[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]

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

[lightamidchaos]

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.

[acrookedpath]

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.

[lightamidchaos]

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

[acrookedpath]

Good.

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

[lightamidchaos]

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.

[acrookedpath]

"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."

[lightamidchaos]

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.

[acrookedpath]

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.

[lightamidchaos]

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?

[acrookedpath]

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

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

[lightamidchaos]

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.

[acrookedpath]

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.

[lightamidchaos]

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?

[acrookedpath]

Are there any more tales about the Jade Rabbit? pipes up Bearberry at last. Or humans like Chang'e?

[lightamidchaos]

Yes. Lan Wangji sits up and combs his ears with his forepaws, thinking, then looks around at them all.

Yùtù, the Jade Rabbit, is honored where Hawthorn and I are from. He has told you of Chang'e, I know. Shall I tell you the story of Yùtù's kindness to the Jade Emperor?

[acrookedpath]

A tiny chorus of yeses rises around Lan Wangji as the rabbits settle in to listen.

Wei Wuxian knows that posture, having seen it just yesterday; is Lan Zhan telling them a story, then? Poor Lan Zhan! The center of attention, expected to speak so long -- he hides a smile as he gives his zhiji another tiny scratch atop the head.

Then he gets to work drawing. This scene will make a perfect start to A-Yuan's book: a gathering of rabbits all telling each other rabbit stories.

[lightamidchaos]

He reminds himself that this will be good practice for telling A-Yuan stories as he grows older, and does his best to recall sitting at his mother's knee and listening to her gentle words.

Long ago, the Jade Emperor decided that he wished for assistance in the work of preparing the elixir of life that is given to the immortals in the heavens. He thought that it would be best not to grant this responsibility to a human, for concern that they might become selfish and greedy with it. Instead, he decided that one of the animals of the world could be trusted, but which one? To find out, he disguised himself as an old, poor beggar man and went into the forest, crying out that he was starving and needed help.

[acrookedpath]

Cloudfoot and Bearberry lean against one another as they listen; Saxifrage's ears twitch, as if to pick up as much of Lan Wangji's story as possible on the first telling.

To Wei Wuxian's ears, there is no sound except the rustle of grass, the chirping of birds, and the soft whisk of his brush over paper as he draws each of Lan Zhan's whiskers.

[lightamidchaos]

Four animals sought to help: a monkey, an otter, a jackal, and the rabbit. All went to gather food for the beggar - the monkey took fruit from the trees, the otter caught fish, while the jackal stole a pot of food from a village and carried it back. But the rabbit could only collect grass and plants he knew the man could not eat.

Lan Wangji breathes deeply and twitches his whiskers.

So instead, determined that the beggar would not go hungry, the rabbit threw himself into the man’s fire - but instantly the fire went out, and instead of the beggar, the Jade Emperor stood before them. In honor of the rabbit’s courage and kindness, he brought him to the heavens, where he became the Jade Rabbit and brews the elixir of immortality.

[acrookedpath]

The rabbits gasp when Lan Wangji speaks of the Jade Rabbit throwing himself on the fire; Cloudfoot hides his face against Bearberry, but peeks out a moment later at the reassurance that it was merely a test.

And that's where he met Chang'e, right? asks Saxifrage. In the heavens?

[lightamidchaos]

Yes. She was working in the Jade Emperor’s palace, and they became friends.

El-ahrairah makes an interested sound. I should like to visit the moon myself.

[acrookedpath]

I'd rather stay here, admits Cloudfoot -- but, in a small burst of curiosity, asks, Do you have to be immortal to visit? Or just human?

[lightamidchaos]

Not just human, he says, sure of that much, given the Jade Rabbit. But I am not sure if one who has not achieved immortality or some divinity could visit the heavens. Stranger things have happened, though.

[acrookedpath]

If anyone could figure it out, says Saxifrage confidently, it would be the prince.