open post, vol. 2

[nostalgiabomb]

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[nostalgiabomb]

[ And that makes Peter pause as well, casting her a quick, sidelong glance. ]

Are you being serious?

[ Despite the word choice, he mostly sounds warily hopeful. Small town that Silverkeep is, the alchemist had offered up a surprising amount of gold for his job – which should have told Peter everything he needed to know about how secretly difficult it was. ]

I found all the other crap the alchemist asked for, but this stupid marten is holding me up.

[jiuweihu]

[ She nods resolutely. ]

They're rare, but I have hunted them before; I know what they smell like. They have dens all through these woods, and I could find one on our way to the town.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Another hesitation, then, ]

If it's on the way.

[ Because with that tracker on her, Peter would rather not dally. There's really no telling how much these bounty hunters might want Yan, and there's no telling how confident they are in their traps – but the more time spent fucking around is more time given to those hunters to catch up.

Peter is involving himself more than he likes, as it is. He'd rather not get forced into some kind of confrontation on top of it all. ]

Besides, I dunno how much tracking you wanna do with a broken foot.

[jiuweihu]

[ The thought isn't immediate, but there's a part of Yan that's appreciative that Peter isn't immediately leaping on her offer to take advantage of her abilities.

It makes her want to help him more. ]

I don't have to put my nose on the ground.

[ Her lips lift in a crooked little smile. ]

I could manage it.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He casts her a quick, sidelong glance, noting the smile on her face. It's almost a little surprising that she manages one, given how fucked this situation is, but it puts him a little at ease, at least. ]

If you notice something and it's not too out of our way, I'd appreciate if you pointed it out.

But let's not go too out of our way for it. I don't think we're gonna have much time to wander.

[jiuweihu]

Given everything, I'm sure you're right.

[ And the longer she spends with the rune, with her broken foot, the longer she's vulnerable. It's not an appealing thought. ]

But I'll pay attention to our surroundings, now that I know what you need.

[ It's a small favor, in her eyes; after he's going out of his way, it seems only fair. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ There's a beat of silence, then, ]

Now that we're talking about this, it seems like overkill to get a fox spirit involved in helping me find weasel shit.

[ Gods, his life is fucking weird sometimes. ]

But I appreciate it.

[jiuweihu]

You were having so much trouble, there might not have been any other way for you to find it.

[ Her tone is just a bit lighter, actually teasing him this time. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He snorts out a laugh. ]

In my defense, I did find one, but it got scared off.

[jiuweihu]

How long did it take you to find the one?

[ That little smile of hers is sly, teasing – foxlike. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ This time, there's a noticeable length of silence.

Then, a little sullenly, ]

Shut up.

[jiuweihu]

[ She actually— laughs.

Soft, sweet, but warm – a genuine laugh. ]

It's not your fault humans aren't made for tracking.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He huffs out a sharp little breath. ]

We get by.

[ Peter's used to hearing a lot of shit about how humans don't really seem to specialize in anything, which means he's gotten used to having to defend himself, too. Enough so that it's more automatic than actually defensive. ]

It doesn't help that this species is like trying to track down a needle in a haystack, either.

[jiuweihu]

[ Humans are sort of just... humans. It doesn't make them less, in Yan's eyes, just different. ]

No, these martens are hard for most to track down, no matter how much they might be predators. They're very fast, and very good at being sneaky.

It probably has something to do with their fey blood.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He lets out a quiet sigh, though the huff of breath is more agreement than frustration. ]

Honestly, it would've been easier if the guy had just asked me to bring one in. I could've done that no problem.

[jiuweihu]

I'm surprised he didn't. Then he would have had a steady supply for his potions – this way, he'll probably need someone to go out and find this all over again.

... Are you sure this is a serious job?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ In all fairness, Peter had wondered the same thing when he heard the tasks and learned the reward the alchemist was willing to attach to it. ]

He's trying out some kinda potion. Experimental, I guess. He didn't want the responsibility of having to keep a marten alive and well in captivity if it doesn't turn out to be the ingredient he needs.

[ He waggles the fingers of his free hand at her. ]

Saves him from getting bitten.

[jiuweihu]

[ She hums in thoughtful agreement. ]

They do have a nasty bite.

[ She's never been bitten personally, but she's seen martens' prey, and they've essentially been savaged. ]

Do you usually chase potion ingredients?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He huffs out a quiet laugh. ]

Not often, no. But the pay was good, and I'm running a little low on funds.

Usually I just... kind of do a little of everything. Which apparently includes picking rare flowers and stalking rare weasels.

[jiuweihu]

A jack-of-all-trades?

[ She sounds pleasantly surprised by his answer; when she'd first seen him, she genuinely would have thought he was a hunter by nature. Or at least somewhere on that scale of looking for animals and easy bounties. ]

That sounds like a very free way to live.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He breathes out another laugh, a little more thoughtful this time. ]

I guess I hadn't thought of it like that. But, yeah. I suppose it is.

It's not much, but— I help people, when I can. Assuming there are people who want to be helped.

[jiuweihu]

A lot of people need to be helped, and not a lot of others offer it.

[ Today is a perfect example, if she's honest. She could have tried to save herself, to get out of that cage, to figure a way to detach the snare, to limp her way to a healer or a fey willing to help her. But the likelier outcome was the same one that befell far too many like her: she would have been found and killed, or brought back to Neverwinter for whatever fate the guard had in store.

The idea makes her shudder. ]

Do you mind if I...?

[ She gestures vaguely to illustrate that she wants to wind her arm around Peter's shoulders – an easier way to use him like a crutch, when her hopping along is still awkward. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He hesitates for a second before leaning down a little, making it a little easier for her to get her arm around his neck. It'll be a little awkward for both of them, admittedly, but no more awkward than it already is; it'll be faster this way, too, he figures.

He's equally hesitant before he wraps his arm around her waist – light and barely there – to help support her. ]

This okay?

[jiuweihu]

[ Yan tenses for only a heartbeat, but as she adjusts to what Peter is doing .– and how careful he's being – she offers a nod, settling more comfortably into using him as a makeshift crutch. ]

It's fine.

[ She offers him a small, self-conscious smile. ]

It's a little easier.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He lets out a quiet, affirmative hum, getting a slightly better grip on her waist as they continue on.

They continue on in silence for a while, with Peter listening carefully for the noise of pursuers. For now, everything seems calm around them – the faint rustle of the leaves and branches above them, the quiet calls of wildlife – and Peter lets himself relax a little.

Then, carefully, ]

How'd you end up in that cage, anyway?