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yuniemaki · 1 year

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Dancing in circles

A beiguang mafia au. Beidou x Ningguang. Art by Taro Rating: M Status: Complete Content Warnings: organised crime, gun violence, drug dealing, gang violence

Summary: Thirteen years ago, Ningguang vanished, but Beidou will not give up on her first and only love even when she returns a criminal. After all, in a time long lost, they made a promise.

Chapter list on AO3

Cruelty in red

Just business

Stasis

Secrets

Dancing in circles

Rules of the game

Weeds in the garden

To play the game

The right thing

Consequences

Turbulence

Web of lies

Lingering feelings

Love

Blood oath

Kind-hearted

Mine

Equilibrium

One last game

What is love?

Caduceus

Yours

Restoration

Ours

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yuniemaki · 1 year

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Character Study: Ningguang, the Eclipsing Star Part I

The biggest secret in Liyue, is not a secret in of itself, but Ningguang, who herself knows all the secrets of Liyue.

Liyue knows her by many names: the Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, the Lady of the Jade Chamber, socialite, ruthless businesswoman whose wealth is unsurpassed in all of Teyvat, Liyue's most beautiful and unsolvable enigma.

Fast-forward two years of Genshin, however, and while the titles still remain, we as her friends have witnessed her being more often than not simply "Ningguang". In this essay we'll attempt to chart her character arc over the last two years in chronological order, her relationships with her inner circle (most notable is Beidou, who brings out a lot of her character), and where this puts her now before the beginning of 2023 and our third Lantern Rite in Liyue.

A/N: Events will feature both EN and CN dialogue due to translation nuances. The Archon Quests, for the most part, were translated accurately.

Archon Quest Chapter I: Act I - III

When we first meet Ninggguang, she appears aloof, mysterious and cordial. Traveler observes that she certainly doesn't lack in ambition.

We also get a sense of her power in Liyue - from the Jade Chamber to the intelligence network of the Liyue Qixing, and this is further reinforced by the way the scenes frame her face and body. Typically, high camera shots are used in film to evoke a sense of authority, danger, fear and tension, which is a good allusion to how the traveler feels about meeting someone whom they've heard only whispers about.

Ningguang is the only character who uses a lot of idioms and metaphors in her Chinese lines - even Zhongli is more direct than her. In CN, she comes across as a very indirect person because of this, and one whose true motives are not clear from the start.

During the battle against Osial, we see a slightly different side of Ningguang - the side of her that is willing to sacrifice her life's work to protect Liyue Harbour. But Tianquan or no, there is a severity in her expressions after the Jade Chamber is destroyed, and a curtness in her tone that wasn't there before. She's clearly carrying on her duty and compartmentalizing what she's lost.

The way this particular shot is framed (bottom) as Madame Ping speaks of how the Jade Chamber was constructed, Ningguang's eyes are not shown on purpose, although you do see the rather polite smile she still wears.

We're left to guess what kind of emotions danced across those eyes when Madame Ping was speaking, referring to her not just as a businesswoman but the "backbone of the Liyue Qixing". Through it all, Ningguang still wears that cordial smile - the mask that she has learned to wear through years of practice in Liyue's marketplace.

We'll also see that although she still holds that smile, her eyes don't seem as vibrant as they were in her introduction to the Traveler (top - post-Osial, bottom - pre-Osial). Clearly the loss of the Jade Chamber has hit hard, but she has duties to a nation and to the people.

We don't get to realise the significance of this loss until much later during her hangout, which we'll get to later. But notice how after this quest, Ningguang never speaks of the Jade Chamber or Osial ever again to us, even during Moonchase, not until it rises once more and survives Beisht.

Chapter II: Act I

After the events of Osial, we finally meet Beidou before we head to Inazuma, after seeing 10293890321 voicelines about her in Ningguang's profile and vice versa.

We are given our first look at a person Ningguang seems to trust, more so than the traveler, because she's told Beidou all about Osial. This is significant as we, as the traveler, are turned away by Bu'yun post-Osial when we inquire about Ningguang - who is "tied up with administrative tedium".

As far as we know, Ningguang shut herself away after Osial, disappearing from public view - until Chapter II Act I, where Beidou mentions that she spoke with Ningguang about Osial. This is at odds with what we know of her in her introduction - the Liyue Qixing's primary focus is to lay low. But of all the Tianquans who have governed Liyue's laws, Ningguang is an exception.

Ningguang is a socialite; she revels in being the talk of the town, and yet after Osial and losing her Jade Chamber, she all but disappeared from the public limelight.

The loss of the Jade Chamber hit her harder than we know, especially when we remember that she values the Jade Chamber more than anything else in her life - it was her life's work, it was designed to be infinite, it was a symbol of her wealth and power, but she gave it all up in a fleeting moment.

To have her world views shattered by a single decision - this was most likely one of Ningguang's lowest moments. Zhongli describes her as someone who "always presses on" in his voiceline about her.

And yet, despite her relative seclusion post-Osial, she allowed Beidou to meet with her.

The Crux Fleet wasn't home to protect Liyue once, and it's likely that they set sail for home after hearing the news. We also know Beidou immediately went into Liyue Harbour from Guyun and didn't return for a long time - and the next time we see her, she has already spoken with Ningguang about Osial.

Ningguang doesn't trust easily, nor is she a direct person, but despite her disagreements with Beidou, the captain is someone she definitely trusts and confides in. We can only imagine the kind of conversations they would have had about what happened but it certainly plays a part in how Ningguang behaves later during Moonchase, when we next see her.

It's also the first time in-game that we know for sure Beidou and Ningguang do converse about other things apart from Beidou's unending list of fines to the Qixing. The severe expression on Beidou's face throughout this is up for contention of course, but I like to think it's because Ningguang confided in her about the pain of losing the Jade Chamber.

Character Voicelines: Ningguang & Beidou

Before we move into the events that eventually shape Ningguang's growth as a character, let's first talk about the stories and two voicelines she has about Beidou, and vice versa. These tell us the history they share before the current events of Genshin Impact, before the traveler wakes up.

They view each other as opposites, agreeing to disagree - however, as we do know, Beidou and Ningguang are also a reflection of yin/yang (deep-dive here!).

And yin/yang is not about forces that complement each other: yin/yang is about opposing forces that balance each other. They will never complement each other like missing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. They only balance each other, like a scale in equilibrium.

Beidou admits to this off-handedly in Moonchase when Paimon observes that she seems to have a good relationship with Ningguang, especially in CN:

派蒙Paimon: 可上次看你们聊天，总觉得你们关系很好呢。 When we saw you talking the other day, it felt like you had a really good relationship.

北斗Beidou: 势均力敌也算是一种平衡吧。虽然我对她的开水白菜实在无话可说。 I suppose being evenly-matched is also a form of balance. Although I have no words for her plain cabbage soup.

The EN translation opted for "evenly-matched" as a translation for the word 平衡 Pínghéng. But it's also commonly used to mean "balance". The idiom for "evenly-matched" (势均力敌 Shìjūnlìdí) is usually used in context of a game/polls/tournament/etc. If you break down the etymology, it literally means "power/influence are equal (in a situation), (so our) strengths match".

Also worth noting is the fact that Beidou knows Ningguang's favourite food. From Ningguang's voicelines and Teyvat's Food Guide, a series of Chinese posts on HYV's official site, not many people know her culinary preferences, and would wrongly presume that she enjoys food befitting of her station.

In Teyvat's Food Guide (linked above!), the writer mentions this about Ningguang, having made Golden Crab (her least favourite food) for her:

I thought that a businesswoman like Ningguang would prefer some expensive cuisine, but Ningguang didn't eat that, and simply said: "I've seen people order "golden crab" at every banquet, but I have no desire for such frivolousness. If you want to treat me to such a dish, you might as well just give me the Mora. People sometimes have an inexplicable stubbornness. Though I think Ningguang will not change her opinions because of me, I'm confident that Ningguang will not think negatively of my craft because of this. My betting dice has been tossed down.

With Ningguang generally being a distrusting person, who keeps her suitors at arm's length to take advantage of them - there is someone she trusts implicitly after all, someone who just happened to be absent during the Archon Quest.

Moonchase: Moonlight Merriment

The next time we see Ningguang again is much later, during the Moonchase celebration in Liyue. And lo and behold, Beidou is back, too! Seems like she's stopping over at Liyue a lot more than she did before Osial.

We get our first glimpse of the dynamics between Beidou, a member of Ningguang's inner circle, and Ningguang herself here, when Keqing asks if there are any objections to her taking control of figuring out this big rock.

The conversation that follows gives us a first look into what Ningguang is like when she is among people she can trust, and also how she now behaves post-Osial. Enough time has passed, as well, that the shadow of Osial no longer hangs as heavy as it used to over Liyue.

She has let down her guard considerably more by the time of Moonchase, electing to engage in playful banter instead of remaining cordial and formal. Her somber mood from before seems to be gone and she's appearing in public once again. Clearly she has come to terms (on some degree) with her loss, although we're not privvy to what happened. But based on timeline and inference, we can assume she certainly did not manage to do this on her own.

Ningguang's playful side is most clearly defined in the original CN lines of this banter scene (my comments are in indents):

北斗Beidou: 刻晴办事向来雷厉风行，交给你我就放心了。 Handing this to you, I can be at ease.

Of note here is how Beidou describes Keqing’s work ethic with this idiom: 雷厉风行 léi lì fēng xíng, lit. “strict/strong as thunder, moves fast like the wind” — they are swift to enforce policies and are decisive.

凝光Ningguang: 这话说的，是不放心我的手腕？ That said, does that mean you don’t trust in my skills/abilities?

北斗Beidou：哈？刻晴不管风吹雨打都在外面跑，跟你大不一样吧。再说，你又不在乎这事，计较什么呀！ Keqing runs around whether it’s windy or raining, she’s very different from you. Also, you don’t mind these things, what are you fussing about?

Personally I think “not giving a wooden Mora about this whole thing” is a little too harsh a translation for 不在乎 bùzàihū, it's more akin to "don't mind" or "don't quite care". Similarly, 计较 jìjiào is typically used to say someone is "kicking up a fuss".

凝光Ningguang：开个玩笑而已，你倒是打蛇随棍上，数落起我来了，把人家旅行者都给晾在一边。 I was merely joking. You often seize the opportunity to criticise my flaws while leaving others like the Traveler hanging.

Ningguang describes "seize the opportunity" with a Chinese idiom, of which there is no EN equivalent. This idiom is 打蛇随棍 dǎ shé suí gùn or lit. “hit the snake with a stick”, which is a modern version of the full phrase 木棍打蛇，蛇随棍上 Mù gùn dǎ shé, shé suí gùn shàng. i.e. “hit the snake with a wooden stick, and the snake will follow/creep around the stick.” This idiom was born from ancient times where a snake was very dangerous, but you could hit with a stick (bamboo at that time), and it would see the stick as a danger and follow it. It’s used to indicate a person who is able to act at a good moment (stick) to attack another person’s (the snake) weaknesses, making the situation very difficult for the other person. TLDR; Ningguang is telling Beidou: "You attacked my weakness and made it difficult for me here."

Let's go back to analysis for a bit - this whole section reflects how close they are on several levels:

Beidou has no issues "criticising" Ningguang, Tianquan of the Liyue Qixing, in public. This is of course in part due to her nature as a law-breaking pirate, but HYV took great pains to show us the level of power and authority that Ningguang held in Liyue during her introduction in the Archon Quest.

Ningguang indirectly tells her, in Ningguang-terms, that Beidou has hurt her feelings. Beidou keeps quiet after this and doesn't push the issue, indicating she understands.

We know from Ningguang's way of speaking, and from Beidou's voice lines, that she is a very indirect person. So it does speak volumes that Beidou can grasp her hidden meanings quite quickly - a nod to Beidou's ability to easily understand people.

Fast-forward a bit, to where Ningguang asks the "great sea-faring Captain Beidou" to explain how this rock came about:

北斗Beidou：这女人。。。哼，也好。Zhè nǚrén... Hēng, yě hǎo。 This woman… hmph, very well.

也好 yě hǎo is used to indicate that although this person’s request was not what you had in mind, you’re OK with it.

Fast-forward again, to after Ningguang describes her ideal food as precise, pure, and sophisticated, Beidou immediately retorts:

北斗Beidou：到海上待几个星期，保证治了你这身富贵病。Dào hǎishàng dài jǐ gè xīngqí, bǎozhèng zhìle nǐ zhè shēn fùguìbìng。 Stay at sea for a few weeks, and you’ll be cured of your wealth disease.

I call 富贵病 fùguìbìng "wealth disease" for easy reference, but it's actually termed "diseases of affluence", and is commonly used to refer to illnesses that result from increasing wealth in society, such as poor digestion, obesity and bad posture.

This is the first look we have at anyone giving a damn about Ningguang as a person - before this, our eyes were on her as Tianquan, as the backbone of the Qixing, as a powerful businesswoman, but never quite as simply "Ningguang" until Beidou comes along.

Finally, we get to spy on them a while longer after this cutscene ends, where Ningguang addresses Beidou's little "wealth disease" jab - a relatively different line in CN than what was shown in EN:

凝光Ningguang: 你方才那番话有欠妥当。就算是我，每天也会在玉京台来回散步，道理月港内走走看看的。 What you said just now was inappropriate. I take walks along Yujing Terrace everyday and walk around Liyue Harbour.

北斗Beidou: 哈，只是不想发胖而已吧。 Haha, you just don't want to get fat.

Ningguang takes more offense at Beidou accusing her of not having good taste than "attacking her weakness" - the latter is something she's used to in Liyue's marketplace, while the former is more of a jab at what she likes.

Lastly, the ending of Moonchase Merriment - where Ningguang narrates a line of the cutscene speech (bolded):

风雨犹祝，山海同欢，是承天地之佑。斗转星移，沧海桑田，烟火人间依旧。功名在我，百岁千秋，毋忘秉烛夜游。今古诸事，激荡中流，宏图待看新秀。

Zeroing on what she says as she looks out to the Alcor: 功名在我，百岁千秋，毋忘秉烛夜游。

"My glory will be remembered for thousands of years, but (what's important) is to cherish the time (I have)." Italicised line can actually be translated as simply "carpe diem" in English - to enjoy life while one can.

This is a stark contrast from Ningguang's original views that she will not be bound by anything finite. Seizing the day, living in the now - this is something new, something that is finite, that she cannot quantify in terms of Mora.

She has lost what was infinite - the Jade Chamber - and in turn, gained a legacy. She will be remembered for her actions for centuries to come, and her name will make it into the annals of Liyue's history.

That is infinite.

So, what now? It seems everything she loves can be lost at the whim of gods. If so, then there is only one way for her to stand strong - she must savour every moment of her life, lacking for nothing.

What's truly important, then, is not what comes after, but what comes now - to live every moment, to live in the now.

Ningguang says this while looking out at the Alcor in the ending cutscene (screw this 30-image-per-post-limit!!) - a small nod to the person who taught her to understand this.

Seeing Ningguang as a human instead of an enigma

So what does all of this mean? Moonchase tells us a few things about Ningguang's growth:

Ningguang has a sensitive and delicate side, which Beidou seems to know about.

Ningguang appears less guarded by the time of this event, likely because she now trusts the traveler, Beidou, Keqing and the others.

Beidou has access to the Jade Chamber any time she wants - she mentions she can go up any time for a game of chess during this event.

Ningguang appears to be quite enamoured by Beidou, what with her "great sea-faring captain" flattery and attempting to be direct (which is not in her nature).

Time has healed the wounds of losing the Jade Chamber somewhat, though she still does not appear much in public (not as often as implied in her introduction at least), instead sending guards to summon Keqing and only showing up in her capacity as a judge for the cooking competition.

There has been a shift in Ningguang's beliefs, now that the Jade Chamber, which she believed infinite, has been lost. Now she realises that she has left a legacy, that she will be remembered for ages to come, but what's truly important is to live.

This event is the start of what appears to be relationship developments in Ningguang's character growth. She is beginning to display attachment to Beidou, likely because of what happened in the Archon Quest, and is also displaying more trust in the traveler and by extension, the traveler's friends.

In other words, she is descending from the heavens - becoming less of an icon and an enigma, and becoming more human.

Part II will come soon because I hit the 30 image-per-post limit... 😭😭

Preview: We'll cover the following events in Part II, along with how they show Ningguang's exponential growth leading up to the last event she appears in:

Interlude Chapter: The Crane Returns On The Wind

Lantern Rite: Fleeting Colors in Flight

Orchid evening gown

Hangout: The Jade Chamber's Returning Guest

Event: Of-Drink-A-Dreaming

Links:

Beiguang masterlist LyurGG: Moonchase ss | AQ Chapter II ss Bluemeat: AQ Chapter I ss

#ningguang #character study #character analysis #ningguang analysis #beiguang #beidou x ningguang #genshin analysis #genshin impact #genshin characters #genshin imapct #原神 #北斗 #凝光 #genshin fandom #yuniewrites #ningguang x beidou

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yuniemaki · 1 year

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we never got to say goodbye (i'll see you soon)

Rating: G Series: Honkai Star Rail Pairing: Serval/Cocolia Tags: Grief/Mourning, spoilers for Belobog arc Word count: 1k

Crossposted on AO3

Summary:

Serval’s hand stops, lingering on her name. “But this isn’t goodbye, is it?” she whispers, “It’s just a ‘see you soon’.”

In which Serval visits Cocolia's grave and reflects on the loss of a dear one.

Beyond the gates of Belobog, the cold is harsh and unforgiving.

Serval trudges through ankle-deep snow, wrapped in three layers of thermal wear. The icy wind whips at her blond hair, throwing her tresses into a frenzy, and flings snow onto her goggles and mask. An endless field of white stretches out before her, framed only by towering iron gates and mechanical remnants that matter no longer.

Even after the Stellaron’s destruction, the Eternal Freeze remains.

You don’t need to go, Gepard had said, it’s over.

“I have to,” Serval mutters to no one, stubbornly placing one foot in front of the other. I have to see the place Cocolia took her final breath—

There. A silhouette in the blinding white, unmoving in the sweeping winds of Jarilo-IV. Serval quickens her pace, stomping through the snow until she reaches the metal wreckage lying at the peak of a snowy hill. The raging blizzard has long swept away all traces of battle, and the Stellaron has long been sealed by the trailblazers.

But there, snuggled in its center, within the loving arms of this wreckage… lies a single tombstone.

Serval doesn’t know what she expected. Perhaps a foolish part of her hoped to see Cocolia again, even if it’s just an echo. Perhaps she thought some piece of Cocolia lived on in the snowstorm.

Or perhaps she still believed Cocolia would wait for her.

Of course not. After that day, there was no place in the Supreme Guardian’s heart for her, for Serval. Despite the cold, Serval perches herself on a small metal platform, staring at the tombstone now covered in snow. It's funny how she had an entire speech planned for this moment, including a long portion where she'd intended to yell at her grave. Yet when she's finally here, standing where Cocolia did before she left this world— Serval can't say a single word. It all clumps together into a thick lump in her throat.

She manages a, “You know, Coco…” before her breath stutters. It has been years since she even uttered that nickname. Her eyes sting with tears.

They are two halves of a whole. If they were born in seasons, Cocolia would be born in winter, and Serval in summer. Where Serval had the passion to start new things, it was Cocolia who would see them to fruition. It was Cocolia, all those years ago, who forced Serval to go through with her rock’n’roll dream. To start a band, to run a gig. It was Cocolia who gifted her the guitar of her dreams, who turned her ideas into reality. And Serval loved her for it.

But when she became the Supreme Guardian—

A pause, in which Serval struggles to compose herself. “I… I still don’t understand what happened to you. I thought…”

I thought sealing the Stellaron would bring you back.

Serval laughs, as bitterly as the blizzard bites at her fingers and toes. “I keep telling myself I’m over you, but how can I be? We shared everything. Until—”

She tears up at the memory.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

Cocolia, the newly appointed Supreme Guardian of Belobog, was seated in a chair far too large for her, with the light of day at her back. Serval, smartest of the Silvermane Guards, was standing before her, livid. “You cannot do this,” she’d said, “Cutting off the Underworld like this… we’re dooming half of our people to die!”

“You dare to question my decision, Serval Landau?”

Cocolia’s voice. So uncaring, so dismissive, it felt like a spear of ice piercing through Serval’s heart. Before she took the mantle of leadership, before she entered Qlipoth Fort… Cocolia had been different. She had been warm and tender and full of life.

“We are meant to protect the people,” Serval declared, “How is this—”

“This is our only option,” Cocolia had cut her off, swift and harsh. “And nothing will change my mind.”

“What about the Fragmentum? Shouldn’t we be fixing that instead of dividing our people?”

“The Fragmentum is the very reason I’m closing off the Underworld,” the Supreme Guardian had replied, rising to her feet. In her eyes, Serval saw nothing but ice, as cold as the Eternal Freeze. A chill had run down her spine. “We are done here.”

Serval took a step back, shivering. “Why, Cocolia… why have you grown so cold…?”

Something flared in that icy gaze. A hint of regret, perhaps. “Serval Landau… you were my most cherished friend.” Cocolia turned away, facing the light of her window. Serval remembers this clearly, for she looked nothing short of being a goddess bathed in wintry light.

Yet her next words would slip into her like a knife between her ribs, lodging into her heart like a shard of glass: “But there is no place for you in this new world.”

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

“It’s like becoming the Supreme Guardian robbed you of life,” Serval whispers, shaking the memory off with a sigh. “I just…”

What is the point? Serval doesn’t know anymore. She stayed in Belobog for Cocolia, because Cocolia was still here, even if the Supreme Guardian wouldn't see her. It brought Serval comfort, at least, to know that Cocolia remained in Qlipoth Fort, watching over Belobog. But now she’s gone.

Serval reaches up, rubbing the tears from her eyes before putting her goggles back on. “Bronya found… the guitar,” she chokes out, “The one you made for me.” She lets out a hollow chuckle. “I can’t believe you kept it, you sentimental idiot.”

The tombstone does not answer.

She unhooks the strap, taking out the silver guitar. “I took it back to Neverwinter… gave it a little tuning.” Serval takes off her gloves, wincing as the freezing winds snap hungrily at her fingers. “It still works.” She strums the guitar, and smiles at the familiarity of the crisp, nasal tones it produces.

“Remember our first gig? You were so nervous about being the bassist…”

But we had so much fun, in the end.

Serval strums out a tune, the first song they’d ever played together. She remembers looking back to see Cocolia strumming the bass guitar, a radiant smile on her lips. She remembers how the theater’s lights had shined, just for them, and all the magic they made that night. How the crowd had roared and cheered, how Cocolia’s breath had been taken away. How they'd danced into the night, hands entwined, and laughed till dawn.

How Cocolia had shyly pulled her close while she fumbled for the keys to their room, and pecked her ever so lightly on the lips.

So much hope. So much life.

Robbed from her in a single day, when she lost her daughter and her joy. The mantle of Supreme Guardian and its forbidden knowledge sank into her heart like a shard of ice, seeping away the warmth in her eyes.

Serval thinks about the possibilities often. If only she’d been more persistent. If only she’d tried harder. What if she’d written letters to Cocolia after being fired, instead of starting her own workshop and closing her heart away? What if she’d continued pursuing her study of the Stellaron in private? Could she have found a way to save Cocolia? Could her sacrifice have been avoided?

Does any of this matter? She is gone.

The dead do not come back.

“I came to tell you something,” Serval finally says, clutching the guitar tightly in her bare hands. The cold has wormed its way into her fingers, and she can barely feel them. “Coco, I'm leaving. I don't know how long I'll be. So I thought I'd visit you first, because…” Her voice trails off. She bites back a sob.

The howling wind whips her hair into a frenzy. Serval stays motionless before the tombstone, like a piece of discarded metal.

“We never got to say goodbye, Cocolia…” Serval lays the guitar in the snow, running a hand across the tombstone. Snow falls away to reveal a simple epitaph, for such a complex woman.

Here lies Cocolia Rand, 13th Supreme Guardian of Belobog.

Serval’s hand stops, lingering on her name. “But this isn’t goodbye, is it?” she whispers, “It’s just a ‘see you soon’.”

She gets to her feet, staring at the wreckage embracing Cocolia’s grave. It reminds her of a cradle, like a mother sheltering her innocent babe.

Cocolia gave her life for Belobog, but this sanctuary means nothing to Serval now. To let go, she must leave Belobog. Leave Jarilo-IV. If she travels with the Astral Express, studies the Stellarons— she might yet find the answers she seeks. And perhaps, someday, she will find the strength to return to the land Cocolia so loved, more than she ever loved Serval herself.

Serval musters up a smile, and gives the tombstone a wave. “So… wait for me, okay? I’ll see you soon, Coco.”

I’ll see you soon.

#honkai star rail #hsr #serval #cocolia #servalia #hsr fanfic #fanfic #yuniewrites #crossposted on ao3 #honkai star rail spoilers #star rail

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yuniemaki · 1 year

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Character Study: Ningguang, the Eclipsing Star Part II

Part I

Alright folks, as promised - here's part II! (and there will be a part III send help)

At the end of Moonchase, Ningguang is learning to live in the moment, to grasp what's truly significant to her now that she has lost everything she once loved. She's also still not quite back to her old socialite self - if we were to slot her into one of the five stages of grieving, she's probably hovering between the depression-acceptance stages. Not quite angry anymore, not quite bargaining, but also not quite accepting the loss entirely... yet. Luckily, there's someone in her inner circle named Beidou, whom she implicitly trusts and has become enamoured by, perhaps because Beidou is simply so different.

She's descending from the heavens, becoming less of an enigma and more of a human. And this is where we pick back up.

A/N: As always, events will feature both EN and CN dialogue due to translation nuances. I will use English screenshots where the lines were translated accurately with no lost nuances.

Interlude Chapter: The Crane Returns on The Wind

After the heartwarming tale of Moonchase, we leave Liyue for several months to get screwed over by Inazuma's puzzles and whatnot. The next time we do return to Liyue is when we hear the news that Lady Ningguang is rebuilding the Jade Chamber.

Hold on - rebuilding?! The last we saw of her, she was still coming to terms with what she'd lost. That's a red flag right there, and as we later find out, the announcement is sudden for a reason.

Ningguang seems rather cavalier about rebuilding her life's work, hosting a competition to see who can get her the materials she needs to complete the chamber's reconstruction. We're reminded once again that Ningguang doesn't need Mora to motivate people - her only reward is to impart knowledge, and merchants are already flocking to Yujing Terrace. After all, Ningguang is second to none in the marketplace that is Liyue Harbour. Her knowledge and time is worth more than the Mora she can pay.

But, Ningguang herself mentioned, when we first meet her, that the Jade Chamber is constructed with the best craftsmen and artisans that she can find. Madame Ping says she has been setting aside portions of Mora she earns since young to build the Jade Chamber. That speaks of love and attention, quality over timeliness. This seems at odds with simply "hosting a competition" to speedily acquire materials.

We find out why Ningguang seems to be contradicting herself when the Jade Chamber finally rises - it is nothing more than a bait, to lure out Beisht.

What was once her life's work and her ambition is now just a pawn to protect something greater - Liyue Harbour. It has become something she can readily sacrifice. After the fight, she declares:

"While the position of Tianquan remains mine, I will always ensure Liyue's safety."

This is the culmination of what was first seeded in Moonchase - the realisation that her Jade Chamber is no longer the thing she loves most in the world. No, after losing it, she has found something else worth loving: the people she governs as the Tianquan.

This is also Ningguang reaching the final stage of grief - acceptance. She has accepted that she lost the original Jade Chamber, her old friend, her old self. It will not come back, but she has found new friends, new joys, and a new goal. She will build and throw as many Jade Chambers as she needs to defend the nation, for it will live long after her bones have withered into dust.

Does she still see people as pawns? Yes. Is she learning to care for these pawns outside of their use to her? Also yes. This shift in mentality is further explored in her hangout, which we'll cover later.

On the personal front, we learn from Ningguang that Beidou had warned her of Beisht "months ago", and we're reminded once again that Beidou is someone she implicitly trusts.

Imagine receiving this tip off from a law-breaking pirate, however renowned she may be, and having to talk the entire Liyue Qixing into preparing for this god-tier assault that may or may not happen. If Beisht did not attack, it would be a case of The Boy Who Cried Wolf.

Imagine the trust Ningguang must place in Beidou, to use her authority to convince the rest of her coworkers to act on the captain's warning. Those modified ballistas, the entire plan, the gathering of medical supplies and the Millelith's training didn't happen overnight.

And as Ningguang admits herself, she doesn't trust easily.

What does this mean? This suggests even after Moonchase, Beidou and Ningguang remained in touch while we were off solving Inazuma's problems and exploring Enkanomiya.

Maybe they continued talking through her grief. Maybe they discussed the nation's next steps, now that Morax is gone. Maybe they talked about politics at large over chess. We don't know, but we do know they forged a bond with each other, enough that Beidou - who is sensitive of heart - trusted her with the warning that Beisht is coming.

And perhaps, in part, Beidou was driven by guilt, having not been here to defend her home against Osial; having to witness Ningguang's lowest moments in private. It speaks of her trustworthiness that Beidou, for all the gripes she has about Ningguang, has never, ever spoken about the loss of the Jade Chamber to the traveler or anyone, as far as we know.

Whatever happened during that meeting is between her and Ningguang only, as it should be.

Lantern Rite: Fleeting Colors in Flight (2022)

With Beisht down, the next time we return to Liyue is during Lantern Rite. There are some hints of character development even before we reach that iconic cutscene - the first is Lady Ningguang seems to have no issue appearing in public once again.

We catch her only because she happens to be instructing her secretaries at Yujing Terrace. It's the first time we catch her by "coincidence", so to speak - all of her other appearances after Osial have been official in some capacity, either to make an announcement (like rebuilding the Jade Chamber) or to attend to matters like a giant rock sitting in Yuehai Pavilion.

From Ningguang, we learn the Qixing still remain under significant pressure following the events of Osial, which is also why Ningguang envisions a grander Lantern Rite this year with fireworks involved.

Mini-Quest: Petal-Lit Ships Fish For The Moon

While we figure out how to convince Keqing to take a break, we also visit Ningguang in the Jade Chamber - where she's staring at, lo and behold, that vase with a mother-of-pearl sheen that's gifted to her from The Crux. It is the only item that appears to have been saved before the last Jade Chamber crashed, and Ningguang has added some flowers to it now.

Clearly, she treasured this gift enough to salvage it and decorate it even before she asks Beidou to fish up the rest of her stuff.

This is the first time Ningguang opens up to us about the Jade Chamber's loss, speaking of its valuable artifacts and documents. It's taken this long before she's willing to speak to us about the chamber again, and only after it has survived Beisht. Only now does she dare to think about retrieving anything that belonged to the previous Jade Chamber, too.

Having accepted the loss, she can now speak freely of it without appearing weak.

We also learn that Ningguang and Beidou have an arrangement of sorts, comprising mutually beneficial agreements and compensation in other ways...

And here's where we take a look at the original CN text, where there are some nuances that might have been lost in translation to EN, starting from where we find Beidou stressing over this on the Alcor:

Beidou北斗：那个麻烦的女人… That troublesome woman…

EN translates this as "trying my patience" but a direct translation would just be that Ningguang is being "troublesome".

Beidou北斗那座群玉阁在海上撞了个粉碎，里面的东西肯定也都被撞坏了，怎么可能捞得上来… That Jade Chamber was pulverised at sea, the things within are definitely all wrecked/shattered, how can I possibly fish for anything…

In CN, Beidou is a lot gentler about this, she is reflecting more on the challenges of having to retrieve something intact from the old Jade Chamber rather than dissing the job. The way she approaches this implies she knows it's important to Ningguang, despite the whimsical nature with which Ningguang brought it up.

Beidou北斗：反正就是凝光又突发奇想，要我帮她到海上打捞藏品，作为交换她会支付一大笔劳务费。Anyway, Ningguang suddenly came up with a wild idea again, she wanted me to help her salvage her collection. In exchange, she will pay a large business fee for my services.

In CN Beidou says Ningguang came up with a wild idea again, which means... she's done it before. Ningguang, the mover and shaker of Liyue's mercantile spheres, whose words can move mountains, openly shares wild, whimsical ideas with Beidou - further reinforcing the level of trust they share. With Beidou, Ningguang has no need to worry about defences and games - she can be honest to some degree, at least.

Later, when we do find Ningguang's stuff being stolen by treasure hoarders, Beidou gets mad. She already dislikes treasure hoarders, but we know she can be merciful to them as well - since she did agree to take in some of the younger hoarders as potential members of the fleet.

When we think about how Beidou must have felt about Osial, the guilt she might carry and whatever knowledge Ningguang entrusted her with - it's safe to say that her anger likely stems, in part, from what happened to Liyue Harbour and Ningguang in her absence. Not to mention Beidou, being a keen observer herself, would definitely have noticed that Ningguang salvaged her gift, of all the things she's ever owned.

When we go back to Ningguang with a preliminary report, she expresses nothing but confidence in Beidou's skills - that woman didn't even know Beidou was fretting over how she'd deliver results just a while ago.

Ningguang凝光：你们回来了，如何，北斗打捞得可还顺利？ You're back. How is it? Is Beidou's salvaging going well?

Ningguang凝光：盗宝团也掺和进来了啊，确实有些麻烦。 So the treasure hoarders have gotten involved. That is indeed a little troublesome.

Ningguang凝光：不过，这件事就交给北斗吧，她擅长对付这些人。她的报酬，我也会准备好的。 But leave this matter with Beidou. She is an expert in dealing with these types. I will also prepare her remuneration.

Ningguang's faith in Beidou's ability to deliver is absolute, just like how she implicitly trusts Beidou to keep her secrets.

Back to the main quest - now for the iconic cutscene at the end of Lantern Rite:

Beidou北斗：你这是穿的什么啊，很新潮嘛 What are you wearing? That’s clearly trendy

Beidou uses the particle “嘛ma” here at the end. There’s no direct equivalent in English, but it implies a tone where she is “stating the obvious”. I’d interpret this to mean Beidou is familiar with all of Ningguang’s dresses, and she recognises that this one is new - again, the fact that she can recognise a new outfit of Ningguang's indicates a deep sense of familiarity with everything she likes and owns. Ningguang doesn't trust easily and we already know she trusts Beidou, but bit by bit we are being shown the depth with which she trusts the pirate captain - it runs far deeper than simply business partners. How many of our coworkers or clients know us on such an intimate level?

Ningguang凝光：能令见多识广的北斗船长赞叹，这身衣装也算有面子了 To make Captain Beidou, who is so well-travelled and knowledgeable, admire (me), (I suppose) this garment also has prestige.

This is the first time Ningguang uses this term, 见多识广 jiàn duō shí guǎng, to describe Beidou, and it is not the last. The idiom means "well-traveled, knowledgeable" - it's technically an upgrade from what she describes Beidou as during Moonchase. Between Moonchase and now, Ningguang's impression of Beidou has only been further improved. She also speaks of the garment having prestige. I translated 面子 miàn zi as prestige as I feel it bears the closest meaning in English, but a literal translation of 面子 is actually "face". "Face" is something like a mix of reputation, honour and prestige in Chinese culture. It's almost like an invisible "currency" that can be given and lost. For example, being publicly ridiculed, called out or facing public disagreement makes us “lose face”, while being complimented in public, receiving gifts, makes us “gain face”. It’s a social recognition of your prestige, status or influence in that sense. We will end great friendships over "losing face". Enemies are made like this. Familes have disowned children for making them "lose face". We'll revisit this later in Ningguang's hangout, as she holds a public auction for her lost items to make selected merchants "lose face". If you have a good “face”, you are likely to receive many gifts; people want to build relationships with you; people invite you for meals bc your social status and influence is high. Ningguang herself has very high “face” — she is introduced as the Tianquan, whose “words can move mountains”. We know she doesn’t care for the gifts she receives and the dinners she’s invited to; these are actions that supposedly give her more "face" among the people. But enter Beidou - whose simple act of noticing her and admiring her dress - makes her say that the dress itself has gained "face". She values Beidou's opinion very highly, and if you do Ningguang's hangout after finishing Lantern Rite 2022, she will say that the dress is "one of my favourites" - precisely because of this.

(left: her dialogue post-Lantern Rite; right: her dialogue pre-Lantern Rite)

Interlude: The symbolism of Orchid's Evening Gown, a poetic translation of her growth

Let me digress a little on her outfit here. It's called Orchid's Evening Gown or 纱中幽兰 shā zhōng yōu lán. But actually, the CN name loosely translates to "orchids concealed in the midst of gauze".

It falls in line with her CN title, 掩月天权Yǎnyuè Tiānquán (Eclipsing Star in EN) - which loosely translates to "(The) Tianquan (who) conceals (the) moon".

She is always hiding things, from the start to the end, and she is an enigma, a woman of many mysteries. But this time, in this gown, she is concealing something else - orchids.

Orchids, 兰花 lánhuā, are one of the four noble plants in China. They are associated with feminine beauty, delicateness, a pure heart and spirit. Chinese scholars love the flower for it represents integrity, nobility, humility, and self-restraint.

Confucius likened the orchid to the spirit of a gentleman who will not desert his principles even in destituition, as the orchid grows in remote forests where its beautiful fragrance is admired by none. It is interpreted as a flower that can withstand loneliness without losing its grace.

I'd like to draw your attention to the orchid representing humility in particular, as our first impression of Ningguang is that she is cold, aloof and arrogant ("This Tianquan does not lack for ambition...").

But by the events of Lantern Rite, she has this dress specially tailored and named it after the flower that represents humility, nobility and in modern times, love. The orchid can be used to represent love and loyalty in a married couple.

In short, she has been "humbled" by the events that have transpired, yet conceals it once again under a facade to the common people (as we'll see in her hangout).

To us, to Beidou, to the people of her inner circle, however, the orchid is a quiet admission that Ningguang now acknowledges no man can truly be an island.

Lantern Rite: Epilogue

Back to Lantern Rite. Our Lady Tianquan here has gone from aloof and powerful icon, to appearing very much human, and now to the other extreme of the spectrum - attracted.

Perhaps it's the fact that Beidou stayed in Liyue Harbour for an extended period after Osial (according to Juza). Perhaps it's the fact that Beidou reciprocated her trust by warning her of Beisht. Perhaps it's the fact that Beidou stations the Alcor at Guyun Stone Forest, watching for danger, which is also a place that the Jade Chamber has a clear vantage point of (as compared to Liyue Harbour itself). Perhaps it's Beidou constantly expressing concern for her ("take care of yourself"; "fix your wealthy disease!"). Perhaps it's all of the above.

But Ningguang has fallen for Beidou, the one woman who has, time and time again, seen her as nothing more than a human saddled with the responsibility of leading a nation. No one else shows us the human side of Ningguang as clearly as Beidou does, who reminds us that Ningguang is very much mortal, with human emotions and needs, as immortal as her feats and Jade Chamber might make her seem to be.

They stare at each other until the fireworks draw Ningguang's attention first, before Beidou looks as well when she does. That's a lovely little nod to how engrossed they are in their little moment, that even fireworks can't distract them until the moment is over.

We'll hop back to their developing relationship in a bit, but first - their individual hangouts are released after Lantern Rite, so let's follow them on their little journey.

Hangout: The Jade Chamber's Returning Guest Teaser

We learn a lot about Ningguang in her hangout. She opens up to us about many troubles ranging from the loss of the Jade Chamber to her feelings about her position. But why now, after such a long time? We have assisted her time and time again, and she has always referred to us as "honoured guests".

Why only now, after that special moment between her and Beidou during Lantern Rite?

It could be because Beidou has given her the confidence to be more open now, to expand her inner circle beyond just the captain. Now grounded and treasured by one person, Ningguang no longer fears the unknown, and dares to take risks beyond her business ventures.

We see this development most clearly in the description of her Lantern Rite outfit, Orchid's Evening Gown (extracted relevant quotes):

Ningguang, the great mover and shaker of Liyue's mercantile spheres, always seems to have a confident, steady smile on her face. But even she cannot escape the vagaries of depression, reluctance, loneliness, and other anxieties that trouble the ordinary people of Liyue. Once, when Liyue Harbor teetered on the brink of a crisis, Ningguang was forced to sacrifice her Jade Chamber — the sky palace she had built up for many years through much sweat and tears. All the memories of her past, sweet or bitter, were cast into the ocean with the Jade Chamber, and there they sank. Even one such as Ningguang could nary bear the loss. Even after the dust had settled and the opportunity to rebuild the Chamber came, she still spent much time in troubled consideration. Many things happen in this world — who could say when great loss might loom? Each time she thought on this, she would feel depressed.

Time flies, but the mountains and seas remain. "The mortal world is fleeting, but there are things that will not change so easily." "A hundred years from now, perhaps, all things might be different. But then, my beauty would have faded, my body reduced to withered bones." "This garment, too, will by then have grown dull, no matter how opulent it may have been in its prime." "But so long as I live, riches uncounted shall be at my disposal, as shall the Tianquan's authority, so vested in me." "I will live this life to the full — lacking not at all for power, wealth, or friends." "Was this not what I resolved to do from the beginning? If so, then how could I simply allow myself to fall into this pit — to lose my wits because of a moment's emptiness?" "Life must be treasured precisely because it is fleeting." "But a thousand, even ten thousand years from now, those who come after will remember this name — Ningguang."

Does this ring a bell? This dress is an expression of Ningguang's acceptance - of what she spoke back in the ending cutscene of Moonchase, while looking out at the Alcor:

“My glory will be remembered for thousands of years, but (what’s important) is to cherish the time (I have).”

Beidou taught her that. And finally, during Lantern Rite, she fully embraces the idea of living in the moment, of treasuring life precisely because it is fleeting, of living this life "to the full — lacking not at all for power, wealth, or friends."

The Tianquan, who once kept all her partners at arm's length, who was once an enigma (still is to the common people though), has come far and acknowledged that she has been too distant in the past. The fall of her Jade Chamber brought her back to the ground, and through this, she has learned the value of connection and the infinity it carries.

It is the people who will carry on her legacy, long after she has passed on, and therefore it is the people she will learn to love, befriend, and protect.

And that is why she opens up to us only now, committing to her new resolve.

In Part III, we'll cover the rest of Ningguang's hangout, Beidou's hangout and the iconic Of-Drink-A-Dreaming event because I hit the 30-image-per-post limit again 😭

Read Part I here Part III tbc

Links

beiguang masterlist Interlude Archon Quest (ss) Liyue Archon Quest (ss) Lantern Rite Quest (ss) Ningguang hangout (ss)

#character study #ningguang #genshin analysis #genshin cn #genshin impact #genshin imapct #ningguang analysis #character analysis #beiguang #yuniewrites #beidou x ningguang #原神 #凝光 #北斗 #北凝

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yuniemaki · 1 year

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her star

In all her years of barging into the Jade Chamber, Beidou is fairly certain she’s never heard this combination of words come from any of Ningguang’s secretaries — until now. “What do you mean, the Tianquan is not taking visitors today?” she repeats, raising an eyebrow.

Baiwen sighs. “It’s her orders, Captain. Come back another day?”

“Nah. I’m leaving for Sumeru tonight.” Beidou shrugs, brushing past the secretary and poking her head into Ningguang’s study. No Ningguang.

“Captain—”

“Come on!” The pirate strolls towards Ningguang’s bedroom, completely unfazed by the three ladies helplessly trailing her. “Five minutes.” She never leaves Liyue without telling her star.

Beidou pushes open the unlocked door before the secretaries can stop her. “Ning—” She pauses, wondering why the room is so dark. The curtains are fully drawn to boot, blocking even the faintest hint of sunlight. “What’s going on? You suddenly got an allergy to sunlight?”

“Shh!” Baishi hisses.

Beidou folds her arms, raising an eyebrow again.

“Please just come back another day,” Baixiao pleads. “Lady Ningguang is—”

“It’s alright,” a soft voice suddenly says from the darkness, “I’ll see her.”

Beidou turns back to the shadows, taking in a rather unfamiliar sight: Ningguang, with her hair down, dressed in violet silk robes. Tired wine-red eyes lock onto hers for a moment. “You can leave us,” the Tianquan murmurs. The secretaries bow and close the door, though Baishi shoots Beidou a rather vicious glare. The captain, however, only has eyes for her fading star.

“Ning?” she asks softly, approaching the slender woman as she sways unstably on her feet. “What’s wrong?”

Ningguang offers no answer. Beidou gently pulls her close and she all but melts into her firm embrace, her legs giving out. The pirate is quick to catch her, carrying her love the rest of the way to her bed. The sheets are a mess. Quietly, she lays Ningguang down before pressing the back of her hand to her pale forehead. Even through her gloves, Beidou can feel her forehead burning. “Archons.” She gets up, rummaging through Ningguang’s drawers. “You can’t just sleep this off, do you have medicine somewhere?”

“Third… drawer,” comes the slurred response.

Beidou grabs the bottle, slipping a hand under Ningguang’s head to prop her up. “Here,” she coos softly, lifting the bottle to her lips. The Tianquan obediently finishes the concoction, her nose wrinkling in disgust at the bitter medicine. With that settled, the pirate studies her carefully. Ningguang’s normally-vibrant red eyes are dulled, her eyelids barely half-open. She shivers all of a sudden. Quietly, Beidou pulls the soft fleece blanket over Ningguang, stroking her hair tenderly. “Baobei. You should’ve told me,” she scolds gently.

“You’re… leaving tonight,” Ningguang murmurs sleepily.

“You’re more important than whatever business I have in Sumeru, my star,” Beidou whispers, leaning in to kiss her forehead.

“It’s just a… mild illness.” A feeble protest.

“Mild or no, I’m staying. My partners can wait,” the brunette says firmly. “I’m not leaving you alone, Ning. These fevers can get bad quickly.”

Silence. Then — a quiet whisper: “Thank you… Beidou.”

Tenderly, she leans down, pressing another kiss to Ningguang’s forehead. “I just want you safe and well, my star.” I worry for you.

“So do I,” Ningguang mumbles, her eyes already starting to close.

Beidou encourages it with gentle pats on her head. “Get some rest, okay? I’ll be here,” she promises, “Rest well, my heart.”

prompt: beiguang sickfic

#beiguang #yuniewrites #drabbles #one shot #sickfic #hurt/comfort #genshin scenarios #genshin imagines #genshin prompts #beidou x ningguang #ningguang #beidou #genshin drabbles

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yuniemaki · 1 year

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Read on ao3 Art: @vappon-art Series: Genshin Impact Words: 5k Rating: T Pairing: Beidou x Ningguang hanahaki disease

Summary:

Beidou smiles, rubbing the crease between her white brows. “You’re awfully pensive today. Gonna miss me?”

Yes, she thinks. She will miss Beidou with all her heart and all her soul; she will feel like a moon without the stars, like a sea without a shore.

“No,” she says.

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yuniemaki · 10 months

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If the world ended now,

your last words would be, "i need time." Flowers would bloom and turn towards the sun, petals first to burn

The same light that guides us now eats us alive, fire sworn to purify our sins. I walk as I burn, my feet melting along the streets my ears picking up the echoes of screams.

I do not make it to the place we first met, first laughed, first played- first dared to dream of finding the light.

If the world ended now, your last words would be, "i need time." and mine would simply be, "that's alright."

#yuniewrites #poetry

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yuniemaki · 11 months

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Series: Genshin Impact Rating: T Pairing: Beidou/Ningguang Genre: Crack, breaking the fourth wall

Commissioned by Dom 💛

Summary:

Ningguang, light of her life, north star in her eye. Her treasure, her soul. ‘Ning-guang’: spoken with a downard flick of the tongue, a puckering of the lips, an opening of the heart. She is a lady in the morning, slender fingers delicately weaving a ginkgo stick through her silky hair. She is the Tianquan when she walks along Liyue Harbour—

“No,” Beidou snaps, “That is not how I’d start thinking about Ningguang. She’s just Ningguang to me, okay?”

Fair enough. On to the problem, then.

***

or: Beidou has seven days to figure out her one-year anniversary gift for Ningguang. Cue chaos.

#beiguang #genshin impact #beidou x ningguang #beiguang fanfic #genshin impact fanfic #genshin crack #crackfic #breaking the fourth wall #yuniewrites #read on ao3 #ao3 link

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yuniemaki · 10 months

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it's golden (like daylight)

Pairing: Beidou x Ningguang Rating: T Word count: 19k Tags: Modern AU, CEO!Ningguang, Bodyguard!Beidou, Falling in love, Slowburn

Commission for Guillaume.

Summary: Beidou doesn't think too much of her job — or her new employer, who seems to turn into a blushing teenager whenever their eyes meet. But soon enough, Ningguang is all Beidou can think about.

Read on AO3 ✨

#genshin impact #beidou x ningguang #beiguang #beiguang fanfic #yuniewrites #genshin impact fanfic #genshin impact fic #beiguang fic #ao3feed #modern au #ceo!ningguang #bodyguard!beidou #bodyguard romance

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yuniemaki · 1 year

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wednesdays

After ten years of climbing the corporate ladder, Ningguang has come to a sobering truth: every new work day comes with a complimentary side dish of problems. It’s like one of those one-for-one lunch promotions she sees plastered over every single restaurant in the central business district. Bright new day, bonus problems.

Wednesdays are particularly irksome, for she has to gather all these problems, find their solutions, and whip up a feast for the board of directors. If they enjoy the meal, good; if they don’t — well, Ningguang will have to “sort out this shit”, as they like to cry.

The finance director sighs into her hot latte, idly scrolling through the latest news on her tablet while Beidou washes up in the kitchen. Northland Bank shares fell by 0.4%; Wangsheng Corp shares opened at a record high today — her phone pings: Marketing requests a Q4 budget of twenty million.

She reads that twice, raising a perfectly-sculpted eyebrow. She picks up her phone, firing off a crude reply: they can guarantee the KPIs with that?

Another ping. You know marketing.

Ningguang rolls her eyes. Tell Keqing to see me with her proposal.

She makes the mistake of opening her inbox. 250 emails. She closes it. Their colleagues in Natlan and Fontaine aren’t the smartest lot; it’s probably easier to walk through whatever silly queries they have on a call later. Honest to god, though, can they get anything done on their own? She’s already protecting their asses from the board every damn midweek.

“Baobei?” Beidou pokes her head out of the kitchen.

“Yes, my heart?”

“The sink is leaking again.”

What was that about one-for-one deals again? Ningguang finds her lips curling into an exasperated smile as she slowly sets her cup down. “Is that so?” she asks ever so sweetly, a vein throbbing in her temple.

Beidou slowly slinks back into the kitchen.

Yup. Wednesdays are particularly irksome indeed.

prompt: modern beiguang with leaking sink

#beiguang #genshin impact #beidou x ningguang #genshin prompts #drabble #fluff #genshin fluff #genshin crack #crackfic #yuniewrites

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yuniemaki · 1 year

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🎆💍

Lantern Rite’s fireworks are beautiful, but they pale in comparison to the muscular brunette standing beside her. Ningguang tilts her head ever so slightly, her gaze resting on Beidou, who stares at the sky in awe.

She watches the fireworks through their reflection on Beidou’s clear ruby eye — until it moves to rest on her. “Happy Lantern Rite, Ning,” she whispers, her gruff voice ever so soft and tender.

“Happy Lantern Rite, Beidou,” Ningguang murmurs, leaning in.

Beidou stiffens and she closes her eyes, lips puckering ever so slightly. Ningguang holds back a laugh. “Shall we go somewhere… a little more private?” she breathes into the captain’s ear instead.

The brunette’s face instantly reddens. “Y–yeah. Why not?”

She seems a little skittish today. Or perhaps it’s just her imagination, because Ningguang herself is feeling the jitters, too. She beckons Beidou to follow, heading to the back of the Jade Chamber where the still waters of an ornate pond reflect the stars and the moon shining in the dark of night. It’s peaceful here, unlike her heart now drumming rapidly in her chest.

Beidou looks as hesitant as she feels, slowly approaching her as though she is a rishboland tiger.

Ningguang has agonised over this for weeks. She’s thought about a grand gesture, a simple act, a casual question over chess — all the thousand and one ways she could possibly ask her lover’s hand in marriage. Every single scenario has come up short.

In the end, this is all she can think of. A quiet place, a precious moment, away from prying eyes. A single gift: a jade ring bearing three iridescent sangonomiya pearls with Beidou’s name carved into the band. It’s funny, she thinks, how the wealthiest woman in all of Teyvat can’t find a grander, fresher way to pop the question than this. She slips her hand into her pocket, fingers curling around the velvet box bearing her gift. Beidou shifts awkwardly, sliding her hands into her pocket.

“Beidou—”

“Ning—”

They both stop. Ningguang waves her hand shyly, struggling to keep her composure. “Go ahead.”

Beidou’s face is redder than an apple. “Y–you first.”

An awkward silence descends. Ningguang raises an eyebrow, but Beidou stubbornly keeps her lips sealed. Finally, the Tianquan nods, carefully extracting the box from her pocket. “I’ve… thought about this for a while now,” she begins, staring at the clear pond.

Her nerves are fraying. Beidou’s silence isn’t helping. For the first time, Ningguang finds herself at a loss for words. Oh, Archons. For all the sharp and cutting words she’s spoken to businessmen and officials alike, somehow the simple question won’t break through the sudden lump in her throat. She closes her eyes, forcing herself to calm down, lips trembling as they part.

Beidou, be my—

A calloused hand clasps hers. She blinks, staring at Beidou, who smiles. “I will,” the pirate says softly, opening her other palm to reveal a small box. Slowly, Beidou raises Ningguang’s hand, peeling open her fingers to see the velvet box within. “Will you?”

Be my only.

Ningguang stares, her eyes wide. She looks down, at the two boxes, each sitting on one palm. And she laughs to herself, because of course she should have guessed they would have chosen the exact same occasion — a quiet place, a precious moment, away from prying eyes —

Just like how their love has always been throughout the years.

Her vision blurs with tears as she whispers, “Yes.”

prompt: ningguang proposes to beidou

#genshin scenarios #genshin impact #genshin fluff #drabbles #yuniewrites #oneshot

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yuniemaki · 1 year

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Rules: Post the first lines of your last 10 fics posted to AO3 (Sort by date posted.) If you have less than 10 fics posted, post what you have!

free tag from @meggie-stardust (everything is beidou/ningguang)

I was lost in the ocean (but you found me in the stars)

The sixteen ships that make up the Crux Fleet look like a trail of ants crawling across cerulean grass from this height.

2. bloom for me, my love

It begins a week before the Crux Fleet is due to sail.

3. be my anchor (and my star)

Every woman has her own set of problems.

4. she's like a collection of curiosities

The colour of the curio box almost matches the intricate walnut desk it sits on.

5. Just business

The chessboard sits between the two women like a sacred artifact; a catalyst for the ritual that the Tianquan and Captain inevitably fall into whenever the Crux Fleet returns to Liyue Harbour.

6. your dreams will be filled with the softness of my hands

“What are we?” Her companion breathes this in the dark of night, amidst fevered kisses and tangled limbs.

7. Feels like love

The cough is a persistent parasite, announcing its presence at the most inopportune moments like a certain boat captain.

8. The warmth of love

Winter has a way of seeping through fur and skin, snugly settling into bone like water filling cracks in stone.

9. Ghosts of the past

Beidou never thought that a mere three months would be all it takes for Liyue Harbour to heal.

10. afterglow

Like clockwork, the one-eyed brunette wakes up at five in the morning.

tagging @cadriona @narcoticwriter @angelasscribbles @dreamerinsilico + anyone who wishes to do it!

#stolen from dash #writing tag game #tag games #yuniewrites #beiguang

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yuniemaki · 1 year

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To sleep, perchance to dream: Ch9

Chapters: 9/13 Series: Genshin Impact Pairing: Beidou/Ningguang Additional tags: pre-chapter 3 Sumeru, canon-compliant but takes liberties with the AQ

Read on ao3

Summary:

At the behest of Grand Sage Azar, Ningguang heads to Sumeru on a diplomatic trip, and Beidou tags along. Unfortunately, trouble never strays far from the Tianquan.

Chapter 9 Preview:

Ningguang turns, holding up a tiny leaf. Attached to the leaf are two little vines that form a band. It’s so small it could fit on Beidou’s hand.

“An eyepatch?” Beidou asks.

“Eyepatches,” Ningguang corrects, nodding at a growing pile of leaves and vines next to her.

“For who?”

“The little ones.” She smiles. “They came over while you were snoring away, Beidou— they were very intrigued by your eyepatch.”

“My–?!” Beidou roars with laughter. “Wait, so… you’re making eyepatches for the lil’ Aranara?”

“Yes,” Ningguang answers dryly, “And I still have a few more to go, so” — she shoves a few leaves and vines into Beidou’s hands — “help me make some, will you?”

“Fine, fine.” The Captain picks up the small materials, feeling impossibly oversized for such a delicate job. She follows Ningguang’s careful instructions, threading a needle through vine and leaf, gingerly shaping each leaf into a recognisable eyepatch. Her first few attempts end in failure. She slumps in defeat, tossing her misshapen eyepatches onto the pile as a blue Aranara with a tiny hat hops over with more leaves and vines.

“Araja would also like an eyepatch. Arapacati and her brothers also wish to look like One-Eye Nara,” they say, before stealing a glance at Beidou. “One-Eye Nara looks angry.” They shiver. “Scary Nara…”

“W–wait, I’m not mad!” Beidou exclaims, shaking her hands. “The eyepatches just didn’t come out the way I wanted…”

“It takes practice,” Ningguang reassures her, gesturing to the pile. “My first attempts weren’t nice, either.” She nods at the blue Aranara. “Thank you, Ararycan. But that’s the last order I’m taking for today.”

Ararycan hops excitedly and waddles away. Beidou leans forward, a smirk on her lips. “Last order, eh? You charging them for this, Tianquan?”

Ningguang rolls her eyes. “I must admit it crossed my mind, Captain,” she confesses, “But I don’t suppose the Aranara deal in Mora, do they?”

“Fruits and flowers, more likely.” Her grin widens. “Sunsettias, maybe?”

#if you're still following this thank you lol #beiguang #beidou x ningguang #beiguang fanfic #genshin fic #genshin fanfic #genshin impact fanfic #genshin impact fic #genshin impact #yuniewrites #fanfiction #genshin fanficion #ao3 fanfic #ao3fic #read on ao3 #happy ending #angst with a happy ending #sumeru #sumeru akademiya

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yuniemaki · 1 year

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series: genshin impact pairing: beidou x ningguang rating: T genre: sickfic, hurt/comfort part 1 of flowers of teyvat read on ao3

The cough is a persistent parasite, announcing its presence at the most inopportune moments like a certain boat captain. It greedily sucks out all the air from her lungs and rattles her ribs; it leaves her shaking and gasping for breath.

“It’ll pass,” is what she’d said when the coughing first began, waving a gloved hand dismissively.

“It’s been a week,” her secretary frets, documents in hand. “Lady Ningguang, perhaps you’d like to consider—”

“Lantern Rite is almost upon us,” Ningguang interrupts, shakily reaching for her mint tea and taking a few sips. The warm liquid washes down the last of the sour taste in her mouth, soothing her scratchy throat. “Lady Keqing needs our full support.” She catches sight of the dejected look on the young lady’s face and sighs, setting her teacup aside. “But… you could cancel all my unimportant meetings for the day, dear Baiwen. I will take it easy.”

Baiwen nods, taking her leave. Ningguang returns her attention to the scroll unfurled across the length of her walnut desk. It is a proposal penned by Keqing’s hand on how they can bring the Lantern Rite celebrations to Qingce Village once again this year. At least, that's what she was told when the Yuheng brought it up to the Jade Chamber. She’d been too focused on keeping the cough suppressed while Keqing gave a speech on the specifics of her plan.

It’s odd how her head feels like it’s been stuffed with silk flowers today. The words seem to dance around the parchment, passing through her wooly brain but not quite sticking, like oil meeting water. Her brow furrows; she re-reads the scroll again, but she understands so little that it might as well be written in another language.

It’s a little too hot, Ningguang thinks, and her qipao is damp with perspiration. She wipes beads of sweat off her neck, rising from the table. The world abruptly lurches forward; Ningguang digs her clawed fingers into the wood, managing to stop herself from tipping forward. Her claws aren't so lucky — they break off with a snap.

When the world rights itself again, she slowly releases her death grip on the desk, and walks over to the window. The Tianquan slides it open, instantly greeted by a gentle breeze.

It caresses her clammy skin; she shivers and slams the window shut instead.

That is not the only noise to echo in her ears. In the silence of her office, she becomes aware of foreign noises within — the careless, heavy footsteps of a certain buffoon descending the spiral stairs; the soft, high-pitched pleas of Baiwen as she haplessly follows.

Ningguang pinches her nose with a sigh, looking up just as Beidou barges into her office, her fur cloak carelessly draped over her broad shoulders. Baiwen throws up her hands in surrender and leaves. The brunette stands in the middle of the office and grins, albeit a little too mischievously.

Archons. Did she—

"Heard you're taking the afternoon off, Ningguang," the pirate booms. The Tianquan is becoming painfully aware of a dull throb beginning to build towards a crescendo at the base of her skull. "Care for a game, then?"

Ningguang bites back a sharp retort sitting at the tip of her tongue. She can never understand why Beidou's very presence both gratifies and irks her. Perhaps it's because she's flattered that the captain visits often these days, but her timing is the absolute worst. Always.

Regardless, when Beidou leaves — well, Ningguang would liken it to the warm sun giving way to the lonely night.

"And here I thought you were coming to pay your fines without a summons, Captain," the Tianquan replies, stopping shy of pouting.

Read on:

#sickfic #hurt/comfort #genshin hurt/comfort #genshin sickfic #genshin impact fic #genshin fanfic #genshin impact fanfic #beiguang #beiguang fanfic #beiguang sickfic #beidou x ningguang #ningguang #beidou #ao3fic #ao3 fanfic #genshin fanfiction #flowers of teyvat #yuniewrites #yuniefics

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yuniemaki · 1 year

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oh yes, she's in love

In hindsight, Beidou should’ve known that her plan would fail. It flopped before it barely began: Bu’yun had taken one look at the young man next to her and shook his head. “Sorry, Captain,” he’d said, “Lady Ningguang specified you — and only you — are able to ascend to the Jade Chamber as you wish.”

The three of them now stand at an impasse: Beidou folds her arms indignantly; Kazuha shifts awkwardly, and Bu’yun stubbornly stands in front of the elevator to the Jade Chamber, refusing them entry. “How about you send a message to her, then?” the pirate demands.

“I cannot leave my post,” Bu’yun replies firmly.

Where the hell does Ningguang find people like him? Beidou scowls. But in this time she’s spent glaring daggers into the poor man’s face, she’s slowly coming up with a plan. Only me, eh?

“Uh, Beidou-jie,” Kazuha mumbles, “Maybe we can just make an appointment like everyone else…?”

“No, no.” She leans close and whispers conspiratorially. “Listen, kid. I’ll take the elevator up alone. You use that anemo of yours and leap up to me once it’s floating above him.”

“Is that… legal?”

“Who cares? We’re pirates.”

She waits until Kazuha gives a small nod, before looking up at Bu’yun. The man eyes them both suspiciously. “Fine,” Beidou concedes, “I’ll go up alone. And get our high and mighty Lady Tianquan’s permission to bring up the kid.”

Bu’yun visibly relaxes. “I’m glad you can see reason, Captain,” he murmurs, stepping aside. “Please, ascend to the Jade Chamber.”

The captain turns to wink at Kazuha before she steps onto the plaustrite elevator. The young samurai waits until she’s too high for Bu’yun to catch — and then he springs up with a gust of anemo. Beidou laughs heartily, catching him by the arm as the poor man far below flails his arms in shock and disdain. “Knew I could count on you!” she beams, smacking him cheerfully on the shoulder.

Kazuha’s brow furrows in concern. “And you’re sure the… Tianquan won’t mind?” he asks as they both step off the plaustrite elevator.

“On the contrary,” a smooth, melodious voice answers before Beidou can. “I do mind.”

The captain turns to face the lady of the Jade Chamber, standing before them with a fan hiding her rosy lips. For a moment, as always, Beidou’s mind goes blank. Every time she sees Ningguang, that otherworldly beauty blows her away for just a second, sometimes more. That golden qipao revealing just a hint of creamy legs; those wine-red eyes gleaming in amusement and sometimes annoyance; silky white tresses that flow more gracefully than water as she moves — Beidou quickly composes herself, clearing her throat.

“H–hey, Ning.” She manages a small wave.

Ningguang inclines her head. “And he is?”

“Ah, well, he’s—”

And to Beidou’s absolute shock, Kazuha steps forward with a bow. “My name is Kaedehara Kazuha, my lady,” he murmurs, reaching out a hand. Ningguang lifts her own, placing it in his. He bends to kiss her knuckle in reverence. “I apologise for the rude greeting; I assure you it was not my intention to intrude upon your home.” He looks up. “It is a pleasure to meet you at last. Captain Beidou speaks highly of you.”

The corners of Ningguang’s eyes crinkle as she smiles. “And I you, Kazuha.”

Beidou’s jaw falls off the Jade Chamber.

prompt ➽ beidou takes kazuha to meet ningguang for the first time

#genshin impact #yuniewrites #drabbles #beiguang #oneshots #genshin prompts #ficlets #fluff #scenarios #blurbs #genshin imagines

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yuniemaki · 11 months

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To sleep, perhance to dream

Beiguang visits Sumeru. Beidou x Ningguang. Rating: T Status: Complete Content Warnings: spoilers for Chapter 3: Sumeru Archon Quest

Summary: At the behest of Grand Sage Azar, Ningguang heads to Sumeru on a diplomatic trip, and Beidou tags along. Unfortunately, trouble never strays far from the Tianquan.

Chapter list on AO3

We know what we are

There's daggers in men's smiles.

Tis in my memory lock'd

Though this be madness

There's a divinity that shapes our ends

To die, - To sleep, - To sleep!

This is the very ecstasy of love

Which dreams, indeed, are ambition

So full of artless jealousy is guilt

Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear.

To thine own self be true