acrookedpath | [pfsb] it's so FLUFFY

[pfsb] it's so FLUFFY

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.

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Interesting, El-ahrairah decides. He looks from the paper to the rabbits and back again, then hops over Wei Wuxian's lap and runs a circle around him before strolling over to the basket of vegetables.

I like Moonlight, he tells the others. Now we must name Wei Wuxian. Thoughts?

Lan Wangji - the Second Jade of Lan, Hanguang-jun, now also known as Moonlight - blinks slowly, looking interested.

Wei Wuxian supposes that means El-ahrairah approves! He must make that translation talisman soon.

As he flips to another sheet of paper to begin drawing the prince, Saxifrage studies Wei Wuxian, head cocked in thought. Hawthorn? he suggests. Since he dresses in red and black.

He would like that, he says. The fruit is made into a delicacy, where we come from.

Does Wei Ying enjoy tanghulu? He is not certain, and decides that he must find out. He adds,

And you are right about the colors. He wears those more than any other.

El-ahrairah eyes him with keen interest, and says, Hawthorn it is, then.

Wei Wuxian glances up, the better to study the slope of El-ahrairah's glittering ears, and is met with considering looks from all the rabbits assembled.

"What?" he asks, laughing. "Am I being gossiped about, now that I am unable to understand a word you say? I will have to spin a dozen new stories about what you might be discussing just to satisfy my curiosity!"

Lan Wangji sits up and plants his forefeet in order to give Wei Ying a quelling stare as he shakes his head so hard his ears flap.

Unfortunately for him, a quelling stare from the Second Jade has much less impact when that Jade is a fluffy rabbit.

Oh, no.

"Lan Zhan!" His voice has pitched back to the near-squeak of before. "Ah, no, I know, gossip is forbidden."

He reaches to rub his ears. (With the non-ink-stained hand this time!)

Is it really? asks El-ahrairah. How curious!

You have got to teach me that trick, drawls Rabscuttle. He folded like a flower.

Lan Wangji twitches his whiskers in agreement at Rabscuttle, even as he leans a little into Wei Ying’s touch. Yes, he tells them. My sect has many rules. That is one of them.

That's right! recalls Saxifrage. A large wall with hrair upon hrair rules carved in the stone.

He looks up at Wei Wuxian, who has not stopped his gentle stroking of Lan Zhan's fur.

He told the story of how you two met.

He did? He can only be grateful that evidently a rabbit’s ears don’t flush. I see.

It was a good story. Reassuringly, Cloudfoot nudges Lan Zhan's side. I liked it.

I am glad. He shifts under Wei Ying’s hand enough to bury his nose in Cloudfoot’s shoulder for a moment or two. I had never met anyone like him before.

And now you are -- zhiji, right? Saxifrage wrinkles his nose as he picks his way through the unfamiliar word.

Yes. He understands me truly, he confirms. He knows me as no other in the world - in all the worlds - and I know him the same way.

Rabscuttle cocks his head to the side and glances at El-ahrairah, who flicks a starlit ear at him.

So will the two of you transform forever, or stay human?

Lan Wangji blinks at him. The curse is not permanent. I have not heard that it could be made so.

Oh, says Cloudfoot, sounding disappointed. But can you visit as a rabbit again sometime?

With one more scratch behind the ear, Wei Wuxian lifts his hand from Lan Zhan so he can continue drawing.

We will try, he says, as firmly as a rabbit can. I know Wei Ying... Hawthorn... wants to, as well.

Good.

Satisfied, Cloudfoot leans against Lan Wangji and noses one of his ears. Bearberry -- not wishing to be left out -- scoots closer as well.

He blinks at Bearberry, trying to reassure him, somehow both surprised and not that the rabbits are so sociable. Soon enough, there are three of them in a fairly large bundle of fluff and fur, while El-ahrairah and Rabscuttle appear to be discussing something under their breath so that the others cannot hear.

Whatever it is, Rabscuttle is resisting the idea, he can tell, and wonders why.

"I know I have said it many times," Wei Wuxian murmurs, as he moves on to drawing the pile of cuddling rabbits, "but aiyo, Lan Zhan, you are adorable like this. Not that you aren't adorable as a human, too! But now I will never be able to look at you without picturing the bunny you've become."

He huffs a breath at Wei Ying, but is suddenly distracted when El-ahrairah sits up tall and proud.

That’s it. Moonlight, you must teach us how to take on this curse in reverse, so that we may see for a day what it is to be human, not merely masquerade as one.

Rabscuttle groans and covers his eyes with a paw while Lan Wangji stares, struck speechless.

He may have no idea what El-ahrairah said, but even Wei Wuxian can read the looks on Rabscuttle's and Lan Zhan's faces. Eyebrows lifting, his brush slows to a halt as he watches them, interested.

Can you do that? asks Saxifrage in hushed astonishment, eyes wide.

I do not know, he answers Saxifrage - answers them all, really, as all their eyes are on him now. El-ahrairah's gaze in particular is sharp and keenly felt. We did not create this curse to begin with. It was another being at the inn.

Well, if it can go one way, then surely it can go the other, El-ahrairah points out, reasonably. Look into it like a good fellow, won't you?

Maybe we could see where you live, says Cloudfoot hopefully.

And hear even more human stories! adds Saxifrage, eyes alight.

I will look into it, he promises. I think you would like Cloud Recesses. And the inn here. But either way, we will bring you more human stories.

Saxifrage flicks his ears, obviously pleased, and tucks himself into a bunny-shaped loaf. You could also tell us stories now, if you wanted, he says.

It is very nearly all he can do to keep himself from freezing in dismay.

I am not the best storyteller, he confesses. But I will try, if you like. What kind of story do you want to hear?

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