For all intents and purposes, the vacation had been as perfect as could be. Even someone like Beidou who preferred a more adventurous route could recognize the value of the cozy scenery, with excellent food served at every stop and nothing but comfortable beds the whole trip from Liyue Harbor so far to Guili Plains. Despite this, Ningguang didn't seem particularly relaxed.

A couple days prior, Beidou was actually quite touched when Ningguang invited her to go on vacation. After all, how better to enjoy time away from work than with a friend? And Beidou was more than happy to help Ningguang away from all of her stuffy Tianquan duties. The fact that the chances of Liyue getting attacked by a giant sea monster was more likely than Ningguang going on vacation was reason enough to get her out of the Jade Chamber.

That first morning sun made the harbor look golden, as if wishing them well on their vacation. The squirrels and cranes along the path were also so perfectly eye-catching that Ningguang expressed some half-lament at not bringing with one of those fancy, Fontaine-based Kamera devices to take pictures. The initial trek was so peaceful that Beidou practically fell asleep while walking. She managed to wake herself up a bit after drop-diving a small camp of Hilichurls along the way. Ningguang read a book as she threw a few pot-shots into the fight, clearly not interested in the scuffle. It did get Ningguang's interest when Beidou found a few treasure chests that the Hilichurls had tucked away behind crudely-made crates and bones of dubious origin. They had fun sorting through the spoils and reminiscing on the past.

However, the conversation took a turn when they discussed where to have tea. For some reason, Beidou couldn't convince Ningguang that it would be more fun to have tea halfway up a mountain. Ningguang wanted to have tea at a regular tea house, like anyone else. They argued for almost fifteen minutes. Looking back, they both realized it was a bit silly. They ended up having tea with a few traveling merchants at a checkpoint rather than a teashop or mountain, and it ended up being pretty pleasant.

When the sun fell, Beidou wasn't particularly picky about where they were going to sleep so she didn't mind letting Ningguang take the lead on that. But then Beidou noticed a weird trend with the inns that Ningguang picked. Initially, they went to rather nice inns that were very reputable and expansive, which Beidou kind of figured would happen, but then Ningguang kept picking successively smaller and 'less polished' inns, ones that were less frequented, until they finally ended up at the smallest, emptiest, practically-a-house kind of inn. It was called Emerald Maple Inn and, at the time, Beidou and Ningguang were literally the only guests signed in. And they were probably the first guests for a long while. Now, Beidou had seen a lot in her travels, but even this was unheard of. Ningguang reasoned that the inn was in a very disadvantageous spot from a business perspective and it probably hadn't had enough attention to get mentioned in any travel guides or maps. Apparently, this was exactly what Ningguang wanted. Beidou found it mind-boggling.

Just like all of the other inn owners, Mr. Zhu ecstatically recognized Ningguang and provided them as many additional comforts as his meager establishment could offer, with special dishes and overly fluffed pillows for both their beds. It made sense that business owners would want to gain the favor of the Tianqian, especially this one trying to bolster his failing business. But, Bediou's sympathies for the man were a little confused when he could be overheard cheering to himself, "Now I won't have to try making a living off three jade mining facilities!"

Beidou started putting the pieces together when she noticed Ningguang's subtle displeasure grow with every bit of extra pampering; what Ningguang actually wanted was a break from was her reputation. Perhaps Ningguang could have done something to disguise herself, but Beidou knew she wasn't that kind of person and that it might give the impression that she was trying to hide something, which would could cause some unfortunate rumors.

So instead, Beidou suggested, "If you really wanna avoid getting noticed, we could always rough it," Beidou suggested and pointed a thumb at the beautiful plains.

"I suppose that's what it would take, wouldn't it?" Ningguang's cool exterior had the hint of a dejection in her voice.

Maybe part of Ningguang didn't want to camp outdoors, and normally Beidou would have vouched for the unbeatable view sleeping under a starry sky, but Ningguang seemed more disappointed that the only solution to her being pampered was to isolate herself, where no one could recognize her. Beidou didn't like that option either. There had to be a better way.

During one of the evenings while they discussed their next route, Beidou hunched over a map while Ningguang drank tea by the window. Hoisting up the map, Beidou declared, "You know what? Let's try going a little farther out of town."

Ningguang looked where Beidou pointed on the map and wondered, "Mondstadt? You want to just waltz straight into another region?"

"Why not?"

Ningguang gave her a doubtful look, "It's a bit uncouth for a foreign ruling body to drop in unannounced."

"Psh, whatever! You're on vacation, lady! Not official business. I'm pretty sure there's no rules against that." And even if there had been, they wouldn't have stopped Beidou anyways.

Ningguang could easily see that her friend wasn't going to be deterred. Regardless of how things worked out, perhaps it would at least be a nice change of scenery.

It was a long trek that was technically out of the way from where they were, since they first had to pass through Guili Plains and try to Stone Gate. But Ningguang felt far more motivated to follow Beidou's plan when they stopped briefly at Wangshu Inn. The staff did their upmost to be discreet about Ningguang's presence, yet Ningguang could hardly relax since she spent so much energy on trying not to get recognized, then practically fleeing the inn once other guests were starting to catch on, meaning that her and Beidou had to cut their fishing short. Ningguang wasn't too proud to admit when a retreat was tactical and she couldn't blame her people for their excitement, since all these was simply part of the cost of being the Tianqian, but she was getting rather exhausted of it all. As a result, Ningguang practically took the lead through Dihua Marsh and Stone Gate. Ningguang would have rushed straight through, if not for Beidou all but forcing her to take a break at the checkpoint.

Taking a break turned out to be a good decision. Stone Gate was more likely to have a mixed of foreign merchants who didn't immediately recognize Ningguang and even attempted to peddle her some wares, which she found terribly amusing. Her and Beidou were able to have tea at a stall for Pop's Teas. The eponymous owner Pops Zhou was a kindly old man who shared some stories he's heard from travelers, and Beidou repaid with a few of her own stories from the Crux. When they readied to leave, Pops sent them off with the words, "In the end, you only regret the chances you didn't take!"

Ningguang couldn't help but smile in appreciation, "Truly words of great value."

They passed through Stone Gate, dispatching Hilichurls along the way and enjoying a peaceful stroll. They could feel a shift in the air, even before they noticed the first Mondstadtian Crystalfly. The fluttering creatures that were normally a glittering gold in Liyue were now a shining turquoise, imbued with Anemo energy. Not only was the wind different and more prominent, it simply tasted different, sweeter.

This was not the first time in Mondstadt for either of them, but Ningguang hardly came here for anything other than important business, so she got to better take her time in soaking in the atmosphere.

Stone Gate normally would have led travelers straight into the famous Dawn Winery. Beidou was very interested in stopping for their wine samples, but Ningguang had trepidation about being potentially recognized at one of Mondstadt's most popular tourist hotspots. She wanted to go more into Mondstadt's mainland and find somewhere less conspicuous to unwind.

Beidou was disappointed so Ningguang appeased her by agreeing to going for a hike. There was nothing nearly as steep as the mountains in Liyue, so Ningguang actually had an enjoyable time as they walked up the rolling green hills and steady slopes. After a while Ningguang suggested, "Let's find somewhere to rest our feet."

"What?" Beidou rose an outcry. "C'mon. We've barely hiked at all!"

After some back and forth, they ended up stopping at Springvale for a meal. This turned out to be an excellent decision as the boars were freshly hunted, and they found out that boar meat was sweeter-tasting in Mondstadt than the ones in Liyue. This prompted Beidou to then detail the different kinds of boar that she's tasted in other regions, like the zany, almost electrified-taste of boars in Inazuma. And, to Ningguang's delight, not a single person in the small village seemed to recognize Ningguang nor Beidou, and simply regarded them as a pair of exotically dressed women from Liyue.

Ningguang wouldn't have minded continuing to hop between small villages, but Beidou insisted that it wouldn't be enough to get the full Mondstadt experience. Beidou then gave Ningguang an ultimatum between either going into Mondstadt City for a drink or taking a hike up Dragonspine. Unsurprisingly, Ningguang chose going to the main city.

Being in the region's capitol meant an increased likelihood of getting recognized, but, Ningguang knew Beidou was right. They would be missing out in their vacation if they didn't at least visit there. Ningguang had been to Mondstadt City before for diplomatic purposes, but it felt very different to be able to stroll the marketplace, past the flower shops and fruit vendors, while bard songs rode along the winds that pushed the towering windmills. Amidst the crowds, they only had one instance where a few sailors stopped what they were doing and pointed in awe, exclaiming, "Th—that's Captain Beidou!"

It almost didn't matter what region you were from; if you sailed the sea anywhere, it was almost impossible to avoid hearing about the Electro-wielding sea captain that had slain sea monsters and crushed pirate fleets beneath her heel with her formidable crew.

The starstruck sailors greeted them and Beidou was used to the attention, easily rolling with it. Beidou noticed how discreetly pleased Ningguang was when the sailors didn't recognize her and inquired who she was.

Without any of Ningguang's personal guards or attendants there to stop her, Beidou casually smacked a hand onto the Tianqian's shoulder and answered, "This a pal of mine! We're just passing through town, looking for a good place for a good drink. Any suggestions? She can be a little picky."

Normally, Beidou would have made such a move to undermine Ningguang's authority and just generally be a pest. But, in this moment, Ningguang found herself appreciating it, since this made her 'a friend to the legendary Captain Beidou', rather than the Tianqian, meaning that only Beidou got the lion's share of the attention.

To answer Beidou's question about a drink, the sailors pointed them to Angel's Share. They followed the directions in-between flower shops and fruit carts where cats leisurely sunbathed. Upon reaching the two-story building, Beidou paused and pursued her lips, "Hm."

Ningguang rose an eyebrow, "Not to your tastes?"

"Eh, I've just seen a lot of taverns like this, that's all. But since we're already here, might as well stick with it."

Along the way to the front of the tavern, they began to pass a woman hawking her wares and rare artifacts. This woman paused upon seeing them, then froze as she then called, "Lady Ningguang?"

Now Ningguang and Beidou fully faced the woman. She was from Liyue, with short hair and a straw hat. The recognition deepened in the merchant's eyes and she dipped her head quickly, "Good afternoon to you!"

Beidou grimaced, realizing this was exactly the kind of thing Ningguang tried to avoid. But Ningguang was quick to coolly respond, "Good afternoon. No need for such formality. I'm not here as the Tianqian." Smoothly, she added, "In fact, why don't you consider me a customer? What is it you're selling?"

The woman grew flustered, not expecting this, "A-ah, of course. I have, um, jewels from Liyue. Top-quality goods at low, low prices…"

Ningguang looked over the wares an observed, "These are from Mingxing Jewlery, aren't they?"

The woman wasn't sure how to react to this and confirmed, "Yes, yes. I brought them here, where they'd be unique in Mondstadt."

Ningguang glanced around at the space that her shop was set up, "Interesting." It was apparent that the people in this area barely gave half a glance at her items. Ningguang asked her, "And what is your name?"

"Shiliu…my Lady," she answered, quietly adding the last part sine she found it difficult to be completely informal.

Ningguang's manner of speaking was not casual but it was disarming, like someone you could be honest with, "Shiliu, tell me, how has business been?"

Shiliu looked at the ground, as if ashamed, "My business isn't doing well. I've wondered if I'm too far away from Lord Morax to do business. Then I heard he had passed, so maybe that has been why…"

Ningguang stared thoughtfully. She then said, "Perhaps it is not lost cause. How's about we make a deal?"

Shiliu blinked in wonder and slight trepidation, "…A deal?"

Beidou waited as Ningguang spoke to the woman, quietly and carefully. Shiliu's eyes grew wide, then focused, taking in everything that Ningguang said.

After several minutes, Shiliu bowed her head and seemed to thank Ningguang profusely. Ningguang coolly and modestly responded before returning to Beidou.

The captain asked, "What's up?"

"We just made a deal. I offered some business advice in exchange for her not revealing my visit."

Beidou glanced at Shiliu, who was so happy that she looked on the verge of tears. "Some business advice, huh? Don't people spend like, what, their entire life savings for the chance to say hello to you? But it looks like you pretty much gave your knowledge out for free."

"Sometimes the most worthwhile business decisions are the ones with less obvious profits," Ningguang answered cryptically.

She didn't tell Beidou this, but Ningguang saw so much of her younger self in Shiliu; she was naïve about money and was trying to earn it through meager and uninformed ways. But giving Shiliu a bit of insight that she herself wished she had heard, it felt like a way of paying an old debt to her past.

"Shall we get a drink?" Ningguang prompted, so they would resume their walk.

Beidou shrugged, "Sure. It's your vacation."

Ningguang glanced around the street, taking in the carefree air of Mondstadt, feeling more relaxed and weightless than she had in a while. She smiled, without any prying eyes trying to pick apart why, and she said, "Thank you, Beidou. You're a good friend."

This caused Beidou to pause. The one-eyed captain looked in surprise, "I never thought I'd hear the Tianqian say something so honest."

Ningguang's smile subtly turned smug, "I'm on vacation, remember?"

Beidou scoffed, then she pushed open the door and they entered Angel's Share.

CatCrescent:Hello everyone! I've always liked the friendship between Beidou and Ningguang. It's cool how these two both knew each other when they were both nobodies and how they then became two very different people but are still friends. After doing their respective Hangouts, it seemed like Beidou felt like she doesn't have the business savy that Ningguang does, but Ningguang doesn't have the means to make friends and connections as easily as Beidou, making it so Beidou's history with Ningguang makes her one of the few to know Ningguang as just a person. This was pretty fun to explore.

And if you guys are interested in other stories that explore this friendship, I'd like to recommend Tales of the Blade by StrelitziaNoir. Technically, it is about the stories behind different weapons, and Beidou and Ningguang don't apepar until Chapter 3, but it's still a very well-written set of fight scenes with excellent character studies, and it was somewhat an inspiration for writting this particular story.

Also, sorry for going quiet for a while. This was actually planned to be released not too long after 'Recommendation' but I got a bit caught up in larger projects for other fandoms. Even still, I do have other short stories planned to touch upon the other characters involved in the Of Drink-a-Dreaming event. Even though the event has long since ended, I still wanted to give it the proper send off before I start trying to write any stories about the newer updates. I hope you enjoy!