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It had been three months since Ningguang had seen Beidou, who left her with a promise before she headed towards Inazuma.
Beidou grabbed her hand and softly kissed Ningguang's knuckles after a long day of work. Ningguang reciprocated the action and kissed Beidou's knuckles, her lips stayed longer on her ring finger.
They stayed inside Ningguang's office inside the Jade Chamber while the rest of Liyue fell asleep beneath them.
"I'll come back to you, time and time again. I'll take my leave now, Madame Tianquan. I'll see you in three months?"
"I want the reports on my table three months later, Captain. " Ningguang merely remarked. Beidou nodded and left the office but not before she looked behind her back and went back to Ningguang. Ningguang's head titled as Beidou came closer. Beidou stared for a few seconds before she leaned closer to her. Ningguang didn't hesitated—she never hesitated and pulled Beidou in for a kiss.
"You'll leave without a kiss?" She teased the blushing captain in front of her. She shook her head furiously,
" That's what I came back for."
Beidou kissed her again, "Don't miss me too much okay?" She said before she finally left the office.
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Three months passes by Ningguang quickly, who finds herself buried beneath the piles of papers on her table. The last thing I need are more reports and papers to sign. She thinks to herself, staring at the paper in front of her. Its already late into the night but she finds herself on her office as most of Liyue calls it a day and rests for the night. Ningguang sighs, signing the paper and proceeding to the next.
"Lady Ningguang, Captain Beidou would like to see you. " Her assistant, Ganyu mentions, entering the room.
Ningguang's attention shifts from the papers to Ganyu's announcement. Her eyes looks up, her facial muscles relaxes, and she feels the hint of red rush to her cheeks. Just as quickly as feels that, she suppresses those and hides it beneath her calm and dignified composure.
"Tell the captain to submit her reports immediately. " She merely says, and waves Ganyu off.
"Yes, Lady Tianquan." She bows and leaves Ningguang inside her office. Her red eyes wanders off from her office walls to the city of Liyue beneath her. The street lights guides the roads, establishments and homes close for the night as the people sleep; all the while she and the Qixing burned midnight oils for their beloved nation.
Her mind wanders off to the agreement Beidou and her agreed upon three months prior and to the band of metal place on her ring finger. Ningguang sighs contently before getting a basket nearby.
She had better things to attend to.
Satisfied with the work accomplished today, she tidies up her office and leaves the office behind her.
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Just as both women agreed upon three months prior (signed with a contract to Ningguang's insistence) , both arrive in Qingce Village before midnight, the glow of the moon shinning down in the small village. The townspeople's lights dim away as they continue to walk, their hands intertwine. Beidou's eye looks elsewhere, trying to search for something she knows Ningguang would like (other than Mora, of course.)
Glaze Lilies.
One of Liyue's endemic flowers created millennia ago by the Geo Archon, Rex Lapis to honor his companion, Guizhong. These beautiful flowers that once bloomed around Liyue were nearly driven into extinction and as such, only several places grew these flowers; one of them were Qingce Village. It's blue and white petals shine the best at night and closes up in the morning and to sing a song opens a flower up.
Beautiful. Rare. Worthwhile.
A shinning gem beneath the rubble of stone.
All those words describe Ningguang and her identity.
A closed bud catches Ningguang's attention, she kneels close to the bud, her high heels glued on the ground. Her eyes observe the flower closely, it's blue bud shut and awaits for a song to open it up. Ningguang clears her throat and opens her mouth and sang a song Beidou never hears before. Beidou looks at her intently, her expressions soften as Ningguang sings on.
The flower responds to her song and reveals its blue and white petals that satisfied Ningguang's reaction. The flower blooms to its maximum and that satisfied her more. She smiles as she picks up the flower and places it inside her basket.
"Seriously? " Beidou grumbles in annoyance, as she looks around for more. "You had to call me over for flower picking?"
"Isn't that what we agreed upon, Captain?" Ningguang retorts, picking another flower. "We signed a contract together, do you not like my company anymore or is the contract not to your satisfactions?"
Beidou pauses to think of an answer or a rebuttal. She didn't hate their agreement completely, it is just that Beidou didn't expect Ningguang to agreed upon her idea that she decided upon a decision she made hastily. Curse her and her idea she made while drunk. Beidou thought to herself.
Afterall, Ningguang is an intelligent business woman, she knows what is best for each other in the contract. It was a win-win situation for both of them; for just a small moment in their days, they can leave their duties behind them and spend time together after months of not being able to.
"No, no, Ningning. The contract between us is good. I wasn't just—" Beidou answers quickly then got cut by Ningguang,
"Expecting me to actually do this with you? " She asks.
Beidou nods and walks closer to her, their faces inches away from each other. She twirls a strand of her hair and pulls her close, "You know how to steal my thoughts and read my mind, my star. "
Ningguang laughs softly before looking at her, "Of course, Beidou. I am your wife, "She says, pulling her for a kiss. "Let's continue?"
Beidou nods her head as they continue to search for Glaze Lilies. "You could've sent someone for this , you know?" Beidou suggests and picks another flower to hand over to Ningguang.
"Anything you're objecting on, Beidou?" Ningguang asks, raising an eyebrow at her, getting the flower Beidou picked before placing it inside her basket.
"Nothing in particular. "
"I would've thought so. "
They continued through the night, Ningguang's soft singing fills the fields, the flowers who hears it, showing their blooms. Beidou doesn't mind listening to her soft voice.
She could listen to her forever and never complain.
Okay, she might complain but that isn't the main point.
A few more hours pass by, their basket nearly filled with flowers. Satisfied with their basket, they sit on a bench, looking up at the night sky and see seas of stars , the moon and it's glow, and Ningguang's Jade chamber, her life's greatest achievement and sign of wealth and power, and how far she'd come over the years.
"The moon looks beautiful tonight. " Beidou comments as she looks up to the sky.
Spending her days at sea, she memorizes the stars and planets, the constellations , and their placements. Besides physical maps, the stars provide help with navigation. The skies provide a glimpse of what the weather will be for the day. Memorizing those things are an important part of the life she lives.
Even with all the stars in the night sky, she knows that one thing: she'd always find her way back to Ningguang.
Her star. Her moon. The greatest treasure she has in this lifetime, her wife.
That simple thought always kept her grounded at sea.
"Indeed so, Captain. Quite the sight to see indeed. " Ningguang agrees, looking up at the sky. Beidou continues to point at different constellations at the sky, her mouth rambles on as she talks about what they are and how they're used to navigate the seas.
"And there's that constellation! It looks like a—" Beidou rambles on, pointing to one of the constellations she knows before Ningguang pulls her close, kissing her.
"You're lovely when you ramble about the things you love. Cute, even. " Ningguang muses.
Beidou blushes as she pulls her close to her, "My, my, my Tianquan. Pulling that move on me, huh? I have to say that wasn't bad. "
"I'm glad to hear that. "
They hold each other in their embrace. When was the last time they held each other like this? Three months ago? A year ago? Years ago? They stopped keeping count now, it didn't matter to both of them anymore. As long as they're with each other. That's all what matters for them.
They continue to stay in each other's presence as the night goes on, slowly turning into an early morning. They share a kiss or two between each other.
"Ningguang?" Beidou calls out to her wife beside her. Ningguang looks up to her,
"What is it, my dear?" She asked.
Beidou picks up a Glaze Lily from the basket and places it on her hair.Beidou smiles, "Nothing, my moon. Just looking at the most beautiful woman here. "
"Oh? Are you talking to yourself?"
"It's you."
Ningguang laughs, "The Captain Beidou herself? Complementing me?"
"Do you want me to take that back? " Beidou asks.
More laughter from Ningguang, "Do you want to try?"
They laugh and kiss each again before Beidou continues on rambling and Ningguang listens to her talk for hours.
"And how was your trip to Inazuma? " Ningguang asks, moving away a loose strand of hair from Beidou's face. Beidou starts to discuss that matter, the reason why she went there in the first place. She tells her all about it: the highs and lows of the expedition, how things went the moment they left and arrived, and several anecdotes.
"I'll submit the report to your table as soon as possible." She ends the talk, affirming Ningguang of her obligations.
"You should, it is important for the next steps. " She remarks.
Ningguang and Beidou continue to talk as the stars in the sky slowly leave and dawn's tips emerge from the sky. From skies to business to intimate moments between them, the open air of Liyue listen to their conversation.
This is their peace. A comfort they keep inside their hearts, hiding it from the cruel, harsh, and cold world, only letting the other see for what it truly is. It is only for the other person to know that they are their peace—their sanctuary.
"I'll take you home." Beidou says as she gets up, carrying Ningguang bridal style in her arms, making her scream.
"Put me down!" Ningguang demands as she looks up to her. The basket of flowers placed on her chest.
Beidou laughs and continues to walk, "Stop screaming, bǎobèi. The first people will be hearing is your screams, that's a terrible way to start a morning. "
She pouted and looked away from Beidou, grumbling under her breath. Beidou grabs her by the chin, making Ningguang look at her directly, "Don't worry, Ningguang. I'll make sure I'll bring you home safely. " Beidou softly affirms placing a small kiss on her forehead.
"Fine." Ningguang grumbles, looking up at the dawn's apperance. Pinks, Oranges, and other colors fly through the sky, brining forth a new day as the sun slowly rises form the horizon. She could see her life's work, the Jade Chamber glowing from the sky.
"I love you, northern star. " Ningguang mutters, only low enough for Beidou and her to hear.
"I love you too, my star. " She whispered back to her, making their way back to the Jade Chamber.