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

Hahaha, no, I had no intention of the sort while I was here. Besides, I won't con you from now on, I'll just tell you we are and, well, then we'll do it.

[There's a playful lilt to his voice, giving ambiguity to whether he's being serious or not. He has no flower to offer to Barbados, so he doesn't, letting Lumine take care of that for the both of them.

The music is sweet on his ears, and he looks at her with expectation. Come have fun with him, Lumine.]

You know, I've really only been here a few times. I didn't get the chance to visit all of the establishments I wanted to, but Aether made it sound like you've been here quite a few times now. Got any recommendations we could visit? Preferably ones with food and drink.

[ lumine throws him a sharp look over her shoulder as if warning him about that plan of his. he should know that she'll be the first to toss him under the bus if anything happens, just so she can get off scott-free from his illegal shenanigans.

after she sends a prayer to the archon, unsure if this ritual even works after years of trying, she turns back to ajax. she is getting quite hungry after having walked around the city. ]

Good Hunter is a good place to go to. Though if you're looking for drinks, I think Angel's Share is still the best tavern in the city.

Then, care to join me? If you're hungry, we can stop by Good Hunter first. I think I remember visiting there last time, and their food is exquisite. But I don't believe I've been to Angel's Share.

[He gestures for her to follow him, towards the stairs that lead down to the square proper where the restaurant in question was.]

The past week or so has been stressful enough as it is, so let's make the most of this. I've been dying to get my hands on the Dandelion Wine the city is so famous for. You know, they say that it too, dates back hundreds of years. Maybe even farther.

[He's got his men all around them, and if he's with Lumine, he feels as if she's pretty safe. Even if he is wasted.]

[ lumine follows him down the steps from the plaza, glancing around the area. ever since last week's incident after dinner, she's become a little wary about too many people around her, uncertain if any one of those will just grab and drag her to the side. and as tempting as it is to hold onto ajax's hand, she opts to hook her finger on the hem of his hoodie instead. ]

If it's Dandelion Wine, Angel's Share makes the best one in the city, though Cat's Tail also makes a good version of it. I brought a bottle for Aether last time I was here.

[ and her twin brother got wasted on it in under an hour. it was embarrassing, to say the least, and she's only thankful that they occupied the floor of their apartment and had no neighbours to listen to aether's ramblings. ]

Then that's what we'll do. Let's go.

[It's cute, how she hooks her finger in his hoodie pocket like that, heading down toward Good Hunter to grab some food. Just as he remembered, it was delicious, and he tries to steer their conversation in areas that don't concern their visions, the traveler or Childe, or the goons that had attacked her. His main concern is just to have a good time and try to relax. His own body needs it too, having been so focused on his research. He needed this just as much as she did, and he'll enjoy it as much as he can.

Ajax is just glad that it could be with her. For a while, he was sure he'd never see her again.

A little later that night, the two of them stumble out of Angel's Share, having drank their cares away in the night. When she's not looking, he spots one of his men, giving him a wink- they'll be fine. He's got this.

He hands the bottle he'd gotten for them over to her so she can take another swig of the Dandelion Wine, laughing. He felt great and there couldn't be anything that could happen to ruin this night.]

Hey, wanna go to Windrise? There's a shuttle over there and I still would like to see it. I heard it's remarkably beautiful at night, and that there's anemo crystalflies that have grown so used to people that they land right on people's heads sometimes.

[His drunk brain thinks this is a great idea. He can feel how hot his face is from all the alcohol he's had, throwing his arm around her shoulders and pulling her into him.]

[ it's been a very long time since she's proverbially let her hair down. lumine thinks it's back in her university days when she last got wasted, invited to a party by one of the organisations, but her mind is too clouded by the several drinks they've had in the past few hours.

she lets out a bubble of laughter when ajax pulls her against him, her own feet briefly giving way under her before she manages to compose herself, taking a swig of the dandelion wine from the bottle. the wind feels nice against her warm face, cooling down her skin. no one seems to mind them either, the other residents and tourists of the city just as tipsy as them. ]

I've been there before.

[ windrise, right? the tree from thousands of years ago still stands there apparently, shading the statue of the seven that seems to glow even at night. ]

We can just walk over, instead of riding the shuttle. [ and possibly upchucking everything they've drank and eaten. ] What do you say?

[Ajax makes sure to steady her when her feet lose their balance, amused at how she's acting now versus how she acts when she's sober. A happy drunk, it seems, just like him, which will make the night all the better.]

Hey, if that's what you'd like to do, then I don't mind. Walking never hurt anyone, right? And we've still got plenty to drink on the way there.

[He reaches for the bottle, taking another swig himself. The smooth liquid feels good down his throat, and his cheeks burn a little brighter with it. They'll have to finish the bottle before they get there, as they'll probably be forced to throw it away. So Lumine's suggestion is for the better anyway.]

Just make sure you don't trip all over yourself now, hahaha. But even if you do, I'll catch you, don't worry.

[ lumine rolls her eyes at that, easily catching herself anyway even when her heel digs into a gap in the pavement. please, she's mastered drunkenness while wearing heels even back at school. this should be a piece of cake.

or so she thinks when she slips her arm around his, taking the bottle back and having a long draft of the wine from it. ]

You couldn't even catch my shoe last time.

[ despite her alcohol-addled mind, she does remember some crucial details about the last time she's seen him in liyue, including their ridiculous shenanigans above northland bank. ]

I have little trust in your catching abilities.

Hah.

[He's got half a mind to purposely trip her and catch her just to make a point, but she's got a very expensive bottle of wine in her hands. And he'd kind of like to drink a little more of it.]

How uncalled for, Lumine. You wound me.

[He reaches again for the wine bottle, trying to take it from her so he can have another drink. They pass through the old walls that had held up in Mondstadt for thousands of years, now passing into the city proper and walking across the bridge.]

I want some more, [he whines at her, his fingers wiggling as he tries to get it from her.] C'mon.

[ as if something like that would bruise his ego. if it would, his ego would've taken a beating already from all the quips she'd thrown his way.

lumine takes another long swig from the bottle before she hands it over to him as he requested, only for him to find it empty. she lets out a laugh when she does, sprinting across the bridge away from him, before he catches on to the joke. ]

Have some more then!

[Ajax is so drunk at this point he doesn't even notice the difference in weight. He's fully prepared to take a giant swig of the wine, bring it up to his lips, only to find that nothing comes. His face goes from a smile to complete disappointment, his jaw dropping that this short woman was able to drink so much of it so quickly.

And then, and then! She has the audacity to run away from him laughing at him! He has no idea what he's going to do with the bottle, so it's simply set down right on the bridge as he chases after her.]

You little rascal! You were supposed to share that with me!

[His legs are much longer than hers though, sprinting to catch up. It's not hard, and he throws his arms around her middle, lifting her up to stop her momentum before he sets her back on the ground again.

The wine is gone, but he has her now, and he presses his face against the side of her head, letting his mouth rest near her ear.]

Oh no, you're not going anywhere. Now, how are you going to pay me back for drinking nearly the entire bottle?

[ she lets out a yell when he catches her, another laughter bubbling up her throat at his indignation. his fault for giving her the bottle and letting her have her way with it. besides, he should've gotten each of them a bottle; that way they didn't have to share, and he didn't have to hold her responsible for missing out on the rest of the wine.

lumine unsteadily grabs at his arm when he sets her back down, closing her eyes when she feels his breath on her skin, his mouth brushing against the shell of her ear. it reminds her of something so intimate, something that felt so good ... ]

Mm, [ she hums softly in response, taking a deep breath of the cold air and tilting her head just a little against his. ] You can charge it on Aether.

[ she lets out a giggle. aether would certainly be pissed if he learns that she's charging her binge drinking on his account. ]

[As she tilts her head against his, he presses up against hers with a little motion, a heavy, content sigh on his lips. With her body pressed up against his, he finds that finding the will to let her go is beyond difficult, her warmth welcome in the night air that is steadily becoming more and more cool as time passes.]

Mmmmm... [he hums, considering her words.] I don't think he'll appreciate that too much. He's not the one who drank all the wine.

[A slow, creeping urge to turn her head and kiss her right then and there begins to rear its head, but a bump from behind as someone accidentally backs up a little too far to take a picture breaks him from those thoughts. A quick Sorry! from them brings him back to the night long enough to smile meekly back at them, releasing Lumine to give them a wave, before returning his attention to her.]

[ the sudden bump clears lumine's head for a split second as well, jostling her out of her desire to drag him back into the city and into her hotel room. that was terrible, just terrible—and while she's still admittedly tipsy, bordering on wasted, she blames her momentary lapse in judgment on the alcohol she's managed to consume in the last few hours or so.

also, the bridge across cider lake isn't very conducive for whatever their inebriated minds are currently concocting. ]

I think, [ she swallows, her throat and mouth feeling dry all of a sudden, as she watches the other tourists meander their way out of the city. ] We should get going to Windrise.

[ without any warning, however, she jumps on his back, wrapping her arms around his neck. ] Go forth, Ajax!

I ag-

[He doesn't even get the chance to finish his short sentence, Lumine jumping right on his back. Instinctively, he catches her legs and hoists her up, though she can't see the completely incredulous look on his face.]

Hey now, I'm not your steed! Boy, you really are drunk, aren't you.

[He sighs with a smile, so as long as she doesn't choke him it's fine. He begins trudging towards Windrise, breathing in the cool night air as he carries her. She's really not that heavy, even with her body acting more like dead weight on him than anything.

And really, he's happy to do it. That closeness, even if it's only a piggy back ride, it soothes his nerves and brightens the night sky itself.

He huffs at her, getting a good pace going. It's only about ten more minutes of walking, so they should be there soon.]

Taking advantage of me like this. Ah, but how can I say no to you, really...

[ lumine giggles again as she buries her face in the crook of his neck, letting out a sigh. best idea ever to hitch a ride on his back, really, especially when her feet are starting to hurt from her heels and head from the all the movement she's been doing despite being drunk. next time she goes back to mondstadt, she's no longer bringing her usual shoes. ]

It's only fair, [ she sighs quietly, resting her chin on his shoulder and looking up at the clear sky. ] Since you've also taken advantage of me back in Liyue.

[ when he told her to come over, made her believe that their entry into the private penthouse was legitimate, almost got her in trouble with the law. ]

You know, we should probably just go to Windrise tomorrow. When my horse isn't drunk, it's not dark out ... [ lumine giggles again. ] When there are more people who can make sure you don't take advantage of me.

[He huffs again, enjoying how she leans against him, those adorable giggles she keeps letting out, it's hard to pretend like he isn't completely in love with her. Influence from their visions aside, it feels as if being there, held by him on his back, that's where she belongs. Right with him.]

What kind of person do you think I am, [is the retort, still acting offended by her words.] First of all, I would never think to do such a thing. Second of all, there's still plenty of people out. You might want to get your blurry, drunken vision checked.

[He's not going to turn around, as he's already halfway there from where the bridge ended. Ajax hoists her up again, to regain his grip, as they approach the giant tree.]

Look, we're almost there. Don't tell me you can't see the tree either, it's so large it should be the only thing you can see now, drunkie.

[He laughs, focus on walking slipping momentarily as he sways back and forth down the path. Not as if he's the only one, with multiple people celebrating the festival. He keeps walking until they're finally there, finally letting her down.]

[ her drunken vision is very clear, thank you very much. for another, calling her names is rather rude, especially for someone who's as inebriated as her. and it's only thanks to her drunkenness that she lets it pass, leaning against his shoulder and letting out a huff.

for a moment, she dozes off, her head nodding into the crook of his neck, soothed by his warmth and the coolness of the mondstadt air. a moment after, she quickly rouses, unsteadily getting off of his back.

the statue glows with a blue light, dim but bright in the evening setting. several people are taking pictures near the statue, and the tree. a few are trying to catch crystalflies glowing in the darkness. either way, there's a clear atmosphere of excitement and celebration, people being very carefree and merry all around.

lumine holds onto ajax's arm to balance herself just as her heels sink into the soil. somehow, looking at the anemo archon's face is sobering, like looking at someone familiar. ]

Do you want me to take you a commemorative photo in Windrise?

[Having finally arrived, he too looks up at the statue, surprised at how well it had weathered the test of time. The gold had been buffed on it at some point in time, and the power of the gods glowing with a blue aura around it as well as in the middle, the base and the ring near the top of the statue. His vision blurs as he turns his head and looks around the area, his eyes settling on a crystalfly that starts to waft towards them.]

I think a picture together would be much more desirable. Come.

[He leads her up towards the base of the statue, half because he thinks it will make for a good angle and the other half being because he's following the crystalfly that floats above them. Extending his hand, it floats down and rests on his finger. Satisfied, he bring it down in front of her face for her to look at for a moment.]

Beautiful, isn't it? Haha, hold still.

[Ajax brings the crystalfly up to her nose, and it crawls onto her, wings flapping a few times. It crawls up her face and onto her bangs, seeming to prefer to rest a little on the left hand side before settling. His phone in his hand, he turns the camera on and positions himself behind her, leaning down a little so his face is close to hers, holding the camera out in front of them.]

Ready?

[And as soon as she is, he takes the picture.]

[ the crystalfly sobers her up a bit more, blinking when he drops it on her nose. it's a little disconcerting, but she lets it crawl across her face, giggling quietly so as not to disturb it before it settles under her hair on the side. what a weird creature.

but she doesn't even get to think about it for too long, ajax already leaning in close for that photo. her face is flushed, she can tell, though she can't say if it's because of the wine or something else. in any case, lumine tilts her head just a bit closer to him, her cheek almost brushing against his, and grins. ]

Send me the photo, too? [ she asks after he takes the photo, reaching into her hair to let the crystalfly out and back into the air. ] But don't show it to Aether. He'll be mad that he wasn't included.

Ha, don't worry, I won't.

[Ajax is already tapping on his phone, sending the photo to her immediately. He takes another look at it, before showing her the picture so she can see it right away, instead of having to wait to receive the text and then getting her phone out. During the festival, with so many people on the cellphone towers all in one place, he doubts she'll get it within even the next few minutes.]

It's a beautiful picture of you.

[He says softly, smiling at her.]

Why don't we pay our respects to the Anemo Archon before we go. Then, we can either head back or hit the bars up again, haha.

[He offers his hand for her to take, so they could step up onto the base of the statue as so many in front of them have already.]

[ lumine's already feeling a little dizzy from all the excitement and the crowd, laughing when he shows her their picture. she looks terribly loopy in that picture, uncertain where he's even getting the description that it's beautiful.

she takes his hand, fingers gripping him as she takes a step on the platform. it's tricky, swaying a little from her inebriation. but she manages to place her other hand on the statue. almost immediately, she feels a strong but gentle breeze whip around her, as if the element is greeting an old friend. it seeps into her skin, settles deep within her—strange but familiar.

and one she doesn't really think of too much, her mind in a muddle of thoughts.

and with this, lumine loses her balance from this, another bubble of laughter escaping her throat, and she tips over. she hits her head against the stone pillar, everything blacking out after. ]

[He leads her over to it, and lets her press her hand against the statue first. The sudden wind startles him, and the statue itself swirls in a flash of white light that spirals upwards at her touch. Ajax's eyes widen, the sight sobering him for a moment. He'd forgotten about the vision, that Childe's Lumine could wield multiple elements, gaining their power by touching a statue.

Her laughter brings him back to, and he stumbles as he tries to catch her as she falls. He's far too drunk to get to her in time, her head hitting the pillar as she slumps to the ground. Whispers of people around him fill his ears, worrying about Lumine, and wondering what that light was. He looks around frantically, smiling sheepishly towards those who stare and quickly pick her up in his arms. He quickly checks her head- it's just a small bump there- before thinking of how to get out of there, quickly.]

I've got her, don't worry-!

[He says, hurrying off of the statue's base before running as fast as he can without tripping back to Mondstadt.

Ajax takes the shuttle, arriving closer to the Grand Goth Hotel than had he walked back with her. He looks down at her unconscious form, feeling bad about the whole ordeal. She looks so peaceful, passed out, sighing as he takes her up to his room. He has no idea where she's staying while she's here, but they can figure that out after she wakes up.

Entering his room, he lies her down on the couch of the suite he'd booked for the trip, being careful with her head as he lies her down. She might get sick, so he finds an ice bucket for her to puke in if she does, bringing it to the table next to the couch. Ajax gives her a few light shakes, softly calling to her.]

Lumine...Lumine...hey, wake up. Lumine...

[ it isn't the first time she's had a vivid dream as of late. it seems to be a recurring thing since meeting ajax, since getting involved with him. but while the dream lumine finds herself in is vivid, the faces clear and recognisable, everything else isn't and it quickly dissipates from her mind when she's roused awake.

lumine slowly sits up, her head throbbing for some reason as wine and alcohol slosh inside of her, eyes barely open. her mouth feels dry, her tongue thick and she wonders if she's still in a dream. it does feel like it, after all, everything around her bright and hazy, with only one clear face hovering over her.

she smiles at his concerned expression, laughing in amusement at how unlike him to be so dour and stern. ]

Archons, are you always this so serious? [ her hand brushes against his jaw, fingers cupping his cheek. ] I should be the one upset at you with everything you've done.

[ conning her into breaking into someone's property, involving her brother in their family business, almost getting her killed—but then, lumine finds herself drawn into him anyway. she leans in closer, closing her eyes. ]

Aether's going to be mad at you if he finds out ... [ she whispers before she presses her lips against his. ]

You..hit your head...

[He says until she cuts him off, her hand cupping around his cheek. Ajax's eyes widen, surprised at the gesture, face flushing even brighter than what the alcohol had already done to it. He's not prepared for her advance, not thinking she'd be so forward with him. His arms unconsciously snake around her, her eyes mesmerizing him in his drunken state, unable to protest or tear himself away. He stares back, breathing in heavily as her head moves in, heart pounding.

And then, she takes him in, his eyes closing as her lips connect with his. His mind blanks, and all that exists in the moment is her body against his, his hands gliding over her as he deepens the kiss, connected to her in every way. He begins to take her shirt off, lost under the power of her caress, wanting more from this. He didn't begin this night out with her with any intentions, but now that they were here, he can feel her desire driving his own forward.]

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