WHO: Jiang Yanli and Jin Ling WHAT: Mother and son have soup, chat, and make weekend adventure plans. WHEN: End of last week WARNINGS: None STATUS: Complete
Yanli had felt very lucky lately. Discounting all of the odd events that just seemed to be what made Vallo Vallo, she knew that she had been very fortunate in the year that she had been in the strange world. She was alive, for one thing, though she hadn't known right away just how lucky she was for that. She had both her brothers and, with some time, they had all returned to some semblance of the family she remembered. She had old friends and new, experiences unlike any she could have imagined, and had come to appreciate baking, on top of her other culinary skills.
Most important, though, were the children she had gotten to meet--one of which was sitting right across from her as Yanli finished unpacking the lunch she had prepared for him.
Yanli hadn't wanted to overwhelm Jin Ling, but she also knew that it was likely impossible for her not to. She had tried to give him whatever he needed, her main priority after his arrival making him feel as comfortable as she possibly could. It was hard, at times, when all she wanted to do was look at him, to appreciate the bits and pieces in his facial features that reminded her of different family members in his ancestry, to observe parts of his personality and determine whose influence went where. She loved him so very much, but there was so much she didn't know, that she had missed out on.
That, of course, led Yanli down a series of thoughts she tried not to linger on for too long. Instead, she focused on the soup she had prepared and the cookies to go with it, having asked Jin Ling to have lunch with her in the hopes to just chat. Food, she had felt from a very young age, was a good way to bring anyone together--she had to think that, given the younger brothers she'd grown up with.
"Thank you for joining me," Yanli said, polite as always. It would almost seem stiff, were it not for the warm, inviting smile she gave him. "It's good to spend time with you."
Jin Ling had been spending every free moment with his mother since he arrived, which was funny because he didn't want to overwhelm her either. Their first meeting had been mostly crying and hugging and less conversation, but it was a great start. He'd grown to accept that this WASN'T a dream and that made it all the more important to him that he catch up on so many missed opportunities with her.
He had set his father's sword beside him as he knelt by the table to enjoy this visit - his mother's soup was already legendary, after all. He smiled brightly at her and nodded enthusiastically at her greeting.
"I am happy to be here, mother," he noted, tipping his head in a polite bow. "I would never turn down an invitation, you have my word."
Yanli's smile only brightened at that, beaming as she looked up from finishing serving out the soup. As she settled herself down, she let herself bask in how warm her heart felt in the moment before replying, "I have no doubt of that. It means a great deal to me."
And it did, for more reasons than she thought she could express. Family meant so very much to Yanli and she had been looking forward to having one of her own someday. This was different than expected, as so many things were in Vallo, but she was going to treasure it with every part of her.
"Now," she said, motioning for Jin Ling to start eating, if he wanted, "tell me. Are you settling in well? Is there anything you're needing to be at your most comfortable?"
It didn't take much direction to encourage Jin Ling to start in on the soup, enjoying the flavors and texture immediately. If he were less reserved, he might even be tempted to just pick it up and pour it directly into his mouth. Then he realized that was probably what Wei Wuxian would probably do, so he made sure that he didn't - even if he knew that his uncle had a good heart and was misunderstood for most of his life. But still, good heart or no, he knew his uncle was still a troublemaker.
He smiled up at his mother and gave a soft nod. "I am, and I have everything I need right here. What about you? Family is important, I should make sure you are the comfortable one!" Jin Ling's eagerness to prove to his mother that he had grown up with the fortitude his parents had had was evident in his expressions.
That warmth fluttered in her heart once more, a contentment that Yanli had only previously felt when around her brothers or when Rina had visited the past. Knowing that her son cared enough to look after her own comfort, well--it was very sweet and she felt more fortunate than she knew she deserved.
"I'm very comfortable," she admitted with a smile after taking a sip of her own soup. Yanli made a mental note to herself that the next time she prepared this particular recipe, she might adjust some of the seasonings, just as an experiment. "I appreciate you asking, however. Now that you're here, though, I think that I am the more settled than ever before." Yanli gave him another bright smile. "I am," she continued, "so glad that you're here, in case that wasn't very clear."
Jin Ling was obviously pleased to hear that her comfort was improved just by his presence. He'd had so many dreams of meals with his parents, just going off of their portraits. But this was so much more real. Maybe father would show up at some point, too. Anything felt possible in a place like this. He shifted a bit just out of excited energy and continued smiling happily as he had more soup.
"Did you know that Uncle Cheng is asking Fairy to help cure Wei Wuxian of his fear of dogs? Do you think it will work? Fairy is the best dog, I know, but I worry that even the best dog might not help."
Yanli's eyebrows rose at that bit of news. She had to agree--if ever there was a dog that might be able to help Wei Wuxian with his fear of dogs, Fairy was one to do it. Fairy was very sweet, but she also knew, and understood, how deep that fear ran for her brother. It made her happy to hear that he was trying to overcome it and that he had sought out help from Jiang Cheng to do so.
How different things were now than they had been from the point Yanli last remembered back home. How good they were.
"I didn't know that," Yanli admitted, setting her spoon down for the moment. "I think that it might take time, but if Wei Wuxian is willing to try, that makes me think that there is a good chance of it. And," she smiled, a bit conspiratorial, "if anything, I think Fairy is up to the task."
"I think so, too. It's Wei Wuxian, though, and I know he's very stubborn, regardless of who is trying to help." Jin Ling smiled softly - he loved his uncles, even if it took him some time to forgive Wei Wuxian and Wen Ning. It still hurt that it was another uncle that he had trusted and cared deeply for that had been responsible for everything that had happened to him. He was with his mother now, though, so he shook those thoughts out of his head.
"Still, I hope that it all works out. I don't like having to keep Fairy away when we are in company." Smiling, he lifted some pork rib from his soup to chew on for a moment. He briefly wondered if he got his sense of adventure from his mother or his father. From most reports, they had both seemed rather down to earth and happy to stay in one place. Maybe he could invite her somewhere interesting? He'd been wanting to brave the forest.
He wasn't wrong and Yanli knew it; Wei Wuxian could be stubborn when he wanted to, but he also had a very big heart. Though she couldn't know the root of the motivations, if they were so he could be around Fairy without panicking or just wanted to try to test his boundaries in a safe way, Yanli was proud of her brother for at least giving it a try. She made a mental note to tell him exactly that, should he bring any of this up to her.
"I'm sure that Fairy doesn't like to be away from you, either." She thought of the bit of time that had passed where the dog was here without master and could only imagine the relief the creature felt when Jin Ling arrived. "It makes me especially glad that she was already here when you arrived."
"She did make adjusting to everything a little bit easier," admitted Jin Ling, nodding at his mother. He'd had a few panic attacks when he'd been alone, worried that he'd wake up and he'd be back in Carp Tower by himself. Fairy had always been there, licking his hand or keeping him warm. She was the best dog and he was absolutely in agreement with Yanli - her being here made all the difference.
"Mother. Do you like to go on adventures?" he asked, setting down his utensils and deciding to just brave his way into the question that was on his mind.
The question gave Yanli pause. She also put down her utensils, her hands coming to her lap as she tipped her head just a fraction in thought. Her youth had been more adventurous, if using a relaxed version of the word. It was hard not to get pulled into shenanigans here and there when you had two rambunctious younger brothers to watch and take care of. It was never a trial, though. She loved every moment it.
And besides, what was Vallo if not one big adventure?
"I do like adventures," she confirmed, "but it has been a very long time since I have gone one one, I think."
"I want to explore the forest. There are so many things to see there, and it changes all of the time. Do you think there might be old ruins to climb? Or ancient beings to speak to? I never got tired of exploring the Jin lands back home and I feel like I have not done anything here." He realized at the end of his sentence that he had gripped his spoon in earnest, while rambling about adventures.
With a self-reflective downcast of his eyes, he released the spoon and tried to return to a more proper posture for sitting at the dinner table. "That is, if you would like to explore it as well?"
A warmth filled Yanli's chest, something between pride and adoration or perhaps just a beautiful mix of the two. There were so many things she loved about her son, the list only growing with every passing day since he arrived in Vallo, and seeing him talk about the things he enjoyed or was interested in was one of them. She knew that they would have to be careful; many lived within the boundaries of the forest, but it could still be dangerous, if the stories she'd heard were true--and she assumed that they were. But, it was an adventure, was it not? And Yanli wouldn't miss time like that with Jin Ling.
"I would like that very much," Yanli agreed with an empathetic nod. "I have not explored very far, nothing beyond the villages. I would especially like getting to see it all with you."
Jin Ling's face immediately lit up with happiness and excitement, to the point where he kind of bounced on feet before settling back into a proper sitting position (again). "This weekend? Do you have good traveling clothes, mother? We can see about getting you some."
He was already picturing a glorious adventure with his mother, cutting down dangerous creatures with his father's sword as they took lamps into dark tombs and explored everything the forest had to offer. And his uncle Cheng would be so proud of him for looking after her and being a good example. If he wasn't mad at him for dragging her off into the forest, at least.
Jin Ling's excitement was palpable, even as Yanli started making a mental list of things to do in order to ensure their safety. She had no doubt that her son was capable, but there was nothing wrong with being careful!
"I have no other commitments this weekend," Yanli confirmed with a nod--even if she had, she absolutely would have rescheduled them. She was rather certain that anyone who knew her well enough to have plans would have understood. "I will look into proper traveling clothes, as well as other supplies!" She smiled, warm and fond. "We will make it a good adventure, I think."
"We will, and I'll protect us. Fairy, too. We can probably bring some soup as well, in those sealable containers, in case we get hungry. And we can start in the village and see where the day takes us?" Jin Ling was already picturing the entire adventure in his head, taking samples of things they found, avoiding dangerous plants and animals, studying ancient architecture. It was going to be exciting and he'd have his mother right there with him.