and can see Jim actually looking at him. The warmth in his gaze and the need to make up for lost time all wash over Zell. It’s a reminder of how loved he really is. It’s a reminder how much he loves Jim. Letting Jim guide him back up as Zell lets his own hand wander down Jim.

Right here. Never left.

Zell swallows hard as he feels an onslaught of raw emotions. Jim stayed with him during the whole thing. He didn’t once let go of his hand and made sure Zell always knew who he was. He can feel his eyes water up as he return every kiss and trying to hold them a little longer each time.]

You never left me. [He could have. Even before the gas mask and morse code, Jim really could have. Jim is still here though. Still proving he’s willing to fight to stay beside Zell. It’s confirmation that Zell is really the luckiest guy ever.]

You were there to catch me. Thanks, Stars.

Zell -

[ He sees and feels those tears in his eyes, and - You never left me.

His grin fades to a smile, then to something that's not quite a frown as emotions complicated enough that even Jim can't identify them flit over his face. Zell thinks there's a chance Jim could leave him, that something like this would do it. ]

I'm always going to catch you. [ He wills Zell to believe that. ] Nothing - unless I'm dead, I'm going to catch you.

[ At the sound of his name, he meets Jim’s gaze head on. Watching as the emotions jump across his boyfriend’s face as he tries to puzzle it out. It’s not until that Jim speaks that it slowly dawns on him where Jim’s mind was. ]

I don’t know what I did to deserve you. [ He believes it.

Taking a moment to shift one of his knees between Jim’s legs as he shifts to lay halfway on him. ] I couldn’t keep my promise, Jim. I was a pretty crappy boyfriend for a couple of days. [ It felt like it was so much longer. Reaching up to trace just under Jim’s lip. ] I know it’s this fricken’ place’s fault, but I still feel like I let you down.

You -

[ jim can't do this flat on his back where he can't see Zell, so he's propping himself up instead. He still ends up mostly looking at the top of Zell's head, but that's okay. He's still got Zell half on top of him and close enough that he can try to squeeze whatever this is out before it gets a chance to really take root. ]

You don't have to deserve me. [ He shifts further up, drawing Zell with him. It's an echo of their usual position, with Zell in Jim's lap, and Jim finds that he likes it as he can lay kisses all over Zell's forehead. ] Or - or earn anything. You were here, and you survived.

[ Jim is moving beneath him and Zell doesn't really help him out just yet. Not until he feels those kisses on his forehead. It feels really nice. He feels warmth spreading with every touch against his temple. Shifting further into his lap and pressing a kiss against his jaw.

He doesn't have to deserve or earn anything, huh? It still doesn't change he let this place win. He'll just have to do better by Jim in the future and keep improving, right? Just have to make sure he's there for Jim now. ]

I'm still here. [ They both are and he just needs to try to focus on that. Focus on what Jim is saying. Hooking an arm around Jim to trace a path down his back. ] The last couple of days frickin' sucked. [ And he's still set on it that Jim had it worse. Taking a deep breath. ] I want to do more than survive, Stars. I want to be there for you just as much as you've been here for me.

They sucked so bad, [ Jim agrees, fervently. The distance between the two of them, losing Zack and Kunsel and all the terrible fall-out that went with it, even once they were back... all of it's been bad. And Jim thinks, maybe, that it would have been easier with his light intact and by his side.

But... it doesn't work like that. Intact, Jim knows, is relative in Norfinbury; they're all of them broken somehow, even if sometimes it's harder to see Zell's cracks than most. Jim thinks some days surviving next to each other is the best they can hope for, but he knows that's not what Zell needs to hear. ]

But...

[ What does Zell need to hear? Jim's not the person that can say exactly what someone needs, but he can't stay silent either. He readjusts his hold to make Zell more comfortable. ]

...But you were here. Surviving - that's enough. I'm so happy you survived.

[ Pressing his mouth against Jim’s neck. Zell isn’t sure what words he needs to hear or if it’s words he’s really after.

Being on Jim is helping ease the feeling of failing the one person that means the most to him. Seeing his clothes on him and all of his senses matching what he knows is also helping. They both survived and were here. Just focus on that and everything else will fall into place. Zack and Kunsel were on their way back downtown. It'll be a few days, but they will all be back together again. ]

I’m happy you survived, too.

[ Reaching to trace the cuts on Jim now that he can actually see them. Sitting up as he kisses each cut he finds. ] Let me make up for it? [ For being unable to see him or unable to fully be there for Jim. He needs to look and feel Jim for a bit. To taste him and have it all still match up to what he's perceiving. ]

Anything you want.

[ Not that there's anything to make up for but lost time, but Jim knows voicing that will just get them back where they started. Instead he sits up on his elbows beside Zell, watching his boyfriend as well as feeling him, trying to catch each little expression on his face. ]

We have a time.

[ Before they have to try the next part of their plan, he means, or maybe before they need to see how their roommates are doing. It's very early yet. ]

[ Placing his hand on Jim's shoulder to help steady himself as he shifts from sitting his lap, to straddling it. His knees were on the floor to keep some weight off of Jim. Curling a hand under Jim's chin as he brushes his lower lip with his thumb. There's a smile growing on his face as he knows what he feels matches to what he sees. Looking up to meet Jim's look for a moment before he looks back at his lips.

Sliding his thumb between Jim's lips. He chortles a bit as he thinks about the anything and how great it is to see Jim. If they were alone, he might ask that they lose some layers so he can feel Jim's sides, stomach, and back. They weren't alone though. ]

We have time. [ He repeats. A long time, even after the clock for this place runs out. They will beat it. Brushing his free hand along the ends of Jim's shirt. Then again, they could probably get hit with a trap and not be able to make the most of their time alone. Helping himself to sliding his hand between Jim's shirt and the scrubs. Just going to feel along his side. ] Are there any other cuts?

[ Jim's lips part on instinct as his mouth's touched, and it stays that way as Zell continues to explore. If they were alone - but they're not, and Jim's not pushing it.

Jim's heartbeat kicks up when Zell rucks up his shirt. He watches Zell, then tilts his head back when that feels like too much. ]

Just the ones on my hand and neck. Didn't make it through any of my clothes.

[ And Jim had carefully picked the shards out, afterward. ]

[ He'll get to Jim's mouth in a moment. Once he's sure he doesn't feel anything different about Jim's sides, he moves his hand around to Jim's back to feel along it. The scrubs felt intact and everything felt as it should have. Pausing to spread his fingers over where he thinks has his handwriting scrawled across. Nuzzling against Jim's neck as he tilts his head back. ]

You did a good job. [ Tracing along his jaw. Pressing a kiss under his chin. They were behind a counter with a sheet over them. No one is going to see and their talking didn't wake them up. Might be okay to do a little more, right? Moving his hand out from under Jim's shirt to cup the back of his head. Pulling it down to press a needy kiss against his mouth. ]

[ Jim's quiet as Zell explores for cuts through his scrubs, at least until he feels the touch on the mark at his back. That gets a small noise, though that's at least partially from the feeling of Zell's touch on his neck. ]

So did you. [ Yeah, Jim said he was letting Zell make up for things, but he wants Zell to know that. ] We made it. Here.

[ Reluctantly, and with a reassuring smile, he's nudging Zell away to give himself space. Once he's got it, he's shedding his layers until he's shirtless. ] Did you want to see it? The mark?

[ The noise is worth investigating, but he reminds himself, after they lose the additional company they have. Extracting himself from his boyfriend to sit on his knees in front of him. Swallowing hard as Jim starts taking off clothes and instantly feeling much warmer even without the body contact. Once Jim is finished stripping,

Zell’s attention drop down to his stomach. Hello muscles. He finds himself reaching to touch, but letting his hand hover over the spot as he realized Jim asked something. He almost asks what mark, but then he remembers he was just thinking about it moments before. Giving a sheepish smile as he nods. ]

Yeah., I do. [ Wanting to see more is left unsaid. Hooking his hands in Jim’s belt to pull him close. ] After this. [ Stealing a kiss. ]

[ Jim doesn't actually say anything about where Zell's hand is hovering, but his gaze definitely darts down to it and away with a little spark of laughter in his eyes. He's never going to get tired - or stop being surprised - by Zell's reaction to his body.

He's not looking, then, when Zell yanks him forward for that kiss. It means Zell gets another surprised, pleased noise against his mouth before Jim pulls away to show Zell the mark. He doesn't turn before snagging Zell's hand, though, and keeping it on his belt even after he's turned to present his back.

As promised, it's free of marks from the glass or and anything else, really, except the fading mark where Zell drew it. ]

[ The look Jim gets and the certain spark in his eyes are worth investigating as well. He's pretty sure he'll never get old of seeing the different sounds or expressions from his boyfriend.

Hand still on his belt as Jim turns and Zell finds himself swallowing hard. He already knows he's going to be recalling this moment later on when they don't have company and wondering what kind of expression Jim would make if there were less clothes on.

Mapping out the mark with feather light caresses as he ducks down to kiss Jim's shoulder blade. He knows he should be checking for nicks and cuts in his boyfriend, but seeing skin is a lot more distracting than he thought. Seeing again is a lot more distracting than he thought. ]

How happy were you when you could see again? [ He couldn't really compare their experiences since Zell still could see his surroundings, while Jim couldn't see anything. ]

[ Jim keeps both hands on top of the one at his belt, eventually prying it gently free of the belt itself so that he can play with Zell's fingers, bringing them out and back into a fist again to watch the way the marks on Zell's knuckles expand and contract. He really likes these hands.

He thinks over the question for a moment before pulling Zell's hand up - and by extension, Zell closer - to kiss it. ]

So happy. But - a little sad, too.

[ Letting Jim manipulate his fingers as he smiles against his skin. Wiggling his fingers just before he gets pulled closer. Shifting up on his knees to slide his free hand to rest on Jim's waist as he kisses the back of his neck. ]

Why a little sad? [ Nuzzling against the back of his head as he stretches his captive hand. Moving it enough to trace his lower lip. ]

Because -

[ Jim tilts his head sideways, giving Zell more room to kiss. He's a little embarrassed to finish the thought, the way he sometimes is when they're talking about stuff like this so openly, but it's exhilarating too. Like a dare he gives himself. ]

-Because I didn't want you to stop holding my hand.

[ And Zell hadn't, but Jim hadn't known it would turn out like that back then. ]

[ He's going to take full advantage over being given more of Jim's neck. Pressing kisses and quick nips down to his shoulder. ]

I didn't want to stop, either.

[ And he didn't. He found himself reaching for the other even when he didn't. His hand felt empty without Jim's in it. ]

I liked it when you had to touch me to figure out who I was.

[ Jim feeling around on his chest with the stethoscope was incredible, too. Much like right now was pretty incredible. He's not sure if it's because they might be facing doom against whatever traps that wait with the rag doll in the other room, or that he's trying to mold himself against Jim's bare back able to actually see him and know he's fine physically. Really fine physically because his baby got back. ]

I know. I thought you would, but - we never stopped.

[ Jim has to twist a little to reach behind him, but he does anyway to feel out Zell's face with his free hand. Forehead, eyebrows, nose, lips, chin - the way he'd first memorized them. ]

Don't really need an excuse anymore, though. And I like looking at you.

[ And Jim knows - as weird as it is - that the feeling's mutual. Hopefully his boyfriend prefers him to Riley Sung. ]

Edited 2016-08-16 08:52 (UTC)

[ Smiling at the touch and waiting for him to finish before nuzzling into his hand. ]

I like looking at you, too.

[ He hopes neither of them have to go through something like that again. Leaning back as he tugs on Jim's hips. ]

Can you turn around, Stars? [ He's going to show just how much he prefers Jim to seeing Riley Sung. ]

[ Jim gets one more swipe over Zell's face before he twists, first just looking over his shoulder and then turning in Zell's arms at the tug on his hips. He doesn't waste a moment putting himself back in Zell's arms, though; it's cold, now that he's shirtless, and he needs Zell touching him as much as possible.

Just for warmth, you understand. ]

You need something, Sunshine?

[ He's happy to help keep him warm the moment Jim is facing him, he rubs up and down Jim's sides. Feeling his waist and his ribs. Pressing himself against Jim completely.]

You. [ Cupping the side of his face as he brushes his thumb just under Jim's lips. ] Just you. [ And a place without impending death and a kid and her mom being in the same store.

But he really can't complain. ] Open. [ He says as he moves his thumb to the corner of Jim's mouth. ]

- Open?

[ Where the heck did that come from? It's enough to break the mood, at least temporarily, as Jim blinks at him in confusion.

They didn't really get where they are by Jim not listening to Zell, though, so after a moment of scrunched eyebrows he does let his mouth drop open and waits expectantly. ]

[ He just grins at the confusion. Don't worry, he has a plan.
He has an urge to just stick his fingers in Jim's mouth when he sees it open, but instead he moves his hand from his lips to cover his boyfriend's eyes. Laughing a little as he does.

Reaching back into his pocket to mess with something that sounds like plastic being unwrapped. Popping the candy into his mouth and working it with his tongue until all he can taste is cinnamon. Pressing a kiss against the corner of Jim's mouth and then moving on to give him a big candy coated open mouth kiss. Pushing the candy into his boyfriend's mouth. Surprise. ]

[ Jim holds obediently still, though he does huff when Zell covers his eyes. The crinkling plastic is strange, but Jim can smell the cinnamon between them even before Zell's kiss.

And then - oh. Huh. It's a little gross if he thinks about it too hard, but also... well. He's flushing and enjoying the taste of the candy and the closeness with Zell; the whole thing is exciting.

He's going to try to keep it up until the candy is gone. ]

[ As soon as the candy is gone, he'll remember that air is a thing. Breaking away with a smack of his lips and resting his chin on his shoulder. Breathing in hot, short breaths as he tries to again remind himself where they were. Tasting the flavor still in his mouth and quietly he starts shaking with laughter. They are about to possibly head to their death, but at least he got to try something new just before. Pulling Jim tight against him as he nuzzles against his neck. ]

We can get other flavors at the store after we finish here. [ He mumbles it. ]

[ Air is completely overrated in a universe where candy kissing exists.

But then Jim feels Zell shaking and makes an alarmed noise - is he crying again? Did that set off something -

Oh.

Jim can't help but snort quietly at his boyfriend and shake his head. ]

You just want to do that again.

[ And Jim won't object if it means they get the chance. ]

[ Everything about this right now is much brighter compared to the usual. He can feel his mouth tingling from the cinnamon and playing tongue hockey with the candy. The shaking stops soon after as he rubs the crown of his head against his boyfriends collarbone. ]

I do. [ No point in denying it especially with how hard his heart is still pounding. Leaning back to look at Jim's face again. Licking his lips as he thinks about it. ] We could skip the candy.

But I like the candy.

[ Not as much as he likes seeing Zell like this, though, especially after days of misery and then his apology earlier. Jim's missed this feeling.

He lets Zell nuzzle him for a moment before he puts a hand on either of Zell's cheeks to tilt his face up again and steal a few more kisses. They still taste like candy, or maybe Jim's mouth does. It doesn't really matter which. ] How much longer do you think we've got?

I have more. [ In their stuff though. He doesn't really want to move. Exchanging a kiss for everyone given as he quietly laughs. Each smack of his lips gives him another reminder of the flavor. Sighing softly as he rubs Jim's nose with his own. ]

As long as we want. [ They do have days before Kunsel and Zack make it back to downtown. ] Do you have any ideas?

Good to know. [ Jim's not really in favor of leaving the tent just yet, either. Both because he likes warm, cinnamon-flavored boyfriend and because the dolls outside are seriously creepy. ] I meant before we have company.

[ Lifting his shoulders as he murmurs that he doesn't know. Walking his fingers up Jim's stomach. ] I don't even know what time it is. [ Hooking his arm behind Jim as he grins at a thought. ] C'mon. Let's make the most of it. [ That's all the warning he's giving Jim as he leans to the side to plop back down, trying to pull his boyfriend down with him. He figures their company will let them know when they were awake. ]

[ Jim doesn't exactly make it hard to pull him down. They can deal with everything else later. ]

Missed this. [ He's said it already, but it's true enough to be wroth repeating. ]

[There is the sound of a few chords being struck on a guitar before he clears his throat.] Haven't mastered playing a few instruments at once, but hopefully this will do for now.

[He's going to start playing the love song that Jim sang to him. Singing quietly along with it. He worked really hard to figure out chords to go with it. When it finally ends, it's quiet for a moment on his end for a moment before:] It's been forty days. Love you, Stars.

Hi, Jim, it's Al.

[Like... he wouldn't recognise the voice or something.]

It's not urgent so don't worry, but when you stop for the night and have a moment do you think we could talk?

[ It is a distinctive voice! And one he's always happy to hear, a rarity in Norfinbury. That Al messaged him out of the blue is concerning, though. ]

Hey, Al.

[ There's some caution in Jim's voice, though he's making an effort not to sound too concerned. ]

What's up?

[See, that caution is what he wanted to avoid, it's why he made sure to say it wasn't urgent.]

I've been talking to Haurchefant and we were wondering if you might be able to build a kind of collapsible sled, it's just Zell said you've made a few amazing things and there aren't many people here with building experience.

A collapsible-?

[ Jim lapses off into thoughtful silence, already casting around for his sketchbook. Later he'll think to be flattered that Zell said so and Al had faith in him, but right now there's a puzzle to solve. ]

You're wanting something to fold up - maybe carry it around on your back when you're not riding it?

That's actually not a bad idea either, but no. What we were thinking it was something bigger, able to hold supplies and injured people, but can collapse down to be stored inside any of the houses for safety. The idea was to have several of them stored around town for people to use in case of emergency.

Whoa. [ Jim quickly flips a page to start over again, this time with something a little different in mind. ] That would've been ppretty useful a few weeks ago.

Let me work on this and I'll call you back when I've got something, alright?

Great!

[Seems like Jim was absolutely the right person to come to. He'll call Haurchefant back when he knows Jim actually has something.]

I'll talk to you then. Thanks, Jim.

Any time. This could really help someone, you know?

Stay safe out there.

Mm, you too!

[And off he'll go, happy that this seems to be onto a result!]

IC Inbox

day 036 - text - @claytonator

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Day 49, late at night- audio; @standardissue

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department of redundancy department /o\ sorry.

Ahah, it's okay

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link ooc also timey wiimy bullshit

o/

day: 56 | text; @zd

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Day 59; evening! video; @zd

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