001 ♦ Jesse Finch ♦ Audio

[rigging]

So I've got three guesses as to what this is right now. [ The voice that comes through the communicator is quiet and calm. The undertone to this voice, however, is not at all -- there's a hint of panic and a whole lot of anger underneath. ] One, I traveled back in time to land in some Twilight Zone-Silent Hill bullshit. Two, I've finally cracked and I've gone insane, which, y'know, could be worse, my brain coulda put me in somewhere much more terrifying than a room with a camera -- or three, I'm dreaming. [ Which is what he's afraid of. There's a beat, and then the sound of a lighter being flicked on, a cigarette being lit. ]

Watch, m'just talking to myself. I don't even know if anybody's out there. [ It's been an hour and he hasn't seen anybody yet, after all, though to be fair he hasn't gone very far. He's waiting. Come get him, nightmare. He's not scared of you. ]

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[rigging]

It -- [ wat. Jesse blinks, halfway through the motion of covering Galen's mouth with his palm like he always does when Galen licks his already chapped lips. It's like second nature -- but he doesn't get all the way there, just drops his hand to his side and shifts. ]

No, it's... when I left it was December. Mid-December. [ He raises an eyebrow. ] ... What's the last thing you remember doing with me?

[gleans]

[ Galen looks just as confused as Jesse does, reaches for that hand. He tries to think -- what was the last thing they did together? ]

No, it was like -- it was near the end of October. You were gonna meet my dad in a couple days.

[rigging]

[ Jesse lets Galen take his hand, rubbing his thumb along the side absently. ] Wh -- I met him already, though. I met him... in. [ A beat. ] Wait, so y'don't remember any of November? D'you remember getting -- [ He stops. Getting sick. If Galen doesn't remember, Jesse's not going to remind him. ] This don't make any fucking sense.

[gleans]

No, it doesn't -- what do you mean, getting what? [ He looks a little scared. What the fuck happens in November to make Jesse act the way he was acting? ] What happened?

[rigging]

Nothing. [ Jesse says very firmly. He lets go to take Galen's face in his hands. ] Nothing. If you don't remember, it ain't a big deal. You're fine. You're sleeping, right?

[gleans]

[ What, no. Galen's hands come up to wrap around Jesse's wrists. ] Yeah, but -- Jess. The first thing you said to me was about kicking my ass. You don't think I'm gonna want to fucking know?

[rigging]

It's nothing. [ Jesse says sharply. ] Don't ask me again. [ And he never does this, he's pretty open with Galen when Galen wants to know things, but not this. If Jesse can somehow prevent it from happening... ]

[gleans]

[ Hurt and confusion flash across his face, and Galen takes a step back, pulling Jesse's hands down as he does. ] What the fuck, Jesse?

[rigging]

[ Jesse sees that hurt and confusion, and he's split down the middle. Half of him wants to comfort and the other half is screaming that none of this can be trusted. Maybe he should just try to get his bearings first. His shoulders sort of slump, and he brings the heels of his palms to knead at his eyes. ]

I -- sorry. M'sorry, m'freaking out, Galen, it's a fucking lot to take in, alright? [ Deep breath. ] It -- November's a shitty month. I don't wanna talk about it right now, alright, drop it. [ A beat. ] Please.

[gleans]

[ Galen falters. ] Fine. [ For now. Until he's settled. He steps closer again, and just -- kisses Jesse. ] Look -- it's fucking freezing, I'll take you back to the house.

[rigging]

Yeah. Yeah, al -- alright. [ Jesse sighs, but he returns the kiss, soft and tired. He should sleep, but he knows he's not going to be able to, now. ] ... House?

[gleans]

[ Galen takes Jesse's hand and starts leading him out of the cemetery, in the direction of number twenty. ] Yeah, you might've missed it, but the creepy welcome wagon message tells you which house you're in. Not that it matters, cuz you're coming back with me. [ A small smile. ] It's a big house, and the roomies are pretty cool -- especially Kenzi. Pretty sure you're gonna like her a lot.

[rigging]

[ He had missed the number, but it's fine. He'll figure out where he wants to live, the stupid creepy voice isn't the boss of him. He listens quietly as they walk, hand not holding Galen's in his pocket; his grip on Galen's hand is loose, though. ] Wait -- Kenzi? Y'mean conscience girl? She mentioned you.

[gleans]

[ Galen holds a little tighter, as if that'll make up for it. It's also a very quiet 'fuck you' to whatever Jesse's problem is.

[ He laughs a little. ] Conscience girl? Yeah, we're friends.

[rigging]

[ Jesse's expression is a little sour, but he's trying. Let him adjust. ] Yeah. She came on, said she was my conscience and that she was charging for her services. [ But he sounds vaguely amused, so. ] I liked her enough.

[gleans]

[ Pffft. ] Okay, kinda disorienting. She's great, though, and she's been a huge help.

[rigging]

Cute, too. [ Jesse says, glancing at Galen. It's innocently said and he means it to be playful. Just another person on their rating scale, right? (he's not so sure he likes how awkward he feels, it makes him want to run away, he's trying for normal) ]

[gleans]

[ Ha, a smirk. ] Mmmmmhmm. And she's fucking tiny, it's adorable.

[ He notices the awkward, and he doesn't like it. It just makes him itch even more to know what the hell happened in November. He squeezes Jesse's hand. ] ... Hey. I love you, Jess.

[rigging]

[ Jesse looks up at Galen, away from his shoes, biting his lip absently. It's like he's not even the same person, like a memory of someone from before they were terminally ill, and it's jarring. Jesse wants to give in.

But he would've never made it in life this far if he'd just let his guard down. ] ... Love y'too, Galen. [ He says quietly, squeezing Galen's hand back. Because it's true, he does - just not what November gave him. ]

[gleans]

[ Galen sighs, and there's a brief silence between them while he bumps their shoulders. He wants to say something, but the fucking awkward hanging over them hurts. This has never happened to them before. ]

[rigging]

[ No, it hasn't, and Jesse finds it so unnerving. He's quiet until they reach the house - the semblance of safety makes his shoulders slump. He's in full-on survival mode, something Galen's never had to see before, and he'll be sorry about it later. ] Are there locks on the doors?

[gleans]

[ He sounds a little deflated when he answers. ]

Yeah. And on the bedroom doors, and the bathroom. [ ENOUGH LOCKS FOR YOU, JESSE? ]

[rigging]

[ YEAH THAT'S ENOUGH. ] Alright. Good -- I wanna. I need t'sleep for a bit, okay? Get my head on straight.

[gleans]

[ Galen starts biting his lip again as they head inside, HE CAN'T HELP IT. And he just takes off his glasses because fuck joking about them fogging up, right now. ]

Okay. If you wanna -- you can take my room. Not that it looks a whole lot different from the empty ones, ha -- but. Yeah. It's upstairs. Go for it.

[rigging]

Mm. Alright. [ There's a pause, as Galen takes off his glasses - and then Jesse thinks fuck it and leans forward to grip the front of Galen's shirt and kiss him. He sighs when he pulls away. ] Thanks, baby.