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“It’s her! That’s the damn thief!” The man points vigorously at a tall woman standing a few feet away from them.
The woman raises an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Beidou?” Ningguang can’t help her incredulous tone. “Are you sure?”
Ningguang had know Beidou for years- she made her business to know a majority of the more influential members of the Liyue community. It only helped that the ship captain happened to be far more interesting than any of the old, stuffy, rich men she had been stuck listening to in other encounters.
“Of course I’m sure!” The man spit out angrily. “I’m sure you’ve heard of her reputation! She’s a pirate! A thief!”
“Sir-!” Beidou practically growls. “I’d hardly call the crew of the Crux pirates!”
“I’m sure we can solve this dispute easier than this. Blacksmith, sir, what would you like me to do about your claims?”
“Arrest her! You’ve fined her for going against regulations before... I’m sure you understand just what type of lady she is...”
“I can confirm, I understand exactly what ‘type of lady’ she is.” The look in Beidou’s eye darkened slightly. “And that’s precisely the reason I cannot arrest her without proper proof.”
“Excuse-“
“I can assure you, she will not be left unattended. How much did you lose in the robbery?”
The man’s eyes light up greedily. “5000 mora, Ma’am.”
She paid the man before walking away with a beckon to signal Beidou to follow her.
“Y’know he’s scamming you, right?” Ningguang simply nodded. They fell into a comfortable silence.
She didn’t think Beidou would steal something, especially unprovoked. Despite her ‘reputation,’ Beidou was an honest woman.
“Did you-?” The simple question hung in the air, questioning but not accusatory.
“Of course not! I have better things to do than steal.” She runs a hand through her bangs. “I was just goin’ to Xiangling’s to get some food! I suppose that’s outta the question now. I’m sure you’re pretty damned busy today...”
“Hm.” She was very busy today- many of the Lantern Rite preparations were her responsibility. But... “I need to pay Xiangling a visit anyways. Looks like you’re in luck...”
It wasn’t a lie, necessarily. She hadn’t originally planned on checking on the chef- Xiangling could handle herself- but it was worth the time spent.
(Not because the happy half smile that graced the ship captain’s face after said news made her heart flutter.)
“What were the two of you looking to buy?” Xiangling stares with an obvious smile on her face as she looks between the two. “Let me guess, stir-fried filet for you?” She asks, gesturing at Beidou.
“You know me well, Xiangling.”
The small girl smiles slightly. “You’ve never come to my shop, Tianquan. I don’t really know what you like...”
“Ningguang.” She didn’t like how formally Xiangling talked to her. “Call me Ningguang. As for the food... Mora Meat. You serve that here, don’t you?”
“Of course! I can make almost anything, Ningguang!” Xiangling scribbled on her notepad for a second. “Anything else?”
She shakes her head.
“Oookay!” Xiangling says. “I’m glad to see the two of you are getting along!”
Beidou smirks at Ningguang’s shocked expression. “We’re practically the best of friends.”
Xiangling lights up before heading back to the kitchen. Beidou drums her fingers on the table, ignoring Ningguang’s glare. She winks- or Ningguang assumes she does. The charm is somewhat wasted by the fact Beidou is wearing an eyepatch.
“She’s a fast cook. We won’t have to wait long, sweetheart.” She can’t tell if the woman was being sarcastic or not, but her face nearly heats up at the pet name. Nearly. Every important figure she’d ever met was a master at having a good poker face- her included.
The food arrives quickly, as Beidou had promised. It tastes great, but she can’t really think about it while her mind is so full of thoughts already. She wants to know more- why does Beidou have an eyepatch? Is it just for decoration? Or is their another story behind it?
“What’re ya staring at? Have I got something on my face or something?”
Without thinking, she replies. “Yes...”
Beidou wipes at her face, confusion evident.
“Right... there...” Ningguang puts a hand on the woman’s face.
One of the first rules she had ever learned was to think. Think before she acts, before she speaks, think.
It was obvious she hadn’t remembered said rule when Beidou’s mouth dropped open.
“Damn, Ning... if you had wanted to touch me, you could’ve just asked.” Beidou’s voice shook slightly- a thing she wouldn’t have noticed if she didn’t know how to read people well.
“Don’t be foolish. I have work to do, are you done eating?”
The Lantern Rite was a busy time- especially for someone like Ningguang, who had so many responsibilities. Which, admittedly, made Beidou bored. And, by bored, she meant ‘want to break some rules.’
Which Ningguang would hate. “Are we gonna watch the Lantern Rite together...?” She’d say no, and then Beidou could go do however she pleased without bothering her.
“Yes.” The woman said simply, before going back to signing a document.
“What?” She gasped slightly. “I’m sure you have plenty of better people to spend it with!”
“Not really, no.” More silence. She really didn’t talk much outside of business.
“Ughhhh I’m bored! When are you going to finish this stuff...?”
“Soon.”
“Stop being boring.”
Ningguang threw the papers to the desk, glaring at Beidou. “Stop talking.”
“Seriously?” Beidou couldn’t say she didn’t enjoy seeing Ningguang’s usual calm attitude crumble. “Make me, then.”
Ningguang’s breath hitched as she looked up at Beidou. When had they gotten so close? They stood like that together for what felt like hours until Ningguang put her palm over Beidou’s mouth with a sly smile. “Shut you up, hm?”
“The Lantern Rite release is in twenty minutes. You don’t want to miss it, do you?”
“Mm mmph,” Ningguang smiled again.
...
“You know...” Beidou said. “There’s a sailors legend that if ya kiss someone when the lanterns are flyin’ you get good luck for the year.”
The harbor was lit with gold, a pleasing, beautiful sight. Ningguang grasped her lantern in her hands, gazing at the sky. Beidou did the same.
“Oh really?” She muttered. “It’s a shame you don’t have anyone to kiss, then.”
“I don’t?” Beidou’s tone was evidently flirty, and shamelessly so.
The sight of lanterns flying into the air interrupted them.
“What does yours say? Do ya have a wish?” Beidou grinned. “Mine is to have someone to kiss on Lantern Rite.”
“You just won’t let up, will you?” The woman continued grinning. “Well...” She released the lantern, getting as close as she could to Beidou’s face. She couldn’t be more glad that she had chosen to spend the ceremony in the less populated area of town.
Beidou, for once had shut up. Her face was red, something she had never seen from the woman. “Is this what you want?” Beidou nodded.
She tilted her head back, gripping Ningguang’s hair softly and kissing her straight on the lips. The loud noise of a firework exploding behind them caused the woman to jolt slightly.
“Well, you got your wish.” She muttered as they separated, tone slightly angry.
“The sailor’s tale was fake, ya’know.” Beidou smirked again. “You’re so gullible.”
“Shut up.” Beidou’s eye glinted with a mischievous expression.
“Make me.”