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[traumatology]

if you know this guy —

( here, he presents a picture of lan wangji, looking pretty beat up and battered, holding up some scales. wangji does not smile, doesn't say cheese. )

he might need a little help when we get the hell out of here. i forgot my first aide kit and the things down here keep tossing him into me like a lawn dart.

and if anyone needs these lake scales, he's been talking like their important. i'm just making sure he stays alive.

Comments

[traumatology]

( the flying talisman does find them and other than eyeing it suspiciously, bucky let's it go and keeps on pulling wangji along, stopping when he needs it. )

Scales didn't look all that important to me but doesn't sound like I can do what you guys can.

[weifinder]

( wei wixian is a few minutes behind it, though he does come jogging through the tunnels behind it. his response first is on pendant alone: )

We're sensitive to energies behind things, and made more sensitive to them in turn. Did whatever creature you encounter target you beyond deciding you were where to throw Lan Zhan?

( aaand look! hark, what light through yonder tunnel breaks? tis the east, and wei wuxian the pale and dark whisper of the moon. )

[traumatology]

No, that was about it.

( it doesn't take him long to figure out that someone else has joined them in the tunnel and bucky stops, stilling and waiting for the other man to approach. )

Guess he was more in the mood to toss your husband rather than me. Don't know if it was something it could sense or just random luck on my part.

[weifinder]

( wei wuxian is efficient in stride, far more confident of his surroundings for familiarity, less so than depth of knowledge in the week and more since they've arrived and faced what they have until now. he nods his head to bucky, gratitude a flash in his expression, before he's at lan zhan's other side, ready to add his support. )

There's a chance it could be either, but Lan Zhan is a beacon of spiritual energy and sensitivity. Anything of magic in this place treats that as much the same as native magics. Lan Zhan's can taste like life or death. How long did this encounter last?

[traumatology]

Not long. The thing came out of the water, smacked your guy here and tossed him so hard he ended up falling into me.

( like a lawn dart. )

How he managed to grab the scales in that amount of time, I don't know, but he did.

[weifinder]

( he listens, and the brevity of it at least makes him feel better that lan zhan didn't reach out beforehand to say anything--it's simple arrogance, not that and stubbornness. he really will need to look at those scales. )

Did it seem that creature was guarding the scales in any way? Or more territorial over the lake? Or sometime else?

( going to see if he can't use a little magic just to make sure there's nothing bleeding internally, lan zhan, ignore the wrist hold )

[traumatology]

It seemed like it wanted to keep us away from it or something.

( so maybe it was guarding the scales. didn't seem to matter to wangji since he was getting them no matter what. )

But it also seemed like once he had the scales, it went right after him and not me. So, seems like it knew that he had them.

[weifinder]

I wonder if thralled to protect, or some other instinct. I'll have to check—would you be able to identify the lake if we found it again?

( just making sure nothing's trying to take his husband's spirit over here, also, do dying. thanks husband??? )

[traumatology]

Oh yeah.

( there weren't that many lakes down where they'd come from so he'd know it. )

Pretty easily identifiable.

[weifinder]

I'd like to visit later.

( when things are less pressing on other directions: namely, his husband. )

Before the next Clawing.

[traumatology]

As long as you keep some distance so no one throws you into me.

( it's becoming a habit. )

And you know how to defend yourself.

[weifinder]

( a snort, and a wry smile, even as his gaze remains on lan zhan. )

No promises about the throwing, I've a lifetime of people and creatures enjoying the attempt, but I can defend myself. And others.

[traumatology]

Good.

( not that he doubted it but he'd rather not be a human landing pad again. )

When you wanna go back, let me know and I'll take you.

[weifinder]

Tomorrow if our schedules allow. I'm meant to be back down here mapping out pathways either way.

( but, understandably, his focus is lan zhan for now. mysteries here are rarely so urgent that hours of rest and healing will cause the success or failure to tip one direction or another. )

[traumatology]

All right, tomorrow. I should be around.

( not that he wants to go back into gut's bind all that badly but he knows there has to be more to the place than what he's seen. )

Be careful getting down here.

[weifinder]

You too, friend. This is a place for haunts as much as the living.

[traumatology]

Yeah, definitely picking up on that. See you soon.