14038/Evening Tea

Evening Tea
Date of Scene:	24 December 2021
Location:	NYC's Chinatown
Synopsis:	Diana Prince comes across Xiang Zhao while shopping in Chinatown for some tea.
Cast of Characters:	Wonder Woman, Xiang Zhao

---

Wonder Woman has posed:
It's relatively early in the evening, but darkness has already come -- it settles in that way, at this time of year. Yet there are decorations on the streetlight poles and the businesses are well lit as well. The Embassy had been quiet, and so Diana had closed it up and left it in the capable hands of her sisters on guard. And she, in turn, had made her way to Chinatown. It's where the best tea can be found.

She wears a light blue sweater the hem of which hangs below her waist, a pair of black jeans, and a pair of black boots. Her black hair falls across her shoulders and back, and she walks along the street, headed towards the vendors that are still out. If she's lucky, she'll be here in enough time to catch Jin Xian and buy more of the silver needle tea. The tea house itself will still be open afterwards, and it will make an ideal stop afterwards, while she figures out what to do with the rest of her evening.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
It's more like how it is in Tibet, a good portion of the year, for temperature, if not darkness. This time of year, yes, of course. That isn't any different. Or isn't much different. What is different is the Christmas decorations. That isn't something that is common in the remote area Xiang Zhao grew up in. It's prevalent even in Chinatown, which is where Zhao spends the majority of his time recently.

He wears his typical sort of clothing, though in somewhat heavier fabrics to account for the cooler temperatures. Today is shades of silver and grey in what looks like swirling clouds or snow. His dark hair is partially pulled back and twisted into a bun atop his head. A sandalwood hairstick carved with the likeness of a fox is stuck through it to hold it in place.

Xiang Zhao stands, at present, at Jin Xian's tea stand, a cup of cocoa held in his left hand. A similar cup sits atop the stand, in front of Jin Xian herself. He must have come bearing gifts of hot chocolatey goodness.

Wonder Woman has posed:
The Amazon princess seems to be in nary a hurry for this evening. She walks along the street, her breath fogging in the chill air. Her hands rest lightly at her sides, and she takes a moment to admire the Christmas decorations, even with as out of place as they are within Chinatown. She knows it isn't a holiday that's observed in China, and yet the city-wide decorations have stretched and extended to even here. There's some snow on the ground, but it isn't a lot and the sky seems clear for the time being.

Diana easily picks out the figure out Xiang Zhao where he stands at Jin Xian's tea stand, and a smile comes to her features. Her steps quicken just a touch, and she stops once she's reached the pair of them. "A good evening to you both," she offers in greeting, speaking in Mandarin as is her habit to do. She speaks it well, but such is to be expected for the years that she's had to practice it. "How do you both fare?" she asks, looking from one to the other of them.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
Christmas is actually celebrated in China, but not as a religious holiday. It's something more akin to Valentine's day. A novelty that you see, but not that is celebrated as avidly as it is in the United States. Still. In Tibet, it's celebrated a little more religiously. But not in the compound where Xiang Zhao grew up. There, it's not celebrated at all, for none there are Christian, but are, rather, either Buddhist or Taoist.

For a change, the fan that is an ever present part of Xiang Zhao is... not. It's tucked away into his belt sash, beneath the outer robe he wears. Zhao notices the approach of a familiar face before Jin Xian does. He turns his head to look to Diana, offering a nod of greeting and welcome. "I am well enough," he replies in Mandarin. Jin Xian grins widely and waves to the chocolate drink. "He has brought an old lady a treat. I am well, Diana Prince. What of you?"

Wonder Woman has posed:
Though she has lived at the Embassy for a number of years, Christmas is still something that Diana is getting used to as well. It's not the same on her native Themyscira, either. It's an interesting thing to see the differences of such things from one country to another. A Christian holiday, adapted and adopted into countries that are largely not of such a denomination.

Given how ever present Xiang Zhao's fan is, it's something that she notices with the fact that it is not currently in use right now. It's not terribly surprising, given the weather. Diana smiles warmly at Xiang Zhao, and she gives a small nod to him. "Ah, that is very good to hear. It has been a while since we have had the opportunity to speak with one another," she says softly, studying him for a moment. Her attention turns to Jin Xian, and she can't help but to chuckle and give a nod, her blue eyes showing a sparkle to them. "It is a perfect night for such a treat, as well. I am pleased to hear it. I am very well, thank you. I should come and visit you more often," she says, a smile coming to her features.

Xiang Zhao has posed:
It's not the religion that makes Christmas so special. It's the spirit of the holiday. The coming together and helping one another. That's what makes Christmas so special.

The lack of fan is, truth be told. entirely expected, given how cold it is. It would be odd if Xiang Zhao were still using that fan at this time of year. He still has it, if he should need it. "If I had known sister Diana was coming, I would have brought another. In fact.."

Xiang Zhao smiles and sets his cocoa down on the cart. "I will be but a few moments. It is not far." With that, he turns and walks away, leaving the two women to chat with each other.

Wonder Woman has posed:
People helping each other. People gathering and celebrating together, sharing food and gifts with one another. There are a lot of things that makes Christmas special. The kindness, the joy, the happiness, and the sense of goodwill that seems to pervade so many.

The cold doesn't bother Diana, and that's perhaps obvious by the way that she's dressed. No winter wear to keep her warm, for the sweater was chosen simply because she likes it rather than that she was cold. "'Tis quite all right, Zhao. You knew not at all that I would be coming here this evening," she says, a warm smile coming to her features. She tilts her head a touch to one side, one of her eyebrows quirking upwards, and a touch of curiosity flickers through her blue eyes.

She inclines her head towards him then, a smile curling at the corners of her lips. "Of course, Zhao. I will remain here," she says, giving a small nod to him. As he turns to walk away, her attention turns to Jin Xian. "Your family is also doing well, I trust?" she asks, a touch of curiosity to her voice.