Very rare pairing, inspired by, of all things, the 'Spices from the West' event in 3.5. I checked out her teapot dialogue after, re-read her voicelines, and this is the result.
Liyue Harbor- a city governed by laws and contracts first and foremost, as any citizen would be able to tell you. However, such a system is anything but rigid, new developments occur on the regular. Changes between companies and partnerships are common…however the most delicate of all changes occur within oneself.
And so our story begins with a young Pyro user experiencing just that:
"Xiangling! Where's the soup to table eight?!" Over the multitude of people discussing who-knows-what, the head chef's voice is heard.
"C-Coming Dad!" Using her honed instincts and trained footwork, the chef in question emerges from the back doors, nimbly avoiding legs- both table and man- while holding a bowl of steaming hot soup, one that strongly smells of fish. Specifically, it's Xiangling's own creation, the pride of the chef's young career: Black-Back Perch Soup, mixed with around 10 slices of Jueyun Pepper and topped off with a handful of pepper. It's quite a potent dish as you might image, requiring good fortune from the harbor to even be available. Xiangling even dubs said perch 'the catch of the day' as it were, announcing it to everyone in the restaurant when she can. Humorously, nobody would believe who was responsible for the actual gathering of the ingredients- a sentient small bear who used to be a fellow god. But it is of little concern, especially as Xiangling was the one who actually cooked the dinner.
What kind of place even has the chef pull double duty like this anyway? Wanmin Restaurant of course. The dinner rush is prime time after all, all hands on deck and all that. Xiangling cooks and delivers, Chef Mao - her dad - takes the order and the Mora and generally handles the business side of the restaurant, and Guoba (the aforementioned bear) keeps the supply train a-rolling. This has been the way of their family ever since she came back from the Liyue mountains as a child- with Gouba as a new friend, godhood unknown. And now, years later, it's more efficient than ever.
Well, on a normal day anyway.
"Table Eight…tabbbble eiiiight~ ….there it is…"
"…Ah!"
But this day is about to get very… not normal.
…T-That's…! No- but…!
Now within sight of her destination, Xiangling looks ahead…and freezes up. Yes, Xiangling freezes. Her inner voice splits into two. One says to keep going, deliver the dinner, and move on. A shame then, that it's completely swarmed by another voice- spouting out things so unbelievable, she almost can't comprehend their words.
Xiangling, don't you dare deliver that. Are you insane?
Do you feel that soup?! You flooded it with pepper so much- It's hotter than Gouba's flame breath!
And it's spicy too…waaaaay too spicy for him! You've got adventuring before, has he actually enjoyed any of your super-charged dishes?
Recall your journeys and think about it…
This looks absurd to any onlooker. Waiters and waitresses aren't supposed to stop on a dime like she's currently doing. Eyes turn to her, noses crinkle up, 'uhhh's are whispered. And Xiangling doesn't even notice, recalling instead.
Triple Spicy Bass and Beef Stew last month, Jeuyun Chili Slime Hot Pot three weeks ago, Sweet and Salty Pyro Goulash two weeks ago- he's NEVER asked for seconds…
"But…" Xiangling whispers aloud. "The customer is always right..right?"
Sigh…Look, he clearly doesn't like your hot food, we know this.
He's probably just being polite, ordering 'our' signature dish. Doesn't know what he's getting himself into~
"It's his choice…"
Yes it is, just like it's also his choice to run out of here screaming bloody murder from the pepper.
You serve him this and that's exactly what's going to happen, mark our words.
He'll….he'll hate it.
"H-Hate it…? He will…?"
Absolutely, he will. And that means…..he'll hate you too.
So by all means, give the dish to him and ruin your friendship. Watch, just don't some crying to me after!
Those irrational thoughts plague her, making the young adult die in her mind. A stone completely lodged in the stream of moving customers, ones that aren't too happy about dodging a mid-air bowl of spice if their visible stink eyes at Xiangling are anything to go by. But it's meaningless to her, she barely registers the rabble's existence. Instead she's focused on just one guy at the end of the room, sitting "alone" by himself (but not actually).
And who's this "one guy"? Well, the familiar blonde hair and golden eyes that make Xiangling feel weak in the knees do a wonderful job filtering most of the people in the harbor, and the crop top, earpiece, and small floating child next to him provide some unneeded follow-up. It's none other than Aether, traveler from afar, hero of Liyue, defeater of the wrathful beast Osiel, conquerer of all of her unique dishes, and…and so many other titles that Xiangling would just like to slap onto him. But not literally slap him!
…Unless he wanted her to of course!
Wait, what is she talking about…?
….Anyway, she actually first met him back in Mondstadt- Springvale of all places. And for whatever reason, she has not been able to forget Aether since. Was it the fact that he used the power of Anemo without needing a Vision? Nah, can't be, she doesn't care two bits about those things. How about the fact that he tries all of her creations? Well, Gouba does that too- and having people try them isn't a problem anyway. What about him going with her to gather ingredients? Except, no, again. Chongyun and Xingqiu do the same- ok, she has to force the former to come with more often than not, but still!
If pressed, she would say that the initial meeting solidified their friendship. He was so helpful, assisting with her preparation at the Springvale Cooking Competition (name pending legal challenges) despite just meeting her. How could she ever forget such a friendly, helpful, kind, smart, wonderful, mature, cute, inspiring, dreamy, heroic, oh-I-just-want-to-run-my-fingers-through-that-perfect-golden-head-…..! ….ahem. Uh yeah! She could never forget Aether now.
Could that be why she secretly cheered after he mentioned he would stay in Liyue for a while? Or why she was so happy throughout the entirety of the Moonchase Festival? Aether was by her side after all….
I'm….not sure, but I do know that I enjoy being with him. Gathering ingredients, cooking, taste-tasting, eating…plus with Paimon, it's always lively too! Though sometimes I wish she would…
She looks back up, past the livid beyond belief adult staring daggers in front of her, towards the blonde and his floating friend. They seem to be having fun, oblivious to her stare, chatting the day away. Xiangling begins to get a strange feeling in her gut….it's not pleasant, she knows that. But what is it….? Sadness? No, impossible why-
"MISS MAO!"
"Eagh!" Tremendous instincts are shown off here as she recoils from the sudden shout, but the bowl she's holding only slightly shifts to one side before stabilizing with her regained balance. Even the Yuheng would have a nasty spill here, or so Xiangling believes. But she blinks back to reality and sees something crazy- someone shouting at her, like actually shouting. In an 'so-mad-I'm about-five-seconds-away-from-exploding-like-a-Pyro-Slime' kind of way. She tilts her head at the voice.
"HEY! Take that infernal dish to whoever wants it already! The spice is getting in my eyes!" If Xiangling wanted (and cared enough), she might be able to recall this man's identity...the proper clothes he's wearing maybe means he works for the Millelith...hm, his jet-black hair is tidy and combed over too… Definitely someone with a "proper" job. Coming here from a long day at the office no doubt, and with his visible irritation, not very appreciative of a hot meal like this wafting over to his table.
But now Xiangling is stuck. Giving Aether this bowl of….flaming-hot death is out of the question, but this guy is making her do it.
And now they've caused such a commotion (they have? More like he has), people are starting to look this way.
Including Aether, if Paimon's turning back is any indicator.
…Including Aether?!
Oh no! Oh no no no no! If he sees me with this food…!
Erm, uh, ah…..- got it!
"SIR!" She shouts back, stunning him with a VERY forced smile. "There's been a mistake! Please accept this dish as an apology! It's today's special- Black-Back Perch Soup!" She thrusts the plate into shaky arms.
"Wha- NO! I don't-"
"Ah ah ah~ It's on the house! Thanks, bye~!" She releases it and dashes back, as fast as she can !
"Wh-" But his pleading falls on deaf ears, for two reasons.
One, Xiangling is already past her father, sprinting to the kitchen.
But two….the bottom of the bowl - with the boiling soup, spice and pepper- touches bare skin.
….."H-H-H-HOOOAAAHHTT!"
And severely burns it on contact~
There is no hope at this point. The bowl crashes against the man, drops get on his expensive suit, he screams again, recoiling, and Xiangling's signature dish goes splat against the table.
A complete success! Everyone's attention- including a certain fairy and traveler- focus on the ranting, pained, furious man, Xiangling's mistake totally unknown.
Meanwhile, back at the head chef's area…
"X-Xiangling?!" He cries out as his daughter whizzes past.
"SorryDad, I made a mistake, I'llberightback!"
The doors of the back entrance slam open and closed in record speed. Chef Mao manages a word- 'what' - Then he's cut off, as the anguished cries of someone reaches his ears. Ones that are only getting louder….and more frantic…
And the cause of this?
"Out of the way everyone, Paimon will help! Let's see here…."
"Oh, his skin is turning white! Maybe he's getting sick!"
"What do you do when you get sick Paimon?"
"Heheh, Paimon eats~ In fact, there's some soup here! Open wide, random Liyue guy!"
"N-….NOOOO!"
That's the last word Chef Mao hears before he springs, rushing over to the growing crowd. But despite his confident actions, there's a nagging voice in his mind, and he can already tell it won't be going away anytime soon.
After all.
His daughter doesn't make mistakes.
-0-