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]

[It's not easy returning to a place that caused so much trauma, and Tartaglia is proud of her for keeping a positive attitude despite the horrors she's already had to endure. He's a little nervous himself, as they walk down the hall back to their suite. This was where he succumbed completely to their enemy's whims, getting ready to kill Yoimiya himself while under Seraphina's spell- so he can't help but tense up a little once they arrive.

As suspected, the room is nice and clean, and their things still lie in pretty much the same place as where they left it. As Yoimiya goes to gather her things, he immediately begins a patrol of the room itself, making absolutely sure it was safe with no one ready to get the jump on them just in case.

It's then he hears that familiar plip-plop plip-plop, and some whispering he can't quite make out...]

Shhhh, Aramiya, they'll hear us if you're too loud...

[As soon as they'd entered, the two Aranara whisk themselves away into the knapsack and under any clothing that was already in it, hiding themselves away so the two Nara don't notice.]

Yoimiya, did you close the door behind us when we came in?

[Ajax quickly crosses the room, only to find nothing- and a closed door. Looking around, he starts to pick up some of his own things that were in the room anyway, so he can pack them quickly. But still...where are those little stinkers?]

[niwabi]

Pretty sure I did. I'm not taking any chances after... [ She trails off. The memories of the horrific incident in the bathroom come rushing back, forcing her to take a deep breath to push those thoughts to the side. ] well, everything.

[ But Yoimiya isn't the only victim in this mess, Ajax has been deeply affected too. It was faint but she saw the way he tensed up when they entered the room and her heart breaks for him. Even if it's not his fault, she knows him well enough that he's probably still riddled with guilt over the incident.

So, the least she can do is put on a brave face and pack her belongings quickly so they can get the heck out of dodge. Not wanting to keep him waiting, Yoimiya finishes up the last of her packing and walks out to the room Ajax has been dutifully patrolling. ]

Are you okay, Ajax? Do you sense anything strange?

[ His question already set off a few alarm bells. Seeing him glance around is also concerning, if he feels like something else is inside this room with it, then that's an immediate cause for concern. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Childe looks around the room a bit more, listening for voices and footsteps...but doesn't hear anything. Everything seems to be in order, and if they're going to hide themselves, then so be it. He hadn't asked for an escort back to the city, but as long as that's all it is, then it doesn't bother him.

He quickly goes to pick up some of his things, taking them back to their room and starts to shove his things in his own bag, offering Yoimiya a small smile.]

Everything's fine. The door was closed, I just couldn't remember if it had been shut or not. Let's just hurry and get out of here, since there should be boats leaving sometime soon to head back to Snezhnaya.

[There's no need to worry Yoimiya, so he'll keep quiet for now, leaning down to press a gentle kiss to the top of her head. They hadn't been in the hotel room for long, so there's not that much to pick up. He's thankful for that, helping Yoimiya with her own things as needed so they can head out as soon as possible.]

---

[When they've finally got their stuff together, Ajax leads Yoimiya down to buy their tickets and get on the boat, very ready to get back home and see his family for a brief respite. At least he's hoping for one, not knowing what the future would hold by the time they reached the cozy cabin in the middle of the snow-strewn backwoods. The boat itself, at least, is for the transport of people rather than goods, so there's a coziness to it that's novel to the Harbinger given his background of having to take military transport almost everywhere he goes.

He stretches his back once aboard, enjoying the feel of the sun on his face as more people board alongside Yoimiya and himself, his own bag slung over his shoulder.]

It almost feels surreal to be among other people again. I was just getting used to our temporary home.

[The darkness of Vanaranara with all the cute Aranara running around feels almost cartoonish now that they're back among humans, but it's an experience he'll definitely never forget.]

I think settling in and waiting until dinner is served is in order, what do you think?

[niwabi]

[ Now that it seems like they're home free, Yoimiya finally feels a semblance of peace as she steps onto the boat alongside Ajax. Though she still questions on what he heard in their room, since nothing attacked them while they were alone, she figures there's no reason to worry about it now. Especially when they're riding on a commercial boat! This is the first time she's been on a huge boat ferrying people across the sea, and it's exciting! And it definitely shows as she glances around their surroundings, eyes shimmering, and her jaw slacking, oohing and ahhing at everything they come across. ]

Yes let's! We can check out our room first and rest our legs. At first, I was a little [ more like a lot ] peeved that guy just up and left us behind.

[ Guy referring to Dottore because she's still mad! And will probably hold a grudge for a little while. ]

Not that I want to share a boat with that mean ol' rotten scoundrel. But I'm excited to be on a boat filled with people! It's a nice change of pace from the private traveling we've been doing.

[ It really is nice to be surrounded by actual humans again. Even though she misses their Aranara friends and appreciates all the accommodations the Fatui has provided them, this chatterbox still likes being around people. ]

Let's go! My stomach is rumbling.

[ With her bag slung around her shoulder and Ajax's hand in her own, she's practically sprinting to their assigned cabin, excited to see what it looks like. When they reach their room, Yoimiya is certainly not disappointed. ]

Wow... this looks beautiful. We even have a splendid view of the ocean!

[monoceroscaeli]

[Hearing Yoimiya refer to Dottore as that guy is both hilarious and adorable. If there was an option they could take that wasn't conflict with him at this point, he'd love to see Yoimiya get all up in his face and ream him out. He might still get to see it...followed up by an attack, more than likely.

But they don't have to worry about that for now. All they have to do is get home first, and it's a long boat ride home. Hand in hand, Tartaglia follows her to their cabin, closing the door behind them and smiling at her reaction. His bag gets set down on the bed for the moment, chuckling quietly as he looks out the window himself.]

I made sure we could enjoy the ride. As you remember, we'll be on this boat for at least a week or so before arriving in Snezhnaya.

[No way he wasn't going all out for their comfort. Boat rides otherwise suck.]

What do you say, want to relax in here for a bit as we take off? I know it's customary to be on the top deck to wave goodbye as we depart, but to say I'm exhausted is an understatement. Of course, if you'd like to go top side, I won't stop you.

[niwabi]

[ A week is a long time to be stuck on a boat but Yoimiya doesn't mind! Ajax really did go all out for their comfort, the ship is stunning, and if the sleeping quarters are this nice, she can't wait to see the other extravagant features the ship has in store for its passengers. Her knapsack unceremoniously gets tossed onto the bed, hitting the sheets with a slight THUD. She quickly turns her back to pay attention to her boyfriend and unbeknownst to her, the bag shifts just slightly.

The occupants inside the bag are probably seeing stars right about now. Thank Lesser Lord Kusanali her bag mainly had clothes, towels, and other light weight belongings. ]

I'm with you on that. Adventuring through the forest was fun and all but my feet hurt from that walking we did. Let's rest and we can explore the ship tomorrow! It's a good thing Aramiya had that giant bed, we'd be in such a sorry state if we slept on the ground for as long as we did, hahaha.

[ Still, there is a difference between sleeping on a pile of leaves and a cozy bed. Yoimiya's back is starting to feel the aftermath of laying on a wooden bed with leaves acting as a cushion.

She plops onto the bed, eyes darting over to the rotary phone sitting on the nearby nightstand, no doubt used to contact members of the crew. ]

Maybe we can have some room service delivered to this? My stomach is yelling at me to grab something to eat. And since we're departing... why not get some wine to celebrate?

[ It's always alcohol with these two. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

If you'd prefer room service, I don't see why not.

[She makes a good point about the bed, and now he looks at the furniture with a bit of longing. This'll be the first night in several nights where they get to sleep on something that wasn't rigid and hard like Aramiya's bed. He's pretty sure his hip has an indent on it now from sleeping on his side against the wood of the bed.

But, it was better than the floor...]

I think we're long overdue to stay in and relax. I think I may have forgotten what a mattress feels like, haha.

[Crossing over to the phone, he picks it up to ring up guest services, requesting a nice dinner for two along with the finest wine they have on board. Hanging up, he goes over to his bag to fetch out something more comfortable, so he can get out of his sweaty Harbinger uniform and into a softer white linen shirt and linen pants so he can relax.]

Our food should be here soon. Let's make ourselves at home, since we'll be here for a while. Honestly, I don't mind taking advantage of every comfort this ship offers. I think we've earned it. I think the best thing we could do is to take it easy on our way back.

[Not a mention of fighting at all out of this guy. That's how tired he actually is.]

[niwabi]

[ While her man takes care of the food, she shuffles through her bag to change into a sundress she purchased on their first day in Sumeru before everything went to shit. Luckily for the two stowaways in her bag, they've fallen to the bottom thanks to her tossing the knapsack onto the bed. Yoimiya remains blissfully unaware that a towel shields the stinkers from her eyes. Her poor, sweat-soaked kimono is gonna need a serious wash when they get to land, but for now, she's happy to relax in something more comfortable while they're finally allowed a little bit of reprieve.

Once he's finished with their order, her eyes wander back over to him. Of course, the little degenerate has to admire him while he's changing. Yoimiya could be ready to pass out from exhaustion, and she'd still take the time to admire those toned muscles and his physique that looks like he's been blessed by the gods themselves. Even decked out in just a simple white linen shirt and pants, he looks a prince from the far north. She almost gets why Columbina wants to sink her claws into him. Almost. The Third Harbinger is still a few bricks short of a load... ]

Here I thought you'd be more fired up about duking it out with your coworkers; you must be beyond exhausted.

[ Yoimiya sets her bag on the floor to make more room for them. The mattress is calling her name, and she wastes no time making herself comfortable, looking over at him and beckoning him to join her as she pats the large space next to her. ]

Even big, bad Harbingers need their rest, hehe. With any luck, we might finally have a peaceful vacation.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Turning around, he sees his lovely Yoimiya in a very pretty sundress taking up one side of the bed. He takes the invitation without hesitation, hopping onto his side of the bed and cuddling up right next to her. He made sure to ask for trays for them so they could dine right here in bed if they so chose to, so Yoimiya won't have to do anything but make sure she's sitting up to eat. Who could say no to a nice, soft bed like this one.

Tartaglia gives her a sly smile as he presses himself against her side, unabashedly eliminating the space between them before giving her a brief, yet deep kiss now that they've gotten a little settled. He plans on enjoying the ride back as much as possible, and kissing Yoimiya is only the start of it.]

I hope so. Exhausted barely covers it. I'll need all the rest I can get while we're traveling back to Snezhnaya.

[He feels like he could sleep for a week. He wouldn't even know if the mattress sucked after sleeping on Aramiya's bed.]

But, I wouldn't dream of sacrificing the precious bit of alone time we finally are afforded...

[Tartaglia moves to kiss her again, leaving the two stowaways to wonder to themselves what on earth the Nara are doing right now. Arajax moves through the clothing in the bag a little to peek out silently, getting a full view of the two of them kissing each other. His beady eyes widen in surprise, and he ducks back into the bag, looking at Aramiya like she definitely shouldn't go out there.]

[niwabi]

[ Oh, that deep, sweeping kiss is enough to take her breath away. Though they've been through many trials and tribulations together, it's moments like these in which Yoimiya wouldn't trade Ajax for the world. Even if she has to take on a hundred Seraphinas, she'd fight a thousand of them if it meant preserving their love.

Yoimiya's heart feels like it's going to burst from all the love he's pouring into her. Deep down inside, she's aware that fighting is his one true love, the most important aspect in his life, and what he truly lives for. So for him to set something so deeply important to him to the side speaks volumes about his love for her. She's touched and for the first time in a long while, she feels like crying tears of joy instead of sorrow as he pulls her into another kiss that she is all too happy to reciprocate. ]

Mm. I love you so much, Ajax. Now that we're finally alone, I want to make the most out of our precious time together. I'll show you how much you meant to me...

[ By that, she brings a hand to the back of his head, threading her fingers into his curly ginger hair as she slots their lips together, pouring all of her love, admiration, and devotion into this deep kiss. Now that they're finally alone, she just wants to be with him. She doesn't need anything else, just Ajax.

Except...

Still buried under a shirt, Aramiya is having a tough time even popping her head out of the bag. Her beady eyes watch Arajax peek out of the hole just to immediately return. The yellow Aranara tilts her head in confusion, wondering what her friend saw that made him look like he's seen some shit. ]

What's going on, Arajax...?

[ This sweet summer Aranara......... ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Having her all to himself like this is like heaven. The fingers in his hair turn him on faster than even flicking on a light switch, enjoying the feel of her tongue against his own as they kiss. He lets out a few happy groans as they do so, letting himself get lost in her kiss and focusing on the only thing that matters to him in this moment- Yoimiya. Just as much love and devotion is poured in return, reciprocating her feelings for him in full, and everything seems to be going well until he hears the tiniest voice from the knapsack on the end of the bed.

Ajax immediately stops kissing Yoimiya to whip his head around and look at the knapsack, his eyes wide and his mind returning to when they were in the hotel.

He was right. He was right. There were Aranara following them! He just didn't think they'd stowaway!!!!]

You little stinkers!!!!

[BUSTED. He reaches over to grab the bag and lifts it up to shake the two little plant ninjas out of it.]

I knew I heard some Aranara follow us back to the city!

[niwabi]

[ Yoimiya gives him a look laced with disappointment and confusion when he suddenly rips his mouth away from hers. She was enjoying that kiss, thank you very much! But then she gets why he did it as she watches him grab the knapsack to unveil two little stinkers.

On any other day, hearing Ajax refer to anyone as "a little stinker" would be funny, but right now, she's in disbelief at what she's seeing. Arajax and Aramiya falling out of the bag like two little mischievous rats. ]

So it was Y'ALL we heard when we left the village.

[ Oops. It's in this instance, Aramiya knew, they fucked up. ]

Oh no... the jig is up. Oh, Arajax, Aramiya is so sorry she couldn't keep her mouth shut.

[ The little plant creature looks over at Arajax, then back to the pair, trying to look small, cute, and as innocent as she possibly could. Seems like she's definitely picked up a few rascal tricks from her Nara counterpart but it isn't working! ]

Hey! Don't think you can get out of this one by acting cute. Y'all ARE little stinkers!!!

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia is definitely going to back up Yoimiya on this one- and in fact, he seems a bit more agitated than Yoimiya might be. He was already worried about Yoimiya, Avin, and Aralauka, but now...]

What are you two doing here? You were supposed to stay back in Vanaranara to train!

[This is bad. They'd already taken off from the port, and it would be hard to get the captain to turn back around and allow Ajax to drop off a few invisible stowaways.]

Where we're going is extremely dangerous, and is no place for an Aranara to be in. I don't need you both becoming prisoners of Dottore too.

[He couldn't be more serious, and Arajax seems to understand. But whether he cares about that is a different story, standing strong in the face of the annoyed Harbinger.]

We couldn't let Nara do this alone! We heard about the scary Nara that is doing terrible things to Red and Orange Nara. We can help. I'm strong, and you know it!

[niwabi]

We appreciate the help, and we know you're strong, but Ajax is right. Our destination is extremely dangerous. Dottore is not a guy y'all can play around with. Worst case scenario is he'll show an interest in the two of you and capture y'all as his next experiments.

[ And that's the last thing that needs to happen. Not to mention, they have a suspicious resemblance to their Nara counterparts. If there's anyone sharp enough to pick up on that, it's Dottore and Archons, they do not need him giving them more grief on top of their stress-filled plate. ]

We know it's dangerous! Arajax and I discussed this, but we still came to the same agreement: we can't let our Nara friends do this alone. Aralauka is our friend too! We can't just leave him all by himself.

[ Yoimiya pauses, suddenly feeling conflicted. Despite the danger... she gets it. She understands the feeling of wanting to help, even if it's putting herself at risk. It immediately reminds her of begging and pleading to help in the fight against Columbina. And if Arajax and Aramiya truly are their counterparts... she knows they won't take no for an answer.

But still, she's also concerned about their safety. Her gaze flickers over to Ajax, wondering about his opinion on the matter. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Sighing, he can't believe that they're having this argument with a couple of sentient dream plants. He meets Yoimiya's gaze with one of his own, but he's just as conflicted about it. Tartaglia can't really blame anyone for wanting to face down the danger to save their friend. If it were him, he'd do the same as them. Arajax is just as confident in his strength as Childe is about himself, so it makes sense he'd want to come.

Aramiya probably didn't want Arajax to go by himself, so she offered to come. That's what he's guessing. Maybe she thought she could help too somehow...]

We appreciate you guys thinking of us and of Aralauka, really, we do. But this one's not a challenge you can go into without knowing exactly what you're dealing with. It's unwise to go into combat while in the dark to your opponent's abilities.

Don't think you can get rid of us that easily, [retorts Arajax,] we can handle ourselves. Maybe we'll even beat the big bad Nara instead, if you don't believe in your own abilities, here.

[That seems to light something on fire inside of Tartaglia- he curls his lip upwards in a scowl, having being challenged by the little plant like that...]

We can have a little one-on-one right now if you'd like to test that theory, you know...

[They're! Starting! A! Fight!]

[niwabi]

That's right! We're not leaving until Aralauka is safe and sound. There's no way we can sit back in the village and not know what's happening. Aramiya will also join the fight if it means we get to rescue our friend!

[ Oooooh goodness. Arajax and Aramiya are such spitting images of them it hurts. Yoimiya has seen this same song and dance before; it reminds her of when she argued with Ajax to get involved in the fight with Columbina. So, she gets it! Their declaration is enough to tug at her heart, tempting her to give in to their plant friends.

But just when she thought the situation couldn't get wilder, Ajax challenges his plant counterpart. She looks at him, eyes wide with shock. Normally, she'd throw her full support for her battle loving sweetheart but in this instance... ]

Huh?! Hey! I get that you guys want to prove yourselves. Believe me, I understand the sentiment...

[ She too, challenged Ajax for her own rights, so she completely understands. However, there's just one problem with this duel. ]

We're on a ship! There's not enough room for y'all to have a brawl in here. What will the other guests think if they hear us?!

[monoceroscaeli]

[Childe sits glowering at Arajax, feeling the burn of a fight rising in his blood. No doubt it would be fun to fight his plant counterpart again, but Yoimiya's right. This isn't the time or a place for a fight, and they wouldn't be able to go all out here. It wouldn't end up being nearly as fun or fulfilling.

So he folds his arms over his chest, fighting back the urge to throw hands right here in the cabin. He'd rather be having intimate time with Yoimiya right now anyway, but as it stands that's not going to be an option.]

Fine, fine, [he concedes, letting out a huff.] She's right. This is no place for a fight. We'll have to have our duel once we reach the shores of Snezhnaya.

[Arajax too, folds his stubby little arms over his chest.]

Fine by me. I've wanted a rematch anyway! I've already gotten stronger since we last fought!

[A knock at the door cuts through the argument, as the food has finally arrived. Arajax immediately moves quickly to hide back in the bag on the bed, as Tartaglia's head snaps in the direction of the door.]

Coming! [he calls, as he gets up to answer, giving Yoimiya's leg a pat.] Make sure they're quiet...

[niwabi]

[ Yoimiya darts her eyes back and forth between Orange Nara and his Aranara counterpart. An amused smile pulls at her lips, it's impossible not to be amused at both of them crossing their arms simultaneously. Archons above, they really are two peas in a pod. The smile on her face grows wider until she's grinning from ear-to-ear, fighting the urge to laugh at them is proving to be her most difficult challenge yet.

Thankfully, the two of them agree to her suggestion. Although she doesn't mind watching them fight (and even wants to see a rematch), there's no way they can go all out on a boat and that's just not fun for anyone involved. Satisfied with his response, Yoimiya shoots him a sweet smile laced with gratitude as he gets up to answer the door. ]

Got it! [ She turns her attention to the Aranara, whispering to them: ] Okay you two, stay close by me...

[ Meanwhile, Aramiya's beady eyes are sparkling like stars in the night sky. Quiet? What's that??? Someone didn't get the memo as she proceeds to open her mouth. ]

Oooh! Is that more Nara foo—

[ In the span of 0.5 seconds, Yoimiya quickly clamps her hand over the chatty Aramiya's mouth. Inwardly, she sighs at herself, wondering if this is what other people have to put up with. Between Arajax's desire to pick fights and Aramiya running her motor mouth, they have their hands full with these two trouble-making Aranara.

Maybe it's time for some self-reflection... ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Arajax follows instructions well enough, keeping his mouth shut while Ajax goes to answer the door. He's thankful for Red Nara, keeping Aramiya quiet...something he fails to do on a regular basis. Tartaglia makes sure his body blocks most of the view of the room, taking the large serving tray instead of letting the employee bring it in for them. He thanks them, closing the door behind him with his foot in an impressive balancing act with the tray in front of him, setting it down on the small table with relief.

Arajax comes out from his hiding spot in the bag, to look at all the delicious Nara food that was just brought in. He smells it, wondering how on earth the others in the village would ever hope to emulate it.]

Dinner is served. Sorry you two, if I'd of known you were here I would have ordered something for you guys as well. To be honest, I'm not even sure if you can eat Nara food.

[Arajax looks like he's practically drooling. He realizes this a bit late, wiping the side of his mouth to try to hide it, but he's never smelled something so good before.]

We don't have anything like this in the village...

[niwabi]

[ Phew... the coast is clear. Any longer and she would have been forced to shove Aramiya into the bag. Yoimiya lets out a sigh of relief when Ajax returns while experting balancing a serving tray in one hand. Giggling, she claps at his balancing act, impressed that he could hold it, thank the server, close the door with one foot, and return without dropping anything. Her boyfriend's talents are abundant!!!

Ajax isn't the only silly one. If she wasn't so hungry, Yoimiya might have doubled over with laughter at Arajax drooling. Gonna make a note to poke fun at her drooly boyfriend later, the similarities keep piling up. Likewise, a waterfall threatens to spill out of Aramiya's mouth as she gazes at the food. They haven't eaten since leaving the village and hunger is now hitting her. ]

We don't! This is Aramiya's first time seeing a feast like this. Can we try?!

I don't see why not. Dig in! We can always order more food.

[ Without further ado, Aramiya digs in, grabbing little portions of food with her stubby arms. It's so cute and ughhhhhh, she just wants to pick up the buggers and give them a squeeze. Despite being disappointed they won't have any intimate time together, Yoimiya isn't unhappy with this turn of events. She was already beginning to miss the little stinkers, seeing them again brings her joy. ]

Well, I didn't expect to have stowaways on our trip but it's not all bad! We can introduce them to Teucer, Tonia, and Anthon when we're back in Snezhnaya. Maybe your siblings can keep them occupied.

[ She can already picture Teucer bouncing off the walls upon seeing a little plant creature resembling his brother. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

Hey, wait-

[Too late. Yoimiya gave the go ahead and Aramiya didn't hesitate for a second to getting to the food. He watches her pick up a part of a steaming hot potato, along with some bit of meat and a few vegetables. Parts of cut up Harra Fruit get taken as well, which she should be able to handle now that she's had some of Yoimiya's spicy salad. Guess they'll find out if Aranara can handle Nara food.

Resigning to his loss, Ajax starts to take portions of his own food from the tray, as Arajax joins him by his side to eat a bit of meat. He's never had meat before, testing it on his tongue before gobbling it down.]

Mmmmmm, is your Nara brothers and sisters as strong as you?

[Keeping on the right thought track here, Arajax is clearly interested because he wants to fight someone else, and any and all challenges are accepted. Tartaglia looks down at him with a warning glare however, shaking his head at the small little Aranara.]

They certainly will keep these two occupied, [he says, answering Yoimiya,] but they really don't know how to fight yet. They need to reach that conclusion on their own if they want to begin to learn. Teucer has decided he wants to learn to fight, but I haven't had much of an opportunity to teach them, so you two will have to play with them instead. No rough housing.

[Looking to Yoimiya, he can already see these two getting in his hair.]

I hope that they'll all get along so we can work out our plans. We'll need that crucial time. But keeping these two at home sounds like a good idea...they shouldn't be easily reached there.

[niwabi]

[ Look at Aramiya go. Despite the food being unfamiliar, she doesn't hesitate for a second, diving in to grab little portions of everything with no fear. She looks so happy taking bits and pieces to another plate, especially for her. Yoimiya can't stop the giggles from spilling out as she pushes the plate towards her companion and even gives pours of water for her in a bowl.

Tuning back to the conversation, Yoimiya's chest buzzes with warmth at the thought of Teucer taking up the mantle from his older brother. No doubt he's interested in fighting because of Ajax. It's cute and sweet even if she's worried about him. But! Since he'll be learning from his brother, she's sure he'll grow up to be a strong fighter one day. ]

That's right! They're still kids so make sure you go easy on them. Ajax's siblings are full of energy, so even if they're not fighting, they'll give you a good workout just from playing with them. You'll be running all over the place with them, hehehehe.

[ Yoimiya definitely knows from experience. Maybe if they're lucky, the three siblings can wear their Aranara counterparts out and make them pass out from exhaustion before their confrontation with Dottore. ]

Aramiya wants to meet Orange Nara brothers and sisters! [ She says with a mouth full of Harra Fruit. ] If they're anything like you, I'm sure they're wonderful kids. Oooh, Arajax! Maybe we can show them some of the games we play back at the village?

[ She's still talking with a mouth full of food... don't mind the pieces flying out.

But it's settled! Although Yoimiya still can't believe the two stinkers snuck on board with them, this might turn out to be a net positive. Make Teucer, Tonia, and Anthon happy, get them new friends, AND provide a distraction for the rascal Aranara? That's a win in her book. Beaming, Yoimiya turns her attention back to Ajax, satisfied that they might be able to shoo them away before the going gets tough. ]

Sounds like they're sold on the idea too. If Tonia has any doll clothes, we can bundle them up in cute little jackets to keep them warm. If you're relationship with Teucer is anything to go by, I don't think we have to worry about them not getting along. They might even become partners in crime.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Well, he at least likes where this conversation is going. Getting both Aramiya and Arajax on board with staying at home and playing with his siblings is a lot better than the two of them insisting on joining them in the conflict that's unavoidable once they reach Snezhnaya. It's worth having food flying out of Aramiya's mouth, which is both gross and somehow endearing at the same time, to which he just stays silent on and lets her do whatever she wants.]

Now that's not the thing I needed to hear, hahaha.

[He has flashbacks to Teucer showing up in Liyue unannounced, just as these two little rascals have also shown up on the boat to Snezhnaya unannounced. He doesn't need Arajax and Teucer coming up with schemes and plans that would endanger themselves.]

We'll have to use those clothes from Tonia's doll collection to bundle them up and tie them to the tea party table...

[Arajax, who has moved now to fuss a little over Aramiya spitting food out of her mouth while she's talking (Aramiya! Chew with your mouth closed...) hears this and turns.]

No way we're getting holed up in your Nara house! We came to help, don't forget!

[niwabi]

[ Nom nom nom. Aramiya continues noming away at the veggies without a care in the world. For the sake of not spitting food ib, she finally listens to him and actually closes her mouth to eat like a proper lady... Aranara. (Sorry! It was soooooooo good.) She perks up at Ajax's comment, instantly turning her head toward him to back up her friend. ]

That's right! We ain't here to sit around. We want to help!

[ Likewise, Yoimiya finishes swallowing a piece of meat and turns her attention to her grumpy boyfriend. ]

Ajax...

[ She doesn't mean to gang up on him but his snappy comment at her joke and the bit about tying the Aranara to a tea party table felt a little rude. ]

Now, I know this situation isn't the most ideal but there's no need to act grouchy to them. I don't approve of them being here either but I can respect that they want to help.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia holds up his hands, looking apologetic.]

Kidding, kidding...I won't tie them to any table...

[He'll leave them to make up their mind on if he was serious or if that was just some Snezhnayan humor or not. Everyone's turning on him here and he'd rather focus on eating than getting ganged up on, so he shuts his mouth about it. He wasn't entirely convinced that tying Arajax to anything would stop the little guy anyway, so...

He shoves some food in his mouth, pushing the issue aside for him to deal with once they return to Snezhnaya. Tartaglia feels like he's going to need some fresh air after this, just so he has a way to clear his head. Why is he always managing to find stowaways? First his brother, now these Aranara.]

Anyway, after dinner I think I'd like a little stroll around the boat. There's a lot of other Nara on the boat, so maybe it's best you two stay in here while Yoimiya and I go.

[He still wants his alone time with Yoi, too. >:|]