text. (un: benjamin)

[benumbing]

Riddles and surveys seem to be the popular thing lately. I guess the cabin fever had to set in eventually. Or do we call it tent fever here?

I guess I'll contribute with a joke. How many bullets does it take to stop an animal that's fast, aggressive, and already bleeding?

Two. One to bring it down and another for the twitching. It's a horrible punchline, but there's too many kiddies listening for one of my better jokes. Ma

Take a little extra caution outside the camp. These things usually run away.

Comments

action ;

[benumbing]

Here.

[He pulls something from his pocket: a pair of white dress gloves from his uniform, though like everything else they're less pristine than they once were. He doesn't think he really needs to tell her not to touch it unless she's wearing gloves, if she planned on touching it at all. But maybe she didn't have any.

Jack gives their surroundings one last thorough look before crouching down beside her.]

Have you seen any other animals like this?

action ;

[echopraxia]

( her plan had involved poking it with a crossbow bolt - and still might, but there's no small amount of gratitude when she glances up to accept the gloves, her surprised smile fleeting but genuine. preferable to risking it.

(if he weren't present - she is her own best guinea pig, and what kills her never keeps her down for long. but he is, and she isn't quite ready to be that honest with these people.)

slipping the gloves on, )

Not like this. How did it behave?

action ;

[benumbing]

Like something rabid.

[Jack watches her with interest. His stomach isn't weak in the slightest, so the grotesque state of its body doesn't bother him.]

It came at me like it was prepared to kill, with no provocation.

action ;

[echopraxia]

( she handles it carefully - his gloves are better than no protection, but it's not quite the same as a surgical pair, and she is conscious of her pretense. svenja brandt would be concerned for her own health.

benevenuta doesn't want to get poisoned, but a few hours discomfort won't kill her. )

Have you seen before, this animal? The kind? It's behaviour?

action ;

[benumbing]

Glimpses. I always considered them quite shy.

[He tilts his head a little.]

An isolated incident, maybe?

action ;

[echopraxia]

I think not.

( only because they'd never be so lucky; her tone is resignation more than certainty. after a few moments, studying it-- )

There is a tent for science, yes? I think to them, this.

action ;

[benumbing]

Somehow I thought you might say that.

[Jack sighs before standing straight, taking a look around them.]

Do you have something to put it in? Or maybe a rope to drag it with?