news in pelican town gets around quickly. though to be fair, it was an incredibly small village - a new face is bound to turn heads.

and the exact same thing happened to xiao. his first time seeing you was like some sort of weird fever dream - late at night, in stardrop saloon, being treated to a free beer by diona. he had been playing pool with hutao and so hadn't paid too much attention, but he was aware of this new face. growing up in such a close community made him hyper aware of change - it also helped that the other villagers were talking about you too. you seemed to be a farmer, that had inherited your grandfather's land. sweet.

he had seen you a few more times - fishing at the beach, quickly heading in and out of kirara's general store, exterminating some funky beasts in the caves and being praised by it from the townspeople - but he never came up and spoke to you. he's always been reserved, even in the face of people he's grown up with. instead he opts on staying in his room all day, playing videogames as well as indulging in the occasional comic book or sci-fi novel. a nerd at heart, yet he wouldn't dare let himself be called that.

unfortunately, the flower dance was slowly approaching and xiao would rather spend it at home - yet he knew that one of the lovely girls in pelican town would ask him to dance, and he would have to as otherwise his adoptive father, zhongli, would tut and shake his head in disapproval - the man just wanted xiao happy and with a partner!

hence why zhongli suggested to ask you about it. xiao, quite obviously, was highly against it. he rolled his eyes, waving his hand dismissively, "i don't even know them!" he reasoned.

yet it didn't work. as now, he stood at your front door, flowers and a small box of chocolates in hand. he forced a small smile after you answered the door.

"hello, welcome to pelican town. sorry for not introducing myself earlier." he nodded. "i'm xiao. xiao alatus."