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

[Yae can see the wisps of the spirit leave Lumine, as she shocks her again and again, until it fully relinquishes its grip on her, much to the kitsune's satisfaction. She smiles to herself, looking down at Lumine on the ground. That smile turns to something of a half-concern, noting the singed hair and clothing.]

Maybe I overdid it a bit. Can you hear me? Your brother is in a little trouble, and he's going to need your help.

[She doesn't really respond to Aether, because the name "Ajax" doesn't really ring a bell. She's only known him as Childe, and right now she's not listening to Aether anyhow. But she does turn towards the god, musing on how best to go about this, so she doesn't break too much of a sweat. Ajax's body seems incredibly sturdy, and she takes a moment to measure his power. The abyssal power is a little concerning, but at least he'll be able to handle anything she doles out without hurting him. Lucky him.

Three fresh new fox statues are created, but now instead of shocking Lumine, they start to fire upon the god, to give Aether some breathing room while she stands back and watches, still staying near Lumine.]

I'd hurry if I were you~

[ lumine feels like she's been hit by a truck. ten trucks, maybe, given the pounding headache threatening to crack her skull open. she groans when she tries to get up, limbs shakily supporting her like a newborn foal taking its first steps into the world. she needs a long soak in the hot springs after this, and maybe a year-long break from work. but it's not long before she staggers back to her feet, stumbling towards her brother while ajax—or whoever it is inside of him—distracts their enemy.

lumi, aether croaks at her as she tries to get him back on his feet, fingers wiping away the blood from the corner of his mouth. do you know what's going on?

a part of her visibly hesitates, before she shakes her head and summons a shield around them made of cryo. if only her hydro powers have healing, but it seems they'll just have to make do for now. they can go to the hospital or find a healer after they get out of this place. ]

That's one of the guys trying to capture us, [ lumine tells aether quietly, averting her eyes from her twin brother's widening gaze.

she turns back to ajax's figure, coughing hard as well. she can still feel the electro energy coursing through her, almost like insects wriggling under her skin. how disconcerting, but she supposes it's not as disconcerting as to what she ... witnessed earlier. ]

What do you need me to do?

[Ah, she's up. That's good, at least she hadn't electrocuted her into unconsciousness. Yae's gaze lands on the god, that has turned towards the both of them as Aether recovers. It realizes who the real threat is here, and is going to try to snuff them out as soon as it can.]

Defeating that god over there would be a good start. I'll help you, but you're going to have to deliver the final blow. If Childe's condition is any sign of how far you have yet to go, this might be a good start for you to get your feet wet again when it comes to vanquishing these so-called gods.

[His eyes narrow at her, wondering what Lumine's condition was too.]

I do hope you haven't been as stubborn as he has...

[A gohei appears in Ajax's hands, as Yae begins to throw electro energy out of it at the god, the electricity ripping through it as it sears its skin. The golden hue seems to brighten, as it prepares another blast of energy at the kitsune and the traveler.

How did she get roped into this again? She'll make them pay her back for this.]

[ maybe it's the electro energy still running through her like poison, or maybe it's the aftermath of having been possessed by a spirit. either way, none of what she's saying makes sense to lumine. stubborn as he is? what does that even mean?

but she doesn't have time to ponder on it for too long, dragging her brother to one side of the room when that thing releases another blast of energy. it creates a hole in the wall, a hole that could've been her and her twin brother. her heart starts racing, her hands shaking; this is now real, much more real than the vision that she and ajax had seen. ]

Ae, I need you to stay here, okay? I'll be back.

[ lumi—

she pulls away from her brother's grip, leaving him on the side, protected by more wooden panels. it's not going to help if that god blasts at them again, but only if; lumine's not giving it a chance. she only hopes her counterpart is right, that she'll be there with her, protecting and guiding her.

lumine summons a sword made of hydro, very similar to the one the other lumine had been using, except she freezes it, the ice cold against her palm. a moment later, she's ducking when the creature tried to capture her in what seems like a box, narrowly missing her by an inch. in return, she clumsily rushes up to it, stabbing it on the side with her sword while avoiding another shock of electro courtesy of ajax and his ... friend.

the god shrieks in pain, ichor pouring out of its wound. ]

How do I defeat it? How?

[The kitsune's reflexes are as good as ever, not having lost a bit of her dexterity in all the years she's been dead. His body responds easily to every command she gives it, ducking and dodging blasts and swipes at her, even taking advantage of some of Ajax's own skills that she doesn't have. It's really not her style to try so hard, but watching the god twitch and writhe under being electrocuted by her foxes and hydro blasts from her gohei is a little satisfying.]

You don't know how?

[Yae responds, tsk tsking Lumine as she continues her assault.]

And here I thought you weren't as stubborn as him.

[It doesn't matter. She doesn't have time to explain everything, that can come later- so she keeps the instructions short.]

Aim for its chest on my call, then. Don't hold back or it won't work.

[A flourish of tails emerge from Ajax, the expression on his face cunning and wicked as lightning roars down from above, slamming into the god one, two, three times- stunning it and causing it to falter.]

Now!

[ what does that even mean!

but lumine doesn't hesitate, sliding along the floor when the god tries to take another swipe at her. it's honestly surprises her that she's able to move quickly, her reflexes lightning fast and yet totally unexpected. it's also something that she can try to figure out later, especially when she hears ajax calls out.

almost immediately, she's back on her feet and sprinting towards the staggering creature, shoving her sword through its chest as instructed. lumine summons a second sword, its hydro sheen glinting in the gloom of the domain, and pierces the same spot on its chest with it. she watches as it shrieks and growls, the elemental energy seemingly coursing through its veins. and then, she realises something— ]

Duck! [ she screams when the thing explodes, sending her flying across the hall when the ripple of power crashes into her. she hears aether's yell just as her back hits a still-standing pillar and collapses back on the ground in a crumpled heap.

lumine! ]

[Yae summons Ajax's shield to protect herself, the power crashing violently against the hydro energy surrounding her. It threatens to blow her off her feet, holding an arm up to shield Ajax's face as the elemental energy rips past her. As the dust settles, she walks over to Aether and Lumine, her tails gone with only Ajax's body standing.]

Good thing that one wasn't very powerful. That one was even weaker than all of the gods who died in the Archon War thousands of years ago. It seems that it lost a lot of its power since then. It's a little troubling that you all struggled against it like that...

[She kneels down, to inspect Lumine, before turning to Aether.]

Let's get her out of here, she may have a concussion. Little one, can you stand?

[She lightly shakes Lumine a few times, hopefully she'll wake.]

[ aether rushes and kneels next to his sister, gentle hands quick to assess her situation. it doesn't seem like she's severely injured, a huge surprise for him after watching her endure the explosion caused by the death of that thing, but a concussion is still a possibility, as ajax had said.

or whoever this person is inside of ajax.

in any case, lumine stirs after several moments, her gaze unfocused. everything hurts. every single part of her body hurts like she's on the cusp of death once more. ]

Mm, what ... [ lumi, can you stand? let me help you. lumine turns to look at her twin brother before she gives him a slight nod, shifting to make it easier for him to help her up. ] Are you two okay?

[There seems to be some hope for the future, it seems. Lumine seems a little green around the ears, much unlike the traveler that she'd met so long ago, but that doesn't mean those skills didn't shine through as she destroyed that god. Hardly a god, she thinks, but it doesn't matter anymore.

Smiling, her eyes dart playfully between the twins before she responds.]

Oh, I'm quite alright, thank you for asking. You, on the other hand, look like you took quite a hit there. Not bad for your first time, I suppose, but we can worry about those details later. We should concentrate on heading back to the city so you can get looked at, and so we can get the inevitable twenty questions game that I'm sure you're both burning on the inside to start out of the way.

[And she'll delight in withholding information as she pleases, since it seems there's a lot here that hasn't happened that should have. And she won't give that information for free either.]

[ it's strange.

he has ajax's face, ajax's voice but she can tell that that's not him at all. the way he speaks is just too ... different, she thinks, and his gestures, the way he carries himself. she wonders if what happened to him is the exact same thing that happened to her earlier, and if so, how do they get him back?

let's go back to the hotel for now, then.

some of ajax's men show up when they finally emerge at the entrance of the cave, looking terribly concerned and worried. not surprising, considering they suddenly disappeared earlier. no doubt they were a bit lost, especially when their own boss went with them. ]

I'm sorry, but I overheard your name earlier from the spirit possessing my body. [ there was so much she's witnessed and heard while she was possessed. ] You're Yae Guuji ...

[Yae quickly dismisses the men, after taking one long moment to settle into Ajax's inflections and cadences of how he speaks. It's easy to get them to leave, satisfied with herself when they go back to the city and leave the three of them alone to speak more freely.]

That's right, [she confirms, giving a smile to the twins.] Since you've clearly forgotten, I'll reintroduce myself. I am the former Guuji of the Grand Narukami Shrine, Yae Miko. But, I don't see any need for titles here, even if Ajax here seems to still address me as such.

[It's strange, to call him Ajax- but after having to rifle through his mind to get his men to obey her commands, she understands the man a little more.]

But anyway, that's neither here nor there, [she says with exasperation,] all that matters is the three of you are safely out of the hands of those minions who were trying to capture you. Quite sneaky to use you as bait to lure the other two in, if I do say so myself. But her plan backfired on her when she thought Ajax would be selfish in his wish.

[She giggles again, it's as to be expected, really- people truly don't think their plans through very well, do they.]

[ lumine still feels as if her brain is currently submerged in water, unable to quickly comprehend what's going on. trying to follow that line of conversation even after she's asked her question is a challenge in and of itself.

yae miko. the name feels so familiar, like she's heard and spoken it so many times. ]

Ajax's men, [ she says quietly, burying her face against
aether's shoulder as her twin brother carefully assisted her with walking. ] They tried to protect me, but they had no way of winning against them ... against me ...

[ she supposes that it's very common in their line of work, but still, she feels terrible that someone had to die to keep her safe. Someone had died because of her. it feels like that vision all over again, lumine protected by those who care about her.

lumi, it's not your fault. you can't blame yourself for that. ]

I'm sorry ...

Oh, don't beat yourself up too much over that. That's just how it goes sometimes, even though the loss of life can be quite sad.

[Not that she particularly cares for the mortals in question, as they were just doing their duty. She continues to walk forward, enjoying the sunlight and rolling Ajax's shoulders a few times to work the kinks out of them from the battle. Yes, this body will do quite nicely for the time being.]

Anyway, since it's all said and done, I suppose we can go our separate ways for now. It's been an exciting day. Why don't you two go back to the hotel like you'd planned and get some rest, and we can meet up tomorrow for some lunch. I'd like some remuneration for my services after all, since risking my life, or lack thereof, isn't exactly free.

[A finger comes up to her mouth. Oh, where to go for lunch...she wants some fried tofu like no one's business and she's going to get it.]

Why don't we go to Uyuu? They have excellent fried tofu. I can answer any questions you have there, after you've had time to collect yourselves. How does that sound?

[ aether stares at this "ajax", his forehead creased as he tries to make sense of what's happening right now while supporting lumine and keeping her awake. so this person is not really ajax, but some person named yae miko ... who seems to know both ajax and his sister and yet his sister doesn't seem to know them? how suspect.

how sure are they that this isn't the same incident as lumine getting possessed? just because they helped them earlier doesn't mean they should put their full trust in whoever this person is.

very well. i'll take care of the expenses for now. ]

Aether ...

[ it's fine, lu. maybe they can answer a few questions that i have. he doesn't trust this person one bit, even more so that they're possessing ajax's body. ]

Okay ... That's fine with the both of us.

Edited 2022-06-13 00:58 (UTC)

Good! Feel free to ask whatever you'd like tomorrow. Maybe I'll even reveal some secrets about him to you, if you'd like.

[She seems happy with the arrangement that's been set up. Free fried tofu for her, excellent. She'll make sure to order every expensive item on the menu too, because why shouldn't she? She's earned it.]

Though, I'm very surprised you two are taking this so well, [she says, laughing.] And here I thought I'd get at least one question about when I was going to give your friend his body back.

[There's a hint of deviousness in the eyes of Ajax, that is clearly not his own. The deep purple tint to them shines in the sunlight. Usually, people get very concerned about their friends getting possessed, in her experience.]

[ lumine looks up at that remark, her eyes briefly widening. her eyes briefly flicker at aether, who lowers his gaze to the ground, pressing his lips together. the expression on ajax's face is rather sinister too, a little disconcerting to look at it. ]

Are you not planning on giving it back?

[ to them. to her.

she asks because, well, it's ajax's body, after all. and he has a family, has a job, has people who care about him. no doubt they would want the real ajax back. and while her brother has had differences with him lately, she's sure aether still considers him as a good friend. ]

Why would I give it back?

[She grins at them with his smile, letting his eyes light up in a way that Ajax's would never at the prospect. She even lets out a little giggle, to seal the deal.]

Do you know the probability of someone with his power summoning me? Youkai, when possessing a human, won't last long in their host. Humans just don't have the same strength as us. But him...he has enough power to even give the Electro Archon pause, once he masters it of course. I could inhabit his body indefinitely, even at my strength, without all those pesky side effects.

Besides, [she coos, amused with the looks on their faces,] didn't you see his resolve? When he asked you to kill him, before he closed his eyes and asked for help to save the two of you? This was a possibility he anticipated, when he formulated his plan once he realized what was happening. He would of done anything to keep you two safe. Surprisingly admirable for a guy like him.

[She turns, to continue to walk to the city. She needs a good bowl of ramen right about now. But it's moreso to hide the look on her own face- she wonders how they're taking that information.]

[ lumine places a hand on aether's hand, giving him a wordless nod to pause for a bit. it's still a struggle for her to gather her composure, her head throbbing dully from the pain. her body isn't at its peak, either, still weakened by the cryo element earlier and being thrown off of her feet.

but even with that, the use of her counterpart's power—no, her power—is instinctive. she waves her left hand, strings of hydro extending from her fingertips and wrapping around ajax's wrists. her right hand moves, and more strings wrap around his body, binding him tightly. after their last training session, she's learned how to reinforce it, strengthening its core with cryo and enclosing it in an anemo vacuum.

lumi— aether takes a step back, looking alarmed once more. ]

Sorry, but I'll have to insist that you give him back.

[ she tugs on the strings, increasing its tension. ] I don't really like taking no for an answer, even at work.

[The strings quickly bind his body, and Yae only smiles before she feels herself tugged backward, not allowing her to continue on towards that desired bowl of ramen she wants. It's a little annoying to the kitsune, to have the traveler binding her like this, but she expected some kind of negative reaction. Ajax's shoulders fall in a sigh, as the strings become more tense around his body, as Yae looks over a shoulder to the two twins.]

How quaint.

[Electro energy begins to sear outwards, taking advantage of the electro delusion that hides beneath the hydro vision on the man's belt. Strands begin to snap one by one, until she builds enough energy up that electro explodes outwards from the core of Ajax, the strings falling off onto the ground before dissipating completely. She turns, to rub his wrists, but seems unbothered by the action.

However, she won't let it slide despite that.]

I wouldn't try something like that again, unless you'd like to get the same treatment I gave you while exorcising that spirit from you. Besides, I don't see why you're so upset about this. Weren't you the one who said you wanted him out of your hair? You can consider him gone now.

[Her smile is sly, and she's tickled, really. Lumine seems ready to fight her for Ajax, and that's the Lumine she remembers. The one that visited the shrine with him so long ago, before their great battle against Celestia.]

[ her eyes narrow at that, cutting off the strings before the electro current runs into her fingers and hands. clearly, she's not just dealing with a normal vision user; this person, whoever she is, holds much more power than what someone is supposed to have. but even before she can make another move, aether grabs her wrist and shakes his head.

not here, not now. any more usage of their elemental powers will gather attention, even more so when people start realising that she's using multiple at once. ]

I get to decide when he gets out of my hair, not you.

[ still, with aether stopping you, she can't help but react. she can also feel something, someone urging her inside of her. ]

I saw what you did to that spirit possessing me. Is that all I need to do to get you out of him?

[Laughing, she holds his hand up to his mouth, amused. Oh, never change, Lumine. This is fun, but maybe she's being a little too harsh on the traveler now. Yae needs to think about how to deescalate this. She still has to get her lunch, after all.]

With the amount of power the two of us have combined, it would take a lot more to force me out. Sorry little one, but I don't have good news for you there.

[She holds a finger to his mouth, visibly pondering for a moment.]

Listen, if he means that much to you, we can talk about it tomorrow over our little lunch date. Obviously using a show of brute strength isn't going to solve this problem. And wouldn't you rather use a more peaceful means of returning him to you, rather than hurting him? Really, I don't see why there needs to be all this fuss.

[ lumine tries to make another move but aether, once more, stops her, holding her back and sending her a warning look. his fingers tighten around her wrist, his touch gentle but very firm. unyielding, something he's only used on her in certain, very specific circumstances.

we'll see you tomorrow, then. uyuu restaurant. c'mon, lumine, let's get you to a healer.

and before anyone can protest, he's dragging his twin sister away back to the inn without another word. lumine stumbles after him, feeling like she's six years old all over again and caught in a scuffle with the kids in the playground. nothing new to her when she was younger, though her brother had thought she'd grown out of it. clearly, she hasn't; either that, or she's gone back to her old ways. ]

Aether— [ he doesn't reply, silent in his attempt to drag lumine away. that's when she's sure that her brother isn't taking a no for an answer too, at least not from her.

despite her entire body wanting to just collapse in on itself, she spends the next couple of hours answering all of aether's questions: her strange abilities, her lack of vision, the thing they both just fought. lumine only omits a few things, namely the other lumine, childe and their fate. she can tell that aether is still struggling to absorb it, even when he gives her a hug and retires to his bedroom.

honestly, going to the restaurant the next day is something that lumine isn't looking forward to, still feeling sore from the events the day before. but she gets up anyway in time for lunch, meeting aether in the lobby once he's done with his appointments that morning. ]

[Yae only watches on for a moment as Aether drags Lumine away, to take her to a doctor or who knows what. She sighs, relaxing a little more now that she's by herself, beginning the trek back to Inazuma City. Finally, a voice pops up, cutting through the dream-like state he's been in this entire time.

You know, I think you might of gone a little too far there.]

Oh, so you finally decide to speak? I was wondering when you were going to say something. Maybe I was a little, but you won't learn without a little tough love sometimes. You have siblings, don't you? You know what it's like.

[Ajax only sighs, still locked in the trance, unable to process his thoughts coherently. He falls silent the rest of the way back as Yae goes and enjoys her afternoon and night, visiting old friends and eating to her heart's content on his dime. Not that he really cares, he's only really concerned for Lumine and Aether, wondering how they were, and glad that they were safe.]

---

[As promised, Yae is waiting at Uyuu for the twins, already inside on the second floor waiting for them to arrive. She's already ordered some food in advance for herself and them, happily munching on it. When they arrive she'll greet them with a smile.]

Well hello, I hope you don't mind that I've gone ahead and had some food ordered for us to start.

[She of course, has things that look really expensive already...]

[ not at all. i did agree to pay for it.

lumine, of course, minds, but she holds her tongue as she takes a seat and lets her twin brother handle this. she's still in no mood to deal with anything after yesterday's events, something that aether seems to have noticed since they met up earlier. the only reason she's even here is to make sure that whatever spirit is currently residing inside ajax's body gets out.

if she has to do it by force, well—he's sturdy enough to withstand her abilities last time. but who knows how stubborn that thing is inside of him.

my sister told me everything last night. i also looked up your name last night, head shrine maiden of the grand narukami shrine a thousand years ago.

that's a long time ago, aether thinks, but then, so did these people chasing after him and his sister, apparently. it's rather complicated, not to mention quite frustrating.

perhaps her ordering in advance will help this entire conversation out ... ]

[The kitsune takes a thoughtful bite of sushi she's ordered, chewing it happily as Aether speaks. She's glad that Lumine has shown up, but she was hoping that she would. After that display yesterday, she's sure the traveler is planning something. She's a good person, and Yae knows she hasn't exactly portrayed herself as anything other than a neutral party really only looking out for themselves. Well, that's isn't so far from the truth, but not completely true either.]

Aether, yes? It's nice to finally meet you. That's correct, that was my job back when I was still alive. It was truly a burdensome job, but someone had to do it, right?

[Another piece of sushi is eaten, before she takes a bite of fried tofu. That's the good stuff, right there.]

I also ran a producer of light novels, named Yae Publishing House, named after me of course. I'm happy to see it's still around and thriving. I might submit a new idea for a light novel, since I've been inspired by your dealings with that evil spirit and the little bit of fun she had with you and Ajax here.

[Yae gives a light chuckle, before finishing off her tofu. Who doesn't love a good BL light novel? Especially once as juicy as she can make this one.]

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