insurmountable | 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...]

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[The gentle touch of her hands through his hair soothes him further, relaxing his mind and making it a little easier to think. Tartaglia's breaths deepen, visibly relaxing as Yoimiya chases away any anxiety that threatens to rear its ugly head as he sorts through the information they have now.]

Mmmmmm, it could be. I get the feeling that Alnair and that woman might of been elevated to a station higher than any mortal could imagine. Calling them gods doesn't seem like it's out of the question, given the duty they were describing.

[He doesn't know a thing about how gods dealt with things in ancient times, including their intimate relationships.]

I'm not sure if gods care for monogamy or not, but it seems like Seraphina does. As far as I know, Columbina isn't a god. Not in the way we know them as, at least.

[But there's something else that's bothering him. Something that doesn't quite add up. He's trying to think on it, but he can't quite put his finger on it just yet.]

[ Even as Yoimiya tries to replay the parts of the memory in her mind, she too has no idea how the life of a god works. For all they know, this might have been some polygamy situation, and that gods are above monogamy. Ajax is right on another matter, it certainly appeared as though Alnair and the mysterious woman were gods. That spectacular view of the stars, the castle behind them, and the discussion about their duties seems god-like.

As if on cue, the sounds of Ajax's heavy breathing stir her from pondering. ]

Right! Considering that Columbina keeps coming after me because of our relationship, it definitely seems like she wants Alnair all to herself. And... well, it's really hard to picture her being on board with him being involved with another woman. So, either there's been a terrible misunderstanding between the two of them or Alnair is...

[ A jerk, sits on the tip of her tongue but for the sake of Ajax's sanity, she opts to not finish it. If her assumption is correct, then she knows her darling would never go down the same path as some polygamist. ]

... This is such a mess. I feel like I shouldn't be writing Alnair off just yet. But geez, it'd sure be nice if we could figure out a way to trigger more of these memories to get to the bottom of this.

[He can imagine what the end of that sentence was going to be. Something not great, as sometimes the same get said of him in the modern day, just for different reasons. But that's the life of a Fatui Harbinger, as much as he doesn't like it. Everything in service to the Tsaritsa, and his ever-burgeoning desire for combat wherever he can get it.

Tartaglia doesn't want to write Alnair off either, especially not after the experience of becoming him. He could feel a deep, devoted love in the man's heart, one they both share- so it's hard to believe that their initial assumptions are true. Yoimiya makes a good point though, and it touches on the thing that's really bothering him.]

What I'd like to know is why we both shared the same vision?

[That is something they don't have an answer to.]

Maybe the power of dreams from Vanaranara make it capable of viewing events like these. I can't see any other reason why we both got caught in it, especially since it seems to be a vision from my past life.

[ ... Huh.

She truly hadn't questioned it up till this point but now that it's been said, she's more confused than ever. Why is it they both saw the same vision? Logically speaking, if Ajax truly is the reincarnation of Alnair, it makes sense that only he would be privy to the vision, not her.

Why was an ordinary person like her able to witness that memory...? ]

I don't understand either. While your theory makes sense, we stepped out of the dream world to come to this lake. Unless there's just something about being in the vicinity of Vanaranara that makes it to where anyone can see a vision.

[ But somehow, that still doesn't sound right to her. Yoimiya sighs, resigning to the fact there are simply not enough answers to make a solid conclusion. ]

Ugh, my head hurts from all this thinking. Why does everything have to be so gosh darn complicated?

Hah, I wish I knew.

[It's honestly too much thinking on a night where they've already had so much happen to them. The great loss of Aralauka and Avin, Yoimiya gaining a new sword and star power, this strange vision. It's too much for his tired brain to wrap around right now, and all he really wants to do is relax in the water with Yoimiya, and have a nice rest of their night.]

Let's just enjoy this time, and sleep on it tonight. Maybe something will come to us in the morning. I haven't made love to the most beautiful woman on the continent for some time, so I was hoping we could also use this time for a little indulgence...

[Setting the issue aside, Tartaglia moves to steer their attention more towards intimate actions, going right for her ear. Shameless strokes of his tongue go across the top of the shell of her ear, ending with a little nibble of her earlobe as he pulls her in a little closer.]

What do you say? With this small pond all to ourselves, no one will hear you moaning my name.

[ He's right. Her brain is completely fried from everything that's transpired today. These past twenty-four hours have felt like ten years with ordeal after ordeal being thrown at them. Now that they finally have some alone time, all she wants to do is spend it with Ajax. She doesn't want to think about Dottore or her friends in danger or some crazed psycho after her life, she wants to have her boyfriend all to herself.

And it seems like they're on the same wavelength. They are naked and in true fashion, he doesn't hesitate to voice his desires and show her exactly what he wants by going straight for her ear. A long, throaty gasp spills out of her the moment she feels his wet lips nipping at her skin. Those gasps soon turn into whines at the hot, wet feel of his tongue dragging all the way to the shell of her ear. It's so unfair how easily he can get her into the mood... except not really, Yoimiya is just as greedy as he is. ]

Indulging in a night with you is the best way to end this evening. If it's moaning you want, it shouldn't be a problem that I moan your name real loud, right?

[ Eager to reciprocate, Yoimiya hungrily crashes their lips against each other, full of need and greed. Once they break, she stays true to her word, not hesitating to cry out his name, over and over again, each moan is filled with love and a desire to stake her claim on the man who has her heart. Seraphina be damned. After everything they've been through, she too wants to monopolize Ajax all to herself. Whatever he wants, Yoimiya is happy to return it in full, allowing him to drown in her body for a night of passion underneath the moonlight. ]

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

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wanna fade to black here and we can talk about what to do next imo?

sure!