hacksawgeddon

[hacksawgeddon]

Seeing the cigarette infuriates him so much that he reaches over his back to retrieve his bow, gripping it in his hand for a moment in a measly attempt to quell his anger. Like always, it never works. Right now, he only has one thing in mind: Make them pay. Hacksaw gets into position with practiced silence, pulling back the string and holding it there before releasing the arrow from his grip. It cuts the air with deadly precision, traveling swiftly towards his raised forearm.

stopping in place, ezra is all but ready to give up on his joyride. instead, he pulls a cigarette from his pocket and lights it. maybe he can set the whole forest ablaze. wouldn't that be something? who would even know? nobody, as far as he can tell. maybe that means nobody will care, too... but ezra doesn't think long on that. even if he's the only witness, there's something to be said for the destruction.

[hacksawgeddon]

He’s immediately delighted that his efforts are appreciated! If not for the sack over his head, Fins would’ve had a full view of a once-in-a-blue-moon smile. At his offer, he shakes his head immediately... Though, after some thinking he had gotten a little lost following Fins around in the city. Everything looks the same around here. It’s confusing! Hacksaw takes a moment to ponder before he squats down the floor, using his finger to draw in the sand what his camp looks like from the city - bunch of trees, a lake and a cabin. It's a childish drawing at best, but he hopes it would at least look somewhat familiar.

fins is a little surprised by the speed at which hacksaw walks off. so much so that he wonders, just briefly, if he had done something wrong. he can't think of anything, but that means very little. thankfully, fins isn't left to stew in what ifs for very long. the stranger returns quickly, now armed with two gallons of water. he almost feels a little bad. first, for doubting him, and second... it's like he's taking advantage! "thank you," he says, laughing softly. "i wish i could do something for you, too... is there anything?" he doesn't exactly know how they'll be able to communicate it, but he can't just resign himself to do nothing.

[hacksawgeddon]

Uncharacteristically, he shuffles his feet at the question before giving a single, stern nod. He hadn’t known this unusual stranger for long but surely someone who only wanted the best spot to watch the sunset wasn’t too bad? Hacksaw maneuvers around her in silence, taking a seat before slowly presenting a closed fist facing upwards – his hand opening to offer a singular four-leaf clover. He's a bit awkward at making friends - or just being in the presence of others, really.

kali turns to watch the stranger again as he approaches. just because she trusts that she can handle herself doesn't mean she'll just leave herself open to the opportunity of attack, either. the man seems well-mannered enough, despite his vocal limitations, but you can never be too careful. people are good at surprising you. "would you like to sit beside me? the sunset will be starting soon. i can see it from the city, of course, but i do enjoy this spot."

[hacksawgeddon]

He doesn’t answer—it’s not like he can, really. With what he can grasp from the situation, she didn’t mean to be here and that’s all that mattered to him. How ironic it was, for her to be named Mercy. Hacksaw takes a moment to stare at her for some time, silently mulling over his decisions before his grip visibly tightens around his saw. He steps forward again to swing his weapon in the air and—

The rope snaps easily against the blade, sending his victim tumbling down on the floor. He feels guilty for a split second—it’s not exactly a gentle fall—but he shakes his head to dismiss the thought and quickly hauls the girl, net and all, over his shoulder. Better a little hurt than dead, unlike so many trespassers. Hacksaw starts walking without hesitation, heading for the nearest way out of his grounds.  

He steps closer, and Mercy scolds herself. She'd been expecting a wave of pure evil and malice from this figure, but in fact she senses little. Not an undeniable purity, but certainly nothing fouler than the average person. "Please? I know you won't hurt me. I just need help. My name is Mercy; what's yours?"

[hacksawgeddon]

Once the intruder comes into view, he immediately sticks to the shadows to circle them like a predator. It’s one he’s never seen around before and his appearance makes it obvious to him that he’s dealing with a mutant. Strange patterns on the skin, black eyes, visible veins scattered across his body. It’s unlike anything he’s ever seen before. Hacksaw steers to the side of caution as he stalks his next victim, the forest falling into a dead silence. A fire burns at the pit of his stomach – he’s pissed that he has to deal with yet another trespasser. There was absolutely no reason to be here at all!

how difficult is it to get a reaction around here? this is the first sensible plot of land he's found in his entire continent—no doubt unnatural, with its tall trees and dense undergrowth, at contrast with the rest of the landscape—and even with the traps he's seen... there just hasn't been any pushback. ridiculous. clearly this entire continent is stuffed to the brim with pushovers!

[hacksawgeddon]

Hacksaw had been called many things before but it’s the first time he’s ever heard “kind.” It catches him by surprise, so much so that he takes a moment to compose himself again before he’s able to give Fins a curt nod of his head as a reply. He sets off again without a sound, now fueled with a sense of purpose—he has to help! He’s helpful, he’s kind! Hacksaw returns shortly hauling two full gallons of water this time. It’s an easy feat considering he’s hauled multiple bodies heavier than this before. He sets them at the foot of his newfound friend, waiting expectantly.

fins hands over the container, hoping he understands what's going on. it's an unfortunate fact of life that he doesn't usually, but... as far as he can tell, there aren't too many ways that he can mess this up. "um... yeah, if you want to get more, i would like that." at long last, he feels like he's broached the issue. clearly, since they had brought him one canister, it would make sense for them to ask if he wanted another. "you're very kind," he adds, wanting to make sure they know that they're appreciated.

[hacksawgeddon]

The silence answers for him. The masked man shakes his head slowly, gesturing vaguely around his throat to sign “broken.” He’s unsure if his vocal cords are actually broken or if he had simply been born without the ability to talk. He can't remember - it's been a while since he's thought about it. Much like the other talking non-humans he’s encountered, the rage he feels towards trespassers isn’t really there—a friend of the forest is a friend of his.

Hacksaw instead reached into his coat pocket to pull out a four-leaf clover, gently holding it in his closed fist as he approached the massive bear. Maybe a good luck charm will give a better first impression.

"not a talker, are you?" maybe a bit obvious, even for her. "that's alright. i don't ask that you talk, only that you don't skulk about." she turns away from the man in question, out toward the mountains. kali doesn't have the slightest concern turning her back on danger—she's tougher than most people think, and that's saying something.

[hacksawgeddon]

➳ Trouble afoot ; @buriedwithit for ezra

Another day, another intruder. He swears there’d been a sudden influx of them recently. Was it because he had been interacting with some of them and not straight up getting rid of them? Had he finally gone too soft? Hacksaw tightened his grip around his machete as he gave a passing glance at the triggered tripwire, walking past it to find whoever or whatever it is responsible for setting it off.

[hacksawgeddon]

Close enough. Hacksaw nods enthusiastically, outstretching both of his hands to take the container again. Now, how was he going to ask if he needed more? He paused to stare at the empty jug before deciding to hold it upside down, pointing at it. Maybe like this? He looks back at his companion questioningly. He’s unsure if he should even mention having stolen it for him in the first place. Maybe he’ll omit that… but it’s not like it was easy to communicate when you can’t talk. Why wasn't he being supplied with water, anyway? He's a shark!

unfortunately, fins isn't very good at figuring out how to communicate without words. sheltered and illiterate, he has no experience with thinking in any way but his own. he can tell that this stranger is happier now that he's taken ( and used ) the gift, which is nice, but... now comes the hard part. he doesn't know what that gesture means. the vague one, that is. the pointing, he—oh, maybe he's trying to show him where he had gotten it. but, um... where is that? "um..." no, maybe... not quite. "...do you want it back?" that doesn't seem right either. "...to refill it?"

[hacksawgeddon]

The first sighting of Kali had hit him like a train – much like his other “furry” acquaintances (and Fins.) Like the rest, he had trailed behind them with pure childlike wonder. And yet again, his cover is blown almost immediately. Since there was pretty much no point in staying hidden, he stepped away from the cover of the forest and walked into the open. He stood there motionless for some time before his head slowly turned to the side, curious.

starter for @hacksawgeddon !!

"i can smell you there, dear. the wind changed." kali doesn't turn, unconcerned with any size of stranger. even seven feet pales in comparison to her own massive size. she's fairly large even for a female of her own species. "why don't you stop crouching in the brush and introduce yourself?"

[hacksawgeddon]

➳ sink or swim ; @ofliarsandlovers for rowan

As his hands make quick work in resetting his tripwires, he readies himself for another encounter with a trespasser. Tripwires, traps, noise-makers and the like were the norm for him. And even though he could do without any of the fancy gear, it certainly made his life a lot easier. He gets back up on his feet just in time to watch the crows fly past overhead, heading in the direction where they came from.

Someone else was here – and it was his job to change that.

Hacksaw moves across the grounds with a sense of purpose, aided by years of muscle memory and the cover of the shadows from the treetops above. He makes quick work of the long distance in a short amount of time, careful eyes scanning for any signs of the unusual. As soon as he catches movement, he conceals himself expertly, fully going into stalking mode.

There, stood an intruder, dangerously teetering by the edge of the pier. As always, it’s someone he doesn’t know. Most of the time he doesn’t really need to know - they all bleed the same.

[hacksawgeddon]

Hacksaw watches in complete awe as the latter, for the lack of a better word, rehydrates himself. He’s rather pleased with himself, his demeanor immediately brightening once Fins thanks him for the water. At the sudden question though he hesitates, looking back at a particular restaurant where he snuck into a kitchen to "borrow" one. Maybe he should get another. Hacksaw gestures vaguely around that area. He’s unsure how to communicate with him exactly, so he points to the empty container and tilts his head questioningly. More? Do you need more? He can get more.

a long moment of silence stretches between them, neither certain of how to deal with the other. fins wonders if, now that he's stood up, that he's startled or frightened him in some way. but then... well, clearly this stranger is unusual, too. not just because of his large size. fins tries to think of something else to say. maybe his name, or an apology, or. something. he's so focused on that—and can't see very well, anyway—that he misses their attempt at communication. before he can work up the nerve make, hacksaw lifts up the water and holds it out for him. "oh," he says, accepting the gift... and immediately proceeding to dump it over his head and then into his mouth, letting is pass through his gills. "thank you," he says, breaking into a toothy grin. "i really needed that. where did you get the water?" he's hoping that he can have more...

[hacksawgeddon]

Had the latter taken off into a sprint, he would’ve undoubtedly followed suit. Hacksaw doesn’t need to run, his long legs more often than not, aid him in capturing his victims in just a couple of strides. Though he doesn’t particularly feel the need to do that in this particular situation, this flower-man reacts rather calmly – for now. He hadn’t revealed himself yet, so that might change shortly.

Still, he’s intrigued by the fact that he knows well enough to voice out his intentions – that he’s harmless, just out here studying and all that. The hacksaw isn’t out, nor is any other weapon of his, still clipped onto his tool belt for easy access. Hacksaw decides to reveal himself then, stepping out of the brush and into daylight. He stares down at the peculiar stranger before curiously turning his sight to the specific patch of grass he’d been studying. It was grass, after all. Was there no grass in the city? What a sad place to live.

Run! That was what the immediate flora was telling him. Not through human words but through a distinct form of communication that was only between him and their ilk. He wasn't quite sure as to how it worked, only that it had proven itself useful time and time again. Sebni's feet began to move even before he could tell them to, but his mind was quick enough to rein them in. What was the point of running if he did not know what was out there exactly? He's read somewhere that some predators preferred their victims to run, give chase. Sebni would rather not become anyone's victim. At least no one that wasn't prettier than his flowers. “ I am harmless, ” Sebni repeated to anyone and everyone who could hear him. “ Like the plants I'm out here studying. No need for any violence between us, okay? ” He hoped his pleas were understood, heard, and accepted. Otherwise, he was in huge trouble.

[hacksawgeddon]

The poor man could do nothing but freeze, as if that could help in this situation. He’s more surprised that the latter can actually talk – and truthfully, he’s a little envious – and didn’t seem at all fazed by his unusual appearance. A long silence clung into the air as he panics. What should he do? He had never run away from someone before. Would it be impolite? He’s not sure why he’s pondering the politeness of this odd situation at all. After some time, he decides to nod slowly. Gift, he signs, though he remembers shortly after that sign language isn't universally known. Hacksaw decides the last minute to grab the gallon of water into his arms, lift it with ease and then hold it out to him like a present instead. Yes, perhaps this is a bit more clear.

fins' hearing is not particularly acute, so he doesn't hear that anyone is sneaking up behind him... or even that he's been under observation this entire time. it's only dumb luck that he decides ( if a little miserably ) that he should end his break and get back to work, standing and turning only to see that not only is there a gallon of water sat behind him, but also a person nearly as tall as he is. surprised, he stares dumbly for a long moment before he finally gets out, a little wheezily, "is that... for me?"

[hacksawgeddon]

There it was again. Careful, deliberate footsteps. Hiding. He was getting close, he can feel it. Rather than stomping around he decides to conceal himself in the foliage again, expertly blending in until his mysterious trespasser makes more mistakes. Hacksaw has all the time in the world. They’re in his territory. Hiding in his woods at night would only guarantee his victory. As he inches closer and closer, he makes sure to keep hidden from plain sight. He only knows two things right now: they're upright on two feet and he can't see them. Hacksaw stills again for some time, sitting and listening. Worst case scenario, he's hearing things again and playing hide-and-seek with a ghost. But he hasn't really heard anything weird in years, he's sure of it. As far as ghosts go, surely his own mother wouldn't be doing this? Who else would be haunting the place, anyway?

They sent her out there for reconnaissance, rumors turned scary stories spread by the youth of sol city. Why the syndicate is interested is not her concern. Odie only knows she's meant to observe and report back. No contact, no mess. But this is no boogeyman in the night, no monster beneath the bed. She starts a field away from him, closing the gap with curiosity and interest over the course of a few hours, using her invisibility as a cloak against his notice. She's only a few yards away now, but she wants closer, intends to get a close up look when she's stepped on a twig. She stills, taking her eyes off her mark only to find her footing again, soft and light over the forest floor. When she looks again he's closer, and she holds her breath.

[hacksawgeddon]

Hacksaw had brawled many creatures several times before but never an actual tiger. They weren’t native to his part of the state, at least! He freezes instantly as she begins to investigate. He actually had never seen one in person and safe to say he’s in awe. He’s not small by any means but boy, tigers sure are big! He visibly flinches when a voice resounds, gently asking if he was hurt. She speaks? His eyes widen in surprise, not entirely sure why he thought it was so abnormal for a tiger to speak. He’d interacted with a bipedal shark who could also speak not too long ago. That guy had a whole job and everything.

He's unsure how to respond—if he should even respond, knowing full well that he can’t speak. For the first time in his life, he finds himself backing off a little bit. Kindness is unfamiliar to him and he feels undeserving.

Bael came across many strange things on her walks through the less populated parts of Sol City, but even she was caught off-guard when she tasted blood on the air. It grows stronger as she reaches where the woods get thickest and her first instinct is to begin rooting around in the underbrush for an injured person, but the blood-scent is dull, bringing to mind images of poorly-healed wounds and patches of gore faded to brown. The tigress pauses at the treeline, deep amber stare flicking from each shadow to another as if waiting for one to move. "Are you hurt?" she asks then, her voice treading softly alongside the resounding silence of nature.

[hacksawgeddon]

The girl beckons to her—she sounds afraid and rightfully so. He stands completely still momentarily, weighing out his options. Should he let her go? If he doesn’t, more people will come. It seemed like the more sensible choice. But what if she was dangerous? It’s hard to tell nowadays. People used to not have strange powers. He at least guessed that this one didn’t have any destructive ones, or she would’ve freed herself by now.

Hacksaw steps closer now, gaze fixated on her. How she had managed to even get this far is a mystery. Lucky she ended up in one of the nets and not in one of the bear traps, otherwise she would’ve been in much worse condition. His eyes scan her carefully—a few scrapes and scratches but no blood in sight. Why was he even concerned? All he needs to do is drag her back at the edge of the camp, that’s all.

Mercy thrashes; she's not easily prone to panic, but being caught in a net has a way of bringing the panic out. She can feel that the more she wriggles, the more entangled she gets, and so she is trying to calm herself when she sees a figure approach.

Her interaction with horror media is nonexistent, but even so the sight of a masked individual with a saw is distressing. Mercy gasps, though it's barely audible through her already panting breath. "Hello?" she calls, voice shaking. They're not close enough for her to get a fix on how im/pure he might be, and Mercy feels acutely lost without that ability. "Can you cut me free? Please?" Her fingers grasp at the net, looking beseechingly at the mask.