Violetgrass

Down the Harbor

It was the middle of the night when Chaoxing woke up again. Sitting up, she looked around the room, where shelves lined the walls, and beds lined the room. A small table stood at the head of the bed. Chaoxing sighed. She started thinking about what Baizhu had done for her, all without expecting anything in return. She might've felt better if she'd stumbled into debt because of this. It made her feel horrible, the fact that he was wasting his time on someone like her.

Mind spiraling, the usual thoughts that slumbered as she did woke up as well. She wished she'd slept a little longer.

A knife lay on the table nearby. Something about it called to her, and she listened, getting off the bed. She picked up the knife, bringing it to her already-marked wrist.

Someone grabbed her hand, wrestling her for the knife.

"Put that down," hissed Baizhu, struggling to keep his voice down.

"Let me go!" said Chaoxing, not bothering to do the same.

"Someone will get hurt if this goes on," said Changsheng, sounding vaguely exasperated. Distantly, Chaoxing knew she was right. Baizhu was likely to get hurt if they kept fighting like this.

Horrified, she let go of the knife and stepped back. Baizhu kept the knife aside.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," muttered Chaoxing, a hand over her mouth.

Baizhu stepped forward, holding onto her arm. "It's alright."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

Chaoxing started sobbing, and all he did was hold onto her shoulders, waiting for her to calm down. He led her back to the bed, and Chaoxing lay down. Baizhu sat there until her shoulders stopped racking with sobs—until her breathing steadied.

"She's getting worse," hissed Changsheng, a hint of sadness in her voice. "Do you really think you can save her?"

"I can very well try," said Baizhu, crossing his legs. He placed a hand on Chaoxing's hair, pulling a few strands away from her face. "Lying on this bed all day definitely isn't helping."

"Do you think she'll go for a walk if you tell her to?"

"Letting her go on a walk in this state would be the same as sentencing her to death."

"Hu Tao would be happy."

Chaoxing could hear Changsheng moving, and then that was confirmed when she coiled herself next to Chaoxing at the head of the bed.

"No matter how insufferable Director Hu is, she would never be happy about revenue from a suicide," said Baizhu softly.

Chaoxing drifted off as she listened to them speak, clutching the bedsheet in her hand.

When she woke up the next morning, she decided she desperately needed a shower. It might make things better. Qiqi handed her a change of clothes, and Chaoxing washed up, feeling slightly better when she stepped out. Hearing people talking in the reception, she headed out to take a look. Baizhu was talking with someone who looked familiar to her. He had fox ears, and a fluffy tail, and was dressed in mostly green. A bow and a set of arrows hung on his back.

Lumine and Paimon stood to the side and watched in confusion. Baizhu and the fox were geeking out over medicine.

"Who is he?" Chaoxing whispered to Lumine.

"Tighnari," she whispered back. "Forest watcher in Sumeru. Baizhu said he wanted to meet him, but I did not expect them to talk about Violetgrass and Calla Lilies for 2 hours."

"Well..." said Chaoxing, seeing how animated the two of them looked, "Whatever makes them happy."

Baizhu, catching sight of her, nodded. "How are you feeling?"