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[swatsflies]

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

Comments

[jumpthegun]

It's fine if you can't find anything, Zell. The umbrella should be all right. Just if you had it, that's all.

[swatsflies]

You sure? It wouldn't be a bother.

[jumpthegun]

Oh, I'll be all right. Don't want to make more work for you lads. Guess we'll see you in a few days, then?

[swatsflies]

[ He'll look anyways because he wants to be useful. ]

Yeah, we'll see you soon!

[swatsflies]

[ It's really good they can't see each other. Zell is watching Jim's chest rise with every breath he takes as he tries to keep from flinching out the sounds he hears from the other end. ]

I don't know. [ Static as he breathes in. ] Everything su[ Static], man. We have to find the pro[static]nd save them. The frickin' [Fuzz] might be messing with our sight or we aren't really [more static]. Beckett, I don't [ long thing of static.]

[rattlingthestars]

Man with the plan, huh?

[ Jim's teasing, but he'll follow Zell's lead anywhere. Even if, technically, Zell is following Jim's lead right now. Jim squirms when he kisses his ear, but doesn't object. ]

Alright, I'm counting on you.

how's this?

[swatsflies]

You know it, baby.

[ His plans usually include doing his best so he can wake up every morning next to Jim. Continuing on backwards as he looks behind his boyfriend to see how far they have managed to go. Not very far, but slow going is worth it just to hold on a little longer.

He beams a smile when Jim says he's counting on him. Pressing a kiss against his shoulder as he laughs softly. ]

I'll do my best. [ He won't disappoint! He'll wait until they get further along in the search before initiating his plan. ]

Do you hear them? [ Them meaning the Soldiers. They are probably going to start on the floor below them and do a systematic search until they reach the morgue. It'll give them enough time to finish up the first floor and get things ready. ]

[bookofnope]

Find and save who? I ca[static]ear you right.

[Zell already knows that. Waste of words. He can't panic over that, too. He has to slow down, slow down, he should know how to deal with the unreal, with this kind of outside influence... he used to know...]

You're with the others. [static]sel? Zack? Are you still together?

[swatsflies]

Together. We're still [ STATIC BLOCK'd ]

[ His breathing sounds shaky. ]

Where's Ange[ Statc ]Rhys? Were you [ Static all over. ]

[ Then he says something quietly that sounds like Stars.]

[bookofnope]

[A sharp intake of breath, and then a moment of tense silence, as Beckett grapples with the unbelievable stab of jealousy at the thought of Zell having someone there with him, solid, trusted, warm. Angel and Rhys are very far away. And even if they weren't...]

Of all delusions to have... [he mutters it to himself, acid and bitter.] There's a reason I work alone...

[swatsflies]

[ This is why it pays to have people around and NOT THROW YOURSELF AT MONSTERS ]

Delu[ Buzz ]. It's not fake, [ Fuzz fuzz ] It's not! It can't be- [ More static. ] I can't ever imagine up anyone like [ Static. ]

[bookofnope]

You would imagine exactly what [static]for and want most. That is how [static] keeps you. It[static] best that you have to deny most.

[Beckett is an old hand at fighting delusions... and it may not be really Zell he's trying to convince here.]

[swatsflies]

I'd imagine my [ Static ] here. I couldn't think [ Snap. Crackle. Pop. ] up.

[ He's sounding more sure of it as he talks. ]

It's doing it again. I don't want to be back there ag- [ Static ]

[bookofnope]

Zell? [Those last words sounded very alarming, and just at this moment any further bit of alarm threatens to be overwhelming.] You're not [static] anywhere. You are here. If any [static]re real, then this is real.

[swatsflies]

[ It feels much longer, but it takes only a few minutes before he finally responds. ]

This is real. This is [ Static. ] This isn't [ Static static. ] I'm here. Right? [ There is a note of desperation with that question. ]

[bookofnope]

[He wants to say yes and he can't, God help him, he can't.]

I don't [static]ich of us is real. But I can hear you. At lea[static] comforting kind of madness.

[swatsflies]

[ Beckett can't tell, and his name was on the obituaries not that long ago. So Beckett could be made up to cope with all of this. To make this night of shit so much better.

Jim keeps flicking out when they make contact every time the static starts to impair his vision again. But he's still holding on when Jim comes back.

Taking a shuddering breath. ]

A bit. [ He concedes quietly. ] I really hope I'm no[ Static Shock. ]ere anymore, Beckett. I want this [ Static ] real.

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim tilts his head in consideration, straining for a hint of sound. There's nothing, not even an echo; it's like they're alone in the gigantic building.

If not for the uncomfortable feeling of the hospital and the bad memories, the thought of being alone would lead to the same spiral of thoughts it always seems to these days. ]

-No. Don't think so. Guess I've got you all to myself.

[bookofnope]

All of this? [He's disarmed in his surprise, voice small, as though the proposition frightens him. He doesn't want to think about wanting Norfinbury, because God knows, the other option...]

You [static]live in your world. You never [static] otherwise. Tell me I'm not wrong.

[swatsflies]

You're not wro[Static] I'm still alive, but if this is a[ Static]ke, then I'm still stuck in tim[ Static ]ssion. I don't want to go back [ Static ].

[ He'll take Norfinbury over being possibly stuck in Time Compression any day. ]

[bookofnope]

Stuck where?

[And, damnit, there is his need to know - it surrenders to absolutely nothing, no fear, no confusion, and no certainty that he may be better off not knowing. He needs to know.]

You're [static]ming through. Zell, what happened to y[static]ere do you think you're dreaming this?

[swatsflies]

Time Compression. [ There is a burst of static as he tries to rein in his breathing. He's only told Jim and Zack about it, but it doesn't make it any easier. ]

Remember [ Static ] tablets were showing [ Static ]ly bad stuff? Really, really bad stuff? [ Static ]like that, but it's [ Static ]ual memories. It kept replaying [ Static ]ing could have gone wrong. I don't want [ Static. ] Jim reminds [ Static ]s is real, but now... [ He doesn't have that reminder. He can't latch on to Jim or even look at any of the proofs they did to remind him it's real. That he got out of time compression and he didn't imagine the party to try to make himself feel better. ]

[bookofnope]

[Time Compression does not have a good ring to it, even before Beckett knows what it's all about. And he recalls the incident Zell talks about with chilling clarity. Zell, trapped in that hell for who knows how long...

He thinks of Okulos. It makes him give a shiver that's almost audible in his breath.]

This isn't [static]eplay. It's not a memory. I [static] so, at least. Things have, in a sen[static] wrong.

[swatsflies]

[ Slowing his gait down as he takes advantage of that head tilting. Dragging his mouth up Jim's neck as he plants kiss after kiss up to his ear. ]

Yeah, I guess you do. I'm all yours, Stars. [ He's wondering if it'll be worth skipping checking the rooms just to drag Jim back to the one they deposited their stuff in.

Or maybe picking Jim up to press him against a wall until they heard company coming their way. Looking over at a close wall as he considers it. Sadly, he has a job to do, and that entails making sure it's safe for Jim. ] Want to go faster?

[swatsflies]

[ It sucks and made it both easy and hard to swallow this place. ]

I believe you. [ He thinks. There is a long thing of static.] Really, really frick[ Static. ]ng. H-how long un[ static ] meet them?

[ He's pretty sure Beckett shouldn't be alone for long. ]