Yanqing had not expected the coffee shop to be this crowded. It reminded him of the Sleeping Earl from the Luofu - which was almost perpetually filled with customers, all vying for the sweet taste of boba. Understandably, of course - the drinks from that place were top tier, and absolutely nothing could replace them. It's not the first time he's had to face the mortifying fact that there was nowhere to sit. Well, except with other people.

Usually, this wouldn't be too hard. Yanqing is a renowned Lieutenant on the Xianzhou Luofu, of course - people who who he is, and it's easy to just plop down into a seat with someone and ask to drink something with them. However, he's in a completely foreign environment, and, honestly, out of his element.

There's a few people who aren't dressed like they're from Fontaine, but all of them seem to be busy with other things. However, luck is on his side, as he spots a fellow blond person, whose other seat opposite to her isn't occupied. She's sipping on a drink, and relatively unoccupied.

So, Yanqing prays to Lan that he isn't bothering her, walks over, and waves at her. "Hey! Do you mind if I sit here? It's just that every other place is kind of taken right now, so, uhh..." One hand on his coffee, and the other hand sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck, he gives Lumine an awkward smile.

The coffee from Cafe Lutece surely does not fail to draw in customers -- and with their Meluspecial, of course popularity has skyrocketed. Lumine is lucky she'd come when she had, a brief lull to snag both her beverage and seat without much hassle. The foam on top has been lovingly decorated to mimic a Melusine's face peering out at the consumer, and though, yes, it's still alittle rushed, it's adorable all the same. She's almost too enamored to take a sip.

Almost! But when she does, the greeting of the caramel waffle flavour is a delight to her palate. She places the drink down on the table, a hand raising to brush off the milk that's attempting to stain her, when she notices a young man treading her way. He's given a curious, if not friendly, stare in return.

It should be said, before anything else, that Yanqing is a swordsman. Not a makeup artist. He has precision with his strikes and his cuts, his forms are getting close to perfect, and he can recite certain things that the General have drilled into him while asleep, at this rate. (He's woken up chanting 'The Cloud Knights will protect the Luofu', before, but that's beside the point.)

Yanqing knows where his strength lie, and where his weaknesses are. So why did he decide to volunteer to do Jiaoqiu's makeup? Why? The lieutenant thought that he'd finally gotten over his bad habit of jumping to help whenever he could, even in situations where he had absolutely no skill, but it seems that poor habits die hard.

This is how he finds himself standing in front of the foxian, situated in the chair, foundation in his hand and brushes lining the table next to him. Does he know what any of these do? No. Is he going to have to look up a tutorial online? Yes. Does he have confidence in his ability to wing this?

Absolutely not.

"This will be totally fine," he tells himself as he puts foundation on his fingers, and then proceeds to dab it on his fellow retainer's face, as he's seen Jing Yuan do before occasionally. "I can totally do this."

"...you know, yanqing -- regardless of what you do, I won't be able to see your work that well," he tries to offer a reassurance, but eyes stay truly closed and head stays as still as possible to let the young man work. "and will an audience fault me for not knowing the difference? I doubt it. I think that gives you license to go as avant-garde as you like with the approach."

✧ ˖ @tempered-chill asked:

"Hello, Miss... Elysia, is it?" Yanqing says, approaching the Herrscher. "I know we haven't met before, but I've heard that it's your birthday, today. I thought I would drop by and give you a gift," the lieutenant says, giving Elysia a small, genuine smile. "I've heard a bit about your world - not much, unfortunately, but I'd love to know more sometime, if that's what you'd be interested in doing." He shifts his weight from foot to foot, fiddling with the key, winding it up. "Well, nonetheless - happy birthday!" It's a pretty music box connected in an actual jewelry box. He holds it out to her, tentatively.

As gingerly as one may hold only the finest porcelain, Elysia accepts the gift. She watches it with watercolor eyes half lidded, smile warm. The tune is a sweet, gentle thing, and she lets it pitter to a stop before she looks back to the boy from which it came.

"Heard about my world, is that so?" Curious in that way of hers. Then, a thoughtful hum followed by a self-affirming nod. "Yes, my birthday is certainly one of the most important dates on their calendar."

( It has been forgotten by all but a few, but that's okay. It is remembered now. )

"I'd be happy to tell you all about it-- I'm told that I am quite the storyteller." For this, a private laugh, silver chimes in the late spring sunrise. "Oh, but my version is quite out of date. Perhaps I'll have to send my best-trained successor to do so for me..."

How she would love to hear Mei recount it all.