westwhere | Here we be yeeting wombats

Entry tags:

Here we be yeeting wombats

WHO: Xie Lian, Lee Chang, Wei Wuxian, and also OPEN if you wanna come watch or just do stuff, poke me.
WHEN: During Anurr's trials
WHERE: By the tree, and in the wombat arena
WHAT: So, Xie Lian, being unlucky as he is, got recognized in the the forest by some Anurr fanboys and got ~~dragged~~ invited to come along to the trials. This is probably going to go as well as expected.
WARNINGS: For now, none, unless you consider giant wombat yeeting animal cruelty. Maybe a bit of Xie Lian's specific trauma in tree stuff but I'll warn as it comes

((OOC : starter in comments, feel free to make your own or poke me if you want one))

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( He comes close, very close, to touching the creature before it makes a sad sort of whomp sound, turning slow and inexorable toward Xie Lian, and the apple. )

Right, right, better for figuring out after!

( He simply leaps away again, toward the most advantageous angle between the sun, the wombat, and Xie Lian. )

This thing better not be any good at jumping!

It's probably too heavy for that.

[And the animal doesn't look built for speed either. Its strengths lie more in muscle mass and the magical abilities.

Xie Lian circles as well, trying to avoid the shadow and letting the animal come the closest he can before throwing the apple to his partner again.]

How long did they say we have to do this?

A quarter shichen.

( He calls out merrily, the wombat trundling closer to Xie Lian with a hopeful air. When the apple's tossed up, Wei Wuxian springs up, holding at the apex of his leap for a moment to smile and redirect his landing away at an angle.

The wombat makes another sad huffing sound, turning easily and lumbering after Wei Wuxian like a calf after its mother's milk. He can turn this into a dance, and he's amused enough by this of all things. They aren't sans an audience, but the voices are a blur of sounds he ignores, just like he ignores the end result of all this, instead coaxing the wombat along, then tossing the apple to Xie Lian with a twisting dodge, as he slips close to the edge of their arena. )

This is almost fun!

That's not too long... but the sun isn't very high. And if it goes behind the trees, we might not be able to distinguish their shadow and its shadow...

[And if the wombat's shadow touches a tree shadow....]

DO you think the properties transfer?

... Great question! Let's find out!

( There he goes, slipping further into the trees and their dappled shadows stretching long across the ice and snow and small hints of dirt poking up through it all. The wombat doesn't follow directly, instead weaving with an almost amiable air through the trees in its own pattern.

If it's the trees by extension, or a slip through of its shadow inbetween, Wei Wuxian finds one foot suddenly stuck partway up a tree he was using as a springboard. He reaches out with his free hand, taking hold of the bark with a claw like grip, and holds up the apple. )

Not sure, but I'm caught either way—catch!

( Here is the apple. Up, up, and awaaaaay it goes. )

[Aaaand catch!

But yes, this is going to be a problem, because the sun is turning fast and remains low on the horizon, so as the day advances, shadows get longer.

The wombat, meanwhile, doesn't seem to have caught just yet that its treat is not with Wei Wuxian anymore, and it's not paying attention to Xie Lian's effort to lure him back. So after a minute or two of useless baiting, he holds out his right arm.]

Ruòyé, be gentle.

[The white bandage shoots out and elongates, wrapping around one of the beast back paws, and Xie Lian pulls.

At first it doesn't look like it's doing anything, but then, the beast's advance is stopped, and it looks confused. And then it's dragged backwards and looks positively baffled by this turn of events.]

( He feels the moment the wombat's hold breaks on him, and leaps away, light off the trunk of the tree he'd been compelled to hang onto. Higher up, he touches down again on the ground, circling back as the wombat shakes off, turning to give Xie Lian a wronged look.

It does finally notice the apple, too, but the rumbling noise it makes is a clear whine before it turns into a plead, and big, sweet eyes blink prettily at Xie Lian.

Feed me, the wombat seems to say. Feed me, please. )

Can't be terribly much longer!

( Cheerily called out, and a few laughing agreements from the crowd at the far end of this circle. The wombat makes steady progress toward Xie Lian... then angles upward, throwing its shadow longer, and tries coming at him from an angle for the first definite time. )

[It looks very sweet, and it makes Xie Lian want to give in.... but they need to hold out a bit longer and he holds out his right arm again.

Ruòyé goes rigid and now pushes the wombat back and away from Xie Lian, not matter how hard it pushes.]

Please wait just a little longer! It'll be done soon and we can give it to you then!

( The wombat shifts from the sadder chitterings to an outright call, like a raspy child's cry. Waaah, waaaaah, waaaaaah! Demanding, and the wombat shivers, twisting around and jumping, as if that will allow it closer to the apple of its eye. )

Poor Big Apple...

( Even as the sun dips a touch lower, and the shadows lengthen further, and: )

Time!

( Juuuust as the wombat's shadow magic interweaves with the angles of setting light to reach Xie Lian. Wei Wuxian quirks up his eyebrows, looking toward the person calling time to verify that it's not someone pranking them. It appears to be confirmed with some enthusiasm from the Anurr groupies: he shrugs, then lifts a hand to cup around his mouth and call out: )

Hey, looks like you can feed it now!

Oh, thank goodness!

[Xie Lian immediately calls Ruòyé back, and since can't move right now, lets the animal lumber closer and finally get the apple.

He would pet it, but... well he can't move.

It is pretty cute though, now that it gets to devour the delicious apple.]

I'm sorry we had to do this, but see? You got the apple in the end, so it's all good, right? That looks like you're enjoying it, too.

... Hmmm, Can someone help me get away, though?

( the wombat was being delicate in it's devouring, crunching through and dropping both halves to the ground. it's paw catches them, and the animal systematically nibbles off smaller portions. )

I could try luring it away ... or asking nicely. But hold on, even with Ruoye you find yourself unable to move away?

Oh.... I didn't think to try.

[A little sheepish, but he'll send Ruòyé to grab a tree branch and it does lift him off and away... but then as soon as he's out of the arena, the branch breaks and Xie Lian squeaks and ends up in a heap on the floor.]

I'm alright! It's fine!

( Wei Wuxian comes jogging over, having winced when the branch snapped, hair flying behind him. He slows, kicking up snow as he comes to a halt by Xie Lian. )

Xie Lian! Hah, what kind of luck was that? Of all the branches, poor Ruoye picking one that's tired of staying upright anymore... but hey! Guess we have a head start on future kindling, if we let it dry out?

( He smiles, extending a hand to help him up. )

Guess it's time to collect the 'reward,' whatever it is. A little wish? Why not go for it, ah? Seems like something gods should be dealing with in the first place, right?

( He winks, as if inviting Xie Lian in on some obscure joke or another. )

I'm fine, I'm fine ! I don't really feel pain.

[But he'll gladly be helped back up. However upon hearing what the reward is...]

Normally, yes, I suppose, although we don't just grant any wish. I think i'll probably keep it for later. I don't know what I would even ask for.

( Frowning, then snorting: )

Doesn't mean it doesn't hurt. Just that it doesn't stop you!

( A mentality he's well used to himself. )

Mah, does it work like that? I guess it could...

( Strolling back toward the group watching and getting the last pair for the day ready to go: )

They didn't mention a time limit, I guess? It's not like we can just say, "I wish Lan Zhan's robes would manage to stay pristine at all times" or something like that.

... Well, you just said it. I guess we'll see if that was granted later?

[Because you did just, in fact, make a wish, Wei Wuxian. Out loud. And something might have granted it.]

I don't really have anything to wish for, beyond not being here, and I don't think that's the kind of thing that can be granted so easily.

( He laughs. )

I don't see how it could be, but I guess we'll know? As for that... yes, well. That's why we're working to get out of here.

( A pause. )

Or... trying to. Funding should be enough, it should have been from the first month, but paperwork takes time. And we've been finding more of us, in the weeks after.

Maybe I should wish for the same, wince my robes are also white, haha.

[But yes, this influx of people is worrying.]

It's weird that there was a bunch of us on a boat and then suddenly people started trickling in, too.

Weirder that we have no idea how many of us were chained before those who were and those in the jailhouse were freed, under the Merchant's active machinations. We had to have been brought in too, from somewhere—the kind of transport we're looking to find again isn't here as far as I know. So how to coordinate all that? Which of Unhalad's brothers is responsible? Is any?

( Greetings are exchanged with the others, mostly people of the Citadel and youths of the Free People. Only after, in walking further on: )

There's more we still don't know, even near three months after being first set free of the literal bonds we were wearing.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Here we be yeeting wombats

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject