open post, vol. 2

[nostalgiabomb]

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( VOL. 1 )

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[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?

[jiuweihu]

[ Yan hops along beside him, having a considerably easier time now that he's supporting so much of her weight (not that there's an especially significant portion of it to begin with).

She glances at him from the corner of her eye, her nose wrinkling. ]

I thought I was tracking a rabbit. The cage didn't appear until I was already inside of it.

[nostalgiabomb]

Oh.

[ It's an obvious enough answer, all things considered, but he feels silly for not realizing— ]

You were hungry.

[jiuweihu]

I was hungry.

[ She confirms it with a sigh.

All of this, and she still didn’t get her meal. ]

I haven’t eaten since I left Neverwinter.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He frowns a little, glancing up through the tree tops. The light is fading, and it's a little too soon to think about stopping and setting up camp for the evening. ]

Think you can hold out a little while longer?

[jiuweihu]

[ Yan nods without even hesitating. ]

I'm fine. We can hold out for a while, in case hunting becomes scarce.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He studies her for a second before nodding. ]

We'll start setting up camp at sundown. It's not much, but I've got some rations you can have while I track something down a little more substantial.

[jiuweihu]

[ She glances up at this face, a little surprised. ]

You don't have to share your food with me. It's yours.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He lets out a quiet, skeptical noise. ]

And you’re just gonna sit there watching while I eat?

I may be an asshole, but I’m not a total dick.

[jiuweihu]

[ One of those smaller, tentative smiles tugs faintly at her lips. ]

Then I guess I will take you up on it. I really don't need much, though.

[ She's apparently determined she can hold out – mostly, because she doesn't want to take more than Peter is already doing for her. They may have reached some tenuous understanding, but Yan doesn't want to push it. ]