Here we be yeeting wombats

[scrapgege]

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))

Comments

[weifinder]

( 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. )

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[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!

[weifinder]

( 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!

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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?

[weifinder]

( 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?

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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!

[weifinder]

( 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. )

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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.

[weifinder]

( 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.

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... 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.

[weifinder]

( 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.

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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.

[weifinder]

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.