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

[niwabi]

[ Oh, she's having the time of her life imitating him. Even if she can't quite match the 11th Harbinger's pitch, she's thoroughly enjoying herself, and seeing Ajax laugh his head off is all the more worth it. After everything they've been through, she's overflowing with joy to see his dazzling smile and hear that heart-stopping laughter.

This blissful moment is exactly what she needs to take her mind off their situation. His smile and shimmering eyes are a more efficient cure than the Delusion Dottore gave her. ]

Hehehe, I may have exaggerated some details here and there. [ Just a few. WINKS. (>ᴗ•) ] Buuuut... judging from the expression on your handsome face.

[ She can see it clear as day, her silly little quip has lit a fire in his heart, an insatiable desire for battle swirls behind those deep blue eyes. Grinning from ear to ear, she returns his look with an all-knowing smirk and a chaotic storm that brews behind her bright, golden eyes. He's not beating the bloodthirsty hound allegations when he licks his lips and sizes her up like she's the next course in his meal. If it wasn't for the fact they were out and about in public, Yoimiya would have lost all control right then and there as soon as she saw that tongue wet those succulent lips of his. ]

I don't think I was too far off in my assessment. Does my little bloodthirsty hound crave a fight?

[ If a fight is what he wants, then he shall receive! After all, she's still reeling from his silly little comment from just a few moments ago. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[He looks back at her inquisitively, wondering where she's going to go with this. He can see how her eyes light up, she's clearly enjoying how she's gotten him all riled up. She'd played him like a fiddle, gotten him to succumb to his own desires, lit a flame inside of him that needs and wants for conflict. Ajax will fight anyone and anything, as long as they're willing to participate whether he puts them in a position that stokes the fires of war in their own hearts or if they volunteer simply because they like to and it's fun to them. Including Yoimiya.]

Hah, if you had been anyone else, your imitation of me would of been considered mockery and I'd of challenged you to a duel right then and there.

[He swings himself back in front of her, wrapping his arms around her waist with nothing less than his full affection, eyes burning as he stares down into those charming gold pupils that also reflect the storm raging in his heart.]

We could put on a little exhibition match right here in the square. It's not often someone gets to go up against a Harbinger. Consider it an honor.

[An actual spar with her where they're having fun and not one where she's trying to push him away in order to kill herself sounds like a much better time. And he doesn't mind showing off his skills to the Snezhnayan public, to show them that their Harbingers truly are worthy of their admiration. He, specifically, should be feared- and then the people could see that the beloved of the Eleventh is just as fierce a fighter.]

What do you say?

[niwabi]

[ Without any hint of shame, Yoimiya can no longer hold back and has the sheer audacity to roll her eyes right in front of him. A mockery, he says. She's got half a mind to tell him that he brought it onto himself by trying to use her as his form of entertainment. However, she's not interested in a childish back and forth, what she wants is a no-holds-barred match against her boyfriend in the center of Snezhnaya's capital. Not only does it sound thrilling, but it's exactly what she and Ajax both need right now; an outlet to let loose and have fun.

She might still be learning about her battle-happy Harbinger but the one thing she does know about him is that he loves the thrill of combat above all else. He not only saved her from a gruesome death in the volcano, but he's also the reason why she was able to pull herself out of that entity's grip, and continued to help her by taking her to Dottore. Ajax has also been through so much in the span of these few days and all she wants is to help take his mind off all this stress and let him have the time of his life. ]

Sure! Sounds like a great time to me. This will give me a chance to show you how much I've improved since we parted ways in Inazuma.

[ Even if he's acting like a bloodthirsty hound ready for battle, he's still so affectionate and cute. She's never seen someone both eager to battle and act like a total darling as he wraps his arms around her waist. Maybe he's more like a bloodthirsty puppy, instead? She presses her lips in a thin line to hold in her giggles, rewarding her sweet hound by leaning on his shoulder and nuzzling her face into his warm Harbinger coat. ]

However, I'd like to add one special condition to our match if you don't mind.

[ Using his embrace to her advantage, Yoimiya gets on her tiptoes to lean in close to his ear and whisper her special challenge to him. ]

Last one to the square is a rotten lavender melon.

[ In a flash, she breaks away from his hold, coquettishly sticking her pink tongue out at him before hightailing to the square, all the while her merry laugh warms the frosty air of Snezhnaya. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[He holds a snort back at her eye roll, and his eyes light up once she agrees. It's not exactly the best place to hold a duel but he's never been one to be too picky about where or when he has a fight, unless it's, you know, a funeral or something. Joy fills his heart as she nuzzles into him, happy that she's happy at the prospect as well. Though he curious of what she's got in mind for this 'special condition', leaning down as she tip toes up to hear it is what she's got to say-]

Huh?

[Ajax's eyes go wide as she breaks from him, sticking her tongue out and taking off into a run towards the square. His jaw hangs agape for a moment, surprised at her action before it all catches up to him and lights a fire under his ass and he takes off running. Tartaglia's long legs definitely give him an advantage, but she got a head start- so he wonders if he should cheat a little to catch up...]

Hey!!!! That wasn't very fair!!!

[He runs full tilt, his coat billowing out behind him as he sprints to catch up to her. HE SWEARS.]

[niwabi]

[ Yoimiya's laugh grows louder upon hearing her silly boyfriend's protest. He may have the advantage in terms of height and those long legs but that isnt enough to deter her! She's ran around with children enough to be confident in her speed. With her best foot forward, she runs as fast as her little legs can take her all the while laughing and not caring about any passerby staring at them. ]

Life ain't always fair, Ajax!

[ Although she has her back turned to him, the smugness in her voice is evident. She happily takes advantage of her cheating head start, sprinting forward with all her might. ]

What's wrong? Can't keep up with a little country girl from Inazuma?

[ She is absolutely taunting him on purpose.]

[monoceroscaeli]

[The clear mocking coming from this girl! He's even more determined to catch up now and show her who's boss here. Civilians and passersby make sure to get well out of the way of one of the Fatui's Harbingers, the coat giving him completely away to at least his rank within the military's hierarchy. For those who don't move, Ajax is bounding over and using all of his dexterity to not lose any speed, trying to catch up with his sassy girlfriend!]

Don't think you've lost me yet!!!

[Water begins to shoot up around his feet, almost instantly freezing as he starts to hydroplane across the ground with his own hydro powers. He's a blue blur, racing across the ground, gaining on Yoimiya considerably before he finally catches up- but instead of passing her, Tartaglia scoops his bratty girlfriend up into his arms as he skates across the ground. She's hefted and secured instantly, traveling another good twenty or thirty feet before he breaks his movement and comes to a stop.]

Fancy meeting you here, of all places, [he says with a smirk, now under a large statue of some long-gone Harbinger on a horse, leading their troops into battle.]

Weren't you supposed to beat me here? Seems we've arrived at the same time. Perhaps I just didn't hear you right.

[niwabi]

[ There it is! She can taste victory on the tip of her tongue as she spots the square that's within her grasp. Just a few more steps and it's hers!!! Oh, how she can't wait to go home and brag to everyone that she was able to beat a Harbinger in his own country. Winning has never tasted so delightful...

Well, that's what she thought was going to happen.

Yoimiya's ears perk up to certain noise, she swears she hears a whirling sound behind her. The noise gets closer and closer until... oh! It's too late. Yoimiya gasps at the sight of the blue blur, knowing full well that it's her boyfriend taking full advantage of his powers. Before she can even get a word in, she's scooped in his arms and they're hydroplaning at high speed. ]

HEY! Cheater! Ajax is a big stinky cheater!!

[ NOT THAT THIS CHEATER HAS ANY ROOM TO TALK WITH HER HEAD START AND ALL

Despite her name-calling and bratty protests, Yoimiya is having the time of her life in Ajax's arms as he skates his way to the square. She's bellowing over with laughter and holding onto him for dear life until they're finally at their destination. Along with her own merry laugh, she can hear the sounds of other civilians chuckling at the pair, this is their first time seeing one of the famous Harbingers out in public with their lover and having fun. ]

Hmph! We only tied because you busted out your powers and WOOOOOSHED all over the place. [ Yup, she actually said wooshed out loud. ] Without your vision, you didn't stand a chance against me!

[ Brats. Both of them are just brats all around. But despite it all, she gives him a playful boop on the nose with her index finger before brushing their noses together for an Eskimo kiss. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Oh, how delightful her protests are. He drinks them up as he skates to the finish, laughing along with her at how fun and funny that all was. He doesn't even mind the onlookers, more focused on Yoimiya and how cute she looks with her nose and cheeks painted red from the cold and her adorable little indignant noises she's letting out. The people feel like they're getting a rare glimpse into the world of one of the mighty Harbingers, so they stick around to rubberneck a bit while the pair enjoy the company of each other.]

Just so you know, there was no rule against my wooshing to the finish line. I still could've beat you, vision or not. But arriving in a flourish was far more fun.

[He states it as his eyes close when she boops his nose, happily brushing his nose against hers before he nuzzles his face into her neck. Ajax looks up innocently from that position, batting his long eyelashes at her as if he'd never done anything wrong in his entire life and he's just a baby who should be coddled.]

How could you accuse me of cheating, anyway? You know I would never do such a thing. You've hurt my feelings, and wrongfully besmirched my honor. You should apologize to me or face me in a duel.

[You know, that duel they were going to have anyway.]

[niwabi]

[ HE SAID WOOSH TOO!!! Pinky promise with Dottore and getting her boyfriend to say the W word... today has been fruitful.

Even better than a WOOSH is that precious expression, he looks so darn cute batting his eyelashes at her like the most innocent person in all of Teyvat. He's so adorable that Yoimiya almost forgets about both their race and their duel in favor of spoiling him to death for the rest of the day. Who wouldn't want to coddle a face like that?

Like clockwork, all it takes is for Ajax to open his mouth to ignite her competitive spirit, Yoimiya goes from looking like a young maiden in love to a warrior lady ready to go all out. ]

Hehe, who do you think you are? I have nothing to apologize for. I only spoke the words of truth. You cheated by using your vision!

[ Yoimiya makes her declaration loud and proud in the form of a duel... that they already agreed to earlier. She hops out of his arms, putting on a performance for the audience by backflipping onto her feet with her bow drawn at him. ]

I, Naganohara Yoimiya challenge the Eleventh Harbinger [ a beat ] stinky Tartaglia to a duel!

[ More and more crowds of people begin to gather. For some of the people in the crowd, they've never witnessed a Harbinger fight right before their very eyes. This is an occasion they absolutely cannot miss! Especially since the Harbinger in question is fighting none other than his girlfriend. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia smirks at her, still accusing him of being a cheater, but he knows he didn't cheat! She's just being a big 'ol brat towards him, and quite frankly it's pretty cute. He doesn't mind her accusations, folding his arms now that she's hopped out of them and brandished her weapon at him. He looks absolutely unimpressed, as if her little stunt didn't intimidate him at all, walking forward with a stride befitting of his station, his arm held out as hydro coalesces there in a whirl of water to have his hydro bow snap into existence into it suddenly. The crowd ooohs and aaahs at both of their moves, and they back up instinctively.

These two are about to fight and they're going to get a show...but it's a little dangerous to get too close. They don't know who this girl is, only a few of them recognize the name from Inazuma for their fireworks...but the rest, all they know is that a Fatui Harbinger is about to show off his skills. They pray for this young woman's safety, girlfriend or not.]

Stinky? You've got some nerve, [he says with a challenge, grinning wickedly at her now (and trying not to laugh at her antics, what is even that kind of name calling in a fight omg,)] calling me stinky. I'll accept your challenge, and if I win...

[He lets his bow fall to his side as he lowers his arm, tapping his chin with his free hand. It's only a few moments before his eyes widen and dance with mischief, thinking he's come up with a good reward that still makes him look good in the eyes of the Snezhnayan people and will entertain her.]

...you must retract your statement, and tell everyone that in fact, you're the smelly one among the two of us. May the frost strike down that slanderous tongue of yours, bringing forth retribution as it freezes it solid as the very permafrost itself. This is the fate of those who choose deception and lies.

[Yes, the crowd nods, their honorable Harbinger is right. There's even a whole nursery rhyme that goes along with the Lord Harbinger's words!]

[niwabi]

[ Watch out guys, we're dealing with a badass over here. Any other time, Yoimiya would find his mastery of hydro awe-inspiring and there's no denying the way the water unites to form his bow is actually really awesome in of itself but two can play the game of looking unimpressed. She brazenly yawns, walking up to him completely unafraid of any tricks he might have up his sleeve.

It takes every ounce of effort not to bellow over with laughter as her boyfriend repeats her insult. Stinky. That's right, Ajax is stinky! Knowing him, he's about to issue a challenge that will thoroughly amuse her and naturally, he comes through! Yoimiya has to bite down her bottom lip to prevent herself from giggling. Smelly... although she's determined to win, calling herself smelly is too funny and she wouldn't even mind.

As expected of one of Tsaritsa's finest soldiers, his words get the crowd going. If she wasn't being a huge brat, Yoimiya would be hooping and hollering right behind them. Ajax may have the advantage of playing on his home turf but she's not scared. If anything, the people's cheers for their beloved Harbinger rouses her competitive spirit to come out on top. Oh, how delicious it would be to see the look on everyone's faces if she beats him right in front of that statue of a Harbinger from eons ago. ]

Me? Smelly? You've got some guts to call me that. Alright, I accept your challenge. And if I win, you need to tell everyone that you're the biggest stinker between the two of us. I know exactly what you did and you have no room to talk about lying...

[ There's still a little bit of fire in her from when he downplayed her accusations of being a wreck without her. ]

With a will as brilliant as a storm, and a roar as loud as thunder, may a divine bolt of lightning crash down on you and your fiendish ways. The truth of who the real liar is will come out of this match.

[ The crowd gasps at the audacity of this girl, not only did she stand up to their honorable Harbinger but she also used her country's own idioms. A few of them cheer louder for Tartaglia but Yoimiya remains unbothered. She figures it's time to give the crowd a good show. Without further delay, Yoimiya does yet another skillful backflip in the air, shooting off a string of pyro-infused arrows directly at him. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[As she walks forward, Tartaglia doesn't move an inch as she stands against him in this "showdown" they're having. He looks down at her, and he can tell she's trying not to bust out laughing at their exchange. It really is silly, ultimately, but it's fun and that's really what this is all about to begin with. He stands there and takes her insults and the threat of the power of the Narukami Ogosho, not intimidated by it in the slightest (as if it were serious at all, just as much as his words really weren't) and ready to fight. And the first of the shots come, skillfully shot from her bow as they fly right at him.

The Harbinger grins to himself- this is where it gets interesting- and he rapidly notches his own arrows with the power of his Vision, firing them off at hers to intercept them and keep them from reaching their mark. The crowd scrambles back even farther, and Fatui soldiers that are part of the military police slowly filter into the area to usher others back. Lord Childe is at it again...when will he stop doing things like this???]

Nice try, but maybe you should try this instead-!

[The next shots out of his bow are aimed at the ground, sending sharp waves of hydro across the ground at her, one after another. He continues to shoot wherever she runs to, laughing like a maniac. To make matters worse, the water begins to freeze along the ground as well, due to Snezhnaya's cold climate. He plans to take away her footing!]

[niwabi]

[ As expected of her Tartaglia, for someone who claims to be the least adept at the bow, he sure knows how to curb her shots with his own. His strength and ability to adapt to any situation is one of the reasons why she finds him so alluring, he wouldn't be near as exciting to be around if he couldn't handle her opening attack. She watches his hydro arrows extinguish her own, grinning from ear to ear and how well he intercepted every single one of those arrows. It's no wonder he's so revered by the crowd watching them.

It's then, Ajax proves that his adaptability is no joke. No matter where she runs, she's met with a wave of hydro impeding her path. She tries the run in the other direction but nearly slips now that it's starting to freeze over. Goodness, he's certainly got her caught in a rock and a hard place. And to make matters worse, he's laughing like a lunatic! This guy is having way too much fun for his own good. ]

Oh? Trying to get me to slip up, huh? I see where you're going with this strategy but you forgot something very important.

[ There's not an ounce of hesitation from her as she also laughs like a maniac, aiming her bow at the ground to melt away his makeshift ice skating rink. Unlike her typical pyro arrows, tiny goldfish familiars emerge from her bow, swimming in the air in dazzling shades of orange and red to give the audience a small show. Some of the people ooh and ahh at her brilliant artwork, only for their jaws to drop once the goldfish aim for the ground to explode the ice floor around her. ]

Playing with fire is my specialty.

[ Using a blown-up ice chunk as a cover, one of the little goldfish familiars swims towards Ajax from behind and brands itself onto his back. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia grins, wondering how Yoimiya would handle this. She doesn't disappoint- he stops shooting as soon as those little goldfish fly out from her bow and explode the ice out from the ground. Shards fly everywhere, she continues to taunt him through her attack, it's pretty much everything he could ask for out of a fight that isn't meant to be all that serious. He's still taking it seriously though, and he uses this opportunity to move in closer while she's destroying the ice. Her goldfish isn't the only thing using the chunks that explode outward from the ground, separating his bow into blades that come and swing at her, wondering how Yoimiya will handle a melee opponent with her bow.]

I didn't forget anything, hahaha...!

[The gleam of battle is in his eyes, rushing in and making sure she gets a lesson in how to deal with a dual-wielder in close quarters. Each swing is methodically and purposely placed, all hidden behind what looks like chaotic, bloodthirsty swings and a crazed laughter that sends shivers down some people in the audience.]

Don't forget the best way to fight fire is with water. You're at a disadvantage...

[Ajax doesn't hesitate to switch up his swordsmanship into different styles, effortlessly swapping between them as he attacks, doing his best to stay on her so she doesn't hop away or put too much distance between them.]

[niwabi]

[ Out of the icy rubble comes her favorite bloodthirsty warrior now wielding his famous hydro blades and the crowd is absolutely going wild as soon as they see them. With only her bow in hand, all Yoimiya can do is defend herself with it, returning blows by swinging right back at him. Hand-to-hand combat is not her specialty, so she's having a tough time keeping up, there's only so much swinging she can do when he's got two blades in hand. Even if she was able to shoot a pyro-infused arrow from this angle, Ajax still has a clear advantage over her in terms of build and element. He'll put out her flame before she's even able to aim it.

As she's trying to hop away, the Harbinger's determination to stay on her pays off. One of his swings causes Yoimiya to lose her footing, falling down on one knee and completely at the mercy of her battle-crazy boyfriend. She looks up at him with a simple smile, unperturbed by his maniacal laughter that's sending shivers down the audience's spine (bc lbr, she's just as crazy and finds the maniacal laughter hot hsiaogh)

Oh dear, this is quite the predicament she's in. ]

Hmm... I suppose I can't deny that. Not only that, but your mastery over hydro is extremely impressive. Oh, whatever will I do~? [ She giggles, acting as if these are her famous last words. ] Y'know, it's a shame you don't have eyes on the back of your head.

[ From the ground, Yoimiya shoots him a cute wink, it will be the last thing Ajax sees before...

Three. Two. One. Boom. ♥ On cue, the goldfish safely nestled on his back explodes into an array of ocean blue and fire orange, a perfect representation of their elements. ]

What is it that you always say? Shouldn't have let your guard down~! [ THIS MENACE IS EVEN DOING THE YOIJAX IMPERSONATION IN BATTLE. THE FIEND!!! ] Hahaha!

[ The way she was also willing to get caught in the explosion just to put some distance for them makes her just as crazy as he is. Some of the people in the crowd whisper that their famous Harbinger has found himself a good match. The blast blows her back but she quickly catches her footing and takes advantage of the snow chunks to take cover and shoot an unrelenting barrage of not just pyro arrows but also arrows that explode into fireworks all around him. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Getting within melee range of someone who primarily fights with a bow or some other kind of ranged weapon really ends the fight right there and then unless they have some kind of creative way of putting distance between them and their target- but Tartaglia is a master of his craft, and it's not surprising to him that he's gotten Yoimiya down to one knee. His blade levels and points downward, the tip falling in front of her face as he grins. But there's something different about how she's acting, that's not how someone who's just lost their footing is supposed to be talking. Something's up, and he doesn't know what it is, meaning this fight isn't over.

His smile begins to fade, even as she winks at him, but it doesn't matter. The explosion catches him off guard, ripping through his coat and heat searing his skin. It wasn't a move he was expecting from Yoimiya, not because she wasn't capable, but rather because he hadn't thought that his own girlfriend would use a technique that would actually hurt him (and if it wasn't him, possibly seriously injure or kill a weakling.) Good on her to actually go all out on him, it wouldn't of been interesting if there was no challenge in it for him. This may prove even more fun than he even originally thought it would.

Tartaglia doesn't know why, but he can feel his blood pumping harder, harder than it should, and his unsatiated thirst for blood clouds his thoughts.

She's a worthy opponent. This fight would be more interesting as a fight to the death. She should be taken more seriously...she just tried to kill you.

The words float through his mind, preying on his need for conflict, nodding in agreement. What was battle if not to see who came out on top, to stand as the victor? Nothing mattered more than the heat of battle, the thrill of slaying powerful opponents. He always learned something new from his fights, and this one was no different. A horrible, crazed laugh comes out from the cloud of smoke and debris, low and menacing, as electricity shoots and branches out from it.]

Your mockery of me isn't as impressive as your skills, [he says, stepping out from beneath the fog of battle to reveal that his clothes have taken on the black and red colors of his delusion, his white coat shredded and burned off in almost every place. Ajax's face is singed from the explosion, soot streaked across it as well as his body visibly taken damage from the goldfish that latched onto his back.]

So I'll take you more seriously, now. Prepare yourself.

[From nowhere, his electro glaive appears in his hands, electricity thrumming in the air around him before he moves- the distance between them in closed in an instant, and the tip of his spear is coming right for Yoimiya.]

[niwabi]

[ During their time apart, Yoimiya spent so much time honing her combat skills to impress her boyfriend once they reunited. Day after day, she worked hard to improve her control over pyro, her special goldfish bomb is the result of all her training and she's pleased to see it working just as intended! The explosion is more vast than she expected, but she knows Tartaglia can handle it, he's been through way worse and fought even stronger opponents. (She will apologize for burning that nice coat of his. Oops...) Yoimiya grins, looking all too pleased with herself at the sight of smoke and rubble flying all over the place until she hears his laughter.

A really off-putting laughter.

It's not like his usual boyish, hearty guffaws but instead, much more menacing and capable of turning the blood pumping through her veins ice cold. He sounds crazed, like an apex predator that's found his perfect prey. And if that isn't enough, electricity shoots out of the smoke to reveal he is no longer playing around. Yoimiya gulps as she watches Ajax emerge from the carnage with his clothes taking on a new color scheme of black and red. This is her first time seeing it in person but his appearance is enough for her to realize that he's harnessing the powers of his delusion.

Goodness, she truly did not expect her goldfish to do that much damage. His face is smeared with soot and his poor white coat is no longer a coat. Before Yoimiya is even given a chance to survey the damage, he comes at her like a crack of lighting and is already in her face in an instant. By the skin of her teeth, she barely manages to hoist up her bow to block the oncoming electro glaive. Archons... that was too close for comfort. But surely her beloved wouldn't have seriously pierced it through her chest, right? ]

Sheesh, you mean to tell me you weren't taking me seriously before? Hahaha! I'll show you for underestimating me, stinky Tartaglia!

[ There's something extremely off-putting about Ajax's behavior but she puts that thought to the side for the time being. She tries to laugh it off by taunting him with silly banter. Wasn't this supposed to be just a fun exhibition match? But in his defense, maybe she took it too far with her goldfish bomb. Maybe he's just training her on how to use a delusion? That makes sense to her. What better way to gain experience than seeing it in person?

Tartaglia's strength truly is superhuman, Yoimiya has no choice but to grip both the upper and lower limbs of her bow with both hands. But even so, the glaive's electro energy is so strong, that she's unable to completely prevent the elemental powers from striking her, a stray surge cracks off his weapon to cut the side of her cheek. Small pricks of blood drip from her face to dye the snow below them red. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[The blade of his glaive meets her bow, electro spiking off everywhere from the impact, and he presses inwards with more strength. If he can break her bow in half, then he'll be able to pierce her heart, and claim victory in this battle. He's surprised she managed to block him in time, impressed that she managed to keep herself alive after that. He knows her, while she's no stranger to fighting, this isn't what she does on the regular. She must of been training while he was away taking care of his Fatui duties. Good on her, he thinks, but not good enough.

Another low, guttural chuckle bubbles up out of him, his eyes wide with murder dancing in them, his smile twisted as he looks down at his opponent.]

Oh? How exactly are you going to do that? You're in no position to gain the upper hand.

[In an instant, he lets off of the pressure of breaking her bow, instead opting to swipe his glaive around in a circle to strike the bow out of her hands instead. Tartaglia enjoys the attempt at a taunt though, laughing again at her, as the fog encompasses his mind and tells him he's got her right where he wants her. This is how a warrior should die, honorably after losing a duel.

Plunge your blade into her heart, it urges, and claim victory.

His glaive comes apart as he grips the middle, pulling it out into two electro blades that mirror his hydro ones. The tip comes down under her chin, lifting it up so he can get a good look at her face, uncaring for any pain it might cause.]

I was hoping you'd be more of a challenge. I don't even know if I'm going to enjoy killing you. But I won't deny you a fitting end, for challenging me one on one on the battlefield. Far be it from me to besmirch your honor.

[niwabi]

[ That low, terrible chuckle sends shivers down her spine but it's that awful look in his eyes that gets her more than anything. Those ocean blue eyes she's come to love so much are filled with murderous intent, it's then that Yoimiya gets clued in that something is terribly wrong with him. Ajax might love to fight, sure. Maybe this is how he usually is when he's being merciless with his opponents, sure. But she refuses to believe that the man who has showered her with deep love and affection would seriously want to see her dead.

Thankfully, her precious bow doesn't break from his sheer strength. If he kept up, it surely would have snapped into two but it doesn't matter when he easily swats it away like a puny insect. With nothing to defend herself with, all Yoimiya can do is listen to his horrifying laugh and watch as he pulls apart his glaive into two electro blades. And to make matters worse, the tip of the blade is just right underneath her chin, all it would take is one plunge into her throat to kill her. She looks up at him with pure terror reflected in her golden eyes, shaking and coming to the horrible realization that he is most definitely not playing around. ]

Ajax...? Hey, Ajax! What's going on with you? Please stop this! You're taking this way too far.

[ She tries to fight back with all her might, pounding at his chest in an attempt to push him away from her. All of her turmoil and trauma from the day before comes spilling in the form of tears. She just escaped death from that terrible entity that was possessing her and now her boyfriend, her beloved Ajax wants to kill her? This isn't right, she knows this isn't like him at all. Ajax adores her too much to want to kill her... right? ]

Ajax, please. You win, I don't want to fight anymore. Please, Ajax, please... I don't want to die, please... please STOP!!

[monoceroscaeli]

[Tartaglia's eyes display a pure, unadulterated need for bloodshed, laughing at her pitiful attempts to get out of her defeat. The fear in her eyes is delicious, he drinks in her terror like it's the very precious water that Snezhnaya so badly needs, enjoying the torture he's inflicting on her as he lets her life dangle in front of her very eyes. Her cries make it all the more satisfying, grabbing one of her wrists and pinning it against the ground as he leans over, sword point still aimed at her throat. Nothing on his visage is reminiscent of Childe- it almost looks like it's someone else, using him to lavish in Yoimiya's pain.]

Hahahaha...

[Cries echo out from the crowd, as they too, realize something's wrong. When this started, it looked like a fun little competition between lovers, but now it's come to an actual death sentence being carried out right before their eyes. Screams for Ajax to stop and yells from the soldiers of Lord Childe!!! ring out, but he doesn't seem to hear them. All he can hear in his head now is a loud voice telling him to execute her, over and over and over...

Kill her, kill her, kill her...kill her Ajax, kill her...

As much as he's enjoyed himself, it's time to end it. The cacophony of voices don't reach him, and his muscles spring as he's about to stab his blade into her throat, when something asks him a question.

Is this really you, Ajax?

Childe's blade falters, and his eyes widen ever-so slightly. He's never taken this much pleasure out of making someone suffer, and he'd never do this to someone he loves. Clarity slowly returns to his eyes, and the deafening silence that surrounded him as the chant of kill her starts to fade, gradually. He can hear people screaming around him and recognition washes over him of Yoimiya begging for him to stop, asking him to spare her life. His eyes dart over to see people running away, dragging their children away from the horrifying sight of him kneeling over his own girlfriend, about to put his sword through her throat. They shift back to the face of his terrified love, and he starts to feel his body begin to tremble as he realizes exactly what's happening.]

Yoimiya...

[His breath is barely above a whisper, horror painting his expression now that he sees what atrocity he was about to commit. Ajax falls back as the blade dissipates into nothingness, landing right on his own behind as he stares back at Yoimiya with confusion and terror. The little boy inside of him wants to run and hide, scared of whatever this is, something he can barely parse other than the fact that he was about to kill his own girlfriend.]

I...

[He can't even get an apology out, frozen in pure shock from his own actions. For the first time in a long time, he doesn't know what to do, and he can't get his mind working well enough to articulate anything...]

[niwabi]

[ No matter how hard she trashes, no matter how loud she screams, nothing seems to be getting through him. All she can see is the murderous blue eyes of a cold-blooded killer who looks to be enjoying her suffering. Childe, Tartaglia, Ajax... that look in his eyes tells her everything she needs to know, the man who has sworn to protect and cherish her is no longer there. It's as if some monster is wearing the face of her lover. She screams as he grabs her wrist, rendering her completely and utterly helpless underneath him. Scared out of her mind and without a weapon, she's all out of options, the only thing she can do is accept that the blade pointed at her throat is going to put an end to her life. This is it, this is how she ends up dying; at the hands of something possessing her beloved.

Through her panic, she can just barely make out the voices of people begging him to stop but there is no stopping him, not with that terrible face he's making. With tears streaming down her face, Yoimiya squeezes her eyes shut, silently praying for her death to be swift. But... the feeling of that blade sinking into her throat never comes to pass.

As soon the grip of her wrist loosens, she uses this chance to bring her arms to shield her face in feeble hopes that it will protect her. Frightened beyond belief, her mind doesn't even register that Ajax has withdrawn and is back to his normal self, still under the impression that she's about ready to die any second. In this inconsolable state, all she can hear is that same dark voice she heard at the cave and in Dottore's office berating her.

This is all your fault. This never would have happened if you never caused that explosion. You hurt him. You're the cause of everything bad in his life. It's all because you're so weak and pathetic.

That's right, everything is her fault. If she hadn't used that goldfish explosion, none of this would have happened. If she had the capability of putting up a fight, Childe would have had a great time and they could have enjoyed a couple's brawl. Her near death at the cave, being forced to fight her lover, listening to Dottore's disinterest in her, and now what is the worst of them all; her sweet Ajax attempting to kill her. All these accumulations of terrible events are the final nail in the coffin for Yoimiya to reach her breaking point. Still laying on the snowy ground, she hugs her knees, curling up in a ball, bawling her eyes out. ]

It's all my fault. Everything is my fault. I'm so sorry for causing that explosion, I didn't mean to hurt you. I...I just wanted to impress you. [ Through her tears she hiccups, besides herself with despair. ] I'm so sorry for being weak. I'm so sorry for being pathetic. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry...

[ Now that their Lord Harbinger has finally backed down, a few Fatui soldiers rush into the fray, getting between the couple to check on both of them. Lord Childe, what happened?!, a few of them shout in concern while also keeping a respectable distance just in case he goes berserk again. The others are huddled around the trembling and crying Yoimiya, examining both her physical and mental state. But one look at her is enough to deduce that she's not at all stable, not with her mumbling a mantra of I'm sorry. ]

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please don't kill me. I'm so sorry.

[monoceroscaeli]

[It feels like everything is moving in slow-mo. Yoimiya yanks back from him, shaking and trying to protect herself from his blade that he'd just been holding at her throat. Soldiers rush around her to see if she's okay, she's crying and apologizing over and over again. Her words echo in his ears, guilt washing over him as she sobs and says I'm sorry. More soldiers surround him, though at a distance, blocking his view of Yoimiya for a moment. He looks up, dazed, not understanding what they're asking him, before he looks back and cranes his neck to the side to see Yoimiya still crying and apologizing. Tartaglia's voice catches in his throat, unable to speak, as strong hands come in behind him and pick him up off of the ground. One of the soldiers has gotten the bravery to come in and take care of the Harbinger, who's almost like a limp rag doll in his arms. Others come in to assist, and Childe finds himself being lead away from Yoimiya in all the confusion.

But all he can do is look back at his girlfriend, being assisted by other Fatui soldiers, who take her to a taller figure that's just arrived on the scene. Pantalone calmly walks over to join Yoimiya, looking once at her and then over to Tartaglia. He can see the traces of the fight they just had, and there's a lot of questions to be asked and answered here...but for now, he'll take her to the hospital to get her injuries looked at.

Childe is ushered away, unable to resist, his mind still in shock at what happened. He's taken to get his own injuries looked at, separate from Yoimiya- and that's the last he sees of her for now.]

---

[The next day, he's had all his examinations done and released from medical care, but that doesn't mean he's okay. All he can do is replay the event again and again in his head, trying to figure out how he could of allowed himself to be so vulnerable without knowing it, letting something get inside of his head and push him to almost kill Yoimiya. He knows it's not his fault, that he would never do that to her. But the fact that something got inside of his head like that without him realizing eats away at him like a rot that's decaying the inside of a fruit left out in the sun.

And on top of all of that, how can he possibly face her.

The person she trusted the most turned on her in the heat of battle and almost ended her life, if it hadn't been for that voice that cut through the noise and brought him out of it. Yoimiya's pleas weren't even enough to pull him back to reality, and that bothers him even more than anything else. If she never trusted him again, he couldn't blame her. He promised he would protect her and he broke that promise, in the worst way possible. No apology could ever be enough, not with how she looked and how upset she was, fault or not. Anger and despair fill his mind, and he wants to see her and yet, a part of him is terrified of standing before her. Tartaglia knows he can't avoid her, nor does he want to, it's just...

He paces the office he has in Zapolyarny Palace, restless and wanting to go, but he was advised by Pantalone to give Yoimiya time and space to deal with what had happened. So, Tartaglia reluctantly agrees to wait, and would visit her at the hospital after she's had a bit of time to recover.]

---

[Now that a few days have passed, Childe finally leaves to head over to the hospital. He's not allowed to see her without Harbinger supervision- and Pantalone is waiting for him upon his arrival- just in case he goes berserk again. No Fatui solider would be able to stop him, so he walks alongside his colleague to Yoimiya's room.

Childe stands in front of the door, hesitating as he looks down at the doorknob. Rarely, since he left the Abyss, does he feel nervousness like he does now. How would she receive him? Would she scream and push him away? Tell him to go? Cry and curl up in terror? None of these responses would be uncalled for. Pantalone seems to sense this, blinking a few times and placing his hand on the doorknob instead.]

Come, now. In we go.

[And the door opens, with Tartaglia having to take a deep breath as he steps inside, shortening his stride as he walks in slowly to see Yoimiya.]

[niwabi]

[ The trip to the hospital was not exactly pleasant. The whole way there, Yoimiya was sobbing and still crying out apologies to Ajax even well after they were separated. There was no way she would have been able to make the trip on her own if it wasn't for Pantalone and those kind Fatui Soldiers, she still would have been on the ground curled up in fear. They get her checked in and thankfully, there aren't any physical injuries on her body aside from minor cuts, and scrapes from their scuffle before everything went downhill. Getting a doctor to even examine her proved to be quite the challenge, the blonde was still scared and not of sound mind after nearly getting killed by her boyfriend. It took some coaxing but eventually, Pantalone was able to calm her down so she could receive that wellness check. The doctor determines that physically, she's fine but emotionally and mentally... she has scars that can only be healed with time.

Since she's the Eleventh Harbinger's girlfriend and now Pantalone's esteemed guest, the hospital staff allows her to stay as long as she wants. Yoimiya somberly agrees, not showing any aversion to the idea since she's just that low in spirits. She keeps looking around for signs of Ajax, wondering if he'll burst through the door and check on her but... he never comes. There's not a single sign of him. Understandable, since he has his own injuries and mental state to tend to. But after listening to that dark voice berate her over and over again, her thoughts begin to wander in a more negative direction. Were her apologies not good enough? What if Ajax finally had enough of her? After all, she's brought nothing but misfortune onto him as a result of being so weak.

Emotions are a fickle one, she wants to see him, she wants nothing more than for him to run into her room and pull her into an embrace. But... as she thinks back on what transpired, she's reminded of those cold, merciless eyes of a killer staring down with his blade at her throat. That person who wanted to kill her was definitely not her sweetheart, she knows this but even so, she'll never forget the fear of believing that she was actually going to die at his hands. She literally stared death in the eyes, just thinking about it was enough for her to tremble. Night eventually falls, the day's events have finally taken a toll on her, causing her to give in to her exhaustion. All she can do is cry herself to sleep, heartbroken, scared, and feeling completely and totally alone. ]

---

[ The next few days are a blur. The once high-spirited and talkative Naganohara Yoimiya is a husk of her former self the longer she stays in this hospital room. She shrinks away from anyone's touch, whether it be the doctor, nurses, or Pantalone. Having time to recover has been a double-edged sword on her mental state, it's hard to sleep when she's plagued with nightmares of throwing herself into lava, having her body controlled, or Ajax's cold blood features staring down at her as he jams his blade into her throat.

But the most heart-wrenching of them all... is that Ajax is still nowhere to be found. When Pantalone visits, Yoimiya asks him about his whereabouts, he tells her that from the advice of both the doctor and himself, it's best that they spend some time apart. It's not the answer she wants to hear but she can't argue that it is in both of their interests to recover before having a conversation. As much as she wants to see him, she's still scared and can't get her mind off that crazed expression full of intent to kill her. ]

---

[ Finally, the day her heart has both been longing for and scared of arrives. Staring down at her hands, her ears perk up at the sounds of the doorknob turning, assuming it's none other than Pantalone since he usually visits her around this time. She turns her head to greet him, only to be surprised by a familiar head of ginger hair, one that she did not expect to see. ]

Ajax...?

[ She sounds surprised, almost as if she gave up on him ever visiting. Along with shock, she sounds exhausted due to lack of sleep these past few days. She looks up at him, the usual shine in her golden irises dull, her eyes red and puffy from all the crying she's done over the course of these few days. ]

Is that really you?

[ It's as if she's posing the question; Is this really her Ajax, or the beast that nearly murdered her? ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[The first thing he sees is the exhausted, stress-worn visage of his girlfriend who looks as if she would never see him again. Seeing her eyes so red and puffy, along with how empty her irises are is like a gut punch. She's been sitting in this room all alone, suffering. So much so that she's asking that question like she doesn't even know if it's really him who just walked through the doorway to come visit her. He approaches her bed slowly, as Pantalone closes the door behind them and stands at a close distance between himself and Childe. Ajax tries to put on his best smile, but it too, is worn and exhausted.]

It's really me.

[His voice is quiet and ginger, as if he were afraid to speak in just the wrong tone to upset her. He's thankful she's not trying to shoo him away or reject him outright just from seeing him- it tells him that maybe, he's got a chance here to prove that he isn't that crazed maniac who tried to kill her from a few days ago.]

I...

[His voice catches in his throat again, suddenly overcome with emotions that he'd tried to fight back throughout the course of the past few days. He wants to cry, wants to run to her and apologize, let his heart bleed until there's nothing left. Tartaglia begins to quicken his step, just so he can take her into a tight embrace and tell her that he's so sorry, that everything was going to be okay.

But a strong hand grips his shoulder, reminding him that Pantalone was still there, keeping watch.]

Do not approach her. You'll stay right here, thank you.

[It's clear that even if Yoimiya and Ajax trust each other, Pantalone doesn't. He needs to make sure that his fellow Harbinger doesn't create a blade and stab it right through her chest in front of his very eyes.]

...

[Ajax is silent for a moment, staying still and trying to fight the urge to remove the Ninth's hand from his shoulder, but he does also understand the precautions here. So he doesn't move, and follows orders- like a good soldier.]

Yoimiya...I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.

[The hurt in his eyes is palpable, guilt wracking him in every facet.]

Are you okay? I didn't hurt you, did I?

[niwabi]

[ She's not the only one utterly drained of energy, Ajax is as well. Although he's doing his best to smile, she can tell that behind those blue eyes is a man who is also a shell of his former energetic self. No doubt that everything that's transpired has weighed heavily on his mind. She's sure he's wracked with guilt and it hurts her to think about Ajax suffering in silence all alone.

But as it stands...

Her eyes shift over to Panatlone, nodding her head in appreciation. It's true, she indeed trusts Ajax with all of her heart. Any other day, she'd jump into his arms, cry into his chest, and tell him how much her heart ached for him. The warmth of his body has always been her greatest source of comfort but... she can't allow him to touch her right now, not when the image of him pining her down onto the snowy ground with a blade against her throat is still burned into her mind. ]

No. Not physically.

[ She says quietly, lacking her usual Yoimiya energy in her voice. A few bandages have been applied to the cuts and scrapes that she received in the fight but those minor injuries aren't what damaged her the most. No bandage can heal the wound that's been inflicted on her heart. Those cuts will heal in just a few days, but the emotional scarring that she's received will take time.

That apology is wracked with so much guilt, she can hear how much he's also been hurting. Slowly, she looks up to meet his gaze and sees those blue eyes afflicted with regret beyond words can describe. Deep down inside, she knows it's not his fault. Something got a hold of him and tried to force him into committing an atrocity that would emotionally damage him beyond repair. It's another reminder of how weak she is, maybe, just maybe, she could have prevented all of this if she was just a little bit stronger. She locks stares with him for a solid minute before quickly shifting her gaze back to her hands. It's hard to look at him right now, staring into those blue eyes is a reminder of that crazy, twisted expression he had when he nearly killed her. ]

What happened out there? One minute we were having a fun fight and then the next...

[ You tried to kill me. She stops herself, unable to voice that chilling thought. Ajax has already been through enough as it is, she doesn't wish to make him feel even worse than he already does. ]