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

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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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[Thankful for the fact that Yoimiya isn't joining in on the teasing quite yet, he breathes a small sigh of relief as his girlfriend introduces herself. He's not completely used to their ways of meeting people quite yet- Inazumans are incredibly polite, and he's glad his mother hadn't reached out for a handshake or anything, as he'd warned her not to prior to their meeting. Though, he hadn't really known what to tell her how to greet Yoimiya back, but he's sure she's not offended.]

Of course, we're so happy that you could come visit. It must of been such a long ride for you here in the far north. How are you liking Snezhnaya so far? Is it as pretty as he's surely waxed poetic about?

[He'll leave those two to converse for a moment, walking over to a door that leads out to an enclosed porch, walking out there for a moment before returning with what looks like a bottle of wine which he sets on the center island of the kitchen. He quickly pours two glasses out for them, handing them over so they could have a little drink while they got to know each other.]

What's wrong with expressing my love of Snezhnaya's beauty? I love my country just as much as the next person, [he says, not taking that comment lying down.]

[ Poor Tartaglia... she's watching a mother embarrassing her son right in front of her eyes and it's hilarious. Sorry boyfriend, she can't stop the giggles slipping out of her lips as he pours them glasses of wine. The whiplash from Lord Tartaglia commanding over his men to a good mama's boy is really quite endearing. She's all smiles, bringing the cup to her lips to enjoy the taste of the wine on her tongue, along with drinking in Ajax's funny reaction.

Yeah, she definitely sees where the son gets his mischievous nature from. His mother is an absolute riot. ]

Snezhnaya is absolutely stunning! Hehe, his flowery poetics described the beautiful country perfectly. [ ONCE AGAIN SORRY BOYFRIEND, she can't help herself with this one. ] I've never seen this much snow in my entire life.

[ IT'S SO MUCH SNOW... her beach-loving heart still can't believe it. And oh boy, she's looking forward to playing in it with his family. ]

Have you lived in Snezhnaya your whole life?

[At least someone's appreciating his poetry. Tartaglia will gladly look proud of his choice of words, pouring himself some wine as well for the moment- he feels like with his mother here, he might need it. Surely she'll break out the baby stories about him soon enough, and he's going to need to be a little loose for that.]

Oh yes, myself and his father have lived in this little village our whole lives, we met here when we were little...I suppose you could say I got to marry my childhood friend. Everyone in the village was delighted when we were engaged, and it's one of the most memorable weeks of my life.

[He can see what's going on here, and Tartaglia quickly clears his throat because mom we are moving on from the subject of marriage thank you, changing the subject to stay away from any more potentially embarrassing topics.]

Yes, and now she has a son that spoils her rotten every chance he gets, [he adds, sipping from his wine glass as he turns to Yoimiya.] Mother's birthday is coming up, and I've managed to keep her gift a secret from her. Every single year, she somehow catches wind of what I've gotten her, but I've taken every precaution this year to keep that from happening. Perhaps I can ask you to help me with this year's gift to her, Yoimiya.

[He smiles at her, before turning his eyes towards his mom with a mischievous grin. NOT THIS YEAR, LADY.]

[ As she listens to Tartaglia's mother, Yoimiya's chest bubbles with tender warmth as she imagines his father proposing to her in the most romantic fashion, the entire village of Morepesok celebrating their marriage to a breathtaking wedding near the ocean. But before she gets a chance to inquire, her son quickly changes the subject! She can't help but giggle, the poor guy has been embarrassed enough as it is.

Not to mention, the topic of marriage is a bit too soon for a couple that's only been dating for a few months. He still needs to meet her parents before they consider tying the knot... ~~SWEATS NERVOUSLY AT SEASONS~~ ]

Oh! Yes! It'll be an honor to help pick out a present! If we work together, I'm sure we can come up with a surprise that she won't see coming, hehe.

[ To throw her off, it'll have to be something from Inazuma, she ponders to herself, already formulating ideas. Suddenly, a glimmer of realization reflects in Yoimiya's honey-colored eyes. That's right! She can't forget the presents!! ]

Speaking of gifts! [ She turns to Tartaglia. ] Do you know where your men placed that chest? I brought some presents from Inazuma to give to your whole family.

[Crisis averted, for now. He's gotten his mother off of the topic of marriage, knowing full well that she wants her son to tie the knot with a nice girl and settle down, despite the fact that she knows that he's a Harbinger and can't do any such thing for the foreseeable future. Bless his mom, but she's really got to keep that mischievous side out of this for the time being, he can't be making any promises he can't keep here...]

Ah, yes! I placed the chest upstairs in the room you'll be sleeping in tonight.

[Going to not say it's in his room in front of his mom, here. Not yet, not till later. They just met, and he doesn't want to starting throwing that kind of thing right in her face.]

I can take you up there. Mother, you don't mind if we head upstairs for a moment, do you?

[He smiles at her, that face saying everything. Let them go upstairs for a minute, have a little moment to themselves, and they'll be right down with gifts.]

Oh, yes of course, you two go fetch those gifts. Thank you Yoimiya, you shouldn't have. That's so very thoughtful of you, to think of us all the way up here in the cold north.

[ The room she'll be sleeping in... should be Ajax's room! Yoimiya picks up the vagueness in his response, happily nodding her head. Good call on his part to keep their sleeping situation on the down low for the time being. While it wouldn't surprise her if his mother eventually figured it out on her own, it wouldn't be proper to be so overt about it on their first meeting. ]

You're welcome. It's the least I could do for inviting me into your lovely home. I wanted to bring you all a little slice of Inazuma.

[ And one day, she hopes that his family will be able to visit her country. It will be a little crammed up in her family's tiny Inazuman home with his huge family but she's looking forward to housing all of them. As soon as they're out of the kitchen, Yoimiya reaches over for Ajax's hand, lacing their fingers together as they make their way upstairs. ]

Thank you for showing me the way. You're such a gentleman, hehe.

[ A gentlemanly Harbinger! For his chivalry, he deserves a well-earned kiss to the cheek. ♥ ]

[Tartaglia excuses both of them from the kitchen, his fingers twining with hers when she takes his hand. It's soft and warm, and at the same time feels so small in his grip. He doesn't know how to describe it, but it feels like something worth protecting, this feeling of warmth and closeness that he gets from her. The kiss is the cherry on top, making his heart flutter a little bit, the realization that Yoimiya is here, in his home and meeting his family finally starting to settle in.

As they climb the wooden stairway up to his room, he grins back at her, the ghost of her lips on his cheek still tingling his skin.]

Of course. We'e got to get you settled in, right? Come, it's just down the hall.

[Reaching the top of the stairs, the pair is greeted by a hallway that leads to several rooms, the finishing matching that of the cedar that the home was built with. Pictures line the walls of the family in various settings, all framed and hung up for anyone to view. Decorative wall amulets with Snezhnayan patterns are hung up among the various pictures, and at the end of the hall is a window with a cute wooden table sporting a vase of flowers. It's a strange sight given the endless snow outside, but Tartaglia doesn't seem to pay them any mind, swinging into a large room right on the end on the left next to the window.]

Right in here.

[The room itself looks bigger than what one would imagine this cabin would hold. A bed sits in front of a giant window that takes up the whole wall, letting light shine in without any issues. It seems there's a way to bring a giant blind down if Ajax wishes, but otherwise there's a gorgeous view of the Snezhnayan countryside from the window with the water from the ocean visible through the trees. He also has his own personal bath that's attached to the room, the door off to the right to a spacious room filled with all the necessities of having a comfortable bath. A small couch and chair is found in another corner of the room, where he can have his own personal time to work on things for the Fatui or just to crash if he wants.

Tartaglia lets go of her hand to go sit on his bed, letting her to wander around and take a look all she wants. But when she's ready, he'll be waiting for her right next to him.]

Make yourself at home. You'll be here for a while, so as far as I'm concerned, my home is your home.

[ As they make their descent up the stairs, Yoimiya marvels at all the rooms lining the vast hallway. From the moment she first laid eyes on their home, she's been enamored by the cedar cabin that stands proudly in the pristine white snow, and with each step she takes, the house has an even more beautiful presence on the inside. Even more so with the knowledge that Ajax had this house built for his family after becoming a Harbinger, their safe space from Snezhnaya's harsh weather is one of the most splendid sights she's ever seen. It warms her heart knowing that he had this cabin built from the ground up out of love for his family.

Every decoration is like a work of art that Yoimiya can't help but stop and awe at. She fondly smiles at the frames displayed on the wall, the portraits tell a story of a large family with a love for one another as vast as Snezhnaya itself. A singular vase filled with pink flowers easily catches her attention, an unexpected sight in part due to the land encased in ice but it only adds to the cozy atmosphere of their lovely home.

And for the grand finale, they wind up in Ajax's room. Immediately upon stepping in, Yoimiya's eyes grow wide at the splendid view of the frosty countryside and the stunning ocean right outside his window. She quickly drops off her bag on top of the yumemiru chest containing his family's gifts before making her way closer to the window to get an even better view of the fantastical scenery. Once she's had her fill, she makes sure to do a quick look around of her beloved's room. There's not a single speck of dirt or dust, everything is clean and immaculate. The spacious bath looks amazing, already exciting her to dive in and get cozy. And from the corner of her eye, she spots a cute chair and couch, it makes her wonder how much Fatui work he still has to take care of while visiting his family.

Now that she's got a good tour of the place, she joins Ajax at his bed, gingerly placing her hand on top of his. Thanks to him, she feels so perfectly at home. ]

It's so wonderful, your house gets even more beautiful the more I explore. Thank you so much, Ajax. I feel right at home.

[His eyes follow her as she explores, smiling when she gets to the large window. It really is a wonderful sight, it's one that he enjoys waking up to every morning that he's actually able to be home for. The best part about this now is that he'll get to wake up to it with Yoimiya at his side, and he couldn't of asked for a better moment. Ajax stays silent only to point out small things, like 'hey, there's a small closet in there too' and chuckle quietly at her intrigue to know how her boyfriend lives when he's at home.]

I'm glad to know you'll find it easy to settle in here. Be careful, you may never want to leave.

[He grins at her as he takes her hand, holding it up in front of his mouth to plant a small, gentle kiss to the back of her fingers, his other hand brushing the rest of the back of her hand. Tartaglia lets his gaze lock with hers, as if he were trying entice her to stay with him here in this snowy landscape forever, seeing how strong she was or if she'd melt and truly never leave.

Not that he would mind. Nothing would make him happier than to wake up by her side every day he's able.]

There's no need to go back down quite so quickly either. We can have a few moments to ourselves before bringing the gifts back down.

[ The gentle kiss to her hand incites a soft sigh to spill from her mouth, those lips that she's been yearning for feel like heavenly bliss against her skin. Those beautiful blue eyes are like a honey trap, tempting her to forgo Inazuma and stay in this icy tundra with him forever. An offer that she seriously might consider. The time they spent apart from each other was excruciating, every second felt like a knife was twisting at her heart. And now that they've reunited, she wishes for this moment to be frozen in time so they never have to part again.

But... she also knows her boyfriend appreciates a good challenge. And his competitive girlfriend is here to give him just that. ]

Quite the confident man, aren't ya? I got my work cut out for me but... I'll try not to fall for your charms too much. Or else you might really trap me here, hehe.

[ The truth of the matter is, it truly isn't going to take much for Yoimiya to become ensnared in his charms. He already has her heart in his grasp. The longer she stays in Snezhnaya, the more enticing it will be to live here.

Her free hand comes up to cup the side of his face, gently stroking his cheek with her thumb. It's been so long since they've gotten to touch each other like this and she wishes to savor every single second of it. ]

I'd love to stay with you but... won't it be rude to keep your mom waiting?

[He can appreciate her effort to try to not let herself fall into his trap, for he'd keep her all to himself and make sure her mom and dad were well taken care of back in Inazuma if it meant he could come home to see her every time he returns from missions. It's selfish, and if he had it his way he'd move her parents out here too, but he knows deep down that Naganohara needs to exist in Inazuma- it's a deep part of their culture. He'll think about how to make sure he has his cake and eat it too. Mora would be no obstacle.

His head moves along with her hand, enjoying the feel of her skin against his, the brush of her thumb on his cheek making goosebumps form on his arms. He missed it more than even he'd realized, craving for more, but knowing they don't have the time to completely indulge in themselves.]

She'll be fine for a few extra minutes, [he says, his head leaning in close to hers,] I did have to get you settled in, and I don't think we've properly done that yet.

[Tartaglia doesn't leave room for a response, instantly slotting his lips with hers to pull her deeply into a kiss, filled with ardor and a promise to give her the best time of her life while she stays with him here in Snezhnaya. He opens his mouth just so to let her come and drink of him as much as she likes, his hand coming up to her cheek just to intertwine them more as he pours all of his adoration into it. A small moment of passion before they have to return back downstairs, but one he doesn't want her to forget on her first day in the country.

Even so, he feels dizzy from just kissing her, his senses overwhelmed by Yoimiya's presence alone. When he finally breaks from her, the look on his face is almost stupid from the feeling of love for her that's welled up in his chest, like she's the entire universe and he's lucky enough to be in it.]

[ The kiss is everything she could have asked for and more. She returns his affections in full, drowning and drinking in the impeccable delight of his mouth she's craved for so long. A wordless response is conveyed through her tongue sliding between his lips to dance with his, she's very eager to take advantage of their alone time. Sorry Mama Ajax. The gifts temporarily sip from her mind as she deeply kisses him over and over again to make up for their separation. Everything about this passionate moment is oh-so-wonderful. She melts at the tender warmth of his hand cupping her cheek, enamored by the taste of his love spilling into her with every pass of his lips.

And when it's over, Yoimiya is left breathless, utterly lost in Ajax's magnificence. The expression on his handsome face is one of the most beautiful sights she's ever witnessed, more stunning than any firework she could ever create. She's so lucky to be in love with such a wonderful person... just staring at him draws out a loving sigh that spills out of her lips. And in turn, her face reflects that of someone who is hopelessly in love with the man who shines brighter than any of the stars in the galaxy. ]

Mmm... now I feel properly settled in.

[ He sure knows how to make a girl feel welcome. Giggling, her index finger comes up to gently boop his nose. She leans in, pressing another kiss in the corner of his mouth. ]

I've missed you so so much. Our reunion feels like a dream come true.

[The whole world around them seems to have a sort of ardent feel to it, as if it took on a warm hue that follows wherever Yoimiya is. Even the soft boop leaves the tip of his nose tingling, his whole body more sensitive to her and her touch, open and receptive to anything she'd want for. All she'd have to do is ask. The feeling of longing he'd had for her is finally satiated temporarily, breathing out a sigh of content at the kiss she gives him. They finally get to be with each other longer than a day, and he's determined to make every second of it count.]

I've missed you too. I'm beyond overjoyed that we were able to set this little trip up for you. I've been restless waiting for your arrival.

[Tartaglia moves forward to press his forehead to hers, closing his eyes. All he wants now is to soak in her presence here, next to him. Like it's not imaginary that she's finally here after all these longs months apart. The letters were nice, and he always was excited to get a letter from her, but it was never enough.]

How have you been? Are your parents well?

[ Yoimiya hums softly as he leans in to press their foreheads together. Her eyes close shut to bask in his comforting presence. It's been far too long since they got to be together. Sense of longing, feeling as though she's missing a vital piece, yearning for his touch, never before has a separation been so painful. It's still hard to believe this isn't a fantasy but so long as she has Ajax at her side, Yoimiya would never wish to wake up from this lovely dream. ]

My parents and I have been well. They were just as excited as I was about the trip. [ She giggles, reminiscing about her papa's joy and her mama triple-checking her luggage to make sure her daughter has everything packed. ] Before I left, the two of them had already begun making plans for when you back to Inazuma. They're ecstatic to meet you.

[ They have all the time in the world and she's determined to make the most of it. Her hands seek his, sliding her fingers in between his to remind herself that this isn't a dream. Ajax is truly right in front of her, they finally get to be together once more. ]

Your family are all wonderful people. I feel so blessed to have the chance to meet them. How have they been?

[He's glad to hear that everything has been fine back in Inazuma for Yoimiya and her folks. He'd use all his power to make sure they were safe- whether that's an abuse of his power or not is irrelevant to him- and he's glad that it seems like after their little excursion around Inazuma City that it hadn't come back on the Naganohara family. If it had, he's not so sure if they'd be so ecstatic to meet him...]

Thank you for asking. Mother has been doing well, but Father is still fighting with his cough. I have medicine sent from Liyue to help with it, and Dr. Baizhu has done the best he can to help create a medication that soothes Father's throat and cuts down on the coughing. But it's still there, so we deal with it as well as we can from day to day.

[He tries to make it not sound all that serious, because it isn't, not yet. For now, it just makes him more grumpy and mildly annoying to deal with. His dad will be fine, he doesn't want to make her worry.]

Do your parents know who I am yet...?

[He wants to make that trip back to Inazuma sometime in the near future. If he's not being deployed somewhere, he's going to take every single day of vacation he's allowed.]

I can't imagine how surprised they'll be to hear who their beloved daughter has involved herself with...

[ She's happy that not only his family is doing well, but he's been around to spend time with them. It is saddening that their father's symptoms don't seem to be letting up. But if Ajax is sure his dad will be fine, she'll try not to fret too much. Still, she wants to help. ]

I brought ingredients to brew homemade tea, ginger, and lemon tea are most Inazuman's go-to's for alleviating throat problems. It's not like Dr. Baizhu's medicines but I hope it helps your father even a little bit.

[ Before leaving on her trip, Yoimiya made sure to ask Ayaka for tea brewing advice. She's not nearly as skilled as the Shirasagi Himegimi but her friend taught her well. If there's anything she can do to help Ajax's sweet family, Yoimiya is willing to do anything and everything for all of them. ]

They don't. I wanted to wait and share that fact with them whenever you're ready to tell them the truth.

[ At his question, she gives his hands a gentle, reassuring squeeze. She understands that meeting her parents must be nerve-wracking for him, especially when you take his status as a Fatui into consideration. It's a scary step to take, one that will eventually have to happen. However, there is a reason why Yoimiya grew up to be so open-minded. ]

Don't worry Ajax, I have faith they will love you. They've always been such kindhearted, accepting people and I have no doubts they'll see you for the wonderful man you truly are.

[He seems to breathe out a sigh of relief at her words. It's actually important to him to make a good impression on Yoimiya's parents, and he knows that's going to be a lot easier said than done given his background. But if she thinks everything will be okay, then he'll believe her and have faith it'll work out somehow. All he can do is hope and pray that they don't have disdain towards the Fatui somehow...but a good sign of that is that Yoimiya doesn't. If they do, they didn't pass it down to her.

Nodding, he leans back a little bit so he can take a moment to study her face, admiring every little detail of it, memorizing every curve and inch of her as best he can to try to etch this into his memory. It's terribly sweet of her to bring things along that might even remotely help with his father's cough.]

Thank you. It's my hope that I can prove to them that I'm worthy of being with their daughter. The last thing I want is there to be turbulence in our relationship because they disapproved of the two of us being together.

[Tartaglia runs his thumb over the knuckles of her hand, enjoying the comfort of the warmth of it.]

Thankfully that won't be an issue here. My mother already approves and I'm sure you'll easily win my father over with your conscientiousness. You didn't have to go out of your way to bring tea for him like that. I know he'll appreciate it.

[ If she's able to provide him with even the slightest sense of relief then it feels like she's done her job. Meeting her parents might be one of the most nail-biting tasks the Harbinger has had to face but Yoimiya is confident he'll win their trust in no time. Once they see how sweet and caring he is, she's sure they will see past his allegiances and happily accept him as part of their family. In turn, she'll do her part to ease any concerns they might have.

Relief floods her heart from the brush of his thumbs and his reassuring words. She's overjoyed to earn a seal of approval from his siblings and mother. And now, all that's left is to win his father's favor. Ajax has given her a confidence boost, all she has to do is be herself but there's still that hint of nervousness lingering about since this is his father and she wants nothing more than to be accepted. ]

Hehe, I wanted to! I wish to do anything I can to help him feel better.

[ She knows what it's like to have a parent with ailments and... she knows Ajax will go out of his way to do the same for her father. ]

Speaking of gifts... [ Her eyes shift to the Inazuman-clad chest in the corner of his room. ] Would you like to see what I brought for your mother? I'll be happy to grant you early access.

[He can tell she's a little nervous about meeting his dad, but he's not too worried. The girl is the sweetest person he's ever met, and his family has always been warm and welcoming, so he's got no doubt that she'll be perfectly fine when the time comes.

He smiles and looks at her with intrigue, wondering what she might of gotten for his mom. He hums thoughtfully, deciding that maybe it's best that he gets a look at it first just to make sure it's something that's alright (it probably is.)]

Sure. Go ahead and let me take a look. I know whatever you bought will be something wonderful indeed.

[He sits tight right on the bed to let Yoimiya get up and go over to take the gifts out of her travel chest, his own imagination filled with wonder at what she could of gotten. He idly wonders too, what other gifts might reside in that chest. Presents for the kids are no-brainers for Yoimiya, he bets- if it weren't for her, he wouldn't of had any idea what to bring for his own siblings.]

[ Like a kid excited to show off their work, Yoimiya's bright eyes sparkle in childlike glee, she's been looking forward to showering his family with gifts from her homeland. She gets up to practically skip her way over to the chest. With both hands pulling on the handle, she lets out over the top oofs as she shimmies her butt back to the bed. Now with the chest in full display, she opens the lid and presents its contents with silly jazz hands. Kimonos of all colors and sizes are neatly folded alongside a myriad of gifts, such as a fan, a display katana, several toys... a trove of Inazuman treasures fills the box to the brim. ]

Ta-da~! For your parents and older siblings, I got them silk kimono robes that are super cozy to sleep in. [ A peach-colored one for his mom and sister and a blue for his dad and brother! ] Bottles of sake in all sorts of flavors, sakura and sea ganoderma scented bath salts, decorative fans, and katanas for display.

[ And of course, she doesn't forget about the kids! Picking out presents for children is her specialty. ]

I also got kimono robes for the youngsters. [ Blue for the boys and pink for Tonia! ] Inazuman spinning tops and kendama for Anton and Teucer to play with each other. Oh, oh, oh! I just had to get these hair pins and comb for Tonia. [ She's very excited to show them both off! ] And last but certainly not least, I also made each one of them personal fireworks and a candy box just like the one in my hair.

[ She happily points to the round hair ornament dangling at the side of her head. Teucer gets a Mr. Cyclops-shaped box, Anton a Shiba inu box, and finally, a sakura-patterned box for Tonia! Naturally, each boxes are stuffed full of Inazuman candy. ]

[She sure seems happy with the fact that she has all these gifts from Inazuma, he can see her eyes shining at the idea of being able to give them to everyone. He watches on in amusement as she pulls the chest over towards him, wondering if she's sticking her butt up at him on purpose or not for this little exercise, but his eyes widen in wonder once she opens it.

All sorts of different toys and trinkets, silk that he recognizes from the store he'd bought his own bolts of silk from the last he was there, and katanas! Those were really cool, he has no doubt that his family will be enamored with all of these gifts. He looks back to her after she's done explaining everything, nodding his head in satisfaction.]

You went above and beyond for them. I don't even think I managed to bring so much back for them on any trip I've ever taken.

[Not mentioning the toys in the backyard so big they won't fit into the house, but that's a different, dumb story for later...]

This is wonderful. They're going to love all of this so much, Yoimiya. It's going to make their whole day seeing all of this. Do you want to head down now to give it to them all? Or perhaps we should wait until after dinner to give them all their gifts. If you give them to them now, they probably won't eat their dinner and Father might yell at them.

[Even so, his own eyes are sparkling with joy. He wants Yoimiya to give the gifts to his family just as much as she probably is.]

[ Somehow, she doubts that he's never brought this much back for his family ~~especially when she sees the gigantic toys in the backyard LOL~~ but for someone as considerate as Ajax is to shower her with such a lovely compliment, it's incredibly flattering. While picking out each one of their presents, all she could think about was seeing their smiling faces as she presents them with a small taste of what her home country is like.

But the most lovely gift of them all is the joy sparkling behind Ajax's eyes. It's a breathtaking, mesmerizing view that has her utterly enchanted. A soft smile encapsulates her features as she lovingly stares at him... until he bestows one of the hardest choices she's ever had to make.

When to give out the presents!!! ]

Oh... what a tough decision! As much as I'd love to just go ahead and give everyone their gifts right now, it's probably best to wait until after dinner. The last thing I want is for them to get scolded by their dad, hehe. And that way! We can have fun after eating.

[ She knows children well enough that they will more than likely spoil their dinner by eating dessert first. Kids gonna be kids. ]

Is that okay with you?

[He taps his chin a few times, agreeing with Yoimiya on this one. He doesn't want to see anyone scolded by his father either, and knowing his rambunctious siblings, they definitely will want to play with their new toys rather than sit still and eat something. That and he'd hate to Yoimiya to feel bad about it if that happened.

So Ajax nods his head.]

After dinner it is. We may have to sneak the chest downstairs too. If the kids know it's there, there's no way that they're not going to beg and plead to see what's inside. We can tell them to wait, but dinner will be abuzz with their excitement at the table.

[He laughs in slight embarrassment...they're kids, but still, acting at the dinner table like that isn't very polite.]

That's...the last thing we want. So why don't we sneak it down the back way?

[He winks at her, like he's got a secret he's excited to show her.]

[ Happy day! Although she has to wait a little longer to see their precious reactions, waiting until after dinner will be all the more worth it since they'll get to play with their new toys until bedtime. They won't get scolded by their papa and they still get to have fun, it's the best possible scenario for everyone involved.

She catches that adorable wink and lights up at him. Leave it to Tartaglia to make sneaking a chest downstairs fun and exciting. ]

Let's do it! It will be our first joint mission in Snezhnaya, hehe. So... the first order of business. We gotta make sure we sneak this chest down without the kids noticing and then we can give them a big surprise after dinner.

[ Not Yoimiya treating this like some top secret mission... ]

I trust you're able to tackle this task, Mr. Harbinger. Since you know this place well [ it's only his HOME after all nbd ] I will follow your lead every step of the way.

[He can't help but laugh softly at the way Yoimiya is treating this. It's like it were a top secret mission for a Fatui soldier, except the mission is to make his kid brothers and sister happy. But, if she's going to play along, so will he.]

Good! I expect the utmost discipline and obedience to my orders, [he says as he sets his arms akimbo.] Any dereliction of duty will result in a severe punishment.

[Another wink to go along with that- as if the punishment would be anything less than Tartaglia spoiling Yoimiya rotten in any number of ways.]

Now, follow me. I have something to show you.

[He stands to pick the chest up, hefting it in front of him as he walks to one side of the room. It's just a wall, nothing all that suspicious about it, until Tartaglia sets the chest down and presses against the wood of the wall in a particular spot. The action reveals it was a section of the wall that served as the 'button' to activate what happens next- the wall itself swings open just slightly to reveal there's actually a hidden passage from Tartaglia's room to who knows where.]

We'll use this to get downstairs. Surprised, huh?

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