deferences | ♪ noctium inbox

[So,

Noiz has no idea how to take care of his glitchy bunny like thing, but he also does not believe in things like animal cruelty. He'd decided to take it on a ... "walk", which meant carrying it out from his apartment, putting it on the grass, and hoping that it wouldn't run away.

Sizhui might recognize him if he happens to pass, although maybe not from behind since he is... wearing clothes...]

[luckily for noiz, sizhui knows how to take care of bunnies!

unlucky for them both, perhaps, is that he's never, ever seen a rabbit look anything like what he's seeing while doing his daily travel. he pauses mid-step, attention immediately on the creature, eyebrows arched toward his hairline with a mixture of interest and confusion, even though there's a wide grin coming across his face either way.]

Ah, ah, what an interesting animal! [he pipes, strolling right on up and kneeling down, still keeping a respectable amount of distance between himself and the person's pet— wait, actually, now that he can see a little better...] Well then, hello there [a beat] again.

[The most interesting thing about the "rabbit" is probably how it seems to sometimes "pixelate" into its surroundings. Animals probably shouldn't be able to do that, right...?

Noiz noticeably bristles a bit hearing someone's voice behind him— although a little less once he realizes who it is. It's been a while...]

Hey.

[Technically this is a less awkward situation than their last, but he kind of hated this more. Why must he be witnessed being incompetent with animals!!

Said animal is currently sort of spinning itself around in the grass.

...

...]

It was in my sink.

[no, they probably shouldn't, but an odd-looking animal doing bizarre things is hardly the weirdest sight he's experienced on noctium so far. besides, watching is so fascinating... it takes all of sizhui's willpower to upturn his attention back to noiz again.]

How are you? [regardless of what happens now, things surely can't get any worse, can they?

especially since it doesn't occur to sizhui that noiz is the same person he'd been talking to on the network some time ago; he's far too enthralled by the ‘rabbit’ that's dancing (???) around in front of them. noiz not knowing how to care for it won't be a big deal, either— people have to start somewhere, have to learn somehow, don't they? they sure do!

he does straighten at that revelation though, an eyebrow lifted with curiosity.] In your sink... [pause, paaause and then:] Doing what, exactly?

Nothing?

[He looks up at Sizhui, and then back at the rabbit. He ignores the first question (kind of rude, really...)]

It was just there.

[And it scared the shit out of him, honestly, since it had been like, four in the morning and he had just been trying to get a drink.

The rabbit, at least, doesn't seem too tired.]

[in a sink and not getting cleaned or watered? huh, that's rather odd of it, but sizhui's doing his best to not judge. (who knows, maybe the little thing just likes sitting in them!?)

and as rude as it is that noiz doesn't answer how he's doing, sizhui doesn't seem fussed.] Was it [a beat] dancing like it is now? [honestly, what else do you call what the rabbit is doing right now? it's kinda cute though, he can give it that, and he's now offhandedly wondering if he has any safe bunny snacks on him at the moment.]

Haah... [his brow wrinkles then he reaches down to his side, opens the small pouch there and dives in, removing a few plastic bags; one with chocolate chip cookies, another with some miniature brownies and a third that contains plain, bland triscuit-style crackers. those are what he chooses, opening the ziploc so he can remove a single biscuit that he tentatively offers to the spriggan.

although it's not tired, perhaps it's hungry?] Here you go, little one.

It was laying down.

[The animal seems to be smart enough that it understands Sizhui, and saunters over so that it can take the biscuit from Sizhui with its weird... tiny... hands...

It looks happy? And starts chewing on it in front of both of them.

Noiz looks at Sizhui and his snack pouch somewhat incredulously.

...]

Why do you have that.

Just laying down, I presume? [unless it was sleeping in the sink, which wouldn't be all that surprising either, considering. poor thing probably shouldn't do that but given how odd it already is, what's another bizarre trait added into the mix?

he gasps softly as the creature meanders toward him and accepts the cracker, a wide, exhilarated grin breaking out across his face once it starts eating.

some snacks never hurt anyone, after all! that's exactly why when noiz inquires, sizhui upturns his gaze again, still smiling despite his disbelieving look.] What, the snacks? [even though he doesn't wait for an answer to remark,] Well, I've learned it never hurts to have some food on you, just in case. No one knows what could happen when you're out traveling, fighting monsters and the like.

But here, it's mostly because I've developed a sweet tooth. [he chuckles, takes the other two bags of cookies and brownies in hand then offers them out to noiz.] You can have some if you want?

[Noiz stares dubiously at the bags that Sizhui offers to him before swiping the cookies from him to try. He'd offered, okay, it was fine! Definitely not rude to just take food from someone suddenly like that, even if Sizhui had offered it to him.

It's really two steps forward and one step back with this guy. At least he does say—]

Thanks.

[Before pulling a cookie out to chew on it slowly. He frowns a bit, which might make it hard to tell if he's enjoying it or not, but really he's just deciding...

It's fine. Good, even. Maybe he'd get some of his own...]

Think it was sleeping.

[oh whoopsie, that's on him for assuming it wasn't sleeping. (he'd been swinging and missing before, after all, it seemed alright to assume!) but it's fine, since noiz reaching out and snatching the cookies is something far more interesting to focus on. sizhui grins faintly, withdraws with the bag of brownies then tucks them away back into his qiankun bag. he did offer, so it's totally fair for noiz to have taken them, but it was just a little bit rude.

he doesn't seem fussed whatsoever, even smiles wider following noiz's ‘thanks.’] You're welcome, I hope you like them.

[after assessing noiz's expression though, his own seems somewhat dubious, he can feel it. like, are they good, not good? too sweet??? a million things could race through sizhui's mind, but he holds steady, smiling despite his concerns. if he's truly enjoying them, however, he might be surprised to learn they're homemade. there's been loads of free-time, what with him currently jobless – in a sense! – and he's taking advantage.]

Sounds like you ought to find it a nice, soft blanket to lay on. [a moment's hesitation] Perhaps, uhm, not inside the sink though.

[The fact that he is still chewing on them probably means they're good. Noiz is not the type of person to continue to eat something out of politeness. Even if he does seem to be vaguely confused about the fact that he is enjoying them.]

They're sweet.

[His attention is drawn from the cookies in his mouth to the rabbit itself.]

It can sleep on the couch.

[He says it pretty drily, but that was honestly about what his plan had been up until now.]

Or on the bed.

[Or in the shower...? No.]

[although it's difficult to not watch noiz's expression the entire time, seeing him continue to eat without any complaints is more than enough reassurance; surely he wouldn't continue if he found them gross? or at least sizhui wouldn't expect him to (and it's true, noiz doesn't seem the type). his confusion, however, is still questionable and he can't help giggling before softly inquiring,]

Aren't they supposed to be? Most cookies I've eaten have been sugary... [they're a dessert, after all, and those usually include sugar. savory desserts do exist but even those have some form of sugar, just less so than other sweets.

—honestly, he's thinking about it too much and thank goodness, noiz's observation draws his attention back to the conversation.] Hahhh, I'm sure it'd appreciate that more than the sink. [a moment's hesitation, his lips quirk into a half-smirk and he nods,] But if you're feeling extra generous, the bed wouldn't be a bad idea either, and it could be a nice way to bond with your new companion.

[like come on, who doesn't love snuggling a cute animal?]

[Yeah, he's chewing on another cookie for a moment, instead of actually answering Sizhui's question. Cookies are probably almost always sweet, but maybe these were the exceptions! Maybe they were something else!

... Maybe Noiz just really needed to expand his palate! These were all possible!

(Mostly that last one, though.)

He frowns, mostly at the rabbit.]

It bites.

[Although the one time it had happened, it had been Noiz's fault.]

[that's completely, one-hundred-percent fine, noiz can have all the cookies he wants so long as he's enjoying them. next time, perhaps, he'll have some more savory and slightly less sweet desserts noiz could try out.

which, of course, is a step toward expanding his palate too! so, two birds with one stone kinda deal? there are oodles upon oodles of different foods, after all.]

O-Oh! [pardon him for the surprised stutter but did noiz just say ‘it bites?’

sizhui glances down at the second cracker he's withdrawn from the plastic baggie and is offering the spriggan, widened eyes watching, almost like he's half-expecting it to attempt right now, even if it's still momentarily preoccupied with what's left of the first biscuit.] When and why did it bite?

[Noiz just frowns.]

Checking his teeth.

[As in. He full on stuck his own fingers into the rabbit's mouth to check to see if its teeth were more like rabbit teeth or fangs.

It had been very very early when he did it, okay.

...]

If you're just giving him food he won't do it.

[But he still might do it when he was sleeping?? How would he know.]

[hmmm.] How were you checking his teeth?

[because just going right on ahead and doing that probably isn't the best way to go about it; most animals don't appreciate having people prodding away at their mouths, regardless of how different they may be.

but in noiz's defense, he's learning and can't be expected to instantly understand everything there is to know about proper pet care.] Perhaps not, although many animals are food-oriented. It can be easier to gain their trust through such methods. [sizhui spares the creature another glance, regards the second cracker then upturns his attention again.] If your companion trusts you, it's less likely to bite. [speaking of which, his eyes flicker toward noiz's hands, examining them for wounds in case he's in need of assistance.]

Hopefully, you are not injured. [and that he figured out whatever it is he wanted to know with his new friend's teeth since sizhui's still healthily wary about being bitten himself.] Once he's finished, I'll... try something. [then he turns back once more, smiling faintly, hands folded securely around the treat.] But only then and not a moment sooner.

[Noiz just glowers at that first question. He knows it was stupid, he doesn't have to deign it with an answer. He wouldn't, because then he has to own up to the fact that he was dumb as rocks.

Dave had already laughed at him for that, he didn't need Sizhui to, also.

He draws his hand closer to himself.]

I'm not injured.

[He'd put his bandages back on anyways, so it would've been hard to tell. There was no way the rabbit had mangled both of his hands, right? Right.

His eyes creep back toward the rabbit as it finishes nibbling on the biscuit.]

You can do whatever.

[c'mon, noiz, he doesn't think it's stupid, just that it's not the brightest idea to surprise an animal they've only known for a short while by poking around its mouth; people make mistakes, it's normal, no big deal whatsoever!

and sizhui absolutely wouldn't laugh at noiz's misfortune. that'd be super rude in his opinion, okay?]

So, you wear bandages just because? [sorry not sorry, he's calling it out, though gently and also because one: he's never seen anyone wrap their arms that way and two: noiz's gesture of drawing his hand nearer to himself isn't very subtle. sizhui is at least smiling too, gaze lingering for a long moment on the other male before eventually directing toward the spriggan again.]

Well... I'm not going to do whatever, lest it give me a bite too, but we shall see what I can do. [he switches the cracker to his left hand, slowly reaches out to the creature with his right, letting his fingers curl close to his palm so he can test his ability to maybe possibly pet this little dear.] If he'll allow it, I'd like to try and pet him. [thus far, it's been intrigued enough by his offer of food, so perhaps it will allow touching too, and then sizhui could risk picking it up from there.]

[When Sizhui comments on his bandages, Noiz gives him a sharp look.]

None of your business.

[The way he says it is sharp but also basically a mutter. And it wasn't, he wasn't about to show his fucked up hands to someone lest he invite worry or concern. Whether it also was hiding a bitemark on a finger wasn't relevant.

The rabbit is oblivious to all of this, of course. The rabbit is just excited to have new attention, especially since Noiz was already proving to not be the touchiest of owners.

It happily pads forward to allow Sizhui to pet it. It ... it looks happy, right? Yes? It's definitely happy, but its face is still kind of terrifying, arguably.]

[despite his attention being elsewhere, sizhui sheepishly inclines his head, flushed with embarrassment, but nevertheless admitting,] You're right, it's not.

[even though it still causes him concern anyway and he'd really like to continue pushing, yet he hesitates at noiz's tone. tentatively, his gaze lifts, he turns toward noiz and exhales a sigh.] My apologies, I didn't mean to pry. [then he redirects to the rabbit, eyebrows lifting with faint surprise at how carefree it is while approaching. regardless, sizhui's hand is measured and slow when stretching closer, his fingertips gingerly scritching the top of the spriggan's head once it's close enough.]

Awww, [he drawls quietly, neverminding the fact this animal somehow appears gladdened by his motions, and its expression still seems so haunting; it's maybe a little unnerving but lan sizhui isn't deterred whatsoever.

after rubbing one long ear between his first and second digits, he withdraws that hand, steadily lowers both then reaches out to attempt picking noiz's companion up. please, don't bite! is a neverending mantra in his head, but he's braced for the pain of it anyway, just in case he's unlucky on that front.]

[The rabbit just smiles that slightly unnerving smile as Sizhui attempts to pick it up. He's really quite happy to be held or picked up, mostly amenable to all interactions. As long as you don't try to stick foreign objects in its mouth, anyways!

That, or it likes Sizhui and Dave more than it likes its actual owner. It's hard to say, especially when it's only been a few hours since Noiz met it at all.

Noiz himself looks vaguely annoyed at how well it's going, but it isn't like he can stop that.]

Whatever.

[It's not like he cares if his pet likes other people more than it likes him, or anything!! Couldn't be it!]

[why must it look so disturbing? nonetheless, he gingerly lifts the rabbit, tucks it close to his chest, one arm underneath its feet – where he's currently fisting the treat – while the other reaches up and his fingertips drift over those ears. holding and petting it will be enough for now, as it wouldn't do to test his limits right away, regardless of how pleased it seems.

being fair to noiz, sizhui has this way with animals, and it's not just his patience; there's something else, something that is probably simply explained by his kindness.

he upturns at noiz's remark, head tilted questioningly.] Would you like to give him the cracker as a reward for being picked up? [this way provides positive reinforcement from the spriggan's owner while it's being held—

and perhaps, just maybe, he can also determine if noiz is sincerely irritated and do something to abate it.]

[The rabbit can't help how it looks, and at least the smile is genuine. Even if it looks kind of toothy and strange and fuzzy around the edges, that doesn't mean that it means any particular harm, unless you're an idiot like its technical owner.

Noiz is intently focused on the treat in Sizhui's hand, as if he'd maybe magically gain some knowledge of how to treat a pet just from observation. He's so focused on the treat that it takes a moment for him to react when Sizhui addresses him.

That reaction might seem irritated, however— he wasn't expecting to be asked, so he scowls. However—]

Fine.

[He reaches out to try and pull the cracker out of Sizhui's hand.

... Rude ...]

[no, it cannot, and the sincereness of its expression is exactly why sizhui's reassured that whatever he's doing is fine. (that, and the fact the spriggan hasn't turned on him for any reason at all.) this doesn't make noiz dumb either, it simply makes him someone who needs to learn better.

considering noiz's distraction with the treat, he's almost wondering if he ought to have tried something else, but whenever noiz ultimately decides he'll try, he forgoes any second-guessing to adjust his hold on the rabbit and allows that cracker to be snatched in favor of making sure he doesn't lose his grip on noiz's little companion.]

Be gentler with him, at least.

[and if there's any irritation in sizhui's voice, it can be chalked up to him being more flustered by noiz's attitude toward his pet rather than the impoliteness of him snatching things right out of his hand.]

[If Noiz hears the irritation, his brain doesn't ascribe it to one thing rather than the other. Sizhui sounds irritated, Noiz pauses to get a better look at him.]

Okay.

["Gentle" as a general concept is foreign to him, but he wasn't really here to argue, really. Instead, he gives the rabbit another wary glance, and holds up the biscuit to its mouth.

...

After a moment, the rabbit takes it, apparently still happy to take food from Noiz even though he'd stuck his finger in his mouth earlier like a weirdo. Quite happily, too.

And without any further injury, too.

He looks back up to Sizhui and raises an eyebrow.]

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i straight up lost this notif... s-sorry

hey, no worries!! i'm slow af right now as you can see so ohrghrgh

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