Jamie gave her time and space, waiting patiently.
"Alright, a coffee." He went right to making it, blinking away any tiredness from his own eyes. He didn't want to sleep yet, not when Ember, his literal Reaper was alive and very much with him in his apartment. He stared at his bag as he waited for his coffee machine, tapping his fingers against his arm.
"I might have to get a new bag…" He mused, trying to make a joke in the midst of the tense atmosphere. "It's uh… kinda traumatizing just to look at it. Guess this is an excuse to upgrade everything I have."
Jamie chuckled lightly as he poured two cups of coffee, offering one to Ember. "Drink, it'll warm you up. You probably didn't have to worry about getting sick down there but here you might very well catch a cold."
Ember forced out a tense laugh. She didn't need a reminder that she was vulnerable to sickness. "Thank you." She swirled the coffee around in the cup for a few moments before taking a sip. The taste was a shock. Being dead she'd never had need for coffee or any other kind of drink, she couldn't even remember if there was coffee in the realm.
"So," she started, looking for anything to busy her mind, "you'll be continuing life as if nothing happened?" It was a weird question to ask, but it almost felt necessary.
Jamie froze up at the question, setting down his coffee cup before he even took one sip. "I don't know. I can't live a normal life or a life as if nothing ever happened because I died. I don't think I'll ever be able to get over that… I can still see my murders face… but it's blurry as if it were a dream. I don't like that. It'll haunt me forever. But I can't just get therapy for that. How do I tell a therapist about what I had seen? They'd push it away as if it were nothing… as if it were just some nightmare from the trauma. But I know it wasn't because you're here with me…"
(I'm gonna be super spotty for the next few weeks, sorry.)
"Oh, right." Ember stared at the cup in her hands. How could anyone live life as if nothing happened? How would she is she was stuck here? She pushed the thought away. There was no way that another Reaper wouldn't not come looking for her. All she had to do was sit tight and wait- at least that's what she hoped.
(You’re alright! Life gets busy and sometimes taking a break is needed too!)
Jamie set a soothing hand on her arm, smiling weakly at her. “We’ll figure this out, okay? One of your bosses will probably come to find you, right? Or Teddy…?” His smile slowly faded and he shifted nervously. “In the meantime, you’re welcome to stay here. You can take the bed. The couch is fine for me. And I won’t go out to do much, only the important things. I died. I know I’ll most likely have to go back and I guess I’m fine with that.”
(Plot twist its gonna be the next few months. 💀 I'm gonna try and log on when I can though.)
"Teddy-" Embers eyes widened, "what happened to Teddy? Wasn't he with you? Did the stranger get him?" Worry flooded her. She didn't know how Teddy originally died, she had never seen his mark of death. But if this stranger knew hers and Jamie's, who's to say he didn't get Teddy too?
(That’s alright too 😂 goood luck in your endeavors and stay safe!)
“Teddy…? I- I don’t know what happened to him I’m sorry.” He murmured quietly, biting his lip and taking a small sip of his coffee. “I was in a panic. Didn’t mean to be but I was.”
"No- no your panic is justified." Ember put her face in her hands and muttered, "I was in a panic too." Even though she was afraid for her friend, the panic of drowning came flooding back when she closed her eyes.
"I'm sure he's fine. His death mark isn't viable." She forced out a breath. It felt difficult to breath. Like water was filling her lungs again- Ember shook her head. She wasn't in the water. She wasn't drowning. She was here with Jamie. Alive.
"Are you feeling okay? You know, after what happened? Do you need to talk about it?" She knew she wasn't the best with words, never had been. But they where both alive, and being afraid would do neither of them any good.
Jamie thanked her quietly and leaned back. He downed the rest of his coffee and sighed softly.
"I hope he's okay. I liked him from what I knew of him. He was a good man." He murmured softly, biting his lip again. It was a bad habit of his he really needed to break.
"I'm… shaken up. I think I'll be okay though." He shifted uncomfortably, flinching as a gunshot went off in his head. "I think I'm traumatized. Shot twice in the same place…" He shuddered, rubbing at his head and shifting again. "I don't ever want to see another gun again, or hear one…"
"You know you'll have to live as if nothing happened, right?" Ember couldn't bring herself to look up. Her gaze stayed on her hands, watching them fold over each other over and over again. The warmth of her hands almost scared her. After being cold for so many years, it felt wrong to be this warm.
"I'm sure it'll be just a few days, maybe a week at most, but no one can know-" she felt awful for saying such things. "The council will notice we're missing." Hopefully, but she didn't say that aloud. The thought of having to live scared her more than death.
There was no answer. Jamie turned his back to Ember, but the action wasn't cold. He was trying to hide the pure terror he felt at that moment. He couldn't breath, his chest felt tight and his hands were shaking. Jamie had to set down his coffee mug so he wouldn't drop it.
After a few moments of collecting himself, he turned back around and gave her a sad, obviously faked smile. "Y-Yeah… just a few days…" He stared down at his feet next, blinking slowly. Would he be able to see his friends again? Could he call his mother one last time?
Was he really ready to die again?
(I have a question that might seem very stupid- is his name pronounced Jamie or like Hamie??? Cuz ik they're spelt the exact same but pronounced different 😂)
Ember chewed the corner of her lip. She felt like she was burning from the inside out, felt like she'd somehow brought this upon Jamie. Dying once was one thing- but having to die a third was horrific to think about.
Would she have to die again? Would it be the same, would she gasp for air only to revive lungs full of water? At least his had been quick. Awful yes, but quick. She pressed her lips into a tight line and took a deep breath.
"You should spend tomorrow with your family while I look for answers." There had to be some logical reason as to why the stranger had done this.
He slammed his palm into the wall with a shout. He'd come back nearly was quickly as they had, and yet they where gone already. He'd had one goal. Kill the Reaper, ruin the Soul. And he'd failed.
"You alight' sir?" It didn't surprise his that there there homeless people in this alley- intact it worked to his advantage. He grinned, "I am, but I can't say you'll be."
(Hard J, Jamie XD But I do like the pronunciation Hamie, it's unique. But nah, Jamie. Like J as in Jay. Which is a nickname of his haha)
Jamie shifted nervously, biting his lip as he looked to his home phone. "How do I even act around them…?" He asked quietly, sitting down at the table as his knees were starting to feel weak. "I don't know if I can face them knowing I'll be dead again in a few days." He sighed, closing his eyes and rubbing at his temples. "I've never been this nervous to see my parents… or my brother. I hope he's doing okay. I'll have to leave him a few notes for his high school years." He sighed sadly, looking over at Ember. "Will you be alright? I don't mean to be rude, I really don't, but the world is probably different from when you were alive last… It's different."
(Oooh okay thanks! I was starting to drive myself crazy with wondering. xD also heads up, I know I while back I said what the strangers name was but I absolutely hate it. I came up with him when I was like 12 and the name is cringy. So instead of Zero (gag) its Kai now. :'))
"Spend every moment as if it where your last," her voice softened. Even if the cost didn't seem worth it, this was a second chance. A second chance she wanted nothing to do with, but one none the less.
"The thing about being cursed to roam the earth as death, I've seen it grow." Ember gave a weak smile. Being alive meant needing sleep again, and she was starting to realize how tired she was.
"If it makes you feel any better I'll be extra careful." Granted she wasn't used to others being able to see her, and being able to cross streets with cars simply passing through her.
(No probs! I understand that XD Also, MOOOOD I have some names I gag at today too cuz they do be cringey ahahahahhaahaha :'))
He nodded gently, looking up at her. He looked even more tired than he had in the land of the dead. The deep and dark circles under his eyes revealed how little sleep he had gotten even while he had been alive. His shoulder's drooped and his smile lacked something.
"I assumed you would have seen it grow. Just don't go out trying to jump off buildings or walk through walls or cars or anything." He joked lightly, an attempt to lighten the mood that didn't quite work. "Please do be careful, I consider you a friend now, you know."
(Felt that. Recently I've been revising a bunch of OC's, and it can't tell you how many times I questioned what the crap had been going through my head when I named them.)
"Mmm, yeah no promises." It was a lame attempt to make Jamie laugh, but who could blame Ember for trying? "As your elder," her words started to feel far away. Her mind groggy. "I believe it would be a good idea to sleep."
Moments ago she felt so energetic, so confused and afraid, but exhaustion was setting it. Winning out most of her senses.
(And then you got them cliche personality traits oh geeeez I was an idiot XD)
He shook his head, chuckling lightly but sighing. He watched her carefully, standing and sighing gently. "Here, you can take the bed, I'll show you to it. You look exhausted." He offered his hand to help her up, studying her face. "You can borrow a new change of clothes from me too, they might fit a little big but I have safety pins and we can always hem things. I won't need them." He offered a tired smile, sighing deeply.
(Haaa, I'm still an idiot. I will thrive on cliche personality traits until my death)
"Please, you're already being kind enough. Sleep in your bed." Though Ember couldn't deny the fact that a bed sounded wonderful, it felt wrong. "I will see you in the," a yawn interrupted her, "morning."
(Honestly saaammmeee! It's fun and sometimes cliche's are fun to read and write..)
Jamie gently took her arm and gave a light tug. "I can't let my reaper sleep on the couch, you've saved me more than once, so please, I persist, use the bed." He sighed softly and brushed her hair out of her face. "God you look so tired, please, just take the bed."
(And sometimes sob over at 4am-)
Ember swatted his hand away. "And what kinda of Reaper would I be if I didn't make sure you slept well," It was more of a whine then a question, but she was to tired to care.
(AMEN TO THAT That is a huuuuge mooooood!!! I love sobbing over that kind of stuff at 4AM)
Jamie folded his arms and huffed, shaking his head stubbornly. "Well, you're under my roof, and therefore I make the rules here. Rule number one is you have to sleep in the bed." He cracked a grin, laughing gently.
(I looked at the word Amen and thought, 'thats not a real word' 💀 and then I realized that it is)
Ember groaned, "you're impossible." Another yawn made her realize that she didn't have the energy to fight him on it. The reaper simply nodded her head. "So long as you promise to actually sleep."
(Rippp I use it way too much if I'm being honest ahaha. Its a weird word ngl, Amen to that)
He grinned at her, nodding. "Alright, you have a deal. I'll sleep if you take the bed and sleep." He laughed softly and gently gestured for her to follow him. "It's this door, okay? You can use whatever you'd like, and please don't hesitate to ask for anything."
(I love all these little fluffy moments they get to have jejxnsnwkjdbxnam, it almost makes me feel bad for the trauma that we've put them through. Also I chanced the strangers name again :') Audric, I actually like this name the best. So it shouldn't be changing again. I'm so sorry 💀)
"Thank you, for everything." The Reaper gave a soft smile. She was certain any other person who'd been giving a second chance would have run off.
Given the opportunity she might have done the same. If it was still the same year she had died, and if she could remember anything. Who she had been, what her life had been like. If she'd been married.
Audric. The blurry lines of a face popped into her head but she pushed the thought aside.
Ember was to tired to care.
"Hey, if you have nightmares, wake me up." She was a bit hesitant to say anything on the matter. The day hadn't necessarily been normal. At least it hadn't been Embers kind of normal.
(Saaaaaammeee though!! It’s so funnn and flufffyyy. Haha XD Honestly though, they are traumatized 😂 Audric, nice! I like it! Don’t worry bout the name change I’ve done it too 😂)
“It’s the least I could do for the one who’s trying to help me.” He replied gently, smiling at her. He watched her carefully, setting her on the edge of the bed as he wandered over to his closet. He pulled a few items of clothing out, offering some to her for nightclothes.
“I wouldn’t want to bother you, I’ll be alright, Ember, but thank you.” He offered another one of those smiles of his.
