Audience: Anaido

[gatonina]

Comments

WEEK 0, TUESDAY

[gatonina]

[after feeding the gray bunny, it will run off into the hallway, allowing anaido temporary access to follow it. the door marked with a new moon opens for the bunny, letting him into what looks like a normal camp office. there is a single chair across from the desk; black shadows is seated behind the desk, and they nod to anaido when he enters.]

Hello. Anything needed? Will try to assist.

[wowcool]

Shadow!

[He's walking in with a wide grin on his face.]

Your bunny is...very cute! [HE'S FINGERGUNNING] I have to say that first!

[IT'S AN IMPORTANT DETECTIVE OBSERVATION]

W0, POST TRIAL

[gatonina]

[the gray bunny leads anaido right back to the same office as before, though this time black shadows is not seated. they stand by the window, staring out it, presumably just into the middle distance... they don't seem to be moving much.

they do turn to look his way as he enters, though.]

...Anaido. Hello.

[wowcool]

Hello, Shadow.

[He moves to stand next to them by the window, also looking out. Are they like...staring at the bonfire. What's out there.]

...I'm sorry things turned out like this, you know. Your peaceful utopia is no more.

W1, TUESDAY

[gatonina]

[after feeding the purple bunny, it bounds down the hall toward a room with a purple heart on it marked 3c. as the door opens for the bun, it scampers inside and up onto a makeshift ramp to run to the top of the desk. seated behind the desk is purple heart, their head propped up with a hand as they gesture for anaido to sit down.]

Welcome, welcome. May I offer you something to drink? Eat? Anything?

[wowcool]

[Anaido follows the rabbit along, pausing to admire the "3" on the door, before walking inside. He offers a wave to Purple Heart.]

I'm alright. Though a part of me maybe wants something strong after everything we just learned. [He moves to sit down, hands clasped in his lap.] It's nice to meet you like this...uh. Heart? Purple?

W1, SUNDAY

[gatonina]

[trine leads anaido to the gardens, where black shadows is seated on a log bench. they appear to be working on a flower garland, though it's slow work and not particularly skilled; they set it down as he approaches.]

Anaido. Hello. Please sit.

[wowcool]

Hello, Shadow.

[He sits quietly, and his attention is instantly drawn to the garland in their hands.]

A flower crown? Or a necklace? That looks nice.

W2, MONDAY

[gatonina]

[trine has been sent to fetch anaido, and if he follows the note he's sent-- he'll find black shadows in their office. they aren't seated, standing by the desk instead.]

Anaido. Would like to speak to you.

[wowcool]

[Well, this is a surprise. He comes in, gazing curiously at Shadow.]

Hello, Shadow. What is it?

W2, WEDNESDAY

[gatonina]

[I'm laughing bc at noon he's still on store duty so that's where trine leads him, still in his hooded disguise... he'll absolutely bail on work if anaido asks though, let's be honest. trine can come fetch him if he's needed.

with the hood up, his voice is still distorted, but he sounds happy.]

Anaido-- I'm sorry, I'm... still supposed to be working, so I can't... remove this right now.

It isn't... very busy, though.

[wowcool]

It's fine. I understand!

[He's got one of the camp store tote bags over his shoulder as he goes forward - and reaching forward, he takes the man by the hand and places a little kiss against the back of it, pleased as punch.]

I wanted to take you on a date. [He winks.] My treat. We can do it now or later! I don't mind. Whenever is best for you. I like you no matter what you look like, after all!

W2, SATURDAY

[gatonina]

[trine leads anaido to wen ning's office, this time-- he prefers meeting here for some privacy, being able to actually show anaido his face. the hood comes off as he enters, and wen ning reaches out to take one of his hands.] Anaido. Stay a while?

[wowcool]

Yes, of course.

[Of course, Wen Ning is instantly who he wanted to go to. But checking up on everyone else was important too. He just now wants this time for himself and for Wen Ning, together.]

[He grasps Wen Ning's hand, pulling it to his cheek to rest against it.]

...I'm sorry we didn't do it right again. [If they can't even do this thing right, then...?] I can't imagine how much it must have pained you to watch us running around like chickens with our heads cut off, hm.

W4, MONDAY

[gatonina]

[trine leads anaido to the gray cabin, this time. and probably would have since last thursday so he's seen this before BUT: on the inside, it's... not a cabin at all? it's a cavern, with a pool of red water at the opposite end from the door. the area by the door looks more like a normal bedroom shoved into this cave, with an untouched bed, a desk that has a couple of gray-bound books and scattered papers, and a few stacks of papers left on rock outcroppings nearby.

the bunny hops up onto the bed to make herself comfortable, and wen ning takes a seat there as well, giving anaido a warm little smile as he enters.]

Hello. Has... everything been all right so far, this week?

[wowcool]

[He instantly moves to sit right next to Wen Ning, as he always does when he comes visit. It's a gorgeous place, for sure. But his attention is focused entirely on the man sitting on the bed with his bunny.]

Well, the week only started, but...so far it's okay. Little worried about Beau, though. [And then later after this he'll go get high with her. God.] How are you?

WEEK FOUR, TUESDAY MORNING

[gatonina]

[after feeding the blue bunny on tuesday morning, it will lead anaido to the camp store. there he will find winter wizard sitting at the checkout counter. they wave him over before bending over to scoop the bunny up.]

G'morning!

[...additionally, it looks like they've acquired some new bling since the last time he saw them. a crudely made blue bunny charm attached to a leather cord, worn as a necklace.]

[wowcool]

Oh, good morning! Nice necklace you have there!

[He's finger-gunning at the cute bunny charm.]

Did someone make that for you?

W4, SATURDAY NIGHT

[gatonina]

[wen ning has other things to attend to, probably, and anaido has others to speak with. but later that evening, when it's less busy--

trine delivers a note asking anaido to meet at the gray cabin, and if he answers, wen ning will be there waiting.]

[wowcool]

[Yeah, he's here, alright. Of course he is. It's been a long day. He feels like years have been shaved off of his life. Well, Anaido's life is...not exactly one a regular person would have, but still.]

[He steps forward into the cabin, exhaustion all over his face. He does smile when he sees Wen Ning.]

I guess...I guess we did it this week, huh? We managed to find the guilty party.

W5, MONDAY

[gatonina]

[well! this week is bad, actually. wen ning doesn't make anaido come to him; he comes to find him when he's able to step away from the store, still in disguise, but despite the void hood-- he's definitely peering at him with concern.]

Anaido-- I... would ask if you'd be all right, but... can I help?

[wowcool]

[Look! It's fine! He doesn't have the wheelchair yet, so he's just kind of propped up like a doll against the side of the bunk bed. Even Louis seems concerned.]

Mmm. Well.

[He laughs, a little weakly.]

I don't know where to start.

W5 WEDNESDAY

[gatonina]

[hello anaido. not long after he feeds the purple bunny, it zips down the hall and leads anaido to a room marked as 3C. as the door opens for both bun and anaido, he'll find purple heart seated at their desk with a cup of coffee and a book in front of them, both of which they put aside for him.]

Anaido. Good afternoon.

[wowcool]

[Well, it's going to take him a while, but he manages to roll his wheelchair down the hallway to Purple's room.]

Haha, I guess your tiger escapades are over. [Just. Give him a second to make the rest of the distance to the other's desk.] You were cute when you were like that, though.

W5, POST TRIAL

[wowcool]

[He's letting himself in, this time.]

[He nods to Trine, giving her a little smile, but his face falls when he rolls himself inside with a lot of effort, finally pausing in the middle of the room.]

[He's tired. Everything is tiring. Putting down the vote for the wrong person. Slapping himself on the wrist to resist the urge to throw himself forward, be sacrificed, because what use is he? Even as a brilliant detective, he's broken.]

[He just slumps back, closing his eyes. Just give him a moment, Wen Ning.]

[gatonina]

[wen ning gives him a moment not to talk, but he doesn't leave him alone entirely. he gently lifts anaido up from the chair, carrying him carefully over to the bed, settling there without letting anaido leave his arms.

he'll just hold him, quietly, until anaido feels like talking; trine hops up into anaido's lap.]

w6 monday

[wowcool]

[Here is Anaido, just kind of going back and forth on his feet as he waits for Wen Ning to get off of work. Ah, he's impatient. Wen Ning is alive. The end is in sight. He'll get that future. He will, he will..]

[When he sees Wen Ning leave, he'll instantly rush over and reach out to grab him by the hand.]

Hey! You're finally free!

[deadened]

I am-!

[he gives anaido a warm, happy smile, squeezing his hand-- he can feel it. the warmth, the pressure. even through the gloves, it's a feeling he likes, one he doesn't think he'll get enough of this week.]

Do you want to go back to my cabin, or- somewhere else?

W6, THURSDAY

[deadened]

[hewwo again. the next time anaido comes over to the cabin, wen ning's seated on the bed as usual, space left for anaido to join him. he brightens, gesturing for him to come settle in; there's a note on the nightstand, folded shut for now, but that's the only new thing.]

Anaido. Come here--?

[wowcool]

Wen Ning!

[Of course he is going to come over to sit next to his boyfriend.]

What's happening?

w6 after snaby gifts

[wowcool]

[There's the sound of someone approaching the cabin.]

[The sound stops. There's a long, long pause. And then-]

OH!!! I FORGOT!

[And the sounds of someone RUNNING AS FAST AS THEY CAN away from the cabin. Ten minutes later or so, there's the sounds of someone RUNNING AS FAST AS THEY CAN toward the cabin, with some disgruntled sqwuaking.]

Wen Ning! I have something for you!

[Open the door and....that sure is a ruffled, live, and very confused chicken in his hands.]

[deadened]

[he forgot...? wen ning is just on the other side of the door being really confused, up until he hears the sound of anaido running back and the squawking.

wen ning pushes the door open, blinking as he spots-- the chicken?

...it takes a second, but then realization hits. that's right. the chickens, he's seen this with wei wuxian before, and his expressions quickly softens into a smile.]

You- brought a chicken for me?

[he's gathering it into his arms, holding it carefully and soothing its ruffled feathers. hello precious chicken...]