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She had been reading. Apparently, a few scroll and book enthusiast had saved some by sheer luck, and Lan had hunted one down to have the chance to read what could be one of the last of her kind's works. She knew many works by heart, she'd had them memorized because she'd loved them so, (and it suited a wife to know the more classic of their works), but she hadn't been able to transcribe anything yet. It was not her duty, not her task.

So when Mengyao had accosted her, Lan had unceremonious dropped her scroll and glared at him. Request indeed, she was betting he wanted to have her work. Thankfully her makini was faithfully following her, and the horsewoman sighed. "Every debt must be paid Mengyao, and you do know how I will call it in at my convenience." As he told her what they were supposed to be doing, she frowned.
"This is.... a rather idiotic plan, stealing water."

Debts can be forgiven.. true. Very true. She also asked his opinion on things often enough so 'debt' was a touch subjective if she really wanted to push it. but the need to steal water had her frowning. "No choice...." she looked for his fan. "Someone isn't holding your fan hostage are they?" It was an honest question, someone might have then it to get him moving. And him without his fan was almost like a crime.

Mengyao was part horseman, part fan, she knew this very well.

Still she would walk by him and help him. He was a friend. Though she didn't quite like to say it. He was an a** but he was an honest a**, and that was far better than pandering she got from some. At the edge of the forest she looked at him then at her dress. "If this gets soiled the debt will be paid with a new outfit, I hope you realize this." Stepping in she smiled, "though, if it comes from you at least I'll know it will be either flattering or, new bedding for my makini." As she walked down a path she felt the wetness just as she heard it.

A squish. Making a quick face she lifted her dress, edges moist. Soaking wet moss and- "Augh. No. There is water but- no. Mengyao we are leaving. We are leaving right now. this place is terrible." A sniff of the air and another face. "and it reeks worse than a famine mule who hasn't bathed."

She would dirty her dress and it would be his fault. All of it. Things were just easier when Lan could blame him. Storming her way out of the brackish waters and moss and jack knew what else, she gave Mengyao an angry glance then...resignation. She'd not run out and she's not just... leave him here. "You fan should be left at camp." She muttered shaking him off.

"If we find the water what then? Do we... get buckets and ferry it back and forth? Seems like a lot of work." A tap of her fingers to her chin. "It would be better if we had some pets do it I think. Oh, wouldn't it be darling? A little line of makini with buckets and bowls going back and forth? I think it would adorable." If a bit of animal cruelty.

Sadly her walk led to a simliar place and she coughed. "I hate this forest Mengyao. I hate it and it's stupid-" A cry of frustration as water soaked into her shoe.
"I hate it."

She opened her mouth to say something, then snapped it shut. Oh he didn't need to hear her badgering him. Nor, did she need to give him any more excuses to tease her or prod her. His help however, was appreciated. She couldn't sass him after he helped.

Clever Mengyao, clever.

"..Thank you. That was most-" she looked back, grimacing, "-unpleasant. Hopefully we will have better luck?" She smiled a bit, just happy to be out of the damp earth, though her shoes would definitely need a cleaning. "You are right though. If we do fail... augh. My couldn't we just..send a minipet to do it." Her question was answered as they walked by a scareon eating what looked to be a corrividus.
"Oh." A trickle of water could be heard but just barely under the crunch of bones. Not that it helped. ".....I wish would could send a minipet for this."

Lan would one day wipe that smirk from his smug face, but not this day. This day, she would content herself with finding water and then calling it quits. The help over the log was just as when he steadied her in the wet earth. Needed, yet unsaid. "I am fairing... alright. It will be better once we are done with this task." She ignored his face, trying to mask her own. "Other then that I am... well. As one can be really."

The snap of broken underbush as he head whipped over, sucking in a breath at the sight of it. "Of thank the ancestors. Maybe we can finally be done here." Striding over she waited for Mengyao to catch up before tossing the bucket down...
only to hear it clatter.
".......You have got to be kidding." She gave her friend a look like it was his fault, "What kind of well doesn't have water? This is..augh. This is a terrible place."

If they had been siblings, they probably would have driven each other over the edge a long time ago. It was much better that they were friends, less chance of them boiling over into true anger or resentment. That was something Lan honestly would rather do without. Still, her fingers dancing along the edge of the well, he pondered throwing his fan down there.

But then realized he'd get fussy.

Lan felt that a fussy Mengyao was not worth the small amusement it would provide.

"It's obviously broken, just like half of this wretched place." Her hand drew back and arms crossed. Broken and shattered, just like them. Appropriate. "Maybe... in time... we will be able to go back?" Walking to move along and possible just wander aimlessly, there was an echo as she stepped over a small mound. a tap of her foot and the echo resounded again.

Moving, she bent over brushing away the dirt to find a handle. Pulling, the wooden lid came up with a pop.
".........." A rope and wiggled, the sound of water.
"You try it."

Indeed, it was a wretched place. Just why Lan wasn't keen on being taste tester. "You pull be out here to find water and I found some. I also opened this well. So, it seems only fair you try the water."
Seeing that he wasn't about to drink it, the horsewoman sighed, relented and tried it herself. The water was cool, refreshing. Smirking, she stood and made her way back to the camp.
"It's fine. not let us rid ourselves of this place." She looked to her shoes. "And clean. "