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

[monoceroscaeli]

[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.

Comments

[traversal]

[ his mom's arrival is practically godsend, lumine uncertain how she'd answer his dad's question without reliving the events that day. because while ajax had tried to save her, it wasn't at all effective in dissuading his father to keep on pressing her for information.

truth be told, the memories are still fresh in her mind even with the blood washed clean from her hands, and if she were pressed, she would've been able to tell them detail by detail. still, just the thought of it is making her want to lose whatever little salad she's eaten earlier, her guilt overwhelming. why else would she continuously try to compensate them? why else would she never speak about it, even to her own brother?

ajax's mother's arrival, however, seems to open a can of worms she didn't think would be opened. and lumine's pretty grateful that aether pulled an all-nighter and had to stay back in the teapot. once more, her gaze flickers sideways at ajax. ]

... I'm actually not his girlfriend.

[ that needed to be corrected ok, just in case it breeds even more misconceptions. she now wonders if that's how ajax introduced her to his family. ]

I'm Aether's sister, Lumine. It's nice to meet you.

[monoceroscaeli]

[If his mother felt any surprise or true guilt for accidentally calling her his girlfriend, she doesn't show it. Instead, she gives Lumine an apologetic look, nodding her head while her husband fumes quietly next to her.

It's a pleasure to meet you too. I'm Ajax's mother. I'm sorry dear, it's just by the way he talks about you I just assumed the two of you were together.]

Mother, you know not to assume things that I haven't confirmed. If she were my girlfriend, I would have said as much.

[Not an ounce of his mother looks sorry for the grief she's caused her own son, eight kids deep into this life she leads and loving embarrassing every single one of them. She squeezes her husband's arm, making him sigh and give up the discussion for the time being. He won't get far now with her here and there's no reason to fight it.

Well, I'm glad you're both here now. I can barely remember the last time Jaxxie brought a girl home, he was probably only eight or nine back then...]

Mother.

[Using that name. That name! In front of Lumine!!!!!]

[traversal]

[ by how he talks about her, huh.

lumine is almost tempted to ask the older woman how and what does ajax talk about when it comes to her, so much so that she'd mistake her for his girlfriend. his mom doesn't seem like her objective is to embarrass her, per se, though she can't say the same about ajax. he sure doesn't seem to thrilled about the story his mom is sharing. ]

Really? That's ... a bit of a surprise, considering what my brother's told me about him.

[ she lifts an eyebrow at him amusedly, as if saying wow, he's really never brought a girl home since he's eight? despite all the girls he's supposedly dated and slept with before. ]

Right, Jaxxie?

[monoceroscaeli]

Oh no, don't you start. You're not allowed to call me that.

[Ajax points a finger right at Lumine, his face a light shade of pink now that she knows about that nickname. Only his mom calls him that, and his older sisters when they want to make fun of him. He hates it, it makes him sound like a little kid, and it's the one thing that he wishes would have just died and gone away like a pest that needs to be exterminated.

His mother, however, is delighted that Lumine has already partook in the tradition of calling the third son of the Volkov family by his pet name. The two are clearly closer than she thought after being corrected, so she will continue to play Ajax's embarrassing wingman.

Lumine, why don't you come with me to the den? There's a few things in there I think you'd like to see.]

Hey, hey! I know what you're doing, mother! We didn't come here for a stroll down memory lane, you know!

[Oh, settle down Ajax. You two have had a rough time, maybe it's time to relax for a bit.]

[traversal]

[ lumine rolls her eyes at that, swatting away the finger pointed at her face. as if he doesn't call her by her nickname that she's never permitted him to use. ]

Come off it, Jaxxie.

[ she tries her best not to snort and let out a laugh, maintaining a no-nonsense expression as she gets up from her seat. she's still in front of his dad, who seems just as exasperated as his son, so she might as well keep the airs for now until she's left the room. his mother gestures at her, holding an arm out to pull her to her side as if she's welcoming an old friend—or a potential in-law.

lumine gives the woman a slight nod at the offer and a smile. ]

That sounds like a very good idea. I'll see you there, Ajax?

[monoceroscaeli]

[Ajax looks to his father, who doesn't have a single helpful muscle flexed in his face at all. He knows this song and dance, and once his mother starts going there's nothing anyone can do to change it. Perhaps where Ajax got it from, though his mom definitely takes the cake in this area.

His dad sees the look on his son's face, and replies:

We'll continue this talk tomorrow. Go on.

Much to Ajax's dismay.]

Alright, see you then I guess...

[Ajax stands, to follow the two women towards the den, where a large fireplace is the highlight of the back wall, pictures lined up on the shelf above it of his entire family. There's individual shots of the kids, the parents, extended family. All taken in Snezhnaya, all of their faces bright with smiles. He sulks into the den behind them, taking a seat in one of the large armchairs, unimpressed and ready to be fully embarrassed.]

If you're going to embarrass me mother, at least make sure she sees some of Anatoli's pictures too. She had the pleasure of meeting him as well.

[Don't worry Jaxxie, I was planning on it.]

Of course you were.

[traversal]

[ ajax's dismay is her amusement, and lumine is very happy to egg his mother to continue this little agenda against her own son. again, payback for everything he's had done for the past few weeks, leading up to the events earlier that day. she doesn't even bat an eyelash when he plops onto one of the armchairs with a clear pout on his face.

at the mention of anatoli, his mom turns to her and expresses surprise that she's met one of her older sons. ]

Yes, he was very gracious towards me and my brother when we went to Snezhnaya.

[ his mother leads her to the line of photos along the fireplace shelf, pointing out who's who. it's amusing how most of them are pretty much a carbon copy of their father with bright ginger hair and blue eyes.

this is ajax, and his sisters. i heard you met one of them already, tatia. and this is anatoli and sergei. i think these pictures were taken a few years before we moved to fontaine. ]

Anatoli's a handsome kid even back when he was young, wasn't he?

[monoceroscaeli]

[Ajax's frown deepens, sighing at both of them as they continue their tour across the fireplace shelf. Excuse both of them, he was a cute kid too when he was younger, staying silent as they continue through more pictures of his family. Maybe this is the reason why Ajax doesn't bring girls home- because this is what happens when he does.

Yes, he certainly was...I wish he'd would have come to Fontaine with us, but he enjoys his work on the wharf so much. Here, let me dig out all my scrapbooks.]

Mom, Lumine doesn't have time to go through all those-

[His mother turns to shush her son, turning to walk towards a bookshelf with binders that are clearly the scrapbooks in question, taking four of them out and coming over to settle on the couch that faces the fireplace. She taps the couch for Lumine to sit in the middle, and will hand her one of the books to start.

Come here Jaxxie, come look at them with us.]

[traversal]

[ oh man ...

lumine blinks when she finds herself with one of the albums of the volkov family, ajax's mother excitedly leaning over to show her baby pictures. there are a number of very recent ones, which she assumes are ajax's little siblings. but she can tell that there are also a number of pictures taken years ago, the photos faded at the edges.

this is ajax when he was just a little over one, she points at a picture with a ginger-haired baby sitting in a small tub, butt-naked. he's always liked the water even when he was younger. ]

... Mm, he likes being shocked too.

[ she's not even going to attempt to glance at ajax for the risk of possibly laughing out loud in his face.

and this is one of his pictures with the girl he brought home. his teachers used to say that he had a very big crush on her when they were at school, always blushing and stuttering in front of her. ]

He doesn't seem like he's changed in that regard.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Groaning, Ajax picks himself up out of the chair to sit down on Lumine's other side. As much as he hates this, he loves his mother dearly and will still do as she asks, even if it's embarrassing and completely at his expense. He flops down, still looking bored and impatient to leave, looking down at the pictures of a scrapbook he's seen more than enough times. He's sure this one isn't terribly embarrassing, even his little naked butt in the tub. Lumine's seen it already, even if it is the adult version.

His eyes widen however, at Lumine's comments. Saying that right in front of his mother like that, he cannot believe it. He reaches to give her side a light pinch, shooting Lumine a look to not say! That stuff! In front of his mom!]

Anyway, [he exclaims, turning the page for the two women before they can go on about his childhood crush,] that's a picture when I was three, and supposedly I tried to take on a hornet's nest after accidentally stepping on it and paid the price. We were on vacation in Natlan, if my memory serves me.

[The picture is of him with all sorts of bee stings, looking upset with tears in his eyes and yet proud all at the same time. The picture seems to of been taken after his parents had already taken care of him, covered in hydrocortisone cream, his hair a complete mess. Ajax only sighs in mild exasperation, having given up in this endeavor.

You see, his mom says to Lumine, sometimes Jaxxie needs someone to look after him. I do hope you'll take care of my baby boy, I worry about him all the time...

Ajax, on the other hand, feels like he's going to die. Right here. Of embarrassment. His face turns a bright red and he has to look away, cursing that his mom had to be home the day Lumine came over.]

[traversal]

[ wow, what is he, her mom????

she leans away from ajax when he tries to pinch her, giving him a flat look. look, she understands if he's embarrassed, and he's free to leave the den if he doesn't want to listen to this further. she, for one, is enjoying herself. she was expecting to be scolded and harangued for the events in inazuma and downtown, but clearly, she's being spoiled right here.

even more so when his mom calls him a baby boy, and lumine coughs behind a hand to stifle the giggle that almost bubbled out of her throat. ]

Your baby boy, [ she says with an even voice, a faint smile tugging at her lips as she glances sideways at ajax. ] Is more than capable of taking care of himself and others, don't worry. But I'll make sure to remind Aether to keep him in check.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He'll just ignore that sideways glance Lumine shoots him, debating on grabbing Lumine and going if this continues. His mother puts a hand over her heart, looking at Lumine wistfully as she tells her that. Her little Jaxxie, all grown up, looking after Lumine and Aether...she couldn't be prouder.

I knew he was looking after you two with all the frightening things happening lately, so I hope he's been taking good care of you. He's always had a big heart and all-]

Mom...

[He can't take it anymore, he needs to get her out of here, even if it's only for a moment's respite. Ajax decides to use his secret weapon against his mom, even if he knows he's going to catch it from Lumine later. He's a mamma's boy, he knows.

His eyebrows raise and looks at his mother with large doe-eyes and the tiniest pout, raising the timbre of his voice just so to get his mom to do what he wants.]

Did we leave all the food you brought for us in the conference room? Could you go get it for us if we're going to stay here for a little bit? Please? And maybe something to drink too?

[And it works like a charm, her little boy needs something and she'll get it for him. She stands up, before turning to the two of them to ask a quick question.

Of course, honey. I'll be right back. Lumine, would you like tea? Water? I like to keep a well stocked kitchen, so if you want it, we probably have it.]

[traversal]

[ his shift in temperament is something that doesn't escape lumine's notice, which amuses him even more. he's clearly more manipulative than she's given him credit for, being able to easily sway his mother into doing things that he wants. though that just means he's too spoiled by the women in his family, which is just even more of a headache for whoever will want to date him.

she gives the woman a smile, declining any offer of a special drink— she's fine with water, thanks—and watches as the woman steps out of the den, closing the door behind her. it's only after ajax's mother is gone that she lets out a snort and a laugh, shaking her head. ]

I get it now why you're so good at trying to convince Aether to do your bidding.

[ her brother is easily swayed by those puppy looks ajax has mastered. after all, he's had years of practice with his own mother. lumine gets up from her seat, walking back to the fireplace. ]

Your mom babies you too much.

[monoceroscaeli]

[The minute the door closes, Ajax sinks back into into the couch with an audible, exasperated sigh. Finally. A minute to recuperate.]

Listen, she babies all of us. It's amazing how she's managed to keep us all reigned in and still manages to spoil us rotten. Believe me, I'm not unaware of my mom's abilities. It's what makes her and my father such a good match.

[He can see it. His father, running one of the biggest crime rings in the country, a hard man with a soft heart for his family- and then his mother, a woman who can get away with whatever she wants, spoiling the kids and subsequently being the favorite parent between the two. Ajax realizes how much of an amalgamation he is of both of them, coupled with his own life experiences and now, the augmentation from Childe.

He stands up from the couch, to join Lumine at her side in front of the fireplace again, looking at some of the pictures before he sighs.]

I think you've already won my mom over. She's already treating you like you're part of the family. Be prepared for more trips down memory lane, because I'm sure that's not going to stop.

[traversal]

I haven't even done anything yet.

[ weird how she's already won his mom over when she's practically trying not to win her over by letting her know that she and ajax are not a thing. but she supposes it's something that she hasn't experienced in a while now, since it's always been just her and aether. there's never been anyone else but the both of them.

lumine peers at one of the photos with all the girls in it, her eyes flickering at the youngest, hair all tied up in pigtails. she wonders if his little siblings are around. ]

Besides, isn't that normal for most moms? To pretty much adopt every single friend of their son or daughter?

[monoceroscaeli]

Haha, I guess it depends on the mom.

[Not all moms are like his, he knows, but he is the one here who got lucky and had the nicest mom he knows. She'd spoil them half to death if given the chance, and he loves her dearly.

Since they're alone finally, Ajax wraps his arm around her waist, pulling her close to him while pointing out a picture on the shelf that's of himself with a balloon in his hand, looking like he has to go to the bathroom very badly in it.]

Since she's going to tell it to you anyway, I figure I'll beat my mother to the punch and get the most embarrassing story of my childhood out of the way. I think I'm about five in that picture. We were on a trip to an amusement park, and I had to use the restroom, but I was too scared to ask, according to my parents. So I held it as long as I could, until I couldn't any longer- and I guess I walked a good half a mile through the park with my pants soaked before anyone noticed. And no one thought to stop my parents to tell them their little boy wet himself...

[He sighs, managing to make himself turn red at the story. He barely remembers it, but it's a favorite story of his mom's. He's not sure if there's a winter holiday that goes by when he doesn't hear it.]

My mother even wrote, "Jaxxie wet his pants" on the back of the photo. You just can't see it because it's in the frame.

[traversal]

[ she's now tempted to take that photo and check the back of it for validation. instead, lumine lets out another snort in amusement, in disbelief as to why he's even telling her that. though she supposes it's better for him that he tells her that story than his mom who seems to be on a warpath in embarrassing her own son. ]

See, I knew the feeling I had that you're the type who'd wet your pants is right.

[ it's a total joke obviously, one that would hopefully keep him distracted until his mom returns. it's a very dangerous situation with just the two of them in the room, knowing ajax's tendencies.

lumine squirms out of his grasp to continue her walk around the den, exploring some of the other pictures left on tables and other shelves in the room. ]

Are all of your brothers and sisters except for Anatoli living in this house?

[monoceroscaeli]

[Ajax lingers a moment in front of the picture as Lumine wanders off, looking at it through a new lens. Did Childe too, have moments just like these when he was a little kid? He idly wonders what it was like, living in Snezhnaya a thousand years ago. They had some rough form of technology, but past being able to take pictures, if the teapot was any indication, did they really have much past that?

Ajax wanders back over to join her again, looking at more of the pictures left out of his family to view, shoving his hands into his pockets.]

The older siblings don't live here, but we're all welcome back to stay here if we please. The house is certainly large enough to have all eight of us come if we wish, though we still have our house back in Snezhnaya too. We'll use one of the two for celebrations and holidays, depending on where my parents want to be for it. My father made sure there was no lack of room just in case.

[He looks over to her, as she inspects more pictures.]

You've certainly enjoyed yourself today, haven't you?

[Teasing him and learning all these little embarrassing details about his life.]

[traversal]

[ shrugging: ] It's not my fault that your parents overshare.

[ and she's simply going along with the flow, taking advantage of the amusement it brings her. it sure has some benefits, since, for one thing, it's given her more blackmail material and ammo against ajax if and when he decides to misbehave.

lumine pauses again in front of one of the photos, that of ajax and three little kids. it resembles the photo she's accidentally seen as his phone wallpaper, all three gingers hanging off of their older brother while grinning widely. ]

You really like kids, don't you?

[ since it does seem like he dotes on his sister and brothers a little too much. almost like aether, really, and maybe that's where their similarities start. ]

Most of the photos you have are with your younger siblings.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Ajax gingerly picks up the picture of himself with the three younger kids, his expression changing to something more soft and tender as he gazes at it. He lets his eyes dart between the three smiling faces, wondering if they were home or if they'd gone out with one of his older siblings for the day. A long sigh is breathed out of his nose, his voice taking on a more airy, lighter tone when he speaks of his siblings, almost nostalgic.]

I do. They mean the world to me; I'm sure you understand.

[He knows how she feels about her own twin brother, how inseparable they are. He understands, and finds that part about them both endearing, even if Aether wants to tear him a new one every other week for being with his sister.]

They don't know anything about what I do, at least not the darker side of it. A child's world should be kept innocent for as long as possible, before they have to learn about the harsh realities of life.

[He sets the picture back down, adjusting it just so, easily viewable from where they both stand.]

I hope they'll continue to look up to me, for now.

[And maybe, one day, he'd be able to start his own family- but that's a dream that feels so far away, even moreso now as they continue their fight just to survive. He won't say that out loud, or admit to it- it can just stay as a quiet milestone he'd like to reach later in life.]

[traversal]

[ lumine falls silent for a long while, staring at the photos on the shelves. ]

Lumine and Aether were planning to leave Teyvat after the war with the gods.

[ she's seen the conversations between the two, lucid dreams that somehow plagued her after the entire debacle in inazuma. lumine seemed hesitant and a part of her seemed to think twice about their plans, no doubt because of the connections she's made, because of childe. but at the end of the day, her brother's thoughts on the matter won her over.

they're travelers, after all. and despite the both of them seeking a home, they've realized that their home is with each other, no matter where they are. no matter where they go, they have each other. even after their deaths, they've found each other. ]

The children that Childe had hoped for with her, it wasn't meant to happen. Just so you know.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Ajax looks over to her in disbelief, blinking a few times, wondering if he really heard her right. They were just going to leave? Just like that? He doesn't seem to understand, questions filtering into his mind. Why? Why wouldn't they stay?

He can feel his heart drop, and though the Aether and Lumine of the past shouldn't have such an effect on him, he still feels it. He still feels his chest tighten with sadness, and he almost isn't sure if that's his own feelings, or Childe's.]

She never told him that. To say he's pretty upset right now is an understatement. That was quite the bombshell to drop.

[He can tell by the emotions that sweep through him, he hadn't known. He's finding out right now, alongside Ajax. His hand comes up to lay over his heart as he closes his eyes, trying to calm the stormy sea that's begun to swirl up inside of him.]

Why? Why would she leave?

[But in a way, Lumine has told him her own plans, hasn't she? Is she going to leave him, too? She is the reincarnation of Lumine, as Zhongli explained to him. He doesn't care to think about that, his eyes darting back and forth to keep himself from letting his eyes well with any tears that threaten to form there, taking a deep breath.]

[traversal]

[ how does she answer that? to the friends whom the twins have made, it must be unthinkable, unimaginable to know that they'll eventually leave the world they've spent much of their time in. but that's always what's separated them from the others; they were never a part of teyvat, after all. ]

The twins were never of this world ...

[ lumine stops when she hears the door open, ajax's mother having finally returned. in her hands is the plate of finger foods she's left with her husband, which she sets down on the table. she ushers the two away from the shelves, fussing over them both.

a little girl trails after her, carrying a pitcher of water and a few glasses. she brightens upon seeing ajax, a huge smile tugging at her lips, refraining from running over him and possibly spilling the water all over.

big brother! ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[The excuse offered isn't something Childe is willing to hear, and Ajax finds himself desperately trying to fight back a heartache that isn't his to feel. But he can't help but sympathize with the Harbinger, not blaming him for feeling the way he does. It's easy to put himself in Childe's shoes- if it were him, he'd feel upset and betrayed.

But any more questions he could ask have to wait for later, his mother walking back in, shooing them back to the couch, and Ajax's entire face lights up the minute he sees that familiar little girl.]

Tonia! How is my favorite little sister?

[He waits for her to set the glasses and water down on the table before kneeling down and letting her fly right into his arms for a loving embrace, Tonia squealing with delight as she gets a big hug from her big brother.

I'm your only little sister!]

Yes, but what matters is that I'm here now, isn't it? How have you been? Where are Anthon and Teucer? Not out causing trouble, I hope.

[They're in the backyard, I don't know what they're doing.

She turns to Lumine, her eyes going wide. Oh, she knows who this person is.

Brother, is this her? Lu- Lum- ummmm...]

Yes, Tonia, this is Lumine. Lumine, this is my little sister Tonia.

[Bright blue eyes look up to Lumine, excited to finally get to see the girl her big brother always talks about.

It's a pleasure to meet you Ms. Lumine! Ajax talks about you all the time, and says you're like a bright star-]

Ooookay, [Ajax interrupts her quickly, putting a hand over her mouth momentarily.] She knows, there's no need to repeat it, Tonia.

[traversal]

[ lumine leaves ajax to bond with his sister, only looking up to smile at her when she suddenly addresses her. somehow, it doesn't surprise her anymore that ajax has been talking about her to his family, which seems to be the theme of today's show. ]

Sounds like your brother all right.

[ she turns away from the siblings to sit down on the couch, leaning against the cushions, her gaze landing on the plate but not really seeing it. it's the worst timing to say that, but lumine's decided it needed to be said. after ajax's confession earlier and all this reminiscing about the past, there's no better time.

did you two get into a fight while i was gone?

lumine blinks at the question, looking up at ajax's mom who's wearing a concerned expression as she takes a seat next to her. she pats her knee, offering her a reassuring smile. ]

Oh ... no, I was just thinking about my brother who's at home.