"Never have I ever given Aether a lap dance," said Keqing.
At once, half the UHA women took a drink. Among them were the obvious ones: Yae Miko, Mirror Maiden, Lisa, and Yelan. But there was one that Keqing didn't expect. Ganyu took a sip.
"Really? You too?"
Ganyu ducked her head, hiding her blushing face. "I wanted to try something new."
"How adventurous," said Miko with a chuckle. "I suppose it's my turn now. Hmm, let me think… never have I ever been in love before Aether."
The Raiden Ei, Yelan, and Mirror Maiden all sipped.
Yae Miko looked at Ei with undisguised surprise. "Oh. I had no idea."
Ei averted her gaze. For once, Yae Miko did not push the subject. Yelan muttered that she had an old crew she once ran with. They were gone now. Mirror Maiden stared at her reflection in her mug.
"I'm actually a widow."
The others looked at her. Keqing herself couldn't stifle her curiosity. Mirror Maiden rarely talked about herself. This was the most they'd gotten in a long time.
Mirror Maiden lingered in silence. For a moment, it seemed like she wouldn't continue. Then, a fond glow passed over her features.
"He was a lot like Aether: kind, brave, and so handsome. Every day with him was the happiest of my life. Before I left for my studies, he told me he was ready for kids. He'd saved up enough Mora so I could take a break from work and look after them a while."
"What happened?"
"He was killed by monsters while I was away."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," said Keqing.
"It's fine," she said. "That was a very long time ago."
Mirror Maiden took another drink. She choked a bit on her words, voice cracking.
"You never know," she said, "you never know how much you love someone until they're gone."
Several women nodded in somber agreement. Mirror Maiden put on a bright smile.
"Ah, look at me, bringing down the mood like this. Come on, let's keep the game going."
The game continued for a while, but before long most of them ended up passed out on the table. Everyone wandered off to their own corners of the mansion to sleep it off. Keqing and Mirror Maiden started off to their separate corners, walking side-by-side.
Unable to help herself, Keqing asked, "What was his name?"
Mirror Maiden paused, thoughtfully, as if deliberating whether she should share.
"If you don't feel comfortable saying, that's fine," said Keqing.
Keqing stumbled on the carpet. Mirror Maiden caught her, slinging the Yuheng's arm around her shoulder. Together, they padded to the bedroom. She let Mirror Maiden lay her on the mattress. Mirror Maiden then propped her head on a pillow.
"Thanks," Keqing slurred. "You're a good friend, you know that? Sorry about your husband."
"Thanks," she replied. Mirror Maiden paused at the door. "Rostam. His name was Rostam."
"Rostam," Keqing repeated the name, testing it out on her drunk lips. "Sounds like an old Mondstadt name, like really old. Must've had old-fashioned parents."
"You could say that."
Keqing sniffed. "Well, I hope you see him again one day."
The Fatui folded her arms across her chest. "I'm not sure I want to. I'm not the innocent girl I used to be. I've changed."
"Don't worry," said Keqing. "I'm sure he'll still love you."
Mirror Maiden smiled wanly. "I can only hope."
Mirror Maiden flicked off the lights and closed the door. With a yawn, Keqing tucked herself beneath the blankets, dozing off into a peaceful sleep.