farsickness | April Catch All

Entry tags:

xue yang | the untamed

April Catch All

WHO: Xiao Xingchen and Open to All
WHEN: Throughout April
WHAT: Meditation, Shopping, Hunting/Sword Practice
WHERE: Gazin
WARNINGS: None
NOTES: Written in prose but happy to switch to action for tags

Meditation
Xingchen has found himself at the edge of the river, sitting down on the shore and listening to the water as it moves down across rocks and roots. It's calming and the perfect location for meditation and clearing one's mind. The days have been cold but slowly starting to warm with spring arriving quickly. And so with the nice weather it meant he wanted to be outside more.

He is glad he was able to find this spot, fully aware that he shouldn't stay out too long. But easily losing track of time as he sits there. If the sun is setting he won't notice it.

Shopping
He doesn't often go shopping alone but on this day he headed out to the market because some things were needed in the house and the other two were quite busy with their own tasks. He didn't figure he would be gone long and he is perfectly capable of handling such chores himself. He trusts the people of the town to not swindle him out of things considering he usually has a partner that make sure that they don't.

He will do his best on his own though as he wanders down the street. He briefly gets distracted by a smile child running past and in doing so he accidentally bumps shoulders with someone else on his other side. He turns to them and gives a little bow.

"Forgive me."

Sword Practice
With the warmer weather he is happy to be out and practicing in the sunshine. White robes billowing around him as he slices through the air with all the grace one would expect from a swordsman of his level. Even though he could still train during the winter, there is nothing quite like being able to feel the heat of the sun on your face and smell the scent of spring in the air as you work.

he senses someone come up behind him and he stops his movements. He turns towards them, "Are you here to join me?"

Hunting
There is only one way to make sure his senses having dulled since being in this place and that is to go out on a hunt. Just because he is blind doesn't mean he can't catch something himself to prepare for dinner.

He pauses as he hears something ahead of him. He finds a tree to hide himself behind as he tries to listen for what type of animal it might be. The steps seem heavier so perhaps this is something he doesn't want to mess with. As the sounds of the creature gets closer he realizes that this probably isn't prey at all.

A small twinge of concern fills him, unsure if what is approaching is friend of foe. He has been warned against some dangerous beings in the area but he has yet to actually encounter any. He isn't sure he wants to now but he has his sword and so he is well armed should anything attack.

he wonders how he managed to go from being the hunter to the hunted...Not wanting to be caught off guard he raises his sword and steps out from behind the tree, ready to attack if he senses any sort of ill or murderous intentions.

"Who is there?" If it is a creature the answer will be an attack. If it is a human...well hopefully attack isn't their first response.

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He loves riding, now that he has the freedom of his own mount, the space, and the time (when not mid project) and spends any free time not with his daozhangs out with his spirited stallion.

Even into the forest, with Jiangzai at his back as he experiments guiding the powerful beast with just his legs and posture. Seeing those ears prick and muscles bunch under him, Xue Yang knows to hold on in time for the stallion to leap forward, going from trot to canter, skillfully dodging anything that might try to grab him or his rider

Then he hears that beloved voice, and Jiangzai leaps to his hand, extending when they come in sight of the beast threatening his Xingchen. His stallion rears up, forelegs pawing angrily and he leaps off with a wild yell.

He hears the pounding of hooves coming behind him and he hopes this is assistance and not another threat. When he hears the yell even despite the wildness of the tone he recognizes it. There is only a slight relaxation for the briefest of seconds as the creature ahead of him chooses that moment to attack. Apparently realizing that it is about to be out numbered.

Xingchen raises his sword to block, sensing what his motions are going to be and not wanting to be torn apart.

"Be careful, Xue Yang!" Not wanting the other man to be injured on his behalf.

He grins at that warning for caution but doesn't stop until he's beside the blind man, taking a moment to stare the creature down who'd thought to attack his precious daozhang.

"A-Lan would be upset if either of us got hurt. We can handle this beast together, shouldn't be too much trouble."

At least now that he's calmer, having made it in time. And his stallion is helping by distracting the creature, deadly hooves lashing out in warning whenever it tries to get close again.

As the scene becomes a little more chaotic it becomes harder for him to focus. It's been a long time since he has actually fought anything. Not since arriving in this place several months ago. He should have done a better job of preparing before coming out but he hadn't expected to encounter anything large.

But he tries to focus, "We shouldn't kill it if we don't have to." Just because it is mad that Xingchen invaded his home doesn't mean it needs to die for his mistake. But Xingchen also doesn't want it to attack anyone else and will take it down if it is a threat to others.

Only Xingchen's words have him pause, dropping back to just defending as he considers options and consequences of just getting Xingchen on the horse and galloping away. In the end though, he reaches out to snag the other man's sleeve to give it a tug backward, panting a little as he tamps back on the urges to stab and kill.

"This one won't follow if we leave. It's one of the few that only attack when they feel threatened."

For Xingchen, he'll retreat. "Be ready to mount, I'll get us out of here, A-Chen." He whistles to his horse, watching sensitive ears flick to him and hears the snort of answer as the powerful body shifts over to make it a little easier for them to get on.

Xingchen gives a small nod of his head, glad that Xue Yang knows enough about the creature to make a decision on how to proceed. And even more glad that the creature won't have to die. Xingchen has never seen much reason for unnecessary killing. Even more so in a place such as thing when things have been so peaceful.

"It's my fault that it felt threatened. I didn't know I entered it's home."

He stays close to Xue Yang so that the other can signal when it is time to take their leave. The more they back away, the less the creature seems to wish to pursue.

Over a year of experience, he'd dealt often with many of the creatures that call this forest home. A few more steps back, and the beast stops advancing, only watching them warily and pawing threateningly at the ground.

That's what he was waiting for, and he hops up into the saddle before reaching for Xingchen's hand to help him up. "Come up behind me!" He doesn't put Jiangzai away just yet, though it does slip back to it's smaller form.

Only when Xingchen is settled behind him does he encourage the stallion to turn and canter away.

He feels and hears the beast calm slightly as they put distance between themselves. He feels his own heart rate settles as well knowing that the danger seems to be passing.

He takes Xue Yang's hand and lets him pull him up, settling in behind him and wrapping his arms around his waist to make sure he doesn't fall off. He probably shouldn't have come out here alone but he thought he would have been able to surprise them with something he had caught for them for dinner. He often feels like there is so little he can do for them.

But this is for the best. Leaving the forest behind for now. He is lucky that Xue Yang came along when he did. He stays quiet on the ride back. Not wanting to be a distraction and also staying mindful should anything else dangerous appear.

Finnick knows how to be quiet when he tries. But he's not particularly trying, because he knows better than to sneak up on a man practicing with a blade. He doesn't realize until the man turns that he's blind, blind or injured to judge by the bandage on his eyes. That makes what Finnick had seen of the swordsmanship even more impressive, and it had been impressive enough. Finnick's never been a swordsman by choice, though as a Career he'd of course had a couple of years of training. But there'd always been things he was better at: spears, knives, tridents. And he'd known he'd probably never actually have to rely on using a sword for long.

So Finnick replies lightly when the man turns to him.

"I think you're out of my class."

It's something of false modesty; though he doesn't have a sword or skill as a swordsman, he does have his trident, and he's famous for his skills with that.

He laughs softly and bows his head slightly out of respect, "I appreciate the compliment. I feel a little out of practice but it is good to know I at least still appear to know how to wield it."

It's been a long winter of adjusting to a lot of things that didn't include carrying his sword.

"Are you here to practice as well or just passing through?"

"Swords have never been my thing, but I can tell skill when I see it."

Finnick had been in training in the months before he'd arrived here. He'd never really let himself fall far out of practice, but his training had been much more intensive after the announcement that victors would be going into the Quarter Quell. But he'd had the advantage that the whole nation knew tridents were his thing, and of the head Gamemaker having a vested interest in his survival. He knew there'd be tridents in the Cornucopia, and he wouldn't need to rely on a sword.

"I was passing through, but I could probably use some practice."

Whatever this place is, neither he nor Annie think it's something to be trusted, and it's been weeks already since he arrived here.

"You are welcome to share the space. You do not have to worry about me. I can sense your movements so I won't accidentally hit you."

Since he knows that people often see his blindness as something that would hinder him. But he has spent years with this disability and so he knows well how to adapt.

"If swords are not your choice of weapon, what do you use?"

He flushes happily as those arms wrap around his waist, the reason doesn't matter. He trusts his Daozhang to hold on as he keeps careful control, though not enough the horse can't move smoothly along the best path to safety. Only when they're far enough away does he retract Jiangzai and tuck it away, letting the pace slow to a gentle walk.

He rubs a hand over Xingchen's arms before resting it over them, holding on in return. Turning his head enough, he peeks over his shoulder at the sweet blind man. "You didn't get hurt, right, A-Chen?"

He gives a small shake of his head, "I'm fine. You arrived before anything could happen." Probably lucky for him though that does make him wonder why Xue Yang had gone all the way out to the forest.

"Were you looking for me?"

Perhaps he had missed something important because of his wanderings.

Relief makes him smile, and he twists just enough to have a chance at reaching Xingchen's cheek for a kiss, only partially so the blind man has a hope of knowing he's smiling. "I hope to always get to you in time." Because Xingchen is precious to him and Zichen. Because...so many reasons.

He could say yes! But...he hadn't been. And even a little lie...to his daozhangs? No. "No. We were just out exploring, enjoying the warming days...and I have been trying to teach us both how to communicate and move together without words or hands. My strong friend here heard something was wrong and I let him take me to the source. We found you." And he's grateful for it.

He smiles at the kiss and listens to the explanation. He had been doing much of the same lately. Only he was doing so on foot rather then on horseback. But the warmer weather was nice for exploring. Something he felt he hadn't done enough of since his arrival. Exploring a new place in colder weather isn't the wisest of decisions.

"He did good to lead you there in time. I'm glad we all made it out of there unscathed."

Even the creature that tried to attack was left unharmed. And that is how he preferred things. He really did blame himself for starting the trouble.

Xue Yang grins at that smile and squeezes Xingchen's arm a little before returning his attention forward - he trusts his horse to get them home, but sometimes the spirited creature likes to be...playful and take a new route. Which he's trying this time...and Xue Yang lets him. A longer ride with his A-Chen? No problem!

"You didn't want the creature hurt," he answers simply. And it's really that simple for him. Xingchen doesn't want something to happen? He'll do his best to make sure that want is met.

"I'm glad it let us leave."

"I didn't want anyone hurt." He corrects. That includes himself, Xue Yang and his mount. He wanted to make sure that no one had to die today. Although he had gone with the intention of hunting. So something was supposed to die so that they would have a meal. But that is quite a different scenario then the one that ended up playing out.

"But I am glad of that as well. You should give your horse a little extra food today as a reward for making sure we got away safely."

And Xingchen should probably reward Xue Yang for agreeing to not harm the creature.

The correction makes his cheeks flush in sudden wondering awareness. He was included in that. He has to swallow before speaking, though starts with a laugh.

"I will! I'm going to give him a nice rub down and yummy oats." His head tilts to one side as he thinks, leaning forward a little to give the stallion a pat on the neck (and earning him a smug snort).

"And an apple or carrot. He likes those too. Do you want to help me feed him?"

"I can help if you want me to." Xingchen is still getting used to being around the animals but he has gotten better about it. He still has to be careful but he has enough sense around them and they are smart enough to be careful of him as well.

"we will make sure he is bedded down well."

"I do! And we can fuss over your sweet one too." And Zichen's, if his husband isn't out riding too. He understands Xingchen's discomfort around the large animals, but hopes it just will take more time and spending it with the one he'd gotten for the blind man.

He snickers when the stallion starts prancing, ears flicking and neck arched as if he knows exactly what they're saying - and he might! But it has him adjust his posture and he makes sure Xingchen isn't about to slip off just because his silly horse decides to show off.

Xingchen holds on just a little tighter as the horse starts to have a slightly more disjointed gait. It's harder to sit but still not completely unsettling. He still feels fairly secure on his back.

"We will make sure they are all well taken care of and then we will take care of ourselves."

They will need to get cleaned up and eat as well.

"All done, my silly friend?" He laughs at the stallion, loosening his hold on the reigns to allow for the tossing of head that the horse does before the gait smooths out again a moment later.

"Much better, hm, daozhang? And of course we'll take care of the four of us." Four, because throughout it all, his little black squirrel has been huddled in his tunic, and only now peeks out. Which makes him chuckle, smiling down and sparing a moment to pet the fuzzy little head.

"Everyone who needs it will be cared for." Not even a little squirrel to be excluded. He relaxes as the gait becomes easier to sit again. It would be quite unfortunate to be saved from a monster only to get unseated and injured on the way home.

"It is probably getting late. We should get home quickly before it gets dark." It's hard to tell how much further it is since he wasn't really sure how far out he had gone after wandering around for awhile.

Xue Yang notices how Xingchen relaxes at the gentler pace and gives a signal to his stallion to keep the smoother gait. The faster paces are fine when it's just him, but his A-Chen is too precious to place in needless danger.

"We're not too far from home now," he reassures, rubbing over an arm wrapped around his waist. "A-Lan might have dinner started for us."

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April Catch All

Hunting

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Sword practice

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