un: absterge | video

[downswing]

( 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? )

Comments

[matermali]

[ Wangji is such a dear one at heart, she can't bear it. And this isn't the place to start gossiping about Wrath merely for existing in the same space as her. ]

Have no fear, there has been no sign of any threats from within. It's merely a caution I bring from home and am slow to shed. [ She's not about to start trouble. ] I should never wish this company of ours to be as anything but allies most favored, I assure you.

[downswing]

Apologies. I overstepped.

[matermali]

No. You speak as a friend.

I... [ How to? ] You asked once of the nature of my powers.

[ And she had side-stepped with gusto. ]

I carry something dark within me. It is something that has been sought after. I have been sought after. Even here, especially here, my vigilance cannot waver. There are some among us who would be called enemy, were I in London instead. I may be forced to accept them as ally in our travels, but they are no friend.

There could even be others I have yet to discover.

[downswing]

Skill or sickness?

[matermali]

[ Whoa there, Wangji, that's hitting awfully close to home. Let's keep that story for another never. ]

...Once thought a sickness. But it is a curse— and a gift.

[downswing]

As is all power.

[matermali]

No. Some power can be...good.

[ She can't manage that no matter how much she tries. :( Even if she does this to help, it's compelling the creature, which isn't really ~good~. ]

This—I—can be used to further our cause where necessary, but I will never bring goodness into the world. This is why those who may have dark intent must stay away from me. We cannot truly know everyone in our company.