snowblindrpg | [network video] @JPHawkins; DAY 17, 1pm [open]

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[network video] @JPHawkins; DAY 17, 1pm [open]

[ When the video cuts on, Jim isn't looking at the camera. His head is twisted around to stare somewhere over his shoulder as his chest heaves with exertion (or maybe fear.) There's a bruise blossoming on his cheek where he'd fallen trying to escape and a dried trail of blood from his nose to his chin that he's forgotten about.

The microphone picks up the noise of the monsters outside in the snow over the rattle of Jim's breath. When there's a break in the sound Jim seems to remember what he'd been doing and turns back to the tablet. ]

Please tell me someone else is seeing these things. They're some kind of - of - of shadow things.

[ Jim has seen weird. He's seen creepy, thanks to Captain Flint. But he's never seen anything like those. Still, something about them had seemed almost too familiar. It's that which makes him wonder if it's all in his own head. ]

If you are? Don't fight them. Just run.

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[ Jim's a little dubious that anybody can handle themselves against these things at the moment, but Zach sounds old enough that he can figure that out himself. ]

I haven't run into anything but houses. [ Not even weird houses to break the monotony, except: ] There was one that was just a bathtub.

A bathtub. [ He can't hide the credulousness in his voice. Seriously. Are you kidding him? Maybe. Maybe not. It's hard to say. Either way, it's definitely not a place he's been around to before. The kid might be further off than he hoped. And considering the weather's only been getting worse... ]

Rest of the house fell down around it. [ Jim's tone carries an idea of exactly what he thinks of Norfinbury's city planning. ] It's the only thing out of the ordinary I've seen, though. Someone mentioned the school and I've been looking for that, but if there are more of those things...

[ Zack hums in understanding. Okay, now it makes sense that it would only be a bathtub. At first, it sounded like someone purposefully did that. ...Or maybe "admin" just has that bad enough of a sense of humor. Mm..

Though, huh. There's a small grin on this side though the young man's voice on this end seems to flutter around the edges of a grimness. ] Funny you should mention that.

S'where I am right now. We haven't run into anything yet, but...

[ That doesn't mean he won't. Also might explain why Zack's voice has been on the relatively quiet side throughout this conversation. ]

If you're somewhere they're not, I would stay there. It's looking like they're popping up all over town.

[ Like something out of a terrible pulp novel. Not unlike the one Jim's found in the boxes he's built a barricade out of. He makes a noise of disgust at the lack of usefulness as a weapon and throws it behind him, making a thud sound on the wall. ]

Little late for that, man. Heard the school's supposed to be crawlin' with them.

[ And yes. Yes, it's awful lot like those. But between this and the ungodly romance novel he found, he's not sure which would be worse to forever live in. This or living, breathing purple prose as a constant.

...Okay, that wasn't entirely unexpected and he doesn't really blame the kid, but that doesn't stop him from stopping and staring at his tablet for a beat all the same. ]

Hey.. Come on. I know this place is frustrating, but look at it this way. You're in one piece yet. Sure, it might involve a lot more running than either of us would like, but. We still gotta chance for a ticket outta here.

[ Apparently, it doesn't really matter if they're in one piece or not; whoever's doing this will just put them back together again, according to Enoch and the footage he's since found on the network. Even thinking of it makes Jim a little sick, and a lot angry. ]

I'm not sure where to run. I don't want to be - [ His voice wavers before he violently forces it back under control - ] I don't want to starve in this house.

[ Oh, kid... This is where reassurance in the invasion of personal space would happen if this weren't over the tablet. As it stands, there's a soft sigh. His tone stays even if not more subdued. Raising his voice in turn's only going to wind him up more and he wants to keep him calm as possible. Like a green cadet. ]

I don't think anyone'd want to and I don't think that's what that "admin" wants around here anyway. Listen- What's your name? [ He's considerate enough to leave kid out. Not right then. Not like this. ]

It's Jim. Jim Hawkins.

[ Though being called a kid would get his back up faster than anything, there's a bit of petulance in his tone as he adds: ]

If they didn't want us to starve, there'd be a lot more food around.

[ For all the hardship that his family's been through, and all the difficulties of life in space, Jim's never really had to wonder about where his next meal was coming from. He's starting to realize he might've been a lot more comfortable than he thought. ]

[ Fortunately, Zack's used to dealing with the complaints of green cadets. Hell, he knows how much he, himself, complained back then. And how many times Kunsel and then later Angeal had hit him upside the head for it. Maybe this is karma. ]

Okay, Jim. Look, when'd you get in? If you gotta pack just like the rest of us, that should last you a week. Two if you know how to stretch it. There's a convenience store northeast of the school. From what I hear, it's got food. [ We don't talk about the disgruntled truth of the second convenience store. Zack's still sore over that. ]

I think it's been... four days? I haven't been eating every day, and I found some peanuts.

[ Since when are peanuts cause for happiness? This place is so terrible, but the protein is protein and salt is salt. Now to keep the scurvy from setting in ... ]

Is it safer than the school?

From what I hear, yeah. But be careful all the same.

But listen! You gotta eat at least somethin' a day. You're gonna run your body temperature even lower otherwise. [ And nuts are actually good for that, too! Go, protein! ]

[ There's the usual swell of defensive bristling when someone tells him what to do, but it's milder and all but lost under the feeling of relief that at least someone knows what's what. Or so it seems to Jim. ]

You, uh, have a lot of experience with snow?

[ He might at least appreciate that Zack doesn't think he's an eight year old kid like the town's other resident. ...Though not gonna lie. If he knew where he was, he would likely be there. As it stands, he's got no leads where that is outside of maybe near the school, so getting him calmed down and more clued in on the situation will have to do. For now. ]

I've had enough. [ More than he'd like is really more accurate at this point. He hates the snow, especially after what happened years ago now. This place occasionally feels like a sick reminder and maybe a curse on him because of that. He also may or may not have avoided the worst of tundra missions since. But he's military. You need to know what you're doing wherever you land. That includes climate changes. ]

A lot of it's about keeping active and keeping warm. Especially out there. Also, I wouldn't eat the snow if you can help it. It'll make you feel even worse. Melt it down before you drink it if you can.

[ Jim's curious about what experience Zack's had - he's curious about everything - but he's not sure it's okay to ask. Instead he shuffles around awkwardly for something to say even as he's struck by the ridiculousness of feeling awkward when he's got shadow monsters swarming just outside. ]

I've, uh, been stuffing it in the empty water bottles and hoping for the best. It was working pretty well until these guys showed up.

[ He's honestly thankful that Jim doesn't. That's a can of worms he'd like to avoid at the moment if he can help it. Zack does hum thoughtfully at the young man's admission though. ]

Alright, good. Keep it up. Maybe keep 'em close to your person while you're sleeping. Sure, it'll be uncomfortable, but it'll melt the snow and then you can drink some when you wake up.

[ There's a pause and then: ] You let me know if those things are still around in the morning. [ He figures maybe they'll give up after a while, but he doesn't know how persistent these phantoms actually are... ]

[ Jim shivers instinctively at the thought of cuddling up with the frozen bottles. Ugh.

If pressed, hard and possibly under torture, he might admit that it was nice having someone worrying about his general well-being. He coughs and tries for nonchalant as he says: ]

I will. You, uh, try to stay away from them in the school. They're really not messing around.

[ Hey, it might not be the best way to go about things, but it's better than nothing!

At this point though, he's at a lot of what else to say to help this kid without getting on their last nerve and making them feel annoyed with coddling. So, instead he ops for ending on a high note with a smile. ]

Already on it! [ A beat and then: ] I'll keep in touch.

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[network video] @JPHawkins; DAY 17, 1pm [open]

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