manofgnee | Case 24 [Accidental Video/Audio]

[Hanna's dropped his communicator again, and, as usual, by dropping it he's activated the video function. But in this case, it may be a good thing.

Hanna's running from something, ducking behind the fountain as he tries to catch his breath. He's already tried to draw some runes on his hands, but they haven't been working, nor have physical attacks with the hammer, which is covered in particles of golden sand.]

...c'mon...work, please, this time, work!

[Hanna draws out another, more complicated rune, as a disturbing train whistle seems to get louder and closer. Hanna fires the rune at his now visible attacker: A man made of sand, with hollow, empty eyes, a twisted smile, driving a black train with shining, starlike wheels. The attack seems to just pass through the sandman, whose smile grows as he beckons Hanna along with a hand that dissolves and reforms before his eyes.]

Shit, shit shit!! Ok, plan C- keep running and hope I lose him...c'mon legs, work...we need to go...!

[Panting heavily, Hanna struggles to get up and begins to flee again, only to trip over the communication device, cutting off the video, leaving the audio on for a few minutes.]

Craaap...! Stay back, I'm not going with you!! C'mon, get up, we need to keep going...!!

[A sinister laugh fills the audio device, speaking briefly in hollow tones before the audio cuts off.]

Oh, hush you little one, and have no fear...
The man-in-the-moon he is the engineer...
So put on you 'jamas and say your prayers...

[ooc: I got the nursery rhyme for today's curse from: http://www.rhymes.org.uk/
The specific nursery rhyme is called The Sandman, and is found here: http://www.rhymes.org.uk/a120-sandman.htm

Explanation of the creepy: The Sandman is powered by sleep, and traps people in their nightmares. The darker the nightmares, the more powerful he is, and if he gets enough power, he ceases to be made of sand and is real. Nobody dies, but it still really sucks for his victims. His creepy little train represents the night, and he, of course, represents sleep. Also, I think the original nursery rhyme is still really creepy.

...You know, the funny thing is, I had to read nursery rhymes for english homework, this synchronized up really well!! Hooray for coincidences!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Hanna ducks again, still staring in awe at...what was Zuko doing anyway? It had to be some cool new kind of magic. After the sandman was gone, he'd have to remember to ask him about it.

And speaking of the Sandman, Zuko makes another direct hit, fire hitting the Sandman in the head...only this time, instead of disintegrating, his head now seems to be made of glass. He laughs and, seemingly out of nowhere, throws a rapid number of glass shards at Zuko.]

But you're soo tired...let me see your dreams, Zuko...so sweet, and soo sad...

[ oh shit, he wasn’t expecting glass. it’s pure instinct that keeps him from moving out of the way in case Hanna is hurt, instead swinging out his dual blades in order to combat what shards he can. Zuko doesn’t come out unscathed, but since when will more scars affect him :| ]

Leave us alone.

[ it’s more to himself really, taking a deep breath to find his center after that onslaught – before he’s conjuring a blazing wall of fire right underneath the Sandman. ]

[The Sandman laughs, becoming more glass, moving to throw more shards at Zuko.]

Oh, but Zuko...how will you dream of poor, lost mummy without me...?

[Suddenly, from out of nowhere, a beam of light zaps at the Sandman's head, shattering it. The rest of his body follows soon after, and, even if he does come back, at least they've got enough time to run and hide.

Hanna's standing up weakly behind where the Sandman used to be, a rune drawn on his hand. He smiles weakly, giving Zuko a thumbs up, before doubling over and coughing, drops of blood visible. He's been running and trying too much magic at once to get away unscathed.]

Edited 2010-05-03 17:27 (UTC)

[ for several stunned moments, Zuko can only stare at Hanna. but when he notices the blood, he’s tucking his swords away and moving forward quickly to support him. it’s with something of an irritated grunt that he helps Hanna make it as far away from that place as they can go, glaring, deadly silent. really, Zuko’s more angry at himself for helping than he is at Hanna for being cursed. ]

[Hanna's breathing is labored, and he leans on Zuko for support, not seeming to notice the glare on his face. It's a long while before he says anything.]

...hey...what were you doing...with those fireballs...? Cuz...cuz that was really cool...

Don’t talk. You’ll only hurt yourself more.

[ he snaps that a little too sharply and gets the sudden, distinct feeling that his uncle would have been disappointed right after. it’s a few strained minutes later that he responds to the question. ]

It’s called firebending. Some people are able to do that in my world. They can control one of the four elements; fire, water, air or earth. [ doesn’t mention the Avatar HE’S SO 2008 :| ]

[Hanna immediately shuts up, but he's still got this big grin on his face, nodding slightly.]

So..its sorta like magic...? Can you teach people how to do that?

Uh. [ ... is this guy seriously excited while he’s bleeding, exhausted and possibly still in danger? Zuko feels like he arrived in crazytown. ]

No, you can’t teach people how to use it unless they already have the ability. It takes years of training and even then, some people are better than others. [ this is said with a note of resentment. thanks, Azula. ]

[Hanna is the king of Crazytown. He just nods and listens, sort of fascinated. That sounds so cool!!]

Still, that's so cool!! Wish I could do that, it'd save me a lot of marker ink...

[ he can’t believe he’s asking, but – ]

What was that thing you did?

That?

That was magic...rune based, it's my specialty, but I'm still sorta learning...that's why I get sick like this sometimes, side effects. But hey, it gets better after a while!

I could show you more later, if you want. It's actually not too hard to learn.

Hmph. [ he’s listening though, interested, but at the same time making sure he has a good grip on Hanna. they’re heading in the direction of the teahouse – the only safe place he knows of. ]

If it hurts you, why do you keep doing it?

Because it's how I defend myself...besides, it's only the really big spells that hurt, and that's only sometimes. I did a lot of running today, which probably didn't help too much.

[Hanna shrugged and smiled.]

Besides. I like doing it. It makes me feel...well, special.

[ oh, he gets that. he understands that feeling very well, and seems to almost relax a little. ]

Look, I’m bringing you to my uncle’s teahouse. You can rest there while this curse passes.

[Hanna nods, grinning at Zuko.]

Thanks, Zuko...when I'm feeling a little better, which should hopefully be soon, I can show you some more rune stuff if you'd like.

Fine. [ but it isn’t spoken harshly. god wtf is going on with hiiiiim. this whole situation has only made him feel more confused than he already was. ]

Awesome!! I know this really neat little water trick, you'll love it!

Hmm...I wonder if I could do that with tea...must experiment further...

Case 24 [Accidental Video/Audio]

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