13001/An Unexpected Meeting in Chinatown

An Unexpected Meeting in Chinatown
Date of Scene:	10 April 2021
Location:	Two Bridges (Chinatown), Manhattan
Synopsis:	Yaozu visits Chinatown and meets his shixiong (Xiang Zhao). They come across Skye and the conversation turns to tea.
Cast of Characters:	Yaozu Lin, Quake, Xiang Zhao

---

Yaozu Lin has posed:
It was a long enough distance that Yaozu decided to take a taxi. Yet as is his habit, he walks a short distance from the Shield base before meeting it and getting in. And once to Chinatown itself, he had the driver stop. He had paid for the trip, and then exited the vehicle before stepping to the sidewalk in order to make his way. Things were different here. And he was in the mood for something in the way of food and drink that reminded him of home.

He already wore clothes that were quite reminiscent of a much earlier time in China. Burgundy and black robes which have flowing sleeves to them, his hands vanished up into the sleeves as though they don't even exist. His right hand rests at the small of his back, a position that is both familiar and habitual. A silver clasp holds the sides of his hair back from his face, and it falls softly over his back to end around the small of his back.

It's the afternoon bordering towards evening, and the streets are filled with many aromas. Yaozu walks by himself, his steps soft, his left hand at his side. He is, as is often the case for him, quiet, and his gaze is slightly downcast so as to not make eye contact with anyone he might happen to walk past.

Quake has posed:
Skye had two things on her agenda for this afternoon: lunch, and tea.

The lunch was easy. The hole in the wall that served almost entirely Chinese people. She had taken it upon herself to eat anything that the cook could bring her. And most of the time they're not on the menu. The head chef had fallen in love with her.

The second task was a little bit difficult, and would take a little explaining to the tea vendor on the corner.

But for now she is looking about on this fine Saturday.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao isn't on the hunt for tea this day. He still has enough to last awhile from the package sent from home by his parents. Zhao had been walking most of the day, wandering and looking at the sights. And he's found himself in a familiar place. Chinatown.

We walks along the street, steps unhurried, fan waving lazily as it tends to do. His left hand rests at his lower back, seeming to be something of a habit. His long sleeves trail down to blend in with the rest of the fabric that makes up his robes. A rich shade of blue with paler blue and white leaves embroiderd over the shoulders and down the lapels. The leaves are long and narrow in shape. The top section of his hair has been pulled back into a half bun, a white jade hairpin holding it in place. The rest flows down his back in a dark river.

Xiang Zhao looks right at home here, with the people. His features are the same shapes as theirs. His eyes with the same slant to them. However, while they tend to hurry past on their daily lives, he looks fairly leisurely.

His feet take him to a booth selling steamed buns and he exchanges a bit of money, and gossip, with the vendor for a pair of the buns. This brings his left hand forward, and he holds the buns in that hand. The fan gets snicked closed and tucked beneath the outer robe, into the sash holding the inner robe closed. Nestled between another closed fan and a white jade flute. His gaze is not the slightest bit downcast. He walks with a confidence, and his posture reflects that.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
With all of the available options for food, there is the issue of figuring out just what, of the very many things, he actually wants. Since he is undecided, Yaozu doesn't enter any of the restaurants or veer towards any of the street food vendors. He needs to pick up some loose leaf tea for himself, to replenish what he's used since his arrival. There is a calm sense of ease to his steps, a lack of hurry.

As his gaze flicks over a street vendor further along that offers steamed buns, Yaozu's attention happens to wander over Skye. She has a passing familiarity to him, from not only the meeting but also from having met her in the hallway. He inclines his head slightly towards her, a greeting without words.

Yet in the next moment, his hazel gaze has turned towards the steamed buns. The smell reminds him of home, and he moves to step a bit closer to the vendor. Before he's able to close the remain distance in order to secure or even order any of them, though, his attention is caught by the flick of movement that is the fan being snicked closed by another Chinaman at the same vendor. Wait. Fan, flute, robes, leaf pattern... what's he doing here? Oh! Yaozu's reaction is smooth and quick, and he lifts his hands, the back of his right hand fitting to the palm of his left and tips of the thumbs touching, then he extends his arms as he bows respectfully. "Laoshi," Yaozu offers in greeting.

Quake has posed:
Skye had just approached the tea vendors when out of the corner of her eyes she encountered Yaozu. Of course she smiles, and goes along to the tea vendor. (She doesn't find Xiang.. yet).

In her smattering of Chinese, English, and giving the old woman the whole tale, that came down to she was a shameful giftee and had let her teapot grow dry.. could she help her, please?

Xiang Zhao has posed:
The smell might well be what drew Xiang Zhao to the steamed buns booth too. This particular vendor seems to offer buns with both meat in them, and vegetarian. Zhao has chosen two of the vegetarian ones. When the bow comes, he has just taken a bite from one of the buns, the other held in his left hand. He blinks and looks curiously at the man calling him 'teacher'. Before speaking, he finishes the bite and swallows it.

"Laoshi?" His voice is on the soft end of things, a habitual thing, and perhaps a quality of the voice itself. "Wo bushi zheli de laoshi," he says. He looks, and sounds, curious. His face is a little more expressive, a hair more open to read, than the one who'm he has been mistaken for. But the mannerisms and the way he holds himself and moves are all but identical. The one learned from the other, certainly.

The steamed bun stand is not all that far from the tea vendors Skye has approached. As Zhao keeps an eye about, keeping tabs on his surroundings as he tends to do, he sees Skye. For the most part, his attention remains on Yaozu. "Ni shi shei?"

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Translations: Laoshi = Teacher.
Wo bushi zheli de laoshi = I am not a teacher to any here.
Ni shi shei? = Who are you?

Quake has posed:
Skye manages to tell the woman, May, a good friend of hers, and her mentor, had left the teapots so that everyday she would have to relax, including the ritual 'wash' of the teapot. Of course when Skye and Clint broke up for about 6 months, it had fallen aside as did most of her self-care. May knew what she was thinking about when she had gifted to the younger couple.

The old vendor just shook her head, and let off in a spate of Chinese that Skye couldn't understand, other than, she was going to care this time, right?

Skye gave a little bow, while the old woman gave her some tea, and wrote with kanji how to bring her teapot back to life.

Skye didn't know kanji.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
The smell of the steamed buns tease his nose and stir his appetite, but once he straightens from the bow, Yaozu lowers his hands before him. And he keeps his hands in front of himself, his sleeves falling to hide them within a moment. He doesn't look to the steamed buns, but he's definitely thinking about them. And probably not just the vegatarian variety, either.

There's a brief glance towards Skye, a sort of keeping track of where she is, just in case. Which also ends up pointing the way to a tea vendor, when the time comes for it to be sought.

"Shi de, laoshi," Yaozu affirms, giving a single nod. 'Yes, teacher.' One of his eyebrows quirks up at the man's words, and he faintly tilts his head a touch to one side. Curious! He doesn't make eye contact, but he does pay a bit more attention, taking in the mannerisms which point so easily towards the one he had mistaken the man to be.

"Wo shi Lin Yaozu," Yaozu says, inclining his head towards the fellow, his gaze flicking a touch lower, out of respect. 'I am Lin Yaozu.' A simple introduction of himself. Within the next moment, there's a soft bit of colour that creeps to his cheeks and he lifts his gaze again. "Ni rang wo xiangqile wo de laoshi," he adds in observation, apologetic in tone. 'You remind me very much of my teacher.'

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao follows the gaze of the other man dressed similarly, if different colors, to how he himself is. Thus, his attention is drawn to Skye for a second time. But those dark eyes don't stay with the woman for long before going back to the one being so very respectful. And demure.

"Wo shi Xiang Zhao," he replies. 'I am Xiang Zhao.' He raises his brow at the blushing. Curiouser and curiouser. "Ni de laoshi shi shei?" Simply put, 'Who is your teacher?' Now he's definitely curious. He eats another bite of the steamed bun. It seems to have been done to perfection. At least, to Zhao's standards. It looks tasty, too.

Zhao's dark eyes move to Skye and he nods toward her. "Shei shi ni de pengyou?" It's a question of definite curiousity. 'Who is your friend?' He seems to be overall much more curious than the teacher he's been mistaken for.

Quake has posed:
Skye accepts her tea, and the note filled with stuff she doesn't understand, and backs away. Thank goodness she put this before lunch (it was a late lunch!)!

Yaozu Lin has posed:
They are dressed rather similarly, which is an interesting thing, in and of itself. It could mean many things. For Yaozu, it means being more comfortable on account of the silk that the robes are made of. "Hen gaoxing renshi ni, Xiang Zhao," Yaozu says, giving a single nod. 'It is a pleasure to meet you, Xiang Zhao.' One of his eyebrows faintly nudges up at a realization he comes to from the name. Possible, but... unconfirmed. His hands move then, his right hand sliding along his side before settling to rest at the small of his back, his hand vanished into the sleeve of his robe. His left hand moves to rest at his side.

"Wo de laoshi shi Xiang Rulan," Yaozu says, the information willingly offered. He watches Zhao, curious himself. "Ni kan qilai hen xiang ta," he adds, tilting his head faintly to one side. 'You look very much like him.' His attention falls to the steamed bun that Zhao is working on, and then he looks to the vendor before ordering two of the steamed buns for himself -- one vegetarian and one chicken, paying for both of them and thanking the vendor as they're given to him.

His hazel gaze turns towards Skye for a moment then back to Zhao. "Ta de mingzi shi Skye Johnson," Yaozu says. 'Her name is Skye Johnson.' His gaze strays towards her again, keeping an eye on her still, and then his attention returns to Zhao.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
If it hadn't been before lunch, things might have gotten interesting, as far as time frames go! For Xiang, his robes are simply who he is. How he was raised and grew up. And they are comfortable. And what he's used to. For the moment, his hands remain where they are. Full of steamed buns. He takes another bite as the other man talks, continuing his meal in admidst the conversation. For the moment, his hands remain in full view. His fingers are long and graceful.

At the name of the teacher, Xiang Zhao's eyes widen just a touch. "Ah," he says in Chinese. "That makes you my shidi. Xiang Rulan is also my teacher." He continues talking in Chinese. It's what he's most comfortable with. He pauses and then speaks again. "Xiang Rulan is also my mother's brother. Now I understand why you mistook me for him. We do look a lot alike."

Zhao's dark eyes follow the other man's hazel gaze again. Again to Skye. "Ah. You are worried for her?" This seems to be the conclusion Zhao makes, for the eye that's being kept on the woman. "If you are worried for her, perhaps we should continue this conversation over there." He nods with his chin toward Skye.

Quake has posed:
Skye was just far enough away that she felt comfortable enough to look at the note. "Ugh. Sure I can say a few sentences, but *this* is gibberish." Thank god for the chef's special, she was pretty sure she was going to need it.

The note went into her pocket. Lunch time!

Yaozu Lin has posed:
With steamed buns now in hand, Yaozu withdraws his right hand from where it had been behind his back. The chicken steamed bun is kept in his left hand, and the vegetarian one is taken in his right. There's a bite taken, then chewed and swallowed, the flavour of it savoured. It reminds him of home, of the steamed buns that his grandmother used to make.

Yaozu notices that slight widening of the eyes, and his head tilts faintly to one side. When he speaks, it is still in Chinese. "Mm. And it would make you my shixiong," he says, a whisper of a smile finding the corners of his lips. "I did not expect to encounter one who had the same teacher, here," Yaozu says, a thoughtful tone to his voice. He seems quite comfortable to continue the conversation in Chinese as well. One of his eyebrows quirks up at the information shared, and then he gives a nod. "You do, yes. You could nearly be shadows of each other," he says, a smile tugging just there at the corners of his lips.

"I do not know her well. Nor do I know the city well, as of yet," Yaozu says, his brow furrowing slightly. He isn't as familiar with what dangers might be in this city. "Friends are to be looked out for. Protected," he adds, giving a small nod to Zhao. "Come, I will introduce you," he offers, then starts to head towards Skye.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao nods to that observation. "Yes, it would make me your shixiong." His lips curve up into a smile and he nods. "So we have been told," he agrees, about how much he and Rulan look alike. They really do. Almost mirror images of each other.

He eats another bite of steamed bun and then nods, again. "Yes. Friends are to be protected." Definitely molded of the same cloth! He inclines his head and turns to follow the other man over toward Skye. His stride is graceful and self assured. He is utterly calm and there is much serenity to be seen in his expression. His pace is just as unhurried as it was before. But he has long legs so is able to keep up without any trouble.

Quake has posed:
As it happens Skye up at that exact moment. Sure she still was further away then conversation could be held, but she smiled to the newer Agent, and his friend.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"He is an excellent teacher. I was honoured to be a student of his," Yaozu says, giving a small nod to Zhao. He still speaks in Chinese, perhaps more comfortable with that language than the others that he knows. He had been a student of Rulan for a number of years. He takes a bite of the steamed bun, eating whilst he walks next to Zhao.

His own steps are soft and graceful, unhurried. He's shorter than Zhao, and so not likely to be difficult to keep up with. There is a similar sense of calm to him as what Zhao possesses. Once he's come close enough to Skye for conversation to be had, he stops and half bows to her, the movement polite and respectful. The vegetarian steamed bun that he'd been working on is, by this point, gone. And this is when he switches to English. There is a ghost of a smile that finds the corners of his lips. "Miss Johnson, if you have a moment and do not mind it, I would introduce you to Xiang Zhao," he says softly, lifting his right hand to indicate Zhao. There's a slight glint of silver on the middle finger of that hand. And then his hand vanishes once again into the sleeve of his robe.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao has a feel about him that says he's rarely in a hurry. That sense of calm they both share might be something imparted by the teacher that had taught them both. "He is. How was he, last you saw him? I do not get a chance to see him often." Perhaps even less so, now that Zhao is in New York City.

He finishes his first steamed bun before they get to Yaozu's friend, and he's taken two bites of the second. Zhao's dark eyes settle on the woman as he's introduced. He folds his hands together much as Yaozu had, but without touching his thumbs together. His thumbs are folded together too. He bows to her and holds it for a moment, then straightens. "It is good to meet a friend of my shidi," he says in English. He has a stronger accent than Yaozu seems to, though it is very similar.

Quake has posed:
For a moment she forgets her manners and waves cheerily. Then remembers, and bows, but with no grace. "Ni hao. And before you get crazy, I really have little Mandarin. Most of it is to find my way around."

Then to Yao, "I'm glad you found your way down here. I was just going to have lunch. What were you looking for, or just looking around?"

Yaozu Lin has posed:
All things in their own time. Yaozu looks to Zhao, and he gives a small and single nod. "I miss his lessons. He is most skilled," he says softly, a tone of respect to his voice. He's quiet for a moment, then tilts his head a touch to one side. "He was well, when last I saw him. He was in Beijing. It was before I came here," Yaozu says, the fingers of his right hand barely slipping past the sleeve of his robe to give a slight gesture to indicate New York.

Yaozu watches as Zhao bows to Skye, making note of those small differences to the motion. Yet he says nothing of those differences, and turns his gaze to Skye to incline his head slightly towards her. "I will speak in English," Yaozu says, a smile ghosting the corners of his lips once again. He is fluent in English. "Was there something that you were needing to find?" he asks, a flicker of curiosity touching his voice. "I am also glad to have found my way here. It reminds me much of home. I was looking around, though I am in need of acquiring tea," Yaozu says in a soft tone.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao doesn't, at least, seem to be bothered at all by the cheerful greeting. His eyes shift from Skye back to his shidi and he considers the man. "If it is lessons you are missing," he says, still speaking in English for Skye's benefit at her admission, "I am not far behind him for skill at this point. If not lessons, I would not mind someone to spar against." From how he says that, he doesn't seem to have found much of anybody to spar against here.

"There is reasonably decent tea to find here. Not on par with back home, but it is not bad, either."

Quake has posed:
"Actually, I was just at the tea vendor. Well, one of. I know there's a shop around the bend by the cobbler, but I prefer this one." Skye pulls out her note. "She was helping me, but.." She shakes her head. "I don't follow the Hanzi. Come on, I'll introduce you."

As she walks the very short distance, she explains she's been coming down regularly since her trip to China.

To Zhao, she gives a grin. "Trust me. You like her."

When they arrived, in faulty, broken Chinese, she introduced her friends.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
As the offer is extended by his shixiong, Yaozu's hazel gaze turns swiftly to him. There is the slightest flicker of surprise that passes through his eyes, for the offer had been truly unexpected. Then he shifts just a touch back before slipping his right hand into his left so that his left hand faces out, thumbs folded together, and he bows respectfully to Zhao. His hair slips forward over his shoulders as he does so. He holds the bow for a moment before straightening. "Thank you, Zhao. The offer of both is very much appreciated, and I would very much like that," he says, giving a small and single nod, a smile coming just a bit more to the corners of his lips than what had previously happened. He hasn't sparred against anyone since coming here and had kept his practice solitary.

"Tea is always better back home. My mother would say it is from the tea pot," Yaozu says, inclining his head slightly towards Zhao. "Have you found tea that is similar to what our laoshi would make?" he asks, a flicker of curiosity to his voice. There is a brief glance towards the note that Skye withdraws, though he doesn't look longer to it since he doesn't wish to be particularly nosy. "If you wish, perhaps we can help with the hanzi," Yaozu says, tilting his head faintly to one side. He follows when she leads that short distance, listening respectfully as she explains. When introduced to the vendor, he bows -- not as deeply as what he had earlier to Zhao, mind, but still respectful.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao refrains from further comment about tea or tea vendors. He lifts his steamed bun, the only one remaining now, and takes a third bite from it. There might be another three bits at this point. They're not overly big, afterall. He follows along behind his shidi and his friend, quietly eating the rest of his steamed bun. "Mm," he says, and doesn't offer any further comment than that. He will probably recognize the hanzi. Maybe. And he will probably like the vendor Skye is going to introduce.

Knowing their teacher as well as Yaozu does, it should really come as no surpirse that one of his fellow students would make such an offer. It's something their laoshi would have offered, afterall. And perhaps Xiang Zhao has an ulterior motive there, as well. Maybe, just maybe, he means to test the shorter man's skills. He doesn't bow to his shidi. That's just not done. Especially to someone who's a junior, except in very specific circumstances. He does, however, incline his head. He finishes chewing the last bite before he speaks. "You are welcome," he says. "The offer is partly out of self interest. I need someone to spar against or I risk losing my edge." Okay, probably not if he keeps up on solitary practice. Which he does.

"Mm." That sound seems to be a catchall for either acknowledgement or agreement. Or perhaps both. "It could be," he goes on. "I find the tea from back home is better. But perhaps it is the teapot. That arrived with the tea." To the question he has to shake his head. "I have not. However, I have some that arrived in a care package from home. I would be honored to share it."

A glance passes between Yaozu and Skye, and he nods. "I would be happy to help with the hanzi if I am able."

Quake has posed:
The vendor looks them over, and laughs a short laugh. "This one always has ones such as you around. Many months she did not come. And now, she comes." She shrugs.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
The steamed buns are delicious little bundles of warmth. Yaozu lifts his chicken steamed bun, and he takes a bite of it, savouring the flavours of it. He glances towards Zhao, studying his shixiong for a moment, and he gives a small nod at Zhao's words. And there's a flicker of a smile that finds the corners of his lips. "It will be an honour to have you as my laoshi. Sparring together will perhaps bring us both to be stronger. Better. Solitary practice can only go so far," he says softly. Then he takes another bite of his steamed bun.

He doesn't question any of those 'mm' sounds that Zhao makes. He's familiar with them, and he makes them himself. There is a common understanding of their meaning. "I have not tried any of the tea here yet. The teapot always lends flavour," he says softly, giving a small nod. He tilts his head faintly to one side, looking to Zhao at the offer of the tea. "Xiexie ni, shixiong. That is most kind of you, and it would be an honour," he says softly, bowing to his shixiong.

At the vendor, Yaozu inclines his head to the old woman. "Lao nainai," he greets her, since she is old enough to be his grandparents. "I have heard that you have good tea," he says, in Chinese. He isn't really one to mince words, is Yao.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
The steamed buns really are quite good. He shakes his head. "I will not be your laoshi. It is my duty as your shixiong to help you if I am able." Taking on as a student? Nope. That idea is denied right now. "I agree. Solitary practice only goes so far." He pats his hands together to get rid of any residual crumbs. Once done with that, Xiang Zhao pulls the fan from behind his sash again. A soft hiss of silk accompanies him opening it. And he goes back to calmy waving it.

"You are welcome, shidi," he says, voice serious. Tea is a very ceremonial and serious thing where they come from, afterall. One must be serious when discussing it.

At the vendor, he also inclines his head and greets her. "Lao nainai," he says. And then goes silent, letting Yaozu speak with her for the most part. He stays quiet, looking over what there is to see. He looks curiously at the vendor, at her words. The way his brow has furrowed ever so slightly says he is not certain he understood correctly what she said. Then again, he's not entirely conversant in English, so that may not be surprising.

Quake has posed:
The vendor laughs again, and replies in Mandarin, even though she is fairly certain Skye doesn't have enough words to follow. //So, you want tea. Correct?// She looks Yao up and down, and turns to her cart where she takes a little bit of this, and a little bit of that, and puts it in a paper bag until she is satisfied. Giving a grunt, she presents the paper bag to him. //Smell.//

Skye looks over to them and grins. Even though she can't translate, she is fairly certain she's got the right idea.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
It only takes Yaozu a couple of bites to finish the last of his second steamed bun. Sadly, they aren't very large, but they are wonderfully tasty. He slips his hands out from his sleeves enough to dust the crumbs from his fingers, and there's again that glint of silver visible at his right hand. One of his eyebrows nudges just slightly upwards, and he gives a small nod to Zhao. "It will be as you say, shixiong," he says, easiy accepting that the other man will not be his laoshi. "It is an honour to have your help," he adds. His hazel gaze briefly turns towards the fan that Zhao has brought out, taking that brief moment to admire it.

"Yes, lao nainai, that is so," Yaozu says, inclining his head towards her. He faintly tilts his head to one side as he watches her put together the assorted teas to create a blend for him. He's intrigued. As the bag is presented, he slips his right hand free of his sleeve in order to accept it from her and take a sniff of it. There's a flicker of a smile that finds the corners of his lips, and then he gives a nod to her. "It has a pleasing smell," he says softly, respect in his voice.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao watches. Curiously. The process is interesting and not much different than his grandmother from home would do. He does not offer any translations. Not just yet, anyway.

Of course Zhao isn't going to be Yaozu's laoushi. He's already his shixiong. Laoushi is reserved for their teacher, thank you very much. His lips curl up in a slight smile, but he makes no comment. He nods as honor is mentioned. "The honor is mine," he says in reply. Seems, it's Zhao's turn to be fairly on the quiet side today. His lips curl up again as the tea seems to have gained approval for its intended.

Quake has posed:
The old woman grunts again and takes the paper bag in writes on it with a hanzi that was particular to her. //There. You go. Try. If is it pleasing, you will come back, yes?// She shoves the bag back towards him. Then she turns towards Zhao. //And you?// She does not think he is there for the reason Yao is.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
There are no translations that Yaozu offers, either. He watches the old woman with curiosity and with interest as she makes the various selections of tea. He only went with his grandmother once to the market when she was getting tea, and that was when he had been quite young. It made for a foggy memory, though this is reminiscent of it.

His gaze strays to Zhao, and he gives a small and single nod. "Mm," he affirms, in regards to honour. His attention slips back to the woman as she marks the bag. "Thank you, lao nainai. If it is pleasing, I will return," Yaozu answers, in Chinese. "I look forward to trying it." He accepts the bag from her, and it vanishes up one of his sleeves. He offers her money, not in US dollars but instead in yuan, as that's the currency that he has.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Xiang Zhao is not there for the same thing as Yao is, no. However, that being said, he gives a single short nod to the old woman. "Mm." There is a short pause. Then, "Whatever you feel fits best will be good enough for me, lao nainai," he says in Mandarin, deferring to her greater experience when it comes to tea.

He glances to Skye, and then to back to Yaozu. And then back to the old woman. The fan continues waving calmly, creating that slight breeze that stirs the two strands of hair trailing down either side of his face.