[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.

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[lightamidchaos]

It has become habit for him to check upstairs in their room first when he arrives at the inn, as he has today. It has also become habit for him not to be surprised when he does not find Wei Ying there. In truth, Lan Wangji is pleased about this, as it means that Wei Ying is out and about with friends or doing things that are likely to make him happy, and Lan Wangji is always glad when Wei Ying is happy.

He comes back downstairs with the idea of waiting for him in the common room, perhaps with a cup of tea at a table near the fire. It has been a long day, and a slightly tiring one.

He nods to a waitrat as he reaches the bottom of the stairs and makes a polite request, then begins to move through the room with unconscious grace, looking for an empty table.

[acrookedpath]

Rabbits, it turns out, have even more qualities to recommend them than Wei Wuxian realized. He can hear everything, to the point that it's a little disorienting, and when he catches a whiff of fried potato, he's startled to realize it comes from a table all the way on the other side of the room. A room that feels very, very big all of a sudden, now that he is quite small.

Cautiously, he stands up on his hind legs. One ear flicks -- then swivels, his attention caught, as a murmured voice drifts across the din.

Lan Zhan? He stretches up higher, overbalances, flops forward, and quickly picks himself up again. Lan Zhan!

Perhaps Hanguang-jun's attention will be caught by a black rabbit feverishly hopping up and down atop a not-so-empty table?

[lightamidchaos]

The inn's common room is large, often busy, and often noisy. This evening is quieter, at least, which is something of a comfort. It also means that as he looks around it is easy to spot a flicker of movement on the top of a table.

Lan Wangji stops where he is in the middle of the floor, blinking in mild bemusement.

Is that a rabbit? As he looks closer, he is certain of it. The bunny hops up and down on top of the table, giving him cause for concern. Carefully, he approaches.

"There now," he murmurs, keeping his tone both quiet and reassuring. "It is all right. How did you end up here, little one?"

[acrookedpath]

It becomes very clear, very quickly, that Lan Zhan does not have to worry about startling this rabbit. As soon as he is next to the table, it leaps right for him -- ah, these back legs have impressive strength! -- trusting that it will be caught.

It was an accident! Few bunnies have ever managed to look this pitiful. Lan Zhan, I didn't mean to!

[lightamidchaos]

He is startled but reacts quickly, catching the rabbit and cradling it close, supporting it in his arms.

"Hush, hush," he soothes, stroking one hand over its back. "Do not be frightened."

It must be someone's pet, he thinks, and lost. Lan Wangji looks at the table to see if there is any sign of its caretaker.

His glance falls on familiar writing scribbled over talisman paper, and a red ribbon lying in a pile, and he freezes.

[acrookedpath]

He burrows into Lan Zhan's arms, snuffling against his robes -- but when he feels him grow still, he peeks up from behind a fold of fabric. Wei Wuxian follows Lan Zhan's gaze to the table, nose continuing to twitch. Looks back up at him.

Slowly, he nods.

[lightamidchaos]

The little rabbit’s movement draws his glance. He looks from the bunny to the ribbon and back.

“Wei Ying?”

[acrookedpath]

He nods again, faster, and bumps his head against Lan Zhan's chest.

[lightamidchaos]

His hand curves protectively over the rabbit’s back. “I have you. You’re safe,” he promises.

“How?”

[acrookedpath]

It's not unlike the times Lan Zhan has held him while his consciousness was in a paper man: the coziness, the sense of safety and utter trust. The difference is that this time, Wei Wuxian has all his senses -- and then some -- about him. He can feel the warmth of Lan Zhan's hand in his fur (his fur!), the heart that beats slow alongside his rabbit-quick pulse. He can smell the sandalwood that envelops him.

Wei Wuxian glances back to the table strewn with half-completed talismans. The innocuous-looking bowl of animal crackers sits right next to his ink stone. In lieu of pointing, or hopping out of Lan Zhan's arms, he scrunches up his nose and glares at it.

(Well. Tries to glare. It's a rather difficult task for an animal so cute.)

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji completely fails to appreciate the glare. To him, it looks as though Wei Ying is about to sneeze.

He pets him again, comfortingly. “A curse, I suppose. I will find a way to break it for you, Wei Ying.”

[acrookedpath]

Ah, what a difficult choice to make! He doesn't want to leave Lan Zhan's arms, not when he is so warm and safe -- but if he doesn't, there is a chance Lan Zhan will eat one of the animal crackers too. And as adorable a rabbit as his zhiji might make, he does not want both of them stuck like this.

So, after touching his nose to Lan Zhan's chest again -- it's all right, I will not go far! -- he starts to gently squirm free of his hold.

[lightamidchaos]

He does not want to let him go, but it is clear that Wei Ying has something in mind. "Wait," he cautions, and shifts him in his arms, lifting him carefully.

He is so small. Gently, Lan Wangji places him on the table. "Do not go too near the edge," he warns.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian nods, ears flopping. Before Lan Zhan pulls his hands away altogether, he noses his fingers in another silent reassurance.

Most of the talismans have dried. One of them is smeared from his abrupt transformation; he gives a little sigh as he hops over it, making a mental note to rewrite it once he has opposable thumbs again. And there it is, just beyond: the dish of animal crackers.

He looks pointedly from the dish to Lan Zhan, back to the dish, shakes his head ferociously, and turns to give the crackers a kick. They go skittering across the table as Wei Wuxian glares again.

[lightamidchaos]

"The food carries the curse?" Lan Wangji absently collects the scattered talismans, stacking them neatly inside Wei Ying's portfolio, as he studies the bowl and its contents.

"They look - they are carved or cast as animals," he observes. "Did Bar-guniang give these to you?"

[acrookedpath]

A pause.

A rather long, rather sheepish pause.

Wei Wuxian flattens himself against the table and looks up beseechingly at Lan Zhan.

[lightamidchaos]

Lan Wangji looks sternly at him.

"Wei Ying."

[acrookedpath]

I didn't know! he wails -- for all the good it does, as Lan Zhan cannot understand him. I thought a waitrat might have delivered them!

He is blameless, Lan Zhan! Blameless!

(By now, his ears have drooped so far that they're parallel to his back.)

[lightamidchaos]

He strokes his hand over the rabbit’s ears and down his back, once, then again.

“It will be all right. We will figure it out.”

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian heaves a long, lapine sigh, and gives a morose nod.

When Lan Zhan's hand lifts away, he pushes himself up to hop back across the table. (Carefully, so he will not tumble off the edge.)

[lightamidchaos]

He watches Wei Ying as he hops. “Are you hungry? If you were eating these—“

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian jolts to a stop.

Was he hungry? He had nearly forgotten in all of the strangeness. But yes, he decides as he cocks an ear, as if listening to his own belly. Yes, he is definitely hungry.

He turns the most hopeful, wide-eyed look up at Lan Zhan he can muster.

[lightamidchaos]

He could not resist that look even if he had wanted to. Lan Wangji raises a hand to summon the nearest waitrat.

“Watch this table,” he tells it. “Let none approach until we return.”

As the rat takes up guard, he scoops the portfolio and ribbon into his qiankun bag and holds his hands out to Wei Ying.

[acrookedpath]

Unhesitating, Wei Wuxian hops into Lan Zhan's hands.

With wry amusement: I have wanted to take part in new adventures lately. I suppose this counts.

[lightamidchaos]

He raises Wei Ying to his chest, pulling at his robes to create a safe, warm pocket for him over his own heart.