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[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.]

[sizhui's features instantly soften after noiz looks at him, his head dips with sheepishness then he quietly clears his throat before admitting,] It wouldn't do for you to get bitten. [again is something he'll leave unsaid, however.

should noiz need a demonstration, he's got no problem showing or guiding him, but he seems to do better the second time around, given little rabbit accepts the treat and gleefully starts eating.

it's really quite lucky that the spriggan doesn't leave noiz's fingers injured any further, though sizhui had a feeling he'd do alright with just the slightest push. this is noiz's pet, after all, it wouldn't do for him to not learn a thing or two while sizhui can teach him. another pleased smile quirks his lips when noiz upturns toward him again, he carefully adjusts his arm across the animal's midsection then nods, approving.]

Much better, [he praises, scritching the rabbit's belly gently.] And nobody got hurt, which is definitely a plus!

[Noiz scowls, even though he has no real reason to assume that he's being insulted. "It wouldn't matter if I got bitten" is something he could say, and considers saying, but he doesn't want to raise more questions about this than he needs to.]

Thanks.

[He says that to Sizhui, but he's still watching the rabbit eat the treat and not looking back at the person he's theoretically thanking. He's probably going to avoid giving it treats most of the time, at least until he can assess whether it's actually hostile.

He'll just.. leave food out for it instead, or something. Who decided that it was a good idea for him to have a pet again?]

I want it back now.

[Better than trying to bodily take the rabbit from Sizhui...]

[insulting noiz wasn't his intention at all, but sizhui would understand how his being overly concerned can come across as too plain-spoken and, in some cases, offensively irritating because of it. he's almost tempted to apologize for overstepping, yet noiz's thanks comes first and he can't resist grinning outright.]

You're welcome, [comes easily enough, then his own attention downcasts to the rabbit too, watching as it keeps right on eating like that's its life goal in this moment. nothing wrong with being sparing treat-wise; it can't eat those alone, obviously, so maybe sizhui could try fruits and vegetables next time. (if there is a ‘next time,’ anyway?)

whoever decided it probably should've considered better – no offense to noiz there, either! – before giving someone a pet that they don't know how to take care of. regardless, he's noiz's now and he must make the best out of his situation without worrying too much—

oh . . . yes, he ought to give noiz his companion back since they've gotten it to eat.] Right, of course, uhm. [a moment's hesitation while sizhui gingerly hooks one hand beneath the spriggan's chest and the opposite underneath its feet, careful to not jostle it too much during its cracker consumption.] If there is anything else you need help with, you can contact me anytime and I'll do my best to help. [following this, he then outstretches his arms, waiting patiently for noiz's acceptance of his pet.]

I know they may seem like a handful, but having pets can be nice...

[Noiz ... reluctantly reaches for his pet, although at least he doesn't handle the rabbit roughly. Just hesitantly, like he still can't decide how he feels about all of it.

Then again, the sleep deprivation is probably catching up to him too, here. He'd caught the poor thing in his sink far too early in the morning.]

Yeah.

[It's sort of a response to everything that Sizhui had just said to him, although he wasn't really planning on getting back in touch. He shifts the rabbit in his arms so that he can carry it back to his apartment a little more easily.]

Thanks.

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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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