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Zhu Que makes his way to the location that Sizhui sends him, drinks in hand that he promised the other. He hasn't flown in a while and wonders if he would have enough manna to surprise Sizhui with a moonlight flight. Perhaps later in the evening, if the other is open to the idea. But the very idea of sweet drinks and sweeter desserts has Zhu Que feel warmth in his heart.

"A work of art," he greets as he sits down besides him.

Zhu Que leans and presses a kiss on a non-painted spot so as not to mess up his hard work. He'd gotten a black shirt that remains unbuttoned to cover up his torso a little. His hair is loosened completely, not in its usual half bun. The breeze is nice along the long locks.

"As promised: two coconut drinks."

Gosh, the spirit guardian ought to know by now that Sizhui wouldn't ever turn down any flying. Sometimes, he wonders if Zhuque misses having the ability to fly whenever he wants, though as he stops and considers how he'd been stone before suddenly gaining a body, fighting in some large battle then being swept away shortly thereafter— well, he feels somewhat selfish but Zhuque's never complained or mentioned anything else and seems fine carrying him around otherwise.

“Ah, ah!” the younger male teases, upturning his attention at the sound of footsteps, his mouth curving. “That's sweet, but I am certainly an amateur painter.” Flowers aren't too difficult, thank goodness, and as he turns back toward the mirror and gives one last look, his smile widens faintly. Perhaps with a little more practice though...

He blinks initially then dips his head after the kiss, surprised that despite everything they've done, even just a simple peck can bring warmth to his cheeks. “Thank you,” Sizhui murmurs, hoping it isn't too late to show his gratitude for Zhuque's compliment, considering he's glancing his way again to better appreciate how nice Zhuque looks with all his hair down. Sizhui's own dark locks are secured in a loose braid resting over his left shoulder, although some strands have come free throughout the day's activities, now wavy and softly framing his face.

Whatever he'd been planning to say earlier about the leftover paint nearby is forgotten once Zhuque offers the coconuts, however. “You're amazing!” he pipes, accepting one and immediately catching the straw so he can drink.

He chuckles and settles next to Sizhui before sipping on his own drink. He sweeps the length of his own hair aside.

"Would you like to paint me?" he asks.

Such an intimate act would be nice and Sizhui's skills are quite good.

Sizhui blinks following the question, tilts his head then regards Zhuque with his eyebrows lifted, lips still pursed around the straw. Finally, he stops, withdraws, leans until their shoulders are together and grins.

“I thought you'd never ask,” he teases, clearly enthusiastic. “But first, let's make some of these ‘s'mores,’ hm? That way you can decide what you might like painted.” And while Zhuque considers, he'll get some of those marshmallows from earlier skewered and carefully roasting.

Zhu Que watches as he skewers the treat and holds it over the fire. He can help with that. The guardian leans forward and makes sure that the fire is stoked and at a steady flame.

"Perhaps we'd be able to take these smores back home when we return."

He pauses in that and frowns a little. When they return, he wouldn't have Sizhui. He would be--Zhu Que shakes his head and reaches over to check on teh crackers and chocolate.

Softly, he ohhhs and ahhhs as the flames rise, tucking even closer to Zhuque's side afterward, his hand withdrawing somewhat so the marshmallows don't catch fire. They want them toasty, not charred!

At the offer to bring s'mores home, Sizhui readies a reply that dies on his tongue when Zhuque stalls, realization dawning.

Sizhui's posture straightens, his head tilts questioningly at Zhuque's frown, though once he shakes his head and turns away, the younger male's own expression falters too. While words escape him right now, he knows physical comfort still works sometimes, doesn't hesitate to lean against Zhuque again, prop his head onto his shoulder and reach his free hand to gently touch the man's elbow.

He presses a soft kiss to the crown of his head and reaching to place his hand over Sizhui's, enjoying the closeness of it. When his marshmallow is enflamed, he brings it back and blows the flame out.

"Is this how dark it should be?" he asks.

The kiss already has Sizhui upturning, a wide grin brightening his features outright whenever Zhuque's hand settles atop his. From his peripheral, he sees that marshmallow alight, gasps softly in surprise, though as he instinctively leans to help, Zhuque's already snuffed the flame.

He deflates with relief, laughs and nods, “Yes, it'll do great. A little singed is far better than completely charred.” Then he gestures toward the nearby chocolate bars and graham crackers, releasing Zhuque's arm to offer that hand. “I can hold your marshmallow for you if needed, but now you'll need two crackers and a square of the chocolate bar to squish together on either side of it.”

He tucks the stick with the marshmallow into the crook of his elbow, not wanting to let go of Sizhui just yet. Zhu Que looks around until he sees the ingredients that his love had pointed out and breaks off pieces as instructed. However, he stacks the two crackers on top of each other and holds the chocolate bar up. He frowns a little, looking at the full hands and at the marshmallow stick tucked into the crook of his elbow. Sheepishly, he turns back to the cultivator.

"Can you show me how?"

Oh... how dare, Zhuque looks so adorable while asking for his help! “Of course,” Sizhui faintly smiles wider, reaches to take the crackers first, holding them with one still atop of the other then he takes the chocolate next and places it on a wafer. This same hand carefully extricates one piece from another, he holds them out between them and gestures toward the marshmallow by tilting his head in its direction.

“Now, take your marshmallow, put it on the chocolate and I can use the other cracker to put them together.” Resulting in a delightfully super-sweet, yet somewhat messy treat.

He follows Sizhui's instructions, carefully placing the marshmallow on the chocolate. Zhu Que waits for him to sandwich them before leaning to take a bite. The explosion of sweetness in his mouth surprises him, as does the stickiness of the marshmallow that seems to ooze and melt everywhere. Zhu Que looks up at Sizhui apologetically before neatly cleaning the other's fingers and hands from squished marshmallow and melted chocolate.

After the marshmallow is placed, he sandwiches it with the other cracker, careful to make certain that not too much of the melty dessert gets wasted before Zhuque has his first bite. Sizhui softly ahs! in his own momentary astonishment as his boyfriend doesn't hesitate to just go for it while he's still holding his s'more, though following that is an abrupt giggle-fit whenever gooey marshmallow and liquified chocolate spill over his hands.

“It's okay,” he assures at the look, eyebrows arching curiously once Zhuque starts cleaning him up. “Haah, you didn't...need to...” but Sizhui's trailing off, too engrossed by the man's dutifulness to protest further.

He glances up at his boyfriend but doesn't pause in his ministrations. Zhuque keeps eye contact as he licks the sticky sweetness off of Sizhui's fingers, making sure he is very thorough in cleaning the gooey treat from him and sucking on spots along the digits for the stickering bits. Finally, he pulls away and licks his lips, sure that he got most of it.

"I didn't. But I wanted to."

He grins and leans in to finish off the pieces that remain in Sizhui's grips.

Sizhui holds Zhuque's gaze for as long as possible before shyly downturning after the man puts more intent behind sucking on his fingers— which, despite himself, has his thoughts wandering into inappropriate territory even if it's just a snack. He's much too distracted, needs to calm down a bit, so when Zhuque withdraws, though he can't help exhaling softly and somewhat shakily, his voice is steady once he speaks.

“I appreciate that,” he murmurs, a brief moment of silence passing then he adds (corrects?), “Appreciate you.”

He leans too this time, although it's to peck Zhuque's forehead rather than letting himself get preoccupied while his spirit guardian finishes the snack.

He chuckles. Zhu Que finishes his snack then leans to make sure he gets every bit of the sticky sweet off of his boyfriend's fingers.

"Will you have a s'more as well?"

At some point, it has to be assumed that Zhuque is just doing what he's doing for the sake of sucking on his fingers, and Sizhui withdraws before it becomes too intent again, one hand lingering to cup the palm underneath Zhuque's chin. “Yes,” he affirms, tilting the other male's face so he can gently peck his lips before murmuring, “but I'll need my hands for that.”

And then he beams outright, delighted Zhuque enjoyed the snack either way.

He doesn't hesitate to sneak a kiss to the inside of Sizhui's wrist then return his quick kiss.

"Will you allow me to assist you?"

Sneaky, but Sizhui just shakes his head, doing his best to ignore the goosebumps rising on his skin when Zhuque kisses his wrist and focusing on the returned gesture against his lips instead.

“Of course,” he assures. “Do you want to help with the marshmallow or the chocolate and graham crackers?”

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