[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]

"Yes! Yes, it's all right. I'm all right, ah, don't worry -- "

Already, he's starting to beam bright, and lets go of Lan Zhan so he can make a show of wiggling his fingers. "All of my fingers accounted for! And thumbs, aiyo, I have missed my thumbs this past day, Lan Zhan."

[lightamidchaos]

He nods, slowly beginning to relax and allowing his hands to return to his sides.

“You must be more careful,” he admonishes, although gently.

[acrookedpath]

He pouts. "Lan Zhan, it was an accident," he says. "I thought a waitrat had brought them! And everything worked out fine in the end, didn't it?"

Wei Wuxian catches Lan Zhan's face between both palms.

"You might even have fun as a rabbit if the cookies appear again!"

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji gives him a stern look, although there is a certain softness in his glance.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian's pout deepens. "You don't want to hear El-ahrairah's stories for yourself? -- Ah, that name is much harder to say as a human!" He wiggles his jaw around as if he could work it back into shape, sticking out his tongue. "He is the rabbit-wangye, the one with the shimmering ears. I learned all their names, Lan Zhan! Saxifrage is a wonderful storyteller as well, and I am certain you and Rabscuttle would get along fantastically."

[lightamidchaos]

"El-ahrairah," he repeats, carefully. "Saxifrage, Rabscuttle. They told stories?"

[acrookedpath]

"Yes! El-ahrairah has had many adventures for a rabbit, it seems -- and so have the others as their warren moved from place to place. If you are so convinced you do not want to hear all the tales from the rabbits themselves, I can tell them to you! We still need to have our breakfast, after all."

He kisses Lan Zhan, swift and firm, and grins. "I have missed that as well this past day."

[lightamidchaos]

“I would like to hear the stories,” he admits, his expression softening. “And I love Wei Ying in all forms, but I have missed this too.”

[acrookedpath]

"Ah, Lan Zhan -- !"

How can he do anything but hug Lan Zhan after hearing something like that? Wei Wuxian throws his arms around him, embracing him tight, before he drops another kiss on his cheek.

"It was nice to be so small that you could hug me so close," he says. "But I would never wish to deprive you of the same pleasure! All right, the sooner we eat, the sooner I can begin telling you everything, and then the sooner we can kiss each other more -- "

He tugs Lan Zhan back into their seats at the table and begins searching for a waitrat.

[lightamidchaos]

He is patient as the rat is located and their order placed, but it is difficult to stop himself from reaching out to touch Wei Ying- hand, wrist, fingers.

[acrookedpath]

His grin softens as he takes Lan Zhan's hand in both of his, running his thumbs along his knuckles. I am here, the gesture says. I am all right.

"I may spend the rest of today trying to groom whiskers that aren't there," he teases, gently. "But do not worry, Lan Zhan. I am no worse for wear."

[lightamidchaos]

“If you are certain.” He closes his fingers around Wei Ying’s hand.

“You seemed frightened, at one point.”

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian makes a noncommittal noise and shrugs, his quiet smile never abating. "Ah, you would be surprised how harrowing the story of one rabbit warren can be," he says. "At least Saxifrage did not tell that one story about a dog."

Ugh. Dogs.

[lightamidchaos]

“You do not like dogs?” He sounds a little surprised.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian blinks, startled in kind. "Have I not -- ?"

He lets out a little rueful laugh, gaze dropping to their clasped hands. His grip has gone a bit tighter, without him realizing.

"No, I do not like dogs. At all."

[lightamidchaos]

He runs his thumb from side to side over the back of Wei Ying’s hand, gentle and soothing.

“All right,” he says, simply. “I will remember. Do you want to tell me why, or not?”

[acrookedpath]

Ah, Lan Zhan. Still so good to him.

"It is a less pleasing story than the ones the rabbits told me," he warns, as lightly as he can make it. "But before Yunmeng Jiang took me in, I would, ah, have to fight with dogs for food. Sometimes. When I was..."

Another shrug.

"It was a long time ago, but I have never liked dogs since."

[lightamidchaos]

“Wei Ying.” He tightens his hold on his hand, and fights the impulse to order twice the number of dishes for their breakfast.

[acrookedpath]

"So when Saxifrage suggested a story about a dog, when I already do not like them, and when I was so small -- !"

He laughs again, the same strained, rueful sound as before.

"Anyway. I did not mean for my own fright to startle all the others so badly."

[lightamidchaos]

“They will have understood, I am sure.” He rubs his thumb over Wei Ying’s hand again.

“Which one is Saxifrage?”

[acrookedpath]

He smiles, faint but real. "Rabscuttle did say I should not apologize for having the good sense to fear such beasts," he says. "And Saxifrage is the one nearly as bold as El-ahrairah -- he stayed close to me the whole time and did not want us to leave when it grew late."

[lightamidchaos]

“Ah. That one.” Lan Wangji smiles very slightly. “He liked you very much.”

[acrookedpath]

"He did!" Already, his good cheer has returned in force. "And it was quite mutual. If I cannot transform again, I promised him I would craft a talisman to translate from human to rabbit speech and back, so we may continue sharing stories on our visits."

At that moment, the waitrat scampers back bearing their order. (Wei Wuxian can eat things besides vegetables again! And he has taken full advantage of that.)

[lightamidchaos]

He helps the rat lift everything to the table and sets it out for them, making sure to serve Wei Ying first.

“That would be a useful talisman.”

[acrookedpath]

"I thought it might be!" He beams. Reaching across the table to prod Lan Zhan with his chopsticks, "Even if I also think you would be adorable as a little white bunny, Lan Zhan."