@frozencaesor liked for a starter!
The lights of the festival shown in the birth of twilight like fireflies in a jar, waving absently in the soft ocean breeze of Liyue Harbor. Another day, another moment of graceful evasion of business. While on some days, he would attend to pressing matters back at the guild, tonight was special. The annual lantern festival was about to begin, and Xingqiu would rather fall from My Aozang itself than miss it.
Since he was a boy, he’d been coming here with someone specific, slipping away from home year after year to do so. The escape itself had become somewhat of a game. In truth, at this point he would need to be foolish to believe his family wouldn’t expect his absence, but there was still thrill in setting out undetected.
Today had been a particularly challenging year, and he’d resorted to using a window on the second story of his family’s building to escape to the roof, and from there to the streets below.
He’d never dream of boasting, but there was a telltale self confidence that tugged his lips into a smile as he approached the boy he’d pledged to spend the evening with. It had become somewhat of a tradition, so he approaches, lifting a hand in casual greeting.
“Ah, Chongyun!” He calls, tone light and casual. “There you are! Early again, were you? You really must forgive me for making you wait.” Perhaps he should remind himself to be there a few minutes early as well next year? One is only punctual if they arrive first, after all.
