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Despite having been well over 3000 years old, this was the first time Ganyu had ever felt so nervous. She’d fought in the Archon Wars alongside Rex Lapis and she’d survived the cataclysm; during that time countless nations rose and fell, gods were destroyed and reborn… Yet somehow, those world altering events seemed to pale in comparison with what she was about to face next.
Ganyu was going on a date.
It really shouldn’t be such a nerve wracking thing, honestly. It was just Beidou. But then again, she thought to herself, it was never just Beidou. Though she and Beidou had been together for several years now, this was the first time they’d put such a label on their outings. She supposed this particular instance was deserving of such a title, since it was different from their usual outings.
Whenever Beidou was home from sea, they’d spend their mornings getting breakfast together and their evenings watching the stars. The pirate liked to surprise her, whisking her away for a moment or two so that they could stroll the paths up Mt.Tianheng or nap by the riverbanks at Guili. She knew that Ganyu’s schedule prevented her from doing anything that was too extravagant. That wasn’t an issue for the two of them and those simple moments with her girlfriend were the highlight of Ganyu’s days.
Tonight wasn’t anything like that. In fact, Beidou had told her in advance, asking for permission to take her out someplace special. Ganyu filed for a rare day off and was gifted with a beautiful kimono from Inazuma to wear for the date. Maybe that’s what got her so nervous. It was just all so much more than what she was used to.
“Ganyu, are you ready?” Beidou’s warm voice came from behind her bedroom door, pulling the adeptus out of her thoughts. She took one last glance at herself in the mirror before moving to open her bedroom door.
The smile that lit up Beidou’s face was enough to send all the anxiety fluttering away. The taller woman cupped Ganyu’s face with her calloused hands and gave her a sweet kiss.
“I knew you’d look beautiful in that dress,” she said when they parted. Ganyu’s cheeks warmed at the compliment and she looked down at the soft blue silk.
“I’ve never worn a kimono before,” she said. “They’re very comfortable.”
“I’ll buy you a hundred more,” Beidou grinned.
“Don’t be ridiculous, I don’t need a hundred,” Ganyu said and laughed. “This one is just fine. Thank you for it.”
“Of course. Can’t attend a summer festival in Inazuma without dressing the part,” Beidou said. Ganyu’s eyes wandered down Beidou’s body, appreciating the outfit she was in as well. It was her signature red color but similar in design to Ganyu’s own. They were almost matching; the idea warmed the smaller woman’s heart.
“You look beautiful too.”
“Thank you,” Beidou said and gave her another kiss. “Are you ready to go?”
“Mmhm.”
Holding hands tight, the couple left Ganyu’s home and began their short walk to the teleport waypoint. While travel to Inazuma by waypoint was still forbidden for most, Beidou had managed to pull a couple strings with the travel authorities in Inazuma. She’d been a little skeptical at first but Ganyu knew Beidou was not someone to swindle or cheat her way into things, so she wasn’t too worried about the technical aspects of their travel.
The only other option would have been to take the Crux anyways, which would’ve taken over a week’s worth of sailing. And as much as Ganyu loved Beidou, the younger woman knew that the ever diligent secretary would never take off that much time from work.
“Ready?” Beidou asked again when they reached the waypoint beneath Yuehai Pavilion.
“Are you?” Ganyu fired back. She knew that this was Beidou’s least favorite method of travel and she would have preferred taking the extra time to sail. Beidou just laughed.
“Of course,” she said and pulled the blue haired woman into her chest. With her free hand she touched the waypoint.
In an instant, the couple materialized in front of another waypoint. Beidou held onto Ganyu for another moment before loosening the embrace with a shiver. She rubbed the back of her neck and sighed.
“I feel like it’s worse over longer distances,” she said. Ganyu laughed at the slight pout that formed on her girlfriend’s face. She reached up to give her a comforting kiss.
“My, my, I didn’t think I’d see such affection from our innocent Ganyu nee-san.” Their little moment was interrupted by a familiar voice from behind. The adeptus gasped and turned to face the owner of said voice. She couldn’t control her surprise.
“Miko!”
“It’s been too long, nee-san.” The Yae Miko of Ganyu’s memory was a small fox child, still just an apprentice at the shrine. Now she was donning the garments of the head priestess and almost as tall as Beidou. Still, the mischievous look in her eyes had not changed at all.
“It really has… You’re so tall now!”
“And you’re just the same as ever, even after several hundred years,” Miko chortled. Ganyu scrunched her nose at the lighthearted joke.
“Of course you know each other,” Beidou said and chuckled. “I should’ve expected that, huh.”
“It’s what happens when you’re both immortal attendants to ancient gods, I suppose,” the priestess laughed with a wave of her hand. “We’ll have to catch up some other time, nee-san. I’m only here to hand you these.” She pulled out a folded piece of paper from inside her kimono.
“I didn’t realize the head priestess would come out all the way to deliver mere travel papers,” Beidou commented while taking the papers
“A little bird told me I would want to see the special guests from Liyue myself,” the pink haired woman replied with a sly smile. She approached the waypoint while saying, “Especially since they’re being granted temporary entrance as a personal favor.”
“Please give the Yashiro Commission my regards.”
“Of course. Do enjoy the festival, it is one of the best things about summer in Inazuma,” she said. She then turned back to Ganyu and gave a slight wave. “Come visit me at the shrine soon, nee-san.” She touched the stone pillar and materialized away in a blue flash.
“She’s grown so much,” Ganyu said fondly.
“I can’t believe you’re older than her,” Beidou responded. She only laughed when the smaller woman smacked her arm.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Nothing,” she said and kissed the top of her head. “Let’s get going, before we miss all the fun.”
Ganyu followed as Beidou led her across the plains and across a small shore. Even from a distance she could see the beautiful glow of the festival coming from Amakane Island. As they drew closer and closer to the lively atmosphere, Beidou’s excitement was getting harder to contain.
“I’ve only been to the summer festival once before, but I promise you’ll love it,” Beidou said. “It’s just as beautiful as our own Lantern Rite.”
“I don’t have any doubts,” Ganyu said. Her smile grew at the sight of how happy her lover was.
The crowd wasn’t extremely large but there were a good number of locals there at the festival. Parents were watching their children play at fishing booths, friends were sharing a meal at the food stalls, and lovers were strolling under the cherry blossoms. Ganyu’s heart clenched at the wondrous sight. It really was like the Lantern Rite. Even if the decorations and scenery were a little different, it was clearly a time to celebrate with friends and family.
Such celebrations were one of the things Ganyu loved most about humans; they never failed to cherish every moment with colorful flair.
Beidou brought them to a little stall by the entrance of the festival. She pointed at two of the fox masks hung on the rack and asked, “Can we get those?”
“That’ll be 200 mora.”
Once the masks were secured, Beidou helped Ganyu pin hers onto her head. She carefully maneuvered it so that it wouldn’t rub against her horns. It was a simple gesture that made the adeptus cherish her girlfriend even more.
“Thank you,” she said and kissed her.
“Of course,” Beidou said.
Arms linked, the couple went around the various stalls at a leisurely pace. They found several Inazuma snacks to try and pulled fortunes. Though Ganyu brought some money to help pay for their activities, Beidou refused to let her spend a single coin.
“Let me pay for something,” the older woman pouted. She wasn’t one for whining but it felt unfair that Beidou was doing all of the paying. Her girlfriend laughed and just kissed her forehead.
“I’m the one that asked you out so I’ll take care of it,” she said.
“What am I supposed to use my hard earned salary on then?”
“You can save it for when you ask me out.”
“Hmph.”
“Don’t pout. I’m an expensive woman, I’ll be sure to take advantage of your salary then.” The pirate chuckled at her girlfriend’s scrunched expression. She handed a vendor some Mora and picked up a dango skewer. “Here, try this.”
“What is it?” Ganyu asked before taking a bite. The chewy sweetness was absolutely delicious. Her eyes widened at the new flavors, making the taller woman laugh.
“It’s called tricolor dango. I knew you’d like it.”
“It’s so yummy!”
“The pink one is flavored with sakura blooms,” Beidou said and took a bite of the next dango ball. “We should get a bag of blooms before we go home. I think you’d enjoy the taste of them too. Here, eat the last one.”
“Ah, but I already ate a lot,” the adeptus said with a shake of her head. She pressed her lips together and tried not to look at the skewer. “I don’t want to eat too much.”
“You only had a couple bites of the other snacks too,” the pirate frowned.
“Ah, you know…” She shrugged. Both women knew that Ganyu tried to curb her appetite as much as possible, not wanting to gain any extra weight. It was something that Beidou found a little ridiculous.
“And you know I keep telling you it’s okay to indulge yourself a little,” Beidou said. She cupped her girlfriend’s cheek and stroked it tenderly with her thumb. “If you really don’t want it, I won’t make you eat it, but I want you to enjoy tonight without worrying about anything.”
Ganyu contemplated her words. Surely it couldn’t be that bad, if it was just one night…?
“Fine,” she said and ate the last dango off the stick. This one was less sweet but just as tasty. Beidou’s expression filled with mirth and she leaned down to kiss Ganyu. The sudden display of affection made her squeak but she succumbed to the kiss nonetheless.
“Delicious.” Ganyu nudged her with her shoulder when she saw Beidou lick her lips.
“Shush. Let’s keep going.”
The two wandered around at a leisurely pace until something caught Ganyu’s eye.
“What’s that?” she asked and pointed. Beidou grinned and led her to where she was directing.
Near the edge of the main path was a post with various wooden plaques hanging from them. Ganyu walked ahead of Beidou and gazed at each one carefully, taking in all the different drawings and handwritings. Each one was filled with hope, love, and care from those who hung them up. It was truly a beautiful thing.
“Here,” Beidou said from behind. She turned to see her girlfriend holding out a plaque and pen. “You can hang one up too if you want.”
“Thank you,” the blue haired woman said and took the items. “Is it just like making a wish?”
“More like a prayer,” Beidou responded. “Supposedly, if Her Majesty the Shogun approves then it’ll be granted.”
“You seem skeptical,” Ganyu laughed.
“Well, with everything that’s happened with the Sakoku degree and all…” the pirate shrugged. A gentle smile appeared on the adeptus’ face.
“I can’t say that I understand why the archons make certain choices, even after all these years serving one,” she said. “But I know that they always have the wellbeing of their people in mind, even if it might not seem like it.”
They fell into a quiet silence. Ganyu wondered if Beidou understood where she was coming from. The young woman had always been more reliant on her own strength and skill as opposed to the will of the gods. She could only imagine that recent events solidified that for her.
But for someone like Ganyu, who had spent thousands upon thousands of years watching Rex Lapis protect his people and shape the land for their needs, the archons were not just faraway deities— they were leaders and protectors of their nations.
“I guess it’s hard for someone like me to understand,” Beidou finally said. “It’s hard to put your trust in someone you don’t really know or see. But…”
The pirate held out her prayer plaque face down. The adeptus took it and flipped it over. An incredibly fond look appeared on her face and she felt warm all over.
I want to love and support Ganyu for the rest of my life.
“I know you and I trust you, so I believe it when you say that.”
Beidou kissed her forehead. Ganyu handed over her own plaque and tucked herself into her girlfriend’s side. Beidou wrapped one arm around Ganyu’s small frame and used her other hand to hold out the prayer plaque.
A smile appeared on her face as she read it.
“You know you’re not supposed to write something that’s already true.”
“You’re so cheesy,” Ganyu mumbled into her chest. She could feel her cheeks heat up in slight embarrassment. “I could say the same for yours then.” Beidou just laughed again.
“Let’s hang these up.”
They pulled away so they could hang up the other’s plaque. Once the slabs of wood were tied onto the post, Ganyu stared at them for a long moment. She was determined to etch the scene into her memory forever.
The couple moved on as the sun began to set. Their interlocked hands swung gently as they walked through the festival to the very top of the island. The crowd had died out a little as well, with many tired parents and children retiring for the evening. While there were still various activities going on, the atmosphere was a little quieter.
When they reached the end of the dirt road, Beidou led Ganyu to a spot underneath a beautiful sakura tree. They had a perfect view of Inazuma City, in all of its glory. Ganyu leaned back on her palms and stared out at the foreign yet familiar scenery. Liyue and Inazuma shared many similar characteristics but they were both so distinct and unique as well. Getting to explore a small part of the land of thunder brought her so much wonder and joy; she never wanted tonight to end.
“Tired yet?”
“Just a little,” she said. “I had a lot of fun today.”
“I’m glad,” Beidou said. She tucked a stray strand of hair behind Ganyu’s ear. “I wanted to do something nice for you.”
“Was better than nice,” she mumbled and leaned against her shoulder. “Perfect.”
“Hopefully this last thing will make it extra perfect then.”
“Last what?”
“No festival is complete without a fireworks show,” Beidou grinned and nudged Ganyu’s cheek with her nose. “You should know this by now, Miss Secretary.”
“Oh,” Ganyu gasped and perked up. “Naganohara Fireworks!”
“Yeah, Yoimiya told me this year’s show is their best yet and to look out for it.”
“They’re always outdoing themselves.” Liyue had been a loyal customer of the Naganoharas for centuries. The fireworks for the Lantern Rite was one of her favorite events to put together; the Naganohara shop always made the process seamless and enjoyable. She was excited to witness their handiwork in their home nation.
As soon as the sun had completely set, Ganyu’s attention was directed at the dark sky. Sure enough, several pops rang in the air and bursts of color began filling up the night.
It was like watching a moving picture— glittering koi swam after one another, purple lightning struck, and flowering petals showered down from above. A story was being masterfully told by the fleeting sparks in the sky. The adeptus couldn’t tear her eyes away from the beauty of it all.
She didn’t even notice Beidou’s hand moving on top of hers, lacing their fingers together. The younger woman gave her a slight squeeze, making her head finally turn.
The look in Beidou’s eye could only be described as pure adoration. Ganyu felt a blush creep up her neck to her cheeks.
“What is it?”
“You just make me really happy,” Beidou said again. “Thanks for coming with me.”
“Of course. And you make me really happy too.”
“Good.”
Beidou leaned forward, pressing their lips together in a gentle kiss, as the last firework went off. Ganyu smiled into it as she moved to thread her fingers through her girlfriend’s hair and pull her closer. As the last firework went off in the sky, she thought about her prayer to the Electro archon—
I pray for Beidou’s happiness by my side.