rattlingthestars | IC Inbox II

[ 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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cw: blood

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