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 turn of Yoimiya's head is not unlike one of those dolls in a horror movie. He catches the menacing look she's shooting him and he knows instantly that he fucked up.]

Hahahaha...

[Though that was probably something he shouldn't of messed up, he knows Yoimiya well enough now how she is about her goldfish that it's probably okay to look like he's worried about the scolding he might get for forgetting. Holding up his hands, he looks at her apologetically, nervousness allowed to show on his features.]

Hey, I remembered all the detailed instructions you left for me though, [he counters, hoping that the officer will buy this part of their banter,] I just misspoke, is all.

[He looks to the officer for a little support- he genuinely doesn't want to be on the receiving end of a Hanabi monologue.]

Let's continue on, shall we? I'm sure Hanabi isn't offended at my mistake.

[ On the plus side, the cop seems to be buying into their banter and doesn't pay mind to the slip of the tongue. He's trying to keep a straight face but he can't stop the chuckle that slips out from Ajax's nervous features looking like he's about to get it to Yoimiya defending the honor of a fish. ]

That's true... you did listen to all of my instructions and did a good job taking care of her. But!!! [ HUFFS 😤 ] Make sure you apologize to Hanabi later! If you are humble enough, I'm sure she will forgive you.

[ The officer catches the look Ajax shoots his way, he nods and quickly clears his throat to interject. He gets you, pal. He knows what it's like to be on the receiving end of a Hanabi monologue. Time to change the subject to spare their ears. ]

Next question. Mr. Volkov, do you mind telling us a bit about yourself? What is your occupation? And as for a question for the both of you, how long have the two of you been friends?

[ ... Uh oh, definitely didn't plan this far ahead. Darn, she just kind of assumed they would buy into her WE ARE FRIENDS story immediately with no further questions. Okay, Yoimiya, think!! Use your brain to come up with something believable. ]

We met at a coffee shop not too long after I came to Fontaine. I asked him for some directions, we started talking and the two of us hit it off right away because... [ 💦💦💦 ] we're both country bumpkins! I felt an immediate kinship with him and from that point on, Ajax has been a huge help in getting me settled into this vast city. Couldn't have done it without him.

Edited 2024-03-17 15:50 (UTC)

[He's about to thank his lucky stars when the officer cuts the Hanabi scolding short, but he asks a question they really didn't go over. He didn't think they'd want to know about their history, and he's about to object to it and ask what that has anything to do with them getting attacked by a monster, but Yoimiya beats him to it. He lets out a sigh and smiles, folding his arms over his chest. He's going to skip the occupation question and focus on following up with Yoimiya's statement.]

That's Yoimiya's way of saying she got completely lost and clung to my side until we finally got her home.

[He laughs, giving her a look. A kinship over being country bumpkins? Girl...if she were anyone else no one would buy that.]

Oh, so where are you from Mr. Volkov?

[He takes the opportunity for the follow up question, and Ajax replies coolly, without skipping a beat.]

Snezhnaya. I'm from a backwater town in the middle of nowhere. Yoimiya's right, we're definitely both country bumpkins, but you get used to it here pretty quickly.

[ Glancing over, she sees the look he sends her way, giving him one right back. What's wrong with bonding over being fellow country bumpkins? :c It makes perfect sense in her mind. She'd be tempted to wrinkle her nose at him if it wasn't for the police officer sitting right in front of them. Instead, an amused grin tugs at the corner of her lips as Ajax adds more to the story to make it sound more believable.

Clung to his side until she got home, huh? Interesting way to spin the tale, Mr. Volkov. Once they're done here, she'll be sure to poke fun at him later. ]

That's right, this is my first time being in such a big city. I had no idea where to go until this country boy from Snezhnaya came to my rescue. I owe a lot to him.

[ For all of their fibbing, the latter part of her story isn't a lie. If it wasn't for Ajax, she wouldn't be here to tell the story. For that, she reaches over to give him a hearty slap on the back! Good boy. ]

He's done a lot of favors for me and we've been friends ever since!

[ Maybe this guy is a simp... crosses the police officer's mind, but he dares not to share those thoughts outloud. ]

[Ajax catches onto the double meaning there. Maybe he really didn't help her settle in at all, but he appreciates the gesture of her being thankful for what had happened that night. He shoots her a soft smile, perhaps revealing some of that potential simping nature of his to the officer. He leans forward involuntarily at the slap to his back though, eyes widening a little from surprise, wiping the smile off his face and getting him to cough. Girl's got a good slap going on there. It didn't hurt, because it's not like she hit him hard, but he didn't think she'd be that strong for that frame.

Guess you'd have to have some strength to draw that bow she had...]

Yes, yes...anyway, as much as I'm not fond of the idea of reliving a nightmare, why don't we move on to what we're really here for.

[He's afraid if this line of questioning goes any further, there will be another slip up and he's not sure if he can take another slap on the back. The police officer seems to accept that, nodding as he writes something down on his pad.]

Alright. You were here with Yoimiya on the night that some monster got inside and mutilated two of our officers. Did you see the thing before it got to them? Where in the station were you both before the incident happened?

[His mind instantly flashes back to the moment he'd saw the thing on the ceiling, dripping down and infiltrating the body of the officer standing behind the one beating him senseless. A chill goes through him, but he manages to keep his cool on the outside and answers.]

I was at the desk chatting with Yoimiya about Hanabi and handing over her key. I didn't see a thing when it entered. I still don't know how on earth it got in to begin with.

[ Oh! Maybe she doesn't know her own strength. Yoimiya wasn't expecting that slap to double him over the table. She's a little taken aback by his coughing at first but it's not long until she's chuckling. It gives her hope that maybe if she hones her abilities, she'll be able to grow stronger to better defend herself. But for the time being, it's best to focus on this interview.

It's a good call on Ajax's part to move on to the questions pertaining to the night of the incident. If they had to keep making stories up, there's a good chance another slip-up might happen. She's quick to follow up her partner-in-crime with a confirmation. ]

I can attest to that. One minute Ajax and I were chatting and then the next, we were attacked by that... [ A beat. She's quiet for a few short seconds, the memories of her coworker's gruesome deaths come flashing back but she's able to fight down those fears by exhaling. ] thing.

[ Satisfied with their answer, the officer nods and scribbles more notes onto his pad. ]

Do either of you recall where the creature emerged from?

[ A horrifying thought just now occurs to her, Ajax was not only the first one to witness the monster, he had the misfortune of watching it take over the police officer's body in such a grisly fashion. How he's able to stay strong in the face of trauma is truly something else. And come to think of it, she's not sure how the otherwordly being entered the interrogation room, to begin with. And speaking of that, dreadful room, she figures it might be best to avoid bringing up the two dead officers who were inside of that place to begin with. Yoimiya ponders for a moment, debating what to say until she finally speaks up. ]

I was so busy talking to Ajax that I don't recall where it came from. All I remembered was hearing the sounds of the officer's screams until suddenly, one of them was thrown at my desk. Thankfully, Ajax was there to make sure I wasn't hurt.

Edited 2024-03-19 02:07 (UTC)

[He wishes so much that the answer Yoimiya gave was just acting. But the reality is that it's not, it's very much a terrifying reality for the both of them and he has to take a breath to calm himself as he recalls it. He has to fast forward through his mind as to where he would have seen the monster first as if he really were at the desk chatting with Yoimiya. It had all happened so fast, he's not even really sure if Yoimiya's recollection of it is correct or if she's purposely lying about exactly how she first saw it herself.

So he just nods along, to build off of what she had just said, to keep it all straight and together.]

I too, remember first hearing the screams, and trying to get Yoimiya out of harm's way. I barely remember what happened in the immediate aftermath. The only thought that sticks out in my mind after it first appeared was...

[He has to stop himself. He's seen some relatively terrible sights, but nothing comes close to the image of the dead officer on that blade.]

...the sight of it mercilessly killing that officer.

[His eyes point to the floor, trying not to think on it too much. It makes his stomach twist in knots, knowing how close they both were to suffering the same fate. To know it wanted him...and not knowing why.]

[ She hears Ajax stop mid-sentence to collect himself. The poor guy has witnessed even worse horrors than she has. Absentmindedly, her hand reaches over to hold onto his, her fingers grasp around his as she gently brushes her thumb over his knuckle in hopes of providing him any semblance of comfort. Just like what he did for her in the waiting room. He did so much to ease her fears while they were waiting outside and she wishes to do the same, not at all caring how the two of them holding hands might look in front of the police officer.

For a good few seconds, Yoimiya doesn't say anything, needing a quick breather to gather her thoughts together. She still has night terrors over watching her coworker getting skewered by the blades. A fate that nearly befell her had Ajax not stepped in to save her. She recalls the tendrils gripping around her neck, squeezing the life out of her with it's deadly blade drawn. It's almost hard to believe she escaped death that night. ]

It's... hard to pinpoint exactly what happened. The creature... impaled that man while using the body of the other officer.

[ Archons, does she feel bad for Ajax. Seeing the contorted police officer was a horrifying scene but he was an unfortunate witness to the gruesome body snatching. ]

It's unlike anything neither one of us has ever seen. A creature that can take over someone's body.

[Her hand on his is a welcome comfort as he tries to process everything they'd been through that night. From here, very little lies will need to be told to keep it all together, and he'd rather be doing just about anything else right now than having to recall it and recite it for this officer. Every brush of her thumb is another wave of solidarity he feels between himself and Yoimiya, letting his fingers curl with hers. It's not really until now, when he's being forced to really face the events of that night, that it hits him. He'd managed to keep his mind off of it for the most part, but not anymore.

He can't imagine the nightmares Yoimiya has probably had too, in relation. She didn't deserve any of this.]

Can you recount what happened after that?

[Looking up, he can feel some bit of gauntness appear in his eyes, to be asked to go through it with the best details as they can remember. But giving him this information now will get them out of here and so the police can continue their investigation into the matter. Be compliant, and they'll stay out of the law's hair.]

After it killed the officer, it came for us. The hole in the wall...it was trying to body slam right into us but we managed to dodge it. That's why that hole was there. It tried to get a hold of me, but she stopped it. With a metal chair, if I remember right.

[The officer scribbles that down, waiting for an opportunity to ask them about what else they found on the floor- handcuffs and the key to them.]

Go on.

[ A warmth of solidarity seeps out from his fingers. It's comforting, his presence helps put her mind at ease as they recall this traumatic event together. She's thankful they were questioned together, Yoimiya doesn't think she would have been able to tackle this interview on her own without breaking down from stress.

It's thanks to Ajax that she's able to stay strong. ]

After watching our coworker get killed, my heart couldn't take the thought of seeing my friend murdered as well. Since I was in a panic, I opened the desk to try and find the key to the station's gun safe. But since we were running out of time, I grabbed a metal chair to fend off the creature.

[ Another deep exhale passes through her lips. Her mind sorts through the events of that night. After witnessing the officer's horrific end, she recalls running back to the desk to grab a key to the handcuffs and a metal chair to save Ajax. That's right... there's the matter regarding the handcuffs and key on the floor. No doubt for the officer questioning them, those two pieces of evidence would certainly seem suspicious. ]

I guess the monster didn't like that so it grabbed me by the throat with the intention to kill me next. It's kind of hard to recall what happened next since I was blacking out from the thing trying to strangle me but I believe... Ajax threw a set of handcuffs at it to distract it?

[ Not the best explanation but she hopes it will be enough to clear the air as to why the handcuffs have her's and Ajax's DNA on it. Kept purposely vague to give Ajax the floor to make any necessary clarifications. Although he couldn't lie his way out of a wet paper bag when she teased him about wanting to spend more time with her, Yoimiya has faith he will be able to come up with something that will get them out of this pinch. ]

[Ajax, admittedly, had forgotten about the handcuffs. That definitely would of been a question for the cop to ask, and he's so thankful that she thought of it and addressed it so easily. On the surface, he seems a little distraught from the memory of the attack, but underneath there's relief that he can go off of that and continue the story to keep all of their threads together.]

Yeah. I had no idea what to do when I saw it grab her so I grabbed the nearest thing to me at the moment. In the confusion, some handcuffs must have fallen off of the desk or fallen off of the dead officer and got kicked around in the ensuing scuffle...so I grabbed them and threw them as hard as I could at its head. It didn't do much, but it was enough to get the attention off of Yoimiya to make it more mad at me instead. I don't think whatever it was was very intelligent to be distracted so easily.

[Whether that's a burn on the monster or the police, he'll let Yoimiya decide- since she's the only one who knows he was there for other reasons than delivering an apartment key.]

But because of my actions, it came after me next. I'm pretty quick, and it destroyed more parts of the station trying to get to me, but I wasn't so lucky in the end. My injuries that were treated at the doctor ended up from it hitting me and eventually getting a hold of me- but I was able to light it on fire with a lighter in my pocket. Turns out it doesn't reinforce a human body all that much. It's just as flammable as anyone else.

[He hadn't forgotten what had happened with Yoimiya's bow...how on earth it was charred is another thing they'd have to explain away. He just has no explanation of how its arm was broken.]

It let me go as soon as it realized it was alight, which was fairly quickly, but it wasn't smart enough to figure out how to put it out. That gave us time to recoup and get out.

[The officer writes more down, and most of what happened seemed to line up with the investigation. But surprisingly, the question of the broken arm doesn't come.]

And where did you go after that?

[ I don't think whatever it was very intelligent to be distracted so easily. If it wasn't for the interview, she might have snorted a little at that jab. Admittedly, Yoimiya knew the body-snatched cop as someone who wasn't the brightest crayon of the bunch, using his brawn more than his brain... so Ajax's burn isn't exactly wrong. ]

Yes. I truly owe my life to Ajax, if it wasn't for him...

[ She would have been just another corpse for them to do an autopsy on. Just thinking about it sends a shiver down her spine, a grim thought she dares not to say out loud.

Thank the heavens for Ajax's quick thinking, Yoimiya had already forgotten about charring the monster. That's a question the cop would have eventually inquired, so she's grateful he came up with a very reasonable explanation for the fire. Internally, she's letting out a sigh of relief but curiously, the matter regarding the broken arm doesn't come up as a topic. She can't help but wonder; is the cop holding back the question for a reason? For the time being, she'll refrain from saying anything about it while she comes up with ideas to explain it away. Might be easy to pinpoint it on the metal chair... ]

After that, we ran as fast as we could to the nearest aquabus station. If memory serves correctly, we were near the main hub before Ajax's injuries got the better of him and he passed out. Thankfully, there was a taxi driver nearby and we were able to make it to the hospital just in the nick of time. [ She pauses for a brief second. ] If you're able to get in contact with the taxi driver in question, he'll be able to confirm our story.

[ Bless that cabby driver. They not only saved Ajax's life but are also coming clutch in securing their alibi. The police officer takes note of that, reminding himself to question the taxi company in question later. ]

Did anything significant at the hospital?

[Afterward, he's going to make sure to take Yoimiya somewhere to get her ice cream or snacks or any kind of treat she wants. It pains him to see the look on her face whenever she has to recount that horrifying night. But the rest of the story seems to go off without a hitch, all the way up till the end when she had to get him in a taxi to the hospital. That's all there is, right? He's pretty sure there's nothing else in need of being recounted, not that it all couldn't be explained by their investigation anyway. Surely they would have found the back door wide open, noting how they escaped...and they hadn't done anything anyway to draw suspicion towards them.

All the evidence they need is plastered all over the ground in the form of that strange abyssal texture, and the DNA should be all over the place too.]

No, thankfully. I was out for some time, and stayed there for as long as they told me to.

[Ajax is relieved to say that. Nothing significant, that is, in regards to the monster that attacked us.]

The hospital reported you recovered quicker than most people with the injuries you had, Mr. Volkov. We're all glad to see you're in good health now. Thank you both for your help with this, but I do need to tell the both of you this.

[The officer pauses, to put down his pen and notepad.]

We discovered the monster here at the scene, lying on the ground and seemingly either knocked out or dead. No one was allowed to touch the body until we had all safety precautions in place, but before we could investigate, it got up and made its way out of the building and somewhere into the city.

[He feels his blood freeze at that information. They had worried that it hadn't died, that it was still alive and might come for them. Ajax can't even hide the terror on his face.]

As you can imagine, his family is besides themselves that there's no telling what's become of their husband and father. But whatever thing took him is out there, and might still possibly be using his body. Be on the lookout.

[Ajax nods and swallows hard- this isn't what he wanted to hear. No wonder he hadn't asked about the broken arm. He looks over to Yoimiya, his eyes wide. They were in trouble.]

[ So far, so good, Ajax ties up their harrowing story in a neat little ribbon that should hopefully satisfy the police. There's no need for her to recount what they've said in her head, confident the two of them explained every last detail so perfectly and drawing suspicion away from them. Internally, she's letting out endless sighs of relief. There might be a few questions relating to the hospital but soon, they will be able to go home and finally put this nightmare behind them—

But any hope for peace of mind is instantly shattered by what the officer shares with them next. That bit of information plays over and over in her head. After everything they did to damage, after just barely escaping with their lives... the monster simply got up and is roaming around Fontaine somewhere? As if her night terrors are coming back to haunt her, Yoimiya can feel a bead of cold sweat drip down the back of her neck. ]

I... I see...

[ This is one of those rare moments when the normally chit-chatty Yoimiya is at a complete and total loss for words. A look of sheer terror plagues her face as she turns to look at Ajax whose expression matches her own. Poor guy. She can see that expression of dread all over him. And the worst part of all this is knowing that the creature came to the police station for Ajax.

It's only a matter of time before it comes back for him. It's terrifying to think about, her heart shatters into a million pieces at the thought of him going through that same trauma once more, or worse... ]

We'll... do our best to stay vigilant. Can you keep us updated on any information that comes your way?

[ The police officer nods, writing down one last note in his folder before closing it up. That should be it for the questioning, their recount has matched up word for word with their investigation. ]

Will do. And if the two of you spot anything relating to the creature out there, please report it to us. It might be best if the two of you stick together in order to stay safe. And Yoimiya, if you need an escort to work, you're welcome to let any of us know and we'll be happy to pick you up.

[ Living on her own is starting to sound more frightening by the minute. It's hard not to be paranoid at the idea of that accursed thing crawling into her window at night to finish the job. ]

Thank you. I appreciate it.

[Ajax is trying his hardest not to let himself shake like a leaf knowing that the monster was still out there, possibly looking for him so it can finish him off once and for all. He doesn't want to show too much of that fear, but thankfully even in the face of the outward terror he wears on his features, it's understood. The police officer can't blame the guy sitting across from him for shaking visibly, they'd both went through one of the most terrifying things of their lives. He saw the creature himself...he can't believe that they were still alive.

Standing up, the officer goes to open the door for the two of them, grateful for their cooperation with the investigation.]

I appreciate both of your time. Please stay safe and don't hesitate to call us if you need anything.

[Ajax stands, his legs a little wobbly from absorbing the shock of that information, looking to Yoimiya to go before they make their way out of the station. He doesn't seem like he wants to speak or need any comfort while they leave, but once they're out and around the corner, he stops to look at her and breathes out what's definitely a stress sigh.]

Well...as good as that went, I hadn't expected to have confirmation that our troubles may not be over. Are you okay?

[It's the second time he's asked her today, but after that information, he's not sure if he's okay let alone her.]

[ After saying her goodbyes to her coworker, Yoimiya is quick to follow Ajax and get as far away from the police station as they can. She can feel her legs wobbling with every step they take. Her mind doesn't even register where they're walking, all she can think about is getting away from the scene of that horrible memory and wanting to stay at Ajax's side at all costs to avoid being alone. The sounds of his sigh do the trick in snapping her out of her thoughts. Slowly, she looks up at him with an expression of concern written all over her face.

She can tell that sigh is from stress. It's extremely understandable given the circumstances. She can sympathize with him, there is a good chance they will be facing their trauma head-on once more. ]

I wish that I could tell you I'm okay but... [ Her voice is a little shaky. So much so, she has to pause for a moment to compose herself. ] I'm not.

[ She wishes to grace him with a smile and tell him that everything will be okay but even in broad daylight, the events of that awful night have left such a deep-seeded fear that her paranoia is going to all sorts of places. What if the monster is following them as they speak and is waiting for a chance to kill the two of them for good? It's going to be difficult to go back to their daily lives with this lingering fear lurking in the back of their minds. ]

How are you holding up? You must be going through it as well.

[The look on her face alone tells him everything. She's about as okay as he is, which isn't okay at all- and now they've got to reckon with the possibility of getting hunted down. There's a million thoughts running through his head, to how would it find them again to not knowing how it found them in the first place. Or was it a coincidence and it just took an interest in him because he was there and not because it came specifically for him?

So many questions with no answers at all.]

Me? Haha...I can't say I'm in a much better state than you.

[He'd be lying to say otherwise, he's already a terrible liar and even a fool would be able to figure out that he's sweating bullets.]

Even if we wanted to go our separate ways at this point, it looks as if fate has other plans for us. Honestly...I don't know what to do at this point.

[It feels overwhelming, like something trying to smother him into unconsciousness. Since when did he ask for some sort of eldritch horror to make life that much more terrifying and complicated. And to involve Yoimiya as well, that seems just cruel. She hadn't asked for this at all, just a victim of being in the wrong place at the wrong time...]

We need to take some time to think and go through things as best we can. Though monsters are uncommon, perhaps there's something online we can find.

Edited 2024-03-29 23:54 (UTC)

[ She sees the expression on his face and even without a response, his features are enough to tell her he's not doing great. Who would be after what they've been through? Even someone with an ironclad will surely break down if a creature that nearly ended someone's life is still lurking around in the depths of Fontaine.

Poor Ajax, for someone as cunning as him to be at a loss, this situation is becoming messier by the second. At this point, she's not sure what to do either. What can they do? But if there's one thing Yoimiya is sure about, it's that she doesn't want to stand around waiting for death. ]

You're right, it's better than sitting around doing nothing. There might be some information online that could help us. And I also think...

[ Yoimiya stops mid sentence, pausing for a brief moment. They're in a public space with people passing by, so she needs to tread carefully with what she's about to say. Or else, they will have more problems alongside that eldritch abomination. ]

We should learn how to defend ourselves.

[ We should hone our powers. is the implication behind her words. Of course, she dares not to say it out loud but she knows Ajax is smart enough to pick up on what she truly means. ]

[Even as his mind is racing, Yoimiya's suggestion makes him stop. That's right. They did have a way of fighting back, and she's even managed to do a little bit with her own power while he was recovering. But he's never managed to summon that dark armor again, and learning in the heat of battle, even if it's something he excels at, isn't a good idea when their lives were on the line.]

...You're right.

[He has to try though, even if the odds are against him. Learning to use them together seems like a good idea, as she's the only person he could possibly show his power to, if he can use it again at all. The same goes for her, plus he's sure if she doesn't already know how to fight, there's a lot he can teach her.]

We should talk about this somewhere else. Let's go somewhere more private.

[Like his place or hers. Somewhere where they won't be overheard.]

Are you alright with coming over? Since my apartment is conveniently located near everywhere you'd possibly want to go while in the city.

[ They're caught between a rock and a hard place but Yoimiya isn't willing to throw in the towel of her life. Even if she's scared out of her mind, there's still a fire burning in her heart that prevents her from rolling over, she's not about to go down without a fight. She's seen a little bit of Ajax's powers firsthand, the man had to have two grown men apprehend him to keep him at bay, there's a reason why the Nizhnii organization has him doing the heavy lifting... if there's anyone who has the power to stand up to an otherwordly being, it's Ajax. And if they hone their powers and work together, she's confident they might just be able to continue living. ]

Yes, I'm perfectly okay with going to your place. I appreciate that you're willing to have me over.

[ If this was at the beginning, she might have said no but Ajax has proven himself a bit more to her. He saved her life twice, went along with her lie, and even was willing to work together to fool the coops. If he truly needed her gone and out of the picture, he could have done so a long time ago. ]

Lead the way.

[Ajax isn't sure why, but now, the event that happened here at the police station feels like eons ago. Like he's aged a hundred years since they were both attacked. The Ajax and Yoimiya of two weeks ago don't feel like the same people they are now, though he doesn't bother to delve deeper into those philosophical thoughts. What matters now is the road ahead, one where he nods to her and leads her through the city back to his apartment.

They pass by the cafe they'd been at just a day prior, around the corner and back to the apartment complex where they'd gotten into his car. Instead now, he bypasses his car that's still parked underneath, coming up to an elevator at the bottom floor. Once it opens, Ajax enters alongside of her, and slumps against the back wall as if the burden of keeping up his image outside finally could be lifted from his shoulders. He's never felt so tired before, recognizing that it's stress that's getting to him, but at least for the moment the two of them will have the safety and seclusion of his apartment.]

I'll have to apologize for how it looks right now...I wasn't expecting visitors, so I didn't bother to pick up.

[He apologizes as the doors open, leading her to his door that isn't too far from the elevator. Unlocking the door, he opens it to reveal an apartment that's nearly immaculate despite what he'd said on the way up. The ocean theme to his home is obvious, with a nice view of the city out of the fairly large windows. The apartment can't be cheap, and the rest of it follows the same theme, something Ajax clearly picked out for himself.

The only mess visible is a coffee mug and a plate left out on the coffee table in front of the couch, clearly having eaten breakfast and left it there before he'd gone to the police station to meet Yoimiya. In the kitchen is the pan he'd cooked his eggs in, still waiting to be washed.]

Please, make yourself at home. Can I grab you a drink? I have a variety to choose from.

[ As they pass by that familiar coffee shop and back to the parking area, Yoimiya is reminded that Ajax does live in a convenient spot in Fontaine, it's easy for him to come and go wherever he pleases. From the interactions they've had with one another, she's already picked up on his crafty side, she briefly wonders if he chose this apartment complex out of convenience for his job. But she doesn't dwell on that thought for long, giving his car one last passing glance before they make their way into his home.

Yoimiya didn't know what to expect when walking in but... his apartment is nice. Definitely not on the cheap side and certainly more expensive than the apartment she lives in but... his place still has a cozy, welcoming vibe. She can't help but look around, enamored with the ocean leitmotif he carefully designed his home with. The whole setup is quaint, definitely the tell-tale signs of a guy who hails from a small fishing village. Just as she's getting ready to compliment his decor, Yoimiya turns around to see him slumped against the wall. Poor guy, all the stress he's been bottling up finally got to him. She can't blame him. ]

There's no need to apologize. If this is messy, my apartment is a complete and total disaster.

[ It's a good thing they decided to meet up at his place and not her's. ~~Somewhere at her apartment, Hanabi is muttering to herself in her aquarium: Damn bitch, you live like this?~~

She gently pats down the crinkles across her skirt and helps herself to a spot on his couch. Peering around, she notices the empty coffee mug and plate left behind on the coffee table, he must have eaten breakfast shortly before their meet-up. It's faint but she can smell the aroma of freshly cooked eggs seeping out from the kitchen. ]

I appreciate the offer, thank you. [ She thoughtfully hums to herself, pondering on what to drink before finally settling: ] Mmmm... surprise me! The only thing I can't drink is milk because it tears up my stomach. Otherwise, I'm not picky at all.

[ The life of a lactose intolerant is a sad one. :c ]

[It's a little too late to be hiding the small mess of his plate, so he smiles as he picks them up to take them along with him to the kitchen before he gets them their drinks. No milk...lactose intolerant, huh. That sucks, he thinks, but he's sure he can come up with a nice relaxing, refreshing drink for her despite that.]

Guess that means no ice cream either, [he comments, half amused and half apologetic. No dairy is a depressing life to live.]

Not to worry, I think I've got just the thing.

[It might be a little early for day drinking, despite how much they both may need to be a little messed up to deal with their new reality, but one shot wouldn't hurt, right?

Ajax disappears into the kitchen momentarily, the clinking of glasses being audible as well as the sounds of him taking out more than one thing from his cabinets and fridge. First thing that comes out is a few cans of soda, ginger ale specifically, setting them on the coffee table in front of her. Second, he goes back in to bring out two shot glasses with his favorite vodka, labeled Fire-Water on the bottle, which also gets set down. There's also some beeping from the kitchen and the sound of something going, as he's boiling water to a good temperature in his kettle in case she wants some tea.]

There. I don't know if you drink at all, but I certainly could go for a shot to relax my nerves. Feel free to help yourself, otherwise there's the ginger ale and some water being prepared for tea in the kitchen.

[He immediately cracks his can open and pours both of them a shot, downing his and chasing it with his drink. That's really all he needs, pushing the shot glass aside and relaxing into the couch next to Yoimiya.]

Ah...there's nothing quite like liquor from the motherland. It's pretty strong, I'm warning you, hahaha.

[ One shot definitely won't hurt! Between otherworldly monsters, bodies getting snatched, a crazy company conducting experiments, obtaining new powers... Yoimiya feels like she can drink a whole bottle all on her own.

While he's busy in the kitchen, Yoimiya takes some time to admire the scenery of his room, smiling at the noises of glasses clicking together. He's sure hard at work with their drinks. When Ajax comes back, she's pleasantly surprised by the spread he presents to her. Cans of ginger ale, shots filled with a colorless alcohol of his homeland, and the sounds of a tea kettle brewing in his kitchen, he's being a stellar host. The serene change of pace from the reminder of their trauma is truly appreciated. ]

I do enjoy drinking! I haven't had a chance to get out and try Fontaine liquor just yet. But after everything we've been through... a shot sounds like just the kinda thing we need.

[ Without wasting a beat, Yoimiya excitedly picks up the shot glass, downing it in one go. ]

Oh...! [ The taste leaves her momentarily surprised. ] That is quite strong and leaves a burn on my tongue and in the back of my throat.

[ Whew! The burn was unexpected but the longer the taste lingers on her tongue, the flavor grows on her. Her eyes shift over to the bottle in question, reading the label stuck onto the glass. ]

Fire-Water, huh? This is my first time trying it but I have to say... I quite enjoyed that.

[He definitely appreciates her attitude towards all this. There's nothing quite like being able to kick back, have a drink, and relax. He almost laughs at how quickly she just takes it and drinks it down, knowing full well how powerful Fire-Water really is. He leans over to open both of their ginger ales, offering a can to her to chase that shot with so it doesn't linger on the tongue for too long.]

I'm glad to hear it. Fontaine liquor doesn't hold a candle to the Fire-Water of Snezhnaya...I'm actually surprised to hear that you enjoyed it. Most find it a little too strong for their tastes.

[That being said, once his hand is free of the ginger ale can, he pours himself another anyway. Down the hatch it goes, followed by a swig of his own ginger ale.]

Ahhhh...I found out the hard way myself. I had an uncle give me some at a family gathering when I was young, because I kept vehemently asking to try some just because I saw all the other adults doing it. I've never been met with immediate regret quicker in my life.

[He laughs, sipping on his drink a little more. Warmth floods his features, reminiscing on old times like this. It makes him miss his homeland, but he quickly shakes himself out of it. He can't get all wishy-washy about home right now, not with such an important matter to discuss.]

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