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Hannah's hands have a habit of fidgeting.
It's not something she herself particularly minds, as it's a subconscious thing that she's come to accept about herself. The issue more so lies in how it often makes her anxiety too painfully noticeable for her own liking, especially when it's on a server where it could be used against you.
Because Hannah doesn't want to appear ‘weak’ or whatever other bullshit that gets spouted. She's someone that can and will hold her own if needed. Divine Intervention proved that. Hannah proved that. Now they can eat their words while Hannah gets to happily preen her new wings
Hannah took great pride in her wings. And when it was paired with her fidgeting, it often ended with newly plucked feathers scattered around her base, and the remains of keratin being swept away by a brush. Which is why she finds it annoying when she gets that itch again when meeting up with Bacon.
Her goal had been simple; get Bacon to make them both a profit by selling off the end items.
Yet there was something about the snowy biome that made her nervous -paranoid- beyond belief. Hannah wanted to desperately dig her fingers into the appendages that attach to her back. Rake her painted nails through the pristine feathers there and weasel out the stray ones. It's something Hannah now craves deeply, shuffling as she waits.
Despite Hannah's compulsions, she doesn't. Instead, she settles for one of her older techniques that consists of nails scratching at the skin of her hands. Maybe a bit unethical, but it mostly satisfies her need for more, and that's enough for her.
She hears the noise of boots against ice, and it's instinct that her sword is immediately unsheathed from her hip. Diamond revealed and her other hand elbowed deep into her inventory, already reaching for a potion of swiftness.
It's Bacon that Hannah meets eyes with.
Hands up, biting down on his lower lip as her sword grazes and points at the base of his throat. It takes a moment, or rather two, for Hannah to process what was happening and to get her breathing under control - but when she does, she blinks once. Then twice, then thrice, and yells out an almost instant apology when she comes through.
Sword clattering on the ground as Hannah exclaims, surprised even when knowing about his arrival, which is then cut short as she scrambles to pick it back up. Hannah must be red out of embarrassment, yet Bacon doesn't seem to mind.
That's when she reminds herself again that it's Bacon that is here. Not anyone else, no-one that can pull out some sort of sick joke and, or slaughter her on the spot. It's a gentle reassurance Hannah makes towards herself, and she notices the way Bacon makes sure to take a step back to recollect herself. She can't help but briefly smile at the small thought.
“Soo,” Bacon drawls out his words, crossing his arms as he looks Hannah up and down. “What's the deal, here?”
He isn't doing it to judge, at least not mockingly, but rather to study. Hannah doesn't blame him for that. She's done her fair share of overanalyzing everything and everyone who is placed in front of her.
“Well- I have a business opportunity that might interest you.” And Hannah grins at the way Bacon's ears twitch in interest.
It's done and over quickly, much to Hannah's disbelief, but she isn't going to argue against such a win. Bacon handles the heavy, dangerous work where he confronts and swindles a few hearts out of any desperate player, and Hannah gets to reap the rewards whenever she wants. She's already got a target on her back, and so Bacon being the one to do such a thing is much more preferable.
However, as the conversation goes on and comes to a close, Hannah feels that unwanted urge again. Which is weird; because Hannah isn't anxious currently. At least, she doesn't think so? But there's a growing, gaping, hole in her chest that doesn't seem to go away.
Even when Hannah goes and puts her hands in her pockets, risking her easy access to her sword, and scratches at the fabric against his skin it isn't enough. It's concerning, because she doesn't know what to do. She needs to, yet her mind seemingly blanks as her desperation becomes more obvious. Brows furrowing, and smile surely strained, Hannah hopes Bacon doesn't think it's because of him.
When fidgeting with the wool of her cardigan isn't enough, she results in not so subtle pacing. Circling Bacon as if she was hunting him down, and that's really not what Hannah intends. The idea that Bacon may suddenly withdraw and retract all their progress and leave her behind (again) doesn't help.
If anything, Hannah can feel how the void beneath her ribcage opens further. Eating away at her flesh and muscles, she feels sick. Nauseous─ then warmth.
A warmth envelopes her wings, specifically the feathers that locate themselves at the bend of her right wing. Slowly, gently, beckoning it down with soft pats with one hand while the other thumbs carefully at a larger feather.
Hannah recognises that touch, -that familiarity paired with the warmth only a Netherborn could have- and slumps. Taking a deep, almost wheezing breath in at one administered pat, then out on the fourth.
Bacon was always too good at this; not that it's a bad thing, of course. Hannah appreciated both it and him a lot, way more than she could ever put into words. And he knew that already, so that was okay.
It takes longer than usual for her to come down, adrenaline still high and heart thumping in her ears. Moments like these are when she's grateful that she and Bacon were still on decent terms - or maybe something better now since they were working together. Her mind isn't adjusted enough to deduce that yet, though, and she'd rather not overload it immediately either.
A few more moments, and an extra few seconds just to make sure Hannah's breathing has finally evened out, is what Bacon decides is the appropriate amount of time. Humming in that similar fashion that he does before he asks a question, and one Hannah has grown to recognise.
“How about we add preening to the deal,” Bacon comments casually, as if it was still Season Six. Yet it's said more as a statement rather than a question. “Wouldn't hurt to, right?”
Hannah blinks, then frowns. “But-” She stumbles over her words momentarily. Breathe. “We already set one up. Did you want something else? Something more?”
She knows Bacon is playing this capitalist, businessman role this season, but Hannah is still on edge. Therefore, she's much more hesitant, even towards him, because taking in everything in its entirety - it's still a new season. Hannah's second season; and one she'd rather stay on top of. Maybe forever, but that's impossible. Then again, there's a first time for everything and she can hope.
“Take it as a freebie, or whatever,” Bacon shrugs. His fingers are warm as they trace Hannah's wings, her feathers ruffle out of instinct.
Despite Bacon's words, she still ponders. In her eyes, it doesn't make sense. In her mind, it's screaming at her to accept it, because a good preen was something that she really fucking wanted right about now. It's a good way to relieve stress, what else can Hannah say?
It's not as if he was inexperienced either. Plenty of Lifestealers had wings of all varieties, and Bacon had teamed with Parrot momentarily in Season Five apparently. All of that combined with Hannah's own experience with Bacon's tenderness from how gentle he had preened her wings when he returned back home, sculk scarring his face, was enough. Enough for both her consciousness and to appease her anxiousness.
“Yeah,” Hannah mutters, quieter, before recollecting herself and words confidently. “Yeah, yeah, that's- that's great, actually, I-”
“You don't have to do anything, Hannah.”
And she shuts up.
Freezing at the stubbornness of Bacon's voice, but then Hannah takes another timed breath, finally relenting. Allowing the wing Bacon was focusing on to lean into his touch, unveiling the full extent of itself to him.
There's no speaking, rather silence befalls them both. The only words spoken are the ones through exchanged glances; I trust you, In which Hannah looks away and smiles softly to herself as she sits down on a log that Bacon places down for her.
Yeah, Hannah could get used to this again.
It might not be permanent, but the fact it's happening, plus being promised, makes Hannah's stomach do flips and her mind to be put at ease. Because she's safe. She's fine, she's letting Bacon do this because it's something that screams trust even a season later.
Hannah sighs, and can't stop herself from turning her head around and beginning to tease him. Just like before, just like now. She's happy with this semi-win.