[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 is early yet, and the inn's common room is not as crowded as usual. Still, there is plenty to smell: the dishes of their own meal, the smoke of the fireplace, coffee and eggs and baking bread from the kitchen, wood polish, something animal that might be the waitrats. And Wei Wuxian, of course, who smells a little of smoke himself, and dirt just after a rainfall.

(...and, because it has not been all that long since his own transformation, a little of rabbit-scent as well.)

He walks a slow circle around the common room, stopping any time Lan Zhan's ears twitch higher in curiosity. Above them, the stars of the Observation Window flare brighter, silent fireworks shedding their light over the tables.

[lightamidchaos]

It is fortunate that the inn is not all that crowded at this time of day, he thinks, as he can hear everything. Snippets of conversation and the clank and clatter of dishes and tableware are each as clear to him as if they were standing right beside where it was happening.

He wiggles a little deeper into Wei Ying's hold, settling the length of his body against his chest, and flicks an ear.

[acrookedpath]

"What do you think?" he murmurs. "We could see what's cooking in the kitchens. Or go somewhere quieter instead -- outside, or our quarters, perhaps."

He smooths his thumb over the top of Lan Zhan's head and down one silken ear.

[lightamidchaos]

He snuggles down under the touch and blinks at Wei Ying.

It is somehow apparent that Lan Wangji, even as a rabbit, is content to be wherever Wei Ying is.

[acrookedpath]

Just as gently, he scritches his fingers at the base of Lan Zhan's neck.

"The kitchens, then," he decides. "And if it smells too strongly, then we will go outside to give you some fresh air."

Still petting Lan Zhan, he heads for the kitchens behind the bar, nimbly dodging a pair of waitrats who give him an are you supposed to be back here? look.

[lightamidchaos]

He peers down at the rats as they pass, then recoils back against Wei Ying as they cross into the kitchen and a storm of scents assails his nose. Lan Wangji sneezes violently, once, then again.

[acrookedpath]

"Ah! No, too much -- "

As swiftly as they arrived, Wei Wuxian backs out of the kitchen, cradling Lan Zhan closer to his chest. He runs a soothing hand along his back once they are in the common area once more.

"Too much," he says again, rueful. "I am sorry, Lan Zhan. Do you want a moment elsewhere before we go outside?"

[lightamidchaos]

He shakes his head so hard that his ears flap, then blinks up at Wei Ying before nuzzling his arm in reassurance. It was not his fault, after all.

[acrookedpath]

If Wei Wuxian were not already dead, he would die from the cuteness of that little ear flap. Unsuccessfully stifling another squeak, he kisses the top of Lan Zhan's head.

"All right," he says. "Outside!"

He bundles Lan Zhan into the front of his robes, much like his zhiji had done for him when he was a rabbit. One arm tucked around Lan Zhan to hold him steady, he pushes open the back door.

[lightamidchaos]

He snuggles down against Wei Ying’s chest, his nose twitching as he peers around with interest — an interest that sharpens when they step outside.

There are so many things he wants to try. He longs to stretch these legs, to test his speed, but how can he bear to wiggle away from Wei Ying?

[acrookedpath]

He keeps his pace measured, ensuring Lan Zhan has time to nudge him if anything in particular piques his interest. There is a little wooden bench not far from the back door, rigged so it gently sways back and forth if anyone sits on it; Wei Wuxian heads that way and settles onto the swing.

Humming softly, he takes Lan Zhan's ribbon and begins to wind it around one wrist for safekeeping.

[lightamidchaos]

He watches this process with interest for a bit, then turns his head to look down at the ground near them. There is an herb garden not too far away, and his nose twitches of its own accord.

[acrookedpath]

As he finishes securing the ribbon, he notices Lan Zhan's nose twitch. Wei Wuxian looks up, following his gaze to the herb garden, and he begins to smile.

"Would you like to investigate?" he asks.

[lightamidchaos]

He has to consciously overcome rabbit instincts to nod.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian beams.

Hopefully whoever has been tending this garden won't mind if a few plants go missing. Besides, as the story of the King's Lettuce says: you can never keep a rabbit out of a garden!

He gathers Lan Zhan close again and walks to the herb garden. Once there, he sinks to his knees and coaxes Lan Zhan free of his robes.

[lightamidchaos]

He hops down, then sits up on his hind legs and sniffs the wind. It is fascinating - he would never have guessed that clean, cold water had a scent so different from the water near the lake's shoreline, thronged with plants.

Cautiously, he stretches out his neck in the direction of the nearest herbs. Whoever keeps this garden has not planted things that he is especially familiar with, but they are enticing all the same.

After a moment, he hops closer, and closer still, then buries his face in a leafy plant to investigate... and taste.

[acrookedpath]

He must have a pen and a little bit of paper tucked in his robes. (Odd that both his and Lan Zhan's robes transformed with them, while their ribbons did not -- though Wei Wuxian supposes that did make things less awkward when he transformed back in the middle of the common room!) Wei Wuxian pats down his robes, brightening when he feels a small pad of paper that was not disturbed by carrying Lan Zhan outside; a few more seconds of rooting yields one of Madam Bar's ballpoint pens as well.

As Lan Zhan shoves his face into the herb garden, Wei Wuxian lowers himself belly-down to the grass. With a click of the pen, he begins to sketch, still beaming as he watches Lan Zhan.

[lightamidchaos]

He savors the first plant, then the next, marveling at how tasty it is. He has always appreciated the cuisine of Gusu Lan, but thinks now that perhaps there are other vegetables that they can do more with, if they but knew.

Still, moderation is a watchword, and so he is careful not to stuff himself, no matter how appealing these might be. After several minutes of browsing he shakes himself all over and hops from the edge of the little garden into the wider space beside it. Lan Wangji sits up on his hind legs again and sniffs the air, then twitches his ears to listen carefully.

Nothing gives him cause for alarm. It should be safe enough to leave Wei Ying, briefly. He turns to look at him, blinking slowly in an attempt at reassurance, and then bolts at top speed across the grass toward the distant horse pasture.

He has often wondered just how fast a rabbit can run.

[acrookedpath]

"Lan Zhan -- !"

Wei Wuxian scrambles to his feet. Alarmed at first -- even despite Lan Zhan's slow blink of reassurance -- he scans the grounds, searching for any dangers he might have missed with his less-than-keen human senses.

Nothing seems apparent.

All the same: shoving pen and paper back into his robes, he sprints after Lan Zhan.

[lightamidchaos]

The wind races through his fur, ruffling it as he darts over the grass at top speed. It is almost like flying on Bichen, as quickly as he is moving, and he delights in it so much that it takes a moment for him to realize that the startled yelp is now accompanied by a pounding of footbeats from behind him.

He makes a tight circle around one of the pasture's fence posts and races back toward Wei Ying, who he sees is trying desperately to keep up with him.

[acrookedpath]

Lan Zhan does not seem frightened as he bolts back in Wei Wuxian's direction: there is no tension, no cowering, no frantic flicking of his ears. (They do flop rather adorably with each stride, but that's all.) So by the time they reach one another, Wei Wuxian has relaxed back into his cheery smile; he flops to the ground, breathing hard, and rolls onto his back.

"Let that be a lesson to me!" he says. "When you are like this, I will never be able to beat you in a footrace."

[lightamidchaos]

He springs into the air, leaping over Wei Ying as he lies on the ground, then does it again, and again.

It can be described as nothing but playful.

[acrookedpath]

Lan Zhan and playful go together so rarely that it is a marvel every time it happens. Wei Wuxian's heart swells, his whole chest lit with such warmth and fondness that he cannot help but laugh, watching Lan Zhan launch himself into the air over and over.

"Look at you!" he says. "You are having such fun like this! I knew you would enjoy it, Lan Zhan -- I am so happy you do."

[lightamidchaos]

He jumps over Wei Ying again, then rears up on his hind legs and rests a paw on his side, looking up at him. He twitches his nose at him, pointedly.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian's grin turns more sly. He props himself on one elbow.

Then, as quick as he can, he darts out a hand to try and catch Lan Zhan.