#lotus seed buns

[ailelie]

Lotus Seeds

Because of MDZS/Untamed/etc fic, I am making lotus seed buns.

Lotus seeds, I've learned, are vaguely sweet in the way raw cashews are sweet and do have a nutty flavor. They are soft like chestnuts, but I'm not sure the flavor is comparable beyond nutty.

The centers of lotus seeds are, as promised by fic, bitter. However, they aren't just bitter. I love bitter. These are medicinally astringent bitter. When you first bite them, they seem fine and then they fill your mouth with more flavor than seems possible by the tiny little bit of green and white. If I had to describe them with a single word, I'd go with astringent over bitter.

Anyway, I am currently boiling a pot of seeds to soften them. Once it boils, they'll simmer for an hour. And then we move on with making the paste for my buns!

This is the recipe I'm using btw: https://www.seriouseats.com/chinese-lotus-seed-buns-recipe

[angstandhappiness]

ADORABLE

Catching up with Sifu

Pronunciations are provided in jyutping and Cantonese romanization from before jyutping became standardized! Not including Mandarin pronunciation this time since these two "meals" are considered Cantonese cuisine/culture :)

[greenwitchcrafts]

March 2024 witch guide

Full moon: March 25th

New moon: March 10th

Sabbats: Ostara-March 19th

March Worm Moon

Known as: Crow Moon, Eagle Moon, Goose Moon, Hrethmonath, Lenting moon, Lentzinmanoth, Moon of Snowblind, Moon of Winds, Plow Moon, Sap Moon, Seed Moon, Sore Eyes Moon, Storm Moon, Sugar Moon & Wind Strong Moon

Element: Water

Zodiac: Pisces & Aries

Nature spirits: Air & water spirits & Mer-people

Deities: Artemis, Astarte, Athena, Cybele, Isis, Luna & Minerva

Animals: Boar, cougar & hedgehog

Birds: Sea crow & sea eagle

Trees: Alder, dogwood & honeysuckle

Herbs: Apple blossom, broom, high John root, Irish moss, pennyroyal, wood betony & yellow dock

Flowers: Daffodil, jonquil & violet

Scents: Apple blossom & honeysuckle

Stones: Aquamarine, bloodstone, jasper, opal &topaz

Colors: Pale-green, red, violet, yellow & white

Energy:  Balance, beginnings, dream work, energy breaking into the open, exploring, fertility, inner development, karma, prosperity, spirituality, success & truth seeking

For many years, it was thought that the name "Worm Moon" referred to the earthworms that appear as the soil warms in spring. This invites robins and other birds to feed—a true sign of spring.

However, more research revealed another explanation. In the 1760s, Captain Jonathan Carver visited the Naudowessie (Dakota) and other Native American tribes and wrote that the name Worm Moon refers to a different sort of “worm”—beetle larvae—which begin to emerge from the thawing bark of trees and other winter hideouts at this time.

March’s full Moon often plays a role in religion, specifically in Christianity, this Moon is known as the Lenten Moon if it is the last full Moon of the winter season (i.e., if it occurs before the spring equinox) or as the Paschal Full Moon if it is the first full Moon of spring (i.e., if it occurs after the spring equinox).

Ostara

Known as: Alban Eiler, Lady Day & Spring/Vernal equinox

Season: Spring

Symbols: 8-spoked wheel, butterflies, chicks, decorated baskets, eggs, feathers, jellybeans, lambs, rabbits, seeds, shamrocks, spring flowers & sunwheels

Colors: Green, indigo, light blue, pastels, pink, red & yellow

Oils/Incense: African violet, florals, ginger, jasmine, lotus, magnolia, rose, sage & strawberry

Animals: Cormorant, hare, hawk, rabbit, sheep, sparrow & swallow

Mythical: Dragon & Unicorn

Stones: Amethyst, aquamarine, bloodstone, moonstone, red jasper & rose quartz

Food: Dairy foods, eggs(hard boiled), fruits, honey, honey cakes, leafy greens, vegetables, pine nuts, pumpkin, sunflower seeds, sprouts & waffles

Herbs/Plants: Acorn, cinquefoil, dogwood, ginger, Irish moss, olive, strawberry & woodruff

Flowers: Celandine, crocus, daffodil, dandelion, Easter lily,  jasmine gorse, honeysuckle, hyssop, iris, jonquil, linden, narcissus, peony, snowdrop, tansy & violet

Goddesses: Aphrodite, Ariadne, Artemis, Athena, Coatlicue, Cybele,Demeter, Diana, Eos, Eostre, Flora, Gaia, Hera, Idunn, Iris, Ishtar, Juno, Minerva, Persephone, Venus & Vesta

Gods: Adonis, Attis, Celi, Cernunnos, Coel, Dagda, Dalon ap Landu, Dumuzi, Green Man, Lord of the Greenwood, Mithras, Odin, Osiris, Ovis & Pan

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Agriculture, balance, beauty, fertility, growth, life, love & rebirth/renewal

Spellwork: Air magick, fertility, new beginnings & water magick

Activities:

• Go on a hike/walk & look for signs of spring

• Add Ostara symbols to decorate your altar space

• Plant vegetable &/or flower seedlings

• Decorate eggs with bright colors

• Set your intentions for the weeks/months ahead

• Start a new class or hobby

• Create eggshell candles

• Make plans & new routines for the future

• Participate in rituals & ceremonies that connect you with energy & the life force of nature

• Have a feast with your friends &/family with sprouts & leafy greens

• Bake hot cross buns or lavender/lemon flavored treats

• Clean & de-clutter your home

• Try a re-birthing/ renewing ritual

• Bring fresh flowers or plants into into the home

• Host a spring & floral themed tea party

• Make egg based food dishes & desserts

This holiday marks the Spring Equinox, which happens before March 19-22. It is the second of three spring celebrations (the midpoint between Imbolc and Beltane)  during which light & darkness are again in balance, with light on the rise. It is a time of new beginnings & of life emerging further from the grips of winter.

There is much debate regarding the origins of Ostara due to the lack of primary sources about this sabbat. One theory is the name of Ostara came from the Anglo-Saxon goddess Eostre. Another theory is that Eostre is more of a localized goddess in Kent County, England. Despite the questions of her origins, Eostre is associated with modern-day Pagan traditions of Ostara.

There is no evidence that the ancient Greeks or Romans celebrated Ostara, although they did celebrate their own spring festivals, such as the Roman festival of Floralia & the Greek festival of Anthesteria. It was a time to honor the returning sun, fertility & rebirth.

Related festivals:

• Nowruz- March 19th

Nowruz marks the first day of spring & renewal of nature. It is celebrated on the day of the astronomical vernal equinox. It is also celebrated as the beginning of the new year by people all around the world for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East & other regions.

It promotes values of peace & solidarity between generations & within families as well as reconciliation & neighbourliness. Nowruz plays a significant role in strengthening the ties among peoples based on mutual respect & the ideals of peace and good neighbourliness. 

Traditional customs of Nowruz include fire & water, ritual dances, gift exchanges, reciting poetry, symbolic objects & more; these customs differ between the diverse peoples & countries that celebrate the festival.

• Holi- March 25th

Holi is a popular & significant Hindu festival celebrated as the The festival of colors, Love &Spring. It commemorates eternal and divine love of the deities Radha & Krishna. Additionally, the day signifies the triumph of good over evil, as it celebratess the victory of Vishnu as Narasimha over Hiranyakashipu. Holi originated & is predominantly celebrated in the Indian subcontinent, but has also spread to other regions of Asia & parts of the Western world through the Indian diaspora.

Holi also celebrates the arrival of Spring in India, the end of winter & the blossoming of love. It is also an invocation for a good spring harvest season. It lasts for a night & a day, starting on the evening of the Purnima (full moon day) falling on the Hindu calendar month of Phalguna, which falls around the middle of March in the Gregorian calendar.

• Easter- March 31st

also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday is a Christian festival & cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD. It is the culmination of the Passion of Jesus Christ, preceded by Lent (or Great Lent), a 40-day period of fasting, prayer, & penance.

Easter traditions vary across the Christian world & include sunrise services or late-night vigils, exclamations & exchanges of Paschal greetings, flowering the cross & the decoration and the communal breaking of Easter eggs (a symbol of the empty tomb) among many others. The Easter lily is a symbol of the resurrection in Western Christianity traditionally decorates the chancel area of churches on this day & for the rest of Eastertide. Additional customs that have become associated with Easter & are observed by both Christians & some non-Christians include Easter parades, communal dancing, the Easter Bunny & egg hunting.

Other Celebrations:

• Festival of Luna- March 31st

Is a feast day honoring the Goddess Luna who is seen as the divine embodiment of the Moon.

The Temple of Luna was a temple on the Aventine Hill in Rome, dedicated to Luna, the moon goddess. Its dedication was celebrated on March 31st, thus the celebration.

According to Tacitus, it was built by king Servius Tullius. However, the first confirmed reference to a temple to Luna dates to 182 BC & refers to one of its doors being knocked off its posts by a miraculous blast of air & shot into the back of the Temple of Ceres. That account probably places the temple at the north end of the hill, just above porta Trigemina. The temple was struck by lightning around the time of the death of Cinna, as was the temple of Ceres. After the destruction of Corinth, Lucius Mummius Achaicus dedicated some of his spoils from the city to this temple. It was destroyed in the Great Fire of Rome in 64 AD & not rebuilt.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living

[slavic-roots-western-mind]

Chinese Desserts

There's quite a large variety of treats and desserts in China (more than you can imagine), so here are some of the most common ones!

Almond jelly/tofu - 杏仁豆腐 - xìngréndòufu Despite the name, almond jelly doesn't actually have almonds in it. Almond jelly is made from gelatin and almond milk, although some recepies use dairy milk instead.

Glutinous rice balls - 汤圆 - tāngyuán These rice balls are made from glutinous rice balls with a sweet filling, such as red bean paste (a pretty popular filling in desserts, I've been fooled more than once when purchasing what I assumed to be a chocolate filled pastry).

Red bean buns - 豆沙包 - dòushābāo One of my favorite desserts so far. These are steamed buns with a sweet red bean paste filling that I'd definitely recommend.

Egg custard bun - 流沙包 - liúshābāo A sweet and savory bun, with a lava-like egg yolk filling. A pretty interesting dessert, as it's both sweet and savory.

Pumpkin cake - 南瓜饼 - nánguābǐng I haven't tried this yet, but it definitely looks good. A fried and crunchy cake with a sweet filling such as red bean paste.

Eight treasure rice pudding - 八宝饭 -bābǎofàn This is a pretty popular dessert, especially during the Lunar New Year. It gets this name becase of the toppings, which are eight or more different types of dried fruits and nuts arranged on top of the sweet rice, with (once again) red bean paste.

Hawthorn stick/ Candied Haws/ Sugar coated haws/ Bingtanghulu - 冰糖葫芦 - bīngtánghúlu This treat has quite a few translations and you may have probably already seen it. This is basically candied fruit covered with a sweet, crunchy and sugary syrup. Traditionally, Hawthorn is used but other fruits such as grapes, strawberries and oranges are also popular options.

Sachima - 沙琪玛 - shāqímǎ I haven't tried this snack yet, but it looks quite fascinating. Sachima is made from fried batter stuck together with a sugary syrup, with an interesting texture.

Sesame balls - 芝麻球 - zhīmaqiú Similar to the rice glutinous balls, this treat is also made from glutinous rice flour with varying fillings including lotus seeds, mung bean and red beans, and sesame seeds.

Water chestnut cake A sweet pan-fried cake made from chinese water chestnut, with a unique semi-transparent appearance.

Wintermelon puff/ Wife cake/ Sweetheartcake - 老婆餅 - lǎopóbǐng This cake has many names, mainly because it has several different origin stories, each more fascinating than the next. This dessert is a flaky pastry with wintermelon, almond (not red bean this time!) paste and sesame filling.

Fortune cake - 发糕 - fāgāo Not a fortune cookie! This is a spongy steamed cupcake cake commonly made for the New Lunar Year celebrations and occasionally other events. They're usually a white-ish or brown-ish color, but they're often dyed bright colors to add extra festivity.

Mooncake - 月饼 - yuèbǐng This is a pretty well-known dessert, commonly prepared for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Mooncakes are smallish steamd/fried (depends on the region) cakes with a sweet filling that can also sometimes have an egg yolk inside.

Osmanthus cake - 桂花糕 - guìhuāgāo This is a unique traditional pastry made from glutinous rice flour, honey and osmanthus. This cake has a really interesting texture, as it's quite dense but also airy in a way? I'd definitely recommend trying it, as it's not super sweet and goes really well with tea.

[moon13dreams]

SVSSS Magical Pokemon Journey AU (kinda), just hear me out here

Okay, so Luo Binghe where he's constantly stalking hanging out with Shen Yuan/Shen Qingqiu as his friend/apprentice/whatever makes sense for how big you make the age gap here. In any case, he is always looking for ways to court his oblivious beloved to no avail. Just what about a rose trail leading to a candlelit picnic is helpful for luring a luminescent 1000 horned leopard stag?? That food was for Yuan-ge!!!

Liu Qingge is always foiling Luo Binghe's plans. How? Idk, have some fun here, but Luo Binghe is for sure not having fun lol

Shen Yuan is as oblivious as ever, committed to completing his pokedex bestiary with his two favorite people. Luo Binghe is such a sweet bun! So considerate to try and help him research such dangerous beasts! So brave of him! And look at Liu Qingge being so helpful, but could he stop killing the beasts?? We're researching them, not hunting them!! And lay off his little white lotus, he's harmless!

Then there's Shang Qinghua in the background watching this shit-show just munching on melon seeds because he's so done trying to state the obvious. What would he know about romance? Everything is totally "platonic" here... Whatever you say Cucumber-bro... (≖_≖ )

[niteshade925]

Apr 4 evening, China:

In China there is a custom called jiefengxichen/接风洗尘, which roughly translates to "welcome the winds and wash off the dust", and it's a way of welcoming guests from faraway. In old times the host would provide a basin of fresh water and a clean towel for the guest, then provide a small meal. In modern times this is mostly simplified down to a big meal or a trip to the restaurant, called a jiefengfan/接风饭. In our case we just went to a restaurant.

Mixed vegetables with starch noodles and sesame paste (it's a cold dish, an appetizer, kind of like a salad):

Lightly stir-fried octopus:

Stir-fried beef and king oyster mushrooms with cashews. The yellow bowl-shaped decor on the side was apparently fried egg??? I have not the slightest idea how they fried the egg to look like that:

Red braised Chinese yam:

Steamed turbot fish:

Red braised pork belly on rice:

Duck soup with tofu:

Last but not least, a traditional pastry called shoutao/寿桃, or "longevity peaches". These are peach-shaped steamed buns with sweet red bean paste or sweet lotus seed paste fillings. They are made to look like peaches because peaches are associated with longevity in Chinese culture and are usually served at birthday banquets (for older people).

We weren't celebrating anyone's birthday that day, it was just a gift from the restaurant because my relatives were regular customers there. Picture was taken after we started eating so that's why there's only four buns left (four is not a lucky number so the restaurant definitely would not serve just four buns; if I remember right it was eight buns at the start, and eight is a lucky number)

[shamera]

An Oar Upon the Water (MLC ficlet)

Fandom: Mysterious Lotus Casebook Character/Pairing(s): Di Feisheng / Li Lianhua / Fang Duobing Rating: PG Warning: none? fluff! DreamWidth link

"There are some people who leave impressions not so lasting as the imprint of an oar upon the water." -Kate Chopin

Despite his reputation, Li Lianhua didn’t always work as a physician for money.

Of course he didn’t, not when he saw sick children lining the streets or parents offering what little they had if only someone would help— and he could help. Perhaps it was unwise to use his Yangzhouman in those cases, but he once tried to make the world a better place and it turned out to be a habit hard to break.

For the poorer families, he often got cases of vegetables (he would accept seeds for payment as well) or whatever homemade kits of items they could afford to give away. Once, a young girl gifted him with a tiny wood carving for helping her injured brother.

“It’s my favourite,” she lisped in a mock-whisper, holding it up for him with both hands. She was missing at least two of her front teeth, and had her hair barely contained in a childish bun on the side of her head. “Brother made it for me.”

Li Lianhua had knelt before her to keep her at eye level, a little tired but not overly so from his session. “You should keep it, then. It must be worth more than anything in the world.”

She brightened at his acknowledgement, all but thrusting the little wood piece at his chest. “It is! But you have it, okay? Brother can make a new one for me now.”

And thus Li Lianhua ended up with various knick-knacks in Lotus Tower that he just couldn’t bear to throw away.

—

After the cumulation of everything, Li Lianhua returned to Lotus Tower filled with trepidation. With nothing else to do (he had practically been ordered under house arrest! He was rarely left alone, and even when he was, Hulijing barked loudly every time he walked outside the door!), he found himself organising boxes and drawers in an attempt to keep busy.

By the time Fang Duobing came back, slouching a little from exhaustion from dealing with angry officials who could hardly believe the results (and arrests) from a case, he found Li Lianhua in the middle of a chaotic mess on the ground, piles of random trinkets thrown atop the table and chairs and floor.

“What are you doing?” The younger man asked, mentally despairing at the idea of cleaning all that up in order to make room for dinner. He crept close, toeing the mess warily.

It was Hulijing, sprawled across Li Lianhua’s lap for a nap, who twitched an ear and acknowledged Fang Duobing’s presence first, opening a single eye and then huffing a breath before going back to her nap.

Li Lianhua, on the other hand, took a long moment before he looked up from his inventory, ink dotting the edge of his sleeves as he examined several wooden objects before picking up the wet brush that was resting a little too close to his clothes and writing something down on paper. He looked up only after he was finished.

“Xiaobao,” he acknowledged warmly. “How did it go?”

“Nothing I couldn’t handle,” Fang Duobing replied, raising his chin proudly. He leaned over a large stack of books on the table. “What are you doing?”

“Organising.” Li Lianhua responded absentmindedly, and then paused. He gestured Fang Duobing forward with a hand. “Come here.”

It took him a moment to carefully step over the mess, and then lean down as Li Lianhua gestured him closer again, waiting as the man took one of the small wooden pieces and pressed it against the nearly empty plate of ink set on the side of the floor. Then Li Lianhua grabbed him by the hand and pressed the wooden bit against his skin.

“Good job on the last case.” Li Lianhua told him, and then lifted the wooden piece, making a pleased noise at what it revealed.

Fang Duobing lifted his hand, at first bothered by the ink stain and then amused as he saw the six petal flower impression left on his skin. “Thanks. What’s this?”

“I couldn’t figure out the shape of it.” Li Lianhua told him, setting the wooden stamp back down on the ground.

Fang Duobing gave only a moment’s dubious glance at the paper next to Li Lianhua, and then decided to ignore the small lie. He was coming to realise how Li Lianhua would speak, truth and lies mixed together in the grand scheme of things at all times, and this was one of those moments where he was deflecting with a small lie, one that was far too easy to pick out. It had taken him months originally to realise: Li Lianhua was actually a pretty bad liar.

“Is that a seal?” Fang Duobing asked, lifting his hand to better examine the shape. The petals were roughly carved, and the ink was slightly blotchy, bleeding a bit onto his skin already. It was cute, the size no bigger than a fingernail. “Did you make it?”

Li Lianhua shook his head absentmindedly. “Given to me, I think.”

Fang Duobing made a considering noise, and thought about Li Lianhua pressing the stamp against his skin to tell him he did a good job. “I’ll get you a better one. Something lotus-shaped. And cinnabar ink.”

“What use would I have for that?” Li Lianhua asked. He was already examining something else in the pile next to him, head turned away. “I have no official documents to sign.”

Fang Duobing gave a considering hum as he examined the flower on his hand, and smiled. “I’ll get you one, anyway.”

—

Wuyan paused in his daily report as Di Feisheng turned his head slightly to read the document next to him with the same apparent disinterest as usual.

“Ahh.” He blinked as his leader’s gaze turned toward him at the uncharacteristic hesitation. “Apologies, Director. You have, ahh—”

Di Feisheng was dressed impeccably as always, deep violet robes underneath a thick patterned black overrobe held tightly together by black leather wrist guards and belt, both sewn with silver edging. Everything was put together well, perfectly groomed, and his hair was in its familiar crown, yet—

Wuyan pointed to his own cheek and said, “You seem to have something here.”

The ‘something’ was barely more than a smudge of ink, but one that formed the shape of a six petaled flower, only the slightest bit smeared.

Surprisingly, the Jinyuan Alliance leader smiled slightly. “Yes.”

Wuyan cleared his throat, and decided not to comment on it further. Considering Di Feisheng had come back for the reports directly from Lotus Tower, very little was going to actually surprise Wuyan at this point.

He’d just have to ensure no one else commented on it later.

—

When Di Feisheng made his way back to Lotus Tower just after the sun set, the floor was cleared of clutter once more, everything orderly and tidy and wiped clean. The fire under the kettle was lit, the flame small but bright and warm in the autumn evening. There were several pots bubbling happily, emitting smells of herbs and medicine that stung his nose slightly.

Li Lianhua was seated next to the pots, hunched over slightly and mending a rip in some dark green robes, rattan fan set down next to him.

“Where’s the brat?” Di Feisheng asked in lieu of a greeting, seating himself next to Li Lianhua.

“Xiaobao took Hulijing down to the stream,” Li Lianhua responded, not bothering to look up from his task. “And since you have your hands free, you can help me fan the pots.”

Di Feisheng thought of refusing for only a moment (mostly to see Li Lianhua's reaction) but then took up the fan, keeping his movements slow enough to feed the flames but not fast enough to agitate. He watched as Li Lianhua carefully mended the rip with a dark thread, and then finally tied off the end with a clumsy double knot before snipping the excess and smoothing out the fabric triumphantly.

“That should do it,” Li Lianhua said. “Before I put this away, did you have— A’Fei.”

Di Feisheng raised an eyebrow in acknowledgement, still fanning.

Li Lianhua raised a sleeve to hide his smile. “You didn’t wipe it off? I thought you were angry at Fang Xiaobao for that. Should I—?”

“Leave it.” Di Feisheng said, halting Li Lianhua’s movement toward a rag. “It’s fine.”

“Did anyone else see it?”

Of course they did. Di Feisheng hadn’t exactly hidden from his meetings. None other than Wuyan dared to comment on the flower mark on his face.

“I should have hidden it,” Li Lianhua continued, tone amused.

“Where did you put it, then?”

Li Lianhua indicated toward the dresser by the door, close enough they could reach it without getting up. “I covered the ink earlier.”

Di Feisheng leaned over, reaching across over Li Lianhua’s warm back to grab the little wooden stamp, and then took a moment’s deliberation before grabbing the ink plate as well, pulling it back toward the table. Li Lianhua was watching him with a quirked smile, heading tilted as if questioning what he was doing.

He put the fan down and uncovered the ink plate to dip the stamp in, and then reached toward Li Lianhua even as the man leaned away with a huff of amusement.

“Oh no,” Li Lianhua said. “You don’t get to turn this around on me! I wasn’t the one who left that on your face!”

“Why not?” Di Feisheng asked, taking it as a challenge as he moved to keep the man within reach. “Fang Duobing has this mark too, doesn’t he?”

“He’s probably washed it off by now— A’Fei!”

Di Feisheng darted to reach around the mended robe Li Lianhua was using as a makeshift shield, and feinted in one direction only to push into the other man's personal space, leaving him no room to retreat if he didn’t want to get up from the chair, until Li Lianhua laughed from the sheer absurdity of it and Di Feisheng managed to slip a hand to cup the bottom of his head and gently press the stamp between his brows.

Li Lianhua's smile softened, “A huadian? Really?”

Di Feisheng found himself smiling in return. “It suits.”

Outside, the sounds of paws running on the road reached their ears moments before they heard Fang Duobing call out, “I’m back! We got a lot of fish in the traps— should we smoke it overnight?”

Li Lianhua gave Di Feisheng an amused, challenging look as the latter let him go and pulled back just as the door opened to let both Fang Duobing and Hulijing inside from the cold.

“Lao Di!” Fang Duobing greeted cheerfully. He was carrying a stick laden with fish tied to the end, arm bracers missing and his sleeves rolled up slightly to expose his forearms. “When did you get back?”

Then he took in the scene and stopped in his tracks, laughing at the two men with flower stamps on their faces sitting on the same bench.

Di Feisheng was gracious enough to let the young man laugh for several long moments before he handed the wooden stamp to Li Lianhua and commented casually, “I’ll hold him down.”

Li Lianhua accepted the object graciously, also taking the entire ink plate as Di Feisheng stood up. “Alright.”

“Wait, wait, wait! You’re not serious, are you? Wait!”

Li Lianhua smiled and made sure to press the stamp down extra hard in the ink.

[paldean-sandwich-rater]

A sandwich.

It contains ice cream, whipped cream, sponge cake, meat balls, broccoli, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, rice, noodles, mac and cheese, bacon, beef jerky, dried fish, seaweed, one of every Pokemon berry, jam, olive oil, lotus, dragon fruit, ravioli, ramen, tempura, teriyaki chicken, macaroons, escargots, mint, pepper, salt, sugar, croquettes, pickles, apples, avocados, sausages, bell peppers, grapes, pizza, a donut, cheese, more cheese, even more cheese, mushrooms, mustard, olives, a fried egg, a scrambled egg, blueberries, a poached egg, chawanmushi, a red bean bun, mochi, bbq sauce, chicken nuggets, french fries, takoyaki, pancakes, mackerel, salmon, coffee beans, spinach, a tiny bit of corn cream soup, ramensanga, fettucine alfredo, a plain bagel, pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, sweet potato, yam, potato, scallions, scallops, squid, crab stick, fish balls, fish cakes, oyster sauce, silken tofu, barley, cereal, paprika, oysters, red snapper, sea bass, plums, bean sprouts, garlic, string cheese, camembert, swiss cheese, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, yogurt, brinjal, a macdonald’s happy meal (without the toy and the packaging of course), truffles, caviar, tapioca balls, fried chicken, century eggs, cake sprinkles, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, milk tea (just a tinge), coffee (also a tinge), pudding, pumpkin, honey, mutton, mashed potatoes, bananas, icelandic fermented shark that they bury in the ground for months, raisins, dried mangoes, a drop of water, jelly, nata de coco, prunes, roasted pork, rosemary, bee pollen, peas, deer meat, rabbit meat, fish maw, ham, turkey, m&ms, chub, fufu, watermelon, winter melon, rock melon, coffee jelly, cacao, carrots, blueberries, black tea, dumplings, carrot cake, beetroot, purple cabbage, corn, celery, edamame, red beans, black beans, green beans, kidney beans, cashews, peanuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, walnuts, chickpeas, almonds, daikon, MSG, tamales, anchovies, tabbouleh, lions mane mushroom, chicken of the woods, kelp, octopus, durian, kimchi, crème fraîche, popcorn, cotton candy, everything bagel seasoning, capers, pears, marinara sauce, bittercress, butter cream, every single iteration of galarian curry, sushi, sashimi, kale and a very very specific ramen bowl (without the actual bowl) from a very particular shop located in Iwatodai.

And the top and bottom buns are somehow made from 50 different kinds of bread in a checker box pattern.

It comes with a picture.

Ingredients: I am not typing all of that out again. What the fuck.

Smell: You’ve taken an entire food court’s worth of food and made it into a sandwich. This isn’t even possible. Why am I considering this. 3/5

Taste: How do you eat this. 2/5

Texture: You get like 5 different foods every bite. This is not balanced. There is no harmony. This sandwich is the embodiment of disorder and chaos. 1/5

Presentation: The fact that this even looks sandwich adjacent is a fucking miracle. You don’t get full points though. Because I don’t like you. 3/5

Would Chunk Eat It?: He would eat maybe 1/50th of it. So no. 1/5

Final Score: 2/5

Critic’s Notes: Why would you waste this much food. Just host a party. Donate it. Something fucking anything I am begging at this point.

[the-power-of-stuff]

Almighty Empress of Sukka! I have a spicy Sukka question for you:

What are some things that Sokka and/or Suki do (unknowingly or otherwise) that get each other in the mood? Like little quirks or habits or clothes they wear or just random everyday stuff that makes the other go 😯🥵🤤? (For example, maybe Suki drinking a milkshake or slurpee with her lips wrapped around the straw is just a bit too much for Sokka to handle. And maybe when Sokka takes his shirt off after a hot, sweaty workout, not matter how awkwardly he does it, Suki gets a little hot and flustered herself.)

Sorry, that was a lot. 😅 But Sukka’s irrepressibly spontaneous love for each other always makes me want to gush! 🥰

And I know you’re busy with Sukka Week right now, so no rush to answer this at all! I’m very patient.

Lord, have I really been sitting on this ask for nearly two years??

I need you to know, Dearest Anon, that it doesn't feel like I've let this ask go for so long because I have actually had it on my mind that entire time, wanting to answer it and waiting until a good enough answer surfaced.

But I think I was going about it the wrong way. I don't really have a lot of headcanons that exist independently of putting a guy in situations. And if I put a guy in enough situations, I might end up repeating similar ideas until they become headcanons (like my headcanon that Suki has a particular fondness for lotus seed buns).

So! It occurred to me that maybe the best way for me to answer this question would be to put these guys in a situation. And now, at long last, we have...Suki getting really turned on by Sokka cooking... 😏

Suki stepped off the back porch of the house, perched the steamer basket full of rice on her cocked hip, and bit her lip. Framed beautifully in her field of view, amidst a glorious backdrop of lush green foliage and the island’s tumbling, sparkling brook, was Sokka, standing over the makeshift grill he’d thrown together from a large cast iron pot and some wire mesh he’d gotten off one of the fishing boats. The air was fragrant with the savory sweet aroma of seared meat, Sokka expertly working the grill in a calculated dance between flame, timing, and seasoning. And Suki’s mouth was watering. 

“Hey there, grill master,” she crooned as she approached, abandoning the rice on the table that housed Sokka’s setup. She ran one hand over his shoulder, down his back, then lower still so she could squeeze a generous handful of ass cheek. 

He yelped before glancing at her out of the corner of his eye, one brow quirked in amusement. “Hungry?”

“Starved,” she said, sidling closer and pressing up against him from behind. Her hands quickly found his hip bones and traced the muscle there before teasing lower by just a few millimeters, and Sokka nearly dropped his tongs. 

“You know Mrs. Kotoji can see us from here…”

Suki turned her head towards her next door neighbor’s house just in time to see the shutters slam shut on one of the windows. “Nothing scandalous for her to see here,” she countered breezily. Then she found the slit in the side of Sokka’s tunic and traced her fingers down his thigh.

“Keep doin’ that and there might be,” he grunted, and Suki chuckled, dropping her forehead between Sokka’s shoulder blades as she laughed. 

“Listen…” she said coyly. With her head still resting against Sokka’s spine, she drew her hands slowly around his hips and up his flanks. “I know you’re still cooking, but once you’re done, you think you could…scandalize me a bit before we eat?”

Something clattered loudly while Sokka fumbled around with the grill, and then suddenly he was whirling around, gripping Suki’s waist and tugging her close. “Tui and La, woman… I will scandalize you so much, you’ll be reading about it in Ba Sing Se next year. In those scandal sheet things. That they circulate in the Upper Ring. Whatever, it made sense in my—” And he cut himself off by closing the distance between his mouth and hers. 

Suki threw her arms around his shoulders, laughing into him as he penguin-stepped them back towards the house. When they collided with one of the porch posts, Sokka used the opportunity to deepen the kiss, slotting one thigh between hers, creating delicious friction for them both. Suki moaned.

“So, you like the way I handle my meat, huh?” Sokka teased, breathy against her lips.

“Oh yeah,” Suki rasped, delighted, sneaking her eager hands back around to Sokka’s backside. “And now it’s my turn.”

[cathartidae]

HI HI HI HI WHATS YYYOUR fave dim sum dish ^-^

HIIII omg!!!!! coincidentally i Also really really like shao mai, it's usually the main part of my meal, i also am a big big fan of pork buns and red bean buns.... AND THEN okay so the place i usually go to makes these Incredible sesame seed balls with lotus and they're so fucking good...

[morethansalad]

How to Make Lotus Seed Paste

You’ll find lotus seed paste in many Chinese pastries, particularly mooncakes, fried sesame balls, and steamed longevity peach buns.

[nacrelysis]

the xue family is alive and well. xue zhengyong helps xue meng name his spiritual fan; the name sucks, as is expected, but xue meng can't think of a better one. madam wang tends to sisheng peak's affairs and spoils veggie bun rotten, so to this day, xue meng can't get the cat to favor him over his mother. she sends medicine and small trinkets from the market to chu wanning, reminding mo ran he's always welcome no matter his past. she asks after taxian-jun's flowers, while xue zhengyong insists that ranwan come pay them a visit - don't they miss madam wang's cooking?

the hanxue twins court xue meng, and it takes five months before he notices and another year and a half before they start making wedding preparations. chu wanning and mo ran get married. they have a ceremony on sisheng peak. madam wang prepares chu wanning's favorite sweets and leaves the wontons for him to make himself. xue zhengyong gifts them things both extravagant and ordinary - a jar of aged peach blossom wine, matching guan sets, lotus seeds for taxian-jun.

at the end of the celebration, madam wang brings over a basket. mo ran moves to pull back the blanket, but the little kitten pokes its sleepy face out before he can do so. veggie bun had kits, they're told, perhaps you'd- and mo ran has already jumped to say yes before madam wang can finish. the hanxues hang around to tease xue meng and get matching whacks over the head from his war fan. mo ran passes the kitten to chu wanning and watched his beloved's face melt in affection. madam wang and xue zhengyong preside over this little family, and xue zhengyong's fan is broadly, proudly turned to the side that says "xue is beautiful."

now you wake up.

[chaos-cousins]

Pelipper mail!

A sandwich.

It contains ice cream, whipped cream, sponge cake, meat balls, broccoli, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, rice, noodles, mac and cheese, bacon, beef jerky, dried fish, seaweed, one of every Pokemon berry, jam, olive oil, lotus, dragon fruit, ravioli, ramen, tempura, teriyaki chicken, macaroons, escargots, mint, pepper, salt, sugar, croquettes, pickles, apples, avocados, sausages, bell peppers, grapes, pizza, a donut, cheese, more cheese, even more cheese, mushrooms, mustard, olives, a fried egg, a scrambled egg, blueberries, a poached egg, chawanmushi, a red bean bun, mochi, bbq sauce, chicken nuggets, french fries, takoyaki, pancakes, mackerel, salmon, coffee beans, spinach, a tiny bit of corn cream soup, ramensanga, fettucine alfredo, a plain bagel, pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, sweet potato, yam, potato, scallions, scallops, squid, crab stick, fish balls, fish cakes, oyster sauce, silken tofu, barley, cereal, paprika, oysters, red snapper, sea bass, plums, bean sprouts, garlic, string cheese, camembert, swiss cheese, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, yogurt, brinjal, a macdonald’s happy meal (without the toy and the packaging of course), truffles, caviar, tapioca balls, fried chicken, century eggs, cake sprinkles, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, milk tea (just a tinge), coffee (also a tinge), pudding, pumpkin, honey, mutton, mashed potatoes, bananas, icelandic fermented shark that they bury in the ground for months, raisins, dried mangoes, a drop of water, jelly, nata de coco, prunes, roasted pork, rosemary, bee pollen, peas, deer meat, rabbit meat, fish maw, ham, turkey, m&ms, chub, fufu, watermelon, winter melon, rock melon, coffee jelly, cacao, carrots, blueberries, black tea, dumplings, carrot cake, beetroot, purple cabbage, corn, celery, edamame, red beans, black beans, green beans, kidney beans, cashews, peanuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, walnuts, chickpeas, almonds, daikon, MSG, tamales, anchovies, tabbouleh, lions mane mushroom, chicken of the woods, kelp, octopus, durian, kimchi, crème fraîche, popcorn, cotton candy, everything bagel seasoning, capers, pears, marinara sauce, bittercress, butter cream, every single iteration of galarian curry, sushi, sashimi, kale and a very very specific ramen bowl (without the actual bowl) from a very particular shop located in Iwatodai.

And the top and bottom buns are somehow made from 50 different kinds of bread in a checker box pattern.

What the actual fuck.

It has whipped cream on it. Disgusting.

THAT'S WHY ITS DISGUSTING????

No it's just the first thing I saw that grossed me out and you know I hate whipped cream

[ziodyne-amax]

Pelipper mail! (To kotone)

A sandwich.

It contains ice cream, whipped cream, sponge cake, meat balls, broccoli, pineapple, strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce, rice, noodles, mac and cheese, bacon, beef jerky, dried fish, seaweed, one of every Pokemon berry, jam, olive oil, lotus, dragon fruit, ravioli, ramen, tempura, teriyaki chicken, macaroons, escargots, mint, pepper, salt, sugar, croquettes, pickles, apples, avocados, sausages, bell peppers, grapes, pizza, a donut, cheese, more cheese, even more cheese, mushrooms, mustard, olives, a fried egg, a scrambled egg, blueberries, a poached egg, chawanmushi, a red bean bun, mochi, bbq sauce, chicken nuggets, french fries, takoyaki, pancakes, mackerel, salmon, coffee beans, spinach, a tiny bit of corn cream soup, ramensanga, fettucine alfredo, a plain bagel, pretzels, chocolate chip cookies, sweet potato, yam, potato, scallions, scallops, squid, crab stick, fish balls, fish cakes, oyster sauce, silken tofu, barley, cereal, paprika, oysters, red snapper, sea bass, plums, bean sprouts, garlic, string cheese, camembert, swiss cheese, mozzarella, parmesan cheese, yogurt, brinjal, a macdonald’s happy meal (without the toy and the packaging of course), truffles, caviar, tapioca balls, fried chicken, century eggs, cake sprinkles, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, milk tea (just a tinge), coffee (also a tinge), pudding, pumpkin, honey, mutton, mashed potatoes, bananas, icelandic fermented shark that they bury in the ground for months, raisins, dried mangoes, a drop of water, jelly, nata de coco, prunes, roasted pork, rosemary, bee pollen, peas, deer meat, rabbit meat, fish maw, ham, turkey, m&ms, chub, fufu, watermelon, winter melon, rock melon, coffee jelly, cacao, carrots, blueberries, black tea, dumplings, carrot cake, beetroot, purple cabbage, corn, celery, edamame, red beans, black beans, green beans, kidney beans, cashews, peanuts, pecans, sunflower seeds, walnuts, chickpeas, almonds, daikon, MSG, tamales, anchovies, tabbouleh, lions mane mushroom, chicken of the woods, kelp, octopus, durian, kimchi, crème fraîche, popcorn, cotton candy, everything bagel seasoning, capers, pears, marinara sauce, bittercress, butter cream, every single iteration of galarian curry, sushi, sashimi, kale and a very very specific ramen bowl (without the actual bowl) from a very particular shop located in Iwatodai.

And the top and bottom buns are somehow made from 50 different kinds of bread in a checker box pattern.

I’m. I’m not even sure how you managed to fit all this. This is beautiful in its monstrosity…

[curlyfries967-blog]

Made With Love

Word Count 3.0k+

Fluff and slight smut

Plot: just a beautiful night out at the Wangshu Inn with none other than Xiao

 The air was filled with hints of spices and a sweet nutty fragrance. Fresh moist green herbs are gathered by a skillful hand. Every leaf on the plant was plucked effortlessly and placed into a small bowl. The sound of gurgling pots, the whistling of a tea kettle piped through the kitchen. The fridge a small petite woman opens it and removes a ceramic bowl with a cold white jelly like substance residing in it. She placed it on the counter next to the mint she procured earlier. Her teal eyes flicker to the bubbling pots. She dashes to the stove stirring the two large pots boiling. She casually tucks a long black strand of wavy hair behind her ear, it had escaped from her messy bun. Carefully she brings a wooden spoon up to her lips, and carefully blows, so it wouldn't burn her tongue. A delightful hum escapes her after tasting the concoction she created, "Mm!" The woman with the dark long wavy hair reaches to the side of the stove towards the wooden countertop, collecting bento boxes. She poured the creamy yellow substance into the container and placed it back, obtaining another bento box and doing the same thing she did previously. This time she places both the bento boxes next to each other and adds a few lotus seeds for garnish. She seals the bento boxes and places them in a cloth bag. Next she tended towards the tea and placed them in a container holding the hot liquid. She stashes them in with the other containers holding the food she sealed. Finally, she turned around and focused her attention on the refrigerated tofu she had prepared from the other day. Ai carefully slices it and sprinkles a little bit of crushed almonds on top of it. She then adds a couple of mint leaves to make it look presentable and delicious. Finally she puts the lid on top of it. Wrapping it in a dark emerald green cloth; tying it up with a Royal purple bow. She admired her hard work. 

Today was another day she gets to spend her evening with a certain lover of hers. A very aloof individual if you will. Ai took an apprenticeship under the chef at the inn. She befriended Verr, Smiley, and the innkeeper. And with time she became well acquainted with the adaptus, too even though it took some time. Although, she must admit the first attempts of getting to know him were very difficult and challenging; as he would remain hidden when she went to go seek him. She left food out for him when she created new dishes. The bowl and plates would reappear empty while the chopsticks were placed neatly on the ware. But he was nowhere to be seen. So this exchange went on for a while. What she gathered about him was that he had a sweet tooth towards certain things she would create. And for something that had meat in it he would finish some but not all of it. 

"Ai, we're going to be late." A voice interrupts her thoughts from behind her and she immediately leaps into the air absolutely startled. When she turns she sees a familiar teal being. 

"Xiao, please don't sneak up on me!" 

The gentleman that had suddenly appeared behind her looks down at his black shoes eyebrows furrowing and immediately says, "My apologies."

 "No, no, don't apologize my Sweet. My mind was just in another space." She walks over and cups his face with a gentle hold. He nuzzled into her warm familiar touch. 

  "Are you feeling well?" his golden orbs scanned the tawny beige woman before him. His black gloved hand overlaps her touch pulling her fingers to his lips. He brushed his lips over her hand and kissed it.

 "Yes, I'm just excited about this evening. We'll finally spend some time together." She beams. He felt a pang of guilt build up in his chest; for making her feel neglected. He did try to finish up the commissions that were given to him, and return to her in time. An annoyed sigh escaped his lips and he felt his ears heat up. Looking at Ai he couldn't understand why a mortal took such a liking to him. There's other beings in this world yet she still adores him to no end. When they first met he'll admit he was very distant and disinterested. He had absolutely no reason to get involved with the likes of a mortal. During one of the missions Zhongli arrived with Xiao battered and beaten up, the enemies of course were taken care of and disposed of properly. Ai and the innkeeper rushed the men into beds. And from that point Ai took care of them both and watched over Xiao after Zhongli recovered before him. She bathed, fed,and nursed him back to health while he was under. From what Zhongli informed the warrior she had never left his side to his knowledge. That took him by surprise. 

"Let's get going." He urged. 

Ai takes a hand into her hair and unties her hair piece. A wave of dark messy hair cascaded around past her shoulders. Her gold eyes look down at her kitchen garments. "Urgh, I'm sorry I'm not presentable. I was going to change but I got carried away. " She sighs, gesturing to her project. She had a long brown skirt on that stopped at the Claves. A new white long sleeve shirt as well she wore the same uniform as the rest of the inn workers. Taking hold of the food she had warped in a cloth. 

"You're fine as you are, there's no need to worry," Xiao reassured as he held out his arms towards her. He scoped Ai up into his arms. She giggled nervously, always surprised by how effortless he made it look. To him honestly this was nothing. Ai felt his breath tickled against her cheek and ear. "Hold tight." She squeezed her eyes shut and pressed herself hard against his steady chest. Xiao chuckles lightly, noticing how small and tiny she felt to him. He crouched and then A whirl of wind and darkness swirled around them. With a THUMP. Xiao lands on the highest and thickest part of the tree of the inn. The sound of leaves gently rustling surrounded them. He carefully sets her down but holds her steadily until Ai finds her bearings. 

"Oh, wow we are really really high." She squeaked gold eyes looking straight down. The people beneath her were small and microscopic. One misstep could be the end. He noticed quickly how her face went as white as a ghost. Her knee wobbled like a newborn fawn learning to walk for the first time. This was nothing to him. He's climbed mountains conquered heights, which mankind has never seen before.  He takes the meal into one hand and still holds on to her other hand.

"I won't let you go," he promised, squeezing her death grip of a hold reassuringly, while guiding her to sit near the edge of the wooden branch. How interesting he thinks to himself that something he considered to be insignificant seems so terrifying to her. 

"Please, don't." 

"You can sit right here," he directed, Gently tugging her down as he sat himself down next to her with his gloved hand. Once she settled down she let out a shaky breath she hadn't realized she had held. However she lost her breath yet again; looking at the beautiful scene before the duo. The sky was hued pink, warm orange, and as purple crept up to consume the last remaining warm colors of the sky. The sun was returning to the west to rest behind the mountains in the distance. Cranes flew here and there. The trees rustled softly as a gentle breeze tickled by. And down below she could see the soft glow of lanterns in the distance and light chatter of the people. 

"How beautiful," she exclaimed, turning to look at the yaksha next to her with her bright golden eyes and a very warm smile. Quickly, Xiao turns away to avoid making eye contact with her. He focused his cat-like gaze on the mountains in the distance. As long as he's been with her she still made him get flustered easily. How absurd he thought to himself. The wind ruffled up his multicolored hair that framed his light colored face. It was almost as if the wind was threatening to expose his flushing features to the girl next to him. 

"Shall we eat?" Then she pointed to the meal on his left side. 

"Let's." He brings the sealed meal over and places it on his lap. He noticed the green shade that the meal was wrapped in. And carefully takes the purple bow apart. "I can't phantom how you managed to accomplish this." He comments intrigued as he unwrapped it. He hands her a container of the bento box. 

"Unlike you I enjoy cooking," she said, "I'm so thankful that you introduced me to Xiangling. You're going to love this," taking her share of the bento from the man sitting next to her. She opened her box. 

"That smells delicious," he comments practically drooling after he got hit by the wave of aroma. 

"This is Crab Roe Tofu. You're a very picky eater so I settled for something that you're familiar with." 

He scowled eyebrows furrowing together, his amber catlike eyes flickering to the container in his possession.  He didn't think so; he just didn't like to eat meat in a product of buns. The concept itself was confusing and a waste of time. But he was very appreciative towards her cooking. He took a spoon out and brought it to lips. He cautiously took a bite and immediately melted after. 

"You really out done yourself, Ai," he praised quickly, taking more bites.

"I'm glad you like it," she hums delightedly and scoops a couple bites into her mouth. The two beings watch the dusk claim the sky. Dusk then was slowly followed by the night moon and its stars glittering across the sky. Side by side they idly admired the view. Lanterns begin to be lit below them; they resembled fireflies from above the luscious tree. The warm glows they produced reflected in her eyes sparkling with awe. Ai was still startled by the height, so she scoots closer to the yaksha. Her thighs touched his, her shoulder touched his, finally she rested her head on his tattooed arm. Heat radiates from her points of contact to his cool body. He could have sworn he felt his blood boil under his skin. A sense of desire bubbles up in him. He's been away from her too long. Touch starved. His body leaned closer to her seeking for more warmth. He leans in resting his chin on her dark wavy hair. 

"I've missed you dearly, my Sweet," she sighed softly, taking his hand into her own.

"I didn't mean to be gone for too long," he mumbles under his breath , "Not a second went by where you weren't on my mind." Truth be told, he didn't like being away from Ai, period. She was only mortal; her time in this world was limited. In a blink of an eye before he realized she would probably be gone. He was afraid of being alone. So yes he did cherish his moments with her. And oddly enough he did come to understand why Zhongli enjoyed his days off looking at birds, floral, ect. It's the little things in life that matters. But being apart for two weeks is much too long to his liking.

"Did you want to try out dessert?" She asks tentatively, her voice oozing with honey, "I made it for you."

A soft smile graces his hard features distracting him from his lonesome thoughts, "Please" She feeds him his favorite, Almond Tofu. She lifts up a spoon and brings it towards his lips. Xiao absentmindedly opens his mouth and lets her feed him. His gaze never left her face. Ai felt her face heat up gradually as she fed him. Way the moon would reflect off of this porcelain skin made him look eerily handsome.  He had his moments where he would stare her down. But this was intense. Tremors gently formed in her hand as she continued to feed him. She jabs the spoon to the corner of his mouth. She gasps horrified, "I'm so sorry-"

Annoyed, he winced, thumbing the corner of his mouth and wiping it clean with his glove. There's still traces of the almond tofu in the corner of his mouth. Ai quickly places both hands on each side of his face. Pulling him close to her lips, she kissed the corner where she jabbed him with the metallic silverware. Most definitely not what he wanted. He had hoped she would kiss his lips. It was very sudden and unexpected of her; Xiao knocked the almond Tofu onto her clothes with his knee by accident. The woman lets out a defeated giggle. He was absolutely mortified and caught off guard. He swears under his breath, throwing a hand to his forehead. The warrior immediately looks around for something to help her. Laying right beside his thigh he spots the purple cloth that was used to keep the food together. He grabbed it and attempted to clean her stained skirt. Making it worse he smears it in. He hitched the outfit higher exposing her thighs bare as he balled her fabric into his fist. A cool breeze caressed her golden legs, causing her to squirm uncomfortably. He was completely dedicated to fixing the situation at hand. Delicate hands placed themselves on his rough calloused hands that were busy working, "Why don't we take a bath together?" She suggested. He blinks a few times his eyes looking at her bare legs slowly going up to the wrinkled fabric in his possession, and then up to her eyes.  The man before her wordlessly nods agreeing. 

The duo returned back to the inn room. The warrior had his own space provided for him courtesy of the inn and Liyue. When Xiao first brought Ai over she was floored at the accommodations they had provided for him. A large bed with a canopy hanging above it. Two basic nightstands accompanying each side of the mighty bed offered to him. His collection of staff that he’s acquired over time neatly organized against the wall. The amber eyed warrior used to grumble that it was a waste of space provided to him. He didn’t need rest nor shelter from the rain. He was conditioned to brave the elements which unfazed him. However, Those complaints went out the window when he was blessed multiple times with pressing Ai as much as he could into the mattress beneath them. He enjoyed watching her crumble from a lust filled high before him, pillows scattered around them in the bedroom. 

Ai waltzed to the bathroom humming a cheerful tune. The yaksha silently stalked behind her. The Bathroom looked like a magnificent nursery. Huge leaves towering over both ends of a large tub. The amount of beautiful emerald shrubbery that filled the room was breathtaking as well as refreshing. The large tub accompanied the front of the glass French doors which lead to the balcony. The night sky was alive and twinkling, begging to peak behind the glass doors. As if the stars were excited to tell the moon the secrets of the night between these two beings, you could even hear gentle chirps of cricket and low hoots of owls outside. Surrounding the tub and majority of the bathroom is nothing but an eden look alike, Vibrant and luscious plants in various sized pots. The air was filled with mint, berries, and lilies that Xiao helped Acquire for Ai while he was on his travels. If she wasn't a chef Xiao could have seen mortals mistake her for a Dendro user, maybe even an Archon. 

The bathroom counter had their clothes prepped and neatly folded on the elegant his and her sink countertop. 

“Allow me to run the bath,” he insists, moving towards the tub. The Multi colored hair gentleman is kneeling on the wooden floor, reaching out to grab the metallic handle; and with a twist of his wrist the roar of water fills the quiet space around them. 

Ai sneaks up behind him and causally warps both her arms under his own and securely around his ribcage, her hands resting on his toned clothed chest.  The Yaksha leans back into her touch his hands finding hers and lacing his gloved fingers through hers. "You are such a gentleman," She purrs gently into his ear, her lips lightly brushing against his lobe. "Can you please undress me?" Her mouth, oh so sinfully, sent a wave of heat slowly inching down from his ear to his lower abdomen. 

He's quick to twist and pivot on his feet; he sits back on the edge of the tub pulling Ai into his lap. A nervous giggle finds itself escaping from her lips, a slutry smile forms on her lips as she peers down into his beautiful whiskey eyes. Her beautiful, dark, and bouncy locks cascaded around his face like a waterfall. She straddles him, her knees resting on the edge of the tub and a delicate hand placed on his chest.  "Let me offer you some assistance," he shoots her a boyish grin. 

His gloved hands skimmed under her skirt to her bottom cupping and kneading it to his touch. His fingers move to the hem of the dress and  effortlessly succeeds in removing her garments by pulling up on the fabric. He tossed the uniform to the side of the bathroom. Her dark brown hair tousled about her shoulders hiding her skin from his view. Ai's breasts were held comfortably by her bra. His golden eyes narrowed, desiring to see all of her before him. Xiao reached over to one strap he trailed his finger down lazily tugging it torturously off her shoulder ,his eyes greedily examined her neck and collar bone. To his disappointment the purple, red, and pink lovemarks he left on her previously were faded and completely gone. He tugged the bra further down releasing a breast from a cup. He was taking much too long for Ai, a small frustrated sigh escapes her lips. She arches attempting to guide a breast into his mouth. To which he simply pressed a light little kiss on to her hardened bud of a nipple. "Xiao!" She huffs.

 "You dare rush me?" He feigns a small scowl on his lips as he growls softly, "I'm undressing you as you requested, my love."