rattlingthestars | IC Inbox II

[ The whispering has began. At first Zell put distance between himself and the anomaly, but he couldn't lose it.

The whispering seems to get louder and louder, and nothing was drowning it out. Zell is lucky. Zell is the one who made it one piece. Why did it have to be him?

The sinking feeling of dread for worse when he picked out the pieces all over again. Seeing the parts of his friends from home all stitched together with Seifer of all people. That Zell was actually the lucky one from the whole group. From all of his friends and matron...

It starts getting to him as he is reminded more and more that he's alone right now. He can reaffirm what's real or true. The network isn't helping matters either.

He starts writing out Jim's username. Then he erases it. Then he writes it in again as he shuts the bathroom door behind himself, keeping the whispering mess of his family and friends on the other side.

Hitting the call button as he swallows the lump. ]

J-Jim? [ His voice is shaky. ] Jim, please. Please talk to me. Please.

Edited 2017-06-23 21:24 (UTC)

[ Jim woke up with the clear-headed knowledge of what he needed to do. It's not a question of if, not really. He just has to work up the nerve and figure out how.

A message on his tablet from Zell is what finally spurs him into action. There's something wrong and Jim doesn't know what and he can't fix it until this is dealt with.

Until he kills him.

Jim still has the scalpel. It's dangerously sharp, and it will be easy. He hopes it will be easy. He doesn't want to do this, but he does - but he doesn't - but he has to.

And he's always been good at doing what he has to, so he does, and afterward he's glad that it - he - didn't bleed.

He answers the tablet the second it's done, and sounds clearer than he has since the entire thing started. ]

-I'm here.

[ Relief floods him as he hears Jim's voice in response, but it lasts only for a moment. Leaning his head back against the door and hearing the voice or maybe the voices starting up again. Thumping the back of his head against it as if to get them to quiet down, but it doesn't do anything. ]

I don't want it to be true. Please tell me it's a lie, Stars.

[ Choking back a sob. ]

I can't do this. Not alone. I can't... [ The tablet clatters on the ground next to him as he hugs himself. Trying to make himself as small as possible as the voice continues to accuse Zell of being lucky. Being the only one to make it there whole. ]

[ Jim hears the voice in the background and strains to make out what they're saying. His hearing is still enhanced - and his eye sight gone - so he can hear most of it before Zell starts talking.

Tell me it's a lie.

Jim can't. Not if Zell wants the truth from him. He thinks it has to be true. It has to be true, or he just killed his father for nothing.

The tablet falls and Jim flinches. He keeps his voice level, though he's not sure how. ]

I need to know where you are. Now.

[ Jim can probably hear the sharp breathing that came as he tries to keep himself from falling apart completely. There is the telltale stinging in the corner of his eyes. Bumping the back of his head against the door again.

They are explaining why. They are talking about only parts of them could make it. ]

Jim. It's them. You couldn't see it, but it's them.

They're -

[ Lying. the words die on his tongue and he shakes his head. They're probably not lying, but they're wrong, and he needs to stop them. He can hear how close Zell is to falling apart. ]

- Tell me where you are.

[ He has to think about it. Zell starts tapping on the floor in a certain code to get his mind off of what's on the other side of the door. ]

South. South skywalk from the building we were in. [ Where Jim split form there. Where Zell left to find him.

Taking a deep breath before continuing ] West- no, south west. Directly south west from that building.

I'm coming.

[ He wants to say something better, something that will actually help. ]

-Don't listen to them. Block 'em out, sing, whatever you have to do. They're wrong. They're wrong

[ Because they hadn't been lucky. Any of them. But Jim's determined to protect what good has come of this place, and he's already moving. His sail, streaked with blood, unfurls in the sunlight and he takes off without another thought. ]

[ For a moment, everything seems to fade away at the I'm coming. ]

Yeah. I'll try-

[ Mochi is yowling on the other side of the door. Probably came down for food and came across the abomination. ]

Shit. I have to- [ Go out and deal with it. See it. ]

It's my friends, Jim. It's not just Seifer, but all of them... I'm going to get Mochi and Morph before they do anything to them.

[ He has to hold on until Jim gets there. He doesn't even know how far Jim is. ]

Keep them safe. Keep - keep Mochi and Morph safe. I'm stronger now. I can do something. I'm coming to help.

[ He already took care of one anomaly. He can deal with two. ]

I'm coming.

[ Jim is stronger now. He's coming back to him. His heart starts picking up as he repeats the words in a low murmur.

Keep them safe. Do something.

Saying it again and again as if weaving a spell to kick his own butt into gear. ]

I'll go get them.

[ Standing up shakily as he places his hand on the door. ]

I believe you, Stars. I'll hold them off until you get here.

I know you will.

[ Jim is convinced of that, at least. ]

I know you can. Don't let them take your light, Sunshine.

[ He can't get there and have it be to late. He can't. ]

Hanging up to move faster. Be safe.

[ He stops at the don't let them take your light...

He's not really sure he can make promises, but Jim needs him. Jim is on his way and he needs him to be whole. Clenching his fist for a moment as he nods. ]

I'll do my best. Stay safe, Stars.

[ And with that he leaves the tablet behind to head out of the bathroom. Before Jim hangs up, he can probably hear the accusations grow louder. Insults at mixed in and there is the sound of something thudding loudly against the floor. A body falling perhaps? ]

[ The sound spurs Jim on. He's moving faster than his surfer could take him back home, flying with the power of sunlight.

Unfortunately, there's an obstacle in his way.

It doesn't take long to deal with, but it's still too long, and he's so afraid that he's too late. Zell will be gone, or like him, by the time he gets there - ]

[ It's much later than either of them thought by the time Jim gets there. When Jim arrives, he may see a small amount of blood on the floor that looks like it could be from earlier today. There is a couch pushed in front of one of the doors, where a constant stream of whispering can be heard.

The other room in the suit is closed, but there is nothing barring the way.

Will Jim proceed? ]

[ Jim moves toward the barricaded door, but stills in front of the couch to listen. Under the sounds of the monster's whispering he can hear Morph and Mochi, and snatches of what he think might be Zell.

He wants to go to him, but the whispers are louder. He needs to deal with that first, and make sure Zell doesn't have to. He'd sounded so broken over the tablet...

Jim grips his knife - already used twice today - and slides the couch away to get at the door and prepare himself for whatever's behind it before he swings it open. ]

[ What's there is mostly Seifer. His blond hair is slicked back, and his bright blue eye and part of the scar under his left eye. His right side of his face was different. Lips fuller, another scar under his right eye and his eyes were a darker blue. There's a necklace around his neck with something that looks like a lion at the end of it.

Bits of his limbs were in different patchwork of clothes from what could be familiar to Jim as well. All of them match bits and pieces from the color scheme Zell's friends- his other family. Even his jacket was a mix of the white coat from prior, and a brown duster.

Now free, it's looking beyond Jim to try to head towards the other room. It's as if it knows where Zell is. It has many things to share with him about the light.

Zell is too busy being a ball. Well, too busy until he hears the sounds of the couch moving. All the tiny hairs on his arms and the back of his neck rise as he realizes with a start that he's no longer alone there. He let his tablet back in the bathroom and hasn't mustered enough care to get to it. So, he can check to see if it's Jim or anyone else.

He manages to utilize his training to quietly slip off the bed and head towards the door. Pausing to check to see Mochi and Morph were still snoozing in the drawer with his coat. Once he's sure they are, he quietly opens the door and slips out. ]

[ Jim's bulk blocks most of the door. His body is the same, though he's hunched painfully forward under the weight of the sail on on his back that rattles every time he breathes. It knocks against the doorframe, right at the top, and that hurts too.

Not enough to make Jim's attention stray even for an instant. That... thing is still hissing and whispering and being hateful to Zell, who's never done anything to deserve it. Jim's not going to let him. He's not going to let it do that, he's not going to let it hurt Zell at all.

After all, Zell's only got room for one monster in his life.

Jim moves in a blur of oranges and reds, nearly too fast to see, and slices his scalpel through what he hopes is the creature's neck. It's not; one of Seifer's eyes and it catches on the bridge of Squall's nose until Jim pries it free and goes in again, lower, again and again until it stops moving.

When he thinks it's dead he takes a deep breath that turns into a sob halfway through, and then another, and he stumbles backwards from the corpse until his sail hits a wall and he unbalances, falling to his knees. ]

[ Zell cringes as the blade makes it way into the eye that is Squall's. He grips his fists, but doesn't make a move yet.

The creature seems to shrink with a tangle of different voices as it loses it sight. Trying to push past the Jimmaly before it to get to it's target.

That's when Zell starts to move towards them, ready to yank Jim back if he needs to keep him safe. Before he reaches them, Jim manages to hit the monster where he needs to. The next sound is gurgling and crying all mingling together. Zell freezes as he watches it collapses, scrabbling at it's own throat to stop the wound. The life slowly leaves it's expression as it dies out on the floor.

At first, Zell is going to move towards the hodgepodge of his friends, but Jim stumbling backwards while making that sound has him picking up his pace. ]

Jim!

[ And dropping to his knees beside him as he reaches for his shoulder ]

Stars, You're okay. It's okay.

[ Jim curls inward, as best he can. He's too ungainly to get away without actually pushing Zell, but he doesn't want Zell to see him. The fin at his back moves with each too-fast breath, curling and uncurling. It casts them in firey orange and harsh shadows.

It's not just the monstrous turn his body has taken, now, but also the things he's done today. He killed three things - people - things, and one of them had been Zell's friends. ]

Don't - I don't want to hurt you again!

[ The last time they'd touched, Zell had ended up bleeding, and Jim has far less layers on now. His sweater and t-shirt are missing, but the linen one he wore from home is hanging off him, leaving his shoulder bare. ]

Please stay back.

Edited 2017-07-04 05:30 (UTC)

[ He stops for a moment. Hand hovering inches away from his boyfriend's shoulder. A part of him just wants to pull him close and not let go, but he also knows that will add on to the layers of guilt. Moving his hand down to rest over the hand holding the scalpel. ]

Let me have that, Stars.

[ Ignoring the dizziness that's hitting at the contact as he curls his hand around his to pull the scalpel. Once it's free from his hands, he's tossing it away and hopefully out of sight. Not letting go of Jim as he stands up. ]

Come with me to the room. I'll let go once we're there.

[ Jim loosens his grip rather than fight over it. He doesn't need the knife anymore; the monster is dead. He can't bring himself to look over there and double check, but it's quiet now. Zell would have taken care of it if it weren't.

He's silent as Zell pulls him along, too selfish to force the issue and retreat again. Instead he waits until they're to the room and then breaks as soon as he feels Zell's grip tightening so he can put a few feet of distance between them. Jim's not sure how much they need so that Zell isn't sick, but he doesn't want to risk anything. ]

I -

[ He should have something to say. An explanation or an apology. He doesn't. ]

-I missed you.

[ He can feel the nose bleed, but is hoping, with a pang of guilt, that Jim's unable to see it. Zell makes his disappointment known with a sound as soon as Jim moves away. He was hoping they could hold on a little longer. ]

Careful, Stars. There is a drawer open on the dresser. Mochi and Moprh are in there. [ He keeps his voice low as he moves to his stuff. Pulling out some vending machine rations and plopping down on the bed. ]

If I stay at one end, would you sit on the other? [ He's patting the bed. ] It's a large bed. It's...[ Strugging with admitting it, but knowing Jim needs to hear about the effects clearly. ] It only hits me if we're touching. I didn't feel sick being near you.

[ Once the words are out, he knows he can't take them back. He's sad by saying as much though. He really wanted to tough it out and deal with it if it means touching Jim. ]

I missed you too. [ His voice cracks there. ] I missed you so much, Stars.

[ Jim can't see it, but he can hear the way Zell's breathing changes to accommodate it. He can smell it if he concentrates hard enough, or maybe it's just his brain knowing it has to be there.

Jim avoids the dresser carefully without a word about it, and Morph doesn't seem too willing to get close. He hesitates at the edge of the bed, able to hear it around the echoes of Zell's words. ]

-I will if you keep back. Don't touch me.

[ Jim wants to avoid it for more reasons than one, right now. ]

I didn't want you to see any of this.

morning 244; @zd; audio

@jphawkins, audio

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Action

no subject

dundundun

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject