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

[monoceroscaeli]

Okay.

[That's a simple enough arrangement that's easy to agree to. He nods too, smiling though he would worry if everything will be okay if she's there by herself. But she's a big girl, and if she allows him to help train her how to defend herself more effectively, she'll be fine. Just like her counterpart.]

I'll try to get a lead on our divine stalkers. If they're hiring goons to grab you, we'll be able to find them.

[Having an underground network doesn't hurt.]

Don't hesitate to ask for help if things go sideways or if you anticipate issues. When we get back to Fontaine, we can talk more. I...

[It's not that he doesn't want to address it, but perhaps here and now isn't a good time. Ajax's mouth thins, pausing while internally debating with himself if he wants to say it out loud, but it wouldn't surprise him if she already knows what he wants to say.]

[traversal]

[ there are a lot of things that could follow that broken trail of words, things that she'd rather not address at this time. whatever happened earlier, whatever words she's managed to recklessly utter in the heat of the moment earlier, drawn up by uncertain and unclear feelings as lines begin to blur ... lumine doesn't feel very confident trying to explain it.

so she'd really rather not. she doesn't think ajax would appreciate anything halfhearted nor does she think her counterpart deserves such, either. ]

I should go, [ she says quickly, gesturing at the front of her dress. at this rate, the stain will remain and there's no way she can save this dress. ] I still need to clean up and then wake Aether. It's getting late.

[ it's a terrible excuse, but she uses it to her advantage anyway to get out of this conversation, slipping out of the kitchen as quickly as she can and rushing up the staircase without glancing at anatoli. her hand starts shaking aether's shoulder gently when she gets to the bedroom, trying to wake her brother up. ]

Ae, time to get up. C'mon.

[ she's pretty sure the hotel does dry cleaning, so she can just have her clothes fixed there. the twins will emerge ten minutes later, aether still looking half-asleep with lumine holding his hand. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[In a way, he's grateful for her quick departure upstairs. It may be because of the alcohol loosening his lips, but he wasn't ready to address that either. So he walks out of the kitchen, offering Anatoli a weak smile before settling back on the couch, running his hand through his hair. His brother joins him, giving him a look of concern.

You look like you've been through the wringer, Ajax.]

I have. I wish I could tell you the details. But you know how that goes.

[Anatoli knows that that could mean a lot of things- the family business, most likely, or something else that his brother still can't share with him. Something that involves the twins.

You know you can ask if you need anything.]

Thanks, Anatoli. I'll hold you to it, haha.

[Lumine and Aether appear, and Anatoli stands to greet them.

Going, then? Did you already call a cab?]

[traversal]

[ lumine blinks at the question, cursing herself inwardly for having very slow reaction time that evening. maybe she should've done that first before waking aether up, if only to ensure that her brother doesn't spend too long waiting and potentially realising that ajax is still there. ]

... We'll probably just walk up to the main road and hail one. It'll also help Aether wake up.

[ she turns to her brother, pulling his coat over his shoulders and wrapping his scarf around his neck like a mother preparing her child to go to school in the morning. she doesn't want to risk aether starting a fight while he's still inebriated.

lumi ... ] Ae, help me put your shoes on, please. There we go.

[ she sends a tight smile once more to ajax's older brother, once more apologetic, as she herself puts on her coat and scarf and ushers her twin to the door. ] Thank you for your hospitality tonight, and I'm sorry again for my brother. Have a good night, you two.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Anatoli opens the door for them, and Ajax only looks on while they leave. He doesn't want his voice to even be heard while Aether is around, half asleep. Looks like the guy doesn't handle his liquor nearly as well as he used to, but then they don't exactly get the chance to get together and drink anymore. When the door shuts, his brother looks over to Ajax, sighing.

I hope you can figure this out, Ajax. That was the most unpleasant experience I've ever had with Aether.]

I will. I will.

[He rubs his forehead, wondering on what to do next- he'll clearly contact Lumine, but not for the remainder of this trip, save maybe for a text she'll receive later.]

Did you get home okay?

[traversal]

[ the remainder of the trip was at least quiet for the twins, aether's hangover managing to keep him subdued until and after their flight home.

once again, lumine needed a round of reassurances to keep her twin brother soothed and pacified; hearing his complaints while he was drunk helped, somewhat. at least, now she knows what he's worried about and what she needs to say to alleviate his concerns. honestly though, she wants to tell him that he doesn't have to worry, that her feelings are still on the fence.

... probably even falling off of it if this goes on.

in any case, her brother is a little less angry about it now. somewhat. kind of, though it's sometimes hard to predict his temperament. ]

Yes, we're fine. Thanks for asking.

[monoceroscaeli]

Good. How is Aether? Did he get sick on the flight home?

[Given the inevitability of a hangover, he sure wouldn't want to be on a fight home feeling like that. Ajax himself doesn't feel all that great, given the events of the night before and with his own hangover, but Aether sounded like he drank a little more than he did...]

[traversal]

He slept the entire time. He's skipping work. I hope you can send my apologies again to your brother.

[ she'll try to send to him a gift basket later on for the trouble ... ]

[monoceroscaeli]

Anatoli will be fine. He said something along the lines of what you've asked of me. If I do that, then he'll accept that in lieu of any apology offered.

[After all, the problem existed between Aether and Ajax, and he did say he would talk to him about it.]

I suppose I should wait a few days until he's better. I won't let it sit and fester, Lumine.

[traversal]

Okay, thanks. I'll also tell Aether to reach out to you.

[ this honestly can't go on between them. and if she has to sacrifice something, then she will if that will get them to reconcile. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

Thanks.

[With Lumine's persistence, maybe he can smooth things out with his friend. It won't be a fun conversation, but it's necessary.]

In the meantime, I'll see you for self-defense lessons. I hope you'll come to enjoy it as much as I do.

[traversal]

[ ..................... wait ]

I don't remember agreeing to this yet.

[monoceroscaeli]

[On the other side of the phone, he just smiles. He knows she hasn't agreed to this, and it will be amusing to him.]

Oh, I know. But you don't expect to just be able to fly by the seat of your pants without any skills to pair with your new abilities? Two, maybe three if you're ambitious, days a week, for an hour. After work, with me, on spontaneous days to not tip your brother off.

Don't forget what we're dealing with here, Lumine.

[He doesn't mean to make it so serious. But it's deadly serious, and he doesn't want her to get caught without any way to properly defend herself just in case.]

[traversal]

[ she can tell he's amused. spending enough time with him has given her an idea of how his brain works, which is honestly annoying for the most part. ]

I know what we're dealing with. You don't have to remind me.

But I see you've started to make plans without my input and/or consideration of what my daily schedule looks like.

[monoceroscaeli]

Hey, you know this is necessary. It's important to me that you have every available method to keep yourself safe, and to keep yourself from suffering an unpleasant fate.

[It's not just that either- there's a part of him that wants to see how far she can go with her powers, and another part of him that wouldn't know what he would do if anything happened to her. It's a mix of emotions that she thankfully can't see on his face right now, because he knows she'd be able to see it all.]

Besides, your daily schedule will determine the days you're able to come. That's up to you.

[traversal]

I know.

[ she doesn't really need a lecture about this. she knows. plus she realises that her brother is also involved in this, whether they like it or not. so really, he doesn't have to tell her all about it again and again. ]

So if I can't show up for training for two weeks in a row because of my schedule, that's fine?

[monoceroscaeli]

Well, let's just hope you aren't so busy you can't spare an hour.

[It's not as if he can force her to come, but sometimes that's how it goes.]

It would be at the same place we trained you before. There, you can let loose all you want. You'll even get to beat me up a little, haha.

[traversal]

Contrary to your opinion, I don't enjoy beating people up.

[monoceroscaeli]

So you're saying you've never wanted to punch me again since the first time?

[traversal]

Oh, I do. Don't get me wrong. I still do.

It's just not enjoyable for me even if it's for a worthwhile cause.

[monoceroscaeli]

Think of it as a good way to destress after a busy work day. You can beat up some bags instead if you're going to be kind enough to not strike me.

[traversal]

Just because I don't enjoy doesn't mean I can't hit you. Again, worthwhile cause.

[monoceroscaeli]

Alright, it's a date then. ^^

Text me when you can make it. I'll make sure I have it open for you whenever you're free.

[traversal]

[ she doesn't text him for an entire week, mostly because that entire week was spent catching up on work that aether's managed to put off while he was on "medical leave". or more like, a leave to mend his bruised ego and get all of his madness out of his system. it's a little exasperating, but lumine supposes that aether needed it, and by the time he's returned to work a few days later, he's back to his old chipper ways.

when she finally does text ajax, it's a simple date and time.

the excuse she gives to aether is pretty generic: she's meeting up with friends after work, she might be late, he can have dinner by himself, she promises to contact him. her brother is a little hesitant about that, but eventually lets it go.

she doesn't go inside the rundown building, however, sitting inside her car. a few individuals exiting the place turned in her direction warily, no doubt wondering who she is, and there were some who even approached her car. but she ignores all of them (or at least, pretends to ignore all of them), reviewing her work for the day.

... maybe this was a bad idea after all. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[She doesn't have to wait terribly long. Ajax's car pulls up, and any suspicions that any of the Volkov's men had about the strange woman sitting in her car dissipates. The boss's son is here, and he doesn't show up for no reason. They disappear themselves, either leaving or going inside to start their own training for the day.

Last thing they need is Ajax thinking they were doing something to the girl in the car.

Ajax gets out of his car, shouldering a backpack as he strides over to her car to tap lightly on the window since she seems to be reviewing some documents. Once he gets her attention, he waves a hand, looking happy to see her.]