[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]

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.

[lightamidchaos]

His fingers brush over Lan Wangji's fur as he twists and hops over him again, then bolts around him in a swift circle.

[acrookedpath]

Snickering, Wei Wuxian rolls onto his belly and tries to make another grab for Lan Zhan, only for him to slip through his fingers again. He scrambles to his feet.

"I will catch you this time!" he declares.

[lightamidchaos]

He stamps his hind foot on the ground as though giving an alarm call or a challenge, and runs around him in a circle again.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian spins, tracking Lan Zhan as he dashes around him --

He dives for the ground as the flash of white comes around again.

[lightamidchaos]

Rabbits are incredibly quick and can change direction in a flash, he discovers, doing just that. He ducks between Wei Ying’s feet, under his robes, and dashes back to sit up in front of him.

[acrookedpath]

"Oof -- "

He hits the ground hard enough that he needs a beat to catch his breath. Once he does, he looks up -- and splutters a laugh to see Lan Zhan sitting placidly in front of him as if to ask what all the fuss was about.

"How has anyone ever managed to catch a rabbit?" he asks, propping himself on his elbows. "You are too quick!"

[lightamidchaos]

There’s no question but that the rabbit looks smug as it stretches out its neck to nose at him.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian squinches up his face, playfully, and leans forward to touch his nose to Lan Zhan's.

"It is so nice to see you happy," he murmurs. "Enjoying your adventure."

[lightamidchaos]

The white rabbit licks his cheek and nudges its way under his chin to curl up against him.

[acrookedpath]

With care, Wei Wuxian arranges his forearms into a loose nest around Lan Zhan, smiling absurdly as the soft fur tickles his chin.

"Are you tired, after all that running?" he teases gently.

[lightamidchaos]

He snuggles down into the makeshift nest with a tiny squeak. Not that he would admit to being tired, but perhaps catching his breath would be no bad thing.