Meet Cute, Again (Lan Xichen) [COMPLETED]

MDZS Character

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No

Pansexual

SingleAF

Velexa

Jul 12, 2020 22:09:37 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 12, 2020 22:09:37 GMT -8

Meng Yao silently cursed at himself. He'd chosen the wrong time to wear a pair of new pants. They looked like they were painted onto him, which he appreciated, but it meant there was no room for keys or a phone. He owned a man bag of course, but it didn't match the outfit, so he'd decided against bringing it. This meant that he was trying to balance three psychology textbooks, keys, a phone and a thermos of coffee as well as make his way down some steps. His grip wasn't too good on the books, so he kept lifting them up higher to stop them from falling. Soon enough he could see in front of him at all.

Genius... he thought to himself as he relied on his dancer's balance to guide himself down the stairs, hoping people knew better and would stay out of his way, because he certainly couldn't see them.

Lan Xichen

edited Aug 12, 2020 9:20:27 GMT -8 by Redeim

Lan Xichen

MDZS Character

82 posts	0 likes

Yes

Homosexual

single

Redeim

Jul 12, 2020 22:40:16 GMT -8

Post by Lan Xichen on Jul 12, 2020 22:40:16 GMT -8

Xichen was headed towards the cafeteria to get some food between classes when he noticed a student seemed to be struggling. Do they not have a backpack? He wondered, tilting his head to one side in curiosity. Clearly the person didn't have one at the moment, but it still made him question. He rushed up the stairs, which the person was managing so far but was really descending too haphazardly for Xichen's liking, and spoke up as they neared each other. "Excuse me, would like help?" He offered.

Meng Yao

MDZS Character

280 posts	0 likes

No

Pansexual

SingleAF

Velexa

Jul 12, 2020 22:51:52 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 12, 2020 22:51:52 GMT -8

Meng Yao hadn't expected to hear anyone in front of him. Everyone so far had simply gone around him, as he expected, but the sudden voice from the other side of his books shocked him a little and he stumbled. He felt like he was watching in slow motion as his books, keys, phone and thermos fell towards the ground.

Make a choice! He told himself, trying to decide which item to catch, knowing he could only save one. He'd quickly eliminated the keys and textbooks. It was between his phone and the thermos of coffee. Phones are too expensive, he thought as he reached out to grab his phone. Unfortunately, he'd miscalculated. Grabbing his phone threw him off balance and he crashed forward into the good samaritan who'd turned into a jump scare.

Lan Xichen

MDZS Character

82 posts	0 likes

Yes

Homosexual

single

Redeim

Jul 13, 2020 0:00:36 GMT -8

Post by Lan Xichen on Jul 13, 2020 0:00:36 GMT -8

"Oh!" Xichen exclaimed, also seeming to fumble with the decision of what to grab, eventually deciding saving the person from falling down stairs was more important than saving objects, even if some of them were potentially hundreds-of-dollars-worth of textbooks. He grabbed the man by the arm and it was then he finally got a good look at the person. It was Meng Yao! He blinked a couple times in shock. Seeing Mingjue in this life was surprising enough, now here was Meng Yao. He blinked back what he was pretty sure were about to be tears, and forced a smile onto his face.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you." He told the other man in a soft voice. He hoped maybe this time things could be different. "Are you alright?

Meng Yao

MDZS Character

280 posts	0 likes

No

Pansexual

SingleAF

Velexa

Jul 13, 2020 7:56:07 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 13, 2020 7:56:07 GMT -8

Meng Yao looked up into the face of his savior, feeling a little silly about literally falling into some stranger's arms. At least he'd chosen to fall into the arms of this beautiful man. "I'm fine..." he said, unable to break eye contact for a few seconds.

He mentally kicked himself, Okay, yes he's gorgeous but don't lose your cool... "Thank you... for catching me." He blinked a few times and forced himself to withdraw from the other man's grasp. He really could keep holding me, he thought to himself.

He quickly dropped down to his knees on the ground in front of Xichen, beginning to gather his fallen armful, painfully ignorant of the position he'd placed himself in. He gingerly picked up his phone, assessing the damage. For some reason the gods had favored him and decided to save his phone. He sighed in relief and tilted his head up to the sky to send up a silent prayer of thanks, only to lock eyes with his savior again, in his new, awkward, though not entirely unpleasant, position.

Lan Xichen

MDZS Character

82 posts	0 likes

Yes

Homosexual

single

Redeim

Jul 13, 2020 14:31:24 GMT -8

Post by Lan Xichen on Jul 13, 2020 14:31:24 GMT -8

Xichen was frozen a little too long in his spot, and by the time his brain caught up with everything he realized Meng Yao was talking to him, and was also on the ground. He quickly knelt down to face the other man, grabbing a textbook that had fallen slightly behind him, and offered it to Meng Yao. "Um, yeah, no problem. Um..." He grasped for something else to say, but suddenly felt flustered. "I'm Xichen." He said awkwardly, locking eyes with him again in a silent question. Did Meng Yao have his memories? He felt like the answer was no, but he also seemed to be observing Xichen very intensely.

Meng Yao

MDZS Character

280 posts	0 likes

No

Pansexual

SingleAF

Velexa

Jul 13, 2020 20:21:43 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 13, 2020 20:21:43 GMT -8

Meng Yao carefully extracted his textbook from Xichen's hands, being sure not to touch him. He was already getting caught up looking at him, he didn't want to touch him again. That just seemed like a bad idea. "I'm Meng Yao," he said, grabbing his other two books and looking around for his keys and coffee thermos.

"Really, thank you," he said, tucking a stray piece of hair behind his ear. Some of his hair must have slipped out of his bun in the near fall, he'd have to fix that later. He looked back into Xichen's eyes and tilted his head a bit, "is there something on my face?" he asked, noticing how hard the other man was staring at him.

Lan Xichen

MDZS Character

82 posts	0 likes

Yes

Homosexual

single

Redeim

Jul 14, 2020 10:34:27 GMT -8

Post by Lan Xichen on Jul 14, 2020 10:34:27 GMT -8

Xichen quickly broke eye contact and looked away, "No, no sorry... I didn't mean to stare." He said quickly. He noticed the other man's travel mug a bit of a ways away from them in the grass, and stood up to grab it, wiping it free of any dirt that might have collected on it. He noticed something else in the grass and pick up a keychain, bringing them back over to Meng Yao. "I think these might be yours as well?" He offered.

He reminded himself to act normal, whatever that meant. He put a smile on his face and looked to Meng Yao again, "I don't have any classes for a couple hours, did you want help carrying your things?" He hoped Meng Yao was planning to head to a cafeteria or one of the campus cafes, as that would give him an excuse to spend more time with him. Get to know him again. Maybe find out how this life had been treating him.

Meng Yao

MDZS Character

280 posts	0 likes

No

Pansexual

SingleAF

Velexa

Jul 14, 2020 17:43:06 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 14, 2020 17:43:06 GMT -8

Meng Yao stood up, readjusting his books when Xichen returned with his thermos and keys. "Thanks," he said, trying to situate things in his arms. He paused, a little surprised. He was usually the shameless flirt and this man was almost certainly flirting with him.

"I've got some time before my next class, and yes, I'd appreciate the help," he said, smiling softly and glancing up through his lashes.

Lan Xichen

MDZS Character

82 posts	0 likes

Yes

Homosexual

single

Redeim

Jul 17, 2020 11:04:46 GMT -8

Post by Lan Xichen on Jul 17, 2020 11:04:46 GMT -8

Xichen smiled and nodded, gently taking the textbooks carefully out of Meng Yao's arms and holding them close to his chest. "There we go." He said cheerfully. He motioned back in the direction Meng Yao had been going. "Lead the way. Since I also have some time before my next class, I'm okay to go wherever." He explained simply. He still hoped the other man was planning to get food, as that had been his original intention, but he wanted to know more about how this life was treating him.

Meng Yao

MDZS Character

280 posts	0 likes

No

Pansexual

SingleAF

Velexa

Jul 17, 2020 16:35:31 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 17, 2020 16:35:31 GMT -8

Meng Yao tried to suppress a smile at how the other man was holding his books. It was really cute, endearing almost. "Are you hungry? I was going to eat something before my next class," he said, starting down the steps again and glancing back to make sure Xichen didn't have the same problem he had been having.

"Do you have a preference of eateries?" Meng Yao asked at the bottom of the stairs. "Also, cute as you are, please note that I refuse to eat like a dainty bird in front of anyone. I eat - a lot." He grinning, popping out his dimples, checking his reaction.

He'd spent too long trying to seem appealing to people who he didn't really care about and certainly didn't care for him. He preferred the 'rip off the band-aid' approach these days. Plus, the more shocking and abrasive he was, the quicker he could sort people into friend, friends with benefits, acquaintance or one-night stand categories.

Lan Xichen

MDZS Character

82 posts	0 likes

Yes

Homosexual

single

Redeim

Jul 19, 2020 17:34:54 GMT -8

Post by Lan Xichen on Jul 19, 2020 17:34:54 GMT -8

Xichen breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes! I was hoping you'd say that!" He calmed down and let out a sheepish laugh, "What I mean is, I was already planning to go eat before I ran into you. So I'm glad you had the same idea."

He let the smile linger on his face at the comment about how he was cute, and eating. "I appreciate the compliment, but know I wouldn't think it a proper start to a friendship to lie about even trivial things such as how much one eats." He paused before adding, "And I do not have a preference for eateries." He was pescatarian, but it was usually fairly easy to find something to eat at any of the on-campus eateries.

edited Jul 19, 2020 17:35:09 GMT -8 by Lan Xichen

Meng Yao

MDZS Character

280 posts	0 likes

No

Pansexual

SingleAF

Velexa

Jul 19, 2020 17:54:16 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 19, 2020 17:54:16 GMT -8

"How about Heritage Eats?" Meng Yao asked, moving next to Xichen and falling into step with him. He noticed that despite their difference in height, he wasn't having trouble keeping up with him. He smiled to himself, guessing the other man had slowed his pace for him.

"You're one of those glass half full kinds, aren't you?" He shifted himself so he was walking backwards in front of Xichen to better see his face. "You see the good in people? Even when we're petty and jaded?" He knew he was laying it on thick, but he just wanted to be able to place this man within one of his categories. Rarely did people just ask him to hang out and eat without ulterior motives, so he had to wonder what Xichen wanted.

Lan Xichen

MDZS Character

82 posts	0 likes

Yes

Homosexual

single

Redeim

Jul 19, 2020 19:46:04 GMT -8

Post by Lan Xichen on Jul 19, 2020 19:46:04 GMT -8

Xichen nodded, letting Meng Yao lead the way by just a little bit. "Sounds good to me."

He laughed at the other man's comment, though it came out a bit stilted. Actually, I'd really like to know how this life is treating you, and if you can't be saved this time. He thought to himself, adding out loud, "I guess you could say that. Based off your description of... yourself? You must be a glass half-empty type, then?" He asked, keeping his voice light.

Meng Yao

MDZS Character

280 posts	0 likes

No

Pansexual

SingleAF

Velexa

Jul 19, 2020 19:57:51 GMT -8

Post by Meng Yao on Jul 19, 2020 19:57:51 GMT -8

Meng Yao shrugged, "the glass is half empty or half full depending on the state it was before. If it was full and poured out, it's half empty, if it was empty and filled, it's half full. I guess that makes me a realist?"

He turned around and fell back into step with the other man. "So what makes you ask a random stranger out? Unless you regularly decide to carry people's things and walk them to class." He looked Xichen up and down, "I mean, I'd believe it, but I'm trying to imagine myself as special right now."