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He was in a worse mood than usual, but the prospect of getting the giant out of his head was welcome, even though an hour wasn't nearly long enough. Owain on his part was quietly eager to leave as well for different reasons. It was one of the few things they had agreed upon in weeks.

Not bothering to wait for an answer (it was already 4:35pm at the time, which he thought was plenty of notice), Jack strode toward the labs, a shopping bag hanging on his arm.

Over at one of the tables, he was sitting with a stack of mission reports relating to the Sahara, combing for more clues about the clones. His still blond hair was tied back into a small, loose ponytail at the nape of his neck. Jack didn't hear her call: his back was to Chel, and he was wearing headphones that almost looked like mufflers with how thick they were. He reviewed the paper before him, tapping his pen against the table to the beat of the music and completely unaware of his surroundings or the time.

Jerking up in surprise hard enough the the pen flew off the table, Jack turned his head, blinked the work haze out of his eyes, and fumbled for the tiny switch on the left side of the headphones. "Jesus, don't scare me like that," he complained as he let them rest on his shoulders and paused his iPod. He gleaned the time from it and surprisingly didn't feel annoyed that Chel hadn't arrived on time. At least some work had been done.

"Where were you?" he asked. Her question hadn't been heard through his music, but Owain's armlet was still at his wrist. "Was it a bad time or something? You could've told me."

Three a day? "Someone's been busy." His brow furrowed a little, then deepened into his usual scowl as he fixed his hair.

"He asked me to wait," Jack take as he got out of his chair and pocketed the iPod. "Wants the whole hour with you. One second."

Untying the armlet, he placed it in the slot, conferred with the tech on duty, and then stepped back. Soon enough, Owain emerged from the pod, creaking like an old wood house as he struggled to find his balance.

The forest giant was, well, tall. Taller than Jack even: 7ft, wiry, long-limbed, with rough, brown skin like bark. Luminescent green markings seemed to be carved into his skin. His fingers reached halfway to his ankle and were thin and pointed, but his legs grew broader towards his feet until the bare toes were almost rootlike. Branches sprouted from his head like horns, and leaves hung like hair both there, around his eyes, and at his chin. What skin wasn't covered by his drawstring pants was moss dotted, variable as freckles or moles. The giant had a flat, slit of a nose, long ears, portions of his canines peeking from his lips, and bright green eyes that immediately focused on the pair when his bearings had been found.

Owain broke into a large smile as he turned his head to Chel, crouching to get a better look at her as he pushed his lenses up. His movements were slow and deliberate, accompanied by the rustle of leaves. "Ah, at last! Greetings! I forget how very small you all are..."

Owain gave a hearty laugh while Jack made a noncommittal sound. "Such a versatile word!" the weapon observed happily as Chel made her rounds. "I am honored, moreso now that I have finally met you, sweet child." He didn't sound any much older than either of them, but there was a subtle sense of age about the giant, as though he had seen and experienced much and simply didn't remember.

"I'll leave you two to catch up, then," Jack said. He was just turning to return to the table when Owain reached a slender finger out, catching his jacket.

"A suggestion, dear one. Perhaps we might enjoy ourselves outside more? It is starting to cool down, and the fresh air will do well for us."

Jack paused, gave him a long look, glanced at Chel, and then shrugged. "If you want."

"Excellent!" Owain turned to Chel eagerly. "I hope the idea is amenable to you?"

"That I do," Owain replied pleasantly. "For he is dearest to me."

Jack rolled his eyes, slipped the headphones back on, and went to get his things. When the pages were back in the correct order, he pinned the folder closed and motioned for them to get moving.

Owain took long strides, one for about every two and half of Chel's, while his wielded kept a good distance back. The monster looked positively delighted to be escorted and given the attention. "Have you been faring any better?" he asked as they left the labs. "You smile and laugh now, I see, but—your hair, it has lost its color..."

"Hmm. If you believe the measure should be taken, I suppose..." He obviously missed the bright pink. "'I do not know how best to define it, but...'better' shall become 'best' once it returns. As for him, ah..."

Owain glanced behind them, double checking. Jack was watching them, but he had a distracted look in his eyes, following them mechanically.

"In truth, I welcome the reprieve," Owain continued in a lower tone as he turned his head forward. "As does he."

Guilt was written on his face. "Perhaps I have been heavy handed, yes. Even from within his mind, he has a skull thicker than stone." There was a hint of pride there--determination was certainly something to be admired--though the giant's lips pressed together in frustration. "But it would have been remiss of me to let him carry on as he had before."

Owain glanced at her. "We are now in The Outside. Where will you take me today?"