[Second Strand * Action]

[paintsthewalls]

[Rapunzel is glad today that she never goes anywhere without her trusty skillet. While picking berries, she was accosted by bandits! Horrible men with pointy teeth! She is bravely whacking at them and is surprised when even a slight blow causes them to disappear. This, of course, fuels her confidence. The sounds of skulls being crushed by iron

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[kenpo_kitty]

[[Uriko was chasing after something that tormented her forever.

Butterflies.

She could never catch them... But, well, hearing the sound of metal on flesh distracted her. She'll have to get that butterfly next time! Meanwhile, she runs over to investigate, only to see some mad fry-pan action going on.]]

Wow... she's good... [[Sayeth the girl that's currently half-person, half-cat.]]

[paintsthewalls]

Rapunzel pauses once she sees this newcomer arrive through the trees. "You're-----a catwoman?"

She doesn't realize that two bandits are even now sneaking up on her.

[kenpo_kitty]

Uriko stares back a second, the first time she's been called that... At least she didn't say "monster."

"Sort of...? Oh! Hey!" Don't worry, kitty will get your back as she leaps over like WOAH and bats the bandits away with those huge cat paws of hers!

[paintsthewalls]

"WOW! You can jump, too!" That's all she manages before lassoing two of the remaining bandits so violently that their heads clunk together---they disappear upon impact.

Apparently the Dome setting for these attackers is fairly low. Or else they are just weak sorts in general.

[eidolon_soul]

[Rydia, patrolling the town in search of people to aid, heads over upon hearing the commotion. She tenses, getting ready to begin casting as soon as she sees what's causing the commotion. Spotting Rapunzel with her skillet gives her pause, though.]

Not bad!

[Self-defense is a necessity in this town, and she's relieved to see that the girl can manage that...at least, so far.]

[paintsthewalls]

You think so? You think it's not bad? I'm glad about that because sometimes I feel a little guilty smacking these guys around because it's not something a nice girl would do!

[And now three more are sneaking toward her, from the bushes.]

[eidolon_soul]

There's never anything wrong with defending yourself, Rapunzel--

[Rydia narrows her eyes, then casts Toad on the trio.]

[paintsthewalls]

WHOA! [Rapunzel's eyes widen as the spell takes effect.] How did you DO that?!

[consultmybooks]

[Skulls being crushed by iron cookware in the woods by Building 7, you say?

This, to Giles, tells him that his intervention is need somewhere. He's not sure if he's supposed to stop the skulls being crushed or facillitate it. But it's not far from the clearing where the boat is resting, so investigating he is.]

Hello?!

[...looking back, Giles is probably overdue for some time unconscious.]

[paintsthewalls]

Really? More unconscious time, Giles? THIS IS NOT WHAT YOU NEED.

Luckily, you look rather...nonthreatening: no pointy teeth, no hook for a hand--things like that. So when Giles makes his appearance, he'll find a wary-looking Rapunzel. Since she wasn't expecting him to make an entrance, the girl flings a loop of hair his way, hoping to lasso him and pin his arms to his sides until she can figure out if he's Good or Bad.

"Stay where you are, Mister! Don't come any closer!"

You continue to hold the record for most uses of this icon

[consultmybooks]

Congratulations, Rapunzel.

That is just about the most ridiculous means of restraint that Giles has ever come across. Having had some forewarning of the fact that Rapunzel had taken up residence in Building 7 doesn't help in the slightest.

So the hair lands, and Giles yelps and tries immediately to break or struggle out of it.

...is this really hair?

"Um..."

/fistpumps

[paintsthewalls]

"You don't LOOK like a bandit. Are you? A bandit?"

Hint: the correct answer is "NO, RAPUNZEL."

/writes a novel

[slatebreaker]

[ oh! what wondrous sights the day has brought; anne has been wandering wide-eyed through the village and its environs, captivated by the Shifting, flickering worlds. earlier, she had stopped and peeked 'round a tree and watched a pair of villagers beat back a creature she had no name for but thought that argos might do as it certainly seemed to be a doggish beast of epic, mythic proportions.

and miss shirley really ought to be getting home except in between the battle-filled glimpses here and there, she also found pieces of home. the village paths faded into a deep, iron-rusty red from time to time -- just like the soil back in prince edward island. a soil she was sure was cursed red by the drenching blood of an ancient family feud, though matthew had heard differently.

and lupins! she stoops to pick a handful but the wink out of existence the moment their stems are snapped. how tragical.

she murmurs as she continued to try, desperate for a bouquet of home: ] Come, sons of summer, by whose toil

/reads a novel

[paintsthewalls]

"Hello Anne! I'm fine!" the blond responded brightly. Rapunzel was a little short of breath, the skillet clutched in two tight fists, and her gown dirty and ragged at the edges. But all in all, she seemed proud and happy at her handiwork.

"Hey, did you notice how RED this path is?"

[slatebreaker]

"...It's meant to be the iron in the soil getting rusty, you know. But that is such a dreary explanation. Tell me, Rapunzel, what do you imagine could make a path so red?"

She chattered animatedly as she gave the girl a long once-over. Rapunzel had certainly been through some sort of...ordeal. She sank deeper into concern despite the blonde's insistence. "You have a pan. Rapunzel, are you quite aware that you are carrying a pan? That's an awfully curious thing to be carrying outside."

[paintsthewalls]

"What could make a path red?" Rapunzel considers. "I've never thought about where red COMES from. Spilled paint, maybe?"

Dreary, though---spilled paint was just as dreary as rust.

"And yes, I have a pan. It makes a very handy knock-people-on-the-head device."

[paintsthewalls]

I'm--[whack]---doing---[whack]----alright! [WHACK!]

Wow, have you ever seen bandits just disappear like that?!

[paintsthewalls]

You can help?! Help would be really---[WHACK!]---HELPFUL.

[Three more bandits appear out of the trees. Honestly, Rapunzel is never leaving Building 7 again after this.]