[ The video switches on and Zell is met with Jim's face, shocked and nakedly showing all the hurt he was trying to hide with the layer of text between them.
He's at a loss for words, no answer coming to him except the vague unease that's taken up residence in his chest.
He wasn't careful enough, though, and Zell can probably make out the hospital stairwell around him. ]
[ Tone still soft as he looks at the screen. He sees those stairs, and he feels his heart twisting at that. Jim is at the worst place possible and doesn't seem to believe in stuff? Or is paranoid? He's not sure which... ]
[ Jim's voice is too sharp, raspy from what he'd been doing before he got the nerve to make this call. He clears his throat, and tries to sound more normal; it's not very successful. He's talking too fast. ]
We still need to see what we turned on. Just - go back and do that.
[ He winces at combination of the why and the raspy voice. He gets it's something this place is doing to him, but it does hurt to see the doubt more clearly. ]
Yeah, we do need to do that. I just wanted to see you again.
[ There's a long pause between messages, maybe long enough for Zell to think Jim's given up on the conversation entirely.
In the hospital, he's pacing loud enough to echo in the quiet halls, weighing the options and the fear until he comes up with something that might - might make it work.
[ Jim thinks about the answer. His first impulse is to lie, make sure whatever might be listening - or whatever might be talking to him - is fooled. But he has to pass through the school to get back to the bunker. ]
Part of the way. Going to take it slow. [ Maybe by then, whatever's wrong with him will have worn off. He still doesn't know what it is, and he doesn't really trust anyone else to tell him. ]
I'm here, baby. I can leave it on even when I go sleep, too.
[ Though it's...getting cold. Just going to slide on his shirt again. If his paranoia let's him, he can enjoy watching Zell stretch and pull it over. ]
Do you mind keeping updated on where you are, Stars? Maybe with code?
[ He's just glad because it means they can kind of be sleeping together even if they aren't there physically with each other. ]
I love you, Stars. Feel free to message me whenever you want.
[ He wouldn't mind if they stayed on video the whole time, but he isn't sure if Jim would appreciate that at this moment. Leaning close to press a kiss against the screen, even if Jim probably can't see it thanks to where the camera is located. But he can definitely here the smack of his lips. ]
[ He stays there for a bit longer after he hangs up, before he gets his layers back in and heads back to where they have their stuff stashed. It's later on, when he has Mochi and Morph in his lap that his tablet chimes again. Opening up then giving a fond smile at the words. ]
Yeah! I do. We wound up talking for most of the night.
[ Also all of the make outs and sexual tension. But lots of talking ]
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He's at a loss for words, no answer coming to him except the vague unease that's taken up residence in his chest.
He wasn't careful enough, though, and Zell can probably make out the hospital stairwell around him. ]
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[ Tone still soft as he looks at the screen. He sees those stairs, and he feels his heart twisting at that. Jim is at the worst place possible and doesn't seem to believe in stuff? Or is paranoid? He's not sure which... ]
We're at the high school, Stars. I miss you.
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Jim's eyes dance over the tablet, studying Zell's face for something - some tell of who he's talking to, what he's planning. ]
I'm coming back to the bunker.
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Can we meet you on the way, Stars?
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[ Jim's voice is too sharp, raspy from what he'd been doing before he got the nerve to make this call. He clears his throat, and tries to sound more normal; it's not very successful. He's talking too fast. ]
We still need to see what we turned on. Just - go back and do that.
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Yeah, we do need to do that. I just wanted to see you again.
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In the hospital, he's pacing loud enough to echo in the quiet halls, weighing the options and the fear until he comes up with something that might - might make it work.
The audio clicks back on. ]
You first.
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And when he does, it's just those two words. Tilting his head. ]
You mean going back to the bunker?
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[ Though maybe that, too. ]
No, I want to see you.
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Yeah? I want to see you too. Are you going to go through the tunnels?
[ Zell wants to go in and see him ]
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[ Jim thinks about the answer. His first impulse is to lie, make sure whatever might be listening - or whatever might be talking to him - is fooled. But he has to pass through the school to get back to the bunker. ]
Part of the way. Going to take it slow. [ Maybe by then, whatever's wrong with him will have worn off. He still doesn't know what it is, and he doesn't really trust anyone else to tell him. ]
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[ Though it's...getting cold. Just going to slide on his shirt again. If his paranoia let's him, he can enjoy watching Zell stretch and pull it over. ]
Do you mind keeping updated on where you are, Stars? Maybe with code?
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I'll... tell you what area. At night.
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If you're staying there for the night, you can call me. Then you won't be alone.
[ He is worried about Jim being there alone :< ]
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[ Jim's not really sure what else to say. ]
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I love you, Stars. Feel free to message me whenever you want.
[ He wouldn't mind if they stayed on video the whole time, but he isn't sure if Jim would appreciate that at this moment. Leaning close to press a kiss against the screen, even if Jim probably can't see it thanks to where the camera is located. But he can definitely here the smack of his lips. ]
-> text
-Love you too.
[ He hangs up, then, but late that night Zell gets another message. ]
do you remember that night in the tent at andromeda's house?
text
Yeah! I do.
We wound up talking for most of the night.
[ Also all of the make outs and sexual tension. But lots of talking ]