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[swatsflies]

@ZD
Yo! I'm not in right now. Leave me a message.

((OOC: Zell may show messages to Jim Hawkins. If you do not want Jim to see/know, then please let me know.))

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[deus_ex_phs]

And what about the people who don't want to see you get hurt?

[His voice is still just as sharp, and maybe that comes through in the crackles of Morse code.]

That's the only thing that made me okay with the thought that Zack and I died, knowing that at least it wasn't you and Jim!

[swatsflies]

[He can pick up on that at least. Zack also sounded unhappy in the series of texts he sent after Zell stopped responding.]

Sorry, man. We'll be careful. See you in a few days, alright?

[His number one reason to staying alive was next to him. Jim is set on this just as much as Zell is, which is the only reason he's not going to dissuaded.]

[deus_ex_phs]

[Dammit. Dammit. There's nothing he can do to stop them, and he knows it. They know it.

That doesn't make this any easier to accept.]

You'd be even more careful if you just waited for us!

[swatsflies]

[It feels bad not adhering to their wishes and it hurts knowing he'll worry them. But he knows this is something they need to do. They aren't going to let anyone else die, get cut, or anything for this thing. They'll finish it and everyone will be back together. He'll make sure Jim is okay, while keeping him at his side every step they take.

He almost doesn't respond to this, but there's something he needs to say.]

Thanks for coming back. [Kunsel and Zack both returning and waiting for them is grounding in it's own way. They have family waiting for them, and Zell knows they both will do their best to get back to them.]

day 123; early morning; @guardian; text;

[phaseshifter]

Hey!! Just checking in to let you know everything is okay! (I know how you worry and fuss sometimes)

 

(Also I saw you being nice to Beckett so thanks for that ♥)

<3 ; text@zd

[swatsflies]

[ANGEL IS BACK! It might take a while for him to actually respond because he has to go barrel into the nearest Sad Loser to show them Angel is back.]

Yo! I'm glad you're back!
Where are you? I hope you aren't far from Rhys.

He's pretty much a friend at this point.
And I think he feels the same. I hope so at least.
He was a big help when we were checking for traps with the last place.

[phaseshifter]

I'm in the hospital!! You know the creepy basement part? I woke up there and I was locked in and it was basically the WORST. (๑•﹏•);;; Rhys isn't particularly close, but he could be further. If the weather stays good(ish??) I'll be back with him in no time!

And honestly if Beckett is helping instead of sarcastipire-ing at you then I'm sure he feels the same >w> Traps, though?? Geez what have I even been missing @_@

[swatsflies]

That sucks. That place takes the cake for creepy. That's where Jim woke up at.
Hoping the weather stays good then.

Yeah, traps. The first one was a spring loaded ax. It nicked Zack in the head. Then there was a bear trap. We lost a hockey puck to that one. Last one was really bad. There were glass cases rigged to blow when someone opend the drawer. Zack and Kain didn't make it.

They came back! We're with them now.

[phaseshifter]

Dude. What the actual frick. I saw that Zack and Kunsel died and came back, but I didn't expect
I mean
seriously, what the FRICK.
Who sets up traps in a town that's already as dangerous as this?? Ugh
I hope they were at least protecting something significant >:T

(Also give Zack and Kunsel and anyone else with you my love, obviously)
(I'm glad everyone is alright now, at least)

[swatsflies]

Someone crazy paranoid.
There was stuff stacked up against the door where the ax was. Looks like someone was camping in there.
There are eyes painted all over the one with the bear trap. It was pretty creepy.
It all led to a ragdoll with the hotel's keycard inside of her. We're checking that out today if we can.

I'll let them know you said hi

[phaseshifter]

Oh geez. I'm sure you don't need me to say it, but be careful!
If the mystery person thought they *keycard* was worthy of that level of protection, imagine what kind of things might be in the hotel itself. Perhaps try and find some of the larger pieces of rubble before you enter to use as shields or something. Just in case?
(I may or may not be imagining freaking shotguns rigged to go off when the doors are opened)

[swatsflies]

That's a good idea! We can pick some up on the way.
We also have hockey sticks. We worked on making a short sword from the rubble. It can't do much, but maybe it'll stop anything coming at us.
If anything comes at us.
We'll be careful. Want me to let you know how it goes?

[deus_ex_phs]

You're just going to ignore me, aren't you.

[He's not even going to bother making that a question.

So instead he changes tack.]

You'd better both be alive when we get down there. You hear me, Zell? Don't make us find your bodies down there.

[rattlingthestars]

Sounds ah - uh - [ Yeah, Zell's hand in his hair as he leans over him with the marker is pretty distracting, enough that Jim totally loses whatever he was going to say when confronted with Zell's bare skin.

He has to stare for a moment to remember what it was he was going to draw. Finally he clears his throat and looks away as if bracing himself before spreading a hand wide to hold the skin on Zell's hip taught so that he can draw a collection of dots of varying sizes - a constellation - and beyond that a tiny, stylized sun. ]

-There.

[swatsflies]

[For a moment he’s a little concern, but soon the pieces fall into place and he realizes why Jim is reacting the way he is. He finds himself beaming with affection at the idea that he’s the reason Jim is having issues with finishing his train of thought. He might have to remember this next time he wants to get Jim’s attention during training.

The touch of the marker against his skin is ticklish. He has to bite his lower lip and keep both hands holding up his shirt to keep from reacting. Zell is holding still like a good canvas as he waits for his boyfriend to finish. He’s trying to puzzle out the pattern to each mark, but it’s hard from this perspective.

Once he’s finished, Zell will gesture for Jim to get back up there. He does like Jim down there, but it might inspire some less than wholesome ideas.] What did you draw?

[Waiting for Jim to get back up before seeking out his lips with his own.]

[rattlingthestars]

[ Thankfully, this time Jim doesn't notice Zell noticing, or he might be too flustered to even finish what they're doing. At least this activity has completely distracted them from worrying about reality and monsters.

Jim gently blows on the 'tattoo' just once to make sure the ink is dry - so much for not inspiring less-than-wholesome thoughts - and then follows the gesture to join Zell again. He's quiet for a moment, more thoughtful than he had been a hormone-fueled minute ago, before he answers. ]

It's... a map. One to lead you - [ home, he nearly says, though that's not quite right. Not yet. ] - to where I'm from. If you ever needed it.

[swatsflies]

[He almost chokes at the blow job Jim gives the ink. So much for not going down that path, brain. Swallowing hard as his cheeks grow warm. It takes a moment for him to finally absorb Jim’s words thanks to it.

Pausing to really let the weight of what he said sink in.] Really? [Ensnaring a hand to put it over the marks on his hip.] Could you should me? [He wants to get it memorized just in case. He’s hoping that Jim will be there to guide him, but just in case…]

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim shakes his head just a fraction, still not quite willing to believe any of the people manipulating them are victims themselves. It's just too much to think about, and at least this way they have a face to be angry at.

He can't be very angry with Zell kissing him, though, and anyway his worry over Zell is stronger than any other concerns. He makes a quiet noise as Zell nuzzles his neck and tilts it to give more room. ]

Any time you need me. Anything I can do.

[swatsflies]

[Doesn’t quite catch the shaking of his head. Right now, he’s just going to enjoy the feeling of Jim in his arms and the warmth between them. Everything else can shove it for the moment. Right now, Jim is his whole world and he’s not going to think about anything else for a while.]

Right now. [His voice is low. He is glad that Jim didn’t listen to him. That Jim reminded him what having a partner was all about.] Just this. [He’s going to make use of Jim giving him more by pressing kisses down the length of his neck. Leaning his side against the wall as he relaxes. He’s going to try to sleep like this. His neck is going to complain later but worth it because he really doesn’t want to move or let go. Reaching up to brush his bare fingers through Jim’s hair.]

[swatsflies]

[He understands their feelings. He knows it really well, but they both are pretty determined on solving this without losing anyone else. They are going to protect one another.]

Yeah, we will be. You can depend on us. I'll keep you updated.

[deus_ex_phs]

Alright.

[He'll leave it there for now, because what else can he do?]

Good luck, both of you.

[rattlingthestars]

[ Don't die, Zell. Really don't die as Jim raises a more-or-less innocent eyebrow at the noise Zell makes, because, what. He was just making sure the ink was dry.

Zell dragging his hand around and putting it where he wants it does make Jim blush for a moment and rub the back of his neck with his free hand. ]

-Yeah. I can. These are the Pleiades cluster. If you start here, at Alcyone - [ Jim taps the largest of the dots, apparently intended as the closest. ] sail around it and then straight through the rest of the cluster - [ He demonstrates, using a fingernail to trace the impossibly small path. ] for a few months, you end up at my sun.

[ He makes a soft amused noise. His sun at his sun. ]

Anybody can tell you how to get to Montressor from there.

[rattlingthestars]

You've got it. [ Jim leans into Zell's hand for a moment, just enjoying the feeling of his boyfriend's touch. He makes a gentle, happy noise - he loves those hands, no matter what they did tonight - and wonders if he should try to get Zell to move to the bed.

They're comfortable here, though, so Jim leaves it alone and hopes that Zell can get some sleep. ] I've got you.

[ And he does, all night, Jim watching him by the gentle light of the tablet for any signs that something else is wrong. ]

makes noises

[swatsflies]

[He mumbles a quiet I know after Jim says he's got him. Jim's words and presence were like a spell being weaved around him. He can sleep soundly for a while thanks to it. Zell can feel safe because Jim is there for him. Humming a song softly to Jim as he continues to stroke his hair until he's unable to continue as he drifts off.]

[swatsflies]

[He's going to die. Clasping a hand on Jim's shoulder and giving a light squeeze. The light short touches from Jim down on his hip isn't helping in the least. He did notice that raised brow earlier, but the directions come first.]

Pleiades cluster, Alcyone, and your sun. Think I've got it. [He's pretty great at committing things to memory. He misses the humor in the whole sun part though. Now to actually address the look Jim gave him, Zell leans close to blow against Jim's neck.]

T-this. [And the whole Jim touching him. It's amazing how aware Zell is of touching when it's his boyfriend doing it.]