Celebratory Dinner

[jiangzaid]

WHO: Xue Yang, Song Lan, Xiao Xingchen, Lan Wangji, Wei Wuxian
WHEN: January 30, evening
WHAT: Xue Yang's celebrating being in Gazin for a year with his family! And...extended family that he knows about. Something of a mingle!
WHERE: His house at the edge of Gazin
WARNINGS: Shouldn't be any but will update as needed!


Prep time!
Xue Yang has barely been aware of the passage of time, it's true. And he's not entirely sure when he first arrived, only that it looks around this time. And so much has happened! He knows he's amusing his Daozhangs with his extra energy, but he only grins and keeps going. So much to cook! So much to bake!

Including a couple vegetarian options, with a thought to the rumored diet of the GusuLan, that they do not eat meat. Not that it's difficult, for Xingchen rarely does too - he thinks. He doesn't mind making sure everyone will have something to eat. There are mild flavored dishes and spicy ones, as well as a stew. And of course there is a tasty fruit tart that mingles sweet and tart, as well as an assortment of candies - sweet, tart, or with a nice kick of spice.


General bouncing around
In between prep sessions, Xue Yang is working on making sure the cabin and immediate surroundings are clean and tidy, and the horses are tucked away, cozy in their stable with plenty of hay, oats, and fresh water that is in a trough magicked to not freeze courtesy of Merlan. He'd sent a messenger the day before to invite his Senior and Hanguang-Jun - Lan Sizhui would have been invited too if he knew the boy was in Gazin.

And there's a nice fire roaring away, keeping the cabin nice and toasty. There's no sign of Jiangzai, or any weapon at all on the gremlin, and there are pretty little decorations scattered here and there, arranged just so to not appear cluttered. But to personalize the warm home he and Song Lan have made for the three of them.

Comments

[cantseeyoursin]

He picks up a piece of apple as well and takes a bite of it, "I wouldn't want to ruin my appetite and see any of the food you are working so hard on, go to waste."

But he will enjoy this one slice of apple before continuing on with his own task. He still has quite a few things laid out for him to work on.

"Is everything else progressing well?"

[jiangzaid]

Xingchen can't see the soft look Xue Yang throws his way at those words, but it's there. It's there in the quiet moment, how he even moves. Xingchen and Zichen are two precious people who can settle Xue Yang right down.

"Yes! I checked on the horses this morning, we should do that again just before dinner though. Other than the last bit of cooking and baking the tart, we just have the table to set up."

Not alone. None of them are, even in this strange world.

[cantseeyoursin]

Xingchen feel the next item in his hand and begins to chop, just as careful and with as much attention as he gives to everything he does. Even a small job like cutting vegetables is important and must be done with care, particularly since he has to rely on his hand to be able to tell what he is doing.

"Should I set the table?" There is clearly teasing again in his voice, knowing that any table that he places items are is going to be done quite haphazardly. He might be able to line up the plates and things based on the placement of the chairs but it would be a slow process to make it look good.

[jiangzaid]

He grins at that added tease, loving getting to see the playful side of his A-Chen shine so bright. And he has no doubt Xingchen could manage a decent setting of the table. It would just take time.

"I'm sure the horses would love to see you when you're done with cutting, I can set the table up and make sure nothing will trip you up."

Though there might be something else Xingchen can do...closer to when they can expect their guests. "Merlan set up that spell to tell you when a part of the stove is on, right? So you can make tea for us all in a little bit! That'll be a nice welcome for Senior and Hanguang-Jun, don't you think?"

[cantseeyoursin]

"I will take out one of the apples as a treat for them as well." If they are celebrating then the horses should be a part of it.

He listens to what Xue Yang says about his next task and then nods. That is certainly something he can handle. It might not seem like much but Xingchen does know how to make tea and now that there is a little bit of a safety net included with the stove, he is able to use it fairly well.

"Alright. Once done with the horses I can do that." He is happy to take on any task that will help to make sure Xue Yang's evening goes nicely.

[jiangzaid]

Can he love this man even more? "You're so sweet, A-Chen! This is why they love you!"

Xue Yang doesn't care what Xingchen does, but he can make suggestions on things that should be done that are easier for the blind man to do and still be helpful. He knows what it is to be idle and feel useless, and he does not want Xingchen to feel useless or a burden.

He adjusts a chair before returning to the kitchen and presses a kiss to Xingchen's cheek again - he can't always help himself! "Thank you," he murmurs softly. "I'm really happy you're here." But then he's moving away to gather up the table settings for five, not just their happy three.

[cantseeyoursin]

He smiles and begins cutting up the apple for the horses now that the ones for them are done. "I'm glad I get to celebrate with you." It is good to have something to celebrate when there has been so little of that in his lifetime as of late. There has been more in the two months he has been here then he has experienced in years back home. It is easy to feel at east when there is so much happiness to be had.

He hears him collecting the plates and wraps the apple up in a towel to make it easier to transport outside and then goes to collect his boots and something warmer for going outside in the cold.

[jiangzaid]

There's been more joy and happiness in the last year than Xue Yang can remember. He has two wonderful men he loves. Even got married and built an actual house! And a good job, that doesn't strike terror in his Daozhangs' hearts at the prospect of him getting hurt, with an employer who cares and does what she can to help and make their lives easier.

He watches to make sure Xingchen bundles up for going outside, then returns to his latest task and sets the table as best he knows how. He wasn't raised in a sect. Everything he's learned has been through observation, or from Zichen's careful instruction. He knows just having one table for multiple people isn't like what they have back home, but he likes this better. It feels much more cozy!

[cantseeyoursin]

Xingchen collects the apple and heads towards the door, "I'll return shortly." At least he will be out of Xue Yang's way in case there are other things he needs to do and still be useful himself.

He shuts the door behind him and makes his way to where the horses are kept, having gotten well acquainted with the directions he has to go by now. The first thing he did was figure out his way around the house and surrounding areas.

He makes sure all the horses have everything they need for the rest of the night and then reveals their treat. He keeps the apple on the palm of his hand as he feeds each horse a few pieces of the cut apple. They seem to enjoy the treat and he wipes his hands clean with the towel before making sure they are locked in and safe for the evening.

He then makes his way back towards the house, stepping into it and shivering from the temperature change between the outdoors and inside. "They are content."

[jiangzaid]

"I'll be here," he chirps playfully. Once the table is set, he returns to the kitchen to use the time alone to get the last dish cooking - with the vegetables Xingchen had chopped up, and the fruit tart made and in the oven.

Xue Yang wipes off the flour he'd managed to get dusted with, and is chuckling at himself when Xingchen comes back inside. He catches sight of that shiver and moves to Xingchen's side to coax him over to the fire to warm up.

"Good! There's time for you to warm up, and the last couple dishes are cooking away anyway." A thought makes him grin then. "Did they tickle your fingers, nibbling on the treats?"

[cantseeyoursin]

"More like slobbered on them." He says in amusement as he holds up the towel he used to wipe his hands clean after carrying the apple in it. He had been careful to not let his fingers get too close to teeth that wouldn't know the difference between them and a carrot. But they still suffered the consequences of very messy eaters.

The fire is a good treat for himself though to chase away some of the remaining chill that tries to clutch to his bones. "You can really smell the food cooking once you leave the house and then return to it. It smells very good."

Once doesn't always notice when they are in the middle of it and cooking through the whole process. But it is definitely noticeable the minute one walks away and comes back.

[jiangzaid]

His grin turns to a chuckle as he makes a great show of checking each finger, as if afraid one has been nibbled off! But also to help warm them back up by following up the check over with rubbing each hand between his palms.

The grin softens to a smile as he listens to Xingchen talk about how good the food smells, especially after coming back in from being outside. He could listen to this man talk for hours, just soaking up the peace of his presence.

"I hope it tastes as good as it all smells."

[cantseeyoursin]

"I'm sure it will." After all the care and time that xue Yang has put into the cooking, Xingchen is sure that the meal will be delicious and he won't say anything but that once they are eating.

He lets him assist in regaining the heat in his fingers and then closes his fingers around the other man's hand to hold it. "I'm not once again being a distraction am I?" He believes that the dinner is almost done and that it isn't quite his time to put on the tea but he can't help but make sure that he isn't the reason Xue Yang might be neglecting something else.

[jiangzaid]

Because Xingchen is a precious and pure man.

Xue Yang beams as Xingchen holds his hand, and he happily threads their fingers together. "No, A-Chen. I don't need to stand over the stove right now. We can just sit here for a few minutes."

But also because of the reason behind the celebration. Family. Even if Xingchen doesn't remember the previous times, Xue Yang has enough memories for both of them.

[cantseeyoursin]

He nods and settles, relaxing a little to let the fire warm him. "You deserve to take a little break since you've been working so hard." If there is no more reason for him to push himself then he might as well sit and enjoy a little bit of the day. Although he doesn't sense any displeasure about having to do all of this cooking.

"Relax now so that you can be rested for when the rest of the guests arrive." And start the bustle of activity anew.