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

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.]

[ 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.

[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.]

[ her eyes flicker towards the snickering lorenz, an eyebrow arching at his remark. ]

Maybe you should start disciplining your men first before you tell me not to wear certain articles of clothing.

[ it's not that lumine doesn't understand what he's trying to say; sure, this seems like a space mostly for guys in their family. she, for one, has yet to see a woman wandering around the building, and she seems to be the only one present at the moment. but this is teyvat, after all; his men should know better.

lorenz stops snickering, sitting up straight in his seat and putting on a no-nonsense expression. ]

Besides, they're not the ones who had their hands on me earlier, [ she adds with a shrug before walking out of the office and back towards the training room underground. ]

[Ouch. He's not arguing with her on that, because she's right- he glances over to Lorenz, who turns a little to look as Lumine goes back downstairs towards the training rooms. Ajax shoots the other man a meek smile while he rubs the nape of his neck worriedly, and Lorenz only inclines his head towards the stairs.

Right, catch up with her.]

Sorry, [he apologizes to her as he catches up, trotting down the stairs as she makes her way through the range to the training rooms.] You're right, they're the ones that should be a bit more respectful. I just...didn't appreciate them looking at you like that, that's all.

[ lumine continues her way downstairs, passing by the three who quickly moved out of their path, until she arrives at the training room. she glances at them for a moment before she turns her attention to ajax, tilting her head to gesture at him and go inside. ]

Hence the disciplining your men first, [ she closes the door behind them, sighing under her breath. ] I heard from Aether that you hooked up with a lot of girls back in college.

[ she's not accusing him of treating girls poorly, but if that's what his men had been seeing all this time, then they might think it's okay for them to do so. they seem like baby ducks, after all, following the habits of their boss. ]

Lumine...

[He follows her inside the room, the door shutting heavily behind them, now finding themselves alone once more. He spreads his arms, not really sure what to say to that.]

I was so much younger then, and finally getting out on my own and exploring the world without having to be under the thumb of my old man. I didn't know what I wanted, back then.

[He'd hardly place any blame on his horny teenage self, that kid was clueless.]

Besides, I did just discipline them, didn't I? They didn't get away with it.

[ she highly doubts that uni is his only stint with hooking up with girls in his lifetime. being the son of a multi-national ceo has its perks, especially in terms of the people he meets and the power placed in his hand over said people.

again, lumine sighs, but she ensures she doesn't show any expression of exasperation on her face. this conversation is not a conversation she'd like to have soon. ]

Anyway, it's almost time for me to go, [ she says with a glance on her wrist watch, surprisingly still alive despite earlier's little ruckus. ] I think I've had more than enough excitement for one day.

[ she can't stay for too long anyway. the excuse she's made to aether has a timelimit. ]

It has been nearly an hour, hasn't it? Haha, I guess I really didn't notice the time.

[He wonders why she'd wandered back in here if she needed to go, so he steps a little closer to her, eyes twinkling with amusement.]

Hey. You know, you didn't quite get me to need to check into a psychiatric ward, but it was a good try. So I'll still be in your hair for a while yet.

[He laughs, walking away from her to walk towards the door. He's got to change anyway, and get his shorts back from her- and that's not happening in here.]

[ cue eyeroll yet again. he's enjoyed the last part of their conversation far too much, which is exasperating. then again, a part of it is her fault, indulging her own desires and needs over everything else, so much so that she feels like she's being possessed by her counterpart's own feelings.

she wonders where it ends and where hers start; it's beginning to blur together. ]

I highly doubt that, [ she mutters, trailing after him towards the changing room. ] You sure were out of your mind the entire time ...

[ and to make her point, lumine reaches out with her hand, fingers brushing the bare skin at his nape, peeking out from his ginger hair and the collar of his tank top. she deliberately makes it slow, excruciatingly so. ]

[Ajax stops in his tracks, stretching his neck upwards to let her have more access to the skin, breathing out a deep, slow breath. His skin tingles at her touch, easily pulling that desire back up that had been building in him when she had complete control of his thoughts. She really doesn't want to give up this challenge, the man surprised at her stubbornness. He thought it was over, he was very wrong.

Would she continue, even at the threat of Aether suspecting something because she's taken far too long to leave? Does she know the consequences of how this will affect her, too? He wonders that.]

Your tenacity is praiseworthy, comrade. But are you prepared to follow through with your actions to the very end?

[And, as much as it amuses him to see Aether all riled up about this, he did talk to him and he'd rather not have to go through another lecture or rant. He's had enough of it...

Ajax turns quickly, scooping her up in his arms in a princess carry. She'll try to drive him down into madness again, and he'll certainly let her- but he's going to be walking down the hall at least, while she does it. He'll do his best not to falter on the way to the changing rooms. It'll be a nice challenge to himself.]

[ lumine lets out a shriek when he suddenly scoops her up, her arms instinctively wrapping around his neck. she sees a few heads peering out from the other training rooms, no doubt gaping and gawking as to what's going on in the hallway, but they quickly return to their businesses. which makes her wonder if this is normal ...

she peers at ajax's face. it'd unsurprising, wouldn't it, if it is, knowing the kind of stories aether's told about him lately. ]

I'd rather not leave my car behind just in case your men decide it has a bomb in it again.

[ don't worry, lumine won't attempt to try and seduce him further—or so she feigns a mild smile, her fingers tangling around the hair at his nape. ]

Terrified of what Aether might do to you?

[He doesn't mind any of the gawking, the opinions of their subordinates not mattering to him. Plus, he's sure word will spread now that it's very obvious that Ajax has "laid claim" to this girl- they won't dare ogle her or anything again lest the mafia lord find out.

He flashes a toothy grin at her, laughing at the implication of her car. Oh, he was never planning on having her leave her car behind anywhere...]

Terrified isn't quite the word I'd use. Tired of listening to him yell at me is more like it. Though, I think you'd like seeing him tear into me, wouldn't you...

[If her fingers that toy with his hair are any indication. Aether would be furious with him for messing around with his sister, even if Ajax has tried to soothe him the best he can about it.

It wasn't that effective though.]

[ laid claim, when he's yet to determine what their relationship is—if there is anything at all. after all, this could just be some consequence or result of their counterparts being indirectly meddlesome with their memories and feelings. when it happens too often, one might start believing it's their own desires.

even until now, lumine believes that whatever attraction she feels towards ajax also has something to do with him looking exactly like childe and the other lumine loving him deeply. it's frustrating, to find certain lines blurred and not have any clear definition to them. ]

It's amusing, I'd have to say, [ she replies with a shrug, twining a strand of hair around her finger. ] I've never seen Aether so angry at someone before. At least not to the extent that they'd yell at them.

[ she's always thought she's more impulsive, more emotional than her twin. that might not be the case anymore. ]

[She would be amused, he thought she was pretty amused by Aether chewing him out in their apartment too. He wonders what she'd be doing to him right now had he not grabbed her, restricting her access to him to just his head and shoulders. Guess it was the right move.

He glances back down at her, before snorting. These twins, what's he going to do with them.]

Now who's the brat. I can see you laughing at me now.

[He hoists her into his arms again, a lift that gives her a little air as she falls back into his arms. But the corridor comes to an end, reaching the changing rooms once more. He starts striding into the women's side, right along with her, because he knows there's no other women in the facility right now.]

[ please, she's just returning the favour to him.

at the realisation that he's not stopping, though, not even when they reach the changing rooms, lumine squirms in his arms to get off. even if—even if there's no other woman in the building at the moment, he should have the decency not to go inside the women's changing room. ]

What are you doing, Ajax? Put me down, I can change by myself.

[ definitely the bigger brat than her with what he's doing right now. so much for being a role model to his men. ]

What's the problem?

[Continues to waltz right in, fighting her squirms as he carries her in.]

I've seen you naked before. Where's your belongings?

[He looks around, but it doesn't really matter where they are he supposes, because he has to put her down eventually. But it's funny to see her squirm, after all of that, and he laughs before setting her down onto the floor.]

[ he's shameless, that much she knows. and his shamelessness has no boundaries, nothing.

lumine huffs when he finally sets her down, walking towards one of the stalls where she's left her belongings. she would've left it someplace that can be locked, but she doesn't think this place would rummage through her clothes, go through her things. if someone did, she could always tell ajax. ]

Why? Are you going to help me get dressed?

[ her skirt is where she left it on a chair inside the stall, neatly folded along with her blouse. lumine starts with the safety pin on the shorts, unclasping and setting it aside, before shimmying out of the pair. ]

You've really lost your mind, haven't you?

[He's already started to walk out of the dressing room, never intending on staying in there at all. He hears her complain at him, but doesn't respond, laughing to himself. Ajax finds her irritation endearing, but he won't be that disrespectful.

He slips out of the women's changing room silently, back into the men's to clean himself up a bit after getting slammed into a wall by her powers. He just chuckles to himself the whole time. He doesn't know how she'll react to him leaving her in there alone.

He emerges not too long after, back in the suit he'd worn there, shirt unbuttoned as usual.]

[ wow, leaving her alone to rant!!

and lumine only realises this when silence pretty much acknowledges all her ramblings, her head peering out of the curtain to find him gone. her expression twists, lips pursing in annoyance. though, to be fair, at least he's gone and she can change in peace.

she also emerges a few minutes later, properly dressed as she was prior to arriving save for the ribbon she's fiddling with under her collar. ]

Glad to know you still have some common sense left in you, [ she mutters at him, handing back his shorts while pushing away other, griping thoughts from her mind. ] I almost had to dial the nearest mental institute to have you picked up.

Edited 2022-06-11 02:41 (UTC)

[Taking the shorts back and putting them into his bag with the rest of his clothes, he only smiles back at her with amusement.]

There'll be no need for that. I already told you, you didn't quite do enough to put me in an institute, haha.

[But he's ready to go. Ajax steps off to head out of the corridor and towards the stairwell leading upstairs, holding the door open for her to head out of the building and out to their cars.]

Though, I must say, you really did impress me today. I know that this is all new and uncomfortable, to say the least. But, I think today went well, you know? Failure to make me seek mental services aside.

[ lumine goes through her messages as they exit the building, sending a text to aether that she's on her way back. the only problem she'll have to deal with is the fact that her excuse was eating out with friends and returning home hungry. still, that's easier to deal with than her twin finding out she's in a suspicious building with ajax. ]

Mm, I'll see you in a couple of weeks, then, [ she tells him, finally glancing up from her phone. ] Aether's going back to Inazuma next week and I've decided to join him.

[ her brother would've preferred her to stay behind, but she promised that she'll join him so they can spend more time together. she has a feeling aether's acting out because she's been spending less time with him ... even if he's the one who's always busy.

in any case, she walks around the driver's side of her car. ]

I'll text you again when we're back.

[Nodding, he unlocks his own car, understanding well what she'd also be doing there. That was a good plan, one where she can continue to visit statues and keep her brother satiated.]

Alright, I'll look forward to it. Not the being electrocuted part, of course, but the rest of it.

[He only laughs, he'll be okay even if she does electrocute him. Thank the archons he has an electro delusion, he'd be in a world of trouble otherwise...if today was any indication.]

Have a safe trip, Lumine. If you run into any problems, let me know.

[ the only problem she so far runs into is the amount of work she needs to bring to inazuma. staying there for an entire week is very unhelpful, truth be told, but lumine's resolved to accompany aether until their return to fontaine. it's not impossible, just a lot of arrangement and organisation, especially with her assistant.

she sits on her haunches in the middle of their living room, zipping up the last of her suitcase for their flight the next day. aether, on the other hand, still has his laptop on the coffee table, paperwork scattered next to it. lumine's about to clean it all up when she hears a muffled noise from the sofa. ]

Ae! [ she calls out to him, sticking her hands underneath the sofa cushions. ] Aether, your phone is ringing!

[ and is stuck right underneath the back cushion, vibrating like crazy. her brother emerges from the kitchen, a cup of coffee in his hand, when she finally pulls it out. she frowns at the screen.

who is it? ]

It's Ajax ...

[ aether mirrors her frown as she passes the phone over. lumine shrugs at him, turning back to cleaning up, before he accepts the call. ]

[He hopes Aether doesn't ignore his call. He's thankful he picks up, sounding relieved at first, but his tone turns very serious.]

Hey, Aether. I've got to talk to you about something really important. If Lumine is there, you can put it on speakerphone. It pertains to both of you.

[He takes a deep breath. He knows the news isn't good, he doesn't want to ruin this trip but he needs to tell them both.]

We got a tip on the goons that jumped Lumine the other night.

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