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

[ lumine frowns and wrinkles at that question and suggestion.

does she look like she can fight? honestly, of all the people he wants to spar with, it's her whose only fighting skills depend on whatever self-defence techniques she's managed to see or learn. it's not extensive. if anything, the most extensive class she's received about fighting is shooting a gun. ]

Is it going to eat up my time for work?

[ also, how will she explain to aether that she's training to fight some god? her brother would definitely think she's making excuses just to spend time with ajax because of how crazy that reasoning is. ]

[He hopes that's a sign that she's more willing to learn more defense techniques. It was understandable how hesitant she was to have a gun, it came with a bad image after all. So this is a better start, he thinks. This is something she knows, using the elements, even if she's not terrible familiar with hand to hand combat.]

No. That would be a little suspicious if you suddenly have to leave work early a few times a week. Though I'm not sure how long you'll be able to hide going out.

[There's a hint of amusement to his voice, thinking the exact same as her. Aether will no doubt find out, and Ajax can't think of a good excuse for her. He doesn't know why, but the idea of Aether being upset about it makes him laugh inwardly.]

I'm guessing Aether isn't allowed to train with us, is he?

[ just because she's asking if it'll cut into her work hours doesn't mean it's an outright yes. just like her counterpart, she's just as effective when it comes to deflecting questions she doesn't want to answer just yet. ]

Why don't you invite my brother to train with you? If I'm around, he'll have a lot of questions about why I'm even there.

[ when it's not her job to be trained to fight, when aether has always ensured that she's well-protected by various means. if there's anyone who would be interested in trying to protect her rather than the other way around, it's aether. besides, lumine has no intention of giving her brother any reason to pry into this god business any further than necessary. ]

He'll see my presence as a reason to hang around with you.

I could tell him that we have a lead, and that I'm concerned that my men alone may not be sufficient.

[It's not a lie. He'd rather tell Aether something closer to the truth than anything else.]

And, well, it's not like anyone wants to stop living their lives and cower in fear. Plus, you both have visions- that puts you both a step up from everyone else. And...I'm worried about him too. I don't want something to happen to him.

[Aether is his friend. He wouldn't be able to forgive himself if something happened to him. He'd promised he'd make sure they were both safe, and he'd fulfill that promise by any means necessary. His eyes narrow as they arrive at the restaurant, and he parks to run in quickly.]

Think about it, okay? We have a little time. You don't need to tell me no immediately. I'll be right back.

[ she watches him sprint into the restaurant to pick up their order, pulling out her phone to send a message to her twin. one of their agreements is to regularly keep him updated of where she is, if only because her brother is a paranoid baby. even after reassuring him multiple times that sleeping with ajax is a one time thing, he's of course not buying it.

calm down, aether. i did check into the hotel. left my stuff there, so i'm going back later.

lumine honestly wonders if ajax will be able to convince her twin about training with them. if he gives him a few months to cool down, maybe. without calling or coming to see her, then he might just get back to her brother's good graces.

might is the operative word right there, of course.

in any case, she doesn't think she has any choice but learn how to fight, she muses as she tries to imagine a tiny vortex in her palm. the other lumine was capable of fighting, and that seems to be expected of her. how frustrating. ]

[He's back quickly, sliding into the car and pulling off towards the private residence he has in Snezhnaya. The penthouse is nice but not too extravagant- Ajax doesn't need nor want for outrageous luxuries, but does have a few nice things that normal people couldn't afford.

During lunch he suggests visiting the statue in town quickly before heading off to his brother's, and after they've finished their lunch, they both head towards it. Ajax drives downtown, making a quick phone call on the way there that sounds like he's setting something up specifically for this small trip they're taking, looking satisfied when he hangs up.

It's not long before they arrive, tugging his coat a little tighter around him as they approach the entrance to the long, weekend lines to see the Statue of the Seven.]

Ah, it's been years since I've been here. Still the same amount of people waiting in line, too. Are you nervous?

[ he can't ... be serious about doing this right now, right?

lumine's gaze flickers all around them, her expression twisting with every person she manages to mentally count. there are too many people here, too many eyes. with their current circumstances, the last thing she wants is for someone to notice or see what's going on and recognise them. as far as plans go, this is one of ajax's worst. ]

I wouldn't say nervous ... [ she steps closer to him, bowing her head just a little. ] But this is too conspicuous, Ajax.

[ she's used to people, sure. and it's not like the conferences she's been to have less participants in it. lumine supposes that she's just a little more wary than usual, ever since meeting their counterparts. ]

Should we just come back when there's fewer tourists?

I don't know if it's going to be any less busy later. I had to call someone on the way here just so we could get in.

[He waves his phone in front of him, before slipping it into his pants pocket.]

Booking slots are sold out at least a few weeks in advance, but I managed to get someone to give us some express tickets so we don't have to wait. Windrise is a little further out from Mondstadt, and it was later at night, so we lucked out there. But this statue...it lies in the heart of the capitol, and has always been a favorite of tourists to visit.

[He gestures towards the express line, walking towards it. There is a significant amount of people there too, but it's far less than the normal line.]

Besides, I've got a plan.

[ every time ajax says he has a plan, lumine wants to give up on life. if only because his plans have gotten them in trouble more than once, and she's really hoping for something peaceful and less stressful after that entire conversation with their past counterparts. maybe they should've thought this through; after all, there has to be more statues around snezhnaya, right?

she opens her mouth to protest, only to stop herself, shifting closer to him and slipping her hand around his arm. her attention has been caught elsewhere, her wary gaze roaming around. ]

Someone tried to hold my hand.

[ and lumine can't tell if it's just some random tourist trying to make advances, a kid mistaking her for their parent, or someone dangerous. really, she's started to feel like all of the lines around her have blurred and she has to suspect everything and everyone. ]

Are you sure this is the best place we can go to?

[The way she slips her hand around his arm gets him to perk his attention up around them- that wasn't a gesture of wanting to be close, but that of alertness. He doesn't see anyone suspicious, but those kinds are always good at hiding themselves. As they get in line, he pulls her into the large cloak-like jacket he has, wrapping one part of it around her.]

We blend in the easiest here. Less tourists means more of a chance for someone to get a good look at you. Here, we're just another face in the sea of the crowd.

[The express line goes pretty quickly, moving their way up the line. There's a couple behind them too, and that works out perfectly for what he had in mind. He leans down to speak quietly into the shell of her ear.]

We won't go up to the statue alone. It'll be hard to discern why or who is causing the statue to act up, and we'll be out of there before anyone is the wiser.

[ lumine's still looking around when ajax pulls her closer, and she almost stumbles into him, wincing when she sits her forehead against his chest. honestly, he couldn't do this a little less awkward for the both of them? though, she supposes that this somewhat works in keeping a bubble around them.

... but this can't be his plan, can he?? ]

Are you serious? [ lumine turns to him with an exasperated look, hissing back at him. she can tell that the couple behind them looks surprised when she does so, though they just shrug it off.

lovers quarrel, or whatever. ] We're stepping up to the statue with someone else? It'll light up like a tree on during the holidays.

I know.

[He only grins widely back at her, rocking her back and forth playfully as to not make themselves look too unapproachable to the couple behind them. He has to talk to them after all, and it won't work if they think they're just weirdos that they need to stay away from.]

But it'll be far too obvious if we're the only ones up there, right? So better to get a few more so no one knows who to suspect as the cause for the scene. Blend into the crowd, Lumine. That's the plan. Believe it or not, I'm trying to not bring attention to ourselves.

[He can see why she'd be apprehensive, but he's sure if they use the crowd as camouflage, they'd be fine. He's even thinking about asking the few people even behind them to come up with them.]

[ she stares at him for a moment longer before she huffs, turning back to the line and the statue several feet in front of them. it does make sense to try and blend in this crowd right here; with so much people, they'll barely get a second glance. but she doubts that that'll happen when the statue lights up.

at the very least, his coat is warm. even with her own jacket on, the snezhnayan weather is proving to be a handful, her cheeks already stinging from the cold wind. the sooner they get this done, the sooner they can return to his car. ]

You realise that the other people who will step up to the statue might think of us as suspicious, right? When they notice something's wrong.

[ lumine's not being pessimistic, but in the event that this doesn't work, they have to figure out how to avoid getting all the attention to themselves. ]

Not if they all touch it at the same time.

[There's a glimmer of mischievousness in his eyes, already forming a tale in his head to tell to get everyone to do what he wants. It should be easy, because after all, legends do surround the statues and the gods.

And people do like myths and legends, after all.]

A little white lie won't hurt anyone. The people of Teyvat have lived their whole lives immersed in the stories that surround each nation, rich with culture, religion and superstition too. It shouldn't be hard to convince them that something might happen if we follow one of these said legends.

[ so that's it, then. that's his plan: to get other people to touch the statue at the same time as they do by concocting some weirdass story about it. she supposes that that might work, only if the crowd would even believe him. he needs to be convincing if he wants this to work at all.

lumine sighs under her breath. she needs to start charging ajax for every sigh she sighs because this is getting ridiculous. ]

Fine, [ she huffs, tugging the cloak around her closer. it's a little warmer now with the crowd around them, but it's still colder than what she would've liked. ] Let's see how this harebrained plan would pan out, then.

[ her responsibility, at least, is to figure out an escape route for them. if not them, then her at least, since she's pretty sure ajax can handle himself. ]

[Looking down on the top of her head, he just grins. He's not surprised that she's not happy with this plan. If anything, he's banking on security trying to get people away from the statue at the worst- including them. Strange reactions are something no one's seen save for the people at Windblume, and somehow he managed to get them out of there before anything else went down.

But he won't say that out loud, because that would certainly get her worked up about it. And she's already exasperated with him.]

Oh, don't make such a huffy scene, you're scaring everyone around you. We need them to work with us, haha.

[There's a teasing lilt to his voice, whether she is actually making a scene is up to the people around them if they are paying attention to them at all. But it's quickly replaced with something more earnest, to reassure, even if he hasn't done a great job of being reassuring about anything to this point.]

Really, though- don't worry. It'll work out. I promise.

[ there's a part of her who would not have believed that promise. but there's another part of her who urges her to believe in him, that he's never once broken a promise to her before. he's always kept his word, always made sure to keep his word whatever happens. lumine just huffs again, blowing the hair out of her eyes. ]

If they get scared, that's not my fault.

[ besides, it's his job to make the story as convincing as possible. if the crowd around them doesn't work with them, then that's on him.

she glances at him, her mouth twisting at his teasing voice. ]

Every time you say not to worry, I get even more worried.

[The response from her earns a genuine chuckle out of him. It's true, he can hardly blame her for looking at it that way. The small mildly illegal things they've done so far are nothing for him, but certainly has already pushed her out of her comfort zone.]

I'll try to work on that, then.

[Try being the operative word here.

As they get further toward the front of the line, he turns to the couple behind him, giving a friendly smile and using that business charm once again he's so used to portraying when trying to make a good first impression.]

Hey, could I ask a favor when we get up to the statue? Will the two of you come with us to help take some pictures? We'll be able to get some pictures for the two of you in return.

[They smile and nod back, answering with Sure, that would be nice! and the like, so Ajax's eyes brighten as he goes into one of his stories.]

By the way, did you both know about the legend surrounding the cryo archon's statues? It's said that once every millennia, the cryo archon will recognize those who approach their holy ground and offer their prayers together who all possess the qualities that are most revered by the archon.

[He clears his throat, to quote something he read while doing research into Childe and Lumine.]

"The world opens itself before those with noble hearts." Those are the words of the gods, spoken to mortals who have been recognized by their statues. If nobility is that of what the cryo archon seeks, well, who's to say. Would you try it with us? I think all we'd have to do is press our hands to the statue and offer a prayer to the same time. Who knows, maybe we'll get recognized.

[Under the jacket, he squeezes Lumine's arm once- look, he's totally got this.]

[ he's so dramatic, lumine inwardly rolling her eyes. she's almost surprised when the other couple looks on, clearly interested in this endeavour. maybe they haven't met someone as crazy as him before, who knows. or maybe just they're just not the type who reads history books or the type who believes in weirdass traditions.

either way, she watches as the couple talk between themselves before they return ajax's smile, nodding at his idea. does he really have this, she wonders to herself as she offers her own smile, well-practiced from all the years of handling people. ]

Thanks for entertaining his absurd ideas. He's been insisting that we do this with every Statue of the Seven.

[ no, no. i totally understand. my boyfriend's the same, really. boys, you know.

lumine maintains her smile, terribly polite as she squeezes ajax's hand back under the jacket, the action almost like a pinch. ]

Definitely. Boys.

Aw, c'mon...

[He complains back, sounding surprisingly genuine despite the act he was putting on. The hand squeeze definitely made it easier, and he wonders if he should make a bet with her knowing he'd easily win. It would probably look too suspicious, so he chooses just to laugh it off and chat a little with the other couple until it's finally their turn to go up to the statue.]

Finally. Here, we can take your pictures first.

[The group helps each other out taking some nice pictures for in front of the statue, and it's then that Ajax steps up to it and gestures for the other three to gather around.]

Okay, on three, let's all press our hands to it and offer a prayer. Ready?

[He looks at Lumine, giving her a wink.]

One, two, three!

[ lumine pretends that she didn't see that wink at that, her gaze trained intently on the buffed gold bas—relief of the base of the statue. the others have already stepped up to the statue, the couple especially looking very excited as to what might happen. if only they knew ...

maybe nothing will happen, she thinks. maybe it'll totally be a fluke. maybe that was just some kind of hallucination earlier, the cold affecting her brain.

she was very wrong, of course. the moment she presses her hand against the cold stone pillar, light seems to swirl around her. cryo energy seep into her fingertips, seemingly freezing every vein it goes through, before settling in her chest. she throws ajax a look of panic, quickly pulling her hand away, as gasps erupt around her.

lumine can feel all eyes on her, the entire crowd silent for a split second before babbling noisily. she takes a step back when she looks over her shoulder, spotting the crowd rushing towards her, intent on getting whatever blessing she managed to receive. ]

Ajax!

[Ajax is prepared to act surprised when the statue is supposed to light up with a swirl of energy as she absorbs the power of cryo- what he doesn't expect is for some of that light to swirl around her, pointing her out to the entire crowd.

But, at least his reaction now is genuine as shock is painted on his face.

The couple gasp as well, eyes wide and feeling a little excitement for her. It really worked! You were blessed by the gods!]

Time to go. Don't let go of me, [he says, as the crowd rushes upon them, security not enough to stop them. He grabs Lumine, pulling her close to him as he bodies his way through. People at the front of the line don't seem to care to stop to say anything to Lumine, more intent on receiving a blessing for themselves, but Ajax still makes sure to hold onto her tightly in case anyone got any strange ideas.

It may be because of the number of people there that they are able to move to the exit, escaping the chaos and shouting up at the front. He hurries her towards his car, quickly unlocking it and jumping in.]

Hahaha, what a ruckus we've made...I wasn't expecting that.

[His eyes shine, absolutely pleased with the amount of commotion that they've made doing that.]

[ the other pair's excitement is lost on her, panic surging through her like a raging flood. almost immediately, her hand closes around ajax's coat when he grabs at her, the two of them moving through the excited crowd. it feels like forever, leaving that area and arriving back at car, her heart beating hard in her chest and blood pounding in her ears.

what if someone saw them? recognised her?

but even with that commotion, ajax looks as pleased as ever with the development and lumine can't help but hit him on the arm. she looks terribly annoyed, her breath coming up short and hitched. ]

Are you seriously laughing right now? That wasn't funny!

Ow! Haha, s-sorry, [he apologizes, one last tiny giggle come out of him.] It's just the sight of all the commotion was entertaining, and we managed to get out of there without so much as a single problem.

[Other than having the threat of being crushed by the crowd, he thought it went over very well. Ajax can't quite explain why he's laughing, as this kind of thing would have been taken very seriously if it had been a job. But it just is. And it brought him joy to see it.

They pull out of the parking lot to the statue, Ajax's intent being to drive to his brother's house now. It would be a longer ride, but at least it'll give them time to calm themselves before they get there.]

We've got an hour drive ahead of us to Morepesok. Will you be alright to go there now? We could stop and calm our nerves a little first if you'll need.

[ this is such an exhausting day, and lumine wants nothing more than to return to her hotel room and fall asleep on her bed until this trip ends. but clearly, the gods are very much against her and she still has some kind of responsibility in life.

she leans back against the seat, tilting it back to allow herself to recline, closing her eyes. ]

Let's go. I'm sure your brother has a couch or a bed or a room that I can lie down in for a while.

[ unless it's a complete imposition, of course. but seeing that ajax has been imposing on her since day one, she might as well return the favour. ]

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