voidtreckerexpress | A Fluffy New Friend

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A Fluffy New Friend

Who: Lan WangJi and you!
What: WangJi has a new pet and is showing it around the train
Where: Greenhouse, Dining room, around
When: Fiddlesticks 17 and 18
Warnings: fluff? literal and figuartive

WangJi was happy. How could he not be when the best husband he could ask for gifted him with a white rabbit. Rabbits were his favorite and he liked them. Now he had one of his own.

Of course, he wouldn't be a responsible pet owner if he didn't show his pet around the train so it could be used to the accommodations... and the fact that their home moved even though most of the time it wasn't too noticeable.

But he could easily be found around on arrival day with the rabbit safely tucked in his arms, still clearly visible so it could look around and see and greet others.

Prior to mealtime, WangJi could be found in the dining car sitting at one of the tables, letting the rabbit stretch its legs for a few minutes and look around. Yes, the rabbit was on the table, but he wasn't letting it out of arms reach just in case. Luckily, it seemed more content to just sit for the moment.

Where the rabbit was most happy was in the garden car. It had the chance to run around a bit in there and as long as it stayed away from the plants other passengers were growing, WangJi let it explore and walk on its own though he was not far away to make sure it didn't get anything it shouldn't.

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His hearing had told him someone was there, glancing up out of the corner of his eyes to see that it was her. He said nothing for the moment, already knowing that she could see, but it was pretty easy to assume that she had seen the rabbit and wanted to pet it.

As the rabbit moved around, he kept his attention mostly on the rabbit to make sure it didn't take off somewhere else or get into something it shouldn't. Rabbits were very curious and had to chew a lot. But he looked up at her completely as she ran into the end of the bench and swore. The sudden noise startled the rabbit, but as WangJi started petting it, it settled quickly.

"Maiden, you can come over and pet the rabbit."

"Why does big brother have a rabbit?"

A good compromise, she decided, reaching down to rub at one bruised knee as she turned in his direction. Better than lying... right? Edging down the bench until she reached him was easy enough, and she clambered over so she was sat beside him. One hand curled up in her lap, but the other stretched out, hovering in front of her. Here, bunny!

"My Wei Ying purchased it for me."

He watched as she scooted down the bench towards him and the rabbit. As she reached out with one hand towards the rabbit, it made its way over, curious about the person who had come over. It didn't touch her hand but sat up just slightly to sniff her fingers.

"He is directly in front of your hand."

"Already? He's so friendly," she marveled, wiggling her fingers a little to see if that would tempt it any closer. Her troubles were temporarily cast aside as she felt its whiskers against her fingertips. "Have you named him? Where did Wei Ying buy him?"

Did she have any idea who Wei Ying was? Probably not. She guessed it might be the louder guy in dark robes, he'd seemed taken with this big brother, always smiling. The kind of guy who'd buy him a rabbit.

"He is. He seems to be very curious about others."

Almost as if that were a cue, the rabbit moved closer so she'd be able to feel his head bump against her hand.

"Not yet. For now, he is 'Little Rabbit'. I want to have a fitting name, but I have not been around him enough to know. There's an onboard shop. You need to have what passes for currency here, but pets are apparently something that can be ordered."

She jumped when the rabbit pushed forward, and kept her hand perfectly still.

"Little Rabbit is good," she declared, with easy confidence, to cover up the surge of disappointment she'd felt from hearing that currency applied here. Or... ah, no, that was right. She remembered being talked through the ticket. The disappointment dulled. "The currency is 'points', right? I think I have some. Maybe I'll buy a rabbit too."

She wouldn't, it would be awful to have a dependent little pet, only for Xue Yang to... But it was nice to think about.

"Yes, points." He didn't really like the term since points sounded more like a game (even though this likely was to someone) so he thought of it more like a currency.

"I have not checked how much pets cost, but it is possible. There are a lot of other options to be purchased as well."

She sneaked a look at him, from the cover of leaning forward to scoop the rabbit closer to her. He seemed so genuine, even when he was just explaining something as simple as a transaction. Maybe...

"If A-Qing told you something," she began, cautiously, "Would you swear to keep it a secret?"

The rabbit allowed itself to be moved closer to her, laying down after it had been moved. The rabbit was demanding pets!

WangJi glanced over at her. "Yes, if I was told something in confidence, I would not share it."

"When... I said before, about that bast- um, that guy, from my world." She tucked one hand against the rabbit's head, and ran the other down its side. "I saw him kill people, and told daozhang about him-- I'm not blind. I'm sorry. I just pretend, but he didn't know until he found me, and... the train stopped him killing me. But last night-- he's here, and--"

A pause, and she moved her hand so it covered the rabbit's ears. Better late than never. "--and he knew I could see him, so that means he must be from after that, right?"

She knew she wasn't making much sense; he got another look, longer now, as if to prove she could see him. She spoke again, quickly, urgent, "If you tell anyone, he'll find out, and he'll hurt someone. But people are talking about how I died, they're gonna find out, and I don't know what he'll do..."

The rabbit probably wouldn't have understood a word of it, but it was sweet that she was thinking to protect the rabbit from anything emotionally jarring.

WangJi frowned hearing that. He had been absolutely certain who she was before, but any doubt was easily erased hearing the use of the title "daozhang". That was only Xiao Xingchen. And everything else she said lined up with the events he had been told about.

"I have something to tell you as well. My name is Lan WangJi, Second Master of Gusu Lan sect. I know the person you are speaking of. Xue Yang. We had run into him in Yi City. I was the one who killed him for the crimes he committed."

Yes, that meant he also had a target on his back, but it also meant that Xue Yang knew he was not one easily trifled with.

She focused back on the rabbit as he started to speak, but when he mentioned that guy's name, she sat bolt upright again.

"Yes-- It's him! You, um, Second Master Lan, my thanks--" The rabbit, somewhat ruffled, was released so she could place her hands together and bow to him, the top of her head almost hitting his arm. "Did you find a body in... in an empty coffin house, north of the small market? And another, another daozhang in black, with a stern face, dead..."

The rabbit, now able to hear again, walked over in the direction of WangJi, not particularly trying to escape, but going back to exploring, little nose wiggling as it sniffed.

He gave a nod back to her. "It was what needed to be done. I did not find the body. Wei Ying found him. We did meet the other. Xue Yang's control over him was broken. In the end, he left with daozhang's soul to try and heal it."

The relief was so great that her vision almost greyed out. She stayed curled over, focusing on breathing. It meant that her next questions were somewhat muffled.

"Does he know? That you-- you killed him? Has he tried..." He must hold a grudge, if he knew, so if they were both still here, and unharmed, that meant Xue Yang didn't think he could do anything. "He won't dare?"

"He knows that I killed him. He has already confronted me. I don't doubt that at some point he will come after me. However, I always have my sword with me."

Even now, when it wasn't visible. The benefit of qiankun pouch. He could have so much on his person at one time, but no one would know.

So WangJi entirely unconcerned with Xue Yang as any possible threat.

Then... he was dead. Even if he was here, wasn't that more proof, since she...She swallowed, and sat up again to fish the rabbit back from where it was wandering. She didn't doubt that Second Master Lan had any number of tricks hidden away, and even if he didn't, he had allies.

"I'm dead too, right? He..." But she was still sitting here, the rabbit's fur soft under her fingers. She was immortal. Not in a way that made her powerful, but in a way that proved that she was tied to this train somehow. Like he was. She bit her lip. "That's good. Like this... there's no way he'll be able to reincarnate. But what if he tries to hurt someone else? He said..."

She trailed off, favouring giving the rabbit more attention instead of thinking back to the previous night. "It doesn't matter. If he's wary of Second Master Lan, he won't."

The rabbit didn't resist as she moved him back to her. He laid down, letting her pet him all she wanted.

"As of the exact moment in time, I cannot say what your state is like back home." Reading between the lines, yes, he knew that she was dead back home, at least from him time. "But he is dead back home. I made sure of that."

The rabbit was very happy with more attention.

"I am keeping an eye on him in case I am needed and able to act."

Attacking Xue Yang with a train full of people who really didn't know either of them was a dicey game.

"I want him dead," she decided, rolling the rabbit this way and that as it chuffed. "He deserves it. But he'd just come back, so there's... no point, right? He's dead anyway, where it matters. Hey--"

She leaned over, hair flopping into her eyes as she looked up at him, "Can I stick around with broth-- with Second Master Lan? If he can't get at me, then there's no problem! It'll save you a lot of trouble in the future!"

WangJi watched as she rolled the rabbit around. If it had been distressed, he would have said something, but the rabbit seemed to be enjoying it, letting her do this without fighting to get away from her.

"Unfortunately I think he will just come back here so it is not so effective."

He looked back over at her at the question. "If you would like. I would not be opposed."

So... yes.

"Exactly," she nodded, a mixture of frustrated at the lack of immediate retribution and pleased to be agreed with. "Okay. It's a deal. In return, uh..."

She squinted, unsure what she could really offer. "I'll look after Little Rabbit sometimes..!"

WangJi smiled faintly when she offered to watch the rabbit. Little Rabbit for his part stretched a little bit before flopping back down on the table, nose twitching.

“That is well. I can also try to touch you if there is anything that you would like to learn.”

He was well-educated; he probably could teach some of most topics.

Wow, she really had hit the jackpot, huh? Starting her new job immediately, she gathered up Little Rabbit and deposited him back in Wangji's arms.

"Anything? Like... how to write? Or how to defend myself! Ah, I know, the secrets of immortality--" she waved one hand, "--just kidding."

WangJi held the rabbit to him as she handed him back. The rabbit was happy enough to cuddle up against him, resting against him. Exploring took a lot out of a bunny... or maybe it was just time for a hug.

"I can certainly teach you to write. Also self-defense."

There was a rather deadpan look for the comment about the immortality comment, but there was slight twinkle in his eyes. It was at least mildly amusing.

"Yes, it would seem you do."

"Then... teacher Lan."

She bowed to him again, just as sloppily as before, but less deep, and with the air of someone whose burdens had been at least partially lifted. "I'll come find you after breakfast. And thanks, for... for getting justice for daozhang and his friend. And for me."

A new surge of people entered the carriage, laden with breakfast plates, and she slipped out from the bench.

He gave her a nod in response to her bow.

"Of course. I should perhaps take him back to my cabin anyway."

A lot of people might still be too much for the young rabbit and especially at mealtime. As she slipped out, he scooped up Little Rabbit and stood as she did as well.

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A Fluffy New Friend

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'probably' he says

can't be certain lol

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