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Liyue, the city of contracts. A beautiful place full of merchants selling their wares, children playing near the harbor, the sound of a storyteller weaving his own world as he speaks, captivating his audience. The Millileth standing valiantly at their posts— some of them, at least. Liyue is so peaceful that many of the military forces stationed around the city dare to slack off.
If they shirk their duties for too long, however, another guard might whisper to them as a warning, "Be careful, the Tianquan might be watching you! Who knows what she might do if she sees the Millileth not taking their duties seriously?!"
That gets them to straighten quickly. Ningguang always chuckles when they don't notice her playing with a few children in Liyue's harbor, promising them sweet treats in return for any rumors they've heard recently. The sight of the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing gleefully entertaining the children of her city always brings a smile to the older generation's lips, and Ningguang benefits in more ways than one.
She learns of every secret there is from her eyes and ears, and also further earns the trust of the people of Liyue.
Hearing some of the youngest children refer to her as "jiejie Ningguang" is heartwarming, as well. Not that she'll ever admit that to anyone, no matter if they're in her inner circle or otherwise. That's something only Ningguang will ever know, and she will take it to her grave, lest someone tries to use it as blackmail against her.
At that, a certain smug captain comes to mind.
"Jiejie," Beidou had teased Ningguang under her breath once, while they were deep into a game of Liyue Millennial. It'd taken the Tianquan by surprise, though she quickly regained her composure, smoothly gaining yet another victory against the Captain of the Crux. "Damn, I really thought that tactic would work in my favor. You're truly unperturbed by everything, eh, jiejie?"
"I am interested in your ability to read people so easily, Captain. Such a skill would be of use to me," Ningguang deflected with ease, though her eye did twitch at Beidou referring to her as jiejie yet again.
Which Beidou noticed, of course. Thereafter, whenever they were in the Jade Chamber, Beidou would refer to her as "jiejie of Liyue's Qixing."
(The first time Ganyu heard Beidou call Ningguang jiejie, she looked as if all of the blood had drained from her body, and she would faint on the spot.)
(When Keqing was present for one of their meetings, the speed at which the tip of her blade was pointed at Beidou's throat was impressive.)
Never has Beidou ever said Ningguang's name in all their time they've known each other. Not that it matters to Ningguang— the pirate's choice to refrain from ever referring to Ningguang with her name is perfectly fine to her. After all, even if Beidou is her soulmate, nothing about their relationship would change. What is between her and Beidou is purely business.
They barely get along, too— Beidou's blatant disregard for the rules that Ningguang has so painstakingly put into place for the well-being of Liyue's citizens always rubs the Tianquan the wrong way. She's learned that nothing will persuade Beidou to act in Ningguang's best interest in that regard, however, so she's adapted in order to keep their relationship— and its transactions— as stable as possible.
Whenever Beidou has something to report, she comes to the Jade Chamber, raring and ready to go for yet another game of Liyue Millennial against Ningguang. She also brings a hefty sum of Mora for the fines that need paid for— even though she brings Ningguang worthwhile information, the Tianquan isn't about to play favorites and reduce the cost of Beidou's rule-breaking streak.
So they converse in the colorless rooms of the Jade Chamber, names never uttered.
"I don't think I've ever seen you smile before, jiejie," Beidou jabbed another time as she placed a few cards down on the Liyue Millennial board and took two to replace them, "except for when you're surrounded by the little ones by the harbor."
Ningguang hummed, watching Beidou's every move with an analytical gaze. "I've surely smiled once or twice while you've been in my presence—"
"I meant a genuine smile, jiejie. Not those ones you've practiced for diplomats and business partners," Beidou interrupted, clicking her tongue when she gets a bad die roll. "Those smiles never reach your eyes. They don't soften like they do when one of those rascals tugs on your qipao and asks you, 'how was work, jiejie?'" She increased the pitch of her voice while moving her pieces on the board. "I swear, they're your only soft spot. Everywhere else, your aura is completely different."
With one brow raised, Ningguang leaned forward. "And what is my aura everywhere else, exactly?"
Lips pursed in thought, Beidou grabbed another die and rolled it. "You still hold that same elegance when you're at the harbor, but it's... colder. You're careful, calculating— just like you are right now. Though," Beidou grinned, "I'm starting to think I'm getting through to you. Sometimes, a few seconds after I call you jiejie, your eyes soften and your lips quirk just a little bit, like you're thinking about those kids. When I get you to smile for real, I'll call that a win."
Beidou lost that game of Liyue Millennial as well, and she'd gifted Ningguang an antique vase— "Someone else in the crew said it was aquamarine, and I remember you mentioning that the rest of your vases are supposed to be blue. Thought this one of a kind antique would fit in nicely with the rest of your things." While she'd scoffed at the time, Ningguang keeps the vase on a bookshelf in her main office. Whenever Beidou visits for their meetings, she looks at it and smiles. Something in that reaction warms something in Ningguang, as well.
During her next visit to Liyue Harbor, she'd realized that Beidou was right— the children who refer to her as their big sister might catch a genuine quirk of her lips, or even a giggle at their silly antics. The way their eyes sparkle like the stars when they manage to bring Ningguang the smallest ounce of joy...
If only they knew how warm Ningguang feels inside to see how happy they are to see her. When they get upset after she doesn't visit for too long for their tastes, the puff of their cheeks while they pout, "Where have you been, jiejie Ningguang," while the youngest ones wrapping around Ningguang's legs.
"I'm not letting go!" As if she must take them to the Jade Chamber with her, so that she'll never be away from them for too long ever again. It's a part of her schedule to visit the children by the harbor, but the occasional addition to her calendar impedes on her time to spend her hard-earned Mora on the kids she adores so much.
She's informed her circle that meeting with the children takes a higher priority than they'd think— after all, her little ducklings keep Ningguang at the top of everything that occurs in Liyue. Without them, she wouldn't be half as successful as she is today.
"You have a soft spot for those little rascals at the harbor, don't you, jiejie?"
"Who wouldn't? Their innocence is quite charming. I give them sweets, and they—"
"Oh, bull. Don't use the transactional benefits as an excuse; you love those kids, and they love you. That's why they don't want to let you go. To them, you're family."
Family.
Hm.
Ningguang had brushed the comment off, deflecting by asking Beidou to continue her report for that meeting, but she could feel her cheeks warm at the thought of every child that's clung to her, every little sibling who grins up at her while their arms are wrapped around her waist. Holding her in a tight embrace, hoping that, this time, their jiejie stays for good this time.
Ah, Beidou. Putting these sort of thoughts into Ningguang's mind— what a terrible woman.
But the ache in Ningguang's heart for those children who love her so may be even worse than the seeds sowed by Captain Beidou, whose right eye glows with more wisdom and mirth than she lets on, even in Ningguang's grayscale world.
Month's into their partnership— where they've learned to tolerate each other, poke fun at each other— curiosity claws at Ningguang's mind. A woman like Beidou must have met her soulmate by now, in all of her travels—
"I haven't."
Ningguang raises a brow, tilting her head slightly to the side. "Truly? That comes as a surprise, to me. You've gone to almost every corner of Teyvat, yet not a single flash of color from any man or woman uttering your name?"
Beidou shakes her head with an amused smile. She leans forward, rolling one of the many die involved in Liyue Millennium, before moving onto the next. "Perhaps my soulmate is a stubborn one. Someone who would rather have their name spoken first before their own."
At that, a puff of laughter escapes from Ningguang's lips. "Is that so? A shame, then— I presume your soulmate's beauty would be quite breathtaking with the colors that the people of Liyue have described to me for years," she replies, watching as Beidou moves one piece upon another, rough, calloused hands making sure not to jostle the board. "Still, wouldn't you be stubborn as well?"
A wicked grin graces Beidou's lips as she looks up at Ningguang. "Of course. Don't you know that pirates are the most stubborn folk out there, jiejie?"
Suppressing the need to roll her eyes, Ningguang leans forward to start her turn when Beidou leans back. "I suppose I'm starting to learn, thanks to certain company," she murmurs, glancing up at Beidou while two die roll.
"You're welcome, then," the captain responds, bowing gracefully just as Ningguang's dice land.
High numbers. Not optimal, but she'll be able to bounce back if her next roll is low.
When it isn't, Beidou whistles. "Uh oh. Things aren't looking to good for you this time around. Would be a shame if I finally won this game of yours," she chuckles, carefully watching Ningguang for any signs of irritation.
"It certainly would be a shame; though, don't put all your eggs in one basket," Ningguang replies coolly, continuing her turn while strategizing how she would bounce back and claim victory once more.
But it wouldn't be fun if you're the only one who wins, a voice in the back of Ningguang's head whispers. What would happen if you let Beidou win? She's certainly improved at Liyue Millennium compared to the first time you asked her to play against you. Make it look effortless, planned by the Archons that you were meant to lose today.
Tempting. Perhaps, in the shock of her victory, Beidou would finally say Ningguang's name—
As if.
Still, as the game continues, Ningguang's turns seem bent on keeping her in the clutches of misfortune. Beidou's barely ahead of Ningguang, however, since the Tianquan never lets something as silly as "bad luck" hold her back. Even if she's meant to lose, Ningguang will still put up a fight.
It's a close game full of tension, and the sharp jabs at each other eventually dwindle, as both participants hone all their focus into strategizing, grasping victory at the last turn—
"AH! I—"
She won.
Beidou jumps up from her seat with a whoop, hollering and cheering. Ningguang's stupefied, analyzing the entire game in her head to figure out just where it all went wrong.
"How about that?! I won against the Tianquan! Honestly, Ningguang—"
See?
Ningguang guessed that Beidou's hair was dark brown, but nothing could've prepared her for the color of her eye. A deep ruby that almost seemed like it was sparkling in Beidou's current glee, her gold earring jingling as she pumps her fist in the air. The red of her eye was tied in with the rest of her outfit— red eyepatch, red qipao dress with gold and black accents. Even the claymore leaning on the wall matched her outfit—
"—I really thought you made this game impossible to win against you—"
Scanning the rest of her office, Ningguang notes that everything was as she requested to a T, the cedar wood, and the vase from Beidou is an aquamarine color with an iridescent shine. The screens behind Ningguang's desk are painted with emerald and gold—
"Ningguang?"
Right.
"My felicitations," Ningguang stands from her chair, walking around the large table to stand in front of Beidou. "It seems it wasn't in the cards for me to gain yet another victory against you," she leans in, a smile on her lips as she whispers, "Beidou."
She watches as Beidou's eyes widen, pupils shrinking at the sudden change from black and white to an explosion of color; though, the only thing she sees at first is Ningguang. Her gazes flickers from Ningguang's eyes to her hair to her lips— that gets a laugh from the Tianquan— before Beidou closes the space between them, stopping just before their lips touch.
"Can I...?"
The realization of it all hits Ningguang like a wave yet again, and the pieces all start to click together. There was no need for her to continue amusing Beidou with games of Liyue Millennial, to speak of trivial matters, casual talk when what they were supposed to have should've been simply business. Something transactional— Mora passing from one hand, while information passes from another.
Yet, just as Ningguang had with the children at the harbor, she'd softened. While Beidou is one to disregard the rules, never would she stab the Tianquan behind the back, not when the people hold them both in high regards.
Still, Ningguang smirks, lifting her hand to cover Beidou's mouth with two fingers. "Careful, Captain Beidou. Don't let one small victory get to your head. Perhaps the next time you manage to win against me."
Ningguang is glad that she refrained from wearing her gloves, as she watches— feels— Beidou's tongue press and push her fingers apart, grinning like the cat that got the canary. Her face warms too quickly for Ningguang to suppress the embarrassment and compose herself.
"I'd count that," Beidou starts as she pulls away from Ningguang's hand, "as a victory."
When Keqing passes Ningguang's office silently and sees the Tianquan and the Captain of the Crux embracing each other tightly, she rolls her eyes before walking past.
"Finally."