Chapter Text
Today is a day unlike almost any other. It is 7:45am and Qingque is not only awake and dressed (gasp), but opening her door and on her way out of her apartment. She slowly drags her feet as she walks down the hallway and quietly scarfs down a cup of noodles for breakfast.
What could possibly be the reason? Last night she received a text message from none other than Diviner Fu. All it said was “Meet me outside the Exalting Sanctum Chancery tomorrow morning at 8.”
It's been 2 days since she left her house after their passionate night together. Well, 45 hours, 39 minutes (but who's counting?). Qingque has been trying so hard to restrain herself. She wants to see her, call her, text her pretty much constantly. But clearly Fu Xuan needs a little more space, and Qingque isn't going to screw this up by being overbearing and clingy! Nope, she's going to play it cool…
She tosses her cup into the bins at the apartment complex's doors and steps out into the cool morning air. After a deep breath she begins her stroll to Exalting Sanctum. It's early enough that things are quiet but not silent. Qingque sees shopkeepers flitting about their stores getting things ready to open, dedicated joggers taking their morning runs, and the remnants of third shifters finally making their way home. The Luofu is a different place this early.
As she approaches the Chancery, she sees a flash of pink in the distance. Her heart rate spikes as she confirms: Fu Xuan is already waiting for her. She takes a few deep breaths and plays out what to do in her mind. She absolutely wants to run up, throw her arms around her, and give her another round of passionate kisses. But would that be too much? Probably…Fu Xuan specifically said she doesn't want to have to fulfill a bunch of expectations. They're supposed to keep it casual.
Qingque is getting closer, but luckily Fu Xuan is engrossed in her phone and hasn't noticed yet. This will give Qingque the perfect opportunity to sidle up there and give a suave and cute pick up line! Ok, deep breaths, just get next to her and be all cool.
“Hey there, toitse.”
Fu Xuan looks up from her phone. Her eyebrow is arched in confusion. “Toitse…?”
“Yeah, it sounds classic and old school. You like it?” Qingque says with a wink.
Fu Xuan sighs, but does have a hint of a smile on her face. “Not particularly, no. There's a difference between vintage and archaic. That term was old fashioned even back when my parents were dating.”
“Alright, alright,” Qingque nods as she pulls out a notebook and crosses out an entry. “Toitse is out.”
“You brought a notebook!? How many names do you have written in there!?”
“Just a few…don't worry about that!” Qingque says slightly bashfully, not wanting to admit she spent hours coming up with them.
Fu Xuan shakes her head. “Why can't you just call me Fu Xuan?”
“Because every couple needs cute pet names for each other! It's important for showing affection and letting the world know you're together!” Qingque says with a smile.
Fu Xuan smiles and gently brings her hand to Qingque's cheek. “You. Are. Ridiculous. I don't need a name to show affection.” She gazes into those eager green puppy eyes. “But fine. If it'll make you happy, go ahead and read down your list.”
“No can do, Fu Xuan. A pet name has to feel natural! I'll just pepper them in now and then and we'll see what sticks. Just let me know when we find one you like!” After a short moment, she realizes the odd choice of a meeting place. “Wait, why did you ask to meet me here anyway?”
Fu Xuan turns to the building and beckons Qingque to follow. “If we're going to make this…’us’ work, we have some paperwork to file.”
Inside the Chancery is mostly quiet. It isn't open to the public yet, so besides themselves the only people there are orderlies trying to finish up the outstanding work from yesterday to prepare for another day ahead.
A foxian man in sunglasses (who wears those indoors!?) notices the pair and walks up. “Diviner Fu? What brings you by the Realm-Keeping Commission today. I wasn't aware of any divinations that were requested.”
“Songyan. I'm surprised to see you here working.”
He sighs and puts his hand behind his head. “Yeah, well, you know what they say: work is punishment for failing to procrastinate effectively.”
Qingque flashes him a thumbs up. Clearly this is a man after her own heart. Fu Xuan just sighs in frustration and continues. “Is Jingyan in yet?”
“Uh, I think so. She's probably back in her office, just down the hall there” he says as he gestures to the hallway.
“Thank you, we'll let you get back to work then” she says tersely as she begins heading down the hallway. Qingque follows along until they see the door labeled ‘Jingyan,’ which Fu Xuan knocks on.
“Come in” comes a sweet voice from behind it.
The two diviners enter and Qingque sees a cluttered and messy office with papers strewn about everywhere. Behind the simple wooden desk covered in dozens of portfolios and folders sits a pleasant-looking Vidyadhara woman who looks up from her work and says with surprise, “Oh, Lady Fu, what brings you by this morning? And who is your assistant?”
“Hi, I'm Qingque!”
Fu Xuan nervously clears her throat. “Uh, well, you see, I was needing some assistance…with filing a Bias Management Plan.”
Jingyan sets her pen down and looks at the two of them with laser focus. “Oh? Whatever for?”
Fu Xuan begins nervously sweating. “Uh, well, you see…Diviner Qingque is my subordinate. And she and I have recently entered a consensual personal relationship.”
“We kissed!” Qingque helpfully adds with a fist pump.
Fu Xuan looks like she might die from embarrassment, but manages not to run from the room.
Jingyan gives a warm smile. “Well, first of all, congratulations to you two. Second, there's no need to feel embarrassed. After all, if this weren't a thing that happened regularly, we wouldn't have procedures in place. I would be happy to help you create a Bias Management Plan.”
She turns to the filing cabinets behind her and looks for the correct forms, after which she helps the two of them fill them out properly.
Fu Xuan and Qingque walk out of the Chancery hand in hand. “Well, we did it” Qingque says as they start walking over to the Divination Commission.
“Indeed” Fu Xuan says with a pause. “Are you really sure you want to do this? I mean, with me?”
“Of course! Why wouldn't I?”
“It's just…you know how rumors spread through the commission. Aren't you worried people will say nasty things behind your back?”
Qingque waves her other hand dismissively. “Tch, I'm used to people talking smack behind my back. Grow up in my house and you'd have centuries of experience. Besides, I'm just a librarian; what are they gonna say, ‘Qingque slept her way to the bottom’?”
Fu Xuan suppresses a giggle. “If you say so, I just don't want to make your life any harder.”
“Ah, well, I was out and about before 8 in the morning, so that ship already has sailed” she says with a teasing grin. After relishing Fu Xuan's slight pout, she gently asks “What about you, are you sure you're ok with people finding out?”
“Why wouldn't I be?”
“I dunno, because you're the big shot Master Diviner and future General and come from a prominent family and everything. And I'm just…me. Aren't you worried people will talk?”
Fu Xuan interrupts her with a squeeze of her hand. “Let them talk. Am I supposed to feel bad for having earned the affections of a lovely woman such as yourself? The only thing ugly is their jealousy.”
Qingque smiles sheepishly. She's still not used to hearing people say positive things about herself. Especially not someone as special as Fu Xuan.
“Besides, I accepted that word was bound to get out the moment I asked you to meet with Jingyan” Fu Xuan says with a shrug. “She's an incorrigible gossip, and it's only a matter of time until word reaches the General. Once he finds out, it is inevitable the rest of the Charioteers and probably the entire Luofu will follow…”
Far away from the Diviners, a phone buzzes with an incoming message. The owner, still sleeping in bed, awakens and slowly rolls over to check. People know well enough not to text at this hour unless it's important, so he figures it must be worth his time to see.
He's surprised to see a message from Jingyan. He can't help but smile when he reads the contents.
Yan: I just had a fascinating meeting with Diviner Fu.
Yuan: Oh? Do tell.
Yan: She requested a bias management plan for her subordinate.
Yan: Which means you won the betting pool! You were only off by 23 days; quite the feat, General.
Yan: Should I bring the winnings to your office today?
Yuan: No need. Apply them to the entertainment budget for the next interoffice mixer.
Yan: Yes sir, thank you for your generosity.
Jing Yuan smiles and puts his phone back on the nightstand. He stands up and stretches before slowly walking over to his bookshelf and pulling out a small leather-bound black notebook labeled Meddling Journal. He flips several pages until he gets to page 7. He smiles and puts a large checkmark at the top before closing and replacing the book.
He goes about his day as normal, though with a noticeable extra pep in his step. After all, what feeling can there be more freeing than knowing that the agenda has been maintained?
The two diviners continue chatting, hand-in-hand until Fu Xuan suddenly freezes, leading Qingque to stumble as she is pulled to a sudden stop. She looks over and asks “Something up?”
“This brick marks the edge of the Divination Commission grounds” she says as she motions to one of the cobblestones directly in front of them. “I assume I don't need to explain what that means.”
Qingque sighs as she dejectedly releases the hand she was holding. “I know, no public displays of affection on campus during work hours…ugh, you're such a stickler.”
“A necessary sacrifice if I'm to keep seeing you. Now come here, I have one last thing before we cross the threshold” she says as she smiles and leans in closely for one last kiss.
Qingque clumsily kisses her back, feeling her face turning red as she's suddenly conscious of how many people are probably walking past her right now. Maybe there's something to that rule after all.
They break off the kiss after a few moments and Qingque smiles. “So, uh, see you for lunch?”
Fu Xuan pulls out her phone and switches it to her scheduler. “I have managed to secure you 28 minutes today” she says with a note of pride. “See you in the corridor at 12:31?”
Qingque clicks her lips and pops double finger guns. “You got it, babe!”
Fu Xuan rolls her eyes. “Not that one either. I get made fun of for my stature enough as it is, I hardly want a pet name equating me with an infant.”
Qingque simply sighs, pulls out her notebook, and crosses out several more names. This is going to be a tough one.