[pfsb] it's so FLUFFY

[acrookedpath]

In Wei Wuxian's defense, it isn't as if he forgot one should never eat free food unless it came from Madam Bar or the waitrats. It's simply that after nearly a year where he has -- only on occasion, mind you! -- accepted food and drink from strangers with no ill effects, he may have let his guard slip. Just a little.

Besides, he was so absorbed in his work that for all he knew, a waitrat had deposited the little bowl of animal-shaped desserts on his table. It wouldn't have been the first time he failed to notice one of them trying to get his attention.

So when he absently picked up a cracker to nibble on it as he worked through a particularly thorny set of talisman calculations --

Well.

The little black rabbit that now sits on the table, a red ribbon looped around one ear, just wants it emphatically known that this was not his fault.

Comments

[acrookedpath]

It's not unlike the times Lan Zhan has held him while his consciousness was in a paper man: the coziness, the sense of safety and utter trust. The difference is that this time, Wei Wuxian has all his senses -- and then some -- about him. He can feel the warmth of Lan Zhan's hand in his fur (his fur!), the heart that beats slow alongside his rabbit-quick pulse. He can smell the sandalwood that envelops him.

Wei Wuxian glances back to the table strewn with half-completed talismans. The innocuous-looking bowl of animal crackers sits right next to his ink stone. In lieu of pointing, or hopping out of Lan Zhan's arms, he scrunches up his nose and glares at it.

(Well. Tries to glare. It's a rather difficult task for an animal so cute.)

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji completely fails to appreciate the glare. To him, it looks as though Wei Ying is about to sneeze.

He pets him again, comfortingly. “A curse, I suppose. I will find a way to break it for you, Wei Ying.”

[acrookedpath]

Ah, what a difficult choice to make! He doesn't want to leave Lan Zhan's arms, not when he is so warm and safe -- but if he doesn't, there is a chance Lan Zhan will eat one of the animal crackers too. And as adorable a rabbit as his zhiji might make, he does not want both of them stuck like this.

So, after touching his nose to Lan Zhan's chest again -- it's all right, I will not go far! -- he starts to gently squirm free of his hold.

[lightamidchaos]

He does not want to let him go, but it is clear that Wei Ying has something in mind. "Wait," he cautions, and shifts him in his arms, lifting him carefully.

He is so small. Gently, Lan Wangji places him on the table. "Do not go too near the edge," he warns.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian nods, ears flopping. Before Lan Zhan pulls his hands away altogether, he noses his fingers in another silent reassurance.

Most of the talismans have dried. One of them is smeared from his abrupt transformation; he gives a little sigh as he hops over it, making a mental note to rewrite it once he has opposable thumbs again. And there it is, just beyond: the dish of animal crackers.

He looks pointedly from the dish to Lan Zhan, back to the dish, shakes his head ferociously, and turns to give the crackers a kick. They go skittering across the table as Wei Wuxian glares again.

[lightamidchaos]

"The food carries the curse?" Lan Wangji absently collects the scattered talismans, stacking them neatly inside Wei Ying's portfolio, as he studies the bowl and its contents.

"They look - they are carved or cast as animals," he observes. "Did Bar-guniang give these to you?"

[acrookedpath]

A pause.

A rather long, rather sheepish pause.

Wei Wuxian flattens himself against the table and looks up beseechingly at Lan Zhan.

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji looks sternly at him.

"Wei Ying."

[acrookedpath]

I didn't know! he wails -- for all the good it does, as Lan Zhan cannot understand him. I thought a waitrat might have delivered them!

He is blameless, Lan Zhan! Blameless!

(By now, his ears have drooped so far that they're parallel to his back.)

[lightamidchaos]

He strokes his hand over the rabbit’s ears and down his back, once, then again.

“It will be all right. We will figure it out.”

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian heaves a long, lapine sigh, and gives a morose nod.

When Lan Zhan's hand lifts away, he pushes himself up to hop back across the table. (Carefully, so he will not tumble off the edge.)

[lightamidchaos]

He watches Wei Ying as he hops. “Are you hungry? If you were eating these—“

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian jolts to a stop.

Was he hungry? He had nearly forgotten in all of the strangeness. But yes, he decides as he cocks an ear, as if listening to his own belly. Yes, he is definitely hungry.

He turns the most hopeful, wide-eyed look up at Lan Zhan he can muster.

[lightamidchaos]

He could not resist that look even if he had wanted to. Lan Wangji raises a hand to summon the nearest waitrat.

“Watch this table,” he tells it. “Let none approach until we return.”

As the rat takes up guard, he scoops the portfolio and ribbon into his qiankun bag and holds his hands out to Wei Ying.

[acrookedpath]

Unhesitating, Wei Wuxian hops into Lan Zhan's hands.

With wry amusement: I have wanted to take part in new adventures lately. I suppose this counts.

[lightamidchaos]

He raises Wei Ying to his chest, pulling at his robes to create a safe, warm pocket for him over his own heart.

[acrookedpath]

...Oh. Oh, Lan Zhan, you are such a wonderful man.

Wei Wuxian wastes no time in burrowing deeper into his robes, tucking himself comfortably into the warm nest of Lan Zhan's arms.

[lightamidchaos]

He keeps one hand curved protectively over the bunny and starts for the Bar.

When they reach her, he asks, “Madam Bar, may I have a selection of leafy greens and vegetables, suitable for feeding the rabbits of Gusu Lan?”

[acrookedpath]

On the one paw, Wei Wuxian knows a rabbit cannot eat the same fare as a human. On the other... must he really eat nothing but vegetables, with no flavoring whatsoever?

That thought lasts until Madam Bar conjures up a bowl the size of Wei Wuxian himself, filled to the brim with all manner of lettuces and cabbages and leafy greens. Carrots and slivers of mild peppers poke out between the offerings. There is even a tiny scoop of berries tucked against a curve of the dish.

And to his new rabbit senses, it all looks amazing.

Eyes wide, nose twitching rapidly, he stretches out from the nest of Lan Zhan's robes.

[lightamidchaos]

"Patience," Lan Wangji tells him, and plucks a stalk of bok choy from the bowl to give to him. He waits until Wei Ying has it secure in his paws before letting go of it and picking up the bowl.

"Thank you," he tells Madam Bar, and carries his most precious burden back to the table where the rat is still on guard. Lan Wangji sets the bowl on the table and tells the rat, "You may go. Although I would request tea for myself, and clear spring water for my companion." He could have requested the vegetables from the rat also, but was not sure if it would understand his reference to Gusu Lan.

The rat squeaks at him and runs off. He settles himself in the chair and looks down at Wei Ying. "Do you want to be on the table or in my arms to eat?"

[acrookedpath]

How is it possible for raw bok choy to taste so good? Wei Wuxian is so intent on devouring it, one eager nibble at a time, that he almost misses Lan Zhan's question.

Hm. He is very comfortable here, and he admits there's a certain appeal to eating his food as Lan Zhan holds him close. Maybe he will hop down onto the table once the water arrives, but for now, he snuggles closer to Lan Zhan in reply.

[lightamidchaos]

The soft breath that escapes him is very near a laugh. "Very well."

Utterly charmed, he looks over the selection of vegetables and picks out a colorful piece of carrot and mild orange pepper to offer him next.

[acrookedpath]

One by one, Wei Wuxian takes the vegetables in his paws long enough to shove them in his mouth. It's surprisingly easy to eat the food without holding it, once he learns the trick of it. He hooks his chin over Lan Zhan's arm as he nibbles away.

Without realizing, he starts to make a series of tiny, contented grunts, as if so pleased by the current state of affairs that he can't help but comment on it.

[lightamidchaos]

As curses go, he has to admit this is one of the more delightful ones he has ever encountered - at least for now. Gently, Lan Wangji strokes the back of Wei Ying's neck with a finger, rubbing in little circles behind his long velvety ears.

"You are a very cute bunny," he murmurs.

[acrookedpath]

Am I not cute as a human, too? he teases, pushing his head further up into Lan Zhan's hand. Only when I am so soft and so small I can fit in the crook of your arm?

Not that Wei Wuxian minds. It really does feel nice for Lan Zhan's arms to envelop him so fully. This body is a prey animal, and its heart skitters at everything from the shadows overhead to the scent of the fireplace.

For once, he realizes with a small pang, Wei Wuxian feels no guilt about someone protecting him.