[ It's the chest fallen tone of his voice that really carries the answer before what Zell actually has to say. ]
No sign of him. [ And then he'd probably gotten even more worried and then he probably hadn't thought to say something to them. Rushed ahead on into finding Jim, but considering the state Jim's in, Zack only has to roll back his sleeves a bit to catch the odd color his skin's turning and swallow hard. ]
He's changing like me. S'why he left, but.. that's why you gotta find him. I know this stuff scares the shit outta him and I don't want him facing it alone. But I go with you and the risk's even bigger. Kunsel can handle me if worst comes to worst, but no one's got Jim's back right now.
No sign of him. [ And then he'd probably gotten even more worried and then he probably hadn't thought to say something to them. Rushed ahead on into finding Jim, but considering the state Jim's in, Zack only has to roll back his sleeves a bit to catch the odd color his skin's turning and swallow hard. ]
He's changing like me. S'why he left, but.. that's why you gotta find him. I know this stuff scares the shit outta him and I don't want him facing it alone. But I go with you and the risk's even bigger. Kunsel can handle me if worst comes to worst, but no one's got Jim's back right now.
[ Jim shakes his head. ]
Don't think we got that far.
[ The conversation had been too rough and raw-edged for that. Seeing the wounds that killed him really might have put Jim over the edge. ]
He showed you?
Don't think we got that far.
[ The conversation had been too rough and raw-edged for that. Seeing the wounds that killed him really might have put Jim over the edge. ]
He showed you?
[ Jim holds it up, aiming at a window but making no move toward firing it. Even the weight balance is different from back home. ]
They look a lot alike, but the firing mechanism's completely different. There's nothing here to heat the plasma.
[ The mention of Jim's room changes the sp]ace around them. For a moment, they're in a burning building, a single open window ahead the only escape. Jim blinks and it's gone - it never happened. ]
My room's... messy. You'd hate it.
They look a lot alike, but the firing mechanism's completely different. There's nothing here to heat the plasma.
[ The mention of Jim's room changes the sp]ace around them. For a moment, they're in a burning building, a single open window ahead the only escape. Jim blinks and it's gone - it never happened. ]
My room's... messy. You'd hate it.
Yeah. You're a good friend, Zell. Seriously.
If anyone can, I think it's you.
[ There's a long pause, a blinking '...' on the other end as Jim writes and erases and rewrites something, but he never sends it. ]
[ There's a long pause, a blinking '...' on the other end as Jim writes and erases and rewrites something, but he never sends it. ]
[ It's only belatedly that it hits Zack that maybe he shouldn't have been so abrupt in telling Zell that. That maybe that was too sudden. Too late now though, so he chews his lip a few seconds and then powers through. ]
Yeah... I only figured it out not too long ago. It wasn't very noticeable at first, but Kunsel felt sick last time he touched me. You know what that means.
Yeah... I only figured it out not too long ago. It wasn't very noticeable at first, but Kunsel felt sick last time he touched me. You know what that means.
[ She snorts a laugh. ]
When I can remember to.
When I can remember to.
[ Jim replaces the gun and sighs quietly. ]
My room's gone, Sunshine. It all burned.
[ So the fire had come from Jim's mind. He moves over to the larger punching bag and touches it, palms open, before giving it an experimental jab. ]
My room's gone, Sunshine. It all burned.
[ So the fire had come from Jim's mind. He moves over to the larger punching bag and touches it, palms open, before giving it an experimental jab. ]
It was bad, wasn't it?
[ Jim reaches up to run a hand through Zell's hair and ends up just holding on to the back of his neck. ]
I think I saw it happen.
[ Jim reaches up to run a hand through Zell's hair and ends up just holding on to the back of his neck. ]
I think I saw it happen.
In a way. I've been thinking about it. [ And trying not to overthink it or get Kunsel worried in the meantime. He can feel the tension rolling off of him already to know of that very real fear. Feel the denial that might be wanting to roll off his tongue, but there's no chances to be taken here. Nothing of that sort. ]
Everything ties in around here. We know that much. Me and Jim had our "lights" or whatever taken away from us, but you two didn't and neither of you are showing signs like we are. I'm thinking maybe it has something to do with that. Doesn't matter one way or the other right now though. The point is we're dangerous- the both of us. Especially if things go as sour as I think they're gonna go.
Everything ties in around here. We know that much. Me and Jim had our "lights" or whatever taken away from us, but you two didn't and neither of you are showing signs like we are. I'm thinking maybe it has something to do with that. Doesn't matter one way or the other right now though. The point is we're dangerous- the both of us. Especially if things go as sour as I think they're gonna go.
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