angel, no, i think you come too soon

[gloryisbullshit]

Who: Killjoys
What: Death and impermanence are as good friends as ever.
Where: House 5
When: Early Day 40
Warnings: Coming back from death, so probably discussion of death/violence/self-harm. Also bad words.

He wakes up and isn't sure what time it is. He doesn't even remember going to bed. Party Poison stares at the ceiling and feels to his side for anyone there. There's no one there. When he lifts his arm, though, he sees scars. Healing scars, which seems fast. He must have passed out. They must have put him back in bed. Sitting up takes slowness, and when he touches the back of his neck he feels more jagged scars. "Christ."

Everything feels heavy: head, limbs, eyelids. But he's hungry and cold, and unsure of what time it is. He needs to see somebody. So get out of bed, come on, boy. Get out of bed. The hallway is dark with the earliness, and as chilly as being in bed. Party shuffles out, looking both ways for his boys. No one. They're asleep, must be. He can look for something to eat anyway. Just as soon as he feels like getting off the wall, he'll be on his way.

Comments

[gloryisbullshit]

"I know." He grumbles, turning slowly. "It was stupid. I wasn't--man, I wasn't in my head. I don't even feel the things anymore, just...just feel kinda crazy." His arms fold over his chest, hands tucking into his armpits as he scoots closer to Jet Star. "How long was I asleep?"

[retrograding]

Asleep. Jet laughs incredulously, moving out into the hallway properly. He doesn't head to meet Party quite yet. "You were dead, Party. You still are dead, as far as I know." No beating around the bushes with his hallucinations. If he tells them they're not real, they usually leave.

[gloryisbullshit]

"I am not dead, don't fucking start. Don't." Because he's heard it before and he's broken a lot of people, places, and things over it, this is not what he wants to hear so why do we keep talking about it? "I'm not talking about Korse, I'm talking about last night."

[retrograding]

"So am I." Jet says, but his voice is less calm. And now he moves forward, stormy, almost angry. "I found you dead for a second time three days ago, Party Poison. I'd prefer it if you don't 'fucking start'."

[gloryisbullshit]

You don't see Jet angry, and you definitely don't get on the receiving end of Jet angry. Party stops short, feet planting solid in the corridor and hands balling up under his arms. "No? No, you didn't, I'm right here! I said I was sorry, don't be a shithead!" Did he apologize? He's pretty sure he did. So you can't be mad.

[retrograding]

Party really has no idea. He doesn't know what happened, and because Jet's starting to see that, he has to calm himself back down. For a moment, he just breathes, and then he pinches at the bridge of his nose, like a headache is coming on.

"With what I've seen here already, I'm not even sure if it's really you standing here," Jet mutters, dropping his hand. "When I found you, you had bled to death. Ghosted. Almost literally, really, in a move that I don't find very amusing at all, seeing as your body was gone not long after."

He doesn't care if Party tries to squirm away - Jet's going to take his arm and look at the scars there. Then manhandle Party until he can see the ones along the back of his neck.

[gloryisbullshit]

"That don't--Jet--that don't make sense. Cut it out!" He whines, twisting his arm lamely when Jet grabs ahold of it. "I wasn't tryna do it for real, I was freaked out, okay? Don't gotta--No, Jet!"

Being scrutinized turns his stomach, having the marks seen. Party stops struggling, though, when Jet starts getting a look at his neck. Something feels wrong. The redhead stills, but stiffly, grabbing at Jet's shirt. Tightly: "I dunno what you wanna teach me with this, but I wasn't gonna kill myself. I didn't--it was an accident."

[retrograding]

Stop squirming and let him look. To Party's credit, he does, and Jet gets a good look at the scars. They're healing, but Jet can still see the blood, the red stained into the ground. He'd made a mess of it, and Jet hasn't been able to go into the room since.

"I'm not teaching you anything," Jet says, grip on Party tightening. "I know that you were scared. I know that you wouldn't do it on purpose, and I should've paid better attention. I should've listened." And then he lets go, but only long enough for him to pull Party into a loose hug. You can't hug hallucinations, right?

"I'm sorry, Party, I should have listened." His voice is quieter, a little rougher, and he doesn't let Party see his face.

[gloryisbullshit]

He's not dead. He's not dead, just really confused, and Jet Star is...hiding? Party's hands run up and down his sides, nose turns against his hair. "...Jet Star? Hey. Hey, papi, whatsamatter? You're okay. Look at me."

[retrograding]

Jet is still, and he absolutely will not let Party see his face. He can hide for a few seconds, he thinks he's earned the right. And when he's not in danger of -- whatever it is, he doesn't know, screaming, maybe -- he leans back and reaches to smooth Party's hair back.

"No, you're right, I'm fine," Jet sighs out, but the tension still hasn't faded out of his limbs. "You... seem to be here, flesh and bone, and I won't argue that. You don't move away when I get close, and you can't touch images that aren't really there."

Still stiff: "You were dead, and now you aren't. Don't argue with me, it doesn't matter. You're here again. It's shiny. But I think you'll have a lot of explaining to do."

[gloryisbullshit]

"Explaining t'who? Jet, I dunno what the fuck is going on! I didn't--" His mouth wires shut quickly. No arguing. "I dunno what happened. I don't--I don't know if I wanna. Look, I'm just cold!"

[retrograding]

"To your brother, and to Ghoul," Jet says firmly, but Party doesn't protest further, and Jet sighs again. "I can find you a blanket and food, if you're hungry. You're alright, shh." Come on, come with him back to his room so he can fuss.

AAAAND THREAD CUT /karatechops

[gloryisbullshit]

Okay. Okay, that's all he wanted! He makes a high, complaining sound and burrows under Jet's arm. Let's just review this about six more times. Maybe we'll find something in repetition.