ic contact

[14thcommander]

It's Hange, Hange, Hange! Were you looking for me? I'll get back to you posthaste. Or when it's convenient.

[ communicator & actionspam it's all good ]

Comments

[14thcommander]

Haha! There she is.

[Hange reaches down to boop the tiny head, setting aside for the moment how creepy it is to think of Betelgeuse just chillin', watching a stranger give birth.

The sandworm lunges for Hange's hand and sinks her teeth into the web of skin between thumb and pointer finger for the trouble.]

[beejfu]

[He gives an adoring laugh, even sounding a little choked up from happiness]

She always loves biting people. Pinch her jaw line or she'll try and swallow you.

Oh, you are precious.

[14thcommander]

[Having grunted and reflexively shaken her hand to remove the attached predator, Hange reaches with her other hand and drives her fingers into the jawline. Got it.]

A ferocious little babyyyyy...

[beejfu]

[BJ keeps making cooing noises like a proud parent as the tiny sandworm tries her hardest to devour Hange, not yet able to break skin]

Isn't she just?

Thanks, Hange. I missed the old girl.

[14thcommander]

[Hange pinpoints the conversation for later, possibly for when Betelgeuse is being an asshole about death again, but possibly before that too. She can use the sadness he felt to illustrate some things, maybe.]

Well, now she's back!

She has to stay with me for starters. Like I told the Admiral. We'll see how it goes.

[beejfu]

What?

[All softness drops from his tone. He gets a needy whine in his voice, looking from Hange to Sandy and back]

No, why? Jesus christ, Hange, she came with me, she belongs with her own brand of weirdness. You'll dissect her.

[14thcommander]

No, I won't. She's your pet.

But I told the Admiral I would and I don't trust you not to terrorize people with her unduly.

[He can only have a little terrorizing. As a treat.]

[beejfu]

I didn't use her to terrorize people when she was thirty feet long, you think I can terrorize her when she's just the size of a little thing?!

I'm.

So disappointed in you.

[14thcommander]

It's easier for you to terrorize people with her now.

And she's less capable of terrorizing but let's just take it slow.

[beejfu]

How is it easier?

She's so small and vulnerable and her permanent fangs haven't even grown in yet.

[14thcommander]

You can take her out of your room and throw her at people now.

[beejfu]

Hahahahaha.

You've got a sick mind, Hange.

[14thcommander]

I know it would've come to you in time.

[beejfu]

[He drops the grin, to look back worriedly at the sandworm trying to slither away from Hange's hands]

You'll look after her? Feed her, tell her she's a pretty girl, play her her favorite music? She's sensitive about her size.

[14thcommander]

Betelgeuse, you can visit her and hold her and snuggle her and talk to her and see for yourself. This is a temporary arrangement, I hope.

[beejfu]

Yeah, but she won't know what's going on! All of a sudden she wakes up and I'm not there to let her bite my ankle? How's that going to feel for an apex predator like her?

[14thcommander]

[Hange looks down at the weird monster ineffectually flopping around trying to slither away. She coos.]

Is that true? Are you just a confused little baby? Are you scared to be in this big boat without anybody you know?

[Hange scoops her up to whisper to her:]

Me too.

[Little Sandy tries to bite Hange's face.

Hange dodges this one.]

[beejfu]

[Miraculously, this seems to calm Betelgeuse down. He loves that Hange isn't reacting with fear or disgust to his pet, and that was his largest concern; watching them bond together has him cheerful and happy again]

All right, all right. She can stay in your room and I won't try to kidnap her back or blackmail you.

She likes you.

[14thcommander]

[Hange takes a careful grip of Little Sandy just below her head for ease of handling. Sandy's opens her mouth to hiss and her body whips around Hange's forearm. An extra bitty little head protrudes to open its jaws and hiss as well.]

Aww... she's adorable. I'll cherish my time with her and socialize her with you lots. Maybe we can train her to not eat you when she's big.

[beejfu]

Isn't she, though?? I love her.

Hah! Good luck with that, Hange.

[14thcommander]

Well, I'll give it a try. And you'll have plenty of chances to wear her like a feather boa.

[beejfu]

If memory serves, she likes it up your sleeve more than she likes around your shoulders. Sandworms like hiding where it's warm and dry.

[14thcommander]

I'll fill the terrarium with sand, then. And make sure it's warm.

What does she like to eat besides you? [gently pokes Betelgeuse in the side]

[beejfu]

[He chuckles, rubbing at his side] Fill it the whole way, like an ant farm. She burrows.

Uh, really, anything that people throw away. Side salads when you order pizza. Toenail clippings. The stuff that gets clogged down drains. Ice cubes that fall out of the containers and onto the ground so you kick them under the fridge.

[14thcommander]

I'll take care of her. And of course you'll see her enough to tell me if she looks wilted.