jade strings that tug from the shadows

Perhaps it was fate that brought her clients into her shop. A comedy of divine proportions. Or maybe it was something a little less than that— something a bit more…

Amusing.

"Can you believe it?!"

The woman rested her chin in her hands as she listened to her favorite client of all time rant. It was a dark day in Liyue when its lovable little Yuheng was not angry about something.

This was not one of those days.

Keqing pounded her fist on the table and huffed, clearly offended by the actions of an associate of hers. "She bought ALL the Lucent Crescents available for the next months at double the price— just so she could mess with ME! How in blazes am I supposed to take that laying down? This is war, I tell you!"

Oh, yes, the woman mused. Silently, she smiled under her hooded robes and mask— a patient smile that she puts on airs when dealing with her respectable clients.

Keqing rambled on. "If she's not out making my life a living hell, Ningguang's busy pulling strings from the shadows and undoing all of my hard work trying to make better policies for Liyue. Like, what the heck? After all that's happened, you think she'd be a bit less greedy with profits and a bit more, I don't know, compassionate?"

"Mayhaps she has her own ulterior motives," the woman replied. "She does not appear to be someone with shallow intentions, nor does she seem to harbor any ill will towards you. Perhaps she does so merely because she sees it all as a frivolous game?"

Keqing's eyebrow twitched. "That's the WORST part! Everything's a game for her. And I'm the one that usually has to pick up the pieces afterward! Can't she take her job a little more seriously?"

The woman laughed.

"Sorry," Keqing said, calming down. "I shouldn't be talking crap about my co-workers behind their backs like that."

"It's not a problem. Whatever is said within these walls will stay here forever. I value my client's confidentiality, I'll have you know!"

Sighing, Keqing bowed her head to the woman. "Thank you. Talking to you like this gets a burden off of my chest, you know? You're so quiet and mysterious, yet there's just something about you that I feel I can trust."

"Ah, shall I take it refers to this, then?" the woman said, taking out a sealed envelope from her drawer and passing it to Keqing. "I believe you will find this batch quite enjoyable."

"..."

"Oh? What is the matter?"

"I… really shouldn't," Keqing said. Her fingers fidgeted on the seal of the envelope, grimacing at the thought of what was inside. "I mean, don't you think this is all immoral? What if he finds out about this? He's gonna get mad and think I'm creepy, I'm sure of it."

"Hm…" The woman pondered a bit, wandering her eyes over her client's doubtful face. "Be that as it may, you are already deeply entrenched in it. Why, I think you even enjoy it!"

"Urk… I can't deny that..."

The woman smiled brazenly. "So why stop now? There's no shame in looking, no?"

Hearing the woman's words, Keqing reluctantly opened the envelope and peeked at its contents. Her eyes widened and she gulped as she held the half dozen photos close to her face.

"C-cute…" she mumbled, a furious deep red suffusing her cheeks.

Cute would be one way to describe it. One way to describe the assorted photographs of a certain golden-haired traveler in various states of undress. None of them were too explicit, though— only tasteful enough to let one's libido take over and fill in the gaps.

The woman gazed expectantly at Keqing. "Well?"

After a brief moment of hesitation, Keqing hung her head and squeaked out a reply. "I'll take them all."

"Splendid~ I shall have an invoice sent to you posthaste."

Keqing coughed into her fist and straightened her back. With their business transaction done, she resealed the envelope and spoke with a dignified voice befitting her status. "I need not remind you of the terms and conditions of our contract. You continue to provide for me in secret, and I shall see to it you are paid your due. I look forward to working with you in the future."

The woman shook her hand. "Likewise."

She watched as Keqing strutted out the door with a sleazy expression on her face, no doubt blissful beyond compare at the newest additions to her collection.

No sooner had she left, a burst of joyous laughter echoed in the chamber.

Taking off her mask, Ningguang tapped her fingers rhythmically on the table, savoring in her mind the sound of Mora tinkling into her lap at yet another successful business venture. She didn't need this to be profitable; she was only doing so for her own amusement.

But Mora was Mora all the same. It kept the meddling Yuheng off her back and made the adorable girl underneath smile. It was a win-win situation for both of them. She shan't complain.

A win, except for one man. Ningguang waved her hands in a gentle motion over her crystal ball and inside it revealing the face of the Traveler, in all his youthful glory. He was currently off on an adventure to lands unknown— a mysterious place called Dragonspine.

"There you are…"

Would she regard spying on him as unjust and hypocritical to her strict adherence to the law? Probably. But she knew all too well that humans were self-righteous beings. Their whims changed with the tide, and sometimes it was best to see where this tide takes you— as demonstrated to her time and again by a boisterously irritating Captain.

Above all, she was interested to know why a man like the Traveler had captivated Keqing's heart like so. It was strange, and one of the few things she had no inkling to. It gnawed at her curiosity. Keqing remained tight-lipped about the situation, no matter how much she asked.

It was normal to be suspicious of a colleague's relationships, no?

"You, Traveler, are an inexplicable person indeed…"

Alas, the stalking shall continue, for now. She had her doubts, but who was she to question the naivety of true love?

There was a knock on her door. It appears her next customer has arrived.

Replacing her mask, Ningguang beckoned for the person to come in and have a seat. He was a spritely fellow, with bright silver hair that failed to outshine the sunny disposition on his face. His goggles were fogged up and cracked slightly, and several band-aids were plastered on his cheeks.

His skin was lightly charred, and he smelled of ash and flint.

Ningguang smiled. "Ah, Bennett, my boy. Here to ask for more advice before your next adventure, hmm?"

Bennett scratched his head, bashful at being seen through. "Hehe… yeah, I guess. Ever since I started coming to you for advice, my luck's been improving… somewhat."

He raised a fist in the air, his passion burning like an everlasting flame. "One more time! One more adventure and I know I'll find something good to bring back home!"

Ningguang grinned. Her eyes took on a predatory edge as an idea popped into her head.

Perhaps she could have a little fun with this, as well.

"Ahh, Bennett… Since you asked, you shall receive. Heed my advice, and treasure beyond your imagination awaits when you return."

"Really?!"

"Tell me," Ningguang said, glancing at the boy's Pyro Vision. "How are you with wood and boats? And… pirates?"

"Pirates? They're like adventurers but at sea, right? I think I'll do great with them!"

"Splendid~!"

Ningguang is a massive troll. She even stole the spotlight on Keqing's bday fic- just like how she stole all those Lucent Crescents. Tch.

If you're new, this is a technical sequel to my other fic "A starlit bridge built by our hands." Although these will mostly just be crack fun and snippets. Don't expect heavy story. Maybe. Also expect Aether x Keqing.