Who: Kreia and Mulan What: Meetings and tea! When: 12/4 Where: Granny's Rating/Warning: PG Status: Complete
A few new places had opened since Kreia had been in Orange County last, one of which was called Granny’s. While the name was rather silly, she’d found one thing about it that was simply marvellous - a real, honest-to-goodness, strong cup of good English tea.
She’d come in perhaps a little too close to lunch this time, though - the place was nearly full to capacity. Only a few seats at the counter were available. Kreia, being one to never let creaking bones get the best of her, walked over and eyed one of the seats. “Excuse me,” she said to the young woman sitting in the next one. “Is this chair available?”
The tea was magnificent, even Mulan would agree. She looked up from a book and gave the older woman a smile. “Sure, I don’t mind.” Her accent was slight, but it was there. Aurora wasn’t in yet and she needed an excuse to hang around longer.
God that sounded creepy in her own head.
“Thank you.” Kreia eased onto the chair, wincing imperceptibly as her back ached. “I clearly came at the wrong time.” The young woman sounded foreign somehow, and she was curious. “If you’ll pardon my curiosity, would you happen to be of Chinese descent?” Talk about a tea savant culture, if so.
“Yes, though I grew up in London,” she replied, smiling. Double the tea savant, if you really thought about it. “I can recommend something if you want.” She gestured at the menu. “I eat here often.”
“I did, too, actually. Forgive the rudeness. I was merely curious. Your accent is not that of a Californian.” Kreia replied. “I would be curious as to a recommendation, yes, if you don’t object. I’ve been sticking with Earl Grey, but perhaps I will be adventurous.”
“I’m fond of the green tea, and the chai is actually really good too. They have a holiday tea I tried yesterday, but it was too sweet.” She took a sip of hers, sitting there like she didn’t quite belong. Mulan found it hard to relax, but she hadn’t really, not in years.
“Too sweet is just unacceptable.” Kreia shook her head. “I suppose it’s part and parcel of a place called ‘Granny’s’ - but I suppose I ought not to complain. I could brave the British winter if I had a mind to.” She managed a faint smile. “I am Kreia, by the way. Please forgive my poor manners.”
“It’s the house tea. It’s good, but if I wanted sweet tea I’d go south.” She wondered if the joke was in poor taste and winced. “I’m Mulan. After six years in the desert the British winter was welcome, but I’m going to enjoy the sun again, I think.”
“It’s nice to meet you.” Kreia inclined her head. “The desert is not an hospitable place. Did you live there?”
“In a manner of speaking.” She lifted her head again, modest but not entirely without pride. “I was a sergeant in the Royal Army and spent most of my military career in the Middle East.”
“I am most grateful for your service.” Kreia said seriously. She’d had many soldiers in her family, and she’d had friends die in what seemed like every armed conflict. She had a healthy respect for the military. Well, most of it.
“Thank you, but I was just doing what was asked of me.” She wasn’t quick to change the subject but she wasn’t keen to stay on it, either. She’d lost a couple of friends there and her injuries had ended her career. “It was an interesting adjustment.”
“I’m certain.” Her body language betrayed a disinclination to discuss it, so Kreia simply didn’t. “What brings you here? I spend my winters here every year.”
“My brother is taking classes at one of the universities. He needed someone to look after him and I wanted to get away from London for awhile. Just close enough to look after him but far enough away that we don’t drive each other batty by proximity.”
“That seems very logical.” Kreia broke off to order the green tea, figuring it would at least be polite to try her recommendation. “I have no siblings, but I have people for whom I care. And I remain convinced that we would kill each other if we spent too long in proximity.”
Mulan smiled a little wryly. “Family. You love them but sometimes you just want to slap them silly. Our parents especially can be very trying.”
“My parents are long since deceased, but I was the family provider for some years after the War.” Only one war, for people of Kreia’s age. “It certainly created an interesting dynamic.” They’d been homeless for years after the Blitz; Kreia had been the only one who could find a job.
She nodded her head. While she wasn’t the provider, she was still the source of the family’s honor. Even if she didn’t think that she deserved that honor. “War of any sort is terrible.”
“Agreed. And many nowadays have no idea.” Kreia sighed. “It upsets me terribly to see such disrespect - most young people don’t even seem to know what Remembrance Day is.”
“Or if they do, they don’t really understand it.” Mulan shook her head. It could upset her if she let it, but she wouldn’t. There was no point in that. Wasted energy.
“It’s quite a pity. But I am obviously pleased that there are young people who understand. Are your parents nearby, or back in London?”
“They’re still in London, else I would probably be trying to convince them I don’t want to date the nice young lady they want to introduce me to.” She’d hoped that telling them she was gay would have completely ended them trying to marry her off. She’d been wrong.
Kreia had never had a problem with homosexuals, unlike many of her generation. “Parents mean well, but I imagine it grows intolerable. My sympathies; they only want to see you secure, I’m sure.”
Mulan only then realized she’d outed herself without really thinking about it. She didn’t duck her head or look away though. She wouldn’t run from who she was. “I know. Just makes it a little harder to turn someone down.”
“Nonetheless, I am sure it remains possible, for someone with your obvious strength.” It was a compliment, definitely; soldiers and military personnel were definitely not soft people.
She nodded. “I’d never met anyone who felt right before, so it wasn’t fair to them to pretend.”
“Certainly not. Truth should come before anything else.” Kreia said. “My parents were very displeased when I came to them and told them I was moving to a sheep farm in Scotland, but I did it anyway.” She couldn’t help but smile, remembering those days.
“Were you happy?” Mulan shook her head, “Or fulfilled, I mean. One doesn’t have to be happy to be fulfilled.” She had planned on being fulfilled, herself. Happiness had never entered the equation.
“I was very happy. But not fulfilled.” At least not in any way other than sexually, but of all things not to talk about with a strange woman. “I found my place a bit later on.” Kreia inclined her head.
If Mulan had been fulfilled sexually she didn’t talk about it with anyone. “I think that’s more important. Most important, even. Finding your place. I feel like I’ve always been searching.”
“Well, I know it took me some time. Unfortunately, my dear, I am very old.” Kreia was never shy about admitting that. It had been a life well lived.
“You don’t seem that old,” Mulan assured her, and she sounded one-hundred percent sincere. “Though you sound like you have the experience.”
“I am seventy-two years old. I’m sure by the standards of most of your generation, I ought to have one foot in the grave.” Kreia said, not without amusement.
“Or both, if you ask the right person,” Mulan joked, thinking it was okay to.
From someone like this, a decorated soldier, she’d take it. “It’s true. I still have a few years left, though, I think.” Her tea arrived, and Kreia took a cautious sip. “That’s rather pleasant, I must say.”
Mulan’s smile warmed a little bit. “I’m glad I have good taste. I was a bit worried you wouldn’t agree with it. Which wouldn’t usually get to me but I like this place a lot.”
“In all honesty, the decor is not at all pleasing to me, but everything else works to make it rather cozy.” Kreia allowed a small smile to appear as well. “Did you happen to stumble in here, or was it recommended to you?”
“A little of both. I saw some talk about it and I was trying to get a feel for the area. Came in, and the food was good and the wait staff really...friendly.” She shrugged casually. “I kind of started coming more often.”
It didn’t take a brilliant person to guess why. “Is there someone here who catches your eye? I certainly hope it works out.” Kreia wouldn’t mock the woman, but there was likely no need to further discuss it, unless she wanted to.
“Your confidence is higher than mine.” It was all Mulan would acknowledge right now. Dissembling would serve her no good. Kreia reminded her a bit of a General back in the Army. You didn’t get away with lying to the General.
“If you find some it may serve you well. If I can say so without being improper.” Kreia smiled faintly. “One is continually re-evaluating the feasibility of one’s goals, I find. It may appear impossible today, but easy tomorrow.”
“Perhaps. I just try not to appear too desperate.” Or creepy, but she mostly just wanted to get to know Aurora better. And protect her. There were protective feelings that came from no place she understood.
“Always a good idea.” Kreia finished her tea. “But I have always believed in hard work and perseverance, is all. With perseverance and luck, you will succeed in capturing her eye.” Whomever it might be.
“Thank you.” It was good advice, and the kind of advice Mulan liked to hear. Maybe she’d follow it, it all really depended on if she saw even a chance. It didn’t look too likely.
It was time to be off. Kreia left enough to pay for her food and drink, plus an appropriate tip - 20% at least; the American laws about this sort of thing were asinine. “I shouldn’t keep you any longer, but it has been a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I wish you luck.”
“It was nice to meet you too,” she replied, picking her tea up again. She hoped Aurora would be in soon, she couldn’t stay here forever and she at least wanted to see the woman’s smile.