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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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Afternoon 273; Event, Action

[rattlingthestars]

Following this.

--

[ Jim's not having the best of days. He hasn't bothered to contact Zack or Kunsel - they already don't care about him, not like usual, so he hasn't wanted to face the fact that they might be literally unable to.

Meanwhile, he's got a shadow of what should be his boyfriend but isn't. He can't help but think Zell would be handling this better. He's probably screwing it all up, and Zell'll be hurt by the time he comes back to himself, but Jim can't quite overcome the instinct to shut down and pull into himself.

That's why he doesn't sense the change. He's too busy trying not to look at Zell. ]

[swatsflies]

[ Speaking of shutting down...

All of Zell's emotions were gone and then his free will starts to go. At first he's just gong through the motions of trying to align his steps with Jim, but then that idea is gone. All ideas area gone. His body moves on it's own and he's no longer looking at what's infront of him. He's seeing past Jim and everything around him. He starts walking in the direction of the trap door. ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim's so used to having Zell shadowing him that he misses a step when he changes direction, momentarily losing balance until he realizes what's changed.

He spins around to see what Zell's doing and - oh. Trap door. ]

Hey, uh, Zell?

just keep moving just keep moving~

[swatsflies]

[ Zell is not here at the moment

There's no turning to look at him or any other signs he heard him. He keeps going towards his destination. He moves in a stiff, and unusual way for him. Like something else is in living in his skin. ]

i can't actually remember how far they got before choking happens whoops

[rattlingthestars]

[ That's really, really, remarkably not good. Zell doesn't respond, but maybe that means he's not paying attention, too. To test this theory, Jim's slipping around him, putting himself between Zell and the trap door. ]

Sunshine? You want to slow it down a second?

we can wing it \o/

[swatsflies]

Nope.

Zell continues to move, even with Jim in the way. Walking right into him without even looking at him. His legs are still moving as he continues to try to get to where his destination.

Something is in the way though.

Something is making it hard for him to go forward.

But he's still moving with all of his might. Going as far as moving his hands up to push the object away. Still not really seeing Jim. ]

reblog if u laugh every time

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim expects Zell to keep moving, or - react, or anything - at some point.

He's not quite expecting for Zell to reach out and shove him like a piece of furniture, so he goes more or less easily for a second before he realizes what's happening and grabs on to Zell's arm. ]

Nu-uh, buddy!

[swatsflies]

[ Continuing forward until something is holding on. Just going to try to pull his arm free, trying to yank it back.

Jim, he has places to go. People to not see. An objective to reach. He needs to be a free robot. ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim's not making it easy for him to get away from him. He's holding on with both arms now, throwing most of his bodyweight into it. ]

Stop!

[swatsflies]

[ Can't stop won't stop.

That's enough to actually hamper him. Reaching to grab Jim's collar while bending all at once to flip him over. Which might not help in the whole getting him out of the way. ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim goes over, but he's also not letting go of Zell's arm. So. There might be an awkward pile-up if Zell doesn't keep his feet. ]

[swatsflies]

[ He's not really himself so he won't be thinking about that. Awkward pile-up is a go.

There might be a pop from his own shoulder just before they go over cause arms don't go that way Jim.

Ignoring all of that while he again tries to get up but there's still something hampering him. Rude??? ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim winces at the popping sound, but he's still holding on. ]

Zell! C'mon, just - stop for a minute and listen, okay?

[swatsflies]

[ 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. ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ 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. ]

[swatsflies]

[ 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. ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ 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. ]

[swatsflies]

[ 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. ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ 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. ]

[swatsflies]

[ 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. ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ 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. ]

[swatsflies]

[ You never had issues putting stuff in his mouth

He doesn't go after Jim. Using the wall as a guide, he start heading towards the trap door once again, albeit more slower than his previous march. Might be a good opportunity to go back to your back climbing ways, Jim? ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ Usually he's more cooperative.

It's absolutely the right time for Jim to monkey onto Zell's back, whether he likes it or not. He throws his legs around Zell's waist and his arms around Zell's shoulders, using one hand to force his mouth open and the other to - carefully, he can't afford to drop them - shove the pills in. ]

[swatsflies]

[ Wow rude. The obstacle is now on his back. He's going to turn to try to slam his back into the wall. This is how Jim wanted him to shove him against a wall, right?

His mouth does open and the pills do go in though!

Just give it a moment or two to actually kick in. ]

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim will spend that moment frantically hanging on to Zell's back, resisting any effort to throw him off. Once he feels Zell start to go down, though, he loosens his grip and tries to break his fall as best he can. ]