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Ji looked up from her focused chopping of leeks to see something of a commotion around the narrow door to the tiny, steamy kitchen. She frowned, assuming it was some interpersonal drama and it would break up soon, but the three workers lingered, gawking out at the patio beyond the kitchen and whispering intently to each other.
She sighed and put down the knife, stalking over to the door and swatting the nearest server on the back of the head. “What are you doing?” she said crossly “If there’s someone new out there, you should be taking them something to eat.”
The three didn’t even have the grace to look chagrined. Instead Hou, the youngest and a distant cousin of Ji’s, grabbed her sleeve and pointed. “Yes, auntie, but look!” she drew Ji forward, pointing out at the tables, and immediately she understood why her people had been behaving so. She couldn’t help but stand and gawk as well.
There was. . . someone, she supposed, at one of the tables. They wore clothing, at any rate, such strange clothing, and she assumed that meant they were a person and not an animal. Their face looked a little like those of the multitude of feral cats that made their homes in New Kaineng, but that wasn’t really all that close a comparison.
They were enormous , for one. At least as tall as any of the tengu, and far more solidly built than most of the bird-like people. They had horns , and a long sweeping tail that curled politely around the legs of the chair. The chair itself looked comically small beneath them, though it bore their likely not inconsiderable weight admirably. They had certainly seen the workers and now Ji as well, nearly black eyes set into a long, rusty-furred face focused on the cluster of them patiently. Their tufted ears - four of them - were swept forward alertly, and Ji couldn’t help but fear they heard everything the little group was saying even over the noise of the city.
And a creature the likes of which she’d never seen lay at their feet, something that looked like a cross between a lumpy lizard, a boar, and a split log. It had jagged gray scales and a wild mane of white fur, and the bizarre reddish protrusions that bracketed its face did little to hide sizeable fangs. It did not look like something she’d want to be anywhere near. Neither of them did, really.
Despite the fearsome appearance, both sat with polite patience. The person’s hands - terrifyingly clawed - were clasped neatly on the table before them, huge paw-like feet flat on the ground with the tip of their long tail resting over their toes. They seemed perfectly relaxed, and as far as she could tell from here, perfectly pleasant. They certainly didn’t seem bothered by the blatant stares of the handful of other patrons scattered about the patio.
“My,” she finally said, sounding a bit strangled even to herself. They might have looked terrifying, but she didn’t get the sense they were anything but an eager customer, looking for a meal. Well, whoever they were and whatever they looked like, if that was their desire they certainly wouldn’t be leaving here hungry. Not on Ji’s life.
She took a deep breath, glancing at her workers. She was tempted to send a couple of them back into the kitchen to at least keep an eye on things, but her broths were simmering contentedly and the preparation of vegetables would keep for a minute. Besides, she doubted a team of oxen could drag them away from this sight at the moment.
She glared at them all anyway, just on principle, then turned and marched out onto the patio with her head held high. She was not a tall woman, so the cat-like person at the table absolutely towered over her as she approached, but she’d served odd folks before and this one seemed nothing but polite. When in doubt, she’d learned, act like everything was completely normal and usually things sorted themselves out.
“Good afternoon,” she said warmly, bowing slightly to the person “Welcome. Are you looking for something to eat?”
The person bowed back, bending their head and shoulders in a graceful movement. “Yes,” they said, their voice low and warm and with a bit of a burr to it “I haven’t been in New Kaineng long, though, and I’m not really sure what sorts of food are best. Do you have any recommendations?”
Ji stared for a moment. Only years of professionalism kept her from bursting out laughing at the person’s mention of being new here. That could not have been more obvious. She was very curious as to where they had come from, but that was a question that could wait until after they were fed. They seemed pleasant and articulate, at any rate. The accent was a bit strange, but no stranger than. . . everything else about them.
Thankfully, the question was a comfortable one for her, and with familiar territory reached she gave a broad smile and quickly rattled off a list of options, complete with asides for her personal favorites. They asked questions, Ji gave answers, and in just a few moments it felt like a perfectly normal interaction. She assured her new patron that their meal would be out soon, and bustled back to the kitchen. There was work to do.
Her workers still clustered around the door, and she raised an eyebrow at them. “Well, back to it,” she said pointedly, shooing them away. Hou joined her in the kitchen to help, and the other two went about tidying the patio and checking in with the other patrons.
She put extra effort into the meal she prepared for the newcomer, intending to impress. Chatter flowed between her workers as they bustled in and out of the kitchen, enough for her to glean some information. There had been rumors of strange visitors to Cantha, people from the far north. She hadn’t paid much attention before now, but it seemed there was some merit to all the hearsay after all. It seemed the best explanation for their unexpected visitor.
She brought the finished meal out herself, setting dish after steaming dish proudly before the newcomer. “I hope you enjoy,” she said with feeling, bowing slightly.
The newcomer bowed back again. “It looks delicious,” they said, huge dark eyes focused intently on the large bowl before them, and Ji watched in fascination as their nostrils flared curiously “Smells delicious too.”
She beamed, pleased, and watched with anticipation as the newcomer tried their meal. They looked impressed and delighted, insofar as Ji could tell from their strange facial features. “It’s really good,” they said, bending over the bowl to eat more eagerly.
Ji beamed at them again, delighted herself at the praise and obvious enjoyment. It was a strange day, but she was very pleased with how this unexpected encounter was turning out. That just left one small matter.
She turned to cast a baleful look around at the rest of her guests. Most of them were people she saw here at least once a week, usually more, and almost all of them had spent the entire exchange - and the one prior - staring with rapt attention. They were clearly as startled by this newcomer as Ji and her people had been initially, but that did not excuse rudeness.
She cleared her throat loudly, catching a few eyes when they turned to look. At her pointed expression, the remaining patrons quickly turned back to their own cooling meals, murmuring amongst themselves and doing their best to mind their business. Ji folded her arms, continuing to glare around for a moment to make sure there were no more lingering stares.
She heard a huffing laugh from behind her and turned back to the newcomer. “You didn’t have to do that,” they said, amused “I’m kind of used to it at this point.”
Ji sniffed, unimpressed. “They were being unforgivably rude to an honored guest,” she said primly “They should know better.” She shot a last glance around the patio for good measure, then smiled at the newcomer “Despite their rudeness, please know you are always welcome. My name is Ji. Please come any time, and we’ll make sure you’re fed all you can eat.” She bowed, straightening with a smile.
The person once more followed suit, if a bit awkwardly from how they sat hunched eagerly over their bowl. “Vayiuu, of Ashford, and this is Etrigan” they responded warmly, gesturing to the creature at her feet “Thank you. I have some friends who will be happy to know of this place as well. And I am sorry for the disturbance.” They made a helpless gesture, encompassing themself and their creature.
Ji waved the apology off “It’s no trouble at all. We are happy to have you, and your friends. We’ll make sure you get all the food you need.” She gave a decisive nod. Her visitor might be strange and a little frightening, but that didn’t matter at all. They were a pleasant visitor in need of feeding, and if this was their first real taste of New Kaineng cuisine she would make sure it was an excellent one.