Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Beidou wouldn’t consider herself particularly educated as an individual. Growing up, her family barely had enough to stay alive, much less consider the prospect of education.

It was during her days of scrounging for leftovers that she chanced upon Tea Master Liu Su in the middle of one of his tales. She rarely ventured this far from the secluded village she grew up in, but food was scarce and after the flood that took her home, she only had herself to rely on.

Liyue Harbour was both a place of dreams as well as an illusion. While the bright glow of lanterns and hustle of street vendors carried a sense of wonder and charm, it also was rife with dark corners and people who hid their knives behind warm smiles.

It was a city that held no reservations when it came to showing their distaste towards people like her- the ones who didn’t belong.

The moment she set foot on the stone steps that led towards the elevated streets, she felt it. The judgemental stares in her direction as she passed by, partly disgusted yet also curious as to how a low-life found her way into such a city. Even with whatever coins she managed to grab and collect, the merchants refused to sell her even a single bun. It made her clench her fists and grit her teeth. Beidou had no pride for growing up the way she did. On the contrary, she was aware of how much she lacked, but she was just as human as any one of them.

She spent a couple of days on the street; listening, observing and memorising the routines of the city, as well as the citizens that resided there. Every morning without fail, ladies dressed in silk and cotton would traverse down the street, entertaining the hopeful street vendors but never purchasing anything. Instead, Beidou watched as the anticipation slowly dwindled in their eyes as the ladies moved on to another stall, snickering and trading snide comments as they went.

Sometimes, their gazes would fall on her. The mocking curve of their lips, accompanied by a quick glance towards her dirty and worn out clothes, Beidou learned to ignore it all. They were the ones who wouldn’t notice if one of their abundant coin pouches went missing, after all.

However, if there was one thing the citizens had in common regardless of social class, it was their love for entertainment.

The Grand Tea Master was known for spinning tales and recounting legends that captivated crowds from all over the harbour. With the amount of people squeezing against one another in a tiny space, their attention focused on the next part of his story, none of them would notice if they left with their pockets slightly lighter.

He spun fantastical tales of Archons and sea monsters that lurked beneath the calm blue waters of their nation. The way he described the events made it seem as though he had experienced them first hand, even though that was probably far from the truth. Despite the motive for her attendance, Beidou couldn’t help but yearn to see, to understand the world that lay beyond the docks. So, she listened.

It came to a point where she had attended enough of his storytelling sessions to have followed a couple of stories to the end. She wasn’t particularly invested in the individual tales, but for a child who grew up without learning how to read, experiencing how stories could fly off a page in a medium that she understood piqued her interest.

The tale of the God of Thunder was one of the first stories that reached its end while she was in attendance.

It began with a human who attained godly powers and became tasked by the Jade Emperor to punish and kill the bad people on earth. However, the skies turned dark whenever he tried to punish them, and he often couldn’t see who he was striking.

He committed a grave error one day by killing Dianmu, an innocent woman. After which, the Jade Emperor revived her and named her the Goddess of Lightning. As punishment, the God of Thunder was to marry her and look after her.

The Goddess of Lightning’s job was to use mirrors to shine light onto earth, so that the God of Thunder could see who he was punishing and prevent any future injustice from happening.

Perhaps it was due to the dark clouds looming overhead, the grey clouds blanketing the stars that usually guided her home. However, as she made her way back to the village, her hands filled with whatever food she could buy with the money she stole, the story stayed in her mind.

On paper, it sounded like a simple folk tale that seemed to explain why lightning always cut through the sky before a crack of thunder followed. Yet, the longer she thought about it, she more she found it odd that Dianmu was forced into marrying and working with the person who wronged her. She couldn’t see how that could be considered justice. If it were her, she wouldn’t be able to even fathom the possibility. However, it wasn’t her story to tell.

One day, she thought as she munched on a soft char siu bao, maybe she would have a story of her own that was worth retelling.

The thought brought a smile to her face as she hastened her steps towards the village structures appearing fast on the horizon. Meanwhile, the sky lit up once again and the ground gently trembled with the promise of rain. Perhaps things would change for the better now, Beidou hoped.

Little did she know that upon her return, the next season would bring the rain but also take away everything she could call a home.

The illness that struck the village chief was as deadly as it was swift. It wasn’t long before it was revealed that his days were numbered. With the village in turmoil and the fish dwindling, the people needed someone to blame. Hence, all eyes turned to the girl who, in their eyes, brought death to their doorstep.

The village chief, who had protected her all this time, could no longer come to her defense.

That was when she learned what it meant to be called a living curse; to hear that her existence itself was akin to a crime.

She didn’t understand. She was just Beidou.

She didn’t ask for the dog to die while she was chasing it. She didn’t ask for the fish to die. She didn’t ask for an illness to claim the chief, who had took her in and cared for her when she had no one.

She couldn’t control death. If she could, she would have prevented the deaths of everyone she cared about. Yet, driven out of the village in the middle of the night, Beidou begun to wonder if she really was an omen of misfortune.

When she found herself on the streets of Liyue Harbour again, she was no longer the bright eyed child who was desperate for anything that could fill up her stomach. Instead, she was a lean built teenager with a singular focus- to set sail on a ship and change the cursed destiny the people of Downriver seemed to associate with her.

Her goal? To find the legendary sea leviathan known as Haishan and slay it.

Even years later, standing on the deck of her own ship and leading a crew to slay Haishan, that childlike dream stayed with her. She named her ship the Alcor, the same star that branded her as a living curse, an omen of death. It was a reminder of her purpose, as well as a warning to anyone who underestimated her.

It had been nearly four days of chasing Haishan, her crew was reaching their limit, both physically and mentally. They were nearly out of food, and they had just consumed the last of the drinking water. Without heading to port for supplies, she wasn’t sure how much longer they could go on. One way or another, it had to end.

The night before the final fight, Beidou couldn’t sleep. Apart from the tension and adrenaline that kept her body awake and mind alert, the nearly constant flashes of lightning and crackling of thunder had her transfixed.

There was something about watching a storm unfold up close, the flashes of light that illuminated the clouds before crashing down to meet the earth’s surface that just commanded her attention.

It was as though the weather was answering the storm that had been manifesting within her ever since her first trip to Liyue Harbour.

There was no rain that night.

It was only lightning that coursed through the sky, turning the clouds into eerie shades of colours that seemed almost unearthly.

Beidou just knew. It was time.

Truthfully, Beidou herself couldn’t exactly explain what happened during the fight.

She stopped counting the hours spent swinging her claymore back and forth. The burn from the saltwater had long since numbed the pain from the various cuts along her arms.

As the enormous sea monster emerged from the depths, she focused all her energy, determination, hopes, and everything she had into her claymore. Along with it, came pillars of water, strong enough to capsize the ship if she dared to hesitate.

Thankfully, she didn’t.

Charging straight towards the creature, she raised her claymore. She only needed one strike.

One hit to end it all.

All she remembered was the sound of crackling close to her ear and a surge of energy that coursed through her in that final blow.

There was a loud clap that sounded more like a rippling explosion as her blade met its target. Her vision was flooded with purple light as a bolt of lightning collided with the ocean’s surface.

Then, silence.

Haishan, the mighty leviathan from nightmares, part dragon and part fish, would haunt the waters no more.

Even the constant lightning flashes above her seemed to dim and fade into the background. The ringing in her ear drowned out the rumblings of thunder that echoed her heartbeat.

The weight of her claymore was suddenly all too heavy for her arms and she lowered the point towards the ground. Normally after a battle, Beidou would sheathe her weapon away and check in with the rest of the crew for injuries and damages to the ship. However, something was different this time.

A faint buzzing prevented her from relinquishing her grip. She couldn’t tell whether it originated from her claymore or herself, but the air around her seemed to be charged with electricity. The purple haze around her remained even after the body of Haishan descended into the sea.

Beidou blinked, wondering if she was hallucinating.

“Captain!” She heard the familiar voices of her crew members call out. “You- your Vision!”

A Vision?

She looked at what appeared to be a gem, the purple glow radiating from the stone that had appeared in front of her. She had heard of things like this happening, mostly from childhood stories from the time spent listening to Liu Su. She was aware of the existence of Vision bearers, but they were so few and far between that she hadn’t anticipated to come across one, much less attain a Vision of her own.

She reached for it hesitantly. Some called Visions a blessing from Celestia; others called them a curse.

It reminded her of herself, in a way.

Suddenly, there was a rumble. Then, the heavens opened. With it, finally came the rain.

Despite the wind and rain around her, the Vision glowed even brighter in her hands. It was as though in some way or another, she had defied the curse of her existence and could finally claim her name as her own.

She was no longer Beidou, the orphan who brought an omen of death to Downriver. She was just Beidou, Captain of the Crux Fleet and Slayer of Haishan.

The fog clouding her mind vanished, along with the traces of doubt; everything was washed away with the blood on her skin. She could hear the cheers of her crew members behind her as they scrambled to collect the rainwater but she paid them no mind.

To her, the Vision was the fulfilment of an old promise to herself and the start of a new chapter. She wasn’t powerless anymore. She may have achieved her childhood dream but it was just the beginning for her.

As Beidou charted a course back to Liyue Harbour, she was reminded of the merchants at the docks who sneered and turned their gazes away back when she was younger.

Her captain at the time had sent her to broker some deals with the local merchants, but they barely spared her a glance before sending her away empty handed.

An outsider had no place asking for deals in Liyue Harbour, they had said. Liyue was a city of contracts. They were not obligated to help, especially not someone who hadn’t earned their respect and trust.

Eventually, she admitted the incident to her captain, who had simply laughed and explained to a sullen Beidou that the merchants had to look out for themselves because placing their trust in the wrong person could end up in imprisonment or worse.

As she peered over at the remains of the famed Haishan, concrete proof of their victory against the leviathan that terrorised unfortunate ships, Beidou wondered if that was enough to change their minds.

The Beidou that emerged from the Alcor, her newly acquired Vision hanging from her side, was a sight that the people in Liyue Harbour remembered long after the day passed.

Suddenly, the smirks and condescending stares were nowhere to be seen. Gone were the snide glances whenever she tried to bargain for supplies or get a meal at any roadside stalls. People were clamouring to get her attention as the Alcor pulled into the harbour. The merchants looked upon her with a smile and the children called her name whenever they spotted her by the docks. Instead of hushed whispers behind fans, she was met with polite greetings whenever she walked along the streets of Liyue.

Still, she wasn't one to bask in attention. She preferred the comfort of eating at familiar places and with familiar people who had always seen her worth.

It was from her crew that she learned about her own tales being spun into fantastical renditions. They called her the Uncrowned Lord of the Ocean, Juza told her. The name made her laugh in the beginning. They had turned her story of survival into a legend that sounded almost fantastical.

She supposed it wasn’t unexpected for storytellers and gossipmongers to exclude certain details and add other details of their own to make the story even more interesting. However, she only found out how exaggerated the tales had become, over a jug of beer and a table filled with the best food she had ever tasted at Wanmin Restaurant. Part of her couldn’t help but laugh in disbelief when Xiangling asked if any of the stories about her were true.

Spinning her claymore in the air and slashing multiple Hydra heads in one throw seemed unrealistic, even after her battle with Haishan. The stories made her sound like a superhero; an inaccurate impression, which was something which she felt apologetic for.

She invited the young chef on a voyage to prove how true the stories were, an offer that she knew would pay well enough to float the restaurant during their down-periods.

Further, the moment Xiangling’s culinary potential was recognized, the restaurant wouldn’t experience any struggle in carrying their business. She was sure of that. Chef Mao had always been kind to her and Beidou remembered kindness, especially in a city that prided itself on the promise of honouring one’s word.

Beidou finally had the ability and means to help the people she cared about; she wasn’t about to let an opportunity go to waste.

The small voice at the back of her mind that worried about whether something would happen on the voyage had gone silent ever since she acquired her Vision.

However, the storm hadn’t ended yet.

As Beidou would soon discover, where lightning descended, thunder almost always closely followed.

Wherever she went, the Liyue Qixing was sure to keep her under close watch.

~~

The Liyue Qixing made their unwelcome presence known when she received an official summons at the end of one of the Crux’s month-long voyages.

She had a feeling something was off when she stepped off the ship and was met by a girl with light blue hair standing awkwardly at the docks. A pair of horns resting on the top of her head told Beidou of her adeptus heritage, while her posture and shy smile hinted towards her character.

She knew exactly who Ganyu was.

Despite her reserved nature, the General Secretary of the Liyue Qixing was not someone to be underestimated. It was said that she predated the formation of the Liyue Qixing, was part of the first ever committee and remained the General Secretary ever since. Back when she was a new recruit on the ship, Beidou had occasionally chanced upon the same blue haired qilin, normally around Yujing Terrace. However, they had no reason to speak to another.

At least until that fateful day.

“Captain Beidou, I am here on behalf of the Liyue Qixing.” She announced. Her voice was high and airy, as though she wasn't used to public speaking. It was hard to hear above the crashing of the waves against the docks and the crew yelling orders at one another. “This is an official-“

“Ah,” Beidou took the outstretched envelope from her hand before she could finish her sentence, startling the other girl. It wasn't as though she could hear half of what she was saying anyway. “Thank you for delivering the message.”

The qilin’s eyes widened for a moment before she cleared her throat. A small crease appeared on her brow. “As I was saying, the Tianquan has requested an audience with you.”

“A request? From the Tianquan?” Beidou echoed incredulously. She flipped the envelope over and sure enough, it bore the official seal of the Liyue Qixing.

As far as she knew, the old Tianquan had been superseded. The Liyue Qixing was now run by the most formidable businesswoman Liyue had ever seen.

It was rumoured that despite staying in a floating palace above the city, she had eyes and ears everywhere. There was no secret that the Tianquan was not privy to. Beidou had little interest in the gossip of the townspeople, especially those concerning political figures. There were many reasons why she favoured the sea over the land, and not having to deal with politics was one of them.

Someone like the Tianquan would have little reason to summon her, and to her Jade Chamber no less.

She glanced towards the secretary again. “Surely this must be some exceedingly polite way to order me to turn up or else.”

The half-adepti had a conflicted look on her face.

“She did convey to me that she was requesting your immediate presence.”

Beidou sighed. As much as she was an advocate for free will, there was no refusing a direct order from the most powerful person in Liyue. “I’ll take that as a ‘yes’ then.”

Reluctantly, she instructed her crew to replenish their supplies and take a break for the evening until she returned with further instructions.

“Just to be clear, I haven’t done something to get arrested for, have I?” She asked, as Ganyu led her towards Yujing Terrace.

She was relatively sure that while her voyages and goods were considered of an exotic nature and not exactly endorsed by the higher-ups of the Qixing, they weren’t exactly crimes worthy of being imprisoned for. After all, there were other captains who had been operating long before she even arrived at the docks. The merchants of Liyue were notorious for getting their hands on goods that were not exactly legal as well. Hence, she suspected that many of them were already part of a network that enabled suppliers to control some part of the business industry and keep the prices lucrative.

The crowd at Yujing Terrace was distinctly a class of their own. Being there made her feel out of place, ironically like a fish out of water. Making jokes was her way of dispelling the awkwardness.

A smile appeared on the other girl’s face; small but a sign of warmth all the same. It was the first genuine reaction she had seen from Ganyu so far. It made Beidou release some of the tension she carried.

“Not that I know of, no.”

Despite not being considered an outcast anymore, Beidou still kept her distance from places like Yujing Terrace. No matter how successful their voyages were, she would rather use the money to furnish better deals or acquire better equipment that benefitted everyone. She didn’t need lavish evening banquets or expensive afternoon tea. All she could ask for was a hot plate of food, preferably flavoured with spice, and a glass of cold beer to wash it down.

“How long have the Qixing been keeping tabs on me?” She asked.

Ganyu hummed to herself, as though she had to consider a politically correct response.

“It’s routine for the Qixing to account for all variables in weighing the consequences for policies and decisions.”

“That’s not really an answer, you know?” Beidou jested with a smile. “But I’ll take it.”

She noted how the secretary responded with an embarrassed look before she spotted a floating platform with jade embedded in the plaustrite. Perhaps the people in Yujing Terrace weren’t used to the concept of jokes.

“We’ve arrived.” Ganyu announced. “Please show the seal to Bu’yun and you will be taken to the Jade Chamber shortly.”

“Thanks Ganyu, maybe I’ll see you around sometime.” Beidou said as they parted ways. Part of her wondered whether she actually would.

She still had no idea what the Tianquan wanted with her. However, she swallowed her nerves and stepped upon the platform. The Jade Chamber was as magnificent as it seemed from below, but the trip from the ground to the floating island was definitely not. She had spent weeks and months at sea such that sea sickness was nothing to her. However, it took a tremendous amount of effort to prevent her stomach from expelling its contents on the steps of the Chamber when she finally stepped onto solid ground.

By the looks of it, the guards had been prepared for her arrival. Before she was certain that she wouldn’t keel over, she was approached by a couple of guards who immediately guided her towards the main entrance. There, she was met with a bespectacled lady who couldn’t hide her distaste upon seeing her.

“Please make haste. You are late as it is, and the Tianquan should not be kept waiting.”

The lady turned and walked away before she could even respond. No greeting, no fake pleasantries, no introduction.

Even with unfriendly merchants, there would usually be a customary greeting followed by their purpose. It was just general courtesy and politeness. Apparently, something that the people there had forgotten.

Beidou felt the urge to make a remark that she should tell the Tianquan that the common folk actually had other things to do with their time, but chose to remain silent. She might hold a sense of wariness for people in power, knowing what could happen to those associated with them. However, Beidou also wasn’t someone to pick a fight without understanding the situation she was in. She couldn’t lead her crew if she was in prison, after all.

The gentle glow from the light in the staircase made the Jade Chamber seem almost cozy despite the vast wealth it boasted. The corridors were illuminated in jade green and golden yellow. Fitting with the regal impression it gave from the outside, Beidou thought as she followed her guide past the hallways that were surprisingly empty but for the people cleaning and organising the already spotless shelves.

Other than the assistants, it didn’t seem like the Jade Chamber had many visitors. That being said, it also didn’t seem like a place where visitors were welcome.

She wondered if the Tianquan ever felt lonely, her watchful office disconnected from everyone else living out their lives on the ground.

Beidou couldn’t imagine living a life like that. Her crew and their livelihoods depended on relationships and trades with people from all over Teyvat. Even after she became a captain, she still personally conducted trades and brokered deals with her contacts at times.

It wasn’t because she didn’t trust her crew. Far from it. Rather, she liked being present and involved; caught up in the thick of trades, travelling to towns and making connections, helping the villagers and learning more about the problems people were facing.

She might not have the political power of a Qixing member to invoke monumental change in the policies governing the land, but she could be physically present and help with the immediate problems people were facing. It was too late to save Downriver, but there were several towns scattered across the nation.

The goods she brought in often served to broker deals and foster trading relationships for the people of Liyue, especially the landlocked merchants who had no way of connecting to the other nations. Even if she was technically skirting around the laws, she wasn’t about to let the less fortunate people suffer in the shadows.

Caught up in her own thoughts, she almost didn’t realise that the girl in front of her had stopped walking until she noticed the girl sitting at her desk. Her hair could easily be mistaken for gold with the sunlight streaming in from the windows but there was no doubt about who Ningguang was. Much like her name, Ningguang was known for being as cold as she was beautiful, something that Beidou couldn’t deny.

The office of the Tianquan was easily the most intimidating room of the Jade Chamber. Decorated with antiques and treasures, yet also filled with plans and calculations, just standing in the middle of the room made Beidou feel small.

“Thank you for ensuring the safe arrival of our guest. You may leave us, Baiwen.” The Tianquan spoke without lifting her gaze from the page.

Clearly, the lack of pleasantries was a trait the Tianquan passed to her secretaries.

The girl she had followed earlier, Baiwen, took her leave silently, not even sparing her a glance as she left the room.

For a long moment, the only sounds were from the shuffling of papers on the Tianquan’s desk.

“Captain Beidou.” She finally spoke. It didn’t sound like a greeting or an invitation, but Beidou took it as a sign that she was to approach the desk.

“Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, if I may assume.” Beidou wasn’t sure how meetings with the most powerful woman in Liyue normally went but she took a guess that she wasn’t going to get arrested yet.

“You already have.” Came the cool response. The white-haired girl met her eyes for a split second before shifting her gaze towards the seat in front of her.

“You may sit.”

Beidou didn’t have to inspect the seat to guess that the chair was probably worth a year of wages for her crew. As gingerly as she could manage, she did as instructed.

If the Tianquan noticed her effort, she didn’t show it. Her attention remained on the cup of tea she was pouring.

There was still a slight creak due to the odd structure of the seat. Beidou couldn’t quite figure out how this chair was supposed to bring a person any degree of comfort. Maybe Ningguang wasn’t human, she reasoned.

“I trust the journey here was manageable.”

Oh. So she did understand the concept of general pleasantries.

“Ganyu was pleasant company.”

The white haired girl nodded in acknowledgment. “You should be wondering why you were called here.”

Beidou crossed her arms at the dangling bait. Somehow having to answer the obvious affirmative irritated her. It was a statement that she had often heard from the mouths of greedy and arrogant merchants who underestimated her as a newcomer. She might be considered young and less experienced than some others but she wouldn’t tolerate being toyed with, even if it was the Tianquan. “That depends on whether you’re going to tell me.”

There was no point wondering if she was just going to be led on.

Ignoring her quip, Ningguang leaned forward. “Basically, I have a proposal for you.”

“How forward.” Beidou commented, resisting the urge to move away out of discomfort. She knew this intimidation game; whoever moved away first, lost. Two could play at this game.

“Is the Tianquan always this charming with prospective partners?”

Ningguang barely hesitated before replying. “If you happen to know of any worth my consideration, do feel free to suggest them to my secretaries.”

She twisted her mouth in annoyance, realising she didn’t have a comeback to that. She lost this round.

“It’s a business proposal, if that is something that interests you.” Ningguang continued as though she hadn’t just dropped a casual insult. “Mutually beneficial.”

Beidou couldn’t help the immediate suspicion that arose with that statement.

The Crux working with the Liyue Qixing?

It sounded like a scandal in the making.

Surely, the Tianquan had another card up her sleeve.

“What kind of business are we talking about?” She asked. “The Qixing probably has their own network of spies and mercenaries at its disposal. What do you need me for?”

Ningguang looked her in the eye for a moment. “There are certain tasks that require more care in handling.”

Beidou wanted to scoff. “So, you want me to handle the more risky part of your dirty work?”

Logically, it made sense. She was already a pirate to the people of Liyue. As a relatively known figure, it wouldn’t cause any disturbance if she were to go around poking for information or dabbling in the not so legal sectors of the trading scene.

“I would have to speak with my crew about this.” It was only fair for them to know their rights and obligations, should this agreement come to pass. “Maybe I’ll get back to you in-“

“Let there be no misunderstanding here, Captain.” Ningguang interrupted. “I’m not interested in hiring the Crux. Just you.”

“What?” Beidou frowned at the emphasis. She trusted her crew with her life and they felt the same. “The Crux and I come as a package deal.”

“That may be so during your voyages, but as far this proposal is concerned, I’m requesting your services, exclusively.” As she spoke, Ningguang slid a paper in front of the brunette.

“What’s so special about this request that I can’t involve my crew?”

Beidou might not have a family or a lover waiting for her to return from sea, but some of her crew members did. She gave them her word that she would protect them, and that included not putting their lives at risk unnecessarily.

“Think of it as a connection, Captain Beidou.” Ningguang took a sip of her tea. “One that will benefit you and me, and possibly your entire crew.”

Beidou’s eyes flickered tentatively to the paper in front of her and thought about the words she had just heard.

She had come a long way since the days when even reading the notices on the board were near impossible. Her captain had took it upon himself to ensure that his successor wouldn’t be disadvantaged for lacking the skill of comprehension. Words, he had cautioned her, they could either be your greatest bargaining chip or lead to your downfall. Hence, Beidou spent weeks that turned into months studying and mastering the written word.

Agreements and reports were part of her daily tasks once she got promoted. She learned the complex nature of her language, a mix of a craft and weapon of its own. She observed how a simple contract became the undoing of a merchant, a written promise that he couldn’t follow up on. She also watched as words and intentions became ugly and twisted when negotiations fell through, leading to a clash of swords.

She found it amazing how the citizens of Liyue would rather put their trust into a piece of paper, something that could be easily destroyed, than in one another. To Beidou, trust had to be earned and then sustained through actions.

It was ironic that now, she had to eat her words.

Connections were what kept the city alive. She knew that better than anyone. Doing a favour here, asking for a favour there. The people of Liyue thrived on the bonds inexplicably created by these unspoken promises. Trading favours, as she liked to call it, was something Beidou had become good at over the years. From a kid who had no credit or prospects to bargain with, she quickly learned that worth and value were in some ways, a social construct that could be created by an individual.

Trust and respect, that was what some citizens called this system. Others called it strategic transactions. There were also those that found it burdensome to owe and be owed. Yet, it was such an intricate part of the community that Beidou knew without a doubt that she could ask for something and she would get it, no questions asked, because she would do the same. It was probably how the city ended up with the defining concept of forming contracts in the first place, she figured.

However, sitting in front of Ningguang, the Tianquan having just asked for her services, Beidou hesitated.

It wasn’t just because she didn’t trust the Qixing. She also knew what signing the sheet of paper meant.

It wasn’t just a simple favour or request.

Being officially signed with the Tianquan, of all people, essentially branded her as the property of the Liyue Qixing. Beidou had finally become a captain who finally earned her freedom and didn't have to answer to any calling but the ocean and her own. She wasn’t about to become someone else’s property.

“Sorry Tianquan,” she pushed the sheet of paper back towards the blonde. “I have to decline your offer.”

“Well, keep it in mind. Maybe in the future, it could be something that interests you.”

Ningguang, to her own credit, didn’t seem surprised by the rejection. Instead, she leaned back against the seat, a ring of gems delicately spinning in the air above her fingers. The golden sparkle was almost as alluring as the girl herself. Her eyes dropped to the matching gem lying on the table; almost deliberately placed in her line of sight.

A Geo Vision, Beidou recognized. Her gaze snapped back to the other girl with renewed curiosity. A small smile crossed over her lips.

A Tianquan with a Geo Vision, living in the clouds. It seemed ironic. Almost as ironic as a ship captain, sailing across the sea with an Electro Vision.

They were two contradictions, seemingly defying the cards that had been dealt to them and setting an example that destiny could be made instead of followed. It made Beidou curious to wonder, but not curious enough to accept her offer.

However, the Tianquan had been right about one thing so far. Lady Ningguang was definitely someone that interested her.

~~

The next time she saw the Tianquan, it was when she was served with an official order for the Crux to pay a hefty fine for all the illegal goods they brought in. If that wasn’t enough of a motivator, half her goods were confiscated upon arrival, by the Order of the Tianquan.

She was delivered the news by a meek boy dressed in the Imperial uniform. Another deliberate choice of messenger, Beidou knew.

She didn’t even wait for one of the secretaries to meet her at the entrance. However unannounced her arrival, Bu’yun didn’t seem surprised in the slightest to see her storming up to him. The usually strict man simply guided her to the platform instead of asking for the code.

“Lady Tianquan!” She called out as soon as she stepped into the Jade Chamber. Her voice echoed in the enclosed space, likely announcing her arrival to all its occupants.

Dodging the horrified attendants and secretaries, she couldn’t tell if it was Baiwen or different person, she made her way towards the office from her memory.

If the Tianquan wanted a storm, she would bring one to her.

“Lady Ningguang, if I may apologise-“ A panting girl, slightly disheveled, rushed up behind her. Upon observation, she lacked a certain seriousness and coldness that Baiwen had.

“That’s alright, Baishi. I’ll handle this.” The Tianquan reassured. “You may return to your duties.”

After dismissing the flustered girl, she turned back to Beidou.

“Captain Beidou, please have a seat. I’ve been expecting you.”

The girl in question was too frustrated to accept the invitation. Instead, Beidou slapped the notice onto her desk. “How do you explain this?”

“Captain, I would have assumed you know how to read.”

“Was this really necessary?” Ningguang didn’t even flinch at the other girl’s impatience. She was the model for elegance and composure, which somehow annoyed Beidou even more than the fine.

“Was it really necessary to bring in all those goods, from Snezhnaya, of all places?” The Tianquan returned.

“Those goods you mentioned were for the benefit of the people of Liyue.” She argued. “They keep the sailors and merchants in business and prices affordable for the people buying them. Your sources would have told you the same thing.”

“There are established trading laws and export-import regulations, all of which you chose to ignore.” Ningguang said calmly. “If you continue to break the law, these are the consequences.”

“Don’t tell me you can’t afford to pay a mere 150,000 mora? Consider it a tribute to the community since you claim you’re doing it for Liyue.” She added, daring her to object. Beidou wasn’t an idiot.

Clearly, the Tianquan was doing this on purpose. Paying fines for transporting unsanctioned goods wasn’t uncommon in her line of work, but not this amount. It was more of a punishment than a legal recourse.

The other girl’s smile was unchanging despite the festering anger that Beidou was certain showed on her face.

It felt like she was fighting a battle with someone who was four steps ahead of her and always got what she wanted. However, she wasn’t going to get thrown off course just because the Tianquan was enforcing tighter restrictions. She still had goods to move and some were perishable.

Beidou made a decision.

There was no point negotiating with Ningguang anymore.

Clearly, relationships were just part of a business game to her, with mora as the prize. She probably didn’t even grasp the concept of developing trust and relationships with other people. All she cared about was taking and getting what she wanted.

A person who literally lived with their head in the clouds could never understand her or how she worked. Hence, the best thing to do in this situation would be to do what she wanted, pay the fines, and then figure out a strategy that wouldn’t affect her business.

After a moment, Beidou deposited a bag of coins onto her desk, the weight causing a loud thump to resonate in the empty office. The thought that she might have scratched the waxed surface of the wood came to her after she heard the impact, but she couldn't bring herself to apologise.

“I expect the goods to be returned by mid-day.” Beidou turned, getting ready to leave. If the Tianquan was going to make things difficult, she doubted it would be their last meeting.

“They never left the harbour.” Ningguang replied offhandedly.

Ignoring Beidou’s look of confusion, she placed the bag on the palm of her hands and lifted it. Beidou briefly wondered if it was experience or the Vision that enabled her to know its worth without counting the mora physically. Either way, she didn’t care. The ways of the Tianquan were not of her concern. As long as her crew and business weren’t affected, Beidou saw no reason to be involved with the Liyue Qixing, much less the Tianquan.

However, Beidou was still a citizen of Liyue. As far as the Qixing was concerned, her business was theirs. The fines wouldn’t stop here.

When Ningguang gave her a nod of satisfaction, she immediately took her leave without a greeting. The Tianquan could greet the mora she had just gotten, for all she cared.

From then on, Beidou made it a point to ask Mora-grubber to calculate and prepare the fines before they even reached the docks. Wherever she could, she found other ways to get the goods to her clients to minimise any potential fines. She also avoided the Jade Chamber at all costs.

She didn’t hate Ningguang, despite the crew teasing her about getting a “love letter” every time they docked at Liyue Harbour. The Tianquan was merely doing her job, just as she was doing hers.

However, not everyone shared the same sentiment. Word traveled fast in Liyue. Ever since their previous meeting, rumours had already begun to spread of Ningguang’s apparent dislike towards her, and consequently, the Alcor. Even Xiangling, who apparently harboured an intense suspicion towards the Qixing, randomly told Beidou one evening that she would always support her.

Each time one of the Crux members came up to her to ask, she would laugh it off, saying it was a misunderstanding. The citizens loved gossip a little too much if they believed that half the things they heard were true. Even the tales about Ningguang herself had to be taken with a pinch of salt, however many there were.

While the Tianquan rarely spent time away from her office, it was nearly impossible not to hear Ningguang’s name around the docks, or anywhere in Liyue. The kids in the harbour loved visits from the Tianquan as much as the merchants dreaded them. Everyone seemed to have a different story to tell and a different impression of their leader. Beidou was no different.

On some level, Beidou would even dare to say that she admired the ruthless way she handled business in the community. As a businesswoman who rose to power out of her own will and effort, she not only had the ability to govern the nation but also the drive to further Liyue’s prosperity. However, it didn’t mean she liked her or wanted to work with her. On the contrary, Beidou was even more against the idea than before.

It was for the good of both parties, she told herself.

The Qixing would likely not appreciate an association with a pirate, and she didn’t want trouble for her crew. If possible, she would want to limit her interactions with the Tianquan to only when they were absolutely necessary.

Unfortunately for her, “absolutely necessary” ended up being very soon.

She received an official summons to the Jade Chamber not three months later.

The Alcor had just docked earlier that evening. Most of the crew had already left the ship to get supplies and visit their families. The moon was already high in the sky when Beidou stepped off the ship to get some fresh air, only to spot a familiar shade of blue standing by the docks.

Ganyu have her a friendly smile and a wave this time, looking partly apologetic. The captain inwardly winced when the half adeptus confirmed her suspicions that her immediate presence at the Jade Chamber had once again become necessary. At least she sent Ganyu this time, she told herself.

If it had been earlier in the day, she would probably enjoy a talk with Ganyu, but she decided against her company that evening. With the way the other girl was nearly teetering off the loading dock, she could sense the amount of sleep, or lack thereof, that she had gotten. Thus, she made her way towards the floating palace above the clouds with only the night sky as her company.

“You want me to do what now?” Beidou asked, her voice echoing in the almost empty office. The Jade Chamber was devoid of attendants when she had arrived; even the usual secretaries had gone home for the day. Despite the seemingly ostentatious nature of the Jade Chamber, the only word she could think of to describe it was ‘melancholic’.

There was something innately different about the Jade Chamber and consequently, Ningguang, at night that intrigued her. Like the Grand Teamaster’s tales, it made her want to stay and find out more, despite the urge to run back to the water.

“I’m sure an experienced seafarer such as yourself would be familiar with reconnaissance.” Ningguang’s tone was almost teasing, and she looked way too satisfied with herself for Beidou’s tastes.

Narrowing her eyes at the other girl, Beidou rephrased. “I meant to request for clarification on the parameters of the job scope.”

There was a slight upturn of her lips, a shadow of a smile. Whether it was a glimpse of amusement or something more calculative, Beidou couldn’t tell. Instead, the Tianquan turned her attention to her notebook, open but hidden from Beidou’s view, much like Ningguang herself.

“You don’t like contracts, do you?” Despite its questioning nature, the line sounded more like a statement from the Tianquan’s mouth.

She thought about giving a sardonic reply. It was in her nature to respond to rhetorical questions with slight defiance. However, considering how they had parted ways during their last meeting, Beidou decided to answer honestly.

“In my line of work, I’ve learned that sometimes contracts only serve as limitations.”

From the way Ningguang’s gaze remained levelled, the answer didn’t surprise her. Beidou had a feeling very little did.

A couple of seconds passed.

“Very well then.” Beidou detected a slight tone of resignation in her voice. She heard the sound of the other girl straightening in her seat.

“Consider this a one-time favour then.” The Tianquan continued slowly. “One job. You’ll be compensated fairly for your assistance once the job is complete.”

She wanted to reiterate that it wasn’t compensation she was worried about, but something about the way Ningguang was looking at her caught her attention. She redirected her concerns.

“Why me?”

“As I’ve mentioned to you before, captain, there are some matters that require more care in handling and I think a person such as yourself would be suited for the specifications required.”

“That’s a really long winded way of saying you need my help.”

A sigh escaped the other girl, which gave the captain a glimpse as to how exhausted she was. The Tianquan looked as though she had barely eaten. “Look, it’s getting late. If you aren’t interested-“

“Hey,” Beidou frowned, her voice taking on a more reassuring tone. The situation must have been serious for the Tianquan to be giving her that expression. “I didn’t say I won’t help.”

Sending the other girl’s relief, Beidou sat up straight, hiding a grimace at the discomfort from the chair.

“Alright, tell me what I need to do.”

~~

It was a stupid plan, the Tianquan sending herself to investigate a suspected underground base for the Fatui. Yet, Beidou supposed, that’s why she was there. No person in their right mind would agree to go into the lion’s den unarmed.

Apparently, a source had leaked intel about there possibly being a Fatui operation planned for execution in the near future. Beidou’s first reaction was to question the source, which Ningguang assured her was “indisputable” and refused to entertain any doubts she had.

The ship captain felt a flicker of annoyance at how quickly she rose to the defense of her unnamed source. However, that was information she chose to leave at the back of her mind.

Maybe the Tianquan did know how to trust people after all.

It was indeed a revelation. If it had been under any other circumstances, Beidou would have been incentivized to dig deeper. However, Beidou wished the other girl would at least have been more forthcoming about her information this time. There were things she needed to consider if she was going to go in without backup.

The timing of the tip off might have been deliberate.

Knowing the Fatui, if there was really a mole within the Qixing, they would be looking for an extraction of information of some kind. Logically, the Lantern Rite Festival, one of the biggest events in Liyue, would be a period where the Qixing members would be too busy with preparations to be monitoring their movements. Whatever they were planning, it had to involve the festival somehow.

Snezhnaya representatives had recently arrived in town too. The official reason was to pay respects to the Geo Archon and enjoy the festival. However, word on the docks was that they were here for something more than the annual festivities. Unfortunately, diplomatic immunity prevented any investigation to be done on them. Legally, that is.

With time running out before the next Lantern Rite Festival, she could sense why the Tianquan was pressured into making a decision.

However, when Ningguang told her that she was going to offer herself as bait, Beidou didn’t hesitate to tell her that it was the most ridiculous idea she had ever heard. Surely members of the Fatui, especially those based in Liyue, would immediately recognize her. None of them would believe she would be anything but loyal to the nation she governed so shrewdly.

Beidou wasn’t a fool. She already knew the risk when she accepted the Tianquan’s offer.

Ningguang was a strategist. A chess player. She had to be, in order to climb her way to the top of the food chain.

Meanwhile, Beidou was a pawn. The first line of movement towards the enemy, either to confuse, sacrifice, block, or distract. However, most people forget that a pawn, seemingly insignificant and weak, could also control and change the flow of the game.

She knew what she was doing when she offered to go to the location in Ningguang’s place. Part of her already anticipated that the Tianquan was testing her. However, the other part of her knew that if she rejected the offer, Ningguang would have gone on her own. As for Beidou, she considered it a gamble that she was willing to take.

Despite her lack of trust in the Qixing, she wasn’t someone who would willingly let another person to throw themselves in harm’s way without backup if she could help it. Ningguang probably knew that before she asked for her assistance.

The job was as troublesome as she anticipated. The intel, fortunately for Ningguang’s source, was at least mostly accurate. The hideout in Dunyu was filled with as many Fatui agents as there were ruins. However, as she anticipated, it was likely not the base the Fatui were operating from.

She caught them in the middle of destroying the remaining evidence, which was unfortunate. Mentally, she apologised to the Tianquan, who had told her to not do anything rash or use force unless necessary. She needed them alive to find out the details of the operation.

A single person going up against a sizeable amount of agents probably wasn’t the best idea. Yet, she did gain some insight before she was forced to dispatch them, so it was not a complete loss.

They fought as though all of them were Vision holders, but there was something off about the way they wielded the elements. The way they fought was too practiced and methodical to have been a celestial gift. Still, they were powerful enough to render her energy depleted after all of them were disposed of.

The first thing she noted was the size of the camp. A normal base of operations wouldn’t require such a large cavity underground. The enormity of the location spoke of something much bigger in the works. The mechanisms hiding the place were also using a technology that she wasn’t familiar with.

Furthermore, the hideout was mostly devoid of documents by the time she arrived, which meant that someone had tipped them off in advance. According to Ningguang, only the Qixing had been made aware of this operation. Hence, either someone caught wind of their plans, or there was a mole within the Qixing itself.

From what she gathered of the remaining documents before the Fatui destroyed them, they were researching certain mineral properties. Specifically, offensive capabilities.

She only noticed the remnants of electro elemental traces when she felt the resonance of her own Vision.

Elemental trials, if she had to hazard a guess.

As she took a minute to catch her breath, she also inspected the stinging cut along her arm, a lucky hit from an agent who had the ability to become invisible. Despite the bleeding, it wasn’t life threatening. She had endured and survived worse. At that thought, Beidou exhaled a small sigh of relief that it was her who came instead of Ningguang.

The pain in her side made walking slightly uncomfortable, but she felt more dread towards the report she was going to have to give to the Tianquan once she made it back to Liyue Harbour. If Ningguang was a perfectionist who expected nothing less from her business associates, she would not tolerate failure well. Thus, she took the time along the way to think of how to phrase her report in a way that wouldn’t shorten her lifespan.

However, as soon as Beidou stepped into the office a few hours later, she watched Ningguang’s face blanch upon meeting her eyes.

Did she really look that bad, she wondered. Maybe she should have stopped somewhere to make herself look more presentable before making her way to the Jade Chamber.

The brunette mentally scolded herself for getting distracted. All she had to do was deliver her report as accurately as possible and then she could return to the Alcor and get some rest.

The injuries would heal eventually, as they always did. All she needed was her bed and her flask of alcohol.

“Tianquan, so I have good news and bad news-“ She began, deciding to go ahead and speak while the pain was still dulled by the rum she had swallowed a few minutes earlier.

Before she could even get to the report, however, Ningguang pushed her chair back and sped across the room.

Beidou frowned as the normally calm girl moved past her and left the room without so much as a greeting.

She had rushed back to Liyue Harbour despite her injuries, and Ningguang just walked out while she was trying to give her a report of the situation.

In the few instances where they had crossed paths, Beidou had never seen the Tianquan look anything less that elegant and mysterious. There was always a sense of distance that stretched wider than the desk that separated them. Hence, seeing an expression that was all too similar to worry cross her face, Beidou was taken by surprise.

She glanced down in confusion and realised to her horror that her wound had reopened.

Right, the floor.

She winced. Perhaps she should have spent more time wrapping her cut instead of rushing back towards the harbour. Ningguang was clearly particular about her things.

The way everything in the Jade Chamber was kept neat and unnaturally spotless spoke a lot towards Ningguang’s orderly attitude and organised mindset. The Tianquan must have been bursting a blood vessel thinking about the mess she was making. Normally, she wouldn’t care too much about it, but after seeing the other girl look so drained the other night, she felt a tinge of guilt about adding on to her troubles.

Just then, she heard hurried footsteps approach her. Sure enough, the Tianquan had reappeared behind her, a small box in hand.

“I’m sorry about the floor-“

“Stop talking captain.” Ningguang commanded abruptly. In place of her usual distant demeanour, the Tianquan’s voice took on a slight shrillness that made Beidou close her mouth instinctively.

“Sit.” Ningguang’s eyes flashed in anger as she motioned to the seat in front of her, inciting Beidou to obey without argument. As much as the Tianquan was intimidating with her beauty and influence, Ningguang’s fury reminded her of a storm. The first mistake every sailor made was daring to underestimate the danger of a storm, and Beidou was no rookie.

She jerked at the cold touch of fingers on her bare skin, but the other girl was persistent. “Let me see it.”

It took a few seconds and a series of sharp burning sensations before she registered that the Tianquan was cleaning her wounds, even the cursory ones which Beidou felt were not important enough to treat. Where she would have learned how to clean and treat a wound, Beidou was not entirely sure. However, she wasn’t about to complain.

It would have been comforting if not for the fact that Ningguang hadn’t said a word after she sat down.

Beidou was fine with silence. She had grown up with few acquaintances and even fewer friends. The ocean was a good listener but it wasn’t as though she would get any answers from it. However, this particular silence was rife with unspoken tension. Beidou felt as though she had just done something wrong.

She thought back to her behaviour leading up to the actual mission and didn’t remember doing anything out of the ordinary to anger the other girl.

“Thank you.” Beidou said quietly, placing a hand over hers to get Ningguang’s attention.

The hand that was holding a clean cloth against her shoulder blade stilled. Then, she felt a strong grip clench into her skin.

“What were you thinking, coming here in this state?” The other girl hissed. “You should have gone to see a doctor.”

“You told me to report back once I completed the task.” Beidou pointed out. “I came here as soon as I reached the city. Isn’t that what you wanted? The report?”

“I didn’t ask for your report, Captain.”

“But that’s what I came here for.” She continued, slightly disgruntled that the Tianquan was not willing to listen.

“You’re hurt.” Ningguang stated stiffly. Beidou tried to shift her position but the Tianquan wasn’t meeting her eyes. “I told you not to do anything stupid.”

“Well, at least there’s one less Fatui base for you to worry about.” She made a weak attempt at a shrug, which aggravated a cut on the back of her shoulder which she didn’t even know existed. The wince she tried to hide was too slow to escape the Tianquan’s notice.

Ningguang sighed.

“The Fatui would probably have another base up and running in a matter of weeks.” Turning to Beidou, she narrowed her gaze. “But you- there’s only one of you.”

Beidou paused.

That was an unexpected response.

Beidou’s solution to dealing with unexpected scenarios was humour. “Tianquan, if I didn’t know better, I’d say you were worried about me.”

There was a small huff from the other girl. “You aren’t aware of your own value if you can say such things so callously.”

The captain couldn’t help but laugh. They were moving back to familiar territory at least.

Perhaps it was because their recent meetings had taken place in the evenings, but the past few occasions alone had allowed her to catch numerous different glimpses of the Tianquan.

Maybe it was the unpredictability that intrigued her; the way the Tianquan’s frosty demeanour of the day evaporated when she saw her injuries. Their bodies were close enough that Ningguang didn’t seem like an unreachable star anymore. Instead, Beidou had to admit that contrary to the impression given by her name, the Ningguang in front of her had an intensity that was definitely not cold. Like her childlike fascination with untameable storms, Beidou felt herself drawn to her.

“So, do you want to hear about what I found out?” Changing the topic, Beidou steered her mind away from a direction she knew it was in her best interests to avoid.

There was a flicker of hesitation in the Tianquan’s gaze, before her duty as part of the Qixing won.

“If you insist…” Ningguang deftly manoeuvred around the desk and returned to her seat, looking like the determined and elegant Tianquan she had come to recognize. “Okay Captain Beidou, tell me what you discovered.”

Beidou smiled.

Perhaps she might have to reconsider the business proposal after all.

~

Chapter Text

It was a one-time mission, Ningguang had said. Beidou didn’t doubt the validity of her promise. Yet, when she ascended to the Jade Chamber, presumably to collect her compensation, she ended up leaving with another mission.

This time, she was the one who offered her services.

She had thought about it during the three week voyage to Inazuma on the Alcor that followed the previous mission. The Lantern Rite preparations would have already been well underway in Liyue, so there would be very little time for her to dig into the possibility of a traitor within her organization.

A favour for a favour; it was something Beidou was good at. Furthermore, Liyue was her home. She would do her part to defend it.

Although she wasn’t one to put her trust in the Qixing, the Tianquan was a different case. It also helped that Ningguang’s expression had relaxed slightly when she suggested conducting internal investigations and controlling the flow of information regarding the tip-off.

Their next meeting was largely the same, except Beidou delivered more information after her trip to Snezhnaya. She was sent to Minlin after that, following a trail of agents that led to Jueyun Karst. That mission and debrief was followed by another, and then another, until it was assumed that the Jade Chamber would be one of the first stops Beidou made whenever the Alcor docked in Liyue.

The progression to an actual partnership happened so naturally that Beidou didn’t think much of finalising their agreement. Whether they had a paper detailing their arrangement, she would still be willing to assist the Tianquan whenever necessary. However, it did amuse her to realise how wrong she was about the way Ningguang operated.

The Tianquan had allowed her to make amendments and negotiate the terms of the agreement. Only when both parties were satisfied with the contents did she call for Beidou to come to the Jade Chamber in the evening to execute the agreement.

Beidou had been reading through the execution copy when a thought occurred to her. In the entire time she had spent visiting the Jade Chamber, she had never encountered any other Qixing members.

“What do the others in the Qixing think about this?” She gestured to the contract and herself, assuming Ningguang would understand. “Don’t you have to consult them or hold some big meeting to come to a formal decision or something?”

“Does it matter?” The Tianquan returned. “At the end of the day, even the members of the Qixing are to respect the binds of a contract.”

The side of her lips quirked up. “Even the Tianquan?”

Ningguang shot her a look that Beidou couldn’t decipher. “Especially the Tianquan.”

Beidou shrugged as she signed the contract.

Politics weren’t her thing to begin with. Who was she to argue with that logic?

A quick glance out the window proved that the sun had already disappeared beyond the horizon.

“Alright Tianquan, I don’t know about you, but I’m famished.” She cut Ningguang off with a wave of her hand before the other girl could protest. She was definitely a workaholic, something which Beidou respected, but not if it was at the expense of her own health. “Even Qixing members need to eat and I know the perfect place to go.”

She caught Ningguang’s gaze dart towards the pile of papers on her left.

“Come on Ningguang,” she tried her best to imitate a pleading voice, despite how uncharacteristic of her it was. “The paperwork wouldn’t give a damn if you take a break to feed yourself.”

Normally she would just walk out and have dinner on her own, as she always did. Part of her wondered why it was so important to her that she got Ningguang out of the office. Maybe it was because with each visit to the Jade Chamber, the Tianquan was looking more and more stressed. The festival was a couple of weeks away and despite their progress, they had yet to figure out who the mole was.

Her next trip was to Natlan and she wasn’t even sure if she could make it back in time before the festival ended.

Hence, she wanted to ensure that the stubborn Tianquan had a proper meal at least once before she departed on her next voyage.

However, it was well worth the effort when a small smile appeared across her features. It could have been the dimness of the lighting, but Beidou thought she saw her cheeks colour before Ningguang broke eye contact, as though she was weighing her options.

It was during those few seconds that Beidou realised that Ningguang’s beauty really shone under the glow of the moonlight. In that moment, she couldn’t focus on anything else. The shadows complimented the gentle shimmer of her hair, making her look almost ethereal with the light from the window. She decided there and then that be it night or day, Ningguang had a radiance about her that was unlike anyone else she had encountered. Beidou’s eyes were halfway tracing the outline of her slim figure before she stopped herself mid-thought in mild horror.

What was she doing?

This was the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, and her new business associate. Off limits didn’t even begin to describe her.

The shock and embarrassment from registering her own train of thought meant that Beidou barely heard the soft “okay” that came from the other girl until Ningguang was prompting her to lead the way.

Even though the bathhouse was out of the way, Beidou had to take a cold shower before she returned to the Alcor that night.

~~

A small voice at the back of her head chided her for running away when she broke the news to Ganyu, not trusting herself to inform the Tianquan personally.

Her friend gave her a look of slight disappointment, which somehow stung more than any reprimand she received from the authorities.

“Are you sure you can’t make it back in time?” Ganyu asked. “It’s the biggest festival of the year, and we might be close to having a breakthrough in the other matter.”

“I know.” The guilt seeped into her tone. “But I can’t control how hard the wind blows or the strength of the currents.”

“I’ll bring you something nice.” She promised after facing Ganyu’s crestfallen expression.

“Thanks Beidou, but you don’t have to.” The qilin assured her before giving her a knowing glance. “Just come back safely. I’m sure Lady Ningguang would appreciate your presence during the festival too.”

Beidou decided that speaking to Ganyu was probably a bad idea. Throughout her trip to Natlan, her words lingered in her mind. If that wasn’t enough, she received word upon their arrival in Natlan that the situation in Liyue had progressed smoothly. While it seemed like an odd message, Beidou knew what it meant.

Despite her parting words to Ganyu, the Alcor ended up docking in the harbour on the fourth evening of the Lantern Rite Festival. If Beidou herself had taken over the steering to ensure that they were on the fastest course back to Liyue, no one apart from her crew had to know. Ignoring Juza’s suspicious look, Beidou told the crew that it was to give them time off to spend with their loved ones and dismissed them for the rest of the weekend.

“Have a good evening, Captain.” The newest member of the Crux grinned, nodding towards the Yujing Terrance knowingly. To her horror, Beidou couldn’t say anything to deny it when she spotted a familiar figure against the moonlight.

There was an ounce of mischief in his gentle tone, which was a change from the time they met.

Kaedehara Kazuha was, perhaps, the most perceptive member of her crew. He chose his words carefully and took care to only speak when he had something to say.

She had befriended him in Ritou, the wandering samurai, and offered him a place in her crew. A chance to escape and a chance to experience the rest of the world beyond Inazuma. Something about his strong belief in freedom, that every person has a right to their own dreams and ambitions, something that closely echoed her own, made her determined to help after hearing his tale.

The first few weeks, he barely spoke a word to anyone, choosing to remain silent despite the many questions bombarded by the curious members of the Crux.

Beidou didn’t blame him. Grief was processed differently by everyone, which was what she told her crew. It didn’t stop them from wanting to find out more about the mysterious samurai who could predict the weather.

Eventually, it was Juza who managed to illicit the first response from him; the first of many. As he warmed up towards life on the Alcor, Kazuha became more expressive.

Now, he was family.

Be it responding in haikus or sprouting out lyrical terms to describe the weather, everyone learned to decipher his poetry and appreciate his presence.

“Enjoy the festivities, Kazuha.” Beidou gave him a light nudge in the direction of the city. “It’s a night of remembrance after all.”

She found the person she was looking for leaning against the railing of Yuehai Pavilion, far enough away from the festivities to enjoy the peace, yet close enough to observe the surroundings and ensure that nothing was amiss. A strategic vantage point.

Always on duty, Beidou shook her head.

“I’m surprised the Tianquan isn’t taking part in the festivities.” She commented out loud as a way of announcing her presence. Ningguang’s back stiffened for a moment, but she didn’t turn around. “Especially since a bird told me that the danger has been subdued.”

“It wouldn’t be good if something happened while everyone else has their guard down.” The other girl replied. “There could still be other threats we missed in our pursuit of finding the mole.”

“Did you interrogate him?”

There was a soft hum before she heard Ningguang’s voice again. “He’s currently residing under the care of another branch.”

So, he was at Wangshu Inn, Beidou deciphered. Despite the guilt for not being there, she was glad they discovered the informant before the situation could have gotten worse. The Fatui were already growing in numbers in Liyue territory, especially after the Northland bank was set up. It was certain that they were being stationed there for a reason. However, it was not the time to start a diplomatic war.

Choosing not to press the issue any further, Beidou closed the distance and stood beside the Tianquan, the bustling crowd below them blissfully unaware of the danger they had narrowly avoided.

The festival square was teeming with life.

Citizens, young and old, walked around with lanterns in hand. Families were eating and chattering about excitedly as the festivities went on. Some of them were already preparing their lanterns and writing wishes on the sides.

Releasing lanterns was a time honoured tradition in Liyue. The festival was initially intended to honour and remember the fallen heroes in the Archon War. The practice of releasing lanterns, however, was created as a way to remind soldiers of the way home and not to lose sight of themselves. Like the stars in the night sky that guided sailors and adventurers on their journey home, her captain had told her. It was the first time she had heard of her name used in a positive way. The big dipper, the constellation pointing to the brightest star that never failed to bring the lost ones home.

Beidou used to watch the lanterns go up every year whenever she had the chance. Sometimes, they were even visible from her ship if the Alcor was near enough to shore. She would always be reminded of her captain’s words when she watched the lanterns flutter towards the stars above. In a way, it was a reminder to herself, about the things she experienced and her journey thus far.

Even after years of watching them, the sight was nothing short of magical. She tilted her gaze such that Ningguang came into view and thought about whether things would be any different this time.

“Are you releasing any lanterns this year?”

“What for?” The Tianquan finally glanced towards her. “You know the Millelith have to clean up everything after the festival right?”

The captain shrugged. She supposed it made sense for Ningguang to feel that way. Her priorities as the Tianquan of Liyue always came first. After all, the Tianquan was known to be rather heartless towards her many suitors.

She was not known for having any romantics entanglements since the day she took office either.

It wasn’t to say that there was any lack of trying, at least on the part of her suitors. Many merchants, and even foreign dignitaries at one point, paid visits to Liyue to try their luck with the esteemed Tianquan.

Word along the docks was that she never outrightly dismissed their intentions, but she held every single one of them at a distance. Until, of course, the day they confessed, heart in their hands. That was when she officially rejected them.

Some would criticise her, saying that she was leading them on with her actions. Others would say that she was prolonging the inevitable, a marriage and family, just to keep her reign. To Beidou, however, it was probably a strategic move to get better trades and put Liyue in a better economic position. In any case, it didn’t seem like she was someone who favoured sentiment over practicality. Yet, she had seen the way Ningguang poured herself into her work and spent countless hours trying to maintain order in Liyue. Someone who didn’t actually care wouldn’t be able to dedicate such a big part of their life to leading their nation.

“I mean, after all the effort that went into preparing for the festival, it would be a pity if the Tianquan herself missed out on a Liyue tradition.” She said finally.

“I have no need for wishful thinking if I can do something to make it happen.”

Right, Beidou reminded herself. This was the ever practical Tianquan she was speaking to, after all. Ningguang was easily more capable and efficient than her predecessor, considering how fast she dealt with with mole and subdued the threat while preparing for the Lantern Rite. However, she was still human.

“No one can control every outcome, not even the Tianquan.”

“Exactly,” Ningguang replied. “So instead of focusing on the things that I can’t control, isn’t it better to not lose sight of the things that are in front of me?”

“Like what?”

“The Qixing, for instance.” The other girl nodded towards the building structures behind them before meeting her eyes again. “And of course, people who keep breaking the law.”

“Hey, I’ll have you know that I didn’t break any of your laws this time.” She pointed out semi-proudly. Truth be told, it was because she was too busy trying to wrap up the deal and get back to Liyue to think about brokering other deals and moving cargo back and forth. Ningguang didn’t have to know that though.

“A miracle, I’m sure.” Came the dry retort. However fleeting, Beidou caught the smirk that landed on her features. The Tianquan did have a sense of humour, even if she rarely showed it.

Beidou let her words hang between them, their attention on the city they cared about and the people they wanted to protect.

“I’m glad you made it back safely, Captain Beidou.”

Caught by surprise, Beidou couldn’t help the grin that spread across her cheeks. “Me too.”

She was about to say something else when there was a chorus of yells from below. Beidou turned back to the festival square, only to find that her view was blocked by a flurry of lanterns floating towards the night sky.

There was a part of her that should have felt embarrassed by her awestruck expression. Yet, she couldn’t help but watch, enamoured by the sight of numerous glowing paper lanterns floating above the water, guided by the wind into the night. Her chest felt warm; a distinctive reminder of what it was like to be home.

Liyue Harbour hadn’t felt like home for most of her life. However, standing at the balcony of Yujing Terrace, Ningguang next to her as the wind carried the lanterns and wishes of the citizens away, Beidou allowed herself to entertain the thought of coming home to this every year.

The lanterns were further away now, looking more like the wild fireflies along the landscape of Liyue in the night. It occurred to her that they had been silent for a while once she noticed that the stall owners were slowly packing up for the day.

She chanced a look towards her companion.
However, whatever words she wanted to say instantly left her mind when their eyes met. She wasn’t sure how long the Tianquan had been watching her, but there was something about the intensity of her gaze that made Beidou feel a little too vulnerable for her own comfort.

Awkwardly, she cleared her throat, breaking the moment.

“So,” she looked towards the lights that were slowly being dimmed. “If you’ve got no plans after this, would you like to head out from here?”

“I think if something bad was going to happen, it would have happened already.” Beidou added for good measure.

Ningguang didn’t miss a beat. “What did you have in mind?”

It occurred to her that this was the first time she was actually asking to spend time with Ningguang, outside of work meetings. The good thing was that the Tianquan hadn’t rejected her immediately. However, the other problem was that she didn’t know anything about Ningguang. She had no clue where to begin.

“Well,” she started hesitantly. “What do you do in your free time?”

She realised her error as soon as she finished the question. Not bothering to give her a reply, Ningguang shot her a look that seemed to ask what made her think she even had free time to begin with.

Beidou rolled her eyes. “Is there anything you enjoy doing when you’re not being the Tianquan?”

“I’m always the Tianquan.” Ningguang answered, much to Beidou’s chagrin. However, there was something more teasing about the way she spoke which made Beidou realise her efforts were recognized. “…But I wouldn’t say no to a game of Liyue Millennial.”

The Tianquan’s personal variation of chess. It was notorious for being complex and being constantly updated with new sets of rules every time the Tianquan felt like adding them. She had yet to be beaten, for she was notorious for even changing the rules on the spot.

Beidou thought back to the last time she challenged her crew members to a chess game and smiled.

The game sounded like an impossible challenge, but like its creator, it was something she could work with.

~~

Working with the Tianquan was, quite frankly, unlike what she expected.

Ningguang, the Tianquan who claimed the sky for her own. Her, the captain who sought to conquer the sea.

It was obvious to everyone that they were worlds apart. Most citizens wouldn’t even fathom a collaboration between them.

Yet, time and time again, she found herself standing at the entrance to Ningguang’s office above the clouds.

Within weeks, they had an established routine every time the Alcor docked in Liyue. The crew had stopped questioning her when Beidou mentioned that she had a meeting to attend after completing their usual cargo and supply checks. For a curious crew like the Crux, who persisted even in the face of Kazuha’s silence, that was saying something.

She would stride into the building, not bothering whether she had an appointment or not. Out of all her visits, she had only encountered one instance where the Tianquan was conducting a meeting. However, from her stiff posture and fake smile, Beidou knew that her timely interruption was more convenient than a nuisance.

One of Ningguang’s secretaries, which Beidou could actually tell apart at this point, would announce her arrival and take their leave.

Ningguang would guide her to a table with a chess board already prepared, along with a pot of fancy tea which Beidou had given up guessing the flavour of.

Then, over the chess board, Beidou would give her a report and update regarding the matters Ningguang had specified.

It might seem like a rather unconventional way of holding business meetings, but it suited them just fine.

It took a couple of meetings before their conversation bank expanded to topics that weren’t strictly official business.

Sometimes, their game would last longer than the pot of tea, sometimes stretching until the skies bled orange. By then, Beidou would stretch her arms and casually suggest dinner.

In the beginning, Ningguang always hesitated.

She had to remind herself that to the Tianquan, everything had an opportunity cost that needed to be considered. She noticed that while Ningguang was ready to use mora instead of other means to get what she wanted, the one thing she was always very careful about was her time.

At first, Beidou had been slightly insulted at the notion that anything other than relevant and necessary conversations could be considered a waste of time. However, if that were true, it would not make sense for Ningguang to always invite her for a game of chess every time she visited.

Sometimes, Beidou thought of it as a gamble. Ningguang could either accept or reject the offer, so there was a 50/50 chance she would be eating alone. It wasn’t something she had an issue with; on the contrary, she sometimes ate alone in her quarters when she needed time to think and plan. Yet, she still made it a point to keep asking even though the chances of getting turned down were probably higher.

Then, one day, after Beidou had stopped asking seriously, Ningguang said yes.

~~

Perhaps that was her first mistake.

Upon reflection, it had been ultimately Beidou who first initiated the move to bend the boundaries of their professional relationship.

It didn’t stop there either.

“I brought something for you.” The Tianquan looked up from her report, not expecting the gift that Beidou placed on her table. “It’s from Snezhnaya.”

There was an inkling of curiosity in her gaze as she inspected the tall item that towered on her desk. Beidou held back a smile of amusement as the Tianquan put aside her papers to give her, or rather, the Samovar, her full attention.

“Is that… a teapot?”

Beidou tilted her head. “Snezhnaya’s version of it, yes.”

The way the other girl reached towards the contraption reminded her of the first time she brought a bag of sweets from Natlan for the children at the docks. Little Lulu, Little Fei and Little Meng had never seen anything like it, but they were more curious than fearful of new experiences.

After one dared to give it a try, the others followed suit, chattering excitedly as the flavours caused their faces to light up in delight. However, as adorable as the expression on Ningguang’s face was, the Tianquan stopped before her fingers made contact with the tea set.

“Did you bring this gift to make me forget that importing goods from Snezhnaya requires a permit, which I am aware that you do not have?”

She smirked. “What would you do if it was?”

In reality, Beidou had passed by a market during a voyage and the vibrant green of the Samovar caught her eye. She ended up buying it and realising later that Ningguang could buy whatever she wanted. It didn’t seem like the Jade Chamber, and its creator, lacked anything. So, it remained in her quarters until she figured out an occasion to present it to her.

It wasn’t jade, but she figured that the shade of green would match the walls in the Jade Chamber. After delivering the present, Beidou was relieved to see that she was right in that aspect.

Ningguang took a sip of the tea she had made earlier. “I would have to fine you for attempted bribery of a Qixing member.”

The brunette shrugged at that. She had been fined so many times that it was water off her back at this point. Instead of trying to protest and risk getting higher fines, the Crux just found other ways to increase profits. In a sense, she had to thank Ningguang for motivating her crew to work more efficiently and productively.

“At least I know you won’t forget me.”

The Tianquan sighed. “How can I forget the most stubborn pirate in Liyue?”

“Aww, I knew you cared.” About me, she wanted to add.

“I care about all potential threats to Liyue.” Ningguang stared at her pointedly.

She was doing it again. The strange back and forth that left Beidou wondering if Ningguang was deliberately testing her by implying something else with her words. It was easy to miss the emphasis, but Beidou had grown accustomed to paying attention yet pretending to ignore whatever it was that Ningguang was trying to say but not say.

Beidou looked towards the window that faced the harbour. She made a show of stretching her limbs.

“As nice as this is, I have to oversee some supply shipments before we leave.” She gestured towards the door with slight regret in her tone for cutting their meeting short. Granted, Beidou normally allowed the senior members of her crew to handle the shipments, but with the new recruits around, she would rather have them focus on training than routine supplies.

“I just wanted to drop by to give you the gift since it’ll be a few weeks before we return to port.”

“Very well.” The Tianquan gave her a single nod before returning her eyes to the report in her hands, cutting off any further conversation. Beidou recognized her sign of dismissal and decided to take her leave. “Don’t forget to leave the fines on your way out.”

At the frosty undertone, Beidou decided that it wasn’t worth starting another argument about the quantum of fines. She allowed the sound of the mora landing on the table to announce her departure since Ningguang wasn’t going to give her anymore of her time.

She could have been imagining it, but with the way the Tianquan was scribbling furiously on the page, she looked almost upset. Beidou felt as though she needed to apologise, but she wasn’t exactly sure what she would be apologising for. Ningguang didn’t normally show this kind of expression as the Tianquan.

As much as Beidou wanted to remain unbothered by the other girl, she couldn’t leave like that.

“Tianquan.”

The pen stopped.

She tried to think of the best way to phrase her words but settled for the most important thing she wanted to convey.

“I- Happy birthday.” She said sincerely.

It didn’t matter that Ningguang muttered something under her breath at Beidou’s belated greeting or that she was told to get out before she was late for her scheduled departure. All that mattered was the small but genuine smile that surfaced on Ningguang’s face at her words.

That same smile remained etched in her memory long after the Alcor left the shores of Liyue.

~~~

“Do you have to circumvent the law all the time?” Ningguang casually asked one afternoon. The brunette sat across from her, hunched over the chessboard between them, as the Tianquan crossed her legs and twirled a golden pipe in her hand. “As the General Secretary of the Qixing, Ganyu has enough paperwork as it is.”

“Using my own friend against me now?” Beidou countered. Her eyes remained trained on the pieces in front of her. She refused to allow the white haired girl to distract her. It wasn’t the first time Ningguang had employed this strategy and Beidou considered it a compliment to her skills that the other girl was resorting to this. She was going to beat her at her own game, even if Ningguang didn’t have any faith of her claim. “That’s not very professional of you, Lady Tianquan.”

“Besides,” the captain continued, moving a piece she had been eying ever since Ningguang moved hers. “At least Ganyu knows how to take a break from being the secretary when she needs it.”

“I’m not asking as the Tianquan.” Ningguang replied smoothly, but there was something harder about her gaze; a distinct change that occured ever since the half-adeptus was mentioned.

“Oh?” Leaning on her elbows and trying not to read too much into the statement, Beidou decided to tease her. “Then who, pray tell, are you asking as?”

She was expecting a sarcastic reply or even a change of topic, but neither of them were part of her response.

“Just Ningguang.” The other girl said simply. “Is that not enough?”

There was an unreadable expression on her face which made Beidou wonder if she had misread the situation somehow. She needed to tread lightly. Ningguang’s eyes reminded her of the sky just before the first rumble of thunder echoed over the waves.

It couldn’t be that the Tianquan was unhappy about her referring to Ganyu as a friend. After all, she had sent the General Secretary as a messenger to the Crux a few times. Nowadays, Ganyu was comfortable enough to speak more freely and outside her secretarial capacity. Beidou considered her a friend; someone important enough for her to avoid anything that might get Ganyu in trouble for associating with her.

She didn’t see how the Tianquan would be bothered over her friendship with the qilin. However, it wasn’t the time to be mulling over such things. As it was, Beidou was already spending too much time thinking about her business partner.

“How can the Tianquan herself be insufficient?” She waved it off with a laugh. “But ultimately, you know my business is conducted in a way that benefits the people of Liyue.”

The other girl exhaled, a cloud of gentle smoke appearing in the space between them. “While I respect your intentions, there are other ways of contributing that don’t involve breaking the law.”

“This law you preach about doesn’t really help the poor though.” Beidou pointed out. “The rules can only cover so much. The benefits of the law are mostly reserved for the educated and economically able. The people stuck in the poverty cycle don’t have those options.”

She looked up for a second, meeting Ningguang’s eyes. “I’m simply helping the poor and giving the sailors legitimate jobs. Think of it as enacting justice for the people who fall between the cracks.”

The other girl sighed, probably realising that Beidou wasn’t even close to giving in. However, Beidou figured, at least she might stop pressing the issue. They both had different ways of helping the people of Liyue. While she found it difficult to make sense of how Ningguang saw things, Beidou knew that the Tianquan knew her well enough by now to know that she wasn’t a threat to Liyue.

“I suppose I’ll just have to keep fining you then.”

A short laugh escaped her. For some reason, her words didn’t sound like a threat. “Guess I’ll have to keep coming here then.”

“Perhaps.” The other girl changed the topic after that, but her serene smile remained. Beidou felt her own lips lift in response.

Looking back, maybe that was the moment where something shifted between them.

~~

The first time she emerged victorious in Liyue Millennial, Beidou was just as surprised as the Tianquan.

It was an intense game; one that had continued over two sessions, with neither party willing to admit defeat. They even allocated an afternoon to continue the game, just after Beidou had docked in Liyue and paid her fines. They had been so caught up in stealing one another’s pieces and capturing territory that they didn't realise the sun had begun its descent hours ago.

She had somehow pulled ahead by a couple of points at the end of the game, despite Ningguang recalculating the score in disbelief. Beidou hadn’t complained, half believing it was a miscalculation. She was sure the shock on the other girl’s face reflected her own expression.

“Well, Tianquan, looks like your game isn’t impossible to beat after all.” Beidou grinned smugly. She had the right to gloat after all, it wasn’t everyday that an uneducated ship captain beat the richest woman in Liyue in a game.

The other girl’s glare would have likely terrified anyone else into submission, but Beidou couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“I think that’s enough games for today, Captain.” Ningguang announced, standing up from her seat. “If there’s nothing more to report, I have to return to my duties.”

For some reason, the Tianquan’s response made her laugh even harder. She had anticipated that Ningguang wasn’t someone who was used to losing, but being the one to actually win meant that she got to see this side of her. The white haired girl narrowed her eyes and strode back towards her desk, leaving Beidou leaning against the chair she disliked so much. Yet, she couldn’t be bothered to complain. It was even better than the added weight of her prized mora that jingled in her pouch on the way back to the harbour.

The next time they faced off over the chess board, Ningguang had added a new set of rules overwriting the tactics that Beidou used to win previously. Some might call it petty, but Beidou took it as motivation for her to win again. Now that she knew that winning against her was actually possible, she wasn’t going to accept defeat so easily.

She only realised while she was getting ready to leave that she hadn’t given any report, neither had she received another job from the Tianquan. It was the second consecutive meeting that Ningguang hadn’t given her an extra task. Beidou automatically glanced towards the girl sitting at her desk, as though she could read her mind.

“Is there something on your mind?” Ningguang asked from where she was elegantly seated.

She forgot that the Tianquan had eyes and ears everywhere.

It wasn’t good to stare, Beidou reminded herself. No matter how pretty the subject.

“The monsoon season is coming, so uh, be careful...” She gestured around the room semi awkwardly. “You know, cause lightning hits the tallest buildings…”

That was terrible, even to her own ears. Yet, Beidou could have sworn that the Tianquan actually laughed this time, despite the lower half of her face being covered by a fan.

“Thank you for the concern, but the Jade Chamber has been built to withstand and divert any lightning or electric strikes.”

Right, of course Ningguang would have thought of that when she constructed her palace.

She really had to stop making a fool of herself in front of her. It was enough that she would never have Ningguang as anything more than a business partner, she didn’t have to go and ruin her image on top of it.

“I guess I’ll be heading off first, then.” Beidou remarked. “Now that I’ve got some extra mora on hand, I can hear a nice dinner calling my name.”

She left the invitation unspoken, but they had eaten together enough times for Ningguang to know that she was welcome to join her.

“If you must.” The other girl replied. “I’ve got paperwork that demands my attention.”

That was enough of a rejection for her to understand that Ningguang was probably busy or not interested, or both. She supposed a couple of beers would be sufficient companionship for the evening.

Beidou stood, readying herself for the long trip down on her own. “Have a good evening, Tianquan.”

“Safe travels, Captain.”

~~

It was Juza who put the tale of the God of Thunder back in her head.

Her First Mate had a propensity for entertaining the recruits with stories over dinner, especially during long voyages. It was customary for new recruits to understand the importance of shift work and night watch.

Hence, all of them would have experienced a full night shift at least once during their training. Telling stories, Juza found, was a way of letting them relax and get accustomed to the hours.

Beidou always left the handling of the new recruits to her trusted First Mate. Sometimes she would join them on their night shifts; after all, being a captain didn’t excuse her from her own rotational shifts from time to time.

When he started recounting tales about herself and her adventures though, the captain normally chose to conveniently disappear into her chambers or climb up to join Liushi at the crow’s nest. They could have their fun. It wasn’t for her to spoil the experience.

However, for her, being faced with questioning looks and hearing stories that turned her battles into heroic feats somehow made her feel like she was listening to someone else’s life. To her, looking out for her crew meant keeping the ocean a safe place, and if she had to slay any creatures who meant them harm in order to do so, she would gladly do it. She was just doing what she had always wanted to do, live her life freely and help whenever she could.

One night during their latest voyage though, Beidou had taken a stroll along the helm of the ship, mainly to enjoy the night sky. Ever since Haishan was slain, the waters surrounding Liyue were much calmer. The Crux had also dispatched most of the pirate vessels that preyed on smaller trading ships in the region. Hence, most nights were filled with peaceful rest instead of forced vigilance and fear.

The stars were always the most visible when they were out at sea, far from the mainland and lights of the port. It reminded her of the nights she spent without a proper roof over her head, where her only companions were the stars scattered above her. She would fall asleep to the reassurance that even on cloudy nights, the constellations that usually mapped out the night sky were still watching over her.

It had been a clear sky, the silence only broken by the gentle laps of the waves and the singular voice of her most trusted First Mate.

He was in the middle telling a story, surprisingly unrelated to her, to the newest batch of recruits, when she heard a familiar name being uttered below.

The Jade Emperor.

The name itself brought back memories of her days squeezing between bodies, tiny hands easily slipping into pockets and disappearing into the crowd without a trace. The story had played a part in her childhood memories, the ones that persisted and played in her mind whenever she felt alone. However, the longer she listened to Juza’s adaptation of the same fable, the more she was reminded of another person connected to Jade.

That person too, resided in a palace in the sky, the closest thing to a heavenly palace.

Rubbish, she shook her head to dispel such foolish thoughts. She should not be associating the Tianquan to a legendary immortal.

If anything, their relationship felt more like the Goddess of Lightning being forced to work with the God of Thunder for the sake of everyone else, despite their differences. Except, of course, the roles were reversed.

Like their corresponding elements, they were on different planes of existence, save for certain instances where lightning struck the earth.

As a child, the only thing she knew about storms was that it had the potential to take lives and destroy everything in its path. As a teenager, she thought that the only way to survive was to be fearless in the face of danger. When she finally took to the sea, Beidou learned that underestimating the perils of a storm was the first mistake any sailor made.

It was important for captains to understand the mechanics of a storm, her captain had told her. She couldn’t be leading a crew and training others without having experienced and mastered everything beforehand.

At the time, Beidou had been young, reckless and in need of a way to prove herself. Naturally, she learned the hard way that drawing her claymore to cut the loose ends of ropes during a thunderstorm was not the best idea.
Even ships made out of sturdy wood could become a conductor for lightning in the ocean.

When she travelled to Sumeru, she learned that the world was more complex than she could ever imagine. It was fitting that it was under the jurisdiction of the Archon of Wisdom where she finally understood the lesson her captain was trying to teach her. It wasn’t enough to just know the ways of the sea; not when the land and sky were integral parts of the same ecosystem that affected and depended on each other.

There, she learned that in a storm, the electricity in the clouds could get attracted to electricity in the ground, creating an opportunity for both sides to meet as lightning carved a path down from the heavens.

In other words, it was mutual attraction that enabled both sides to breach the distance between them.

She wasn’t blind. Their banter toed the line of flirtation too many times for her to not notice. Ningguang could easily sidestep her suggestive jokes and refute her playful teasing, but she met Beidou in the middle instead, returning her comebacks and catching her off guard when she least expected it. Beidou even dared to say that Ningguang found her amusing.

However, she knew the boundaries. Even if her meetings with Ningguang were as common as storms on the ocean, it was supposed to be temporary. Lightning strikes lasted for a fraction of a second and then they were gone. A momentary meeting of minds before the charge dispelled and nothing was left but traces of electricity.

She wasn’t supposed to feel anything for the Tianquan, much less want anything more than what they had.

Yet, while she told herself that it was strictly business between them, there were some things she couldn’t deny.

Like her heart unintentionally leaping when Ningguang let out an unintentional laugh at one of her jokes, or when she broke character and let out a curse after Beidou emerged as the winner of their chess game.

Despite her attempts to remain professional, she had to admit that the other girl did have an effect on her.

Bit by bit, the Tianquan had become an integral part of her definition of Liyue. Not only had she stopped dreading her visits to the Jade Chamber, but Beidou found herself missing the lilting voice and playful teasing while she was at sea. While enjoying a meal full of spice and heavy flavours, she would remember how Ningguang recoiled at the taste. Watching the usually dignified Tianquan struggle not to cough after trying a mouthful of her favorite dish was a memory she cherished, along with the faint blush that coloured her cheeks when Beidou proudly declared that Ningguang’s mora meat buns were the best she had ever tasted.

She only realised the extent of Ningguang’s impact in her life during her latest voyage, when she saw a blonde girl in Snezhnaya and her first thought was that if her hair was a shade lighter, with the ends fading into ash grey, she would be more attractive.

Her heart still belonged out in the ocean, that much was certain, but nowadays, the thought of returning to port held a different sentiment thanks to a certain white haired girl. She might even admit, if she was inebriated, that she sometimes looked forward to seeing the lapis gledes circling the air, an indication that Liyue was close by. Her crew laughed and told her it was about time she started feeling homesick, but Beidou knew, the first landmark she noticed noticed was not the familiar mountains and buildings, but rather, the floating palace above the clouds. During the worst storms, Beidou even thought about whether the Tianquan would think about her if she never came home.

It was ridiculous to care so much, she knew. Ningguang would probably recruit another captain to help, Beidou thought to herself. Her value as an asset was replaceable even though it might mean more inconvenience.

It was funny, Beidou thought. She bore an Electro Vision, the power of lightning in a storm. Yet, when Ningguang was concerned, she felt more like the thunder that came after the initial strike.

Like how Dianmu threw her lightning bolts to guide Leigong in the dark, Ningguang’s requests were always precise and left little room for variations.

Everyone feared lightning for the brilliant flashes and hot searing electricity that could destroy things with a single touch. Thunder was different.

Thunder before a storm was a warning of what was to come; thunder during a storm was like the second impact of a lightning strike. After a storm though, when the rain lightened, thunder was like a reminder that the storm was over and they made it through.

One thing was certain. There was rarely an appearance of thunder without lightning and vice versa. As such, it was a good partnership.

Beidou performed her side missions swiftly, without vibrance and theatrics, but mainly to ensure that the underlying variables of Tianquan’s operations were handled smoothly and the extra and more obscure items were procured safely.

There was nothing more for her to expect or want. Moreover, it was common knowledge that Ningguang had no interest in personal relationships with anything other than mora.

Relationships based on mora can only be relied upon for a time, Ningguang had said. They were like contracts. Once the terms were met and the obligations fulfilled, there would either be a new contract drawn or the relationship would have run its course. As such, she held no affection for finite things, for they were bound to end someday.

Instead, she poured out her love and ambition into the most infinite thing she knew. Aside from mora, the Jade Chamber was her most precious treasure; a symbol of everything she triumphed against and her life’s journey.

Even Beidou, with her ships and treasures from all over Teyvat, couldn’t even dream of comparing herself to that. Even though there were moments where, for a second, she allowed herself to consider the possibility of something more, she wasn’t silly enough to forget that their relationship was finite.

The mora she deposited on Ningguang’s desk every time she was served a notice of fines was a reminder of what she couldn’t have.

So, Beidou did what she always did in the face of a storm at sea. She summoned whatever strength and courage she had and braced herself for what was to come.

~~

“You know,” Beidou mused as she lingered in the entranceway. She knew for a fact that Ningguang was well aware of her arrival, but made a deliberate choice to keep her attention on her papers. It had happened too many times for her to know that the Tianquan was listening. It was simply Ningguang’s way of being efficient while Beidou stated her point. “I was attending to some business near Yaoguang Shoal the other day and it just so happened that I encountered a lady who used to live there.”

Instead of straining her back on the uncomfortable chairs in her office, Beidou felt more at ease walking around. Ningguang probably knew but didn’t see the need to comment about it.

“Yaoguang Shoal is known for shipwrecks and unsavoury encounters.” Beidou heard a page being flipped before the scratchings of a pen continued. “I trust that you will be careful during your visits.”

She could see the entire city from the window. Beidou looked over at the blue sea and wondered if Ningguang could tell when the Alcor docked at the harbour.

Knowing her, she probably didn’t need to.

Her informants would have checked out the Alcor’s movements in advance anyway.

“A couple of ruin guards and hilichurls aren’t anything we haven’t handled before, but that wasn’t my point.” Beidou moved to the window nearest to Ningguang’s desk. She could feel the sun’s rays warming the room as the sun climbed to its highest point in the sky. Summer in Liyue was easily a time when she would willingly travel to the edges of Dragonspine in Monstadt to get away from the sweltering heat. Yet, instead of taking more time to travel the lands, she ended up setting sail for Liyue once their business was concluded.

“The lady I met was collecting star conches to sell back at the harbour. So naturally, I bought some from her in exchange for her story.”

“How altruistic of you, captain. However, it doesn’t mean I’m writing off your fines from your previous voyage.” Ningguang reminded her dryly. “You’re still 56,000 mora short.”

Beidou shook her head, not quite finished with her story. Despite their cordial relationship, the Tianquan was merciless when it came to mora. If she counted the total amount of mora she had paid to Ningguang in fines, she’d probably be able to buy a new ship with the latest equipment.

“Anyway, she recounted a story of a young girl who collected star conches too, and one day managed to convince the merchants that they were special products that could be marketed for higher prices.”

The sounds of writing paused. At least she had Ningguang’s attention now. “Sounds like a natural business enterprise.”

“It does, doesn’t it?” She angled herself to face the Tianquan. “According to her though, she met the girl only once, back when she was selling meat buns to earn a living. They had done a trade, a meat bun for a star conch. Even at a young age, the girl had said proudly that she would someday become the richest person in Teyvat. Doesn’t that sound familiar?”

The other girl said nothing for a while.

“What more is there to say?”

Beidou hummed. “So, why didn’t you tell me how your business started?”

It was a safer question than what was on her mind. There was no doubt that the girl in the story was her. The moment Beidou tasted the meat bun that the vendor had offered her, she had put the pieces together. The taste was near identical to the one that Ningguang had made for her. Part of her was curious to know how similar the Tianquan was to her, and another part feared the possibility of knowing too much. She didn’t want to give herself false hope.

“What would have been the objective of that?”

Because that’s how people get to know one another and build stronger relationships, she wanted to say.

“We’re business partners.” She said instead. “Shouldn’t this count towards credibility?”

“I didn’t hide anything. You just never asked.”

While she had to agree that Ningguang had a point, the way the other girl spoke seemed to dare her to ask. If it had been someone else, perhaps Beidou would have used the given opportunity to find out more information. However, it was Ningguang. Volunteering information was one thing; asking was another.

“Does it mean you wanted me to ask?” She dared to enquire. “If you wanted to share it, you could have done so.”

There was a moment of pause, where Beidou could see the calculating side of Ningguang try to ascertain whether it was a question worth answering.

“Captain, you greatly overestimate my time if you think I have and would use my time to think about you.”

That was probably Ningguang’s way of telling her not to overestimate her importance. She ignored the jarring words and plastered a lazy smile on her face.

“Aww, and here I thought we were getting along so well.” It was easy to go back to their casual banter, a convenient escape for when things got too serious.

She definitely caught the eye-roll before Ningguang dismissed her.

On some level, Beidou felt that their relationship at the moment was hovering over the boundary between professional and personal. While over the past few months she had been content with keeping things as they were, some things made her struggle to define exactly what their relationship was.

There were moments where the Tianquan seemed to insinuate the possibility something more, but moments like those were like a passing cloud, gone before she had time to think about the implications. It left Beidou confused about what she wanted and was supposed to want.

At times, Ningguang would say things and leave answers with deeper connotations hanging in between them. Whether it was meant to annoy her into saying something or a sign of shifting the boundaries they had carefully set, Beidou didn’t know. Despite the strong headed and risk-taking impression Juza’s stories gave her, Beidou did know how to calculate risks and make levelheaded judgments. She didn’t take on the role of being captain by taking unnecessary risks and putting everyone in danger.

Under the current circumstances, Ningguang herself constituted an unnecessary risk.

The Tianquan was someone who planned her every move without leaving anything to chance.

Even a conversation felt as though both parties were moving pieces on a chess board. If everything was a game to Ningguang, asking was a sure sign of losing on her part.

At this point, she didn’t know which side was winning, but it was clear who had more to lose and she wasn’t about to lose more than she already had.

~~

“Captain Beidou, I see that you’ve arrived safely.”

There was a startled yelp from the blue haired girl next to her at the sudden intrusion. Beidou held in a sigh of disappointment. She had hoped to enter and leave the city before anyone, especially Ningguang, noticed her.

She wasn’t avoiding the Tianquan. She was simply busy; at least, that was what she told anyone who asked.

The cup she had, thankfully, just emptied into her stomach clattered on the table as Ganyu stood abruptly and bowed her head towards the Tianquan. She really did have eyes and ears everywhere.

The Alcor was deliberately docked off the coast of Guyun instead of at the harbour.

Their sudden arrival in Liyue was supposed to be kept quiet. The Crux had been stationed in Inazuma for the past couple of weeks and they were not due to be back in Liyue just yet. Beidou had charted a course for the nation of Fontaine but just before they set sail, they received trade orders from their clients for goods from Monstadt. Hence, to save time, she had opted for a short detour to get the goods before they spent the next few weeks in a nation even further away.

Thankfully, everything had gone smoothly and they had attained everything they needed within hours. Thus, that left the entire evening free for the crew to visit their families and enjoy a night off before continuing their journey.

“Good morn- I mean, evening, Lady Ningguang.” Ganyu greeted formally after swallowing the food in her mouth. It was a rather amusing sight considering how red Ganyu’s face was, both from the alcohol and embarrassment.

Beidou had finally convinced the secretary to try having a drink with her after her shift ended. Since the Crux was setting off the next morning and she had dismissed the crew for a night of rest, it was a rare chance to meet Ganyu without having to be escorted to the Jade Chamber. She wasn’t officially back in town, so she figured that she would save her trip to Yujing Terrace for later and use her free time to enjoy her comfort food. She didn’t expect for the Tianquan herself to descend from the Jade Chamber though.

“Hey there, Tianquan.” Beidou offered from her seat, accompanied by a wave. “Having a nice evening?”

She sensed her companion’s panic at her lack of propriety but as far as she was concerned, they were off duty. Ganyu wasn’t doing anything wrong by having dinner with her. Yet, with the way Ningguang was glaring at both of them, it was hard to think otherwise.

Unlike Ganyu, Beidou met the Tianquan’s gaze with a mix of annoyance and curiosity.

“Do you want to join us? We can always order more food if you’ve not eaten.” She asked as though she was speaking to a friend and not the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing.

The white haired girl didn’t seem to notice the glances and whispers coming from the remaining few tables in the restaurant. Whether it was because she didn’t care about her reputation or she didn’t think they were sober enough to be a threat, Beidou didn’t know. Understanding Ningguang was a whole different chess game of its own.

She watched as Ningguang’s eyes scanned the table, most likely trying to gauge if there was anything that suited her palette. Unfortunately, it was her last night in Liyue, which meant Beidou wanted to eat her fill of spicy food filled with heavy seasoning, the exact opposite of Ningguang’s tastes.

The first time they shared a meal, Beidou had introduced her to her favourite place in the city- Wanmin. Xiangling was finally in town for a longer period of time, supposedly to refine her dishes, and Beidou was more than happy to indulge her friend. She was known for her experimental dishes and recipes incorporating tastes from an idea she concocted in her head. Although not all of them were successful, the captain would always encourage her to pursue any new ideas she had. Beidou had told the young chef time and time again that she just had to say the word and they would get a room on the Alcor ready for her.

Although Xiangling’s dishes were distinctly too adventurous for the Tianquan, she admittedly found the more mellow dishes on the menu suited to her palette.

However, after the mortifying experience of choking on Xiangling’s spicy fish that night, it had taken more than a few attempts and wishful thinking on Beidou’s end, for Ningguang to join her for dinner again. The night Ningguang shuffled her papers and accepted her offer, Beidou agreed to let the Tianquan choose their dining venue for the evening, if only just to see what type of food Ningguang actually enjoyed.

Simple dishes with simple tastes, that was what Ningguang had told her.

Sitting in a private room in Xinhua Kiosk and staring at what looked to be a lotus flower made of cabbage leaves covered delicately by a clear broth, Beidou learned that she should not trust a Tianquan’s words. There was nothing easy or straightforward about the dish. Despite the illusion of simplicity, she could taste the hours of labour that went into making the broth and the complexities of the flavours. She had nearly rolled her eyes then. It was just like Ningguang to favour unnecessarily complex dishes that were easy to underestimate.

It was another reason why even their tastes in food were completely incompatible.

“Actually, I just remembered that I have some paperwork to finish before our meeting tomorrow.” Ganyu spoke up. Beidou’s head whipped around, shooting her a look of betrayal. “Now that Lady Ningguang is here, I’ll take my leave first, if that’s okay.”

“It’s not like you’re giving me a choice.” Beidou mumbled under her breath, knowing that she didn’t have a good reason to stop her from leaving. Thus, within minutes, the blue haired secretary bid both of them goodbye, with a whisper of luck to Beidou before disappearing into the street.

Beidou’s gaze flitted towards the Tianquan, who was still standing next to the table, and then back to the jug on the table. It was good wine; too good for her to let it go to waste. After a moment of deliberation, she lifted the jug to her lips and drank until it was empty.

Placing the empty jug on the table, she let out a sigh of happiness. Her heart felt lighter already. Ningguang, however, looked less than amused.

“Must you get yourself inebriated in order to have a conversation with me?”

“Well, if we’re going to eat more of that limp cabbage thing of yours or more of your flavoured water, I’m going to need it.” Beidou replied unapologetically. She liked Ningguang, but she wasn’t going to endure another serving of bland soup when she was going to spend the next few weeks at sea.

“How crude. Really, Beidou. It’s as though you deliberately seek to insult my taste.” The other girl gave her a slightly disgruntled expression but shook her head. “We’re not going there tonight.”

Her statement was said so firmly that Beidou had an inkling that whatever Ningguang was planning, she hadn’t come up with it on the spot. Moreover, she probably had help. Beidou sighed at the realisation. Her friend was a better actress than she thought.

Despite the unexpected interruption, Beidou didn’t actually mind the change in company. Getting to spend time with Ningguang outside of the office was something she had missed while she was docked in Inazuma.

“Okay, lead the way then.”

They passed numerous restaurants along the way, the lights glowing a warm yellow along the streets. People passed by, some exchanged glances. It was reminiscent of her childhood, except those gazes weren’t directed at her, but at her companion. Beidou half expected her to stop at any one of the bustling restaurants in the city, but the other girl kept walking.

The landscape changed after a certain point. The well-furnished buildings gave way to older, small houses.

She finally stopped, after numerous twists and corners, at a small stall hidden near the edge of the city. It was a relatively secluded place to set up a business, but from the crowd that surrounded the stall, it must have been a local favourite. The smell wafting from the stall made her mouth water. She knew that smell.

There was no mistaking the scent of freshly cooked meat and sauce intermingled with fresh buns.

Curious, Beidou did nothing but follow behind her. Ningguang seemed to know what she was doing and she wasn’t about to question it. The other girl strode up to the stall as though she had done so a hundred times, ignoring the way the crowd suddenly made way for her.

“Two mora meat buns please.” She smiled towards the stall owner.

The elderly woman looked up from the meat she was frying and exclaimed. “Lady Ningguang! You’re back to grace us with your business again.”

“Oh, and you brought a friend this time!” She turned, noticing Beidou’s presence behind her. Beidou nodded in greeting but her attention was on the Tianquan.

Ningguang seemed to be a regular customer. It was completely different from what Beidou had expected.

“I’ve been meaning to pay you a visit since last week.” The Tianquan’s laugh was light and almost melodic as she reached for a couple of coins to pay. “Your mora meat buns are always a treat and deserve to be shared.”

The stall owner waved off the compliment, as well as the payment. “Please, we wouldn’t have been able to survive the last few months without your help. It’s the least we can do.”

“Enjoy!” Two neatly packaged meat buns were pushed into Beidou’s hands and ushering her away before she realised what was happening. “Eat it while it’s still hot!”

Ningguang had a small smile on her face as she thanked the stall owner once again, a figure of poise and grace. Beidou wanted to smile. It was no wonder the citizens admired her as a Tianquan.

“She’s right, you know.” She commented idly as they walked back towards the familiar glittering lights.

“Hmm?” Beidou hummed.

“You should try the bun before it gets cold.” Ningguang continued. “If not-“

“Ningguang jiejie!” A voice resounded from behind them. There was a pattering of feet before three tiny shadows appeared by their side.

Instantly, the Tianquan’s neutral smile turned genuine. She crouched down to match the children’s height, Beidou seamlessly taking her mora meat from her to free her hands just as Little Lulu rushed forward to hold her hand.

“We saw you from over there and ran over!” Little Lulu shared excitedly. “It was really dark so Little Fei didn’t believe me but I knew it was you.”

“Such a smart girl. I expected nothing less.” Beaming, the little girl leaned over to whisper something in Ningguang’s ear which made the Tianquan laugh. Seeing her like this, unguarded and warm, it was almost hard to picture her as the cut-throat businesswoman she was to the merchants.

“Captain Beidou! You’re here too!” The two boys exclaimed. “Where’s your ship?”

“Somewhere far from here.” Beidou spoke in a hushed voice, as though she was letting them in on a secret. “I’m not supposed to be back yet, so can I count on you to keep this a secret?”

As expected, their eyes lit up. “A secret mission?”

She nodded seriously, keeping eye contact with both of them.

“Don’t worry, you can trust us!” Little Fei promised. “We’re good at keeping secrets.”

She could see Ningguang and Little Lulu conversing at the corner of her eye. The little girl was chattering excitedly, as though she had been eagerly awaiting a visit from Ningguang.

If the citizens were as half as smart as their Tianquan and learned what the combined power of sweets and children could do, she was sure that his promise wouldn't carry much weight anymore. A smile spread across her lips as she entertained the thought.

“Are you friends with Ningguang jiejie?” The bespectacled boy piped up, noticing where her eyes had travelled. Beidou knew Little Meng as a curious boy who always loved hearing tales from other parts of Teyvat. All three children were commonly seen playing in the harbour whenever the Alcor docked in Liyue. They had even attempted to sneak onto her ship to play a game once. Hence, it wasn’t uncommon for Beidou to bring sweets for them whenever she went to a new place.

It was better than checking every compartment twice to ensure that they didn’t have unintended stowaways.

“Uhm, sort of? We work together sometimes.” Grinning, she almost reached down to pat his head, until she remembered she was still holding the buns.

“Really?” Little Lulu asked, her tiny arms still wound around Ningguang in a loose hug. She turned back to the white haired girl with wide eyes. “Are you going to sail away on her ship?”

“No,” Ningguang shook her head. Her eyes flicked towards the brunette, meeting Beidou’s gaze before she smiled warmly at the young girl. “Captain Beidou has duties on her ship, like how I have duties here.”

There was a subtle sense of distance in her statement, as though they belonged in different worlds.

“But I’ll always come back.” Beidou felt the need to add, more for Ningguang’s benefit than the children. It was a promise she couldn’t guarantee to keep, but she was giving her word nonetheless. Thankfully, the children didn’t seem to notice the change in the mood and they continued to ask more questions.

She noticed the shiver that Ningguang tried to conceal and turned to the children. “It’s getting kinda late, you better go home before your families wonder where you are.”

The disappointment that was evident in their faces tugged at her heart. “Besides, the Tianquan here probably hasn’t eaten since morning. We wouldn’t want her to faint now, would we?”

“I ate in the day. I’m fine.” Ningguang retorted in her own defense. Beidou rolled her eyes.

“Drinking a cup of tea doesn’t count.”

“My mother says I need to eat three meals a day to be stronger.” Little Fei chimed in, much to Beidou’s amusement and Ningguang’s chagrin.

“Will you be back soon?” Beidou was surprised to realise that the question was directed at her, not Ningguang.

Aware of the look the Tianquan was giving her, she smiled at Little Meng reassuringly. “You’ll see the Alcor in the harbour again before you know it.”

Satisfied with her answer, the pair were soon left alone as the children went back to their game of playing pirates.

~~

They ended up, ironically, back at Yujing Terrace. It was the most convenient option, seeing as either one of them would get recognized and stopped on the street.
The mora meat was exceptional, even though Beidou stated her preference for Ningguang’s version.

The silence between them was peaceful, the two of them enjoying one another’s company as they ate.

“You weren’t at your usual dock.” Ningguang stated after a few minutes. Beidou didn’t know if it was because she had overheard her conversation with Little Meng earlier or because she had been checking the docks.

“Well, we’re not staying long.” Beidou answered in between mouthfuls. “It wasn’t worth applying for another permit.”

There was always a delay in getting approvals for permits. Alone, the time would have been easy to account for. However, according to the regulations that the Tianquan enacted, any discrepancy with the date and time would result in fines and penalties. For a fleet that often made stops in various ports for trading and resupplying, their plans were often subject to change. Hence, Beidou normally made Liyue the last and longest stop, to make it worthwhile for her crew.

Beidou glanced towards the other girl as she savoured the last of the mora meat. Fontaine cuisine was immaculate but she was going to miss the familiar taste of spice and comfort while she was away. Ningguang, on the other hand, ate delicately, as though she was eating a consommé instead of meat in between buns.

“Plus, it’s not like you’d be losing out. The extra space makes room for another trading ship to enter the harbour.”

Ningguang seemed to pause for a second longer than necessary before she responded. “You don’t have to worry about that. All the necessary arrangements have been taken care of.”

She crushed the paper in her hand, only giving the other girl a sheepish laugh when faced with her blatant disapproval.

Street food was street food; she didn’t need to fold everything neatly as though she was folding origami in Inazuma.

“What do you mean?”

“The construction for an extra dock for the Alcor has already been underway for a while. It should be ready upon your next arrival.”

It probably wasn’t polite to let her mouth fall open so widely in front of the Tianquan, but she couldn’t help it.

“You didn’t have to do that, you know?” There was nothing in the contract that stipulated the construction of a dock for the Alcor. In fact, the only mora related transactions between them were when they placed bets during Liyue Millennial and when Beidou paid her fines.

“There’s always a place for you here.” The softly spoken words made Beidou freeze. She didn’t expect to hear something like that, especially not from the Tianquan. Ningguang’s gaze had turned to face the ocean, where Beidou was bound for. “Even though your journeys may bring you to other places, Liyue is still your home, if you want it to be.”

There was a tentative tone in her voice, like treading water without a rope leading back to safety.

She smiled. “Home, huh? It’s been a while since I’ve thought of a place like that.”

Home had always been the ocean to her. The one place where no one doubted her and she was free to live as she pleased. Traversing the limits of every nation and belonging to only herself, that had been her life ever since she first stepped onto a ship. As a child, she had never belonged anywhere. As an adult, she learned that she didn’t need to belong on land, when the world was so much bigger.

However, there was something about waking up every morning to a blue sky and navy ocean that was both sobering as well as freeing. The same scenery every day was a reminder that while the ocean was a realm of its own, life also existed in the cities beyond the edges of the water. She knew her crew missed their homes and families as well. She didn’t blame them for getting homesick during their voyages. At times, she even envied them for having people to return to.

For a long time, the only things she had to return to was the Alcor, the ocean, and the promise of new adventures. The security of having nothing and no one to tie her down was part of why she loved being a captain.

People on her ship came and went; some retired, some wanted to see the world, some wanted to settle down and start families. Whatever their aspiration was, Beidou always encouraged them and sent them off with a drink and a hearty meal. Even her own captain, the day he sat her down over dinner and told her that she was ready to become a captain, was also the day he told her that he was going to become a father.

She’d seen relationships fall apart over time, sometimes due to distance or communication issues. It was hard to sustain a relationship with one party on long voyages most of the year. As for her, she couldn’t fathom having to choose between a life on the shore with someone she loved, but her heart longing for the sea, or a life where the ship was her only anchor.

It was as though the other girl had read her mind. “Home doesn’t have to be a place that ties you down.”

“A home can be a safe place to return to, a place where you can be honest with yourself, or a reminder that you matter to someone.” She wasn’t sure if Ningguang intended for the last line to sound as personal as it did, but she was thankful for the night concealing her embarrassment.

Beidou had to admit, the idea of having someone waiting for her while she was out at sea was unfamiliar. Yet, the thought of coming back to the gentle smile and striking ruby gaze she had grown to adore made warmth bloom from her chest and spread to each part of her body.

“A person eh?” She grinned at how red Ningguang suddenly looked. She shifted closer to the other girl. Ningguang didn’t move away. That fact alone made her heart pound a bit faster. She raised her eyes to meet Ningguang’s searching ones. “I think I could live with that.”

The hint of relief in her eyes made Beidou realise something else that night.

Maybe, just maybe, she wasn’t the only one with something to lose.

~~

The day she first met the Liyue Yuheng, she didn’t think they’d ever get along.

Keqing was young, intelligent and ambitious. There was a fighting spirit within her that Beidou admired, along with her courage to speak against the traditional ways of the Qixing. She was a rarity, firmly holding onto her own beliefs in a nation that didn’t question what they were taught.

That being said, the Yuheng was also a workaholic. Beidou was beginning to think that it was a character trait that was a requirement for any Qixing member. From what Ganyu told her about her colleague, Keqing’s time was mostly spent travelling around Liyue, surveying the land and using her observations to find the most optimal way forward. It was a level of dedication that surpassed the previous Yuheng. However, that was why when Beidou walked into the Jade Chamber and noticed a purple haired girl exiting Ningguang’s office, mumbling something under her breath about stubborn know-it-alls, she didn’t realise who she was.

It was only after the other girl looked at her and commented that Ganyu hadn’t mentioned how tall she was, that Beidou recognized her.

“So, you’re the reason for our extra paperwork the past few months.” Her sharp voice was filled with judgement and disapproval, neither of which bothered Beidou too much. She was no longer a child hunting for scraps and gathering enough coins to pay for a bun on the street.

“Well, I’ve always paid my fines when they’re due.” She shrugged.

The other girl gave her a strange look for a moment before she shook her head. “I still don’t see the appeal, but the Tianquan and I are very different people so that could explain it.”

Before the confused Beidou could ask further, the Yuheng had started walking again.

Seeing as the other girl was probably not going to continue the conversation, Beidou decided to proceed with her meeting with the Tianquan.

The white haired girl was glaring at her notes with an expression that could only be described as perplexed. Part of her wondered what kind of discussion would have rendered both parties to walk away frustrated, but she figured it was probably regarding matters of the Qixing and above her level of authority.

The grimace that remained on Ningguang’s face gave her all the information she needed.

“Rough meeting?” She asked lightly as she approached the desk.

Ningguang looked up and for a moment, her expression changed to something more vulnerable that Beidou couldn’t read. She wasn’t sure when this change had started exactly. By the time she realised that she had seen the same look on Ningguang’s face before, it had happened enough times for her to notice.

All she knew was that the Tianquan had been making that expression more often as of late, mostly when she thought Beidou was otherwise preoccupied.

Hence, this time, she held out hope that Ningguang would talk to her instead. However, the Tianquan was professional as always, almost disappointingly so. Her features smoothened quickly and her normal business smile was back in place as though she had just concluded a deal.

“Captain, you’re here. How was Inazuma?”

Beidou hummed. “Well, as you know, the Shogun’s still adamant about cutting contact with the rest of the world. Other than that small matter, it’s a lovely place.”

Ningguang didn’t look like she completely believed her, but Beidou started with her report and shifted her attention away from the logistics. After all, what the Tianquan wanted this time was information and observations on the closed nation.

Obviously, she left out some details, like how the first time the crew entered Inazuma waters, they nearly got electrocuted by the strange lightning storms that surrounded the islands. Since the advancement of the Vision Hunt Decree, it had been even harder to enter and exit the waters of Inazuma. Not to mention, if the shogunate found out that one of the people on their wanted list was currently residing on the Alcor as a crew member, relations between the countries could become very messy.

“So, your conclusion is that there are profits to be made if we sanction trades with Inazuma?” Ningguang asked, pen hovering over the page. She stared at the page for a moment. “I don’t think it’s a good idea to venture back so soon. Doesn’t that go against the Sakoku decree?”

“Well, Tianquan, it’s precisely because of the decree that there is a demand in Inazuma for international goods.” She explained. “Something we can provide.”

One of the Tianquan’s eyebrows lifted. “You have already brokered the deals, haven’t you?”

The brunette bit her lip, knowing she was caught. There was no point denying what Ningguang already knew. She nodded.

A sigh. The Tianquan’s grip on the pen tightened.

“When will you be heading back?”

“A day and a half from now.” She replied with a smirk. Some of her crew were halfway to Monstadt to pick up a shipment of Dandelion wine and the others were procuring silk from Liyue and starsilver ore from Dragonspine. “Why? Don’t tell me you’re going to miss me?”

If that had been a normal day, the Tianquan would smile, sip her tea, and tell her how wrong she was. However, it wasn’t a normal day. Beidou should have picked up on it from the beginning instead of pushing her luck.

Ningguang’s gaze hardened. “Captain Beidou, I’ve looked past a lot of your unsanctioned actions, but Inazuma is a different matter. The Shogun’s actions have made communication near impossible. If what you’re saying is true, then returning to Inazuma so soon would put Liyue at risk. You really won’t consider postponing the trip until things are better?”

Beidou frowned. She didn’t like where this was going.

“Hey now, it’s not as though we haven’t gone through dangerous waters. ” She might not be as old as her captain was when she was his mentee, but she wasn’t a naive child either. The Crux had undergone numerous victories under her command. While she always tried to solve the conflicts before it became a full blown battle, she was certain that if it came down to it, her crew would fight with everything they had.

“There’s an actual risk now that the Shogun has put this new decree in place to capture and confiscate Visions.” She stated, revealing that she really did have eyes and ears everywhere. “Maybe you got lucky the previous time. Have you considered what would happen if you got captured by one of the commissioner guards?”

Ningguang’s eyes reminded her of the blazing torches that lit the beaches at night. “You’re a /captain/, Beidou. These people have families and loved ones. Did you even think about the consequences before you made the agreements?”

Okay, Beidou thought, this was crossing the line. Having Ningguang, someone with no sea faring experience, doubt her abilities as a captain, made her feel indignant. The Tianquan disapproved of her methods at times but she had refrained from meddling in her affairs.

“Look, I-“

Ningguang shook her head and cut in. “You’re not listening to me.”

“With all due respect, Lady Ningguang,” Beidou interrupted before she could speak another word. There was a satisfying burn in her belly when she saw the exact moment when girl in question registered the formal title. Her eyes widened in surprise slightly as Beidou continued. “This is my ship and my crew you’re talking about. They’re all like brothers and sisters to me. I’ve visited their families and even watched some of their kids grow up. I know how tight expenses can be for them too. If you think I’m someone who makes decisions without care, and thinks of my crew as expendable then clearly, you’re working with the wrong person.”

Annoyed, she stood from her seat with more force than usual, ignoring the screech against the wooden floorboards.

“We’ll be leaving for Inazuma as soon as our supplies are ready. Have a good day, Lady Ningguang.”

She had finally gotten the last word with Ningguang, but it felt nothing like the victory she had wanted.

~~~

The next time the Alcor docked at Liyue was a little over three months later.

She had been pushing it; going on a voyage for such a length of time. She avoided the official ports as far as she could manage, which gave them less paperwork in exchange for more travel time because they were docked far from the mainland. No one complained about the decision, given the more lucrative trades they earned.

However, after the third moon cycle, even the more experienced crew members had started to ask if they would be docking in Liyue soon. Hence, when Beidou finally announced that they would be setting a course for the harbour, she was met with cheers and sighs of relief.

The Millelith guard she was expecting to see was, surprisingly, absent when they reached the harbour. She didn’t know whether she should be disappointed or relieved. After a moment of thought, she figured that Ningguang must still be angry with how their last conversation had went.

Since they were docking in Liyue for a week, Beidou figured that she would pay a visit to the Tianquan after finishing up the remaining paperwork. She couldn’t have anticipated that when Juza hammered on her door to tell her that she was needed outside, she would be greeted by the sight of the Tianquan herself.

Beidou loved her crew; really, she did. They were loyal and capable people and they were like family to her. She knew they would take a sword for her and she would do the same for them without hesitation.

However, they had zero sense of subtlety.

From where she stood, she could clearly see the Tianquan. Perhaps it was the length of time that had passed with Ningguang as a recurring image in her head, but she looked more beautiful than ever. Her gold and white qipao gently fluttered against the wind, a sharp contrast to the dark brown of the ship. Everything about Ningguang screamed elegance and refinement; everything that Beidou wasn’t.

Ningguang had a tendency to stand out no matter where she was, but seeing her in the middle of her ship, completely out of her element, gave Beidou an odd feeling. It was no wonder her entire crew had taken a mental break to ogle at their new visitor. Yet, Ningguang didn’t seem to be too bothered about the people around her. Her eyes were trained on observing the ship, shifting from corner to corner, as though she was looking for something.

The remaining crew members on board were trying to unload their boxes while catching glimpses of the Tianquan as they walked past. They were fooling no one, however. Even an idiot would notice their constant glances towards the white haired girl.

Beidou was sure that each of the recruits had dropped at least one of the items they were carrying. She was thankful they weren’t importing any of the Naganohara fireworks this time or that would have been a hazard.

Even Mora-Grubber, despite having her nose in account books, was spending too more time on a single page to be considered normal.

She had to hold back a sigh when Juza nearly tripped on the stairs he walked by every day. She supposed even her acting captain wasn’t immune to the presence of the Tianquan.

After a moment, she decided she had seen enough.

“Tianquan,” Beidou called out towards the other girl from the bridge. She waited for Ningguang to meet her eyes before she gestured to the door behind her. “Let’s talk in my quarters.”

She didn’t wait for Ningguang to reach the top of the stairs before she entered the room she had just exited.

If her captain was there, he would have clapped her on the back of her head and chided her for disrespecting a Liyue Qixing member. However, he would probably make jokes about her gall after the matter was settled. Her captain had always told her that her bravery was foolish at times and an asset at other times. She was hoping that this time, the situation leaned towards the second option.

Although their meetings always took place in private, having Ningguang in her quarters felt strangely intimate. The captain’s quarters on the Alcor was by no means a shabby room, but compared to the Jade Chamber, even in a room in Yujing Terrace would fall short. However, she had little time to reflect on the circumstances.

“You did exactly what I said not to do.” Ningguang said as soon as Beidou closed the door behind them, her voice as stern as her gaze. She had seen Ningguang annoyed more times than she could count, but the look in her eyes, a mixture of anger, worry, and relief, brought her back to the first time she appeared before the Tianquan after her mission.

“Yes.” The brunette admitted with a wince. She had thought about opening with an apology but she didn’t think an apology would work at the moment. Neither of them were the type to apologise in arguments anyway. “But I mean, we’re back safely-“

Her mind, which had been trying to come up with excuses to explain her actions, went blank as she felt gloved hands cup her cheeks.

The first coherent thought she had, after her brain registered that she wasn’t hallucinating from lack of sleep was that the Tianquan had somehow removed her nail guards without her noticing. Embarrassingly, her second thought was that she really wanted to know what Ningguang’s lips tasted like.

Ningguang’s gaze wandered over her for a moment, likely searching for external injuries which thankfully, were absent.

“You really strive to put me at my wit’s end, don’t you, Captain?”

Beidou didn’t have a chance to answer because her senses were suddenly occupied by Ningguang entirely. The captain blinked in startled surprise at the unexpected movement. She had never seen Ningguang initiate physical contact with anyone. Yet, with the faint scent of glaze lilies and the way her hair was tickling her neck; it felt too real for it to be a dream.

Ningguang was actually hugging her. It took a second before she managed to will herself to breathe.

“It’s good to see you too.” She meant it. Despite the way they had left things, seeing the Tianquan in person quelled the storm of uncertainty in her.

“You’re still an ass for disappearing like that, but I’m glad you’re unhurt.” Ningguang’s voice was soft and muffled; more vulnerable than she had ever heard. Perhaps that was what gave her the courage to actually return the hug. Slowly, Beidou raised the arms that were hanging from her sides to rest against her shoulder blades. Ningguang was actually slightly taller than her, but it seemed otherwise with how the other girl’s arms were encircling her ribs and her chin was resting on her shoulder.

She could feel the other girl’s body shift with each inhale and exhale, and wondered if Ningguang could feel how fast her heart was beating with how she was pressed against her.

Beidou chuckled and gently traced a line along the back of her spine. It was unlikely that she would ever be allowed so near to Ningguang again, so she allowed herself to relish the moment before the Tianquan came to her senses.

A moment of weakness.

“Swearing is rather unladylike behavior for a Tianquan.” She teased gently, with none of her usual snark present. “Aren’t you concerned about what the others might think?”

She felt more than heard the huff from the other girl. “Well, I’m not here on official Qixing business so none of their opinions are relevant in this matter.”

Warmth instantly flooded her cheeks as soon as she registered Ningguang’s words. Beidou was glad they were alone. She would never get a day of peace if anyone was to see the captain of the Crux fleet blushing like a school girl.

“I mean it. Do that again and I’ll raise your fines.” The worry in Ningguang’s voice overshadowed the threat in her words. As if she was punctuating her statement, the hold around Beidou tightened. Beidou held back a smile as a ripple of warmth spread from her chest to every part of her body.

Beidou spoke against her ear. “My own crew would stage a mutiny against me if you did that.”

“Good.” The other girl retorted without hesitation. “Maybe you’ll actually listen to advice next time.”

The laugh that escaped at that remark made Beidou’s chest feel lighter and more free than it had been the last few months. It was like unravelling a ball of thread that had been coiling around itself, getting tangled and convoluted as time went by. Yet, all of it came undone the moment Ningguang crossed the space between them.

The Tianquan exhaled, her body shifting as its owner began to relax. It made Beidou want to hold on to her a bit longer, until Ningguang no longer had any doubt that she would always find her way back.

In that moment, she just knew.

It didn’t matter whether Ningguang returned her feelings, she was already too far gone to turn back.

~~

Chapter Text

Whatever happened that day was not brought up the next time they met, nor the next.

After a while, Beidou got used to the idea of casually pretending that whatever moments they had together were simply that- moments of weakness that were to be left on the line that separated the boundaries of their relationship.

However, there were some things that had changed since then. The Crux started cutting down the length of their voyages, scheduling stops at Liyue whenever possible. If her crew asked, Beidou would say that it was more efficient to travel lighter and they could facilitate more trades if they stopped at Liyue more often and they left it as that. However, Kazuha never failed to ask after Ningguang whenever he spotted her returning to the ship.

As for Ningguang, every move she made was always in the spotlight. From shops she frequented to the food she ate, if one listened closely, the whispers around the harbour were easily heard. The rumours made their way to the Alcor, unsurprisingly.
To the rest of Liyue, as Beidou found out, the Tianquan was supposedly harbouring a secret lover. The pirate had actually cackled, the first time she heard the insinuation from one of her men. She dismissed it without hesitation, the next time and the time after that, until even Ying’er called out to her and enquired if she knew anything about the Tianquan’s supposed lover.

At that point, she started digging into the story. Just to be safe, she told herself. It wasn’t because she genuinely suspected the truth of the matter, much less because she was jealous. Captain Beidou didn’t get jealous. If Ningguang really had a secret lover, she would not be the person to leak the secret.

What she found was more amusing than worrying.

Everything stemmed from Ningguang’s recent investments in the construction of the docks, making special orders for furniture and frequent appearances outside the Jade Chamber. A story passed from person to person always ended up with exaggerations and from that, word had spread like wildfire.

No one would have guessed that the Tianquan was actually spending her precious time playing chess with a pirate.

The first visible difference she noticed was that the chairs, specifically, the ones accompanying the table that they used for Liyue Millennial and tea, had been replaced. She didn’t have a clue what happened to the original set, which were probably made to match the table, but she couldn’t complain about the lack of aches after a long discussion.

Ningguang hadn’t said a word about it so neither did she; but nowadays, she finished her tea without complaint.

The other change occurred in a more unexpected manner.

Since their first meeting, Beidou hardly encountered the Yuheng except for the odd occasion here and there. Other than Ganyu as a common factor, they moved in different circles, both in terms of work and social lives. However, she had no doubt that if something needed to be done, she could trust Keqing to complete the job properly and more.

Despite her blunt way of speaking which got on the Qixing’s nerves, her abilities were undoubtably and her morals were hard to question. However, it’s because of this trait that when Keqing spoke, Beidou paid attention.

Hence, when she found herself, not-so-voluntarily seated at a banquet with the Yuheng and the secretary by her side, the event felt less daunting as compared to when she arrived at the venue. It had been intended to be a celebratory event as well as an opportunity for the Qixing to announce their plans for the new year. Why Beidou had to be there, she really had no clue. There were a couple of merchants and foreign representatives in attendance, but for the most part, the banquet seemed to be planned in an official capacity.

“Glad you two made up.”

It took a few seconds for her to realise that the Yuheng was addressing her. After all, the twin tailed girl’s attention was focused on the plate of golden shrimp balls which Xiangling had dutifully served to their table, along with a plate of her favourite spicy dish.

“Pardon?”

The other girl met her gaze for a second, just as her chopsticks lifted a single shrimp ball from the plate.

“Dealing with a moody Tianquan for months isn’t an easy task, mind you.”

Beidou must have looked confused because the Yuheng turned her attention back to her favourite dish. As quickly as one disappeared into her mouth, another shrimp ball was in her hand. If she kept up this pace, they would have to call Xiangling for another plate.

“What are you talking about?” Beidou asked carefully, sneaking a glance at the Tianquan, who was standing at the podium and speaking about the nation’s progress over the year. She was, unfortunately, in a seat where both the podium and VIP table were in her line of sight if she looked.

Things between them had been left in an odd place after the moment on the ship. They weren’t exactly friends, but their relationship couldn’t be said to be strictly business either.

She stared at her skeptically. “Surely you’re aware that the Tianquan has eyes and ears in every port in Teyvat.”

Beidou nodded with a small frown. There was a reason she had docked away from the official ports in order to stay off the Qixing’s radar. It just wasn't worth the trouble explaining herself to the Tianquan, who would likely have many things to say.

The purple haired girl sighed and stuffed another shrimp ball into her mouth.

“What does that have to do with-”

“Ah, this is troublesome. As I’ve told you,” the younger girl stared pointedly at her. The glare she sported was a lot less intimidating due to her cheeks being puffed out from the chewing the shrimp ball. “You give us a lot of paperwork.”

“Lady Yuheng, I think we’ve had enough drinks for tonight.” For once, the soft-spoken secretary’s tone was cold and stern. From the grimace that overtook Keqing’s features and the way her grip on the chopsticks tightened, Beidou knew implicitly that she was missing something.

“What? I’m just saying.” Keqing raised her shoulders in a half shrug, swallowing her food as she did so. “You’ve barely gotten a few hours of rest the past few months, all because someone dropped off the face of the planet.”

The emphasis on the word “someone” made her feel like the comment was directed at her. That only made her more curious.

She turned to Beidou once more. “The next time you two decide to have a cold war, could you tell Lady Ningguang not to take it out on everyone else?”

“What makes you think I have a say in what the Tianquan does?”

That was when Keqing frowned and gave her a genuine look of confusion. “Aren’t you two-“

“Keqing!” Both heads turned towards the red faced Ganyu. Silence fell over the table as Keqing looked down guiltily and Beidou tried to think of something else to say.

“My apologies, Beidou. I forgot that the Yuheng and I have some unfinished paperwork to complete.” She paused. “At the Yuehai Pavilion.”

“What-“ Keqing’s retort was silenced by the stare that Ganyu shot her. Recovering, she cleared her throat. “I mean, yes, we do. It slipped my mind as well. Thank you for reminding me.”

“Right. We should get going.” With a strange sort of forcefulness, the Yuheng was tugged out of her seat and away from the table. “Enjoy the rest of your evening.”

The whole thing was rather odd, but it wasn’t anything that a few glasses of beer couldn’t put out of her mind. The alcohol was something she sorely needed, especially since her source of distraction had left and there was nothing to hold her attention from drifting towards Ningguang’s table.

Her gaze inadvertently shifted to the Tianquan, who was in the middle of a conversation with a foreign emissary next to her. He was dressed in a formal suit that looked to be made of expensive silk. Ningguang didn’t immediately shift away when he leaned towards her, closer than necessary, to say something. However, she had known Ningguang long enough to notice the stiffness of her posture and the way she used the angle of the seat to tilt away from his advances.

There was an air about Ningguang that made the interaction seem almost practiced.

She didn’t need rescuing, Beidou told herself as she picked up another glass, receiving a stern look from Xiangling as she walked by.

Checking on the Tianquan again was a mistake, she realised, when Ningguang suddenly met her gaze across the room. They were physically far apart, but she felt a familiar warmth burn in her stomach as though Ningguang was right across from her. The white haired girl seemed to smile at her, if only for a second, before someone else called for her attention.

“Captain Beidou,” she faintly registered the sound of conversation picking up around her. “So, what sort of adventures have you been finding yourself on lately?”

Glancing at the merchants she recognized from the docks, she placed the empty glass down on the table and told them about what she had seen on her latest voyage.

~~

“Beidou,” at the sound of her name without a title attached, the brunette looked up.

The Tianquan was sitting with her legs crossed, her tattoo in clear view. It was their first meeting of the year and they had just gone through a list of things to follow up on over the month. Or rather, Ningguang had recited the list to her while Beidou attempted to listen without getting distracted.

It marked the beginning of a new year, and roughly a year of working with Ningguang. She hoped that after a year of working together, they’d understand one another better and things would go differently.

“Would you care for a game of Liyue Millennial?”

Beidou smiled. “Sure, we haven’t played in a while.”

She hadn’t been exaggerating. After her second win, she hadn’t seen the chessboard in its usual position on the next visit, or even the following. She assumed that Ningguang was annoyed that someone had beaten her at her own game and was in the process of reforming some of the rules.

“I’d like to propose a wager.” Ningguang spoke as she set up the board.

The pirate glanced up with a silent question. That was an addition that normally didn’t feature in their games. At times, they would play over mora to make things more interesting.

“The winner gets to ask a question to the other person.” Ningguang continued. “It can be about anything they desire and it has to be answered honestly.”

“Well, what do you think?”

Beidou tilted her head. “You know you can just ask me directly if you have a question right? There’s no need for games. I don’t have anything to hide.”

“Then you should have nothing to worry about.” She replied. “Do we have a deal?”

Beidou wanted to roll her eyes at her stubbornness. The prize didn’t really matter to her, since she didn’t have a burning question in mind and they had played Liyue Millennial dozens of times without a wager like this. However, it seemed to matter to Ningguang. She shrugged. It wasn’t worth arguing over.

“Sure.”

Of all the possible outcomes, she would not have thought that she would emerge the victor again. Yet, Ningguang’s odd behavior that day seemed to have transcended into her playstyle.

Normally, Beidou was the one responding to Ningguang’s steady attacks and strategies when it came to acquiring territory. The other girl knew the game and its rules inside out, so all she had to count on were her reflexes and instincts. After all, if someone had to give up their mora at the end of the game, it was mostly Beidou who found herself in that position.

Ningguang always played as though she had nothing to lose, which was usually the case. However, with the way Ningguang seemed to fixate on each and every move, Beidou could easily believe otherwise.

She took risks she normally didn’t, and despite the game being basically designed to give the Tianquan an advantage, Beidou found herself with more pieces of hers than vice versa.

There was a small rustle as the white haired girl sat back in defeat. “You won. As agreed, I will answer your question.”

Beidou sighed. “I don’t have any questions-“

“Many people would kill for this opportunity. Don’t squander it as though it means nothing.” Ningguang cut her off sharply.

A frown formed on her face. Something wasn’t right about the situation. Had she known things would end up like this, she would have deliberately lost.

“Fine. What was your question for me?”

“That’s not part of the game.” Looking away, the other girl stood; Beidou followed without thinking. “I told you not to waste your question.”

“It’s not a waste since you refuse to tell me.” She argued. “It obviously means something to you.”

The other girl remained unimpressed.

“You’re infringing the rules of the wager so I shall decline to answer.”

“Come on Ningguang, the agreement was that the winner can ask whatever they want.” Ningguang’s eyes darkened like thunderclouds before a storm.

Using Liyue’s principles of upholding agreements against the Tianquan was probably not the wisest idea.

Beidou was preparing herself for an onslaught of verbal jesting when a rapid set of knocks caused them to jerk apart instinctively.

“Lady Ningguang?” Came a timid voice. Beidou recognized her as one of the secretaries.

Ningguang cleared her throat. “Yes, Baishi?”

“The Yuheng announces her arrival for your appointment this afternoon.”

Beidou opened her mouth to speak, but the Tianquan beat her to the chase.

“Please have her come in. The good Captain was just taking her leave.” The glare she shot Beidou dared her to disagree.

Beidou’s breath came out as a sigh as the wary assistant left the room in silence. The papers on the table fluttered as Ningguang gathered a few sheets together, likely preparations for the meeting. She was wearing her usual business expression, the annoyance from before gone without a trace.

She strode across the wooden floor, not caring whether the dirt from her boots left stains on the floor.

She thought she heard a sigh as she crossed the doorway but didn’t stop to think about who it was from.

So much for doing things differently this year.

~~~

Being found by Kazuha while she was wandering, or according to him, pacing, around the ship, wasn’t the worst possible way for her feelings to be confronted.

It was in the dead of night that she got out of bed, restless from the lack of slumber and ironically, eager for the respite of reality. At least in her waking hours, she functioned with the knowledge that Ningguang was still in Liyue and not on her ship. The Tianquan had been haunting her dreams over the past few nights. The worst part was that they weren’t even nightmares, but rather, flashes of things that couldn’t be true. Thoughts that she didn’t want to entertain. Ningguang’s resting expression as she dozed off next to her, her disgruntled yet affectionate sighs whenever Beidou did something to annoy her, all of it was scarier than facing down Haishan. Almost.

She had stared at the moon, her throat burning from the welcome warmth of alcohol that she gulped down before releasing a sigh of frustration.

A few choice words of grumblings, soft enough to not wake the rest of her crew, escaped her lips as her thoughts drifted back to the girl she left behind.

The flash of white, a shade that seemed all too familiar, was coupled with a fluttering of his clothes as Kazuha appeared next to her. Being an anemo user, the samurai was too experienced with the flow and rhythm of solace, which meant that any sound he made was deliberate and likely to announce his presence.

She wasn’t sure how much of her internal monologue he bore witness to, but by his calm and gentle expression, she knew there was no judgement in his gaze.

He stood silently, as though he was waiting for her to speak. Like the wind that tucked into their sails and moved the fleet to their destination, Kazuha’s steady presence was more comforting than intrusive. He had been surviving on his own long before she chanced upon him. Between the two of them, she would probably be the first to feel the urge to fill the gaps of silence.

If it had been a few months back, she would have offered a swig of her alcohol of choice to him. However, she had been with the boy long enough to know that he would turn the offer down.

The burn of alcohol doesn’t quench the desire to be heard, he once said.

It was as good a time as any, she supposed, for her to think about the year that had elapsed without her realising it.

It hadn’t been that long since Kazuha joined up with the fleet. Yet, so many things had happened.

In a way, it was just as well that Kazuha had chosen to approach her. He had a higher chance of being able to understand her feelings whether or not she was able to voice them out.

“You’ve been travelling with us for a while now.” Beidou said, leaning her upper body just slightly over the edge of the deck. “Do you ever think you’ll find a place you belong?”

“Belong.” The boy echoed. His voice carried a sombre, melancholic tone. Beidou just knew he was already thinking of some sort of poetic rhyme.

“A leaf that falls from a tree and gets carried away by the wind, to where does that leaf belong?” As if on cue, a casual breeze brushed past her and seemed to swirl around the Anemo user.

He glanced at her. “Ownership does not guarantee a possession, just as an origin does not make a belonging.”

Beidou gave him a wry smile.

Kazuha and his poetry was certainly a one of a kind combination. “Kid, you know I love having you around, but sometimes you need to speak the common tongue for others to understand you.”

Her crew mate gave her a peaceful smile.

“I was merely expressing the nature of things, Captain.” He inhaled the ocean air, as though it was his first trip out to sea and not months into his voyage with them.

She pressed her lips together. “Is this one of those ‘if you love something, set it free’ kind of conversations?”

A soft chuckle was what she received as a response.

“A fallen leaf can’t return to its branch once it attains freedom, but upon a glance, anyone can recognize its identity and from where it came.” Kazuha mused.

“The question, Captain, is whether you seek to be identified with a specific place.”

He paused. “Or someone.”

Beidou was glad she wasn’t drinking at that moment because whatever air entered her lungs also decided to block her windpipe. Despite her embarrassment, the coughs disguised her red cheeks as part of her body’s natural reaction to choking and not anything more.

“There’s nothing shameful about having feelings for someone, you know.” Kazuha reassured her calmly, as though he was talking about the weather. “She might be the Tianquan, but I’m sure-“

Beidou didn’t like where this conversation was heading.

“Okay okay, enough about that woman.” She mumbled sulkily. “I was asking for your thoughts on the subject.”

The young samurai turned to face the moon, floating above the water’s surface in a way that could only be described as serene.

“I go wherever the wind takes me, but wherever I go, I carry memories, of my homeland, and the many experiences I’ve come to understand as my own.”

It sounded like a farewell, even though she knew that their journey together had yet to reach its end. Like a current, nostalgia of the things and people she lost and parted ways with hit her. Beidou took another drink from her flask.

“Well, if there comes a time when you feel like you need to cast your sights on a different horizon, give me a chance to say goodbye, yeah?” She pat his shoulder lightly. He told her that he would remain with them for the time-being, but she recognized his independent spirit and desire to roam as though the same blood ran in her veins. “You know you’ll always have a place with us right? Whether or not things stay the same.”

The sea was a cruel master that even the bravest of sailors could succumb to. However, the world waiting on dry land was equal in danger and more so, for a lone warrior.

“You don’t have to worry about that, Captain.” Kazuha tilted his head, the light from the moon making him look like the youthful teenager he could have been, before things in Inazuma went south. “It was fate that brought us together, so it would be fated for our paths to cross again.”

Beidou let out a slow exhale. He was right.

“Don’t miss us too much, yeah?”

A brief smile appeared on his face; it carried sentiment along with a quiet acceptance that only Kazuha could manage. “I think that’s a hard promise to make.”

“Captain.” She looked over expectantly.

“Taking a different path from the direction you were going doesn’t make you lost.”

Coming from a person who believed that there was no wrong path in life, only different routes, the words brought her some measure of comfort.

For a moment, she didn’t know how to respond.

Then, as though the sea itself was giving her a wake up call, a particularly strong wave splashed into the side of the boat, hitting her with a spray of water.

She heard a muffled snicker from the side and raised her eyebrow at Kazuha’s attempt to hide his laughter. He would have been a suspect had he been a hydro user and not an anemo one.

Somehow, it made her laugh too. Each laugh seemed to expel the pent up tension and worry that had been taking up space in her head. Perhaps Kazuha did have a point there.

“It’s late. The sun will be up soon. You should get some rest before the crew stirs.” She said, turning back towards her chambers. There was still much to consider, but her head felt clearer than when the Alcor had left the harbour. She had some time before the Crux was due to return to Liyue for the festival. Something about additional protection because the Millelith would be spread thin throughout the city.

There was no argument from Kazuha.

“You too, Captain.”

“Oh and Kazuha,” she called out to his retreating figure. “Thanks.”

“Rest well, Captain Beidou.”

With that, the night, and all its conversations came to an end.

~~~~

She had always found the name Yuehai Pavilion rather fitting for its location. In the day, the terrace was filled with clerks and secretaries of the Qixing, rushing back and forth to clear assignments and make the most of the day. The pace was a reminder that she didn't belong there. At night, however, time seemed to stand as still as the tranquil waters the pavilion overlooked. Most of the office workers would have gone home, leaving only the workaholics and the usual Millelith guards, neither of which would bother her.

On a night with clear skies, the glow of the moon on the surface of the ocean would be an exact replica of the one hanging above it. Those were her favourite nights in the city. Alone with her thoughts and the wind calmly sifting through strands of her hair, Beidou would almost forget that she didn’t have a home to call her own or a plan for her next meal.

Things were different now, but the view was largely the same. While as a captain, she found adventure and challenges thrilling, there was a certain comfort in returning to familiarity.

If she looked far enough, she could see the outlines of the Guyun islands, and probably even the Alcor, if it had been docked there. However, the ship was currently sitting at the newly built dock that was reserved for the Crux. She hadn’t wanted to draw attention to their return, but the crew was too excited to finally have a proper place in the harbor.

It had been a while since the last time the Crux docked in Liyue for more than a couple of days and Beidou could tell that the members of her crew were eager to partake in the festivities. She accompanied her crew for a while, before her mind strayed to a certain individual who had disappeared after the opening ceremony. After bidding them a quick farewell, she slipped away to the place she had a feeling the Tianquan had escaped to.

Ningguang’s back facing her as she stood overlooking the view of the harbour brought back memories of the previous Lantern Rite. Despite it having happened a year ago, Beidou recalled a similar feeling of awe when she noticed the Tianquan. She took a moment to drink in the sight of the other girl, her slim figure outlined by the moonlight. Ningguang was dressed in blue, with the ends of her skirt falling to her sides like petals unfurling under the moonlight. It was reminiscent of the glaze lilies she adored so much.

“Well, this is nostalgic.” Beidou commented, walking up beside her.

Ningguang simply hummed in agreement as smoke escaped from her lips. The lack of further movement or comment told Beidou that she had, on some level, been expecting her to show up.

“So, I guess you won’t be releasing lanterns again this year?”

“Actually, I was considering taking part in the event.”

Beidou raised her eyebrows. That was unusual. It was a new year, but she hadn’t expected that development to happen. Perhaps more things had happened while she was away, than she was aware of.

“What happened to not needing wishful thinking?” She teased gently, hoping that her tone conveyed her lack of judgement. If Ningguang had finally found something worth hoping for, she would be happy for her.

Ningguang’s delicate laughter reached her ears. “It seems like you’ve forgotten the second half of my sentence.”

“Oh,” Beidou paused, trying to recall her exact words. “But you’re the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing. What is there that you can’t do?”

“That may be true, but as the Tianquan, there are responsibilities to carry out which come with other limitations.” She gave her a look. “I’ve asked for your assistance to bridge some of the gaps.”

“Ningguang, your Jade Chamber is a testimony of what you can do on your own. You’ve got enough mora to probably build an entire kingdom in the sky if you wanted to.” Even after only knowing her for a year, Beidou felt like her conviction to be there for her had only grown stronger. The various dealings she had intercepted on Ningguang’s behalf over the year, along with all the requests for rare items she had made, she would gladly do it all again to make Ningguang happy.

“If there’s anything you want that you can’t get… Well, that’s what I’m here for. You don’t even have to part with your precious mora.”

However, Ningguang shook her head, as though Beidou had gotten the entire situation wrong. Perhaps, she did, because Tianquan was rejecting a proposal that was clearly in her favour.

“No, you don’t understand.” She crossed one arm over the other and looked away. “What I want cannot simply be taken or acquired.”

Ningguang was someone who chose her words carefully. Something that couldn’t be taken or acquired meant that mora wasn’t part of the problem. Not many things would fall under that category. Ningguang had few loves that weren’t the Jade Chamber or one of the items she placed inside it. It probably had something to do with a person, she figured.

Beidou pushed herself away from the railing with a sigh. It felt like she was constantly hitting an invisible wall, despite seeing her goal on the other side. She had dismissed the casual whispers at the dock as baseless rumours, but perhaps there was some truth behind them.

“I can’t understand or help if you don’t tell me anything.” It was just like her past. Ningguang didn’t offer information and Beidou didn’t know where to begin asking. At least this time, she had an advantage. “And if I remember correctly, you still owe me an honest answer.”

The furrow on Ningguang’s brows was the only indication that she had heard her.

“You’re really going to waste your question on something as trivial as this?” She asked finally. Part of Beidou wanted to heed her advice, pause this line of questioning at the warning and consider whether this was information she really wanted to know. She had long since accepted that her feelings were to stay buried and their relationship to remain status quo.

However, if Ningguang really had someone she liked, perhaps this could be the push she needed to finally give up on wanting someone she could never have.

“It’s not a waste to me.” Beidou shrugged. “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure. Isn’t that what you teach the children at the docks?”

The slight frown on her lips was an indication that Beidou had gotten her point across. “You always pick the worst things to remember.”

“On the contrary, I think there are way worse things to have on my mind than you.” She grinned unabashedly. It was easier to play off her feelings as casual teasing than admit how much of it was true.

Ningguang’s lips thinned. “You know, when you say these kinds of things, it makes my life even more difficult.”

“Difficult? What do you mean?”

“There’s a difference between what you can have and what you want.” She sighed. “You should know this as well- just because you find and acquire a piece of treasure, doesn’t automatically mean it’s yours.”

The wistful tone in her voice, coupled with the melancholy in her eyes, created an expression Beidou had never seen on her. She just knew the Tianquan wasn’t talking about treasure or goods anymore.

She gripped the railing lying beneath her palms. The rumours about Ningguang being in love with someone were true after all. For how long, Beidou couldn’t really tell. Even during the conversations they shared over meals or games, they hadn’t discussed any matters relating to the heart. It was a topic they had skirted around like cowards, only for it to bite her in the ass now.

Breathing felt like she was forcing air into her lungs. It was supposed to hurt, she told herself. After this conversation, she could move on.

“I might be a pirate, but I do know the difference between what I can hope to call mine someday and what I can appreciate from afar. It doesn’t stop me from wanting…” The cool surface of the railing felt warm after holding it so tightly. If she focused hard enough, perhaps even the moonlight on her skin would feel warm. “But I know how to let go of things I can’t have.”

It was out of sheer luck that she managed to stop herself from jumping when she felt a light touch on her arm. It was gentle, lingering, and sent tingles to the base of her neck.

“Ask your question, Captain. What is it that you want to know?”

Her gaze was surprisingly warm.

Unlike the Ningguang she usually saw at business meetings, there was no sign of calculation in her eyes. The tension left her shoulders in a rush. All that was left was exhaustion.

“Honestly, I just want the truth.” The urge to press Ningguang for the question she hadn’t been able to ask had faded. It didn’t really matter anymore.

“Putting aside what you can and can’t have, what is it that you want?”

“That’s a very broad question. If you could narrow down the scope, it would be easier for me to give you a satisfactory answer.”

“It doesn’t need to satisfy me. My question is about you and what you desire most.”

“Okay then, uncrowned Lord of the Ocean, let me ask you this. What happens after you’ve conquered the sea?” The other girl’s offhanded tone puzzled Beidou, more than the use of her colloquial title. “Do you foresee Liyue being a part of your future?”

The easy response would be to tell her that the Alcor would always return to Liyue during their voyages. However, it was too straightforward for that to be the answer to the question Ningguang was actually asking.

Beidou exhaled slowly as her gaze turned back to the view of the city. With such a lovely sight, it was hard not to fall in love.

The vast ocean lay stretched out before her eyes, just over the edge of the lights surrounding the boundaries of the harbour. It was endless, much like her desire to explore it. However, she acknowledged that a different type of desire existed now, and it was linked to the girl standing next to her.

As much as she loved to wake up to the blue sea and fall asleep with the stars, there was a part of her that missed the moments spent on shore with Ningguang, whether it was afternoon games or evening meals.

She would never tire of the ocean; it’s open arms and perilous thrills. Yet, she was beginning to understand why her previous captain had a certain glow whenever the ship was docked in Liyue.

“I wonder.” She smiled to herself. “As a kid, a nobody like me was never welcome in Liyue. As an adult, I still don’t know if I fit in here. The Qixing has never been my biggest fan.”

“Liyue has become more inclusive over the years and you’ve contributed a great deal in terms of building the nation.” Ningguang answered, her head tilted in consideration. “Despite flouting the rules, you’ve aided Liyue in many avenues. Even the Qixing is unable to disagree with that.”

Beidou snorted at the revelation. Perhaps that was also why the Yuheng had been so reticent with her when they met. “So now you finally acknowledge the merit of being a pirate?”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself, Captain.” The Tianquan rolled her eyes, her body instinctively turning away from her for a moment. For someone like Ningguang, who always displayed a certain side of herself to the public, experiencing her candor was a privilege that few had. “You might be an important part of Liyue, but you still bring me more headaches than relief. You could always not break the law, you know?”

“Good to know.” The brunette smirked in response to her verbal jab. “But I’m fine with the way things are.”

It wasn’t the first time Beidou refuted her advice, nor would it be her last. Both of them knew that. Ningguang shrugged as though to say she tried, but the action ended up being cuter than it should have been.

“So what makes you think you can’t find a place to fit in here?”

“Well, it’s not about fitting in, exactly.” Beidou paused, collecting her thoughts. “Anyone can travel to a place but there has to be a reason for them to stay.”

“The reason has to come from within the person themselves. It can be because they like the atmosphere of the city, the food, the experiences, or even a person they met.” Ningguang seemed to frown at that line, which almost made Beidou falter. “But there’s always a reason. A reason for them to feel like they belong.”

At the end of her monologue, Beidou rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. It was unsettling to see Ningguang remain silent throughout her explanation, when the other girl normally had a smart retort at the tip of her tongue.

“And… do you have anything that would make you want to stay?”

Beidou hummed. The only answer she had was right in front of her and she was not about to reveal that piece of information.

“I’m not sure yet.” She said instead.

Perhaps it was due to her own guilt, but her answer seemed to disappoint Ningguang somewhat. With one sentence, the distance between them felt greater than before.

A couple of seconds passed where neither of them spoke. Silence between them normally wasn’t awkward, but Beidou felt as though they had moved into territory that they weren’t prepared to deal with.

“So what about you?” Eager to move the topic to something lighter, Beidou nudged the Tianquan out of her thoughts. “When you’re done with conquering the skies, what’s next on your list?”

Ningguang remained quiet for a while.

“All of us are fallible to mortality. Someday, we will die, and a new generation will take our positions. My hope is for the Jade Chamber to always be floating above Liyue as a reminder of the prosperity and peace of the human world and how it all came to be.” There was a spark in her eyes as she spoke that reminded Beidou of the look in her new recruits’ eyes on their first voyage. Ningguang shifted, the Geo Vision at her side catching enough light to gleam in the moonlight. “Perhaps in the future, even after we pass on, it can be a lingering reminder of my legacy.”

“About what I want to do, though…” She trailed off with a closed lip smile. “Maybe I’ll start by claiming the sea.”

“The sea?” Beidou scoffed despite the bubble of laughter that overtook her. She had to be doing this on purpose, telling her of all people that she wanted to claim the ocean. She leaned her front against the railing, an inch nearer to Ningguang. “Taking both the ocean and the sky for yourself seems a little selfish, doesn’t it?”

“Is it?” The Tianquan asked, as though she had been expecting that retort. “That won’t do. I guess we could come up with a compromise.”

“Would that be enough to satisfy you?” She grinned. “I would hate to have to beat you at Liyue Millennial just so my men can go home to their families.”

“Well, that depends.” The white haired girl turned to her, vulnerability brimming in her eyes. She could hear Ningguang’s inhale before she spoke. “If I win, and claim the ocean you’re so attached to, would you come along with it?”

There was something in Ningguang’s voice that hinted that she wasn’t joking. She couldn’t be. Not even the Tianquan, despite their banter, would take a prank so far. Yet, saying yes to her would be acknowledging that there was something more between them; a bond or a connection that ran deeper than their business relationship.

Beidou felt the breath catch in her throat before it reached her lungs. She swallowed the sudden nervousness, along with the retort that the ocean can’t just be claimed like that.

“If that happens, I would have to keep playing until I win.”

“I admire your confidence.” Ningguang smiled. She turned to lean her back against the railing but maintained eye contact. “But that won’t happen.”

Beidou resisted the urge to correct her, lest she give the other girl more motivation to change the rules whenever she left the harbour. As it was, the game had already undergone more than thirty revisions. Ningguang might call her a headache, but Beidou was certain that the game was a strong competitor for that title.

“Careful Tianquan, I’m beginning to think this was all a scheme to keep me trapped here.” She teased. Beidou expected an immediate refutal to her statement, but Ningguang seemed to be in a particularly thoughtful mood ever since she arrived at the terrace.

“You did say that everyone needs a reason to stay, after all.”

The word for attachment was a composite of the characters representing dependence and love. Put together, it sounded like a desire to connect, which wasn’t far from the truth. There were days where she would wake up missing the sight and sounds of the city over the open water. It could be noisy and harsh at times, but it also was home to the people she cared about.

Although she didn’t have family to go home to, unlike her crew, there were certain things in Liyue that she missed enough to come back for.

Perhaps she was misreading the situation again. It wouldn’t be the first time she felt she was reading too much into their interactions. However, with the way Ningguang was looking at her, it made her think that after all the misunderstandings and missed chances, they might actually be on the same page for once.

She shifted after a second of hesitation, placing her arms on both sides of Ningguang, effectively placing the Tianquan between her and the railing. However, she was careful not to allow their skin to touch, deliberately leaving a couple of inches between her hands and Ningguang’s arms.

Despite their physical closeness, Ningguang didn’t break eye contact or move away.

She took a deep breath. If she was wrong, she would give the order for the Alcor to set sail ahead of schedule and spend the next few months trying to get over Ningguang. It probably wouldn’t work, but the distance and salty air would help to focus her mind on other things.

“Ningguang,” Beidou started. It was a miracle she could even speak. She was relieved that her voice hadn’t wavered despite the undercurrent of nervousness. “You haven’t answered my question.”

There was a resolve present in Ningguang’s eyes when she answered in a quiet voice. It reminded her of a fragment of emotion she witnessed when she brought up Ningguang’s childhood.

“On the contrary, Beidou, I already have.” Steady and certain, much like the element she wielded, those words were the indirect confirmation she needed.

She wasn’t sure which one of them moved first. It could have been her body acting before her mind could catch up to the notion that her feelings were actually reciprocated. Perhaps it was both of them, finally having had enough of being so close yet unable to touch.

The distance between their mouths had already been negligible to begin with, so it didn’t take much to close the gap.

Ningguang’s lips were soft, but she kissed the same way she handled everything in her life- with everything she had. Beidou relished every moment of it, from the way Ningguang seemed intent on leaving no space between their bodies to the small gasp that escaped when Beidou tugged her closer and nipped at her lower lip. In response, Ningguang’s hands slid up to her shoulder blades, leaving trails of heat in their wake.

She could feel her self-control slipping away. It was like she had gotten swept into a storm that was consuming her entire being, but she had no desire to change course. She had spent her growing years struggling against her destiny but if it was her fate to meet and fall for Ningguang, then she would gladly do it again.

She recalled the scent of glaze lilies from the first time she had embraced Ningguang. The Tianquan was probably wearing the same perfume, she thought, but there was an underlying sweetness that Beidou only noticed then. She couldn't figure out what it was, but the fragrance was intoxicating.

Some of her crew members smoked, but the smell was always overpowering and unpleasant to her. Ningguang tasted like the pipe she had been smoking, but instead of feeling the urge to cough and hold her breath, Beidou wanted to breathe deeper. She wanted more; to fill up the spaces in her lungs until Ningguang was all she could sense.

Just then, the dark sky erupted in a sea of colour above them. Beads of light scattered across the night sky, like stars being flung into space.

Beidou loved the sight of fireworks.

The ephemeral and temporary beauty it carried, bringing joy and wonder to its audience for a few minutes, before vanishing. It reminded her of how in the eyes of an archon or adeptus, people were like fireworks. They lived on earth for a short period of time, trying their best to make a lasting impact or create meaning despite their finite lifespans.

Normally, she would watch the lights dance in the sky and listen to the whistle of fireworks as they were released, and the gleeful squeals and gasps of children as they identified all the patterns. However, that night, her mind was focused on the very real and present girl in her arms.

They eventually broke apart, soft laughter and smiles shared between them, and finally acknowledged the fireworks display above them. Despite the enormity of the space around them, Ningguang seemed more than comfortable with their current positions and Beidou didn’t feel like letting go of her.

Ningguang’s arms remained looped around her neck as she tilted her head towards the sky. They didn’t speak for a few moments, basking in the array of colours. Beidou shivered inadvertently when the Tianquan’s fingers lightly brushed against the back of her neck. She wasn’t sure if Ningguang had done it consciously, since her attention was still on the dragon and flower shaped fireworks that had just been released into the air.

“Yoimiya’s outdone herself this time.” Beidou commented. The fireworks were on a different scale this year, with grander and more complex stories told through the fireworks.

It brought her a sense of pride to recognize the legends told through the fireworks, despite her eyes straying back to Ningguang every few seconds.

Part of the reason why she had been on a tight return schedule was due to the not-so-legal shipment of fireworks from Inazuma, which was being used for the festival.

It would probably not be good if the Qixing got involved, she realised. Yet, when she turned towards the girl in her arms to censor herself, Ningguang supplied her with a look of exasperation.

“I hope you realise that regardless of whatever this,” she gestured between their bodies. Instinctively, Beidou caught her hand and intertwined their fingers loosely, giving the Tianquan the option to pull away. She didn’t, although her sentence ended up with a pause midway. “Ends up being, you can’t be flouting the law whenever you please.”

“Not even going to offer clemency or a discount for your beloved?”

Ningguang made a face as though the proposition was so appalling she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Then, her expression shifted into a slow smile that was almost cat-like.

“I might be persuaded by other forms of payment and remuneration.”

“Wha-” Beidou choked out. The mental images that flooded her mind were less than appropriate and judging by the heat in Ningguang’s gaze, she knew exactly what she was implying.

Her flustered expression drew gentle laughter from the Tianquan, which dispelled her from the stunned stupor she was in. She felt like Ningguang’s teapot when the water had finally boiled; the steam leaving her head in a rush, quickly replaced by a wave of fondness. Ningguang could be deceptively cunning when she wanted to be. Instead of feeling annoyed, it only made her fall harder.

A year ago, she would have been appalled and embarrassed by the notion that she would end up feeling this attached to someone. Now, she couldn’t imagine coming back to a Liyue without her in it.

The way her eyes curved into crescents to accompany her smile cemented Beidou’s conclusion that there really wasn’t going to be anyone else that came close.

She stopped herself quickly. It was too soon for that.

“Oh, if you still want to take part in the lantern ceremony, we should get going.” Beidou reminded her. The sky had gotten quiet. The bursts of fireworks had ceased, leaving only lingering traces of smoke that looked like clouds in the night sky.

“Oh…” Ningguang looked almost shy as she shifted slightly to face the city for a brief moment. “There’s no need for that anymore.”

“You don’t want to make a wish?”

“I don’t need anything else.” The other girl spoke resolutely, as though she didn’t know how her answer played with Beidou’s heartstrings. She didn’t need another reason to miss her more than she already did.

“When are you leaving?” It was a familiar question but somehow their new circumstances made it sound unfamiliar.

This would be her first time leaving with the knowledge that she had someone waiting for her to come back. Beidou felt something within her clench. It was bittersweet, to realise that while she could look forward to being reunited, she also had to bear the guilt of leaving someone she cared about.

It was never a question of whether she would be leaving, but rather, when she would leave.

Part of her wondered if Ningguang had resigned herself to the idea that in their relationship, Beidou would rarely be around.

Would being together really bring her happiness?

Suitors from all over Teyvat would move mountains and spend their savings just to earn a few hours of her time. Surely the Tianquan had better options to choose from. She didn’t deserve to settle for a partial relationship.

“Three days from now.” Beidou glanced down, lost in contemplation, missing the look of relief that eclipsed Ningguang’s features.

“I have a lunch meeting with a businessman tomorrow, but you can join me if you’d like.” She offered.

Beidou frowned skeptically. She knew what a lunch meeting meant for Ningguang.

People like her didn’t belong with the kind of crowd who fell over themselves to have a meal with Ningguang, only to use her for her knowledge and advice.

“What would I contribute to that kind of business meeting?”

“They’re paying for the entire meal in exchange for my advice, so it shouldn’t be a problem for me to arrive with another person.” Ningguang reasoned. She seemed to consider something, before her tone changed. “If you’re not keen, I can always cancel-“

The way she spoke so flippantly, as though the meeting meant nothing to her, was a clear trap. It had probably taken one of her secretaries weeks to arrange. Yet, it was obvious that the Tianquan wanted a certain response from her.

“Alright, I get it.” Beidou interrupted. Whether or not she was serious, if the Tianquan cancelled a long awaited business meeting with a prospective merchant, she ran the risk of leaving a bad impression. Beidou didn’t have the conscience to allow that. “I’ll go. You don’t have to force my hand like that.”

“Why Captain, I was merely about to suggest that we cancel the lunch and postpone the meeting.” Ningguang smiled in victory as Beidou resisted the urge to roll her eyes. She knew she was playing directly into her hand but whatever made Ningguang happy, she supposed. “If it were that easy to attain your agreement, I would have asked for something else.”

Despite the teasing expression on her face, Beidou knew there were some things she really couldn't promise. It made her heart feel heavier.

“You know I can’t stay right, Ningguang?” She asked quietly, her thumbs gently brushing the back of Ningguang’s hands.

As much as she left a part of her heart behind every time she sailed away from the harbor, she couldn’t abandon her crew and her responsibilities.

“I don’t need you to stay. I just want you to come back to me each time you leave.” Ningguang spoke as though she had already thought through every comeback Beidou could come up with. Knowing the Tianquan, she probably had done just that.

Her words from before suddenly made sense.

“You should know by now that I’m someone who plans for the future.” She continued. Beidou didn’t doubt her for a second. The Jade Chamber and her entire career were testaments to her personality. “Like you said before, I’m selfish. I don’t just want the present or something short term. That goes for all aspects of my life.”

The last line was said pointedly and Beidou felt a smile forming on her lips. She fell for Ningguang long ago, but hearing those words made her feel as though she was still falling and probably wouldn’t stop.

She already knew what she was getting into when she stopped denying her feelings.

“If there’s one thing you should know about me, it’s that when I get attached to something, I don’t give up easily.”

Ningguang’s posture relaxed. “Then we’re on the same page.”

“I mean it. I won’t make promises I can’t keep.” Beidou told her seriously, her hand caressing the side of her jaw. To her delight, Ningguang leaned into her touch as though it was only natural for her. If her rapid heartbeat was any indication, she was dangerously close to having a heart attack. Images of people she lost to the sea came into her mind. Mourning them was the easy part.

Facing Little Yue and telling him that his parents won’t be coming home was one of the hardest trials she had ever faced.

The ocean was wild and unpredictable; its depths carrying more secrets than she would ever know. If anything were to happen to her, it wouldn’t just be the crew she left behind. “But I will always try to make it back to you. As long as I’m alive, I’ll find a way.”

She felt the other girl exhale. “Then, those will be the terms of our new contract.”

“Again with the contracts?” Beidou groaned in mock annoyance. “What about my compensation from last time?”

Any further questions were stopped by the kiss that Ningguang left on the corner of her lips. It lasted for less than a second, but it was enough to render her speechless.

From the devious look in her eyes and the way her lips curled into a smirk that seemed very un-Tianquan-like, Beidou could hazard a guess that this situation would be repeating itself in the future.

Frankly, she had no complaints.

Ningguang still hadn’t told her what her side of the bargain was, but she figured that she could put her negotiation skills to the test by showing the Tianquan exactly what kind of remuneration she had in mind.

~~~

It’s Ganyu who finds out first, much to Beidou’s chagrin.

Although the circumstances had been unfortunate, Beidou was glad it was someone she trusted.

Thankfully, a mandatory conversation had taken place regarding the new circumstances and how they were to approach any questions and suspicions.

It had been largely Beidou’s idea, ironically.

She had awoken the morning after the festivities had long since ended, with the rather shocking realisation that the night before hadn’t been a drinking induced hallucination. She wasn’t used to the absence of chattering and hollering, or the waves gently swaying the boat. It was almost unnaturally quiet.

Beidou blinked as she took in her surroundings. Her room on the Alcor was literally the opposite of the spacious and elegant accommodation that she found herself in. Her first thought was to marvel at how the upper class in Liyue lived.

It had personal touches that suggested that this room had sentimental value, but it wasn’t overly decorated or extravagant. Like the rest of the Jade Chamber, the room was spotless. Antiques on the sparsely decorated shelves were the only indication that Ningguang had a deliberate hand in maintaining the place.

Simple, yet refined. The phrase that seemed to contradict yet make so much sense when it came to Ningguang, also described her room. Everything that Beidou failed to appreciate when she first entered the premises reminded her of how different the two of them were. Granted, it wasn’t as though Ningguang had been interested in giving her a tour of anything apart from the bed.

The bedsheets draped over her chest were most likely silk, not that she had ever possessed anything made of such fabric. Her first hand experience was limited to transporting cargos of silk fabrics to other nations.

It may not suit her, but the smooth and soft feeling of the sheets somehow just seemed fitting for someone like Ningguang.

The name stirred her into the second realisation that if the night before wasn’t a dream, then things between them had just become even more complicated.

The space next to her was empty, but she could feel the residual warmth that indicated that the Tianquan had probably just stepped out.

She couldn’t tell what time it was, but considering the sun had already risen, she had spent quite a while sleeping.

The night before, Ningguang had mentioned a lunch appointment. The invitation was extended to her, but the capacity of which she would be attending as wasn’t clear.

If it had been a week ago, she would immediately think of herself as offering protective services. However, after the previous night, she didn’t dare to consider what capacity she was to the Tianquan.

Perhaps she was overthinking.

Ningguang was human after all. Even the Tianquan might have felt lonely in her floating palace.

Maybe a night of companionship was all that she had been looking for; or worse, a regular occurrence without a label.

Whatever Ningguang’s words were, they could have just been the ramblings of someone caught up in the moment. The thought made her stomach clench with acid, but she figured that if she left quickly enough, she could make it back to her ship before anyone noticed. No harm would be done.

It wouldn’t be her first time sneaking out of the Jade Chamber. She had done it a couple of times, running away from the secretaries and their fines after her meetings with the Tianquan. She knew the route like the back of her hand.

She was in the middle of pulling her clothes on when the door clicked. Beidou instantly froze, as though she had been caught stealing. Her first instinct was to dart behind the bed. She only realised that it was a rather foolish decision after having done so, but it was too late to move without her actions being noticed.

She heard Ningguang’s lilting voice, giving instructions to someone at the door, before the door shut with a soft thud.

A single pair of footsteps made its way towards her hiding spot. Somehow, knowing that Ningguang was alone made her relax somewhat.

“I do hope you conduct your stealth missions with more discretion, Captain.” The calm and steady way she spoke, Beidou could almost imagine her holding a pipe in her hand and taking a puff.

She propped her head over the side of the bed, meeting the Tianquan’s slightly amused eyes.

“For your information, I knew it was you.”

The other girl gave her a long glance.

“If you say so.” To her annoyance, the smirk on her face only widened.

It made Beidou want to reach over and wipe it off. Part of her wondered if she even had the right to do that. Compared to the night before, a kiss was probably relatively tame. Yet, the thought of claiming her lips made her flush in embarrassment.

Clearly she needed a drink to process this new situation.

“Well, as nice as this was, I’m gonna head out.” She stood up, trying to maintain her dignity. “There’s preparations we have to do before our next voyage.”

The delicate frown that creased her forehead caught Beidou by surprise, before she felt the tug on her wrist that held her in place.

“So soon? Wasn’t your departure in two days?” The hurt and disappointment evident in her tone was enough to dissuade her from her original plan, such that Beidou took a seat on the bed instead. Part of her was still trying to process the fact that Ningguang actually wanted her around. The other part was feeling guilty for probably ruining her mood by trying to leave.

The girl next to her sighed, the easy atmosphere between them ruined. “I’ve already sent word to the restaurant but I can always bring one of my secretaries if you have other things to attend to.”

Her words sounded more aloof than a few minutes ago, which prompted her to reach over and cover one of Ningguang’s hands with her own.

“I’m sorry.” Beidou said quickly, before Ningguang could pull away on instinct. “I… I don’t really know how to think of this…uh…”

She glanced toward her lap awkwardly, avoiding the Tianquan’s eyes. It would be strange to call what they had a relationship, when technically they weren’t even dating. Nothing was established.

“Have you not been in a relationship prior to this, Beidou?” Ningguang asked, her voice small. She clearly wasn't privy to Beidou’s confusion, much less her poorly disguised shock that Ningguang had said the word so easily. Perhaps she had been the one who misunderstood. “Or are you just not interested in having one with me?”

“No!” She exclaimed, probably a bit too loudly, judging by the widening of Ningguang’s eyes. The brunette cleared her throat. “I mean, I am interested. In you, that is, and a relationship, with you. If that’s what you want?”

This wasn’t going the way she wanted. Judging by Ningguang’s doubtful look, she expected that it hadn’t gone according to her plans either.

It was her turn to sigh.

Whatever courage she had from the night before seemed absent in the light of day, which was terribly inconvenient. It was just like her to screw things up before they even began, Beidou thought.

“Look, Ningguang, I like you. I’m not the perfect girlfriend or the next leader of a nation, nor am I someone who can give up a career on the ocean.” She swallowed. Confessing was that much harder without the solace of night and the encouragement from alcohol. “But, if you’ll have me, I’ll do my best to make you happy.”

“If I say no?” Beidou felt her heart drop at her words, but at the same time, the hand she had been covering flipped to hold hers just as tightly. Ningguang’s gaze was warm and striking, like the Jade Chamber in the sky that always guided her home. It didn’t seem like a rejection.

It gave her the courage to reply with a tilt of her head. Last night, it had been Ningguang who was honest with her. Now, it was up to her to make the next move.

“You won’t.”

Ningguang raised an eyebrow, but Beidou could see the smile threatening to break her neutral look. “What makes you so sure of that?”

“Because… who else would be willing to play chess with you?”

That must have been the correct response because the Tianquan didn’t have any comeback to that. Instead, Beidou found herself noticing that unconsciously, she had shifted towards Ningguang while she spoke. Likewise, the other girl had also leaned towards her in anticipation.

Finally, she closed the distance between them.

Beidou fulfilled her wish of wiping the smile off Ningguang’s face but it must have transference effects, for she was beaming from ear to ear when they pulled apart.

For the first and probably not the last time, the Tianquan was late for lunch.

~

Being in a relationship with the Tianquan of Liyue was no small business agreement. As much as her girlfriend seemed to take maintaining the secrecy of their relationship lightly, she couldn’t do the same.

Despite her distaste for contracts and formalities, Beidou couldn't very well go about her business without taking precautions for them both.

She came to the realisation that they needed to have some rules when on the actual morning of her departure, she found the Tianquan herself preparing to come to the docks to send her off.

Upon reflection, stopping her girlfriend, who was also the most powerful woman in Liyue, from leaving the room by tackling her onto the bed was probably not the best idea. The consequence was that they would get too caught up with one another to discuss the issue at hand.

More importantly, the sound caused one of the secretaries, Beidou recognized the voice as the sulky one who always gave her strange looks whenever she entered the Jade Chamber, to knock on the door in worry.

The situation would have been quelled by Ningguang’s distracted response if not for Ganyu’s arrival.

The Qixing Secretary had arranged for a meeting with more foreboding news from Inazuma. Although news from the locked nation was few and far between, Ganyu seemed to get regular updates from a contact who she refused to name. Whoever it was, Ganyu’s lips were always sealed. Her loyalty was undeniable, be it to Rex Lapis, Adepti, or humans.

That was part of the reason why, when the blue haired qilin burst into the room asking if Ningguang was hurt, neither Beidou nor Ningguang reacted immediately.

Ganyu’s face turned a shade of red Beidou had never witnessed, even when they shared a jug of alcohol, as she sputtered out a “Lady Ningguang?” in disbelief.

She had to give Ningguang credit for holding her composure, because the Tianquan simply stood, straightened her ruffled dress and greeted Ganyu as though she had not just caught Ningguang with Beidou’s mouth on her neck.

How Ningguang could conduct a discussion with a levelheaded mind and steady voice after something like that, was truly a skill Beidou didn’t have. Meanwhile, the brunette had to hold herself back from fumbling or rambling out a nonsensical explanation that would have probably made things worse.

Ganyu’s pointed stare was aimed at her, Beidou knew. She received the instructions readily before announcing that she will prepare the documents and await more explanation in her office. Her friend gave the Tianquan a respectful bow before shooting her another glance which told her that they needed to have a talk as soon as possible.

“You know, we could just tell people.” Ningguang said when the door shut behind her. She had likely sensed her uneasiness, even without Beidou saying anything. They had discussed the ground rules briefly, ever since the lunch meeting where Beidou had been introduced as an important business partner.

“You know why we can’t.” She replied despondently. It hadn’t been a week and someone had already found out. If it had been one of Ningguang’s staff members who discovered them, the entirety of Liyue would know by the time the sun hit its highest point in the sky. She could already imagine the whispers and glances starting again, only they were aimed at Ningguang instead.

“You’re the one that’s worried about my reputation.” The Tianquan pointed out. “I don’t foresee any cause for worry.”

“The Qixing-”

The other girl promptly stepped into her personal space with a level of familiarity she only displayed when they were alone.

“You know you’re dating the Tianquan right?”

With Ningguang so close to her, it was hard for her to think straight, and the other girl definitely knew it. Yet, Beidou forced herself to focus.

“The people of Liyue-”

“Adore you,” she continued. “and the few that don’t, wouldn’t dare to say anything against you either.”

“We should still be careful.” Beidou argued, gently tracing the side of Ningguang’s arm down to her elbow. “I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you or affect your position.”

There was a pause as Ningguang exhaled in defeat. It wasn’t the first time they were talking about it, nor would it be the last.

Beidou knew that eventually, they would tell people, or at least the ones they cared about. However, there was a part of her that wanted to keep this fragile and precious treasure as safe as she could for now.

“Okay, I should get going. If we keep Ganyu waiting any longer, she might kill me and then my crew will start a riot.”

“Sounds serious.” Ningguang added dryly. “I should make sure that she disposes the body properly then.”

“How hurtful.” Beidou groaned in mock sadness. Ningguang pushed her arm lightly, not entirely displeased with their banter.

“Aren’t you supposed to go?”

“Yes, I will take my leave of you, Lady Tianquan.” Beidou teased, tugging the other girl closer to press a quick kiss onto her cheek. “Don’t miss me too much while I’m gone.”

She received a huff of annoyance in response, even though Ningguang instinctively leaned into her touch. “As if.”

Her hand was reaching for the doorknob when the sound of her name made her turn slightly.

Ningguang was standing near the window. There was no doubt that she would be watching when the Alcor left the harbour in a few hours. The thought made her want to stay just for another day, even though she knew her clients were waiting for her. Hence, she tried to burn the view before her into her memory as best as she could.

“Be safe out there.” It wasn’t an ‘I miss you’, but it was just as genuine. Ningguang would be waiting for her.

“See you soon, Ningguang.”

She had uttered a similar line countless times before she left the shores of Liyue. Yet, this time, she could say the words with certainty.

After all, she now had a home to return to.

~~