rattlingthestars | IC Inbox II

[ Zell just needs the closeness. To feel his heartbeat and warmth. ]

This was it? You mean... you didn't think you'd be back?

[ Settling his chin on Jim's shoulder as he snuggles him. There wasn't any hurt or anything in his words. He's just... glad now. It's good that everything is normal again. Good that... that he didn't lose Jim like he might have lost his friends. ]

That I'd be stuck that way, or ... lose it completely.

[ The creatures had to have come from somewhere, after all. The end of last session wasn't out of the question. ]

Not be me anymore.

They are the unlucky ones. The one who didn't get the light.

[ His gaze looks towards the door, but he doesn't shift or move. ]

They also didn't make it whole.

[ Going to hold on to Jim tightly. ]

[ Jim's gaze goes to the same place. He wonders if the body's disappeared overnight. He hopes it's gone, the only reminder of what he'd done. ]

Unlucky.

[ He breathes out the word, sounding disbelieving for a moment, before he shakes it off and makes a noise. ]

- Let's.

[ Do... something. Jim needs something to focus on, suddenly. ]

Get cleaned up?

[ Taking a deep breath as he tilts his head back to Jim. Burying his face against the side of his neck as he tries to pull himself together again. ]

Yeah.

[ He doesn't want to let go, but he knows he needs to check. Very slowly he disentangles himself from his boyfriend. Pausing to give him a peck on the cheek. ]

Eat something with Morph and Mochi. I'll go get my tablet.

[ And check if bodies are there. ]

[ Jim snatches Zell's hand before he can pull away completely, holding on a little too tight as he locks eyes and looks for something there. ]

Let m-

[ No, not like that. ]

-Can I come with you?

[ Reaching over to place his other hand over Jim's to give him a squeeze. He searches Jim's look to try to figure out if it'll help him. ]

Let me peek out first.

[ He doesn't want to let go, but he wants to spare Jim of the bodies if they are still out there. Moving his hand up to slide it through his hair as he leans in again. It feels like he needs to keep touching Jim or keep him close to make sure it's all real. That he's really okay. That he can touch him again. ]

-Alright.

[ Jim's still not letting go of that hand; Zell's not the only one reluctant to be separated. He does let Zell go ahead, though he's not sure it's a good idea. ]

Is it gone?

[ Keeping that hand then. He will wiggle his hand around to interlock their fingers together though. Moving over to the door and opening it enough to poke his head out.

He doesn't see anything. ]

It's clear. They- it's gone.

[ Opening the door completely and giving his hand a squeeze. ]

Let's get my tablet then.

[ Was it real? Was it a shared delusion? He's not really sure, but he knows the weight of Jim's hand feels real. He knows the warmth there. Leading him to the bathroom. ]

I was in here. The last we talked yesterday before you came.

[ ~~pls imagine Zell sitting alone in the bathroom crying~~ ]

[ There's nothing there. Jim stares, blankly, after Zell opens the door, but there really is no memory. He wonders if his knife will be clean if he looks at it now.

He squeezes back and follows close to Zell into the bathroom. Before you came, when Zell had sounded completely terrified. Jim looks around blankly. ]

Did they try to attack you?

They were saying things.

[ He keeps a hold as he leads him into the bathroom. Reaching down to pick up the tablet. ]

About the light and what it means. About what they really are... They wouldn't stop. They kept following me close and I couldn't.

[ He stops himself there as he realizes his breathing is picking up. Squeezing his eyes shut for a moment to count down. ]

They weren't attacking. Not physically.

-Not physically.

[ Jim repeats it, with meaning, but he doesn't push for more. Instead he gently turns Zell around until they're facing one another so that Jim can cradle Zell's jaw with both hands and feel him breathing.

He falls into the pattern himself, reinforcing it, until it felt safe to talk again. ]

They're gone.

[ He stops himself from saying for now. Covering Jim's hands with his own and gently rubbing to make sure he's okay too. Opening his eyes to meet the pair of blues looking at him. ]

Yeah, it's done.

[ He doesn't want to touch on the not physically part. The faster he puts it behind him, the better. Squeezing his hands as he sighs. ]

Can we take our time here?

Edited 2017-08-26 05:22 (UTC)

Yeah, we can. We've got time.

[ There are still mysteries to solve and doors to unlock, but they've got time to catch their breath, and Jim needs it as badly as he does. ]

I need to... clean up.

[ Since they're already in the bathroom. ]

[ Pulling his hands off his face and keeping them captured in his own. Closing he space to just nuzzle against the side of his head. ]

I can help.

[ And then looking at the tub. ]

We can heat up some water.

[ Much easier to think everything is good and normal by throwing yourself into a task, right? ]

[ A lot easier with something he can do. Jim glances at the tub and nods; he would've been okay with a cold scrub-down, too, but this sounds a lot better. ]

-Yeah, alright.

[ He makes himself separate from Zell to go get the pots and pans they'll need, but he keeps hold of Zell's hands. No splitting up just yet. ]

Might be time for a trim.

[ He'll gladly keep a hold of that hand and taking any pots or pans with his free hand if Jim needs him to. He isn't ready so split either. ]

A trim? For you or me?

[ Looking at Jim's hair and trying to remember how much shorter it used to be when they first met. It's hard to imagine at times. ]

Both, maybe.

[ In reality, Jim just wants an excuse to touch Zell, and be touched, for as long as they can. The fact that his hair's starting to get out of control is neither here nor there. ]

Think that's everything?

[ After he's done with fishing things out, Zell will run his free hand through Jim's hair to check the length. Smiling a little bit as he's reminded again he can feel this. How much he missed this. ]

Yeah, I think it's everything. I have scissors in my stuff. We can trim each other after cleaning up.

[ Jim hums happily with Zell's hand in his hair. It pushes him on to drag Zell into the bathroom where they can set to heating the water. ]

Better not make it crooked.

I cut Zack's hair just fine.

[ Not that you could notice from how he styled his hair. Shuffling back to the bathroom, and already wanting to just touch some more. They have a task to get through first.

He can't stay away from long, and at every chance he'll brush his hands against Jim's, or snake his arm around him. Just in case this place isn't done yet. ]

How could you tell?

[ The thing Zell missed most about Jim was his commentary, right? Right.

As they work in the small bathroom, Jim lets himself be caught every time Zell wants him. Sometimes he stops and just looks, taking Zell in, like he can't quite get enough. ]

[ Snickering, and only offering a shrug. ] They aren't super huge yet?

[ Walking his hands up to just rest on the back of Jim's neck with the tips of his fingers lightly teasing his hair. It's all gentle touching. ]

[ Jim huffs with laughter, though it's unclear if he's laughing and Zell's comment or just being ticklish. ]

Think it's ready?

Yeah, it might be. [ Dipping his hands in the tub and then flicking the water out at Jim. ]

Just missing one thing.

[ Going to just put his arms around Jim to give him a smooch on the cheek. Waiting for Jim to inquire through words or a look about it's missing before he lifts him up and drops hm in the tub. His clothes probably needed to be cleaned too, right? ]

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sorry it's lame

it's not lame <3

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do we want to relocate this soon?

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