[prayer] the gnashing teeth and criminal tongues conspire against the odds

[indragonyears]

Who: Anduin Wrynn, Wrathion, and Shunpei Sanada
When: January 12
Where: Asclepius' temple, probably an old folks home in Japan somewhere
What: Anduin gets a ping on the heal-o-phone godsenses, Wrathion tags along to make sure nothing bad happens, Shunpei's rad as heck. Someone ayakashi is gonna get its grandpa eatin' face ball'd in.



Wrathion had intended his response to Anduin's request for his presence to be something stealthy and subtle; he would show up, maybe surprise his friend, and be a snarky little asshole until Anduin explained why he'd decided to take time out of Wrathion's important stuff for some mysterious purpose. Unfortunately, Anduin's temple was packed to the brim with gods-be-damned dogs, and every single one was so excited to see Wrathion and be dumb and noisy about their gladness. The dragon swore, trying to wade through the waves of the pack in some sort of dignified manner to little success.

"The least you beasts could do is fetch your master! Shoo! Shoo, damn you!"

Wrathion's own shinki seemed... bemused as his master's distress, having far more luck moving through the swirling vortex of dogs as he stopped to pet a few and the rest parted like water breaking on a shore, receding to go bug the guy being all noisy and fun instead.

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[thewhitepawn]

The largest dog observed Wrathion's entrance from a distance, letting her companions sniff and snuffle at him before moving off, calmly padding away in searching of Anduin. He had been expecting Wrathion-- though the dragon was here a little sooner than he had actually anticipated him.

When Nana came to fetch him, he had been in the small library, reading a book, but she was quick to tug at his sleeve and gently lead him back towards the other, whuffling softly in concern for the state of his guest.

"Wrathion-- you're here so quickly. It's always a pleasure. Thank you for coming." The dogs parted before Anduin with wagging tails, dispersing for the most part except for a pekingese who snortled at Wrathion something fierce, wheezing up at him in admiration.

[goingbananas]

“A visitor?” The dogs’ excitement had caught his attention well before Wrathion’s own distress did, but regardless Sanada couldn’t help but stroll in from the gardens himself, looking a little dirty and disheveled after what appeared to have been quite the romp with some of the dogs who’d followed him over.

He didn’t look the least bit put off by the appearance of someone strange and new and—look, it’s impossible for anyone to look intimidating while surrounded with friendly dogs in a pretty garden. You’ll just have to deal with that, Wrathion.

“Oi, you guys,” Sanada called out with a laugh as he addressed the dogs milling about their guest, “leave some for us!”

[indragonyears]

Wrathion scowled at one Anduin Wrynn when he emerged from the depths of being a giant marshmallow nerd, arms crossing over his chest as he drew up to his full height--which Anduin, of all people, would likely note, was standing a little taller than before. Perhaps the aspect had grown a little more--or perhaps he'd grown himself a little more, in response to the change in Anduin's own bones.

Either way, he wasn't looking up at Anduin quite as much, and he felt much more equipped to give the strange new voice a good, glowing red glance that radiated infernal levels of smug importance. "Picking up all sorts of strays, are we?" It might be impossible to look intimidating with a squash-face dog giving you a googly-eyed gaze of appreciation, but damn it if Wrathion wasn't going to try.

"Of course I came swiftly--I value my time, unlike some people. You made whatever's on your mind sound important; am I mistaken?"

[thewhitepawn]

Anduin couldn't hide the smile as he and Wrathion drew closer to one another, immediately noting the other's height and how it had changed. Leave it to Wrathion to feel threatened enough to adjust himself and think no one would notice. Well, Anduin noticed, dragon-boy. His expression certainly said as much as he held the other's gaze for a moment and smiled before letting his expression lapse into a more genuinely friendly grin.

"Come on, clear out you guys, clear out!" the dogs did as bidden, immediately returning to Sanada in excitement and anticipation of even more attention from him-- though the pekingese steadfastly refused to leave Wrathion's side through the greetings.

"No, you're not mistaken at all-- I do thank you for coming so quickly. I've something for all of us to discuss. It's a delicate situation, has something to do with our last outing, I suspect. But let's get comfortable. We've a lot to catch our friend here up on, I think," he added, glancing to Sanada with a warm smile as he gently herded them towards open seating.

[goingbananas]

Sanada likewise offered naught but a cheerful grin at the intimidating hellthing that Anduin invited into their home. He wasn’t even the least bit scared—quite the opposite, really. He was impressed, because—just how cool was his god that he’d make friends with a guy like that?

But, turning to his god amidst the sudden surge of dogs charging his way, he responded, “What’re you guys up to, anyway? You didn’t just ask him over to try out my spaghetti, did you?”

[indragonyears]

Wrathion meant Anduin's knowing, smiling gaze with a fiery glower of his own, continuing to maintain his drawn posture; there was a stranger looking on, after all, and just because Anduin was a huge dork didn't mean Wrathion had to be associated with him. The mention of their last outing drew a furrow to Wrathion's brow--and then recognition smoothed it out. "Would this be the supplicant that wept over his mother's illness, or one of our myriad other 'adventures'?"

Sanada spoke and Wrathion finally deigned to look at him full on as he took his seat, crossing his legs because he was in full 'look at me, I'm the Black Prince and I'm about to give you two minutes of cutscene before I let you take the next quest' mode. "Anduin's quite popular to beg for aid, considering that his godly aspect is one of healing and succor. Who in the world are you?" ... smooth and subtle. Wrathion had it all.

[thewhitepawn]

"Your spaghetti was absolutely delicious-- but I don't know if he's earned any just yet." he teased, sinking down into the cushions of the couch and making himself comfortable even as he looked at the other two in hopes that they would do the same. All around them dogs settled, content at the presence of people and calm for the moment.

"Wrathion, don't be rude. Introduce yourself for Light's sake!" he added in a tone that wasn't as exasperated as he sounded-- something the two of them would likely pick up on easily enough. Anduin didn't get annoyed easily.

"I received another ping for help. Same area-- ths hospital."

[goingbananas]

Grinning at the compliment, Sanada followed him to the couch, buoyed by a sea of eager pups that were happy to place themselves upon his lap. And really, that was the best and most formal reception their esteemed visitor was going to get.

“Shunpei Sanada,” he lilted, giving Wrathion a little wave. “Didn’t Anduin here tell you? I’m his new shinki!” And it looks like they’re about to embark on some Official Business, the likes of which remain admittedly obscure to Sanada. He’d been a shinki for a little while, but not long enough for his previous god to have dragged him off to such adventures before he’d vanished.

[indragonyears]

Wrathion didn't want any frivolous spaghetti anyway. He crossed his arms as he was lightly rebuked, chin up as Anduin gave a command and fulfilled it a moment later, rolling his eyes. His eyes flicked to Shunpei, studying him a moment more as he unveiled his whole purpose with... such vigor. He was an exuberant thing, wasn't he? "Anduin is a poor friend at the best of times, so no, he's not told me of your presence. As he's stated--I am Wrathion, aspect of the god Ogun, Earthwarder, and leader of the Black Dragonflight." He rested a hand on his heart, a smirk on his lips because he was very important and feeling quite proud of the fact that he existed.

Wrathion is his own biggest friend.

Anduin, however, had more pressing matters, and apparently decided that now was the time to actually get into them. He tapped his gauntlets against his lip, eyes narrowing. "Is it another man laid low by a family member's illness?"

[thewhitepawn]

Wrathion's loss. Sanada was an excellent addition to the household and the spaghetti was equally amazing.

"Don't listen to him-- I definitely told him about how excited I was to have you here. Poor Wrathion tends to forget things that aren't directly tied to him, however." He drawled in response, cocking an eyebrow upwards and giving Sanada a playful expression before shooting a smug expression at Wrathion. "Teasing. Somewhat, at least." Anduin stretched, thinking on his words for a long moment before deciding how to plunge forward.

"I've received another prayer-- through a nurse at that hospital, this time. Apparently an alarming amount of elderly people have been passing away as of late. More than should be happening. Some who came in for incredibly mild things that wouldn't warrant such a fate," his voice had slipped lower, his tone grim as he met the eyes of his shinki and his friend, judging their expressions and how to continue from there. "Something bad is going on. Something we can help, I'm certain."

[goingbananas]

Sanada chuckled, meeting Anduin’s playful glance with one of his own. As impressive as all of Wrathion’s credentials sounded, alas, Sanada had never heard of any of them. Thankfully, he refrained from pointing that out. Nor did he mention that Wrathion was totally full of himself—that was Anduin’s privilege, after all.

But at the mention of deaths, his expression turned much more somber. He’d seen a fair share of those during his brief time with his previous god.

“I’m not any good at healing the sick, but you know you can always count on me to help you out, Anduin.”