Work Text:
"I wonder if I can be a better actor than my father"
With that, Loulan opened the doors leading to the balcony. The perfect stage set for her final performance. The wind was roaring as she walked outside, until she was near the edge of the platform. This, she thought, this will do. Her clothes rustled around her, but she couldn't feel it. She couldn't feel much of anything really, not physical or emotional. Only acceptance. The stage was set, now it was time for the performer to shine.
Maomao, and heavens knows how dear she had been to Loulan, or Shisui. Maomao, once told her of a custom in the pleasure District, a custom that Shisui knew she wanted to perform. An act, a dance, for when a courtesan was bought out. The other courtesans would dance for her freedom. Loulan knew that this would be her last act. So, with the stage set, the audience ready, it was time. Closing her eyes, Loulan raised her hands, ready for the performance of a lifetime.
She danced.
Arms raised and back down, wrist twisting, skirts flowing behind her movements, Loulan could imagine herself as a beautiful moth, similar to the ones that glowed that she had shown Maomao. Free of any human politics, just her and her movements against the night sky. She felt unburdened, no longer forced to play her mothers games, or be her fathers pawn.
Spinning around, she felt herself start to laugh, an unusual thing for Loulan to do. Shisui laughed, but Loulan was unused to doing so. But here she was, spinning, dancing, with nothing but joy. She felt weightless.
In the background, Loulan could hear Suirei crying, a stab to her heart. She hoped Suirei would be alright on her own. Her older sister was always the smarter one of the two. She only hoped the crown prince would honour her request. She danced and pleading he did so. Please. Please spare my sister.
Footsteps. The other soldiers from the royal guard must have finally arrived. Good. They'll see her second request on the crown prince, and soon her dance will be over. Loulan knew this, but right then, it was her, her stage, and the night sky that she focused on. There was no use for worries now, everything was set.
Loulan hoped Maomao would look out for the children. She would miss them, did miss them now. They deserved to live a much better life than this one. She hoped that wherever they were now, that is was better than this. Hoped they would no longer be dragged into a treasonous clan. That they were free too.
Spinning around her eyes landed on the doorway. There, she could see the crown prince, standing and staring. Good, let her performance be memorised as her final act. Suirei was on the floor, tears flowing out of her eyes. Her older and beloved sister, her constant companion since she could remember. She hoped she would forgive her for not standing up to her mother for her. For how her mother treated Suirei for years. The guards were coming out now, but still she kept her gaze on her beloved sister, before spinning around again.
Loulan kept dancing, even as the first shot landed on her shoulder. A direct hit, yet, still she kept moving, kept dancing. Kept spinning and hoping Suirei would survive, would finally get to live, kept swishing her robes and moving her feet, feeling as though Shisui died with that first shot. Now there was only Loulan and she had never felt so beautiful, despite the years of dress up and makeup her mother put on her. Laughter kept coming from her, giggles as she danced under the Moonlight. Bliss, true bliss, Loulan had never felt so alive before. A dance, to celebrate a courtesans freedom.
Finally, she was free.
.
.
.
Bang.