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[It's been what, a month? Two months? Since their arrival in this place, and having gotten used to both his new home and the additional strain of magic flowing through his veins, Shen Qingqiu had thought...well, maybe the magic could be used to boost his cultivation. You never know until you try, right?

And so, having foolishly exhausted his magic stores in the process of causing his near-monthly deviation, there is now....a sad brown tabby cat lying out near the godmother dorms. He's tired, let him rest.]

[ Yue Qingyuan has his own predictable scheduling; he rises early, he attends to making congee, he moves through the area like a smiling, friendly, but touch reserved presence, and he spies the brown tabby cat sprawled on the ground as he's making his way toward the Shen Qingqiu rooms. They're not even close together, but it's what he's been up to, and he tends to rise earlier than the older one, and only run into the younger one as Shen Qingqiu himself decides.

Ergo, he's balancing two bowls of congee, and here now there is a cat. ]

Little one, where did you come from?

[ He doesn't think he's seen a cat up here before, though certainly, it's not as if it's unusual for one to appear. Cats have that tendency, he recalls, of showing up anywhere people are over time. There's certainly enough people out here now.

He reaches out with his senses, not finding any particular answering thrum of magic or qi to tell him what's going on... or something is going on, and it feels like exhaustion and unrest.

It's not difficult, per say, to balance both bowls in one hand. They're not overlarge, and he's not a child, to suffer from hands too small to hold the burdens he takes on himself. Thus he makes the shift and crouches down next to the cat, extending a hand toward its nose, but not touching. He recalls in faint snippets the ways of hungry alley cats, and he's large, and unknown, and threatening. So he makes a peace offering for scenting rather than invite immediate scratches, speaking to the poor thing laying there, eyes wary. ]

There must be easier places to rest. Ones where you're not in danger of being stepped on. What's left you so exhausted? Were you outrunning some creature? Have you eaten recently?

[ He's talking a lot to a cat, of all creatures, but he's also watching for signs that what he's saying is being understood. After all, it's not like he hasn't seen people transformed into animals. It's a possibility he needs to entertain is happening now. ]

[An ear twitches at Yue Qingyuan's approach, though the cat doesn't bother to properly raise its head until he's right up close and looming over it. When he offers his hand there's a bit of a delay before it remembers the correct kitty protocol for these situations and...hesitantly gives it a sniff or two.

Yue Qingyuan's scent is kinda comforting, actually.

...What are you supposed to do after sniffing? Lick it? No. Ask for pets? Also no.

The cat lowers its head again with a mrr, like it doesn't have the energy to bother with that nonsense.]

[ He smiles without thinking about it, brow furrowing a touch as the cat's head sinks back to the ground, so exhausted it can do nothing but choose to exist in the manner of least resistance. He considers his options, including simply leaving the poor animal where it lies, but that also doesn't feel right. If there's even an off chance it isn't a regular cat... or the possibility that it is, things aren't such where he's in a hurry enough to leave the animal here. ]

Kind of you not to wrinkle your nose at the scent of me.

[ He sounds amused, and the pull of his lips up at the corners into one of his many smiles, this one more genuine than most, indicates such is likely true. ]

I don't want to leave you here where you might be stepped on, little cat. I have two deliveries to make, but after, I could see you fed and recommend a sunny spot to continue your morning ritual on, if you wish.

[ Cat's can't precisely respond with words, or this one can't, so instead he allows his hand to touch the fur on the crown of the cat's forehead. ]

Up with you, then. We'll get you fed and resting in a better part of the Academy in no time.

[ In which case, he attempts to slide his hand down the cat's back and curl under its side, scooping the cat up and tucking it against his chest, nestled against his shoulder and the hook of his arm. He fully expects claws to protest at some point, but it's not a hardship, and his other hand and arm balance the congee still steaming in the morning air, cold but less so than even the month prior. ]

[His ritual? As if lying out here to be stepped can actually be called a ritual...

But even in his exhausted state, he knows better than to threaten the balance of a man carrying two hot bowls of congee with one hand - aside from a quiet growl of protest, he doesn't struggle.

....There might be a tiny hint of claws in Yue Qingyuan's shoulder, however. Just...just keeping his balance, y'know.]

[ Sun bathing, mister kitty. Sun bathing ritual.

His heart goes out more for this creature so tired it barely manages its grumpy complaints, and he makes a hum in the back of his throat as he heads back along the path he'd been walking. The hint of claws is barely enough to notice, and no real pain in the end, so aside from a slow flick of his eyes to those paws and their attached weapons, his attention is largely focussed forward. ]

Both the men I'm delivering congee to live nearby, it won't be long. What do you make of the fish from the local river? I'll debone one for you in the kitchen... if you'd like the cheek meat or the eyes or the whole of the head, they're yours for the having, at that point.

[ He continues to idly talk to the cat as he delivers first one, than another bowl, his voice a steady and coaxing stream of sound, rising and falling to recognisable cadences. Having delivered the younger Shen Qingqiu's congee second, he glances around, pauses... and sighs, a soft sound, before heading back toward the main Academy, and thus also, its kitchens. ]

Decided on a fish for yourself, little fur?

[Did he know that Yue Qingyuan was delivering congee to his doppelganger? Does it matter? It should probably be irritating, but being held like this is also surprisingly comfortable, with the faint rumble of Yue Qingyuan's voice...the cat finds itself nodding off, unconsciously burying its face near the crook of his neck, quiet and peaceful for the duration of his delivery run.

There's a protesting mrr at getting called "little fur" though, that single annoyance apparently enough to wake Shen Qingqiu back up again. Who says he wants fish, anyway! Even if he did, you can't understand him, you weirdo!!

None of these complaints are actually made aloud, though he does start to fuss in Yue Qingyuan's grip.]

[ Soft, warm puffs of breath at his neck leave his lips quirking up at the corners as he continues about his self-elected chores, talking amiably enough to an animal he doesn't assume is listening. Not until it rouses, and at that he blinks, loosening his grip once the cat starts fussing. ]

What is it? Do you want to be set down? If you're patience, we can feed you in the kitchen... I don't believe anyone here will mind. There's fresh water to be had too, so you won't be thirsty. Or milk, or... well. I don't know, whatever it is you'd like.

[ Should his feline friend indicate it wants down, then down Yue Qingyuan will let it. ]

[He does want to be set down, yes!!

...Then again, getting held like this honestly is surprisingly comfortable, and the idea of Yue Qingyuan continuing to pamper him is.....if he tries hard enough maybe he can get the man to give him something good? How good a cook is his shixiong? It'd be nice to get something a little more substantial than congee, during this time stuck as a cat....

The struggling still happens, but this time his goal is Yue Qingyuan's shoulder rather than the ground. You'd better not disappoint him, human.]

[ When his relaxed hold on the cat ends up with him having a feline shoulder rider, Yue Qingyuan simply smiles and chuckles to himself, reaching up to move his hair and collect it over his opposite shoulder, making it easier for the tabby cat. ]

Am I to be your steed? Fine, fine, Miao'er, as long as you're pleased with yourself. Now, what might we make...

[ The kitchen's largely clean, more a space for people to place food from their cloth of plenty or anything purchased in city, and well stocked in implements for cooking, and the plateware necessary for serving. ]

Would you like fish? Poultry? There's lamb, as well, or goat...

[Yes that's right, make way for your feline master. Shen Qingqiu emits a low noise that could possibly be construed for a growl at the new nickname, but otherwise focuses on keeping his balance, tail lashing as he settles on his new perch.

Oh, but he's actually offering food! Good good, exactly as planned. It's hard to voice which option he actually wants to choose, but regardless, the cat lets out a meow after Yue Qingyuan has finished listing all the different meats available, and stretches his neck forwards in an attempt to get a better view of his surroundings.]

[ Yue Qingyuan slightly tilts his head away from the cat to let the cat move unimpeded, chuckling and reaching up to tap a finger over a paw. ]

Handsome Tiger, we can do one meal at a time, there's no rush. What do you think of steamed fish?

[Did Yue Qingyuan always have such an idiotic propensity for nicknames...please just pick one and settle on it........

He lets out another meow before pulling back to settle himself more securely in his precariously chosen roost. As interesting as the view may be from this height, the form is still a new one, and the consequent sense of caution overpowers his curiosity.

This also means he's perched with his fur brushing up against Yue Qingyuan's cheek, but it's not like he's really thinking about that.]

[ The tickle of fur would be easy to ignore, but it's sweet in its own soft way. Yue Qingyuan smiles, reaching up to pat at the cat's paw. ]

Miao'er, the fish it is.

[ He sets into steady motion through the kitchen, clearly familiar with this expansive space, pulling out cooking ware appropriate for the steaming, a wok and a steamer basket. The oven is operated with the ease of familiarity from the last few months, and so the flame from the enchanted appliance burns steady under the wok, which he fills with a thin layer of water. As it boils, he pulls a fish from his cloth of plenty, already descaled, if not deboned. He learned the trick of asking for that much the week before.

Setting it within the basket, the whole then goes into the wok, steaming while he goes about the kitchen to find the plateware needed for serving his feline friend and perhaps himself as well. He's smiling absently the whole time, in a pleasant mood for all he hasn't seen either Shen Qingqiu yet today. ]

[That hand patting his paw gets batted away--or batted at, really, though either way it amounts to something resembling return pats from a soft paw with its claws sheathed.

Yue Qingyuan's moving around means that Shen Qingqiu has his attention focused between keeping his balance and watching that delicious fish go on the stove to cook. If the cat happens to lick its lips during all this, well...that's to be expected, right?

Though he can't help but wonder if his shixiong was always this weak to cats. Maybe he misses caring for ~~people~~ other creatures? Or maybe he's just that lonely? Turning his head to stare at that humongous close-up face, Shen Qingqiu silently observes him for a while before...booping his cheek with a tiny pink nose.]

[ Maybe it's all of the above, and someone a little at loose ends not strictly being needed for... anything, really. Duty has been all he's had for so long that able only the calls to mission make sense to him here, and even with that... he's still at loose ends.

This world needs him in such a different way than Cangqiong ever did.

The touch of nose to his cheek is unexpected, and sweet in a way that feels like honey on the tongue. Grateful feline, his furry little friend, and he reaches up with a chuckle to offer a quick scratch of the cat's cheeks in turn. ]

You're welcome, Miao'er.

[ Settling on a name at last? Or for the moment. The fish in its basket is done, lifted out by hands that don't mind heat or scalding by steam, and set to plate while deftly, swiftly, deboned.

If love were tiny services, would things like this count, he wonders, but there's no need to voice that aloud. Love is no one single thing, nor is it enough.

He smiles, and sets out the plate, fetching a small dish of water to settle to its side. Every motion as smooth as he can make it, and as steady as he ever is. ]

For you.

[He hadn't meant for that action to be seen as a thanks, shixiong, but sure. Welcome him, why not.

But any other thoughts in that direction get brushed away by the sight of the fish; a combination of hunger and feline instincts have him leaving his perch for the plate without any real thoughts at all, nose twitching as he sniffs daintily at the offering.

Food...food? Food!

This excitement is toned down by the fact he took his first nibble a little too soon and jerked back at the heat on his kitty tongue, but he quickly gets back to eating regardless.]

[ He chuckles at the enthusiasm of the cat, who clearly tried to eat too soon for his sensitive mouth. Like a cat's tongue, there's some saying like that, is there not?

He reaches out for a gentle attempt at a back stroke while the cat is tucking into the fish. There's something soothing in seeing anyone enjoy his offerings, feline or otherwise. It's nice to feel like he can manage at least this much for someone else and have it be simple, not weighed down by a history he's as much at fault for as any other party in the mix. ]

[Being stuck in cat form again doesn't change Shen Qingqiu's reaction upon discovering that a small pack of cabbits had invaded Yue Qingyuan's room - namely, actively chasing them out. There's more hissing and claws involved, sure, but still! This is his territory! He's defending it!!

.......

...And that's why when Yue Qingyuan comes home today he'll find his precious Miao'er or Handsome Tiger or whatever the heck lying conked out in the middle of his bed, surrounded by happily dreaming cabbits.]

[ Yue Qingyuan would have been amused to know that it was his shidi parading around in protective, hissing proprietary; he'd have been amused enough to see the cat he'd started feeding and hoping would accompany him had done similar. As it is, the picture he walks in on after having sought out both his shidis, locating only one, is sweet.

A bit of a nuisance, given the natures of the rabbit-cats, but there's not much he can do but try to quietly and calmly relocate them, while leaving Miao'er undisturbed on his bed.

It works for exactly two cabbits. The third one slits open their eyes with a yawn, and promptly hits Yue Qingyuan in the face with a hex, an almost physical sensation. The intense urge to sleep crashes over him like a wave, and he sighs, knowing the why of it. ]

Don't chew through my things, please.

[ Is what he tells the still sleepy cabbit, before settling it down on the ground (it grunts, blearily standing and shaking itself off to then hop right back onto the bed, thank you very much) and taking a ginger seat on the bed.

Miao'er has managed to occupy the middle of his bed, two more cabbits still tucked around the front of the curled up cat. It's a narrow space for himself, but he has nothing pressing, and trusts that the crystals will help wake him should some crisis come bearing down the lines.

Carefully, he lowers himself to the bed, boots left at the side, and curves himself to settle with the cat and cabbits at his stomach. His hand hovers over the cat, then strokes the brown and black striped fur. The rudely awoken cabbit snorts and paws their way into the pile, until all the figures in the room are sleeping.

Including the two displaced cabbits now nestled on the floor. ]

[Despite having fallen asleep before Yue Qingyuan did, it seems getting group hexed by cabbits under threat managed to put him very strongly out of commission. Shen Qingqiu barely moves at the intrusion of the large man at his back, and continues sleeping peacefully, looking totally cute and harmless.

He also changes back into his human form at some point in his sleep - it's been a month and he still hasn't gotten this whole....lycathropy thing under control just yet. Somehow the change doesn't bother the cabbits at all, the sleepier ones simply shifting positions and making themselves comfortable again.]

[ Yue Qingyuan was stirred from his slumber by the sudden shift in weight, having been pulled toward that mass in a way that leaves him blearily slitting his eyes open and preparing, as one does, to go on the offense.

What he does not expect is a familiar scent to strike him first, giving him enough pause he doesn't sit up immediately, ready to throw himself and his purported assailant off the bed. The familiarity of form bleeds in after, and he thinks it's somewhat absurd, that he knows the back of Shen Qingqiu's head so well that he can recognise the shell of his ear nestled in his night-dark hair.

He lies still, trying to piece together a story, leaving his arm draped for a moment before cautiously drawing it back toward himself. Embracing a cat is one thing; embracing his shidi, as much as he doesn't hate it, is a presumption and rudeness he can't trespass upon. How did Xiao Jiu end up here? The cabbits are a soft warmth he can see and sense with the gentle inquiry of qi, and the only missing element is Miao'er.

Xiao Jiu is here. Miao'er is not.

Did... they switch places?

As he puzzles through this, he makes himself relax, eyes closed again, brow unfurrowed, because the last thing Shen Qingqiu will wish is for Yue Qingyuan to be aware that this situation has happened for any reason. He won't sleep again, but he does a better than passing impression of a sleeping man again, Shen Jiu nestled against his chest and butting up against one arm with his head, Yue Qingyuan's other arm tucked carefully at Shen Qingqiu's back, palm turned inward to press against his own chest. ]

[For a while, nothing happens. Shen Jiu is fast asleep, cozily nestled among the cabbits and his shixiong - though he frowns slightly when Yue Qingyuan's arm moves away.

A cabbit kicks a leg out in its sleep. Another cabbit's ear twitches, tickling Jiu's nose.

And then......he sneezes. A very strong sneeze! Strong enough to make him jolt awake in the bed!

Also strong enough to turn him back into a cat, but not having realized he'd turned back to begin with, waking as a cat doesn't cause him any surprise. Instead he half-sits up, looks blearily around, yawns, and...proceeds to wash his face.

He's really gotten used to cat life over the weeks.]

[ He holds still, only waking ("waking") again slowly after there's.................... movement. Shen Qingqiu had moved, but before then, with the sneezing, the weight shift so sudden and total he was almost startled into thinking Shen Qingqiu was trying to leave then, but his eyes crack open to find...

... Miao'er. His Handsome Tiger. The brown tabby cat, cleaning his face, is Shen Qingqiu. Shen Jiu. Xiao Jiu.

For a long moment, he stares, unable to bring himself to do anything more. Then he sits up, cabbits shifting as he does, and smiles like he always will, reaching out and patting the cat on his head. ]

Morning, Xiao—Miao.

[ His feline companion is Xiao Jiu. ]

[Xiao Miao....that pause was suspicious, but considering all the other nicknames they've gone through prior to this, it's easily overlooked. Shen Qingqiu graciously allows the pat, giving to the count of three before he sidles out of reach of Yue Qingyuan's hand and moves into a languid stretch.

Following which he'll turn a pointed glance to the remaining cabbits on the bed, then back to Yue Qingyuan, tail swishing as he narrows his eyes. Get rid of these, please.]

[ He thinks to himself, Xiao Jiu, you were getting on with them just fine before now. Yue Qingyuan attempts one more pat, not figuring he'll be allowed it, as he then shifts and moves off the bed, cabbits sliding around and making sleepy noises of protest. He utters a few soothing words, then walks to the door, opening it to allow the outside air free access. ]

Xiao... Miao'er, if you'd be kind enough to step off the bed for a moment.

[ He's about to use speed and a blanket to send all the cabbits out at once. Staring a little too long at the at that's his Xiao Jiu, and wondering what it is that makes it so much easier for Shen Qingqiu to accept his presence when he doesn't have to have it be known.

... And in that, understands enough. He smiles, a touch sad, a touch glad, and simply waits for his shidi to make his move. ]

[He was getting along with them against his will, okay!!!

The cat jumps off the bed before Yue Qingyuan has even gotten halfway through his sentence, contemplating the door for a second before moving to sit on one of the man's things. Let's shed fur all over your clothes or something, shall we?]

Thank you, Miao'er.

( With the cat removed, he picks up the blanket and the cabbits and carts the lot of them outside with such swift efficiency they're left deposited in the outside air, settled on stone, blinking and with little concept of what just happened.

He's back inside, gently closing the door, barely a heartbeat later. There are perks to being a cultivator.

Quick cabbit removal is one of them. )

Forgive the closed door, I didn't want them to invite themselves right back in.

( Shaking out the blanket so it falls over the bed once more, he nods his head to Shen Qingqiu the cat. )

[Ah, but now that the door's been specifically mentioned, Shen Qingqiu can't help realizing he's stuck in here with his big dumb shixiong. How long is he expected to stay in here? What time is it, anyway? The damn cabbits knocking him out means he has no idea how long he's been in here to begin with—was it bright outside, in that short moment the door was open?

The cat makes a somewhat dissatisfied noise, but for the moment is content to...well actually he's happy to settle down right here on Yue Qingyuan's clothes until further notice, meowing once in a way that he wouldn't explain even if he could. Time to become cat psychic, Yue-shixiong.]

( Yue-shixiong, lacking any beast psychic abilities, smooths out the bed linens and eyes his shidi with a more considerate look than before. Either Shen Qingqiu is more tolerant as a cat, or he's more resigned to being misunderstood.

It explains a few things, learning this, but he leaves them understood and not spoken on. Shen Jiu either bridges this when he wishes, or Yue Qi only mentions it the day it must. For now: )

If you're hungry, we can head toward the kitchens in a short time. Or I could summon fish from the cloth... ah, some sort of cooked dish without spice. For your stomach.

( Kitty, kitty, cat. He takes a seat at the foot of his bed, observing the cat. )

Would you like that, ah, Miao'er?

[It's a little of both, honestly.

Also he's going to just meyawn as an answer, tail waving impatiently from his seat. Feed him, puny human.]

( And so it was, with things set to rights and some waiting applied, he eventually scooped the cat up to his shoulders and went for the kitchens, cooking Xiao Jiu, er, Miao'er, a meal fit for humans with cat stomachs.

As you do! This was giving him a whole lot to think about with regards to his shidi... )

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