ɢᴇɴsʜɪɴ ❇ 璃月之傲 & 龙翔凤舞 || 𝔏𝔦𝔶𝔲𝔢'𝔰 𝔭𝔬𝔴𝔢𝔯 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔭𝔩𝔢 || ƒᴇʀᴀʟ x ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏsᴏғᴛ

ƒeral · Apr 22, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

The elephant never forgets alright, but the only elephant in the room, well, the trunk of one at least, had to bide its time. Jailed for being too rambunctious, weeping for an audience of none, spinning a sob story about how it got bullied. Beidou had no such grievances though. Definitely not something she would have said on any other nights, especially not when her excitement was such that humping the sheets was starting to seem more and more like a good idea. Like seriously, she could not remember another time when she had been so patient in bed, so fixated on her lover’s satisfaction over her own. She was never a selfish lover, but like any good outlaw, she ensured that there was always something in it for her. But when Ningguang’s voice rose, when she reminded Beidou why the idiom had the phoenix singing to the dragon’s roar, Beidou found that she loved those melodic trills and warbles so much that she was willing to forgo the duet - for now.

Unwinding her arms, she made quick work of the clasps at the front of her shirt, casting to the wayside the flimsy linen already hopelessly disturbed from Ningguang’s earlier explorations. Because she was definitely overheating, because Ningguang was definitely too hot. The lesson here being - only breathable silks like that very appealing diaphanous negligee hugging flushed nephrite jade from now on. Definitely wasn’t going to admit that out loud though - having seen what Ningguang’s personal tailor made for Keqing during the Lantern Rites, she shuddered at the thought of what elaborate monstrosities might be suggested to her.

Not a thought she lingered on; there were far more pressing matters deserving of her attention. Specifically, those boastful words from the woman she had spread upon her bed, thoroughly marked up, and in the process of flouncing, albeit of a gentler variety than Beidou was accustomed to. Those haughty proclamations did not fit the prompt at all, but Beidou also couldn’t profess surprise. That her lips had curled without any conscious input on her part spoke to exactly how she felt about Ningguang’s insistence upon defying her expectations. Such bravado - hey, wasn’t that the thing Ningguang always accused Beidou of?

She paused in her antics long enough to ensure that Ningguang had sufficient presence of mind to measure the promise behind every word. “Just the same, huh?” A chuckle, darkly amused and very much enjoying the banter as Ningguang had suspected. “So your final answer is - you deserve to be drank dry, utterly consumed, and made to squirm?” Met that glassy stare with a far more calculated one of her own, with delight that complemented the predatory intent igniting her gaze. Why, Ningguang must know by now how Beidou responded to challenges, which in turn must mean she ached for the consequences.

“That’s quite the tone to take with your Captain, sailor, I hope you are ready for a proper dressing down then.”

A verbal lashing, however ferocious, wasn’t the only thing she gave Ningguang. No, unraveling Ningguang for the first time was easy; teasing, after all, cut both ways. She kept one hand on the base of thigh, applying a steady enough grip to ensure those coiling legs didn’t squeeze herself too tightly (because unlike the other head, the current one being threatened didn’t care to be choked). And with the other, she smoothed along the flat of stomach, offering gentle attention that could only be described as adoring. Down, framing the entire rosebud with her fingers, applying pressure upwards to further coax that sensitive point out to play. Deprived of any semblance of shelter, it stood no chance beneath a dressing down by the Captain. She was never rough, very much aware just how delicate that particular pearl was, but deliberate. Insistent. Her tongue, smooth and with enough texture to titillate, offered all the feverish and wet attention that little bud could hope for. Maintained a steady pattern of purposeful, coaxing licks - up, down, a circle now - before carefully pursuing her lips and sucking —

Beidou huffed a laugh at how little it took before swiftly moving her way down to drink deep in the nectar she was promised.

Soothing touches trailed the length of those trembling thighs, rubbing circles before peeling them apart. She ascended the length of Ningguang’s frame, smirking.

“Divine tastes amazing, and you know how I love to share my drinks.” Didn’t allow for a response before she pinned Ningguang down with her bodyweight, offering a taste of the same upon her own lips. A slow, languid kiss, but deep, intimate. Carded her fingers through those moonkissed strands closest to the sweat-slickened temple, while the other hand offered reassurance all along hips and waist. A sentimental, raw moment that she obviously had to interrupt with something salacious as soon as that kiss broke.

“Warm-up’s over, gorgeous. As we would say on the high seas, stow the sails, batten down the hatches, hang on like your life depends on it.” Miss out on the storm? Heresy. Ningguang wanted to squirm? Done. But not over. Those long, well-weathered fingers that have already made hundreds squirm before her spread the well-lubricated lips and speared right on inside. Thrusting, twisting, curling. Kept pressure over that pretty little pearl as well with her palm, because as her cabin hinted at, Beidou treated all her treasures well. She was mindful of any lingering sensitivity - but only so much. On purpose, of course. She was definitely going to threaten her dearest star with the precipice of overstimulation, while being ever cognizant of that fine line. Definitely going to take her to and over the peak of ecstasy, again, again, and again. The night was young, and the Big Dipper always shined so brightly on clear-skied nights like this. A brilliance that verged on oppressive, some might say.

Ningguang wanted the notorious pirate lord all to herself? Very well. Lesson one, latch on and don’t fall overboard during hurricanes.

prettysoft · Apr 23, 2022

“You are killing me, Captain.” Ningguang huffed, palming shoulders, grasping, and mewling as her thighs dangled over Beidou’s arms. She streaked Beidou’s toughened skin red with her nails- here, there, and everywhere. White incandescence engulfed her body, and Ningguang arched into the gesturing silhouette, riding the high seas at the captain’s guidance. Whistle tones as the finale crescendoed and resonated in the captain’s quarters, Ningguang singing Beidou’s praises, mumbling eloquently to the captain that she was superior to all lovers before. Soft lips brushing on her temple grounded Ningguang, short lived stability, as Beidou harked for her to batten down.

A joyous acapella belted out between emphatic moans poured from Ningguang’s quaking diaphragm. Every curved thrust spearing into that decadently drenched peach scandalized her, but lowering her volume was no longer an option(not that she wouldn’t try). Access to Beidou’s neck opened up, smothering those whimpers Beidou insisted upon pulling from her every other second. A glistening string connected to reddened skin dripped from equally flush lips, sucked harder on second contact. Her glorious flower succumbed to plunging thrusts, but her divine pussy did tourniquet sinful digits.

An alluring song persisted throughout the Alcor’s walls, disrupting slumbering bodies keen on music, disrupting an age old beast from its slumber. Osial. The beast speared to the ocean floor by the ancient lance cast out by Morax two thousand years ago. Watery tentacles pinned to the sand, feelers fidgeting; rippling and glowing blue tendrils, just visible through the dark waters. The archon battle left a residual puissance in the Guyun stone forest, such that tales were weaved through Liyue about the war.Vivid dreams and life-like hallucinations plagued many fishermen who slept over the battle ground, but those thoughts were furthest from her mind.

Glossed eyelids fluttered over starry eyes, and adoring kisses lined her jaw. Lingering shampoo fragrance reactivated by their strenuous dance, pleasantly inhaling the signature scent as she curled onto her side. Ningguang drifted into the mattress, noted the weight sinking beside her, but the figure moved around.

Perhaps, it was Ningguang who moved on; snoring lightly in the physical world, standing in clear water in the blink of an eye, Beidou’s arms encompassing her body. White sand beaches. Check. Beidou’s muffled speech in her ear, dull and unintelligible. She was responding to her question from earlier. The captain’s grip tightened, and previously adored lips -certainly not the pair that brought her to climax several times- chanted off the notches in her belt. Starting at Haiyue, ending at…Baiwen!? Ningguang assuredly groaned her agitation in real life, reaching for something to squish in her hands. Screaming bloody murder at Beidou, for betraying her after all this time, though in the real world she could only mutter through pursed lips.

“Baiwen? How could you?!” Hysterics, Ningguang thrashing around in the sturdily built arms. In her struggle to get away, the duo made a splash, but a lone Ningguang descended into the ocean. A stabbing ache in her left breast as Ningguang motioned to dive, squinting in the water angrily. Zhong Lli materialized in front of her wavering silhouette, and Ningguang was all too aware of her naked state. Did it really matter? Ningguang had yet to distinguish whether the Rex Lapis from her dreams was the same one she worshipped, and regularly lost her patience with him - it. He was a sort of demon, in a way.

“Rex Lapis? Why are you in my dreams?” Again. Ningguang hovered inches above Zhong li, moonlight strands dancing wildly about, bioluminescent creatures sifting through the current, and sun rays refracting around them in a shimmering bath.

“I hate to tell you this, but your screaming tonight awakened the god Osial. The frequency and shrillness weakened the one thing holding it in place.” Zhong Li offered commendation, clapping gloved hands silently, and transported Ningguang to the beaches overlooking the ocean. “Unfortunately, all of the Crux heard you, as well. I fear they are used to it. This is a regular occurrence for Beidou, after all." Smug, the man turned his back, leaving his overcoat to flap annoyingly. "The Jade Chamber, too.”

Ningguang simmered and boiled the air around, vexation in her tone. “They did?” Believing it, the Tianquan's worst nightmare had come true, not that it was a surprise. She hoped that her moans were a more subdued variety. “It is?!” What was that about Osial? She fought under the sheets, lamented it, as the sun rose high in the sky, Ningguang groaned into the pillow.

“Curse you, Rex Lapis…”

ƒeral · Apr 24, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

It turned out that walks to the pavilion and the harbor did actually count as exercise, because slaying Ningguang took more out of her than expected. Which was honestly just amazing, because while it wouldn’t have been a deal-breaker per se, Ningguang not being able to keep up with Beidou in bed would have been very unfortunate. But hey, since her newest - and shiniest by far - treasure proved more malleable than fragile, that absolutely meant Beidou indulged until well into the night. Appraising. Polishing. Toying with her prize upon her digits over and over and over… Didn’t get a chance to see if it would break or not though, since no greatsword ever got involved.

All of that said and done, she was too tired and too - happy? Is that a thing? - to actually chase her own pleasures. For what felt like almost the first time in her life, Beidou was actually content to just drift off to sleep with her prized possession locked tight between her arms. Shuffled close, nose buried against nape, inhaling that delightful concoction of sweat and shampoo and the lingering scents of sex. There were truly no sweeter lullabies.

She slept deep. Deeper than usual. Dreaming of the sea and sunshine and nothing in particular.

However, morning was inevitable, and morning brought with it a whole different set of issues. Rather, highlighted the same set of unresolved issues.

Soft. That was her first thought. Soft and warm and smelled good. Still very much sleep-addled and not really entertaining any higher level thought yet, she followed instincts’ call. Burrowed closer. Flexed her arms. Nuzzled into hair and mumbling something that sounded vaguely like “imsleepy” and “‘alillonger.” Unfortunately, a lazy morning was not in the cards today. Because unlike her, a particular part of her was absolutely wide awake. That in and of itself was nothing unusual; Beidou was practically the living embodiment of fighting fit. Morning wood was just a sign of health, after all. The issue was rather just how hard she was. Definitely not a semi, not even close - a literal truncheon of pent-up want menaced that plush rear. Locked and loaded, threatening to eclipse her Vision in destructive properties, pushing between those toned thighs she adored and - had her shorts slipped lower in her sleep? Still in the process of waking, Beidou half-shoved, half-rolled Ningguang facedown upon her front, pinned her down, thrusted between her thighs and growled —

Shit. That woke her up.

Singeing exhales - fast, very fast - panted onto neck and shoulder, that now uncertain length throbbed hard with much more certain intent, keenly aware of its proximity to what it wanted. What Beidou wanted. All around her was Ningguang’s scent, that distinct musk of sex that yet lingered. Soft. Warm. Everything and anything tested her control and she felt like a fishing line drawn too taut, a jagged hook snagging onto something too wild, too big to fish up, on the verge of snapping.

Shit shit shit shit shit.

“Um, g'morning. I’ll be back.”

Eloquence? What was eloquence. Beidou practically threw herself off of the bed, readjusting her shorts and pulling on a shirt that might have or might not have been the same one from yesterday over her head. Door. Not the door. Her veins felt like they were on fire. Tension coiled in her stomach, seeped into every inch of tightly constricted muscles, threatening to boil - ah, fuck it.

And so...

Ningguang, alongside the more industrious members of her crew, had the pleasure of witnessing their Captain plummeting from a portside window, cannonballing into the sun-warmed sea. Beidou was not in the habit of a morning swim by any means, but she would play it off as such. After acquiring some pants. And a bath. And mumbling about the red marks on her throat, because it appeared she wasn't the only one who favored leaving marks.

There were other planned items on the agenda as well. Ironically enough, ocean delving being amongst that list. But hey, Beidou was a go-getter. She just started early, that was all.

prettysoft · Apr 25, 2022

“Curse?” Zhong Li lilted, as if to authorize the Tianquan to do the very thing she threatened him with. “You’re offended by my presence, but I have not said anything untrue.” He said in earnest, opened his palm, not for Ningguang to take, but to accept his message. Would it help to emphasize again, that he spoke only the truth(mostly)? “I may have exaggerated, but this is your dream, and I am influenced by your emotions - insecurities.”

Ningguang scowled at the enigma, noting sincerity in amber eyes, but crossing her arms to challenge him. The blunt edge to her voice subsided, shoulders lowered from their tense state. “To be clear, this is a nightmare. Beidou and Baiwen at the Jade Chamber?” The Tianquan curled over to laugh, forgetting the phantom Beidou’s words. Poised majestically, Ningguang brushed her knuckle over her tearful eye. “Baiwen would never…” She humored the idea; punted it away.

“Is love all you care for? Who Beidou fancies?” Zhong Li prodded, mildly concerned with the prestigious business woman’s newest development. “I am shocked.” Walking on the air, leather clad hands motioned at the ethereal blue waves, where the slumbering giant waked. “By your own words, Captain Beidou is your arch nemesis.” As if to remind her of previous conversations in her dreamscape, Zhong Li directly quoted her; stored a plethora of mild insults Ningguang hurled at the adonis in her absence. “A menace to Liyuan society and culture?” Did he care that Ningguang was in love? Yes, if the uncrowned ocean king proved to be a distraction to the Tianquan.

“No comment?” Ningguang deposited her naked rear on an invisible chair aloft the high seas, feeling reflective over those not-so distant times. The earlier remark about Osial popped out at her, and she grinned, rolled her eyes at the god.“So, you mean to inform me that my high pitched screams aided in freeing Osial?” She mused, noticeably doubtful to the point that she chuckled in Zhong Li’s face. “Why now?” The news Zhong Li brought on his coattails failed to impress, and Ningguang bounced her foot, pouted her annoyance. "Why me?" Dream Ningguang was an entirely different beast, and her emotions went unchecked in this world.

“Dreams are a mystery to mortals, and events here may not always align, but make no mistake I speak the truth.” Zhong Li kicked his foot back, reclined so that his elbow leaned on an unseen wall, supporting his weight effortlessly. “Two-thousand years ago to the day, I imprisoned the sovereign deity known as Osial. I’ve theorized my presence in your dreams invokes Osial’s vengeance. We have unfinished business, you see.”

Gargatuan blue tentacles ruptured the tides, thrust through the air and wrapped all over Ningguang’s body, molesting her canvas - exposing the coveted pearl. Ningguang choked, or yelped, before being encased in water. Morax!? She telepathically called, upon noting that the (likely)figment of her imagination left without a good-bye. Rotated onto her frontside by the probing tentacle, thighs parted with little resistance, and Ningguang moaned freely. It was her dream, after all. Nodding in acceptance, an eye squinted, beckoning hip movements enticing it closer. Oh. Yes. Please.

Huffing, she spread her arms out on linen, and pleasant scents wafted up from the bed her face was lightly smushed into. Beidou was sleeping beside her… No. Rigid warmth investigated her soft thighs, and Ningguang eased up, inconspicuously lifted her hip bones from the mattress. The oversized head knocked at her plump cheeks, tapping it, close enough to her bud that her little flower begged for it. Ningguang, not as sleep-addled as Beidou, drank up the sighs, filled those spaces with trembling exhales and somnolent moans of her own. As she prepared to turn over, the black tresses trailed off her body, and the hot pipe veered off course with her. Ningguang rolled onto her side, glimpsing the pale woman diving through the port window.

“What the...” Ningguang’s jaw dropped, a fragmented smile on her lips as she half-listened for the splash. “Thanks, I guess?” She tousled the sheets in her hands, buried her head in her thighs and groaned for like, the fifth time this morning. The peculiar dream was nothing more than an amalgamation created by her conscience, right? Right. Ningguang imagined going to check on Beidou, but would rather take the time to freshen up. Bath? Check. However likely that Beidou planned to take her swimming again - a new day, a new outfit. It didn't take much on her part to turn Beidou's head, yet, she chased the reaction just the same.

The bright marks Beidou sucked onto silken skin glared at her from the compact mirror’s reflection. Smoothing newly glossed lips together, Ningguang scanned her physique at all angles - fingerprints on her thighs, hickeys all over her collarbone.The glaring bruises were sure to draw attention to their activities, though she prayed to Morax that Beidou's crew didn't hear her chorus, or she might just bury her head in the sand, like a less elegant bird. With the threat that Osial posed to Liyue - to Tevyat, there was no way her meager moans caused a stir in the ancient seabed. Right?

Bygones, for now. A refreshed Ningguang circled the captain’s quarters, floor boards creaking under the weight of wedged heels. Sparkly pink nails tightened a frosty, white bandeau over buxom mounds. Metallic black bikini shorts juxtaposed the white, yet complemented it the same as it was cut from the same high-quality organza. Red hair pin fastened, Vision crested in a black choker around her neck, Ningguang wandered briskly up to the deck(inner thigh aches be damned). Greeted by friendly faces, Ningguang smiled sheepishly in return. Tracing the gold diamond with her index and thumb, Ningguang noted Furong and Yinxiang bumping a colorful beach ball. Cute... A kang table with food called to her name, and Ningguang indulged right away in the left over grillers.

Sneaking away before I open my eyes? Not very, gentlewomanly of you, my dearest captain.

Hey, Ningguang?! Wanna play?

Furong called as Ningguang brought the last shrimp to her lips, pausing, and smiling at the girls. Yelling wasn't her style, so she approached the pair calmly, hands resting on her hips and swaying to the breeze tickling the palm trees, blowing her tresses all over. Ningguang wore her amusement plain as day, smirking. "You sure about that? I don't play nice."

ƒeral · Apr 26, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

For the record, Beidou enjoyed her morning swim.

Kind of.

It helped cool her down at least. Because also for the record, Ningguang was the definition of unfair.

“It feels a little soon.” The woman had said, flushed and sprawled out on her bed. And so Beidou had heeded those words, dogeared that warning and bid herself to exercise patience before revisiting that page. Because she wanted to be considerate. Because she wanted to demonstrate the depth of her devotion. Because she was discovering every single day that Ningguang meant more to her than just a romp atop the sheets.

And then. And then, the same infuriating woman was now acting like she had never expressed those concerns at all. Beidou replayed this morning, this morning and last night, in her mind over and over again - whatever happened to Ningguang’s trepidation? At every turn, Ningguang had been nothing but inviting, coaxing even, wearing down Beidou’s resolve until it was paper thin. And not just any paper, but those translucent sheets used with lattice frames in doors and windows, the porous kind that allowed air to diffuse through. Completely and utterly flimsy.

Beidou vowed to herself that she would wait as long as Ningguang wanted - an absolute gentlewoman despite those unvoiced accusations. But damn, she was beginning to suspect that Ningguang enjoyed torturing her. Was this some kind of revenge for all those fines she didn’t pay? ~~Was this karma for how many rabbits she had slayed?~~

Either way, she had learned her lesson. Day two of their beach vacation found Captain Beidou dressing down, way, way down. Even at a glance, it was obvious that she actually intended on swimming today, because she had done away with that strappy fare and replaced it with a much more practical swimsuit. Red, black, and white, like practically everything she owned, all clean lines and simplistic designs. Compression shorts hugged her rear and the top half of her thighs, skintight and sleek, clearly intended to reduce water drag. Served another practical purpose as well - Beidou wasn’t in the business of flashing her shipmates. Really not about that. And after yesterday and this morning, she had given up on that particular appendage not plotting mutiny at some point.

Her Vision she wore as an armband on her leg arm, snug and secured around her bicep. Like that eyepatch, it practically never left her side. Hair worn down, for now, in its typical fashion, but with some extra ribbons looped around a wrist to pull it back later. On today’s program, treasure diving! Which really was just another way of saying she intended to grope around blindly in some yet unexplored underwater ruins, likely encountering some crustaceans and a whole lot of nothing. But there was a bit of a reef to the west of this stretch of beach, the pretty kind, the kind she thought Ningguang might enjoy. Sailing, sheet-rolling, and treasure diving. The peak of romance as far as Beidou was concerned.

But first…

She shook her head at the scene she stumbled upon.

Wasn’t entirely sure how this happened, but there was a whole fleet of girls on one side - Furong, Yinxing, Huixing, Muzhen, even Mora-Grubber? Oh no, Mora-Grubber hated sports. There had to be a bet involved if she was participating, right? And on the other side, Ningguang. Her gaze swept over the outfit, appreciated the effort, and definitely took note of how those shorts looked every time Ningguang squatted or jumped. But for the most part her gaze was drawn to the exposed portions of throat and collarbones, to the marks she herself left behind. Because that - Ningguang wearing Beidou’s claim - that worked for her so much she could almost overlook the fact that the same woman was bullying her crew.

Almost.

In truth, she could tell from the smiling faces that everyone was having fun. But as much as she encouraged some tomfoolery on the white sand, the Crux had a reputation to uphold.

“Alright crew,” she hollered in greeting, “let me tag in for a round.” Because the ball just thudded sadly into sand again, and she was getting second-hand embarrassment watching her sailors get slaughtered five vs. one like that. Ningguang was surprisingly good at beach ball, but, beyond that…that’s clever. With the Jade Screen. Clever and absolutely cheating.

To no surprise, her crew was more than willing to cede the stage. Deference to their Captain aside, there was positively some popcorn-chewing vibes.

Beidou picked up the ball, spun it upon her index finger for an extra bit of showmanship, demonstrating that she most certainly had played beach ball before, before flashing a ferocious grin.

“Get ready,” she called, “I’m not gonna hold back on account of any lingering soreness you might have.” And, true to her word, she spiked that serve. Pirate rules, baby. Oh, and that signature electric voltage that didn’t even make a peep in her one-sided brawl with Anatoly? Definitely just arced. Electro surged down her forearm, crackling the air much to the excitement of their spectators, empowering that otherwise lightweight ball to travel much, much faster. Would give a tingling little zap too - nothing painful - if Ningguang actually caught it by hand.

Other than Beidou's natural inclination to challenge and be challenged in turn, a lot of this was curiosity as well. Beidou had never actually seen Ningguang fight. And though this was certainly many degrees removed from battle, she was quite keen on seeing just what Ningguang could do.

prettysoft · Apr 27, 2022

“Your serve. Let’s see what you are made of.”

Round four, and the girls flouncing in the sand to deflect Ningguang’s powerful spikes were realizing the strength that resides within the lovely, lean silhouette skirting this way and that to protect her territory. Slapping the bouncy ball there, deflecting the ball here with the soft underside of her wrist. A dolphin in the water, or a phoenix in the sky, Ningguang dominated the game.

“No fair, Lady Ningguang is good at everything. Or am I bad at this?” Mora-Grubber’s gratuitous grumbling earned a grin from the hoity-toity Ningguang, to which the Tianquan replied by throwing her head back; bursting at the seams as laughter rocked dainty shoulders. Cutthroat serves coupled with the Jade Screen proved a challenging combo for the other team, and the women’s syncopated breaths grew louder as their balls bounced off the jade screen, rolled in the sand back at their shins.

“Am I?” Ningguang chuckled, brushing ashen tresses from her visage. “Maybe I disagree, what then?” Mora-Grubber sucked at sports, but Ningguang minded her lady etiquette, saved her taunts and jokes for the thick hide capable of withstanding it. The laugh was short-lived. Never mind the gleaming gold partition capable of deflecting most projectiles before she could blink, but the Jade Screen imbued her allies with power.

“Yinxing, waiting on you.” Muzhen reminded the surgeon, adjusting her braid, bouncing on her heels in anticipation.

Burgeoning hubris plastered a cocky smile to Ningguang’s lips, stretched dainty arms this way and that to flex on the surveying eye burned into her backside, into her sleek bodylines. Yinxing was nice and all, but Ningguang intently set her sights on winning this game. Five for five.Hip pivots stretching abdominal muscles, warming up her core for optimal motions. Not that she would get to use them; Furong appeared to be the only one with any talent for volleyball.

During the intermittent warm-up, Ningguang glimpsed over her shoulder, winking at the Captain confidently striding over. This show wasn’t for the girls, but she was sorry that they were catching strays. She feigned innocence in front of the big bad, touching her hands behind her back. A smile encroached on her lips as the girls scuttled off the sand, mingled underneath the palms, snacked on roasted coconut chips.

“Go, Captain!” Furong cheered, because, why wouldn’t she? The captain’s hand smacked the ball, sending it arcing at lightning speed over the Jade Screen.

Squats accentuated jelled thighs, a plump rear memorialized in all who feast their eyes on Ningguang’s tail feather as that serpentine figure crouched low to the ground, and knees buried in the white sand. Holding her hands together, Ningguang absorbed the ball's force with her forearms, propelling it up into the air for five seconds. Five seconds for Ningguang to manifest three crystallized geo chunks, a warning to Beidou that two vision users in one space could get testy. The crowd gasped as Ningguang soared(not really) into the lavender-blue skies and smacked the ball back at Beidou, ferocious and competitive like Beidou had never witnessed.

“Careful,” Ningguang landed nimbly, darted front and center, bumped it back with that gusto and grace. A ragged exhale gusted through pursed lips so that cool air concentrated on the long tresses blocking her view, clinging to brow bone and rosy cheeks. “I might send you to the side lines soon, Captain.” Ningguang pranced up all too cocky, sponging the electricity into her fingertips and stumbling one - two paces, until her bikini bottom clashed on the gritty terrain, and that plush display nearly spilled from the bandage bra. A conniving grin spread onto her cupid’s bow as she danced back to her feet, ready to dominate, ready to win.

My turn.

Ningguang tossed the colorful ball into the air, soles left the ground as she spiked it clear over the jade screen. She flicked her wrist placidly, rolling her eyes away from the scene. You’re grounded, captain. The glowing, mystical rocks shifted and shaped into bracelets, kindly cuffing around Beidou's wrists. Not restraining, not weighing her down, simply containing Beidou's voltages that she sweetly shocked Ningguang with.

“I have tricks as well. Try me, Sunshine.” Sunshine? No idea where that came from, but it rolled off the tongue nicely.

ƒeral · Apr 28, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

All this scene needed were some crashing waves and giggling dolphins, and it would have been perfect.

Because Beidou was having a blast. She liked sports. ~~Shocking!~~ Never one to sit around, she much preferred being out and about doing archon knew what. Liked to brawl - liked to bash treasure hoarders’ thick noggins into one another and send them packing. Liked adrenaline - the Alcor had a lot of ballistas, and not a single canon. Why? Because she liked to board things. Those ballistas mostly served to lash whatever it was that she intended on boarding close, so that she could hop onto its deck or neck. Whichever. Liked to pummel with her fist and smash with her sword. You read that right. Her greatsword was definitely sharp - she lovingly took a whetstone to it after every battle. But as anyone who had ever seen Beidou fight could tell you, the infamous Captain of the Crux did more smashing than cutting with that sword of hers, with the way she practically wielded that thing like a club. Smash? Club? Hmm…

Circling back to the topic at hand, she demonstrated in abundance that she just liked smashing things in general. Smashed that ball back, for example. Ningguang had returned it well. Cleared excellent air, secured a spectacular angle, and sent it soaring back with nasty velocity in a plummeting arc. That Beidou could feel the impact on her wrists when she propelled it up to set up for her spike spoke to the merits of Ningguang’s technique. More feisty than you look. But beach ball was half technique, half power. Sure, those returns were far from weak, but Ningguang wasn’t the one who commonly hauled around a greatsword the length of her leg and the width of her thigh (and then some).

And so, that round one ended the only way it could, with her darling flat on her butt (damn, lucky ground) and Beidou returning that grin with one of her own. “Not bad, not bad at all.” She offered. Not condescending, just excited. Eyes bright and posture taut, ready to play some more. As far as she was concerned, her victory was inevitable, but she liked that Ningguang put up a fight, got her heart pumping and her blood circulating. Wasn’t sure if the Jade Chamber had a volleyball court, or any such athletic amenities, but was definitely already making a mental note that from now on, it was going to be one game of chess, then one game of some kind of sport of Beidou’s choosing.

Tracked that ball on the serve like a one-eyed hawk. Such impeccable form. Was it weird to be hot and bothered by how Ningguang was apparently amazing at beach ball? Maybe, but Beidou was into it. The rocks surprised her though. Huh. The electricity arcing off of her forearms ended up slicing into the bracelets, being absorbed and withstood by the hardened earth. Almost missed that ball thinking about the other possible applications of geo cuffs, but Beidou was very good at beach ball, and managed to duck and offset it into the air at a second’s notice. Didn’t have the best angle on this return, but got it over the net - er, screen.

“Sunshine?” She repeated, lifting a brow. “You are not wrong. Sunshine does have a tendency to break through storms.” Didn’t have quite the same ring as Stormbreaker, but she could work with it. Was deadset upon showing Ningguang exactly how storms got broken, rather.

While Ningguang set up her shot, Beidou concentrated. This was no longer about wanting to avenge her crew’s unfortunate score line, but simply because she wanted to test the limits of this particular geo construct.

Because nothing, nothing could ever hold Beidou back.

Bracing… inhaling… allowing the lightning to circulate through her veins. Could taste it upon her tongue, that very distinct char and smoke. Pulling deeper, embracing the storm within. Chaining it. Coercing it. Holding the electro back until she could feel every hair on her neck stand on end. Every muscle tense, breath clenched, as riled as her element and positively glimmering with that signature crackling violet now. The buzzing electricity in her ears drowned out even the excited chatter of her crewmates, her eye the stuff of nightmares.

The ball. Her sole focus in that singular heartbeat.

Lightning surged. Thunder crashed. Her energy shone so bright that even the midday sun seemed to dim when she unleashed all that she was in a fierce demonstration of why there were plays staged of her conquests. Electro covered every inch of her, pulsating and sparking. The epicenter of a storm, and the breaker of the same.

The ball shot toward her, angling down, and she bashed it back straight into the Jade Screen. Ningguang always angled her shots well, requiring a bounce prior to the spike, but Beidou’s error was entirely on purpose. Those geo bracelets - what geo bracelets - weren’t the only thing she wanted to test. The beach ball meteored into the screen, dead center into Ningguang’s trademarked seal, attempting its darnest to perforate that very artistically portrayed phoenix. The impact was loud. Thunder boomed, near deafening, and that ball shrouded in Beidou's electro drilled at the screen with the force of a thousand storms weathered and broken.

And, like that round one, this ended the only way it could too. When the light show faded, only the jade screen stood, the beach ball having ground itself into nothing but dust already swept away by wind.

“Well,” Beidou grinned, rotating her wrist. “That was something.” As if it weren’t her that totally escalated beach ball far beyond any realms of reason. Luckily for her, her crew was currently too stunned to mourn the loss of their ball. “I guess we are tied one for one now huh? Another game to settle at a later date, wouldn’t you say?” Had planned for this too. Next time Ningguang asked her to play chess, she was definitely going to counter with volleyball.

“But now that we are all warmed up, it’s time to go swimming. Come, the reefs await.”

prettysoft · Apr 29, 2022

“Fitting, isn’t it?” Ningguang parodied, as she sashayed out of bounds and scooped up the ball. Slow strides were an allowance to catch her breath, and she posited her next move.

Underworked muscles singed, and Ningguang’s forearms begged her not to bump the ball that hard again. Beidou’s powerful spikes turned her arms red hot; lingering effects from the electro left Ningguang’s fingertips humming and tingling. Is this my retribution for bullying your ~~cock~~ crew, my love? The game she played was a workout, and well worth the results. She was primping and flexing, for Beidou, for the onlookers perched on the Alcor, on the sidelines. Furong and her mates bid on Beidou’s victory, and Ningguang bet on herself first. Pride decorated her gleaming smile, twinkled in her determined gaze as she bounced the ball hard on the sand.

Thwap!

Where balls were involved, Ningguang reigned supreme. Rackets and balls; bats and balls; handball; clubs and balls. The kind that required Ningguang to dress in a fancy qipao, link arms with wealthy ambassadors and let her mora do the talking. Often referred to as the ‘star of the ball’, though crooked merchants and horny businessmen monikered the iron-heeled Tianquan as a ‘ballbuster’. A little crude for her tastes, but her spike on the playing field was nasty. It hurt too. The center of her palm beat red from smacking the ball over the Jade Screen continuously, but the look on her dearest’s face every time she returned it with more force than her gentle physique suggested? Chefs kiss

A storm was brewing behind that battle scarred garnet that was cherished by all. White hair pointed to the north star, and Ningguang nearly ducked for cover, doubting her screen’s capabilities to withstand Beidou’s riotous electro energy. The thunderous boom shook her to the core, rattled her chest as the ball smacked into the jade screen. The smoke dissipated with the wind, and the jade screen’s gold pillars glinted as rays caught it at the perfect angle. An impenetrable monolith, an ode to the stability of her Geo.

“Fascinating…” Ningguang mouthed, dazzled by the spectacle, super into her girlfriend as she marched over. “I guess we are, Bei.” There were no notable conquests under Ningguang’s belt, no great expeditions and week-long battles in bloodied seas to sing about. Her body count was laughably low, like, super low, if that wasn’t obvious. Her greatest feat? Being the wealthiest woman in Liyue, and Beidou’s newest beaux. She wouldn’t bemoan the fact that Beidou’s glittering lightning and equally sparkly muscles weakened her knees, making her woozy when the Captain stopped in front of her.

"A reef, hm? Just us two?"

Ningguang’s wagging tail erected as she chased after the departing figure, colliding her front side into a stern backside, soft thighs encircling Beidou’s abdomen. That muscular caboose provided a little support as Ningguang peeled Beidou’s hair off her shoulder and left sweet smooches all over latticed skin, teased heated pulses with a warm tongue. Purring like a kitten on her human’s back, sharp canines tested the sweet and salty skin. Manicured hands plucked at a bikini strap, strumming it idly, listening to Beidou’s voice and wanting to doze off.

“Deep sea diving, you say?” Her voice came out muffled on delectable skin, and at Beidou’s request, Ningguang dug around in Beidou’s compression shorts, grabbed the anemos crystals Beidou informed her about. Yinxing invented these, too? Oh, just discovered the hidden properties? “That girl needs to work for me, don’t you agree?” The Tianquan ceased her exploration over her lover’s body, when Beidou deposited her ankle deep in the water. Richly hued coral and pastel anemones teeming with life left Ningguang speechless. Parrotfish, eels, even those giggling dolphins. Aquatic animals that Ningguang didn’t have a name for, but appreciated with glowing curiosity, aimed to touch. Rare creatures and kamera worthy scenery - the sort of thing that belonged on postcards floated all around her.

"I love this."

Water poured over her silhouette, over her scalp until every inch submerged in the deep blue sea. Cold. Ningguang blinked under water, dared herself to inhale, to see if those Anemos crystals were the real deal or if the salt water would fill her lungs first. Oxygen. Bewildered by her findings, Ningguang paddled by shoals of tiny fish, spotted a speckled sea turtle, and spied a box jellyfish on its own path. Ningguang observed Beidou in the ocean, her natural habitat. She was like a loon in the water, a water serpent worming through the ocean. A talented swimmer, much more efficient breast strokes than Ningguang possessed. She seldom swam in the ocean, had never gone deep sea diving, or treasure hunting.

“Where are you taking me, Beidou?” Deja vu’s mysterious claws dug into Ningguang’s brain, bringing to light last night’s dream. Osial, Zhong Li. The pitch blue was so dark, Ningguang narrowed her gaze to catch a glimpse of…anything. Floaties bumped into her, Ningguang ignoring the creepy tendrils and fibers grazing her legs. She wrestled with sea serpents, right? Those nervous butterflies in her gut persisted the deeper Beidou led into the ocean floor, and she stuck by the Captain's side. Closer, and Ningguang pointed at the cave entrance, just visible over waving seaweed and mushroom coral.

“Is this wise?” Ningguang glides into the craggy entrance, dipping her head. Avoiding porous rocks jutting out from the cave walls, contorting to dodge a lantern fish in her face. White light shone down into the water, and Ningguang chased after it. Outstretched fingers broke through the water's surface, selecting the first sturdy thing that would support her weight. She ungracefully hoisted her lower half out of the water, laid flat on her back.

“My Archons,” Ningguang muttered, self-determined to catch her breath. "This is beautiful, but," But I don't want to ruin the mood. Dreams are dreams, right? Sitting up, Ningguang turned her head to trickling water droplets. Any unsavory noise, put her on high alert. "Last night, I had a nightmare and it vaguely mirrored this...place." Admittedly, it wasn't identical to Ningguang's dream, but close enough to cause concern.

ƒeral · May 1, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

Northern asterism, thanks. 北斗, the Northern Dipper, comprised of the seven brightest stars of the Ursa Major constellation. The same seven stars from which the Liyue Qixing sourced their namesakes from. Put differently, all seven of the Qixing equated one Beidou. Was that why she flouted Liyue’s governing body as she felt like? Probably not. But it was definitely the sort of coincidence that she would happily crow about, mostly to see if she could get a rise out of the Tianquan, the Star of Celestial Balance, one of the stars of Beidou. She kind of liked the sound of that. Her Star. Made a mental note to try that one out on Ningguang when the proper occasion struck. But maybe without the corresponding astronomy jokes. Knowing Ningguang, she would probably somehow interpret that as Beidou intending to spread the other six stars upon her bed. Leaving aside the fact that Beidou and Keqing got along well enough to maybe consider one another as friends, they were not the sort of friends that fucked. Besides, Uncle Tian was also a member of the Qixing. She shuddered at that thought.

“Reefs,” she corrected, with overflowing enthusiasm instead of sarcasm. “They are really big.” A surefire reason for Beidou to like something, most of the time. Just look at her big boat. Big sword. Big…

Energy. What?

“Oof.” A good-natured grunt as her apparently just as enthusiastic… girl…friend (?) tackled into and onto her back. Wasn’t really one for labels. But even she had enough awareness to know that Ningguang was special. How special remained to be seen, but for now, she was happy simply basking in Ningguang's company. “You are in a good mood.” Took credit for that herself. Courting Ningguang notwithstanding, Beidou always thought the uptight woman needed a vacation. And what spelled vacation more than white sand and reef sighting? Arms looped behind Ningguang’s knees all too naturally, sighing with contentment at the string of kisses. Faded scars besides, the faint nail marks on her back were quite fresh, courtesy of the same woman who was now snuggling into her like an affection-starved feline. While Ningguang never drew blood, she certainly didn’t go easy; Beidou shivered as wet heat retraced the striped welts decorating her shoulders, wetting her mouth at the reminder of exactly how those particular bruises came about. “Stop that,” roughened her voice with a hint of a growl, flexing and bouncing Ningguang once as a threat. “If you bite me again, I’m carrying you straight back to my room. You don’t want to miss out on deep sea diving, do you?”

Having secured Ningguang’s cooperation, she launched into a short but informative spiel about anemo crystals and underwater precautions. Listen to her. Breathe normally. Don’t touch anything. Yadda yadda. Took safety very seriously, like the good Captain she was. A scoff at that last bit though. “Sure, sure, good luck with that. You might have your floating castle in the sky, but my girls love the sea.” Splash. Speaking of which, she deposited Ningguang into the same, stretching her own limbs out for an extra bit of warm-up.

At that breath of wonder, her eye softened. “I’m glad.” She flashed a winning smile, definitely kamera worthy, but reserved exclusively for Ningguang’s eyes. Dove right after her, garnet peeled and drinking in her surroundings, but always keeping Ningguang in her peripherals. Very responsible, as far as anything ocean-related went, full dive instructor mode engaged.

The reefs were a marvel to behold. Akin to a rowdy carnival, with all the varied and neon colors, colors seldom found in any other parts of nature. Bright yellow, blooming like sunflowers, but with a texture impossible to exist on land. Green so vivid that it outshined pine trees after fresh rain. Purple, lilac, lavender, violet, every hue thereupon and more that had no names. Pink, orange, red as vibrant as her eye. The corals swayed with the waves, and, much as any living creatures had a certain liveliness to them that no taxidermized replications could replicate, there were no postcards that could compare to the bold innocence of coral reefs.

Like a beautiful dream. A dream inhabited by other living things. Animated and colorful and sublime. All of it was uniquely divergent from anything that might be found on land. Uniquely divergent like Ningguang was to Beidou. Perhaps that was why she had sought to share this with Ningguang, or perhaps all of this was just destiny nudging the both of them towards the next chapter of their respective sagas. Beidou favored the former - ever one to promote her own agency over abstract concepts like destiny’s call.

“This must be it,” she exclaimed with eagerness, having spotted the same cavern mouth. Pulled the water-laden seaweed aside and plunged right on inside, the powerful muscles of her legs propelling her deeper. A water serpent - dragon - in its natural habitat, one that wasn't so prissy about welcoming her insides its depths.

“Wow, it actually exists.” Everything about her posture spoke to the boundless energy of a fired up treasure-hunter on the precipice of her latest discovery. “Ningguang, you have heard of the legend of Osial, right?” She registered the trepidation in her companion’s voice, but was too busy looking this way and that, already pacing forward to pay proper attention to the same. “With a mighty heave of his magma-encased arms, Rex Lapis flung his sacred polearm, piercing the rainbow of Osial and pinning the Overlord of the Vortex into the deep sea. And there the demonic god remained, in lament, in anguish, for daring to threaten the lands of Liyue, beloved of Rex Lapis.” She recited her version of the tale with necessary drama, her voice echoing in the narrow cavern. It was a beloved Liyuan tale, having been passed on in its oral traditions for generations and generations. Probably bullshit, as far as Beidou was concerned, but absolutely worth investigating.

“You think it’s true?” Her voice thrummed with her rising excitement, eye bright and posture alert. “Imagine if we found the sacred lance. I much favor swords but, definitely wouldn't mind getting my hands on the Vortex Vanquisher. Bet I would make one hell of a spearman-” Beidou frowned, turning to regard Ningguang, peering close before laying a reassuring hand upon that slender forearm. “Hey,” she offered, concern interrupting her excited monologue, “are you okay?” Encircled her other arm around that wasp-like waist, pulling Ningguang into a loose but hopefully comforting embrace. “What’s bothering you? A bad dream? Want to talk about it?” Peered down with furrowed brows and a look that was all genuine worry.

ƒeral · May 1, 2022

cast reference

Ningguang

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(84, 172, 210)]

Beidou

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(255, 109, 109)]

Enemies:

Osial

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(111, 151, 255)]

Liyue:

Zhong Li

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(251, 160, 38)]

Ganyu

Code:

[color=rgb(202, 217, 255)]

Baiwen

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(85, 57, 130)]

Baixiao

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]

Tianshu/Uncle Tian

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(103, 175, 45)]

Yuheng/Keqin

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(28, 225, 245)]

Other Qixing members - no colors assigned yet
Tianxuan
Tianji
Kaiyang
Yaoguang

Crux:

Juza

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(97, 189, 109)]

Furong

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(247, 218, 100)]

Yinxing

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(250, 197, 28)]

Sea Drake

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(163, 143, 132)]

Muzhen

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(26, 188, 156)]

Xu Liushi

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(71, 85, 119)]

Mora-Grubber

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(41, 105, 176)]

Snezhnaya:

Anatoly

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(147, 101, 184)]

Fontaine:

Captain Bonnie

Code:

[COLOR=rgb(163, 143, 132)]

prettysoft · May 2, 2022

“Truth be told, your extraordinary account of what transpired here has awakened a memory in me.” Thin arms encircled Beidou’s waist, cheek compressing to a soft bosom, and sponging up excess body heat enveloping Ningguang’s drenched figure. Vigor and excitement beaming off of Beidou was contagious, but Ningguang held onto her dream, seeking to make sense of it. Listening to the echoing droplets, focusing on Beidou’s beating heart, Ningguang shut her eyes for seconds. Were those dreadful thoughts better left in Ningguang's mind? Should they traverse the narrow cave, dive into the treasure trove to find the Vortex Vanquisher? Glassy-eyed, she peered up into Beidou’s good-eye, constellations aligning; fears ebbing as her damp body adhered to her girlfriend’s hard abdomen. Comforted in the tender embrace, Ningguang’s fingers looped together between the dimpled back, thumb nail caressing her favorite spot. “I can not say whether it was all a bad dream, or a prophetic nightmare to warn us...”

“It is in the past now, I suppose.” Ningguang nuzzled Beidou underneath the chin, allowing it to nest on her silvery mane. The tame affection Beidou doled out reprogrammed Ningguang’s worrisome ideas about Osial - about Rex Lapis. Silly ideas, troublesome thoughts that disheartened her and almost prevented Ningguang from chasing that notorious sea serpent into Osial’s lair. Under most circumstances, her almighty skepticism was a gift, but Rex Lapis himself paid Ningguang a visit in her dreams; to relay the message that her passionate evening with Beidou disrupted Osial’s slumber. Was her twilight climax truly to blame? The ambitious, fresh relationship with Beidou staked itself at the forefront of Ningguang’s mind; certainly it wasn't hard to linger on her love’s best qualities. Beidou’s hospitality, attentive nature and spirited tales reminded her that she was incredibly fortunate to be here. Even if here happened to be home to the imprisoned, and potentially dangerous, sea god. The Overlord of the Vortex lay dormant at the bottom of the lair, and Ningguang entrusted that he would remain there for another thousands of years.

“I want to keep going, Beidou.” A layer of ambiguity hid beneath her cool tone, tongue glided along the inside of her cheek. Ningguang tilted backward, garnet gaze scanning layers of green moss and sea algae; bright coral skeletons coloring slate walls. Luminescent waves cast a cerulean glow on the stalactites pointed down at them. Bare heels padded on the smooth surface, Ningguang’s famous posterior embedded on the muscular frontside now, reveling in the warmth as her amiable ass parked between hips.

“Oh!” Ningguang mused, bent at the waist, angled to ogle the great blue depths. Plump rear working that elephant trunk, because elephants never forget. “Did you see that, Captain?” A big, big smile reflected back at her. “Reefs, boats, and treasure diving. I could not imagine a better way to spend my days.” Taking in her fill of the view, Ningguang pivoted calmly to facing Beidou, outlining the curvature of broad shoulders, tapping her nails just inches from where fresh marks were recently sucked onto soft skin. “Thank you for showing me this. It makes up for this morning.” Ningguang liked this morning, - a little too much - but fully understood why Beidou sprouted wings and flew into the ocean. She said it was too soon, which it was, er...is. She wasn't so calloused to deny Beidou all forms of pleasure, though. "I would like to re-enact that. Tonight?" The well behaved Tianquan lowered her hands to a waistband, crimson and pink tourmaline shining in her foxy gaze. She found the conveted imprint embossed on bikini shorts, chills tickled her spine, causing her baby hairs to stand on end. "Do not think you can touch me like that and go away unscathed."

ƒeral · May 3, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

“Prophecies?” Beidou scoffed, running a hand up along Ningguang’s back, simply petting. “Like from the Archons?” Had quite a few choice words about that, actually. “It honestly wouldn’t surprise me if you told me that Morax himself took an interest in you, with your prominence amongst the Qixing and all that.” She shrugged, not dismissively, nor particularly emphatic. “Can’t say the gods care about me all that much though.” There was no bitterness there, not anymore. Everything about her life stood as a testament of mankind’s tenacity, a tale of an indomitable will triumphing over adversity and a warrior who etched her own destiny into the history books against all odds.

A glance down her own arm, at that triple-bladed Vision staring back at her, shimmering and luminous under the phosphorescent moss. “I still find it funny how the Archons hand these out like little gold stars. Almost like they are saying, hey, good job Beidou, you slew a particularly nasty beastie, here you go.” She muffled a sarcastic laugh into the crown of fine-spun argent threads. Her words were blasphemous, but that had never stopped her before. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, this baby is hella handy. I’m not giving it back anytime soon.” Power was power. She wasn’t picky where it came from; she would always utilize any and all advantages. “But I slew Haishan because of me, me and my people, not because of Morax or any other Archons.”

Four days and four nights. The sea turned, calmed, and turned again. Thrashing waves. Bone-gnawing stillness. The wind, freezing. The waves, even more so. Through it all, Beidou stood at the helm, greatsword in hand, hanging onto the slippery ropes and getting up close and personal when she could. And, as the finale, lightning had struck, racing directly from the clouded skies to the ocean before her. She would not soon forget the peal of heavenly thunder, just like she would also never forget how the boom cracked after she had slain the beast, after she had worn its blood as a victory robe. It was a sanguinary affair, far gorier than any staged renditions.

Plays often rewrote history, emphasizing the glory of gods and minimizing the agency of men. Some even portrayed her coup de grâce as a result of that purple lightning. Beidou never argued - didn’t care to - facts were facts and she didn’t see the point of flaunting her accomplishments. However, she wanted Ningguang to understand where she stood on this. “Prophecy, destiny, gods and demons…I don’t care.” Her voice was even. There was no arrogance there, only a self-assurance as stable as Ningguang’s Geo. “The sky could chase me with its heavenly bolts, or this cavern could open up and invite the sea to swallow me whole, and still I would find a way to come out on top.” Wasn’t in the business of surrendering, to death's embrace or otherwise.

Her lips quirked when Ningguang pulled away though, dispersing with the rather serious tone with a much more lighthearted chaser. “But if you are scared, Ning, don’t worry, I will protect you. You can hide out in my arms as long as you want.” Beidou meant it, but also mostly said it just to flirt. Might have been too effective in that endeavor, actually, because-

A sharp inhale, all thoughts of gods and prophecies forgotten. Her smile grew a bit stiff, a stiffness mirrored elsewhere, because no way that wasn’t on purpose. Reefs, boats, and treasure diving was how Beidou liked to spend her time too, but presently, she could think of an even more enjoyable activity. “Tonight?” She echoed, as if considering the thought. Nothing but a feign. Those lithe digits scarcely had a chance to trace the outline of that easily roused leviathan, before Ningguang found herself backed up into the moss-covered wall. Those familiarly calloused hands supported her weight again, only this time, instead of finding her vantage point upon Beidou’s back, she was instead pinned between a rock and a hard place.

“Why tonight, why not now?” Her voice was pitched low, gravelly, thick with want of exactly what Ningguang promised. Only, Beidou wasn’t about to wait, always a woman of action, always moving forward. There were lines she would not cross - not yet - but that didn’t stop her from bullying her lover up the wall, from parting those already marked up thighs with her waist. With that rowdy sea serpent stretching those shorts that failed at their purpose. “Look at my neck, Ningguang,” she murmured, leaning in, lips brushing up along an equally mark-laden column. “Does it look unscathed to you?” Drove her hips forward, wanting friction and not shy about securing it herself. “And my back?” Hissed her pleasure as she mouthed a particularly noticeable hickey upon that once pristine throat, pride warring with lust and intertwining into something even more potent. “This is all your handiwork.”

Lesson two, hurricanes struck often and with little warning.

prettysoft · May 5, 2022

Maybe not tonight.

Backed into a rock and a hard place, Ningguang’s earlier tension melted away, and she melted into, and against the monumental figure pressing her into a mossy wall. Hands clutching at shoulders, curling over biceps, outlining fresh welts all over ivory skin. Those marks led to Beidou’s back, and Ningguang’s esophagus thickened as she swallowed surprise. Claw marks and bruises - so unlike Ningguang. The ferocious sucking and scratches looked to be from a wild animal, not a peckish bird. “I-” Ningguang squeaked, imagining the multitude of parallels in this environment that correlated to her dream. Oh. You, too? A tiny hermit crab hanging onto a porous coral tucked into its swirly shell, and Ningguang made eye contact with it during its retreat. Deja Vu. She prayed that her sea legs were the first to spread in Osial’s underwater caverns, because these things mattered in her mind. She spared the thought, punch-drunk as Beidou questioned, forcing her way closer to her crevice. A fever clouded her head, burned her cheeks bright red as their bosoms kissed. “Right now?” As in, ‘take me, right here, right now’? Beidou’s eagerness to do the deed any time, any place gusted a sigh from her lips, and she scooted the plump underside of her cheeks on densely packed heat. Her legs parted voluntarily for the Captain, and those little bikini shorts served as a barrier from skin-to-skin contact.

Ningguang gathered Beidou up betwixt soft inner thighs, anchoring the mast stretching compression shorts to the plush lips impressed on wet fabric. Grasping wild, ebony tresses and steering Beidou’s head; pulling her mouth closer to the favored column of neck marred with love bites. The caged beast sought friction, and Ningguang granted it partial access to her softest flower, sliding up the colossal ship. Down, and yanking a moan from her dewy lips. “I think you look perfect this way.” She smirked, leaning into Beidou, clamping her teeth lightly on ear cartilage. Their care-free relationship differed in all the right ways, but there was no way either of them sucked hard enough to leave hickeys next time. This was strictly vacation behavior, but she could save that tidbit for when they docked on the harbor.

Pliant and curvaceous hips bounced, mounting the shy pearl on the bulbous flesh she briefly acquainted with last night. Twirling her fingers many times through thick locks, she coaxed her lover to tilt her head backward, pink nails gingerly grazing her handiwork. “A mark of my loyalty to you, Beidou.” Ningguang’s eyes glistened like gemstones as her lids lowered, and her lips suctioned onto warm, slicked skin. A melodic hum from her throat, and delicate fingers grasped calloused ones, pinning them to her sides. She galvanized the sleeping leviathan with slow strokes, grazing the humongous imprint trapped under the weight of her hips. Squeezing her waist with her thighs, tonguing the raw skin as she steadily exhaled. The threat of Osial waking from his slumber lowered with every passing second of peace and solitude.

It was just a dream.

ƒeral · May 7, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

Beidou’s eagerness? That seemed like an awfully unfair characterization. Why, the good Captain herself had been full sails ahead in treasure hunter mode when the misbehaving Tianquan decided to hunt for sea monsters instead. She could hardly be faulted for simply rising to the challenge! Any escalation thereof was a natural result of Ningguang’s own provocations. That Beidou would react as such should have come as no surprise, particularly to one as strategically-inclined as Ningguang, and as such…the conclusion to be drawn there was rather obvious, no?

If her lover preferred to goad her into taking the lead, then who was Beidou to decline such an enticing invitation? “I think you look perfect any way,” her grin curved against skin while Ningguang busied herself with an ear, flirting shamelessly. “In your silks, your beachwear, naked, it doesn't matter.” A warm tongue lapped at anything she could reach - shoulder, collarbones - she wasn’t picky. Couldn’t say that she loved the taste of seawater, but the heavy salt never bothered her, used as she was to all sorts of ocean-related activities. “You are the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever laid eyes upon,” grinded her hips forward, groaning low and husky. “Not the only thing I like about you, Ning, but gods, you are ravishing.”

Allowing herself to be guided back, she peered up at Ningguang - a new and interesting perspective, on account of herself having borne her lover aloft against the cavern wall. Offered her neck as readily as a moan, her fingers flexing against hips and thighs, arms and shoulders deliciously tense from supporting her lover’s weight. Even in spite of their so recent swim and the seawater that dripped from her hair still, Beidou was warm. A naturally higher body temperature that she shared with great enthusiasm, furnishing enticing contrast against the cool draft. This cave must have led somewhere; the saline-laced breeze was not possible otherwise. But even whilst her well-honed instincts filed away notes of her environment, she was too busy appreciating her latest treasure to hunt another. “I want you,” she admitted, “what you do to me is just…” Her breath came faster, pressing forward more urgently, lips parting once again to huff more filth or perhaps to leave another mark when —

「 ẅ̷̷̟͇͈̒hȍ̸̮̐̚ d̸̡̩͍̔ͥar̶̷̲͍͐̾̀e̷s̩̋͛ 」

The voice - to the extent something so bone-chilling and teeth-rattling could be called a voice - boomed. Not from deeper in the cavern, nor from the shallows they crawled out from, but like it was besides her, in her ears, vibrating her eardrums and causing her to grimace. “What the fuck-”

「 y̯̤͑́́̓́ȍ̸̚û̶, I̶̴ k̶̸͙̭̹͆n̷̶ȍ̸̮̐̚ẅ̷̷̒ y̯̤͑́́̓́o̸u̶ 」

Beidou was already backing up, grasping Ningguang’s wrist and pulling her behind herself, facing against the winding corridor, squinting into the dark unknown. Nothing. Other than that same draft, there was no sound, no movement. The voice came from everywhere and nowhere at once. She was agitated, tense all over, and not just from the extremely creepy disembodied voice. Rather, it was almost like the speaker’s fury was so extreme, so all-consuming, that it echoed against Beidou’s mind and incited her the same. She clenched her jaw tight, filled with the urge to fight something, but had enough self-awareness to realize how unnatural that reaction was. Impossible. She had never encountered a sea monster with such a skillset, seething with anger so jagged that it could indirectly stir living creatures in its vicinity with the same. Could it be? No... Even if the legend of Osial were real, that legendary demonic god was sealed —

「 I̶̴̗̗̦͍ͨͭ̉͢͟ s̩͙͖̋͛͟m̶̷ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊ll t̴h̶̯̰̝̻̿̓͢a̶t̴͕̀ t̴͕͖͓̀h̶r̶i̵c̷ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊-d̸̡̩͍̔ͥ͜a̶m̶̷͔ͪ̽͡n̷̶ę̷̵̧̖̫̗̆̊d̸̡̩̔ͥ f̷̵̫̞̉o̸ȍ̸ḻ̸ͧ͑̓̓̀͡ ȍ̸n̷ y̯̤͑́́̓́ȍ̸û̶.

Ȧ̶̵̗̳ll̸ͧ t̴͕͖͓̀h̶a̶t̴͕͖͓̀ h̶̯̰̝̻̿̓͢e̷̵ l̸o̸v̸̵͆̈ͤe̷̵s̩͙͖̋͛͟ s̩͙͖̋͛͟h̶a̶l̸ͧ͑̓̓̀͡l b̵̸͙̅̽͡ͅe̷ d̸̡̩͍̔ͥ͜rȍ̸ẅ̷̷n̷̶̊ĕ̷̵̊d̸̡̩͍̔ͥ͜, s̩͙͖̋͛͟t̴ă̶̸r̶tin̷̶̊̽͘g̴̶̛̮̣͙͠ ẅ̷̷̒i̵t̴͕͖͓̀h̶ Y̵̷̛̤̅́̕O̵̷ͩU̸̫̠̰͈̕ 」

“That’s our cue,” Beidou gritted out, attempting to lighten the mood unsuccessfully. Blood pounded at her ears and so much hatred suffused her that she wanted to slam her fists into the wall. But, despite how she behaved from time to time, the Captain of the Crux was certainly not lacking in self-control. “Come on,” She tugged Ningguang along by the forearm, diving back into the shallow water from where they came from. This time, there was no leisurely grace in the way she swam. Her form was crisp and precise, powerful legs churning the water and propelling the both of them up with awe-inspiring speed.

“Shit,” she cursed, ever cognizant of her surroundings, and swam that much faster. Could feel every limb burning, pain prickling muscles from her relentless pacing, from the extra force needed to pull Ningguang at her own speed. But despite the dimness of the ocean, she had skirmished with enough sea monsters that spotting them was second nature. That fast approaching shadow from a distance, the linear propulsion, with the way shadows fanned then streamlined - was that a fucking kraken? Goddammit, let me guess, Osial's rage causes some sort of an aoe frenzy effect? Of fucking course. Because krakens, dangerous as they were, did not tend to venture from their nests without grievance. But this one was beelining at them like it had a centuries old vengeance.

It was fast, but a distance away still, and so, she pushed herself to the limit and ascended as fast as humanly possible, and then some. A terrible idea, most of the time, with the way decreasing pressure worked, but those anemo crystals helped balance that out somewhat, enough that by the time she broke the surface, her eardrums were mercifully intact.

Above water, the world was very different from what she remembered. Gone were the clear sky and sunny rays, replaced with turbulent waves and a raging thunderstorm. It was not clear when the storm swept in, but by the looks of the many concerned faces melting into relief when she surfaced, her crew was already on high alert. Because this wasn’t normal. Not like this, so close to the coastline. Storms did not fulminate so intensely and so suddenly like this without nature giving away subtle hints of the same. Everyone was doubtlessly agitated, but the Alcor never sailed without its Captain.

“Captain!” Juza called out, throwing the climbing net overboard towards Beidou’s general vicinity. “Juza, bring me my sword, there's a fucking kraken on our trail!” She called back, huffing and very out of breath. Her heart threatened to escape her ribcage from the extreme exertion, but adrenaline charged her with seemingly boundless energy. Scarcely did the both of them latch onto the net before several members of her crew began to pull, grasping onto every strand of rope available and drawing it up with practiced synergy.

The second her feet hit the floorboard, Beidou was already up and about, barking out orders. Her voice rang out evenly and clearly, carrying in spite of the heavy rainfall. Tense, but fearless, inspiring and uplifting morale in face of the oncoming dangers. “Yinxing, look after her,” she flagged the hovering surgeon down. “Our ascend was too rapid, inspect her and ensure nothing ruptured.”

She turned her attention back to Ningguang, both hands squeezing upper arms in a hopefully reassuring gesture, brows furrowed with worry. “Hey, you’ll be okay. We’ll be okay. Hang tight for me.”

Didn’t wait for a response; didn’t have time to.

Already she was turning away and taking inventory. “Weigh anchor!” She shouted. That single eye panned, inspecting the masts and found the sails already stowed except the foremast. Good. Until they could get a proper angle on this ever increasing storm, extended sails were bad news. Alcor swayed, rocked by the waves. The entire top deck had already been cleared out though by the experienced crew; everything not bolted down stowed into the hold for ballast.

Beidou raced up the length of the ship, her sea legs steady despite the turbulence. “I want every ballista on this side pointed at where we emerged.” Met up with Juza on the quarterdeck, who, despite his size, still struggled with the weight of her claymore. “Everyone accounted for?”

“Aye, Captain, I gave the order to board when those dark clouds rolled in. Let me tell you, this is no ordinary storm, this is-”

“No time,” she cut through his wordiness, understanding that to be how he dealt with nervous energy and not faulting him for the same. “Steer, it’s coming.” There was no one else she would entrust the wheel to but her quartermaster. Even in this accursed storm, Beidou knew no further instructions were necessary.

Instead, she made her way back towards the prow, stopping only to wrap rope around her waist and securing it around the main mast. The Alcor began to move, slowly at first, but rapidly accelerating. It turned gradually, steadily, facing the wind and breaking the waves with its spar. Rain poured down even more heavily than before, sheets of water pelting everyone and everything. Beidou smoothed her bangs away from her eye, greatsword at the ready.

Scarcely did she make it back to the waist of the ship before shouts rang out, the sound of ballistas firing entirely drowned out by the rain and the crashing waves. It was not enough to deter the enraged beast - two tentacles crashed onto the deck. More would surely follow. That would not be allowed. The Alcor must not capsize in this weather. This was not her first time against a kraken, and the trick to triumphing over such a creature was to ensure that it never secures a proper hold. With both hands upon the sword hilt, she leaped at one of those puckered appendages, blazing lightning and impossible to miss even in the storm.

prettysoft · May 9, 2022

Ningguang jetted out of the turbulent tides; lips purpling and air pockets rupturing in her quivering chest. Arms searing from over-exertion, legs fatigued as feeble hands latched onto the rope ladder. Never releasing Beidou from her shaky hold, she followed blindly with closed eyes. Muted voices and crashing waves blended with the ringing in her left ear; Osial’s booming, telepathic message pounded on sensitive eardrums, like the tyrant dwelled in the recesses of her mind. Rex Lapis told the truth - that his presence in her dreamscape weakened the seal that confined Osial to his lair all these years.

Ningguang all but collapsed into Yinxing’s arms, clutching onto the surgeon’s qipao, gulping for precious oxygen over the searing pain in her lungs. “Oh. I can’t breathe.” Can’t…make sense of this. The cotton candy skies and tangerine rays…Were those a dream too? “Bei-”

Rugged hands stabilized her quivering figure, and the high pitched siren wailing in her ears ceased momentarily. Lashes drenched with thick droplets fluttered, blurred vision clearing as Beidou faded into the rain-induced mist. Ningguang shuddered in Yinxing’s arms, comforted by the surgeon as rain pummeled the deck and pelted the stormy tides. Shivering, holding her ears in a pathetic attempt to tune the ringing out.

“Lady Ningguang, look at me.” Index and thumb finger grasping the Tianquan’s chin, steering the head gently to catch physical injuries with her astute eyes. Eyes are…unfocused.A red bead trickled down Ningguang’s jawline, the culprit stemming within her left ear canal. “As the captain suspected, your eardrum is ruptured.” This isn’t time for a surgery, but I should take her somewhere safe.

The pair staggered along the deck, hips and arms bumping along as Ningguang leaned into Yinxing’s shoulder with all her weight. Yinxing halted in her steps, drawing in as the tentacled monstrosity mushroomed out of the raging seas; a tidal wave flooding the deck, a colossal tentacle suckering onto the wood with a thunderous smack. The Alcor rocked sharply, forcing the women apart - Yinxing careening into the rail, flipping backwards to meet her demise.

“Yinxing!” Furong bellowed, voice scarcely heard over the violent seas and downpour. A hand burst through the fog, and fingerless gloves provided grip to Yinxing’s drenched ankle. “Hold on!”

“I can’t,” Yinxing yelped, clenching her eyelids tight. A slimy appendage suctioned onto Yinxing’s wrist, and a shrill scream erupted from her lips as miniature kraken slinked and slapped their way up the keel and hull. The ship groaned in protest of the added weight offsetting the ballast, and signature purple lightning cracked the gray skies. “Furong!” Yinxing, emboldened by the lightning, ripped the tentacle from her arm - a circular wound her victory scar.

“I’ve got you!” Furong, fearless as ever, reeled Yinxing up, shielded her with outstretched arms as she ushered her away from the guardrail. Heart pounding, Furong backed up, gaze filled with hate. The miniature kraken ascended the ship; feelers stretching and reclining; suctioning onto any and everything. The mini-monsters moved with surprising fluidity, reached with their mucus-covered membranes and lightning reflexes. Furong evaded a squishy branch, pushing Yinxing out of the way. A tentacle wrapped around Furong’s ankle, squeezing bone; crushing it slowly. Another lashed out, suffocating her wrists, anchored her knees to the hard floor. Another, found her neck, making air scarce for the young fighter.

“No!” Yinxing brandished a scalpel, lurched forward, plunging it deep into a tentacle. A powerful yell escaped her as she carved through the puckered flesh, purple fluids splattering her face, spewing out from the tentacle as it fell slack around Furong’s neck. “Furong!” Wielding the scalpel handle with both hands, Yinxing rushed forth; halted as a miniature tentacle thrusts out to strike the battle medic. “F-Furong.” A baby kraken stood in her path, whipping its arms wildly in Yinxing’s direction. Knees rattling, hands shaking, Yinxing’s muscles fired off as she charged ahead. “Furong!” White knuckled, she slashed at the creature, slicing at, but not through.

Golden rays shine from up above, Yinxing gazing up awe-inspired at the mysterious glow permeating the mist. The sun? No…not the sun. Lids lowering, Yinxing took two steps back, partially covering her eyes from the light.

Cosmic and radiant, Lady Ningguang pirouetted in mid-air, moonlight struck strands iridescent underneath the lavender lightning. Seven jade gems, a gem for every star comprising the 北斗, carousel at her back. A shadow blanketed her visage; furious, red irises piercing the dark. The Vision embedded in her choker thrummed, shimmering gold, like her unique Geo.. Like shooting stars, the stunning jade gems whistled through the air; severing miniature tentacles, earning gasps from pretty lips. She landed gracefully on her toes, turned to the source of riotous Electro.

Lady Ningguang emerged through the storm onto the prow, glorious tresses billowing in the vicious winds as she came face to face with mammoth sized eyeballs. Is this what the Archons intended for her that fateful night? From signing auction papers to being chosen to wield legendary powers -The Tianquan couldn’t be more thankful that she kept her Vision stone. Her original plan consisted of using it as another business opportunity to make quick Mora, yet her assistants talked her out of that foolish venture.

“Oh my Arch-”

The kraken arced a tentacle at Lady Ningguang, curled at her with every intention to grab. Shuffling out the way, Ningguang’s back slammed into a wall, knocking the air from her lips. Adrenaline rapidly coursing through her veins, she cursed underneath her breath, searching the storm for signs of Beidou.

“Thank Archons…” Ningguang rejoined Beidou at her side. Delighted to be a whole, she rests her hand on Beidou’s bicep. “I have an idea to get you closer to the monster, Captain.” As soon as the words left her mouth, a suckering arm extended in Ningguang’s direction, narrowly missing her waist. The tentacle thrashed and swept at Ningguang, pushing her further from the captain, cornering her.

“Let’s make haste, Captain.” Embodying bravery rather than fear, Ningguang ducked a sweeping tentacle. She raised three Geo platforms of varying sizes, each one elevated above the last. Arms shaking, garnet gaze squinted in concentration as the tinnitus flared up. Osial’s voice racked her brain like an earthquake, and she gritted her teeth, ignoring the tight pain in her chest. The sonic pitch in her ears served as a fruitful distraction, as she dropped one arm and cupped a hand over her ear. A hungry tentacle lurched out, forcing Ningguang to side step that, all the while, maintaining the Geo bridge for the captain.

ƒeral · May 11, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

Riotous indeed. Beidou was glorious like this, shrouded in violet lightning that blushed lavender at its brightest. Unlike some of the more stable elements, her Electro never kept still, always crackling, wreathing about her and circling like living serpents. An element that she imbued into every attack; electricity zapped far more aggressively than her jovial beachball session with Ningguang. Not a tingle. Where her greatsword cleaved into a leathery tendril, not even a single drop of blood was spilt. No, the wound was cauterized before it might even have a chance to bleed. Seared and burnt black by the potency of her Electro. Might even have made a joke about fried calamari if the mood wasn’t quite so somber.

“Fire, again!” Beidou shouted even as she landed, sending another round of missiles sailing at the monstrosity. Krakens did not often emerge like this, preferring to fight their battles underwater and topple boats rather than to smash them to smithereens. But this one was angry, a seething hatred that turned those unblinking eyeballs a bloody shade of red. And that was where the crew aimed even without being told. However, it was never that easy. The monstrosity might have completely lost its mind from Osial’s influence, but its instincts were very much intact, augmented, even. Muscular and stout tentacles smacked the bolts out of the air, preventing them from doing any damage. “Tsk, no good,” she spat the words out, just in time to pull Sea Drake off of a ballista. One of those freakish tentacles slammed into the ballista he operated only a second ago, obliterating it and sending shrapnel of wood flying. Beidou raised her sword as though a shield, covering her compatriot as well.

“Below deck, go, now!” For something so overgrown and hulking, Krakens were far from clumsy. Like the squid their image often evoked, they were incredibly dexterous, capable of wielding each tentacle independently and often attacking from the most unexpected angles. And this one, this one was big. Bigger than any kraken she had ever faced. Each tentacle was thicker than even the main mast by several times over. And the way Alcor creaked from those tentacles smacking into its hull, ballistae, and anything in reach… She had been worried about Alcor capsizing before, but now, it seemed a real possibility that the Kraken would just batter her ship into driftwood.

One of those grotesque arms whipped at her, and she evaded, just in time for another coming at her from a blind spot. But she didn’t need her gaze for this, well-attuned to the forewarning of gust sent her way by the sheer force of that strike. Truthfully, even Beidou could not boast of being able to perfectly cover her flanks in melee with a Kraken, but she didn’t have to. Despite there only being seven elements in existence, every Vision was unique to its user. Unique, and perfectly suited.

Rather than dodging, she simply braced. Electro shrouded her fully, and her hair was more purple than black as those tendrils smacked into the forcefield of lightning. The violence of that strike was nearly enough to stagger her, but she just gritted her teeth and powered through it. Borne the brunt of it and - “Your turn!” - retaliated in the form of an arcing halfmoon slash that dispersed enough Electro to electrify the air. Heat. Power. Mist vaporized, the smell of burnt Kraken - truly awful - carrying even in the great overabundance of rain. An entire segment of rubbery limb went flying, thudding onto the deck. And normally, this might have been enough; one tentacle maimed, another severed. They would regrow with time, and Krakens were wont to retreat and preserve themselves. Not this one though. It just seemed to get angrier. Krakens were mute, but the way this one thrashed and sent water careening everywhere was not unlike an enraged battle howl.

This was not good. The tentacles not aimed at her narrowly missed members of her retreating crew, and the floorboard was torn straight through here and there; broken pieces of wood stuck straight up where the tentacle smashed hard enough to splint even through the Alcor. Whole ballistae were coiled around and just ripped from the ship, like they were little more than decorations. The display of brutal strength might have been incredible, if the wanton destruction of her beloved Alcor weren't too busy causing Beidou to see red. And that was not even considering the threat to her crew. Her family.

“You,” slash, “fucking,” nearly embedded her sword into the floorboard herself as a tentacle rapidly retreated out of the arc of her sword, “bilge-sucking,” the pirate usually partially concealed beneath layers of polite society was really coming out now, “pox-faced, overgrown squid, I’m gonna--”

Swallowed the rest of that curse down, having the wherewithal to look slightly embarrassed as Ningguang joined her side. “Hey, you are okay-” Didn’t manage to finish that sentence either. Another tentacle slammed down, right down the middle, forcing both of them to part and jump back. “Oh you piece of--” She was getting really riled up now. Had a tendency to get worked up in combat, ramping in intensity as streaks of Electro arced higher and more frequently, jolting anything it deemed an enemy in range. Would have kept going like this too, might have thrown herself off of the ship and at the monster, if that was what it took to defend that which she held dear.

Never quite got there. Her breath was caught when Geo materialized, shimmering golden and a feast for sore eyes amidst the raging storm and grotesque tentacles. Gods, that is so hot. Now was definitely the wrong time to be admiring just what Ningguang could do though. Without further prompt, Beidou was already rushing forward, reversing her grip on her greatsword even as she leapt onto the first platform. Then the next. Even in spite of the slippery rain, her form was unflinching, always steady, a blur of lightning bouncing to the last of the makeshift bridge.

A leap away now towards that cylindrical head as the threatened sea horror brought all eight of its tentacles - including the one dwarfed one - back to defend itself. But those arms would never manage to connect, because she was just as fast. No taunts this time, all her focus was on the Kraken. Undaunted and unflinching, with zero regard for her own safety, Beidou ignored those tentacles lashing back and channeled all of herself into the singular strike. Her greatsword cleaved through the toughened chitin from the top of the Kraken's head, burrowing through its squishy insides all the way down to the hilt. The monstrosity was far too big for her sword to reach anything truly vulnerable, but she didn’t need to. Her chest rumbled with a thunderous war cry as lightning raced through every fiber of her being and channeled through her sword. Her Vision blazed, suspended and frozen despite the strong winds rushing about. Eye of the storm indeed. Electro ricocheted off of her in waves and waves, dying even that pallid and horrible Kraken in her colors. It screamed, soundlessly, horribly, every nerve electrified and gelatinized from inside out.

The Kraken collapsed back into the ocean, and with it, Beidou as well.

“Pull!” Luckily, her crew was very used to its Captain. Those sailors that had begun to flee below the grate had poured out again when Ningguang rose the Geo bridge, rushing toward the main mast. The second the light show faded and the Kraken began to sink, they were already hauling at that rope, bodily dragging their Captain back to the Alcor. Unnecessary, had it not been for the storm; even Beidou could not hope to swim to safety against waves quite so turbulent. But, just as she had got her crew, they had always gotten her back as well. And so, spitting out seawater and looking quite a bit worse for wear, with a few new scrapes and bruises from being banged against the hull by the waves, she was honestly doing great for a woman who just added yet another sea monster notch to her belt. And hey, it wasn’t even the kind of notches that made Ningguang angry! Win-win, really.

“That was,” panting and severely out of breath, she still didn’t forget to praise, “some trick there, Ning.” Barely propping herself up, Beidou was feeling a bit scrambled herself. Even then, she was always one that had a toast to raise in view of their fresh victory. “I think I should take you sailing - sea monster hunting included - more often.”

prettysoft · May 12, 2022

Muscular suckers thrashed at the Tianquan, but the phoenix maintained its sangfroid in the face of sky serpents and ocean wyrms. Giant tentacles. Ocean Gods. She gained a whole lot of experience on this adventure and party for two, but there were no shiny rewards at the end, just their hands to mend over wounds. Sending a final, beatific smile at Beidou, she admired the powerful silhouette bursting ahead through the pouring rain and launching onto shiny jade mounds. She was reaching for the purple light with outstretched fingers, praying to the Archons for safety, apologizing to Morax, and ~~eye-fucking~~ respecting the hell out of the Captain’s ferocious spark.

Rolling her lips together, Ningguang bent at the knees, tucked her chin in the direction of sharp gusts that bullied her delicate figure. Thundering clouds or pouring rain did not break her concentration, the higher pitched decibels lowered to the point that it was a dull hum, and then…solace. Static thrumming, lightning crackling; a gasp fled her lips as the pure energy reflected off the purple tides back at her, bathing her in signature light and driving out Osial’s voice.

Beidou’s massive spark could be seen all the way from Inazuma, shining like a lighthouse through the dense fog. A bow spar pierced the mist, miles out, but encroaching on the Calamari bloodbath.

“Beidou!” Ningguang glimpsed familiar faces all around her - Furong, Sea Drake, even Jazu came down from the quarterdeck. Hands joined together in pulling the rope, moving in harmony until Beidou was lying on the deck. The ocean thrashed yet, but a peace and calm settled the seas, and Ningguang knelt down so that her knees gently brushed Beidou’s crown. “Oh. That? That was nothing, my love.” Beaming from the captain's commendation."You were the star." Ningguang bowed over the woman, brushing her lips along Beidou’s forehead. “A jamboree should be held in the Crux’s honor, with you as our esteemed guest at the Jade Chamber.” Never in a million years did she ever dream of hosting Beidou's crew in her home, but now the idea excited her. They were a good bunch, a team that she wanted on her side.

The downpour slowed to a drizzle, and the mist swirled away with the saline-filled wind. A double rainbow appeared high in the gray-blue skies and the seagulls' caw signaled the worst of the storm passed. Or so Ningguang thought. A clipper sailing the ocean revealed through the fog its multitude of sails. A Fontaine symbol embroidered on the jack, and a mysterious figure eyeing them from the Crows Nest.

Ningguang uncurled from her seated position, didn’t need to say a word as the others noticed the ship approaching their territory from the broadside. Fontaine? That ship traversed the seas in seconds, and dwarf-sized humans, dressed in their most dapper, pirate outfits marched out and lowered its plank to bridge onto the Alcor.

“Ahoy, me hearties!” A miniature woman stepped down from the gangplank, heels clicking and an oversized cap sitting on her pink bob. She looked like a parody of a pirate, but the larger than life ship could be a benefit to them in their hour of need.

“Ahoy!” Juza’s gruff voice carried well over the distance, and he eyed the advancing woman suspiciously. “Stop right there, matey.” Cute and short, or a hulking brute, Juza did not discriminate. He protected his captain's ship like it was his own, and stepped in for Beidou when she was unable.

“Matey, indeed! Call me Bonnie, Captain Bonnie to you.” Bonnie twirled in her miniature hoop skirt, and curtsied. “You lot needs help? I saw the whole thing with me own eyes,” the feisty sprout clapped her hands on her hips, where a golden cutlass dangled. A l’il fang poked at her red lip, and a white cockatiel flew down from the Crows Nest, perched on her shoulder.

“I saw the whole thing!” It echoed, bobbing its neck. “Someone get me a kraken!”

“Oh, you quiet down, you.” The little pirate lady commanded the bird, and smirked at the crew. “So, what you say? My crew will set you guys up right. I’ve been hunting these waters looking for the Kraken - after it capsized my last ship. I thought I'd offer a bounty, but this is a worthwhile alternative. ”

"Beidou, what will you do?" Ningguang's tone was light, curious, but without pressure. They were strangers, but this Captain Bonnie offered help. Her story sounded believable, but they were a long ways from Fontaine.

ƒeral · May 14, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

“Don’t overpromise, gorgeous.” It didn’t matter if she was still catching her breath and gingerly pressingly against her ribs - a little ~~a lot~~ bit sore, but nothing broken, by the feel of it - Beidou never missed a beat when it came to quibs. “You’ve never seen the Crux in one place. If you intend to host the whole fleet, well, hah.” Leaning into the kiss, she flashed a suitably winning grin. “I wish you the best of luck.” It would happen though, and soon. Despite the serenity settling over weather and spirits alike, Beidou knew it wasn’t over. Her danger sense said as much, and she always trusted it. That Kraken was dangerous, but only the tip of the iceberg. Now that Osial was awake… She would save those grimdark thoughts for later, to ruminate on what the same meant for her, her crew, and Liyue at large. Right now, she had a clear sky to admire and - damn, that’s a big boat.

Beidou shook her head. Everything about Fontaine was so bloody elaborate. The approaching ship was at least twice if not thrice the size of the Alcor. Three main masts, but with far wider canvas sails and so, so many lines connecting the sails to position them every which way. A necessity, given how heavy that ship was compared to hers. At a glance, she counted fifteen guns peeking out of the lower deck, double that for the other side, and adding to it the cannons she couldn’t quite count on the spar deck…forty? It was nothing jaw-dropping, several ships in the Crux Fleet packed more firepower than that, but it was impressive. Impressive and utterly unnecessary for a merchant ship, which this definitely was not.

The Fontaine royal navy? No… Despite flying the Fontaine flag, that crew boarding her ship without permission did not have the crisp uniforms expected of the same. Pirates then.

Beidou tensed, and sat up straighter. Said nothing, not yet. Not because she was unable, but because she favored not drawing attention to herself immediately. Preferred to assess the situation first, because, whoever these pirates were, they were bold to board the Alcor like this. There were few who sailed the high seas that did not recognize the golden symbol of the Crux Fleet - that sword and anchor intermeshed - emblazoned proudly upon every crimson sail. But ah, her sails were still stowed - perhaps that was why. It was a recognition that often played to her advantage, but having so recently weathered the biggest kraken she had ever faced, even she had to concede a vulnerability easy to prey upon.

And so, she allowed Jazu to do his thing, lazily tracing the hilt of her greatsword, that blood red gem calmly apprising the newcomer. Didn’t recognize the fun-sized woman, despite the way the same woman was now standing on her deck with a familiarity reserved only to old friends. Something about her looked awfully familiar too, although Beidou could swear they had never met. Pink bob. Golden cutlass. White cockatiel? Oh!

Beidou stood, laughing, pressing a hand upon Ningguang’s shoulder in reassurance. “Bonnie, as in Bonnie & Clyde?” She marched over in a slow and deliberate pace to avoid jostling her bruised ribs. “So you are that pinkette for whom Clyde paid a fortune to buy that dragon turtle liver off of me.” It wasn't a question. The woman's expression already confirmed the same. Beidou stopped in front and leaned against her sword, matching the smirk ounce for ounce. She didn't introduce herself; none were necessary. “I’m guessing that’s the same bird, so it looks like the medicine arrived in time.” An eyebrow waggled, “Hey there lil’ pipsqueak, how’d the liver taste?”

“Yummy! Yummy!” Came the resounding chorus. Enough to make Beidou laugh and immediately wince, clutching at her side.

“Anyway, the Alcor will sail just fine, but I appreciate the offer.” Balanced and unflappable, but refusal never the same. Not looking for a side tour to Fontaine, no. And definitely not looking to get dragged to port like some sort of an invalid. The Alcor was admittedly more than a little banged up, but her hull was unbreached and her masts undamaged. Nothing more was needed for their trip back to Liyue Harbor. “That said,” her tune turned, grin widening and eyeing that Hydro Vision dangling next to the hoop skirt. “Clyde told me you were quite the healer, huh? ‘I just need that blasted turtle’s liver, and my love will take care of the rest’.” She offered with a suitably guff impression, because some comedic relief was good for her crew. Sunlight, after all, was expected after every storm’s end.

“Guilty as charged, but my services don’t come free, you know?” Quick to bargain, this Captain Bonnie was. It seemed that pirates were all cut from the same cloth. Beidou waved a hand. “Don’t worry about it, my crew could use a little patching up. Do this for me and I’ll gladly trade you my hunting trophy.” A half-turn to point at the half-charred tentacle laying limply upon the deck. Pallid and absolutely humongous. The diameter of three thighs side by side, at least. “Figured you would want a piece of your old foe as a memento, no?”

prettysoft · May 15, 2022

My hunting trophy.

Captain Bonnie mocked Beidou; a seraphic smile and a whistle her only reply to the renowned monster-slayer. A bevy of miniature mates assembled at the charred tentacle side, heaved it high above their heads and diverged onto the neighboring ship, disappearing from sight. One hulking tentacle and bits of driftwood from The Disgraced Princess was all that remained. That, Bubbly and her crew. A memento failed to satisfy when she planned to annihilate the kraken herself, but she knew a talented taxidermist that might assist with memorializing the legendary monster in its untimely aftermath. Maybe she could talk with Clyde about it - make-up, but that would come later. For now.

“Huddle around, mateys!” The buoyant l’il captain pointed her golden cutlass at the crowd and twirled vivaciously. Her flouncy skirt bobbed up and down during the can-can, hat shifted on her head, just about ready to fall off with every high kick. Her hydro vision glowed and a blue light washed over the petite lady. The Crux and friends encircled the ~~ballerina~~ pirate, touched by the healing aura within inches of the prancing woman. “Hy-ah!” A ki shout, as she charged her ultimate healing bomb. Prismatic bubbles burst all about, white foam imbuing all it touched with healing properties that not only simulated health, but vigor and effects on stamina that lasted hours.

Ningguang adapted fast to the culture on the deck, lending her Geo powers where she could to mend any broken fixtures. The crew mostly refused her help and were wholly inflexible on letting her lift a finger, so she retired in the captain 's quarters for the remainder of the trip. As she laid on Beidou’s bed and curled up with a book, the battle with the kraken and Osial’s declaration flooded her mind’s eye all at once. A pounding headache, that faded as quickly as it arrived. Ningguang calmly set the parchment down on the nightstand. She could no longer afford to be mute about her dreams from Rex Lapis, and would seek him out in the coming days to make sense of Osial’s cryptic message.

I’ll have to call a meeting with the Qixing to discuss this matter. Osial cannot be allowed to inflict any more pain.

The Jade Chamber eclipsed the Alcor as it sailed underneath the celestial palace, marking the end to The Tianquan’s island getaway with Beidou. She adorned her white, fur-lined mandarin collar, black elbow length gloves, and four inch heels that made it an impossibility to traverse the slick wood without sliding a centimeter or two. Cool gusts caught onto her silk qipao, flashing red ink and glowing ivory skin ripe with bright hickeys on her thighs. Ningguang whiffed the saline-filled air, Liyuen cuisine like deep fried fish and sautéed scallions calling to her. She didn’t have the palate for it, but that fragrant amalgamation of food was the scent of home. Delighted as she felt, significant duties as governing body over Liyue harbor never ended, and stepping back into that role meant less time with Beidou. Less time to frolic on the beach. Pretty much no time to kiss, or treasure dive.

She lamented her short vacation’s end, but the tiered rooftops peeking over the green-capped mountains placated any fears that Osial’s inimical proclamation affected Liyue. Her heart fluttered as the wharf children raced along the pier, fisherman boats lined the dock and - Baishi, Baiwen, and Baixiao bounced in place. The Alcor anchored, and Ningguang walked the plank onto Liyuen land, half-expecting to combust. The past two nights felt like a fever dream, bewildered almost, a nostalgia clenched her heart tight. Never mind the half-assed good-bye she gave to Beidou, but people were watching now.

“Lady Ningguang.” The secretary trio united in greeting the Tianquan. The multitude of overstuffed trunks that Ningguang packed along was handed over by a stronger pair of hands, which Baiwen happily accepted. “Your tan will be the talk of Liyue.” Baiwen remarked, beaming at their mistress.

“...Yes, that and the getaway with Captain Beidou.” Baixiao added in, with a bite that betrayed her stoicism. “Where did you go, Lady Ningguang? You’ll tell us, won’t you?” She begged, practically.

The secretaries were privy to the relationship between Beidou and Ningguang. In fact, it was Baiwen who - all those months ago - confirmed that she’d overheard Beidou in The Third Round Knock-Out praising the Tianquan’s beauty, but complaining about her in the same breath. Baiwen reported back to Ningguang, who was all too amused, but didn’t say a word on the subject. Similar to her demeanor now, Ningguang was quiet as a fox on the way back to the palace. She wasn't obligated to tell them a thing, but would dish out the details eventually.

The Jade Chamber appeared magical in Ningguang's absence, and she glided through the tall halls admiring her blood, sweat, and tears. Literally, she sweated while constructing the Jade Chamber. She bled during the decorative process, but only a little. Beidou's room on the ship had a certain feng shui, but it wasn't home. The marvelous castle in the sky was created purely from Ningguang's imagination, constructed from her purest thoughts and happened to be the safest place in all of Liyue. From up here, she could watch the Alcor, see the comings and goings of its inhabitants - if she didn't have a job. She lowered her caboose onto her soft chair, peering up at the ceiling. Metallic talons tapped on the wooden desk, and she angled back in the chair.

"Baixiao, have you followed up with the Merchants Guild in Snezhnaya?"

"Yes, Lady Ningguang. Anatoly was fined and spent twelve hours in jail for his crimes."

"..And Baiwen, have you succeeded in teaching the wharf children 'Liyue Millenial?' It's imperative that you do, those kids will teach the generations around them." Ningguang found her trusty pipe in the top left drawer, and her favorite herbal remedy. "Schedule a meeting with the Qixing for noon. Oh, and draw up ten templates for invitations."

"Yes, Lady Ningguang!"

ƒeral · May 15, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

Woe! For their beach getaway to be cut short by a day. But, in spite of the fact that her ribs no longer hurt when she drew breath (healing-specialized Hydro users, how nifty, she had to include an ad for those on Crux’s next recruitment campaign - a Captain could dream, right), Alcor was due for repairs and its crew needed some time off of the treacherous seas after the harrowing kraken attack.

Beidou spent most of the trip back manning the wheel. The saline-tinged wind lifted her sable brown strands, flirting with her recently healed skin - mostly; all the bruises and scrapes cleared up, but not the hickies? What was this, some kind of practical joke? Anyway, sailing helped her think, and there were a lot to think about. You, I know you. That jarring sentence echoed in her mind, knitting her brows. Because Osial wasn’t talking about her, that much was obvious. All that he loves shall be drowned… He. He? There could only be one he whom Osial would hate so intensely, so vehemently as to churn the waves and all that inhabited it. A millennia old grudge. That in and of itself didn’t concern Beidou. The archons warred and history was written by and for the winners. The losers, like Osial, well, his imprisonment spoke for itself. Except, Beidou knew only too well what wars amongst gods meant for mortals, and that vision of destruction, desolation, and orphans left a sour taste in her mouth.

Starting with you… Her fingers sunk into the wheel, knuckles whitening from the force of her bruising grip. That, she would not allow. Gods. Demonic gods. Sea monsters and their ilk. Come what might be, they would find Beidou standing, sword in hand and all that she meant to protect behind her back. In this, she was simple. Simple and dogged. All that she cared about, she would defend to her last breath, loyal and valiant down to the marrow. There were letters to write, orders to distribute, a god to slay. Not exactly what Beidou had in mind the last time she wishfully sighed for an adventure to fall into her lap but… She grinned. Vortex Vanquisher would be hers yet.

Mora changed hands, shipwrights arranged for and timber supplies secured. Requisitions, cannonballs and gunpowder, a new set of storm sails in the works. Wrote enough letters that her hand was starting to cramp. No special seals or anything - her unique ~~awful~~ handwriting was its own signature. In her defense, caoshu was a form of calligraphy. So you know, it wasn’t chicken scratch, it was a style. All in all, Beidou had an extremely productive morning. Waaay too productive compared to how she usually spent her time on land. Like by the seven, the sun wasn’t even fully overhead before she made her way through the wharf, dressed in that familiar red qipao.

She greeted familiar faces and stopped by the Trusty Blade for a brand new whetstone. Dallied in Heyu Tea House for some breakfast - it wasn’t exactly her scene, but listening to Tea Master Liu Su ramble on brought back fond memories of a particular night. Besides…she left the Tea House with a travel mug, Birch Sap, extra lemon - Ningguang wasn’t the only one who paid attention to these things.

“Oh hey!” She caught sight of a familiar gradient blue disappearing into a turn and sped up to catch up. Nearly ran into each other, with the way Ganyu had abruptly stopped and turned also. Luckily for the both of them, the Captain wasn’t quite so clumsy. “Long time no see,” she beamed, slightly amused by the way Ganyu pulled back, a hand over her heart, as if startled. Might have been, actually, now that she thought about it; Beidou strolling through Yujing Terrace just shy of noon was a rather new occurrence.

“O-oh, Beidou! I wasn’t expecting to see you here.” Ganyu trailed off, blinking, then hastily added, “not that it isn’t good to see you again. That’s not what I meant, hyaah…” Beidou could only chuckle. If she didn’t know any better, she would have guessed that Ganyu was quite a bit younger than herself based on the way the blue-haired girl acted. But she did know better - as it turned out, Ganyu’s alcohol tolerance wasn’t that great; guess qilin blood did nothing as far as liquor went - and learning that the rather ditzy ‘girl’ was a few thousand years older than herself had been quite a bit of a shock.

“Don’t sweat it,” she offered instead, before continuing. “But since you are here, I see I was just in time then. Lead the way, I have business with the Qixing.” She waved a rolled-up parchment in front of Ganyu’s nose. “Ah, I’m not sure if…” The half-qilin adeptus hesitated, quite uncertain what the proper course of action was. “Official Crux business.” Beidou helped with tipping the scale. “Just lead me to the meeting room and I’ll handle it. Oh, and can you hand this to Ningguang for me?” All but shoved the mug at Ganyu, exercising enough decisiveness for the both of them. “I’m sure the secretaries are brewing tea as well but, well, I got this myself so, it’s better.” Perfectly rational, no doubt about it.

And so that was how Beidou ended up marching right up to the Yuehai Pavilion, ~~strongarming~~ talking her way past the millelith on duty, and pulling up a chair for herself at the end of the table much to a few rather flabbergasted expressions. Flashed an absolutely self-satisfied grin at Ningguang - could practically see the headache starting to set in before she decided to spare her beautiful…whatever Ningguang was…from any mounting apprehension.

The wooden end of the scroll clinked against the well polished long table, before unfurling…and unfurling… Her hand still hurt from how much writing (and drawing) she did, but it was worth it to see the expressions on Liyue’s unofficial rulers’ faces. Coming to think of it, Beidou was quite certain a few of them might have doubted her ability to write at all. Which, based on the quality of calligraphy, was without a doubt well-founded.

“And so, in summation, there is absolutely nothing more prudent, more economical, and in the best interests of the Liyuan people, than hiring the Crux Fleet to defend your trade routes and harbors in the coming days.” She concluded her uninvited sales pitch. Could tell that her unconventional way of doing things ruffled a feather or two but, well, the Qixing were, above all else, trade leaders. Meaning, merchants. And nothing spoke louder to merchants than cold, hard numbers and solid rationale. It wasn’t a bad deal for the Crux but… From a profit vs. risk perspective, there were much better deals to be struck. No, Beidou could have asked for much more but didn’t, because this was personal. Not that she would admit it, of course. All this over a girl? Yes, absolutely. Have you met Beidou?

prettysoft · May 18, 2022

“…Osial’s risen from his lair in Guyun Stone Forest? This grave news gives us an edge over the defeated God.” Tianshu - the graybeard himself, left his old boat and trusty pole behind to stop at Yuehai Pavillion to hear the Lady Tianquan’s urgent message. He suspected fishy business, when the Alcor drifted onto the docks; missing wood chunks on the deck, sails shredded and ballistae demolished. His intrigue into the affairs of pirates spanned his career as a fisherman and began early into adolescence. Alas, the life of a fisherman spoke to his love for peace and tranquility, the life besotted to him. Osial’s existence threatened that, and the haunting announcement that the Lady Tianquan relayed to him word for word left them in dire of need of defenses. The pride glittering in Ningguang’s bright eyes when she detailed the harrowing battle with the kraken, highlighting the heroics of Captain Beidou, confirmed the elder’s worst suspicions.

That rumor mill worked overtime the minute the Alcor sailed off with the Tianquan aboard the notorious wave rider. There was something to be said about a gorgeous woman that steps onto the Alcor for a day, or a fortnite. Those types of women earned a reputation, but what was to be said about the Tianquan’s relationship with the captain? Could she be judged in the same manner? A passing thought, as a significant battle awaited them, and the shores of his homeland were vulnerable to an attack by a raging god.

“I don’t understand. Can Osial come back after all this time?” Keqing aimed to make headway with the Tianquan, to understand how a deep-sea dive turned into…this.. Nimble on her toes, as well as light-speed processing in strategic battle. “Your admissible tale should be enough to summon the Royal Navy, yes?” The lavender nails primped feline-ears shaped out of lavender tresses. “We should connect with them right away to work out a plan.” She concluded, before the oaken doors opened slowly.

Milileth soldiers stepped aside, lowering spears to their waist. Golden light filtered into the square space - announcing Captain Beidou’s arrival as she made entry into the pavilion. The familiar echo of stiletto boots, and face which she hadn’t laid eyes on in over eight hours ignited all senses. Ningguang missed the woman, wished she stayed behind on the Alcor to kiss their goodbyes. She resented the whimsy, weak wave she exchanged with Beidou, but that brought to life the butterflies dormant in her core.

“What’s this youngster doing in here?” Uncle Tian leaned left-side to inquire into the sudden, unannounced swaggering presence. Difficult to see the powerful woman as she was, when he tended to her as a young girl new to their world. Uncle Tian stifled a guffaw, drawing the attention of garnet irises. Beidou’s unscheduled appearance with the Qingxi ruffled a feather, or two, but no one objected outwardly. To see the orphan turned pirate standing in front of them in the flesh, pronouncing words and elaborate syntax to get her point across shocked everyone. Curious gazes trailed the sable-maned pirate to an altar, nary a clue about what the captain might say as a scroll unfurled, and clunked onto the floor.

Seated adjacent to the Tianshu, Ningguang sipped silently the tea hand-delivered by Ganyu. Her blush turned to an immutable red; cheeks globular and pregnant with floral tea as her girlfriend strolled down the aisle. Keqing clutches the petaled brooch dressing her bosom; touched her heart wearily with soft fingertips. The girls’ collectively clutched their pearls and silks, jaws dropping in sync.

Acutely aware of the Captain’s motives, Uncle Tian angled backward in his chair, and his stern gaze never left Beidou. When the proposal concluded, Uncle Tian conferenced with the members of the Qixing, deliberating with whispers and knowing glances. The Crux's advantageous reputation benefitted them in more ways than one, especially since a Liyue navy did not exist, and their city could be easily overwhelmed at any time.

“D-did you know that she could write like that?” Keqing inquired, Ganyu’s tender hand landed on the slope of Keqing’s shoulder, doll-like lashes blinking in unison as her shocked gaze bounced between her counsel. Holding her best friend close, or as near to her body as she could to comfort her during this strange affair and important meeting, Ganyu shook her head innocently.

“Of course.” Ningguang surmised of Beidou’s presentation, no less embarrassed than she was ten minutes ago. “Let us take a look at that.” That prompted the qilin-blooded girl to collect Beidou’s scroll from her hands. She returned it to Ningguang, and they all leaned around her, reading every line meticulously. “Broad strokes.” She remarked on Beidou’s calligraphy, gulping warm tea, stealing a glance while indulging in the fruity top notes and citrus bursts.

“It is unlike you to advertise your services in this way, Beidou. I am not alone in saying that we are all intrigued by your dedication to Liyue.” No, the thought never once ran through her mind that the elaborate plan to hire the Crux happened to be inspired by none other than herself. Beidou failed to say as much, but Ningguang liked imagining the scenario in which Beidou stood to defend her honor - their city. The place they called home, and the place where they could stay forever.

“The Qixing accepts your offer of protection, Captain.” Ningguang acknowledged the Crux as an affiliate of Liyue, an official addition to their defenses. “I’ll have you deliver the requisitions to Baishi this evening, let us discuss what more can be added to the Alcor to help protect all that we love.” Ningguang reeled the lengthy parchment until it was condensed to a handheld size, and passed the baton to Ganyu. The horned girl did as expected. “I have advice for the captain, which I believe to be better enjoyed in private.” The affable Tianquan’s cupid bow arched upwards, and she stood up; palms flat on the round table. No, she didn’t expect to discuss important matters and leave the Qixing out. She just wanted a little privacy, and they were already suspicious of their relationship. "I will visit the Alcor tonight with my secretaries, and we can assess the damages to your ship. It will need to be in tip-top shape, wouldn't you agree?"

ƒeral · May 20, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

Qixing’s acquiescence was a foregone conclusion, though Beidou did offer Ningguang the most brilliant of grins upon being addressed. It wasn’t even a matter of cockiness. Just pure logic, really. After all, she was practically offering charity work. Protecting trade routes? Establishing a sea patrol line from here to Ganyu Ge? The profit therein was pitiful.

That in and of itself would not have surprised. While Beidou could certainly be shrewd when she wanted to be, by and large she had never been quite as profit-obsessed as the rest of Liyue. There was a good reason why the Crux was often regarded as the shining symbol of humanity in Liyue - the Crux’s services were expensive to charter, but that same fleet also often lent itself to those in need, free of charge.

No, what had the Kaiyang and the Tianji gossiping between themselves was the formality of the pledge. Just as everyone knew that Captain Beidou slew Haishan, it was equally well known that Beidou flouted authority at every turn when the same did not suit her. The Qixing had long wished to treat the Crux as just another merchant fleet within its dominion, subject to its laws and, more important, taxation. And the Crux - well, Beidou’s long list of uncollected fines and tariffs spoke for itself. For those in the know, that the Captain safeguarded Liyue Harbor in her own ways was no secret. However, the same had always been on her own terms. That Beidou offered not just protection, but cooperation, was quite the foreign concept.

You think? The Kaiyang queried wordlessly with a lift of a serrated brow, glancing between the Tianquan and the Captain. Definitely. The Tianji nodded, stroking his chin. Interesting, very interesting. Potentially useful, and potentially dangerous. Neither of them had any particular ill-will toward Ningguang; all of the Qixing were, by and large, collaborative with one another. But merchants were merchants, meaning they were always, always, crunching the numbers. There were new areas to which they could expand their influences should Ningguang prove distracted, or, in the alternative, areas where they needed to strengthen their hegemony should the Crux ever openly favored the Tianquan in trade. Those were all agendas for a later day, however, because at present, Osial’s awakening was a matter of paramount concern for all of them.

Except Beidou.

Perfectly embodying the concept of ‘out of sight, out of mind,’ the Captain handed over her elaborate plans and cartography and promptly put the same out of her mind. That was enough work for a day. She had written letters (letters!), negotiated a thinly veiled defense pact of sorts (to be on the side of the law? Hello? Is the sky falling yet?), and restrained herself from marching over and draping herself onto Ningguang’s back (to steal a kiss in front of the Qixing, now there was a thought). All in all, she had more than done her good deeds of the day, and it seemed high time to kick back and unwind. Only, remember what unwinding for Beidou was again?

After battle, Beidou always sharpened her greatsword, and had bought a new whetstone and all for that precise purpose. When she looked at Ningguang though, the sword she wanted to polish was indubiously great, but not the same one she stuck into the Kraken. "You got it,” she answered, upbeat and entirely too agreeable, making a mental note to delegate all the additional requisition stuff to Juza later. Her own jasper made a point to linger on the slits ascending Ningguang’s qipao when she rose. To admire, but also to fuel the smugness in the curl of her lips as she noted where pink and mulberry peeked through the rich brown-black panels. That high-collar might have done an excellent job concealing most of the marks, but Ningguang’s hips and thighs were a different story. She wasn’t so sure how much the rest of the Qixing paid attention but, while she had promised a level of discreetness, that was not the same as secrecy.

Oh no, those endless love letters and marriage proposals flowing in every which way? She was absolutely dead set on putting an end to that. Starting with Ningguang’s colleagues. That Kaiyang guy. Beidou didn’t care for how he wiggled his eyebrow in Ningguang’s general direction, nevermind the two other Qixing representatives seated on either sides of her.

“We’ll see about that visit,” she waved a hand, not dismissively, but intentionally cryptic, before standing as well and offering a polite nod to Liyue’s governing body. “I thank the Qixing for its indulgences today, and will be taking my leave then.”

A visit to the Alcor, while the same was undergoing heavy (read: noisy) repairs? No thanks. Other than not wanting to subject her own ears to all that ruckus, it made awful mood music for what she wanted with her gorgeous…nope still couldn’t say it. Because Beidou wasn’t quick to forget the promises whispered in Osial’s underwater caverns before all hell broke loose, and said promises were already overdue. Sure, sure, a literal ancient god resurfaced and they were attacked by a mountain of a kraken, plenty of valid excuses, but still.

And that was why, well before sunset and Ningguang’s professed desire to visit the Alcor, it was Beidou who ascended the height of the Jade Chamber instead. “Hiya, can I trouble you to take this to Ningguang’s chambers?” She handed her exceedingly minimal carry-ons to Baiwen, whose expression couldn’t seem to decide between feigned nonchalance and girlish squealing. In comparison, Baixiao had much more of an attitude.

“Lady Ningguang is working, you can’t just march in there and--” Baixiao trailed off upon realizing that the pirate she was lecturing was very much missing from her previous spot, and, spinning on her heels, attempted her utmost to chase down the hooligan that actually just sprinted past her. “Hey! Wait! I’m not done talking!”

That Ningguang’s office featured such an open floor plan was both a blessing and a curse. Easy to find, but no door to close in Baixiao’s nose.

“Hey there, beautiful.” “Lady Ningguang, please tell the Captain that she cannot just-!” They both spoke at once, the latter flustered, and the former too busy eye-fucking Ningguang to pay attention to the latter. Studious, was that a look she was attracted to? No, Beidou was quite sure that wasn't a thing, and yet, reality seemed to disagree. In her defense, having gone from basking in Ningguang’s presence all day to now verging on fifteen hours away, those piles of papers were increasingly looking like something to be swept aside and scattered all about in the name of draping Ningguang over her desk.

Another enticing thought, but she was a bit more well-behaved than that. Instead, Beidou grinned wide and draped herself onto Ningguang’s table. Backwards, with her burnished brown tresses spilling in waves, chin tilted back, cherry and crimson marks on full display from the elongation of her throat. She raised a hand and twirled a strand of Ningguang’s hair, marveling at how the afternoon sun dyed it a warmer hue. “I missed you.” Offered that over Baixiao’s sputtering. “My ship is being repaired, so I am just a wee boat captain without a boat. Rumor has it that the Tianquan of Liyue has a magnificent palace in the sky and, coincidentally, is also the most beautiful woman in Teyvat. So I figured hey, why not bum with her for a while?”

prettysoft · May 22, 2022

Ningguang sauntered past jade and coral painted vases, qipao flaps fluttering over her velveteen thighs as she bent at the waist and lowered onto her throne. A hefty stack of letters spritzed with the essence of rose required addressing. Tax certificates from sailors and captains docked on Liyue harbor needed review. Orders for necessary construction accouterments were at the highest priority, as the storm inspired by Osial’s rage not only affected the isles they vacationed on, but left heavy damage to local businesses and all but destroyed the orphanage roof. Ningguang loathed Osial for that one, so ink flowed onto parchment and she neatly signed 凝光. The Lady Tianquan dived headfirst into the other paperwork, single-minded in her focus to lower the paper column to nothing. Dirty Tien - a known pirate- addressed his insurance claim to ‘involved parties’ and Ningguang after a banister fell and sliced through his sail. The Lady Tianquan freed a giggle, and set the insurance claim aside for the time being. Oh, she would visit him much later to get down to his goofy behavior and claims.

I suppose I will hit two birds with one stone this evening.

Last one.A fountain pen dipped into ink; a glissando over paper as Ningguang returned a letter from Sylvia of Fontaine. The would-be suitor failed to wriggle into her locked heart, as it only beat for Captain Beidou for the foreseeable future. She optimistically stamped the letter shut with crimson wax, added that to a pile of replies to be mailed off at her nearest discretion. Ningguang unraveled a scroll that tumbled past her lap, at her slippered feet. It was an index of all the businesses in Liyue - a list of debts owed, unpaid taxes.

Ningguang overheard jabbering down the hall, and sorely missed her office door, which mysteriously vanished. Barring her goddess girlfriend(of course), the secretaries and visitors were unwelcome from disturbing her during work hours. She tucked the scroll, re-bound it with its leather twine and put it in a compartment in her desk. She figured whoever it was, Baixiao was on guard duty and they wouldn’t make it past her bark. She pulled her abacus inward and flipped the pages of a little black book, adding up inventory and purchases for her business ventures. She swiped a wooden bead on the abacus, when Beidou and Baixiao both raced into her ~~den~~. The Lady Tianquan hesitated for a split second, continued flicking the wooden pieces, and paused intermittently to account for her sum. Ningguang’s resolute gaze narrowed on the numbers written on her paper, tapping her pen to a glossed lip. She scribbled untidily, paused finally as light tingles pulled her from arithmetic induced reverie. Kept counting for seconds longer, jotting her numbers down, until...

“Beidou.” Ningguang found the imposing, magnificent captain admiring her. She didn’t regret seeing her goddess girlfriend in the flesh, poised statuesque with surprising flexibility and toying with her luxurious tresses like the hair on her head belonged to her. That little gesture caused her skin to pebble, and she swallowed lightly. The berry patches decorating the marble column reminded her of the warmth and softness. A subtle taste that she would need to experience again to pinpoint the exact flavor. Garnet gemstones sparkled as she tilted her chin to better delight in the sight. The chocolate, sometimes violet strands whiffed ginseng and sea. How fortunate that Beidou played only with her hair, and not her heart. Baixiao grumbled in the background, and Ningguang leaned ‘round Beidou, peering at the assistant balancing the luggage as Beidou elaborated on her plans.

“A boat that big needs extra help at times.” Ningguang linked her fingers together, a cherubic smile on her recently glossed lips. That Baixiao witnessed this particular instance of PDA, she was sorry, but she was thankful that the girls signed an NDA upon being hired. As for Beidou moving in for an unspecified amount of time, word would find a way to the Liyue residents eventually. The flattery from Beidou’s talented tongue helped, but the imagery of how that tongue could flip and fold shackled her to the thought. Ningguang eagerly nodded at the idea, crossed her arms over her bosom. “Baixiao, find a suitable place in my closet for the Captain’s belongings.” Closet, being a spare room in the palace for couture hanfu, fancy qipaos, expensive heels, and rare jewels plucked from sea and volcanoes.

“Yes, Lady Ningguang.” Baixiao displayed less enthusiasm than usual, pouted her lips and waddled down the hall, holding the luggage. She did consider dropping it over the edge of the jade palace, but not really. She liked the Captain before this. Before Ningguang made a rule that she was allowed to stop by without an appointment. But, Lady Ningguang asked not to be bothered, and Baixiao hated that Beidou showed up and disregarded that.

“You are going to live here, Beidou. Have you ever lived with a girlfriend before?” The Tianquan stretched her gloved hands high above her head, abdomen stretching, a squeaky yawn escaping her mouth. The qipao hugging her vase-like waist rose an inch or two, exposing soft inner thigh and subtle hip bone. Ningguang scooted back in her chair, sashayed to the front end of her massive desk, pointed her index and pressed it to Beidou's heart. “Not that it matters, you are mine.” She sang happily, rather, lacking the possessive feelings she felt before. Beidou wasn’t going to trounce any hares - a crystal clear fact after the duo slayed a kraken together.

Ningguang sensually caressed Beidou’s neck, pointed finger-cuffs imprinting on love bites. That was her handiwork alright. “It would please me if we stayed this close forever.” Smooth abs met Beidou’s defined stomach, igniting her senses - heat flooding to her glowing cheeks. Beidou's figure was carved from impenetrable stone, soft in the right places, at the right times. Keen on bending Beidou’s back a little further, Ningguang aimed to do just that; pushing with her bosom and leading Beidou to lie on the table. Rather than crawl, Ningguang conserved her energy. A vulpine on the hunt, she pounced on the suspecting prey, wrapping around it. Long, sunset-white tresses falling over her shoulders, spilling onto the captain’s visage. Sweeping the voluminous length behind her, Ningguang frisked Beidou underneath the qipao, groping hard abs, exploring strong inner thigh. “I’ll have to show you to your room later.” A mischievous spark as the sun hit her pearly white teeth, and her twinkling gaze met with Beidou's. “Our room, I suppose.” Back arched, Ningguang pinned the captain to the cherry oak, plush thighs straddling her waist, and baring down on the easily excitable snake with her perky derrière and silk panties. Ningguang clamped her lips around Beidou's neck, sucking, and testing the taste. She hadn't noticed it before, but the electro tickled her tastebuds, a layer of smokiness underneath the sweet that tempted Ningguang to bite.

ƒeral · May 22, 2022

ʙᴇɪᴅᴏᴜ

It did belong to her though, didn’t it? Every single gorgeous hair. The indulgence enlivening those eyes. Eyes that tracked along her throat - Beidou slanted her jaw up and back, demonstrating no qualms whatsoever under Ningguang’s inspection. Could certainly appreciate that sort of aesthetics herself, but later, when that high collar wasn’t there to conceal her varied and numerous assertions. Besides, this was a sort of declaration also. The kind that proclaimed - See? I didn’t go run off and offer my carrot to the first interested bunny. Her expression said as much too; languid, playful, sleek as a sunbathing panther with Ningguang’s table as her sunrock. And, instead of the sun, it was Ningguang's gaze she bathed under.

“You are not wrong,” Beidou chirped from her prone position, “my big boat will take all the extra help you are inclined to offer.” Pearly teeth peeked out from how wide she grinned. Bit on the nose, that one, but nobody ever accused Captain Beidou of coyness. “Just you though,” she appended, quickly, treading carefully after how Ningguang reacted from just seeing her bed. A quiet chuckle pushed to the forefront as Baixiao received her instructions, and, because she could, Beidou blew a raspberry at the retreating figure for good measure. She was not usually this much of a troublemaker, but call it elation from basking in Ningguang’s presence or what-have-you, Beidou really was in the best of moods. That, or all the bowls of storm wine she had slooshed down between the Qixing meeting and now were catching up with her. But like, she woke up early and took care of business and all that. It was now just past mid-afternoon, pretty close to the end of an average workday, no? Either way, her workday had definitely ended, now was time for some fun.

Girlfriend. Beidou mouthed the word, almost as though tasting it, before regaling Ningguang with a flirtatious look. “Is that what not-a-hare is called?” She smiled bright enough for her cheeks to dimple, relinquishing the strand in her grasp as Ningguang drew back, replacing it with the scorch of her gaze. “Can’t say I have,” that single eye tracked her... girlfriend from seat to the front of the table. Kind of liked the sound of that, actually. “But I do love new adventures, my girlfriend.” There were better monikers to be sure, but that was an acknowledgement, an affirmation, that yes, she did indeed view Ningguang as such. Not a hare, despite the snow-white hair and striking red eyes. Beidou propped her arms behind herself, on the verge of pushing up when that single digit jabbed. Falling back down, she yielded to the nonexistent force and offered her acquiescence with an amused glimmer to her gaze.

Gold-tipped fingernail guards descended the offering of her throat, causing jugulars to tense and breathing to pick up a hitch. “Mm, that’s nice, but here?” A brow quirked in askance, jasper lidded not in disapproval, but rather intrigue. “I kind of figured you to be the type who would want to maintain the sanctity of your office and all that.” Was clearly wrong about that one though, because said woman was already pressing her an additional inch into the table until her arms were flat against the cherry oak. Sanctity be damned?

Limber as Beidou was, she nevertheless scooted back a foot or two, reclining more comfortably. Craning up from the power of her core alone, she stole a kiss up against Ningguang’s jaw. “I see you missed me as well,” the intended snicker didn’t quite make it though, replaced by a quiet moan as fingers scoured the form-fitting black silk beneath the lantern red. She clenched, instinctively, further delineating the absolute perfection of her toned stomach for those appraising digits.

“Have I told you that those faux-claws of yours are kind of hot?” An inhale, feeling not just the soft of gloves, but also the cool of those metallic and indubiously sharp claws she praised sweep over her thigh. Muscles flexed everywhere Ningguang tracked, unable to relax as want knotted her stomach and singed her exhales. “Then again,” her head fell back against the table, hips jolting from the entirely too delicious pressure. She swallowed hard, “everything about you is delectable.” An arm wrapped around Ningguang’s waist, snaking down and groping a handful of a pert rear, squeezing greedily. The other threaded through frosted gossamer, simply admiring.

Beidou had never been particularly difficult to rouse, but with Ningguang, it was almost like she was an adolescent again. That was to say, it took nothing more than an appraising touch descending her torso for that rousing leviathan to strain against its confinement, a heat and shape difficult to miss through a few flimsy layers of silk. “I’m thinking about the next time you sit down to work,” she groaned into the bite, arching up until the small of her back was no longer touching the table. Her hand ascended and curled against the back of Ningguang’s neck, keeping her close and savoring the pain-laced pleasure, urging ever more. That unruly sea serpent pulsated hard, and Beidou grinded her hips up and against where she yearned to go. “-Would you squirm,” finally got around to trying to finish the rest of that sentence, a task made difficult by the heave of her breasts and the ruggedness of her breathing, “reminiscing on everything we are doing, that we are gonna do.” Ningguang had her mischievous streak and all, but Beidou was the bonafide skirt chaser here, an experience illustrated by the way fingers molded and contoured Ningguang’s posterior and the continuous stream of filth she spewed.

Unfortunately, unscheduled visitors appeared to come in pairs. Quite literally, as a pair of unexpected voices rang out a few chambers down, prompted by Baiwen's cheerful greeting. Ganyu’s sputtered, adorable as always, apologizing profusely for arriving without an appointment. Leading the show, Keqing cut through it all with her no-nonsense go go go attitude. Doubtlessly, this would be a continuation of the Qixing meeting earlier, but with more skepticism and concrete details. Much like her domain of real estate and construction, Keqing was meticulous when it came to blueprints. Odds were, she had already cooked up a dozen different formulations of defense towers to stand guard over the shoreline of Liyue Harbor. Expense and manpower aside, that sort of aggressive display of military might contradicted everything Liyue Harbor stood for, and that was probably why she was here to discuss it in person rather than penning a construction proposal.

“I know Ningguang is busy. She’s always busy, but this is important.” The voice drew closer. As always, the Yuheng waited for no one.

prettysoft · May 24, 2022

The scorching lily tucked behind white satin yearned to come out and play, to spoil the root with honey and dew. Besides, that hard branch pulsating on her pert rear required watering. Despite Ningguang’s earlier sentiments, the stern grip at the nape, and squeezing on the decadent, round cheeks, pronounced by her dimpled low back, simply ignited the fuel to mount the spire prodding silk layers. The way supple flesh sprang back to perfection, no doubt with Beidou’s fingerprints seared onto her cream complexion, prompted Ningguang to sink sharp canines into her lover’s heated flesh. The scar tissue softened underneath taste buds, gentle lavs exchanged with sucking. Sucking to biting, either way, Ningguang’s pretty little mouth occupied itself with the mildly soft, singed taste of her girlfriend. A breathy moan sounded from Ningguang’s throat, craning her neck gracefully, seeking that eye as their torsos brushed another.

“I can use my claws in more ways than I have revealed, love.” To make it clear, Ningguang’s talented claws tore through parchment and silk, if one was careless during the Tianquan's escapade they may leave with more than a scrape. “I will summon you to my office more often. You will only be next door.” The quilted buttons, Ningguang plucked at with the pointy talons, and on the same blouse, metallic clasps reflecting her hungry gaze back at her. The silver brooches clicked open, and Ningguang squirmed her excitement at the friendly trouser serpent rousing her garden.“I will.” The sanctity of the office remained intact for minutes longer - perhaps. “I want to see it, Beidou. I want to do it.” Ningguang’s lidded irises admired the strawberries on blushing canvas, searching past the concave valley, and balanced on her knees above the rock hardness. Never mind that just the other night, she reasoned with the captain that the speed of their boat trip sailed a little too fast. She wanted to board the raft for a second go around; travel abroad and plunge into waters yet to be explored.

Ningguang peppered Beidou’s throat with lavish kisses, scooted lower on her lap; knees knocking stacked love letters, and the abacus onto the wood floors. Angling low to Beidou’s chest, clipping white chiffon with her canines. Giggling girlishly, Ningguang flashed her posterior to an unsuspecting Baiwen as she turned around the corner, dumbfounded at the full-moon on a sunny evening peeking through gold slits. That Baiwen witnessed this before Ganyu or Keqing was a blessing, as the aid squealed her shock, rapidly pointed to a random spot on a wall and wailed to them.

“Spider!”

Beidou appeared to be recovering before Ningguang heard the shrill announcement down the hall. Guests. No. Keqing. The snowy and warm strands encompassing the desk flooded inward as Ningguang rose from the dipped position, lashes fluttering as the chattering and yelping increased. Turns out, there really was a spider in the hallway. Ningguang descended the table with reddened elbows and knees, extended both legs over the large desk while fluffing the mane collar to hide the slowly fading cherry marks. A meeting. Prepare for the meeting. She repeated like a mantra, pivoted, and almost bumped into Beidou. A wide-eyed hare, the pink and recently moistened lips parted in amusement. “Beidou.” Ningguang quickly remembered her beau was hanging out in the office, and needed to be hidden. Scrambling in slippered feet, Ningguang seized her love by the qipao and shoved her this way, and that. Couln't make her mind about where to stow her captive. “I need you to hide. Quick.”

N-not there! The Tianquan wore horror, or rather, fascination on her face as Beidou scuttled behind her desk and into the empty space where her chair slotted into. There was more than enough room for the both of them, or so Ningguang believed. The desk was large for desk standards, but there was only one way to find out. Ningguang plopped down in the chair quickly, crossing dainity ankles loosely and doing the same with her hands. Strands of moonlight stuck out of her bun, and the figure-hugging garment sat off center on her curves. Ningguang patted and pressed the fabric down, swayed to the side to see Baiwen approaching with their guests. After the commotion died down, Ningguang suspected she had seconds…maybe, to get her affairs in order.

“Lady Ningguang.” Baiwen strolled in cautiously, one eye closed, the other searching the wide room for Captain Beidou. She glanced over chests and behind elephant eared plants. Holding a clipboard to her bosom a silent sigh of relief escaped her. “Lady Keqing and Lady Ganyu would like five minutes of your time.”

"Yes. I have comments and important suggestions.” Keqing’s nose scrunched up, and held her tongue to the roof of her mouth. An amiable smile, as slow steps were taken to approach the Tianquan’s desk. "This may take more than five minutes, but I don’t mean to waste your time.” Your precious, precious time. While you sit here in your castle dormant, Osial remains a threat!Lace gloves flexed as Keqing’s fist curled at her side. “If you’ll only hear me out, that is.”

“Baiwen, you’ll come to fetch me in ten minutes, won’t you?” The generous Tianquan’s perfect silhouette was like a shadow as the sun set over the tangerine and blue horizon. Baiwen waltzed around the room lighting the sconces, pulling the curtain over the window. “Now, what are these proposals?” Ningguang opened her arms, gesturing at the two empty seats. Her palms landed on her knees, resting rather than tapping. “I am all ears.” Ningguang always had time for her mates, and for their visit, she offered them double what they asked of her.

“Particularly, the borders. Don’t you think we should close the major trade routes and focus on securing the shoreline?” Keqing queried, exchanging a look with Ganyu. I know you won’t want to waste any of your precious mora, but it is a necessity. “I want to concentrate our offenses onto the beaches, erect towers and place scouts in the water…”

“I agree. Liyue is undefended, and we can not rely on the Crux to fight the battle alone.” Ganyu stated, nodding as if to cement the point.

“I see.” Ningguang braced for the worst, exhaled, but held her tongue until the girls finalized their proposal. She extended her legs, prodded squishy and firm all at once with the tip of her slippers. A smile bounced onto her lips, and Ningguang opened a compartment filled to the top with blank scrolls and related doo-dads. “Changes such as these need to be discussed with the other leaders. I won’t shut the major trade routes down. Perhaps, stricter regulations and operating hours, but all of Liyue depends on these shipments.” Ningguang wished for nothing more than to appease everyone, but she was beyond trying.

Who's running the show again?

ɢᴇɴsʜɪɴ ❇ 璃月之傲 & 龙翔凤舞 || 𝔏𝔦𝔶𝔲𝔢'𝔰 𝔭𝔬𝔴𝔢𝔯 𝔠𝔬𝔲𝔭𝔩𝔢 || ƒᴇʀᴀʟ x ᴘʀᴇᴛᴛʏsᴏғᴛ

𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

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𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

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𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

❤︎❤︎

𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

❤︎❤︎

𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

❤︎❤︎

𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

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𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

❤︎❤︎

𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

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𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

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𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

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𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

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𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕥𝕙𝕒𝕥 𝔀𝓲𝓵𝓭 𝕚𝕟 𝕞𝕪 𝕧𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕤

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