you hide your face with your disguise // 'cause someone filled your head with lies

[monoceroscaeli]

[It had been a few days since the hunt for the Great Mujina Youkai had come to an end, having to say goodbye to the kids and to Yoimiya too. The ship that was to take him back to Snezhnaya would be arriving a bit later in the day, and Childe sighs as he sits back in his chair in the tent he's occupying in one such hidden Fatui camp. He had a great time in Inazuma. The country was beautiful, rich with a new culture to learn and all sorts of places to explore and fight new and more exciting enemies. All his things were in order- the gifts that he'd bought to bring back to his family, Teucer's Onikabuto in a little bug box with some food to keep it alive during the trip back- all he'd have to do is wait for the ship and he'd be on his way.

He tells himself that he'd return to the country one day, once tensions between the Fatui and the Shogunate calm down. It was a miracle that he was able to stay as long as he has, evading the Tenryou Commission. He has some people to thank for that, and he won't forget what they did for him while he's been here. Some gifts would be in order for them upon his return.

The Harbinger idly plays with a writing utensil between his fingers. He'd like to bring something from Snezhnaya for Yoimiya, too.

There's a sharp rap at his door, and Childe sighs. He doesn't really want to deal with work right now, perfectly happy reminiscing on the time he's spent in Inazuma before he leaves, but answers with a bored tone to his voice:]

Come in.

[An agent enters, bowing and standing at attention.]

Sir, we've captured a Tenryou Commission spy that was found sneaking around. We've taken her into custody and are awaiting your orders on how to deal with her.

[Childe's eyebrow raises. It should have been hard to find this camp, even by the Shuumatsuban. Somehow, doubt creeps into his mind, but stands from his chair.]

Alright, I'll deal with it myself. At least I can have one last bit of fun before I depart.

[The agent only bows once more, to lead Childe towards the prisoner. He knows better than to argue with the Harbinger, but feels sorry for the spy. The two cross the camp to another tent, the agent stopping him right before lifting the flap for his senior commander.]

She claims to be from the fireworks shop, but we've seen Tenryou soldiers stop frequently at it.

[Before he can answer, the flap is lifted to reveal a certain girl that he'd met not but a few days ago...]

Comments

[monoceroscaeli]

[Relief sweeps through him as she coughs water out of her lungs and refills it with life-giving oxygen. Childe's thankful he got to her as quick as he did, and as far as he knows, completely unnoticed- which will work in their favor for the time being. But for now, all he wants to do is concentrate on making her as comfortable as possible until she's finally able to come completely back to her senses.]

Yes, it's me.

[He smiles as he looks down at her, shifting so that she can rest her head in his lap, keeping it elevated while he tends to her.]

I'm so relieved to know you're alright...I was scared half to death when I didn't find you back in the room.

[niwabi]

[ As Yoimiya coughs out the remaining water out of her lungs, her eyesight comes back into focus, finally able to see a not-so-blurry Ajax staring down at her. She fully relaxes the back of her head in his lap, not saying a word for a solid minute. It's hard to process everything that's happened, all the negative thoughts swirling through her head, and every terrible thing Seraphina told her. She still can't believe she's even alive, a small part of her wondering if she's actually lost consciousness in the water and is dreaming this whole thing up.

But no, the longer she stares at Ajax, she becomes all the more assured she's alive. She should be happy and yet, she still can't sake the feeling that maybe Ajax would be better off without her. ]

Thank you... for saving me. I... don't want to think about the outcome if you didn't make that timely rescue.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Ajax studies her face, seeing that there's more beneath the surface of it all that she's not saying. He can't imagine how frightening that whole experience was, and if it had been in their interests to stop it head on, he would of done so, to keep her from experiencing that trauma. He can only hope she'll forgive him.

His hand comes down to brush her cheek, gently stroking it as he looks down on her fondly, trying his best to keep any fury off of his expression while he comforts her. He's so angry at Seraphina and her tricks, and he swears he'll kill her the second he gets the chance. But for now, Yoimiya comes first.]

You're safe now, that's all that matters. I know this is sudden, but we need to leave Sumeru City as fast as possible. We're going to get a few backpacks, return to the room and gather only the necessities, and go...somewhere. I haven't worked out where, but we're too vulnerable here with a city full of puppets for her to use.

[A thought that terrifies him. If everyone can be used by her, where are they safe?]

Do you know of anywhere that might be safe for us to go? You know Sumeru better than I do.

[niwabi]

[ The heat permeating from his fingers warms her cold, wet body like a furnace. Yoimiya breathes a heavy sigh through her nose and uses the little bit of her energy to nuzzle her face into the palm of his hand, appreciative of his sweet care and concern for her. She's still shaken by the whole ordeal so it takes her a minute to process everything he's saying. Her shivering body cuddles close to him, in need of warmth and his comforting presence. ]

Let's hide in the forest somewhere far away from here. I brought camping supplies in my luggage so hopefully that will keep us tide over until then.

[ She's not sure where they will go but anywhere is better than Sumeru City. There's no telling how far Seraphina's influence reaches but Yoimiya does not wish to find out. ]

Maybe... the aranara can aid us.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Concern washes over his features when she shivers in his arms. Both of them are completely soaked from their underwater swim, but Tartaglia can't help but scoop her up completely in his arms now, holding her close to give her some semblance of warmth. The warm, Sumeru sun helps, but the humidity really doesn't, meaning the two of them are going to be wet for a while unless they get somewhere to dry off.

He loathes the idea of returning to the hotel, but that's the best and quickest place for the moment, so he begins to head back to the city, but he's going in the back way- so that they aren't detected.]

You think so? Yoimiya, I'll admit I know nothing about them other than what you've told me...what kind of creatures are they?

[The Aranara remains a complete mystery to him, and probably Dottore too...which is why the man wants to get his hands on one so badly.]

And do you really think they can help?

[niwabi]

[ Yoimiya huddles close to Ajax, burying her face into his chest to block out the memory of people coldly ignoring her. She doesn't realize that he's taking her in a direction far that isn't littered with people, too scared to even look up and study their surroundings. She doesn't want to be reminded that no one in this world cares about her. ]

They are the nicest little forest spirits that allow people to see sweet dreams. Truthfully, I don't know if they have the power to help.

[ They are sweet forest spirits and here she is, selling them out to a mad scientist who wishes to conduct experiments on them. Maybe everything she's experiencing is divine retribution for being so selfish and valuing her life over theirs. ]

But, searching for them is better than staying here. Anything is better than staying in place filled with people who don't care whether I live or die.

[monoceroscaeli]

[The dejected tone of her voice really takes him aback, looking down at her as he weaves his way into the back of Sumeru City towards the hotel. She won't even look up at him, or at anything else, her face buried in his chest. Seeing her like this tears his heart apart, and what's more shocking isn't that she isn't sure if the Aranara can help, but rather what she says after that.]

Hey-

[He begins, surprised at how depressing that statement is. He didn't see exactly what happened before she was drug to the water's edge, but whatever it was, it really must of hit her hard. What did Seraphina do to break her spirit like this?]

That's not true. No one here would want you to die. I don't know what she did to you back there, but whatever it was, don't let her make you think no one cares about you.

[niwabi]

[ See? No one cares about you. You're worthless. Just dross to be rid of as soon as possible.

Seraphina's words rear its ugly head to take a swing at her psyche full force. Deep down inside, Yoimiya knows Ajax is speaking the truth, nobody actually wants to see her die, and plenty of people would be devastated if she suddenly disappeared without a trace. She's well aware of all this and yet... she can't banish the images of crowds of people coldly staring at her and even stepping to the side as she was blatantly getting kidnapped out of her head. She also knows that it's not the fault of any passerby, Seraphina was in control over them too. If any of them was of sound mind, surely someone would have jumped in to her resuce.

But unfortunately, the sight of those uncaring faces is hard to forget and will probably stick with her for the foreseeable future. ]

I'll try not to think like that but it's so difficult. When I was being taken away, not a single person spared a glance my way or even tried to step in. I felt so invisible and so utterly worthless as a person.

[ She takes a deep breath, trying to fight back the tears threatening to spill out of her eyes, she doesn't want Ajax to see her in such a fragile state. ]

... I'm sorry I've been so down in the dumps Ajax. I don't think we'll ever know the full extent of what Seraphina is capable of because her powers are truly out of this realm.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Childe is quick on his feet, so it's not long before they reenter the city. They both get strange looks from passersby, given that neither of them look like they're from Sumeru, and they're soaking wet. But Ajax doesn't pay them any mind, moving fast towards the hotel, which he can already start to see. He won't go in the front- instead, he's already maneuvering to head in through the back.

He'd much rather give all that attention to Yoimiya instead, who's really going through it. But at the back of his mind, dark words replay in his head again:

That wench has always been so selfish, always so focused on her feelings. It's not fair that you're always forced to comfort her.

Isn't it selfish to think that way, though? His own mind combats the negative thoughts telling him something terrible about Yoimiya. Where did that even come from?]

I know, [he says softly,] all we can do is be on guard as much as we can. I know it's hard, but try to keep your spirits up. Let's see what the Aranara can do for us before we lend ourselves to despair.

[He smiles softly down at her, slowing his pace only to lean down and press a kiss to her forehead before picking it up again. The hotel is right here now, and he looks up- the leap to the balcony of their room isn't that far. Something he can easily make, and with one strong jump, he's up in the air and landing onto their private balcony with ease.]

[niwabi]

[ Yoimiya doesn't say anything, only giving him a simple nod of her head as she snuggles closer to shield herself from passersby staring at them in contempt. He's right on so many fronts. The whole situation is difficult, but she should at least try to be chipper and not so dreary. She's fairly certain that part of the reason why Ajax fell for her is because of her bright, go-getter attitude, and it feels like she's doing him a huge disservice by being so gloomy. She takes another deep breath to swallow the nervous lump lodged in her throat, swearing to keep her spirits up for his sake. A tough road awaits her but it's the least she can do for both of their sakes.

But at the very least, they're back at the hotel and far away from the prying, cold eyes of the rest of the world. Yoimiya finally pulls her face away from Ajax's chest, already feeling a bit relieved that it's just them with not a single soul around. ]

... You're right. I know it's going to be hard but I promise, I'll try my hardest to stay strong.

[ She glances up at him and is met with a smile so soft that it practically melts her heart. Ajax is trying so hard for her when he's suffering just as much, she can't keep focusing on her own negativity. The kiss on her forehead fills her with a warmth that she's desperately been craving. Wanting to return the sweet gesture, she cranes her head to place a soft kiss on his cheek. ]

For you.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Now within the "safety" of their hotel room, he quickly moves from the balcony to the bath, sitting Yoimiya down and helping her undress so she can quickly wash the gross river water from her body. The kiss is soft and sweet, and he feels his own heart beat a little harder in his chest when she administers it to his cheek. His good, sweet Yoimiya...how dare Seraphina do this to her.]

I love you, Yoimiya. Here, let's quickly get ready to leave, okay? Clean yourself up the best you can, I'll join you in a moment. I'm going to quickly get out of these clothes and check over the room.

[The food had been set on a nearby table when Ajax had entered, confused as to why the door had been open and there was the maid's cart there with what looks like the faint signs of a struggle from how the bed looked. Now, the door is closed and the cart gone, the bed made up to make it look as if nothing was amiss. Seeing the sight of it after he exits the bath to strip himself of his own wet clothes brings a searing anger back to him- the gall that they even came back here after they dumped Yoimiya in the water to clean it up is audacious all on its own.

He returns to her in a matter of minutes, stepping into the bath and hurriedly washing himself and helping her with whatever needs she has.]

Our food is still warm. Let's eat it and get your strength up for the journey. How far away is the home of these Aranara?

[niwabi]

[ Now that they're back, it finally dawns on her that poor Ajax must have been confused when he entered the room to find his girlfriend missing with signs of a struggle. She's truly thankful for his quick thinking, feeling blessed that he was able to locate her just in the nick of time. If he was even a second too late... then, she'd just be dead body drifiting in the endless ocean. But it's best she doesn't dwell on those thoughts, she should just be thankful that she's alive.

While Ajax showers, Yoimiya strips herself of her wet nightshirt. Thankfully, the cleaning cart isn't too far away from the couch so it doesn't take much effort to grab a nearby towel from it to dry herself. Once she's done, she wraps the towel around her weak, soaking body and sits down to grab a bite to eat. She doesn't have much of an appetite after that whole ordeal but she knows she needs to have substance if they want to keep moving. Yoimiya greets him with a soft smile upon his return, taking little bites of their food one at a time. ]

Admittedly, I'm not quite sure. All I know is that they live somewhere deep in the forest. It's thanks to the Traveler summoning one of them that I was able to see them in the first place.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Sitting down at their little table, he opens his own meal, saddened that the whole experience of having something local to Sumeru was ruined further by the fact that yet another attempt on Yoimiya's life was made. Stressful isn't a good enough word to cover this situation, and stressed out isn't a good enough description for how he feels at the moment. But eating is essential- they won't make it far if they don't eat.

So he forces the food down his throat, even if his appetite is completely lost. Instead of thinking about eating, he tries to automatically eat while listening and considering what Yoimiya has to say.]

It's too bad the Traveler isn't here right now. We sure could use their help. But I'm afraid any correspondence I send out will be intercepted...and the last thing we need is Seraphina getting her hands on the Traveler. We're going to be on our own for this one.

[A few more bites go down the hatch, and he sighs as his mind tries to organize everything. No help, having to stay away from society...none of this looks good. That and, what's stopping Seraphina from just attacking their minds again? Her actions don't make sense to him, unless all she really wants to do is make them suffer. Then, it does.]

So I guess we'll have to find them for ourselves. That's alright, we should be able to do that, [he says, as he furrows his brow in thought, trying to figure out how they could make it work.]

There's a few areas in Sumeru that could be considered the deep forest. We can start looking there. How does that sound?

[He tries his best to sound optimistic, but in reality, he doesn't know what to do. Every part of this is terrifying in one way or another.]

[niwabi]

[ Having the Traveler's aid would be a godsend but Ajax is right, they can't afford to let Seraphina get her grubby hands on them. Her powers have already proven to be out of this world, and if she were to somehow take control of the Traveler's body... then they'd all be doomed. They've already done so much for her and she can't possibly ask them to risk their life on her behalf when they have their sibling to find.

So as it stands, she and Ajax are all alone on this matter. She can't help but sigh at how bleak the situation looks, she has to force herself to take another bite of the food and swallow it down the hatch. The idea that Seraphina's presence could be lurking around the corner, just waiting for the perfect opportunity to strike back makes it hard to even stomach food but she has to. She already promised Ajax she won't die, she can't afford to pass out from lack of substance. Her poor boyfriend already has a lot on his plate between Seraphina and her body being out of commission for the time being. ]

Yes, that sounds like a great start. They seemed to trust me the last time I was here, so there's a good chance we might just run into one of them on our own.

[ Besides, the deep forest sounds safer than staying in the city with Seraphina's influence running rampant. As Yoimiya prepares to take another bite, she suddenly stops, recalling the deal she made with the second Harbinger. That's right, she promised to help him acquire one in exchange for the delusion around her neck. Will she still be allowed to see them after making such a horrible deal? If they want nothing to do with her, she truly doesn't blame them. ]

I just hope they're still willing to trust me after I sold them out to Dottore.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Yoimiya's thought process is the same as his own- they might run into an Aranara while they search for their lands. That would be ideal, and since she's already gained their trust, it should be easy to get to where they need to go.

With that settled, Tartaglia goes to focus on eating now that they have some semblance of a plan in place, but notices that Yoimiya stops eating. He slows too, giving her an inquisitive look, when she reminds them of the real reason they were here to begin with.]

...Hey. You can't beat yourself up about that, and you did what you could to ensure their safety in the deal. Dottore will hold up his end of the bargain, you can trust in that. Besides, you were left with little choice...had I been in your position, I'd of done the same thing.

[His eyes reflect an endless pool of understanding. Yeah, Dottore getting his paws on an Aranara is a little gross, but Yoimiya's life was worth it.]

[niwabi]

[ She'll always feel some sense of guilt over her actions considering she promised to protect those precious forest spirits. Those little creatures are some of the sweet beings she's ever met, and deep down inside, she still doesn't fully trust Dottore to uphold his end of the bargain by treating them kindly.

It hurts her to think about one of those poor Aranara, scared and alone in the hands of a mad scientist. But as she listens to Ajax, she's reminded that she did what any terrified person would do in her place. Slowly, she lifts her gaze from the ground to stare into his eyes, those blue orbs reflect ]

... Thank you, Ajax. You've been a ray of sunshine on my dreary clouds, haha.

[ She feels a little better, enough to poke at her food some more. With a soft smile, she leans against him to rest her head on top of his shoulder, appreciative of everything he's done for her. ]

The Aranara are the pride of Sumeru and they don't deserve a life as lab rats but... it means the world to me that you believe my life is truly worth saving.

[monoceroscaeli]

[It means the world to him to see her smile. Childe can't help but smile warmly back as she rests against him, enjoying her warmth after an anxiety-ridden experience that they'd just had not but several minutes ago. To go from Yoimiya almost drowning to having her safe against him is a whiplash he'd rather of not experienced, but at least she's still with him now, and that's all that matters.

But he doesn't want to see her guilt-ridden over this, either. It really bothers her, he can tell, that she's given the Aranara up to Dottore with this deal.]

Of course it is. Nothing matters more to me than your safety.

[He wraps his arm around her, rubbing her arm in comfort.]

C'mon, finish eating up. We'll head out soon and get away from the prying eyes of the public.

[niwabi]

[ The whole world could be against her and Yoimiya would still feel safe and sound so long as she had her beloved at her side. They've got a long road ahead of them and no doubt it will be one filled with fraught and terror but since she's got Ajax, she feels like she can take this one step at a time. Her bright ray of light hasn't completely dimmed,

But for now, she needs to focus on getting plenty of nutrients. And with Ajax's strong arms shielding her from the rest of the world, she's able to stomach the last of the food. ]

Right! I think I'm just about done eating.

[ She pops the last of their breakfast into her mouth, chewing, swallowing, and finally enjoying the delicious taste melting onto her tongue. ]

I hate being a huge burden but do you mind grabbing another nightshirt for me whenever you're ready? And... I might need you to carry me out of here since my legs still feel like jelly. I'm sorry, Ajax. I know this is a lot for you.

here you write a tag and i'll write the timeskip imo

[monoceroscaeli]

[With the problem of locating the Aranara and dealing with Dottore's deal set to the side for now, he finishes up his own food. It might be the only decently cooked meal they'll get for a while, but on the bright side, Tartaglia can cook for them out in the wilderness. He gets up from the table, crossing the room to put a few things in a bag that he'd brought with him for the trek to see the Aranara anyway, thankful that their goal now aligned with their original purpose for coming here.

As he packs, he turns his head to give Yoimiya a reassuring smile.]

No need to worry. You're light as a feather, and I'm hardly a stranger to such situations. As long as you can stand for a short time while I buy some needed supplies before we head out, it'll work out just fine. When you're ready to go, we'll make our way to the Grand Bazaar, get some cooking supplies and go.

[He continues to pack, grabbing only the necessities, and once that's finished, slings it over his back.]

Okay, I think that's all I'll need for now...let me pack your bag too, and we'll go. You can carry it in your arms for the time being.

👍

[niwabi]

[ His remark draws a much-needed giggle out of her, the first laugh she's let out all day, finally bringing her back to some semblance of normalcy. Light as a feather... she will remember that and try not to consume too much food so she can stay that way. She already feels like a burden to Ajax, the last thing she wants is for him to strain himself from carrying her.

Steeling herself for a little bit of pain, she takes a deep breath and attempts to stand. She's somewhat shaky as she tries to get off the couch but overall, it's a success! Yoimiya's whole face lights up as she sees herself standing on her own two feet. Walking is a whole different story but, at least she can stand while Ajax goes to buy supplies for their long journey. It's a small victory, one that makes her feel accomplished for taking back her own mobility. ]

Yeah, I think I can at least stand up while you grab any supplies we need. I should have camping equipment and medical supplies in my luggage, so hopefully you won't need to grab too much. I'll happily pay for everything we need as well. So, don't you dare think about spending too much mora on me, mister!

[ Because she knows how Ajax is, this man will spend a fortune on her if could. No wonder Pantalone seems taken with his young coworker, he's also a walking wallet. She playfully waves her finger at him, finally feeling a bit more like her usual self, all thanks to her beloved. ]

Thank you again, Ajax. I love you so much, there's no way I'd be able to do this own. I'm ready whenever you are.

don't respond to this! i'm just wrapping up the thread. gunna make a new top level comment

[monoceroscaeli]

[He looks up from packing to see Yoimiya be able to get to her feet, more happy than anything to see a bit of that bright personality of hers shining through. It's hard on her, he knows, being the target of some crazy stalker of his who's also got the powers to control everyone around them...including themselves. At least they have their delusions, and he makes a mental note that he still needs to really teach her how to use hers.

Laughing, he goes back to packing, heading over to grab the things out of her own luggage and getting it prepared for their trek. It'll be a little hard on him the first day, but hopefully Yoimiya will be alright to walk herself after another day of rest.]

Hey, I love you too. There's no need to thank me...and, by the way, I think mora is the least of our worries right now. You can pay me back when it's all over, and I'll make sure it's expensive. [(｡•̀ᴗ-)✧]

[But once he finishes, he straps everything to his back, picks Yoimiya up in his arms, and heads out the back once again. The room is left locked, and he sends no messenger to anyone about their whereabouts- he'll explain himself later. This isn't the worst thing he's ever done, so as long as he returns, he knows he'll be fine. It's off to buy some food for their trip, and he'll make it quick before they head out into the jungle for the next leg of their adventure...]