westwhere | [ CLOSED ] Twisting, constricted

Wrathion lets out a low rumble of discontent (not unlike, in truth, a displeased cat) and turns back. Smoke swirls around him, flecked with sparks of gold, then shrinks down and dissipates to reveal his more familiar form. He just about manages to suppress a flinch, rolls his shoulders and takes a slow breath. For a moment he's eyes flit to the cave entrance, gauging if he can sense anyone approaching, then pacing back deeper into the space. He flops himself down on the large cushion, which turns out to be a mistake because it puts weight on his slowly healing arm briefly. His face twitches, but he lets out a sigh anyway and makes a show of enjoying himself.

"Well, I for one am happy to take advantage."

He's not about to ignore a comfortable cushion when it's offered. Still, he watches his two guests thoughtfully.

"The hosting potential of my current domicile unfortunately leaves much to be desired. The décor is, at least, improving, and I consider the company to be first class. However, I haven't much to offer you beyond leftovers and some water. My plum wine is long used up, I have no card sets to hand and Anduin has my jihui board back in the village. That lack of any of those rules out all the games I know."

Wrathion's business of draping himself back down onto the cushions, now that he has assumed his human visage once more, is really quite performative. Anduin raises an eyebrow at him, unable to help but wonder who this act is for -- but then again Hermione is looking rather uneasy, and that won't do either.

"If you want me to bring the jihui set next time, you can ask," Anduin says, pointedly, as he bends to dig in his bag. He pauses as a thought occurs to him and raises to flash Hermione a smile. "Perhaps we might teach you to play sometime! Speaking of duels. Has Wrathion ever explained the game to you?"

From the bag, Anduin produces a small packet of food and a container filled with drinking water. He raises an eyebrow back at Hermione as he does, as if to say, Stay?

Speaking of transfiguration, that happens. She watches him with undeniable curiosity, catching the first movement from the corner of her eyes, and decides it's different than Animagi transforming into their human form again.

It takes until he starts talking that she notices she was holding her breath, in all her being impressed by this display of magic. Luckily, before she can feel even a little bit embarrassed by staring, Wrathion starts drawling about having no entertainment here, and squashes the flutter to mild amusement.

She looks back towards Anduin in time for that glance to be caught. So - stay, it is.

She relaxes enough for her shoulders to drop.

"Is it anything like chess? Because I can tell you already I'm not very much a fan of wizarding chess - the figurines come to life when they're meant to take pieces and it just...gets violent."

And she's not good at it, which is the main reason she hates it. Hermione likes order and things that make sense, and it makes sense for her to be good at things.

The way Wrathion snorts instantly says that no, it isn't like chess.

"Anduin is a fan because it is a game with no winners or losers. It is a game of strategy, like chess, and there are different types of pieces -- ships, archers, cavalry, kites, knights, warriors, and warlords. The difference is you are meant to play until you are mutually satisfied. He taught me some years ago."

Despite his dismissive tone, Wrathion obviously kept a board and still plays -- so he clearly does enjoy it. Or perhaps, at the very least, enjoys the company that playing earns him.

Wrathion may be playing it cool, but he is the one who had carried a board around with himself often enough to have brought one with him into this world. Anduin can see right through this defensive posturing he is taking, and he is having none of it. Bringing the food and drink over to the transfigured cushioning where Wrathion is lounging, he carefully lowers himself down to take a seat beside him, setting his makeshift meal down and beginning to unpack it.

"It's based on pandaren philosophy," Anduin elaborates. "It is not unlike chess -- there is a way to play to win, eliminate all your opponents pieces from the board. But that is considered to be bad form. What is considered a true victory in jihui is to balance the other player to a standstill. When you meet each others' strengths and weaknesses... That is the greatest triumph of all."

So you see, it's a yin and yang thing, Hermione, and not completely innuendo like Wrathion makes it sound.

Edited 2022-04-24 17:19 (UTC)

Excuse her for a moment: a game where the end goal is to play until both players are mutually satisfied? "Do you play that often? The two of you." She can't even help the smirk she tosses Anduin's way, because they're of a similar age and mentality and she thinks (or hopes) that the innuendo will not be lost on the other human in the cave.

There is a third cushion - she did manage three, though one of them was enlarged to be big enough to fit a dragon Wrathion's size and right now swallows him up, looking more like an enormous bed. Den of eniquity right here.

She goes back to her cushion, since she's been invited to stay, and thinks that - if it comes to it - maybe for safety in numbers, later she can return with Anduin. And if Anduin wants to stay, well - she'll apparate again.

The smirking clues Wrathion in that he's missed something, and going back over his words he realises what. What a filthy mind Hermione Granger has, good to know. He adjusts himself to lounge a little more comfortably, weight more on his good arm, and lofts an eyebrow at her.

"It's a regular nightly activity for us."

Wrathion is quite curious how quickly Anduin will fluster. His money is on very quickly, based on past experience. His face will be scarlet in no time at all.

Yes, they are of a similar age and mentality. As such, the idea of jihui being a game that provides mutual satisfaction is... An innuendo lost on Anduin. But it's also something that is said of the game in general, so he can usually look beyond it.

He cannot look beyond that look on Hermione's face, however. And yes, his face does color slightly. He is just opening his mouth to give her an innocuous reply when Wrathion speaks instead.

A regular nightly activity, Wrathion? Anduin cuts him a look.

"As Wrathion has said," Anduin replies, the color in his face rising further, "jihui is my favorite game..."

They are doing this on purpose, aren't they.

The disappointment. The double entendre gets picked up by the dragon and not by Anduin? This is tragic. And she shouldn't be mean and carry on, but there's something so tempting about the fluster of red on Anduin's cheeks when he does notice and she says it before she can reconsider her words:

"It's a shame, it sounds like a game for two. I'd have to watch, I suppose."

And this part did not intend to sound so bloody suggestive, but the words are out there and she just knows Wrathion - if not also Anduin - will pick up on it, so she rushes to add: "To learn the rules."

Nailed it.

Ah, yes, this is all going about how he expected. Wrathion leans over to examine the food Anduin has brought with him, keeping his tone idle.

"Obviously we'd make an effort to include you," he tells her, "we'd take it in turns."

Makes perfect sense to him! It wouldn't be polite to exclude a guest.

Edited (posted early somehow) 2022-04-26 17:57 (UTC)

Anduin has been bringing food that he knows will travel well enough, and that Wrathion will enjoy. So far, it's been a lot of meat buns and dumplings, because they pack well. Today's options are no different, an assortment of rice balls, buns, and dumplings he's managed to charm out of his village contacts.

Anduin's face is a very pretty shade of pink now indeed as he sets the lot of it out in front of them. Take it in turns...

"Of course," Anduin agrees, as he fusses. "Wrathion and I both have different styles of play, after all. Ah, that is. The game is about balance. You'd understand the strategy much better if you learned from us both."

Light, why does everything suddenly sound like a suggestion?

It's a really good thing that she's not drinking or chewing anything, because that would've made her cough and choke on it. (Take that as you will.)

She is absolutely not going to team up with Wrathion in making Anduin's life difficult. Anymore.

"Maybe another time, then!" she pipes up, with a little smile that's meant to dispel whatever unease the literal priest of the Light was feeling there. "When we're not looking over out shoulders constantly - assuming we ever get that again." She darts a glance between the two of them and lets out a bittersweet laugh. "If I think about it hard enough, I think the last time I actually relaxed was the boat to Elletheia. How strange is that?"

Wrathion lounges out and selects a meat bun, taking a slow bite and enjoying it as he watches the two of them talk.

"Elletheia wasn't terrible, mirrors and various emergencies aside. At the lighthouse we had bathing facilities. The nights were a little unsettled, but there was no extended peril or suffering. The same cannot be said for here."

He's had quite enough of the sensation of being unsafe, that imminently something looming may undo them. Something he had no direct, concrete method of stopping.

Thank you for putting an end to that, Hermione. He may very well have spontaneously combusted before too much longer...

Anduin lets out a long, slow sigh, reaching for one of the rice balls himself, playing with it in his hands as he thinks.

"I keep hoping that we will find ourselves somewhere we might be able to... Relax," Anduin admits. "I get the feeling, however, that so long as the Merchant is the one directing our party it is unlikely to happen. He may claim to be leading us toward the beacons in this world, but. We would be foolish not to consider another motive besides. Especially given our little side trip into Ellethia."

They have been in this village for months, after all, and he certainly has not heard mention of any beacons himself, at least. Is that not the whole idea of why they would have been led here? The more troubles that arise, the less it seems worth staying in this village, truth be told.

It's fine, they can go from discussing the cursed game to discussing something serious. Hermione pulls a little face at the mention of the Merchant, and shakes her head. "Oh no, I don't trust him. I think he's keeping himself distant intentionally, and it's very clear that whatever happened in Elletheia, he is using us as pawns in his game, whether it's one for revenge or power. Or both."

She grimly picks up a little rice ball of her own, and takes a nibble out of it, pausing to chew and swallow. Digest the facts she just blurted out. Soften them, maybe, with this:

"I miss the baths in Taravast, to be honest." A pause, and she looks up at them both. "Although...you won't have been there long enough to use them, would you?" This is a grim enough conversation as it is, that Hermione tries to lighten it with something... Scrambles for it, and blurts out: "You know my supposed false identity there was expert modiste from abroad?"

Wrathion shoots Anduin a silent unreadable look, remembering their discussion about their positions in Taravast. His own, and how he came to accept it. Anduin's own. He takes another bite of his meat bun, shifting to sit up more, adjusting his position just enough that his arm brushes against Anduin's. A small amount of tangible support.

"A modiste," he repeats, curious. "I hope you were at least supplied with clothing to sell. Anduin was never assigned a secondary identity, that I recall. He came too late for that. I do wonder what they might have selected for him, given the chance. Perhaps a roguish gentleman of means engaged to more than one person, keeping them both strung along?"

Or is that him? He simply cannot keep up.

Anduin catches the glance that Wrathion sends his way, the light brush of his arm, and he offers him the ghost of a smile in return. Anduin's arrival into Taravast had been -- less than pleasant. Both because of the uprising that had been going on at the time, the unrest in the city, and the assignment that the Merchant had saddled him with at that. He is grateful to have had Wrathion's support, both then and now.

Even if he is enjoying himself a little too much with this whole engagement scenario. Anduin gives him a look at that, raising one eyebrow and huffing out a breath of amusement despite himself.

"Well," Anduin replies, "I suppose if I had been assigned the role of roguish charmer, I would certainly know who to turn to for inspiration." He raises his eyebrows pointedly. "Although this would be an assignment for me, I remind you. I'm sure it wouldn't have been anything as exciting as you would hope. Likely just another foreign dignitary, or. A groom, perhaps?"

Then again, maybe that's someone's fantasy after all.

She chokes a little on a bite of her rice ball, because Wrathion's question doesn't know the half of it. "I was given corsets and codpieces, for the record. One enchanted one, that screamed when the wearer thought impure thoughts." She declares it in the wake of Anduin's hypothesising.

"Which you could buy off me now." Another bite of rice ball, and she points out: "If you ever need a beacon."

Wrathion's eyebrows loft at screamed when the wearer thought impure thoughts, then furrow in thought as he takes another bite of his meat bun.

"Mmm, we probably should take it off you," he agrees after a moment, "might set the thing of if you touch it accidentally."

He's not at all sure Hermione is free of impure thoughts, if anything she seems to be having them quicker than he or Anduin.

"An -- enchanted codpiece?" Anduin blurts out, finding his eyebrows shooting up toward his hairline. It's for the best that he hasn't taken a bite of his food just yet, otherwise he might be choking as well.

He raises a hand to rub his face. Honestly, there are probably more ridiculous things back in Azeroth (most of them likely goblin-made no doubt), he just hasn't had to deal with most of them directly.

Glancing aside at Wrathion, he keeps his eyebrows raised.

"Beacon is right. I'm not so certain that either of us having possession of such a thing would be a wise decision. All things considered..."

He's just saying, if they're planning on keeping this on the down-low, that would not be the way to do it.

She gives Wrathion such a stern glare, eyes narrowing at him, specifically. Imagine the audacity of implying that she's the one with impure thoughts. To her face.

"It's," she specifies in a flat tone, "a codpiece." So no, she can't be the one wearing it, thank you. Then in comes Anduin with an almost innocent point: neither of them should wear the piece. Good. This is why Anduin is king, these good ideas.

"It's fine, it's safe in here," she reassures them both, patting the enchanted bag at her hip. "I haven't quite figure out what to transfigure it into, and I think maybe the enchantments would be interesting to study? It is, after all, an efficient alarm."

Wrathion shoots Anduin a disappointed look that says he is a fun killer, a killer of fun, sucking all the joy out of life.

"You're sure the enchantment wouldn't carry? You might make it into a screaming hat instead."

An amusing mental image, at least in Wrathion's opinion. He doesn't imagine himself suffering wearing it, after all.

Anduin raises his eyebrows at Wrathion. What! He's just stating a fact! You may want to tease Hermione, but you will quickly become the butt of that joke, were you to actually possess such a thing. At least. He assumes so. Anduin himself certainly would.

He wrinkles his nose at the image, moving to take a bite of his rice ball as he does, settling himself more comfortably at Wrathion's side. It's nice -- to be able to relax and discuss such frankly ridiculous things in the company of people he enjoys. He frankly hasn't felt as though he has been able to relax in quite a long time now.

"For someone to then wear it on their head?" he asks. "After it's been a codpiece?" He makes a face, then glances at Hermione. "Are you telling us that you're still carrying that thing around to study it?"

This is an amused face, Hermione. A very fond, very amused face indeed.

It's oddly refreshing and sweet to observe, and see, this is exactly why she wouldn't duel Anduin for Wrathion's affections. It's much nicer to know they both happy, in this bleak and cursed place.

Except there's judgement in the tone of his voice when he asks if that's why she kept the codpiece, and she might reconsider. Violence could be the answer.

"When I'd have a moment - which hasn't happened much because everyone's reckless and dumb and needs a constant supply of healing potions!"

Reckless and dumb! Wrathion narrows his eyes at that, then picks up a meat bun and throws it at Hermione.

Rude.

"Of course I'm quite sure Hermione has never performed a reckless act in her life," he says dryly. "Although she did briefly ask me if I could teach her to use a weapon."

Then, because he does actually want to eat something, he reaches to grab a rice ball to actually eat instead of pelt someone with.

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chosenbylight - 2022-05-07 21:16 (UTC) - Expand

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reparo - 2022-05-08 19:45 (UTC) - Expand

[ CLOSED ] Twisting, constricted

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i have no appropriate icons, life is hard

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