[The food here is more American or European style than Chinese, but that could just be this one establishment. Maybe she'll find something a bit more traditional somewhere else. For now, though, this is far from too different to deal with. Most importantly, nothing here reminds her of Inchoate cuisine in any way. Any sign of the aliens that have controlled her life being here would cause her to bolt. A total lack of signs of them has her breathing easier.

It's nice to get to just do what normal people do, just stand here and mull over options and talk like normal humans would be able to anywhere on Earth. Usually when Li is in a place like this she's acting as someone's bodyguard and doesn't get to actually buy things for herself.]

It's an acquired taste. I like it, but I like most things - I don't really have much I can't stand the taste of, except cornbread and corn buns. That's a texture thing, I think. [Things shouldn't be both gritty and soft. One or the other, but not both.

She orders a pot of cinnamon black tea to split between them, and a doughnut for herself. Not the powdered sugar kind - those are messes waiting to happen - but one of the 'old fashioned' ones, fried and lightly glazed but not too sugary.] I can pay you back for this. Probably. Eventually.

[Once she's gotten the hang of how things work here, anyway.]