insurmountable | we swore that death will do us part / they'll call our crimes a work of art

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we swore that death will do us part / they'll call our crimes a work of art

[A Fatui Harbinger's work is truly never finished, and Childe finds himself treading across the grass from a dirt path leading into Mikage Furnace, surveying the area.

He'd gotten and read the reports, knowing full well that Lumine and a certain Fontaine engineer named Xavier had repelled a lot of their forces from inside, noting how the barrier has been dispersed completely from the prior reports that had been sent back to Snezhnaya. Electricity still buzzes in the area, the dark energy from the Tatarigami visible around the base of the floating, rocky structure. Forges lay silent, the area still relatively unsafe for any workers to enter due to the monsters still inside, and some Fatui also remain, doing research. All in all, it's an interesting sight to say the least, as the Harbinger strides inside from the northern entrance towards the center of the area.

Anything that pops up to attack are easily dispatched, water blades dissipating from his hands as he skates across the water to stand in the middle of the island there, looking up at the floating metal encasing that holds the power of a fallen god.

It's a pretty remarkable sight, understanding exactly why Dottore would be interested in this place. The research on the energy here is thick even with the repairs done to the furnace, feeling it prickle the hair on his arms. A smug smile crosses his features, his battle senses picking up that he's not here alone, turning around to greet the one who'd followed him inside, probably curious to see what he was doing here and trying to figure out what he's up to.

As he turns, his arms splay out in front of him, giving his friend a warm smile as he greets her.]

Greetings, comrade. Imagine running into you here.

[He's not being sus at all, nope.]

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[ How exactly did "we should leave" turn to "let's explore more?" She shakes her head, more out of exasperation than unwillingness at this point. It seems like no matter what she says, like she predicted, he intends to go forward. ]

From what I can tell, it was here when I arrived. I wasn't really certain there was something until the third time I visited though. If you really want to go, I'll back you up--but I still think this is a really bad idea.

[ Three times. If three different warnings aren't enough to stop him, well... if and when he starts moving toward the cavern, she'll start moving with him. ]

[Happy that she's coming with him, Childe crosses the water over to the other shore where the cave resides, walking up towards it cautiously, noting the metal grating that's been opened.]

Looks like this has been recently opened. Perhaps as part of your exploration of the area?

[Even though it seems like he's ignoring her warnings, he's really not- the man is on edge even through his relaxed exterior. Someone watching them can't go uninvestigated however, so leaving and letting it go just isn't in the cards. There's a lot of Fatui here, and even if they're not his direct subordinates, he won't let them get eaten alive by anything else that could be lurking down here. Unlike other Harbingers, he'll actually take care of their troops properly, at least when it comes to things like this.

Plus, there's always that added excitement if they get to fight something strong. That's probably more of the reason why he wants to explore.]

It looks like an ordinary cave, and maybe there was something inside of it once...but why the added security? There was three locks on it.

[He looks at her, his eyes asking- know anything about this?]

Some of the records I found indicated that there was a valuable treasure located in the cavern. Others said that a powerful youkai was sealed inside. And one of the villagers I spoke with said it was actually a source for a special ore the swordsmiths could only find here, and it was sealed because treasure hoarders and other thieves kept coming to try to steal the minerals.

I didn't find any of them, though, or even any evidence that any of that present--just a few crystalflies. Whatever was actually being kept in this cave was looted a long time ago, I think, maybe by an insider.

[ It HAD occurred to her that it might be the spirit poking its nose around, watching her so intently. But the watching had happened long before she opened the gate, and it--unlike the many other spirits of Inazuma--had never tried to make contact. So it seems unlikely. ]

[After finishing his examination of the entryway, he peeks inside. Overgrown with plant life, he can see why it may of once served as a good storage area for the workers of Tatarasuna, already spotting several boxes and a few banners with the markings of the Shogunate inside. The inside glows with a dazzling purple hue, the plants which he's seen in Chinju Forest now glowing with that purple instead of blue. Probably due to the amount of energy in the area he figures, walking inside.

Bats flap towards the top of the cave, the inside bigger than he initially suspected, and the Harbinger starts inspecting the far wall.]

I've found that stories and legends often get mixed in with the truth about a place. More so in a country like Inazuma where youkai and spirits are real. If you ask me, it's possible that all those things are true.

[He seems to kick at something in the dirt, looking intrigued at what he's discovered. He kicks at it again, making a large chunk of dirt fly off in one direction, revealing a stone corner to something a lot larger buried underneath. Laughing, he turns back to Lumine, inclining his head down at it.]

Seems we've solved the mystery of why there were so many keys required to open the door. Come take a look.

[It's the obvious architecture of the roof of a Domain- right here in this cavern.]

Now all that's left is to find the mechanism to unearth it.

[ It's not unusual for a domain to be hidden by rocks or dust. If anything, it's become more common than not during her travels. And the same can be said for the mechanisms that unlock them. But this is the first time that she's ever encountered one where by tangible human effort it was sequestered away. And not by just one but THREE locks. That uneasy feeling that says they shouldn't be doing this is stronger than ever.

But Childe is like a dog with a bone. He's not going to give up on this idea now. Lumine sighs. ]

You know, I really wasn't planning on going domain spelunking today.

[ Even to her own ears, she sounds cranky, but it is what it is. She does, however, begin cutting back vegetation with her sword, looking for the trigger. ]

If we find any treasure it's mine.

[Finding that she's helping him look for it and seems to have agreed to go with him puts him in an even better mood than before. Getting to go on an adventure with Lumine is going to be great, just as it was when they'd delved into the Mystic Onmyou Chamber together. She sounds a little annoyed, but he's sure by the end of it, it'll of been a gratifying experience- and, maybe she'll come out a little richer to boot.]

Aw, let me at least keep a little of it, for a memento of our adventures together.

[He laughs, searching himself for something to release the domain from its long time slumber, eventually finding a switch that looks as old as the forge itself.]

Bingo, heheh.

[ The domain shakes and Lumine steps back just in time for the stone entrance to slide forward from the wall. The tell-tale red glow on the façade shifts from bright red, to blue... but then shifts back again, not to red, but to a luscious magenta. Lumine frowns and presses her hand against the door, half-expecting it to not budge. It does, howeve, open, the same as any other domain. ]

Fine. You get one piece of treasure.

[ Before she can change her mind and act on every good instinct and wiser thought in her head, she steps through the doorway and the blaze of pink light.

On the other side, she finds herself presented with a domain that makes no sense. It is not the inside of an Inazuman style manor with tatami flooring and decorated with pine folding screens. It is also not a a stone platform surrounded by misty, far off ruins and a dormant petrified tree. Instead, it's a forest-y path with dim light, bushes and grass almost green, and fuschia flower-filled trees. Motes of glowing lights rise and fall from the ground and there's a heady sweet scent to the air--caused no doubt by the incredible amount of pollen drifting through the air.

She blinks, wrinkles her nose, and fights the almost-instant urge to sneeze. ]

Well. This is new.

(( picture ref if you're wondering ))

[There's a happy little smirk on his face, glad to see that they managed to find the domain that had been hidden away by the bladesmiths of Tatarasuna centuries ago and that Lumine was going to let him keep a little piece of treasure for himself. He clearly doesn't need the money, and most of the fun is the adventure along the way just to find it. So Tartaglia steps in behind her, noting the strange magenta color that flashes through the doors of the domain. He's never seen that before, and that could spell a greater danger for them than what a normal domain would- but he welcomes it.

He'd love for it to be one of the most dangerous domains he's ever entered. Because to him, it doesn't matter, he's with Lumine. There's nothing that the two of them can't stare down and conquer.

The Harbinger silently joins her at her side, looking around. He's never seen anything like this either, the only path open to them leading further into this forest. He doesn't sense anything with murderous intent in here, in fact he'd almost dare say that they might be alone. But he knows this can't be true- he'd seen someone poking their head out at them before disappearing into the cave, so there's still an inkling that they're in here in his mind.]

Hmmm...

[He muses to himself, walking forward to follow the path. As he draws nearer, he sees talismans and seals strung up along it, in the trees around it and on posts that have been driven into the ground. He gestures a hand towards Lumine for her to come take a look, peering down the winding path.]

Seems they really didn't want what's in here getting out, doesn't it.

[His face turns a bit more serious, now wondering what's in here.]

Let's go. I've got a feeling whatever is at the end of this path is big. Perhaps we'll meet our little stalker along the way.

[ If the number of wards, charms, and talismans present over literally every tree and along the path are any indication, Childe might very well get his wish. There's no way that this could possibly be a safe domain. The lack of normal enemy mobs just makes things more eerie. Sure, they could have been deflected by the sheer number of spiritual protections, but it could also mean that there's something here so dangerous that they weren't able to settle here.

As they head deeper in, the path becomes less visible. A low fog, barely perceptible at first, builds up until it clouds the ground up to their calves. Overhead, the flowers in the trees take on a flickering glow, reminiscent of the ethereal lights at Wuwang Hill. Things still seem within some realm of normalcy until they reach the very end of the path.

Here, walls of stone rise up past the trees, stretching up and up and up, impossibly high so as to make them unscaleable. The path in the middle slopes slightly downward, into what could be described as a puddle of water, expect that the land then rises back up again, forming a small hill at the heart of the mote. And on that mote rests a massive... crystal, wreathed by enormous tree roots that spiral over it. Talismans secured by rope encircle the circumference of the geode. A pulsing light, almost like a heartbeat, emits from the ore. ]

No sign of our stalker.

[ That said... she feels funny. Something about looking into that light is making her feel--off. ]

[In his opinion, if there were anything that truly fit the bill of Inazuma being a land of spirits and supernatural entities, this shrine might just be it.

That is, if he could even call it a shrine. There's something weirdly familiar about how the tree roots that encase the crystal that reminds him of the Abyss, but that's something he'll keep to himself for the moment. All he knows is that what lies before them is surely something of great power, something that the Fatui would love to research- and that's going to go in a report back home so they can start work on it immediately. It may even garner the Doctor's attention, who knows. Won't be his problem after today ~~so he thinks.~~]

No, but this is indeed a rare find...but I'm getting an uneasy feeling about it. It's a little...mesmerizing, don't you think?

[He too, feels strange as the light pulsates, and his focus seems to narrow further and further on it. Childe approaches the geode carefully, inspecting all of the talismans, when a little thought pops into his head, simple and unassuming.

Cut the rope.

A small hydro knife appears in his hand, the blade slipping underneath the rope as it asks again.

Go ahead, cut it.

Meanwhile, a voice seems to pop into Lumine's mind, making another simple, honest request.

Take down the wards in the trees. They aren't needed.]

Hey, [Tartaglia says, turning to look behind him.] I'm going to cut this and see if we can figure out what this is. It may prove useful.

[It will be fine, the voice echoes in both their minds, trying to soothe any doubts. Just remove the wards.]

[ The voice, in spite of its invasiveness, is disarmingly gentle. It should feel foreign, but it sounds, feels, like her own thoughts. Probably it feels more or less the same for him, an otherwoldly force disguising itself as their own compulsions. ]

It's definitely unusual....

[ There's nothing to worry about. The voice is calm and insistent, and it coats her mind the way a syrupy medicine spreads across one's tongue. It's just a pretty stone. ]

... I don't think there's any harm to it, though. It's kind of pretty.

[ So pretty, in fact, that it seems like a shame to leave all these ropes and papers dangling all over the surfaces, obstructing the view. That's right. Take it down. Take it all down. ]

Why don't you remove those ropes so we can get a better view? I'll take down these wards on the trees.

[ They're connected, after all, and they really take away from the ambiance. Never mind that they don't actually touch the crystal, nor do they impede its quickening glow. Her fingers are itching to do as the voice commands, and even as she works to dismantle the wards, every time her common sense tries to dredge itself up it's simply sucked back under by the riptide that is the Voice.

That's it. Keep going. You're almost there now. With its encouragement it pushes a sense of satisfaction; each rope and talisman removed brings with it a thrill, not unlike victory in battle. ]

I'm already on it.

[His knife slices through the first rope on the crystal, giving him an exhilarating rush of accomplishment that logically shouldn't be there. But it doesn't seem to matter, Tartaglia's eyes becoming even more focused as the voice that brushes up against his mind continues to encourage him, slicing each rope off and idly tossing a talisman off to the side with a smirk.

Good...faster, so you can receive your reward.]

I've got a feeling there's going to be something good at the end of this, [he says gleefully, finishing off the last rope to reveal the crystal in full.] Are you about done? There's something going on-

[The crystal had begun to pulsate and quicker and quicker as everything was removed, and a shockwave of power booms out of it, nearly knocking the Harbinger to his feet. He looks up in complete surprise, eyes widening as he watches on to see the consequence of their actions. It's free, it's finally free of the prison that's been unknowingly destroyed by both Lumine and Childe, and now it's going to give them the reward it's promised them.

Dark shadows and spirits swirl like a tornado around the area, cutting off any escape as a figure rises from the crystal to float just above it, clothed in what's similar to the outfits the shine maidens of Watatsumi wear. But these threads are far more ragged, darker, corrupted by hatred garnered over time. The spirit looks out at her two new followers, a wicked grin unfolding on her features.]

Well done. I shall give you two the reward you seek now. Thank you, both of you...you'll make fine subjects.

[Tartaglia can feel how she's befuddled his mind, confusion taking precedent over his logic in how to take action. It's like his body doesn't know how to respond, his eyes locked on the spirit that now lifts her hands as wind seems to kick up around them. Childe tries his best to make his way towards Lumine, tearing away his gaze and only managing to get one word out before his vision finally goes black-]

Lumine-!

[He never will know if he ever reached her before he faints, faceplanting into the ground as those dark shadows fly from the sides of the domain into him, his eyes rolling into the back of his head as he falls, unconscious...]

[ She has the same feeling. There must be something amazing waiting them. Something more glorious than any treasure chest she's ever found, something far rarer than gold. Her natural greed no doubt makes it easier for the voice to climb inside and make itself home, digging its claws deep. So deep that she doesn't even notice the darkness drawing in on them, not until the owner of The Voice deigns to address them without disguise.

She turns in what feels like slow motion. The crystal's light has become a violent strobe made sickly neon by the pitch black looming. The razor thin balance breaks as She announces that she intends to make them into subjects. She sees the rays of light stabbing him in the back, but she can't call out to him. Or rather, her attempt to turns into a sudden, surprised cry of pain as something lances through.

As she collapses, she can see it--crawling spindles of black like smoke lacing over her skin before spindling into her flesh with the same ease Her Voice wormed its way into her mind. Almost like it was always meant to be there.

That's right. You were meant for this. And now you are meant for each other. Even as Lumine's eyes fluttered closed and she lost consciousness Her Voice overwhelmed her. Like negatively and positively charged magnets. Show me how long you can manage to resist that pull.

Lumine fell into total darkness herself at that point, her mind fuller than it had ever been before--her soul growing dark as though it could rot. ]

[Tartaglia has no idea how long it is until he finally wakes up, his sleep plagued with whispers of wants and desires that seem to dissipate the moment his eyes crack back open. The Harbinger groans as he rolls over, pushing himself up off the ground, one of his hands coming up to hold his head. He has a splitting headache, having to take a moment for his eyes to focus as he takes in their surroundings.

They're no longer inside the domain, now sitting in the dirt and grass back in the cave that they'd first wandered into just to find the entrance. Behind him is the glowing doors of the prison they'd walked into, memories of what had happened rushing back to him at the sight of it. He frantically looks around for Lumine, spotting her easily among the purple glow of the various plants infused with electro energy, clambering to her as he begins to softly shake her awake.]

Comrade, wake up. Hey...

[She's so pretty, sleeping peacefully like this. It's a thought that floats through his head as he checks if she's still breathing, looking for any injuries or anything else that might be unusual. She seems to be alright, whatever had caused them to pass out didn't do any harm, not that they know of at least.]

...please wake up. Lumine...

[His mind wanders now to what had happened inside. They'd freed something in there that really shouldn't of been let out, and yet the entire time he'd felt like what they'd done wasn't wrong. Even now, he's unsure if he completely believes his own thoughts are correctly assessing that they shouldn't of removed the protections inside. But right now, he'll focus on waking Lumine up- they can discuss it more once they figure out if they were both alright.]

Lumine. Hey.

[ It's cold.

That's the first thing that she's aware of as she begins to wake up. It shouldn't be, but there's a strange buzzing, muffled feeling in her head, like it's overfull. She might have closed her eyes and tried to go back to sleep, but there's someone calling her name. And strangely, although nothing else seems capable of piercing the strange, cloudy din in her mind, that familiar, warm voice does.

When she opens her eyes the world seems overly bright, too colorful. She winces and groans, forced to close her eyelids again, trying to shield herself from the onslaught of sensation. ]

I'm awake.

[ She wishes she wasn't, though. She feels--not unwell, exactly, but strange. Where was she, and what had she been doing...? She slowly sits herself up and tries again to get a good look around. Gradually her eyes begin to adjust enough that she can focus--and naturally due to his close proximity and concern, Childe happens to be the first thing she really sees.

A strange sensation alights her shoulders and upperarms and thighs--a kind of electric tingle that begins to work its way to the core of her body, leaving in its wake a prickled, sensitive skin--including nipples that have visibly hardened beneath her dress. It could just be that strange shift in her vision, but she feels hyper aware of him: as though every strand of his suddenly over-bright, mussed hair and every fleck in his bright blue eyes is distinguishable to her. Unconsciously, she wets her lips, becoming aware of her dry throat and an unfamiliar and vague discomfort that's beginning to brew in the back of her mind. ]

What the hell happened?

[ Even as she asks, she's remembering bits and pieces--that strange glow, shards of darkness--and she has a sense that there's something else, too, something it told her, maybe in her sleep, that she can't remember. Something important... ]

Edited 2023-05-26 05:25 (UTC)

[Relief washes through him when Lumine finally responds, glad to see her sit up on her own even through what seems to him like the same kind of pain he's suffering through. His hands hover around her just in case she were to fall or lose consciousness again, since their experience had been nothing short of mildly terrifying and that they still didn't know what happened to make them pass out the way they did, but that doesn't happen- instead, once she finally comes around and sees him, his eyes meet her own, and something happens.

Tartaglia feels his eyes lock with hers in a way he's never experienced before, gazing into them a moment too long before finally breaking, subsequently looking downward to see her nipples poking out from underneath the fabric of her white dress. A pressure coils in his gut, winding downward as he tries to keep himself from staring at her breasts...but instead his gaze lands on her tongue wetting those full, plump lips of hers, sending his mind to places he'd never thought to go before.

He feels himself shift uncomfortably, and a static invades his mind and pushes away thoughts of their experience away towards something else, as if what happened in the domain isn't all that important in the moment. What's more important is the girl right in front of him, fighting an urge that tells him to reach out and roll her perky nipples between his fingers.

Goodness, his mother taught him better than this, shaking his head instead and laughing it off with a worried smile.]

I'm not quite sure, [he starts, doing his best to seem more relieved than anything else,] but I'm glad you're alright. Seems we both lost consciousness soon after everything went haywire, and I can only imagine that we both made it out without any serious injury due to the benevolence of whatever it was inside...

[Yes, that seems right, that logic. His mind shifts again, accepting what he'd just spoken as reality, and the static peeling back enough to only allow him to come to that conclusion.]

Anyway, how are you feeling? Can you stand?

[ How's she feeling? The faint buzzing in her head escalates and hits a pleasant pitch--and just like that she forgets how odd she's been feeling. All of these sensations are normal. Acceptable. She hasn't forgotten she was knocked out, by any means, but she no longer finds her physiological responses to his presence abnormal. ]

Yeah, I should be able to.

[ She gets her legs underneath herself and then pushes up, reaching out to use his shoulder to steady herself as she rises. Even with the layers of his shirt and coat between her fingers and his skin, she can feel how warm he is--and a very strong, almost dizzying urge to lean into him quite nearly overwhelms her. She stops, keeping her hand on him, resisting the impulse--but only just barely.

They need to get somewhere safe. Somewhere they can think. Someplace where they can be alone and comfortable, a whispered suggestion supplies--and the ever-present hum in her head makes her feel that it's an entirely ordinary thought. ]

I think I've had enough exploring for the day. Do you want to come with me to my teapot?

[He makes sure to rise with her slowly enough, the warmth from her hand making his skin tingle even through his Harbinger jacket, feeling aware of how she's positioned and where her hand is. He fights against wanting to wrap an arm around her, noticing a strange hesitation in how she stands, and his body seems to want to accommodate her though it seems it's not necessary. Childe is still examining her, making sure that everything checks out and that she doesn't need to seek any kind of medical assistance- and once she's up on her feet, he can come to the conclusion that he doesn't need to worry anymore, and in fact finds her invitation to her teapot a wonderful idea.]

That sounds like a splendid idea. It's been quite some time since the last time I was able to visit, hasn't it?

[His focus shifts from trying to figure out their situation to going inside the teapot and spending some one on one time with Lumine. Thoughts of having her to himself brush up against his mind, pushing him forward with feelings of giddiness now that he knows that they'd have the place all to themselves. His previous concerns melt away, disappearing underneath the static in his head, and he smiles back at her with anticipation.]

Let's go. I do hope you've still got that private onsen of yours. I could really use a bath right about now...

The onsen?

[ A very vivid image comes to mind. His naked body, slick with mineral water, flushed with the heat. Tartaglia is on the slim side--unlike a certain oni, he's not going to be a beefcake. But his clothes accentuate his broad shoulders, and she's quite certain from their clashes that he has ample body definition. No doubt there would be scars, too. The real question was what would he look like between his th--

Lumine gives her head a slight shake. What's wrong with her? She shouldn't think that sort of thing about Childe. They were only friends, and besides that, they weren't even really on the same side, what with his absolute allegiance to the Tsaritsa. ... An allegiance that, as it came to the forefront of her mind, made her head sear with that droning sensation--and leaving in its wake a strange burning sensation in her chest. If she didn't bring him back with her, he'd probably go running back to his goddess. She's the one who sent him there in the first place, after all.

She wets her lips with another flash of her tongue as her grip on his shoulder tightens reflexively. She's vaguely aware of the fact that she's taken a little longer to respond than she should have, but it's the least of her concerns. She wants more time with him--and if that means dangling some carrots for him... well, there's nothing unusual about that, right? ]

I'd never get rid of the onsen. It's far too nice to bathe in. I don't mind if you use it.

[ She pulls out the teapot, letting it float in place. ]

If you want, I can even wash your back for you.

[He's not really sure what the reason is for the hesitation. He waits for her to respond, blinking a few times and wondering what that head shake is about. Eh, maybe he'll find out in a few seconds, maybe she'll scold him for suggesting to take a bath in the onsen. Won't be the first time he's said something that earned a "..." from her. But he's surprised when she finally does speak, that she grips her hand into him a little tighter, and says:

I can even wash your back for you.

Tartaglia is not a man who has a whole lot of shame. Enough shame to be embarrassed every now and again and enough to recognize when he's getting picked on for something that is undeniably true about himself. But that- his face isn't turning a light shade of red just because she's suggested something mildly lewd, it's because a litany of images of exactly what that could look like flash in his mind.

Lumine, naked as well, softly scrubbing him as she presses herself against him...Lumine sitting in the water, moving from there to being attentive to the rest of his body, and where else it might lead-

He clears his throat once as he tries to readjust his thoughts, trying to find the right response here that doesn't make himself sound desperate or weird, losing the battle as darker desires bubble up and muddle his thoughts.]

Comrade, you know...

[It would be lovely, a voice that he mistakes as his own whispers.]

...I'd never ask you to do something like that...

[But ~~you~~ I want her to, her hands all over me...]

...but I'll graciously accept if you're offering.

[He can feel the glow of power in his palm from the realm dispatch when her teapot comes out. He's entered before, but it's been a long time and the sensation is something he feels like he'll never get used to. But her strategy has worked on him, not feeling the need to go make any reports, but rather would feel better spending the rest of his time in the teapot with her.

Alone, and with all the time in the world. In his head, that sounds marvelous.]

[ Good. Good, this is good. A rush of pleasure, a high, heady thing, pulses through her. It's not even just the anticipation of what's to come, it's that he's bending to her will. How far could she push it? He's so willful... Wouldn't it be fun to see how far ~~you~~ I can take it?

She smiles, and if it's sly--that's surely just his imagination, isn't it? Lumine isn't the conniving sort. ]

I don't believe in offering things I don't intend to deliver on.

[ She says this as she rests her free hand on the teapot and the world ripples around them. The pull has always been somewhat disorienting before, like something had her hooked at the navel and started pulling her. In the initial seconds after, it would leave her feeling like she'd spun around too fast too many times while drunk on Dandelion Wine until the Adeptal Realm settled around her.

Today, though, when the otherworldly power imbued in the object washes over, there's no pull, no dizziness. It's simply a wave that she rides with nary a second thought. The inside of the abode is as friendly and familiar as ever, so why would she?

She starts toward the house. The onsen is parked behind and to the left of the building, directly on the way, so she expects at least for now he'll be following. ]

Do you want to go get in while I grab some things?

[ They couldn't have a bath without the rags and soap. And ~~just in case~~ when she inevitably decided to make her move, they'd need a few other things, too. ]

[In his head, it's all so delicious, the things he's imagining and where this could all lead. It doesn't even occur to him that his line of thinking isn't normal, willingly letting himself be seduced by her gentle push and his imagination getting more creative by the second.

The spin and pull of settling into the teapot is still an experience, feeling a little lightheaded and dizzy from entering. But it's not as if he sees her often enough to come inside frequently, so the man steps forward with a little disorientation as he follows Lumine towards her house. It's exactly the way he remembers it from the last time he was here, getting to lay his eyes on the beautiful scenery and the onsen that still lies in the same spot.]

Sure. I could use the time to soak for a few minutes anyway. Don't keep me waiting too long, now.

[He says with a smile and a wink, before he breaks from her and wanders towards the back of the house, disappearing along the side as he enters into the onsen area.

When Lumine joins him, she'll find him sitting naked in the water, his clothes folded and nicely put somewhere off to the side, arms splayed across the back of the stone edge with his eyes closed. He looks completely relaxed, his thoughts swimming in thoughts of Lumine and her promise, ready to enjoy their time together.

His eye cracks open for a moment when he senses her enter, but quickly shuts it again to keep relaxing. He'll get a good look at her when she's closer ;) ]

[ Lumine returns with the promised towels, soap, and an alchemized serum made of crushed electro crystal, crystal core, mist flower corolla, and slime concentrate. It was a much more complicated recipe than she'd ever crafted before. She shouldn't even know how to make it. But she didn't question it when she was making it, and she doesn't question it now that she's laying it aside with the rest of the items.

She rests her fists against her hips as she eyes him, trying not to look as blatantly hungry as she feels. He looks better than even her fantasies, and it takes an inordinate amount of self-control to not go and do something stupid. Lightly she says, ]

You look comfy.

[ She doesn't believe for half a second that he's asleep. He's too wary, the sort who could wake up to the sound of someone's footsteps outside his door and have his knife in hand before they opened it. But since he doesn't seem keen on getting a preview, she undresses without ceremony before slipping into the cloudy mineral water.

She inhales and then heaves a sigh that's half pleasured hum. Being shorter than him, he may find himself frustrated initially: that better look he was hoping for isn't happening yet, not with the sulfur-y waters topping out just underneath her clavicle. ]

Mm... that really is good.

[ She splashes water up over her upper arms and then her neck. As her muscles relax and her mind unwinds, she unknowingly is veering further and further from her true self, forgetting without knowing the events earlier that day and bits and pieces of her adventure. She doesn't have a need for those things, not with what it has in mind for her. And the more space that there is in there, the more it can fill her with its corrupting desires.]

[Tartaglia only lets out an amused hum when she rightfully accuses him of being comfy, and he definitely isn't asleep. He picks his head up as she slips into the water, missing his chance to really get to see her in her full beauty, eyes opening to the view of a naked Lumine in the water that isn't clear enough to let him see anything he'd hoped for. When his mind wandered so far to think of her in this way, he's not sure- but it doesn't seem to matter, as more thoughts of how he can appreciate her filter in and push away any sense of self-reflection he has.

The Harbinger pushes himself up straight, revealing more of his bare upper chest, water sliding down it as he looks over to her, hunger growing in his gut with every second. The look of just her bare shoulders and arms is enticing enough, not realizing he's staring at her as she relaxes into the water. This was a good suggestion, now the two of them can completely let their concerns float away as they enjoy each other in the bath.

He quickly notes the things that she's laid out beside them, curious as to what she's all brought with her. But he first reaches out for the soap, flipping it in his hand once before dipping it into the water and scooting close enough to her to gently begin to rub it against the upper part of her shoulder blade.]

I can help with that, if you'd like. Sit yourself up a little more, won't you? And turn so I have a better angle.

[Though she said she'd wash his back, he doesn't mind spoiling her a little first, slowly running the bar across her skin until enough soap has formed for him to set it to the side and use his hands to spread it across the back of her neck and shoulders.]

I think we've more than earned this spot of relaxation.

[But why they did is slipping his mind, and he's not even concerned with the reason anyhow. It's as if a warm, inviting presence is settling deeper into his mind, something that feels like it belongs there, and he welcomes it without knowing what it is.]

Tell me how this feels, comrade. I can work those knots out of your shoulders too.

Letting me go first, huh?

[ Her eyes drift over his chest and for a moment she isn't sure that she won't forgo the massage entirely and skip to what she really wants to do.

All good things in due time. You're not quite ready yet.

[ Yes. There isn't any need to move too fast. They have time, after all. It's not like there's anything important that she has to do. Really, they have all the time in the world. They can just slowly enjoy each other, down to the very last drop. ]

Sure. I'd appreciate that.

[ She flashes him a sweet smile before complying to his suggestions, obediently shifting herself so he has better access to her back. She wiggles her shoulders a few times before finally settling into what seems to be a comfortable position and lets him apply the soap. She makes a contented sound as he soaps up her shoulders and back, and when he asks her if she'd like him to massage her shoulders, she's all too eager to take him up on it. ]

That would be wonderful.

[ He'll find her skin is slick and soft under his palms and the pads of his fingers and thumb. As she relaxes more and more into his grip, he'll find her becoming increasingly pliant. When he pushes her forward his thumbs she sways into the motion, and when he pulls back and up with his fingers, she rises with them--and if he's paying attention, from his vantage point he should see the swell of her breasts all the way to the tops of her areola become visible.

He asks her how it feels--and she moans, a soft and throaty sound--which, if he thought it sounded sexual, he couldn't be faulted. The throb of arousal between her legs echoes the tempo of his movements. ]

'S good.

Edited (weird extra bracket that needed removing) 2023-06-08 03:07 (UTC)

[Those little noises she makes accompanied by that soft, enticing moan is like music to his ears, his mind seeking to elicit more of them from her as he continues his massage. Even though all he's doing is giving her a massage, his hands are tracing every line and crevice, memorizing how the feel under his fingertips. He works silently as the dark tendrils curl around his thoughts with every movement of her body, tantalized by how she sways so easily with the simple push and pull of his fingers, her breasts pillowing upwards to tease him from under the water. He licks his lips, wishing to pull her back so much to get a glimpse of the rest that hides underneath the water's surface, but in time he's sure he'll it'll be available for his viewing pleasure.

Whispers in his head float suggestions to him, to make her feel willing to want to bear it all to him, to guide her towards wanting to indulge in each other's body.

Give her the world, and she'll reciprocate.

A thought he easily succumbs to, his voice smooth and more sultry with every word he speaks.]

I'm glad to hear it.

[He rinses the soap from her back and neck, letting his hands glide over her smooth skin, made even more supple by the mineral water being used to clean it.]

There's nothing quite like a nice, deep massage to let all your cares float away. Relax, Lumine...

[He calls for it, wills for her to melt under his fingertips as he uses the whole of his hands now to grip into her shoulders and base of her neck. Every muscle and every nerve is enveloped by his hands, working them slowly as he moves forward to whisper softly into the shell of her ear, breath hot as need begins to seep downward into his body.]

...allow me to make you feel divine. Tell me if you need anything else. I'll be more than happy to oblige.

[ Melting. That's a good word to describe the way she feels right now. It's not as simple as her worries drifting away and leaving her unmoored, though. Nor is it as innocent as the super hot bath contributing to any dizziness. She might attribute the strange, fuzzy feeling she's experiencing right now to either one of them, but the truth is so much stranger: that strange thing that invaded them, that's wiggled itself deep inside their minds, poisoning every thought--it reaches, passing the physical divide of their bodies, imposing those same tainted wishes he's succumbed to on her, messing her up.

A shiver rippled down her spine. Lumine. He's never called her by her name before. It sounds good in his mouth--feels good with his breath ghosting the sensitive spot behind her ear. She shudders again.

...allow me to make you feel divine. Tell me if you need anything else. I'll be more than happy to oblige.

The apex between her legs throbs violently--echoed by a heaviness in her breasts. She's aching--and he's offering to fix those things. Whatever they are. Anything else, he said.

Do it. Do it do it do it you want this need this. It's not even a conscious thought. It's become instinct now. And she yields to it.

She swallows heavily and reaches up and behind, tangling her fingers in his. She pulls his hands forward and down and then slips her hands over his as she guides them to rest against the underside of her breasts. ]

Here. I ache here, too.

[ She folds her fingers over his, guiding his fingers in to a gentle squeeze. The simple movement elicits a soft squeal from her. Her breasts have never felt so sensitive. Is it something to do with the water? It must.

That should be enough. More than enough. Were she in her right mind, she'd be mortified to have gone even this far this fast. But now? It's not enough. Not nearly enough. She wants more, needs more, and he's promised it to her already. Why shouldn't she take advantage of it?

She lets his right hand stay where it is, but his left hand she guides down further. Past her ribs, past her navel, all the way down until his fingers brush up against a small thatch of hair, behind which he can feel the pillowing mound of her sex. ]

Here, too. I ache so much. Please...

[ Make me feel good. The thought pushes through her mind, back to his, traversing the same strange path shared between them, an order not to be disobeyed. ]

[He feels how she shudders, how her body reacts just to the simple ministrations of his hands on her and his breath on her ear, satisfied with that response, but requiring more. The rest of the world around him slowly starts to be drowned out of his consciousness as his focus narrows further and further onto Lumine, yearning for more, determined to acquire it. The steady rhythm of his hands get interrupted by her own, her fingers pulling them downward to guide him to cup her breasts, supple and soft in his palms, making him squeeze them just so to soothe a need that radiates though her body and into his own. Childe lets out a heavy, heady breath as his fingers knead into them, delighted at this turn of events, the coil in his stomach beginning to wind and his length hardening by he moment as desires cloud his thoughts.

But what's even better is how she guides him further downwards, sliding down her perfectly curved body, fingers lightly touching on her most sensitive area, begging for him to soothe her aches and pains that cry for his attention.

It's as if a small, dark corrupting flame lights within his mind as lust pools and spreads into every thought. She's opened herself to him, to delve into depravity, to succumb to all their own private wishes and wants that lie beneath the surface. And he in turn, has opened himself to her, the message that travels from her mind to his own enveloping his thoughts utterly and completely. Tartaglia obeys the command, smiling deviously from behind her as he presses his chest to her back, taking the opportunity now to pull her into him as his finger lightly toys with her aching clit.]

Far be it from me to keep you from everything you desire. Your desires are my desires, after all. But first...

[Take the time to prepare her, make her body and mind pliant, make her willing to accept her destiny. Mold her and open her ~~for me.~~

The dark voice manifests itself in Childe's mind as a simple, already understood fact. As if he was meant to do this, like he should do this, that he wants to do this and always has. His hand leaves her groin, leaving her wanting but comes to cup her breast once more as both hands slowly massage her, a gentle and yet solid gesture that communicates that he will serve as her cornerstone in this journey, that she can lean on him and he will be there to hold her up throughout it. Small pinches and rolls of his thumb over her nipples are worked in between, loving how they perk under his ministrations, serving as the prep needed to make her ready to receive him and her fate.

His neck cranes down to brush his lips against the side of her neck, black corrupting wisps of smoke trailing behind every deliberate kiss he plants to it. But he doesn't seem to take notice of this, sinking further into the dark whispers of want that flood his mind.

Make her desperate for your body, so that all she can say is yes.]

I need to make sure you're ready. One ache at a time, Lumine. But I promise to fill you completely, but how quickly depends on you.

Edited 2023-06-10 01:35 (UTC)

[ Lumine keens softly as he teases her clit, sending sparks down to the soles of her feet. She can feel him pressed up against her backside, not just the flat planes of his chest but also the firm prodding of his own arousal, and she's quite nearly breathless with want. The moment is cut short, though, as his fingers withdraw from her legs and return to her breasts.

She wants it so much that that her will, however warped, threatens to resurface and insist upon it. But his mouth delivers hot, soft kisses contaminated with the malignant miasma that absorbs into her skin as though her body is hot desert and it's rain.

One ache at a time. How quickly depends on you.

Her head rolls to the side and she shudders again. Submit. She has to submit. Or it won't be comfortable, won't turn out right. A third shiver wracks her body as her scalp and the back of her neck prickle and the contagion continues to seep in deeper. She moans and relaxes into him, letting him squeeze and release her at will, breathing coming harder and harder. ]

Childe...!

Good, good. That's right, completely relax, and let it all go.

[More dark miasma begins to roll off of him, his own body and abyssal power within him the perfect conduit for the ritual that's beginning. More of this power spreads through his body and mind, giving into it easily as it clouds his logic and thoughts from everything but the task at hand. Every grip into her breasts allows its claws to sink further into him, every squirm and shudder of her body pulling him farther under the surface. It's perfect, she's perfect, and he couldn't feel a more magnetizing pull than what he feels now for her. He needs this. He wants this.

Pleasure her. Feed her growing want. She's almost ready.

His eyes grow wide with excitement, both for himself and Lumine, but the other purpose of all of this. He'd noticed a little container of something that she'd put down next to the bath, glancing over at it now. He wonders what's inside, reaching over to grab it and examine it while he kneads one of her breasts, easily popping it open with one swift motion of his thumb. He squeezes out the lube, taking a bit of it on his finger, feeling the sensation of his skin warming and tingling underneath it. But there's something else too, a heat from it that seeps into his skin slowly, making him grin wickedly.

Goodness, she's made a special kind of lube, and had probably planned on using it on him first. He would have loved it, and he'll have to convince her to still do so, but he's got a little plan first. He squeezes a small dollop out of it, catching it with his finger before setting it back up on the ledge, quickly spreading it across his two fingers before his hand slides back down her body.]

Let me help you now, Lumine. Let's start taking care of your other ache, shall we?

[His two fingers slide so easily into her, coating her insides with the aphrodisiac lubricant, letting it absorb into her sensitive walls as his fingers slide in and out, searching for the spot that would make her whine with delight. His thumb finds her aching clit, rubbing it methodically and in sync with how his fingers sink in and out, more kisses being planted to the other side of her neck as he moans into the shell of her ear.]

You're doing so well. Go ahead, lose yourself. Give in, submit...and be rewarded.

[He doesn't understand the very words that come out of his mouth, but something inside of him makes him say it, speaks that reality into being. And he accepts it, doesn't bother to question it, only wanting her to listen to it and follow the instructions.]

[ Even if she didn't want to relax, she wouldn't have any luck resisting at this point. But she's long since lost any concept of resistance, and she can't think of any reason she'd want to, not when giving in feels so good. His instructions and the power behind them fill her up until there's no room left for anything else.

And then his fingers slide into her.

Her spine arches and and she whines as his thumb works her clit. ]

Childe! Ahngh--

[ His fingers move out, and then back in, timed perfectly with another sweep of his thumb. It's doing something though--there's something--Lumine moans as the fingers inside her massage the inner wall of her sex. Fullness aside, there's another sensation. Almost like tickling at first, but growing in intensity to a strong, full tingle with continued friction. ]

More. M-more!

[ She bucks her hips forward into his thumb. She close, so close, to something good, something amazing. She pants, tongue hanging out of her mouth, golden eyes slightly teary and vacant with pleasure. ]

[He hums thoughtfully to himself as he works his fingers inside of her, appreciating how hot Lumine sounds, her arching back the exact reaction he was hoping for once he'd filled her, soothing that empty ache inside of her. He'd never imagined how attractive she would be to him in his grasp like this, always only focused on getting stronger to meet her in their spars and finally, one day, their battle to the death once he'd conquered the world.

But now, their battle is different, and it's one that only results in the both of them winning. Dark, whispered words of yes and obey her flit through his addled mind, speeding his rhythm up to match her need, wanting nothing more than to make her feel incredible and to give her the release she's seeking.

A release that he wishes to give her over and over again, wanting nothing more than to pleasure her endlessly while they reside in the teapot. He's happy to do it, and wants to do it. The thought of leaving this realm doesn't cross his mind- it's as if he's forgotten completely why he even came here in the first place, not that it matters to him anymore. His purpose now is to do one thing: to serve, and that's what he intends to do.]

Of course.

[Childe's thumb circles her clit with more force, pressing in on it as his own arousal throbs against her back, unable to keep himself from groaning again as his own coil gets wound so tight it's almost unbearable. But he holds himself, tells himself to control it so he can give her one of the many orgasms he plans on giving her here, knowing that in the end it would be well worth the wait.]

Lumine...

[He moans again, pressing himself tighter to her back, plunging his fingers deep inside of her sex, gripping and kneading her breast like it may be the last time he has the opportunity. His words are like a dark spell, cast upon her to finally grasp what's "his."]

...come for me. [The side of his head brushes against her own, jaw agape as he presses open-mouthed kisses to the bottom of her jawline.] So I can pleasure you more, and give you exactly what you want.

[ Her breath becomes ragged and her head lolls to the side, into the press of his lips and tongue and teeth. Her body feels tight and light and one large, throbbing pulse. Her eyes flutter shut, letting her concentrate solely on the sensations of the pad of his thumb stimulating her pearl and the tip of his manhood nudging the swell of her ass.

She feels good, he feels good, and it's completely dizzying and electrifying. This is it. This is what she was made for. What he was made for. Their joint purpose. It's simple and it's beautiful and she's so hungry, so eager, to devour him for the rest of the foreseeable future. ]

Yes!

[ Her voice is breathless, and her hips, still grinding her pelvis into his digit, are beginning to stutter. She's so close now; she can practically taste the white-hot ecstasy on her tongue and it only makes her more excited. ]

I'm... I'm gonna...

[ Lumine ... come for me.

It's impossible tell if that just naturally does it for her or if it's the black magic eating a hole into her soul. Either way, she's spilling over with a high keen. ]

Coming! I'm--ah-- Ajax!

[ Her orgasm sweeps through her, bowing her body sharply, thrills lighting her up from sex to toes to breasts. It would be easier to tell that she's reached her peak if not for the water. Even so, the walls of her sex ripple and contract greedily around his fingers. He'll feel his own echo of pleasure, having served well. Not enough to let him come, not yet, but there is an absolute promise. Soon. ]

[Greedy waves of satisfaction roll through him as her body arches and squirms to the touch of his fingers against her until she finally comes. Her body shuddering beneath him, her slick, wet sex contracting around his fingers with the wail of his name - Ajax - hot on her lips. She might as well of been singing in dulcet tones for him, enjoying how in her primal need, she sings for him his birth name rather than his Fatui assigned ones. It makes him shudder himself down to his core, feeling his mind latch onto her even more as she comes down from her high, slowly removing his fingers from her to give her only a moment's rest.

A small wave of pleasure that begins in her body reaches his own, their connection resulting in his own arousal happily throbbing even harder as if something had stroked it and stimulated it without even being touched. The presence inside of him celebrates with glee, a feeling that reflects in his own expression, unaware of the ever-tightening hold it has on him. Promises of being able to indulge in his own desires echo through his head, but knowing that first his princess must be taken care of first before he can even think to ask her to return the favor.]

Haha...didn't do too bad of a job, now did I?

[Washing his hand off in the water, it rejoins his other hand in lightly massaging her breasts, making sure that she stays stimulated but still giving her the opportunity to relax and enjoy the coming down of her own climax.]

Hahaha...I never knew you'd be so cute, comrade. We can keep going, if you desire. I loved hearing you call my name like that...

[Small affectionate kisses, very much in contrast to the ones he'd been lavishing on her during her climax, are administered to the back of her head and to her neck, almost as if he were worshipping the body he'd just made dirty with his fingers. A soft sigh escapes his lips, appreciating her smooth skin, letting himself drown in thoughts of how he'll be touching it more, making her squeal and sigh for him...among other, darker things.]

[ Lumine shivers under the brush of his lips, his nose, his breath, head tilting back on her neck again as her scalp prickles. She just came--but she feels like she could start all over again. So his suggestion to keep going? That might be the most delightful thing she's heard come out of his mouth so far.

She twists around, slick skin slipping underneath his hands until her chest is pressed to his and her own arms can twine around his neck. She goes onto her tip toes and leans up into him as she drags him down, making the metaphysical physical. ]

You're not allowed to stop now.

[ Her eyes are hooded, fogged, and where there ought to be gold, perhaps amber, is a muddy bronze. It should be disturbing, but all he'll feel as he finds himself looking into them is the sensation that he is falling down deeper, into comfort, into his sexual fantasies, into a deep hole from which he will never come out of. Never want to come out of.

She runs a hand down and then up the curve of one pec, toying with his nipple for a change. ]

We've hardly started having fun.

[His skin prickles with excitement even as her arms wrap around his neck, brought down easily by such a simple gesture and a few words that feel more like a law rather than a seductive statement. But it's a law he's happy to follow, appreciating the view of how Lumine's breasts press to his chest, and how her eyes seem to put him into a sort of trance that feels as if he's falling endlessly into those golden irises. Childe's eyes seem to slowly gloss over the longer he gazes into them, with every little dirty wish and fantasy he's ever had and then some surfacing at the forefront of his mind. Lumine has him completely in her grasp, and even the simple brush of her hand against his pectoral muscle is already sending him down a dark path that he may never return from.]

It's like you read my mind...

[Why would he dream of anything else but having sex with Lumine, he's not sure. It's as if he's slowly forgetting more and more about what he was supposed to be doing, focusing only on her as he closes the distance between them to slot his lips with hers, parting them to invite her in and deepen it as much as he possibly can. Needy moans bubble up from his throat with every pass of his lips against hers, languid yet firm in his caresses, as if he needed to drink all of her in just in case this would be the last time he'd ever get the chance.

Dark whispers float in to give their suggestions to him, voices that sound like his own that narrow his vision and force him to focus on one thing and one thing only.

Lumine. She's all that matters. Ignore the noise and forget about your cares and worries.

He breaks from to lose himself once more in those perfect, mesmerizing eyes of hers, feeling his lust grow and his want for her outweigh everything else.]

Would you like to continue here, or...

[He glances over at the mansion. He's down to please her wherever she sees fit.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

we swore that death will do us part / they'll call our crimes a work of art

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I'm just gonna make up some canon-noncompliant shit here

lol by all means, that's half the fun of it anyway

Rip me, my tag was eaten while phone tagging

omg phone tagging too dangerous

Re: omg phone tagging too dangerous

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COMING BACK TO THIS AFTER A MILLION YEARS sorry for the wait, i hope you're feeling better too ;;

NO WORRIES, apparently I also died right after you

LOL good timing, dying together

sorry for the delay again. Wanted to make sure I gave it the effort it deserved.

don't worry about it, this whole month and last month has been kicking both our butts

Let's hope June is a kinder month -_-

ugh i hope it is, sadfives for both of us for now tho lol

Re: ugh i hope it is, sadfives for both of us for now tho lol

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oh my god what did she make

83 Extra stimulating lube, tingling and warming plus an aphrodisiac in it~ ;D

HAHAHA PERFECT steeples my fingers deviously

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sobbing forgive me i have like no sex icons

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