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(no subject)

Who: HANGE!!! GArak, Coil and Zhas
Broadcast: none
Action: closed to Red Fish crew
When: sometime... when they're in range of the planet... after whenever the waystation mingle goes up...?

[She'll take a look at the spa later - after slowly going a little stir-crazy on the ship, Hange wouldn't close herself in another building (no matter how luxurious) by choice.

Now, just as she's been, she prowls and paces along the edge of the forest, looking in. She looks excited: her eyes wide, pupils dilated, grinning absentmindedly. The movement never quite stops. The whoops and cries of distant birds or other, more alien things; the smell of wet ground and the rustle of leaves... it's like home, just like home, just like being at home, all she needs is her 3DMG and her horse and her squad. If only.

Hange will head in soon. She's seen that path and - it could be a trap, but her nature is way too direct to pass up so courteous an invitation. Soon enough...]

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[... she might need more elaboration there.]

In the one eye? You?

[he frowns, shakes his head. then he points off towards the trees, way up high. he uses his hands to indicate something huge.

he points at the word on the tablet, and then points at the imaginary titan again. they're supposed to blind the thing?]

Oh. [Now it makes sense.]

If it's real... our best chance at survival is to blind it and then run while it's regrowing its eyes. They regenerate, you see?

[okay, he nods. he's got it. but he still isn't using a gun.

so, he motions for her to turn around.]

[She raises an eyebrow and doesn't move.]

What?

[he hurriedly answers with a sign she's never seen before, and just motions for her to turn around again.]

[Her trust for this kid is at a low point. Both her eyebrows rise... but, all right, after a moment she turns. She'll see what he has going here.]

[once her back is turned, she can hear him plop down on the ground behind her. he's seated with his back to her as well, because he doesn't trust her enough to not expect her to try and peek. but he'll have his work as hidden as he can manage, this way. it will just have to do.

rustling sounds of him probably putting his tablet away and maybe getting something else out of a pocket. unless he's taking clothing off, which would be awkward for everyone.

and then, there is only deliberate, methodical scratching sounds. something being written or drawn or dug through the gravely soil.]

[She folds her arms... but all right, if it's not a setup for a sneak attack, she'll wait. Impatiently.]

[he works as fast as he can, but he doesn't have nearly the components that he would like to have, and trying to scrawl anything in this chunky terrain is not easy. she'll have a few minutes to wait, at least.

until finally, there is a distinct hiss and dull flicker of grey light, accompanied by a horrible feeling shivering up from behind her. it's one of those things that the natural, animal creature in anything living can't help but recoil from, because it is not right.]

[Now she's turning around.]

[and he's still seated on the ground, now working on dragging fingers over the gravel to break up the big ol' unholy-looking symbol he's got drawn in front of him.

he glances back briefly when she turns, holding up a hand for a second, to reassure her that it's no big deal. don't worry about it.]

[Nuh uh.]

What was that about?

[he stands up, shakes out his hands, scuffs up the last of the sigil until it would be only an unrecognizable patch of disturbed earth to anyone happening by. the glow of his eye is brighter now, visible even in the grey, outdoor light.

and to answer her, he shows her what look like a few tiny chunks of ostrich bone in one hand. then he draws a line across his eyes.

here is his answer to the blinding problem. he apparently doesn't need a gun now.]

[Sheeeee... looks doubtful.]

That's a weapon?

[he nods, very sure.]

[She raises her eyebrows, but lets it go.]

I'm leaving now. Do you need any time?

[he shakes his head, and pockets the little bone pieces to prove it.

he's ready to go.]

[She turns and leads the way off towards the woods, then. The gun is still toted over her shoulder. She walks past the entryway ignoring everything. Time to hit the trail again, and again it spreads out before them quiet and peaceful but for the distant chirps and whoops of whatever creatures populate the woods, and the chirr of insects.

Less relaxing now than it was before, because now Hange expects trouble. She scans the surroundings constantly.]

[without Zhas tromping along with them, it's easier to see how quietly he naturally tends to walk. he hangs back a few steps and off to the side and keeps everything about himself hushed. just a little creeping shadow.

and this time, she can be on his blind side, because he can't afford otherwise.]

[They can both enjoy the forest quiet together. "Enjoy" it. Because Hange isn't talking; she's in work mode, watching and listening and ready for action.

And just like before the forest draws them out, leads them to lose sight of the bathhouse and little encampment of ships through the foliage. It all seems calm and normal and then in the distance again crashing and the forms of giants in the distance. They were spooked by one before, but it'll change it up this time and give them three: five meter types, still three times Hange and Coil's height, that turn and begin crashing through the woods towards the little humans. Heat rolls off of them, some kind of foul, indefinable smell that lingers in the hair.

Hange clicks her tongue against her teeth and unlimbers her gun from her shoulder. She'll shoot once they're closer.]

[and they are no less terrifying than they were the first time. but he at least doesn't have the anchor of his partner weighing on half of his attention. the fact that he doesn't have to look for Zhas' safety or instructions fills him with a little bit of extra confidence.

the sense of self-preservation is much less overwhelming to him.

so he quietly slides over to put Hange a little more directly between the monsters and himself, and pulls out his little handful of bones. waiting and ready.]

Aim for the eyes.

[He probably hasn't forgotten, but it's reflex to remind them.

The titans are spread out a little, converging on where they stand; that's good, especially if they're real. Well, if they're real, they're both probably doomed no matter what they do - might as well go down fighting.

The first one stops just short of the path. Spindly limbs, a ragged beard, and it's slavering with bright eyes at it drops to its knees. Heat rolls off this thing and batters at both of them. And then smell. So it'll try to crawl for them, Hange thinks; she lowers the gun, aims for the head, and shoots - it's easier, no kickback.

Whereupon the beam passes directly through the thing's head with barely a ripple in the illusion.]

[for the most part, Coil is just watching.

especially having already seen them once before, and not having Zhas' shadow hanging over him, he's dangerously fascinated. he'll watch until he's completely out of time, or until they're proven beyond a shadow of a doubt to be fake.

he does nothing with the bones yet. ...mostly because she'll be blinded too, since she doesn't know to look away. he can't exactly shout to warn her.

so, he just waits.]

[Nothing happens. Behind the illusion, trees crack and splinter as their moisture superheats and evaporates instantly. And even more than that - the titan shuffles nearer to them, strings of drool dripping off its teeth and lower lip, the other two make it there and crowd in until there are six hungry, luminous eyes watching, but they don't get snatched up and eaten.

Hange cracks into a moment of wild laughter. It seems they're safe?]