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

[beejfu]

[He hunches up, scowling but not at Hange]

Like I couldn't find out.

[14thcommander]

Uh-huh.

[back to the convo!]

[beejfu]

[And as soon as the Hange's request is granted, Big Sandy the corpse starts to disappear. Betelgeuse pulls away from the arm around his shoulders in order to stand up, watching nervously to make sure it's not a trap.

The big sandworm is gone. In its place is a small black-and-white striped egg, which is rocking back and forth and beginning to hatch.

He leaps over the banister with a crash to scamper close to the egg]

[14thcommander]

[Hange follows him in a more usual fashion, though she takes the stairs in a couple big jumps. She wants to see the hatching as well.]

[beejfu]

[He crouches down, looking expectant and awed at the egg]

You know, I don't normally get to see life. They don't let me in hospitals and there's a disappointing amount of home births these days.

[And then, from a crack at the top of the egg, comes a tiny rawr! as Little Sandy nudges open her shell prison with her exterior head.]

[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.