The Magic Box, Saturday

[livingartifact]

"Do you mind?" Jenkins made a third attempt to get the front door to the Magic Box open, shoving it against the rump of a truly massive rabbit that had taken up residence on the sidewalk. "Look, I'm certain it's a perfectly nice spot to have a nap, but you're blocking my customers and I have truly had quite enough of being blocked today." His back

Comments

[2_old_for_this]

Peter, his own Byzantine sword in his hand, had run up when he saw the rabbit charging, then changed it to a stroll when he saw Jenkins had it well in hand.

He nodded as he walked up. "That's the third I've seen so far. Any idea where they came from?"

[livingartifact]

"An extremely large country meadow," Jenkins said. "I suppose I could try selling the feet. . . ."

He poked one of the rabbit's toes with his shoe. Bit big for a key chain, really.

[2_old_for_this]

"Or the meat?" Peter guessed. "If it's not contaminated by whatever magic this is." He gave Jenkins a crooked smile. "And if you know how to butcher a rabbit this big. I don't think I have a knife sharp enough and big enough."

[livingartifact]

"It has been rather a long time since I've field dressed anything," Jenkins said. "Though as I recall it was not the size of the blade that counted."

[2_old_for_this]

Peter snorted at the size comment. "Not the most important thing, but do you really want to try a fillet knife on that?"

[livingartifact]

"I wouldn't, no, but as I just said, I haven't field dressed anything in ages." Quite literal ages. "You have noticed you're carrying a sword, haven't you?"

[2_old_for_this]

"So are you," Peter pointed out. "For this, though?" He shook his head. "It's sharp for a sword, but it's not exactly made for carving."

[livingartifact]

"I'm not the one proposing to butcher the thing," Jenkins pointed out right back. "In cases such as these, one must simply make do with the tools one has available. I have seen a man cut the gullet open on a wolf this size with a six inch hacksaw, and pull out fair maiden entirely intact."

Only about three years ago, even.

[2_old_for_this]

"...Now you've got me wondering if anyone's inside this thing," Peter said, eyeing the rabbit dubiously. "Do we know if they eat meat or just like attacking?"

[livingartifact]

"At the moment all I know is that they like to take naps in front of doors and get mean if you make them move."

[2_old_for_this]

"They're pretty much mean if they notice you," Peter said. "There was some lady being attacked by one when I went out this morning. I got the sword out to help her, then found another one when it tried to jump me from behind."

[livingartifact]

"And did you see if she had any expertise at large animal butchery?"

[2_old_for_this]

Sometimes Peter wondered about you, Jenkins.

"No, I just made sure she got home safely. You want me to ask at the diner?"

[livingartifact]

What? No one wanted giant rabbit carcasses rotting in the streets all weekend. It was going to be more than 80 degrees tomorrow.

"I'm not particularly concerned if you ask anywhere at all." He sighed down at the rabbit. "You know, some magical monsters have the class to simply . . ." He puffed out his cheeks and gave an extra pop to his p: "poof once they've been dispatched."

[2_old_for_this]

"Huge rabbits are probably still better than any of the demons or things that poof," Peter pointed out. "Although..." He stared, unfocused, for a minute. "I think I know a disintegration spell."

He raised his hands to start, giving Jenkins time to stop him if he didn't want the rabbit corpse turned to dust.

[livingartifact]

Jenkins was of the opinion that using magic to accomplish something that was just more work the non-magical way was foolishness, but he merely stepped aside and raised an eyebrow.

"I will be put out if you should accidentally disintegrate any part of myself or my store while you're at it."