[ To see them both together makes him smile, warmth in his chest and eyes bright. As tired as his heart is, a worn thing in the cage of his chest, it swells at the sight; they are the reason he continues to avoid despair and seclusion, wrenched out of both back home where he was beginning to curl inward on himself. ]
Sizhui, please attend the tea.
[ Permission, mildly teasing. He undoes his tied sleeves and brings over the baskets with their meal inside, informally setting them on the empty side of the table. ]
Hopefully, the dishes I've cooked will not disappoint.
[ Soft steamed scallions of green onions, mushroom and tofu buns, egg and chive dumplings, roasted green beans, and long hand-pulled noodles in a creamy sauce from the buns: Xichen has been cooking all afternoon to make sure the dough and noodles are right, remembering and implementing all of Wen Kexing's lessons over the past week. He thinks he has done fairly well. It is nothing that would take centre-focus at the dining table in Cloud Recesses but he is pleased to have provided a hearty vegetarian meal for his family.
A little flour remains on his cheek and in his hair as he begins opening the baskets and serving his brother and nephew first, gesturing for them to go ahead and eat. ]
no subject
Sizhui, please attend the tea.
[ Permission, mildly teasing. He undoes his tied sleeves and brings over the baskets with their meal inside, informally setting them on the empty side of the table. ]
Hopefully, the dishes I've cooked will not disappoint.
[ Soft steamed scallions of green onions, mushroom and tofu buns, egg and chive dumplings, roasted green beans, and long hand-pulled noodles in a creamy sauce from the buns: Xichen has been cooking all afternoon to make sure the dough and noodles are right, remembering and implementing all of Wen Kexing's lessons over the past week. He thinks he has done fairly well. It is nothing that would take centre-focus at the dining table in Cloud Recesses but he is pleased to have provided a hearty vegetarian meal for his family.
A little flour remains on his cheek and in his hair as he begins opening the baskets and serving his brother and nephew first, gesturing for them to go ahead and eat. ]