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

[weifinder]

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

[downswing]

Approvingly?

[weifinder]

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

[downswing]

...Astrov.

[weifinder]

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

[downswing]

...you jest.

[weifinder]

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... )

[downswing]

Yelena honoured Astrov and Vanya.

[weifinder]

Are you considering embroidering that on ribbons for them?

[downswing]

I hear Wrathion is an accomplished sewing master.

[weifinder]

Yes, I've commissioned him for a long term project, you'll find him easy to work with!

[downswing]

You truly cannot remember?

[weifinder]

I truly have not yet, and I promise, it's not for lack of knowing they have new names...

[downswing]

....thank you. For making attempt.

[weifinder]

Besides, Vanya, wasn't that Lao Five's sister...?

( this is him dredging up memories best he can. )

[downswing]

It was, beloved. She raised chickens.


( Far too pleased by all and any attempts to Remember. )

[weifinder]

... Did you borrow any of them?

( there's been multiple chicken presentations. he's... curious. and now he's thinking of a rabbit chasing around hens. )

[downswing]

She claimed the ones I... ( Abducted. ) Took during my drunkenness.

[weifinder]

Ah, I had wondered where they wandered off to, I'm happy to hear it was into her hands!

[downswing]

She grew fond of them.

[weifinder]

Who did they find homes with later?

[downswing]

I fear their fates lost.

[weifinder]

They might be with the one farm in Taravast, no?

[downswing]

If fate is kind.

[weifinder]

Fate? Look to people to be kind.