#// first time writing her and wow i love this feral spook child

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@heartsaked​ asked: though interacting with hu tao always managed to bring about a lot of mixed reactions from those she knew within liyue ( though many did seem to have a more, less than pleasant reaction ), xiangling didn’t feel like that should stop her from trying to do something special for the funeral parlor director’s birthday. it wasn’t like she was close friends with her, like with xingqui and chongyun. unless one always being scared out of their wits so easily with the mere mention of a ‘boo!’ counted as a sign of friendship, then maybe xiangling was sort of her friend. yet despite the pranks hu tao liked to play, she wasn’t as annoyed with her as some others. at least there was always something she got out of it too. specifically fermented plum blossoms for her flower cakes.

the decision on the young chef’s part to make something for hu tao to eat for her birthday wasn’t much of a surprise, as making food was clearly just something that she enjoyed. but this new dish she had created was definitely going to be extraordinary! and all because xiangling came up with the perfect idea that would reflect hu tao perfectly from the flavor and presentation alone. she even searched throughout all of liyue to get what she needed. it just had to be perfect.

after spending many hours in the kitchen of the wanmin restaurant, xiangling was content with the end result and was on her way to look for hu tao. or perhaps, it should’ve been that hu tao had a way of finding her. how she did it? well xiangling would never know, but of course the sound of that familiar ‘boo!’ found itself startling the poor girl, jumping a bit in surprise and almost made xiangling drop the meal she had worked so hard on. luckily for her, she hadn’t.

turning to face hu tao, the girl huffed out at her in slight annoyance, cheeks puffed out before shaking her head. “hu tao! that wasn’t funny.” not like that was going to stop her from doing so, but at least xiangling could try. with a shake of her head, xiangling offered up the dish to hu tao with a small smile. “anyway, maybe it’s a good thing you ran into me. i spent most of today making this for you! it is your birthday after all and i thought you should get a chance to try this very exclusive dish!”

the cheerfulness in her tone of voice returned, already putting aside the fact that hu tao had pranked her only moments prior. “hopefully it makes you jump in surprise as much as you make me jump. happy birthday, hu tao.”

Happy Birthday Hu Tao! | July 15th

The laughter that escapes Hu Tao is fluttering; falling from her like a waterfall as a painted hand brushing over her lips as though to hold the sound in. Xiangling was proving to be one of her favorite victims, and not just because her reactions were always hilarious. ( Although that was a pretty big part of it. )

“Ah, i’m sorry! So sorry, Xiangling!” Hands are pressed in front of her as she offers her apology, although the grin stealing her lips completely nullifies how genuine it was. At this point in time though, she was sure her friend already had an idea. “You were just there like a sitting duck! I couldn’t help myself... forgive me?”

There was another reason for her visiting the restaurant and the girl before her, although as red eyes flickered down to the dish in her hands, she could see that Xiangling had already beaten her to the punch. Delight colors her expression, light laughter fluttering from her lips. “You remembered!!” Hands are already reaching out for the dish, taking it in her own hands as she holds it up to her face, inspecting it closely. She knew all about the chef’s eccentric ways of making her dishes, about how she could use just about anything around her for the sake of cuisine; and make it all work together no matter what it was.

It was one of the reasons why Hu Tao loved coming to Wanmin when Xiangling was sure to be there: and now she was being given an exclusive dish that no one else has tried first!

“Aiyah, you spoil me so.” If she could hug it to her chest, she surely would, but as it stood, she grins up to her friend excitedly; more laughter escaping her. “I love it! It’s almost a shame that I’m going to have to eat it... but it’d be even more of a shame to let it go to waste!

“Please join me while I have my first bite. I was planning on asking you if you would like to come and share some tea with me for my birthday anyway. You have no room to refuse -- it is my birthday after all!” She’s light on her feet, moving around the chef towards one of the private dining rooms, excited to sink her chopsticks into the meal. “Come on!”