jikan_rpg | January catch-all

"Like that glass noodle," Cheng mused, nodding. He knew it by a different name because glass in his time wasn't the same as what others knew here. He looked over to what Riley pointed at and nodded. "Okay. I'll try that, then."

He was in the Fae's world of things and would trust their recommendations of things. He looked back up at both of them and smiled a bit. "What other foods have you tried here in Nippon?"

Will's face looked a little disappointed at the question. He's tried a lot of sweets, but not much outside of their own experience in LA. "Nipponese food is a lot like Japanese food where we come from. And there's a neighborhood that serves typical American food, too." He looks a little wistful thinking about the things they could be missing out on, then he turns and clasped one of Jiang Cheng's hands. "We can try some new things together!"

"Lots of things here in Nippon. And P'Vegas makes super good Thai food. That can get super spicy so you should come around sometime and try some more of it. And there's the American stuff that Will mentioned..." His face went distant for a moment. "I've had some good Chinese food..."

But he didn't want to think about those painful memories right now. So he shook his head and plastered a smile on his face as he leaned his head on Wanyin's shoulder.

"Hmmm...I think I'll have...a chicken pesto pasta."

There is an indulgent smile on Cheng's face and he curled his fingers around Will's in return. "I think I'd like that. Trying out all the future foods around here." He wasn't a 'foodie' as he heard some people toss that term around, but it would be a new experience.

"I've had what Vegas made," Cheng agreed. "It does remind me of home. It was good." Was it as good as his sister's cooking? He was probably extremely biased if he said no. But it was up there! At the way Riley wilted a bit, Cheng's lips pursed and he leaned up against Riley a little more. He had come to learn here that people considered Cheng and others in his time as this Chinese. "My sister's cooking is better and I will have to take you both to her place to eat. It's better than Chinese food because this Chinese is the decedent of what she can cook."

Before he could say anything else, the waiter was there to take their orders. Cheng fumbled a bit with his order as he was having a problem trying to figure out how to say 'Nduja' for the sausage.

"Oh! I want to try your sister's cooking!" Will practically bounced in his seat. Of course Jiang Cheng would think it good because he's a good brother. But Will didn't think him the sort prone to exaggeration, either. So it must be good!

"Bolognese~" Will chirped to the server. "We can all have a little bite or two of each other's food." He wasn't suggesting. He was absolutely going to be eating from Riley's and Wanyin's dishes. Sorry, not sorry.

Leaning over, Riley whispered what Wanyin wanted into his ear so that way he'd better be able to order it for himself. He didn't want to squash the man's pride just because this was new for him. And then he ordered his own food and went to take one of Wanyin's hands in his own.

"That's a good idea. That way you can try some other flavors too. Besides there's going to be a lot of food even with just three dishes so there's going to be plenty for sharing."

With that said... "I'd like to try your sister's cooking sometime though. I want to try anything you recommend..."

Errrrrrrrr... "Unless it's bitter! Not if it's bitter!"

Celestial heavens, these two were progressive! Eating from each others' plates? Next they were going to say they would eat off each other's utensils! But he finds he easily lets Riley take his hand as he looked over to Will, then Riley with a soft smile on his face. "No, not bitter. But it can be very spicy, if you're not used to it."

So this was all very new to him but he's learning that it's not so bad. After being in Nippon, he tried not to do too many different things just because it always warred with is own senses of propriety but today, he allowed himself to flow like water with whatever the Fae decided to throw at him. He didn't seem to mind it at all.

"My sister is famous for her soup. She would make it all the time back home and it's a carefully guarded secret. I've come close to being able to make it, but it's never the same."

Will can't help laughing at Riley's amendment about bitter things. He won't mention it right now, but he not-so-secretly loves the way Riley teases him for loving coffee. Instead, he just gives Wanyin a grin and said, "I'm less picky."

Mentioning soup, though? In this weather? You'd think this poor Fae was freezing even though it's actually pretty mild where they are. "I love soup! What kind of soup does she make?"

"I can do spicy. My mom made sure I tried all kinds of food growing up and I like spicy food."

Feeling that hand accepting of his touch made him smile and he gave it a little squeeze. Wanyin was a man he loved to spend time with he found. And get affection from. Sure they'd only just started to get to know each other but that was okay. This was really nice.

"By the way, you should always give Will things that keep him really warm. He doesn't do well in the cold."

At the mention of needing things to keep really warm, his gaze slides back over to Will. A few things come to mind about keeping warm and of course, not all of them were... chaste. But he smiles and nods.

"Will would like another blanket then. Because Riley and the animals are still not enough?"

No worries, Wanyin. Not a single idea Will had was chaste either!

A slow smile spread over his face and nestled in closer against Jiang Cheng's side. "If my new blanket is you, I'll accept."

"I'm usually Will's blanket until the morning when he wakes me up," he said as the water was brought over to them, taking his and sipping at it while his thumb stroked over Wanyin's hand.

"But I don't mind being a sandwich between two very attractive men. So you can sign me up for this."

Cheng didn't dare drink water for fear he would choke. These two were so bold! He likes it. He isn't sure that he should like it, though. He could feel his face heat up and they hadn't even started eating!

"Both of you are shameless," he resorted to, flustering just a little. Part of him wondered what they would do when they found the fur on his back. And it startled himself some. He thought when and not if. "You don't have enough blankets and must resort to using each other. Very resourceful."

Truly, Jiang Cheng was too cute! Will smiled at him and nodded in agreement with Riley. They were definitely a shameless pair, that's for sure. And though they teased, they respect Wanyin's boundaries. They're not going to be too put out if he doesn't want to fall into bed with them immediately after one date.

"Body heat is best for keeping warm. And I'm always cold! I'm very much a summer creature. Does it get very cold where you come from?"

"We actually have loooots of blankets. So we burrow under them then cling to each other so Will can stay warm. We are definitely shameless though. I don't think I've ever felt shame the way people like to describe the most."

Riley grinned at him. And then he realized something very important that had nothing to do with their conversation. "Oh! Let me know when you need your hand by the way. You should be able to eat and drink freely!"

"Sometimes it snows but it doesn't stay. The lakes are too warm. But more inland, it can. My lands are warmer than colder. If it's cold enough to frost, the waterways can ice over, but nothing is ever thick enough compared to here. Boats just crush through it and it looks like very thin crystal."

At Riley's reminder, Cheng smiles a bit, squeezing his hand. "Thank you. That's very thoughtful." But their meals hadn't arrived so he was content to have his hand held. "How do you hold morals if you don't feel shame?" Wuxian was fairly shameless but even he had morals. These two were pretty free in their opinions and feelings and he was curious to know how they managed to get through the day like that. Some times, he felt like he was screwing everything up all the time, all at once.

Will cocked his head and blinked at the question. "What does being a kind person have to do with shame? Do you only behave decently because you'd be ashamed not to? I don't understand..."

He pouted a little trying to think of it. It made sense, he guessed. his time with humans have taught him that honor, recognition, and, yes, shame are great motivators in a lot of people and even societies as a whole. But such things rely on a panopticonic community of people spying on and judging each other.

"I really don't understand."

"...I was taught what was good and bad. And I can see it. So I do the good things and avoid the bad as best I can. I don't need shame to do the right thing."

Much like Will the younger Fae also truly did not understand the question.

Cheng frowned. Not that he was upset that they didn't comprehend, but he wasn't certain he could explain it, either. Why was he brought up the way he had been?

"It's filial. The actions of the child reflect the actions of the parent. We must honor our parents in all things and never destroy what they have blessed us with. Our very actions will determine their worth."

Discussing his culture helped him examine it. Did he believe everything about it? There was one time he would follow blindly. Now, he's not so sure.

"If we are not good, modest, help our lessers, then we insult our parents and ultimately our ancestors. They will not have a peaceful afterlife. They will not bless the living, nor protect us from things we cannot or are not aware of."

"That sounds like fear." Will immediately clamped a hand over his mouth. he hadn't meant it to sound so blunt. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry! It's just... Most Fae don't even know who their parents are. And if they do, they really don't care because it's not like they raise us. The thought of being another person's... trophy... That you have to do well to make someone else look good or feel good or else something bad will happen to your family... That's like a scare tactic, right?"

Riley listened to them both and he could see both of their points. They weren't wrong or right really. It was just the products of how they were raised. He considered it quietly for a moment.

"A lot of the things our parents teach us might come from fear of what our futures are but they also come from a place of care and tradition. It might not be a culture we understand but ours is just as foreign to Wanyin."

Riley took a sip of his water. "Filial piety. The service of the younger generation to their elders. But each culture has a different way of having the next generation honor that. You were taught one way, Wanyin. Will, you were taught another. I was taught a third. But are any of the three of them the right way? Or just a way? I think that you have to find the way that works for you to be a good person. To carry their memories and lessons with you as you change and grow and adapt to an ever changing world."

He gave a bit of a shrug and smiled. "Maybe it's a little naive. But I think that we learn the ways to be filial the best by learning from those who are different from us. To find out what will stand the tests of time to honor the generations before and what will fade with time."

He knew what Will was getting at and Cheng couldn't disagree. He frowned more, but this time out of concern and the troubling revelation he had when speaking with these two. "You're... not wrong, Will," he admitted quietly, taking the Fae's hand into his own. "That's how my people grew up. It's generations old. I don't know if anyone from my time would think differently. And it's not uncommon to pit one against another to drive them to improve."

Riley added in his own words and once again, Cheng was amazed by the wisdom these people held. How could someone think that these people were children just because they had a different viewpoint on the world? "I don't think it's naive at all," Cheng concluded, braving a small nuzzle into the blond's hair. In public! Of all places!

But as time went on, the food arrived and Cheng decided that maybe the mood needed to be lightened. "There's one thing I have learned that did not stand up to time: uncut hair. But that is strange as well. We are not allowed to cut our hair, but we, as men, can shave our face."

It was definitely an interesting topic to discuss. And, honestly, it gave Will some insight on both Cheng and Riley. Honestly, he couldn't think of anything he wouldn't be willing to talk about with them. He accepted Cheng's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze.

"Well thank goodness for that," Will declared with a bright smile. "Your face is far too handsome to be concealed." Though, Cheng would probably rock a beard in all honesty.

"You know I don't think I could grow facial hair even if I wanted to." Just thinking about how his own face was always so smooth. He didn't even own shaving supplies because it wasn't a part of grooming he ever had to look into.

"You really aren't allowed to cut your hair because it would dishonor your family?"

He couldn't help the flush to his cheeks at Will's commentary. He hoped he would never get jaded by the compliments these two were free to give. "That's correct. It is a deep disrespect to the parents and ancestors if it is cut. It is also a sign of virility. To cut one's hair is to become a Hun or barbarian with no laws, no humility and no sense of righteousness."

He said that part as if he were reciting it from a school master. "The Buddhist Monks, however, give up their worldly possessions, their ties to family and anything that would be deemed a barrier between them and enlightenment. So they are not looked down upon when their hair is shorn."

The next thing Riley said had Cheng surprised. "No? But you can grow hair on your head. No where else?" It sounded very strange to him! But then again, hearing he could not cut the hair on his head but it was okay to shave his face was probably just as strange to them, too."

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