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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Ajax!

[ lumine lets out a shriek when he catches her just before her hand could grab the door handle. squirming, she once more tries to escape his grasp to no avail when he starts spinning her in the air. all she can do is let ajax do what he wants, plotting instead to escape him once he puts her down. when he finally sets her back on the ground, she gives him a flat look, her lips pursed. ]

You do realise that Tubby's going to tattle to Aether about you taking advantage again.

[ she's caught her brother speaking to the adeptus a few times, after all, often asking about the previous residents of the teapot and what they were up to. lumine's pretty sure he knows all about the traveler and the harbinger's shenanigans at this point. ]

Hey, don't look at me like that.

[She was the one who started this, as far as he's concerned. Ajax can only laugh, feeling accomplished that he's squashed her escape for now. If she wants to run, she's free too, he'll catch up to her. His legs are long.]

I've already said it, I'm not taking advantage of anything. The only difference is that if Aether were here, I'd of put a shirt on and some sweatpants before going into the kitchen.

[And even then, shirt really not required. The next part he says a little louder, so Tubby can hear.]

Besides, I seem to remember a certain someone feeling me up in the kitchen, not the other way around.

[ omg!!

lumine quickly presses her hands over his mouth, eyes widening when he starts accusing her of feeling him up. how dare! when he was the one denying that he's getting chubby and she's simply out there to prove it to him that he is. it's not her fault that he assumed that she was fondling him and enjoyed it. ]

Please.

[ she rolls her eyes as she tries to duck and sidestep him again, letting her hands drop back to her side to head back to the kitchen and clean up. ]

That wasn't me feeling you up. If I was feeling you up, you'd know. If you even want, you can interview a few people on how I feel someone up.

[Ajax's eyes shine when she tries to hush him. But it's too late, he's positive that Tubby heard him, and if Aether is going to pry into their time here, then that's what he gets to hear.]

Well, I think I'd rather you just show me. Perhaps later, then.

[He lets her go, not stopping her on the way back to the kitchen, instead following her back in because he still has coffee to drink, and honestly, breakfast to make. Once they both arrive, Ajax steps back over to his cup that he left on the counter, drinking the rest and taking care of the cup.]

By the way, any preferences on what you want for breakfast? I'm not too picky about what I eat, so anything sounds good to me.

[ look, she trusts tubby. if she talks to her, the adeptus will understand. childe didn't seem very different in terms of his open affection towards the traveler, so this shouldn't be anything new to the bird outside. but still!! ]

Later's not going to happen, Ajax.

[ isn't he tired? he should be exhausted beyond reason from the events of the past few days to even want to do anything too tedious or tiresome. and she has work, too; they both have work that they've put off for nth days now.

in any case, lumine walks back into the kitchen to rinse her cup and start going through the fridge on what they can have for breakfast. she takes out an egg, debating if she should have an omelet or pancakes ... decisions, decisions. ]

I don't have any preference, either. As long as it's not another variation of salad.

[That's what she thinks, he says to himself. He takes out some cookware, debating himself on what to make. He's already made some breakfast things for her, maybe he should do something different this time.]

How about I make you some cheese pancakes? They're pretty popular in Snezhnaya. A lot of people will eat them with jam or honey. But really, you can put whatever you'd like on them. And, if you want eggs, I can make those too. Just tell me how you want them.

[Ingredients are already getting pulled out, but he stops to think for a second. Maybe cooking in boxers isn't a good idea.]

Think about it for a second. I'll be right back.

[He quickly pads out of the kitchen, and when he returns he'll have quickly put on some sweatpants and an old t-shirt.]

Cheese pancakes?

[ but even before she can ask further, he's gone, walking out of the kitchen as if he's suddenly changed his mind. lumine blinks and starts taking out bowls and a pan as well, the milk from inside the fridge ... she wonders if they should start grocery shopping for certain items.

ajax returns after a few minutes, finally in a shirt and sweatpants, the same articles of clothing he's declared would only be worn in aether's presence. she supposes that cooking in nothing but boxers is just a disaster waiting to happen. ]

And here I was wondering when I'd be forced to stop staring at your face. [ she hands him the bowl, the small bag of flour she managed to find sitting inside it. ] So, those cheese pancakes?

[He takes the bowl and the flour, smiling back at her. As if she'll ever be rid of him, really, but he won't say it out loud. Instead, it seems that she's settled on that, which is fine with him. It sounds good right now anyway, and it shouldn't take too long to make either.]

They're called syrniki back in Snezhnaya. Give me a little bit, I'll have them ready in no time. If you want to learn how to make them, I wouldn't mind teaching you. But I'll have you try them first.

[He gets to work immediately, making the batter from scratch and letting them form up in the pan. When all is said and done, he plates the food, bringing it over to the table, proud of his work. He'll get himself some jam and sour cream, adding it on top of his pancakes.]

Eat up. Add whatever you like to the top, I just prefer sour cream and jam. A lot of people use syrup too, if that's too strange for you.

[ sour cream and jam? on pancakes?

lumine peers at her plate, her brows furrowing at these things he calls pancakes. they're pretty tiny, smaller than the usual pancakes aether makes for her or the ones she's gotten back in mondstadt. but it's supposedly popular in snezhnaya, so maybe there's a reason why? then again, there are some weird food items that are also popular in snezhnaya.

she takes a bite, anyway, after smearing a bit of jam on it. for a moment, lumine chews thoughtfully, inwardly hating how good ajax is at cooking. he probably hung out for a long time with his mom in the kitchen, which only proves her point that he's a mommy's boy. ]

Mm, not bad, I guess, [ she pauses for a bit before adding, ] ... Jaxxie.

[Listen, he's just surprisingly domestic.

He looks even more proud at the compliment, but his face turns a little sour when she calls him by his mom's nickname for him. He takes a bite of his food, wishing that she'd never heard that nickname, but it's too late now. All he can do is come up with a nickname for her instead, and he'll clearly have to make it as cute as possible.]

Lumine...

[He says, closing his eyes. Ugh...]

Lyubov moya, I'd appreciate it if you left my mother's nickname back at home where it belongs.

[ lumine wrinkles her nose at that ... nickname? she's not sure, she'll have to ask aether who probably knows what that means. she knows she's heard it somewhere, but she can't remember where or when. this is certainly the first from ajax, so it can't have come from him. strange.

but she soldiers on, folding one of the pancakes in half and stuffing it in her mouth. her gaze flickers somewhere above ajax as if thinking, admiring the way the sunlight filters through the opaque glass of the kitchen. ]

Your mom didn't seem to mind that I was using it, [ once again, she pauses, taking another bite of the syrniki, licking the sweet fruity syrup of the jam from the corner of her lips. ] ... Jaxxie.

[ look, if she doesn't know the meaning of a word, it doesn't bother her. unlike him, who's obviously bothered by the nickname. ]

[Well, if that's how it's going to be.

He eats a bit more, deciding that two can really play at that game. She clearly doesn't know what the nickname he just gave her meant, given how she didn't get mad at him for saying it. That's fine. He'll abuse that along with something else while she doesn't know.]

Yes, but I do, Lumi, [he says, shaking his fork at her.] Now, if you don't mind, I don't want to be reminded of that childhood nickname anymore. Surely you can come up with your own pet name for me instead.

[ a beat, lumine's expression freezing for a moment when he calls her by her nickname. before she takes a deep breath and continues her breakfast.

okay, so maybe it's his way of paying her back for that nickname of his. which, to be fair, is something his mom called him in front of her. and seeing that his own mother seems to approve of the nickname when she called him that, she doesn't see what the issue is.

but if he thinks she can't think of a nickname for him: ]

Why not? You sometimes act like a spoiled baby, baobao.

You know, [he begins, giving her a look,] just because I don't speak the native language of Liyue doesn't meant I can't figure out what you just said.

[He eats more of his breakfast, chewing on it as he stares at her. It would have been cute if he didn't know she was just being mean now.]

Name calling isn't very nice, Lumine.

[ she stares back at him, eyebrows raised as if she's just been accused again of something she hasn't done. all the while, lumine chews on her pancakes, an expression of innocence flitting across her face. she'd use her poker face, but this isn't the time for that. ]

But is it name calling if it's true?

[ calling a baby a baby isn't exactly considered as name calling because one is simply calling it as it is, isn't it? ]

Besides, it's clear you don't speak Liyuen. Otherwise, you'd know what it really means.

You called me a baby while giving me that flat look. I wasn't born yesterday.

[He's not buying that innocent look for a second. He knows her better than that.]

Now, you wouldn't like it if I called you a bolʹshoy pridurok, would you? Even if it's true?

[Ajax shoots her a questioning look, letting her just wonder what on earth that might mean. Finishing off his pancakes, he stands to rinse his plate off, bringing her a bottle of water to drink out of the fridge as he places a kiss to the side of her head.]

But I think for now I'll just call you lyubov moya, I think it's cute for you.

[ does he think she can't ask aether about what it means? please, her brother stayed in snezhnaya for as long as she stayed in liyue. the guy most likely knows what he's been calling her right now. she can tell it's unpleasant, even more than calling him a baby.

lumine swerves and moves her head away when he tries to kiss her, raising a hand to push him away while her other hand stuffs the last pancake in her mouth. ]

I prefer that you call me Lumine, [ her tone is edged just as she gets up and out of her seat, walking past him to the sink. ] Mr. Volkov.

[Ajax only laughs as he turns around to start washing dishes and take care of the kitchen, waving a hand at her as he leaves her side.]

You're the one who started all this, lyubov moya, and now you've earned yourself a cute Snezhnayan nickname in the process. Don't worry, it's nothing bad.

[He only smiles happily as he begins, thankful that it didn't take much to make breakfast this morning. There isn't much to wash.]

I hope you enjoyed your breakfast. I'll make you something new tomorrow, haha.

[ nothing bad, he says. because it's never "nothing bad" when it comes to him and his schemes. lumine rolls her eyes, lifting a hand to wave dismissively in the air, looking forward to finally being able to drown herself in work. ]

Sure, Jaxxie. If you say so.

[ if he's not going to drop that nickname, whatever it means, then she doesn't see any reason why she should.

she leaves the teapot for the apartment, returning after an hour or two with the files she's managed to download and heading into the study; they really need to figure out how to get a signal or connection going in the teapot. aether's sent her a message as well, something about needing to stay at the volkovs for longer than he's expected. looks like things aren't really going well.

lumine pads across the house in search of ajax, pausing outside whatever room he's in and popping her head in. ]

Aether might need you to bring more clothes for him.

[He sighs and rolls his eyes at the nickname, but it's not as if there's anything he can really do to stop her from using it. If only his mother weren't hellbent on embarrassing him, though there's nothing he can do now. All he can do is concentrate on finishing the dishes, quickly cleaning them so he can get to his own work. Even if he has to hide in a pocket dimension from their enemies, he still has to do the work for the company, at the very least.

Thankfully for now, any dealings that would involve his crime family could be taken care of by his father, sister and brother. Though who knows when they'll finally get out of this mess.

Lumine finds him upstairs in the study, working on his laptop, working through reports and other spreadsheets. It's not fun work, but it needs to be done, and he's thankful he can do it offline. Turning at the sound of her voice, he looks up at her to nod.]

Sounds like things aren't going so well, are they.

[He can't imagine Aether would want to stay if he didn't have to. As much as he's sure his mother is spoiling him and all...]

I'll take him some more clothes today. I need to head up to the apartment to send these reports off anyway, I'll leave right after that. But...

[He pauses, unsure if he should ask her this.]

There's something I've got to ask you. It's about what you told me the other day, at my parent's house.

He sounded very frustrated.

[ sure, it was a text message, but she knows aether better than anyone. she knows how his messages sound like when he's stumped over something or when things aren't going his way. and it seems like this is one of those situations that he can't get out of easily. lumine honestly feels bad for him, but she knows that her brother isn't going to give up too quickly either. ]

I'll go and pack for him.

[ but even before she can turn to go, his remark gets her to pause, rooting her on the spot. lumine shifts her weight from one foot to another, chewing the inside of her cheek. she supposes there's no better time to talk about it.

there's only one thing that she's told about him last time while they were at his home, and it has nothing to do with his nicknames or the pictures she's seen. ]

I'm not ... the best person to ask about it.

I know, [he says slowly, if not with a hint of guilt to it. What he's going to ask isn't something that he wants to ask, but for all the emotions still flowing through him, even though they're far more subdued than they were a few days ago, he wants some resolution- if not for him, then Childe.]

I'd just like to start by saying that you can say no. I don't want you to feel as if you're being forced into this.

[Ajax's words are sincere, painfully so, because he knows how much this bothers her. And if she says no, he'll respect that, and he'll make Childe respect it too.]

But, if you'll allow...I'd like to ask her about it, instead.

[ lumine says nothing for one long moment, clearly conflicted even as she averts her gaze from ajax. but she can feel the gentle nudge from her counterpart at the back of her mind, and all she can do is sigh heavily. ever since that day when she easily took over her body, lumine's found her slowly affecting many of her thoughts.

her actions, her opinions. it's disconcerting and very unsettling, and she really wants it to stop. but it's obvious that there's just no way to keep the dam from overflowing once it's full. ]

She doesn't want to speak to you, though.

[ those are the last words lumine speaks before she closes her eyes, opening them a few moments later. her gaze lands on him, irises brighter. almost golden. ]

Childe can ask me those questions instead, Ajax.

[He'll have to thank Lumine later for letting this happen. Ajax blinks a few times at the noticeable change in her eyes, wondering if something similar happens when Childe takes over temporarily. But can they look more dead than they do now?

He shakes that thought off, giving her a small smile in return, first.]

He's still a little upset, but he's had a few days to work through it. But hey.

[He wanted to tell her before, but he passed out when the building exploded. By the time he woke up, he'd missed his chance.]

Before I let him come out, I just wanted to say thank you from before. I'd of been a goner if you hadn't freed me from that god.

Well, it's not the first time he's gotten upset at me ...

[ but lumine knows this is very different from those instances. childe's anger is always quick to ignite but slow to burn away, the embers remaining hot and incensed hours or days or weeks after. who knows what it'll take to completely douse the fire she's created?

at his words, however, she returns his smile with one of her own. ]

I've experienced the pain of losing someone I love a long time ago, [ she says quietly, moving towards ajax and pressing a hand against his cheek. ] It's something I don't wish for Lumine to experience for herself.

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