[pfsb] happy halloween!

[acrookedpath]

It's that time of year again.

The inn is bustling. All manner of strange outfits have been donned (some more willingly than others). Lanterns flicker ominously in the corners, pumpkins stand sentry at either end of the bar, and every order comes complete with a handful of wrapped candies.

And -- if you're Wei Wuxian -- Madam Bar has also gifted you with an enormous array of tiny cakes, each one with a little candle stuck in its center. His second birthday at the inn has arrived, and he could not be more pleased.

(He's also wearing a red T-shirt that reads, simply, I'M THE CHAOS. Just like last year, he has set his mild confusion aside in favor of delight at the bounty Madam Bar has given him.)

Comments

[lotus_sister]

They've just finished locating the lotus roots, and pork ribs, and the ginger and other spices she needs, when a rat marches up to them, squeaking furiously.

This rat is wearing an apron and waving a wooden spoon. Jiang Yanli bites her lip and offers a polite bow. "I don't know if you can understand me," she tries. "I'd like to make soup for my brother."

[acrookedpath]

Uh-oh. Usually the waitrats aren't this... vehement about humans being in the kitchen.

Wei Wuxian circles his arms and mirrors his sister's bow. "We mean no harm," he says. "Here, perhaps -- "

A bead of red energy glows on his fingertip, and quickly, he sketches out the same translation talisman he used for El-ahrairah.

[lotus_sister]

"Squeak squeak squeakity squeak!" the rat scolds them. As the talisman flashes, it transmutes to "squeak n'est pas for just anyone, I was using those pork ribs for a recipe!"

"I'm so sorry," Jiang Yanli tells the rat. "It's A-Xian's birthday, and I wanted to do something special for him."

[acrookedpath]

"Non potevi prenderlo from the Bar?" the rat demands.

Wei Wuxian blinks in confusion. Clearly, the translation talisman does not work nearly as well with waitrats as it does with El-ahrairah; he squashes the urge to dive straight into further research, picking apart which radicals and sigils might have caused the difference.

"Er," he tries. "If you wish, I could see if Madam Bar could provide us both with more pork ribs..."

"That's what I just said!" the rat snaps. Honestly, it's rather impressive how its tiny features can convey such a scowl.

[lotus_sister]

"A-Xian," she tells him. "Go. Bring back more." Jiang Yanli turns to the rat and gives it a hopeful smile.

"He'll take care of it. May I offer help, to make up for our trespass?"

"Ei bine, treci la el," the rat snaps at Wei Wuxian, before turning to look at Jiang Yanli. "It's okay. At least you apologized. You wouldn't believe the meirg I have to put up with here. Thank you anyway."

[acrookedpath]

Between his shijie's gentle instruction, and the rat's -- well, less-than-gentle glower, Wei Wuxian does not need telling twice. With one more swift bow, he dashes from the kitchen to Madam Bar.

Mere moments later, he skids back inside with an armful of not just pork ribs, but all of the other ingredients he and Jiang Yanli scooped up as they hunted through the kitchen.

"Here you are!" he chirps, his good cheer only a little strained.

[lotus_sister]

The rat eyes him, then looks at Jiang Yanli. "No es tan malo after all, I see. He's a good boy, isn't he?"

She beams at the rat. "He is."

The rat waves its spoon at the counter. "Put the ribs back where you found them and go ahead. All yours."

[acrookedpath]

"Thank you, my friend," says Wei Wuxian, relieved, as he dumps the armful of ingredients on the counter. "You are very generous to let us share your space."

The rat gives a sharp, satisfied nod, then turns and scampers off.

Three seconds after it has disappeared from sight, Wei Wuxian looks at his sister, looks at the soup ingredients, and bursts into helpless giggles.

[lotus_sister]

She starts giggling too - she can't help it. "I'd be upset if someone took my soup ingredients," she admits, when she can catch her breath. "Poor rat. I'll make extra and it can have some too."

[acrookedpath]

"Yes," he agrees, still caught in his own giggles. "I wonder what it's making with the pork ribs? And aiyo, the translation talisman -- "

[lotus_sister]

"Here, sit--"

Jiang Yanli clears a space at the counter and sets him up with lotus roots to peel and chop.

"It worked well enough," she adds, as she starts sorting the rest of the ingredients and preparing the pork. "You can fix it later." She knows his agile mind is already trying to figure out how to improve it.

[acrookedpath]

He wrinkles his nose at her as he picks up the knife.

"Later, you say, as if you know I'll try to rewrite the talisman in oil as soon as your back is turned." There's a deep fondness to his words as he begins chopping the lotus root. "You will be glad to know Lan Zhan looks after me that way, too. I do not stay up the entire night quite so often anymore."

[lotus_sister]

"You need your rest, so I am glad to hear it." Jiang Yanli gives him a teasing glance.

[acrookedpath]

Wei Wuxian does the only thing he can: he sticks his tongue out at Jiang Yanli.

"Someday, if this continues, I will become so lazy I never leave my bed at all," he says. "Then what will happen?"

[lotus_sister]

She wrinkles her nose at him. "I'm sure your Lan Wangji will think of something."

[acrookedpath]

His cheeks pink.

"My Lan Wangji, eh?"

[lotus_sister]

Jiang Yanli smiles at him, warm and gentle. "Isn't he?"

[acrookedpath]

"He is."

Laughing a little, cheeks flaring brighter, he ducks his head as he begins peeling another lotus root.

"Do you know, it has been over a year and I am still surprised by it? Thinking of him as mine."

[lotus_sister]

"I am so happy for you, A-Xian." Jiang Yanli adds the first batch of pork ribs to the soup pot and begins to measure out the water. "I truly am."

[acrookedpath]

He glances Jiang Yanli's way, almost shyly, and has to stifle another small laugh at his own ridiculousness.

"I am glad you like him," he says, softly. "He has said he admires you, too."

[lotus_sister]

"Me?"

She sounds truly startled.

[acrookedpath]

"Of course you," he says -- and ah, the pride in his voice. "Why wouldn't he?"

[lotus_sister]

Hanguang-jun had always been respectful and polite, which was only to be expected, but the thought that he would admire her startles her.

But A-Xian's pride is so familiar, and she softens toward him in an instant. Her brothers loved her deeply, and she them. Always.

"A-Xian is entirely too sweet," she teases.

[acrookedpath]

He laughs. "I know if Lan Zhan were here, he would tell you, 'lying is forbidden.'"

Turns out Wei Wuxian can do a fairly passable impression of Lan Zhan these days!

[lotus_sister]

Jiang Yanli giggles and reaches out to swat him lightly on the shoulder.