i'm dragging a heart that weighs a ton / holding out for not just anyone

[monoceroscaeli]

[Fontaine: The technological hub of Teyvat.

For as long as anyone can remember, the country of Fontaine has always been the innovative center for the continent. High speed rail was originated here, and now spans across the entirety of Teyvat and beyond. High rises and skyscrapers pepper the skyline, modern Victorian buildings supporting a gear-like aesthetic from an era gone by. A thousand years ago, it was a much different place, but now it thrives with the bright lights and bustle of its people. One can hear the occasional street performer playing for cash, as businessmen and tourists alike walk down narrow cobblestone streets. People are buried in their phones, some take pictures as they gawk at the sights of the city, but one young man in particular walks languidly down the street, enjoying the life around him. He's in no hurry to get where he's going, as he has plenty of time to get there, noting a deli across the street from where he is now that he'll have to try.

Unfortunately, he is on business, so that'll have to wait.

Never being one to be dressed completely formal, he wears a comfortable pair of slacks and dress shoes, with a collared shirt that isn't buttoned up all the way under a grey vest. Various pieces of metal are woven into the vest, notably a crest on his right shoulder with a chain attached to it that hangs under his arm to the back. On his belt lies a Vision, glowing blue with hydro. The young man always seems friendly and easy going, but what lies underneath is something that not many are allowed to know- the heir to the family business of a company who develops tech for various products is also the right hand man of the mafia that runs the city.

And, their true business behind the scenes; creating Delusions to sell on the black market.

Today is a day where some investigating has to be done, and he's headed to see an old friend of his, from university. One that he's sure can help him with this problem he has. Entering the building, he swings in quietly to give a polite wave and a smile to the only person there.

Someone who looked exactly like their brother, whom he can only assume is the twin sister he'd yet to meet that he'd heard about.]

Hello, I was wondering if Aether was in today? I had a...business proposal for him, and I'm sure that he'd love to hear it. Unless of course, you might be of assistance instead.

Comments

[traversal]

[ her eyes narrow at his outstretched hand, her fingers tightening even more around the usb stick, holding it against her chest. she wonders if she could break it, if it'll break at all. would that solve this problem? ]

Or what? You'd kill me?

[ lumine knows she's pushing it, knows the kind of rumours that surround him and his family; aether would no doubt be upset at her. but she hasn't even received any answers to her questions. nothing still makes sense, nothing is assured—not her brother's safety, not a resolution to these visions. ]

... Delusions are said to be cursed items, created from the remains of gods. [ rumours, hearsays, stories from fairy tales. ] How certain are you it's not you who did this to me?

[monoceroscaeli]

So you've been doing your research.

[He wishes she hadn't been, though. She must of seen what he'd ask Aether to look up in their third party data servers, and looked up what it was. This was just not information she needs to know, but he supposes that anyone could look it up on the internet. They've found a way around using the remains of gods now- that was ancient history.]

If that was the case I would have had this problem a long time ago. And my headaches and visions didn't start coming until I met you. Lumine, you are getting in way over your head here. Make this easy, okay? We don't have to do this.

[He steps forward again, to put himself further into her space.]

Hand over the USB, now. Don't make me take it from you.

[traversal]

[ she scoffs at that, looking terribly offended by his supposed concession. as if such a threat is supposed to intimidate or frighten her, cow her into submission.

there's another flash of image across her mind, of a building filled with gold, and lumine takes a step back until her shoulders hit the glass window. there's nowhere to escape, but she's simply not surrendering the flash drive to him just yet. again, no questions from her have been answered yet. ]

And you expect me to just say yes and fork it over?

[ aether would be mad at her, upset that she's involved herself in this. but she's honestly more upset that he's involved with someone like ajax volkov. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[The minute the words leave his mouth, he can feel that pain shoot through his head, a vision coming to him of looking down at someone in a rage, gold surrounding him and this other person. It's gone as soon as it came, and he grits his teeth not only because of the pain, but because she's being so difficult about this.]

Lumine...

[He says with a growl, stepping forward more. He can't let this go any further, and he's leaving with that USB.]

I warned you. You should have left this alone.

[He makes a grab for her hand, in an attempt to try to twist her arm outward in a direction an arm is not supposed to go in order to get her hand to open and let go of the USB.]

[traversal]

[ she winces when the headache returns in full force, the pain almost blinding for a split-second. but that split-second is more than enough for ajax to grab her arm, twisting it in an attempt for her to drop the item in question. but still, lumine keeps it in her tight grip, letting out a cry when pain lances through her arm.

instead, she tries to yank her arm out of his grip, flailing to escape him. so much so that she tries to stomp his foot with her stiletto heel, her other hand coming up as a fist to punch him in the jaw. ]

Let go of me, you creep!

[monoceroscaeli]

[He twists the arm a little harder, knowing that it shouldn't take much to get her to let go. The heel that goes right into his toes hurts, and he cries out in pain when she does so- that punch connecting right with his jaw. He lets go of her, taking a few steps back and rubbing his jaw.

Okay, now he's pissed. But on the other hand, he's kind of happy to see her putting up a fight. At least now, he won't be bored.]

So that's how it's going to be? Alright then...

[He lunges again, this time trying to grab her arm to twist it behind her, so not only to position himself behind her to keep from getting punched, but so he can also have better control. She's making this hard, but he is still trying to keep from hurting her.]

[traversal]

[ the few moments that he stepped back and let her go is enough for lumine to duck and run towards her desk, her other hand cradling her wrist. it's not broken, that much she can tell, but it's tender, swollen. it's probably sprained, twisted by the force he's used on her.

she's pretty sure she can't overpower him. for one thing, she's far too smaller than him. for another, she felt his strength even from the way he gripped her wrist. but there are ways she can still be at an advantage.

lumine grabs the paperweight she's gotten from liyue years ago, a bronze carving of a dragon that's supposed to be its former archon. with her other hand, she slams the usb drive on her desk, the paperweight raised on top of it. ]

Move closer, and I'll destroy this here. Let's see if my brother will still give you another copy.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Missing his chance to grab her, he stops, shoulders slumping with a sigh. This really shouldn't of been so difficult, he swears. All it should of been was an exchange, and he was supposed to be out of here already.]

Fine. What is it that you want? You know anything I tell you is only going to put you in more danger, you realize that, right? This doesn't concern you. I'm just here for what I paid for, that's all. If you'd just hand it to me, I could be gone and never show my face here ever again and you'd never have another thing to worry about.

[That is, unless she opened her mouth- then there'd be problems.]

Please, Lumine. Just give me the USB so we can go our separate ways, okay?

[traversal]

[ lumine doesn't move, the paperweight heavy in her hand. her wrist throbs with every heavy, laboured breath she takes, pain radiating across her arm.

she could do as he asked. give him the usb stick and watch him disappear forever. she'll never have to deal with him again, and whatever he does is never going to be her business ever again. but she's not alone in this, is she? she's not the only one involved in this.

sure, she may have stepped into a mire that got her dirty, but there's someone else who's already knee-deep in it. ]

Aether— [ even saying his name pains her, knowing the kind of danger her twin is flirting with. ] How much of this is he involved in?

[monoceroscaeli]

Not as much as you think, but more than you'd like.

[There really isn't a good way to measure it, and he can't give her a real answer. His expression is exasperated, not really caring for this line of questioning. But at least that question, it was more than valid for her to ask.]

You'll have to confront him about it if you really want to know. Rest assured that I've made sure of his safety, and yours, for that matter. I wasn't about to allow anyone to hurt the two of you due to our actions. You weren't supposed to know. I'm sorry.

[His mind is racing to come up with a way to grab that flash drive before she can bring the paperweight down on it. It would easy. He could hydroplane right to it in a blink of an eye and grab it before she even has the chance.]

[traversal]

[ lumine doesn't want to believe that. he could just be telling her what she wants to hear. and yet, does she have a choice on the matter, when he's the only one who can guarantee her brother's safety in this transaction? she doesn't even care about hers, but aether, as the one person who worked on this ... ]

I don't need your protection or apology, [ she scoffs at him. as if she'd trust him with her life, not after today. ] But I need to guarantee Aether's, whatever happens.

[ because her brother doesn't deserve to be linked to this lowlife, just because they were friends back in college. ]

Both from other people and your family. I've heard what your family is capable of, so don't even deny it.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He holds his hands up, before letting them drop back down to his sides. Guess the jig is up on that front, and he just smiles back at her.]

Done. We've already been doing that as it is, so that's an easy request to grant. Trust me, myself and anyone in my family has no reason to hurt the people who help us. And, I quite like Aether and yourself- I've got no reason to do anything so drastic.

[He keeps his eye on her arm, wondering if she was going to smash it anyway. He'll have to move fast.]

Is that all you wanted? I was expecting a bit more than that.

[traversal]

[ she can't blame him if he doesn't understand the kind of bond she has with her twin brother. very few people ever do, and that's fine with her. she doesn't need everyone's understanding of her connection with aether; she knows it's too complex for anyone who's never had a twin.

still, lumine doesn't grace with question with a response, simply lowering the hand holding the paperweight and swiping the usb stick off of her desk. ]

Even if it's one hair on Aether's head that gets hurt, I'm holding you accountable for it.

[ she's serious about that, by the way. even as she walks towards him, one hand cradling her swollen wrist and the other hand holding the usb stick to him. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Inwardly, he breathes a sigh of relief. It looks like she's not going to ruin all the efforts they've made. He can't tell her, but her decision now is going to save the lives of innocent people- they'll be able to move forward with their plan to take out those who stand in their way instead of just killing whomever they think is a problem.

He doesn't make any moves forward, and lets her come to him. Nodding, he reaches out to take the USB.]

That's fair. Don't worry, Aether will always be safe as long as I draw breath.

[He takes the USB, but his hand brushes hers in the process. A sharp pain radiates through his entire body, and he doesn't even manage to grasp a hold of the flash drive- instead, he's driven to the ground in pain, dropping to his knees.

It's a bright day in Liyue, and his legs kick as he sits on the side of one of the stone bridges Dihua Marsh, looking out at the beauty of Dragonspine atop the plateau that it sits upon between Liyue and Mondstadt. Across the water lies Sal Tarrae, and he takes a deep breath in to appreciate just being alive. What makes it more special is that he gets to spend it with her. A breeze hits the both of them, the end of the paludamentum on his back flowing backward with it.]



I don't think I'll ever get tired of this view, [he says, as he turns to Lumine, her white dress glowing in the sunlight.] Comrade, why don't we have a little spar here? First one who gets knocked into the water loses, haha.

[He doesn't expect her to say yes, but it never hurts to ask just in case she's in the mood.]

[traversal]

[ giving her his word, he better not die before her brother, then. and considering the kind of world he lives in, how unlikely is that? how much of it she can trust? not much, truth be told, lumine feeling in despair on how much protection aether really has.

but there's not much that she can do, either. who else can guarantee aether's safety other than the very person who roped him into this?

before she can say anything, however, blinding, searing pain pierces through her head. it's much more intense than the previous headaches she's had, spreading out across her body like electricity. lumine lets out a cry of pain, also falling to her knees, a hand gripping her head just as she's overcome by another vision once more, this time more vivid and more lucid than before.

dihua marsh remains unchanging even to this day, the landscape untouched. it's not the first time she's been there, walked through its dirt path and cobblestone bridges. but it's the first time she's paused, taken in the sights, and sat near the water.

dragonspine rises like a grey monster in the distance, its icy fog still surrounding the landscape. lumine, swinging her legs as they dangle over the water, keeps her gaze on the nail floating above it before she turns her attention to the person sitting next to her. typical of childe to find some inspiration in this quiet landscape to fight her. ]

Eh? Now? I don't want to.

[ she wrinkles her nose at his suggestion. the last thing she wants is to spar in the marshes where the hilichurls are busy napping. wake them up, and it's going to be a mess of a situation that she honestly doesn't want to deal with on her day off.

instead, lumine reaches out for his shoulder—and shoves him hard enough to try and get him to fall into the water instead. ]

But I suppose if I manage to get you into the water, that means I win, right?

[monoceroscaeli]

Aw- Woah-!!!!

[One thing he's never underestimated since their fight in the Golden House was her strength, a strong shove he hadn't been expecting sends him tipping to the side, his butt slipping under the stone. His hand reaches out to grab the ledge of the bridge, but it's just centimetres too far, and with a splash, he goes right into the water of the marsh. He stays underwater for a few moments, sighing inwardly. Let his guard down around her again...

He pops back up, head breaking the surface of the water to look up at her, unimpressed with how she totally just cheated to win a fight that they didn't even get to have.]

Hey, now! We're supposed to fight first! You can't win if the contest hasn't even started!

[Swimming back to shore, he steps out of the marsh completely drenched. Making his way back up to where she was, he stands in front of her, arms akimbo, hair wetted down so that even his ahoge seems to have disappeared. Childe has to slick his hair back just to be able to see.]

Oh, that was cruel, Lumine. You know I won't let such a debt go unpaid for that.

[In a flash, he bends over to wrap his arms around her for a good, tight hug- picking her up too so he can cover her with as much water from his clothes as he can.]

[traversal]

[ not her fault that childe's easy enough to fool and shove around. the fact that he still hasn't gotten better at this, hasn't started putting up defences around her so as not to be surprised every time is on him.

lumine laughs, recoiling at the huge splash of water he created by falling in and shaking her head afterward when he resurfaced. his expression looks more pouty than unimpressed, the rug completely pulled out from underneath him. ]

I mean, you only said, the first one who gets knocked into the water lose—

[ she lets out a shriek when he suddenly hugs her, squirming in his grasp as she tries to escape. lumine could feel water seeping into her clothes, her hair getting damp as he presses himself against her. it's uncomfortable and hot given the liyuen weather, fabric sticking to her skin. ]

Childe—

[ she tries to push him away, but in the process, she too topples off of her seat on the bridge, falling into the water as he did. but not before she tries to grab his scarf to drag him along with her. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

Hahahahaha, [he laughs as she squirms, trying to get away from him. He won't let up so easily, making sure every last drop he can get soaked into her dress finds its way.]

I won't let you get away so- oh!

[He cries out in surprise as she tumbles backward, making a grab for her. But they both had different ideas. His hand goes to grab her own hand, missing and catching nothing but air. Hers, however, tugs on the red banner across his chest and pulls him downward, losing his balance. Before he knows it, he's falling once again, into the marsh in tow this time, hitting the water with a splash.

Comrade...

He can see her underwater, swimming to hook an arm around her before swimming back up to the surface. There's a big grin on his face now, looking at her with satisfaction.]

Well, that didn't quite go over the way you wanted, now did it? Haha.

[He nuzzles the side of her head while treading water, just to drink in that expression on her face.]

[traversal]

[ both of their weight combined creates an even bigger splash as they tumble into the marsh, causing one of the millelith to jog over their way and check up on them. lumine, her head breaking through the surface of the water and taking a deep breath, waves at the poor soldier, assuring him that they're fine.

she's with a hydro user, after all. she will, at the very least, survive an ordeal with water. either that, or she drowns him in his own element. ]

Only because of you—

[ she pushes his face away from her, squirming from his grasp once more. as usual, he's the type who has no respect for one's personal bubble, even in the midst of a minor crisis like this. oh, how tempting it is to wipe that grin off of his face, even if it makes her heart skip a beat every now and then. ]

You're lucky none of the hilichurls around decided to get up and beat us up for disturbing their peace.

[monoceroscaeli]

[She pushes him away, but his playful nature of course won't allow her to get away so easily, swimming back up to her but holding up a finger this time. He'll get them out, easier than just swimming back.]

Even if they did, they'd be no match for us. We are, as I've said before, unstoppable together. So bring it on, I say.

[Besides, he'd have a lot of fun anyway, so it doesn't really sound like such a bad idea. He sweeps his hair out of his face again, looking up to the bridge they'd just fallen off of. Concentrating, he grabs her again, as a spout suddenly begins lifting them up out of the water from beneath, his arm helping steady her until she no longer needs it. It raises up to the edge of the bridge, so they can easily step off onto dry land.]

Though perhaps it might be time for a change of clothes. Mind getting the teapot out so we don't have to tread back to Liyue Harbor sopping wet?

[traversal]

[ his manipulation of hydro has always been effortless, and lumine wonders if she'll be able to do the same once she reaches fontaine. she supposes that there's really only one way to find out.

she carefully steps off of the water spout and onto the bridge, feet finding solid land once more. they're both soaked, clothes clinging to them like drowned cats, and she can't imagine walking back to liyue harbour looking like this.

at the very least, they'd be dry by the time they get there ... still, she likes his idea better. oh, but: ]

... I left the teapot at Wangshu Inn—







[ lumine gasps like she's been drowning all this time, her vision clearing once more, and she finds herself on her knees, staring at her office's carpet. the pain in her head has subsided, reduced to a dull throb that makes her want to crawl into bed and sleep it all away. her wrist, on the other hand, feels the opposite, hurting and aching even more when she's used it to steady herself on the floor.

but even she doesn't have the luxury of that, as images of the vision continue to flit across her mind like a record being replayed over and over again. still, she tries to compose herself, slowly looking up to realise her brother's so-called friend is still there.

ajax ... no, she remembers calling him "childe" in that—what was it, anyway? a hallucination? and the way he held her close, laughed and nosed into her hair, that doesn't feel right at all. ]

... Get out of my office, Mr Volkov. Now.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Ajax finds himself sitting on her floor, unsure of when he'd slid down onto his butt on her carpet, holding his head. Out of all the strange visions he's had, that one is so clear, and he remembers every little detail of it as if it had happened yesterday. He repeats it over and over, both hands covering his eyes to block out any light from the ceiling above, until he hears her demand he leave.

He looks up at her almost dumbfounded, as if her demand didn't make any sense at all. The reality of the situation slams back into him, his eyes darting for the USB that's landed on the carpet next to him, snatching it up and slipping it quickly into his pocket.

But he can't ignore what just happened.]

Wait, hold on a moment...

[The man's mind races, thinking of what he could possibly say to stall his exit, and it lands on the one discrepancy that really stuck out to him. He wonders, did she see the same vision he did? He's got one chance and he better not blow it.]

Why did you call me Childe?

[Because it was clearly his name in this vision, but...he's never heard it before. Maybe. If he had, it was in school, and he wasn't paying attention.]

[traversal]

[ lumine staggers back to her feet, steadying herself against the arm of the sofa. there's a part of her that still tries to make sense of the mental picture she's been shown, but another part wishes to dismiss it. to try and forget what it contained, what it entailed, what it meant for the both of them.

she cradles her offended wrist, pressing her fingers against the tender flesh. a quiet hiss leaves her lips when pain blooms from where she's poked, wincing.

honestly, with her in pain like this and confused and unsure what's happened, lumine doesn't want to deal with him. didn't he say that if she gives him the usb stick, he'll leave her be? he'll disappear and she'll never have to see his face? ]

I didn't call you anything.

[ is he still seeing the delusion? she doesn't even know. but she sure doesn't even who childe is or what that is all about, even if her "other self" in that hallucination kept calling him that. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

But you saw something, right?

[He struggles to his feet, having to use the coffee table to help pick himself up off the ground. It's too much, he has to at least try to understand what's happening to them. He can't just leave, not yet.

Not when he can so clearly see her laughing at him as he fell in the water, being annoyed with him when she went in herself. How it's almost as if he can still feel her pressed up against him, his face in her hair...]

You pushed me off the bridge, I swam back and then we fell in together because you were squirming around. You had on a white dress, and I...

[His hand presses against his hair on his left side. The mask isn't there, and his fingers press against the same side earlobe. No earring either. Ajax's face screws up in confusion, frustrated at how confusing that was.]

[traversal]

[ he's not the only one frustrated by all of this.

lumine too is feeling annoyed, aggravated by his constant questioning. funny how the tables have suddenly turned, and she's the one getting interrogated by him. but this time around, she's in no mood to answer them, not when that strange, unsettling vision still lingers in her head.

she closes her eyes, trying to drown out his voice with other thoughts. other unasked questions, forcing them to loudly echo in her mind. but it's no use, not when he keeps revisiting it again and again. ]

That's because you— [ she suddenly lashes out at him, feeling an uncontrollable wave of emotions spreading across her chest. but lumine quickly reins herself in, pressing her lips together.

what did she want to say anyway? ]

Just get out of my office, please. You already have what you need from me.