audio | un: xianxian of yunmeng jiang

[weifinder]

Bear!? Bear! There was a bear in the bath!

( So comes this startled and startling shout, as elsewhere in camp, Wei Wuxian is (unfortunately) streaking past in damp, confused glory, a bear of arctic composure lumbering after him, soap bar still in mouth. Come back! He was just handing the soap over, he wanted to help! )

Comments

[weifinder]

( cue having a... naked but with... swallows? flying swift circles around his hips and keeping him... specifically decent, in the most odd array of occurrence to come leaping and dashing his way.

also, there's the bear, with the soap in it's mouth. and unlike the swallows, who are an illusion, the bear is very, very real. )

Found! You!

[topoiran]

So you did.

[ Xunxian holds a piece of raw fish up, calling out to the bear, come, let me take that soap from you and exchange it for this. How about that?

With an option for the soap to be delivered AND something tasty to distract him, fun as the chase might be... ]

[weifinder]

( The bear diverts, and Wei Wuxian tucks himself away beyond another tent, with the soldiers who'd been watching all this play out caught between laughter or confused disbelief. None of them can even be angry. That's a bear, chasing a naked dude around camp.

Or naked but for the birds? )

Ask it to leave.

[topoiran]

[ Xunxian hums, then points to the other side of the nearest fire. ]

There is a clean blanket under the shelter of the tent's entrance over there. Please feel free to wrap yourself in it. I think it'll be better if he stays with me, however, as then you won't have to worry that he'd find you again.

Do you think that is agreeable?

[weifinder]

Keep him away from my baths, and I don't care!

( a pause. )

Also ask why he feels like that. While you're at it.

[topoiran]

He just wanted to help.

[ Xunxian will toss him the soap once he's in line of sight, not making him come closer to the bear.

But also. ]

What does he feel like, hmm? I can talk with animals, but I hardly have additional senses.

[weifinder]

Anurr's.

( Now he finally goes for the blanket, as had been suggested to him. Meaning at least there's one apparent blanket refugee shortly rejoining the area... in a broad sense. )

[topoiran]

Ah. [ He scratches behind one large ear, just right. ] He's not like the wolves, though.

[weifinder]

No, those were half crazed and half possessed.

( Also worse, as they were wolves. He frowns toward the bear. )

Can you ask? If it has that much awareness, and I thought most of his did.

[topoiran]

Mm.

[ Xunxian turns his attention to the bear, though soon enough his lips curl up in a dry smile and he shakes his head. ]

He is either far more focused on the present, which isn't exactly exceptional, or he's refusing to say.

[weifinder]

... Does it not even know why it's tracking after us?

[topoiran]

... young master Wei, do you truly think all creatures ask the question 'why'?

[ Xunxian is now scratching the thick fur without hesitation. ]

The birds migrating to warmer places for the winter and then returning do not know the answer to 'why', they just do.

[ That doesn't mean that Xunxian has stopped asking, merely making sure that there are no hopes raised for an answer. His own curiosity is more along the lines of asking Anurr why a bear and not a person who can communicate with everyone, but he doesn't have much hope that that would get answered, either. ]

[weifinder]

No, but I can hope this one would.

( Which he sounds grudging over: please, it was chasing him around. )

Given who else has cropped up in our band of misfits, that's not limited to bears or other less thoughtful creatures.

( Also a grumble. )