WHO: Jiang Yanli and Laurence WHAT: Laurence stops by Lotus Pier and the two have some snacks and conversation. WHEN: Backdated to mid-October, just before timeslip plot WARNINGS: None STATUS: Complete
Laurence had not expected the impromptu dinner that had been arranged by Jin Ling, had not asked for it, and would have been more at ease arranging it himself, but he’d had to admit that, in the end, it had been done well. He’d worried a little that it might have easily become overblown, Jin Ling being young, and the young being prone to thinking that more was better, but whether it was Jin Ling’s own sense, or the restraint shown by his uncle and, Laurence suspected, his mother, the dinner had been, more or less, exactly the sort of event that Laurence had wanted – small, intimate, and restrained.
He was a little ashamed to admit that he didn’t know Jiang Yanli very well. He’d seen her on occasion, usually at the special dinners that Lan Xichen invited him to. Of all the people from Lan Xichen’s world, he’d known Wei Wuxain and Lan Wangji the best, had had conversations with the young men, Lan Sizhui and Jin Ling, and knew the Jiangs distantly. It was to be expected: Lan Wangji was Lan Xichen’s brother, Wei Wuxain his brother in law, Lan Sizhui his nephew, and the others were related through Wei Wuxain. But if Laurence wished to become a part of Lan Xichen’s family, he needed to make an effort to become friendly with the rest of the people from his world. Back home, he might not be expected to be friends with his spouse’s brother-in-law’s sister, but Vallo was more contained.
Besides, he very much did like Jiang Yanli from what he’d seen of her so far: she was quiet, yes, and kind and gentle, and he suspected she likely had a bit of steel not too far under the surface, too. She seemed to enjoy cooking, and Laurence had discovered a similar interest since he’d started his cooking lessons with Ignis a year ago. Getting to know her a little better would be no chore on his part. And thanking her for the dinner she’d helped her son host was an easy excuse.
He’d contacted her ahead of time to be sure that he’d not call on her at an inconvenient time – Vallo, it seemed, had no concept of morning calls, and he’d gathered in his year here that unexpectedly dropping by was considered rude when instant communication was so readily available – and was now standing at the entrance to Lotus Pier, holding a gift bag, waiting for entrance.
Jiang Yanli was no stranger to entertaining visitors. They were duties that had been taught to her at an early age, ones that she had flourished in and enjoyed. That was no different in Vallo, even if Vallo was wholeheartedly different. The expectations were not the same as home, even if she did hold onto a certain amount of propriety and care in all she did. Some may say that it was habits that were hard to shake, but that was hardly the casee for Yanli; she enjoyed it.
And that was why she had been more than a bit excited to accept Laurence's request to come by, quickly making preparations to receive him even with the advanced notice. She, also, was a bit ashamed to recognize that she did not know the man as well as she may have liked. In her mind, she and the others that were tied to their home--and those that they chose to befriend or forge deeper relationships with--were family. Her brothers, of course, and her son, absolutely, but they all had something in common. They may have had their own lives in Vallo, but it was important to Yanli that they continue to foster those ties. (It was why, in part, she had been so willing to help Jin Ling with the impromptu dinner; that and the fact that she would do anything for her son.)
After double checking the tea and small snacks that had been laid out for this visit just one more time, Yanli found herself at the entrance of Lotus Pier herself, smiling brightly as she bowed in greeting to Laurence.
"Welcome." Yanli straightened, still beaming cheerfully at Laurence as she stepped aside to make room for him to come in. "I am glad you were able to make it--I hope the travel here was uneventful?" Not that it was too difficult to get to Lotus Pier, but it was hard to predict anything with Vallo being Vallo.
Laurence returned the bow before he entered. “Entirely,” Laurence assured her. “And thank goodness for that. Things have been a touch too exciting for my tastes as of late.” Laurence had never thought that he was the type to crave a quiet life, but he found more and more often these days that that was precisely what he wanted. An honest day’s work, and then the ability to reliably come home again to his family. “And I trust that things have been relatively quiet here, as well? No unexpected intrusions?”
"Nothing out of the ordinary or surprising," Yanli replied, relief evident in both her expression and tone. The relief was born both out of Lotus Pier being safe, but also that Laurence hadn't had to deal with the eccentricities that were Vallo, at least for now. "We have been rather lucky in Lotus Pier and I am hoping that luck will continue, especially for the benefit of the others that live here."
Yanli was able to avoid most of the attacks and monsters by staying home when they broke out, allowing others with more training, magic, and battle experience to take care of that in her stead. She was best equipped for the aftermath, aiding people emotionally and practically through a listening ear or shoulder to lean upon or through just so many baked goods and soups. It was a position that she was most comfortable in, as well. She had always been good at caring for others.
"But, please! Come and sit," Yanli invited, motioning Laurence further inside to where the spread of tea and food was sitting out for them.
Laurence followed, and then smiled when he saw the spread before them. “I had brought Eccles cake,” Laurence said, proffering her the gift bag that he’d brought. “Though, I suppose it was unnecessary. Still, I hope that you and your brother might enjoy them later on. They’d become very popular in my world, before the war.”
Yanli's eyes lit up at the gift--not out of greed, of course, but genuine pleasure at the thoughtfulness and Laurence's sharing of his home. "Oh, but this is lovely," she said, taking the bag with a smile. "I would very much like to try it now, with you, if that is all right? I am sure my brother would like to have some later, as well, but for now."
She set the bag on the table, moving to look within. "Can you tell me more about them? I have never heard of such a cake." With her newfound baking hobby that had developed in her time in Vallo, she was especially curious.
“I’ve no objection,” Laurence said warmly. “They’re filled with currants, and were sold in a town back home called Eccles. The cakes, actually, had been banned for some time back home by one of the religious orders back home some centuries ago, but it was one of those laws that people scarcely paid attention to if it didn’t suit them. I think about, oh, a little over ten years ago now? A very popular bakery opened up in Eccles that sells them. I was lucky enough not long after it opened and the cakes stuck with me; I was glad to find them here when I arrived.”
Yanli listened closely, just as she always did whenever someone she cared about--and those that she didn't, in truth, but she held Laurence in high esteem--was speaking to her. She had always liked hearing the stories of others, especially when they pertained to their homes or things that they especially liked. This seemed to check both of those boxes.
"That is so interesting," Yanli said, voice clearly genuine as she moved to serve the cakes. "Perhaps I will add it to the list of recipes I want to try. There are so many more options and ideas here, beyond what I might have imagined. This would be something I would enjoy working on to get correct."
“If you do, I would be happy to taste test. I’m sure Lan Huan would happily lend his assistance as well. He’s developed a taste for pastries.” Particularly French pastries, but he didn’t think that Lan Huan would discriminate. “Mr. Scientia has been giving me cooking lessons since I arrived here, but I’m afraid I’m still utterly hopeless when it comes to baking.”
"I had not realized that you were taking lessons." Yanli perked up a bit at that, which wasn't saying much as her ever present smile and good posture hadn't wavered in the time they had been sitting. "It is a very good skill to learn, I believe. Even though there are many options for getting food in this world, so many more than we knew back in our home, there is much to be said for a home cooked meal made from your own hands.
"But yes," she added, leaning forward with a nod. "I would very much appreciate a taste tester, especially from someone who knows the food being tasted best."
“We will have to have you for dinner some evening, so I might prepare something,” Laurence answered. It wasn’t much of a surprise, really: when Laurence hosted his larger dinner parties, he usually hired caterers; though he’d grown confident in his cooking abilities, he still lacked the skills to cook for any large group of people, especially when he also had to prepare Temeraire’s meals. While Temeraire only had to eat three or four times a week, Laurence would not host a large dinner party without having something prepared for Temeraire as well. But a small dinner with only a couple of friends was easy enough to manage on the days Temeraire did not need to eat.
“Mr. Weasley is an Englishman too, is he not?” Laurence asked. “Oh, though I suppose he’s from a great deal in the future.” And from a different world entirely too; Laurence wondered now if English cuisine had changed much between the two worlds and times.
"He is," Yanli confirmed, both that George was an Englishman and that he was from the future. She did not entirely know how it compared to her own world of origin, but that didn't much surprise her. From what she had heard of many other people's worlds before they were brought to Vallo, there was a great deal of difference--in time, place, magic, and so on. It made the fact that Lotus Pier had appeared in Vallo all the more important to her; not only was it a familiar place for her, but it was something that she could share with others that otherwise wouldn't have been able to see it.
"I would very much like to share dinner, though," Yanli added with a smile. "Food is such a good way to share a bit of ourselves, I think, as well as just have a nice time spent together."
“I’d not cooked at all, back home, unless one counts throwing meat over a fire until half of it is burned and half is still raw, but I have always enjoyed a proper dinner, and now that I’ve been properly cooking myself, I couldn’t agree more. There are few things more satisfying then seeing someone you care for enjoying something you made for them.”
Yanli practically beamed at Laurence's words, as they reflected exactly her own feelings. She cooked for her brothers in their youths less out of expectation, but because it was a simple way to show that she cared. Seeing her siblings and friends appreciate what she spent her time and efforts on meant a great deal to herself in turn. While she knew this wasn't necessarily an unique feeling, it felt good to know someone else understood.
"I could not have said it better. I think that just means that we will need to have more shared meals together, in the future."
“With all my heart, I’ll look forward to it. I will speak with Lan Huan, and then we can come up with a plan for the future.” But he could think of nothing he’d like more. In the meantime, he would be remiss if he didn’t take advantage of the hospitality that she’d already laid out for him; he would be more than happy to enjoy the snacks and tea already set out.