Pride & Procrastination (Mingjue) [COMPLETED]

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Jul 27, 2020 19:54:29 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 27, 2020 19:54:29 GMT -8

Meng Yao shifted in his chair, trying to get comfortable as he flipped through his book. The campus cafe had been his compromise to himself. He wanted coffee, hence the cafe but he hadn't wanted to go too far, which is why he was still on campus instead of at Philz.

The cafe had regular cafe tables and chairs, but it also had some comfy, plush chairs over in a corner, this is where he'd staked out. His laptop sat on the table in front of him, a document open with a multitude of articles and sources. He was supposed to be writing a paper but wanted to make sure he had absolutely everything up and ready before starting. He'd never been a slow and steady racer, he would do the mad dash all at once.

After assessing his situation he thought he might be just about ready to start his paper, but he was missing something. Coffee. He went up to the barista and ordered an undertow as well as a large iced coffee. He'd need something to get him started and something to keep him going. I really don't want to write this paper right now. He thought to himself. Can I have a distraction please? An excuse to not work on it?

Nie Mingjue

edited Aug 9, 2020 11:40:29 GMT -8 by Redeim

Nie Mingjue

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Jul 27, 2020 20:22:44 GMT -8

Post by Nie Mingjue on Jul 27, 2020 20:22:44 GMT -8

Mingjue had woken up later than he'd meant to that day, and he'd not had time for enough tea or food before he left for his classes. He'd also not thought to grab something to bring with him, a sure sign that he needed more food and tea. It left him with one option if he didn't want to go home during his awkward break between classes, which he didn't because that was a good way to end up getting caught up in something that needed to be done around the house.

This left him with one viable option, the campus cafe, and their acceptable not not great tea, and some sort of sandwich.

He thought he saw someone over in the corner who looked like Meng Yao as he went up to the front to order, but for the moment, he was focused on his goal of tea and food. Once he had placed his order, he stood near the counter where it would come out and looked around.

He was pretty sure that was in fact Meng Yao at one of the comfortable seats in the corner. He wasn't sure where things stood entirely since that weekend, but he tried to catch the other man's eye and give him a small wave to see if Meng Yao would be encouraging about him coming to sit with him.

Meng Yao

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Jul 27, 2020 20:34:53 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 27, 2020 20:34:53 GMT -8

Meng Yao downed his undertow like it was a shot from of alcohol. He had to do a double take as he thought he saw Mingjue. Oh shit, he did see Mingjue.

Why do you see fit to answer my prayers with things like this? Why not my prayer to win the lottery or be free of my mother? No, you decide to to grant me with the cute guy I made a fool of myself in front of last week, he thought to whoever was listening. Then again, there aren't many cute guys I haven't made myself a fool of myself in front of.

He waved to Mingjue and invited him over. Did he really want to see him? No, but he wasn't going to let his pride get in the way of their friendship. Plus it seemed like Mingjue had had some crappy people ditch him in the past, Meng Yao didn't want to be one of them. Also, he might owe the other man a sweater, because he stole it after he left his house.

Nie Mingjue

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Jul 27, 2020 20:41:52 GMT -8

Post by Nie Mingjue on Jul 27, 2020 20:41:52 GMT -8

Mingjue smiled when Meng Yao waved him over, grabbing his sandwich and his jasmine green tea and taking them over to the table where Meng Yao had set up camp. He found a spot on the table to wedge his cup and plate across from Meng Yao's sprawl of things, and contemplated what was scattered across the table.

He asked, "Are you studying? I've got a break between my classes and needed some food and tea, but I don't want to keep you from your work if you need to work on it. I'd be happy for the company though."

He added tentatively, with another smile at Meng Yao, trying to be encouraging, "I didn't expect to see you here. Not that I come here super often, so it's not a surprise that we've not run into each other here before."

He was a little bit nervous, not sure that Meng Yao really wanted him to be there, and hopefully he'd given Meng Yao an out if the other man needed to be studying or just not stuck sharing space with him right then.

Meng Yao

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Jul 27, 2020 21:13:08 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 27, 2020 21:13:08 GMT -8

Meng Yao quickly shut his laptop and moved things over so Mingjue had space, "I was trying to avoid writing a paper. I had just prayed to the gods for a reason to procrastinate and lo and behold there you were shining like a beacon in front of me," he reached his hand out dramatically. Oh yeah, he seemed to always act a fool in front of Mingjue.

"This is not my normal haunt either, so I wouldn't see you here even if you were a regular. My class was cancelled and I didn't want to go back home only to come back again for my next class, so cafe," he explained.

He crossed his legs and sat back in his chair, watching Mingjue and debating what to say next. Did he bring up their last encounter? It was embarrassing, but wasn't it rude to not say anything?

Nie Mingjue

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Jul 27, 2020 21:23:37 GMT -8

Post by Nie Mingjue on Jul 27, 2020 21:23:37 GMT -8

Mingjue was glad that Meng Yao seemed less of balance than last time he'd seen his friend. He said, "I got up later than I meant to this morning and didn't get to eat properly before my first class. I'm glad that it means that I ran into you. Especially if you were looking to have a chance to spend time with someone."

He hesitated before asking, trying to keep his tone casual, but also not wanting to completely leave it unasked, "How are you doing other than not wanting to write that paper?"

He was more hesitant to ask what the paper was about, considering some of Meng Yao's papers were decidedly about things that Mingjue didn't want to be discussing, especially not in a pubic cafe. He asked though, "Is the paper on something interesting at least?"

Meng Yao

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Jul 27, 2020 21:45:08 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 27, 2020 21:45:08 GMT -8

Meng Yao pouted, "did we have to go there?" he sighed, "I'm fine. I'm putting off the paper because it's about methods of treating those who've suffered sexual trauma or assault."

He leaned forward and took a sip of his coffee, "I think it's just hitting a little too close to home for my liking right now." He sat back in his chair again.

"Thank you, though. I appreciate you letting me stay the night.." he paused, knowing he should be honest, "and I may have borrowed your sweater without permission."

Nie Mingjue

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Jul 27, 2020 22:31:12 GMT -8

Post by Nie Mingjue on Jul 27, 2020 22:31:12 GMT -8

Mingjue gave Meng Yao a look of gentle concern and asked, "Do you need to see if you can get an extension from your professor? I feel like you'd have a valid enough reason, though I can see how it would be uncomfortable to even ask about something like that."

He shook his head at Meng Yao's thanks and said, "You needed to be somewhere that you'd feel safe. I'm glad that I was able to provide that at least a little, and I lent you the sweater. It's part of my emergency clothes rotation, which means it's not stuff that I normally wear anyhow. If you want to hold on to it for a while, I'm fine with that."

He smiled a little and added, "You know where to find me, and you have my number."

He asked, half curious, and half trying to get the off the topic, "What kind of distraction were you looking for? I was contemplating going for a walk in the botanical gardens after I was done eating and before my next class, but I'm happy to stick around and spend time with you."

Meng Yao

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Jul 27, 2020 22:36:57 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 27, 2020 22:36:57 GMT -8

"I debated asking for an extension, but one, you're right it's awkward, and two, he's a psych professor. He'll ask me to analyze myself and figure out what my best treatment should be and I am so not here for that right now." Meng Yao said, shaking his head.

He perked up, "a walk in the botanical gardens sounds perfect! Can I tag along?"

"Also, I'm gonna ask you a weird, creepy request and you can say no, because I'd get it." He took a breath, "would you trade me sweaters? Can I return the one I borrowed and borrow another one?"

Nie Mingjue

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Jul 27, 2020 23:28:51 GMT -8

Post by Nie Mingjue on Jul 27, 2020 23:28:51 GMT -8

Mingjue smiled and nodded. He said, "I mentioned it because I'd be happy to have you join me if you're interested."

He took a bite of his sandwich and a sip of his mediocre tea. Then, he continued, "I'm not sure why it's creepy or particularly weird, but sure, I can lend you another sweater. I've got plenty, and it's easy enough for me to wash them. Especially if it makes you feel better."

Mingjue made a mental note to dig out the sweaters that he'd tucked away because it was starting to get a little too warm for them, and maybe some flannel shirts since those seemed like they might serve a similar role. If having some of his sweaters around made Meng Yao feel safer, that seemed like a good thing. He hurried through his sandwich a bit, wanting to get to the part that wasn't lingering here since Meng Yao wanted to come with him for a walk.

Meng Yao

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Jul 28, 2020 9:35:11 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 28, 2020 9:35:11 GMT -8

Meng Yao was happy he'd get to distract himself more by taking a walk with Mingjue. "Don't hurry through your food just because of me."

"I love how you don't even question why I want your sweater. And if you don't find it creepy that I want to trade your old sweater because it no longer smells like you, for a new one that smells more like you, then that's great. Most people would be weirded out, especially since we're not dating that I want something with your scent on it," Meng Yao said, curling up a little in his seat.

"I find you a comforting, steady presence, so that's why. Sorry if it's creepy..." he muttered, a little embarrassed.

Nie Mingjue

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Jul 28, 2020 15:23:43 GMT -8

Post by Nie Mingjue on Jul 28, 2020 15:23:43 GMT -8

Mingjue was nearly done with his sandwich and his not very satisfying tea, so he said, "I'm more hurrying through it because it's necessary fuel, but honestly not great food. I would have eaten something much better if I'd managed to eat at home or bring something with me. I'd rather be taking that walk with you."

Mingjue listened to the explanation and shook his head again, saying, "That makes sense to me. After dad died, I kept accidentally acquiring Xichen's scarves for basically that reason. It was winter, and I didn't own any of my own, not that I really needed them, but they were comforting, and he kept lending me new ones and telling me I could keep them. Which is still basically all the scarves I own to this day."

He glanced at Meng Yao to make sure that the parallel he was drawing made sense to the other man. The scent of someone you trusted could be comforting. Mingjue understood that. He finished off the last few bites of his sandwich and sips of tea and said, "I'm ready when you are."

Meng Yao

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Jul 28, 2020 16:50:55 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 28, 2020 16:50:55 GMT -8

Meng Yao smiled, happy to know that Mingjue wasn't freaked out about him wanting to essentially smell him. He was finding it hard to believe how close he felt to the other man and how that closeness had nothing to do with sex.

Meng Yao shoved his things into a bag and ran it up the the counter, placing it behind there. He knew the shift lead so he knew he could do it. He came back to Mingjue, "I'm ready."

He led the way out of the cafe but paused, turning back to his friend, "I've never actually been to the botanical gardens..." he looked around, "which way?"

Nie Mingjue

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Jul 28, 2020 17:11:27 GMT -8

Post by Nie Mingjue on Jul 28, 2020 17:11:27 GMT -8

Mingjue stood and waited for Meng Yao to get back to the table. He followed Meng Yao out of the cafe readily enough, assuming at first that Meng Yao knew where they were going. He didn't mind letting his friend take the lead.

When Meng Yao asked where the botanical gardens were, Mingjue said, "They're to the north end of campus. The one that I was thinking of is called the Arizona Garden, and it's mainly got cacti and succulents and other desert plants, but there are also the arboretum gardens and two other groves near there if you'd rather something with trees."

He paused and added thoughtfully, "I like the Arizona Garden though, it's often quiet there, and peaceful in its own way."

Meng Yao

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Jul 28, 2020 17:21:28 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 28, 2020 17:21:28 GMT -8

Meng Yao took a second to seem like he was thinking it over but knew he'd rather go wherever Mingjue wanted to go. "We can go to the Arizona Garden," he said.

He fell into step with his friend. "How have you been since that night? Have the police called and asked you more questions?" Meng Yao had no idea why he was bringing this up, maybe because right now he didn't want silence but didn't feel up to flirting.