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It had started with a dinner of pork belly and bamboo soup, it had progressed to ordering several small ceramic bottles of wine between the two of them as they both sat out at a small pagoda just outside Liyue harbour; looking over the ocean. Baizhu had insisted on having a less formal meal, something that they both contributed to. It had been of no burden to Zhongli to bring soup. It was the one dish he was quite adept at. Baizhu still hadn't revealed what he'd brought, but he did mention it was more than just the wine.
"When you first proposed this idea, I had thought perhaps you meant to meet at one of the restaurants along the main strip. I must say that i am pleasantly surprised by this turn of event. " Zhongli gently swirled the wine in his cup, gazing out at the foliage of Liyue. Paper lanterns lit the pagoda nicely enough for them to eat. Leftovers from lantern rite, Baizhu had mentioned.
"No no~ I have no interest in public dining like that. So many people who simply can't take a hint that their beloved doctor has off hours for himself, yes? " Baizhu sighed playfully, continuing "Wouldn't it just be so terribly inconvenient to be interrupted while you're telling me snippets of your vast knowledge of history and plants~?" Baizhu smiled as he popped a sliver of bamboo into his mouth, fidgeting with his chopsticks simply as something to occupy his hand.
Zhongli nodded his head in agreement, albeit apprehensive of it. "I see, separating work from life must take great lengths with how reputable you are, Doctor Baizhu. Have you perhaps considered living further from the harbour to alleviate that strain?" Zhongli hummed in thought, taking the now empty pot and wrapping it back into its cloth so it could be slung over his shoulder for the way home. Baizhu's smile faltered, and he set down his utensil and picked up the wine again.
"I am unable to live very far from Bubu pharmacy. Certainly you've heard the rumors of my weak constitution?" With a small self deprecating chuckle, Baizhu tucked green hair behind his ear as he bent down to reach under the bench to pull out a lovely lacquered box. Zhongli's interest was peaked and Baizhu's attempt at circumventing the issue was a success.
"What is it that you have brought, doctor? I find myself quite intrigued by the box itself." He kept his hands on his lap to resist reaching out to the box in Baizhu's hands. In turn, the other man smiled softly, setting the box down on the stone that they'd claimed as a table. Really, how was Zhongli lifting huge rocks like this but taking such strong medicine for pain? Baizhu would have to be fascinated by this later.
He hoped there would be a later.
"I held up my half of our joint meal and brought dessert! I will have you know i worked quite hard on this. Do you know how difficult it was too find mooncake presses at this time of year, hmm? One heard through the morning glory vines that you favor the flavor of osmanthus, yes?" Zhongli stared, waiting for what would come next.
Mooncake molds…osmanthus flavor? For whatever reason was the doctor being so…cryptic? About a dessert??
Baizhu only smiled, finally opening the box to reveal perfectly shaped osmanthus jellies, mulberries floating inside each jelly. When Zhongli inspected closer, it became obvious why they were 'shaped'.
Baizhu had gotten a hold of a rex lapis likeness design press for mooncakes.
But.. How did he settle jelly like this? Baizhu thankfully answered for him in lieu of Zhongli's lack of answer. "They're covered in tapioca skin, then steamed until the tapioca layer is translucent to reveal the jelly inside. We both appear to be in dub par health these days. Although passed on, our archon's likeness should still instill a feeling of auspiciousness and bring luck to our health so that we may continue our businesses without the turbulence of…this." Baizhu's normally sharp and calculating expression had softened, and he was already slicing into a small cake and holding out the piece on chopsticks for Zhongli to take into his mouth.
He..he wanted to feed Zhongli desert. Desert molded to look like his dragon exuvia. Baizhu had no idea who he was.
..Zhongli, no, Rex Lapis was touched. A bizarre warmth that confused and irritated him pooled like cotton spreading static in his body. Yet as politely hesitant as he was, Zhongli eventually relented and allowed the affectionate act from Baizhu, taking in the delicious taste of osmanthus and mulberry.
"Good, right? I actually thought of it while experimenting with ways to coat medication for children. Granted it would be much smaller, but a flavorless tapioca coating could help many of my patients mother's~” Baizhu chuckled, smiling with his eyes as he pulled back the chopsticks from Zhongli's mouth, repeating three process for himself this time—
Zhongli intercepted the chopsticks from Baizhu's hands, effectively returning the gesture right back to the doctor.
Lantern light did a great job at hiding the red flush that dusted Baizhu's face against his own will.
Zhongli wanted to see it again.
"Did you know, that many of the youth these days would consider the use of an eating utensil between two people as.. An indirect kiss?" Zhongli spoke softly, deeply.
Baizhu in this moment, realized one thing.
What he'd thought was merely a log drifting on the surface of a river for him to gently push about and tease with, was in fact the entire tree, looming over him and…Baizhu couldn't handle to finish the thought.
They spent the evening together, desert thoroughly enjoyed.