Characters: Zack, Tifa, Zell, Kunsel, and... Jim? Kind of? Location: House 43 Date: Day 72 Summary: Jim tries to take out a monster and fails miserably. Warnings: Death, violence, grief? You know, Snowhell stuff.
[ Zack... slowly shakes his head at that. ] Can't say it would have.
[ He can't hide some of the bitterness that laces in those words. It's frustrating... but that doesn't make it any less true. Zack takes a deep breath. Lets it out slowly. ] Can't say it would'a helped any of you either. [ Not that he, himself, being there had seemed to do much good lately, but... Still. ]
Listen, Kuns... I'm not gonna throw my life away here. But I am gonna keep trying and fighting for a ticket outta here. [ He takes a moment to scratch at his stubble uncomfortably before shifting in his seat, winding his arm a little tighter around Kunsel, looking at the floor. ] We've.. already lost so many people. [ He glances up then, eyes narrowed. ] I don't wanna lose you, too. You.. or Tifa. Or Zell. None of you.
[That determination, that conviction, at least makes the corner of Kunsel's mouth crook up. It's not a smile, can't be a smile in the face of all that's happened to them, but it's... something, at least.]
We don't want to lose you either, Zack. [He takes in a breath, then lets it out, moving his arm around to find his own hug.] I'm not saying you shouldn't fight. I'm not saying to give up if it looks like we're in trouble again. Just... It's like we're driving on ice here. Don't overcorrect just because the car veered to the left. Don't feel like extreme compensation is the only answer here.
[ There's something about that tiny hint of... well, something hopeful in turn that brings him at least a little bit of comfort. Kunsel's still stubborn as anything to get back up on that chocobo just as much as himself- even if it's hard. Even if it seems impossible to make it through what they're making it through. His own mouth twitches in turn- before he stiffens from those words, even as he's folded into that one-armed hug. ]
You make too much damn sense sometimes, you know. [ But despite the weak verbal shove Kunsel's way, Zack finds himself winding his other arm around his companion and holding to an embrace. Tighter than usual. ]
[ He might not be able to see the smile, but he hears it in his friend's voice all the same. It doesn't surface one of his own, but at least... at least something's going right in all this wrong. It's a small something... but those small somethings are better than nothing.
He huffs a bit, but it's more tired than feigned offense. ] Sounds I need to step up my game.
[ That gets barely something of a gruff huff out of Zack. Half-hearted but there all the same. ]
Guess I can deal with that. I know someone who's pretty good at having my back anyway. [ Even in all his despair, there's a rough hint of fondness touching the surface of those words. ]
[ Despite the light jab, he gives the fellow SOLDIER a soft squeeze before he finally extracts himself from that hug, arm returning to that looping around his friend's shoulders as he just leans on him instead. His expression takes on something more serious then as he murmurs. ] Gonna get outta here... No matter what.
Yeah. [Kunsel murmurs that back, just as serious.] Yeah, we will. I know we'll find a way.
[If anyone can do it, he's sure it's Zack.
...but even so, he's not sure he can get up and face the world again just yet. Not when there isn't a need. So he just contents himself with leaning against Zack a little longer, shoring himself up with strength drawn from his friend.]
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[ He can't hide some of the bitterness that laces in those words. It's frustrating... but that doesn't make it any less true. Zack takes a deep breath. Lets it out slowly. ] Can't say it would'a helped any of you either. [ Not that he, himself, being there had seemed to do much good lately, but... Still. ]
Listen, Kuns... I'm not gonna throw my life away here. But I am gonna keep trying and fighting for a ticket outta here. [ He takes a moment to scratch at his stubble uncomfortably before shifting in his seat, winding his arm a little tighter around Kunsel, looking at the floor. ] We've.. already lost so many people. [ He glances up then, eyes narrowed. ] I don't wanna lose you, too. You.. or Tifa. Or Zell. None of you.
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We don't want to lose you either, Zack. [He takes in a breath, then lets it out, moving his arm around to find his own hug.] I'm not saying you shouldn't fight. I'm not saying to give up if it looks like we're in trouble again. Just... It's like we're driving on ice here. Don't overcorrect just because the car veered to the left. Don't feel like extreme compensation is the only answer here.
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You make too much damn sense sometimes, you know. [ But despite the weak verbal shove Kunsel's way, Zack finds himself winding his other arm around his companion and holding to an embrace. Tighter than usual. ]
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Well, someone has to make sense around here. Not my fault you're not up for the job.
[That would probably sound closer to friendly mocking it's supposed to be if Kunsel wasn't contentedly leaning into that hug.]
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He huffs a bit, but it's more tired than feigned offense. ] Sounds I need to step up my game.
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[But he's... Well, maybe he's not really okay just yet, but...
All teasing aside, it's a little better, having Zack at his side.]
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Guess I can deal with that. I know someone who's pretty good at having my back anyway. [ Even in all his despair, there's a rough hint of fondness touching the surface of those words. ]
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[The words are said as a murmur, but just as fond and warm.]
And even when you don't think you need it. You can be a little stubborn, you know.
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[ Despite the light jab, he gives the fellow SOLDIER a soft squeeze before he finally extracts himself from that hug, arm returning to that looping around his friend's shoulders as he just leans on him instead. His expression takes on something more serious then as he murmurs. ] Gonna get outta here... No matter what.
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[If anyone can do it, he's sure it's Zack.
...but even so, he's not sure he can get up and face the world again just yet. Not when there isn't a need. So he just contents himself with leaning against Zack a little longer, shoring himself up with strength drawn from his friend.]