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Chapter 11 - The Rabbit Quest

Giu stared down at the squishy creature hissing in his direction. It had no mouth and was made entirely of some soft green material that jiggled on contact. And yet the thing still made a point to growl at the singular canine in the room. Tea barely seemed to register the noise as they let the creature sit in their lap.

"A height potion?" Elly asked. "I never pegged you the type."

"I didn't do it on purpose," Tea said, stroking the squishy creature. "But I guess it's nice to finally be big enough to try regular clothes. You wouldn't believe how hard it is trying to find pixie-sized skirts."

"A seamstress would have been more convenient."

"Maybe. But who's got the pounds for that in this economy?"

As the two spoke, Giu glanced around the immenities of the rabbit's apartment. It was significantly larger than Tea's had been back in the Villa. The walls were decorated with various horns and skulls that Giu couldn't help but wonder at the freshness of. The squishy creature continued to growl in his direction. Elly had called it Fledge. Whatever it was, Giu wanted it gone.

"So, how far have you gotten on your own?" Tea asked.

Elly shook her head. "Still having trouble with the ingredients." Her gaze landed on Giu, the canine straightening up. "Should I be concerned for allergens?"

"H-huh?" he asked.

"Allergens," she repeated. "Nuts. Squid ink. Bone meal."

Giu looked to Tea, the pixie smiling devilishly. Elly frowned.

"You didn't tell him yet, did you?" she asked.

"I figured he might try to run if I did."

Giu blinked. Tea had given him many odd jobs in their short time together, but it usually wasn't anything too bad. The most dangerous job they'd taken was that thief-catching mission, and even then, he'd been too stubborn to try to run. So to hear Tea voice such a concern now of all times immediately set off warning bells in Giu's head. Elly scanned his face, the large rabbit seemingly sizing him up. She finally gave a dismissive snort.

"I'm a chef," she said.

"A...chef?" Giu repeated.

"Yes, you parrot. A chef. I specialize in soups, pastas, and gumbo. Tea here has agreed to assist me in my endeavors."

She gestured to the pixie, who gave a wave with one hand, the other stroking the forever hissing Fledge.

"Oh," Giu said. "Then that's the job? We're cooking? That doesn't sound so-"

"No," Elly said. "I don't trust anyone with my cooking. Especially not a canine. But I trust Tea enough to help me with prep work."

"I know my way around a dish or two," the pixie said.

Giu looked between the two. "Then...what am I..." As he trailed off, realization slapped him in the face.

Elly was a chef. Tea was a helper. And there was only one reason why he'd be brought on given all the culinary needs were being met elsewhere. The only reason why Elly would immediately ask him about allergens. Why Tea would be so afraid he'd run for the hills. Giu jumped to his feet.

"I'm the taster?" he snapped.

"Pretty much, yeah," Tea said.

"Your feedback will be invaluable in my quest," Elly agreed.

Giu immediately looked to the door only to see it blocked off by a bundle of soft material. Fledge had vanished from Tea's lap, appearing with a burst of light in front of the exit. Tea tugged on Giu's shirt.

"No backing out now, Gi," the pixie said.

He pulled away. "I never agreed to this!"

"You agreed to help me out. We're associates, remember? Where I go, you go. That's what you agreed to when you followed me all the way here. And this is where I want to go."

"I want a refund for my words!"

"Too late for that. Now sit down and behave. You're making me look bad in front of the client."

Giu groaned. He looked to Elly, who seemed to be seizing up his response. It felt like he was getting played. Tea's jobs were always different, but they usually only went as far as manual labor. Physical things. Stuff he could punch or endure. Simple and easy.

How was he supposed to endure poison getting shoveled down his stomach under the guise of food? And he had no doubt it would be poison. It was rabbit food. Anything those giants ate must have been a combination of tree trunks, blood, and raw meat. Or bone! How was he supposed to-

Elly rose to her feet, Giu taking a step back.

The rabbit, though shorter, dwarfed him in mass by a wide margin. So much so that forcing him down with a poison spoon would have been simple enough. Giu tensed for a fight.

"I have no intention of forcing you."

His shoulders relaxed. Elly rested a hand on her hip, giving a short whistle. Fledge appeared beside her, the green creature's growl subsiding into a low hiss.

"If he won't eat, he's no use to me," the rabbit said. "Tea, the deal's off if you can't find me a willing taster."

Tea flashed him a look. One that was a strange mixture of anger and betrayal. Giu averted his gaze, but the pixie bored through the side of his face.

Crap. He met Tea's gaze, their anger replaced by a pleading look, green eyes shining like a puppy. He winced. Stupid guilt-tripping fairy. He hated the idea, but the longer the pixie stared, the more he felt his resilience crumbling. As much as he wanted to deny it, he knew he had promised Tea he'd help them out in their endeavors. Even the non-punchy ones.

"Ugh," he groaned. "Alright alright, I'll do it. Geez. But if this kills me, I'm haunting the crap out of you, pixie. And your kids."

Tea grinned, their facade melting away in an instant. Elly still regarded him with suspicion, the rabbit staring him up and down. She extended a hand, the gesture a clear sign of commitment. Giu sucked in his pride, giving the rabbit a firm shake.

"When do we start?" Giu asked.

Elly gestured to the kitchen, the place a mess of scattered pots and shattered glass.

"We must clean first."

Everyone looked to Giu, the canine sighing.

"Yeah, guess that figures."

He moved for the nearest broom, sweeping up a fallen plate covered in tomato sauce. At least that's what he hoped the red stuff was.