[log] Let the walls break- What we have they cannot take [Closed to Sad Losers]

[heroproceeding]

Characters: Kunsel (deus_ex_phs), Zack (heroproceeding), Zell (swatsflies), and Jim (rattlingthestars)
Location Building 141 [Post Office]
Date: Evening/Night of Day 122
Summary: THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN. And finding each other again after TERRIBLE THINGS HAPPENED IN HOGWARTS SNOWHELL. As usual. TIME TO GET THE WHOLE GANG TOGETHER AGAIN.
Warnings: Likely lots of mentions of character death. Snot. More snot. Blah blah serious business.



[ BOO HOO HOO GHIBLI TEARS EVERYWHERE AGAIN.

MAKE YO' OWN TOPLEVELS, BITCHES. ]

Comments

[heroproceeding]

[ He can't help the 'Hey!' aimed at Kunsel and that indignant vibe doesn't stop when he finds himself grunting out a 'Beats me' to Zell, too. Seriously, rude, guys. Making fun of him first thing! He's at least glad that Kuns caught him when he did.

Of course, that's all lost anyway when Zell tugs him into that hug. It's a hug he stumbles into, hands a bit more hesitant than usual to find their purchase. Eyes following his own movements as he places them. His hold's light but gradually growing the tighter. just like the smile that's gradually rising with it. It's hard not to when the ones surrounding him are so infectious. Perhaps that hug's not as tight as he usually would hold onto them though...

Doesn't stop him from huffing a bit in mock offense. ] Of course. Gotta make a grand entrance. Makes things interesting. Right, Kuns?

[ Though after all the... not so wonderful excitement they've had lately, really, something less panic-inducing might have been better off for them. But details. He reaches back with his free arm, glancing as he does, to curl it around the fellow SOLDIER, bringing them full circle. Then his eyes are searching them from one face to the other and back until he finds himself murmuring: ] It's good to see you, too.

[deus_ex_phs]

[Kunsel huffs a laugh, letting himself get drawn into the hug, though his hands are aimed mostly for Zell and Jim. He's had plenty of chances to hug Zack in the past few days, grateful for whatever brought him back, but this is the first chance he's had since he died to grab both boys and physically confirm that they're alright. Maybe he notices Jim's questing hand, but if he does, he doesn't say anything. He knows. He understands.]

What's a dramatic return without a dramatic entrance? Besides, you two don't have much room to criticize us for making you worry after you went off and got the last key without us.

[He murmurs that goodnaturedly, not trying to take them to task. Just ribbing them a little, now that the danger has passed.]

Idiots.

[But he's smiling too much for that to be an insult.]

[swatsflies]

[Curving his arm around Jim as he completes the circle. He leans his weight against him, as he looks between Kunsel and Zack both. Looking them over very carefully as if to memorize every line and curve on their faces and and helmet.

The hesitance and care Zack puts into reciprocating the affection is a little odd, but it doesn’t register quite yet to Zell. He’s too busy absorbing the fact that their family was back together again. Reaching to touch Zack’s face carefully to feel that it’s actually real. No more masks, or freaky morse code. No more wondering if they left the pair behind or if they are wandering in the wrong direction. He knows what they said on the tablet, but the tablets and network can’t be trusted completely.

Moving his hand from Zack to Kunsel to try to touch that helmet.] It’s real. [His words come out in almost a whisper. His breathing becomes shaky as he repeats it. They are there. Everything really did happen and it’s hitting him all at once because the dream effects were no longer an issue and he didn’t have to focus on moving on and keeping Jim safe.] Everyone is here.

[Then he’ll concentrate on what’s actually being said again. His hand around Jim twitches a bit with words spoken. He doesn’t need to translate, but breaking the habit of something he’s been doing since that night is hard.]

Yeah, and we did it! You should have seen Jim. [Let’s give all credit to amazing boyfriend]

[rattlingthestars]

[ You didn't have to be that impressive, Jim says in a choked aside to both of them as he leans into Zell's weight for just a moment. He hasn't caught onto Zack's hesitance yet, in part because he's still latched on a little too tight to Kunsel like he expects him to disappear again.

Even so he feels the twitch of Zell's hand, familiar by now with the way he needed to tap out the dots to understand what was happening around him. That's why he nods, ignoring the praise in favor of a murmured: ] It's real.

[ But, just to make sure, he's shuffling them around a little to let Zell feel out Kunsel and claim his own hug from Zack. ]

And it's over now. [ No more traps, Jim hopes; the hotel key seems like the treasure. ] We're idiots with a key to the inn.

[heroproceeding]

Doesn't make you any less'a ones. Damned idiots. [ But they're alive. They're definitely still alive and they're there and that's what matters in the end, doesn't it? Even if a part of him still stings, it's not enough of one to stop him from starting to reach up to ruffle Zell's hair-

-and freeze at the sight of hand suddenly to face. He remains still and watching as Zell traces over him from bony cheek to stubby jaw, until he seems satisfied and lingers on to Kunsel. It's only then that he moves if not without first giving Zell a fuller embrace with both arms and the slightest squeeze. Then, he's carefully unwinding himself from him if not without a nod because yes, it's definitely real. He might not be able to take it all of that real, himself, but Zell could certainly likely feel the warmth he radiates, his racing heartbeat, and the rise and fall of his chest.

The same feelings Jim can pick up on the moment he goes for his own hug. Zack's hands are again careful, finding their placement warily and not immediately squeezing as tightly as he usually would. It's a slow build up instead, carefully getting tighter as he looks up just enough to get his sights on what he next plans. ]

You two did good. [ And he actually does mean it. They worked together and got that key and that takes a lot. Especially after all they've been through. Especially after... that.

Doesn't stop Zack from reaching first to lightly ruffle Jim's hair before reaching over to give Zell the same treatment. Nothing rough like usual, but there as he mumbles with a slight ache. ] Just- don't scare the hell outta me like that again.