eastbound | un: absterge

( Two men and a xenomorph walk into a tavern —

...alternatively, stumble down a woodland road, breath staggered, seemingly drained — if not by the weight of the enormous forest creature they carry, bled and bound to a makeshift pallet of decayed logs, then by the constant, jittery effort to evade the strikes of its tail.

The Doctor drags the animal’s wooden bed by long, loosely woven strips of ripped cloth. Lan Wangji holds the pendant with one hand and his own cutting strings that fetter the beast with the other.

For their trouble, the creature’s tail lovingly smacks the Doctor on his flank, then thwaps Lan Wangji’s temple, on the swing back. It growls its thanks after, before settling into a... disturbing... purr... that seems to indicate the time to nap is nigh.

The Doctor, then: ) It's settling down a bit already! Just needed a proper looking after, really, like anything.

( Well said, Doctor. For your effort, have a nice, friendly, sleepy tail smack on the back. So Wangji doesn’t feel jealous, the snoring beast peers over his shoulder, drenching it in a sea of... drool. He sighs. )

We bear one of the Beastmaster’s creatures. Feral, wounded. Enemy of the Huntress in the woods.

( Who should have been long culled, but don’t let Lan Wangji’s long-suffering expression convince you of that. The enemy or their enemy, so on. )

It requires... healing to resume duties. We number those who know the care of animals?

( ooc: ...sorry, cave buddies, just going to park Fido in the back real quick! Any veterinarians in the house? )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...animals and members of Yunmeng Jiang.

Lan Zhan!

What is truth, and what is lie?

When have those from Yunmeng Jiang had the personality to shriek and cry when dragged anywhere?

When punished for disobedience of the principles.

Edited 2023-07-12 22:01 (UTC)

Whining, ( he says, full solemnity ) is a different artform. And there are far too many principles to remember.

Liar. You recall.

I have no idea what you could possibly mean!

( yes but also he doesn't care )

We may test if Wei Ying shrieks or cries. Take sword.

What, here I am tending to the rabbits and the whole of the cave, and you want to play at swords? Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan, a better time for your jesting, right? There's a better time!

Craven.

Running! In our mutual best interests. I'm building stamina, the rabbits observe!

Edited (i almost didn't catch that typo ) 2023-07-17 05:16 (UTC)

Approvingly?

Only the one who chews more wiggled to get down and chase after me, I'm claiming that as approval!

...Astrov.

Right, right, Astrov! What's the other one being called now, again?

...you jest.

I've been calling them Little Cabbage and Little Beansprout in my head for months, these new names, I'm getting used to them!

( he's continually forgetting them and it's not even deliberate... )