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★ yang xiao long

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WHO: Yang Xiao Long, Prince Sidon, Raven Branwen, Garrus Vakarian, open to the others she invited to wait out the storm
WHAT: Yang pursues the slippery thieving mage onto a frozen lake, which turns out about as well as one would expect. Afterward a ragtag gathering of weirdos hangs out in her apartment to wait out the blizzard.
WHEN: January 2nd, 2018
WHERE: Fayren -> Genessia City: Regency 404

The pursuit of Etshan had proved more difficult than Yang expected. The only details she had for him was a name and a crime: magical robbery. She'd polled a few stores to see where he'd struck, and couldn't get much in the way of a description. She hadn't even known if Etshan was a woman or a man in the beginning. It was sheer luck that put her in the right place at the right time when she saw the blandest person in the world through the window of a scroll shop, waving his hand before the shopkeep shuffled off and returned with an armload of scrolls. Her eyes kept trying to slide past the man who was holding out a sack for the blank-eyed shopkeep, but she kept forcing herself to look at him. Some sort of enchantment to avoid notice? It sure would explain why no one seemed to have many details for Yang to go on.

She went after him. It was definitely satisfying to see the wide-eyed surprise on his face just before her fist rocketed into his jaw. He went flying, hitting the wall and landing on the floor in a groaning heap. But when Yang went to grab him, her fingers slid through nothing, and she heard the thump of running boots over the shop floor.

Illusionists were so obnoxious. Yang ran after the footprints that appeared in the snow, the image of the mage dissolving the moment she turned away. The wind was starting to pick up, and it wouldn't be much longer before the storm descended, but she had time enough to settle this. If she let him get away, it would take a miracle to find him again, especially now that he knew she was looking for him.

Etshan was fast, and very much determined not to let Yang lay a hand on him. He dove into crowds and tried to maneuver into buildings where she couldn't see his tracks, but there was always something to watch or listen for. Someone who stumbled or spilled their drink, the drip of melting snow where there shouldn't have been any dampness, a growling dog... She just had to pay attention. Eventually he gave up on trying to find refuge in town and fled into the woods. Yang moved after him. She was so close to nailing this guy, and if she could just get out into the open, she wouldn't have to hold back for fear of being too reckless with her speed and strength.

He gave up on the invisibility when he turned to throw a dagger at her face. She knocked it aside with her metal arm and gave him a fierce stare. Who did this jerk think he was? He paled at her threatening countenance and ran that much further, plunging into and through a snow-choked hedge. Yang crashed through it as well, and her foot nearly shot out in front of her. Whoa...! She put her hands out to maintain her balance as she slid, and realized she'd just stepped out onto the shore of Fayren's frozen lake. Uh...it was frozen all the way through, wasn't it? She tested her weight carefully with another step, and it seemed to hold. What was more, Etshan was running across the lake ice with seemingly no difficulty at all. He wasn't even slipping! That kind of annoyed her.

All right, then, she had a clear shot. Spreading her feet apart, Yang angled her body and pointed her gauntlet behind her. One blast, and the recoil sent her shooting clean and smooth over the ice. She wasn't about to fire at him; if she missed, it could break the ice and plunge him into the freezing depths, which could very well kill him. She'd just grab him and give him a good shake. She stretched out her hand to seize his cloak...

...And sailed right through him. She blinked, startled as her hands came up empty, and unsteadily spun herself around.

She realized why he had been able to run so easily across ice: it was another illusion, and she'd stupidly failed to notice something was off about his sudden agility when he'd been so clumsy before. He must have stayed in the hedge and cast the spell, and now he was--

A giant boulder sailed through the air, gracefully arcing straight for her. Apparently he could levitate items too. Yang scrambled back, just in time to keep from being crushed by the enormous stone. But even though it was just a foot shy from landing on her, it smashed clean through the ice, and deep cracks spiderwebbed beneath Yang's feet. She took a careful step back as the cracks turned to fissures.

She dropped.

The second she hit the water, it was as if someone had reached down her throat and forcefully ripped out her breath. She was completely sheathed in brutally freezing water. Frantically she grabbed for the surface of the ice, but when she tried to pull herself up, it broke away beneath her hands. Again and again she tried, but the broken ice refused to hold her, refused to remain solid enough to get anywhere. She couldn't even draw breath enough to shout for help, or curse a certain stupid mage who had shamefully outsmarted her.

* * * * *

While Yang was experimenting with becoming a human/popsicle hybrid, her apartment had been prepared to receive company. As she'd said, the door was unlocked (had maintenance fixed that yet?), and as the power was still stable, it was nice and warm. The gas fireplace could be turned on with a flick of a switch, and hot air blew through the vents in the other rooms. There were flashlights and games set out on the table, an enormous pot of simple but savory beef stew simmering in a slow cooker, and a note that read "Make yourself at home! :) --Yang ♥"

She'd be back soon enough, and with a shark-like prince in tow. In the meantime, guests were welcome to help themselves to anything in the fridge, or to pick out an empty bed and pile of blankets if they wanted to rest.

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[sidon had been doing his best here, and he had wanted to give back to the amazing community that had welcomed him in. everyone was so kind, they welcomed him with open arms and made sure that he would fit in to his new home well. he accepted it all, embraced it even, and now everyone was in trouble.

some had gone in to hiding, which he was grateful for, and some were becoming trapped or lost. he had helped a friend of his earlier that day, had made sure that she was okay, but he had a feeling that maybe others might need him. normally he would stay with those he felt closest to, but he just.... had a feeling, he needed to go out and make sure no one had fallen in to the lake.

the lake was a place he had domain over, he could easily conquer the waters even in this weather. if anyone fell in, he would be there. sidon, having jumped into the freezing cold waters, swam deep underneath the ice just to make sure no one had slipped and sunk to the bottom. the waters were cold, but that was fine, he was used to such temperatures. it made him feel a bit sluggish, but other than that he wasn't much affected by it.

he swam and swam, scanning and seeing nothing. just when he thought he should perhaps call it a day and hold up somewhere as well, he heard something a little ways away from him. he noticed the way the ice cracked overhead, the way someone tumbled and fell in, and the way they thrashed about. he swam as hard as he could at that point, dashing towards them. they had slipped underneath the ice, unable to find a place to get back up and breathe.

it wasn't until he was nearly upon the person did he realize, it was yang. that cheery friend that had helped him when he first arrived here. it was her.

sidon's eyed widened but he did not stop. he just swam towards her, carefully he grabbed her around her waist and pulled her close to his body.]

Hold on, please!

[he was able to speak under the water, and he hoped that she heard him. with an arm around her waist he dashed back to the spot of fully cracked ice. he swam hard, pushing himself out of the water and leaping out with her in his arms. he had jumped out with such momentum that he was able to land a ways away from the webbed ice. he heard it crack again under his weight, and he stilled.]

Yang, are you awake? [he needed to know if she was coherent, if she was alive.]

[If she didn't answer him verbally, the violent coughing is probably affirmation enough that she's still conscious. She grips his shoulder with a shaking, frozen hand as her body struggles to reject the lake water that managed to sneak into her lungs. Her aura is still good, at least. She'll recover.]

[Just...just give her a second.]

[Cough cough.]

[Coughcoughcoughcoughcough.]

N...n-not the way...I p-pictured how this d-day would g-go...

[She gasps for breath as she remains leaned over, eyes closed, but with a wry little smile on her face just the same. He's lucky he got to her before things got too serious. She's lucky he happened to be close by when she fell in. She can't believe that she (a rookie) would make such a rookie mistake like that.]

[Yang freezes (even more than she already is) when she hears the familiar crackle of the ice.]

S-so, uh...we'd b-better move, huh...?

[Probably not the best time to bust out her semblance to start warming them up.]

[she was alive, thank the goddesses for that. sidon let out a shaky breath of relief, looking down at his friend as she shook and coughed. she was fine, for now, but if he didn't get her to some place warm she could still very well freeze. he held her tighter against his chest at the very thought.]

Say no more.

[sidon was determined, he would not let her die here, not like this. he started to move with her, he was trying to move as fast as he could on the ice, but it seemed like the webbing had caused a lot of it to become unstable. as he walked briskly, he stepped and another bit of the lake broke. his foot fell in, he toppled, but he managed to move so she would be on the ice while he fall back in to the water.

it was just for a brief moment before he popped out of the icy waters again.]

This... will not be the end of us!

[Somehow it seems even colder outside of the water than in. The brisk, merciless winds probably have something to do with that. Yang knows they're not going to get anywhere like this. Maybe if it were just him or just her, it wouldn't be a problem. But as long as he's carrying her, they're just too heavy, and the ice is too thin.]

[Yang was conscious to realize how fast Sidon can swim. The water definitely doesn't seem to affect him at all, no matter how cold it is. She turns her head, still shivering, to look at the shore, and she weighs her options. Come on, think for a change...!]

[...And she's got an idea. It might not be a great one, but it's better than falling into the lake over and over again.]

T-take me under again.

[She turns to look at him seriously where she's sprawled out on the ice.]

I'll hold my b-breath. Y-y-you're faster...underwater...r-right? So we g-g-get to the e-end...I sh-shoot the ice...home f-free!

[She's not sure if her gauntlet or arm can shoot underwater, but even if they can't, Yang's ridiculously strong. She can punch the ice and break it herself if it comes to that.]

[there is a moment where he doesn't even think about the freezing winds, he simply stares at her slack-jawed. was she actually saying to go back under the water again? it was freezing cold! sure, he could handle it he was a zora, but her? she was a human, she wouldn't be able to....

she was right, though, he was fast and if he was fast enough then she would be fine holding her breath. he stared at her for another moment before nodding.]

I hope you know what you'll be getting yourself into.

[he moved back over to her, picking her up back into his arms the best he could.]

Hold your breath!

[and he turned back into the freezing waters, her form tucked in right against his chest. it was go time for him. he took off, speeding underneath the ice and he knew this was really the best way for them to get to shore safely. as they sped closer and closer, sidon did glance down to make sure she was still okay and still holding her breath.]

[Yang nods once. She's freezing, but she's able to manage a little grin.]

Heh...I know you've g-got my back...!

[He wouldn't agree if he wasn't as fast as she thought he was. They just have to pick a good spot that isn't too close to the shore, since the ice is bound to be much thicker there, but not so far that they'll keep falling in. Yang takes a few quick, shallow breaths, before sucking down a big breath that puffs her cheeks.]

[Hitting that cold water again is like a punch to the gut, and she almost loses the breath she just took. She loops her metal arm around Sidon's neck and keeps her legs tucked in close, so he's as hydrodynamic as possible. She notices him looking at her, so she looks back, and gives him a thumb's up. So far, so good. Her chest is starting to burn, but they're getting closer. Her gauntlet slides into place over her arm. Hopefully she's got the normal rounds and not the incendiary ones, but whatever's in there, it'll at least give her punch an extra bit of zip in the kickback.]

[Once he starts to tilt up, Yang tightens her fingers and fires three quick shots. The water slows the trajectory of her bullets, but it's enough to crack the ice. She twists in his arms to plant a foot against his thigh, bracing herself, and slams her fist into the middle of that crack.]

[sidon watches as yang tiwsts herself into a proper position and fires at the ice. it was like a miracle, really, that she was able to fire her gauntlets under the water. the ice broke, it cracked severely, and then she punched at it with all her might. he saw his chance! he swam, he swam with such force it broke through the rest of the ice. he was able to jump up and out of the water, landing nearly at the shore, yang still in his arms.]

You did it, Yang! [sidon cheered, looking down at her. ah, it was then that he realized.... she was extremely cold, and would be freezing soon.]

We must get you inside, and dried up!

Y-yeah...! That'd b-be great!

[Her teeth are chattering, and she's clinging to Sidon as if someone glued them together, but she's grinning pretty big just the same.]

[She'll be mad about that stupid mage later. Right now, she's just glad to be out of the lake. She's far less worried than Sidon is about her health, and he'll see why once she can kick her aura into gear.]

Home, or s-somewhere closer?

Wherever you wish to go!

[he holds her tight as he begins to walk with her! he's definitely not letting her go, not until they arrive at somewhere warm.]

[... Keeping the door unlocked was ten points.

Raven arrived to the apartment to find, apparently, that she was the first one getting here. As promised, she'd brought her own supplies, preferring that than depending on charity of others even if she had been invited, and sets it down before making her way through the place, inspecting it.

The games and the note earn a bit of a scoff before she moves on. The wholesomeness isn't impressing her much but she'd agreed to give things a chance and there's no need to go back on that.

So, after some time she takes a seat on the couch. Opting to occupy her time with inspecting the edge of her blade until others begin to arrive.]

[At some point, Yang does return home, and with a shark prince in tow. It might be after other people have arrived, or she might be the first back before anyone else shows up. She did try to get her bounty hunting finished before the storm really got going, after all.]

[Either way, her blonde hair is still thawing out from the lake, and the frost is still fading from her metal arm. She's ridiculously cold, but not so cold that she can't greet her mother with a toothy grin.]

Hey, you made it! ...I'm gonna take a hot shower while I still can, be right back.

[Because when/if the power goes out, the hot water will follow shortly. Yang would rather that didn't happen just because she procrastinated.]

[A good half hour later and she's back, toweling off her hair, in a fresh change of clothes. She's got a snug pair of jeans and a comfortable baggy flannel knotted at the waist over a black band shirt she borrowed from one of her roommates.]

Did you try the stew yet?

[It isn't a terribly long wait before the door opens again, not that she minds the solitude. When Yang does come in, it's a bit of a relief. She'd been a little worried about being stuck in an apartment with some overly-cheerful friend of hers.

... She wasn't quite expecting her to show up in that state though. Raven doesn't say anything as Yang comes in, looking like a mess, watching her go with a brow raised in silent judgement.

When Yang emerges again, she's waiting by for her. Arms folded.]

I hope you at least caught who you were chasing?

[No, she hasn't tried the stew.]

Not this time.

[She sits on the couch, legs folded beneath her, and leans over to scrub the towel over her hair.]

This guy is smart, and slippery. I'm starting to get why no one else has nailed him yet.

[The payout for his bounty should be higher in her opinion, but it is what it is, and she's not going to complain.]

You deal with illusionists much?

[So, he escaped. Raven scowls a little though it's not directed at Yang's failure to catch her prey. Illusionists. It's a distasteful ability, and a real pain to deal with.]

It's a rare ability but I've seen it used. [She's seen everything at least once. She's pretty sure.] How did he trick you?

[Yang flips her hair over the back of the couch. It's embarrassing, going over her mistakes out loud, but at least she's lucky enough to live and learn from them. She's just glad Mercury isn't here yet, he'd either worry or point and laugh. Or both.]

He ran through a bush and out onto the frozen lake. Only not exactly. Sent an illusion of himself running while he stayed in the bush, and I chased after the illusion. Then he lobbed a boulder at the ice, broke it, and I fell in the lake. Sidon hauled me out.

[Well, neither of those things is an option here. Not pointing and laughing because there's nothing funny going on here. No worrying, because... well, Yang's old enough not to have somebody fussing over her. At least not in a world where death is less permanent and more of a specially harsh lesson.

No, instead all she gets is cool, detached judgement.]

So you let your enemy set his own battlefield and trusted your eyes even when you knew you couldn't.

[She tsks, shaking her head.]

You realize that your life would have ended in that water if we were back on Remnant, right?

[Yang sighs, shoulders rising and dropping.]

If we were on Remnant, I'd have my teammates with me to back me up. I was trained to fight monsters, not people.

[It's not an excuse, but if they're going to talk about hypothetical situations, then they might as well bring in all the other factors that would affect her too. Besides, they both know now why Raven went to Beacon, her lessons were a lot different from Yang's.]

It's going to take a while to learn those kinds of strategies. I'll put out a call for sparring partners once the storm eases up.

[Her teammates. The mention of them gets another disdainful breath from Raven. Replying to that with how she could have relied on somebody else to save her, as if such a thing would ever be a certainty. It's a soft attitude. A kind that never would have survived her own training with the Tribe before she ever set foot in Vale.]

If you can find somebody to make a decent opponent. [She considers for a moment.] Maybe Marcus Black's boy.

[They never did get around to talking about Mercury, did they? That one's on Yang. She was so shocked to see her mother that her relationship status wasn't really at the forefront of her mind.]

If he shows up, I'll ask him directly. I invited him over too.

[Yang bundles up the towel on her lap, regarding Raven with a slight furrow of her brow. She hadn't called him 'Mercury' but 'Marcus Black's boy.' Had she known his father?]

You knew Marcus Black?

[In fairness, she didn't exactly ask. Yang's relationship status, one way or another, is her business and not something Raven sees the need to get involved with.

At Yang's question she shrugs dismissively.]

I've crossed paths with most of Mistral's most notorious at one time or another. We didn't get along very well. Our styles didn't mesh.

That makes two of us...

[Yang grumbles this under her breath, folding her arms tightly. Marcus is a monster.]

[But she wants to know more. Asking Mercury just seems cruel, forcing him to relive the worst part of his life. Her mom knows, though. So maybe...?]

Did you know? About what was happening with Mercury back then.

[Raven arches an eyebrow at Yang's grumbled remark. Apparently Yang's heard a thing or two more about Marcus Black than she ever did herself.]

I heard he had a son but we didn't exactly keep in touch. I take it he wasn't a very kind father to the boy? [She gives a scoffing laugh.] That doesn't surprise me.

Mgh...

[She scowls at the wall. Honestly she's relieved Raven wasn't aware and just ignored it. But she still hates that it happened. It's not right. There's nothing to be done about it, though.]

Yeah, well...he grew up pretty tough in spite of what his father did. So that's pretty cool.

[Her thumb moves faintly over her right shoulder, above where her arm is attached, where the scar is hidden under her sleeve.]

What else did you know about him?

Somebody with a life like that either grows up tough or doesn't grow up at all.

[She shrugs it off. Business as usual in the world she lived in. The strong live, the weak die.]

Other than his reputation as a brutal assassin and as maybe the only person on Remnant who was as much a drunk as my brother, not much. Only that he won't be missed.

['Doesn't grow up at all...' Yang closes her eyes for a moment. If Mercury does show up tonight, she's probably going to hug him a little tighter and a little longer than usual.]

[Her eyes open again as she frowns quietly, listening. It isn't until the end that she comes alert once more, and she sits up straight.]

He's dead?

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