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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[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.]

[ The ginger ale is appreciated because whew, she's really starting to feel the burn at the back of her throat. She takes the offered can, washing away the fire in her mouth with a gentle breeze of refreshing citrus. She lets out a sigh of satisfaction, subtly smacking her lips at the unique aftertaste, the Fire-Water and ginger ale make for an interesting combination of flavors dancing on her tongue. ]

It's way stronger than any sake from Inazuma but... the burn it leaves in your mouth is unique and unlike anything I've ever had. I could see myself getting used to this if I drank more.

[ Maybe even addicited. This girl does have a thing for fire, after all. She watches him take another shot and it's enough to convince her to go for another cup as she holds out her glass to him. Gib more pls! A touch of alcohol is just what she needs to clear her head of impending doom... along with a reminiscence of Ajax's past. She giggles at his story, imagining a tiny Ajax's face scrunching up in disgust at the strange beverage he just drank. Poor guy just wanted to have what the adults were drinking. ]

Hahaha! I suppose that's what happens when kids try to act like adults. Your uncle must have had a good laugh after that. [ Sorry young!Ajax... ] I'm guessing it eventually grew on you over time?

[ There are far more important matters that need to be discussed but even so, Yoimiya enjoys the small talk. Learning about Ajax's history calms her nerves and puts her at ease. ]

[Sounds like to him that she really wants to get used to it, by the way she holds her cup out for him to pour another shot for her. Which he gladly does, pouring it out carefully into her shot glass before setting the bottle back down in amusement. He'll give it to her, it takes a bit of grit to keep going on Fire-Water.]

I don't remember if he laughed, but knowing him, I'm sure he did. As you can imagine, I wasn't allowed to have any after that little incident. But as the popular drink in Snezhnaya, when I grew older I was determined to give it another shot. It holds a special place in the hearts of Snezhnayans- we bond over drinking it outside in the bitter cold, share it between comrades, and it never fails to soothe the spirit.

[By that, he means get drunk after a stressful day. Growing on him over time is probably a good way to put it.]

If you like it, you're welcome to have as much as you like. As long as you don't get sick on my floor, of course, [he jokes, sounding almost like he's challenging her.

Of course, Ajax can't let her out drink him, so he takes his third shot and downs it, enjoying the burn against the back of his throat. Maybe it isn't too early for day drinking. He's already starting to forget the horror of their new reality, and maybe that's just what they both need right now.]

Edited 2024-04-08 02:28 (UTC)

[ As the burn lingers in her throat, Yoimiya can see why Snezhnayans would use this drink to bond while enduring the cold together. She smiles, imagining Ajax's family merrily laughing while enjoying a toast together. Maybe there's some truth to his words because drinking with him has already soothed her spirits in some way, she feels much more at peace than she was earlier. ]

Hahaha, don't worry, don't worry! Not to brag or anything but I'm pretty good at holding down alcohol.

[ Puffing out her chest, this is the smug face of a girl who looks way too proud herself, this wild girl has definitely been in one too many drinking contests over the course of her lifetime. So when Ajax takes his third shot, Yoimiya has a sneaking suspicion he's issuing a challenge, and of course, she's not about to back down. After finishing her second shot, she holds the glass out to him for yet another refill. ]

Buuuuuut, Fire-Water is a whole new endeavor for me. So... I'll try my gosh darn hardest to not vomit all over your floor.

[ As silly as having a drinking competition sounds on paper, day drinking is just the thing they need to take their mind off what's to come. ]

[As soon as her shot glass goes out again for another shot, he knows they're in for it. He hadn't brought her here to drink, just thinking they could sit and relax a little bit before they can talk and figure out their next steps in how they're going to deal with a monster that's lurking out in Fontaine somewhere, possibly hunting him, or both of them. Who knows what's going on through its head now.

But now, it looks like they're deep into a little drinking contest to see if they can keep up with each other. Not that he minds, especially since he feels pretty confident he'll win this unsaid contest. He's got a little bit of a tolerance to it, and if Yoimiya also wants to go down that path...far be it from him to stop her. So he pours her another shot, and pours himself one as well. The alcohol hasn't hit him yet, but he's sure it will in another twenty minutes or so. Going shot for shot is dangerous, but they're going to feel like they're on cloud nine soon.]

I'm serious now, whatever you've had in the past, just double the strength of it and that's Fire-Water. You know your limits better than I do- but if you think you can keep up, there's enough here for the both of us.

[Down his fourth shot goes. He can definitely do a few more, but Yoimiya's a lot smaller than he is...he hopes she doesn't go overboard. Hell, he hopes he doesn't go overboard.]

I've got a feeling you'll be okay for a little while yet...you sort of give off the vibes of a party girl.

[ Yoimiya probably should be a bit more mindful about his warning. The strong taste of the Fire-Water scorches her tongue with a hefty heat unlike any Inazuman sake and she can already feel it taking a dozy on her. There's no way she stands a chance against a guy who is used to the liquor of his homeland. But... this impish blonde is also a competitive little brat and when she sees Ajax down his fourth shot, she can't let this unspoken competition between them slide.

She's quick to tip her head back for a third shot and once it's downed, an invigorating sigh passes from her lips. The alcohol has perked up her spirits, giving her the energy boosts she needs. There is just one problem... the impish brat from Inazuma isn't nearly as used to its prominent taste as the country boy from Snezhnaya. She can feel a buzz hitting her system and a heat flushing her cheeks but Yoimiya still has it in her to keep going. In typical brat fashion, a smug smirk is sent his way as she slides the glass towards him for yet another shot. Keep it coming, boy. ]

Your assessment is spot on Mr. Volkov Ajaaax! [ Don't mind the slight slur in her voice as she speaks. She's fine. It's fine. ] Nothing beats partying with friends.

[ Before taking the next shot, she reaches over to down another sip of ginger ale. ]

What about you? You seem like the kinda guy who is fun at parties.

[Another shot is poured out for Yoimiya, another shot poured out for him as well. She's determined, that's something he can appreciate. He'll pour her the one after that too, getting a feeling that she's gunna keep going.]

What's this?

[But her voice is giving away how quickly it's having an affect on her. It's strong and he's not surprised that it's hitting her as quickly as it is, but he does wonder how much she had to eat prior to their visit to the police station. This might not end well for her...]

I think you should be more concerned about holding your alcohol than whether or not if I'm fun at parties, [he teases, as he gives her more Fire-Water.] But I'd say I fit in well at a party.

[As long as he doesn't end up punching someone.]

I haven't been to one in quite a while, though.

[ Oblivious to the fact she is... most definitely getting drunk, Yoimiya scoffs and wrinkles her nose at concern. Her eyes light up with excitement as he pours another keep, her greedy hands reach over to grab and down the shot in one go. She looks all too proud of herself..... while swaying from side to side.

This might be the day her drinking tolerance is finally getting humbled. But first, she still has it in her to be a little shit. ]

Please, I'm more than capable of talking and drinking at the same time, thank you very much, Mr. Volkajax. [ ARE YOU SURE ABOUT THAT YOIMIYA?

A beat.

Ah yes, there's the hic following the end of her ridiculous sentiment. Yup, she's perfectly fine. ]

Heeey, if you're ever interested... maybe we can hit the town and go partying one night? I haven't had a chance to experience the nightlife of Fontaine.

[Pretty sure she really messed his name up there.

He gives her a look of doubt at her statement, taking another shot for himself. Her speech is already getting slurred and she's swaying from side to side. Going to absolutely give her a little guff for being a lightweight.]

I'd love to. A little bit of fun will take the edge off of another mundane day at the office, wouldn't you agree? Though...

[He can't help it, he pushes his finger right into the meat of the side of her shoulder just to see if he can tip her over onto the couch. Of course, after she's drank her shot.]

Are you sure you'll be able to handle partying with me? It hasn't been all that long here and you're already a giggling mess here, haha.

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