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]

[Her words cause his eyes to flash mischievously, and it's difficult to keep an amused chuckle inside because he's not sure if she's completely aware of how she's chosen to phrase her statement. He perfectly understands what she means here, but Ajax chooses to interpret it a different way, giving the tilt of his head more of a sharper angle just to drive the point home.]

I'm flattered that you'd do that for me. But don't worry, the feeling is mutual- you seem to drive me up the wall, too.

[He grins, he means that in the most romantic way possible of course, head tilting even more, to give her full access to him...]

[traversal]

[ romantic, her ass.

lumine sputters at that retort, in total disbelief of what he just said. it's bait, it's definitely bait. either that, or he's an idiot, and he took the context of her words in the opposite direction and ran with it. but she's pretty sure it's bait, an attempt of his to get a rise out of her, something that he's getting better at.

and much to her dismay, it's quite effective, her cheeks turning bright red at the implication and at the way his face tilts closer and closer until there's barely any gap left. damn him, damn him to the deepest abyss—and damn lumine and her feelings towards childe that makes all of this so complicated. ]

Just "seem"? [ she huffs in response, a strangled sound leaving her throat, her mind slowly clouding over. ] Looks like I have to try harder until I've driven you insane. Maybe that will get you out of my hair and into a psychiatric ward.

[ her fingers curl into his shirt just as she brushes her lips against his. deliberate, and yet nothing close to a real kiss, the sensation fleeting and short-lived. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[There is an endless amount of fun to be had here, the way her face blushes such a bright red, his own blood rushing into his cheeks to match. Surely, by now, he thought she'd turn him away, but she's not. Instead, the way she brushes her lips against his, teasing him, pulling his mind to her, intoxicating how she has this effect on him. He can almost hear Childe in the back of his head, chuckling at the two of them and their behavior, like he'd called it and is just watching them play this scenario out the way he expected it to go.

But he drowns that voice out, Ajax's attention turned fully to her, his mind now completely clouded over. That fog was her, enveloping him, and he had no desire to find his way out.

Only to get lost further in it.]

There's only one way to find out, isn't there, [he whispers, letting his top lip come to touch her own lightly, resting there as an invitation for her to join their lips together.]

[traversal]

[ there's something on the tip of her tongue, a provocation of sorts—or really, a simple statement or declaration, a way of calling him out. but his mouth on hers, even if it's there like it's an afterthought and nothing more, is keeping her from lashing out at him. almost as if he knows what she's about to do next.

then again, there are always ways to pull the rug from underneath him. ways to force his hand into losing to her, into giving in first. aether didn't leave the company in her hands for no reason. ]

Hm? [ her gaze flicker, eyelashes sweeping the curve of her cheeks. he's so close that she can feel his breath on her lips, the warmth of his skin. ] What's wrong? I don't see you trying to find out. Don't tell me you're scared.

[ she shifts her lips, mouth parting just a little, as her eyes lift to meet his gaze again defiantly. again, it's nothing more than a taunt, blood to pique the interest of the shark. bring it on, volkov. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Challenge accepted.

It's obvious what she's doing here, and he'd be lying if he didn't find it drawing himself to her even moreso than he already is. The corners of his lips tug up into an amused grin, his mouth opening to match her own as he keeps his gaze locked onto her.]

Interesting...I thought you were the one who was going to drive me to the insane asylum to get me out of your hair.

[The hand he has around her waist snakes down, teasing her lower back. His fingers brush dangerously above her butt, now letting his lower lip touch hers, his words brushing across her lips as he continues to speak.]

Now it's my responsibility? That hardly seems fair.

[traversal]

[ ... maybe, just maybe, she should drive over to the mental institute and check in herself instead. she does think she might be able to finally find peace and quiet there, enough time for her to work without any disturbance from ajax, aether or anyone else. wouldn't that be a treat for her?

lumine averts her gaze for a moment, her eyes shifting when she feels his hand trail down her back, the heat of his touch discernable through the thin fabric of her camisole. ]

Looks like I'll have to add that to the list of descriptors. Irresponsible.

[ the hand on his shirt crawls up, fingers finding purchase on the crook of his neck and shoulder and curling into the ginger hair tickling her fingertips. her head tilts just a little and her eyes flutter, almost as if she's about to kiss him—only for her to simply laugh. ]

Is this supposed to be one of the traits of someone inheriting his father's empire?

[monoceroscaeli]

[What a tease, he almost closed his eyes to take her in, but she laughs and uses his own weapon against him as their lips continue to brush as they taunt each other. He won't give in just yet, his hips beginning to sway back and forth, putting the both of them into a steady rhythm of their bodies moving together.

The hand on his neck certainly isn't helping him, like she could tug on it once and he'd obey her.]

I think you're mistaken. I complete all of my duties with meticulousness when I see to it personally.

[His mouth opens, his lips press a little more into her own but doesn't close it with a kiss, letting it hang there before he speaks again.]

You've got a lot to learn about the family business if you think that of me.

[traversal]

Unfortunately, I have no interest in learning anything about your family business.

[ she and aether are entrenched enough as it is with her twin brother's friendship with ajax. lumine doesn't think they need further sinking into the mire that's the mafia, if only to keep her brother from having a heart attack.

there's that temptation to pull him forward, force him into submission with a flick of her wrist. but that's not as fun as making him yield on his own, a decision made with his own free will. ]

But aren't you seeing to this personally? [ the hand on his neck snakes further up, nails lightly scraping his scalp. ] My attempt to drive you insane ...

[monoceroscaeli]

[It's too bad, he thinks, she'd make a wonderful addition to the family, though in what way is the thing he's still trying to decide.

Her nails on his scalp makes him whine softly, an involuntary response that almost makes him lose his composure to give in and kiss her. It also confirms that her touch, her charms are working perfectly on him, and that fog that envelops his thoughts has only grown thicker as she imposes her will onto him.]

When you put it like that...

[He allows his hand to slip down into the waistband of the shorts he's let her borrow, his hand gripping into one of the cheeks, fingertips pressing into the supple skin there. His mouth still rests against hers, not daring to move in, but it's so difficult now that he's sure he'll break soon. So unfair, when did he get so weak to her...]

[traversal]

[ this is just embarrassing, ajax. son and heir to the notorious volkov family, brought down to his knees by a girl from an unknown family. if lumine were to type to revel in such victories, she would've rubbed it in his face. after all, she doubts that this is something that happens often, at least not to someone as prideful as him—and her, as she finds herself slowly descending into intoxication as well.

her eyes flutter close when his fingers sink into soft flesh, her breath catching in her throat, only to exhale it deeply. her own fingers curl around his hair, tugs it ever so gently but firmly.

but she blinks when she hears a sound right behind her, a clinking sound against metal. lumine pulls her head away from him, looking over her shoulder at the door. ]

... Someone's knocking on the door, Ajax.

[ master ajax, we found something suspicious on the premises. we think you should come out and see. she shrugs her shoulders, a pointed gesture. ] Sounds important.

[monoceroscaeli]

[His eye twitches with irritation at the sound of the knocking, too far gone into his want for Lumine to even think of dealing with whatever it is that the guys upstairs think they found. That last tug of his hair was it, he's going to lose this game of chicken to her and he didn't care one way or another about that.

They're close enough to the door to hear his growl through it, because he is occupied and he's not going up there if it's stupid. And it probably is. He doesn't put much stock into the intelligence of some of the people who work beneath him.]

Handle it.

[Is what they receive from him, before he turns his attention back to Lumine. His hand slips from her cheek into her hair, bringing her back into him.]

Believe me, it's not important, [he says, finally pressing his lips against hers, conceding to her and her ability to drive him wild. It's not a soft kiss either, a little frenzied, mixed with a little anger from being interrupted between all the tension that had been built up prior to this moment.

He's going to make sure that never happens again.]

[traversal]

[ whatever words of protest she has on the tip of her tongue for his rather curt dismissal of his subordinate dissolves into nothing when he catches her lips finally. instead, a sigh of relief seems to leave her even despite his hungry, feverish kiss, her arms slipping around his neck as she returns the liplock with as much fervour as she can muster. her brother would probably kill her for this, but that's something she can deal with later.

for a moment, she breaks the kiss to breathe, her lungs burning from the lack of air and the rapid beating of her heart. blood pounds loudly in her ears, muffling any other sound from outside the room. all lumine can focus on is ajax and ajax alone, his hands on her skin, the press of his body against hers, his eyes darker than usual. ]

We can't do this now, [ or so she says despite leaning in again, kissing him once more like someone thirsting for water in a desert, her voice muffled against his mouth. ] I told Aether I'll be back after an hour ...

[ and her brother would suspect something if she doesn't even contact him, then. the excuse she's made was already flimsy. ]

He'll murder the both of us, you know.

[monoceroscaeli]

I've barely noticed the time, [he breathes, meeting her lips with his once again to drink her dry, greedily deepening this kiss like his life depended on it. Or perhaps, like his subordinate's lives depended on it. His hands dance along the curves of her body, not wanting to hear a thing about Aether and what he may or may not do to them.

He's annoyed, but kissing her is calming him down quickly. He breaks again when his lungs begin to burn, his eyes glossed over and his expression not as dark as it had been a few moments ago.]

Besides, he's going to have to calm himself eventually. He'll give himself a heart attack at this rate.

[He goes in once more, feverishly kissing her, backing her up against the door until he runs out of breath again and has to pull away. Sighing, he knows he should probably check what his men were talking about.]

I should probably go up there...

[traversal]

[ her gaze flickers to his face, her breath coming up short and hard when he pushes her against the door. it's cold from the cryo element she's released earlier, stinging her bare skin. she's not surprised when her entire body feels like it's on fire, every inch that he's touched radiating with heat. even her lips feel tender, swollen from his kisses.

lumine slowly draws her hands back from his hair, fingers trailing lightly against the line of his jaw as if to coax him back to kiss her. to tease him once more, get him back on track to his descent to madness. ]

Mm, you should, [ she replies quite amicable, her eyes sweeping down his face to his mouth, his jaw, his neck. her pupils dilate for a moment, her teeth worrying on her lower lip.

a moment later, she's looking up at him once more, her head tilted ever so slightly. ] It does sound very important. They probably need you.

[monoceroscaeli]

[How she can torture him like this with such a straight face, he's not sure. His head follows along with her fingers, his eyes closing and his jaw slack as she does so. It works exactly the way she wants it to, the fog clouding his mind again as he opens his eyes halfway to meet her own golden ones.

Important, she says. He should, she says.]

I should...

[But his body doesn't move, doesn't allow her the room to step away from the door. With her hand asking him to kiss, but her words telling him to go...]

You're really enjoying yourself, aren't you.

[Teasing him. Driving him mad. How terribly unfair.]

[traversal]

[ a faint smile plays on her lips as she watches him slowly crumble into pieces beneath her fingertips, his entire being a complete mess of incoherent sounds, incomprehensible words. he's all but reduced to a puddle of goo, and if she were the type to take advantage of someone's weaknesses, she would've done so already. but as it stands, lumine is still on the morally white side—somewhat, at least.

after all, she's winning, isn't she? made sure he's on his knees for her.

she draws him closer to her until their foreheads touch, their lips a scant distance away. she can taste him again, their breaths mingling. so close for another kiss, except: ]

They're waiting behind this door for you, [ she whispers, a gentle fleeting kiss pressed in between words. the intent: to continue to drive him mad, insane. unthinking. ] Master Ajax ...

[ lumine tilts her head as she leans in, pressing their lips together in full, dragging him into a deep, heated kiss, tangling their tongues together—only to pull away with a smile, breathless. ]

... You should go.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He feels a line of heat racing through him when their foreheads meet, his breath coming heavier until she silences it, but only for that short, intimate moment. If unthinking is the state she wants him in, he's arrived at it, her words not making any sense to him as he stares back into those resplendent eyes, captivated entirely by them.

Oh, and then she breathes out his name, calling him Master Ajax before he takes him completely. He loses his sanity as she drags him downward under the waves of her tongue, eliciting muffled groans and whines as she forces his mind to focus on her and her alone.

He doesn't think he's ever been so under the control of a woman before, if it were safe to say that he was thinking at all. It's as if he can feel himself being twined around her finger, and he's not resisting it.

Ajax feels as if he can barely breathe when she releases him, his eyes reflecting nothing but a single thought.]

Lumine... [he breathes, her words confusing him.] Go? [But that's not where she is.]

Why... [he whines back, pressing his body down on her as he presses a needy kiss to her lips.]

I don't want to.

[traversal]

[ who knew that ajax volkov can be reduced to a whining, simpering mess? lumine certainly didn't, though she's starting to see how her counterpart might have reined childe in if he's all but identical to ajax in terms of everything.

she gasps, air knocked out of her lungs, when he presses against her, stealing her breath with another kiss. it's becoming harder and harder to breathe, to keep her own sanity intact when he's consistently breaking down all rational thoughts in her head as well. his touch, his kisses—lumine knows she's not touch-starved at all, and yet, all she wants is for his hands to remain on her body, his skin kissing her skin.

it takes all of her strength to pull away from the liplock, an unrestrained groan bubbling her throat in the process. her voice sounds hoarse for a moment, her mouth dry. ]

You have to, remember? Your men need you. [ her hand leaves his shirt, blindly groping for the door knob. a moment later, she's dragging it open, hiding behind it.

his subordinates, three of them and looking just as young as he is, suddenly stand in attention when presented with the boss's son. ]

See?

[monoceroscaeli]

[Did he make her sound like that? Her hoarse voice, those groans he got out of her, it makes his breath hitch in his throat and desire grow in his stomach. Hunger looms behind his eyes, but he doesn't notice that she's turning the door knob, pulling the door open as the action pushes him back.

Reality hits him like a truck, and his face drops when he sees them.]

Why are you three still here?

[His voice is icy, irritated, and unimpressed.]

Didn't I say to handle it?

[We didn't want to make a move without your insight, boss...]

Can it wait?

[No, we think someone's here to get at someone, or there might be a bomb...]

What??? Let's go.

[He turns to Lumine, breathing out a heavy sigh.]

Stay down here while I check. If it really is something, I don't want you getting caught up in it, okay?

[He turns to go, to head upstairs and see what the problem is...]

[traversal]

[ their words pique her interest and she peers from behind the door, looking concerned and apprehensive despite her bright pink cheeks and dilated pupils, lips tender and swollen. one of them looks away from her, a faint blush staining his cheeks. not thay lumine notices it, glancing at ajax with a frown. ]

A bomb?

[ it's no surprise that they wanted his input, then. still, would they really endanger their boss's son by calling him out and having him attend to it?

and despite his warning to her and instruction to stay put, she steps out of the room after him, keeping up with their hurried pace despite her heels. he can scold her later; for now, she'd like to see what the fuss is all about. ]

If it's really a bomb, don't you think it's a bad idea for me to stay underground?

[monoceroscaeli]

[Oh, but he noticed his man looking at her like that. He feels a twinge of jealousy and anger bubble up, but he pushes it down. Now's not the time or place, and so he'll have to deal with that later. Striding quickly down the hall, the click of her heels on the concrete alert him that she absolutely did not listen to him at all.]

If you're caught in the explosion, you'll die with us, if it's a bomb. If you're in the training room, you can be dug out when rescuers eventually show up.

[He shoots her a look, because he really doesn't want her to accompany them in case this is what the danger really is. But he knows that if she's coming, he's not going to be able to stop her...

Climbing the stairs, one of the men stop them inside of the small office-like space above the firing range. The man who normally sits behind the counter reads the news on his phone, seemingly ignoring the whole fiasco.

Boss, look.

He points to Lumine's car.

We don't recognize that car, and it's been here for almost an hour. Someone dropped it off here, and we know some of Dufort's guys have been hanging around here recently.

Ajax stands silent, having already known that information, but...

He places a hand on Lumine's shoulder. His eyes close, he can feel his temper rising.]

...Mind telling them, Lumine?

[traversal]

[ not really the place or time to argue about explosions and the possibility of also dying trapped underground. maybe later, when this all dies down. figuratively, of course.

in any case, lumine resolutely follows them, trailing after ajax into the room. for a moment, she almost opens her mouth to ask what's going on, until one of his men points at her car parked next to his. she blinks, looking very much confused at the idea that someone dropped off her car and placed a bomb inside (???), but quickly realises where this is all heading; the heavy hand on her shoulder also helps in giving her an idea on where and how this little fiasco will end.

she almost laughs, the sound she's managed to stifle before a clearing of her throat. ajax is pissed, terribly pissed, she can tell. ]

Hm? [ lumine glances at him before she offers them a faint reassuring smile, the one she's practiced well enough to wear. ] That's my car ...

[ all three men turned to her in surprise, and she catches one of them turn away almost immediately, face red. what? was it something she said?

your car? ]

Yes, my car. I came here in that earlier, and I can assure you none of Dufort's guys came with me.

[monoceroscaeli]

Yes, her car.

[He echoes Lumine, his own voice sounding nothing less than angered at the pure stupidity coming from these three. In fact, to drive the point home, he address his guy behind the counter, the one ignoring the whole situation.

Ajax doesn't even turn around to do so, his back facing the guy.]

Lorenz, who's car is that outside?

[Without hesitation, the guy answers cooly and unbothered, like he knew the whole time. Because he did, because he was here the last time Lumine was here, he did her paperwork, he saw her pull up earlier today, he's always known.

That's the ladies's car.]

And you three didn't think to ask him first?

[They all freeze, especially the one that keeps glancing at Lumine. Ajax's eyes fall on him, and there's a searing fire behind the deep ocean blue that screams danger.]

What are you looking at? Why's your face all red, huh?

[The guy lowers his eyes to the floor, silent.]

Get out of my sight before I lose my temper.

[He's already lost his temper, but Lumine seems to help him keep it in check from going too far. The men scamper downstairs, and Lorenz just snorts in amusement. That's the boss.]

[traversal]

[ aah, here it goes.

lumine too pretends that she can't hear the scolding, the lecture, ajax losing his cool, feigning interest at a spot on the wall. looks like his men are just as dumb as him in certain situations, though maybe she expected more from someone from the mafia. the movies definitely made them more cunning than most people.

she only turns back to ajax when the three are finally gone, shrugging her shoulders. ]

You've already lost your temper, mind you, [ she points out, gaze flickering at the surprised and amused expression of lorenz who quickly hides it. ] ... I'm sure they were just concerned.

[ is she trying to justify the stupidity? not really, it's still dumb, in her opinion. but, well, doesn't ajax have a hand in this too? ]

I had thought you might have at least said something to your subordinates about my presence here.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He sighs in frustration, letting his head fall into his palm. He did, she's right, and he doesn't refute her observation. He's especially annoyed with the guy that eyed her up, and Ajax is actively trying to push his anger down now that they're gone.]

They probably just got here, and we'd already been here for some time. Still, a little investigation would have answered their questions. And...

[He looks to her, because this isn't her fault, but...]

...then they wouldn't of been ogling you the way they were. Maybe a camisole isn't the best idea for workout clothes if they're going to be lurking around while you're here...

[Lorenz just turns his chair around, trying to pretend like he didn't hear a thing, but he can't help but snicker. Boss is jealous, wow.]