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[ Jim winces at the popping sound, but he's still holding on. ]
Zell! C'mon, just - stop for a minute and listen, okay?
Zell! C'mon, just - stop for a minute and listen, okay?
[ He's thinking for a moment. ]
Just through the tunnels.
[ Which Jim should know, right? He isn't sure. He remembers all of the places here. Pausing to frown a moment. ]
You know I was thinking of just giving up.
[ He's not sure why he's even saying that to Jim. It just feels right sharing. Looking away as he rubs the back of his head. ]
Just through the tunnels.
[ Which Jim should know, right? He isn't sure. He remembers all of the places here. Pausing to frown a moment. ]
You know I was thinking of just giving up.
[ He's not sure why he's even saying that to Jim. It just feels right sharing. Looking away as he rubs the back of his head. ]
[ Nope.
The obstacle wasn't moving. So he'll finally look at it. See the person in the way and then reach up to make sure it doesn't move in his way again.
Putting his hand on his neck for a moment and feeling the pulse there. Then he'll wrap his fingers around it and start squeezing. ]
The obstacle wasn't moving. So he'll finally look at it. See the person in the way and then reach up to make sure it doesn't move in his way again.
Putting his hand on his neck for a moment and feeling the pulse there. Then he'll wrap his fingers around it and start squeezing. ]
Giving up?
[ Jim thinks he knows what Zell means, even if he doesn't want to. His question comes out sharper than he meant it, the fear obvious in his voice. ]
That's not like you.
[ Jim thinks he knows what Zell means, even if he doesn't want to. His question comes out sharper than he meant it, the fear obvious in his voice. ]
That's not like you.
[ There's an uncomfortable feeling in his chest as he hears that fear. ]
Yeah, I know. It's just that I thought no one was here. That there wasn't any point.
[ To any of this if it's just Zell... ]
So you gave me something to look forward to. That I did something good.
[ ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ ]
Yeah, I know. It's just that I thought no one was here. That there wasn't any point.
[ To any of this if it's just Zell... ]
So you gave me something to look forward to. That I did something good.
[ ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ ]
[ It's instinct, by now, to trust when Zell touches him. To still and hope that whatever this is, Zell's fought his way back out of it.
It only takes a moment for that trust to shatter as Zell's hands tighten around Jim's neck. He can't quite believe it, at first, not until he's struggling to breathe and swinging at Zell with his feet. ]
It only takes a moment for that trust to shatter as Zell's hands tighten around Jim's neck. He can't quite believe it, at first, not until he's struggling to breathe and swinging at Zell with his feet. ]
[ It seems like his pain receptors or really anything ins't actually working. Other than whatever is driving him to continue his hold on Jim's neck.
Jim might have to use his head to think of another way out. ]
Jim might have to use his head to think of another way out. ]
[ It's not working. Nothing's working, and Zell's going to kill him if he doesn't figure something out quick. The betrayal's sharp in Jim's chest - or maybe that's just the lack of oxygen - but it's going to have to be dealt with later if he wants there to be a later at all.
He can't pry Zell's fingers loose, can't kick him away, so he's going to have to take a page out of Zell's own playbook.
Jim's last thought before their forheads connect is this is really going to suck. ]
He can't pry Zell's fingers loose, can't kick him away, so he's going to have to take a page out of Zell's own playbook.
Jim's last thought before their forheads connect is this is really going to suck. ]
Even if it were just you, you still can't give up.
[ That's an order. Or maybe a plea. Jim's not exactly sure which. He lets otu a long sigh. ]
You're... you're the thing I look forward to, too.
[ That's an order. Or maybe a plea. Jim's not exactly sure which. He lets otu a long sigh. ]
You're... you're the thing I look forward to, too.
[ Is it possible to like someone you had no memories of? He's beaming again at the thought that someone is looking forward to him. That Jim is looking forward to him. He thinks about the image on the screen again, and a bittersweet feeling feeling bubbles inside. ]
I won't give up. Promise.
[ Another one. Like the ring and like something else too... ]
I won't give up. Promise.
[ Another one. Like the ring and like something else too... ]
[ He liked it when Zell took his breath away, right?
His forehead connected and it's enough to stun him. His grip loosens and he reaches up to touch his own forehead to try to rub away the stars he sees. ]
His forehead connected and it's enough to stun him. His grip loosens and he reaches up to touch his own forehead to try to rub away the stars he sees. ]
[ In mother Norfinbury the teens teach you. ]
Yup. Pretty sure he has profiles on everyone here. Not sure how he manages to find the time to do it, but he does.
[ It's pretty impressive. Zell doesn't have the attention for it. He just stores it all in his head and hopes he gets it right. ]
Yup. Pretty sure he has profiles on everyone here. Not sure how he manages to find the time to do it, but he does.
[ It's pretty impressive. Zell doesn't have the attention for it. He just stores it all in his head and hopes he gets it right. ]
Because he's way too overinvested in knowing everything. You know that's why most of his ex-girlfriends broke up with him, right?
[ He feels like that's a story he would have told them if he were that good of friends with them. But maybe the subject had just never come up? Who knows? ]
[ He feels like that's a story he would have told them if he were that good of friends with them. But maybe the subject had just never come up? Who knows? ]
Yup! And he wouldn't put his phone down even when...
[ Private time was happening. ]
Pretty sure if it was legal he would marry his PHS.
[ Private time was happening. ]
Pretty sure if it was legal he would marry his PHS.
Which is a good thing it's not 'cause as much as I love him, there's no way I'm being someone's best man in their PHS wedding!
[ What even has this conversation turned into? He's not sure, but he's laughing all the same. ]
[ What even has this conversation turned into? He's not sure, but he's laughing all the same. ]
You -
[ Jim just stares, as if he's been caught off guard by something, and takes a deep breath that turns into a cough halfway through. ]
[ Jim just stares, as if he's been caught off guard by something, and takes a deep breath that turns into a cough halfway through. ]
[ He'll sort through all the feelings later though. The coughing earns a concern frown. ]
Hey. Are you alright?
Hey. Are you alright?
[ Jim drops as hard as he can, ending up on the floor and making a mad scramble for Zell's bag and the pills he knows are waiting there. ]
[ Give him a moment to reboot processors please.
Rebooting.
Rebooting.
Shaking his head to try to clear his vision and blinking back the tears there. The obstacle is no longer an issue, but he feels dizzy. It hurts and he might have bit the inside of his mouth at the contact. He can taste the copper.
Reaching to steady himself against the wall as he tries to will the world to stop spinning. ]
Rebooting.
Rebooting.
Shaking his head to try to clear his vision and blinking back the tears there. The obstacle is no longer an issue, but he feels dizzy. It hurts and he might have bit the inside of his mouth at the contact. He can taste the copper.
Reaching to steady himself against the wall as he tries to will the world to stop spinning. ]
Yeah, it certainly would be pretty phoney, huh?
[ He couldn't help but to snicker at his own joke. ]
[ He couldn't help but to snicker at his own joke. ]
I thought I might not ever see that again.
[ He might regret telling Zell this, later, but he's going to find out anyway: ]
I almost gave up, too. You just reminded me of all our promises.
[ He might regret telling Zell this, later, but he's going to find out anyway: ]
I almost gave up, too. You just reminded me of all our promises.
[ Jim doesn't have time to recover. His head's pounding - the fear magnifying the throbbing from the bruise he knows he'll have in a few hours - as he grasps the pill bottle and rips the lid off, sending a few of them skittering as he desperately tries to grab for enough to knock Zell out. ]
Please don't let this be too many...!
[ He grasps three in his hand and turns, facing Zell again, trying to find a plan of attack. ]
Please don't let this be too many...!
[ He grasps three in his hand and turns, facing Zell again, trying to find a plan of attack. ]
*He wasn't really sure how long he'd been in the tunnels. Well, that was normal, but today things seemed...longer. Not that he could really explain why or what that meant. But it didn't matter as much as what he was in the tunnels for. A friend.
Zell had died...how long ago? It couldn't be too long, he was still under some effect. Perhaps he'd died multiple times? He wasn't sure but, once again, didn't think it mattered. Just that Zell thought he'd been alone and while that'd be great for him, not so much for Zell. Even he understood that.
Thus his traveling through the tunnels, heading towards the newest area and hunting down his friend. When he spots the other, though, he doesn't get too close. He had no idea how Zell would react. He makes his presence known, though.*
Ze ll?
Zell had died...how long ago? It couldn't be too long, he was still under some effect. Perhaps he'd died multiple times? He wasn't sure but, once again, didn't think it mattered. Just that Zell thought he'd been alone and while that'd be great for him, not so much for Zell. Even he understood that.
Thus his traveling through the tunnels, heading towards the newest area and hunting down his friend. When he spots the other, though, he doesn't get too close. He had no idea how Zell would react. He makes his presence known, though.*
Ze ll?
It'll take a lot more than that to take me out, baby.
[ He will just keep coming back. ]
I'm glad you didn't. Give up.
[ He wants to ask about other promises, but he also wants to remember them himself. ]
[ He will just keep coming back. ]
I'm glad you didn't. Give up.
[ He wants to ask about other promises, but he also wants to remember them himself. ]
[ Jim snorts, quietly, at the 'baby.' ]
You're pretty resilient. Hard head. Trust me.
[ Now that he's joined the 'headbutted Zell' club! ]
It was mine. The thing that got you.
You're pretty resilient. Hard head. Trust me.
[ Now that he's joined the 'headbutted Zell' club! ]
It was mine. The thing that got you.
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