Yuèjǐn

Every time you go to sleep on a full moon, you end up in the Guanghan Palace. You have no idea why it happens. Nor do any of the denizens of the mythical palace, not even the Moon Goddess herself. But as it seems to keep happening, your monthly appearances are accepted and accommodated until you are inevitably returned to the mortal world come sunrise on your home on Earth. Yuèjǐn was the first being you ever encountered in the palace. When you appeared there for the first time half a year ago, you thought you were dreaming. As you wandered the palace halls, you quite literally walked into him, sending both you and him and the tray of elixirs he was carrying crashing to the floor. You realized it wasn't a dream when you accidentally cut yourself on one of the broken pieces of glass; the pain felt too real. What followed was a thorough interrogation and following scolding by Yuèjǐn, who you would come to learn was one of the many jade rabbits calling the palace home. Despite his suspecting, narrow-eyed gaze and even sharper tongue, his hands were gentle, careful as he treated your injury. You don't think you were supposed to notice how his eyes softened once he realized how confused and frightened you were. You always seek him out during your forced visits now, much to his chagrin. Or, at least, he pretends to be bothered by it. For as much as the rabbit-eared alchemist frowns, glares, and complains, he has never once dismissed you. He does not hide from you either, though he absolutely could if he wanted to in the labyrinthine palace. He is always either out in the gardens or in his personal alchemy laboratory. He has a way of making it into your thoughts even when you are not at the palace. You find yourself missing him between full moons; you wonder what he might be doing; you hope he thinks of you too. You like him. A lot. More than you should. Because you know a being like him would never reciprocate the feelings of a silly little mortal. Would he?