Phoenix Song Extra: Smoking Mouse
Mu Qingfang did not regret moving to the Northern Desert. He especially did not regret the new plants he had access to to experiment with. After the stress of having to break the news to the demon emperor that Yue Qingyuan would permanently lose his mind in a decade thanks to how they had broken him, Mu Qingfang was more than happy to smoke the Catspaw Viper Mint and test its effects on himself. So far he was feeling relaxed, and with a mild desire to eat mice.
After hearing multiple whispers from demons about a strange alluring smoke coming from the strange cultivator’s laboratory Shang Qinghua decided to investigate. He wasn’t going to stop whatever Mu Qingfang was doing but he wasn’t certainly going to be nosy. He knocked on the door to the lab to alert his presence before entering the place.
Mu Qingfang straightened and gave a slow bow of his head. "Queen Shang. It is good to see you."
Shang Qinghua blinked back at him. “Are you high right now?” He came over to check out his work. “Heard a bunch of demons talking about the smoke over here.”
"Mm," Mu Qingfang hummed. "It is very pleasant. Except for the lack of mice."
That pulled a snort from him. “Mice? Do you want some?” He doubted there were any in the northern palace but he’d seen plenty plundering the abandoned parts of Cang Qiong.
"A very strong craving for them. And this," Mu Qingfang waved a finger lecturingly at Shang Qinghua, "is why we start with small doses and work our way up, instead of simply guessing."
“What can I say. I like living life on the edge.” Shang Qinghua pulled up a chair beside him. “Are you going to share?”
Mu Qingfang nodded. He carefully measured out a half teaspoon and put it in a pipe for Shang Qinghua. "Smoking only," he warned. "Crushing it creates a reaction which causes nightmares in humans."
“No snorting or eating it, got it.” He lit the pipe and took a slow drag of it. The effects felt like weed at first (or this world’s equivalent he’d made as a joke). The relaxation set in first followed later by the odd cravings.
Mu Qingfang watched Shang Qinghua with interest. "Mice?" He asked.
“Mice.” Shang Qinghua wrinkled his nose at the pipe. “Why mice.”
"I don't know yet. I wonder what it does at a higher dosage."
“Want to try?” He offered. “I can take some more for you.”
Mu Qingfang eyed his queen and smiled. "Why not? You've always been lucky."
“I’ve taken enough weird drugs I’m sure it won’t be terrible.” He passed the pipe back to him. “Fill me up.”
Mu Qingfang put in another half teaspoon. "I should take notes." Later.
“Yeah, be a good scientist.” He lit the pipe once more and took another long drag from it.
Mu Qingfang waited for it to sink in before asking. "Well?"
"Still craving mice." He took a long look at Mu Qingfang and blinked slowly. "You look comfy." He hopped off his chair and plopped himself in the man's lap instead. He made himself comfortable without a care in the world.
Mu Qingfang blinked. "Queen Shang?"
"Mm." Shang Qinghua took another hit from the pipe and rested his head on his shoulder. "You're warm," he mumbled happily.
"You just purred," Mu Qingfang noted. He shifted to hold the other more comfortably.
Shang Qinghua giggled at the thought. "Did I? 'M like a cat. Hunting mice 'nd purring. Meow." He burst into cackles and brought the pipe to his mouth once more.
Mu Qingfang laughed as well. He patted his currently very cuddly friend. "Meow."
Shang Qinghua tucked his head into Mu Qingfang's neck. "I'm still too cold. You're a nice heater."
"I would fetch you more blankets," Mu Qingfang said sympathetically. Shang Qinghua did have a slight chill to his skin, but he had ever since Mobei Jun ascended to the throne.
"My king can do that. He'll get the blankets super fast. I don't want to move." He never felt cold with the Mobei clan's magic inside of him but it made it harder for him to feel warm as well. Sinking against Mu Qingfang is like embracing a heater on a chilly day.
"Your king is very...he's better with humans than I expected."
"Hah. He had years to figure it out and still needed a phoenix to smack him with the knowledge we die easier than demons." He pulled his head out of Mu Qingfang's neck to call for Mobei Jun. Mobei Jun stepped in. He looked at the pair cuddling and growled. "My king!" Shang Qinghua's eyes lit up as he entered. "Can you get blankets, 'M super cold and he's not warm enough."
Mobei Jun frowned. This was something he could not correct. He would have to leave his queen to cling to the healer. He nodded and cut away to grab more blankets. "Are you always cold? Should I make you something to warm you up?" Mu Qingfang worried.
Shang Qinghua waved a hand dismissively. "'s not as bad as it used to be."
"I will speak with your king about making adjustments." Mobei returned and proceeded to bury the pair in blankets and furs.
Shang Qinghua broke into happy purrs as warmth enveloped both of them. He managed to wiggle one hand out and reach towards Mobei Jun.
Mobei Jun promptly burst into rumbling purrs of his own. He crossed over to scoop the pair up and move them so he could settle across. "I didn't think I qualified to cuddle a king," Mu Qingfang said absently.
Shang Qinghua pat Mu Qingfang's head. "'s ok. Just a bit of cuddling between bros."
Mu Qingfang smiled at him and decided to relax. The vibrations making it through the blankets were very hard to ignore after all. Shang Qinghua melted into the enveloping warmth. He's never freezing anymore but it's still been a long time since he indulged himself in heat like this.
Shang Qinghua's mind stayed blissfully hazy and warm while he rode out the rest of his high. He fell into a doze at some point, intermittently falling asleep and waking up until the effect wore off.
When he finally woke it was to being still delightfully buried in blankets with his king on top of him. Mu Qingfang had escaped at some point and was writing at his desk.
Shang Qinghua blinked sleepily at his king before turning his attention to Mu Qingfang. "Got the info you needed?" He called to him.
"I did," Mu Qingfang said scribbling. "I must say the heat craving was unexpected.”
"It felt more like looking for comfort than heat. I wanted to cuddle too." He threaded his hand into his king's hair and pet him. Mu Qingfang shifted and changed what he was writing. Mobei purred at his queen. "Apologies my king, I would have gone to you first if you were there." He did climb all over another man while high.
That only deepened the purring. "You called for this king." That was payment enough.
"I'll get high with you next time," he promised. His king seemed to like how cuddly and relaxed he got.
"You did not plan any assassinations or plays this time," Mobei informed him. It was unfortunate Qinghua refused to follow through on those plans.
"We don't need to assassinate anyone at this point. It wouldn't be worth it." He shrugged.
"You enjoy planning them."
"Shang Shixiong - ah, Queen Shang usually plans assassinations when high?" Mu Qingfang asked.
"Or performances," Mobei told him. He was still curious about the one with a wooden horse. He knew it had significance, but Qinghua had gotten distracted partway through.
"I feel like you're giving our mad scientist a very biased image of me." He sounds like a trigger happy queen desperate to be entertained.
Mu Qingfang chuckled. "I am aware of what you are like when high Queen Shang. Though you prefer rattling off rare plants to me."
Shang Qinghua sniffed. "I'm just giving you more information that would be useful to you."
Mu Qingfang chuckled. "I am sure I will be very grateful if I ever find the Ancient Grove of Heart's Desire and get inside."
“I could find it for you if you needed,” he grumbled.
"Mhm." He's pretty sure he remembers that plotline. It shouldn't be too hard to follow the clues.
"Are you hoping you are, ah, soulmates with your king?" Mu Qingfang asked.
Mobei Jun puffed up proudly.
The tale that only soulmates could enter that place was told. Of course, that was before the plot was altered. "It'd be nice to see if we are." It wouldn't change his feelings either way. His king is his king.
"This king will follow his queen either way," Mobei told him.
"Of course, being soulmates or not won't change anything," he assured.
Mobei Jun purred. "I'll start putting together an expedition immediately," Mu Qingfang said excitedly.
"Sounds good. I'll write down the information we have about it. Later."
Mobei scooped up Qinghua along with his many blankets.
Shang Qinghua squeaked as he was picked up. "My king?" He quickly asked.
Mobei Jun hummed and cut a portal through to their bedroom.
"Ah- bye Mu Qingfang!" He called to his friend before he was swept through.
Mu Qingfang chuckled and waved at them leaving. He had notes to take and ideas to theorize over. And it was a good distraction from the patient he had failed.
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