002; video

[beathach]

Who: Hank McCoy and Erik Lehnsherr
Broadcast: fleetwide
Action: crashed ship
When: today!

[when the feed opens, the network is gifted with the bickering of two men]

I don't see why you can't do this.

[Erik is the one visible on screen, and he doesn’t look pleased about it at all. He jerks his chin towards the wall next to him, irritated.]

Because it’s your idea, and I don’t want to.

[the huff that follows is a little on the growly side]

I’m here to open paths, not send out messages. [As if to punctuate this point, Erik turns away from the camera and swipes his hand through the air. The metal wall crumples to the side with a shriek, curling up on itself like a ringpull.

The camera shifts off of Erik with a muttered "show off" to the plant life spilling out of the side of the hull, and a clawed, blue foot comes into frame to poke at a nearby pumpkin]

In any case - Erik and I are at the crashed ship, if anyone would like us to bring some of these back. If you're interested, feel free to message one of us.

As for the ship - if anyone else is planning to come out here, be careful. There's ways into the ship, but it has been here a while, so it's falling apart. We'll try to get some information about the signal while we're here, though so far we haven't had much luck.

[the camera moves back to Erik]

Do you have anything you want to add?

[Erik’s mostly occupied with pointing his flashlight into the gloom of the area beyond the wall. He does give a curt response.]

No requests for pumpkins bigger than the usual Earth-size.

Comments

[beathach]

[he's long since rolled up his sleeves as far as he could, the humidity in the hull more than enough to make him wish he'd decided to use the serum instead. He huffs out a low noise, reaching out to leave a mark on the wall to keep up with marking the way they came. Just in case, considering their questionable luck]

If I wasn't afraid of the ship coming down on us, I'd say we should just rip through the ceiling. [he frowns] But that would likely do more harm than good for us.

[exothermia]

It would, yes. [The thought had occurred to him to, starting an hour ago. He merely shakes his head and keeps walking through the corridor, flashing his light on the lines of another doorway ahead. There's another corridor connecting to the other side, so if they just cross through there...]

Let's save that for a last resort. I wouldn't be able to keep this entire thing from coming down on our heads.

[beathach]

Mm, and I'd rather not damage anything. Others might want to take a look.

[but that isn't a priority, if it comes down to it. They managed to get what they could and that was more than enough for him - and it wasn't worth risking their lives just because they were quickly losing their patience.

As they approach the cross-section, though, Hank suddenly reaches out to grab Erik's arm, going completely still and head tilted, as though he's trying to listen for something]

Hold on.

[exothermia]

[Erik freezes too, and he's been so focused on mapping what's up ahead that he's neglected the sides. So he has a few precious seconds where he feels the tell-tale vibrations of something big coming this way-- only not enough to do anything about it. He whips his head around and sees it.

The rabbit.

This is no kids' bunny, though. The rabbit is huge, the size of a horse, and takes up a lot more space. There's nothing cute about something that big charging straight at them. Erik doesn't have time to yell, and only just starts to try and dodge when it bowls into them both, and he's knocked to the floor. His weight is too much for the crumbling struts and plates there, however, and it caves under him in an instant. He falls through.]

[beathach]

[later, Hank's going to be pissed that something got the jump on them.

He doesn't get knocked to the floor, though - he gets knocked back, and the wall creaks and breaks under the force as he's sent tumbling. He's dazed as his head hits the floor at an awkward angle, and as the rabbit continues it's charge forward it's all he can do to throw up his arms as debris and plant life and metal are shaken loose, falling right on top of him.

His flashlight, dropped for the moment, can be heard rattling where it hits the floor, spinning and coming to a stop to shine on the spot they were both just standing]

[exothermia]

[Erik's own flashlight was dropped with Hank's, but now it's owner has crashed down into darkness. It's not a sheer drop; he hits thick vines criss-crossing the space beneath the floor and gets horribly tangled in them, bringing his fall to a jarring halt.

Maybe he passes out for a few seconds. Maybe he's just too stunned. But for a long couple of minutes, he doesn't move or make a noise.]

[beathach]

[a few long seconds pass and there's nothing but silence, save for the rabbit's claws clinking against the metal and fading further into the ship. Then the screech of metal, as Hank heaves the mess of debris off of him, coughing from the dirt and dust the whole incident kicked up.

He shakes his head to clear it and looks around, opening his mouth to ask if Erik was alright, but -

All he sees is the flashlight. And no sign of the other mutant]

—Erik? [he coughs again, then calls out a little louder] Erik!

[exothermia]

[Down below, Erik groans softly, consciousness flickering back. It's pitch black down here, and he can't-- he can't move. His fingers twitch and his wrists are caught, one's twisted up behind his back and he's upside down. Wrapped up. Breath seizing in his throat, he goes still, waiting for the feeling to fade.

It doesn't.

He's bound, he can smell the leeching greenery around him, and any moment now the thorns will bite into him. The vines are getting tighter (they're not). He tries to shift, succeeds only in the plant twisted around his stomach pulling harder.

The trembling starts in his fingers, but quickly spreads to the metal around him, above, a slight vibration that gets more forceful as each second passes.]

[beathach]

[with the wall broken Hank steps carefully back into the hallway they were in and reaches down to pick up the flashlight - just as it shakes out of his reach. He lets out a low curse and reaches for it again, but then he feels it, under his hand and feet, as the metal there begins to react.

At first he thinks it's the rabbit making its way back, but he can't hear anything other than the smaller, metal pieces beginning to shift and tap against the parts of the floor not covered in dirt. And then he feels his glasses, in their case in his pocket begin to rattle; it stirs a sense of familiarity and dread in his stomach and he snatches up the flashlight to quickly shine it around]

Erik! [forget being careful about keeping his voice low]

[exothermia]

[It shouldn't take Hank long to notice the new hole punched in the floor. The vibrations aren't getting any stronger, at least.

Erik knows what comes next. Ten minutes, wasn't it...? Ten minutes to be bled and crushed to death, Charles choking and dying just out of reach, all while Nyssa smiled serenely to the side. Ahh, he had tried. He tried to do the right thing by following Maya's lead in outing themselves as the wolves. Charles hadn't known, when he'd called for them to show themselves, but it didn't make a difference in the end. Charles had looked at him with such horror that he--

But Charles isn't here. Erik chokes and he still can't see anything.]

No. No, no, no, please... [It's more of a whisper than a call for help, though part of him registers another sound above. Below? He doesn't know who he's speaking to. Magda, Nina. No. Those memories are licking at him like flames but they had never been in Kyriakos, with the vines, so why...?]

[beathach]

[the light catches the hole and Hank scrambles to the edge on his knees, shining the light down on Erik. They aren't whispers to Hank - in the silence, he can hear them loud and clear, and it's what urges him into skipping calling out again and moving to get Erik out as quickly as possible.

Erik is just out of reach, though, and Hank quickly digs the claws of his foot into the wall nearby, giving it a few cursory tugs before he uses that to get the extra reach he needs, lowering his top half into the hole after tossing the flashlight aside. He gets an arm around Erik's waist, while the other hand works at cutting through the vines - first the ones binding his arms, and then the rest. Careful but slow, since he can't exactly see what he's doing that well.

He doesn't realize it, but he's talking as he goes, trying to give Erik something to focus on]

I've got you, hold on, don't try to move yet -

[exothermia]

[The light makes him flinch and tense up again. He can hear Hank scrabbling around above but can't make a move (won't?). It's as though fear has rendered him frozen, chilled his senses.

The next thing he knows is Hank's arm around his waist and that's-- not how this goes, is it? It's lucky his arms are bound, because he makes an abortive jerk, wanting to strike at whatever's touching him. He can't, though. Finally Hank's words start to filter through his panic and he blinks, twisting his head a bit to see him out of the corner of one eye.]

Das ist nicht richtig... [That's illuminating.]

[beathach]

Ich spreche nicht Deutsch, Erik.

[the response is given calmly, despite him stumbling over the pronunciations, as his claws finally cut one of Erik's arms free. He tightens his own around the man, firm just in case cutting one loosens the rest. The last thing he wants to do is drop the poor man on his head. And that would just top off his suddenly terrible adventure they'd had.

He cuts another vine, huffing out a noise] After this next one I'm going to pull you up, all right?

[exothermia]

[He just groans in response, head dropping back. His hands are shaking, he realises dimly. Absurd. Squinting up at Hank framed against the light, he takes his time formulating a real sentence. Swallowing down a thousand instinctive shouts.]

Yes, all right.

[beathach]

[a sentence in English is a good sign. Hank cuts through the last vine and starts slowly pulling Erik upwards, and while he doesn't weigh much, Hank's thankful that his strength is at least useful here. It isn't quick - he has to pause a few times to swipe at another vine here and there, but soon enough he's pulling them both out of the hole.

He pulls them both a bit from the hole and waits a moment. He only releases Erik once he's sure the floor isn't about to collapse underneath them again]

Shit. [he mutters under his breath, and reaches for his flashlight] Are you hurt?

[exothermia]

[Erik isn't much use in getting out, still in shock and half-limp. It's better than being rigid or, well, trying to hit out at Hank. When he's back on solid ground he lets out an explosive breath, fairly crumpling in a heap. He focuses on breathing, trying to take the measured air that meditation had taught. It helps... somewhat.

It still takes him too long to reply, as he has to rack his thoughts to check if there's any pain. (The fear hurts, the memory of losses great and small, all crowded around him clamouring for his attention--)]

No. [It's muttered to the floor.] No injuries.

[beathach]

[he watches Erik for a moment before he carefully shifts closer, switching off the flashlight for now and laying a careful, clawed hand on his shoulder. Normally, he'd ignore this; let the man catch his breath, calm down, have his space until he was fine, but -

That hadn't been fine. He's pretty sure that was the furthest from it, and he's seen Erik in some pretty bad spots before]

Good. [still calm, and now that they're out of the hole, he lowers his voice again so it doesn't echo. There's no point in asking if he's okay] Slow breaths. We can sit here as long as you need it.

[exothermia]

[He imagines he can feel the vines around his neck still, thorns cutting into his skin and bleeding him dry. Only, these vines hadn't had thorns. This wasn't a game. And then a myriad of unrelated images and memories had flooded in, rendering him useless.

Erik stiffens under the touch for a moment, and irritation flares in him at Hank's tone. He isn't a child with night terrors. This was ridiculous. And yet the anxiety isn't going away, even though the danger has passed.]

The rabbit?

[beathach]

Kept going, as far as I can tell. [he shifts a bit so Erik can see that the wall they had been next to before was no longer there, and even despite feeling Erik stiffen up he doesn't move his hand. Hank tilts his head back and forth with a faint noise, nose wrinkling as sore, healing muscles protest] I can't hear it, anyway.

[he turns back after a moment] We must have startled it.

[an understatement]

[exothermia]

It didn't look startled to me. [It looked like it was on a rampage, as stupid as that is to think when it's a rabbit being discussed. Slowly Erik shifts up into a sitting position, feeling the telltale aches that will turn into bruises before long. He thinks - maybe - the adrenaline is starting to leave him.

The vibrations in the metal have stopped at least, as he regains control of his baser instincts.]

[beathach]

Hnn. [is the response he gives, a low noise coupled with a faint growl. To think that a rabbit got the better of them, and one the size that it was - he should have heard or picked up its scent quicker.

He sits down properly and sighs, his free hand lifting to rub at his neck. And then he finally addresses the bigger issue]

Are you all right?

[exothermia]

[He stares off into the darkness in front of them, down the corridor. He can hear water dripping again, feels the planes of the metal all around. The hair is still standing up on the back of his neck. At least he doesn't hear the sound of birds, or his own cries-- Erik shakes his head, scuttling those thoughts. When he turns back to Hank, his expression is tight.]

What kind of question is that? [After all, they both know the answer. Erik can't obfuscate here.]

[beathach]

[he does know the answer, and the response isn't exactly what he expected, but then again - he wasn't expecting Erik to spill all of his issues right there, either. He can't help the look he gives, unimpressed and almost similar the the ones he used to give him, when they'd bicker over the littler things back in the mansion]

One that no one seems to know how to answer properly, apparently. [he shoots back, gruff]

[exothermia]

[Erik just stares mulishly back, which is at least a more normal reaction for him. There's a chaotic mess of thoughts running around his head right now... and no, he's not going to heave them up here, in the middle of this broken down ship. Things aren't all right, he knows. There's a nagging sense that this hasn't been all right for a while, that he's only just noticing.

He grunts, raking his fingers through his sweaty hair. The tremor in his hands has quieted now, for the most part.]

I'm-- thank you. For pulling me out of there.

[beathach]

You're welcome. Sorry it took a bit. [sorry it was long enough to do this to you is what he really means, but won't voice. He's concerned but if he's getting more familiar reactions, than he can shove some of his worries back. Not all, of course, but - the ones that might end up with them arguing, sure.

He pats Erik on the shoulder and finally drops his hand, so he can push to his feet]