[Video] Kazoo 1

[ayao]

[Since he enjoys cooking, he can be found in the kitchen, following through on the chore set for his team. While he waits on various ingredients to thaw, he addresses the train as a whole:]

To those who are new to our ranks, welcome. To those who have lost loved ones, I hope my soup will bring you some comfort.

[His hands are light and gentle as he adds broth into a pot. He is also good with a knife. A little too good.]

My name is Meng Yao and I am happy to keep you company if you feel lonely. I know many stories that could, for a time, distract you from your pain.

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[ayao]

[What a nice surprise! Meng Yao smiles and makes room for Xingchen immediately.]

Please! I would like your company, Daozhang Xingchen.

[stardustofdawn]

[he enters the kitchen, wearing an apron and he has his hair all tied up, then get to work on boiling the rice]

It can get busy especially during meal times. There's a lot of people and children to feed. What were you making?

[ayao]

Soup from scratch with plenty of chicken and vegetables. Rice would pair nicely with it.

[He has braided his hair back too and there is an apron tied around his waist. There's no need to be too messy.]

[stardustofdawn]

[with a thoughtful look]

Soup from scratch. We could put some vegetables in it. I know it sounds very poor, but carrots, opinions, and potatoes will be good to put into the soup.

[what he meant by poor, he lives in Yi city on meager savings ;;]

[ayao]

Simple dishes warm the heart and keep well if we have any leftovers.

[He lived on the cheapest of bread and vegetables once. After his mother died, it wasn't like he could stay in the brothel.]

I have carrots, onions, potatoes, celery...

[stardustofdawn]

Those sound good to add. I'm starting to read a lot in the recipe books. So if you like, I suggest adding some seasonings to the soup. I learned my dishes were bland for a taste from experience.

[in the meanwhile, he rolls up his sleeves to bring out a pan and spatula over the stove and start cracking eggs]

I'll make fried rice and omelettes. A lot of kids like that dish and goes well with the soup.

[ayao]

Mm let's see... I have some basil, some rosemary... [The soup needn't be overly flavorful. Meng Yao would rather it be comforting instead of exciting.]

A fine idea, Daozhang. You have a keen understanding of children, I have noticed.

[stardustofdawn]

Basil and rosemary. Those are good herbs for the soup.

[He shakes his head and smiles sadly]

I'll try. The train is full of them and they look so happy. Some of them are sad though because on platform day, a friend can leave them and they're gone and not coming back. Some of them have families and some do not. I'll do what I can for them.

[it won't be long until he finished plates of fried rice and omelets served on the side and he'll keep making it until the soup is ready]

[ayao]

I thought as much.

[The way the daozhang speaks makes him think of...everyone. Not just the children.]

Do you see the adults as children too? Our situation is like theirs yet we must be strong. We mustn't cry or lose our wits.

[The herbs are added to the broth and he lets everything steep.]

It really is difficult being grown.

[stardustofdawn]

I think so. I grew up lonely in a sect where everyone is an orphan. I don't remember my birthplace and don't have a title attached. Just my name and myself.

Grown-ups are children too once, yes. [For him, the years where he was blind and now he could see, during those years, he felt the years are lost and missing]

[softly] Yes, yes it was...but I'm looking forward to growing a little older. It's a nice feeling to have something to look forward to.

[And for him to say that, it's a lot...]

[ayao]

I'm sorry, Daozhang. You deserve a family and a home to call your own.

[Instead he is on a train to the gods know where cooking with a man who will one day play a hand in his misery and death.]

What else do you look forward to? I'm not sure what I should seek anymore. My dreams have been crushed.

[He laughs to offset the harsh truth of his words, yet the truth remains. Hard. Immovable.]

[stardustofdawn]

[train is still not a bad place to be!] Oh, I already have a family. There's A-Qing [smart girl gets adopted by Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji], Xue Yang, and...Song Lan back home. I'll never see Song Lan again as long I'm here, but it's fine. [he'll deal, it's fine, an ebbing pain, but he focus on redeeming and saving Xue Yang's soul and himself] I just wish Zichen is here to see that I could see, and that would be a gift.

[he contemplate on his question and thought about it]

Is there anyone you love here or back home? What would be your perfect dream?

[ayao]

[Xue Yang. His lips twitch, irony and bitterness carefully contained behind the small smile. The man had been stupid. He could have had everything he ever wanted with Xingchen if he had played his cards right.]

There is a chance he could turn up. [He slices up some bread and adds some butter.] ...I...

[Yes. He is head over heels for Lan Xichen...and Nie Mingjue. But what can he do? He murders one and ostracizes the other.]

I want to live in peace with good men. I would really rather not be treated like...I don't matter...again.

[stardustofdawn]

[Xingchen understand Xue Yang, they were right for each other. Perhaps it's a soulmate thing]

Ah, thank you for the concern, but...I will never see Song Lan again. If the train decides to let me go back, then he won't see me like this. This train gives me life and...it's only borrowed time. I can only wish to see him again here or wait out and reborn in another lifetime.

[He hasn't murder anyone on the train in the present] I think you do matter and we are at peace, are we not?

Even if you have nothing to look forward to, carry a wish in your heart. It's what kept me going. I wish everyone's wishes do come true. Mine did. I wish for your dreams too.

[ayao]

[Isn't that nice for his murderous friend!]

That's what I meant. He could be waiting to board at one of these stops. I would use my time wisely with him if I were you.

[Much how he is attempting to do with Xichen.]

For the time being. [He sets the bread on a plate and carries it to the table.]

Daozhang, you are incredibly kind and I am honored you would think of me, but I was the one who ruined my wish.

[stardustofdawn]

If there's a chance, even slim, I would do so. I am hoping and praying even if my luck hasn't been good as of late.

[The soup and bread looks really good and yummy, but putting together a dinner and meal is hard work! He can sense the man's guilt and regret. He's not sure if his advice is any good...]

It's not too late to fix it even if it's broken. With the time you have, you should tell them how you feel without regret.

[ayao]

How can I help make your luck better? [He knows he has a lot of work to do if he wishes to balance out his future sins. If they can be balanced out.]

I have tried. It's difficult because they are from my future.

[stardustofdawn]

My luck...? [That's very sweet, but for him, it's complicated] I don't think punching the train to help me find Zichen will help, especially when it ask me and Xue Yang to go on missions for its cause.

Oh...I know that's difficult. [He and Xue Yang don't have a future] It's going to be okay. Let's forget our troubles and eat this wonderful meal you made.

Just for today, let go of worry.

[ayao]

Are you concerned about how Daozhang Zichen will react to Xue Yang? [He can imagine that will be difficult.] I'm not strong enough to punch a train, but I am good at learning and listening.

[Meng Yao catalogues any weaknesses he finds - any inconsistencies. Maybe he will discover a way to draw Song Lan to them?]

Agreed. [His features soften and he bows to the other man.] Thank you.

[stardustofdawn]

Oh no, don't do that or I'll see to it that I'll treat your hand in the medic car as a patient.

[at his question, his heart jumps, speeding up]

No, it's not that. I had seen Xue Yang changed and I'm starting to have feelings for him, and he promised not to hurt him. I'm more concerned that I'm going to break his heart when I really don't want to exclude him.

[With that explanation, he nods and sits to finally wind down, slow down his workaholic mind and...eat in the same space as him]

You're welcome.

[ayao]

I wouldn't mind being under your care.

[Is he flirting? Oh maybe slightly. He, like Xue Yang, is inexorably drawn to good men and he likes being in their favor.]

Then be open with him and honest. Don't try to hide how you feel.

[The situation sounds akin to his connection with Xichen and Mingjue. Jealousy can't be avoided, but it can be tempered.]

[stardustofdawn]

You'll get hurt anyway, so don't go punching trains. [He means that in good faith.

It's sweet of him to flirt, but he knows Xue Yang is possessive and...he's potentially dangerous when he gets jealous and angry, and he was in the past driven by revenge. Even though now he's in a pure, innocent state free from his sins now, Xingchen's heart is gentle and strong, and steady, and the love he has for him is solid]

We don't have much to look forward to. He's really driven to fulfill his missions. One day, when the train has enough of us and we fulfill it's a purpose, it will...it will send us back home.

So I told him while we have the time left and given, while I have time.

[ayao]

I shall try not to. [His lips twitch, amusement warming him from head to toe. If only the dear daozhang knew of his history with Xue Yang. But it might be best if he doesn't.]

Or it could send us to another world. That is a possibility, Daozhang.

[Poor Xingchen. Meng Yao sighs and rests a hand on the man's arm.]

Be strong. We cannot determine our fate, but we can make the most of the days we are given.

[stardustofdawn]

[Xingchen by his nature is too faithful to his detriment. It's perhaps why Xue Yang has no fear, not even death or dying, other than loosing him should the train send him away back to his time, where he is dead by his own mistake and regret]

Do you think it could? I wonder what other worlds are like. I hope in some of them, I managed to live long enough and come back.

[Even he isn't sure of himself]...I'll try.