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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.))

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[deus_ex_phs]

[He can't deny the relief he feels. He'd known, but he'd still worried, especially after the wordless voicemail that Zell had left the night before.]

I spoke to Zack, too. [That was the first conversation he had after waking up.] I think I'm in the funeral home. Going to head south as soon as I gear back up.

[He pauses, takes a breath, and slowly releases it.]

...how's Jim taking all this?

[swatsflies]

[He looks over at his companion as soon as he hears the .--- .. -- in the conversation. Feeling again for the bracelet on Jim's wrist to make sure it's there. To make sure he's there.

It probably takes a moment too long for Zell to respond.]

As well as you'd expect. [Which isn't well at all. They were still walking, which Kunsel can probably hear the crunch of snow under their feet.]

The funeral home... [His voice drops a bit, as if he's talking to himself.] It really did happen.

[deus_ex_phs]

[Kunsel hesitates. That pause is telling.]

...that bad, huh?

[Not that he really expected Jim to take it well.]

I guess it really did. It still doesn't feel real to me, but the blood's there, even if I've been healed.

[swatsflies]

[Looking at his gasmasked boyfriend for a moment as he nods, even if Kunsel can't see it.]

We'll be okay once we know you're both together and on your way.

[Actually, it'll take them physically being there and a lot of support for anyone to be okay. One thing at a time, though.]

Yeah, the scratches we got help remind me. [They cleaned the blood up that night. Jim also helps keep him pretty grounded in what's real or not.] I don't know if you know, but it happened last night. [Which makes them some of the fastest revivals.]

[deus_ex_phs]

We're both heading for the wall now. That'll make it easier for us to find each other so we can meet up somewhere midway. If the weather holds, I'm hoping that'll only take us another day - two at the most. Then maybe another couple days to get through the tunnels. Where do you want to plan to meet up?

[Three days, maybe four or five, and they might be back with their friends. That... That's good. Reassuring, helping to calm something that's been unsettled in him since having it shoved right in his face how easily any one of them could die.

But that's still three to five days. The worry isn't going to settle completely.]

Only a day... What have you guys been doing since then? You got the key, right?

[swatsflies]

[It'll take a bit for him to translate. Listening to the message a couple of times before he gets it all down.]

I got the key. [Swallowing a bit as he says that.]

We can meet at the post office in a couple of days. [There is a pause. They told Zack already, and from all the messages he was getting from the Soldier, he wasn't happy.] We're going to try to finish this before then.

[deus_ex_phs]

What?

[The word comes out sharp, alarmed.]

Zell, the last trap just killed me and Zack! The next one could be even worse!

[swatsflies]

Yeah, I know.

[He's going to spare a look over to Jim as he says this. Even if all he can see is a mask, he can imagine the look he's receiving in response. Squeezing his hand before he continues with his message.]

We have to. We don't want to see anyone else get hurt because of it.

[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.]

[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.

[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.