Childe "I Can Make Her Worse" Tartaglia (
monoceroscaeli) wrote in
insurmountable2023-10-29 11:43 am
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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...]
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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[Ajax's eyes search the floor, staring downward as he catches his breath. Flashes of that image plague his mind, and that creeping evil no longer hovering around the edges of his soul, yet he feels as if he can still feel the ghost of its presence there. He barely notices Yoimiya's hand on his back, scrambling to make sense of what's just happened to him.
Or maybe...what's already been there that might of been unlocked.]
...I don't know. When I tried to use that power again, something inside of me seemed wake up...
[It's the best way he can describe it for the moment, terror reflecting in his eyes as he looks over to her.]
I could see some kind of...monster staring back at me, and I felt like some dark abyss was trying to devour my soul. Is that really the power I used before...?
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A monster... Ajax saw a monster staring back at him. As if that knowledge wasn't already terrifying, the poor guy felt like something evil was trying to get a hold of his soul. It's no wonder why he's been scared breathless, just hearing about his experience shakes Yoimiya to her core.
It breaks her heart to see Ajax shaken up. She wishes to give him an answer to soothe his worries but for now, all she can offer is a gentle rub to his back. ]
We're in a tough situation. I wish we knew what was going on to have some much-needed answers... [ But there's use lamenting about the 'ifs'. They need to do what they can to solve this mystery. ] Correct me if I'm wrong but you conjured up a dark armor back at the police station, right?
[ It was a little difficult to see since the monster hand its tendrils wrapped around her neck but she's fairly certain she recalls something taking shape on his arm. ]
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...Yeah. I remember I saw it grab you, and I knew I needed to do something. It was like this unbridled rage I felt inside of me when it hurt you, and my arm just transformed without me even thinking about it to save you.
[He lets out a disappointed sigh- he doesn't want to have to put Yoimiya in a situation like that again just to access that power. And, he's not sure if he wants to use it...not if it gives that thing inside him a foothold.]
I didn't feel that presence inside of me then, but maybe it was because the act of using the power brought it to the surface? Maybe it was already in control of me when it happened...
[But if that was the case, why would it try to save Yoimiya? The feeling he got from it was cold and dark, yet his emotions went haywire with rage to keep her from getting hurt. Confusion lines his expression, clearly conflicted about what to do and how to deal with this new presence inside of his body.]
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But... he might have done it at the cost of waking up a monster that lurks inside his soul. Or maybe Ajax is right, maybe something has always had control over him. Just thinking about it sends a chill down her spine and if she's feeling scared, she can't imagine the turmoil poor Ajax must be going through. ]
I guess no matter how you slice it, the encounter with that monster caused not just our marks to appear but also awakened a power inside of us. Likewise, I haven't been able to summon that bow since that night...
[ And there's no way Yoimiya would dare to put Ajax in a horrific situation with a monster, his life is not worth conjuring up some silly bow and arrow. She brings the cup of green tea to her lips, gently blowing on it before drinking the homebrew tea. It's nothing like what her mother makes but it still has that delightful taste of Inazuma she misses. ]
I wish I could give you a more conclusive answer. But if you want my gut feeling on the situation, I don't believe the powers you obtained are from the monster you saw. Because after all, you came to my rescue and saved my life like... [ She trails off as a small smile tugs at the corners of her pink lips. ] my dark knight in shining armor?
[ And if what Ajax said is true, then she has doubts that a creature who wishes to devour his soul would go out of the way to save some random girl. ]
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I guess that does sort of make me your dark knight in shining armor, huh?
[Ajax exclaims that with a hint of cockiness, putting forth that confident front to hide the anxiety inside of him.]
Not exactly the way I ever imagined myself to be, but, I'll take it. Even if that power is linked to the presence inside of me, I'll figure out a way to master it. I promise.
[It's not just a promise to her, but a promise to himself. If they were going to make it through this alive, they'd both have to hone their powers...meaning that he'll have to face that presence inside of him again. But he won't let her get hurt, not if he has anything to say about it.]
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His promise fills her heart with relief, stoking the flames of her determination to become stronger. She can't rely on Ajax all thr time, the two of them need to work together if they want to get through this. ]
I believe in you, I know you will become a strong knight who will rise up and slay anything that stands in the way. I promise to get stronger as well, I'll do whatever it takes to master my abilities.
[ It's the least she can do for both of their sakes. If these marks are the key to their survival then Yoimiya is prepared to use them to their advantage. ]
I'm still a little wary of your job but... I think I can trust you to have my back. I can tell you aren't about to put me I danger. And as it stands, there's no denying we need each other in order to survive.
[ A big turnaround from her firey demeanor at the hospital. His job will always be in the back of her mind but with everything they have been through, Ajax has already proven himself to be her companion in arms. ]
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[There's that little tidbit too, isn't there. He'd put his occupation on the back burner for the moment, as the last day had been pretty eventful, for lack of a better term. He felt better knowing that Yoimiya would stand besides him in all of this, and he feels confident that the two of them will eventually be able to strengthen their powers. But his job was looking for people exactly like them- so it's imperative they don't find out.]
That's why we'll have to find somewhere pretty secluded in order to train. I can help you out with getting physically stronger...but for our powers, that's going to be uncharted territory, as you already know.
[He taps his chin once, thinking for a moment. He does have to deal with his job, so he'll just be up front with Yoimiya on this one.]
It'll only be a matter of time before they discover that my apartment was broken into by a monster, so in order to avoid suspicion, I think I'm going to report it to them. It'll look more suspicious if I hide it. With luck, I should be able to make it look like the monsters are seeking revenge on me for what happened in the police station...instead of what I'm afraid it really could be.
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For the time being, she figures it's best not to think about it too hard, she doesn't wish to probe him while they still have so much on their plate to deal with. For better or worse, they're in this together and she has faith that answers will come in due time. ]
I'd appreciate that a lot, I don't have much experience in hand-to-hand combat, so I could really use some tips on getting stronger. Next time, I'd like to be able to actually take out a monster with a metal folding chair, haha.
[ Such an ambitious goal! This one is clearly shooting for the moon. But on a more serious note, Yoimiya ponders his next plan, agreeing with a simple nod of her head. From the little bit she knows about his job, not reporting the incident will only cause Ajax more problems... and that's the last thing he needs with every crazy thing that's happening in their lives. ]
You're right, it's better to come clean. It ain't going to look good if they find out about your apartment without you telling them. So, if there's anything I can help throw some suspicion off of you, please let me know. It's only right that I lend a hand since you not only saved my life but also went along with the lie I told my job.
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Thanks. I should be able to handle it, but if worse comes to worst, I'll let you know so you can back me up.
[He's now thinking of where they could go, how they could train in secret somewhere in Fontaine. It would have to be somewhere really remote, but that would be hard given that most of the plateau was covered in either residential areas or farms...maybe finding a way into the national forest would be their only course of action. Even if they could find a cave to cover them from low flying aircraft overheard that might see some kind disturbance...that would be ideal.]
Yoimiya, let's go to Fontaine National Park tomorrow. I'd like to scout the area out so we can find somewhere to go to use our powers without being discovered. If we manage to find something there, we can start training ASAP.
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Fontaine National Park sounds like a great place to train. There are really not many places they can go to but surely there's some remote area in the forest that can keep them well hidden from prying eyes. After all, Fontaine is the city of technology with residential areas spanning for miles. Unless they somehow take their chances with the ocean, the forest is the next best place. After chewing on the clam, she takes her chopsticks to grab a pickled daikon, popping one into her mouth to enjoy it's sweet, tangy flavor. ]
That sounds like a great plan to me. I actually haven't had the time to visit Fontaine's National Park so this will be a first for me.
[ This is a serious matter but as a girl who is still new to Fontaine, Yoimiya can't deny she's excited to see the famous park with her own two eyes. But putting that to the side, the real test will be to see if they can control their powers but with any hope, they'll make some progress that will give them a fighting chance against any monsters. ]
Then, we can leave first thing in the morning if you'd like? The more time we spend working on our powers the better and it's as they say, the early bird gets the worm. So with any luck, that will give us time to scour the area for the perfect spot to train.
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That would be ideal if we could leave tomorrow morning, first thing.
[He agrees with her. That early might also allow them the chance to sneak off of the trails into territory that's clearly marked off from visitors without being seen. As someone who's used to breaking the rules often, he has no fear of getting caught- but he'll make sure they don't get caught in the first place.]
We'll be violating the rules to do so...will you be alright with that? It's possible we could be hit with trespassing if we get caught.
[The gleam in his eye and the smug smirk on his face suggests that he's unafraid of that, nor does it bother him. But he does need to ask the gal who's decided to go into law enforcement of some sort to see if she'd even go along with the plan.]
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Until she sees that he's holding it completely wrong. Oh... dear. Maybe she was mistaken in her initial assessment, there is something Ajax isn't skilled at.
And it's chopsticks. Those pesky wooden sticks keep getting the better of him, the rice falls apart on him and he hilariously drops one. This poor guy. And it doesn't help she's trying so hard not to giggle at him. She's half tempted to ask if he needs assistance but it's only fair to give him a chance to prove himself before stepping it.
It's also really funny shhhh. ]Don't worry, I'm totally fine with that. It's a risk I'm willing to take. I might work in the police force but I'm not exactly a good girl, hehe.
[ As he knows from their ahem encounter at his apartment. She didn't exactly act like a moral, upstanding citizen on his couch. To affirm her decision, she meets that gleam in his eyes with a confident smirk, she's not just prepared to go down this dangerous route, she's looking forward to it. ]
The risk will be well worth the reward.
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That's what I needed to hear.
[Either way, this works out. So he makes another attempt at the chopsticks, embarrassingly fails again when the salmon drops unceremoniously back down onto the plate, frowning at the attempt.]
Hopefully learning to use our powers isn't as hard as learning to use chopsticks...
[Poor guy is getting frustrated, LOL]
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Okay, this guy has suffered enough from those dreaded chopsticks. Poor guy is sounding frustrated. It's about time she saves him from his misery. ]
Hehe, you never know.~ You might be able to master our powers faster than those chopsticks. Would you like me to grab you a fork and a spoon?
[ Just to be a little show off, Yoimiya expertly holds the chopsticks like a pro, eating the freshly cooked rice with ease and even going as far as to... (gasp) break a piece of salmon and popping it into her mouth. ]
Or I can teach you if you're interested.
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Alright, show me how to hold these things.
[He points them at her like she's just issued him a challenge, which in his eyes she's absolutely done with that little bit of grandstanding she's done there with her own set.]
I won't have a couple of sticks get the better of me.
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Alright, then it's settled! I'll teach you how to show those chopsticks who is boss... hehehe.
[ He won't have a couple of sticks getting the better of him. Oh my goodness, he's so extra. It takes some serious tongue biting to hold in her laughter. ]
So for starters, you're holding it wrong.
[ She scoots her chair closer so he can get a good view of her lesson. So he doesn't miss a thing, Yoimiya makes sure to take it slow by placing the first chopstick between her pointer finger and thumb, the next chopstick slides underneath her thumb and rests on top of her middle finger. She holds out her hand so he can inspect her grip from every angle. ]
So what you want to do is this! Hold the first chopstick like you're writing with a pencil and then the second one goes in the gap underneath your thumb.
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He watches on as she demonstrates how to hold them, noting where her thumb is and where her forefinger goes. He wasn't even close to holding them the way she's showing him now, much to his dismay. His head hovers around her hand as she holds it out, thinking he's got the right idea.]
Okay. Something like this, then?
[He tries to hold his chopsticks exactly the way Yoimiya has them, but he's got his forefinger wrong and he's not securing the bottom stick well enough in the crook of his hand where his thumb is. When he tries to make the opening motion, they slip and don't line up, even if he's able to at least keep them in his hand now.]
Grrrr...why are these so difficult to handle...
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Chopsticks can be difficult for people who aren't accustomed to them. You're getting close, though! Here's how you should hold it...
[ Instead of showing, maybe a hands on demonstration might be the guidance he needs? Yoimiya scoots her chair even closer, narrowing the gap between them so she can easily reach over to place her hand on top of his. Her fingers gently brush over his knuckles as she guides his forefinger and thumb to pinch the first chopstick together. Her other hand swings over to assist with the second stick, she lines up the two chopsticks so the tips can meet together in perfect harmony. ]
See? Like this! Make sure you keep the bottom stick secured with your thumb. It's kind of like holding a pen.
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I'm not supposed to move the bottom stick?
[It definitely was not like he imagined. He thought both would have some sort of play, no wonder he was unable to use them.]
I see...what happens if the rice breaks apart? It doesn't seem like I'd be able to scoop it up with this alone.
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Sometimes it depends on how the rice is cooked, stickier rice is easier to pick up. You will get better the more you practice but if it keeps breaking, you can bring the bowl to your lips and shovel rice into your mouth that way.
[ He probably doesn't need a demonstration for this lesson but she do it for him anyway. The hand that was holding his thumb in place drops to bring the bowl of rice to his lips while the other helps him keep a hold of the chopsticks. ]
Does that make it easier?
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He has to get better. He will get better.]
Haha...Yoimiya...
[Though, as cute as it is, it is a little awkward for her to hold the bowl up to his lips. With his own free hand, he'll take the bowl from her so he can hold it himself. He's pretty sure he gets what she's laying down here. Shovel it into his face like an anime character.]
I think I can handle it from here. Like this, right?
[Without so much as moving the chopsticks so he doesn't mess this up, he starts shoveling the rice into his mouth, almost comically. He looks up at her for her approval, even though let's be real, this is the easy part.]
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Oh! Sorry about that...
[ She immediately scoots her chair away to give him extra space. Casting a glance downwards, her cheeks turn pink from embarrassment. It's bad enough the marks are already making them act questionable and now, she's just only making matters worse. She inwardly sighs at herself, sipping on the piping hot green tea to wash her embarrassment down.
Now that she's had her fill of tea, she looks over to check on her chopsticks student and sure enough, he follows her instructions to a t. This time, she's unable to suppress her giggles from how silly he looks. Not the most graceful way to eat but hey, at least the rice won't break apart on him! ]
Hehe, yeah! Just like that! You got the hang of it.
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Mmmffff...shee, I knewoh eh could do eet.
[It's not the most polite, but he speaks with his mouth full on purpose to get her to laugh or scold him. He's hoping he's successful enough to take her mind off her embarrassment. Finally, he swallows the rice, his eyes bright and looking at her like a proud child who just achieved something great that he should receive more praise for.
Just to show off a little more, he clicks his chopsticks together a few times...carefully.]
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Hehe.. hahahaha! Ajax, I can barely understand what you're saying. Haven't you been taught not to talk with your mouth full? Hahaha!
[ As if this wasn't already funny enough, Ajax somehow tops his previous stunt, clicking his chopsticks together like a proud little kid. Now she really wishes she had her camera on her. Through her rosy red cheeks Yoimiya is laughing up a storm. ]
Now you know how to eat rice at a beginner level. Just gotta practice more and soon you'll be able to pick it up without the need to lift the bowl to your mouth.
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C'mon, I'll be able to do more than that. I'll have this mastered before you know it.
[The determination in his voice suggests that he's very serious about it, despite the cockiness and teasing her shoots right back at her with the tone of it. Maybe he'll do something more silly, like learn to catch a fly with them like in the movies, just to impress her.]
What's my next challenge? Now that I can shovel rice in my mouth. [•̀⩊•́]
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