Chapter Text
The Tianquan sat casually at her make-up table, with her feet propped up and her face covered in cream while she nonchalantly filed her nails down.
The bathroom door opened, and a half-naked Crux Captain came walking out, running a brush through her dripping hair.
"You're dripping salt water all over my carpets, Bei."
"You have like two-hundred carpets. Besides," Beidou rubbed her foot across one of the drip marks to spread it evenly, "it's not even that bad."
Ningguang exhaled sharply through her nostrils.
"It's one thing to be ignorant of your mistakes, and another to be aware and refuse to correct them."
Beidou playfully threw her arms around Ningguang's shoulders and leaned into her ear to see both of their reflections in the mirror.
"Guess we'll both have to get used to that then."
She placed a kiss on the Tianquan's cheek, and immediately coiled back in regret.
"Ach- fuck, why'd I do that...?"
Ningguang chuckled as Beidou struggled to wipe off the facial cream from her lips and tongue.
"Anyways, did you manage to think about how we should go about our wedding during your shower?"
The Captain chuffed her lips and shrugged, dropping the towel down from her chest to start putting on her underwear.
"I mean, it's really your call more than mine. You know me, I'll roll with the punches either way."
She slid on a bra and panties, then threw a towel down on the pillows of their bed.
"But public or private, that's the big call we gotta make right now."
"So as of now you are undecided, correct?"
Beidou flopped back first onto the bed, and folded her hands behind her head.
"I waive my vote. You take the lead, Ning."
"I see... And what if I were to ask a past version of yourself?"
The Captain raised an eyebrow.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
The Tianquan set down her file, and lowered her feet to turn and face her fiancee.
"Ten years ago Beidou, before you had the Crux or the Alcor... If someone asked you how large you'd like your wedding to be, what would you say?"
"Hmm..."
Beidou did some mental backtracking, counting a few unknown variables with her fingers before making eye contact with Ningguang.
"Didn't have a lot of friends or family back then, so, small for sure."
Ningguang nodded with a satisfied smile.
"Private it is, then."
"Wh- wait wait wait."
Beidou sat up from the bed and rested her elbows against her knees.
"You're not seriously choosing that based on what I thought a decade ago."
"Why not?" Ningguang replied innocently. "When faced with indecision, sometimes it is best to refer to our past selves to see what anticipations we harbored in simpler times."
The Captain chuckled and rolled her eye.
"That's a lot of words to say 'let's keep our promises to our younger selves.'"
The Tianquan tapped her nail file against the edge of her rubbish bin and blew her fingers clean.
"So, are we agreed then?"
Beidou rolled her neck, popping a few joints in the process, and stood back up to walk over to her fiance.
"Guess so, 'Lady Tianquan.'"
This time she placed a more strategic kiss on the back of Ningguang's head, who affectionately grasped Beidou's wrists in response.
"I suppose that's the easiest part out of the way, then."
"Yeah, I'll get my sword sharpened so I can chop up any Kamera interlopers."
The Tianquan scoffed at the Captain's empty threat.
"I'm sure that won't be necessary."
"Hey, you never know. 'Sides, aren't you a little curious to see how far I can knock those tabloid-hooked heads?
The joke finally earned a slight laugh out of Ningguang.
"Maybe if we're unlucky enough, Bei."
"Ha! More likely than you think."
The Tianquan pulled a binding string free, releasing a freshly minted stack of letter paper.
"Five hundred letter cuts of Liyue's finest parchment," she announced to her jaw-dropped fiancee.
"Five hundred?!" Beidou complained, running a hand through her hair. "Didn't we agree on a private ceremony?"
"Indeed," the Tianquan replied calmly. "Which is why I purchased a bulk order to avert any suspicion from the merchants."
"...So, you aren't actually going to use all of that?"
"Eventually, I will. But for now, I doubt we'll need any more than one hundred. Even if you make any mistakes."
"Ha ha."
Ningguang grew a playful smile as Beidou wrapped her arm around her shoulder, placing a quick kiss on her cheek.
"Right then, invites and roles."
The Tianquan pulled a drawer from her desk and took out a notepad, an ink-and-quill, and her personal reading spectacles.
She took a seat at her desk chair, while Beidou sat herself sideways on the lounging chair in the room.
"Shall we begin with bridesmaids and groomsmen?"
"Sure," the Captain agreed as she tossed her hairpin in the air. "I'm thinking Kazuha or Xinyan for my best man."
The Tianquan finished writing the names down, pausing as she wrote the last 'A' in Kazuha's name.
"...Isn't Mr. Kaedahara the one who roams freely without any residence?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"How do you intend on sending him a letter?"
The hairpin fell into Beidou's palm, and she grew a slight smirk.
"Don't worry about it, I know how to reach him."
Ningguang doubtfully rolled her eyes, and continued to write in another name.
"How about your maid of honor?" the Captain asked.
"Lady Keqing."
"Ha. Good luck telling Baishi that."
"She'll be fine."
"Sure."
The Tianquan drew in a divider, and prepared to write the next section.
"And the rest of your groomsmen?"
"Hmm... Put down Xiangling. Wait, should Guoba count as one on his own?"
"I don't see why not, as long as he doesn't roam during the ceremony."
"I'll ask Xiangling to feed him beforehand then."
Ningguang scribbled in both their names, adding an asterisk by Guoba for his special accommodation.
"Right, then I'll put down Lumine and Paimon on my side."
Beidou caught her hairpin once more, her grip now tightening ever so slightly.
"...I thought I'd get to have them on my side."
A low chuckle emanated from Ningguang's chest.
"Well it wouldn't be fair if you had two traveling companions on your side, now would it?"
The Captain sat up in her chair, opting to twirl the hairpin around her fingers instead of tossing it.
"Yeah, but that would mean I'd need to find at least five more groomsmen instead of one, assuming you have Ganyu, Baishi, Baiwen, and Baixiao."
The Tianquan slowly sheathed her quill into the ink well.
"And if I recall correctly, you have an entire crew with which you work closely. Surely they would fill that gap?"
"I'm just saying we might end up with the stage being wider than the actual audience."
The two women narrowed their eyes at each other.
"...Settle it over chess?"
"I suppose there's no other way."
Ningguang's grip tightened around Beidou's wrist.
Their red eyes met with the same intensity they once shared before their first encounter with Beisht. The Captain recognized the Tianquan's desperation in the pressure between her gilded fingers.
"Please..." Ningguang uttered, "I need you to be close, this time."
Beidou looked down at the harbor, watching both the Millelith and the Crux Fleet scrambling to their battle stations. She saw the crew of the Alcor pulling tirelessly against the ropes of the sail, ready to fight off whatever threat was waiting for them across the sea.
Then, her eye returned to the reason she always came back to Liyue, and her heart settled the indecision in her mind.
"...Alright. I'll go with you."
Ningguang's eyes widened.
"...Really?"
The Captain turned her shoulders towards the Tianquan, and grasped her hand firmly between her palms.
"You've asked, haven't you?"
A heartfelt smile traversed between the two.
"I... suppose I was just expecting you to be... difficult."
Beidou chuckled to herself for a moment.
"Don't worry, there's plenty of time for that once we arrive."
She caressed the back of Ningguang's head, and pulled her forehead against her own.
"But I'll always go where you go, Ning."
The Tianquan closed the distance between their lips, granting a brief yet soft kiss to the Captain.
"Save that for your vows, Captain. We have a nation to save."
As hoards of Millelith soldiers and medics rushed around the destroyed Inazuma City, a pocket finally opened revealing the Captain and the Tianquan to each other.
They both released a relieved sigh and walked over to each other, taking note of every scratch and bruise they had endured.
"Told you I'd be fine," Beidou jested, pulling Ningguang in by her hips.
"You didn't have to jump off the Chamber though, Captain..." she replied, before licking her thumb to wipe a scratch on Beidou's forehead.
They shared a small laugh, before committing fully to a warm embrace. But joy was fleeting, as it shifted into relief, then sorrow.
Ningguang felt familiar tears beginning to soak into her shoulder.
"Shoulda been... faster..." Beidou muttered to herself, shaking her head guiltily.
"Shh..." Ningguang whispered softly. "We did everything we could, Baobei."
"I know..." The Captain sniffled. "But did we do good?"
The Tianquan glanced around at the ruins of Inazuma, taking in the hundreds of citizens thanking Teyvat's heroes for their bravery.
She watched as Keqing and Ganyu held both hands of a dirtied boy, walking up to a makeshift infirmary. From within, a wounded Tenryou samurai shot up to his feet and ran over to the boy, who quickly broke away from the Yuheng and the Qilin to run into the samurai's tearful embrace.
Keqing placed her hands on her hips, and turned her head back to Ningguang. She gave her a knowing nod, and the Tianquan nodded back.
Ningguang then pressed her lips against Beidou's neck, and stroked the back of her hair.
"We did good, Captain. We did good."
And then, a divine light from the darkened skies shined down over them all.
Once more, the Crux Fleet Captain watched as Liyue Harbor shrunk into the horizon.
She closed her eye, realizing that from here on out it would only get harder to leave each time.
But the refreshing mist of sea spray dusting across her cheeks steeled her resolve, and she nodded to herself before stepping down from the bow.
"Alright men, triple check those ties are secure on the cargo! Inazuma doesn't have a glassblower this time to fix any shattered panes!"
"Aye Captain!" the Alcor's crew saluted obediently.
With orders distributed, Beidou then retired to her personal quarters to look over the crew's schedule in the upcoming few days.
However, the glint of a golden-stamped letter caught the Captain's eye as soon as she sat down at her desk.
Okay Ning, what's the request this time?
Kicking her feet up on the desk, Beidou took out her knife and cut the letter open. After sheathing the blade, she grabbed her trusty flask and took a swig before beginning to read.
Dearest Captain,
While I continue my search for a proper location to place the Jade Chamber, I've decided to entrust you with drafting the seating arrangements for our friends.
Huixing has the charts.
Yours truly,
Lady Ningguang
So, that's what those extra scrolls were.
Beidou let out a hefty sigh, and downed the rest of her personal stash. It was going to be a long trip.
"One finds your proposal... serviceable."
A sigh of relief escaped from the Qilin's chest, while the Tianquan idly tapped away some ash from her pipe.
"However," the tall Adeptus standing before them continued, "one requests that the Jade Palace vacate the premises as soon as the ceremony concludes. One has observed your mortal, 'dinner parties,' to be quite abrasive in quiet atmospheres."
"This can be arranged, Cloud Retainer," Ningguang replied. "Though, I do still wish for the Minlin Mountains to be within tangible range and sight. How close would you permit the reception to take place?"
"The south border of Tianqiu Valley shall suffice. One wishes for ample time to sleep undisturbed."
Ningguang exhaled a breath of smoke by her side, then leaned in to rest her elbows over the table.
"If sleep is what you are concerned about, would coursing a slowed flightpath to set the Chamber within that range by sundown be acceptable?"
Cloud Retainer narrowed her eyes, a few feathers on her back puffing up a few degrees.
"Then one requires there to be no music played until the border is reached."
"Besides the ceremony, I presume."
"You presume correctly."
Ganyu awkwardly took another bite of Qingxin flowers, darting her eyes between her boss and her mentor.
"Would you make an exception for theatrical performances?" the Tianquan proposed, before taking another pull from her pipe.
"For those which can be performed with only percussive instruments and actors, yes."
Ningguang gave a nod to Ganyu, signaling her to write down the additional terms to the contract.
"Excellent, Ms. Shenhe will be pleased," the Tianquan commented.
"One's thoughts exactly," the Adeptus agreed.
After exchanging another look, somewhere between hostility and respect, the two turned their attention towards the Qilin.
"One is satisfied by the terms set by this contract."
"As am I."
Ganyu nodded, and printed out the final details before making two underlines for signatures.
"I'm glad you two could come to an agreement. Now, signatures please."
Beidou's muscles strained as she heaved the remnants of a Ruin Hunter out from the shoreline and onto the sand.
The metallic torso scraped up a wedge of wet sand, and she released the ropes to wipe off the sweat from her forehead.
"You're getting better at leaf-sending, Captain," a soft and familiar voice spoke from behind.
A smile grew on Beidou's face as she turned to greet the Kaedahara Kid.
"Eh, bet you still have a few pointers to give me. I don't even know how they sound to you yet."
The Drifter brought a familiar leaf up to his ear, and smiled before letting it blow away.
"Some words were lost to the Winds, but I know how to read between the lines."
The two finally approached each other, grasping each others' hands to pull in for a quick embrace.
"So, 'dja give my proposal any thought?" Beidou asked.
"Of course," Kazuha replied. "I'd be more than honored to be your best man for the wedding, Captain."
Beidou nodded, and patted Kazuha on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Kazuha. It means a lot to me, truly."
"Please, it's the least I can do to repay you for all that you've done for me."
"Oh, this isn't about payment, Kazuha. It's about family. And I'd like to consider you as part of mine."
The Drifter gripped the pendant on his shoulder and took a deep breath, before closing his eyes and exhaling.
"I'd like that too, Beidou."
A purple-gloved hand slid a packet of paper over the Tianquan's desk.
"I wasn't expecting a report from you today, Lady Keqing."
"Oh, it's not work-related, Lady Ningguang," the Yuheng quickly replied.
"It's my first draft, for my speech during the reception. I'd like for you to proof-read it for approval, if you have a spare moment."
Ningguang looked down at the script, then back at Keqing.
"I see. If that's the case..."
She gingerly placed two fingers on the script, and pushed it back towards the Electro-user.
"Have Lady Ganyu proof-read it. I'd like for your speech to be a surprise to me."
Keqing's eyes widened.
"A-are you sure? I don't want to catch you off-guard with any of the anecdotes I included-"
"I trust your judgement, Keqing. Otherwise, you wouldn't be my maid of honor."
The Yuheng gripped at her dress anxiously.
"I understand that, Lady Ningguang. But I'd still like some degree of input from you for the speech."
Ningguang sighed softly, then took off the gilded claws from her fingers before crossing her hands.
"Then allow me to make myself clear. I did not ask the Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing to be my maid of honor. I have asked you, Keqing, my close friend and confidant. As such, I wish for you to have full control over your own words for the recession. And I fully trust that I will enjoy every detail you have to share."
Keqing's eyes met with Ningguang's, and she gave a respectful nod.
"I understand now, Ningguang. Thank you, for bestowing your faith upon me."
Reluctantly, she picked up the script and stood up from the chair, giving a small bow before exiting the room.
Ningguang leaned back, satisfied with her choice.
Though, she couldn't help but wonder why she spotted the phrase 'topless behemoth,' tucked within one of the paragraphs on the first page.
The Captain rolled over onto a silk pillow, panting for breath along with the sweating Tianquan at her side.
"So..." she started after a few moments, "that's everything?"
"Hah... Just about, dear Captain," an exhausted Ningguang replied. "All we can do now is... wait for the replies."
"Damn..." Beidou sighed, taking Ningguang's hand in her own. "I hate waiting."
Ningguang rubbed her finger on the back of Beidou's palm.
"So do I."