rattlingthestars | IC Inbox II

Maybe they're the copy.

[ Apparently Jim's just going to keep talking, at least until Zack types something and shoves it in their face. ]

Maybe they're the ones that didn't earn it -

[ The more Jim talks, the more Zack's hand just hovers over letters seconds before he tries to talk instead. Automatically. Instinctively. And quickly regrets it when his voice comes out as no more than a ghastly wheeze and he coughs instead, covering his mouth with the back of his hand once more. Glances down at it and almost snorts softly before he now gets back to the tablet. Types out a few things in frustration. Forgets to erase his first line before he shows it. Maybe he should have. ]

their we don't know but we might really be copies. or we might not be. we don't have any way of knowing but it would sure explain why there's more than one Cloud who ended up here.

[ Jim watches him, Zack's obvious distress enough to drag him out of his own angry fit for at least a moment. Maybe they can find some salt water...?

The text distracts him. ]

Different universes, remember?

[ It's what Jim's clinging to. ]

Different Clouds. But not copies.

unless that wasn't true in the first place. maybe he lied this whole time.

[ But then maybe he's lying about this then, too? But maybe not. Maybe- ]

maybe this was all some kind of fucked up experiment. maybe it was just some kind of trial thing all along.

[ Maybe he shouldn't be spilling all of this. Maybe he should have kept it all to himself. Maybe he's a fool for saying anything at all. But his mind feels like it's whirling, fear rising again. Before, it had been affecting his comrades in arms. Now, it's something with a further reach. ]

[ And now Jim's back to glaring at Zack. ]

So you're saying it's not real? That none of this ever mattered?

[ Not to the real - but they are the real them. They are. Anything else is bullshit. ]

I'm-

[ More coughing and this time he almost drops the tablet now. Barely makes for a catch and he glares down at it like it just smack talked him. Fingers run across keys if not shakily and he holds it up to Jim- almost hits him with the face with it unintentionally. ]

im not sayin none of this mattred!

'Cause it doesn't, if it's fake.

[ Jim wants to punch the wall again. He wants to scream and throw Zack's stupid tablet and break down any door between him and Robert Miller. ]

There's no ticket home if there's no home.

[ There's a loud smack as the tablet hits the floor suddenly. Not thrown but forgotten in the midst of Zack's widening eyes. He scrambles and reaches and finally tries for Jim's shoulders, voice escaping him in no more than air and a wisp of a voice lost from screaming the night before.

But he's shaking his shoulders just as much as he's shaking his head, stubborn and desperate at once. ]

[ Jim jumps at the sound of the tablet hitting the floor and cringes away, trying to escape Zack's hold and not be forced to look at the frantic denial. ]

We can't go home if there's not a home.

[ He's repeating himself, but it's true. It's running through his head. If there's another him out there, going home, making good, rebuilding the inn - what's left? ]

[ The more Jim tries to move away, the more Zack's grip tightens. As if to say 'Look at me!'. But his lost voice eventually has him giving way to more coughing, making for an easy escape for Jim as he sags against the wall now and this time, he doesn't stop as easily nor as quickly. This time, he drops to a knee. ]

[ Shit. Shit. Jim pulls back, but he doesn't leave. He hovers just inside Zack's reach, breathing hard and staring until something snaps him into movement. ]

Zack! Sit down, damn it.

[ Zack doesn't sit, but he doesn't stand back up either. Just reaches and grabs for one of Jim's arms to make sure he really doesn't leave.

This conversation isn't over. At least not to him and he can't leave it like this, even as he's just struggling to settle himself so he can try to say something again. The tablet... His other hand reaches weakly for the floor where it ought to be. ]

[ Jim doesn't bother saying anything else; instead he ducks down to pick up Zack's tablet and hand it back to him. It's more gentle than he would have been otherwise, but it can still only be described as shoving it. ]

Now will you sit down?

[ Zack takes it at least despite the blood clearly smearing the screen in places. Takes it... and very reluctantly finds a seat. His hand still remains on Jim though. And still, he tugs beckoning him to join him. ]

[ Jim goes where he's tugged this time, because he doesn't think his idiot friend will be content to sit down if he doesn't. He does sigh, though, just to make his thoughts on the matter clear. ]

Stop doing that.

[ Said idiot friend does leave him be after that. Doesn't pull on him anymore and even lets go, cradling the tablet again as much as he feels like gripping it so hard it might break. He doesn't do the latter though.

Just- finally starts typing again and this time he doesn't hesitate to hold it up. ]

so we make one.

[ Jim stares at the words on the screen, silent. It - can't be that easy, can it? Of course it's not. Not when they're dying by turns. Not when the home he desperately wants back is universes away, filled with some other, better Jim.

But. ]

-How?

IC Inbox II

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