Trying New Foods ((China))

[Lovino Vargas]

Gurgle. Lovino groaned, making a face as he tried to ignore the delicious smells wafting through the air. Subconsciously he tugged down the edges of his button-up shirt, trying to straighten and flatten the deep forest green Egyptian cotton in attempts to distract himself from his empty stomach. The Italian had been without work for a few weeks, since Adnan and most of his other business partners were well-set on their normal deliveries, and his spending-money was starting to run a bit dry. He had enough for his monthly bills and groceries for breakfast and dinner, but his normal going-out-for-lunch habit was no longer an option. Sure, Lovino had a lot of money saving up in a private account, but that was his emergency cash and he didn't like digging into that for even dire situations, let alone for something as simple as lunch. But food was also very important to the Italian, he would kill for the chance to eat at some of the higher-end restaurants in the area, but meddling with his account and putting some of his yearly earnings on it at risk for a quick but delicious lunch at a cafe was just silly. He had to continue telling himself this as he ignored the scents of food being prepared for those lucky enough to afford the dishes and continued his way through the Entertainment District. Hopefully Lovino could make it to the library before his stomach committed suicide and he wasted away in the gutter. A bit melodramatic but he had missed breakfast this morning as well, which wasn't helping. A longing gaze was sent to every particularly delicious-smelling cafe and restaurant as he walked them by. Food... Ugh, why did he have to be so twitchy over his money? The Italian was practically in tears now. "I'm so fucking hungry...damn places have to be so damn expensive, it's not fair~~" He whined to himself, shoving his hands into his pocket and looking the perfect picture of misery.

[Yao Wang]

Yao had been dumping the trash, thoroughly disgusted by how much food westerners wasted, when he saw a young looking male coming down the street. Coming ever closer to the restaurant, and looking like he was practically in tears from what Yao could only assume was hunger. What with how the boy’s eyes kept roaming to the cafes and restaurants in the area. Yao didn’t much like westerners, but this one seemed no older than some of his younger siblings.

And truth be told, Yao -despite being a man- was a very motherly person. Who happened to have a soft spot for children. He let loose a sigh before disappearing back into the Chinese establishment, coming back out just in time before the westerner passed his establishment. He had with him a small paper sack filled with light and fluffy 4 cm mantou that was only served in the more ‘elegant’ restaurants, compared to the thick and stiff 15 cm mantou served for the regular working man. Of course, all were freshly made and he obviously had one sticking from his mouth.

So he obviously wasn’t going to talk to the Westerner. Instead, he tried to snag a hold of the boy to drag him into the back alley with himself, to give him the baggy of food. The amount of steamed buns in the sack was rather generous, but just this once he’d let it go. Because he knew that if his siblings were wandering around starving, he’d want some one to feed them lots to. So surely, to some one else, this kid was a precious person as well. So he couldn’t very well just turn a blind eye and watch him starve.

He wasn’t that cruel and heartless. Even if he did seem a little harsh to his siblings. The Chinese man -yes, he was indeed a man, mumbled throw the steamed bun in blocking his mouth, “Just once, I feed. Eat. Eat all, get full. Good for you, aru.”[/color]

[Lovino Vargas]

When a thin hand wrapped tightly around his forearm and yanked him into a nearby alley, Lovino though he was going to have a heart attack. He had been focusing so much of his attention on suppressing his senses that he hadn't realized that someone was in the alley behind a rather well-known Chinese restaurant until he was being dragged into it. Immediately he started swearing and trying to get free, not understanding what the hell was going on. "T-The fuck?! Let go of me, I have no money and I swear to Dio if you try robbing me or attacking me I'll make you fucking regret it!!"

But then his protests were turned into splutters as a bag of something that smelled absolutely delicious was shoved into his face and the hand released his arm. Freely stumbling back a step or two, the well-dressed Italian barely managed to hide a sneeze into his elbow, caused by the sudden changes in smells. Once tears were blinked out of emerald green eyes Lovino looked at his 'abductor' and was visibly surprised to see it was the head chef of the aforementioned Chinese place he was now loitering behind. The small man, though much more feminine and small than he had first assumed from glimpsing the man around the area once or twice before, had a bag of food that was being held in his direction and the contents smelled like something made by Dio himself. A bit of an exaggeration, but there was never too much praise when good food was concerned, Lovino told himself as he slowly accepted the bag, shock written all over his face. No one ever gave the Italian free food, and for it to be something like this just when he was practically praying for food...

This time there were legitimate tears welling up in his eyes as he opened the small bag and spotted the steamed buns. "W-Wow, I-I...Grazie, signore, mille grazie!!" He exclaimed, looking honestly grateful as well as shocked as his grip tightened on the bag. If his brother Feliciano had been in his place, the dark-skinned Italian knew the long-haired man in front of him would have been smothered in a hug and maybe even tears by now, but Lovino was better than that. ...Read that as he had no idea how to express exactly how thankful he was at this point. This was practically a direct answer to his prayers so there was no way he could be his normal pissy self. Plus he had temporarily enhanced his sense of smell when the bag had been shoved into his face and there was no smell of any sort of added ingredients that weren't supposed to be in the dish, like poison. So he was particularly sure this was just an angel answering his prayers. ...Sort of. He bowed a bit, having to ignore his Italian blood telling him to properly thank the chef with a hug. "Seriously, thank you so much, I thought I wasn't going to be able t'eat today. Grazie!!" The excited grin on his face was small but it was vibrant against his dark complexion and definitely different from the scowl normally adorning his face.

[Yao Wang]

At first the Italian seemed perplexed and defensive -which Yao honestly couldn’t blame. If he’d been pulled into a back alley, he would also have felt threatened and been defensive. So the Chinese man figured he hadn’t exactly made the best move. But it served his purpose. Getting the Italian’s attention and all. And he hadn’t gotten hurt by the frightened Italian, so it was considerably a success.

Yao couldn’t help but notice how fully the other’s expression changed when the food went noticed. It was almost cute, and at least the Italian had the sensibility to sneeze into his shoulder and not on the bag. So he obviously knew how to appreciate the delicacy of being given food. Which was a very important thing. You couldn’t survive without food, so food needed it’s proper respect.

But even more surprising. The Italian was actually thanking him. And truth be told, it made him just a little bit happy to be shown such respectful courtesy. But it made him even more happy to see such a happy face was caused by his food. If his cooking could make at least one person happy, he was rather content. Speaking of content, he was rather glad that the Italian chose to bow instead of hug him. There was nothing really wrong with hugs, but the Chinese man, unfortunately, wasn’t used to excessive PDA. Even whereas family were concerned. It just wasn’t a natural part of their culture. So the fact the Italian had been that thoughtful was very pleasing.

He finished eating the bun he had in his mouth before raising his hands to lightly shake them in the form of digression. He gave a rather amiable smile, “I made not long ago. If it pleases, please feel free to have. I hope it being to you taste and satisfaction. That make me very happy, aru.”[/color]

He glanced around before waving his hand for the Italian to follow, “You come with me, we get you meal and tea, you save those for later, aru.”[/color]

From how the kid had earlier said he didn’t think he’d get to eat today, it sounded like the kid could stand to have a decent meal and take the buns for snacking on later. But of course his secrecy and want of taking the Italian in through the back door instead of to the seats in the front of the restaurant was because he didn’t want any reputation spreading that he was a softy. This was a business and he couldn’t afford to have every hungry person coming here for food, because chances were, he’d feel bad enough he’d actually feed them. As he opened the back door to go into the shop, he paused and turned back toward the Italian that he was expecting to follow. He put his index finger to his lips, with a small smile and whispered, “This be our little secret, aru.”[/color]

[Lovino Vargas]

As if this day didn't have enough surprises. First, Lovino was being given steamed mantou, and by the looks of the fluffy dumpling high class steamed mantou at that. But now... The Italian had just been in the process of taking one of the dumplings out of the bag and shoving it into his mouth when the other's words made him pause. Looking up from the still-steaming bag and its wafting deliciousness, he nodded again to the other. "Of course they'll be to my taste and satisfaction!" he reassured, quirking an even wider smile at the Asian. "You're one of the best chefs in the city! I'm fuckin' lucky to get even one of your delicacies!!" And he was completely serious, he had heard many great things about the restaurant he was 'hiding' behind and he had smelled the food enough times to acknowledge just how good it truly was. Lovino felt extremely lucky to get even just a few dumplings out of the exchange here.

But then he caught the rest of his words and he nearly choked on air. Actually being let inside and fed without having to pay, just because he walked by and looked hungry..? Dio was truly smiling down on that chestnut-head of hair, which was visibly shell-shocked as the small chef beckoned him forward before turning and heading towards the back entrance. Lovino almost wanted to point to himself as if there were a question involved here, but no one else was in the back alley and doing that would just make him look like a complete idiot, essentially just like his younger brother. So slowly, almost reluctantly he trailed after the older man, beginning to feel a bit of suspicion and his common sense warring with his love and need for food. Kind people like this didn't exist, the green-clad brunette tried to tell himself, tightly clutching the bag of dumplings in his hands. Not even Feliciano would be kind enough to let in a stranger who swore at him--well, he wasn't really sure on that, he hadn't seen his brother in ages so maybe he really was? He had to shake his head a little bit to get those thoughts out of his head, fortunately choosing a time when the Chinese man's back was turned so he wouldn't see. Emerald eyes staring down at the food in his hand, Lovino made a decision.

"S-Si, a secret. I can keep those," he replied, offering a slightly crooked grin in response as he more confidently strode after the Asian. Sadly this wasn't the stupidest thing he's ever done, so really, what was the risk? He could get out if he needed to, besides... The chef looked genuinely happy to help, how could he say no when he was being offered food?

[Yao Wang]

The Chinese man lead the way into the back part of the restaurant, sure the Italian had enough common sense to shut the door behind him. As he slipped through the kitchen area, he took bites of the plates the other chefs were making to give them a yes or tell them how to fix it. The other chefs seemed surprisingly uncaring that he had brought a non-staff along with him. But then again, it was his place, so they didn’t really get much say in the matter anyways. Unless of course, they wanted to be in trouble and get demoted back down to dish-washer or worse.

When a busboy came through the swinging doors that lead out to the front, Yao took the dishes from his hands and started talking to him in Mandarin Chinese, telling him to sneak the Italian boy into the cut off VIP area. It wasn’t an area only for important people, but it was an area only used for when people made special reservations to use it. So the Italian getting fed wouldn’t become obvious to the other customers in the store, and it also made it much easier for Yao to converse with the boy politely without having to try and talk over his other guests.

The busboy nodded to Yao and made his way toward the Italian, asking to be followed before leading the way through the back halls to the reserved area. Yao flashed the Italian one last, almost encouraging smile, to let the Italian know it was okay to follow before he set to work on making something for the Italian to eat. He was the one who offered food, so he would feed the boy only food that he made himself. In retrospect, Yao realized he should have asked the Italian what he wanted to be polite, but for starters, he’d pick what to feed the Italian, and then if the Italian was still hungry, the Italian could pick his second dish himself.

After about eleven minutes, the Chinese man finally wandered into the reserved area with a tray. On it was two plates of Sweet and Sour Prawns, two side of rice, and two cups of Jie tea. Whereas Jie Tea was rather expensive… If you asked the chef himself, Yao would admit that he actually preferred much more basic things. He didn’t think that being high-class foods made foods worthwhile. It was the taste that made food and drink worthy. So he would be just as content with any cheap tea as he would this. He figured now was as good a time as any to take his lunch break.

[Lovino Vargas]

As he was led inside the large kitchen, making sure to shut the door behind him just in case it didn't close on its own, Lovino couldn't help his gaze from trailing all over the place. While the layout was definitely traditional the appliances were all state of the art and extremely well-taken care of. The Italian, despite preferring the warmer colors of his own kitchen and its heated terracotta floors, couldn't help but admire the aesthetics evident even in the belly of the restaurant. Other than a few questioning looks in his direction, none of the other workers had questioned the short Chinese man's decision to bring him back here, which surprised Lovino. He would've thought it wasn't allowed to do something like this. Must be a perk of being in charge, he supposed, trailing a bit further behind the short brunette to give the other chefs room to come up and ask for approval on their food. The smells hanging in the air were mouth watering and it was only Lovino's pride that kept him from drooling when any particularly enticing dish passed by.

But before he could catch up and ask the other where exactly he was being taken, the twenty-three year old was cut off by another worker, probably a few years younger than himself, gesturing for the dark-skinned boy to follow. Immediately backing up a step at the sudden appearance, olive green eyes darted over to his guide, who was smiling and nodding as if in encouragement. Warily Lovino offered the slightest nod before cautiously following the busboy. He was led to a small area of the place, and by the way it was set up, it looked like only either very important or very private people were seated back here. ...Now the Italian's hackles were starting to come up, and he sat in his seat perched at the edge, nearly crushing the bag of mantou in one hand while his right was fiddling with a short length of leather string with two carved pieces of chestnut wood at each end. His back was ramrod straight, and he was very alert to his surroundings, just in case this was just a ploy by the Chinese man in order to cover up more...life-threatening circumstances.

But when, after ten minutes on high alert, only the chef returned with a tray of food and drink, the Italian visibly relaxed, though he didn't let go of the soft leather cord. Instead he set the bag of dumplings on the table next to him and looped it around his neck, interlocking the two pendants and then letting it dangle around his neck, resting over his sternum and matching quite well with the dark green of his shirt. "Are you eating too?" He asked once the man was in hearing distance, gesturing to the second set of dishes, looking curious. Lovino was visibly surprised that the chef would be willing to eat with him, all things considered.

[Yao Wang]

Upon hearing the boys question. The Chinese man just nodded his head, silently serving the food. He sat his own plate and glass adjacent to the Italian’s across the table before sitting the tray he’d used to bring the food in on a table next to them before smiling and pulling two fortune cookies from his pocket and sitting them in the middle of the table, “Shi. Is that problem, aru?”[/font]

He pulled his seat out a little before sitting in it and scooting it in. His hands folded in his lap as he waited, it would be rude to dig in before his guest. Even if he did love food enough to be late to important meetings.. The Chinese man stared across the table, curious for his new companions approval or disapproval of the food. Even the Fortune Cookie would be an important indicator.

Despite the fact it would be just as easy, if not easier to order fortune cookies from a company… Yao was far too picky, so the restaurant made their own, and to the dismay of his workers, the fortunes inside were all hand written with brush and ink. But to be honest, Yao also had the bad habit of using them as stress relief when he was irritated… He’d especially make fortune cookies for bad costumers with not so nice fortunes.

But that wasn’t the case for the Italian, luckily. The Chinese man tilted his head and smiled apologetically as he’d realized he’d made a very rude mistake. He stood back up and gave a small bow, “I, Wang Yao, owner, aru. Nice meet you.”[/font]

And with that he sat back down, staring at the food, readily again. But he still kept himself from picking up the chopsticks. Even if he was a glutton, he still had manners. Especially in front of such a polite seeming boy. But that didn’t stop Yao’s motherly side from kicking in and scolding, “You need take good care of self, aru. You important child to someone. They be very distraught if you in bad health, aru. You come here whenever you no able to get food, shi?”[/font]

[Lovino Vargas]

The Chinese man's nod was more than enough of an answer for Lovino, and he settled more comfortably into his chair. Once the plates were set down and the chef was focusing on moving his own meal in front him, the Italian did the same, comfortably setting the chopsticks, rice, and prawns within easy reach before reaching for his tea. But then, when the man spoke up, he shook his head and offered an awkward smile, one that showed he was normally uncomfortable with such friendly expressions. "Non, no problem. You're giving me food, the least I can do is let you eat with me!"

The fortune cookies were barely given a glance, for the moment, as he continued to set his plates just how he wanted them. But he made sure to keep half his attention on his host, who was looking as if he were waiting for the Italian to start eating. But first he wanted to-- Rich green eyes blinked in surprise as the chef introduced himself. But before Lovino could stand up and copy the older man's action and introduce himself, the other was seated again and...nagging him? As well as telling him to return whenever he was in need of lunch? Confusion was blatant on his face now as he sat there, slim hand halfway extended to be shaken. Self consciously he pulled his hand back to his half of the table. "...Ciao, Signore Wang Yao, mi chiamo Lovino Vargas," the brunette mumbled, face twisted down into a frown. "And I'm not important to anyone, so no one will care if I'm in 'bad health'." He scowled, picking up his chopsticks and scooping up a prawn.

[Yao Wang]

The Chinese man was a little shocked to say the least. Not by the person’s name. But what was said before scooping up a prawn was a little disturbing to Yao. He furrowed his eyebrows, frowning thoughtfully. This was not going to leave the man’s conscience. He munched on a prawn himself, deep in thought of how to answer the boy’s words. That just wouldn’t work for him! How could such a young person not have anyone worrying about him? It just was uncalled for! The boy was practically still a child!

It couldn’t be helped. It would just have to be. He’d just have to try and treat this westerner like one of his own siblings. He stuffed another prawn into his mouth and gulped it down before speaking, “I would, aru.”[/color]

He picked up his glass and took a drink before going back to his food. He swallowed before chatting again, “Mr. Vargas… You answer to offer?”[/color]

He smiled, amiably. Waiting for the answer to his offer for the boy to come get food whenever he couldn’t afford to get food on his own. The Asian obviously worried too much about other people. Even if it didn’t show. But he did it in a very manly way of course. He continued to much on his food, thinking about how to make this a more family-seeming atmosphere. And then it hit him, “How you day? Any interesting things, aru?”[/color]

[Lovino Vargas]

It didn't really bother Lovino much to have someone to 'worry' about him. Most people were irritating at the best to the Italian, and he could barely stand being in his brother's company so he certainly didn't count the younger brunette in the scheme of things. His business was his own and when people worried they fussed and got nosy and Lovino hated that, especially when he was trying to keep his work private and out of sight. So to say that he was surprised at the other's offer would be a severe understatement. Letting the second prawn slip from his grasp back onto the plate, he stared at the other for a few seconds even beyond when the man stopped talking. Only the question on Yao's offer snapped him out of his stupor. "U-Um, sure... That's...really nice of you, Mr. Wang. ...If it's not too much trouble I'd like t'take you up on your second offer." Offering another awkward smile, Lovino nodded once before going back to his food, doing his best to ignore the first sentence as best he could. It was impossible for someone to worry about someone else that quickly, the Italian told himself as he finished his second prawn before taking his own drink of tea--not his preferred beverage, but it was there and he was thirsty and it didn't taste awful so why complain?

But then the next two questions had him choking on the tea, immediately lifting his napkin to his mouth so as to not splatter the drink as he started coughing violently. "C-Che cosa?" He wheezed, looking particularly flabbergasted. He hadn't been asked a question like that since he was a child, back when he was like, ten. Hearing it again from a Chinese chef that had essentially kidnapped him(not that Lovino had struggled any) off the street and was now feeding him some of the best prawns he's ever had. ...Why was he surprised? That was probably the most normal thing to have come up in this whole surrreal situation. Once he'd fully recovered his ability to breath he continued to stare for a moment before replying with, "...My day has been...odd. I've been 'taken in' by a Mr. Wang Yao who's feeding me because I looked hungry. I think that's pretty damn "interesting", si?" Lovino topped off his last question with the faintest curl of his lips as he bit into another prawn.

[Yao Wang]

He nodded his head happily at the other’s acceptance of his proposal but flinched back at the sudden coughing fit. And then the answer. The Chinese man ate his prawns, quietly listening and reflecting on his actions. He had pulled the poor boy in like some thug… But the boy didn’t seem too upset at him, surprisingly enough.

He smiled back, apologetically, “Shi, very eventful day… Forgive me, I did no get you attention correctly, aru.”[/font]

The Chinese man, put another prawn in his mouth, once again, like he always does before he speaks, he ceremoniously sits his chopsticks down on the edge of the dish. He swallowed and glanced up at the Italian, trying to form more dinner conversation in his head. Something that wasn’t too intruding, but seemed familial and warm enough.

He finally settled on a generic question, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t asking out of concern, “How you have been, aru?”[/font]

The Chinese man finished off his plate and drink and opened his fortune cookie, he read it and scoffed. He’d gotten one of his generic ones. He tossed the paper aside, onto his plate, and munched on the fortune cookie. He was much more interested in the food than reading his own, ‘fortune comes to those who work for it.’

[[Sorry, wifey. I couldn’t think of much. X-x]]

[Lovino Vargas]

"...Could've been worse, don't worry about it," Lovino mumbled dismissively, tossing his last prawn into his mouth and enjoying the taste of the shellfish. It was rare he found decent seafood, even something like prawns, so he was glad to take a moment to savor the flavor before continuing. "I mean, the first time I met my business partner, he nearly broke my arm so it's not like I haven't had people kidnapping me before." Since he had finished with the 'main dish', Lovino set the empty plate to the side so that he could finish off the last several bites of rice. He was still hungry, but the Italian knew not to push goodwill too far; if you did you always ended up losing your 'benefactor's' good graces and he enjoyed this food far too much to risk it.

Pausing in his eating to take a sip of tea, green eyes turned back up to the Chinese man. Yao was now giving him this weird look while asking how he's been, and...well, it was weird to hear people asking about that. No one ever did, really. "...I've been fine, work has been slow so I don't have much money for food right now," He replied with a careless shrug, deciding that he may as well entertain the rare moment before it was gone. "After putting everything into payin' the outrageous bills and taxes the Government has set out I barely have enough for a few days' worth of groceries and my next job isn't for another two weeks." This was stated rather carelessly, as if the promise of no food wasn't a bother to Lovino. "I have a garden at home, but nothing's ripe just yet so I can't eat anything from there." But ooooh, the tomatoes he has have been coming in so nicely, the dark-complected man knew that they would turn out absolutely delicious, but just thinking about them in full ripeness was making his stomach growl.

Ignoring the rumblings for more food, Lovino reached over to the now-noticed fortune cookie, looking vaguely interested in what it was going to tell him. Probably some lame quote about how "his dreams coming true'. As he cracked the golden-brown pastry open, green eyes never left Yao's. He may as well try to be a little polite and reciprocate the question. "A-And what about you? Life treating you alright?"

((No, it's fine~ *snugs* Don't worry about it~))