Awwwwwwww. Kisses!

Yes, it is very cute.

Also very calculated.

If she scoots forward just so and traces her hands up his back exactly like this, she can be at the best possible leverage point from which to do the next thing she has planned.

That is to say, pull him into the tub with her.

He lands with a splash and a highly undignified yelp.

She cackles.

He conjures more water over her head. A lot more.

This puts something of a damper on the cackling, but not much of one.

He sits upright, pulls her into his lap, and hugs her. "My lovely little traitor."

She's giggling, but not so much that she can't speak, now.

"I'm not a traitor!" she protests, "I didn't say I was going to de-escalate! Just that I forgive you! And I do."

"I also recall you saying that if someone didn't de-escalate we'd end up having sex in the bathtub. Shall I take that as a suggestion?"

"Um," she giggles, "you can take it as whatever you like?"

Well, then, seeing as she's already in his lap...

She has no complaints with this arrangement.

Good.

Yes, that.

"At least we're clean. Probably. Did we actually involve any soap in - that? I think we left the soap a neutral party, but I'm sort of having trouble remembering," she mumbles, a little sleepy from some combination of warm water and exertion.

"The soap did not participate. But you're not covered in blood and sweat anymore!"

"It's true, I am not. Mission somewhat accomplished. Haphazardly."

Snuggle. "Haphazardly but enjoyably."

Snuggle. "Oh, definitely. Not at all how I planned this bath to go, but I think I'm not going to complain."

"Good."

"Now. Hold still, I'm going to get us both clean, because I'll be damned if we came all of this way to only haphazardly have a bath."

He giggles.

She gets the both of them clean with remarkable efficiency, then rewards his patience with a kiss.

"Right, freedom. To put on clothes or curl up and sleep or - something."

"Or something."

Rivethira raises her eyebrows.

Serik grins.