monoceroscaeli: iconsfortherain | dns. (172)
Childe "I Can Make Her Worse" Tartaglia ([personal profile] monoceroscaeli) wrote in [community profile] insurmountable2022-05-07 07:34 pm
Entry tags:

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.
traversal: (pic#15249743)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-01 01:09 am (UTC)(link)
[ someone important and close to him.

to us, she repeats the words in the head in an attempt to stamp down the rising sense of dread within her. but who could it be, and why? betrayal of an acquaintance is one thing, but of someone closer? a friend, perhaps, or even a family member cuts deeper than any knife. especially in a family like ajax's.

lumine lowers her food back to its container, finding her stomach turning at the thought.
]

What if they're a friend of yours? Someone you've worked closely in the business? [ she looks up at him, meeting his eyes. ] A family member?
traversal: (pic#15686122)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-01 01:42 am (UTC)(link)
[ it's so easy for him to say because he's currently not faced with the situation of having to murder someone he cared for, and she's quite sure that the person talking at the moment is that of childe's. but she wonders how much effect it will have on him once it's all over, once he's pulled the trigger. after all, from what she's seen so far, ajax seems very close with everyone around him, who treasures and values his family.

but his sentiment is understandable at the same time. they've suffered so much in the past few months, physically and mentally. they've been cornered and outmanoeuvred, almost beaten to the brink of their life. dying almost feels like a reprieve at this point.

lumine says nothing for a long while, her gaze lowering to her food. it's a heavy topic to have, especially when he's so tired. a moment later, she's picking up dumplings again using her chopsticks and offering it to ajax.
]

Eat, and then, we can retire for the evening after.

[ she's not necessarily tired yet, and she still has work to do. but this is the only way to convince him to take his mind off of things and get some rest for now. ]
traversal: (pic#15221771)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-01 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
[ lumine watches him in amusement as he struggles with the chopsticks, reminded of that one dinner they sorta shared in liyue. even back then, he had trouble with the wooden utensils, barely able to eat his fare until he's decided to use his own hands. she snorts when he drops the dumpling, reaching out for his hand. ]

You do know that there's an easier way to do it, right?

[ she guides his fingers to curl around the chopsticks like he's holding the handle of a knife—and then makes him stab the dumpling with its pointed end. like a fork, but not really. she moves his hand with her own, so she can take a bite out of his dumpling.

see? easy-peasy, though a harder poke would've probably tear through the container and stab his knee.
]

I can't believe you're so bad at using this. What would you do if your enemies used this weakness against you?
traversal: (pic#15221790)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-01 03:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ she blinks when he offers the dumpling again to her, leaning in to take it in her mouth. she chews thoughtfully, wrinkling her nose. ]

What if the gods suddenly take you to a Liyue restaurant and challenge you to an eating contest? How will you survive?

[ he could probably just ask for a spoon and fork, but what if the restaurant doesn't have any? what if the gods made sure that no other utensil is available? it's a stupid notion, but he needs to make sure he can cover all bases.

but the exchange is at least successful in keeping his mind off of their worries. sure, it's something they have to think about eventually, and it's even more concerning that it's a person they might know. but what can they do about it now? they don't know who it is or what they're planning to do next. aether isn't even around to finalise any plans they have about possibly leaving fontaine.
]

I have to charge a fee if I teach you how to use them.
traversal: (pic#15233076)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-01 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
[ what a depressing state.

it's so absurd how he can twirl one of the sticks between his fingers, and yet he's struggling like a toddler holding a pen properly with picking food up with two sticks. lumine wonders if it's some kind of handicap for him, like the part of his brain that governs with chopsticks usage is no longer working. maybe he got dropped on the head when he was young ...

in any case, lumine picks up the dumpling he dropped with her own chopsticks, offering it to him again. at this rate, he's going to starve to death.
]

How much will you offer for my services?
Edited 2022-08-01 03:43 (UTC)
traversal: (pic#15221728)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-01 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
[ what is she going to do with more money? it isn't as if she's lacking of it at all.

lumine watches as he takes the piece of food into his mouth once more, chewing as he considers her offer. it was admittedly a joke, the fee and all, but she didn't think he'd take it far enough that he'd try to offer something in return. she wonders if there's another catch to this, another loophole to the deal that they're making. zhongli would've been handy right now.
]

What if it's something that would upset you but it needed to be done, anyway? Am I not going to get my favour?
traversal: (pic#15221769)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-01 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
[ ... he's an idiot, that's what.

lumine's gaze flickers at his hand when he manages to hold the chopsticks properly for a split second—only to drop things all over himself again after second later. it only means that he's capable of learning; he's just being an idiot about it all along, making himself struggle unnecessarily by overthinking.
]

You're clearly in some sort of emotional distress right now over it, though.

[ his expression tells her as much. not being able to eat, dropping his food all over the place ... how is that not distressing? ]
traversal: (pic#15276451)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-01 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[ sure, no emotional distress at all, even if his expression says so.

as she watches him drop his food for the nth time that evening, lumine wonders if he's ever going to be able to eat properly. probably not, seeing how inept he is, even with just moving the sticks around. it doesn't even involve picking things up, just clacking or moving them together.
]

Mm, well, if you're the one deciding the favour based on your own feelings, what if none of the favours I asked is something you'd grant?

[ because he gets "upset" over it, so he rejects it. ]

That's no different from me offering free services, isn't it?
traversal: (pic#15233077)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-01 10:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, I was planning on using it when you're misbehaving.

[ which is 90% of the time they're together, really. so having an advantage over him or some form of leverage would be nice to rein him in. he does need that proverbial leash, otherwise he'll just act out on his own. she supposes that the material his mother has shown her is pretty good for blackmail, but.

lumine takes a bite out of one more dumpling before she sets her container with the leftovers aside.
]

I'm taking a shower before heading to bed. You should probably, too, since you've gone out.
traversal: (pic#15221771)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-01 11:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ lumine gets up from her seat, stretching her arms above her head, but pauses to look at ajax's face. a thoughtful expression briefly settles on her face as she studies ajax's, debating if she should bait him into it. a moment later, however, she shrugs and waves a hand dismissively in the air as she walks over to the bathroom. ]

Nope, not wasting my favour on something you're clearly not in the mood for.

[ his expression tells her as much, hating how effectively she can read him now. besides, it's obvious that he just wants to get into bed and sleep as he did the day before. lumine can't blame him, not after the events of the past couple of days. she too would like to do so, but lots of things to still do.

in any case, she disappears into the bath, the door closing behind her with a quiet thud and a clicking of the lock, and emerges almost half an hour later in nothing but a towel, steam hailing her exit and water dripping from her hair.
]

Shower's free, [ she calls out to ajax, padding over to the bedroom. ] I may have used all the hot water, though.
traversal: (pic#15310306)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-02 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
[ again, lumine just shrugs at his remark, closing the bedroom door shut so she can change in peace. not that that peace lasts very long, his outcry drawing out a giggle from her as she towels herself dry and slips into a camisole and a pair of shorts. if he was sleepy earlier, then he's not sleepy now, that shower definitely giving him the wakeup call he doesn't want or need.

by the time he's out of the bathroom, she's done drying her hair, tossing the towel onto a chair. she'll take care of that tomorrow when she does the laundry, she thinks.
]

What, Ajax?

[ her response is delayed, barely able to stifle the laugh that nearly bubbles out of her throat, as she crawls into the bed. she pulls her laptop onto her knees, going through the files she's reviewed earlier.

better to look preoccupied, so he doesn't bother her at all.
]

I did warn you, you know.
traversal: (pic#15233075)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-02 01:10 am (UTC)(link)
[ lumine throws him a flat look when he walks into the bedroom, shirtless and just in his boxers. she shifts closer to the edge of the bed, knowing that he'll try to crowd her in as he's always wont to do—and he really does, pressing against her side, his skin cooler than hers. then again, she did shower in hot water. ]

You'd feel warmer if you put on a shirt, stupid!

[ she tries to push him away to no avail, finding him a clingy leech. a part of her regrets waking him up with that cold shower; if she didn't, she's pretty sure he'd be asleep by now and she'd have peace and quiet to herself. if she tires him out, though ...

why did aether stay at the volkovs, why. is this punishment for having sex with ajax in their shared bed?
]

It can't be that bad. You're from Snezhnaya.
traversal: (pic#15221747)

[personal profile] traversal 2022-08-02 01:33 am (UTC)(link)
[ omg!!

the way he presses against her even more, pulling the covers over him as if to cement his place next to her is infuriating. especially when she can barely move her hand, her arm trapped underneath him as he sidles closer. lumine tries to push him away again, groaning when he closes his eyes and lets his weight sink against her. how heinous.

she gives it a few moments, attempting to ignore him and focus on her work, until her arm starts to fall asleep, thanks to ajax. with a sigh, she shuts down her laptop and sets it aside on the night table, tossing a withering glare at her proverbial paperweight.
]

Considering you've been cuddling me to sleep for the past couple of days like your personal body pillow, I'd assumed you'd already come to that conclusion.

[ she's getting used to it, much to her horror. not even when she was dating other guys had she done something like this before. ]

Ajax, look at me right now.

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