#SOMETIMES YOU GOTTA LET THE IDEA FERMENT TO FULL GET ALLTHE JUICY DRUNKEN MATURITY OUTTA IT

[boundxfate]

@wxrldlyreflectixns​ said: 🍸+ Ning do you at all desire to be public with Xiang? Hold hands & kiss & be shown off by her & vice versa?

Exhale catching at the back of Ningguang's throat portrayed her utter OFFENSE & INDIGNANCE at the question, brow arching together as tightly knit as her INNER CIRCLE as her mouth pressed into a life. Had she an ounce less alcohol swimming in her stomach, maybe the Tianquan would question as to HOW this interloper knew of her coupling with Xiangling at ALL. They'd even said it themselves: They were NOT public. Instead, rather fittingly, given how far out of her comfort zone the woman was, Ningguang slurred, head tilted, eyes narrowing. Yes, there was STILL a threat in her words even in spite of her intoxication. "I cannot for the life of me figure out what I hate more: Your FOOLISHNESS or your ARROGANCE..." She backed her champagne glass and with aflick of her wrist summoned up an orbit of gemstones, scarlet eyes settling if ever so slightly onto the comforting rotation. "This is not a conversation for you or ANYONE ELSE--" Words calling out like a WARNING to all potential listeners. "To be of any significance in." And yet they were the single MOST significant part of it all the same.

Ningguang knew not of any logic that could so shy her away from being PUBLIC with Xiangling. Of none but one, that is. And that was Xiangling's safety. After all, the Tianquan had none that could prevent her from taking a lover; IRREGARDLESS of their gender. However, she had no shortage of enemies that may very well have attempted to TAKE HER LOVER FROM HER. "If Xiangling to speak to me regarding this, she has every right to do so." Fist clenched and the geo crystal ground to dust. Perhaps, in truth, or at least in part, Ningguang's deficiencies in this area were born not of LOGIC, but at least of partial IRRATIONALITY. Perhaps the Tianquan was not scared of LOSING Xiangling, but instead of COMMITTING to her. But why would that be? Her constantly overwhelming schedule? Her duty to Liyue Habor, the Qixing, Adepti, and Rex Lapis? Her various business ventures?

Or was it that new grounds, especially new EMOTIONAL grounds, brought Ningguang a sense of INSTABILITY & INSECURITY that no man, God or celestial trial ever had? And more annoyingly: WHY? Why did Xiangling, and XIANGLING ALONE, hold the power, in every action and word, to shake the foundation of Ningguang's simply perfected and easily understood world to it's very CORE? To shake long accepted truths out from the tapestry in which Ningguang had so THOROUGHLY engraved them. "I believe we've all had far too much to drink tonight. The guards will see you out." Still, as she uncrossed LITHE legs and gave them a stretch, strutting over to her balcony and gazing out upon the world, those thoughts jabbed away, through her defenses and into her HEART & MIND, sending waves of BLISTERING HEAT to her cheeks, her stomach, and her nethers, as cold tendrils wrapped themselves around her organs, heart hammering so fast it was almost SCARY how little it showed. "Xiangling... Did you put her up to this?" Hmmm -- PERHAPS SHE DID... And with that closing thought, Ningguang SMIRKED.