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]

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.]

[traversal]

[ lumine looks up from her paperwork before she sets it aside, piling her other things on top of it. it's not too important, really, nothing that would cause their company or another brand to spiral into a collapse, but it's also something she doesn't want to leave behind. in any case, she steps out of the car and walks around to meet him, heels sinking into the gravel.

maybe she should've at least changed into ballet flats, but she also left the office without too much of a thought. the last thing she wants is for aether to hijack her and make an excuse about something. ]

One hour, right? That's all I gave Aether as a timeframe.

[monoceroscaeli]

Yeah. But...

[He gives her a look up and down as she gets out of the car. Heels, work clothes, and no bag? Nothing? He wonders if she misunderstood as to what they were doing today. He looks at her with mild worry.]

Did you bring anything else to change into? Or did you want to make this as difficult as possible on yourself?

[Workout clothes????]

[traversal]

What?

[ lumine stares back at him before she looks down on her clothes. what?? does she look out of place? it certainly doesn't seem so, when she's seen men step out of that building in suits and business casual attires. she didn't exactly she'd be required to dress up just because she needed to practice using her powers. ]

Why? What's wrong with what I'm wearing?

[monoceroscaeli]

Normally, nothing at all. But we're going to be down there training, so I thought you would have at least brought some sneakers and some workout clothing.

[He begins to lead her inside anyway, because he supposes he can make it work somehow. He can't do anything about her shoes, but maybe he's got an extra pair of shorts in his bag...]

Though, I guess you could train in that, if you don't mind getting your clothes a little scuffed up, haha.

[traversal]

[ lumine can feel various eyes on her, the number of people in the building seemingly more than when she first came here. then again, she's a complete stranger, after all, and it wouldn't surprise her if they find her suspicious, given the remoteness of the place. even if she's technically with ajax.

she follows him deeper into the building, her heels clicking against the concrete floor. ]

I normally don't go out in sneakers and workout clothing, if you haven't noticed it yet.

[ to the gym, maybe. sure. but would someone really try to abduct or attack her in the gym? where there's people around? it doesn't seem like it. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

Well, for the future, just bring your gym bag so you can train in something a little more comfortable. I may have an extra pair of shorts in my bag for the time being that we can see if you fit into.

[Leading her down the stairs and past the firing range, he immediately heads towards the door that leads to the training rooms. There's a door their left, at the end of the corridor, about twenty feet away. He indicates it to her, as he begins to search for said shorts. Procuring them, he hands them to her, walking to the door.]

There's changing rooms in here. Try them on, I need to change myself. If they don't fit, we'll...figure something out.

[traversal]

[ she doesn't exactly have a choice but to accept the pair of shorts when he handed it to her, her gaze landing on it like she's been given something questionable. and it isn't that she doesn't appreciate it; she does since he seems to be quite concerned about her current outfit while training.

but at the same time, lumine doesn't see how this is something more comfortable to wear. especially when it seems like it's a lot bigger on her than what she's wearing at the moment.

in any case, she changes out of her skirt in the meantime, pulling on the shorts and finding it way too loose even after folding the waistband a few times. it sits slack on her hips, threatening to fall any moment. with one move, it can easily fall down, which is going to be mortifying and just terrible. ]

... Figure this out, then, Ajax, [ she gripes at him, neatly folding her skirt and setting it aside. ] Do you have a safety pin?