[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

[lightamidchaos]

Rabscuttle heaves a sigh. He tells me not to blame myself, he says. That if it wasn't this it would have been something else. But I still think if I hadn't been so stupid as to get caught by the guards--

--then someone else would have, or something would have happened, or who knows. Darzin wasn't going to give up without a fight, that much was obvious, El-ahrairah snaps at him, before telling the rest of them, And a fight is exactly what he sought out. He brought his army and penned us up in our warren so that we could barely snatch a mouthful or two of grass to keep us alive without being shot at.

Something about his gaze indicates he's seeing another place, another time, as he says, So I swore that I would go and bargain with the Black Rabbit of Inle to save my people.

[acrookedpath]

He has seen that look before, on hundreds of cultivators. Knows he has worn it himself too many times to count.

Perhaps Wei Wuxian is wearing it now, as he thinks of the Burial Mounds again -- not a new clan scrabbling in the dirt, but falling, falling, only cushioned from certain death by the cloud of angry ghosts rising to meet him.

Quietly, he says, If there is any time to bargain with death, it is a time such as that.

[lightamidchaos]

Exactly what I thought, El-ahrairah tells him, as Cloudfoot and Bearberry hunker closer together, near the shelter of Lan Wangji's other leg.

You don't know the Black Rabbit, you said before, so you have to understand - he's a rabbit, but he's more than that. He's darkness and fear and --

El-ahrairah stops there and looks very closely at Wei Wuxian. Or maybe you do know, I see, he says, and leaves it at that. Anyway, Rabscuttle and I set out together, for I figured I'd need his help to bring back whatever it was that the Black Rabbit could grant to save the others. The journey was ... well. He turns to look at Rabscuttle, and the two exchange a silent glance that carries unspeakable volumes. I don't know how long it took, or where exactly we went as we traveled into the dark, and through it, and beyond. But eventually we reached his warren. All of stone, you know, solid stone that he'd dug with his own claws. And he was waiting, quiet as snow and smelling like clean bone, with fur darker than yours and red eyes that glowed in the dark without giving any light.

He shakes his fur all over and says, simply, He wouldn't accept my life in trade. So I thought if I could win a game or a bargain with him, I could get him to do so as the stakes.

[acrookedpath]

When El-ahrairah pauses the tale to scrutinize Wei Wuxian, he only twitches his nose, once, in silent reply. It does not surprise him to be seen clearly; he only hopes it will not frighten the others.

More than they are already frightened by the description of the Black Rabbit's warren, anyway. Saxifrage trembles a little where he leans against him. Gently, Wei Wuxian presses closer, as if to huddle against the cold, and continues listening in silence.

[lightamidchaos]

I lost the first two games, he says, simply. The stakes for the first were my tail and whiskers, and my ears for the second. He took them all - not to be cruel, you understand, but because that was the price I'd chosen to risk. I--

I begged him to give over, Rabscuttle interrupts, and El-ahrairah turns to look at him, saying nothing. I scavenged for food for us to eat during those days in that cold and barren place, and I found clematis and burdock leaves and willow for makeshift replacements for what he'd lost, and I pleaded with him to give up, but he would not.

[acrookedpath]

Ah, as if he did not already see so much of himself and Lan Zhan in El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle.

The carrot Wei Wuxian had been nibbling lies untouched. He breathes out a long, sad sigh, and not all of his leaning against Saxifrage is for the other rabbit's comfort now.

You still have your ears, and your tail and whiskers, he says, still quiet. So there must be a good ending to the affair.

[lightamidchaos]

El-ahrairah noses comfortingly against Rabscuttle's side, then turns to Wei Wuxian and chuckles. There was, but not as you may think. For I had none of them when I went wandering the stone warren and came across the pits where all the diseases that kill rabbits were kept. The Black Rabbit's Owsla of ghosts told me, when I asked, which was which. I threw myself into the pit of the white blindness, for surely, I thought, such a plague which even elil fear would serve to bring down King Darzin and his army entire, could I but reach them in time after being infected. Only the Black Rabbit came upon me first, as I staggered back on my way.

Bearberry makes a high choked sound. Alarmed, Lan Wangji attempts to soothe him, wild rabbit or no, and remains still to reassure him when the little brown rabbit huddles down under his fingers.

To make it quick, El-ahrairah says, I did not know how the white blindness was spread. It is carried by the fleas in rabbits' ears, and without ears I could have no fleas. When the Black Rabbit told me this I lost all hope, I admit, and fell to the ground before him. Then he said the words I will never forget:

‘El-ahrairah, this is a cold warren: a bad place for the living and no place at all for warm hearts and brave spirits. You are a nuisance to me. Go home. I myself will save your people. Do not have the impertinence to ask me when. There is no time here. They are already saved.'

And they were, Saxifrage pipes up. Or so I have always heard it?

They were, Rabscuttle says, quietly. The Black Rabbit's own army fell upon King Darzin and his people and scattered them to the four winds. They were long gone and even almost forgotten by the time we returned, months upon months later.

And that's when I got these ears, El-ahrairah says, cheerfully. Lord Frith himself brought them, and the whiskers and tail, after hearing of the whole affair.

[acrookedpath]

The whiplash of El-ahrairah's cheer yanks Wei Wuxian into a brief sputter of laughter, like the nervy chuckle of one who has just missed getting crushed by a boulder. They are very fine ears, is all he can think to say at first.

Rabbits cannot weep like humans. Perhaps it is better that way, for if he could cry, he would hardly be able to say anything at all.

After nudging Saxifrage in the side -- a companionable reassurance he'll be right back -- Wei Wuxian scoots off of Lan Zhan's lap to approach El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle.

I am sorry, he murmurs, that you suffered so in pursuit of nothing but a home and safety for your people. That it was necessary to face death itself in order to find a measure of peace.

[lightamidchaos]

El-ahrairah leans forward to touch noses with Wei Wuxian. Thank you. But all's well that ends well. It makes a good story now, doesn't it?

Rabscuttle sighs.

[acrookedpath]

He laughs, more fully-formed now. It does! Though I'm sure if Lan Zhan could understand, he would beg you to have a little mercy on Rabscuttle next time.

[lightamidchaos]

El-ahrairah sniffs haughtily A little excitement is good for him.

My prince. Rabscuttle sounds incredibly pained. A little?

[acrookedpath]

Perhaps you could challenge one of the lesser rabbit-gods! suggests Wei Wuxian brightly. Is there a Lord of Cabbages? A Lord of Clean Water?

[lightamidchaos]

El-ahrairah rolls over, kicking his feet with laughter. Rabscuttle sighs again.

[acrookedpath]

Ah, poor long-suffering Rabscuttle! Stifling laughter of his own, Wei Wuxian hops over to give him a small nudge as well.

I must find a way for Lan Zhan to understand rabbit, so you two can commiserate about your foolish friends getting into trouble all the time, he says. What would we do without those like you?

[lightamidchaos]

Get into hrair times as much trouble, at least, Rabscuttle says, sending El-ahrairah back into peals of laughter before he sits up and shakes his fur all over, settling himself.

I'll miss speaking with you when you turn human again. So I'll help you with finding that trick.

[acrookedpath]

Ah, perfect! He settles on his haunches, eyes bright and alert; even as a rabbit, it is obvious when a new idea strikes Wei Wuxian. We have talismans -- ways of channeling our spiritual energy to accomplish different feats -- for communicating in silence, or over long distances, and I have used small arrays to decipher unreadable languages before. I am sure I could design one that would translate rabbit to human and back again! We will test it together once I have drafted something workable.

[lightamidchaos]

I can help, volunteers Saxifrage, boldly hopping over to join them. I want to keep talking with you, too.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian brightens further. Of course! he says, and touches his nose to Saxifrage's. We will find a way, so we may keep telling each other stories for a long time.

[lightamidchaos]

Bearberry stretches under Lan Wangji's hand, and Cloudfoot comes over to nudge at him. Saxifrage noses back at Wei Wuxian.

All the stories, he promises.

[acrookedpath]

Nose twitching rapidly, Wei Wuxian looks over at Bearberry and Cloudfoot. What about you two? he asks cheerily. Would you like to speak to Lan Zhan sometime? And keep speaking to me when I am human again?

[lightamidchaos]

Sure, Cloudfoot says, and Bearberry makes a quiet noise of agreement. I don't think it's possible, but if it were, that would be nice. He twists his head to look up at Lan Wangji. I remember him the first time you came.

[acrookedpath]

I remember you, too. Warmly said. You were very brave, to approach us big unfamiliar humans! But Lan Zhan and I were so happy to meet you.

[lightamidchaos]

You were very kind, Cloudfoot tells him. Most humans are loud and wave their hands or try to stalk and catch us, or worse.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian cocks his head.

Have many other humans found you?

[lightamidchaos]

Not here, Cloudfoot says, and there's no mistaking it: El-ahrairah looks smug.

In the forest sometimes, further out. There are hunters occasionally. And the cats, watched over by the white cat-that-is-not. And before we came here, too. We all came from different places.