[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]

"Whenever we go into the forest," he murmurs eventually, "we should bring more herbs from the garden. And another basket of vegetables and berries as well. I should have thought to ask what time they awake, when I could still speak to them! You will have to ask for both of us, Lan Zhan. Perhaps by the next time we visit them, I will have that translation talisman ready."

[lightamidchaos]

He grunts a sound that is suspiciously like "Mn," or as close as a rabbit can get to that.

It probably means affirmation.

[acrookedpath]

It's rather uncanny; Wei Wuxian breaks into another bright grin. The more Lan Zhan changes!

"Well, if they have already eaten, then they will be welcome to a second breakfast. Or a chance to store away some extra food in their warren. Shall we go see if they are up and about?"

[lightamidchaos]

He considers, then sits up carefully, then hops down to the ground and looks up at Wei Ying, evidently waiting patiently for him to get up.

[acrookedpath]

Much like Lan Zhan did, Wei Wuxian swings his arms overhead and stretches from his fingertips all the way to the ends of his toes, then rolls over to clamber to his feet. As he does, he picks up Lan Zhan to tuck him back into the front of his robe.

A few more yawning patrons have made their way to the common room; still, it is reasonably quiet, and takes no time at all to ask Madam Bar for a selection of vegetables, herbs, and rabbit-friendly fruits. Remembering the tiny notepad and pen, Wei Wuxian adds in a request for a proper set of brush, ink, and paper. Ballpoint pens are fine for quick writing, but not nearly good enough to capture the quick, fluid motion of a rabbit at full sprint.

Thus fortified, they head back outside to the forest.

[lightamidchaos]

He keeps his paws hooked over the edge of Wei Ying’s robes as he looks around at everything while they pass. The forest is cool and its air somehow sweet, each breeze telling an entire story of its own.

[acrookedpath]

Though he cannot see as far or hear as well, nor smell the full sweetness of the grass, their walk through the forest settles a fresh blanket of calm over Wei Wuxian. He is truly a visitor now; there is no longer the bright pulse of home in every scent and sight. Still, that does not mean he can't enjoy the way the dappled light plays across their path, or the sound of birdsong high overhead.

By now he knows the route to the clearing by heart -- and luckily, the forest does not shift its paths as frequently as the inn itself. When they arrive, he settles to his knees, sets the basket aside, and coaxes Lan Zhan out of the front of his robes.

"Hello?" he calls, softly. "Are you awake, my friends?"

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji takes a position just in front of Wei Ying, sitting up on his haunches as he waits. Given the instincts and senses of a rabbit, it is perhaps unsurprising that he is the first one to react when Rabscuttle pokes his head out of the warren.

What under the sun...? Of course we're awake, we were at silflay hours ago. What is t-- oh. He blinks and hops the rest of the way into the open air. Don't tell me the two of you have switched places.

That is exactly what we have done, Lan Wangji returns, a little stiffly. I am Lan Wangji. And if we are disturbing you, we will leave.

[acrookedpath]

When he finally notices Rabscuttle, Wei Wuxian brightens. "Ah, Rabscuttle! Good morning," he says, cheerful. "Lan Zhan was curious to see what life as a rabbit might be like, after my adventure, so now he has transformed for the day. And also -- !"

He pushes the basket closer.

"If you have not yet had your breakfast, or wish for an early lunch."

[lightamidchaos]

Rabscuttle flicks an ear at Wei Ying to show he's heard and sizes up Lan Wangji. Curious, hm?

In part, Lan Wangji says, and Rabscuttle lets out a wheezing sound and hops over to sit in front of him. And the other part was his encouragement, right? Don't bother, I know I'm right. He was really insistent that you and I might have a lot in common. Why don't we check out this basket you two brought and call the others up?

Suiting actions to words, Rabscuttle sits up and thumps the ground hard in a quick pattern.

[acrookedpath]

That seems promising! And sure enough, within moments, a few familiar noses begin to peek out of the clearing's hidden burrows.

"Hello! We've returned," Wei Wuxian laughs. "Lan Zhan, this is Bearberry, Cloudfoot, and Saxifrage."

He fetches his ink, paper, and brush from the basket, the better to leave as much space as possible for the rabbits to feast. (And the better to start drawing them, in time!)

[lightamidchaos]

He does not know why Wei Ying is so insistent that he can be good at making friends. Lan Wangji can feel himself freezing up as he stares at the other rabbits, and they at him.

It's Cloudfoot who hops forward first - the one that Lan Wangji had noticed seemed quiet before, and who had curled up at his side. He stretches his neck out and sniffs at Lan Wangji, who returns the gesture.

The prince should appear soon, Rabscuttle observes. He's sniffing around here somewhere, trying to find a new track.

[acrookedpath]

Bearberry is the next to approach, pausing a few centimeters away from Lan Wangji with a quiet, Hello.

Saxifrage, upon spotting Wei Wuxian, bounds over to greet him. Wei Wuxian chuckles and lowers himself to his belly to put himself on eye level with the rabbits. "Hello, Saxifrage," he says, and bumps noses with the bold rabbit before rubbing a spot behind his ears. "I do not have a talisman to speak with you yet, but hopefully soon."

Their hellos done, Saxifrage glances over to Lan Wangji, ears upright and alert. You were cursed, too? he asks.

[lightamidchaos]

Hello. He flicks his ear in a friendly greeting and twitches his whiskers.

I was. I chose to accept it so that I could meet you, like this, as Wei Ying has already done.

[acrookedpath]

Saxifrage hops closer to Lan Wangji. It's nice to meet you, he says, as he stretches to sniff him. I liked talking to Wei Wuxian when he was a rabbit. Will you stay like this for a while, too?

[lightamidchaos]

For a day. The curse lasts a day and a night, he tells them. Rabscuttle twitches an ear in interest at that as he continues.

It is very nice to meet you too. I have known many rabbits, but never like this.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian did say you had a warren near your home! says Saxifrage. What are they like?

Bearberry hops closer to the basket of vegetables to investigate. Carefully, so as not to startle him, Wei Wuxian sits up and reaches for his ink and paper.

[lightamidchaos]

Gentle. Kind. Friendly, he tells them. Most have white fur, like mine. Many of them kept an ancestor of mine, Lan Yi, company in Cold Pond Cave for years. They were marked with ribbons as members of my sect so they could pass freely to the world outside. I have visited them since Lan Yi passed on.

[acrookedpath]

Cold Pond Cave? Cloudfoot shivers. That doesn't sound pleasant.

You wore a ribbon, too, when you were human, didn't you? asks Saxifrage. Is that how you're able to visit?

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji nudges comfortingly against Cloudfoot’s side. It is icy, but peaceful, he tells them. It is within a mountain in Cloud Recesses, my home.

He twitches his nose at Saxifrage. It is some other magic that lets me visit, he explains. The ribbon I wear marks me as one of the inner disciples of Gusu Lan - as a member of my family, if that helps. Wei Ying is keeping it safe for me at present.

[acrookedpath]

Indeed, as Wei Wuxian sets out his ink and begins to draw, the silver and white of Lan Zhan's ribbon flashes in the dappled sunlight. He catches sight of Saxifrage studying him and grins. "I will show you when I've finished," he promises. "I think you will like it."

Saxifrage lets out a soft ah of understanding. I guess you'd have to find other ways to tell your family apart, he says. I've heard humans can't see or smell or hear very well.

[lightamidchaos]

Not as well as rabbits, he agrees. Rabscuttle snorts.

I should think not.

[acrookedpath]

A spray of green carrot top dangles from the basket. Bearberry fastens his teeth on it, tugs, and nearly topples backward when an entire (rather large!) carrot comes with it.

"Ah! Careful," says Wei Wuxian with a small laugh, cupping his hand to Bearberry's back to ensure he won't fall. Cloudfoot, after a companiable nudge to Lan Wangji's side, goes to sniff at the offerings in the basket.

Does food taste different, too? asks Saxifrage, as he, too, starts making his way toward the vegetables.

[lightamidchaos]

Some. There are more flavors in these foods as a rabbit.

Courteously, he waits for the others to have their choice before he chooses a stalk to nibble on.

[acrookedpath]

It is the perfect tableau. Quickly, Wei Wuxian moves to another page to ink in the basket with swift, clean lines, filled to the brim with food and surrounded on all sides with rabbits eating their fill.

"A-Yuan will love these," he whispers to Lan Zhan, reaching to stroke the top of his head. He accidentally leaves a tiny smudge of black ink behind.