[network] @JPHawkins; Day 74 [open] [death talk]

[rattlingthestars]

[ His feet kick uselessly, catching but unable to get any leverage as he feels himself dragged forward -

- And wakes, with a gasp, in darkness. The monster Jim - Stop! - The others - Don't be an idiot! - He's right there - He's dead -

Not there anymore. There's just Jim, his heart beating so hard in nearly covers up the sound of his ragged breathing as he tries to claw his way out of the plastic encasing him. Some kind of bag, he thinks through the fog of panic.

He's almost free when he flails just a little too far. Whatever solid thing he was resting on disappears as he overbalances and crashes face-first into the ground, jarring his elbow in the process. At least it frees him of the bag. Even with his entire body free, though, he can't see.

Bringing a shaky hand up to his face lets him feel out that his eyes are open. So either it's pitch-black wherever he's woken up, or he's blind, and he doesn't know which.

Tablet.

He needs the tablet, and to - to -

He just needs the tablet. He refuses to think about anything more than five minutes in the future as he gropes around in the darkness until he feels something leather. His bag, and from there he can grasp the tablet. Learning to use the voice-activated commands is a nice, soothing puzzle, and his heart is almost back to normal by the time he decides he's going to have to record a message for the entire network. ]


[ The video shows Jim's face half out of frame: the camera's not quite pointed the right way. His visible eye is unfocused and there's a fresh-looking bruise on his temple. He's silent, though his harsh breathing is audible in the hush of wherever he is, until he takes a long breath in and starts speaking. ]

This is Jim Hawkins. Should be posting as video, but I'm not -

[ He has to stop and take another few deep breaths, fighting down the panic again as he commits to telling the wider network exactly what kind of situation he's in. ]

- I can't tell. Woke up blind. Kinda fell out of the drawer.

[ He waves a hand at the bruise and grimaces. He holds the tablet up in the air and slowly pans it around what's clearly the hospital morgue before bringing it back down and focusing it on his face. He gets a little closer to center-of-frame this time, though it's shaking. ]

If anyone recognizes it I could use an idea of where I am and which direction to start walking in. I don't think I'm going to be able to stay here much longer.

[ This pause is a little longer. It almost seems like he's done, but then he stumbles over his words to add: ] -And I'm-

Nevermind.

Okay, send -

Comments

@SceptredIsle; voice

[keepscalm]

[England recognises that morgue; it's undeniably where he first searched for Sealand, huge and absolutely filled with space to hold bodies. That's probably what fills him with the urge to respond, even though he's not exactly the most charitable option.

He starts typing out of reflex, at first, before remembering that the young man is blind and won't be able to see his words. He decides to mercifully cut out the middle man and use a voice response instead.]

You're in the hospital's morgue on the basement level. If you follow the wall you'll find the lift lobby; that's where the stairwell is.

voice

[rattlingthestars]

The hospital?

[ Jim's voice is still high and reedy with fear, but at least he's got something to do now. ]

That's halfway across town from where I -

[ His mind skitters away from the concept and recenters on something else. ]

- where I was. What's, uh, where do I go when I get up the stairs?

[keepscalm]

[Jim doesn't have to say it, but it's obvious what he meant. He wouldn't be waking up in a morgue if something hadn't happened to him.

England doesn't mention it. They're strangers; it's not any of his business. He keeps his voice as level as possible, hoping it might be more calming.]

I assume you'll want to be getting back to where you were before, which means travelling north out of the tunnels. In that case, you'll be going all the way up to the roof so you can use the north exit. There are four floors above you, so it'll be a bit of a climb.

VIDEO THaT SOME LOSER CAN'T SEE and ACTION FOR OTHER LOSERS

[swatsflies]

[Zack is too busy moping to look at the network much really, but Zell is paying attention! He's still holding on to hope Jim will be back...

He needed to hold on to that hope.

When he finally hears Jim, he starts moving to Zack immediately.]

Jim! [From his tone, he's really happy. Jim can probably hear his feet pounding on the floor quickly as he looks for the others.]

Guys!!! Jim is back! [Once he finds Zack, he's going to pretty much slam in him with affection.] He's back!

[He can't...manage more than that at the moment. He's ecstatic and feeling flooded with relief right now.]

action;

[heroproceeding]

[ The words feel distant and far away just as they feel close to heart to.

This is a hallucination, he argues. This is a dream. He's dreaming. He's definitely dreaming. Their luck hasn't been this good. It's never been this good and it never will be.

Then he's almost toppling over with the real feeling of Zell's body tackling him, one arm around him way too tight while his tablet wavers just below Zack's eye level and it sinks in right then and there.

Jim's back.

Jim's back.

Speechless.

Completely. Speechless. ]

RUDE ZELL; video forever

[rattlingthestars]

[ Let go! I have to get to him! I have to save him! Zack! ]

Zell...?

[ Jim is breathless with relief for a worry he didn't know he had. Only now is he putting together memories that add up to Zell running after him. That he's here, alive and as exuberant as always, is the first thing that makes the tight ache in Jim's chest start to ease. ]

Zell! Hey!

[ Jim can't tell if he's looking down at the tablet again, and he sounds a little desperate for Zell's attention. ]

<3 <3 <3

[swatsflies]

[There is some good with Jim being unable to see. Both Zack and Zell look like crap. The others didn't fair well either.

His tablet is held level with Zack's chest as Zell grips the back of his coat. Giving him a squeeze before letting go of his friend.

Then he hears Jim and it hits him again. Jim is okay... sniffing a bit as he rubs at his face. He's not going to cry. He's not...]

Hey, Jim. I'm here. You're okay, man. I'm so glad you're back.

1/? reaction>

[heroproceeding]

[ Since talking with Ed and checking the network the other morning, Zack... really hadn't touched it much afterward. He didn't want to. He didn't want to see that obituary lit up on his screen. He didn't want to think about that creature far more akin to anything he'd seen before in Norfinbury snagging Jim, yanking him just out of reach and- hell, the very thought made him shudder despite his own SOLDIER roots. That, the screams that followed, the way he had to literally carry Zell away, the miserable night that had followed...

Days, it'd been.

But it'd take many more than that to accept it. And even then... Even then...

That was before Zell crashed into him like that. That was before he was shouting and waving his tablet in front of him like a mad man. Jim! Jim's back! He's back!

Those words still feel strange. Alien. But they also get him to take out his tablet from his pocket that day. They get him to slide a gloved finger across and to finally pull up the network. And they get him to just... stare in shock. Where Zell's exuberant, bouncing with excitement, Zack stands in silence as a myriad of emotions run through him too quickly and too frantically to decipher one from the other at first.

Only when those stunned feelings start to wear off does angry wash over him. But it's brief, there-and-gone, as he takes in the sight of him, the voice of him in a timbre he's heard before, at an angle he knows he wouldn't choose purposefully for a video mail and it makes him wonder why that is and where'd he get that bruise from and-

Blind. He's blind.

Blind. And alone. In the hospital. But it's mostly the blind that gets to him because if he can't see anything and if another monster were to just suddenly- ]

2/2 audio; @dreamsnhonor

[heroproceeding]

[ NO.

He's not letting that happen again. He's never letting that happen again so Shiva help him.

Something sounds like it's rattling a bit as Zack very deliberately punches the audio. His eyes burn, his voice hard yet hoarse in places. But still, his words cut clear through. ]

We're leaving immediately. You need to get to one of the higher floors. Can you- [ He cuts himself off suddenly. Sh-Shit... Just going to try and compose himself here. He's blind. Even for a seasoned SOLDIER getting blinded by a monster back home, it's rough going and who knows how big that place is. Think, Fair. ]

video; @JPhawkins; with all the pieces of my broken heart~

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim's not really sure what to expect from a message from Zack, at this point; he's hesitant to open it at all. He knows how stupid what he did was, the kind of effect it must have had, but he's selfish. He wants to hear Zack's voice.

It's not - well, whatever he expected, that wasn't it. He shrinks back from the tone in Zack's voice at first, but it's at least something familiar. Sounds like the captain; sounds like an order. His spine straightens and his expression tries to even itself out, though it's still wavering. ]

I - someone said that if I follow the wall I can get to the stairs. I'm going.

@lockhart; audio

[powersouls]

[Tifa hasn’t been checking the network, either. She had been checking it obsessively the past couple of weeks for Cloud, holding out hope that he would be brought back somehow, but after Hiro and Jim… There doesn’t seem to be a point. It’s only served to drive her crazy, holding out hope as she checks her tablet, and then being horribly disappointed when there’s no news.

And with Jim… There’s no way to pretend he might have gotten away like there was with Cloud. They’d all watched the whole thing, and Tifa still can’t manage to get the image out of her head. As much as she keeps promising herself she’ll keeping moving forward, for the others if not for herself, she’s been utterly miserable the last two days. It’s hard to hold out hope when part of her is wondering which of them is going to go next.

Which is why, when she hears Zell shouting, the meaning doesn’t quite sink in right away. But then it hits her, and she’s scrambling for her tablet, nearly dropping it in her haste to look for Jim’s post, her heart skipping a beat. Zell wouldn’t be mistaken about something like this. He couldn’t. Then she sees Jim’s face, and her breathing catches.

He’s alive. He’s okay. There’s that bruise on his temple, but it’s small, nothing to worry about. He’s alive.

Her vision is blurring already, and she covers her mouth with one hand, certain she’s going to break down and knowing that this is the worst time to. He’s blind. He needs their help. And he’s probably terrified. She can’t even find it in herself to be angry at him for being so reckless. It doesn’t matter at this point. She should probably get herself together before replying, but she doesn’t even think of it, which means her voice is quavering when she finally drops her hand and replies.]

Jim! We’re going to come get you, okay? Are you… Are you all right? How are you feeling?

video

[rattlingthestars]

Tifa.

[ It's a little surprising how glad he is to hear her voice. They haven't traveled together for very long or talked as much as he and Zell have, but Tifa's quickly become someone he cares about, enough that hearing her voice is reassuring. He's alone, but not completely disconnected yet. ]

I'm - well, other than the blind thing, I guess I'm okay.

[ This is a blatant lie, but he's trying to play it off. The worry in her voice makes him want to offer reassurance. He's alive, that means he's fine, right? The panic will fade eventually. ]

Just banged my head a little when I woke up. Couldn't tell what I was wrapped up in.

[powersouls]

[What he was wrapped up in? She would honestly do anything to be there with him right now. She's amazed at how he's handling it.]

You have a little bruise, but it's— But you're—

[Her voice breaks and she stops, swallowing hard. She's silent for a moment, making sure she's not going to start crying again before she continues. This time, her voice is a little steadier, at least.]

I'm so glad you're okay.

Video; @determination

[despiteeverything]

[Frisk does a lot of dot connecting in the minute or so after the post goes up. Their talk with Zack the other day, the username of the person they talked to not long after they got here...

They're not unsympathetic. They're very, very sympathetic. Dying against monsters was never fun. Anomalies must be just as bad. They do video out of habit, even though he can't see them.]

Hey, um... are you okay? [Mmph.] I saw you can't... can't see but besides that...

video

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim doesn't immediately recognize Frisk's network handle or voice, but luckily he's tagged them with a nickname. 'Monster kid' has him twisting his mouth into something that might once have been a smile.

Jim should've spent less time warning Frisk about how futile it was to chase down the anomolies and more time worrying about himself. Maybe then he wouldn't have snapped. ]

Hey, uh, it was Frisk, right? I'm okay.

[ He thinks so, anyway. His head aches and his chest feels weird and tight, but he's clearly alive when he shouldn't be. He's also embarrassed about worrying people for nothing, so he tries for light as he adds: ]

They fixed whatever that thing did to me pretty good.

voice; @standardissue

[deus_ex_phs]

[Kunsel's reply doesn't come much longer after the others in his group. In fact, the only reason why it takes him this long is because Zack deserves the first chance to talk to Jim. Nothing at all to do with Kunsel getting control of his emotions and voice before he talks.]

Jim.

[And yet, the emotion's still there, too much for him to restrain. He'd thought Jim was dead. Dead and gone and never coming back. But here he is.]

You're...

Welcome back.

video

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim's a little surprised by the emotion in Kunsel's voice; usually he seems so competent and unflappable, even when bad things are happening. To hear him struggling now, over Jim ...

Well. As bad as that'd been on the inside, it must've looked worse. ]

It's good to hear from you, man.

[ Jim's voice is equally emotional, and he's always had a hard time closing his facial expressions. It's just lucky he's not actually crying, here. ]

@LELRIC; voice

[armoured]

[It still raises fear and revulsion every time Al speaks with someone who has been returned unnaturally to life, whether they're friend or just acquaintance. But, almost worse, a traitorous hope and joy is buried in there as well now.

How can he not be glad to see Jim's face? Even knowing what it might mean, even knowing a price has been exacted for it?]

Jim, it's-- it's Alphonse, try and stay calm. You'll only hurt yourself if you try and move too quickly when you can't see.

video forever

[rattlingthestars]

Al?

[ It's good to hear Al's distinctive voice again, comforting to have something familiar. ]

I'm okay, I guess. Not bleeding or anything.

[ That comes out a lot shakier than he meant. Oops. ]

-No rags stuck to my face.

Voice @Enoch

[warriorscribe]

I fell from mine, too. [A tired sound that might have been the start of a chuckle, accompanying a weary, thin smile.] Welcome back. It's good to see people are still returning.

[It had begun to feel as if every name on those obituaries would be permanent now, and that was hard enough to deal with without the emotional blow struck by the disease that had robbed him of his senses.]

As others have said, you're in the hospital...it might be best to go upstairs and find a bed while you wait for your friends, if they were already going there. It's fortunate you woke somewhere that you would not need to find your way through the snow for shelter.

video forever

[rattlingthestars]

Good not to be the only one to take a nosedive, I guess.

[ He winces and puts his hand back up to the bruise, then offers Enoch an equally weak smile. Before his death, he was struggling with similar thoughts; of those he knows well, only Ed's returned from the dead. ]

Wasn't expecting to wake up again; came as kind of a shock when I couldn't see what was going on. Did you wake up blind too?

[ From the video, Jim's moving now, at least. There's the sound of a stick in the background, and occasionally his head tilts to listen for whatever noises he can hear in the morgue. ]

@hsiaoke; video

[heavensreader]

[Jim can't see it, but the curious and rather alarmed voice belongs to a small wide-eyed girl, who only got here a day ago and has no idea how this resurrection lark works yet.]

Oh, that is a morgue. What are you doing in a morgue? Were you ill?

/collects the smol

[rattlingthestars]

[ Jim's anti-social enough that he doesn't recognize the handle as a new one immediately, especially since he can't actually look at the words. The voice doesn't sound familiar - he thinks he'd notice the accent - but it does sound young. He's learned his lesson about assuming from Al, though, and he speaks to her the same way he would anyone else.

So, uh, sorry. About that. ]

Yeah, figured on the morgue bit. I was dead, I think.

@quark; video

[averytinyparticle]

Jim!

[Jim can't see him, but choosing video was an instant decision the second he saw his friend on the network. It's the best he can do from so far away. But he's so...he's so glad! He's so relieved.]

When I saw your name on the obituary, I was scared, I thought...

[Well, it's obvious what he thought. And that was just earlier that morning, too! It doesn't matter now. What matters is that it's okay now. Jim's back. So maybe Frisk will come back, too. He just has to be patient. His voice wavers and he hiccups, rubbing his eyes.]

I'm so glad you're awake, and I'm sorry about your eyes, and...and...

[And...he doesn't know. He feels like he has so much to say but he can't think of the words. He wants to apologize about everything that happened over the network, and he wants to be there. But he can't. It feels like he never will be, either.]

Be safe, okay?

[rattlingthestars]

[ Quark. After their intense last conversation, Jim had meant to check in on him but three days later he'd ... well, done something stupid. It kind of hurts to hear the consequences of that. He hadn't meant to scare people that way, and even he can't play this off as not a big deal.

He can stare at the tablet until he can get his emotions mostly back under control and can make his face do something that kind of looks like a reassuring smile. If you squint. ]

-Hey, buddy. Me too. [ Both that he'd thought he was going to die and he was glad to be awake, but he's focusing on that last one. ]

I think my eyes are going to be okay, eventually. [ Soon, he hopes, but he's never died before. ] I'm going to try my best.

Are you - [ Okay's not right, nobody here is, but he doesn't have a better word. ] -How are yo holding up? Since the sickness?