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

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

[Fontaine: The technological hub of Teyvat.

For as long as anyone can remember, the country of Fontaine has always been the innovative center for the continent. High speed rail was originated here, and now spans across the entirety of Teyvat and beyond. High rises and skyscrapers pepper the skyline, modern Victorian buildings supporting a gear-like aesthetic from an era gone by. A thousand years ago, it was a much different place, but now it thrives with the bright lights and bustle of its people. One can hear the occasional street performer playing for cash, as businessmen and tourists alike walk down narrow cobblestone streets. People are buried in their phones, some take pictures as they gawk at the sights of the city, but one young man in particular walks languidly down the street, enjoying the life around him. He's in no hurry to get where he's going, as he has plenty of time to get there, noting a deli across the street from where he is now that he'll have to try.

Unfortunately, he is on business, so that'll have to wait.

Never being one to be dressed completely formal, he wears a comfortable pair of slacks and dress shoes, with a collared shirt that isn't buttoned up all the way under a grey vest. Various pieces of metal are woven into the vest, notably a crest on his right shoulder with a chain attached to it that hangs under his arm to the back. On his belt lies a Vision, glowing blue with hydro. The young man always seems friendly and easy going, but what lies underneath is something that not many are allowed to know- the heir to the family business of a company who develops tech for various products is also the right hand man of the mafia that runs the city.

And, their true business behind the scenes; creating Delusions to sell on the black market.

Today is a day where some investigating has to be done, and he's headed to see an old friend of his, from university. One that he's sure can help him with this problem he has. Entering the building, he swings in quietly to give a polite wave and a smile to the only person there.

Someone who looked exactly like their brother, whom he can only assume is the twin sister he'd yet to meet that he'd heard about.]

Hello, I was wondering if Aether was in today? I had a...business proposal for him, and I'm sure that he'd love to hear it. Unless of course, you might be of assistance instead.

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[ lumine stares at ajax as he struggles to put on the sheets, wondering if he's lived such a privileged life that he can't even figure out how bedsheets fit onto the mattress. he probably had someone do it for him, a helper or one of his sisters or his mom. either way, it's clearly something he can't do alone, so even if it's amusing to watch him suffer, lumine can't help but take the sheet and push him aside. ]

You're useless with these kinds of stuff. [ stuff that doesn't include him killing people or something. ] I'm somehow surprised.

[ she checks the inside of the sheet in search of the tag, quickly moving towards one of the bottom corners of the mattress to start dressing it up once more. after all, she's done this a few times for her and her brother's bed when it's her turn for house chores. ]

Though I guess you probably had someone do this for you at home.

Aw, c'mon.

[He sets his arms akimbo when she takes the sheet from him, moving to a different part of the bed that she hasn't gotten to to tuck the corner under tightly before moving on to the next corner.]

I just always have a hard time finding the tag, but eventually, I'll find it. I'm not too shabby at doing things around the house, despite what you may think. You'll find I'm just as good if not better than anyone you can hire to clean your house.

[Though he boasts, he knows he can back it up with results. He's never been a messy person and he's not about to start now.]

And I cook, too. But you already knew that.

[ lumine picks up the dirty sheets, bundling it up and tossing it in the laundry basket. that'll need to be washed and she's debating if she should go back to the apartment and throw it in the washer. might be the best thing at the moment, really, especially if she wants to hide anything from aether. ]

I'm sure my housekeeper can beat you at cleaning up the house.

[ not that she plans on bringing her over, but lumine should probably contact her too. make sure she's safe and sound and keep her from harm like her other employees. which honestly still stings thinking about it.

in any case, she also strips the pillowcases from the pillows, tossing the things in the basket too. ]

I can cook, too, Ajax.

[Ajax goes to pick up a fresh flat sheet to put on the bed, taking it and flicking it upwards to let it fan out over the bed as it floats downwards onto it. He shoots her a look as he begins to tuck it in at the end, making sure it's smooth and tight across it before he gets to the sides. As if he's showing her his skills.]

Then that makes two of us. You know, I can teach you some traditional recipes from my homeland sometime. And, I've yet to make you my signature dish.

[That elicits a cocky grin from him, but he knows how good it is.]

I'd love it if you'd try it sometime. I'll have to ask Tubby to get me the ingredients...

[ is this really something he should be proud of and she impressed about? really? changing bedsheets and making sure they're tucked? lumine rolls her eyes as she tugs at her side of the sheet, also folding it neatly at the other end of the bed.

it looks tidy enough. but aether will still suspect something if it's too neat, so lumine jumps onto the bed, creasing and disturbing the sheets that they just so properly tucked seconds ago. ]

Tubby said there's a plot of land in the teapot you can use to grow things. Apparently, the traveler used to use it.

[Folding his arms, he looks at her ruining his beautiful work. He gets why, Aether probably would know something's up if it didn't look like it had been slept in a little.]

Hm, I've never thought to take up gardening, but that could be a new and fun experience.

[He grabs the comforter, throwing it over her head and smirking as it covers her and the bed, rounding to the side as he awaits her emergence from under it.]

I'll mull it over. There are a few things I could make with fresh produce grown right in the backyard.

Edited 2022-07-22 15:36 (UTC)

Hey—

[ lumine fights the fluffy comforter as it falls over her head, weighed down by all the feathers and fluff in it. with a twist of her mouth, she crawls from underneath it, disturbing their handiwork even more. at the very least, aether would think it's been slept on.

hopefully. ]

Who knows? Maybe farming would finally get you to quit the mafia.

[ as if that would ever happen, though. he did say that he's the heir to his dad, didn't he? she pulls up the comforter from the edge of the bed, finally emerging from it. ]

Hah, farming? Is that what you would have me do?

[He pulls it up towards the pillows, straightening it out there before he stop in front of her with amusement at her suggestion. He's not surprised to hear her suggest that he somehow quit or get out of the family business. Ajax has a pensive thought to himself for a moment, before quickly looking down to grin at her.]

I did say that I wasn't all that interested in the family business, if you remember. Why don't we wait and see by the end of all this what happens, haha.

[ lumine stops at that question, looking up at him with an expression of surprise on her face. is that what she wanted from him, to quit his family's line of work and do something else? ]

Not really, [ she says after a beat, shrugging her shoulders. ] You can do whatever you want.

[ take up gardening, become a farmer, continue with his work in his family—lumine doesn't think it's her call or her place to make do something. at the end of the day, if he wants to stay doing what he does in the volkov family, despite their current relationship in bed, it isn't as if she can stop him nor make any demands about his life.

she sidesteps him after getting off the bed and starts for the door, wondering what he's made for lunch. ]

We should go. I'm getting hungry.

Alright.

[He turns to watch her as she makes her way to the door and subsequently out of the room. But despite her nonchalant answer, he can feel the wall she's put up between them with it, making his lips quirk up into a determined smile. Ajax follows her out of the room towards the kitchen, swinging inside to go to the fridge to take out everything he'd prepped before going in to wake her up.

Containers of chopped up fresh vegetables get set out on the table, and he takes a larger container filled with seasoned chicken that he'd cooked and cubed earlier to put in the middle of it all. He also grabs some spinach and sun-dried tomato wraps out of the pantry, setting them down with everything else.]

It's nothing special, I didn't know when exactly you'd get out of bed so I made sure to make something that could be eaten at any time. I figured some wraps would make for a good lunch. There's some dressings and sauces in the fridge as well, if you'd like.

[He grabs a few plates for them too, and a bowl for himself.]

I hope you'll like it.

[ lumine ducks under his arm while he's opening the fridge to grab a bottle of water, suddenly feeling exhaustion settling in her bones. she's not going to lie, there's a part of her that simply wants to fall back down in bed and sleep all day. but at the same time, she's also hungry. ]

When you're tired and hungry, everything tastes good.

[ she settles on one of the chairs across the dining table, pulling up her feet and tucking her knees under her dress as she drinks from the bottle.

once he's set down her plate, lumine starts helping herself out with the vegetables and chicken. ]

Did Aether eat before he left earlier?

Hm...

[Ajax goes to reheat the chicken in the bowl he'd procured, letting that warm as he begins to assemble his own wrap. He puts everything on that he'd cut up, including adding some shredded cheese he'd grated that morning.]

I don't believe so. He looked like he'd worked all through the night. Honestly, I don't know how he's still standing up.

[The chicken is taken out, added to his wrap, after he's grabbed himself a bottle of water for himself and scooting into the table.]

Anyway, Lumine...there was something I wanted to talk to you about.

[Something he feels like they've been avoiding for some time now, and it's been on his mind, especially after that small exchange in the bedroom. He takes a bite from his wrap first, chewing thoughtfully on how he wants to phrase this, because there's no doubt in his mind that this is still a sensitive subject.]

It's...a little personal. But I think we should address it.

[ lumine's busy assembling her own food, deciding that she'll do a salad instead and getting up to get the dressing from the fridge and a fork from the drawers, that she doesn't think too much of ajax's remark near the end. plus her thoughts linger more on aether, wondering if her brother at least had a few hours of sleep or a bite to eat. for someone who berates her for her all-nighters, he's not exactly different.

she'll have to force him to go to bed when he gets back. but she's also pretty sure that he'll be tuckered out by the time he returns that he won't need too much convincing. ]

Hm?

[ she sits back down, pouring the dressing on her greens and chicken, only looking up at ajax once she's done. ]

What is it? You suddenly sound so serious.

[Putting his food down, he realizes how he must sound, given her reaction. He smiles softly back at her, letting his head prop up against a loose fist. Ajax looks down at the table, taking a breath- but he figures he should just be straightforward with her about it. It's always been something they've been confused about, and with good reason.

And he really doesn't want to dance around it anymore.]

Listen, I know our lighthearted exchanges about the possibilities of my future profession weren't really meant to mean anything, and I know you feel as if you don't think you should have a say in anything I do, but...

[Ajax looks directly at her, eyes questioning, almost hopeful.]

...what if I told you I want your opinion to matter in matters such as that? That perhaps your opinion should matter.

[ that gets her to pause. whatever she's doing, whatever she's thinking about all grinds to a halt as she slowly looks up at him from her plate. realisation is clearly written on her face, her lips pressed together as if this is a conversation that she's never expected to be raised or mentioned or thought of at all. it's the elephant in the room, she knows, but she's always thought that it's an unspoken agreement between the both of them to never address it.

... lumine thought wrong, that much is obvious. and for a long moment, she has nothing to say, speechless and hesitant to say anything. saying it's personal is an understatement. ]

Then ... [ she starts slowly, her eyes averting from his, pushing her food around the plate. ] I'd tell you that you should probably reconsider what you want because you might be making a mistake that you'd regret in the long run.

[ for one thing, this is his life they're talking about; who is she to make any decisions about it, to try and have an opinion in what he should pursue? for another, their circumstances are too abnormal. ]

Really? Because I don't see any mistake here.

[In his eyes, that's only fair to her, if she would ever choose him. He's not blind, he knows how she cares for him despite their differences and squabbles in the past. He continues to look at her, even as she diverts her gaze from him, curious as to what her answers would be.]

The only regret I would have is to let this all pass me by as if it were a surreal dream we'd shared together. I'm not asking you to agree to any commitments, I'm just curious as to what you think of us. Because I don't think you and I have any simple relationship, wouldn't you agree?

[Ajax is sure he's made his position very clear on the matter. He'd ask her to be with him right now if he thought she'd say yes, but he's positive that there's still a long road ahead of them in terms of that. He doesn't even know if either of them will survive this ordeal against the gods, but he'll be damned if he doesn't at least talk with her about it before that happens, if it does.]

[ but maybe that's for the best, to simply think of this as a wonderful, surreal dream because they both don't know what will happen in the future. they have no idea was fate awaits them, if they're destined to follow the path of their counterparts in terms of their lifespan. even if they're supposedly two separate entities, childe said it himself: he's ajax and ajax is him.

do they have a simple relationship?not at all. whatever they have between them is complex and complicated, something that she doesn't even know how to define. something she doesn't even know if she'd want to define. ]

No, I suppose not, [ lumine says with a sigh, looking down at her plate. she should probably eat, but like before, she can feel her appetite fads. ] And I can tell what you're trying to say.

[ even if he's avoiding it in so many words, and for good reason, she can tell. ]

But it probably feels like a surreal dream because it is one. Because it's not meant to last once this is all over ...

[He understands the sentiment, but at the same time he knows that it's not what she says it is. A surreal dream ends and has no effect, this has certainly impacted their lives forever, and Ajax is well aware of this.

Could he ever go back to a normal life after this? He's not sure.]

And yet, our lives and our very beings have been invariably changed because of it. When we win this, we may be able to have a semblance of normal again, but there's no doubt this will leave an everlasting impression on us.

[Ajax readjusts himself in his seat, reality setting in as he finishes his sentence. Even now, he doesn't know what he'll do once it's all over. Going back to being the one to inherit the company, and to take over for his father once he passes, it seems so...insignificant.]

Sometimes, I almost think that I was supposed to meet you at your office that day. To think, if Aether hadn't been out, we may have never met. And, well, I don't have an ounce of regret about that.

[ if they didn't meet that day, she wonders how different their lives would be right now. would they be in danger? would the gods realise their existence? would they be living in hiding, in fear of their own lives one close encounter after another? ]

That was just a coincidence ... [ she says with a shake of her head. ] If you'd arrived a few hours earlier, you would've seen Aether instead of me.

[ a bit later, and he wouldn't have met either of them. things just happened as they are. after all, he's technically already known her, and the fact that nothing's happened despite that until then is proof. ]

I wouldn't think too much of it.

Even so...

[When he thinks on it, this might of been worse had they not met. Then, they wouldn't of been together to look out for each other, and it would have been easy once they discovered Lumine and Aether's existence to get rid of them. Ajax still wonders how they were found, but it could be something as simple as finding him through the underground network- it's not as if he isn't known there.]

You were still the one I met that day. Plus you were the one to hand off that USB stick to me, when we had our first vision together. And again at Wangshuu Inn. And, well, the rest is history.

[He states it simply, not caring really if it were a coincidence or not. The fact of the matter is that he's here now with her, and their lives have become intertwined for as far as he can see.]

Anyway, we could reminisce all day if we chose to, but that's not the point of why I brought this up to begin with. I understand your unease about what we are to each other, but there's no doubt in my mind that I care for you, and I think you care for me, too.

[ again, all coincidences. and if she were to go with the saying, then it's already a pattern, one that's very suspicious if lumine were to try to look deeply into it. but as it stands, she refuses to accept it's nothing more than despite ajax thinking otherwise. after all, everyone has those moments with another person.

still, there's just no changing his mind in this, even if there's no evidence to support his argument, and lumine isn't really in the mood to continue to debate about it. ]

What exactly are you trying to say, Ajax?

[ she stabs a cherry tomato from her plate a little too aggressively, her fork squishing the poor vegetable. a sigh later, she lets up. ]

Hahaha, right to the point, then.

[He happily takes a bite out of his wrap now, chewing thoughtfully on it. Goodness, that poor little tomato. What did it do to her?]

I think we belong together.

[Ajax speaks earnestly, with confidence- because everything leading up to this point, it feels almost as if all they've done is avoid putting titles or labels on what they were. He at least, is sure that what he feels is his own feelings for her, and maybe it's time to stop pretending like it isn't there.]

And I want to know what you think about that. So what do you say?

[ lumine can't sigh heavily nor roll her eyes hard enough at the risk of losing oxygen or her eyeballs falling out.

truth be told, there's a part of her that expected this turn in the conversation, realising her mistake of asking him outright. and then, there's another part of her that somehow hoped he wouldn't be too shameless in saying this out loud. and despite lumine's heart skipping a beat for a split second, her exasperation reigned over in the end. ]

I think you're rushing through this without thinking.

[ she looks up from her plate at him, her expression a mix of disbelief and chagrin. it isn't that she doesn't get what he's saying, but: ]

Especially when you're starting to merge with Childe.

Mmmmm, I have considered the pros and cons of this. All of which have to do with Celestia hunting us.

[And not anything else, really. Because to him, their counterparts won't hinder this at all. If anything, the more he merges, the more strongly he feels for her. And.

She hasn't said once that she didn't care about him, did she?]

But I don't see how my slow merger with him makes a difference. Are you trying to say that you still believe that my feelings may not be my own?

[ once again, lumine pauses from taking a bite of her makeshift salad, lowering her fork back to the plate. at this rate, she'll go about her day without eating again, something she's starting to get used to again. ]

No, but how do you know where his feelings for Lumine end and yours begin? I see the changes in you every day, changes that reflect him.

[ his eyes, his mannerisms, even the way he sometimes laughs or the way his expression shifts. she's seen childe through the eyes of her counterpart, and there are moments when she wonders if she's seeing him in the flesh. ]

Maybe Aether hasn't noticed it, but I have.

[ she doesn't hate it and there's a part of her that's already accepted its inevitability, but her feelings of discomfort has yet to go away. ]

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