universal_charm | Reboot Complete

[ Taking your first conscious lungful of air after what seems forever is an entirely all to painful experience. Not surreal. Not relieving. Painful. His brain felt like it had been jolted by a car battery and his throat couldn’t decide if it wanted to close up or open so he could exhale and take in another breath.

Finally, that primal part of his brain, the part that worked to keep him alive when he wasn't paying attention, said stop being stupid and he took his second breath. Third. Fourth. Fifth. They kept coming, the pain easing at the same time that his vision went from blurry blobs to fuzzy shapes and finally to something resembling… trees?

Trees? He was in the woods?

He was dead and all he got was being shoved into some forest - albeit one for dead people? He was a hero! He seriously needed to go haunt somebody and let them know that dying sucked, there were no pearly gates, and he demanded an immediate refund.

That was when the rest of his body decided it needed to make its immediate aches and pains fully noted. Everything hurt, aching in a bone deep way that said he needed to both move and that he needed to sleep for another week. He couldn’t particularly decide which, so instead he chose to lay there, debating if the pain meant he was not, in fact, dead.

But… he had to be, didn’t he? The radiation he had absorbed when he kicked the reactor back into place should have killed him, and he had… Spock had been there, and he had…

He gulped, pushing the memory away, shifting to try and get his arm under him, his wings fluttering lightly as if -

Wait. Wings? WINGS?!

His head jerked around, for a moment making him see white stars and he stared in absolute horror at the canary yellow and black edged wings that peeked from behind his back, disturbingly bright on a dead man. Well, he thought he was dead… But he had only ever been to one place where he had sported wings, and angel wings were white (right?). So... was this... was this Luceti? Was he being punished by being sent to the hell version of Luceti, the place he thought he had somehow managed to escape (but never find again despite his efforts - and, in fairness, he had been a bit distracted). Or worse- this was real. He was alive, and he was back in Luceti.

And in a hospital gown. Awesome.

To weak to move himself much more, he collapsed back down, sweating for his effort and he wondered if he would stink of radiation now… did radiation have a scent? He guessed he’d find out. His eyes drifted, coming back from the pain induced haze they’d glazed through, dropping on the journal. Of course it was right beside him, like a faithful dog that didn’t know when it wasn’t wanted.

Well, this time he actually needed it. He reached out, bringing it closer, that effort alone making his head spin as he worked it open to speak - ]

Hey everyone. You miss me?

[ Of course, that's base on the idea there's anyone he knows still here to miss him. Did they remember him, a year and more later? ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Having not really ventured far from the Flame building lately, Selphie hadn't really noticed that Jim had disappeared at all. When his voice pops up on her end asking if she'd missed him which makes her wonder what he's just been through to make him ask that.

It's silly to ask such a question. She notices pretty quickly that he sounds odd when compared to the last time she'd spoken to him and it gives her cause for worry.]

Hey! Are you okay?!

I'm asking myself that right now, and I am coming up with 'no'.

_{[ Ah, the sass. Who hadn't missed the sass? But it was easier than breaking down into tears like he wanted to in odd waves. ]}

How 'bout that?

[Selphie can counteract sass with sass.]

Seriously though, do you need help?

Considering I can barely sit up, that's a definite yes.

_{[ There's a groan from his end, a hissing as he moves his body unused to immediate action after being asleep and relatively motionless for so long. ]}

Then stop trying to move, dummy!

Can you try to tell me where you are?

The woods? I dunno, I don't have built in GPS here.

_{[ He was frustrated, confused, angry, and feeling extremely helpless. Being nice right now was not on his priorities list, but he'd more grateful, perhaps, when he got real pants on. ]}

Bring pants.

There's a lot of woods around here but I'll work with it.

[Yeah, Selphie can sympathize with those feelings.]

Will do but it's gonna be track pants. Nice and toasty warm!

They could have "juicy" written across the back and I'd wear them.

_{[ Yes, he's that desperate for pants. ]}

Well, I'm not feeling mean today so you're in luck!

Are you gonna be okay to walk or am I gonna hafta improvise?

I think if I lean on someone and we go slow, I'll be okay.

_{[ It was about as much as he could promise right now, and that was his
best guestimate. ]}

Alrighty! Just keep in mind that I'm pretty short.

[Kirk will hear some rummaging coming from Selphie's end.]

I think we've got some peanut butter in here. Ah! There it is!

Do you like peanut butter sandwiches or is food out of the question?

Uh... I don't know. I'm not sure how my stomach feels about that. Bring it? You'll need it after helping me into town, I think.

One for you if you're up for it and one for it after we get you back into town and into a bed in the clinic.

Yeah... might be the best plan.

Okay! I'm gonna grab you some pants and I'll come find you soon, okay?

Reboot Complete

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