[This precious cargo he's carrying - don't worry, it's in a well-padded bag - is the exact reason why he's not too eager to go chasing off into the woods at the slightest hint of movement and would rather draw enemies toward them. Don't want to lose this stuff.
While Cao Pi watches the trees, Rosinante un-disguises his lantern and kneels down to peer into the bag and find one of the bottles with the resistance potion. Well, "bottles" - given all they had available was what was in the kitchen supply, it's mostly mason jars, but good enough. He tries to sort through quickly when he hears a a sharp, metallic roar through the trees that shifts mid-cry to the din of dozens, if not hundreds, of voices shouting in anger. Immediately he's back upright, pistol aimed, with the bag dangling from his elbow. He'd hoped for more time.
The serpent melts away. Everything is ringed in fire and smells of smoke, and he realizes the spirit has switched targets to see if that works any better.
It is far, far harder for him to ignore this. His mind is very good at filling in all of the gaps and making it seem extremely real. He's also quite good at pretending he's less affected than he is, and simply frowns, while his hand grips the pistol harder, knuckles white.]
Guess it doesn't want me to do that. If I act like I'm lost in this, maybe it'll think it can take you on alone.
[Slowly, as if confused and frightened, he lowers the gun and takes a few steps back, looking around at all the fire and clearly avoiding it with care while trying to keep Cao Pi in the corner of his vision. Hopefully Cao Pi trusts him enough to believe he won't actually be taken in by the hallucination - because Rosinante sure has been through this one a few times before at their hands, and they seem to know it's effective.]
no subject
While Cao Pi watches the trees, Rosinante un-disguises his lantern and kneels down to peer into the bag and find one of the bottles with the resistance potion. Well, "bottles" - given all they had available was what was in the kitchen supply, it's mostly mason jars, but good enough. He tries to sort through quickly when he hears a a sharp, metallic roar through the trees that shifts mid-cry to the din of dozens, if not hundreds, of voices shouting in anger. Immediately he's back upright, pistol aimed, with the bag dangling from his elbow. He'd hoped for more time.
The serpent melts away. Everything is ringed in fire and smells of smoke, and he realizes the spirit has switched targets to see if that works any better.
It is far, far harder for him to ignore this. His mind is very good at filling in all of the gaps and making it seem extremely real. He's also quite good at pretending he's less affected than he is, and simply frowns, while his hand grips the pistol harder, knuckles white.]
Guess it doesn't want me to do that. If I act like I'm lost in this, maybe it'll think it can take you on alone.
[Slowly, as if confused and frightened, he lowers the gun and takes a few steps back, looking around at all the fire and clearly avoiding it with care while trying to keep Cao Pi in the corner of his vision. Hopefully Cao Pi trusts him enough to believe he won't actually be taken in by the hallucination - because Rosinante sure has been through this one a few times before at their hands, and they seem to know it's effective.]