insurmountable | how could i ever forget // outside the morning was cool and wet

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how could i ever forget // outside the morning was cool and wet

[It's not often Ajax finds himself getting his head slammed down onto the hood of a car, least of all a cop car. Usually it's him doing the slamming.

But today the young man finds himself denting the hood, the sound of metal caving in under his head ringing in his ears. Not exactly the ideal situation he was hoping for, but he figured sooner or later he'd have a run in with the cops due to the sensitive nature of his profession, but that doesn't mean he has to like how inconsiderate they are with him as they cuff him and throw him in the back of the paddy wagon. Not that he was considerate to them when he was discovered, as evidenced by the blood all over his clothing and knuckles from the fight he'd gotten into with them. How he managed to avoid getting shot is beyond him- plenty of shots were fired, but that hadn't stopped him from knocking a few of them out.

It's just too bad he'd been instructed that he couldn't kill anyone, or else he'd of gotten out of there without being caught.

The lights of the police station are bright, almost too bright from the contrast of how dark it was outside. Ajax squints as he's dragged inside, held tightly by two cops who hurry him through the station, but not fast enough that he doesn't catch a glimpse of the secretary behind the desk as they come in. Pretty, blonde, looking like she'd rather be anywhere else. Gorgeous eyes, ones that catch his attention almost immediately as he's being shoved towards the back, shining with a radiance that captures him instantly. His eyes lock with hers, feeling something silent yet powerful surge through him from this tiny, insignificant interaction. He doesn't even have a moment to think further on it, before he's so rudely interrupted.

Get moving.

The curt voice of the bigger cop on his right cuts through the moment, anger welling up in Ajax's chest and something dark stirs in his core. If he wasn't cuffed and being restrained, he'd turn that guy's face into a new work of art, something so abstract some insane art collector would gladly pay millions for it.

No sooner had Ajax been ushered in, he disappears from sight as he's taken back into an interrogation room, the mysterious blonde no longer in his sights, now getting shoved into a corner of a room.]

What's with this? Don't you even have the courtesy of giving me a chair to sit in, at least?

[From outside of the room, muffled noises of a scuffle as the cops lay into Ajax can be heard, the loudest of which is a thud of a body slamming into a wall, accompanied by a groan from the ginger kid. Though little do any of them know, their real problems haven't arrived just yet, waking from their slumber right outside of the city...]

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[ The smallest hint of a frown settles on her features as she listens to him. His words do confirm that he's not as high on the totem pole as she initially thought he was, dashing one of the assumptions she had about him. It's a start. And at the very least, he does seem genuine about working together with her to solve this mystery. ]

So, I guess that means you aren't as deep into the company as I initially thought. I suppose I should apologize for making that assumption.

[ But, there's something about the way he says capturing a target that puts her on edge. Those poor people... all it took was a mark to seal their fate into becoming lab rats.

An exhale passes through her lips, her eyes downcast towards the clear blue water in an attempt to keep her emotions under control. The last thing she wants is for her temper to rear its ugly head causing them to butt heads like they did back at the hospital. Should it happen, she can already see this conversation going south, ending with her stomping off. ]

So, what's your game plan? Now, you have a mark just like the... [ a pause ] targets you were sent to capture. Do you think that will go unnoticed by the people you work for?

[He can sense the anger simmering beneath the surface of Yoimiya's expression, and for a moment he wasn't sure if she was going to remove herself from his presence or sass him before she left. He wonders how long it'll be before she punches him in the face, but only time will tell- so he continues on.]

Fortunately, it's pretty easy for me to keep it hidden, so there shouldn't be any issues there. They won't suspect me of having one as long as there's no evidence of it otherwise. I never get close to any of the scientific parts of it all anyway, I've just heard stories about it from the few contacts I do have. I'd suggest you keep it covered at all times too. If the wrong person sees it, we'll be in the doghouse soon enough. Want to see something interesting about them?

[He digs what looks like a small, black cylinder out of his pocket, and upon closer inspection, it looks like a flashlight. Clicking it on, a strange iridescent light emits out of it, and he shines it right on her mark. It suddenly glows with a strange, otherworldly power, revealing it for what it really is.]

It's pretty easy to tell it apart from a tattoo. So don't get yourself in a situation like this, okay?

[ That's one worry out of the way. He's not so close to the nitty gritty scientific part of the action and thus, puts him at less risk to be caught. It's also another confirmation that she can at least trust him not to give her up to his job. She might not fully trust him but there is no denying they need to rely on each other in order to survive.

In his hands is a flashlight, the light's shine reveals the truth of the mark, an ethereal power really does stir inside of them. The revelation is a an eye opener, her eyes growing wide with shock as she gazes at the otherworldly glow flickering on her skin.

This is real, this isn't a dream. Normally, acquiring powers should be seen as a blessing but in this instance, it feels like they have been cursed. ]

Oh... oh my goodness.

[ She is at a loss for words. Unfortunately, looks like she won't be able to pass of this mark as one of her tattoos. ]

Alright, looks like I'll have to be extra careful around people from now on. Sheesh, no wonder why your company knows how to find people...

[He quickly clicks it back off after she sees exactly the true nature of the marks that lie on them now, and how easy it is for someone to confirm what it is, pocketing the flashlight once more. He'd chuckle at her comment if it weren't so serious, as they definitely have their ways in finding the right people when they're sent out on a job.]

Yeah, as you can imagine, it's in our best interest to make sure that we don't mix up who bears a mark with abilities and those who don't. At least, that's the way I like to operate.

[His tone of voice suggests there are others who don't take all the same precautions that Ajax does. But he won't go farther into it, figuring that Yoimiya probably doesn't want to know the details on that.]

But enough about that. We have our story, and you know the precautions necessary to protect our secret...now all that's left to do for the time being is to go to the police station. Any idea when they'll finally lose their patience and have us come in? Any sort of timeline to prepare would be nice.

[ She's not quite sure what he's getting at but the implication in his words paints an unfortunate picture in her head. The naturally inquisitive side of her brain is almost tempted to inquire, she mulls it over... yeah, curious minds don't need to know that badly. Kidnapping people, bringing them in to be used as lab rats is already horrific information overload. ]

That was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about. I got a call from my job, they'd like to speak with us sometime this week. I assume they probably just want to close this case as soon as possible.

[ Well, "close" as much as they can anyway. Considering the fact they're dealing with otherwordly creatures, there will always be unanswered questions. ]

Since we have our story prepared, we can make plans to go ahead and talk with them in the next few days if you'd like. The sooner we get this over with the better.

[Exhaling heavily, Ajax turns his gaze momentarily out to the water again, to think ahead of the events that would come to pass. If they'd only survived without suddenly gaining new powers, then this little talk would have been the end of it and they could go their separate ways and live normal lives. But as it stands, this is just the beginning of their adventure.]

I tend to agree. If you could, go ahead and tell them I've recovered well enough to be able to come talk about what we saw. Let's make our next plans after that, to see if we can glean anything else from the police on the matter. As it stands, Nizhnii isn't the only thing we may have to worry about.

[Concern coats his expression, since the reason why they have to go to the station in the first place was because of that monster.]

We also need to worry about whatever it was that attacked us, and if we'll see it again anytime soon. Which means it'll be beneficial to learn to use our new powers...if I could get mine to work, that is.

[Ajax frowns- he hasn't gotten his to work since that night.]

[ Nodding her head, she pulls out her phone to type out a message to one of her coworkers. They have a long journey ahead of them, no doubt there will be many, many more roadblocks in their adventure but at the very least, she's already feeling relieved to get this done and not have to worry about the police breathing down their necks. ]

Sounds good to me, I'll go ahead and make the arrangements. We might be able to talk to them as soon as tomorrow. As soon as they get back to me, I'll let you know.

[ Nizhnii company, the police, and now otherwordly monsters, that's three potential threats right there. Ajax is right, they really do need to hone their powers in order to protect themselves. Come to think of it, when they were fighting off that bizarre creature, he did mention that it was coming after him. She makes a note to ask him about that. ]

You too? During our downtime, I made a few attempts to summon the bow but had no luck. This is all I can manage.

[ She places her hand out in front of him, fluttering her eyes close to concentrate all her efforts into mustering up even a fraction of her power. A tiny spark takes shape in the palm of her hand slowly morphing itself into a small, dancing flame. Yeah, it's not as cool as the bow. :c ]

[With having to arrange talking to the police out of the way, he now turns his attention towards Yoimiya's open palm, placing himself in a way that no one else would be able to see if it they were walking by. It's still surreal to him that these powers manifested in them, revealed by the marks on their skin, and now present as a flame in her hand. He only stares at it for a moment before nodding back to her.]

You're doing far better than I. I haven't been able to produce a single bit of the armor I donned that night, no matter how many times I tried. Perhaps mine only comes when it's needed most.

[Which he can see as a good and bad thing. Maybe good for right now, so then he won't be accidentally using it in a busy, public area for all sorts of bystanders to witness- along with just the wrong people mixed in too.]

I know a place where we can go that's secluded enough where we won't be caught using them. But for now, we needn't worry too much about it. Let's focus on dealing with the police first. I can drive you back to the city right now if you'd like...

[The next part comes out without even thinking about it, something tugging at his heart to ask.]

...or, we could keep walking along the shore for a bit. The view is nice, and it's a rare opportunity to be able to enjoy it.

[The second it comes out of his mouth, he feels his heart thump hard in his chest, as if he were hanging on the edge of the question, hoping she'd stay with him for a little while longer. This should really be more of a business meeting to him, and yet he can't help but yearn for this moment to last, to savor this peaceful time they have before they need to face reality again. Ajax's eyes widen just a little in surprise at himself, but they also reflect the sudden small amount of nervousness and anxiety that comes with asking that question, all waiting on Yoimiya's decision.]

[ Once he's gotten a good look at the small glowing flame, she puts it out with thankfully, much less effort than bringing it forth. It's certainly a good idea that he blocked their path because oh boy, getting caught right off the bat would definitely not be one of her smartest decisions. Ajax strikes her as someone who can put up a fight, she figures he has to be given his job, so it's a little surprising he's been unable to summon even a little bit of that mysterious power bestowed to him.

She can already tell he's going to be a force to be reckoned with after he gets the hang of his powers. But for the time being, having some of it locked away probably is for the best, Yoimiya can already picture putting herself on blast by accidentally lighting a few things on fire for the entirety of Fontaine to witness.

Before inquiring about the secluded location, he completely surprises her with the next thing he says. Amused by his offer, she sets her arms at her hips, a curious smile curves on her lips. Now with their story straightened out, she figured the conversation would come to an end and they could go their separate ways until the rendevous with the police. ]

Oh? You still want to spend time with me? Even after I chewed you out at the hospital and declared that I can't trust you just yet?

[ Truly, she wouldn't blame him if he wanted to keep their contact to a minimum after their spat at the hospital. And realistically, the wisest decision would be to keep her distance and only contact him whenever they absolutely need each other. But... it's difficult to deny the feelings stirring in her heart, beyond happy he's extending the offer to spend more time together. Even after everything that transpired, she couldn't stop thinking about him the whole time, desiring to see him, secretly fretting over the fact that he might dislike her after everything she said to him. ]

[He's not sure how he managed to put himself in this position so easily. Surprising himself and then subsequently having Yoimiya question him, albeit playfully, is making his brain short circuit in how he's going to respond to her. Though skilled at deceit and able to manipulate people to a certain extent, he's always been a terrible liar. Dealing in half-truths is much easier than coming up with a complete fabrication, and his hand comes up behind his head as he scrambles to explain himself.]

Well, of course! Ahem...we're supposed to be friends as part of our story, right? Don't you think it would be wise to feel comfortable enough with each other to pass it off?

[Ajax's laugh is clearly more high-pitched than usual and laced with a thin layer of nervousness, like he's been caught red-handed. Only a six year old might get fooled by it...]

What do you say? Maybe you'll come to trust me a little more if you get to know me better.

[ Yoimiya spies with her little eye... someone who can't lie his way out of a wet paper bag. Her smile grows wider as she tries not to giggle at him scrambling to be a smooth criminal. Who would have thought that someone who goes around kidnapping people for a living would turn out to be a terrible liar? It's really quite funny to watch him put his hand behind his head and hear his high-pitched nervous laughter.

She's gotta admit, those little quirks make endearing in his own way. ]

Hmmm... [ Tapping her fingers against her chin, she can't help but want to tease him by deliberately taking a bit of time to answer. ] All right! You make a good point. Maybe this way, you can give me a reason to trust you.

[ Being the little brat that she is, Yoimiya isn't about to let him get off scot-free. She turns around, preparing to make the journey across the shoreline, only to glance back and wink at him. ]

But if you wanted to spend extra time with me, you could have just said so. Hehe.

Edited 2023-12-27 13:39 (UTC)

[Aw man, there wasn't a thing about that that was believable and he knows it. He tries to act cool while she's taking her time to respond, silently sweating bullets now that he's gone and made himself look suspicious. There's no one here to save him as she taps her chin, and it's a relief when she finally says yes and he can breathe out that breath he's been holding for a few seconds now as she turns her back to him.

Great, he's going to get to see her for a little while longer before they'll finally have to part, but then...she turns and winks at him and says that...]

Hey, c'mon now...

[He feels his face flush, taking on a light hue of pink as he joins her at her side and he folds his arms over his chest.]

Teasing me like that. I see you're the kind of gal who likes to watch people sweat a little, huh?

[ Oh no, he's blushing and it's adorable, an absolute sight to behold. It's hard to believe that someone with his horrendous occupation could have a bashful side. She's going to remember his precious reaction for the rest of her life. Just like that, he's become a prime target for bullying. What would Nizhnii think if they saw their lackey bullied by a country girl from the outskirts of Inazuma? ]

Little ol' me? Never. I wouldn't do such a thing.

[ Yoimiya lies as naturally as she breathes.

Her jovial laughs fill the crisp lake water air as she swings her arms, merrily skipping along the water's edge. The serious atmosphere of their conversation didn't dim her lights at all, she's still full of energy, bright as the sun as she hops and skips over rocks as if playing hopstotch. ]

I've been meaning to ask. What brought you to Fontaine? And how long have you been here?

[He shoots her a half-smile filled with doubt, as if he'd ever believe that, watching her trot off and playing among the rocks like a little kid would. It sort of reminds him of his little siblings at home, how carefree they are and so innocent to the world. He knows that Yoimiya isn't an innocent child, especially given the little she's already shared about her background and what had happened to her family in the past...but it doesn't seem to of jaded her.]

I suppose you'll find it unsurprising that I'm here for my job, [he starts, shoving his hands into his pockets as he walks alongside her.]

The rest of my family is back home in Snezhnaya, so I'm the only one here. I've been away for...let's see. It must of been almost a year now...

[He reminisces for a moment, thinking about how everyone's doing back at home. How he wishes he could be back in Snezhnaya, with his family instead of doing dirty work here.]

Anyway, unsavory things aside, I find Fontaine to be quite beautiful indeed- the endless body of water that cascades off of the edge of the plateau into the rest of the world is a splendorous sight, not to mention the mountainous scenery we can enjoy anytime we leave the city. I can even go fishing without having to worry about how thick the ice is, haha. All in all, I'd say this was a great location to end up in. But what of you? You've never mentioned where you're from. Your name sounds Inazuman if I were to guess, though.

[ She's all ears, listening to every word he says while trotting along the bank. With the established connection of Nizhnii and Snezhnaya, it's not surprising he's here for his job, a lingering feeling in the back of her mind kept telling her that was the case.

The rest of his family is back home in Snezhnaya and he's been away from them for close to a year now. Just the thought of it tugs at her heartstrings, having to be seperated from her parents for a month has been tough. From the brief moment of pause, she wonders if he misses them dearly. ]

That's right, I'm from Inazuma. We live on an island out in the middle of the ocean but goodness, you're right when you say the land of hydro is splendid. Even though I lived my whole life surrounded by the sea, there's something so about Fontaine's waters that have this magical quality to it. Not to mention, the technology is outstanding! [ She pauses for a brief spell to hop over a particularly large rock. ] Hehe, the way you described this country is quite poetic. If I wasn't already in Fontaine, listening to you would give me wanderlust to come visit.

[ He has a way with words, it's impressive! Maybe Fontaine should hire him as their spokesman. ~~Or narwhal slayer~~ ]

Being away from your family for a year sounds tough. Did you... take up your job to support them?

[It's not the first time he's ever been told that his speech can be poetic at times, and he's not even sure how he came to be like that- but he's glad to hear that she appreciates it. He's no poetry writer, but if she likes it, he wouldn't mind serenading her with words sometime in the future...]

You could say something like that. I probably shouldn't go into too many details about it, but the job allows me to take care of my family in all the necessary ways. Mother has her hands full with my siblings, and Father isn't as young and spry as he used to be, so it sort of ended up falling into my hands.

[On the surface, he doesn't seem to be bothered by this at all, if anything he's happy to take on the responsibility to take care of them.]

I keep in touch with them often, and my younger siblings really enjoy writing letters, even if it would be easier for them to just text or call. So they play pen pals with me. What about you? Got any siblings of your own?

[ They're still getting to know each other but in the span of this conversation, she's steadily learning more about him and his background. It's not enough to get her to fully trust him just yet but all this information does the trick in painting him in a better light. Maybe, just maybe, she was being a bit too hasty in her assessment of him.

Setting aside the details of his unsavory job... ]

That's mighty kind of you, no doubt your parents appreciate the help a lot. I can tell you care about your family a lot and that's really admirable.

[ While she might not agree with how he goes about his occupation of choice, she gets the sense he loves his family with all his heart and for that, he deserves credit for being a good son and brother. ]

Nope! It's just me, my pops and ma. I've been an only child my whole life but I've always fantasized about how nice it would be to have siblings. But I see why my parents decided to have just one, I was a total wild child growing up. They probably figured one gets them in enough trouble, hahaha.

[ The Naganohara household would constantly be in a state of chaos if there were two or three Yoimiyas running around. ]

[He appreciates the compliment from her, listening to her about her own background. Ajax finds it too bad that Yoimiya didn't have the chance to have siblings of her own, but sometimes that's just how it is. He shoots her an amused smile, eyes widening slightly as he teases:]

A wild child, eh? You know, I can kind of see that, hehe.

[His grin widens with the tease, the thought of a younger Yoimiya running around getting heated at people for being jerks, running around causing trouble, and enjoying a simple life out on an island in the middle of the ocean. She must of been really happy in a small setting like that. It's an easy scene to imagine for her, and kind of cute when he thinks about it.]

[ Yoimiya will be the first person to admit that she definitely was a wild child growing up, a bundle of energy that got into constant trouble by playing pranks, yelling at bullies, climbing trees, sneaking off to pull some crazy stunt... it's amazing her parent's hair didn't turn gray at such a young age. But there's something about his teasing grin that riles her up, making her want to play a little tongue and cheek back. She can't just let him get away with that comment...

Coming to a halt, she stops in her tracks, turning around to stare at him with her arms on her hips. An amused smile tugs at the corners of her lips. ]

Oh? What's that supposed to mean?

[ Go on, enlighten her. ]

[Oh, he wonders which button he pressed here as she stops and stares at him with arms akimbo, fighting the urge to laugh and give up the game to just be straight with her about it. But there's something in the way she looks at him that makes him want to play for a moment longer.]

Well, correct me if I'm wrong but you're pretty bold, [he starts, tapping his chin as if he were thinking on it further.]

Combine that with your fearlessness- [because lbr who just faces down a monster like that if they weren't fearless-] and the rambunctiousness of a kid, I'd be willing to bet you're not exaggerating too much here. Don't worry, you're not the only one here who was a little wild growing up.

[He'd be lying if he wasn't a little shit himself, getting into fights and being a general pain the ass. Maybe this is why they've gotten along so well so far, strange emotions brewing in his chest aside.]

Life's a lot more interesting when you shake things up a little bit. I know I can't sit at home and live a mundane life.

[ Somehow, she gets the feeling he's still poking fun at her but hey, he's not wrong in assessment, there's no denying she's bold and fearless to a fault at times. With her arms still akimbo, she shoots him a proud smile, recalling her little stunt to thwart that monster which could have easily gotten her killed. So even if he's playing with her, he's earned a satisfied nod out of her. ]

I had a sneaking suspicion that was the case. From the moment you walked into the station, I figured you were the type of person who wasn't going to take crap from the police officers. And not only that, only someone with a courageous heart could have fought back against that monster like you did.

[ She further nods her head in agreement, sitting at home living an everyday mundane life The more she thinks about it, they really are a lot alike, almost two sides of the same coin. Maybe it was more than just fate that brought them together. ]

Hehe, so I can picture you as a rambunctious child growing up. Did you happen to get into a lot of trouble as well?

[ As well, she says.... ]

[Look at her, proudly displaying her feathers for him for his correct assumptions and analysis of her. He wasn't entirely sure how she'd react, but this is just as fun as any other scenario that could have happened. His arms fold over his chest, looking satisfied with how she's returning the compliments here. He clearly enjoys the ego boost, because he thought he did pretty good back there in the police station too. Better than even he expected.]

All the time, [he says as he laughs, the teasing tone of his voice fading away to be replace with something more warm.]

Believe it or not, I didn't always used to be so. Mother and Father like to tell stories of me from time to time about how I used to be afraid and hesitant as a child. The memory's faint, but I have a silver of memory left from when I was around four or so. I got scared of the snowman my siblings built after one particular snowfall- they'd decorated it in such a manner that I had nightmares for a week, though I don't remember the nightmares, haha.

[Ajax flashes a boyish grin at her, seems kind of crazy given who he is now, isn't it? He recognizes that fully, amused at his own change in demeanor over time.]

[ Oh yeah, he's got the face of a troublemaker for sure. Goodness, he's an absolute riot from the way he crosses his arms over his chest with an expression that shows he's really enjoying the ego stroking, to his infectious laughter that draws out a chorus of giggles from her. What a silly man, he's too funny.

But then, the next tidbit about himself comes as a complete and total shock to her. It's so unexpected, her jaw hangs open for a moment or two. ]

Ehhhh?! Really? It's so hard for me to imagine you as anything but fearless. Never would have guessed there was a time in your life when you were hesitant.

[ Poor tiny Ajax having nightmares over a snowman. His siblings must have gone above and beyond in decking out their scary snowman. ]

How did you grow up to be so brave?

[Her reaction makes him laugh again, he supposes that it shouldn't be a surprise to see her be a little blindsided by a tale that seems to be the antithesis of who he is now. Sometimes, not even he can believe it- but it's all true. His hand goes up behind his head, almost bashfully at how she puts it- when did he get brave, anyway?]

I don't know, to be honest. I guess when you live in a frozen place like Snezhnaya, you grow up pretty fast. There's all sorts of hidden dangers lurking beneath the snow, and even more unseen dangers that seek to take your life.

[He takes a second to hope that his family was well back at home, spending time together in front of the fire place or eating a nice meal at the table. He misses it, but duty calls.]

I don't know how it is in Inazuma, but I can say that things seem a lot safer here in Fontaine. It's actually kind of nice, the only things you need to be careful about is ending up in the wrong side of town at night. Sorry...

[He apologizes, exhaling heavily at himself.]

I didn't mean to talk about myself so much like that.

[ Even in this day and age of modern technology, Snezhnaya sure is a dangerous place to live. Just from carrying a conversation with tourists visiting Inazuma, she's briefly heard about how harsh the conditions are. Showing just the slightest hint of being inadequately prepared could land the unfortunate in a frozen grave. It's no wonder that over time, Ajax grew up with a hardened heart unafraid of even fighting otherworldly monsters.

She shakes her head at his apology, shooting him a gentle, reassuring smile. ]

Don't worry about it. I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't interested.

[ Plus, she got to see an unexpected bashful side to his bold personality. ]

It was nice learning more about you. I'm happy you were able to open up to me, even just a little bit.

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