Chapter Text
April 28th
Signora had been in Liyue Harbour for three days, and the Tianquan of the Qixing had yet to acknowledge her request for an audience.
No doubt an intentional act meant to show that Lady Ningguang couldn't bring herself to care about the Fatui, but not one that Signora would tolerate for any longer. Paying deference to anyone never really suited her, except to the Tsaritsa.
.
Ningguang bristles when she enters the Jade Chamber to find a Fatui Harbinger sprawled in one of her chairs.
She thinks it takes a certain type of woman to toe the fine line she’s walking between elegant and ostentatious. Elaborate patterns and lush fabrics of her cloak flow onto Ningguang's polished floor, and her legs are generously exposed, with an intricate diamond tattoo to boot. Everything about her appearance gives Ningguang the impression that she's trying to look like the most expensive thing in the room. Despite her relaxed display, there's still something awkward about the way Signora's sitting. Her gloved hands are clasped in her lap, gripping each other a little too tightly.
"How did you get in here? I didn't send for you."
Signora ignores the question completely, speaking coolly as she replies, "If we're going to be in business, you'll have to learn that I'm not a servant to be summoned at your beck and call."
In truth, it was surprisingly easy for Signora to access the Jade Chamber without permission. A few harsh words and a flash of her catalyst to the guard standing watch over the platform in the square, and Signora had secured free passage whenever she wanted. It wasn't that the Tianquan's security was exceptional, it was just that no one else had ever dared attempt to breach it. Of course, it didn't hurt that Signora's reputation made it easy to get people to do what she wanted.
Ningguang narrows her eyes, regarding the other woman with a decidedly less than cordial stare. They've never met, officially, and when she'd received word that the infamous Signora wanted to meet with her, this greeting is certainly not what she'd expected.
"I'm not inclined to do business with people who lack respect for the rules."
Signora waves her hand before letting her wrist go limp, as if Ningguang's remark were a pest she was trying to shoo away.
Ningguang means to brush past her and leave her alone in the hallway, but Signora gets up, slowly but deliberately following her to her personal chambers. Ningguang hates her presumptuousness, but there's something begrudgingly admirable about it, too. She always did respect boldness, within reason.
"Are you intent on teaching me the rules , or can we address what I came here for?" Signora employs a particular affectation as she speaks, like the Liyue Compendium is child’s play to her.
They're stopped at the heavy double doors to Ningguang's office now, and by the expectant look on her face, Signora doesn't appear to be leaving anytime soon. Ningguang makes a mental note to speak to her head of security before the day is through.
Signora smirks in a mocking approximation of gratitude as Ningguang opens her doors. As she strides past, Ningguang feels the slightest chill. It puzzles her at first, but she attributes it to the flowing of her cape as she moves.
She sits down and gestures at the chair in front of her desk, but Signora ignores it to remain standing. She suspects the desired effect was to have her feeling unnerved, subconsciously threatened by having to look up at her, but Ningguang just finds it rude.
Signora is slowly circling her office, scanning her decor like it’s on display for her approval. Seemingly satisfied, she turns her attention back to the Tianquan and straightens, drawing herself up to her full height before she speaks. She suddenly looks very regal. Ningguang is struck by how easily Signora commands the room, even in her own Chamber.
"On behalf of Her Majesty The Tsaritsa, I have a proposition for you. An arrangement, between yourself as representative of Liyue, and Snezhnaya."
Ningguang's red eyes look like they could bore a hole through Signora's skull as she speaks.
"You must have something very convincing to think I'd allow more Fatui in my streets than there already are."
"Scarlet Quartz."
When Ningguang shows no recognition, Signora continues.
"A rare ore recently discovered on Dragonspine. It has significant warming properties, capable of protecting against even the sheer cold of the mountain. It could prove very helpful for life in Snezhnaya. The Tsaritsa wants it mined and shipped back."
"It doesn't snow in Liyue."
There's a shine in Signora's blue eye, and Ningguang suspects she's about to play her trump card.
"If the Fatui take the ore, we'll be using it to improve life in Snezhnaya. But what if someone else comes looking into the properties of scarlet quartz? If another nation put their mind to it, they could use it to make Dragonspine hospitable, establish a city with direct access to both Mondstadt and Liyue. It could very well be a strategical stronghold... not to mention disrupt the flow of trade."
Ningguang stifles a wry smile as Signora leverages her own appreciation for Mora. The Harbinger came well-prepared for their conversation.
"What's to stop the Fatui from creating this mountain stronghold yourselves?"
"The Tsaritsa already rules one frozen country, it wouldn't be worth the effort to create a new one."
Ningguang doesn't entirely trust her, but she finds no flaw in Signora's logic, and the swiftness of her reply leads her to believe that she's telling the truth.
"If the quartz were in Snezhnaya, it would eliminate much of the possibility of another nation taking advantage of Dragonspine. Better to leave the rest of Teyvat thinking it's a desolate wasteland."
"And you want to use Liyue Harbour as your center of operations between Snezhnaya and Dragonspine."
Signora nods in agreement. "As well as the space in your docks for our ships."
Ningguang is quiet for a moment, drumming her nails on her desk as she considers Signora’s proposal.
"Why ask my permission? Why not just show up?"
She leaves out like the Fatui usually do from the end of her sentence, but from the ghost of a sneer that flits across Signora's face, she gets the sense she knows it's implied.
"We're already sending our troops across the sea for long, hard labour, making them fight an unnecessary battle in your streets benefits no one. The sooner we can retrieve the ore and be back in our own city, the better."
"Tensions with the Fatui are certain to rise if I have to tell merchants to dock elsewhere to make room for your ships. Why should I risk angering my entire city?"
Signora seems almost impatient now, as if she'd expected Ningguang to know the answer.
"Your people already hate us, a few more or less of us in the city isn't going to change that." She crosses her arms, looking down at Ningguang.
"The fact is, you don't have much to lose. Having a few hundred extra bodies here can't hurt your economy... Nor can the percentage we'll cut you in on for facilitating this."
Ningguang raises an eyebrow.
"The Tsaritsa is willing to grant you a percentage of the profit made within Snezhnaya's own economy once we've acquired the ore, for every month we spend in Liyue. That, and if you ever do find a need for scarlet quartz, you'll know just where to find it. And you'll have the first bidding rights." Signora punctuates her sentence with a smile that’s sharp like a predator's.
"That seems awfully generous of your Queen."
"The Fatui have no interest in fighting where we could negotiate. All you have to do is let us stay, and perhaps soothe a few citizens who take issue with our being here."
"Much easier said than done," Ningguang dismisses. "How do I know I won't be opening my doors to an army ready to raze the city to the ground?"
Signora seems to actually consider this, looking up through her lashes and jutting her bottom lip out ever so slightly. She shrugs, the iridescent black diamonds splayed across her chest catching the light as she moves.
"I suppose you don't." She speaks with a frankness that Ningguang could've found humorous if they were in different circumstances. "You know what they say, keep your friends close and your enemies closer."
Ningguang fixes her with a steely gaze, betraying nothing.
"So? Do we have an agreement?"
"The Qixing will discuss it", Ningguang replies in a clipped voice.
A smug smile makes its way onto Signora's face, as if she's already accepted.
"Snezhnaya appreciates your consideration, Lady Ningguang.”