“C'mon, Bro!” Cacucu Squawks. Share Your Food. Let 'em Have A Bite. Just A Nimble. 

❝ you have a nice smile, has anyone ever told you that before? ❞ \ clenches fist , ororon

It is late at night and Ifa was invited for dinner at Ororon's place. The two Natlan warriors are still seated at the table after the delicious meal was done and they idly chat, having coffee and cookies.

Ifa made himself comfortable prior to the meal, his white coat hanging on the back of the chair and he removed his gloves. His hat is flipped over on his lap and Cacucu has nested inside the cowboy hat, sleeping soundly with a tummy full of food. 

Ifa has an elbow on the table and rests his chin in his palm, his other hand gently and sweetly petting over Cacucu's feathery head as the qucusaur sleeps.

Cacucu almost never knocks out when visiting Ororon. Those two are always buzzing with energy and they genuinely enjoy each other's company, but the Tlalocan vet and his assistant had quite the busy day at the clinic and Ifa doesn't mind Cacucu snoozing away inside his hat. After the chaos of today, Cacucu deserves to rest. 

Ifa continues to listen to Ororon's stories and tales while petting Cacucu's head. A smile soon spreads over his bronze features in this peaceful and perfect moment. A soft and fond smile; a smile that is equally exhausted, but warm and full.

Cacucu has been with Ifa through the thick of it all, through hell and high water, and still he remains by Ifa. Cacucu is such a good and wonderful companion. Ifa feels so grateful, his heart swelling with love and … 

Ororon says something odd again and it pulls Ifa from his thoughts. 

❝ My what? ❞ Ifa blinks at Ororon. His smile? Did Ororon compliment his smile? 

Ifa chuckles nervously and feels the warmth in his heart rush to his cheeks. 

❝ Nah, I'd just … we had a long day and we're tired, dude. I should get going. I gotta get this little guy to bed anyhow. Th-thanks, though … for dinner! ❞

𝟐𝟎𝟎 𝐑𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐎𝐌 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐔𝐄 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐌𝐏𝐓𝐒 

from this generator.

❛ close your eyes and hold out your hands. ❜ ❛ what are you smiling at? ❜ ❛ i can’t leave you alone for one minute, can i? ❜ ❛ was it you? did you do all this? ❜ ❛ i don’t know how you do this every day… ❜ ❛ that is not an appropriate question to ask a lady you’ve just met. ❜ ❛ i’m not sorry. ❜ ❛ i did warn you not to trust me. ❜ ❛ do you remember anything? at all? ❜ ❛ you’re lucky you’re cute. ❜ ❛ why don’t you just kill me? ❜ ❛ did you hurt yourself? ❜ ❛ i could show you the way. ❜ ❛ i don’t feel so good. ❜ ❛ you owe me a dinner. a very nice dinner. ❜ ❛ don’t go. please. ❜ ❛ you wanna know what your problem is? ❜ ❛ i’m here to drink alone. ❜ ❛ don’t run away from this. ❜ ❛ i’m just saying, murder is an option. ❜ ❛ i didn’t realize you were in so much pain. ❜ ❛ i guess it runs in the family, huh? ❜ ❛ you wouldn’t understand. ❜ ❛ we’ve been through a lot. i think we should just lay low and take it easy. ❜ ❛ dangerous to be out so late. ❜ ❛ i hope you haven’t been standing out in the cold this whole time. ❜ ❛ i made a mistake. ❜ ❛ am i not good enough? ❜ ❛ i’m going to get you out of here. ❜ ❛ why did you bring me here? ❜ ❛ aren’t we in a good mood today? ❜ ❛ don’t shut me out. please. ❜ ❛ the storm’s getting worse. ❜ ❛ i never meant to hurt you. ❜ ❛ you’re about as intimidating as a butterfly. ❜ ❛ have you come to laugh at me in my miserable state? ❜ ❛ here, take this. you’ll catch a cold. ❜ ❛ this is the part where you leave. ❜ ❛ why are you talking like we’ll never see each other again? ❜ ❛ you stepped on my foot! ❜ ❛ you’re not a very convincing liar. ❜ ❛ we’re in completely different leagues. ❜ ❛ how did you find me? ❜ ❛ i don’t need you anymore. ❜ ❛ rough day today? ❜ ❛ snap out of it! ❜ ❛ you look better in my clothes than i do. ❜ ❛ why are you still here? ❜ ❛ can i ask… what happened? ❜ ❛ are you saying you care about me? ❜ ❛ i won’t let anyone hurt you. ❜ ❛ it’s not stealing if it was mine to begin with. ❜ ❛ well, this is where i live. ❜ ❛ we’re not so different after all. ❜ ❛ how long have i been asleep? ❜ ❛ no more lies, no more secrets. ❜ ❛ can you forgive me? ❜ ❛ i thought you… i saw you get shot. ❜ ❛ why are you really here? ❜ ❛ i wish we never met. ❜ ❛ you look like you need a hug. ❜ ❛ would you run away with me? ❜ ❛ see? i’m not just a pretty face. ❜ ❛ we can stop them. i can help you. ❜ ❛ what now? i’m tired. ❜ ❛ i didn’t want you to see me like this. ❜ ❛ i can’t do this without you. ❜ ❛ if you tell me yours, i’ll tell you mine. ❜ ❛ are you threatening me? ❜ ❛ did you ever care about me? ❜ ❛ treat me like the princess that i am! ❜ ❛ i’m not leaving you. ❜ ❛ why did you come? ❜ ❛ i need your help… and you need mine. ❜ ❛ i wish i could hate you. ❜ ❛ i see you don’t recognize me. well, it was a long time ago. ❜ ❛ you’ve lost a lot of blood. ❜ ❛ i had my suspicions, but until now i wasn’t sure. ❜ ❛ there’s nothing left for me here. ❜ ❛ that is… literally illegal. you’re describing something illegal. ❜ ❛ wait. i’ve heard that sound before. ❜ ❛ just try to hang on. ❜ ❛ so why’s it so important anyway? ❜ ❛ i’ll stay in tonight, thanks. ❜ ❛ we can’t keep going on like this. ❜ ❛ in about a minute, you’ll be sorry you didn’t listen to me. ❜ ❛ is this seat taken? sorry, it’s a bit crowded here. ❜ ❛ you can’t leave me here alone! ❜ ❛ i’ll believe it when i see it. ❜ ❛ why are you laughing? this is a very serious situation. ❜ ❛ i bought two. here. ❜ ❛ i’ve seen you before, walking by. ❜ ❛ why can’t i come with you? ❜ ❛ c'mon. aren’t you worried what might happen if we go? ❜ ❛ walk with me? ❜ ❛ it’s very rude to stare. ❜ ❛ how many times have i told you? you can’t visit me here. ❜ ❛ we can’t fix this. can we? ❜ ❛ are you going to kill me? ❜ ❛ it’s not like you can stop me. ❜ ❛ it’s not safe for people to see us together. ❜ ❛ take me with you. ❜ ❛ some risks are worth taking. ❜ ❛ let them go. take me instead. ❜ ❛ what do you want in exchange for it? ❜ ❛ is being drunk an excuse? ❜ ❛ promise me you won’t overreact. ❜ ❛ how can i possibly trust you? after all you’ve done. ❜ ❛ how long have you been standing there? ❜ ❛ why did you wake me? ❜ ❛ i’m not here to talk about my feelings. ❜ ❛ you were going to leave without saying goodbye? ❜ ❛ for some reason, i’m attracted to you. ❜ ❛ promise me? ❜ ❛ it’s nothing, i’m just tired. ❜ ❛ i feel safe with you. ❜ ❛ i don’t need your help. ❜ ❛ i think i have a bit more experience with this thing than you do. ❜ ❛ no way, i’m not doing that. ❜ ❛ i do care. ❜ ❛ you snore in your sleep. it’s adorable. ❜ ❛ i have a spare bed. ❜ ❛ you’re very kind. some day it’ll get you killed. ❜ ❛ you’ll always have a home with me. ❜ ❛ of course i care. you’re my family. ❜ ❛ you shouldn’t insult people that are bigger than you. ❜ ❛ i never wanted to hurt you. ❜ ❛ i swear it wasn’t me. ❜ ❛ we can just sit here, you don’t have to talk. ❜ ❛ did you miss me? ❜ ❛ this isn’t just about you. it’s about what’s best for all of us. ❜ ❛ you can never admit when you’re wrong! ❜ ❛ is this what you wanted? ❜ ❛ what are you doing out here by yourself? ❜ ❛ sorry to put you through that. i guess i owe you one now. ❜ ❛ the only time you talk to me is when you need something. ❜ ❛ i’m still learning. ❜ ❛ if you have something to say, spit it out. ❜ ❛ you… don’t like me very much, do you? ❜ ❛ i’m on your side. ❜ ❛ i risked my life for you! ❜ ❛ whatever you’re going to ask, the answer is no. ❜ ❛ you can stay with me. ❜ ❛ i just need time. ❜ ❛ please don’t do this, don’t act like you care. ❜ ❛ who the hell invited you? ❜ ❛ what? no witty remark? nothing clever to say? ❜ ❛ i just wanted to say i’m sorry. ❜ ❛ think of it as a compliment. ❜ ❛ do you ever stop being so serious and dull? ❜ ❛ it’s rare to see your kind around here. ❜ ❛ you remember me. that’s good. ❜ ❛ you’re a terrible flirt you know. ❜ ❛ are you kidding me? we’re not ‘fine’! ❜ ❛ right now i wish i was dead. ❜ ❛ i guess i should’ve told you. ❜ ❛ you’re not alone. i’m here. ❜ ❛ you’ve been so quiet. what’s on your mind? ❜ ❛ knowledge is power. ❜ ❛ you scared me. ❜ ❛ well, what’s so strange about that? ❜ ❛ don’t look at me like that. ❜ ❛ i want to be there when you get what’s coming to you. ❜ ❛ just who do you think you are? ❜ ❛ you look… amazing. ❜ ❛ we’re safe, aren’t we? ❜ ❛ you know, i really hoped i’d never see this place again. ❜ ❛ don’t touch me. get away from me. ❜ ❛ i thought you’d like this. ❜ ❛ it’s too dark, i can’t see anything. ❜ ❛ what’s that smug look for? you think you can do any better? ❜ ❛ who did you piss off this time? ❜ ❛ you should’ve thought about that before you got into a fight. ❜ ❛ i only wanted to help. ❜ ❛ you knew and you didn’t tell me? ❜ ❛ you don’t scare me. ❜ ❛ wow, look who remembered my existence. ❜ ❛ change isn’t easy. ❜ ❛ why did you help me? ❜ ❛ why do you hate me? ❜ ❛ i can’t even trust myself anymore. ❜ ❛ i was making sure you weren’t dead, since you never called. ❜ ❛ you look awful. what happened? ❜ ❛ are you here to kill me? ❜ ❛ you know you aren’t allowed in here, right? ❜ ❛ was that a friend of yours? ❜ ❛ two years later and you haven’t changed. ❜ ❛ you look like you just saw a ghost. ❜ ❛ nobody tells me what to do. ❜ ❛ you’re too scared to do it, aren’t you? ❜ ❛ come on. it can’t be that bad. ❜ ❛ i hope to repay your kindness someday. ❜ ❛ just let me do this for you. ❜ ❛ why were they coming after you? ❜ ❛ how many people have you killed? how many? ❜ ❛ how much do you value your life? ❜ ❛ you don’t know when to give up, do you? ❜ ❛ don’t lie to me. ❜ ❛ i’m not sober enough to talk about this. ❜ ❛ have a drink with me. ❜

Ifa isn't sure how he's come into this situation or knows who ( or what ) he's helping, but The Tlalocan veterinarian can't do nothing. Ifa removes his medical satchel from his belt and lays it out for the creature to see everything he's doing.

He reaches into the satchel for triage materials and Cacucu knows the drill, the saurian raptor hovers down and turns his back to Ifa, giving his colleague the chance to reach into little backbag for smaller medical items. Ifa is ready to begin his care and he perks up at hearing the guttural plea from the creature. He blinks with surprise before nodding his head. Of course.

❝ I'll help you, bud, no worries there. I'm gonna look at you now, okay? ❞

Ifa can see they are infected with abyssal corruption and likely … far from human. They have a tail, indigo claws, eyes like a sea of stars, and a devolved speech pattern. Ifa will have to try his best here. He's not even sure if they need a regular doctor, a vet, or The Traveler who can heal abyssal corruption. 

Somehow, Ifa can hear his ancestors cursing him ( with brooms in hands ) from beyond the Night Kingdom. He's healing abyssal creatures now? 

"Relax, bro. We got you, bro!" Cacucu squawks to reassure the creature and Ifa motions again for the raptor to stay back. He can't risk Cacucu catching any abyssal corruption. Ifa too can catch it himself, but that doesn't seem to concern him. 

❝ Almost done. You're doing good. ❞ Ifa explains as he finishes wrapping a bandage.

❝ But, you're going to need more help than this. Do you know where you are, or what happened to you? Who you are? ❞

Sesame is busy making biscuits on Cacucu

“Oh dear! Oh dear!” Cacucu is shaking like a leaf. This is it, this is how he goes. Wait for him ancestors in the Night Kingdom. What will he tell them? Eaten by the chubbiest cat? 

WHAT FORM OF LOVE DO YOU EMBODY?

love as light — love as a luminous force— warm, radiant, and golden. when mary oliver wrote "light of the world hold me” and when charles bukowski said “I look at her and light goes all through me” and when david viscott said “ to love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides ” and when e. e. cummings said “lovers alone wear sunlight”

tagged by: @delivrnce gracias~ <3

tagging: @paramythas (bom or zani ) @aerosung @poswiecenia (ororon) @staellerum (wrio) @visvivae (ophelia) + you!

❝ i don't usually talk this much, it just feels easy to say stuff when you're listening. ❞ \ ororon :3

Ifa is helping Ororon in his garden, having the time to spare since he finished rounds early and in a lull with new patients now that peace has settled over the land of war. 

The saurian vet is crouched down in a soft bed of soil and moving the dirt with a garden spatula. Ororon is crouched down besides him also, talking up a storm of many and odd things, like always, and Ifa listens. 

A whole afternoon spent together like this and it's not until the two Natlan warriors straighten up with their bounty of cabbages, potatoes, and fruits does Ororon speak another odd thing; and this time it makes Ifa chuckle softly, like the Mictlan ancient name bearer told a joke. 

❝ Dude, you always talk like this when you're out here gardening. It's cool though. Sometimes, you have far more interesting things to say than I do. ❞ Ifa begins dividing the fruits and vegetables, knowing already which Ororon's will gift to friends tomorrow. 

❝ I'm glad you can talk about any and everything, whether to me or these cabbages. ❞

hear me out. halovian ifa.

sometimes that sad feeling is due to low blood sugar, and sometimes it's from decades of history. not that complex

Ifa has had a few patients who fear sitting on his examination table or fear his needles. He's cared for pediatric cases before, but this ... he blinks at the grown man with verdant eyes, taken back by his visceral reaction to Ifa drawing close for an examination.

Is this not a martial arts tournament? How can someone compete in a festival for violence and test of skill yet are afraid of treating physicians?

❝ Uh … ❞ Ifa sounds unsure.  ❝ Would you like me to ? ❞

Ifa has no issue with counting down if that calms his patient. He rather insure the man is not facing a dire situation and needs more than simple topical cure for his gash. It doesn't matter the age or career of the patient. What matter is Ifa is taking care of them to the best of his ability. If he has to count, he'll count. 

The cowboy's gloved hands take hold of the man's forearm again and he examines the gash, counting down out loud, and finding no discoloration to the skin aside for the abrasion. Ifa imagines a weapon with some kind of toxin to continue its sting and slow the inflicted is the likely cause, but nothing life threatening or incurable. 

❝ No, all honored guests of the Xianzhou are cared for under Xianzhou hospitality and I'm paid by the commission to treat so ... no worries there, dude. ❞

Ifa prepared a tray to clean the wound and dress it ahead of time and he begins his wound care, looking up to the man with green eyes and explaining to him what he's doing currently, if that helps him to settle down as well. It doesn't take long and Ifa smiles when he finishes.

❝ There, all done. You did great. ❞ Ifa returns the tray to a countertop and brings back a small plate of freshly baked cookies. This was suppose to be his lunch with coffee, but he doesn't mind sharing.

❝  I don't have any lollipops, but I made these this morning. New recipe I'm trying too, so let me know how it taste. ❞

@ifadoc :  ❛ hold still. this might sting a little. ❜       an assortment of dialogue prompts.

     With  some  force,  he  yanks  his  arm  out  of  the  healer's  grasp,  whining  for  what  is  flimsy  reasoning.   ❝  Whoa,  whoa,  whoa,  Doc  !   Aren't  you  supposed  to  promise  me  like  a  lollipop  or  something  then  count  down  ?   Tell  me  it's  aaaallll  gonna  be  fine  ?   ❞    Sampo  has  never  been  afraid  of  needles,  has  even  found  some  pleasure  in  points  much  sharper,  but  given  this  new  face,  he  can't  help  but  mess  around  a  little   (  even  if  it  paints  him  in  a  rather  childish  light.  )

     It  detracts  from  the  clamor  the  Fool  had  been  pulled  out  of.  Details  under  wraps  but  based  on  the  sequence  of  events   &&   his  own  stake  in  the  game,  Sampo  can  surmise  that  this  is  mostly  related  to  the  Elation's  covert  presence  upon  the  ship.  Those  that  didn't  take  to  kindly  to  his  existence  had  inflicted  not  just  a  gash  in  skin  but  some  sort  of  sting.  A  poison  or  something  like  that,  though  he's  sure  it  wouldn't  actually  kill  him  even  if  he  hadn't  been  sat  down  by  Ifa.  However,  it  would've  looked  a  lot  more  suspicious  had  he  refused  treatment.

     After  a  drawn  out  sigh,  he  offers  his  arm  back,  nodding  towards  the  syringe.   ❝  How  much  is  this  going  cost  me  ?   ❞