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]

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.