rattlingthestars | IC Inbox II

[ Jim's hands are shaking when Zell takes them. ]

I should...

[ Jim jerks his chin back toward the tablet, where he'd abandoned it earlier. They're wasting time - precious minutes as their friends sit out there and freeze - and -

He squeezes Zell's hands tight in his own and drops his head forward, onto Zell's shoulder. ]

[ His shoulders droop for a moment the tension drains away. Looks like Jim is calming down. He's still thinking about the anger the other held, and knowing they will definitely make use of the mats later. Giving a nod of his head.

Pressing a kiss against his hair as he gives his hands a squeeze. ]

Whenever you need it, Stars.

[ For a moment he considers grabbing Jim into a tight hug, but he knows he wouldn't be able to keep it together and Jim freeze again. ]

Let's get your tablet. [ His hands tremble for a moment, as he knows what's waiting for them both on the other end. ]

[ Zell's shaking like he is, and Jim can feel it. He hates this, and it never gets any easier, no matter who it is at the other end of the tablet this time.

He sniffs, loudly, and then pulls Zell along to where his tablet lies abandoned. ]

Stay with me.

[ while they talk and when the others are gone. ]

[ He's not arguing. Just going along with him for now while he figures his own thoughts out.

He thinks about it for a moment, and then he sits down. Patting his lap for Jim to sit on him. ]

Always. Come here.

[ Opening his arms. He'll just latch on as soon as Jim settles down. ]

[ Jim stays cradled in his arms as their conversations play out, until Zack goes silent and, for a while Jim goes silent too. He puts his tablet down and takes Zell's hands, pulling them up to cover his own face. ]

It's done.

[ It's quiet on Zell's tablet as well. He can guess Zack is trying his best not to let them hear how it ends... Dragging his mind away from the image already piecing together in his mind of his family dying out in the snow and it being once more out of sight and reach for hi,

Letting Jim drag up his hands as he sinks his weight against his back. Rubbing his nose against the back of Jim's shoulder as he breathes out a heavy breath. A part of him already wanting to hold on to hope that they'll make it. That in the morning they can go searching to be sure...

Nodding against him. ]

We'll see them again soon.

[ Tomorrow or the next day. Or maybe even one more day after that... but he knows there are things they have to accomplish. A mission to finish. ]

[ Jim just grasps his hands tighter, trying to comfort both of them, and chokes back a sob. It doesn't work; the tears come anyway, each one of them ugly and painful. They're on their own again and Jim hates how it feels. He and Zell can survive on their own, but Jim doesn't want to. It hurts too much. ]

[ Holding on and squeezing tighter as he feels his own heart break again. It's painful. Every time they seem to get some where, this place seems to take something or someone away and they have been powerless to stop it all.

Burying his face against Jim's neck as he feels hot tears rolling down his face. Just going to stay like this for a bit. ]

[ Eventually, Jim comes back to himself. It's a struggle and he has to fight it every inch, but eventually there's a deep breath that's not followed by a sob. Eventually he can think again.

He reaches blindly for his bag and pulls a water bottle out by feel so that he can take a quick drink and then offer it wordlessly to Zell. ]

[ He takes the bottle and carefully drinks without changing their positions. It helps feeling something solid against him. Offering it back as he bumps his forehead against Jim's shoulder. ]

We should. [ Breathing in deeply. ] Come up with a plan. Figure out how the hell to get into the school.

[ Keep busy and make sure that the others won't have that to worry about when they come back. ]

Got two tents. That should make exploring easier.

[ Jim regrets it as soon as he's saying it, but he can't actually stop himself. He huffs and takes another drink from the bottle. ]

-Sorry. Uh. Okay. A plan.

[ Wincing and then he just adjusts his arms around Jim to give him a squeeze. ]

Yeah. Yeah we do.

[ Making a sound and then he tries to focus again on what to do. ]

Have to find a way into the high school.

[ Then this whole losing them again will mean something. ]

Sorry.

[ Jim repeats himself at the wince and then rubs his face. ]

Apparently the front door's not going to cut it. Think there's a better way underground?

[ He wants to reassure him it's okay, and that it'll be okay, but it's not. He knows it's not. Shifting his hand up to rest over Jim's heart as he sighs. ]

Yeah, there could be. [ Tapping lightly to match the beat of his heart. ]

We can check in a direction before heading back to the tunnels to see?

[ Maybe they missed something. ]

Sure. We'll pick a direction in the morning.

[ The tapping reminds Jim of the stethoscope, the memory of it so strong that for a moment he feels like he can't see until he snaps back to himself.

Breathing. He can do breathing. Or - ]

That offer to spar still on the table?

[ Pressing a kiss against the back of Jim's head. ]

Sounds like a plan.

[ It's better knowing they have something to move towards. Even if its just flipping a coin or venturing out as far as they can go.

He picks up on something is wrong. Slowly pulling away, feeling reluctant to, but knowing maybe it'll help. Maybe it'll get them both spent and exhausted that they won't really think about what they have lost. ]

Always, Stars.

[ Jim pulls away when Zell does, though he's reluctant for someone who suggested this in the first place. He shrugs his jacket onto the floor and kicks it away (where it's instantly claimed by Mochi), not really looking at Zell but already breathing hard. ]

[ Being physical is his favorite go-to for when shit be wrong. He takes a deep breath and then is up pulling off some layers himself. Shaking his limbs loose and doing some quick stretches as he heads for the mats.

Rubbing his face and then focusing on the here and now. Letting it all fade away to just an ache at the back of his mind, while focusing on the mat and Jim. Getting into position as he waves at Jim. ]

Show me what you got, Stars.

[ Jim's still not focusing on the the here and now; his mind's still on what happened a few hours ago and what lays ahead of them, the two of them combined threatening to overwhelm him completely.

His body remembers what Zell's taught him anyway, dropping into a defensive stance and circling him warily, waiting for the first strike instead of taking one himself. ]

[ Okay, he'll move first. He moves in and makes like he'll grab his shirt collar, but then he drops down to sweep his leg at Jim's ankles. Hey bb, want to be swept off your feet? ]

[ Jim's off his game enough that he reacts to feint instead of the real attack, and starts to go down. He's fast enough to turn it into a roll, though, and comes back up a few feet away from Zell if he's not grabbed. ]

IC Inbox II

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pfft

this okay?

it's good

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totally not wiping his mouth on him

ewwww dog slobber

sad dog slobber

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jesus take the wheel

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