[ 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. ]
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.
[ 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: ]
[ 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.
[ 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?
[ 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.
[ 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. ]
[ 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. ]
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[ It's what Jim would've done, if Jim were half as outgoing as Zack. ]
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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.
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-Kunsel. [ Wait, that wasn't a complete thought. ] Ever get Kunsel good?
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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.
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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.
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[ 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?
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FRIENDSHIP
IS MAGIC
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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. ]
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[ 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. ]
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[ 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. ]
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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?
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[ 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! ]
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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.
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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. ]
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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...
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-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. ]
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[ 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?
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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?
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That, and the warmth of sitting together and talking, gets them through a long night of darkness. ]