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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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[swatsflies]

SeeD are trained for covert operations.

[ Laying sideways to face Jim better. Picking up another star to flick it towards him. It goes down towards his feet. ]

Yeah, that's the one.

[ Waiting for Jim to spin around again and then reaching over to try to catch an ankle. ]

I saved the best pages if you wanted to read your horoscope.

[rattlingthestars]

[ The ankle is easily caught and jerks Jim to a stop. He's not even complaining about it, though. ]

Pretty sure what my future's going to be when we get out of here.

[ Jim says it casually, even though it really isn't. ]

Good thing there's a whole library's worth of book around here now, though, even if a lot of them are weird.

[swatsflies]

[ Scooting close to press a kiss against the captive ankle. ]

Covert operations or covered in stars?

[ Covered in Stars seems like his future. It seems like covert operations aren't exactly new to Jim. At least in the pranks department. The mention of the library though gets a fond little look for a moment. ]

When we get back we should hit up the library in Garden. [ More things Jim can read to him. ] Rinoa can be found there. You know, the friend with the dog?

[rattlingthestars]

Both.

[ Jim abandons the chair and, if Zell lets his foot go, steps onto the squishy mattress to sit in front of his boyfriend.

He think the library might be the most boring part of 'floating magical school,' though, and sounds a little dubious when he asks: ]

Do they let the dog in?

[swatsflies]

[ He'll let him go and take a leg captive instead once Jim settles down. Picking up stars to drop one at a time on Jim's leg. ]

They aren't supposed to, but they do. Not that it matters much with Squall running Garden now. [ He...probably forgot to mention the broody looking one in the cards is now running everything. ]

They have all kinds of books and magazines. [ A beat ] I usually wait around for them to get in a magazine called Combat King. The librarians are pretty chatty though.

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim was balancing the stars carefully on his knee as Zell piled them on, but his head jerks up. ]

Wait, Squall - your friend? He's running the school now?

Who decided that?

[swatsflies]

[ He scoots on of them up Jim's leg and towards his hip. ]

Cid. The head master. He put Squall in charge during a pretty crappy time. [ Beaming up at Jim with pride. ] Man, he can be pretty distant at times, but he really did come through in the end.

[rattlingthestars]

The... really grumpy guy?

[ The one that's around Zell's age. Jim knows that Zell can do a lot of impressive things, but he really can't imagine anyone their age running a school. ]

Does that mean he's in charge of SeeD too?

[swatsflies]

[ Snickering at that. ]

Yeah, that's the guy. Told him before he needs to live a little.

[ And if Jim can see that he's all srs from just an image of him on a card, then his best bud has some issues. ]

Yeah, he is. Not sure if the headmaster is planning on stepping in to help out, but he's definitely enjoying his retirement. Saw him with matron at the party.

[ Crawling closer to lay on his side and drop his head on Jim's other leg. ]

[rattlingthestars]

Or a lot. Especially if he's got a job like that now.

[ Jim makes a face about the matron and the headmaster. Weird! ]

Does that make him your boss?

[ Jim runs his hand through Zell's hair, on reflex, and sends confetti flying everywhere. ]

-Whoops.

[swatsflies]

[ Stars are falling down his face and one of them lands close to his mouth. ]

Yeah, but that's nothing new.

{ Tipping his head as he blows the little star. ]

Remember my first mission? [ The helping a rebel group gain it's independence. ] Rinoa was our client then and Squall was appointed team leader.

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim catches the star in his hand and offers it palm-up to Zell. ]

Huh. Guess maybe he is up for the job.

[ Even if running a school will probably involve a lot less ass-kicking and a lot more paperwork. ]

Now that the sorceresses are gone, is there even still going to be a SeeD? or a Garden?

[swatsflies]

[ He's offering the hand, right? Zell places his fingers across Jim's wrist for a moment to feel a pulse. Then he'll drag them down to trace the palm lines to the star. ]

We have to keep them around in case any more show up that need to be taken down a notch. [ Pausing as he taps the star gently. ] We saw them there in the future.

[ Lifting his head to press a kiss against the tips of Jim's fingers. ]

There will probably be less of a demand until something happens.

[rattlingthestars]

[ He's absolutely offering the hand, though it twitches as Zell traces it. Ticklish! ]

Wow. Save world and you've still gotta show up to work.

[ It doesn't really surprise Jim that Zell would, though he wishes the witches where gone forever. ]

So what will you do until then? Hang out in the library with the dog?

[swatsflies]

[ His boyfriend is ticklish every where it seems. Moving the kiss against the palm of his hand and up his wrist. ]

Maybe.

[ Looking at Jim carefully for a moment or two. ]

You mean besides waiting around to make it official. [ Swiping his thumb against Jim's ring finger. ]

Normally I wait outside of it. The staff are friendly, but can be weird.

[ When will Raijin return that book? ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim grins and wiggles his fingers, showing it off, but Zell's already moved on by then. ]

Weird enough to scare you off?

What are they doing?

[swatsflies]

Ask me a lot of questions.

[ Just going to nip at one of those fingers. ]

Not really scare me off, but it was a little strange. They wanted to know my favorite color, food, and that kind of stuff.

[ Pausing as he thinks about it. ]

One of them did hang around my hometown once to wait for me. The magazine I ordered from the library came in and she decided to hand deliver it there for whatever reason.

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim doesn't react to the nipping. In fact, he seems to be frozen. ]

She uh.

[ He clears his throat. ]

Your house? What did you do?

[swatsflies]

[ At first he doesn't seem to notice as he thinks about it. ]

Didn't know until I went back to town to visit my Ma. People there told me she was around the area looking for me. Didn't see her until the morning though. Went down to the lobby to go on a walk and there she was.

[ Then he looks up at Jim and tips his head to the side. ]

Stars? Is something the matter?

[rattlingthestars]

Fine!

[ No reason to freak out. Just because someone liked Zell didn't mean anything, right? Lots of people probably liked Zell. ]

What did you do? When you found her?

[swatsflies]

[ He doesn't seem to be fine. Sitting up as he slides his fingers in between each of Jim's to give him a squeeze before he continues on. ]

Asked her what she wanted. [ It's been months since the incident, so he takes a moment to look up at the ceiling as he tries to recall the exchange. ]

She gave me the magazine and asked me to think of her. It was kind of dumb because I visited Garden more than home, you know?

[ He...still doesn't even know her name so how could he even think about her. ]

[rattlingthestars]

She probably wanted to see where you lived. Or... meet your mom.

[ That was what Jim would want to do, anyway, if he were a girl that went to Zell's school could just go there any time. ]

Did you?

[swatsflies]

Why would she want to see where I lived?

[ She did meet his Ma, but he's too busy trying to puzzle out what's going on with Jim and motives for the girl with the pigtail could have. ]

Huh? Did I what? [ A pause. ] Think of her? Not really. [ Sorry girl. ] I don't even know her name.

[rattlingthestars]

[ Okay, Zell being completely clueless is cute and it makes Jim feel a little better.

He's still feeling pretty not-great, though. ]

Because ... I think she was trying to court you.

[swatsflies]

[ That earns a look of confusion. ]

What?! Why would she want to do that?

[ It's weird to think that especially now that he's actually serious about someone.]

She never said anything like that.