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[scorpionsect]

Who: Xie'er, Sizhui, and anyone else.
Where: Art, kitchens, or gardens
When: After the memory event June 7th.
What: Xie'er working on turning his shell findings into jewlry in the arts and crafts. Or he could be found in the gardens or in the kitchen cooking.
Warnings: PG13 at best for now. Can update when necessary.


Now that they were back, Xie'er was back to his regular routine, which was chores, practicing his martial arts, his pipa, and learning the guqin. He was also spending more time in the gardens and trying to get used to how everything operated in the kitchens. For now he was in the arts wagon attending to the shells he had gathered from the beach. He wanted to turn them into beads and possible a bracelet or two. He missed his the jewlry he used to have so this would have to do. He hated all this downtime, but at leat it was something to distract himself with. The memories he had shared still weighed heavily on him. In ways he was glad that LO didn't seem to judge him for what he had done or what he was. Most would have. The fact she accepted him for it helped to a degree. He was glad in ways she was the person who got his memories and not someone who may not have recieved them well. Instead of dwealling on them and the questions his mind kept churning, Xie'er focused on braiding the colorful cord he found instead.

Comments

arts and crafts;

[deferences]

It's been a while since Sizhui's visited the art carriage and, with all his chores finished, food prepped and ready for later, and whatever else taken care of, he finds he's missing taking some time to fold together origami like he used to do. (Goodness, actually, he cannot even recall the last time he did any? Hmmm. Was it when he'd made the glowing dragons with Jingyi? Wait, no, the tiny foxes that he'd left for the fox-souled Wei Wuxian—)

Either way, it has been too long, and it's time he remedied this.

So, with his kitten in tow, he heads toward the car, gathering all his hair up and tying it atop his head in a messy bun; something to keep it out of the way while he's working and the ribbon ends can hang down enough for the little kitty-cat to play with if she gets bored. Once he reaches his destination, Sizhui slides the door aside, steps in, secures it behind himself again then spares a glance around, his expression brightening whenever he sees someone he recognizes. “Ah, Xie-gongzi, hello!” Then he heads in Xie'er's direction, one hand lifted in greeting, the other raised to pet the kitten perched on his shoulder. “What are you up to?”

Re: arts and crafts;

[scorpionsect]

Xie'er couldn't help but smile as he looked up to greet the familiar voice. Sizhui was becoming a regular friend that he enjoyed being around. Could he be considered a friend? He wasn't sure. The only person who he felt he could claim was his friend was Du Pasa. They had been friends since they were kids and he could trust her with anything. He would like Sizhui to be that way. The challenge would be if he were to learn of what Xie'er had done in the past.

"I'm taking the shells I found on the beach and making a braclet out of them. I've never seen anything like them before." Xie'er replied as he held up a shell for Sizhui to see.

"Who is your little friend?" he asked indicating the kitten.

[deferences]

Luckily for Xie'er, it doesn't take much to befriend Sizhui, and he's more than fine with being called his friend, although Sizhui's also likely to admit they're still getting to know each other. Knowing someone for as long as Xie'er has known Du Pusa, it makes sense he'd trust her, but given enough time and interaction, Sizhui could prove he's trustworthy, almost without even trying, to be honest. He's such a kind, softhearted boy, it's hard to not put confidence in him, especially when he tries so desperately to not judge others before having the whole story.

He could at least allow Xie'er that, in particular because he's proven that he isn't necessarily a bad person.

“That's a great idea! Some cute handmade jewelry, what a nice reminder of the visit.” Sizhui wastes no time moving closer, examining the delicate seashell Xie'er's holding for a moment, then he casts his attention toward the cat who's begun purring louder at the sight of someone new to introduce herself to. “This is Hui and she's a glutton for attention, so I hope you're prepared for her to invade your space as soon as she's allowed.”

[scorpionsect]

Xie'er gave a nod and allowed for Sizhui to examine the shells. "If you want one you're more then welcome to have one!" He had more the enough.

"She's a beautiful kitten!" He tentatively reached out to pet the cat. He didn't have much experience with animals in general, let alone one so small. He did enjoy playing with the rabbits after practicing the guqin.

"How were you able to get her?"

[deferences]

“Gosh, that's very kind of you, but I'm not even sure which one I'd take...” They all look lovely, even though his eyes, as always, are drawn to things that are shades of blue and-slash-or white.

Hui, given the go-ahead with just some simple pets, instantly leans into Xie'er's hand and silently pleads for more affection, her whole little body vibrating with how loud she's purring. Despite the somewhat awkward positioning, Sizhui dips a bit closer then half-crouches to let the kitten rise up, ignoring the tiny claws latching into his shoulder to instead regard the shells again.

He does answer, however, “My father got her for me on my birthday some months back,” all while gently drifting his fingertips over a pretty abalone shell.

[scorpionsect]

"You can take a few. It doesn't just have to be one." Xie'er responded, pleased to share his findings with someone. He gently placed the abalone shell into Sizhui's hands as he spoke noting that he favored that particular shell.

"She is certainly beautiful kitten." Encouraged by her purring he petted her some more with his one free hand. "Certainly nice of your father."

It had been a long time since Xie'er had acknowledged his own birthday or shared with anyone his birthday was. Du Pasa was the only one who knew and she would often give him a small gift. He had always done the same in return for hers.

Yifu never acknowledged Xie'er's. Yet, Xie'er made sure that Yifu's birthdays were grand celebrations. In ways he was enveyous of Sizhui's bond with his father.

[deferences]

“Oh,” comes through a soft, emphatic little whisper as Xie'er places the shell into his hand. Sizhui gingerly closes his fingers around it, beaming outright, another, more excited-sounding noise escaping him this time as he tucks the shell away into his robes for now. “Thank you, I'll take good care of them.” Then he selects a single blue shell and a white one, both of those going right in with the other Xie'er had already gifted him.

“Shhh, you'll stroke her ego,” he's teasing, but Hui takes it as an invitation, toddling off Sizhui's shoulders and onto the table, her tiny nose snuffling around the shells. “It was. I did ask for a pet, to be fair, but he's the one who was kind enough to ask the train.”

Something is absolutely better than nothing, so it's nice they were amicable enough for him to get a birthday gift from her—

But yeesh, Xie'er's yifu could've celebrated his birthday too? It's one day a year where someone should be treated extra nicely, especially in Sizhui's opinion. So, if he were to ever find out, it can be assumed he'd make absolute certain Xie'er at least got a gift and perhaps cake or whatever other desserts he may like while aboard the train.

[scorpionsect]

Xie'er grinned, pleased to see Sizhui happy. He continued to pet and scratch the kitten now that he had her full attention. She was such a cutie. He then took some loose cord and began to move it around for her to play with.

"She certainly does love attention. She's always welcome to visit me. It was still very thoughtful of your father. You are lucky to have a strong bond with him. What do you think you'll make with the shells?"

[deferences]

With his balance restraightened, Sizhui waits until Hui has moved closer to Xie'er then raises both arms, settles them onto the table's edge and holds himself steadily in his half-crouched position. This way, he can still look at both of them while Xie'er's playing with Hui and the kitten can climb back onto his shoulders whenever she's ready.

“There's no mistaking that,” he affirms. “I'll make sure to bring her to visit here and there whenever I see you.” Does he sense a hint of jealousy? If he does, Sizhui's keeping it to himself, focusing instead on the shells more rather than any unspoken enviousness. “It was, yes, and I remind myself quite often how lucky I am to see a side of him that no one else really does.” Okay, maybe a little focus there, but. “I'm not sure yet! Perhaps... a bracelet? Or a necklace? Some sort of token would be interesting too.” A beat, his head tilting with contemplation before he asks, “Do you have any suggestions?”

[scorpionsect]

"Bracelets are nice as are necklaces. I also was thinking of using them as beads for my hair too. Does your sect allow you to decorate your hair? I recall from reading your book there's alot of rules in regards to how you dress." Xie'er stated and stopped a moment to think.

He allowed Hui to claim the cord as hers. "Or maybe you can add an ornament for your sword? It would be a shame to have to keep it hidden."

[deferences]

“Beads for your hair would be lovely! We're not supposed to wear overly ostentatious jewelry, but surely something with a seashell or two wouldn't be too much.” His turn to pause, although Sizhui's rather quick to follow up on asking, “What book of mine have you read now?”

Oh, and claim it she does! The kitten tucks both front paws around the bundle, tugs it close and begins kicking with her back legs, clearly doing her best to murder the evil attacking cord. “I could use the smaller shells for hair ornaments and maybe put the bigger one on my sword, yes? I really like both of those ideas.”

[scorpionsect]

"That is good to know. I know in my sect they weren't as strict, especially if you had a higher status." Xie'er stated and chuckled at the kittens antics. The cord was now hers to keep.

"As for the book, your father loaned me a copy of the rule book so that I could learn what's proper."

Xie'er couldn't help but smile, pleased that Sizhui liked his suggestions.

[deferences]

“Well, I'm sure if your status is high enough, there aren't many people that could tell you what to do, let alone what you're allowed to wear in your hair.” Sizhui shifts an arm, reaching back into his robes to remove the abalone shell so he can admire it again while Hui continues fighting. She loosens some of the cord at one end, lets out a fearsome, sonorous war-cry – which is really just a high-pitched mewl – and kicks the offending strings away.

The kitten wastes no time hopping up though, trotting over to the defeated, somewhat tangled bunch then plopping down to sit beside it, her head lifted toward Xie'er in triumph like see? didn't I do great!? And yes, she's waiting for victory pets.

“Okay, I understand what you mean now. I thought maybe—” he hesitates, considering, head shaking a few moments after at such a silly thought. “Ah, nevermind, it doesn't matter! Tell me, what have you learned from the book so far?”