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]

[ A noise mixed with both pain and pleasure spills from her lips as his cock slides out of her throbbing walls one last time. That whole ordeal was certainly strange. Both of them clearly had an orgasm but at the same time, she's in so much pain that she can't even think straight. Was this truly how Seraphina and Alnair made love? She can't imagine her sweet Tartaglia being that rough and inconsiderate of her body.

She's so thankful to have such a dutiful partner at her side. If he didn't help her out, she'd be stuck and unable to move out of this bath, eventually turning into a raisin. She desperately tries not to make too much noise as he scrubs her down, he's already feeling horrible and she absolutely does not want to pile on to his worries all because she's so weak. ]

I'm... well, it hurts everywhere. I think if I sleep it off I might be okay tomorrow.

[ At least, that's what she hopes. Yoimiya inwardly sighs, the full force of the assault done to her breasts finally hits her like a truck. There's red spots peppered all over her skin and gods, she's almost scared to see how bad the marks will be once they've bloomed overnight. ]

How are you feeling? I saw those awful scratch marks all over your back. I'm so, so sorry Ajax.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He seriously doubts that sleeping it off is going to be enough. He can see the damage done to her body and how weak she really is from after it. It makes him feel terrible that he did this to her, even if it was actually "Alnair" who was the perpetrator of it all. It was his body, and his mind that consciously ravaged Yoimiya's body to this point, all for some sick pleasure for two other people to enjoy with no consideration towards him or Yoimiya.]

I'm fine. I can feel some slight discomfort on my back, but perhaps after the years of fighting I've done, it doesn't feel nearly as bad as it looks. I'll be fine.

[He wishes she could say the same. Now that she's clean and he's cleaned himself up too, he gingerly picks her up to carry her in his arms out of the bath and towards the bed. They're both sopping wet, but he's not concerned about it. He finds a nice chair in the bedroom to place her in, goes and gets their towels, and returns with them so they can dry off and finally pass out.]

Here. [He places a large nightshirt out of her luggage onto the arm of the chair.] If you can slip that on, I'll get you in bed. We won't be doing anything tomorrow...I'll send word to Dottore to let him know we have to postpone for a day. I won't give him the details, but I'll tell him we suffered an attack and need time to recover.

[Ajax leans down to press a kiss to the top of her head, before standing back upright with a look of concern on his face.]

Make sure you put your delusion on a chain or a string of some sort and wear it even when you sleep. Its power will hopefully give you a line of defense, because who knows when she may strike next. I'll do the same.

[niwabi]

[ He says he's fine and she believes him but she still can't help but feel terrible for leaving deep scratches in his back even if it was Seraphina controlling her body. It's a good thing Ajax's body is conditioned to take on even the toughest of opponents, she doesn't even want to think about the excruciating pain he'd be feeling if he was just a normal guy.

... Unlike her, who is an ordinary human with nothing special about her.

Suddenly, the self-loathing comes back in full force as he takes her out of the bathroom. If she wasn't so weak, she'd be able to combat Seraphina and not make Ajax worry and fret over her. The reason why they're in this mess is because she's a delicate human being and now, they have to cancel their plans with Dottore tomorrow. If his reaction on the boat was anything to go by, she could already picture him giving her boyfriend a hard time because of her. He sets her down in the chair and for that split second he exits to get towels, she wonders if Ajax's life would be better if she was simply gone.

When he comes back, he gifts her a nightshirt that she absolutely appreciates. Yoimiya reaches over to grab it and manages to raise her arms to lift it over her head. It's only when she tries to stand up out of the chair that the problems begin to arise. She wobbly tries to stand, falling back on the chair as soon as she gets on her two feet, another reminder of how weak and pathetic she truly is.

Yoimiya doesn't say anything for a solid minute, feeling ashamed that she looks so weak in front of her boyfriend who has been through way worse than she has. The kiss to the top of her head is the final nail in the coffin, Ajax has been so sweet and understanding to her, even going as far as to look bad in front of one of his coworkers for her sake. Tears begin to spill out from the corners of her eyes from both the excruciating pain and all the negative feelings bubbling up inside of her. ]

There should be a silk band in my luggage that can hold it. I... [ Try as she might, she can't stop the tears from tumbling down her cheeks. ] I'm so sorry Ajax. This is all my fault. I promise, I really will try to get stronger. I'll never take the delusion off and I'll work hard to ensure something like this never happens again.

[monoceroscaeli]

[It seems he's very much underestimated how battered Yoimiya really was. She gets the nightshirt, but when she tries to stand, that doesn't go over so well. Tartaglia watches her fall back into the chair, unable to stand on her own from how weak she'd been left after having sex, and he feels a wave of guilt wash over him again. Poor Yoimiya...she hadn't asked for this. He doesn't even turn to fetch the described silk band, knowing that she was about to burst, and the tears begin to fall down her cheeks uncontrollably as she spills out an apology that he doesn't think she should have to make.

It makes his heart wrench to see her in such a state, and he falls to his knees in front of her as he reaches for her hands. Ajax looks up at her, eyes wide and desperate, wanting only to see her smile and not suffer as she is right now- and he shakes his head.]

No Yoimiya, this isn't your fault at all. It fills my heart full to know you want to become stronger, but not because of the guilt about something that's out of both of our control. I lost myself too...we both have a long way to go.

[Gently, his hands come up to wipe the tears from her eyes, holding her cheek in the palm of his hand.]

Let's just focus on our promise to each other to grow stronger together. You don't win every battle, I know I haven't- and you can only grow stronger through those experiences. All that matters is that you're still alive. Stay alive, Yoimiya...and I'll do my best to stay alive, too. Promise me you'll do whatever it takes to stay with me. This isn't going to be easy. I love you, and I never, ever want to lose you. Okay?

[niwabi]

[ Bruised body, battered mental state, crushed spirit... Yoimiya has never been this down in the pits before. On a typical day, she's as bright as the sun. Warm, friendly, shining a ray of happiness upon anyone who enters her vicinity. And because she's so down in the dumps, she feels like the worst person in the world by having Ajax constantly comfort her when he's in agony too. He's done nothing but be there for her during this awful time and she feels like she's done nothing but cry her eyes out.

She can't keep doing this, not when Ajax is trying so hard to be strong for her. The palm of his hand feels like warmth personified, drying her tears like a ray of light and bringing her watery gold irises to meet with his deep blue. The look on his face says it all, he's desperate to see even the faintest smile on her lips. Through her tears and sniffles, she manages to crack a tiny smile thanks to his uplifting words. ]

Ajax... I promise. I'll do everything in my power to stay alive. We're gonna grow strong so we can overcome this.

[ Ajax is right. Instead of wallowing in self-pity, she should be grateful they're both alive. She affectionately nuzzles her face into his palm, soaking in his heat and scent that always brings her comfort in times of need. She gives his hands a gentle squeeze, placing it over his free hand to brush her fingers over his knuckles. ]

I love you too. I love you so much. It might be selfish for me to ask but can you promise me the same thing? Please, stay with me. You mean so much to me, not even a distance as great as the sea or the sky could separate us. So please... promise me you'll do your best too. I don't want to lose you either.

[ While Yoimiya has gotten some of her fighting spirit back, unbeknownst to her, the mark left by Seraphina has deeply ingrained its roots inside Ajax's heart and mind. That same beautiful voice comes back to haunt him, whispering dark thoughts into his head to cloud his judgment.

Alnair. Don't forget about me. I love you more than she ever could. That wench has always been so selfish, always so focused on her feelings. It's not fair that you're always forced to comfort her. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[He's so glad to hear her say those words, that she would do her best and do whatever it took to stay alive and get through this together with him. He can see the tears threatening to spill out, but she's doing her best to be brave, to weather this storm they've found themselves in. His chest buzzes and fills with a warmth when she nuzzles into his palm, and he couldn't be happier to nod his head back at her when she asks for him to stay with her.

Of course he would. She didn't need to ask- he'd do everything in his power to ensure he stood by her side through thick and thin.

And that's when the unexpected happens.

Dark thoughts swirl inside of his head, and words bubble up inside that have been branded onto his mind that were not removed during that short moment of salvation. They echo in his head, and the world seems to go quiet once again.

Just remember... listen to my voice alone. Drown out anyone else.

Ajax's pupils reduce into small pinpoints in his eyes as he looks at Yoimiya, as more words play in his head, spoken to him from his master.

Alnair. Don't forget about me. I love you more than she ever could. That wench has always been so selfish, always so focused on her feelings. It's not fair that you're always forced to comfort her.

It's not fair. He has done a bit of comforting for her, and yet nothing has changed. But Seraphina's love is eternal, and he wouldn't dare forget about her. Ajax sways back and forth just slightly as his thoughts are suddenly engulfed by Seraphina's will, listening to her voice, continuing to nod at Yoimiya, yet these acknowledgements aren't for her. But whatever distance between them allows her influence to not be as strong, and his own pure thoughts penetrate the cloud of darkness over his mind.

No. He needs to be there for Yoimiya, whenever she needs him.]

I promise, Yoimiya. I'll do everything to stay alive and stand by you, no matter what.

[niwabi]

[ Something seems incredibly off about Ajax. Despite that she's beyond exhausted, the first thing that sticks out to her like a sore thumb is the size of his pupils, they look like they've shrunk into tiny points made by needles. The next thing that's a cause for concern is watching him sway back and forth. There's always a good chance he's also tired considering everything that happened but something about his movements isn't sitting right with her. As he told her in the spa, he's been through death-defying battles, so surely the ordeal wouldn't have drained him... right?

But before she can dwell on that line of thought, his promise assuages her concerns. The smile on her face grows wider, finally feeling some semblance of relief after being forced to go through that horrific ordeal. ]

Thank you, Ajax. I love you. I promise to stand by your side and support you no matter what. Don't ever hesitate to share your burdens with me.

[ It's the least she can do for everything he's had to put up with in regards to her.

Using the little strength she has left, Yoimiya stands up from the chair to pull Ajax in for a warm embrace, overjoyed that they're both still alive. ]

I'm sorry to be a burden but do you mind carrying me to bed? I think I'm ready to lay down for the rest of the evening. You need to get some rest too, okay? We need to get our strength back before we face Dottore.

[monoceroscaeli]

[A soft smile spreads across his face, and he stands up with her as she pulls him into her arms. His own arms engulf her small frame, holding her close as he pours more comfort into his gestures to be a rock for her, a steady foundation that she can always rely upon. Letting go, he nods one last time to her, kneeling down to scoop her up into his arms.]

You've had a hard day. C'mon.

[Ajax carries her to the bed, but something at the back of his mind lurks and speaks ill of this exchange. Selfish. She's selfish. It's not fair. Though it doesn't show outwardly, Tartaglia feels the smallest bubble of resentment float to the surface, but he dismisses it instantly, popping it like the transient thing it is. And what had come over him in the moments before this? It's all confusing to him, this business with Alnair, and what it all means for him. That Seraphina is tricky...he's got to be on his guard.

Ajax lays Yoimiya down on the bed, moving the covers so he can tuck her in so she doesn't have to put forth the effort after being so savagely used. He kisses her forehead, admiring her as she lays there, before leaving to fetch their delusions. He's only gone but a moment, before returning with the silk band she'd mentioned before with her delusion, and a chain for his own. He slips hers over her head to wear as a necklace, and then slips his own on as well.]

There. I think we might get an iota of peace tonight, with any luck.

[Ajax rounds the bed to join her, slipping under the covers and getting comfortable.]

Try you best to get some sleep, Yoimiya. I'll do my best to rest too. Don't worry about Dottore, believe me- he's got all the time in the world to accomplish his goals.

[niwabi]

[ She truly cannot thank Ajax enough. If it wasn't for his comforting presence... she doesn't even want to think about how miserable and dull her life would be without them. I truly am blessed Yoimiya thinks to herself, snuggling up to him as he carries her to bed, completely oblivious to the inner struggle taking place inside of Ajax's headspace. Unbeknownst to her, Seraphina's hold on Alnair's mind is absolute, and as long as those marks stay on him, she's determined to make Yoimiya's life a living hell before her miserable life can finally come to an end.

Yoimiya has no idea about the true extent of Seraphina's wrath.

Once he lays her down and tucks her in, Yoimiya finally feels a little bit at peace after her body was cruelly used and abused. What little strength she has left is used to snuggle up close with her boyfriend, desperately craving his warm presence to get her through the night. With the delusion around her neck and Ajax next to her, she might be able to get some semblance of sleep tonight. ]

Alright, you've convinced me. I'll try not to worry about him too much. Surely he's got plenty of other endeavors to tackle in Sumeru.

[ She cranes her head to press a soft kiss to his cheek. ]

Thank you again Ajax. I love you...

[monoceroscaeli]

[The warmth of Yoimiya's body feels so nice against his own. As she cuddles up to him, his head moves to nuzzles against hers. He's not so sure really, how much rest he was going to get tonight, despite anything he's said so far to her. It still bothers him a lot about how he acted while he was underneath the strange power of Seraphina. That immense amount of love and devotion he felt for her as Alnair is still very fresh in his mind, and a seed of doubt was planted deep within his mind that he still isn't truly aware of. No doubt he'll replay the event over and over in his head until he finally falls asleep, trying to figure out and think through everything that happened in order to come up with a way to deal with Seraphina properly.

But Yoimiya's kiss manages to settle him down for the moment, take his mind away from his troubles and helps to focus his attention on her. He looks down at her and smiles warmly, eyes crinkling around their edges while he takes a moment to appreciate her and appreciate that she is still lying next to him, safe in his arms instead of in harm's way.]

I love you too, Yoimiya. Goodnight.

---

[It takes some time for Childe to fall asleep. His mind goes through and thinks about what had happened, and the more he thinks about it, the more he convinces himself she had hypnotized him somehow, making him believe he was someone else. But now she's no longer in control of Yoimiya or him, they have their delusions on their person now, and something...or someone...was watching over them. He can't explain away the warmth of the star that permeated his mind, but it must of been something keeping an eye out for them.

After some time, Ajax finally loses consciousness, falling into a deep sleep as his dreams begin to take shape.

The coziness of the cabin he finds himself in is familiar and warm, and he can't quite make out who the person is next to him. Her figure is a blur, save for the radiance and sharp gaze of her pink eyes, which he can't seem to tear away from. He feels at peace and completely in love, as the two giggle and share in each other's warmth with her in his arms. She's the love of his life, she's everything he's ever wanted, and he feels happy, proclaiming his devotion to her before they kiss. Everything is right, and all he wants to do is spend the rest of his days by her side.

Don't forget me, Alnair.

Her voice echoes in his mind, over and over again.

I love you, more than she ever could. I love you. You belong to me. Remember me, Alnair. Only listen to me.]

---

[Sunlight permeates the room as it begins to rise, making Childe's eyes flutter open. He felt like he slept like a baby, his body feels light and good, almost as if the claw marks in his back never came to be. He breathes out a sigh of relief, basking in the warm rays of sunlight and taking a moment to himself to appreciate being alive for another day and being able to be with Yoimiya.

Groggy, he closes his eyes, but what stares back at him are pink irises that reflect off of the back of his eyelids, mesmerizing and controlling. His eyes snap back open immediately, but no matter what he does, those pink eyes don't return...maybe he's just tired...]

Yoimiya, [he says softly as he rolls over to gaze at the gorgeous, sleeping visage of his girlfriend.] You awake? Breakfast...

[He nuzzles her a few times, to try to wake her up. He wants to get food and he doesn't want to go without her.]

[niwabi]

[ The sight of Ajax's warm, genuine smile combined with his blue eyes gazing down on her grips and tugs at her heart. No doubt the two of them are in for a rough night's sleep, not even the most hardened veteran would be able to slumber in peace with everything they have on their plate but seeing that wonderful smile spread across her lover's visage is yet another reminder that they made it and lived another day to rest in each other's arms. She's finally able to relax in his hold, feeling safe and secure from the harsh reality that a vile monster wants her dead. Maybe, just maybe, she can fall asleep to Ajax's warmth enveloping her.

I love you too, Yoimiya. Goodnight.

She'll never get tired of him proclaiming his love, it gives her the slightest bit of hope that Seraphina's influence has nothing on Ajax's willpower. This man has been through hell and back, there's no telling how many death-defying situations he's come out of, if there's anyone who can defy the whims of a crazy woman in love, it's him. From the bottom of her heart, she truly believes they will come out of this situation stronger than ever.

With that peace of mind, Yoimiya closes her eyes, nestles her face against Ajax's chest, and eventually, drifts off to sleep. What awaits her is not the sweet dreams of her lover she was hoping for, but instead...

She's all alone, pulled back to that same ocean she saw in the fog of her consciousness. Not a speck of light can reach the place she's at, there's nothing but pitch-black darkness and ice-cold water engulfing her body, her chest hurts, it feels like ice is pumping into her bloodstream, and she's unable to breathe. But instead of being scared, she's simply resigned to the fact that no one can dive in and pull her out. All she can do is accept her fate to sink endlessly into the sea with no hope of escaping.

Alone... ]

---

[ It's only when something soft and warm touches her that Yoimiya finally begins to stir. She blearily opens her eyes, immediately using Ajax's chest as a shield against the sunlight pouring into the room. Although she managed to sleep, it wasn't the relaxing rest she was hoping for. Still, she had a feeling this was going to be the case. Sleeping with a threat looming over them feels like an impossible task.

But... as soon as her vision comes to and she sees the wonderful sight of her boyfriend greeting her with his handsome face, she feels recharged and ready to face the world with him at her side. ]

Mm... morning Ajax.

[ She manages to crack a small, tired smile at him. ]

Breakfast sounds lovely. Does the hotel provide room service?

[monoceroscaeli]

[There she is. He's grateful that it didn't take a lot to wake her up, though he hopes she did at least get enough sleep. The shadow of the day before hasn't left him yet, and he won't tell her about how he thought about it all night until he finally passed out from exhaustion. But strangely, whatever he'd dreamt of the night before left a positive, warm feeling in his chest, so at least he was granted that much...]

It does, I suppose that means you're still tired and need a little more rest, huh?

[Which is okay. He wasn't sure if she'd have the strength or willpower to get up today, not after last night. He's sure she's absolutely sore and moving probably sounds like a terrible idea, but she'll have to get up to at least go to the bathroom or stretch her limbs.]

I can't guarantee the food they'll bring up will be better than what they serve in the Grand Bazaar, but it's edible. I guess I'm just leery of hotel food...there's always better choices around. Would you rather I go and fetch us something from one of the local shops? I don't mind.

[niwabi]

[ Yoimiya nods in response, the aftermath of that brutal sex session hits her like a truck, the bruises that were left on her have bloomed overnight, leaving big red marks all over her chest and hips. And her legs... she doesn't dare move them, her whole lower half feels sore all over. She can already see herself falling flat on her face if she attempted to get out of bed right this very second. ]

Are you sure? I'd hate to force you on a fetch quest. I'd like to at least go with you...

[ She already feels awful for being such a burden on Ajax and the lack of good sleep isn't helping her anxiety. Yoimiya grunts and groans as she attempts to move, but try as she might, her legs feel too much like jelly to even slip out of bed, much less make the trip to even a nearby local shop. For a go-getter like her, the worst thing in the world is to be crippled and unable to move. ]

Sorry, I guess I really do need to spend the day in bed. If you don't mind grabbing breakfast from somewhere, I'd really appreciate it.

[monoceroscaeli]

[It's concerning to watch her fail to even get out of bed with how sore and battered she is, though not unsurprising. He still feels a wave of guilt wash over him to see her like this, given he was a big part of the reason why her body was in pain today. So he'll do anything for her, all she has to do is ask or even imply that she wants something.]

I will, please, stay in bed and try to rest. I'll go and bring back something nice for the both of us. I believe there's a cafe just down the street, so I won't be long.

[He leans down to plant a kiss to the top of her head, before going to get himself dressed to go out. Pants, his shirt, socks. No need to put on his full uniform.]

Don't fall asleep though, you wouldn't want to sleep through breakfast and have it get cold, now. I'll be back soon~

[Ajax quickly leaves so she doesn't wait too long for him. There's this nagging feeling that he really shouldn't leave her alone for too long, so he wastes no time at all making his way out of the hotel to get breakfast.]

[niwabi]

[ Yoimiya nods and puts on her best reassuring smile to see him off. It pains her that he feels the need to go above and beyond for her when none of this is his fault. Seraphina is the sole perpetrator... is what she wishes to believe. Deep down inside, she still can't banish the thought of being partially at fault because she's so weak and ordinary.

But that's neither here nor there. Ajax seems much more rejuvenated than last night and doesn't wish to ruin the mood with her self-deprecation. It's short and sweet but the kiss to the top of her head gives her the warm fuzzies all over. She's so lucky to have a kind, caring, and considerate partner like Ajax. Now if only she could move, she'd be returning the kiss back like crazy. sobs. BUT! Yoimiya isn't about to let her lack of mobility get her down. Determined to give him some form of affection, she props her back against the pillow and blows him a kiss as he departs.

There! Now she feels a whole lot better already. Yoimiya giggles to herself as she gets comfy underneath the sheets, fantasizing about their delicious breakfast from a quaint little cafe. About five minutes after Ajax's departure, there's a knock at the door accompanied by a female voice. ]

Hotel cleaning staff! Are you in need of fresh towels and sheets?

[ Oh! Last night's harrowing events made her forget all about the hotel staff. Yoimiya contemplates sending them away to focus on getting some much-needed rest but after some consideration, she figures it wouldn't hurt to get a fresh change of sheets and towels. Thankfully, she's wearing one of her boyfriend's nightshirts long enough to cover her nude body, so she doesn't feel weird about letting anyone in. ]

Oh, what fantastic timing! Come on in! We used up all our towels last night and some spare sheets would be lovely.

[ Despite being in immense pain, her voice is loud as ever, able to reach the housekeeper's ears even as she shouts from the bedroom. Yoimiya will always have it in her to greet everyone with her warm disposition no matter the situation. With a click, a hotel maid enters the room with a cart full of cleaning supplies and the promised towels and sheets. ]

Sorry for interrupting you. I won't be but a minute.

[ Yoimiya waves off the apology with a smile. As far as she's concerned, this lass is just doing her job. ]

It's not a problem at all. Thank you very much.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Childe hurries down the street, swinging into the cafe and getting in line to order their food. Unbeknownst to him, something else has other ideas for the couple, and was just waiting for the right moment.

Back in the hotel room, the maid keeps the door open with a door stop, pushes the cart over to the bath where the two had been assaulted by Seraphina the night before, cleaning the area up a little bit and swapping out the towels they'd used. It's all a fairly quick, easy process, not needing to do a deep clean since the residents were there. She works quickly, gathering all of the mess up for them, depositing the dirty towels in a little bin on the cart, and turns the cart to push it back out of the room and leave Yoimiya to her business for the day.

Halfway through the room, the maid suddenly stops, and her body seems to go rigid for only a moment before returning to normal. However, she makes no moves to leave, instead fixing her gaze on Yoimiya.]

Ma'am, I'll need to swap out your bedsheets as well and make your bed up. If you could please allow me to do so, it won't take long.

[But even with or without permission, the maid comes over to the side of the bed where Yoimiya is, her eyes blank as she offers a hand for Yoimiya to take to help her out of bed. Like she expects her to comply, and get out of the bed for whatever time it would take to fix it, and won't take no for an answer.]

[niwabi]

[ The process is routine, not setting a single alarm bell off in her mind as Yoimiya reaches over the nightstand to grab a nearby magazine for her reading pleasure. She hums to herself as she flips through pages of Sumeru's beautiful landscape mesmerized and not at all paying close attention to the maid. It's only when she hears her voice that her attention is pulled away from the magazine in hand. She flickers her gaze over at the maid who is now at the side of her bed and offering her hand. Yoimiya looks at her hand and then back at the maid, the gesture is sweet but there's something about this that's not sitting well with her; hotel staff don't approach their guests without their permission... right? Still none the wiser, she tries not to think too hard about the exchange, brushing it off as her just being an attentive staff member.

Yoimiya gets ready to take her hand but then, stops at the very last second. ]

Wait a second...

[ It's then, a horrible realization occurs to her. ]

Why are you holding your hand out to me?

[ Sure, she might be lying in bed but there's no way this maid should know she's lying in bed because she can't move. Only herself and Ajax are aware of this fact.

The maid doesn't say anything for a few good seconds and simply stares at her guest with a blank expression that turns Yoimiya's blood cold. She closes her green eyes and when she finally opens them, the blonde is met with striking pink irises that will forever be burned into her memories. Before Yoimiya can react, she's suddenly grabbed by the arm and thrown onto the floor, her body hits the the ground with a sickening thud. She screams in pain as she's slammed onto the ground, her body has already been through the wringer after last night and now, it feels like she's getting thrown off a cliff. ]

I'm impressed, you're actually a lot more perceptive than I originally thought. Not that it matters because you're all alone and there's no Ajax to come and save you.

[ Seraphina.

There's not a single doubt in her mind as to who this is. It has to be Seraphina. No one hates her or wants her dead as much as she does. And now, she's hit with another horrible truth; Seraphina has the power to control not just her and Ajax but also everyone around them.

Using the maid's body as her new vessel, Seraphina forces the woman to stand over the weakened Yoimiya, she rolls the blonde on her back and cruelly pulls her arms behind her with full intent of inflicting as much pain on her as she possibly can before she ties her wrists together. Yoimiya cries out, unable to do anything in her condition, all she can do is scream with tears streaming down the side of her face. ]

Let go! Let go of me...! Please, somebody... HELP!

[monoceroscaeli]

[Screams from Yoimiya and Ajax's room are heard down the hall, and there's the beating of someone's footsteps as they run down the hall towards it. Seraphina celebrates to herself in how Yoimiya cries out desperately, her pain evident on her face and her fear delicious as she viciously pulls Yoimiya to her feet. The maid isn't strong enough physically to pick Yoimiya up, but there is someone who is strong enough, and they're about to arrive on the scene.

A Fatui guard swings in quickly to see the terrible scene before him, the maid assaulting Lord Childe's beloved. He and others had been briefed by Childe to be near and keep an eye on them in case something happened, and the solider had brushed it off as his Lord being a little paranoid for no reason until now. He draws his knife from under his Fatui jacket, brandishing it at the maid with a stern tone in his voice:]

Let her go, or else-

[The guard's voice catches in his throat, gargling a little as something seems to assault him, arms going limp at his side and his head arcing backwards as Seraphina smiles wickedly from her place behind Yoimiya.]

Hahahaha-! Come, come take her for me. She won't put up any resistance for you.

[And like a doll come alive, the guard puts away his knife and moves to Yoimiya to sling her right over his shoulder, silently obeying Seraphina's orders. If it weren't for the mask on his face, Yoimiya would see that his eyes were completely blank of any sort of consciousness, a slave to the witch's whims as he begins to march her right out of the room. More Fatui come, but they slowly come to a stop as well, suffering the same fate- Seraphina traps them in their own minds, allowing the soldier to carry Yoimiya right out of the hotel and into the busy streets of Sumeru City. No one seems to notice or care about what is obviously a woman being kidnapped right before their very eyes- the gazes of the citizens glaze over the moment they notice, allowing passage for Yoimiya to be walked right out of the city without a single alarm raised.

See? A voice inside of Yoimiya's head rings out. No one cares about you. You're worthless. Just dross to be rid of as soon as possible.

Down the ramp towards the docks they go, with no one bothering to stop them from reaching the water's edge. The Fatui solider stops, and the maid swings around to get a good look at Yoimiya. She reaches out and takes Yoimiya's chin gingerly between her fingers, lifting her head up so she can get a good look at her victim before ensuring her demise.]

Did you think that trick last night would save you? My precious Alnair may not be able to finish the job himself, so it falls to me to make sure you're disposed of. Goodbye, mortal, and die knowing that Alnair is safe in my loving embrace.

[niwabi]

[ A small ray of light comes in the form of a Fatui Soldier marching into the room to her rescue, Yoimiya looks at him through tear-soaked eyes in a mix of joy, relief, and pain as he brandishes his knife at the maid. Soon, this nightmare will be over, all he has to do is pull her out of the maid's clutches and buy just enough time for Tartaglia to return. But before she can even thank her savior, that small bit of hope is cruelly snatched away from her as soon as the guard stops in the middle of his threat.

One horrible realization after another keeps hitting her. Soon as the Fatui's arms drop to the side and begin to pick her up, Yoimiya realizes the true extent of Seraphina's powers. She can control not just one person but multiple people at a time. The realization becomes even more horrific as she's carried out of the hotel, the other Fatui soldiers simply just allow her to be taken away. Not only that, no one roaming the busy streets of Sumeru City seems to care that she's obviously being taken away against her will, bawling her eyes out, and completely out of function. The worst part of it all, the one that really digs the knife into her heart and cruelly twists it is how a few people just step to the side without a care in the world, as if she is just an insignificant bug.

No one cares about you. You're worthless. Just dross to be rid of as soon as possible.

...

She's right. Seraphina is absolutely right. Not a single soul cares about her worthless self, she should just simply accept her fate to die. If she wasn't around, Ajax could go on grand adventures without being forced to take care of her. She's just a weak human who can't even hold a candle to her lover's incredible strength, so Seraphina truly is the better match for him, they'll be able to brave dangers that Yoimiya isn't capable of.

If she dies then Ajax can finally be truly happy.

Seraphina has successfully whittled her spirits into dust, the light in her once bright gold eyes vanishes, no longer able to fight or scream, the least she can do is accept her death with grace. Yoimiya doesn't even flinch when the maid grabs her by the chin, all that's left of her is the tear-stained face of a woman who is broken beyond repair and ready to accept her death. ]

Ajax... Ajax... Ajax... [ Scared, completely broken, and unable to move, all Yoimiya can do is whimper out her beloved's name between choked sobs. ] Ajax... A-Ajax... I'm so sorry... Ajax...

[ Oh, the look of despair painting her victim's face is simply splendid. A sickly sweet laughter pours out of the maid's lips, seeing Yoimiya in such a pathetic state is like music to her ears. ]

Even when you're getting ready to face death, you sound pathetic as ever. Alnair isn't coming to save you, he'll never love you more than me. Hehe but rest assured, he'll be even better hands. I'll take care of him better than you ever could.

[ The maid motions for the guard to take her away and dump her in the perfect place no one can find her; the ocean. With Yoimiya bound and hauled on his shoulder, the Fatui mindlessly trudges to the edge of the dock, ready to toss her over at any second. The whole time, Yoimiya is unable to do anything but cry and blubber out Ajax's name. The one thought that crosses her mind is maybe that's why she kept seeing herself sinking in the ocean, maybe this was always her destiny.

She's just a stepping stone for Alnair and Seraphina's love. ]

This is your fate, you were always destined to die like this. All alone.

[monoceroscaeli]

[The Fatui guard isn't affected whatsoever by Yoimiya's cries, reaching the water's edge and stopping as he grabs a hold of her petite body, ready to throw her in. Seraphina knows that Yoimiya is already too weak to be able to swim back up with her legs alone, and with her hands bound, she'll drown and die a terrible death in a matter of seconds. It's ensured to be painful, and she is delighted in how easily she was able to snatch Yoimiya away, now at the precipice of getting rid of the last obstacle in her way to claim Alnair's heart for her own.

In one swift motion, the guard drops Yoimiya directly into the water, creating a splash of water that barely even splashes back up onto the dock.

Seraphina feels empowered and triumphant, walking over to the edge herself just to look over and imagine how the oxygen is leaving Yoimiya's body and how all she can breathe in is water into those pathetic lungs of hers. After a minute, she turns and begins to walk the maid's body back, and the Fatui soldier follows along to return to the hotel. With their job done, all that's left now is to claim Alnair utterly and completely, but she'll enjoy this win for the moment before she enacts her plans.

Under the water, a figure swiftly swims down to Yoimiya, grabbing her and swimming away from the docks, pressing his mouth to hers to give her a small amount of breath until they've gotten a safe distance away. Further down the river away from Sumeru City, Childe comes up with her from the depths with a gasp, desperate for air himself. He swims with one arm towards the shore, tired from the effort, but managing to find the strength to lie her down in the soft grass.]

Yoimiya, are you okay? Blast that terrible woman, what a cowardly scheme...Yoimiya, please forgive me for not being there...

[He scoops up her head, holding her gently in his hands, feeling guilt gnaw away at him for being so careless. To think he thought that leaving her alone for any second would be safe...]

[niwabi]

[ The last thing Yoimiya sees before she's dunked into the water is the wicked face of the maid acting as a mask for Seraphina, the sight of that terrible smile and those pink eyes capable of burning a hole into her soul will never leave her mind. But not that it matters, she'll be dead in a matter of minutes, and all her worries will vanish along with her. There will be no more pain, no more sorrow, no more Seraphina, she can finally rest in peace without constantly fearing for her life or holding Ajax back.

In a way... Seraphina is doing her a favor. It's painful to go on living in a world where no one cares for her. Might as well just accept the sweet embrace of death and finally, rest for all of eternity.

...

A cold darkness envelops her body just like in her dreams. Once again, Yoimiya sees herself sinking deeper and deeper into the water but only this time, it's reality. Just as she's getting ready to close her eyes to accept death, she can barely make out a blurry figure swimming down to grab her. Before she even realizes what's going on, she feels the brush of warm lips pumping air into her system to keep her prevent her from slipping into an unconscious state. The next thing she knows, she's pulled out of the water and gasping for air until her body is set on dry land. She repeatedly coughs in an attempt to hack the water out of her system. She's still slowly coming to but even in this state, there's only one person who has been desperately trying to save her. ]

Ajax, *cough* Ajax... *cough* *cough* Is that... you...?

[ His voice is the confirmation that she desperately seeks. Slowly, she opens her bleary eyes to see Ajax's face staring right at her. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Relief sweeps through him as she coughs water out of her lungs and refills it with life-giving oxygen. Childe's thankful he got to her as quick as he did, and as far as he knows, completely unnoticed- which will work in their favor for the time being. But for now, all he wants to do is concentrate on making her as comfortable as possible until she's finally able to come completely back to her senses.]

Yes, it's me.

[He smiles as he looks down at her, shifting so that she can rest her head in his lap, keeping it elevated while he tends to her.]

I'm so relieved to know you're alright...I was scared half to death when I didn't find you back in the room.

[niwabi]

[ As Yoimiya coughs out the remaining water out of her lungs, her eyesight comes back into focus, finally able to see a not-so-blurry Ajax staring down at her. She fully relaxes the back of her head in his lap, not saying a word for a solid minute. It's hard to process everything that's happened, all the negative thoughts swirling through her head, and every terrible thing Seraphina told her. She still can't believe she's even alive, a small part of her wondering if she's actually lost consciousness in the water and is dreaming this whole thing up.

But no, the longer she stares at Ajax, she becomes all the more assured she's alive. She should be happy and yet, she still can't sake the feeling that maybe Ajax would be better off without her. ]

Thank you... for saving me. I... don't want to think about the outcome if you didn't make that timely rescue.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Ajax studies her face, seeing that there's more beneath the surface of it all that she's not saying. He can't imagine how frightening that whole experience was, and if it had been in their interests to stop it head on, he would of done so, to keep her from experiencing that trauma. He can only hope she'll forgive him.

His hand comes down to brush her cheek, gently stroking it as he looks down on her fondly, trying his best to keep any fury off of his expression while he comforts her. He's so angry at Seraphina and her tricks, and he swears he'll kill her the second he gets the chance. But for now, Yoimiya comes first.]

You're safe now, that's all that matters. I know this is sudden, but we need to leave Sumeru City as fast as possible. We're going to get a few backpacks, return to the room and gather only the necessities, and go...somewhere. I haven't worked out where, but we're too vulnerable here with a city full of puppets for her to use.

[A thought that terrifies him. If everyone can be used by her, where are they safe?]

Do you know of anywhere that might be safe for us to go? You know Sumeru better than I do.

[niwabi]

[ The heat permeating from his fingers warms her cold, wet body like a furnace. Yoimiya breathes a heavy sigh through her nose and uses the little bit of her energy to nuzzle her face into the palm of his hand, appreciative of his sweet care and concern for her. She's still shaken by the whole ordeal so it takes her a minute to process everything he's saying. Her shivering body cuddles close to him, in need of warmth and his comforting presence. ]

Let's hide in the forest somewhere far away from here. I brought camping supplies in my luggage so hopefully that will keep us tide over until then.

[ She's not sure where they will go but anywhere is better than Sumeru City. There's no telling how far Seraphina's influence reaches but Yoimiya does not wish to find out. ]

Maybe... the aranara can aid us.