[ open ]

[wooden_one]

WHO: Chu Wanning and YOU
WHERE: All around Chroma
WHEN: Estimated is fine
WHAT: Chu Wanning goes into voluntary seclusion. Which means he's free to walk around as a five year old and pretend he has nothing to do with the things he did under the influence of various flowers.
WARNINGS: A lot of tsun but probably nothing.



[It takes a week, but finally, the medicine that allows him to keep his adult body wears out and he leave the house without worrying about people seeing him again.

Now, free to step outside without having to try to avoid people, he has a few things he intends to do. So he sets out about town, wearing robes that are sized down to his current size but otherwise looks exactly like what he was wearing before.]

i: Maybe Don't Eat That

[His first stop is one of those general stores. He was actually there to look for some paper, but there wasn't any in this particular building. You know what they do have? a whole jar of sweets.

Most of them didn't have any colour, but there are a few inside that are...purple. Which is a weird colour for caramels, but since he doesn't even recognize what it is, he doesn't know that. All he knows is that they smelled sweet. So he ate one.

Which is why if you walk into the general store, there's a small child carefully going through the large jar of candy and carefully picking out all the purple caramels and setting them to the side at the counter.

Judging from the size of the pile, he's been at it for a bit now.

To reach the counter comfortable he's been standing on a stool. So when the freezes when the door opens he's the very picture of a child stealing candy from a candy jar when his parents aren't looking.

But he's a child. There's nothing embarrassing about a child wanting to find some candy, surely? So he frowns again, but he tries to subtly cover the pile of caramels with his wide sleeves.]

Did you need something?

[He asked, as if this weren't a public space.]



ii: What Is This Writing Instrument

[Anyway, what he was actually looking for was something to write with. Which led him to some quills. He'd found a few and brought them outside with him to get a better look at them in the sunlight. He turned it this way and that with a frown. He only knows you write with them because they were placed with the inks (which he also took a bottle of).

Even so, he looks unsure about it.]

...how do you write with this?

[Also, for those who are wondering, he's actually holding it upside down, with the metal tip facing up.]



iii: The Forest Option (also the quest option)

[It's obviously a terrible idea to go into the forest. Everyone knows that.

And yet, here's a small child standing at borders of the forest proper, not just where it's found its way into the town. Surely he's not planning to go in?

...nope, that's totally him taking a step towards the forest. Well then.]


((OOC: Just a note that for this entire log he'll just be running around as a five year old.))

Comments

Closed to Pyra

[wooden_one]

[There was still a part of him that thought Pyra's offer of friendship might have been flower related. And even if it weren't surely she wouldn't really worry if he suddenly disappeared for a week.

It was why he only sent her a messenger haitang blossom to let her know he was going into voluntary seclusion instead of sending her a message on the laptop even though he's been taught how. After all, the flowers he made from his spiritual powers to deliver messages was one way only.

Probably, it didn't matter to her. She seemed like the sort of person who'd have many friends and, surely, she would be too preoccupied with them.

Still, when he had finally shrunk down, he used the messenger haitang to help him find her, grabbing the golden flower in his hand and dispelling it when he saw her in the distance.

Then he schooled his expression and approached.]

Are you Maiden Pyra?

[He said, as if he weren't the same person at all. Just a child cultivator...who happened to be wearing the exact same style of white robes, but in a smaller size. Yup.

Surely no one would suspect that this child is the same as Chu Wanning the adult. It's worked so far back home.]

Closed to Sierra, before the medicine wears off.

[wooden_one]

[He'd meant to look for a place to move out...though for now the decision was between the shrine of the Xian Le Prince or the church.

But any plans to move had to be put on hold at least for a while, until he was sure Sierra was fine.

He wasn't sure how well he was at taking care of people, but he did his best. He left golden haitang blossoms made from his own spiritual energy at her bedside everyday, imbued with a spell to aid in restful sleep. He offered to make her a barrier around the room, to keep out the draft.

In other words, in his own quiet way he's fussing over her. And spending a lot of time doing it as well, since he's avoiding leaving the house as much as possible.]

Are you hungry?

[Even if the only thing he can make are wontons.]

[pyrafect]

[ ...It had taken her a little bit to know what the floating blossom was or how to activate its message, but she had eventually figured it out.

Voluntary... seclusion? It sounds rather nice, actually. She can understand the want to be alone, although it is rather difficult to accomplish being alone in Chroma, unless simply holed himself up in his house.



He finds Pyra by the harbor, alone, and looking out towards the abandoned, dilapidated houseboats... or maybe the horizon. It's difficult to tell. But when she hears quiet, small footsteps approach, she turns to greet the child with a gentle smile.

.......Her first assumption is that this must be another cultivator who has turned into a child after losing, like Shen Qingqiu. So she goes down the list: Xie Lian? No. Wei Wuxian? No. Lan Wangji? No. Lan Sizhui? ...Maybe. But the robes most resemble... Chu Wanning. Which begs the question of why he would feel the need to pretend that he doesn't recognize her. The other possibility is that Chu Wanning has had a literal child from his sect appear here in Chroma. ] I am.

[ Regardless of her guesses, he's adorable. She smiles kindly at him, placing her hands upon her knees and leaning over. ] You've come a long way from town. How can I help you?

i

[alwaysfacepalming]

[SiZhui had gone out exploring. He had finally managed to get his robes clean of the dirt from when he kept falling down. His feet were now firmly on the ground so no more worrying about that.

Being charge of an entire residence to do with what he wanted except one room required some thought and surveying. Also he foresaw his supply of talismans eventually dwindling so he wanted to find some medium - preferably paper - he could write more on.

So he just happened to go into one of the general stores looking to see if there was anything... and encountered a small child with his hand literally in the candy jar. Before he hid them, it looked like there had been quite a pile going there.

SiZhui smiled at the question] I was just looking to see what was here. I hadn't come in here before.

You certainly must like candy.

[Since he was currently in the act of taking some... and most children did like sweets]

[wooden_one]

[He recognizes the robes at a glance. A cultivator...but not only that, likely from the same sect as Lan Wangji if the robes were anything to go by.

But then, with all this 'other worlds' business...it was possible there may be another sect with similar robes elsewhere.

What a pain.

The more pressing problem right now though is that he's been caught. If he were an adult right now he'd insist the candy weren't for him but...well. He's five right now.

So he huffed.] All children like sweets.

[Then in an effort to change the subject...] Are you a disciple of the Gusu Lan Sect?

[wooden_one]

[It's still strange to be smiled at like that. So he avoids it by bowing.

Knowing that he's a terrible liar, he'd rehearsed things before he came here.]

I come in place of our sect elder who has gone into voluntary seclusion. He...wanted you to know that he is well and that should you need to tell him anything you can give the message to me and I will pass it along.

[He feels this is going well so far! Nevermind the resemblance that makes it look like he could very well be Chu Wanning's son. Surely no one would suspect they'd be the same person.]

i.

[good_ideas]

[Child. CHILD.

Shiho raises her eyebrow like an adult that has definitely caught a child hiding a pile of caramels behind their sleeve. Is she impressed? Not at all.]

Oh, nothing. Big sister was just wondering what you were hiding over there. [And because she's bigger and technically stronger??? She walks up to try and peer behind him.]

1/3

[pyrafect]

[ ....Ah. ]

Oh, ....good. [ She brings a hand to her chest, her brow knitting. ] I had been worried for him-- but I... supposes this could all be a little overwhelming, coming here, even to a sect leader.

[pyrafect]

[ A moment passes, and she resumes smiles at him, nodding. ] ...I'm glad to hear that he's doing well. Please, let him know that if there is anything else he needs, I will be there.

[ She adds: ] And... thank you, for telling me. It's very thoughtful of him. [ Her certainly did not need to send her a message, let along a messenger boy to come after her. ]

[pyrafect]

[ So Pyra reaches out to him, placing a hand upon the boy's head. There, she pats him softly once, twice, and then withdraws. ]

And it's very kind of you, too.

[alwaysfacepalming]

[He might have been caught but for the moment, SiZhui seemed unconcerned with trying to stop him from taking out more candy. Maybe he was also trying to share with someone else? Perhaps whoever was looking after him, which was why he was taking so much. The question was eventually going to be how to carry it though]

They do. I did when I was younger too.

[He nodded] I am. I am Lan SiZhui. You must have met my senior, Lan WangJi.

[wooden_one]

[There were certain things he found less embarrassing to do when he's in this form, but throwing his body over the pile of caramels to hide them is too much even for how he looks right now.

So she definitely manages to see over his arm to the pile of purple caramels.]

It's nothing you need to worry about!

[wooden_one]

[...now he really can't tell her that the most overwhelming thing about this whole experience had been the fool he'd made of himself under the influence of the flowers.

Still, if he could be honest with himself it's...nice, to be worried about. He ducks his head when she puts a hand on his head.]

...it's nothing. Such a simple thing...you don't need to thank me for it.

[And then...because he's not sure he could ask this any other time...]

Are you...really friends with him?

[wooden_one]

[...since he wasn't being scolded, Chu Wanning decides it was probably safe to continue picking out the candies. After all, he'd already admitted it, then it'd be more embarrassing if he started acting self-conscious about it.]

Second Young Master Lan had been very helpful on the first day I arrived. [He pauses in his candy collecting to turn and give a quick bow.] SiSheng Peak disciple, Xia Sini. [Yes, his name is a homophone to the phrase 'scare you to death'. It's a mistake he's learned to live with.]

1/2

[pyrafect]

[ Her hand back at her sides, her gaze is somber despite her smile.

Is he worried that his sect leader does not have a friend? That's... cute. ]

[pyrafect]

Of course.

[ She reassures with a slow nod, her smile rearranged to become a little more chipper because she's speaking with a child. ]

And I'll tell you a secret, if you're worried. [ She smiles playfully at the child. ] He actually has made at least two friends here.

[ Her and Mythra, but she's left it vague enough to be interpreted as herself and... whoever else he might have met in Chroma. ]

[wooden_one]

[He did...?]

...who?

[He's not even going to consider Shen Qingqiu or Wei Wuxian because those had been utter disasters...Lan Wangji, maybe? Wait, he hadn't met the man as himself but in this current form...]

[pyrafect]

[ At that, Pyra decides to crouch, bringing a finger to her lips as a cloud passes over the sun.... ] At least two, yes. [ ...But she does not elaborate.

Instead: ]

Are you his son?

[wooden_one]

[...well. Fine then.

There's really only so many people he's met anyway. And of those encounters only a couple weren't complete disasters. He can figure this out even if she doesn't tell him.

...is he...what? No one had ever asked about the resemblance so he sort of...expected it to never come up. What should he say...?

He pauses longer than anyone should for a question like this before he nods mechanically.]

But I'm a disciple of another elder.

[pyrafect]

[ How nice, she thinks, that a father and a son would be here. It would be terrible if the child were all alone. ]

And your name, little one?

[wooden_one]

Xia Sini.

[And right after he says it, he realizes a problem with this whole 'I'm his son' lie he just started. They don't share a last name.

Shit. Maybe...maybe she won't notice?]

[pyrafect]

[ She notices. ]

Xia Sini.... [ Again, it's only a smile as she repeats his name, as if committing it to memory. ] You're a good son, helping out your father. How old are you, if I might ask?

[alwaysfacepalming]

[Well, at least not scolding outright. He had different methods than the seniors might have had. He walked over as he watched the child take more candy.

That was... some name given what else it sounded like]

It's nice to meet you, Young Master.

[He assumed he was only a child so he wasn't going to ask much about the sect, even though he had never heard of it]

Are you taking candy to share?

[wooden_one]

[...well. She isn't saying anything about it, so that's...fine. Probably.]

I'm six. [And then, because he's worried at what else she'll ask...] Elder also said that if you needed someone to accompany you to the dragon carcass I can do it in his stead until he's no longer in seclusion.

[Which is to say, when he feels like he's done being embarrassed about everything.

...also there is absolutely no way he's referring to himself as 'father'! That would be too weird.]

[wooden_one]

[What a polite young man.

He makes a vague sound of agreement in response to the niceties. He's really not good at this stuff anyway.

His hand pauses with yet another purple caramel in it, hovering over the jar briefly before he places it on the pile as well. That was the only indication he'd hesitated over his answer because his poker face is quite impressive.]

No.