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

Current Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm96fSCRkrk&ab_channel=SumerianRecords

Entry tags:

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

[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...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ This time, it's Aramiya's turn to huff and fold her stubby arms over her chest. They really are the spitting image of both of them in plant form, Yoimiya has seen this same song and dance with the two of them bantering back and forth like huge baby brats. ]

What are you trying to say, Arajax?! Aramiya always focuses!!! [ she lied as naturally as she breathed ] I'll show you! Aramiya will become so strong that I'll beat Arabalika before you!

[ Archons above, the whole scene feels like she's staring into a mirror, and now it's making her to some self-reflection.... do they really speak to each other like that? Maybe she should tone down the bratiness.

(Spoilers: She won't.)

Anyways... Ajax has the right idea. It's best they leave the two plants to sort out their relationship while she and have their discussion. She can't stop the laugh from spilling out as she gets up while watching Aramiya huff and puff at Arajax. Giggling, she holds out her hand for Tartaglia to grab. ]

Yeah, we have a great undertaking we need to discuss before we can even think about going on an adventure. Thank you for having us for dinner, Aramiya, and thank you for joining us, Arajax. I've left some spices at her hut for you to train with.

[ Not that her gratitude is getting through because Aramiya is still giving Arajax lip. Yoimiya lets out one last laugh before turning her attention to Ajax. ]

Shall we?

Edited 2025-01-27 01:30 (UTC)

[He can see Arajax fold his own arms over his chest as Aramiya brats at him over training. You can't fool him lady, he knows you don't always focus on things. He practically scoffs at her when she declares she's going to beat Arabalika before he will, not convinced whatsoever, knowing she has no idea of Arabalika's true, terrifying strength.

He turns a deaf ear to her for a moment to wave the two on so they can have their conversation, knowing that this little discussion might turn into an actual fight thus beginning Aramiya's combat training. Which, to be fair, he's perfectly fine with.

Childe perfectly understands the signal, taking Yoimiya's hand in his own so they can talk in private.]

We shall. Come, those two are going to be at it for a bit...

[He leads Yoimiya away, heading back towards Aramiya's house so they can rest, but he's thankful for the small amount of alone time they're afforded right now.]

Now that things are falling into place, how are you feeling?

[For someone who's about to try to fool a Fatui Harbinger, and one who's not easy to trick, he can't imagine she isn't at least nervous about it.]

[ A small part of Yoimiya kind of wants to see how exactly Aranara throw hands with each other. Knowing herself, it wouldn't surprise her if it ended with Aramiya tackling Arajax to the ground with other Aranara watching Teyvat's silliest wrestling match. But as much as she wants to stay and watch them, Ajax is right, they'll be at it for a little while and they sorely need to get their thoughts and game plan straightened out before the big day.

After all, Dottore isn't just some random sap, they're attempting to fool the Second Fatui Harbinger. It's right then and there, Yoimiya finally feels the weight of everything crashing down upon her. Hand-in-hand, she takes a deep breath as they return to Aramiya's cozy hut. ]

I'm... okay. The reality of the situation hasn't really dawned on me until now and well, I guess I can't help I'm feeling nervous. I never would have dreamed that a simple country girl like me would be in on a plan to fool the second-ranked Harbinger.

[ She takes a seat on the nearby bed to gather her thoughts together. Now that the curtains are drawing to a close the reality of the situation hits her like a brick and to say that she's nervous would be an understatement. There's a lot that could go wrong with this plan, and the consequences of getting caught by the Doctor is downright terrifying. She doesn't even want to think about what will happen if he catches wind of their scheme. ]

How about you? Have you ever tried to pull the wool over Dottore's eyes?

[Childe peeks out the windows to ensure that they really are alone for the time being before joining her on the bed, sitting down right next to her and snaking an arm behind her to pull her into his side. Her nervousness is expected- if he wasn't who he was, he'd probably be nervous and scared too. Yoimiya is aware of the gravity of the task in front of her, but that's not necessarily a bad thing to Tartaglia- it just means she'll treat it with the weight it deserves.

He chuckles quietly at her question, unfortunately not having the best response in the world for her.]

Never. Pure deception really isn't my style, and if I'd tried to prior to becoming a Harbinger, there would have been a chance that I wouldn't be here sitting with you. I don't mean to frighten you, Yoimiya, but it's imperative that you successfully get Dottore to take the bait.

[He wishes she didn't have to go through this, but it is what it is- in order to defeat their true enemy, they have to do whatever it takes to get the assistance from those who can help them.]

But you'll have a lot of support on your side. Aralauka, myself, and Lesser Lord Kusanali are all here. The power of an archon alone lends relief to my nerves. I hope it does for you, too.

[ Yeah, that makes sense. Ajax isn't the sort of guy to go around scheming, he'd much rather duke it out Dottore. His honest nature is one of his many traits that she adores and for that, she's so thankful he didn't wound up in any trouble with his coworker before their fateful meeting. Now that she has Ajax, she can't imagine her life without him. Sure, there's danger lurking around every corner and she might not have earned the ire of Seraphina if they never met but she wouldn't change that chance meeting in Chinju Forest for the world.

But as much as she loves him, his response doesn't give her much confidence. Not that she minds, it's better for him to be honest and keep her on her toes. She can't act like some silly girl trying to get a childish pinky promise out of him, she needs to take this seriously. ]

Having an Archon on our side is doing wonders to calm me down. I still can't believe Lesser Lord Kusanali is willing to throw her hat in the ring for us but... I appreciate it. Once this is over we should consider doing something nice for her.

[ She's not sure what but Nahida really deserves something for everything they've done for her. She could have easily demanded they leave after they told her their true intentions but she still chose to hear them out and even work with them. That alone speaks wonders for her character. ]

I really do feel better having all of you at my side. I'm scared, the last thing I want is to mess this up and make things even harder on you but I promise, I really will give it my all when we speak with Dottore. Y'know, I was out there helping to fight the Sakoku Decree but this whole ordeal is unlike anything I've ever faced. It's... so much more scary.

[ So much so that her hands start to shake. ]

Edited 2025-01-27 04:50 (UTC)

[Childe doesn't blame her at all for feeling this way. The Sakoku Decree required her to hide from the Tenyou Commission, and at worst they'd just take her vision away and she'd begin to lose her memories over time. Dottore, on the other hand, isn't known for his kindness and forgiving nature, and death isn't out of the question. Tartaglia has no idea what could come of this if they fail...and he may even be accused of treason, which is punishable by death.

But that's a weight he doesn't need to put on her shoulders too. What she already knows is too much, evidenced by her shaking hands. Childe takes them both into his own, holding her hands in solidarity with her with the hope that she can find comfort in not feeling alone in this. She has other advantages that he's sure she's not even aware of herself in this, so he has reason to believe she really can pull it off, even if it takes a few tries or two within the samsara cycles.]

Going up against a Harbinger head to head is no easy feat, even if it is a simple battle of bargaining. You were only fooling Tenryou Commission heads back in Inazuma, so it's only natural to be far more frightened of this opponent.

[He presses his forehead against the side of her own head, resting there and closing his eyes.]

But Lesser Lord Kusanali is one who's beat Dottore at this game, and she'll be assisting you the entire time. You can do this, Yoimiya. He won't be expecting you to lie, because he's already severely underestimated you. I could tell when we were back in Snezhnaya. Use that to your advantage.

[ That makes her feel better, truly. Yoimiya was starting to wonder if being more frightened over a bargain than fighting for her home country was silly. It is a blessing to have him at her side, even when the going gets tough, she can always count on him to lift her spirits in some fashion.

As evidenced by a sudden warmth enveloping her shaky hands. When her gaze slides down, she sees that he's taken hold of both of them, his touch provides with comfort and is a reminder that she's not all alone in this scary endeavor. And in typical Ajax fashion, he goes the extra mile in providing her comfort, he floods her with warmth, his head resting against hers is so sweet that it causes her lips to curve into a smile. She's always found a reason to smile at his side and this moment isn't any different, thanks to him, she's able to send a soft smile his way.

And when he puts it like that, she's already starting to see a light at the end of his long tunnel. Maybe, just maybe, she really does have it in her to fool him when he doesn't expect much out of such an ordinary person like her. ]

Thank you, Ajax. I'll keep that in mind and try to stay on my toes. It... certainly would be an incredible feat for this simple country girl to make him feel sorry for underestimating me.

[ She gives his hands a gentle squeeze of appreciation, her fingers lace tightly with his. ]

You got this as well. I know scheming and manipulating ain't exactly your style but from the bottom of my heart, I believe in you. This might not be the kind of fight you're looking for but I hope this gives you a chance to show him what for. Make him pay if he's ever underestimated you.

Hah, thanks. I'll do my best not to let you down.

[It would be only one of many endeavors to come, he's sure of it. And fooling Dottore into taking a fake Aranara would be no easy feat for anyone involved. Yoimiya is beyond brave to take on this task- he knows she's aware of how dangerous this is, and any ordinary person would crumble under the pressure. He's proud of her for being strong enough to stare this down, and he'll do everything he can to be another pillar of strength for her if it can help.

Ajax nuzzles her before placing a little kiss to her cheek, abolishing any worries he might have to focus on her and tend to her needs, holding her and just being with her in this moment.]

We'll run through things in the next few days, but for now, I think we should rest. A warrior needs proper sleep in order to be at their best, so you need to make sure you're taking care of yourself. This means no unnecessary worrying.

[Not him being a giant hypocrite here lolol, but he'll squeeze her hand back and coax her to lie down.]

Promise me you won't worry too much about this for now?

[ The kiss to her cheek elicits a pleasant sigh, his sweet lips is the medicine she needs to wash away any lingering anxieties. Bargaining with Dottore will be no easy feat, she's sure there will be many trials awaiting them in this showdown but with Ajax by her side, she feels like she can take on a whole army. She draws in a deep breath to calm her nerves, wanting to forgo her worries to focus on the wonderful man holding her in his strong arms. ]

I promise! It'd be uncharacteristic of little ol' me to fret over everything, hahaha. Besides when I'm with you, it feels like my worries float away like a cloud.

[ The whole ordeal is scary but Ajax will always give her the strength to keep fighting. Wanting to return his sweet gesture, Yoimiya leans in to press a short but sweet kiss to his lips. When it's all said and done, she holds out her hand with her pinky extended. ]

But if you want reassurance, we can pinky promise on it.

[ Her goal is to make every Harbinger do the pinky promise with her, nbd. ]

[Returning her kiss, he smiles into it, happy that his bubbly Yoimiya is back and ready to take on what is arguably the most difficult opponent she's faced head on to date. Next to himself, in his opinion of course...but that's not something he wants to dwell on since that almost ended up in tragedy. Instead, he gets to savor a wonderful kiss from the most wonderful woman he's ever met, feeling his heart warm during and after she pulls away.

His gaze is directed downwards however, to the pinky stuck out in front of him. Tartaglia chortles softly, amused to see her keeping up the tradition of making pinky promises with the most powerful men she's ever met.]

Look at you, you're practically Snezhnayan now, pulling out your pinky like that. Alright...

[He hooks his pinky around hers, reciting the nursery rhyme that he grew up with, as part of the ritual of the pinky promise.]

You make a pinky promise, you keep it all your life,
You break a pinky promise, I throw you on the ice.
The cold will kill your pinky that once betrayed your friend,
The frost will freeze your tongue off so you never lie again.

There. It's a promise.

[His eyes shine despite their dullness, staring into her own with a childish amusement. It's so cute that she'll do silly little things like this, but he does expect her to keep her promise to him.]

[ She beams at his reaction, feeling happy and proud to hear she's picked up Snezhnayan customs like a fish to water. It's almost funny how she started not knowing much about Snezhnaya but thanks to being with her beloved, she knows more about the snow-clad country than the other nations. Although she will always be proud of her Inazuman heritage, there's a part of her that wishes to live with him in his home country.

Maybe one day in the distant future... for now, they have more important matters to attend to. Like the pinky promise! Yoimiya's eyes glimmer with adoration as she gazes upon her man, the look on his face is everything, and for a brief moment, she swears she sees the shine in his eyes return. There's not an ounce of hesitation in her as she wraps her pinky finger around his and recites the promise word for word. ]

You make a pinky promise, you keep it all your life,
You break a pinky promise, I throw you on the ice.
The cold will kill your pinky that once betrayed your friend,
The frost will freeze your tongue off so you never lie again.

[ And with that, Yoimiya is satisfied that Ajax knows she's staying true to her word. They've been through nothing but ordeal after ordeal ever since her visit to Snezhnaya, to say that it's taken a toll on her would be an understatement, and Yoimiya herself is aware of how uncharacteristically low-energy she's been. She figures it's about time she perks up and brings a little bit of light back into her life. ]

There we go! Now you know my word is good and I mean business, hehe. I'll even throw you a bonus and seal it with a kiss.

[ Giggling, she breaks the link between their fingers to close the gap between them for another sweet kiss filled with her affection and her pledge to him. She lingers for a short moment, drinking in his taste before pulling away. ]

Now with that, let's get some rest. We've got a big day ahead of us and we need to get all the sleep we can.

[Somehow, Yoimiya's kisses seem to get better and better each time, and he's not complaining. He too, greedily drinks her in during their kiss, closing his eyes and accepting her pledge through it. He absolutely could have kissed her for longer, but he's also acutely aware that Aramiya might be back any time now, and they are guests in her home.

So to that, he nods. Not only would tomorrow be a big day, but the next few after would be too...all in preparation to fool Dottore.]

Yeah. I've got to figure out a way for a letter to get sent to him to meet us at a discreet location tomorrow. I'll talk to some of our Aranara friends and see if they can get a letter planted right where we need it. Turns out being invisible just might have its perks, haha.

[Tartaglia quickly takes his jacket and boots off and lies down on the bed, sighing with content now that he's gotten comfortable. He's more tired than he realized, but that's not a bad thing...it'll just help him sleep.]

Don't let me forget to ask Aramiya why on earth she has such a big bed...this is big enough for me, [he says as he stretches out fully, his toes staying on the bed. Now he sees why she volunteered, he bets she's the only Aranara with a bed big enough for a nara.]

[ Things are finally starting to look up for them and everything is starting to fall into place. Yoimiya never would have thought to use the Aranara's invisibility against the man who can't see them. Although she's still scared, there's a part of her that almost feels empowered at the idea of fooling Dottore, a feat that's only been accomplished by the Archon of Wisdom. If they can pull this off with the Second none the wiser, then they accomplished something incredible that most normal people wouldn't even dream of.

But for the time being, rest is in order. Yoimiya follows suit as takes her accessories off, letting her strawberry blonde hair fall down to her shoulders. Her obi and geta are next to go and with those off, she joins Ajax in Aramiya's comfy bed adorned with leaves. ]

Right? I've been wondering that myself, haha. This bed is way too big for a single Aranara... I'm surprised she's aware beds this size exist.

[ Yoimiya has a few questions but knowing herself, the excitable little thing probably annoyed the other Aranara into getting what she wants. She can see it now, tiny Aramiya demanding she get the biggest bed in the village. But that's a question for tomorrow, exhaustion is starting to creep up on her, and bit by bit, she finds herself slowly drifting off to sleep. She snuggles up closer to Ajax to nestle her head against his chest. ]

Sweet dreams, Ajax. I love you.

[ She murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper before her body succumbs to the sleepiness settling into her bones.

Waking up in Vanarana is unlike anything the two of them have experienced. There's not a trace of daylight, no sunlight filtering through the window to stir them awake. Slowly, she comes to, she's not even sure what time of day it is or why she's waking up to begin with, all she can surmise is that her body must have finally gotten some proper rest after so long. Resting up after everything they've been through feels like a novelty these days, but waking up to the sight of her love's sleeping visage is a treat of its own. He looks so stunning but seeing him like this almost makes her heart tighten with painful fondness, knowing that this bit of respite is only temporary. It's then, an orange leaf nestled up against Ajax catches her attention, causing her eyes land on two stowaways who managed to sneak into bed with them while they were asleep.

It's Arajax and Aramiya, snuggled up between them and dozing away without a care in the world. ]

Well, well, what do we have here? I spy three cuties.

[ Yes, she's also referring to Ajax. ]

I love you too.

[He lets his arm drape over her as she snuggles into his chest, and it's not long before he's snoring lightly as sleep overtakes him. And for the first time in what feels like forever, he finally gets a good night's rest that isn't plagued with strange dreams or anxiety over when Seraphina would strike next. In fact, he doesn't remember having a dream at all when he finally begins to stir awake the next day, awoken by a small sound that drifts into his ears.

Ajax squeezes his eyes tighter as he groans into consciousness, groggy and unsure of what's happening. He rolls onto his back, eyes fluttering open slowly before his hands come up to rub them and wipe away the sleep that's formed there. Temporarily, he forgets where he is, confused by the sight of an unfamiliar ceiling and turns back towards Yoimiya to see her staring at him fondly with two little creatures between them who're still snoring the morning away.

Arajax and Aramiya...]

Huh...? Oh...right...

[They were in Vanaranara. Reality comes back and hits him right in the face, groaning again but feeling at least well rested. He has no idea what time it is, but apparently it's not time for these two to be up yet.

Seeing Yoimiya awake, he mouths the words to her:]

Want to get up? Let them sleep?

[ Although it's tempting to lay in bed with the three of them, time is of the essence and they have a lot of preparation to do. She glances at their two Aranara companions before looking up to mouth these words to him: ]

Let them sleep. I'm sure they fought hard yesterday.

[ She's not sure if they actually trained but she figures they'll tell her the good news whenever they wake up. No other words are spoken she slowly attempts to get out of bed without disturbing the two sleeping cuties. She steps out with one leg out and slowly, but surely, makes it out of the bed without so much as a peep. ]

[He wouldn't doubt the two of them went at it hard after they left. He doesn't need to be told that Arajax would have been up for another round for sure, and Aramiya was pretty excited and enamored by it all. So, putting two and two together...Aramiya probably got a good first glimpse at combat, and he's all puttered out from all the fighting he did yesterday.

Which is good, because that'll allow them to sneak out of the hut unnoticed.

Nodding, he slips out of bed too, silently shuffling over to his jacket and boots and putting them back on. They probably should figure out a shower and clothes washing later, but they'd left in such a hurry from Sumeru City that they barely had time to prepare much of anything. He inclines his head outside, getting out of the hut and stretching his arms as he walks away far enough to where he can finally speak with Yoimiya without fear of waking their two companions up.]

Whew! I slept like a rock last night...and my stomach is quite angry I didn't eat more last night...

[Even if it's not making noise (yet), he can feel how hungry he is. Vegetarian diets really don't work for him very well.]

How'd you sleep? Ready to start your training today?

[ Yoimiya quietly tiptoes her way to her garments and wraps the obi around her waist in no time at all. As she's fixing her hair, she sends a quick glance over at the sleeping Aranara. Her heart practically melts at the sight, they're so cute, and she can't help but want to get one more look at them. It's a shame she doesn't have her Kamera on her but then again, they may or may not work in this dream realm.

With her geta in hands, she puts them on once they're close to the entranceway and is quick to follow Ajax out of the hut. Although it's not the sunlight she's used to, there's something about the crisp air in Vanarana that makes her feel refreshed as soon as they step out in the open. She yawns away the last of her sleepiness as she looks over at Ajax. ]

I slept pretty well, probably the best sleep I've had since we came to Sumeru.

[ But hold on, there's something about his question that catches her off guard. She cocks an eyebrow at him with a look of confusion painting her face. She knows there's a lot they need to do in order to prepare for their reunion with Dottore but what's this about training? ]

What do you mean training?

Edited 2025-01-31 02:37 (UTC)

[He can't help but laugh at that reaction, grinning once he's finished and setting his arms akimbo.]

Surely you didn't think I was going to let you walk into this unprepared, now did you?

[Ajax playfully musses up Yoimiya's hair a little, lightly teasing in hopes of keeping the mood lifted and positive even as they prepare for her important task of confronting Dottore. He slips his arm around her immediately after, to start to walk over to the village proper in hopes of finding something to eat before they start their day.]

It's not the kind of training I'd normally do, but I figure running through some "scripts" per se with you might be helpful in dealing with Dottore. I don't want you having to make up important talking points right on the spot, and I've probably been around him the most out of everyone here. The last thing we need is for him to see through any fabrications, so I'm going to help you tell some half-truths.

[Unknowingly giving away his own secret in how he deals with things as a Harbinger, but details.]

We won't have unlimited samsara cycles to get this right, but I'll let Lesser Lord Kusanali explain that part to you. For now, you get to use me as your training dummy. Think you can manage to fool me?

[He smirks at her, challenging her to try her best against him!]

[ Oh, she wasn't expecting this kind of training. She was sort of expecting him to suggest sword training as a backup plan in case things go south. But it's probably for the best she doesn't whip out a sword at the Second Harbinger.

Suddenly, she's starting to feel a bit overwhelmed by the situation. She still doesn't even know what a samsara cycle is but at least Nahida will have that part covered when they get in contact with her. Just as she's starting to wonder if she's even capable of pulling this off, she's brought back to reality by Ajax's arm wrapping around her. ]

Um... well, fooling people isn't exactly my specialty but I guess I gotta start somewhere if we really want to convince Dottore.

[ Use him as a training dummy... archons, there's no telling how this is going to go. Yoimiya just sighs to herself. ]

I'll try my best.

[ Although willing, she also sounds extremely unsure of herself. Yoimiya has always been an open book so lying through her teeth is a completely new endeavor for her. ]

Have a little more confidence in yourself.

[Ajax shoots her a small smile as they walk through the tiny village, Aranara popping out of their own huts to see the two Nara walk by.]

By the time we're finished, you'll be a pro. All it takes is a little practice and knowing what you need to say, and you'll do just fine.

[As they walk, he spots a lucky zaytun peach plant near the wall of the village, directing her over and taking a seat in the grass.]

Ah, breakfast. Excellent! We can sit here for a while...care to join me?

[Shooting her a wink, this would make the perfect spot to get to work on things.]

[ Yoimiya might not be the brightest firework in the sky but she at least has some self awareness to know she's got a huge mouth that never shuts up.

Lying will never be her strong suit. She shoots him a skeptical look before joining him on the grass. ]

Sure! Those peaches sure look delicious.

[ As a matter in fact, she grabs a ripe one. ]

So what kinda questions are ya gonna ask?

[Plucking his own peach off of the vine, he takes a bite and thinks on exactly what to ask to really get Yoimiya in the mindset she needs to be in. She still doesn't look confident, but he's determined to change that.]

Mmmmm, well, let's pretend I'm Dottore in this instance. You've got our fake Aralauka at your side, and you're trying to convince him that it's the real deal. What's the first thing you need to do before you even speak?

[ It's a good thi g they're starting out like this bc god, she has no idea how to start this off with the big bad scary doctor. ]

Um...

[ A beat. ]

Hello Dottore! It's nice to see ya again. I hope you didn't forget our pinky promise. My Aranara friend ain't gonna take you seriously otherwise.

[y e p he can tell this is going to be a Whole Thing.]

Hahahaha, no no, hold on a moment. The first thing you need to do is convince yourself that the Aranara you're handing over is real. Aralauka will be there with us in the dream, so it'll be just like having the real deal.

[He loves you so much Yoimiya.]

Now, that being said... [he clears his throat, trying to imitate the Doctor the best he can...]

Oh, I didn't know that Aranara also agree to a Snezhnayan children's nursery rhyme. Now, you're going to tell me where you two have been for the last week, aren't you?

[ Yoimiya is already confused and they only just started. How does convincing herself help with this matter??? Doesn't it make sense to greet Dottore like her normal self?????

Her head hurts and they've only just started. ]

Yeah!! That's right!!! The um, Aranara take nursery rhymes seriously no matter the country.

[ She's doing great.]

As for where we've been, the two of us have been busy looking for the Aranara! They can be pretty slippery and hard to find.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject