[open] might be gold

[royalfling]

Who: Wu & you!
What: Event prompts & Wu getting progressively more corrupt
When: Throughout April
Where: At the Raccoon Room & around the city

Content warnings: None yet, will add in comment headers


[tl;dr: Wu is getting progressively more corrupt throughout April. Check out my plotting comment, as well as Wu's corruption stages for more info. For the Raccoon Room prompt, let me know which week you're interested in in your tag-in. Planned individual starters in comments! ]

1: At the Raccoon Room
Throughout April

[ Wu is a familiar sight at the Raccoon Room. He’s there every night that it’s open, introducing the acts, welcoming people in, talking with regulars. He’s effusive, friendly, always has a smile for anyone who’s decided to come visit his venue. He’s thrilled by each and every patron.

Usually.

In April, this changes, slowly. The first week of April, Wu’s still smiling, excited to see you, but there’s something a little more to him: he’s magnetic, his skin and hair are perfect, he’s hard to look away from. His nails look painted gold. He’s thriving, his jokes land better, his singing is a little more in-tune. Conversation flows naturally if you sit down with him. During the first week, you might experience sunlight flooding into the Raccoon Room. It’s a hallucination that Wu isn’t aware he’s creating, but whenever someone performs, the stage lights look a lot more like sunlight, bathing the Room in light like it’s noon.

The second week of April, things start to shift. His baby-face looks a little less full, his eyes have less light in them, he’s less likely to greet patrons, his riffing between sets becomes more adversarial, and he might single you out in the crowd and make a comment about your choice of clothing or drink: ]

Honey, who did your coiffure? Because you need to fire them.

[ Or: ] Straight whiskey? Someone’s trying to prove something. [ As an aside ] I buy the good stuff, but it’s not that good here.

[ Or: ] I know it’s dark outside, but we can see you in here.

[ If you’re wearing something particularly nice or interesting, he’ll comment on it, and might try to take it. Even if Wu doesn’t, Fritter, his raccoon omen, might sneak a paw into your pocket and steal something from you.

The third week of April, the changes are more obvious. Wu is gleaming, literally: gems sprout from his face, his throat, down his arms and hands, where his fingers end in golden talons, sharp and menacing. His smile is more threatening than friendly. His greetings feel more like threats. He doesn’t put effort into his emceeing, something he’s always taken pride in. Now, you get what you get. Sometimes, he won’t even get on stage between sets, and if asked, he’ll just wave it off, like it’s beneath him. He spends more time sitting at a table at the back, nursing a drink, looking out at the Room like it’s his kingdom, and you’re a citizen under his thumb. He sits in one of the spindly chairs like it’s a throne. ]

2: He needs a hero
Mid-April
Watch out!

[ Something is coming out a portal at you. Maybe you’re aware, maybe you’re not, but Wu comes rushing to your rescue, sword unsheathed. If you know Wu, you probably wonder why he has a sword (you can thank Sasuke for that). If you don’t know Wu, you might still notice that he doesn’t really seem to know how to use it.

Either way, Wu puts himself between you and whatever is coming out of the portal. It might be a dark spirit, or any monster of your choice. ]

Get behind me! I can handle this.

[ He really, really can’t. ]

Comments

Mako - Early April

[royalfling]

Guess what!

[ Wu sidles up to Mako in their loft with a bright smile on his face. He’s been thriving this last week, energetic and excited despite the constant darkness of the month, and he has his hands behind his back and a mischievous smile on his face as he leans forward toward his husband. ]

Ryan - Mid-April

[royalfling]

Hold on, it’s just right here.

[ Wu holds out a hand to stop Ryan in front of a small hole-in-the-wall store. There’s a grin on Wu’s face that he can’t quite keep back, and he pats Ryan's chest twice before flitting into the store. Ryan might have an inkling of what's going on here. This isn't the first gift Wu's gotten him this month. Before this, it was a sweet red leather jacket, and then a chunky gold necklace. To make up for the last month, for Ryan having to be inside all the time, not having any fun.

Just as Wu leaves, Fritter leaps from Wu’s shoulder over to Ryan's. He’s in there for a good few minutes. In that time, Fritter paws at Ryan's chest, too, making little noises as she does so. She sneaks a paw into his pocket to see if there’s anything worth taking there. ]

Manabu - Mid-April

[royalfling]

[ Somehow, Wu has dragged Manabu out with him. He knows Manabu isn't the biggest fan of shopping or anything frivolous, but Wu promised that it was his treat, that he just wants to spend some time with him.

If Manabu found anything along their meandering stroll through the city that he showed even a modicum of interest in, Wu would buy it for him, brushing off any complaints. Manabu, however, is the unlucky one, laden with the bags from both his and Wu's purchases.

Wu's eyes flick to something, some store that he's never really noticed before, and he pulls Manabu to a halt, squeezing his arm tight. ]

Manabu, Manabu! We have to.

[ He points at the store, which has Tattoos in big, worn letters over the door. Wu's already dragging him toward it ]

[siriusly]

[playing packmule isn't the worst thing in the world: more often than not, it's what people needing favors done in exchange for a meal or materials needs from him anyway! or at least that's what he insists they need from him after all the dubious looks at his half-pint frame. randoms aside, carrying things for Wu is no problem at all, even if he can't say he really gets the need for most of the stuff; doesn't this guy have enough clothes...? he may never understand, but he won't snub a friend who needs a hand either.]

Eh...?

[he might need to learn to snub friends now and then.]

Eh??

[he double blinks, straightening up out of the little tilt Wu's yank brought him in.]

Have to what? Aren't those things permanent?

[royalfling]

Well, yes, but isn't everything in life permanent!

[ Wu laughs brightly, pausing briefly outside the door to look excitedly between Manabu and the shop. He isn't really thinking outside of this seems fun, so Mako can't tell him "please stop this immediately" in his head ]

You could get something that reminds you of home. Something, something... [ Well, he doesn't know yet, but he's pushing open the door into the shop, his hand like a vice around Manabu's arm ]

[arclightning]

[ Mako hasn't exactly been thriving.

The constant cool darkness is wreaking havoc on his system. He's colder than ever and his fire is a sputtering joke of a thing, barely there and entirely uncontrolled when it is. Mako's taken to wrapping himself up in coats and blankets even when he's inside, and he's gotten a new scarf which he keeps his nose shoved into.

It's hard to be outright grumpy, though, when Wu is so clearly having a great time. Mako can't remember the last time he was even like this. The suite, maybe? But looking back, he'd been driven by a tight, secret anxiety pushing him to be louder and brighter and shinier. This is different. Wu is confident and grinning and witty and charming, without any of that fear pushing him to be those things. He just is and Mako would be lying if he said he didn't kind of like it. It's nice to see Wu so happy, and the flirting is—

It makes him blush, even now, but it's nice, and as bundled up as he is, he can't help but smile, abandoning the notes he was compiling to pay attention to Wu instead. Weirdly, he's not picking up anything that Wu might be accidentally broadcasting about whatever this is, although he has a vague idea.

He does, however, reach out to press his fingers to Wu's elbow, just a bare little touch. ]

I'm not gonna guess.

[royalfling]

[ Mako certainly looks cute like that, all wrapped up in blankets and sweaters, and at least one scarf that Wu brought home for him this week. That was a practical gift, the one in his hands most certainly is not.

He likes to have Mako's attention all on him, and it makes his grin grow wider. He likes it when Mako is all his, no one else's, that he can make Mako blush like that. Mako can hear those thoughts, even if Wu's a bit better at shielding others from him. He figured early on that surprises would be impossible with their bond, unless he learned how to hide certain things from Mako. Only for surprises. Only for Mako's sake, of course. He would only hide things for Mako's sake.

Pouting now, Wu shifts a little closer to him. ]

It's more fun if you guess.

[siriusly]

[bags of the spoils of Wu's shop-hunt bang here and there along the entrance as Manabu is yanked along, but he's at least used enough to this to keep his feet under him and not eat shit the moment he's inside.

he gawks around owlishly at the sights around him - all the designs of previous clients, the current clientele, the artists... this place is a bit weirder than what he's usually seeing outside and around!

...monsters not included.

with a wary look at some of the, er, sharper gear within view:] Sss...something tells me...the way tattoos happen here...isn't as advanced as it could be, Wu...

1, third week

[entreats]

[ Wu might not exactly be fluttering around the Raccoon Room the way he usually does, being the social butterfly that he is, but Ange sure does notice him.

One might imagine that it's because of the way he looks right now, making him stand out even as he's sitting there at a table in the back - but it's more just that Ange makes sure to go look for Wu once she's arrived at the Raccoom Room. She certainly wouldn't spend as much time here if it wasn't his establishment, after all. One of the upsides of coming here is being able to have a few moments of Wu's company, even if Ange has a hard time dealing with crowds and this much socialising going on, especially after spending weeks on end inside of her house.

But that search for him does lead her towards that table in the back - and towards seeing his current state. The gems all over him, seemingly embedded in his skin. His odd nails, like claws.

Something is very wrong here, and it makes her heart feel like it's been trapped inside of a vise as she approaches the table. ]

.. Wu?

[royalfling]

I'm sure it'll be fine.

[ He doesn't know how they do tattoos in space, but for some reason the sharp implements in the store aren't putting him off. In fact, he's smiling wider, eyes scanning the walls with all the designs ]

I've always wanted one, a tattoo. I was always scared to get one.

[ But he isn't now. He got his ears pierced a few months ago, which was awful and scary, but he isn't scared this time. He's excited. It makes him feel kind of powerful, the idea that he can just... do this. ]

We could get the protective ones! Manabu, that could be so good. I keep telling Mako he should get one that keeps him warm. You could get one like that.

[royalfling]

[ Wu's watching whoever's on stage without much interest. A glass sits mostly undrunk in front of him, his fingers playing over the rim, his nails making a soft sound against the glass.

He doesn't look up when Ange approaches him, but he's aware she's there, and that it's Ange, his paleblood power able to feel her general emotional state, the one unique to her. His lips curl in a small smile, but it isn't very friendly ]

Won't you join me?

1 - week 3

[droptheious]

[Varian, as usual, had dropped to the raccoon room to do a little technical work- always determined to make sure the space was running as top-notch as he could get it. He's finished up for the day and is headed over to Wu.]

Hey, Wu- the monthly check-up is fine, everything looks-

[And then he notices the gemstones, and worry immediately sinks into his stomach like a stone. He hasn't even properly noticed the change in Wu's demeanour- the gems are too much of a distraction. ]

...Please tell me you glued those on.

1-Third Week

[cuddlery]

[Scorpia can't help but notice that Wu's been acting a bit... erratically this week! And now, he's starting to look somewhat different too. Normally she wouldn't pay any mind to him possibly just making a fashion statement, but with everything combined? She's worried a bit for him.

So over an hour before her performance for the evening, she manages to spot him seated near the back with a drink, and she meekly tries to approach him.]

Oh hi! Hey there, Wu. [She waves a pincer uncertainly.] Didn't, didn't notice ya there. ...How's it going!

[siriusly]

[Manabu double-blinks, expression scrunching up.]

How the heck is that supposed to work? Are tattoos a, a medical procedure in Trench?

[royalfling]

[ Wu doesn't look up at him, instead taking a slow sip of his drink. It would be picturesque for it to be some sort of high-class sipping whiskey or something, but, no. It's still a fruity, sweet drink, it's just his demeanor that's changed, not his tastes. ]

I would never glue anything. This is all natural.

[ He gestures at himself with those long, golden fingers, preening a little. ]

[arclightning]

[ It's pretty impressive how good Wu's gotten at keeping his thoughts back, honestly. Mako sort of got used to the warm flow of them, to hearing everything.

He just barely manages to bite down on a fond little smile, trying for annoyed and serious and landing somewhere affectionate. ]

Alright, alright. It's. Uh... a.

[ Shit he actually has to guess, doesn't he? Wu's gotten him mostly clothes, a lot in the last week or so, actually, cheerfully-wrapped things "just because" or "I saw it and it's your color!", so a smart guess is probably more clothes. Or is Wu keeping it back because it's not clothes, and that's why he wants Mako to guess?

Should this be this hard?

Mako stares at him, squinting in thought, trying to get any hint from his face. ]

[droptheious]

[He can be glad for one single normal thing here because the rest sure is ringing a million alarm bells.]

They- they're natural?

[Varian had rock skin too, not quite as bling as this, but it's enough.]

Wu- Wu are you corrupted? Wh-when did this happen? We need to get this looked at!

[entreats]

[ This is the sort of situation that has red flags all over it. If it was anyone else, especially a stranger, Ange would have turned on her heels and moved away without even giving a response, most likely.

But this isn't just anyone. It's Wu, and with the way he's looking, he clearly can't be doing well.

He's a friend - and she can't turn her back on him in a situation like this. Which means that if there's any emotion radiating off her right now, more than anything else, it's straight up worry.

So rather than doing the perhaps sensible thing, she instead nods and moves to actually sit at the table as well, putting her own glass down on the table after sitting down. ]

.. has something been going on?

[ After all, surely Wu must have notices the changes about him as well, right? When they have gone this far. ]

1- week 2 light him up wu hahahaha

[monoceroscaeli]

[Childe's just gotten done with one of his sets, and he's decided to relax a little after performing. Usually he orders straight vodka, but you know what? On a whim, he's going to try that whiskey. He gets some quickly from the bar while they're setting up the next act, and Wu's doing his thing between sets now. He finds a place towards the front, his guitar case on the floor next to him as he relaxes in his chair and sips on it.

Childe's clothing is a little dressy, though he's ditched the jacket he normally wears for a black vest with a silver chain that's attached to his hydro vision that rests against his left shoulder. A blue collared button up is underneath, with his red Harbinger mask settled against his auburn hair, and a pair of nice light grey slacks tucked into his same slavic style boots.

When Wu calls him out in the crowd, he only smiles back, but doesn't completely let it slide.]

Come now, aren't you going to tell us all what the good stuff is?

[royalfling]

[ Wu's eyes slowly shift to look at her, even though his face stays forward, body unmoving. He smiles slowly, and it's a bit of a scary smile, not reaching his eyes ]

Scorpia.

[ His voice is a little off, too, much more neutral than he ever is ]

Are you ready for your set?

[ Should that question be menacing? Well, it is. ]

[royalfling]

No. Yes? Sort of. They use blood! It's blood magic, so, yes, I suppose it's sort of medical.

[ Eyes skimming the art-- oh! That one's nice. Stars, sort of like the stars they saw together on Manabu's train. He leans forward to look at it. ]

Mako says I should get one for protection. I'm not sure what kind of blood that would be.

[ Mako never said that, more he suggested it offhandedly before joking that Wu could never handle a tattoo ]

[royalfling]

[ Mako is so cute. Wu watches him think, hears him think, and barely stops himself from laughing. He loves this man so much, and thinks about that instead of about the gift.

When Mako stumbles over a guess, Wu grins brighter and slips onto his lap, leaning in to kiss him soundly. ]

You're bad at this. Not even one guess?

[royalfling]

[ Wu waves a hand, unconcerned. ]

Oh, I don't mind it. Is it really corruption? Or is it enhancement?

[ Because, look at him: all that bling. He looks great, if you don't look past the jewels. ]

Nothing needs to be done. The lights are finished?

[ He's treating Varian a bit like the help here, much more callous and uncaring than he normally would. He would usually thank Varian profusely and insist he stays for a song and a drink, and then make sure he's well paid before he leaves.

None of that is happening this time. ]

[royalfling]

[ Ah, another one. Everyone is asking after him. Of course they are, he has so many friends here, even if the concern feels tedious.

When Ange sits, Wu turns to her with a slight smile, completely ignoring the question. ]

Are you enjoying the show?

[ Ange is a friend, and a good one at that. Even in this state, Wu knows that Ange is important, she has pull with people who matter, including his own husband. He knows that Mako and Ange are close, he knows that Ange and Ruby are together, she's connected to the people who matter. ]

1 - week 3

[laminae]

[It's really, really hard to miss the changes that have overcome Wu. Fern has a good idea what's going on, though he doesn't want to believe it. Maybe it's just some new kind of fashion, or some side effect of some dark blood magic. He doesn't know, and that's what concerns him the most.

He's come by to listen to some music, try to not think about the endless night that's currently going on, but Wu's condition has him nervous. He waits until the music has started up before approaching Wu at his table, his parasol with grow lights on the inside in his hand and his orchid mantis omen perched on his shoulder.]

Hey dude, how're things?