third ( video ) late day 38

[gleans]

[ To anyone who has seen Galen over the course of this insanity, it's worth noting that when he appears on the feed, he looks more... present, and more like himself, than he has in days. He also looks exhausted, but that's a little, tired smile on his face. ]

Hey, uh... I hope everybody's okay. [ His nose scrunches a little, edging his glasses back up. ] I, uh. I wanted to apologize in case I like... you know, weirded anyone out while I was... gassed up? Is that what happened? Uh -- and is anyone else... coming down, I guess? I feel like shit, but I don't like... see anything. Anymore.

[ He clears his throat, scratches his head. ]

And hey, Anna, can we talk?

Comments

[onteamdyson]

[Crap. She hadn't meant to wake him up!] Out. Heading back. I was just hanging with that Jet guy. Wanted to check on KK. Is Jesse okay?

[gleans]

[ He shifts a little, props his head up on his arm. ] Yeah, he's fine. He's home. Just... sleepin'.

What about you, you okay?

[onteamdyson]

Sleeping is good. I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be fine? I'm totally fine. My arms don't even hurt or anything. I'm just walking, it's fine, dude. [So smooooth]

[gleans]

Kenzi. [ Ugh. Galen reaches for his glasses and pushes them onto his face. ] I, um... I heard about Party.

[onteamdyson]

[She stops walking and Galen gets a nice view of a blurry street as she wipes her eyes because she legit just finished talking about this crying is stupid. People have been disappearing since they got here, but no one's died like that. Dead for real. Just... perma-gone.]

Yeah? Well... those guys are pretty broken up about it and stuff. Not much you can say to that, you know?

[gleans]

Dude. [ A quiet sigh. ] Don't pretend like you aren't too. Are you almost here?

[onteamdyson]

Uh-huh. Just-- ... like ten more minutes. But I'll just chill downstairs, you still sound tired and he's sleeping. Um... Phil didn't come home yet, did he?

[gleans]

No. Haven't seen him. [ Shift, shift. ] You should come up here. When you get home.

[onteamdyson]

[No one's seen him. She starts walking a little faster, trying not to squeak when she talks.] Y-yeah, maybe that would be better. I mean, if you're not too tired or anything.

[gleans]

Never. [ A small, reassuring smile -- but it's a little sad. ] Hey. Look't me. M'sure Phil's okay.

[onteamdyson]

[Oh good, then they match.] Totally. I mean... he's a highly trained government agent. With a gun! And a suit! Dude's unstoppable, no one can mess with him. He's totally fine.

[Just gonna... kind of run the rest of the way and push through the front door. Crap, that was kind of loud. She gets quieter when she hits the stairs. Her boots and jacket get dumped in her room before she opens the door next to it and closes it behind her as quietly as possible.]

Squishy? [She whispers and navigates the room carefully, using the light from her wrist-thingy to find the bed and curl up beside him with watery eyes and a sudden case of the sniffles. Must be allergies.]

[gleans]

[ Oh man. Galen scooches back - bumping into Jesse a little as he does - to give Kenzi a little more room, and moves to drape the covers over her too. Then he gets his arm over her side, kisses her forehead and rubs her back. ]

'M so sorry.

[rigging]

[ Jesse starts when Galen bumps into him - force of habit - but when he realizes what's going on, he sniffs and curls up against Galen's back, peering at Kenzi over his shoulder. ] ... Kenz, hey. [ He can't really see her face, but he reaches for her anyway, taking her wrist. Sleepily: ] Hey, miss ladybug.

[onteamdyson]

I should have stayed... he wanted me to stay and he was freaked out and worried and I didn't, I came back here after, and I should have just stayed! [Galen may or may not be getting tears on his shirt. Actually, he is definitely getting tears on his shirt.

She wants to say 'Don't be sorry' or 'It's okay' but it's not, and she really liked that guy a lot. Not just friend-like either. Which is probably stupid, because it's not like they were going out, she just-- Whatever. And now Jesse is getting his hand held whether he likes it or not! She threads her fingers through his, arm draped over Galen.]

Hey, sorry for waking you up.

[gleans]

[ Galen sighs and tucks her head under his chin, feeling a little guilty for waking Jesse up, but also a bit relieved. ]

It's not your fault, Kenz, don't blame yourself.

[rigging]

Mm, s'okay. [ Jesse mumbles, holding Kenzi's hand tightly. He's too sleepy to protest, even if he wanted to. And he doesn't, especially because she's crying - he scoots even closer, trying to hug her with Galen in the middle. ]

What's... [ He has no idea what's going on. ] S'okay, we got you. [ It's so warm here. Warm and dark and comforting, like a cave. ]

[onteamdyson]

Can I blame this shitty place instead? Because if I can't, then it's my fault Jesse left and could have ended up dead, too.

[It IS warm and she feels about a billion times better being here with them instead of by herself. At least she's calming down, closing her eyes--... climbing over Galen to settle in the middle instead because it's a million times safer there.] If either of you try to disappear on me, I'm kicking your asses.

[gleans]

[ Welp! Once she's between them, Galen takes his glasses off again and rolls over, trying to make his side of this sandwich comfortable. It's nice, though -- nice and warm, after a long, cold, lonely week. ]

You couldn't get rid of us if you tried. [ He smiles a little, reaches to jokingly flick Kenzi's ear. ] We're not going anywhere.

[rigging]

Hey. [ He protests blurrily, but it doesn't make it past that. Kenzi crawls between them and Jesse huffs out an indignant noise before wrapping his arm around Kenzi's waist and pressing his face into her hair. She's smaller, softer, more cushioned than Galen, and Jesse sighs in content, a dog finding its place. ] And if we did we're takin' you with us, so. [ He mumbles, grabbing for Galen as well. ] Shut th-fuck up n go t'sleep.

[onteamdyson]

[That's extremely reassuring, coming from both of them. She'd do anything for these guys. They're a team! A kind of messed up, slightly crazy team.]

You shut the fuck up. [Said with so much love, Jesse. Galen gets a quick kiss on the nose for being the greatest friend in all of existence that can't suck a soul out of a face. Now her eyes are closing and she makes sure she has a secure grip on both of them before trying to drift off.]

[gleans]

[ Galen rests their joined hands on Kenzi's hip and settles in, closing his eyes with a smile. ]

Everybody shut the fuck up. [ He feels like he's fourteen and at a very close-quarters sleepover, and that just makes him grin more. But without further ado, he settles and focuses on nothing. ]