Jan/Feb catch-all post

[inquiryguqin]

Who: Lan Wangji and friends! Friends of Wei Wuxian, and pretty much every passenger on the train, open to everyone, all are welcome
Where: The kitchen / dining room
When: Month of Domino, day 12, (Jan 23th to 25th)
What: Lan Wangji's birthday and Chinese New Year, Lan Wangji cooks and caters for everyone, this is also a mingle post
Warnings: To be added

I. The Dining Carriage/kitchen car
On the last days of the mission on the last world, it falls upon Lan Wangji to prepare for the grand feast that takes place once a year. He collected and stocked up as much food as he can from the previous world. It's his good fortune that this world has a supermarket, so he is able to find most ingredients he needs for his dishes.

Anyone passing by the Dining Carriage will see a grand feast that Lan Wangji prepared and laid out on the tables. From roasted chickens, hams, fish, vegetables, soups, rice, noodles, laid neatly on plates by type and based on the dishes of the east assembled on one table. On the other tables, cut-up fruits and mooncakes for sweets. Lan Wangji truly worked with what ingredients he found in the previous world.

If asked, Lan Wangji explains, "It's my birthday today and this week, there's a holiday where my people celebrate the New Year to bring good fortune and to invite wealth, wish the well-being of health and happiness of others. We feast a lot together as a family and if you like, you can help yourself and join us. I must admit, I don't have a lot of resources to work with, but this is what I came up. I did my best. I only wish to share this tradition with you."

II. Wildcard
[Lan Wangji's cooks a lot of food in the kitchen and dining carriage, so he'll be busy cooking and preparing as the host! Children will receive red envelopes from him, but there won't be any bills...but as a substitute, there's candies and chocolate.

This is a mingle post! All are welcome. If your muses like to bring a friend or certain parties, just indicated in your subject title "OTA" or make it lock to certain parties. If you put that in your subject title, I'll assume the muse is not speaking to lwj, but is open to other muses.

If you need me to throw up a lock starter or top-level, just shoot me a pm at plurk.]

Comments

definitely talkin to lwj but also ota

[kumoko]

[ DID YOU KNOW... DID YOU KNOW... That this spider loves you...

She tends to avoid the dining car during peak mealtimes, because honestly even if she's only like five feet tall she's wide, and her legs tend to just go everywhere even when she isn't flailing them around in charades. So, crowding dining car isn't a great place for her, is her point. Not to mention that in a social situation people will just assume she's up for talking, and that's risky at the best of times and moreso when she has food in front of her and can't just flee if she wants to.

SHE'S MAKING AN EXCEPTION FOR THIS THOUGH, HOT DAMN.

Red Ribbon Guy, she's stealing your husband. No objections, he's hers now. She's always wanted a battle butler.

Speaking of the man of the hour, while most of her legs and her entire face are preoccupied with a stacked plate of food, she and her text-to-speech box have been reunited back on the train and she's making use of it to have the terrible machine voice 'sing' happy birthday.

By sing, it's really just saying Happy Birthday repeatedly in a bland female voice. Also, the device cannot say Lan Wangji's name correctly, so after that flops in the first verse attempt, she removes it from the text and just takes to waving his name in silk whenever the appropriate line comes up. Problem-solving! ]

[inquiryguqin]

[Kumoko is one of the few that Lan Wangji is very fond of, so indeed, just for her, he becomes the battle butler. He tries to make it easier for her to join in, by reserving a table just for her to sit and dine with, sensing and figuring out that she showed up during the times the car becomes less crowded and encourages her to help herself to his homeworld based dishes that he made for the party.

It was when she starts singing the or rather translate her voice to text to have it translate for her. Sure, it's rather monotone and bland, but Lan Wangji already knew it's the thought and the emotion behind it that really matters.

He was patient for her to weave it the rest of the message on her silk. He smiles warmly with appreciation and gratitude.]

Kumoko, thank you. That's very lovely.

Kaito | OTA + answering LWJ

[stealsyourheart]

I

"You're born on Lunar New Year? That's really cool!" He grins and snags a snack. "Although I guess you never got to have a separate birthday party, huh?

II

Kaito's never been to a Chinese Lunar New Year, so he's very interested in poking around. He'll try all the food and will be chatty and cheerful at all and sundry.

"I'm kinda impressed he managed this whole thing on his own!"

[inquiryguqin]

"Hello Kaito." Lan Wangji smiles when his friend approaches and he encourages him to help himself to the food and not just snacks. "Help yourself to the food, and not just the snacks."

"Not really. Sometimes, the Lunar New Year falls in February also. It just so happens that this year, it falls on the same week of my birthday." He grins. "Occasionally every few years, it might fall on the same week or fall in February."

[deductionrival]

"Right? This took a ton of work. Wonder where he got all the extra ingredients." He smirked at Kaito. "Anything is better than more water chestnuts."

He shook his head and plucked a mooncake. Biting into it, he hummed approvingly. "Yeah, this guy can cook."

[myblueskies]

"I'm impressed too! He worked super hard saving everyone in the tunnels then he still had energy left to do all this!"

Romeo had hosted a party once in Elfnein's temple. Even with Elfnein's help it had taken so long to prepare and he had slept for a whole day afterwards! He knows how tiring parties are!

He's glad to see Kaito! It looked like most people had got through the mission alright though some of the orange team had got hurt!

II

[yilingdaddy]

"Not all alone," Wei Ying protests with a feigned pout before laughing and helping load up Kaito's plate.

"Lan Zhan's the best at making the most out of very little."

Nerdanel | OTA + a short congrats to LWJ

[marriedanidiot]

I

"Your birthday? That is very kind of you - and all of this you did yourself? That is a very kind thought."

II

Nerdanel is VERY curious about everything, and she is especially interested in the food.

"So many different things! I wonder how they are made?"

[inquiryguqin]

For once, Lan Wangji's usual stoic expression is that of warmth, generosity, and laid-back. He even smiled a little bit to the people he's hosting for and exchanging words with.

"It is. I cooked all of this by finding the food I found in the last world we visited. Some ingredients I need only exists in my world, so I don't have much to work with. Meanwhile, during the mission, I simply had an idea to throw a party and I simply wanted to share."

OTA

[redarrowqueen]

"Its not Greek!' Thea is mostly joking but after her year plus on the island she's not keen on any form of Greek food, bad memories. "But need a hand?" she sees no harm in at least making the offer. Her neck however is hidden, the collar may be gone but the indent is still there.

Just fading.

[inquiryguqin]

"What is Greek?" Eying his dishes, he's pretty sure he based them on the provinces of China that he knew. "I'm not familiar. This isn't Greek. Most of the dishes I made came from my world. You're welcome to help yourself and enjoy."

At her offer, "What can you help with? Maybe I'll need a helping hand with the dish-washing by the end of the day. But you don't have to."

[deductionrival]

When Hattori is told who was behind all of this lovely food, he has to pay his respects.

He gives a polite bow. "Thank you Wangji-han for this great feast and happy birthday."

[inquiryguqin]

When a guest approached, Lan Wangji nodded and smiles. “Thank you.”

He hands him a red envelope, which contains candy and chocolates assorted inside. “Here, please have this for good health and fortune to start the new year. You’re welcome to help yourself. If the dish is unfamiliar to you, why not try the roast chicken or fish to start.”

[myblueskies]

"Oh is it new year already, sir?" Time is tricky for Romeo as he doesn't really understand how it works. Also the months here are called differently to the ones they had used in the heavens. But he knows new year. He had celebrated new year in the heavens and it made sense because it had been really cold and there had been snow and that's what had happened last year.

That meant Romeo had a whole year now.

Also. "Happy birthday too!"

[inquiryguqin]

Lan Wangji nodded, "Hello Romeo. It sure is. I took the time to calculate the calendar to the one we're currently using now and it falls on this date. Not the normal New Year that falls on the first day, but rather this new year falls on the day following the cycles of the moon. There are twelve animals and when the day turns, it shall be the year of the rat."

With a soft smile, "I found that my birthday falls on the same week." He also hands him a small red envelope with a happy message written on the front, and this one contains good luck coins. "Here, this is for you. By tradition, a grown-up must hand this out to the children. It's a gift."

OTA but also chatter with the family

[yilingdaddy]

Kitchen- mostly ota!

Wei Ying hasn't been a lazy bum either, helping mostly by keeping his husband company, but also the more menial less cookery-type things like chopping and running around for last minute things. He's been nice though by not touching the spices.

But mostly playing music and teasing Lan Zhan.

"Mm. Lan Zhan. This is a feast our friends will really enjoy!" He's sure of that, because. Well.

Lan Wangji made it.


Wildcard

Wuxian can be found bouncing around...mostly near the festivities. But also he has some red envelopes to pass around to people, filled with a good luck coin and cheerful message of good wishes for a good year. If asked, he'll explain what it's for.

Wildcard

[lansizhui]

He has been hard at work, fashioning something special for his father. While he is content with the outcome, he does have some doubts. That brings him to his other father and he tugs on his sleeve, frowning.

"Can I show you something?"

[inquiryguqin]

Wei Ying certainly doesn't have to help! But it's appreciated especially playing music on his flute. As Lan Zhan takes it upon himself to prepare at the crack of dawn to get everything ready. Time is of the essence. The kitchen is heavy with the smell of spices, meats, and is constantly steaming from the pots and pans. It almost smells like home.

Lan Zhan is wearing his signature apron. He's constantly on the move, getting the dishes done and arranging them in an orderly fashion.

"You're lively today. I hope they will. It's something I never done before, but the idea struck me when I realize we left our family behind in our homeworld."

[lansizhui]

Special Father(s) and Son Time?

The gift he has carved - sculpted, rather - is tucked away in a small box. It isn't much - it isn't enough - but Sizhui has been a little preoccupied with the latest mission. In fact, he is sporting a black eye.

In honor of the occasion he is dressed like the perfect Lan sect disciple, shifting nervously from foot to foot.

"Father..." he approaches Lan Wangji and extends the box. Tucked within is a tiny sword carved out of pretty crystal that glows a light blue. He has placed a spell of protection on it. There is also a hole in the hilt, making it easy to place on a piece of thread.

Wildcard

Sizhui looks like a proper disciple in his white Lan robes. He is energetically moving around the gathering, greeting people and giving his fathers plenty of hugs. He is a good son and obviously thrilled about the occasion.

"Are you having a good time? Can I get you anything?"

[inquiryguqin]

Lan Zhan was busy since the crack of dawn and was often seen in the kitchen. He was his wearing signature apron over his uniform ever since team blue was assigned to meal prep for nearly a month.

The black eye will heal soon enough. Lan Zhan was relieved he didn't suffer any serious injuries. Sizhui is fine and he fulfilled his first mission and duties well, a job well-done. He couldn't be anymore prouder. When his precious son approached him, Lan Zhan stops what he's doing and turns to him.

"Sizhui? What's the matter? What do you have there?" Taking the box, he opens it and sees a tiny swoard crystal, the size of a charm, glowing a soft blue light and examines it closely. "Oh Sizhui. Did you make this? It's beautiful and well-crafted."

Talking to lwj but open too!

[faithfulsupport]

Ignis had been working through the day and decided coffee was definitely in order. So he had to stop by the dining carriage and as he did so, a gorgeous feast of food was there in front of him.

Green eyes looked around at all of the food very appreciatively and nodded at the answers he received.

"Happy birthday, but I'm sorry, but you said a New Year didnt you?"

[inquiryguqin]

Lan Zhan was arranging the food by the plates and dishes in an orderly fashion. When his fellow teammate enters, with a nod, "Good evening, Ignis. You're just in time. Dinner is getting started. It is indeed my birthday, but it's also the lunar New Year in the tradition of my people back home."

Explaining further, "Instead of falling on the first day of the year, it follows the cycle of the moon. I made calculations and this year New Year falls on this week. What we do, family and friends gather around the table and eat together."

Toasting the Host + OTA

[runs_on_batteries]

Toast:
After discovering this feast and mingling for a bit, Tony takes his glass and raises it.

"Let's raise a toast to Lan Wangji for his birthday and for providing such a magnificent feast for us to celebrate your culture's New Year. Your family is a fun addition to the train and may your next year see you happy and healthy. To Lan Wangji."

Mingling:

For before or after his toast, Tony's milling around, exploring the new food and checking in with people who he hadn't touched base with after the mission yet.

Mingling

[luckybucky]

Bucky has staked out a place next to the coffee maker, so he can drown himself in the black gold between bites of whatever the hell was being served. He didn't know what any of it was, except that everything he'd tasted so far was nothing shy of delicious.

He tenses a little as Tony nears, but forces a smile. His face has a scratch on it and he looks tired, but otherwise he seems to be no worse for wear. "Hey. How'd the mission go on your end?" He knows the answer, but he figures its probably the subject least likely to start an argument between them.

Toasting the Host

[inquiryguqin]

Lan Wangji raises his glass to return the toast. The praise is well-deserved one for the hard-work he put together for the feast.

“Thank you. Please enjoy yourself. I want to give back to all the teams for carrying out their missions well on the last world. Consider this celebration as a reward for a job well done among company of family, friends, and allies.”