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

[thedreamer]

Oh good! Dread to think I left a bad impression.

We're the same, of course, him and I, with some differences as one ages.

[ He is being remarkably diplomatic talking about his past self. He loathes himself so much he's usually not this...generous. ] Of course, he was only a few hundred years old and I'm over a thousand years now.

[ He doesn't talk about this part much. But. It has to be explained. ]

[downswing]

He appeared elder.

[thedreamer]

Bit of a lottery, that, my faces. Don't get a say in the matter, old or young.

[ He knows some of his future and what should happen, but here, he's just as mortal as the rest of them. No regeneration cycles left. ]

[downswing]

You are... the strangest creature.

[thedreamer]

People never really stop telling me that. But you're kind to say it, thank you.

[downswing]

Perhaps it is no compliment. Only resignation.

[thedreamer]

I'll grant you. But it's honest resignation and honesty is a kindness.

[ This, he does believe. Even if he sometimes withholds information. Even if through his nature, he's sometimes less than transparent. ]

[downswing]

You know unkindness as well as animals?

[thedreamer]

There's enough of it, isn't there, for it to be known by far too many. If I can stand in the way of that sometimes, it's a good day.

[downswing]

Perhaps next turn we eschew adoption.

[thedreamer]

I don't walk away when something needs help, but I won't put you at risk next time.

[downswing]

It is seldom I at risk.