ataraxionlogs | eighteenth jump;

CHARACTERS: any and all
LOCATION: Gravity Couches and beyond
WARNINGS: maybe some swearing, or even some violence, and more than likely some implied (and possibly explicit) nakedness.
SUMMARY: Another month, another jump, another round of new faces.
NOTES: Keeping up with the tradition and copy pasted like always from the last one

You wake up in darkness.

There's a breathing tube jammed down your trachea, and you're suspended in a tube of clear blue fluid. Upon registering your level of consciousness, the gravity couch drains the fluid surrounding you and retracts the breathing apparatus; the doors in front of you open, and you're deposited on the floor of a stark, sterile medical bay.

You are not alone.
There are others who have come before you, others who are awakening beside you. Some may be familiar to you, perhaps even friends. Others have much less amiable plans. Some are merely alien and inexplicable, but there are always those who might mean you harm.

After you catch your breath and your vision returns, you notice a number on the inside of your forearm. Maybe it's a familiar number. Maybe it means something. Maybe it's just a number. But the number—completely unique to you—is a tattoo, and it does not come off.

If you enter the room adjacent to the medbay, you will find a small locker with your number on it, surrounded by rows upon rows of identical lockers. Inside, you will find a few of your personal items, a communications device, and a ship's uniform in your exact size. The comms device is fully powered and connects directly to the ship's network; it's your only means of communication beyond physical conversation. Upon turning the device on, a neutral, automated voice will say, "Please take the blue lift to the passenger quarters." Any other attempts at communicating with the rest of the network are met only with static.

This is your welcome party.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Alex didn't say anything at first, but instead moves to kneel in front of Bells, moving to grip at his shoulders, squeezing.]

I thought I was bad at dealing with shit.

[It's a bad joke, but he's been seeing Bells slowly breaking down the past two months. This isn't good, and he's got to try and help. He just isn't quite sure how.]

[ He feels that presence rather than sees it, knows someone is there and only barely registers that it's Alex by the tone of his voice. The touch isn't comforting at all. In fact, he starts to shake a little. ]

I need to get out of here. I can't stay. I need to-- [ Fuck, fuck, fuck. He's starting to very obviously panic now, and he doesn't know what to do about it. ]

Hey--

[Alex frowns, shifting to the side, so he could slide a hand around to Bells' back, rubbing in slow circles.]

Breathe, Bells. Come on...calm down.

[ He wishes it could be that easy, and he doesn't realize he's not breathing until Alex says the word. No, no, no. Bells squeezes his eyes shut, rubs at his face with the back of a bloody hand. ]

It's not gonna matter if I do or not. It's not. [ He does let out a harsh breath then. ] Fuck this stupid ship.

Dude--stop.

[Alex grabs the hands, trying to keep him from making more of a mess.]

Yes, fuck this ship. I don't know what the fuck happened, but you aren't alone. So calm down and talk to me.

[ Alex's grip sort of shocks him back into reality for a second, and he blinks, the burn in his eyes subsiding so that his vision isn't as blurry as it had been. ]

Everyone just keeps leaving, Alex. This is why I didn't wanna get so fucking attached to anyone here. I told you, didn't I? [ Because he's sure he had at one point. Probably. ] I can't keep doing this.

Yes, you did.

[He sighs.]

And I'm still here, aren't I?

[He gives a tight smile.]

Come on. I've been here a whole year, now. Should count for something.

Yeah, I guess. [ He drops his gaze to the smear of red on the wall. ] Is that your way of saying you wanna celebrate?

Yeah sure, later, just you and me.

[Alex sighs.]

After we clean you up, okay?

This? [ He lifts his hand now, wiping at the blood to show him unbroken skin beneath. ] I'm fine. No need to worry about it. Some things still work right at least.

You still have blood on you, Bells.

[He touched a cheek.]

Come on.

[ Bells jerks, grabs at his hand as if to push him away. But then he's pulling him closer instead, leaning in. ]

It's not the worst thing. It's... I feel like I'm losing myself, Alex.

I know.

[Alex bites his lip, and just tries to hug Bells, but it's an awkward position. He's trying--he's never very good at this stuff, but it bugs him to see one of his best friends so fucked up over shit.]

[ He doesn't think about the blood getting on him when he grips his shirt. He doesn't think about how awkward it is either, even if it is. Bells only leans against him and shuts his eyes, shoulders shaking as the world crashes down. ]

Please--

I know...I know.

[Alex finally sits down so he can get a better grip on Bells, rubbing his back.

He doesn't know what else to say, what else to do, but what he's doing now.]

[ He moves enough to sit with him. It's less awkward now, at least, and Bells presses even closer, dropping his face to hide it against him. It's quiet for a while, but he eventually gets out: ]

If you leave me too, I'm never gonna forgive you.

You're free to hunt me down and punch me in the face, wherever I am.

[He sighs and leans his head against the wall, breathing out.]

I can't promise. But I don't think I'm going anywhere.

I'm holding you to that. 'Cause I will. [ Bells, on the other hand, doesn't move. He doesn't want to go anywhere. ] Can I, uh, stay with you for a while?

If you really need it, yeah, you can.

[It will be tricky for Alex, and he'll need to really watch himself, but he isn't going to turn Bells down like this.]

I don't have anywhere else to go.

[ He says it simply, even if it's not actually that simple. He doesn't want to go back to his room, stay with anyone else. Alex has always been there, and he says he's not going anywhere. It's the only thing he can believe right now. ]

And I said you could.

[Alex knows that Bells can go to his own room, but he isn't going to argue about it now. If Bells needs him, he needs him.]

Come on.

[He starts to stand, tugging Bells up.]

[ He uses that tug to help himself to his own legs, wavering just a little. His grip on Alex tightens, looking at him and not sure what else to say. ]

Thanks for not going anywhere.

It's what friends are for, right?

[He slings an arm around Bells shoulders.]

Come on, kiddo.

eighteenth jump;

halls

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