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

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.

[ ajax, can we—

for a moment, lumine moves away from her brother, not wanting to hear whatever conversation they're about to have. she hasn't spoken to aether about him since snezhnaya, unwilling to traverse that landmine of a conversation. but she wonders if this call is finally that talk she's pushing the both of them to have, because if it is? it's just ... terrible timing, considering they're leaving the next day.

lu, c'mere for a sec, please.

still, she looks up from sorting out her things when aether calls her, a grim expression on his face. that looks very concerning, and she hopes ajax isn't being a dick right now. ]

What is it? [ he holds the phone out to her, the call placed on speaker, as she walks over to him. ] What's wrong?

[ i think this is something you need to hear, too. go on, ajax. ]

Thanks, Aether.

[He runs his hand through his hair. How to approach this...he doesn't want to scare them half to death, but the reality is that he doesn't know any other way to put it.]

Apparently our friends have been doing a bit of work on their end. From what I understand, there's an operation of theirs in Inazuma City that's been ramping up for some time now. What the details of that are, I'm not sure. What I do know is that they've been keeping tabs on you two.

[He sighs, trying to keep all his thoughts together. Their trip, the operation in the capitol of the island nation...are these things coincidental?]

I'm...concerned, to say the least, [he says, trying to comprehend the scale of this.] Seems they've got someone important that's just left Fontaine to head out to Inazuma as well. That was a few days ago. Seems a little too well-timed, don't you think?

[ aether's expression slowly gets darker and darker with every sentence, lumine pressing her lips together. if ajax was simply making excuses to tag along with them as aether did with their trip to snezhnaya, this wasn't that, especially considering the kind of danger they've found themselves in. she looks up from the phone, meeting her twin brother's gaze.

maybe you should stay in fontaine, lu. it would be safer here. ]

No, are you kidding me? If you're going, then so am I, Aether. They might come after you, too.

[ no, not might. they will come for her brother as they did with her. she doesn't think it's a good idea for the both of them to be apart. and it isn't as if her brother can simply cancel everything he needs to do there, either.

lumine, don't be stubborn— ]

I don't want to hear that from you, of all people. [ she shakes her head firmly, sending him a flat look. nope, he's not doing this to her. ] ... Anyway, we'll lay low in Inazuma, Ajax. Thanks for letting us know.

Of course.

[But he's not done speaking, because like hell he's letting them go to Inazuma by themselves. He can't imagine the trouble that they could get into, not because they were looking for it, but because it might be looking for them. He doesn't think Aether will like this, but...]

Aether, I have to agree with Lumine on this one. If they're keeping tabs on both of you, if they know one shows up in Inazuma, they know the other is alone in Fontaine. It would be simple for them to snap one of you right up. And if you're both together, it'll be easier for me to make sure that doesn't happen.

[He's bracing for objections to that. Not that they can stop him from coming with them.]

I hope you don't mind. I'd like to personally see what I can find there as well.

[On the surface, for Aether, he hopes it sounds like Ajax just doing what he does best for the family business- take their enemies out. But deep down, there's a part of him that's terrified. This important person might be one of their true enemies. But another part of him is excited, to see if he can find them and take them on. Conflicting emotions, ones he's trying to keep from showing to the twins right now.]

[ lumine almost—almost—walks away from the conversation when she hears that, pausing mid-turn and looking directly at aether. her brother is thankfully looking back at his phone, his expression a mixture of concern, exasperation and disbelief. yep, that's definitely disbelief on aether's face, no doubt from ajax's implied plan.

you can't be serious, man. you can just some of the guys over. don't you have work to do?

... aah, she can already tell what aether's thinking. she's very positive with what aether's thinking, especially when her twin suddenly looks up and turns to her, his golden eyes narrowing. ]

Look, Ae, I have nothing to do with this. Ajax and I haven't spoken in a while now.

[ a week, maybe? less ... but it's still technically "a while" so she's not lying. also! she didn't think he'd actually try to tag along. ]

But you two should really talk this out. I need to finish packing.

Do you think I'd call you about this if I wasn't deadly serious, Aether?

[It doesn't matter what Lumine does now, she knows and that's all he really needed her to hear. Focusing his attention on her brother now, he will do his best to keep his voice calm and measured for this, but even he can admit how deeply frustrating this is to have to deal with Aether's overprotective nature here.]

Do you really think that I'd trust this to someone else after someone almost cut her throat? This is part of my work. And I am concerned for both of you. Take this situation seriously. This goes far beyond whatever reservations you have about me. This is your lives we're talking about.

[There's a heavy sigh on his end of the line, a little frustrated because he's just not in the mood to deal with this obstacle right now.]

[ lumine can feel aether's eyes boring on the back of her head as she turns back towards their things, her hands busily packing up his own stuff. it's not that she doesn't understand aether's suspicion; he has every right to be after what he's witnessed lately. but he's being unreasonable at the moment, especially given the circumstances.

then again, she does admit that she hasn't told aether the entirety of the issue. but what are the chances of her twin thinking that this is ajax's fault anyway? a little over 50, she thinks.

... fine, but this better not be some harebrained plan, ajax.

who's to say this isn't? the fact that ajax is tagging along means he has something in mind, and it's no doubt going to be stupid again. she's started to see his m.o. after liyue and snezhnaya. still, lumine says nothing, pretending to be busy.

i can send you our itinerary if you need it. don't tell me you're the only one showing up to protect her?

aah, aether. ]

You should email it to me. I want to make sure friendly eyes are on you both at all times. To your point, of course no- it's not going to just be me.

[It's a valid question. He definitely doesn't fault Aether for being concerned either. His hand goes through his hair again, thinking. Was there anything he missed? He doesn't think so, and Aether has at least agreed to this although hesitantly. It's fine. That's all he really wanted.]

I'll meet up with the two of you at your hotel. I won't be able to stick around too long, but I do want to know where your movements will be while I try to track down our foes.

[He lets out an exasperated breath.]

Thanks for working with me on this. It should only be a matter of time now before I can take care of this problem for good.

[It's...a half truth. A matter of time might be longer than he'd like, and he's certain it most likely will be. But this might be the light at the end of the tunnel, albeit far away. Or it might be the start of something even worse than he expected.]

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