Qana’to’s gait becomes noticeably bouncier at the second comment. “A trade, then. We can demonstrate our respective crafts.” Under his apron a noticeable bulge has formed, though it doesn’t fully tent because of their brisk pace up the hill.

Mahao’li beams at his companion, eyes admiring the bulge he could see forming. “You flatter me, with how quickly you reacted to that suggestion. First in the spring, and now here - I hope I live up to your expectations~.”

“Yes, well—” he sputters for just a moment, before recovering himself and smiling winsomely. “Can you blame me? Handsome hunter with an intellectual streak comes gliding through my grove asking for a demonstration.”

“Not at all” Mahao’li replies, leaning in to kiss the keeper’s cheek. “I fear handsome ruunte have a similar effect on me.” His own tunic is beginning to bulge, less noticeably than Qana’to’s due to the jockstrap, but noticeable all the same.

"You know, part of the implied agreement with the city of Limsa Lominsa was that we wouldn't do anything too aggressively sexual outside of the shrine grounds. They may not have a formal proscription against public nudity but public nuisance laws do include sex on the main thoroughfares." He looks back toward the spires behind them. "You're setting us up to have some trouble with the law, Mahao'li Moui."

Mahao'li raises an eyebrow at that, regarding Qana'to incredulously. "Really, the Lominsans - renown across Aldenard for their dedication to their pirate past, have laws against outdoor sex beyond the city gates? I find that hard to believe." He shrugs, smiling at the keeper. "And besides, last I checked, kissing a companions cheek is hardly 'aggressively sexual'."

"No, but this is," he says, scooping a hand under the man's tunic to squeeze the trapped jewels and kissing him on the mouth before breaking away with a cackle and jogging up the slope. "Don't get caught with that weapon out, now!"

Mahao'li gasps at the sudden action, the noise melting into a moan against Qana'to's lips as the keeper kisses him and fondles his balls. He beams at his companion and the other jogs away, breaking into a sprint to catch up to him. "Hey! That's no fair!" he laughs, playfully tackling the other man as he got within grappling range.

He squawks in delight as the two of them collide, twisting to hook a leg around his opponent and pulling. "Stop that!" he growls, before his giggling undermines him. "You'll get my tunic dirty!" As if in prophecy, the two of them quickly totter to the side before landing softly in the grass. "Agh! It'll get grass-stains!" he continues, gleefully trying to wrestle his guest into submission.

Mahao'li laughs heartily as they tumble into the grass beside the road, working to free himself from beneath Qana'to. While Mahao'li himself was skilled, Qana'to had the height advantage, and for a few moments, neither could get the upper hand. "Stop fighting then and you won't get grass stains!" he offers playfully to his opponent, momentarily gaining and advantage and flipping their positions.

"You were the one who tackled me, thank you! You should stop fighting." Though he is largely joking, his concern about tearing his somewhat restrictively cut garment is inhibiting. He grunts in annoyance as Mahao'li squirms out of his hold, unable to follow him for fear that the seam under his armpit would tear. "You are the aggressor here!"

“I was only responding to your aggressively sexual actions, Ruunte Qana’to” he chuckles, moving to his feet and offering his companion a hand. “But we can continue this once we are back at the Bhena; I’m afraid of ruining this tunic you so kindly lent me - would be a terrible impression of me as a guest.”

"Oh, yes, that's true," he says, suddenly remembering himself and scrambling to his feet. "Hrevna'a would be very annoyed with me if I ruined two sets of clothes on a romp I could just as well have had naked." He looks up at the sky. "All the moreso if we got caught in that," he says pointing toward the dark clouds unfurling from the west. "Looks like we might get a quick shower here, shortly."

Mahao'li narrows his eyes and follows Qana'to's outstreched arm, muttering under his breath. "...a...to...li..." He turns to his partner, shrugging, and offering a half-smile. "I'm not familiar with sea storms, I'm afraid, but it's about 4 malms away by my reckoning....do you think we can outrun it?"

"Nothing for it but to try!" Qana'to says with a shrug as he starts to jog toward the ravine through which Mist sat. "I hope you weren't too excited to see the beach!" After another moment: "At least the hot springs are nice in the rain!"

Mahao’li laughs and breaks into a jog behind Qana’to, falling into place beside him as they make their way through the fields surrounding Red Rooster Stead. “You’ll just have to bring me to the beach tomorrow!” He replies, nodding in agreement with the keeper’s second statement. “And we could use a nice rest after all this running!”

"I'm going to have to apologize to Naoh'li," Qana'to noted breathlessly. "I'll have stains and sweat on this tunic now, no doubt." The heat is not nearly so bad, at the moment, as the humidity, which swaddles them as they ran down into the pass. The tight space makes the wind pick up, grabbing at their clothes and tugging them forward like an eager child. "We take a left up ahead and then head more-or-less straight," he adds helpfully, lest his companion have forgotten.

“Well, at least sweat and dirt are easy to wash out - it would be child’s play after the mess of armour I left to have cleaned.” Mahao’li giggles. “And thank you, ruunte Qana’to - I’ll make sure not to get lost.” 

"Oh, yeah, that was pretty gross," Qana'to agrees with a small laugh. "They had to clean it outside, around the back, lest it ruin the atmosphere inside the shrine. Poor Cehn'to looked practically ill after he was done with it. You may owe him a favor after that."

Mahao’li has the good sense to blush and look away sheepishly as the pair round the bend into the Mist. “I would have done so myself, had Rhaefi’a not been so eager to welcome me.” He turns and smiles at Qana’to. “I would gladly repay the favour to Cehn’to, whenever he wishes.”

"Having seen how you worked on Rhaefi'a," Qana'to says with a small smile, "I think you will have no issue evening those scales."

Mahao’li grins, his cheeks reddening slightly, as he flicks his ears in approval. “Back to the praise! You really do flatter me, ruunte Qana’to.” 

"Hardly!" Qana'to chuckled. "I just know what Cehn'to needs, and since Hrevna'a has been busy of late, he'll definitely have some excitement to spare for you little tricks. Provided I don't beat you to him..." he adds slyly. "You had me more than a little ready out in the field, after all."

“Oh, I noticed” he replies demurely, winking at Qana’to as they slowed to a trot. “Could feel you pressing into my abs the entire time we were wresting.” He quickly gazes around before stepping closer to the other man, and slipping his hand beneath his tunic to fondle him. “Which does remind me, I neglected to properly greet you, in the spring as I was when you joined me.” He murmurs, as he presses his lips to Qana’to’s cheek.

"You couldn't give us fifteen more seconds to get to the shrine grounds where you can do that freely?" Qana'to asks rhetorically, laughing and returning the kiss. "They're all yours once you're past that gate but we have to try not to scandalize the city folk."