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

[ aether throws him a sharp look, telling him to shut it, before he storms out of the bedroom once more in search of his sister. he refuses to accept that she's been taken, and even if she was, wouldn't there have been some kind of noise? a clue, something that would give the perpetrator away? no, lumine's fine. she's just! somewhere in this house!

lu! lumine!

it's not long since aether's gone out of lumine's room that the space and dimension in the bedroom seem to warp and ripple again. anyone looking at it would've found it strange, perhaps even a hallucination, but then, no one's looking up, so.

really, it's not too long since aether's departure and lumine's disappearance that the subject of the two boys' worries pop back into existence once more—except this time around, instead of standing in front of the beach, she's floating in midair on top of her bed right above ajax.

a moment later, she's falling— ]

Look out!

[He rubs his eyes with his hands, already feeling a stress headache coming on. Aether storms out, and he sighs- how else could this possibly go wrong? They'd just been reunited with each other, and now Lumine's gone missing, right out of thin air. His mind races...did they have some kind of magic just to pop in and out wherever they like, as if they were teleporting? It's not out of the realm of possibility, as he too can teleport in the Foul Legacy Transformation...but only short distances.

It's too much, right now. He wants to be able to find her and ensure her safety, but he's clueless as to-]

Hm? Ah-!

[Out of nowhere, he hears her call out, and it's above him of all places. Looking up, his eyes widen as he leans back when she falls right into him, instinctively grabbing her as her full weight comes down on his chest. Ajax falls backwards onto the bed, Lumine in tow as they both lie there, his chest exploding in pain. He groans, barely able to open his eyes as he stares back up at her, a grimace on his face.]

L...umine...

[Everything hurts. Why.]

Can you get off of me...

[ it takes a full minute for lumine to understand what's going on, also in a daze after suddenly teleporting in a different dimension and then falling onto ajax. but a minute later, she snaps out of ther surprise, scrambling off of him and rolling onto the bed, looking down at him in concern. ]

Oh! Sorry—

[ to be fair, she didn't mean to fall on top of him; she didn't even know why she showed up there, of all places.

and she shows up just in time too for aether to show up, nearly tripping over his own feet to try and get to the bedroom. almost immediately, her twin brother sweeps her into a tight hug, surprising her. lumine gives him an awkward pat on the back, her eyebrows furrowing. ]

Aether, I'm fine ...

[ aether stays there for a moment longer, before he pulls away, his gaze finally landing on ajax who's lying on the bed next to her.

what are you doing there, ajax? ]

Dying, [he groans, his arms sprawled out to his sides and breathing heavily. The god themselves are just putting a giant target on his broken chest, aren't they?]

...I need a moment.

[His eyes close, and he lies there like his ribs got broken all over again, taking shallow breaths because anything deeper than that makes it hurt even worse. What did he do to deserve this...

Ajax doesn't speak anymore, he's going to let Aether do all the questioning here. He has no idea where Lumine just came from, but he certainly wasn't expecting it to be from the ceiling.]

[ and interrogate aether does, asking her a barrage of questions starting what happened and where she went to.

lumine explains to him what happened, that she found the teapot and after touching it, she's landed in a bizarre dimension. a bird that introduced herself as an adeptus seem to recognise her, almost in tears when she's seen her again. she describes him the house, the garden, the features that surrounds it, well taken care of despite no one living in it. ]

And ... [ her gaze momentarily flickers down at ajax, her expression looking very subdued. ] There's something I want to show the both of you.

[ she holds out her hand to both ajax and aether, the latter of whom quickly take it. her other hand reaches out for the teapot, holding it the way she held it before. ]

It's pretty ... important, I think.

[In that time, Ajax manages to sit back up while she explains what she'd seen and where she'd gone. It all sounds vaguely familiar to him, and he chalks that up to Childe's memories seeping into his mind. He glances down at the teapot- so this was the teapot the Harbinger had brought up after they'd fallen into the water? It didn't look all that special to him, but if it was indeed a pocket dimension inside...

He shakes his head. How does that even work? The magic from the past seems unlimited in its scope, it seems. An adeptal device, it seems, has a lot of potential. He can't wait to see what's inside.

Ajax takes goes to put his hand over Aether's, wondering what is so important that she looks that way. But he nods, ready to go- hopefully it wasn't bad news.]

Alright. Let's go then.

[ she can the look of skepticism on aether's face, but lumine simply gives him a nod before she recalls the steps explained to her by the adeptus. it should recognise her again as it did the first time, as the previous owner of the teapot.

and it does, their surroundings rippling and warping, the landscape changing from her bedroom to a dimension that resembles inazuma with its seemingly perpetual sunset, sakura blooms dancing in the air, a scenery overlooking the sea. behind them is the same house she's found herself facing earlier, the adeptus tubby sitting outside next to the door.

once again, she looks overjoyed at the sight of lumine, and even more so at the sight of ajax and aether, greeting them as if she'd known them since forever. she easily gestures at them to go inside, the doors sliding with ease.

the inside of the house is neat and tidy, but it's clear that it's been lived in. the throw pillows on the sofa are bundled in a corner, a thick red blanket draped over its arm. there are personal articles strewn all over the house: books and little trinkets in bedrooms, even toys and strange statues. and on one of the halls are pictures, so many pictures of lumine and others she only recognises from the other lumine's memories.

there's one picture that stands out, however, sitting on a liyuen-style cabinet: one of her and aether, dressed in strange clothes, smiling at the kamera together. lumine glances at her brother, whose expression grows more and more puzzled.

when was this taken ... ]

... I told you it's important.

[It's a sensation that he knows he's felt many times before, reality itself bending and warping around him as he's transported inside of the teapot, landing on his feet as his eyes adjust to the new landscape. It's absolutely gorgeous, just the way he remembers...which is strange. This too, all feels familiar to him, his walking stick helping him walk across the island to the house. Tubby also is another thing that strikes familiarity in him, greeting her as he always has in the past.

Even though, this is the first time he's met her.

Walking inside, his feet automatically step through like he knew where he'd tripped on the rug before to avoid it, taking his jacket off and finding the hook on the wall where he usually hangs it, the motions natural and almost muscle memory. He hobbles down the hallway with the twins, to stop in front of a picture he feels like he hasn't seen in a very long time. The twins together...that's going to be hard to explain to Aether. But he doesn't stop there, taking a look at more photos, before the other twin begins to lose his mind over a picture that Ajax knows that he won't remember taking. Lumine can handle that one for now.

Ajax stares at the rest of the pictures down the hall, a deep feeling of nostalgia washing over him as he views each one. The red-haired man named Diluc from one of their visions is here, a blue-haired man looking like one of the past leaders of Inazuma. There's one of Childe and a shorter girl with blue hair cooking in the kitchen, an excited looking woman holding some sparklers in her hand with a small child dressed all in red looking excited as well. Lumine with several of her other friends, all people he doesn't recognize but that he does know...he knows that he does.

And one with Childe and Lumine, happily leaning against each other, the Harbinger planting a kiss to her head as the kamera had snapped the photo.

He finds himself staring at it, a small smile on his face. It almost feels like he can remember that day, but somehow that memory is just out of his reach.]

[ aether had been quiet while staring at their photo, his expression uncertain. there's something about the photo that he can't put a finger on, but somehow, it's out of reach in his mind. like it can't seem to process it and yet accepts it all the same. which is rather alarming and disturbing, especially considering the fact that his sister is anything but. no doubt it's another secret he's kept from him, and he doesn't know if he wants to learn about it right now.

lumine places a hand on his arm, quietly asking him if he wants to talk about it. but he simply shakes his head, deciding that he wants to see this place for himself. there's something familiar about it that he wants to figure it out on his own.

a few moments later, lumine's wandering off towards ajax when she spots him, standing in front of childe and lumine's photo. if she didn't think they weren't real before, then she did now; there's nothing more tangible than a talking bird and a photo proving their existence, proving their relationship. ]

Aether went off to wander the teapot by himself, [ she says quietly, staring at lumine's smile. it's genuine, full of love and affection and joy. ] He said he wants to be alone for a bit to think.

[ to figure things out on his own. whatever that means anyway. ]

... You know, one of the guys Lumine was with on the pictures is really good-looking.

[Lumine's voice breaks through his thoughts, turning to her as she approaches. He's not surprised to hear that Aether didn't seem to be alright with it, he can't imagine if he was in his shoes that he would either. Ajax turns back to look at the photo, chuckling quietly at her last comment.]

Yes, the guy you're referring to is right here.

[He gestures towards the picture of Childe and Lumine, smiling back at her with a cocky confidence that acts as a shield that bounces her comment off of it. He won't let himself get jealous over a dead guy.]

Anyway, [he says, quickly changing the subject back,] do you think your brother will be okay? I couldn't of imagined walking in here to find something that confirms his existence a thousand years ago as well.

...I can't imagine he's taking it well.

[Just like he's sure he won't take the picture of Childe and Lumine well, nor any of the rest of them.]

[ cue eyeroll. ]

Debatable as usual.

[ at the mention of aether, she glances over her shoulder to the direction where her brother wandered off to. he also said he wanted to talk to tubby, take a walk in the gardens and check out the sea. a part of her wonders if she should've gone with him, but then, this is a safe place. aether should be fine, even if he's left alone with his thoughts. ]

Mm, he'll talk to me when he wants to talk. I'm sure he's just ... sorting things out in his head.

[ shouldn't she have brought her brother to this place? but then, it seems connected to all three of them, not just her even if tubby says that this realm was gifted to her. ]

... What do you think? About this place, I mean.

[It's almost like deja vu when she asks, and his eyes seem to brighten despite their dimness. Quietly chuckling, he recalls a phrase said long ago, leaning on his walking stick as he recites it.]

"It's the perfect place to make a home." Haha, you know, she asked him that same question when he was brought here. Your question seems to have brought that memory back up to the surface. And, well, I sort of feel the same way.

[He looks back to the photo, glancing at it for only a moment before he finally turns to her.]

If our situation weren't so dire, I'd feel more relaxed here...but for now, I'll just hope that this provides an extra layer of security for ourselves. Even if they do find the penthouse, will they find us in the teapot? Something tells me a bunch of grunts wouldn't look twice at it.

[ lumine returns to her counterpart's expression and words when she mentioned about starting a family, before she shakes her head. it would've been impossible for her, given their current mission at the time and the fact that they never belonged in teyvat. but she does wonder if the other lumine would've chosen to stay if they survived and called teyvat her home ... ]

So are you planning on using the teapot as a second hiding place for us of sorts?

[ she supposes that it works. after all, it doesn't seem like anyone knows how to access it. and even if they knew, they'd still need her permission, as per tubby. her only concern is if the teapot is breakable, especially with the powers of a god. ]

... Tubby did say that only certain people have access to it. Only those permitted by the Traveler back then.

It's not a half bad idea. Staying here would put me more at ease.

[Ajax idly wonders if she's noticed the stress lines forming in his face, sighing with relief that maybe, just maybe, they'll have somewhere truly safe to stay. He moves to go over the pictures once again, scanning each one carefully.]

I don't recognize any of these people either, so if any of them share the same fate as us, they're not associated with the Dufonts. At least, as far as I know. So we should be the only ones who can get in here.

[He turns back to her, leaning heavily on his stick. He still is tired and sore, and he's already moved a lot today and had a lady fall right onto his broken chest.]

Want to head upstairs with me? I want to see the rest of the house, before I get too caught up with looking at all these old photos, haha.

[ there's one face on the photos that catches her attention, a face that she's seen before. but she keeps that to herself for now, wanting to confirm it before jumping to conclusion. after all, they could be in the same boat as aether whose memories are missing despite the shit he's gone through lately.

in any case, lumine shrugs at him, gesturing at the staircase in an alcove at another area of the house. she hasn't gone upstairs either, unsure what to see there. ]

You sure you can climb up the stairs, grandpa? [ she jokes, making sure her pace is quick enough that he wouldn't be able to catch her and retaliate. ] You look unsteady with your cane.

Now, that's no way to speak to your elder, now is it? Show me a little more respect.

[He takes the joke in stride, beginning to hobble towards the stairs with his stick, feeling his muscles protest but moving despite it. If there's a bed up there, he'll just...flop on it.

When he reaches it, he slowly starts to push himself upwards, wishing that there was an escalator or a elevator or something. Spoiled by modern technology, clearly, where Childe and Lumine didn't have such wonderful contraptions.]

Hah...

[It's a little embarrassing how much trouble he's having, getting to the second step with uncertainty. He looks at her sheepishly, hoping she wasn't judging him too hard for his inability to climb a simple set of stairs.]

[ she snorts and shakes her head in amusement before she holds out a hand to him. ]

Just take my hand, old man. I'll assist you in climbing the stairs.

[ which is going to be a slow process in itself and a part of her wonders if there's anything tubby could do about that. but she doesn't know how this kind of magic mix well with technology. probably not that much, she thinks. ]

What do you want to see upstairs, anyway?

[He could use the railing but...nah.]

Thank you.

[He takes her hand, leaning on her and using the stick to hoist himself up step by step, wishing his leg hadn't been so injured during the fight. He can't wait until it's better, until the rest of him heals too. A passing thought comes to mind, that if he let that hole in his soul heal, however one goes about doing that, if the transformation wouldn't take such a toll on him.

But that's not something he gets to find out now.]

I'm just curious. There could be more to discover here, and if so, I don't want to miss it.

[They reach the top, Ajax wanting to explore the room on the left first, notably not letting her hand go when they get to the top of the stairs. Instead, he continues to hobble with her in tow to the room, the sliding doors opening easily that he can use his stick-occupied hand to do so.]

I guess this must of been her bedroom, huh.

[ lumine glances around the room before taking a walk, investigating it. it's a little less furnished and sparse, but there's familiarity to the way things were placed around. like a kind of story meant to be told in the form of decorations. she sits on the edge of the bed, properly made despite being unused for a very long time. ]

This is Lumine's bedroom ...

[ memories seem to slowly filter in, a trickle instead of a floor as she looks around from her seat. the bed is big enough as she used to share it with paimon—and then, eventually childe, probably.

there's a few more pictures on the dresser at the end, framed simply. ]

I guess she likes spacious places where she can move around.

Who doesn't?

[He begins to take a look around himself, deep down knowing where every little thing was in the room. Ajax wanders slowly over to a dresser on the other side of the room, instinctively finding a spare pair of black military boots tucked away next to it. He stares down at a drawer, before reaching down and opening it.

Turning, he holds up what he finds inside- a spare jacket that belonged to Childe, the grey, white and red on it unmistakable, banner flowing down from the back.]

Hey, look what I found.

[He smiles from behind it, so very tempted to put it on.]

Wanna see what I look like in it? I wonder if it'll fit me, haha.

[ there's a part of her that instinctively wants to recoil at that suggestion. it's enough that he seems to be slowly turning into childe, his eyes changing and his personality bit by bit shifting. and it's so tempting to sit there and reject his idea, but lumine can also see the nostalgia on his face like he's recalling all of this as she is. ]

I don't know, [ she says with a shrug, getting up from her seat and walking over to him, taking the jacket into her hands. ] Here, let me help you out, grandpa.

[ he's injured, after all, so much so that he can barely move around like he used to. and since she fell on top of him, he probably still feels sore. ]

It's probably a tight fit, though. Childe looks skinnier than you.

[He sets the walking stick to the side, letting it lean up against the dresser as he sticks one arm out to slide it into the arm she offers.]

I don't know. It was pretty hard to tell under the uniform how built he actually was. When he stood next to me while we were conversing with them in Snezhnaya, it felt like we were the exact same height and build.

[His other arm is slid into the other sleeve, and he grabs the front of it to adjust it on his shoulders. He examines where the buttons are, only buttoning the top portion just as Childe once had, hooking the pendant across his chest and adjusting his sleeves to where they were comfortable.]

Huh. Like a glove. Guess I shouldn't be surprised, [he says, looking down at the jacket. The only thing though is that he can see his undershirt blocking the little window where his vision lies on his belt.]

Looks like you don't get to stare at my abs with this shirt on, [he says as he winks at her.] Guess I'll just have to see if those red shirts of his are here too.

Edited (i used the word guess way too many times imo) 2022-07-10 05:10 (UTC)

[ if she were given a mora everytime she rolls her eyes at him, she'd be a rich as him by now. ]

Who wants to look at that, anyway?

[ lumine still holds on to her idea that his clothes really look try hard and weird, especially for someone who's supposed to hold a high enough position in the snezhnayan military. but she shrugs as she gives him a once-over, pursing her mouth.

... she really doesn't like those clothes on him. it just doesn't feel right seeing him in those, like she's looking at someone else who looks exactly like him but isn't him. lumine turns back towards the bed, sitting back down on the edge. ]

Done playing dress-up?

Hahah, yeah. Thanks again for helping me with it.

[He slips the jacket off of him, putting it back right where he found it. But not before he's inspected the drawer underneath, finding the rest of the uniform there as well.]

It's all here. Seems he was using this place as a base of operation right at the end. It makes sense, I got the impression the two of them were working very closely together before their final battle. And I don't get the feeling he'd want to be far from her if he could help it anyway.

[A sentiment he definitely understands. He doesn't enjoy being far from Lumine either, if the week they spent apart was any indication. He picks up his walking stick once more, and makes his way back towards the bed where she sat, taking a seat next to her with a heavy groan. The abs in question are killing him right now.]

So? I suppose you'll be taking up residence in here?

[Or maybe not. He doesn't know if this is too weird for her, having the person who's room this belongs to inside of herself.]

[ that's a good question to ask. and to be honest, she doesn't know if she feels comfortable enough to sleep in a bedroom that's hers but also not ... hers. ]

I don't know. Maybe, maybe not ...

[ lumine falls silent for a moment as she tries to explain her reasoning. but is there any reason to? even if she doesn't say anything, ajax is sure to understand as someone who's in the same boat as her with this whole someone-lives-inside-of-you nonsense.

she glances at him sideways, leaning back on her hands against the bed. ]

Do you want to take up this room for yourself? I'm sure Lumine wouldn't mind since she shared it with Childe's.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject