13737/A Quiet Birthday

A Quiet Birthday
Date of Scene:	19 August 2021
Location:	Two Bridges (Chinatown), Manhattan
Synopsis:	Skye goes looking in Chinatown for Yaozu, on his birthday. Yaozu happens to find her at a tea vendor's cart. He provides translation services and then the pair go to dinner at a nearby restaurant, chatting about a variety of things along the way.
Cast of Characters:	Yaozu Lin, Quake

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Yaozu Lin has posed:
It was early in the morning and Yaozu had already been awake when his parents had called with birthday wishes for him. He wakes early, and there is no exception that he makes on this day out of the year. After he had finished on the phone, he had ghosted his way through the halls of the base and then taken leave of it. The schedule happened to make it his day off, which left him the day to do as he pleased.

It didn't take Yaozu long to end up in Chinatown. He had meandered into and out of various shops, browsing, and he'd spent the day here, occupying himself easily. He had wandered the market, and he carries a small bag of lychees in his left hand, a fruit that will be a treat for later. He wears a set of dark green traditional silk robes, the inner robes a paler green and the wide sleeves embroidered with a leaf pattern. He has the sides of his long black hair drawn back, knotted and secured with a phoenix hairstick that has dangling feathers. He walks along the street, not seeming to have a particular destination in mind, and the time has worn on to be evening.

Quake has posed:
Evening.

Skye had a billion things to catch up on, but one thing niggled at the base of her brain: Yaozo. Specifically the date. August 18.

His birthday.

She looked all over the Trisk. Nope. In his apartment. Double nope. And then Skye had an idea. A bit out there, but possibly the place to find him:Chinatown. By the time she had walked up and down the streets, she figured she didn't see him, perhaps he wasn't here. Oh well, she was actually in need of some tea, and asked the old lady "What could I buy my friend as a gift?" She made a purposeful choice not to mention the birthday part of it.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
With the number of street vendors that offered various and assorted food delights, and given that it's somewhere around dinner time, Yaozu has started to make his way back towards the area of the market. There was a steamed bun vendor who made particularly tasty buns of different types. And he liked all of the varieties. He hoped that there would be some of the red bean buns, too.

His wings are tucked close against his back, his feathers slightly fluffed in a relaxed manner. He's comfortable to be here in Chinatown, and he's become a familiar sight to most of the people here. His ear tufts perk up, and he continues on his way towards the vendors, the tea vendor being somewhat near the others who make and sell the food. The feathers of his hair stick make soft clinking sounds against each other, and Yaozu tucks his right hand at the small of his back. His talons tick and click upon the sidewalk as he makes his way.

Quake has posed:
The old lady looked at Skye. "You.." And then she spoke a dialect of Cantonese, which amount to Skye was being reamed out for not coming more frequently.

"I know, I know.." You didn't have to understand the words to understand the meaning. "How many cups.. these things?" She gestured between the bag of tea, and the cup, but either the lady was not comprehending, or was playing dumb. Either/or.

"I will.. okay? Look for my friend. He's good. I promise.." Oh boy.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
Catching bits and pieces of a familiar voice does prove to secure Yaozu's attention. His head tilts to one side, that touch too far to be a gesture that's entirely human. His gaze wanders the assorted vendors, past the steamed bun vendor and the candied fruit vendor to the tea vendor. And that's when he saw Skye, and where. His hazel eyes blink with a moment's worth of surprise, and his steps pause briefly before he starts to approach her.

The whisper of his silk robes accompanies him as he does come closer, and there's that soft tinkling sound of his hair stick. Once he's near, he greets the tea vendor by bowing to her. "Good evening, Jin Xian," he offers in Chinese. His gaze turns then to Skye, and he tilts his head a bit to one side. "Good evening, Skye. Do you need any help?" he asks, speaking English now, a gentle tone to his voice. He's more than willing to translate for her, if she needs it.

Quake has posed:
"Would you? My Chinese is deplorable. I know, I know. Me being part Chinese.. I think she's scolding me for not doing something right. Help?" Skye hangs her head down in shame. She doesn't tell him about the gift she was trying to buy him.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
Shifting the bag of lychees, Yaozu then bows to Skye before straightening. "Yes, I will help you. We should practice on your Chinese," he says, a smile causing his beak to part slightly. "You were being scolded for not coming more frequently," he offers, having heard that part of the conversation prior to actually reaching her.

He speaks in Chinese then with Jin Xian for a few moments before his attention turns to Skye. "The bag will make fifteen cups, roughly, depending on the size of the cup and how much tea you use in each one," he explains, giving a small nod to her. "You asked her to look for a friend of yours?" he asks, tilting his head to one side and watching Skye unblinkingly.

Quake has posed:
Two weeks. No wonder the lady had scolded her.

Oops?

"Tell her two weeks. I'll be back, and she can check out my Chinese then." Two birds; One stone. And Skye tries to tell her, via Yao (who it's for, shhh..) "My friend is someone who is reserved, and enjoys beauty in all its forms. I think he does taichi?" She adds a little more, but figures reserved and beautiful were the main one (unless she wanted Yao to figure it out!).

Yaozu Lin has posed:
The Chinese avian tilts his head to one side, the gesture just that touch too far to be entirely human. He then gives a small nod to Skye, a small smile parting his beak. "I will tell her," Yaozu says softly. His attention turns back to Jin Xian, and he speaks in Chinese once again, to explain to her that Skye would return in two weeks to have her Chinese checked. He voiced his own promise that he would work on it with her.

As Skye speaks of the friend that she had mentioned, he tilts his head a touch to one side and gives a small nod before relaying the words in Chinese. He listens to her response, and then looks to Skye. "There is a group that practices in Columbus park, usually in the early mornings. Do you know if he joins them? Would you like her to make a tea for him?" he asks.

Quake has posed:
"Oh?" Says Skye so innocently. "Do you go there?" Asking Yao, as if she hasn't a clue. If she were a morning person, she would try it herself. As it is, often she's just crawling into bed some days.

As for the tea, she nods. "I would like that. I thought it might be nice to bring him some, a unique blend. Here's where I come." She gestures to the tiny stand. It also makes her realise just how long it's been since the last time she's been. Not as long as the original gap, but still long enough.

Perhaps she needed that scolding.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
There's a soft snicking sound from his beak as the upper moves against the lower, and he gives a single nod. "I go often to Columbus Park," he says softly, watching Skye a bit closer for a moment. "Early in the mornings, or later at night. When I go in the mornings, it is usually before the group arrives to practice tai chi, though sometimes I watch them for a little while before I leave the park," he says in a thoughtful tone. "There tend to be less people in the park than what are in the gym at similar hours," he adds.

A smile parts his beak, and he gives a nod to her. "I will ask her to do so. Here is where I come for tea as well. Jin Xian has the best tea that I have found since coming here," he says, giving a small nod. His attention shifts to Jin Xian, and he speaks again in Chinese, making the request. The woman nods in easy agreement, and she takes out a paper bag to open it before she starts to create the blend based on what information has been provided. It doesn't take her long, and she folds down the paper bag before offering it to Skye.

Quake has posed:
"Me? Sometimes , before I go home, I go down to the archery and practice. It's quiet. I can steady my nerves, and breathe. It's funny. When I began, I was learning it because of Clint. Yet I fell in love with it."

Skye gives a little laugh as she remembers.

As she watches Jin Xian build a blend, she tells him about May, and her gift. "When she gifted us the teapot, we came to Chinatown, and I found Xian. She didn't look like much, what with her cart selling only tea. Later I found that the shop on the corner seemed to get the tourists, here was where the people who lived here shopped. May was pleased that I didn't follow the crowd."

When the tea was ready, she asked Yoa, "Does it smell like something you would like?" Holding the bag for him to inspect. And as she does so, asks the proprietor if she can write the ingredients on the bag, "Just in case he wants to get it again."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"Mm. I have not taken the time or put in the effort to learn much in the way of archery. It would be interesting to learn more of it," Yaozu says softly, his tone thoughtful. "I imagine that it would be quite peaceful to do. I should visit the shooting range again. I have not since things changed," he adds, his feathers slicking briefly before they return to being slightly fluffed.

Yaozu listens as Skye speaks about the gift from May, and how she found Jin Xian, and he gives a small nod. "A teapot is a very good gift," he agrees, a small smile parting his beak. "Yes, I have noticed this as well, with the shop on the corner. I bought tea there once, when I had not been here for long enough to know yet. It did not have the same flavour as what Jin Xian's tea has," he explains, giving a nod towards the cart and proprietor.

When Skye offers the bag of tea to him, he gives her a quizzical look. A moment later, he slips his right hand from the small of his back in order to take the bag of lychees from his left hand. Then he reaches out with his left hand to carefully accept the bag of tea before taking a sniff of it. "Mm, it has a very pleasing smell," he affirms, giving a small nod before offering the bag of tea back to her. "It would likely be one that I would enjoy, yes," he adds. He shifts the bag, to offer it to Jin Xian. She takes it from him and folds the top down before writing on the bag in Chinese hanzi. Then she offers the bag to Skye again.

Quake has posed:
"Yeah. I'll never be as good as Clint is, but I enjoy it. I even buy my own fletchery from the archery shop now. It's kinda a joke, being DarkSky. You know black and white, like ones and zero's?" Figures, she would pick out something like that.

"I can show you? I probably am not the person to learn from though." Actually she's better than most. "May picked out the teapot from the antique dealer. Hopefully you'll get to meet her soon."

Skye smiled lopsidedly when he proclaimed the tea was good. "Excellent. My friend should be happy with it, seeing as you are." She still hasn't told Yao that *he* is the friend in question. She half-bows to Jin Xian. "Next time I will have a whole sentence for you. Promise."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"I have only had the opportunity to see him in action in person the one time, which was that time when you two were camping. He is quite a marksman," Yaozu says, giving a small nod. A small smile parts his beak, and he gives aother small nod to her words. "Like yin and yang. Two forces that work complementary with each other," he adds, a thoughtful note to his voice.

"It would be an honour to watch you practice your archery. Perhaps I will add a hobby," he says softly, giving a faint nod to her. He tilts his head a touch to one side, and then he nods to what she says of May. "It is said that she does much work away from the base. Hopefully the opportunity will come to meet her," he agrees.

He looks to Jin Xian and then bows respectfully to her before thanking her in Chinese, conveying the promise about the sentence as well. Then he turns his attention back to Skye. "I will have to take your word for it, that your friend will like it. My tastes sometimes run... different," he says softly, looking down briefly before he lifts his gaze back to her.

Quake has posed:
"Oh, I'm sure he will. He reminds me of you, actually."

Skye shrugs and pays, before taking the bags of tea. "I was looking for a late supper. Any idea where?"

There was always her favourite restaurant, but right now she wanted to eat somewhere else. Perhaps a street cart? Besides, her stuff could be ordered and taken back when she left.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
That detail causes a flicker of curiosity within Yaozu, and it reflects in his hazel eyes. "He does?" asks the avian, tilting his head owlishly to one side. He finds that to be a bit intriguing.

He takes a moment to consider where in Chinatown they are, and the places to get food. "Well, depending on how hungry you are, there are different places to visit. The steamed bun vendor just there has a variety to choose from and they are quite delicious. There may or may not still be some of the red bean paste ones available. Sometimes they sell out during the day, depending on the foot traffic," Yaozu offers, lifting his left hand to gesture towards the vendor's stall. "If you wish a more sit down sort of meal, then there is a very good restaurant up a ways and on the right. They have dim sum, and other Chinese food," he says softly, his right hand returning to rest at the small of his back.

Quake has posed:
"My favourite restaurant is in here. The chef and I have an agreement. He chooses and I eat." Skye grins. "It's a hole in the wall I found soon after I went to China looking for some sort of clue about my heritage. We found lots and nothing. Tell you what, pick one, and I'll pay.

"Trust me, he's a lot like you." She walked along slowly, enjoying the view. "He is quiet. Diligent. He's had a few down lately. He doesn't like to be in the spotlight.. He's actually somewhat similar to me. Okay, I pretend to not be diligent, but really I am. Way back before I'd made up my mind I worked in the breakroom. It reminded me of before, but really, it allowed me to fall into the woodwork."

"Lately, Nat showed me where my office was." She shrugs. "Haven't been in there, but.."

As they walked along Yao was getting to know more of the private side of Skye.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"Mm, I frequent the restaurants here in Chinatown fairly often. The food in the cafeteria is much different than what I am used to," Yaozu says, ducking his head slightly. He knows he should try to get used to the American food, but he can't help having a preference for either Chinese or Japanese food. It's what he grew up with and what he's known all his life. He considers the offer for a moment, and then he gives a small nod. "We will go to the one that is up ahead and on the right," he says softly. It kind of reminds him of home, with the smaller and cozier tables and the way the food is served, not that he says as much.

Yaozu listens as she speaks of her friend that she had bought the tea for, and he gives a small nod. He walks along next to her, his right hand remaining at the small of his back, and his talons making snick-click sounds upon the concrete. "It sounds as though he has a good friend in you. I hope that the tea will be a bright spot in his day," he says softly, his tone thoughtful. He studies her for a moment as he learns more about her, and he gives a small nod. "Sometimes, an office is not the most comfortable place for a person to work. Some people are more comfortable in places that are less formal. One of my coworkers at the Beijing office would go to the rooftop to work instead of her office," he says, a smile barely parting his beak. "I can go with you, to your office, if you wanted company?" he offers.

Quake has posed:
"That's an idea. Though I may have to work myself up to it. Something about the thought of a room, dedicated to me, and my work?" Something about that still makes her feel abnormal. Sure she's been here a long time, but..

And then it hits her: Fury is waiting for her to be ready for the next stage of her journey of SHIELD.

"Oh, crap." Now she want need to check out her office.

Skye manages to laugh at herself before continuing. "The first time, probably I should do it alone. After that? Sure. And I wouldn't be worried about American food. They've been trying to teach me simple foods, including vegetables - yuck - to no avail. I did learn to hand roll the noodles in Chinese noodle soup. We spent a day with the chef in Hong Kong teaching me. Mr. Noodles was one of my favorites." It was also the only thing she could afford most of the time.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"I have heard that it can take time to become accustomed to a change, especially going from working where you wish to work to working in an office. But if it is your office, then I would expect that you can set it up how you wish and as you wish," Yaozu says, a thoughtful tone to his voice. "I am not sure that I would wish to have an office, myself. We had a squad room, at the office in Beijing, but it was used for meetings and briefings, mostly," he says softly.

"Why 'crap'?" Yaozu asks, tilting his head to one side and looking to her. He is, at least, a more familiar sight around Chinatown and so he doesn't earn as many stares or other similar forms of attention.

"My grandmother taught me to make noodles before I went away to school. She said that she would have no grandson of hers eating dessicated store bought noodles when they were so simple to make," Yaozu says, a bit of amusement coming to his voice. He doesn't often speak of his family. He falls quiet for a little while as they walk, the feathers of his phoenix hairstick tinkling softly. "I ate them often while I was in school, and I would share them with my roommate. Sometimes with others, as well, depending on how large of a batch I would make," he adds.

Quake has posed:
"That is what I'm learning." Skye actually cringes. "Too much, too little. They're good though. One thing I can make. We chop up the other stuff and put them into the bowl before serving. It's almost like I'm a chef. Trust me, I'm not. Roast chicken, spaghetti, bagged salad, and Pho. That's it. Oh, and cream of vegetable soup. You know, you put them on the blender, and blend until nobody can tell what kind of vegetables are in it? I am still on the fence about that."

"Hrm" She blinks. "Oh! I just figured out what Fury has been waiting for with my office."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"There is a certain amount of going by feel, for the dough. Perhaps at some point we could get together to make them," Yaozu suggests, studying her for a moment. "The homemade ones are always the best. My grandmother would use them to make her ramen, which was always the best. Better than any other that I have had. I have not made them in some time, now," he adds, a touch wistfully. "I prefer for there to be the lumps of vegetables in the soup rather than it to be all creamed together. I have never particularly been keen on soups that are all just creamed up. With the exception of tomato soup," he comments.

"Mm, I see," Yaozu says softly, giving a small nod to her. "An office can sometimes have many levels of meaning. Not only to the occupant of it but also to the one who assigned the office in the first place," he says.

While they've been talking, they've also been walking. The restaurant that he had chosen proves to have been not very far from the tea cart. As they reach it, he steps towards the door and reaches out to take hold of the handle, pulling it open before gesturing slightly for Skye to precede him. "After you," he says softly, a small smile parting his beak. It's a homely sort of restaurant. Small, with perhaps just shy of two dozen tables that are either made to sit four or two people each. There are a couple of Chinese tapestries hanging on the walls, and though the decor has a certain dated feel to it, it is tasteful. Each table has a lotus floating in a bowl at the centre of the table.

Quake has posed:
Skye gives a grin. "You know, you can always drop by and we can make them. I won't complain. In fact I'm rather good at it. Pho is one of one things that Clint gave me in Hong Kong. Sorta a welcome to your home. Well, the right country, wrong place."

"I don't like vegetables, so.. that's probably the only way I didn't see them at first. They tricked me." Skye scrunches up her nose.

When Yaozu opens the door to the restaurant, Skye raises a brow. Still she enters before him. "Niiice. I can see why you like it. And Fury would never admit why he had done so, but I should have figured it out before now."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"Mm, perhaps the next time I come by to visit. I look forward to it," Yaozu says softly, a thoughtful note to his voice. It wouldn't take very much to arrange it, to have all of the ingredients needed for the noodles and what else would go into the ramen. "I can use them to make ramen, and you can use them to make pho, and we can treat each other to what we have made," he offers, giving a small nod. "A way of sharing our traditions," he adds, a smile parting his beak a little bit.

He chuckles softly at her comment about vegetables, and he gives a small nod. "They are an important thing to eat in addition to other things. They make up part of a balanced diet," Yaozu says. He sounds as though he knows what he's talking about, with that. "They are rather easy to put in either pho or ramen. And many other things, as well."

He follows her into the restaurant, releasing the door so that it will swing closed behind him. "Mm, it is what could be called quaint," Yaozu says, a thoughtful note to his voice. "The food is very good, as well. Or at least, I quite enjoy it," he adds, giving a small nod. His gaze turns towards the young woman who comes out from the kitchen at the back, and he calls out a greeting to her in Chinese. The restaurant, perhaps surprisingly, doesn't have any other diners currently save for a table with an older couple. Yaozu gives a nod to something that the young woman said, and then his attention turns back to Skye. "She says to pick a table anywhere we wish and someone will be with us soon to get our drink orders," he says, making a slight gesture with his right hand to indicate the assorted empty tables. "Sometimes, those in positions of power prefer to make something of a mystery out of such things," he adds, sounding a touch amused.

Quake has posed:
"Anytime. I usually have fixings for ramen, and we can always take a little trip to get to rest the of them." But when he goes off on the importance of vegetables, she pretends to not hear. "La la la. I'm not listening. You're as bad as the rest of them."

"Where do you want to sit?" This place was similar to her own place, and it made her smile. "Will they do something if you said 'surprise me'?" Because she always had excellent luck. "Fury is.. well, I think he wants me to get used to the other portion of my job. He has mentioned that I have good eyes and an instinct for the job."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"There are not many things that are needed. It often depends on how fancy or pretty one wishes to make the bowl of it look after it has been made," Yaozu says softly, looking over the tables for a moment. He tilts his head to one side, that little bit more than would be considered human as his hazel gaze turns to study her unblinkingly. "No. I am worse than the rest of them," he comments, his voice holding a touch of amusement as he inclines his head towards her. "I went to school for nutrition and have a degree in it," he adds.

He lifts his right hand to gesture slightly towards a table for two that's somewhat in a corner but which offers a vantage of being able to have an eye on the front door as well as the kitchen. "How about there?" he offers, looking to her briefly before he looks to the table. "Mm, yes. They will do something if you said 'surprise me'. They have what they call a chef's selection which is a collection of dishes that changes daily. It does not have anything that would be considered odd or strange, such as tripe or chicken feet," he says. He makes his way towards the table that he had selected, and he hangs the bag of lychees on the chair where he intends to sit. Then he steps to the other chair to politely draw it out for her. "What is the other portion of your job, if I may ask?"

Quake has posed:
Skye takes the opposite side of the table. "Gre-at. Between May, Clint, and now you? I don't like vegetables. You can eat the extras from me."

Just how much is she kidding?

"Besides, I already eat more vegetables than I used to before." The idea of the chef's special has made up her mind. "I know what I'm going to pick, or not pick as the case may be." Though she has a little 'pout' when she hears 'nothing too crazy'.

"Oh, well, it's not 'official' official, but at times Fury wants me to sit in on certain interviews." About the same time that the mystery desk was assigned to her. She feels that stupid.. now.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"It is my responsibility as your friend to make sure that you eat well," Yaozu says, giving a small nod to her. He might be teasing with part of that, but it's hard to tell with him. "I already eat my share of vegetables. Why do I need to be eating more or extra of them?" he asks, tilting his head to one side.

He steps over to his chair and settles to it only after she's sitting. His hands come to rest upon his lap, and he gives a nod. "It is good, that you eat more of them than what you used to," he affirms, about the vegetables. He tilts his head to one side at her pout, and a smile parts his beak. "If you wish to order chicken feet or tripe, then I can do so," he offers, his hazel eyes showing a slight sparkle to them. "Do you have any food allergies that I should be aware of before ordering?" he asks, curious. It's a useful thing to know, and chances are good that he's helped either one of his grandmothers or his parents make most of the dishes before.

"To have a second pair of ears at an interview is not a bad thing. You may hear or see and remember something he does not, or think of asking a question that he did not. It is a good use for a desk to be put to," he says, giving a small nod to her. "I will not speak of it to others, as it is not official," he adds respectfully, inclining his head towards her.

Quake has posed:
"May knows, I bet. Perhaps Natasha. I don't know." Skye shrugs. "Definitely May though, now that I come to think about it. And yeah. At first it was just to listen when others did their job. I mean it was more than knowing how I would question a suspect. Later, Fury would ask me questions that weren't about the interviews."

That should have been her first clue. She wasn't being trained for the regular sort of Agent.

"Nah. I'm not allergic, unless you count my dislike of vegetables as one."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"I believe that May and Natasha are both of a clearance level that is significantly higher than mine is. I would not be surprised if they did know," Yaozu says, inclining his head towards her. A smile parts his beak, and his hands remain resting within his lap. A server drops by a pair of menus, one for each of them, Yao given a curious look before she's on her way to stop at the old couple's table. When Yaozu has come here before, it's been by himself.

"It would seem that he trusts you, significantly. Perhaps he has a plan for where he envisions that you will end up," Yaozu says softly, a thoughtful tone to his voice. His gaze lowers to the menu, to look over the items on it. The menu itself is written in Chinese hanzi, but he doesn't have any issue with it. "Are there any foods in particular that you favour, that you would prefer over others?" Yaozu asks, looking to her for a moment before his gaze falls back to the menu.

The waitress returns to their table, greeting them first in Chinese and then in strongly accented English. Yaozu greets her in Chinese. When she asks what they'd like to drink, she does it in English that's on the broken side. Yaozu lifts a hand slightly to gesture towards Skye, for her to order first. And only once she has will he request tea for himself. He always has tea.

Quake has posed:
Since they're at a Chinese restaurant, Skye is fine with tea. And because of her usual order, she gives the menu back, and orders - in Chinese - the chef's special. Whatever he desires.

When the waitress goes, Skye gives a grin. "It's almost all my Chinese."

"Who knows what May or Natasha knows. I know with regards to my secret files, the only people who have seen it are Fury and myself. The rest Fury gave me carte blanche to show it or not as I so chose. Clint knows most of it. Perhaps May if she has pieced it together. I told James quite a bit. The rest know I'm not 100 percent human, and that SHIELD was in my life before I was made aware of them."

"And you. I'm giving you, if you want, my past. Or at least anything you want to know."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
The waitress gives a nod to Skye at her order, and a smile as well, no doubt appreciating that bit of Chinese being used. Then her attention turns to Yaozu, who also hands off the menu back to her. He considers for a moment longer before ordering a few different things for himself -- char siu bao (barbeque pork buns), wu gok (fried taro dumplings), gow choi gau (pan-friend chive and leek dumplings), lo mai gai (sticky rice in lotus leaf) and guotie (potstickers). The waitress, before departing from their table, says something else to him after confirming there was nothing else he wanted to add. He gives a nod and a sound of acknowledgement, seeming both pleased and curious by whatever she had said. And once she's left, his attention returns back to Skye.

"I will teach you more of it, do not worry," Yaozu promises, giving a small nod to her. He likes the idea of having more people to speak one of his native languages with. He tilts his head to one side, a bit amused, and then he chuckles softly. "Only they would know all of what they know," he comments, a smile parting his beak. He's quiet a moment, considering what she's said, and then he gives a small nod. "It would not surprise me to have a secret file that is only for the eyes of those higher up. And for the medical staff that would need to know for if something happens," he says, his tone thoughtful. "I first became aware of SHIELD when they approached me to recruit me. It is possible that they were aware of me before I was aware of them. It was while I was in university that they approached me," he says softly.

His beak snicks softly as the top part of it moves a little bit against the bottom part of it, considering the information that she's shared with him. "If it is not too forward to ask... what are you, in addition to being human?" he asks softly, a bit uncertainly. For him, it's a bit more obvious to tell what his not human part is.

Quake has posed:
Skye sits quietly as Yao worries around his thoughts and finally presents his question to her.

"You have heard of an 084 designation, yes?" She waits until she gets his nod. It stands for an object of unknown origin and power. "I was the first person to be given that designation."

"I was found, as a baby, in Hunan province, on a battlefield, alone. It appeared I wasn't the main thing they were killing each other over, but certainly they - Hydra - tried to get me. They killed almost the whole village before SHIELD swooped in. By that time my parents were gone, Hydra wanted me, and SHIELD didn't know what to do with me. I was a baby. Everyone who was on the mission was found dead one by one except for one agent who vanished. It was decided to put me into the foster system as 'parents unknown'."

"Meanwhile SHIELD, or Fury to be exact, made certain I wasn't adopted, until I was put in various group homes." Including one where she met Matt Murdock. "When I was old enough to break out of the current group home, I ran away. SHIELD lost me for a time. That's when I taught myself hacking, and eventually put myself back on the radar for.. you guessed it.. SHIELD."

Skye grins a chagrined smirk. "No, they.. Fury.. didn't tell me who I was. I had the choice between working for them, or going to jail. Took me almost a year to decide too."

She shrugs. "I'm an Inhuman. They have mutant powers. And as far as I can tell they don't really say what they are, and may be hidden." It's a bit of a tale. "But when I was found I was the first one that SHIELD, or anyone had heard of."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
It's not something that Yaozu is particularly accustomed to doing, asking others about their past. But Skye extended the invitation to him for him to do so, and she's a friend, and that makes things different. When she asks about the 084 designation, he makes a soft 'mm' of acknowledgement as he gives a single little nod. He's heard of it, though he's never been privy to any files about any of them. His owlish eyes blink and his head tilts to one side at the revelation she gifts him with. "I did not know that you were the first one," he says softly, his head ducking just slightly. The fact that she was or is doesn't seem to change anything in the way he sees her, though.

He is quiet then, listening attentively as she speaks of her past. There are signs that he's listening, his gaze unblinkingly holding to her and an occassional sound of acknowledgement coming from him. "I am sorry, Skye," Yaozu says softly, his gaze flicking down briefly before lifting back to her. "I could not imagine what it would be like to grow up without having parents around. It must have been difficult, and more so with not being adopted," he says softly. That she was listed as having unknown parents isn't particularly surprising to him, given the rest of what she's said. "Not listing your parents was a way of keeping you safe. Or at least, of trying to. Hydra might have found you, otherwise," he adds. There's a small smile that parts his beak a little bit, and he gives a small nod. "Some are lucky enough to come to end up where they are supposed to be. It seems so, with you, with the fact that your hacking led you back to SHIELD. Or, more specifically, led SHIELD to you," he adds.

"I can understand their reasons for wanting to remain hidden. Not all cultures and societies are openly accepting of people or things that are different," he says, after a lingering moment of consideration. China is but one country that isn't keen on people being different. "When did your powers develop?" he asks softly, curious.

Quake has posed:
"The first human, but yes. Now there are several humans, or humanoids, I guess. But I was the first." Skye shrugs.

"As for when.. I was about 25, when Karl stole me and used the crystal on me. The crystals are our birthright. Karl stole some that had been hidden away by my mother for me. And several.. no, I will tell you, some people died when Karl first tried to get the combination to work, but I am responsible for the deaths when he used it on me. We were in an underwater laboratory, and I blew up the whole thing when I turned. So, by the way, you have no worries about that. You were easy to get a hold on your mutancy."

Skye grins.

"It's taken me a good long time to get control of my powers. I didn't, until recently, show them. But in answer to your next questions.. No, not many people know of them. Yes, I am open otherwise, now, to using them on my job. Actually probably when you started here. I wear these armbands to protect my arms or my powers would shatter them. I still have to take special pills to heal them sometimes. And as you may have realized, I still have new powers that I am finding out about."

Namely, she helped Yaozu's heart keep beating in his chest.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"Mm," Yaozu acknowledges, giving a small nod to her. "How the first one is treated would show others whether or not they can trust to reveal themselves as well," he says softly, his tone thoughtful. He can understand it, especially given where he's from, and given some of what he's experienced for being different as well. These things, he doesn't make a mention of, or at least ot as of yet.

"It sounds like a cruel way to have come into your powers. To have been kidnapped and then to have had the crystals used on you, even though they were your birthright," Yaozu says softly. It's not entirely different than what had happened to him, in some ways, though his mutation had required a catalyst to come out -- altitude. He tilts his head to one side, the gesture just that bit further than human would be, and he watches her for a long moment. "It would seem that your captor is more likely responsible for those deaths than what you would happen to be. He kidnapped you, took you to the lab, used the crystals on you. How were you able to survive the destruction of the laboratory?" Yaozu asks, finding himself curious. He ducks his head a bit at her comment, and he lifts one of his shoulders in a small shrug. The waitress comes, with a pot of tea and two cups, setting them on the table before departing once more, and Yaozu offers thanks in Chinese. "I do not feel as though I have a hold of it. Sometimes, it feels... well... somewhat as though I am adrift and it bears me along with it. I feel as though there are many things that I do not yet know, about what I have become," he says quietly, his feathers slicking for a moment before they fluff back to normal.

Yaozu reaches out to the teapot, lifting the lid a touch to peek within and then settling the lid for it to steep a bit longer. His gaze turns to the armbands that she wears, studying them for a moment before his attention lifts back to her features, and he gives a small nod. "I will not tell any of your powers," he says, giving a small nod to her. "It is good, to have their protection. I expect that the bones of your arms likely take a significant amount of feedback from your powers, when you use them," he adds, his tone thoughtful as he considers her powers for a moment.

"You used your powers to keep me alive when I would otherwise have died, and I will forever be grateful and be in your debt for it," Yaozu says a bit quieter. Honour is a strong thing within him. "I did not seek death's attention that day, but it seemed to have found me whether I wished it or not," he comments, then gives his head a brief shake. It might just be an odd turn of phrase, or it might be something more than that.

Quake has posed:
"Well, part of me wonders if we were brought together. It must have been so strange to have them." Yes, she knows the isolation he must feel from his family, and his society. After all, she grew up without both of them.

Skye waits for him to check the tea.

"It's been barely time. Of course you are adrift. Give it time. And like I have said, anytime you need, come over. My place is a sanctuary, where you can relax, and if you need it, I have a spare bedroom."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
Feathery black ear tufts lift and give a slight wobble out of interest and curiosity at her words, and he tilts his head a bit to one side. "Perhaps we were. Fate, or destiny, if you will, do not tend to make their intentions or purposes known to those it guides along their path," Yaozu says softly. "A hand unseen, putting pieces into play just so," he comments, giving a small nod to her.

He looks down to where his hands rest upon the table, his right hand atop of his left hand. One of his fingertips rubs a little bit against the tattoo there on his left hand. "I... have not told my parents," Yaozu says quietly, still looking down. "I have not shown them, what I have become... what I am now," he adds, still in a quiet voice. There are, no doubt, reasons behind that choice, but he doesn't speak any of them.

Lifting his hands, he reaches for the teapot, peeking the lid up a little bit to check the tea before settling it and then pouring the cups full. Then he sets the teapot aside and claims his cup of tea. "It has not been very long, that is true. Perhaps I simply need more time... I am trying to be patient with myself," he says softly. In terms of becoming used to what he is and in terms of using his new body as well. There's a smile that parts his beak, his gaze lifting to her, and he gives a small nod. "Thank you, Skye. The offer means much to me. Perhaps I will take you up on it soon," he adds. He shifts his position minutely, and then he tilts his head a bit to one side. "Do you know of a place that sells second hand musical instruments?" he asks softly. The question is a bit out of the blue, but Yaozu seldom asks questions without having a reason behind them.

Quake has posed:
Skye thanks him for her tea, and picks up her teacup two-handed, and blows across the tea.

"You've 29 years to get used to you the other way, and, what, 3 or 4 months to get used to the new body? Trust me, you're in the infancy of your powers. You've gotten help from Xiang Zhao?" Another mysterious coincidence.

Then has to think. "Bows and arrows I could help you with. I think there's one around here?"

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"You are welcome, Skye," he says softly, inclining his head towards her. For a moment, Yaozu watches her with her tea, and there's a little smile that parts his beak. He glances down towards his own, and his hands remain wrapped around the cup.

"Mm, yes. Twenty-nine years, as of today. I knew the body that I had, in all ways. This one... I feel as though I am barely acquainted with it. Two things have stayed the same, though one is still different. The tattoos that I have, and my hair," he says softly, his tone thoughtful. "It is difficult, sometimes, to remain patient with myself. I will try," he adds, ducking his head slightly.

Her mention of Xiang Zhao draws him to tilt his head to one side, and then he gives a nod. "Yes. Xiang Zhao has been helping me. He is my shixiong. He and I meet in the park, in Chinatown, and he has me go through the different kata. He corrects my positioning, to put me back in balance," he explains, a touch sheepishly.

"Mm, I think I will have to go looking to see if I might be able to find one. I would prefer to practice on a second hand instrument until I know if the way my hands have changed will damage it at all by playing," Yaozu says softly. He moves his right hand away from his cup and, with a slight shift of his hand, he shows her the cause for his concern by extending the retractable talons that each finger (and his thumb) have. He only leaves them extended for a moment before retracting them once more. Much like an owl's talons would be, they're curved and sharp.

Quake has posed:
"I was.. angry when I turned."

Skye speaks softly, only waiting for the waitress to bring their food.

"So many things I had taken for granted. So many things I had to relearn. Like my sensitive ears. I thought it was funny, we had just gone through this with Clint. The damn Castiel accidentally healed his deafness. The first little we had to be careful, every noise was too much. Then my turn. Pretty damn funny, like ha-ha."

Note: Skye did not seem like it was funny. Ha-ha or otherwise.

"You should check in mutant town. Really. If there is anyone who can figure it out, your body's positioning, and what you should do? It's them."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
"That is understandable," Yaozu says softly, giving a small nod to her. It's likely that he's had moments of being angry about his own transformation. Yet his fate is better than the one that his squadmates had met, for their fate had been death. None of the others had survived after being injected with the serum he had been given.

As the waitress delivers their food, Yaozu gives a small nod to her and bids her thanks. And once she's left their table again, he lifts his cup of tea to take a small sip before setting it aside. Then he reaches for the chopsticks, taking them up in his left hand rather than his right. He can use them in his right hand, but since he doesn't have to, he uses them in his dominant hand.

His ear tufts flick back briefly at her mention of sensitive ears, and he gives a nod of agreement. "Yes. I have had to figure that out as well. The sensitive ears, the changes in my sight as well. There are still times when sounds are too loud, too sharp, too... everything," he says softly, his hazel eyes reflecting understanding. There's a small smile that parts his beak, and he gives a nod. "It is not a fun -- or funny -- experience to go through. I contemplated the option of ear plugs, but they would not fit right or work well. I have not yet figured out the best option for the shooting range or been there since I changed the rest of the way," he says softly.

His curiosity is perked by her mention of mutant town, and he gives a small shake of his head. "I have not been to mutant town. I will have to make a point of venturing there and exploring somewhat. Perhaps there is someone there who can help as well," he muses, a thoughtful tone to his voice. He plucks up one of the potstickers first and eats it.

Quake has posed:
Skye eats with her right hand. She doesn't seem to notice Yao's switching to the left though. It's all the same for her.

"It'll pass. Sure you may be angry someday when it will sneak up on you. And somedays you be grateful when you least expect it. It's weird how it works."

As she talks, she eats her food.

Yaozu Lin has posed:
Being left-handed is something that's a bigger deal where he's from than what it is here in America. For the first while after coming here, he was more mindfu of it just as he'd been in his home, but after noticing a number of other people freely using their left hand then that started to ease off. Habits can be hard to break or change.

"Mm, as with all things," Yaozu says softly, giving a small nod. "With time and patience, all things pass," he adds, a smile parting his beak. "Emotions, much like water, have their own ebb and flow across time," he muses. Between speaking, he eats the food he'd been brought as well. It's tasty and delicious, and he seems to be enjoying it. "I am still adjusting to things here," he comments, pausing to make a gesture with his chopsticks so as to indicate the city beyond them, "and I have been here for longer than what I have been an avian. Patience is not always easy."

Quake has posed:
The waitress comes over, and true to her word, Skye pays. In facts she pays handsomely. "Keep the change." And she pushes the change back to her.

Skye gives a little as she gets up. "Thanks, it was nice." She going through tough times right now, not that you can tell.

"Oh, I forgot. Here." And she puts the second bag of tea in front of him. "Happy birthday.. I've learned sometimes it's better to let someone else in. Keep it in mind."

Yaozu Lin has posed:
When Skye pays, Yaozu at least doesn't argue it. He's quiet whilst she deals with the bill, and it's only when Skye makes to stand after the waitress has left that he does as well. He tucks his chair closer to the table, and then he gives a nod to Skye, a smile parting his beak. "I enjoyed it, it was very nice," Yaozu says softly. Then he ducks his head a bit. "Thank you, Skye... for the meal, and for your company," he adds.

His owlish eyes blink slowly when she sets the bag of tea before him, and he reaches out to pick it up with his left hand, giving her a slightly quizzical look until she offers the birthday wishes. His head ducks, and he looks shyly to her, quiet a moment. Then he shifts slightly, back a little bit, and he bows to her, the tea shifted to his right hand to accomodate the gesture. "Thank you, Skye. For the tea, for the birthday wishes. I... will try, and I will keep it in mind," he says softly, the words sincere.