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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To be honest, even I'm a little wary of my job.

[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.

[ Hearing that bit of information does make Yoimiya feel better about Ajax going forward, it's a relief to know he's at least aware of his job's awful practices. But even so, she can't help but question why he's still there and how dare he kidnap innocent people on their behalf. The most rational explanation would be he probably can't just up and quit without dire consequences. He did say he has family back in Snezhnaya... maybe he's doing this for them?

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.

Edited 2024-07-13 21:40 (UTC)

[Then to him, the matter is settled. They'd find a place to train, work on their powers, and he in turn will have to confront that monster inside of him. They may never be able to have a normal life, but he'd rather stay alive and live it than throw in the towel and let those creatures tear them into shreds. He nods in appreciation to Yoimiya's offer, now finally taking a bite of the breakfast she's made. His stomach feels like it should be knots, but he feels a sense of security while he's with her...which he won't take for granted.]

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.

[ Although she still can't help but worry about him, if Ajax says he can handle it then she believes him. If anyone knows the best way to handle his job, it's him. Now that she feels a little better about the whole situation going forward, she's a bit more at ease and able to take a sip of her soup without keeling over from all the stress. She brings the spoon to her lips, thoughtfully munching on a clam as Ajax brings forth his idea.

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.

[He takes the chopsticks off of the table, picking them up and staring at them for a second while she talks. It's pretty clear to eat the rice and salmon he'll have to use these, but he's never used chopsticks before. He takes a look at how she's holding hers while she eats her food, managing to put them in his hand completely wrong, and attempts to pick up some rice to start. It breaks apart in his chopsticks and then he drops one, making his brow furrow in annoyance before he picks it up and attempts again.]

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.]

[ She's so used to eating with chopsticks that it didn't even dawn on her to bring him a fork and spoon. There's a split second where Yoimiya wonders if she should grab a set from her cupboard but then Ajax picks them up and she brushes that thought to the side.

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.

[Yoimiya saying she's not exactly a good girl gets a snort out of him. She's definitely a dirty girl in the bedroom, he knows that for sure now, but it's even more funny to think that she'd bend the rules on top of it knowing what profession she went into. It takes his mind off of his chopstick failures for a second, his eyes dancing with amusement and mischievousness at her response. But that's also good to hear, if she had more of a black and white sense of the world, this would be a lot harder. But then, when he thinks about it, she's willingly thrown her lot in with him knowing what he does, so should he really be all that surprised?]

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]

[ Now that their choice has been made, there's going back. Yoimiya has already committed to going down this unknown path with him and she's willing go through with it for the sake of their survival. And as much as this is for their sakes, she can't deny there's a part of her that finds the lure of sneaking in without getting caught to be extremely thrilling. Ever since she was a little girl, Yoimiya has always lived on the straight and narrow but deep down inside of her heart, she's always craved more excitement in her life and maybe, just maybe, Ajax is the man who will finally grant it to her.

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.

[He looks up from his own attempts to pick up the piece of salmon to watch Yoimiya show off right in front of him with her chopstick skills. Ajax's face screws up a little into a bratty frown, unimpressed with her bragging but wanting to be able to use them himself. Stubbornly, he shakes his head at her offer for a fork and spoon. If she can do it, why can't he?]

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.

[ Wow... who would have guessed that Ajax harbored a bratty side to him??? She snorts at his frown, wishing her phone was nearby so she could snap a picture of this hilarious scene. And as if this wasn't funny already, he stubbornly shakes his head, adamant to come out the victor in his match against these chopsticks. ]

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.

[Even if she's not outright laughing at him, he can tell! He turns that bratty frown towards her now, even as she begins to teach him. He'll show her and these chopsticks who'll really come out on top. Man, getting laughed at because of some silly chopsticks...

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...

[ Hmm... he's got the right idea, just not the correct execution. Man, who would have thought that chopsticks would be the talented Ajax's undoing? She still can't believe these two wooden sticks are his achilles' heel. ]

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.

[Ajax's gaze is scrutinizing everything she does with his hand. They're so small against his own, and soft as she manipulates his hand into the right position. His eyes glance over at her face for a moment as she finally gets him in the right spot, before examining exactly how the chopsticks sit in his hand now. If he's careful and doesn't move his hand, he can open and close them correctly, watching as the ends click against each other.]

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.

[ Now that she thinks about it, explaining the sacred art of chopsticks really is a lot more complicated than what she thought. Ajax is a smart guy and he seems to already understand the basics, she has faith he'll get there with some practice. ]

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?

[He doesn't dare move his hand now. If he does, he might lose the perfect hand position he's got right now, and then he won't be able to eat his breakfast. He can feel his stomach grumbling at him, and his headache demands he drink more water too, so he can't stop now. The road to getting rid of a hangover is eating and drinking water, and he can't possibly use his fingers now that she's taught him how to use chopsticks.

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.]

[ Oh! Yeah, she definitely didn't need to do that. Oops. In hindsight, holding the bowl up to his lips does look silly. ]

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.

[Ajax doesn't really say anything, but it's cute how she gets a bit red in the face. He didn't mean to embarrass her, but at the same time, those rosy cheeks were kind of worth the sight. Maybe later on, he'll tell her how adorable she looked, but for now he feels like that might be pushing the letter a little.]

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.]

[ Any hint of embarrassment is gone the moment she hears Ajax talk with his mouth stuffed full of rice. He looks like a ginger squirrel with acorns tucked away in his cheeks! Goodness, what will Mama Ajax think? Too bad she doesn't have her phone right next to her because this photo would absolutely be worth a thousand words. His plan is a success! Yoimiya is laughing so hard that it's almost impressive she hasn't fallen out of the chair. ]

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.

Edited 2024-07-17 23:45 (UTC)

[That's the reaction he was looking for, happy to hear her laugh. It warms his heart in a way, watching her relax and be happy in a new world that's out to destroy them both. To be able to give her something so precious means more to him than he even realizes, giggling lightly alongside her.]

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. [•̀⩊•́]

[ This guy has to be one of the biggest braggarts she's ever met and that's saying something considering she's friends with a certain Arataki Itto back home. The thought of introducing those egomaniacs to each other crosses her mind, they're either going to be the best of pals or constantly try to outdo the other (or both). Maybe Teyvat will explode from all that hot air but she can't pass up the chance of witnessing the greatest comedy duo ever.

Still giggling, she can't help but roll her eyes from the arrogance dripping out of his voice. She's glad to see that his confidence has raised through the roof after that small lesson but will he truly be able to master the chopsticks? There's only one way to find out... ]

Hmm... how about you try breaking off a piece of salmon and then bring it to your mouth?

[ A steep challenge from shoveling rice into his mouth but surely Ajax's cockiness isn't for show. Go on, buddy! Prove that you'll have it mastered before she knows it.

ദ്ദി ˉ͈̀꒳ˉ͈́ )✧ ]

Sure.

[He says confidently, with his hand still being very careful not to change the perfect position it's in. He can tell she's probably doubting him a little bit, one lesson doesn't necessarily mean he's got it. But it's a fun challenge either way, and it's taking his mind off of responsibilities and the dangers that surround him. Not to mention the ever-growing need to have sex with her. Anything to get his mind off of any of that is welcome.

He puts the rice bowl down, looking over to the piece of salmon that sits pretty on his plate. He'd been unsuccessful so far in picking up anything with it, but her lesson is now his secret weapon and he's going to at least make progress!!!!

Ajax takes his sticks, carefully squeezes them around the piece of salmon. But she told him to break off a piece.

Break off a piece...

He tries to squeeze a little harder, trying to do what he's been instructed to do until the chopsticks slip in his fingers and the top one flies right out of his hand onto the floor. It hits the floor with a quiet clatter, and Ajax looks down at it, defeated. He got beat by a stick.]

Aw, man...

[ He looks so sure of himself that for a split second, Yoimiya thinks he might actually pull it off. Maybe Ajax is just so fast of a learner that all it took was him watching her once? There's still a seed of doubt within her as she watches him with bated breath. Tis a silly competition but also a much-needed break from otherworldly monsters and a mark potentially in control of their emotions. It's nice to bury her worries and watch him act like a goofball. Anything to help take her mind off their shared stress and her increasing appetite for sex. As embarrassing as it is, she's still admiring every inch of his incredible body, how nice it would be if he took her over the table, or even ways to tempt him back to her bedroom so they can go at it all morning long...

Thankfully, the sounds of his chopstick hitting the floor snaps her out of her reverie. She looks down at the chopstick, then back to him, then at the chopstick, then right back at him. Yeah, that's definitely the face of a man who got bested by a stick. Ajax has finally met his match. ]

You still have a ways to go.

[ She says with a smug smirk, like the little brat she is. Ajax isn't the only braggart, Yoimiya feels the need to flex her chopstick skills by easily snapping off a piece of salmon, dipping it into the little bowl of soy sauce, and placing it in her mouth to happily nom on.

And just for good measure, she breaks a piece of salmon, lifting it towards his lips with her chopsticks. (｡•̀ᴗ-)✧ ]

[The silence, for those few seconds, is deafening. Yoimiya only looks back and forth between himself and the chopstick that now lies on the floor, not saying anything at first. He hasn't known her long, but he's got a feeling she's going to say something, and lo and behold, there it is. He huffs and folds his arms over his bare chest as he watches her perform the task flawlessly with her own breakfast and eats it.]

Rubbing it in, huh?

[The little piece of fish gets put in front of his mouth, and he leans just slightly forward to take it from her chopsticks with his lips to chew on it with indignation. If one could swallow food in a brat-like manner, that's how he does it- chews on it with a little more aggressively than normal, swallows it with a level of agitated bravado, if one could call it that.]

Just you wait. You may have the upper hand for now, but give me some time, and I'll be just as good at that as you are.

[And that's a promise!]

[ Oh my gosh...

She truly was trying her best to stifle her laughter but that task proves to be impossible as she watches him huff and puff and fold his arms over his chest like a petulant child who didn't get his way. The cherry on top of this hilarious sundae is when he chews on the salmon with ire. That's absolutely the brattiest way she's seen anyone eat their food and she's been around children. Yoimiya can no longer contain herself, busting out into a fit of giggles as she gets out of her chair to pick up the fallen chopstick. ]

Sure~ I'd like to see you try. At this rate, it's going to take you a hundred years before you're able to match my skills.

[ With Ajax's chopsticks in hand, she returns to the kitchen to rinse them off before he attempts round... ( 🤔🤔🤔 ) she's pretty sure he's at like round four by now. Upon returning, she's still giggling, handing him the chopsticks along with two other utensils.

A fork and a spoon. ]

Here you go. You might want to use those so you can actually finish your breakfast.

[ Now she's truly rubbing it in. ]

Edited 2024-07-20 01:03 (UTC)

[A hundred years?! CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.

His face is all turned up now, taking the chopsticks and the fork and spoon. However, he sets the fork and spoon to the side, taking the chopsticks instead and fitting them to his hand the way that Yoimiya showed him.]

Adding insult to injury? I'll remember this.

[He points the sticks right at her, before turning his attention back to the food. He's going to try to practice and pick it up, achieving some mild success but is otherwise met with failure. He is really trying, but eventually he has to give up and move to the fork and spoon simply because his breakfast is getting cold...

One victory for Yoimiya >:|]

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

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