rattlingthestars | IC Inbox II

[ 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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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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