This is a gift for my cumplane giftee @letyepetyelepetye I hope you enjoy this I'm sorry its a bit short! I really enjoyed writing again for the first time in 4 years! I’m enonah in the server incase you are wondering!
Maybe next time, I should just grow out my hair… Shen Yuan internally groused as he flips back a strand of hair that’s fallen in-front of his face for the one thousandth time today. Trying to inspect a hand-crafted model that one stall owner was promoting, this person was proudly portraying that you can send in custom designs as well; for a price of course; and you would have your very own oc model. Many displayed samples were of the D&D variety, but Shen Yuan was currently thinking up many au designs for his favourite danmei characters. I wonder if I can make a strawberry shortcake design for Binghe or Shang Qinghua?
Snorting to himself, Shen Yuan doesn’t notice someone walking up to stand next to him, going on tip toes to peer over his shoulder at the colourful display.
“Whoa! That bow looks epic, oh man I wish I had one like for my final fantasy 14 character… I would look kickass as my bard!”
Nearly dropping his bag that held his yu-gi-oh! Inspired cookies, Shen Yuan scowls, head whipping to the side ready to give the person behind, loudly shouting in his ear, a piece of his mind.
“That’s my ear you- what….what the fuck are you meant to be?” His scathing tone quickly dissolved into one of pure confusion, behind him is a guy who is on the shorter side wearing what is clearly a cosplay, and a hand made one as well, but Shen Yuan could not make out what specific character it was. The cosplay was a warm orange and cream like palette, on the shoulders there were cloud like patterns and a jade token attached to the waist. The robes did look pretty, they made the guy look soft and plain but in a way that didn’t make him seem to be boring. His hair was messily brought up into a half bun, clearly his own hair and not a wig like Shen Yuan’s. but over the top of the robes, was a cape that had a thick fur lining, the cape itself was a white with barely see-able icy blue snowflakes on it and patterns that you could only really see when trying and up close. It was clearly beautifully made, but the mistakes on the embroidery here and there told Shen Yuan that it was hand made and not machine made.
It was truly an impressive cosplay and a lot of care when into it. But who was it?!
The stranger, during the time that Shen Yuan was looking him over, gave him a quick look as well, before grinning widely, an odd spark of self-satisfaction and pride could be seen.
“Let me guess, Shen Qingqiu? Nice cosplay…is that a dog motif on your belt?”
Frowning in confusion, the cute stranger pointed at Shen Yuan’s belt, the other hand resting on his hip which was holding a bag, not caring that it smacked against a table. Cringing, Shen Yuan looked down at his belt that indeed had motifs of BingPup, a gift from his sister who helped him make this cosplay. She was practicing to become a clothes designer and practically jumped at the chance to make her brothers gifts in the form of clothing when she could. Shen Yuan himself had adored the cute design, but the strangers comment made him feel a bit self-conscious about it.
“It’s a small joke about a character from a book I like, Luo Binghe reminds me of a cute puppy so my sister helped me make it” Trying to keep his voice even, Shen Yuan channels his older brother’s confidence, but a small insecure wobble could still be heard. The Stranger having the social que awareness of nothing, only hummed as he turns his head one way and another, apparently not realising how increasingly flustered Shen Yuan was becoming.
“Can you stop staring?!”
“Oh! Sorry! It’s just really adorable” Laughing awkwardly, the stranger itched the side of his nose, straightening back up, giving Shen Yuan a lopsided grin. “But seriously, are you meant to be Shen Qingqiu? The detail is great, where did you get it? I didn’t hear about any merchandise new deals…” the last part was mumbled to the point that Shen Yuan couldn’t fully hear it, still focused on the compliment part. Preening, Shen Yuan finds himself straightening up a bit, a smug look creeping onto his face.
“Thanks, my sister helped me with the finer details, it is Shen Qingqiu’s cosplay, I thought I could pull it off” Snapping out a fan that he got when he signed up for behind-the-scenes content, designed officially but the book creator as well. There where only so many of them and Shen Yuan had one, one of his proudest possessions. The look of pure surprise on the strangers’ face was well worth getting it just for this moment alone, Shen Yuan felt his lips curl up, pleased as the stranger’s eyes went impossibly wide.
“You even brought that?! Damn…”
“So, you now know who I’m cosplaying as, who are you may I ask?” Shen Yuan idly fans himself; the convention was packed full of people, the air was getting stuffy after being inside for so long.
Blinking, the stranger tears his eyes away from the fan finally, pulling his mind from whatever thoughts he was having.
“Oh! I’m actually Shang Qinghua from the same book, just er, adapted to something a bit of a personal fantasy…”
the cosplayers cheeks heat up with an adorable blush that made Shen Yuan’s fingers itch with the need to pinch them, but held back.
“Huh, I didn’t realise it was PIDW” frowning, Shen Yuan kicked himself for somehow not realising, after being told, he could see all the small tells as to which character this was. The fact that it was adapted was the only comfort for his PIDW loving brain for not recongising it sooner. “It’s beautiful, the cape is very pretty”
Face lighting up like a Christmas tree, the cute stranger positively beamed at him in delight, “You like it?! I was so unsure how it would look…”
Yeah, Shen Yuan could understand that he had taken the same gamble with his belt himself after all.
“Oh, I’m Shang Qinghua by the way, it’s great to see another fan and cosplayer of my work!”
I’m sure he meant his favourite work; idiot’s mouth runs faster than his brain it seems. Laughing under his breath a bit, Shen Yuan inclines his head in greeting, “I’m Shen Yuan, are you really named the same as the character…?” Shen Yuan found it hard to believe but it would also make sense, it was probably similar as to how Shen Yuan feels the need to cosplay Shen Qingqiu because they share the same name.
Nervously chuckling, Shang Qinghua nods sheepishly, toeing the ground as if embarrassed, well the character Shang Qinghua was pretty shady…
“It is my actual name yeah, er, you can call me by a nickname if you like?”
Shaking his head, Shen Yuan declines the offer, calling him by a nickname so soon feels bit to personal for being basically strangers.
“Great!” Cheering up, Shang Qinghua’s entire body seems to bounce with joy, Shen Yuan could not help but find it endearing how his entire body seemed to project his moods so clearly. It was like watching a hamster, adorable and sweet.
Anyone would think the same if they were me, its not gay to think a guy is cute!
Nodding to himself, Shen Yuan adjusts his bags carefully before turning to look at Shang Qinghua again. “Have you seen many other PIDW cosplayers?”
Pouting, Shang Qinghua shakes his head, crossing his arms ignoring how his bag again fly’s around, giving Shen Yuan a low key heart attack. How could he be so careless?!
“Nah, you are the first one, honestly a bit sad by that but that just means we look extra amazing!” Grinning confidently, Shang Qinghua proudly exclaims, a beat later he jolts as an idea comes to him and he’s grabbing onto Shen Yuan’s arm excitedly, tugging on it causing Shen Yuan to stumble. For a small guy, he sure has one hell of a hidden strength, is this the power of adorableness?
“Let’s go take pictures! Come on it will be fuuuuun! Please it’s not often I meet a real-life actual fan of PIDW!” A small whine can be heard as Shang Qinghua somehow magically summons up tears into his eyes and gives Shen Yuan the most pitiable puppy eyes he has ever seen. Groaning as he rubs his shoulder, Shen Yuan sighs, finding him unable to look away from the cute sight.
“Fine! I will do a couple with you, but only a few got it? And you better send me a copy of them all…”
Cheering, Shang Qinghua finally let’s go of his captive, fist pumping the air. Thinking himself free, Shen Yuan makes sure that he has all his things, and barely manages to pick up one back that he had placed on the ground, before his hand is grabbed and he finds himself being dragged through the crowd. It takes them a few good minutes to get outside, but the duo manages it with Shang Qinghua leading the way through, the small man managing to find all the gaps and squeezing them through in no time.
“Oh oh oh oh oh, where should we start? Oooh that tree could make for a great backdrop for you- oh no, that area over there is practically perfect! Let’s go, hurry!”
Barely having time to properly look around, Shen Yuan soon finds himself dragged over to a small section of the grounds that has some trees and even some bamboo planted along with some other flowering bushes and a small stream.
“Put your bags to the side while I set up my camera, ok?” Shang Qinghua is setting up a small phone stand and the timer on his camera, his bags already thrown carelessly to the side as the eccentric hamster mutters to himself. Bewildered, Shen Yuan takes a moment to collect himself and carefully place his bags to the side. Making sure that his cookies don’t get ruined.
“Ok that’s set, get your fan maybe and let’s strike a few poses together, maybe one of us walking through the bamboo? Hmm what else…”
And this is how, Shen Yuan, spoilt son of his family, ends up being directed and fussed over to take many many different shots. It was actually surprisingly fun much to his surprise. Many shots ended up ruined because they would burst out laughing or falling over, such as when Shang Qinghua thought it would be a good idea to jump on the small stones in the shallow stream and ended up knee deep into it instead.
Shen Yuan had so much that, he couldn’t remember every having smiled or laughed this much at one time for years. Being so sick so often to the point that he was bed ridden for months at a time, it felt so good to be laughing with someone again, to be enjoying his time instead of finding ways to cope with being inside and lonely. It felt…nice to have someone enjoy his company as well, it felt so good to have someone excitedly look at the photo’s they take and plan the next few. As if spending time with Shen Yuan was actually fun and not something to be over as soon as possible or that he has to be treated like spun glass. Shang Qinghua treats him like a normal person, yes Shen Yuan is going to be exhausted and aching something terrible tomorrow, but all he can think is- Shang Qinghua has a sweet smile. His dimples are just so cute when he laughs, completely in a platonic way of course! Its’ not like he has a crush on Shang Qinghua at all, any sane person would find him so utterly cute! You try and find someone who would disagree!
“Fuck, the time is already 4pm, the convention closes in an hour, we really spent a long time out here huh? Say you coming to tomorrow as well or just today? Sorry if you had wanted to do other things…”
Shen Yuan was surprised to see the time and sure enough, when he checked his phone, it glared 4:01pm back at him. Damn, he had actually wanted to get everything done today and meet a guy, because he knows he will be in bed tomorrow. However, looking at Shang Qinghua’s dejected and apologetic look, remembering all the fun they had, Shen Yuan couldn’t bring himself to be angry.
“I wasn’t planning on coming tomorrow, but if I can I may come in, I wanted to meet an actor my sister likes for an autograph, think we have enough time to see a few stalls before closing?”
“Sure! Many people should have left now so we should be able to zip around!”
Relief bleeding through Shang Qinghua’s body that his new friend wasn’t mad, they quickly gather their things before heading back inside. True to Shang Qinghua’s word, many people had already filtered out and left the place much more empty that it had been previously. A blessing for Shen Yuan who could already feel his limbs and joints screaming at him for doing so much.
Biting back a hiss as he moves out of the way of some transformer cosplay, Shen Yuan follows close behind Shang Qinghua.
“Hey bro, give me your email and ill send the pictures over to you while you take a look at the stalls?”
“Sure, my personal one is
[email protected]”
Pausing visibly, Shang Qinghua simply raises an eyebrow at him as Shen Yuan blushes hotly in embarrassment. “What? It was all that came to mind at the time and its for personal use only! Don’t give me that look I bet yours is no better”
“Actu- yeah ok mine is no better” Laughing, Shang Qinghua happily hums as he starts to attach the picture folder to Shen Yuan’s email to send to him. While he does that, Shen Yuan eyes some cute looking rabbit, cat and panda plushies, debating which to get his older brother as a gag gift for Christmas, maybe he should get the chicken one…
“Ok that’s sent! That should be all the pictures bro! Say, in the future would you like to do this again? It was really fun and I would to- ow ow ow! What the heck bro!? why you- S-Stop it!!”
“Your email- your airplane?!”
“er…yeah? H-hey ow! Not the nose!”
“you stupid trash writer! After this you are coming back with me while I soak in a bath because my everything hurt’s and you are going to listen to everything I have to say about your stupid trash book!”
“oh…hey you are peerle-“
“yes yes yes I am shush!”
Grinning despite the red mark on his forehead from a vicious fan whack, Shang Qinghua just coos at Shen Yuan who politely pays for the plush from a mildly concerned shop keeper.
“Awwwww! You are my biggest fan, you know I love reading your comments whenever I feel down at home writing, they really make me feel bet-“
“You read them and don’t reply?!”
“Yeah because I hope that maybe, if I don’t you will keep commenting- put that fan away! Wait, I’m coming back with you? Does this mean dinner at yours?”
Huffing, Shen Yuan grumbles as he puts his fan away and starts walking towards the exit, body hurting too much to warrant staying now.
“Yes, I want noodles if I’m going to have to put up with you”
“Oh sweet! Wait, are you ok..?”
“It’s fine, this happens often, aa week of rest and I will be fine-“
“A week?!” Shang Qinghua squeaks out in shock as they walk, “ and you wanted to come in tomorrow as well?! Bro you should stay home!”
“I can’t, I need to get that signature, I promised my sister, plus I wanted to look around…”
Looking at Shen Yuan in understanding Shang Qinghua couldn’t help but feel bad again for earlier.
“Hmmm, wait, think we have enough time to make a new cosplay? If you wanted to cosplay tomorrow? Wait, do you have a wheelchair?”
Sceptical, Shen Yuan nods, he had a wheelchair, but he hates using it because it makes me feel so hopeless when he does.
“Sweet! Ok think we can magic up a throne like cosplay around your wheelchair and make you look like Thranduil?”