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westwhere2022-04-07 11:03 pm
blackscales) wrote in westwhere2022-04-07 11:03 pm
[ CLOSED ] Twisting, constricted
WHO: Wrathion & Visitors
WHEN: April: Beastmaster's Arrival & Aftermath
WHERE: Ke-Waihu & then... the forests around Ke-Waihu. Cosy caves.
WHAT: Wrathion clocks the Beastmaster arriving and immediately Nopes Out. Plot here!
WARNINGS: Awkward cuddling huddled by a blanket ft UST in a cave.
As soon as the Beastmaster draws near to Ke-Waihu, Wrathion slinks from the village and takes flight through the forest. He can be seen, occasionally, flying over the tree-tops in the area being pursued by the Beastmaster's creatures. Those who know him well, or those good at following tracks, can find him hiding out in a cave avoiding them while he waits out the Beastmaster's powers fading.
WHEN: April: Beastmaster's Arrival & Aftermath
WHERE: Ke-Waihu & then... the forests around Ke-Waihu. Cosy caves.
WHAT: Wrathion clocks the Beastmaster arriving and immediately Nopes Out. Plot here!
WARNINGS: Awkward cuddling huddled by a blanket ft UST in a cave.
As soon as the Beastmaster draws near to Ke-Waihu, Wrathion slinks from the village and takes flight through the forest. He can be seen, occasionally, flying over the tree-tops in the area being pursued by the Beastmaster's creatures. Those who know him well, or those good at following tracks, can find him hiding out in a cave avoiding them while he waits out the Beastmaster's powers fading.
no subject
As for the rest, he shakes his head, offers a smile as he settles into a waiting stance.
"You're surprising, but I've heard or seen things, and Daenerys has a creature of similar form, much smaller. Have you seen him?" Irrelevant if he had or hadn't: he shakes his head.
"There's nothing like you alive where I'm from. There's nothing like the dead rising, bodies being reinhabited by outside spirits, time magic or so much of what defines this world in my own. The water-swimming maids, people who take form of human and wolf, cold winds and vengeance taking form and calling itself Anurr. Anyway, you lack killing intent. You don't presently want me dead."
Which is a well honed instinct based on energy signatures that were used to a great many things, living or not, wanting him dead.
no subject
Drogon has none of the natural, immediate intellect and talent Wrathion had at his age. Wrathion drags himself more up onto his feet, sways a half second before smoke begins to curl around him. Flecks of gold glitter through it, and as the smoke shrinks and disperses Wrathion's human form is left propping itself up against the wall with one hand. He clears his throat, trying to pull himself back together.
"I'd say you'd know about if I wanted you dead, but in my present state perhaps less so."
Normally, being big enough to eat someone gives you a degree of confidence. Less so when you've been run ragged already.
no subject
He doesn't blink so much as squint a touch and watch the process, fascinated by it. He didn't see anyone shift form at the village, or outside of it, barely can remember the whole situation. He has no recollection of how his form felt when forcibly shifted by that curse when he'd knocked into and over part of that fox spirit's shrine, in weeks earlier.
The gold flecks catching light in all the smoke, however, is a nice touch. The performative part of himself appreciates it, just as he steps forward, less offering to steady Wrathion than offering over the water satchel, unstoppered.
"I don't doubt I would, as would anyone. Cultivators, ah, what would you say... that kind of desire has its own energy. We'd feel it like a blade against our skin, ah? Or like a cold wind cutting through a warm day."
no subject
He exhales slowly, making sure he feels together before he releases the wall and takes the water -- squints at it thoughtfully as he lets his senses read it.
"This is from across the bridge? The village?"
no subject
He smiles without commenting on the awareness of being desired dead. There are limitations, mainly distance, and how controlled someone's energy was in the end.
"The village with people suffering a curse of a different kind. The water's safe."
Not that it means much, when safe is a relative term. "Does make his pull lessen, even splashed on your face."
no subject
He's curious, but admittedly more curious about the water for the moment. Giving it a last read over with his senses he takes a sip, lets the gentle wash of magic slowly muffle the uneasy energy he'd had crawling underneath his skin.
"The signature on this feels the same as the shrines."
He's been given pieces from them, although Hermione forbade him from experimenting with them.
no subject
"Likely it's all the same source. Makes me more curious about the Raven's House sitting up on Brother Sanwon."
Given the one who made the shrines, that wanderer, is attributed with the ravens, but what is he to say? Mysteries call to him, and he answers, because here, nothing solves itself without investigation.
Ones which should continue once this threat of losing one's sense of self due to the machinations of one undead lord, versus the one being hidden, finds a momentary gasping breath of a break.
"Have you felt that signature anywhere else?"
no subject
He frowns in thought, tilting his head slowly as cogs turn.
"There has to be some connection, between the water of that place and the shrines. Perhaps touched by the same source, a source which gentles the touch of the Beastmaster. If we could better understand that source, it would useful. I know the Huntress has controlled members of our party before, and it seems we are putting our trust in her. Always good to have a back plan, however, in case this cooperation is short-lived."
Leaving thinks to chance seems... dangerous. He may have sympathy for her, being pursued by the Beastmaster, but people who have been hurt are just as capable of doing damage to others.
no subject
He smiles, wan. "No, trusting her beyond this particular moment of her convenience isn't wise. Anurr making that request, ah, the benefits fall to him without the cost."
Not having to deal with the Beastmaster in the interim, fighting instead those same forces at a distance, while the lord himself wanes. Wei Wuxian looks towards the volcano's peak, or it's direction, given the current cave hardly leaves that open view.
"Both have come for the volcano as it grows strong, and they, for the moment weak. Each time Brother Sanwon releases his earth and fire, those around are changed in part. A link between the people's, the magic perhaps of the mountain, and what both lords of death hope to achieve in being here when soon there mountain stirs?"
He looks to Wrathion and nods.
"Yes, there's some link, or several. I'd like to get to this House of Ravens to see what we may find there that reflects on the rest, before the mountain goes."
no subject
Nothing seems clear, everything he learns only seems to invoke more questions. He lifts one hand to rub at his beard, restless. Frustrated.
"The volcano feels as if it will erupt soon. I would prefer to understand how all this connections before that showdown, which means any further ventures would need to be soon. Difficult, when we're not even certain what we'd be walking into."
Is the House of Ravens itself dangerous? Or peaceful? The only way to know appears to be to go look.
no subject
He lifts his shoulders in something like a shrug, lips thinning to a line as he glances in the direction that is currently cave, but which feasibly beyond lies higher parts of the volcano.
"Do any of your enchantments reduce the presence or energy signatures of an individual?"
no subject
A shame, given being able to reduce his own presence more right now would be quite useful. It's never really be an requirement until now, unfortunately.
no subject
Tapping his chin, then shaking his head after.
"Are you willing to test its efficiency when I do?"
Needing different people's energies for testing is part of the reality. Plus, thinking forward might help when the now is presently not the most comfortable state... in this lovely cave, with the Beastmaster's influence uncoiling, insidious, across the landscape outside. To think he's at his weakening, and still.
no subject
Testing is all part of the process, after all. There is little point waiting for the most dire moment of need before using something, better to test first and adjust as necessary.
"I'm disinclined to stay in this cave forever, but anything that can keep it suitably quiet while I'm here -- or keep my journeys out of it more peaceful is... appreciated."
Relying on other people is hard, but as Chi-Ji once said: with the help of friends, nothing is impossible. Wrathion isn't quite sure if Wei Wuxian would consider him a friend, but he's certainly helping. It's a... new sort of experience, accepting that.
no subject
A smile, wan, but the earnest truth beneath it: even the Merchant, he of the funding and strings pulling and erstwhile Plans only sees them useful in keeping them out of enemy hands, and in allowing them to burn down whatever catches on their fires as they move, shuffled along and away on a hope of finding a gate that can sustain opening, that can send them home, or to someone's home, even if it's not theirs.
"Would you like company for a while longer, or is Anduin or one of the others due in before long?" Not a man to feel the need to be around people in the same ways he'd been as a youth, letting it be invitation, not expectation, and at ease with himself. More and more, the horror that'd kept him tense in the memories of the teeth, the claws, the shape of the wolves and werewolves bricks off again, to the place where all bad things linger, swallowed and partially digested and left buried in his mental woods.
no subject
He knows it's an obvious suggestion -- Wrathion was visiting Anduin frequently, something Wei Wuxian is aware of -- yet somehow the predictability of it is unsettling.
Especially given he's absolutely right, Anduin is now someone who is frequently visiting him here.
"He has been bringing me food from the village. I haven't seen him yet today, so he might come. Don't feel you need to stay, if you have things to do. I am quite use to my own company."
The idea of this man staying out of obligation is almost as awkward as the idea that he knows full well Anduin will visiting to check on him. It feels like a vulnerability, and Wrathion dislikes those immensely. He prefers to maintain an image of strength and indifference.