Assorted Genshin-related things

Northern Lights - Beidou/Ningguang

Ningguang found herself at the coffee shop for the fifth time this week. That was... five more than usual. She never really liked coffee, but the store was right across her workplace and an easy source of caffeine on days where she couldn't keep her eyes open. Perhaps she needed to revise her sleep schedule.

Unfortunately, the Lantern Rite Festival was coming up and this year, things needed to be perfect. Or as close to perfection as possible. It was the celebration of a new year and Ningguang couldn't afford to slack off.

Another cup of coffee then. Bitter, watery, but it slapped sleep away for the rest of the day.

"Could I have a... an Americano?" Ningguang didn't know anything past her 'usual' order.

The barista only gave her a blank stare before passing the order to the back. A few minutes later, a hot cup of coffee was in her hand as she made her way to an unoccupied seat. The pungent smell of coffee made its way to her nose. She breathed it in, revitalizing herself, the ghost of a bitter aftertaste in her mouth.

You take some, you lose some. Ningguang couldn't risk disappointing the residents of Liyue just so she could catch up on her sleep. She could do that after the festival, there was simply no time right now.

"Hey! Can I sit here?"

As the Tianquan, all citizens of Liyue knew her. In every one of her little trips outside of the skyscraper where the Qixing worked and resided, there would be gazes of fear thrown her way. She was used to that. But this... this lady standing not more than a few feet from her emanated unparalleled confidence. Perhaps she didn't know Ningguang's position. And that piqued Ningguang enough for her to agree.

"Sure." Ningguang only began to register what she had agreed to a second later. She could only hope that this lady wouldn't talk to her and let her voice echo within Ningguang's empty, tired head. Hope, Ningguang repeated to herself, she could only hope.

Unfortunately for her, the lady snapped her fingers in front of Ningguang's face. "Do you want to talk about anything? You seem troubled."

Doesn't the lady know that it's rude to just... snap fingers in front of people's faces and ask about their personal lives? But of course, the more straightforward a person was, the more Ningguang liked them. This was more than what Ningguang agreed to when she said 'sure'. They were not on the same page and Ningguang hated nothing more than to be in the dark. She needed to know all the terms to make an informed decision.

"Have I forgotten to introduce myself? I'm Beidou." At least she, Beidou, hadn't forgotten to introduce herself. Ningguang may have very well called Beidou incriminating names in her own head.

Beidou... the Big Dipper constellation. Ningguang's mind drew up loads of assumptions about Beidou from just her name. Names were, after all, not without meaning.

"You seem to have a lot on your mind." At Beidou's terribly factual statement, Ningguang was hit with how tired she was yet again. "I can tell, my crew gives me the exact same face when they're tired and don't want to rest. What's bothering you?"

Did this Beidou deserve to know Ningguang's life story? After all, Beidou was just a random stranger who happened to share a seat with her. The mouth of this woman, asking sensitive questions that would get her a slap from someone else. But Ningguang was not someone else. She was a refined lady who could keep her emotions and actions in check.

But somehow, the truth slipped past her lips. "Everything." Gone was the confident, sure, Ningguang. Her words came out in a small whisper.

Ningguang wasn't sure what she expected but it definitely wasn't Beidou reaching over the table to clasp her hands. The transfer of heat wasn't something Ningguang had time to comprehend. It put her other senses to shame. All she felt were Beidou's hands and the warmth that enveloped her own.

"Hey. I.. may not know what job you do or how your situation with your family is but I know a few things from this little conversation right now. Don't let others' expectations, or even your own, weigh yourself down. You are good enough. You don't have to feel like you need to prove yourself to somebody."

"Thanks." Ningguang lifted her eyes from their entwined hands to Beidou's face. Keeping eye contact was integral to successful business dealings. They showed how one was trustworthy and sincere, a basic sign of respect. Holding eye contact had never been harder. Beidou's eyes, a deep ruby melting into gold, like the dawn of a new day. Under that gaze, Ningguang felt herself crumble, leaving only the most important parts.

Eyes were indeed the window to one's soul. The many times she looked into a stubborn salesperson's eyes would never prepare her for the intensity of this soul. Beautiful, thriving in this cold and cruel world. Burning with an unrivaled passion. It was rude to stare. Ningguang cast her eyes down in a futile attempt. Her nose, mouth, even the way she carried herself drew Ningguang in like a moth to flame. Oh, how Ningguang prayed that Beidou didn't see the flash of shameful desire in her eyes, hoping fervently that Beidou didn't know her position for it would be all the more embarrassing.

"Keep what I said in mind, kay? You never know, it might be useful one day."

Ningguang missed this feeling. This feeling of someone caring for her, someone she could go to whenever things didn't work out. So she held on to Beidou's advice, word for word.

Beidou stands up from her chair, cracking knuckles as she did so. "Until next time."

"If there even is a next time."

"We could make that next time happen, Miss Tianquan."

With a laugh, Beidou drained the last of her coffee like it was a jug of beer then walked away, leaving Ningguang to idle in her own thoughts. Her thoughts, which now consisted of the boisterous woman sitting across her just a few moments ago.

Ningguang's mouth was just the slightest bit ajar. What in the actual fuck... Beidou knew? This was terrible in more ways than one. Minutes ago, Ningguang fell hard, and fast, something that the citizens of Liyue did not need to know.

No matter, she would not let one free-spoken person ruin her mood, her reputation. After all, who would believe just one witness? Even if the rumours started, she could not deny it. Could not deny the fact that she appreciated such a straightforward person, someone she didn't need to dance around. Could not deny the fact that she admired Beidou's courage to go up to a total stranger and make conversation, give advice...

When was the last time she received such advice? This... this feeling, of someone caring for her. She told herself she didn't miss this feeling, but that was a total lie.

No matter, it was now time to go back to the office. In an effort to replicate what Beidou did with her cup, Ningguang downed the rest of her coffee in one go. Disgusting. Her nose wrinkled in revulsion.

Ningguang walked through the doors of Autumn's Breeze once more. This time, without the dread of the upcoming Lantern Rite hanging over her head.

"You are good enough. You don't have to feel like you need to prove yourself to somebody."