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

[ 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.]

[ aether looks terribly disgusted at that remark, wishing he could erase that memory from his brain entirely. it wasn't by choice either, not just because ajax practically forced it on him but also because her sister's life was on the line. if this is how they're supposed to be dealing with spirits and gods moving forward, he doesn't know how he'll survive this.

can we please move on from that?

lumine sighs under her breath, not even willing to touch any of the food on the table before them. she hasn't eaten anything since breakfast, but having to sit here and listen to all this bullshit is turning her stomach inside out and making her lose her appetite. ]

I don't really care what you do. [ though there's a part of her that coaxes her to calm down, to try and trust the person inside of ajax. ] But we don't really have a lot of time to waste, do we?

[ she feels aether's hand on her knee, squeezing it gently. she meets her brother's gaze and lumine presses her lips together.

lu, you agreed to let me take care of this. when he sees her huff, aether lets out a sigh and rubs the bridge of his nose. other than paying for your meal today, what else do you want? ]

[A cup of tea is picked up and sipped from, a few more morsels of food eaten. She looks quite satisfied, wearing Ajax's face like that, before she frowns.]

Looks like the fun is over for now, huh. Alright then. I wanted to give you three a little advice. Take it from someone's who's seen plenty a god in her time.

[The small cup of tea is finished off, patting his mouth dry before she continues on.]

What you fought down there was a remnant of Celestia. Barely even considered a god anymore. Had it been any more powerful than it was, when you finished it off, that explosion would have killed us all.

[She looks a little upset about it, but sighs- they're alive and that's what matters.]

You've got a lot of work ahead of you. They underestimated you this time, and the fact that the three of you aren't working together very well is going to work to their advantage. I suggest you all make up about it so you can figure this out together.

[ lumine doesn't say anything to that, just staring blankly at the plate of sushi in front of her. her brother, on the other hand, is probably looking constipated at the moment, knowing his current beef with ajax. that's something he has to deal with when the other guy returns, she supposes.

she lifts a hand and gestures at one of the waitstaff, asking for a cup of tea. maybe that would soothe her growing irritation and simmering temper.

you do realise that, in order for us to work together, you'll have to return ajax first?

aether looks at ajax's form mildly across the table, linking his hands together on the wooden surface. his sister is obviously upset about this, even if she's not saying anything else. so it's up to him to try and make this as painless as possible.

if not for ajax, then at least for lumine.

we can handle it with him from here on out. ]

Yes, there is that pesky little fact that if I give him back to you, I'm out of a body. That really doesn't bode well for me, does it?

[She eats a few more pieces of fried tofu, savoring the taste. She's missed it, eating her favorite food, and it shows.]

I'll make you two a deal, but you have to listen closely. Little one, look at me. I'm very serious about this.

[Yae calls to Lumine, who she's noticed won't even look up at her now. Inside of his dream, Ajax can see her plainly, see how upset she is about this situation. He knows he has to wait, that it would only be a matter of time before she wouldn't have to sit there and try to formulate a plan or find a way to free him- and it hurts to see.

Lady Guuji...]

[ is she really serious about it, though?

there's a beat, a full minute passing, before lumine reluctantly looks up, her lips pressed together in a thin line. she doesn't know how long she can put up with this, especially when her entire body still feels very sore and all she wants is to sink into the hot springs until she's all wrinkled. but here she is, having to endure this bullshit.

aether sighs once more, unsure how he'd be able to rein lumine in if she decides to go haywire again. that's the last thing he wants to happen in an enclosed space like this.

as long as it doesn't involve any one of us getting into further danger, then fine. what's the deal? ]

[During this speech, Yae will keep her eyes on Lumine most of the time, only flicking them over to Aether from time to time. There's no smirk, no devious grin, nothing from the kitsune. This is a matter of the past come to the present now, and she wants them to succeed just as much as anyone else does who had dealt with the conflict from the past.]

I need you three to realize how dangerously close you were to losing everything. Getting captured and letting yourself get possessed, having to make split second risky decisions that might of gone haywire- these things must simply be avoided in the future.

[She lets his elbows rest of the table, threading his fingers together and letting his chin rest upon them.]

As it stands right now, any other wish that Ajax could have made would have resulted in losing him. I need you to understand that you must lean on and trust each other, because that's how easy it is to lose someone when you're dealing with the leftovers from Celestia. They may not be as powerful now, but they are cunning and will do whatever they can enact their revenge. If you can promise me that you'll take this seriously and understand how quickly one of you can fall, then I will return him to you.

[ truth be told, if she had smiled—even just a hint of a smirk, a tug of the corner of her lips—lumine would've gotten up and flipped the table over. aether's going to pay for it, anyway, and she'll be demanding reimbursement from ajax for all of this mess once she gets the invoice. but as it stands, it's clear that she's also very concerned about this, and she supposes that it's for good reason.

lumine straightens her back, her jaw tightening at that. as if she wasn't already willing to work with ajax on this. as if she wasn't already knee-deep in this situation even before he possessed his body. ]

I already know that. You don't have to remind me.

[ as someone who's witnessed the death of lumine and her brother, who now shares a similar fate as theirs for attracting the attention of celestia, of course, she knows.

aether too nods. yes, you can take our word for it. ]

Good. [She locks eyes with Lumine with a knowing gaze, one that goes back a thousand years.]

I wouldn't want you to have to lose someone of whom you hold so dear.

[Again, is the unspoken word here, and Ajax's own heart wrenches when she says it. He has to be better, because this is partially his fault too. If he had been with Lumine when she got captured, then maybe this would have never happened.]

Anyway, [she continues now, eating another morsel of food,] now that that's out of the way, I think we can finally enjoy our lunch. Ajax has practically gotten out of this scot-free, save for our little agreement we made last night, so I figure I'd open the floor to the both of you.

If you want to know anything embarrassing about him, now's the time to ask. I've gotten the chance to read through all of the life he's experienced, and I must say it was an interesting read, albeit terribly short. Most mortals stories are dreadfully dull, so it was a nice surprise.

[Hey, hold on, I didn't agree to this!

She giggles. Oh, now he's protesting.]

[ lumine frowns at that over her tea, wrinkling her nose. ask anything embarrassing about him, what?

aether, on the other hand, cocks an eyebrow at that offer, seemingly intrigued. he wouldn't be surprised if she'll lie about the details, but then again ... she is possessing him, isn't she? which means that she has access to his memories, like that spirit had access to lumine's earlier. his gaze flickers sideways to his twin and then to "ajax", happily eating lunch.

let's see how accurate this is. not that he has a number he can base it on.

how many times has he slept with my sister since meeting her? ]

Aether!

[ he can tell lumine glaring at him from the corner of her eyes, and he should consider leaving her alone tonight lest he wants a beating. aether just shrugs. ]

Oh my. What a protective brother you have there.

[Giggling again, she takes a moment to go back through Ajax's memories, much to his shock. It's like he's watching her flip a pages in a book, watching along with her. Archons, how many times did Childe have sex with her? Hold on, why is she counting Childe's escapades in with his own????]

Which lifetime are you asking about? If you mean this one, only once.

[Another giggle, another piece of sushi into Ajax's mouth to be enjoyed. Oh, this is going to be fun.]

[ aether's eyes narrow, turning his gaze on lumine. she glares back at him, thoroughly annoyed. ]

There's only one lifetime my brother is talking about.

[ because the last thing she wants is for that can of their counterpart worms to be opened and spilled all over the place. her twin brother, for one, is going to flip his lid over it. which is why she's omitted that information in the first place. ]

You already saw both of us in bed. Nothing else happened after that.

[ nothing else? he lifts an eyebrow at yae miko, throwing her another question. really? ]

Well, they didn't have sex, if that's what you mean.

[Yae laughs, because the look on his face is just divine, really. She knows exactly why Aether is asking this question, and she's all more than willing to give him the answer.]

Sorry little one, but your brother is right in his assumption. Your evil spirit friend already ruined this for you.

[Another sip of tea, another giggle.]

Though Aether, you may not like the answer. She spun him around her finger so easily, making him melt under her fingertips like candle wax, pressed up against the door like that. She loved it just as much as he did.

[She presses a finger to his lips, smirking.]

I just might have to add that little scene into this boy love light novel too. Thanks for the inspiration.

[ to say he doesn't like the answer is an understatement, but truth be told, aether's somehow no longer surprised. what's actually surprising is the fact that lumine has been hiding this from him all this time when she used to be more open about her relationships with people. and really, that's what's annoying him the most.

lumine, on the other hand, looks infuriated, her expression utterly unhappy about that revelation. she rolls her eyes, asking for another cup of tea. making it piping hot, she says, just in case she throws it at someone.

is he the person you were with when you said you're going out for dinner? ]

Honestly, it's none of your business who I'm having dinner with, Aether. I don't ask you who you're hooking up with when you go on your business trips.

[ that's because there's none, lu! another eyeroll. you can just tell me the truth next time, you know. ]

... Are we done here?

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