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

[monoceroscaeli]

[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...]

Comments

[niwabi]

[ Ajax is a perfect 10— no a perfect 100 in every sense. Once that bothersome shirt is off, Yoimiya's wandering eyes take time to admire every inch of his flawless nude body. She swears Ajax's body is a gift from the heavens... she loves watching the muscles on his biceps twitch as he kneels down, she's practically salivating at his well-defined abs jutting out while he hovers above her. Even if she was in her normal state of mind, she'd still find this man to be way too sexy for his own good, amazed that he hasn't been snatched up by anyone yet and gods what incredible stroke of luck that he's avaliable and all hers. What a blessing to have him as her magnificent king.

And just when he can't get any more perfect, Ajax manages to prove her wrong, time and time again. His strong hands gliding across her legs and thighs feel like fire to her skin, she gasps but it's not long until those sounds melt into sultry mewls as his warm, wet tongue circles around her nipple until he takes the bud between his lips. Gods he wasn't kidding about returning that favor, he returned it tenfold. Now that they are no longer in danger of being caught, Yoimiya moans loudly and freely, bringing a hand to the top of his head, threading her fingers in that mess of ginger hair to push his face further into her chest, allowing him to enjoy her breasts to his liking. As her nipples grow harder under his ministrations, she groans words of confirmation, drowning in how sexy his voice sounds as he says the most filthy, obscene things anyone has ever said to her. This is exactly what she wants, to be his personal depository that he can fill up over and over again.

Your body belongs to me now, Yes, that's right. Her body is his. Her body belongs to her king, Ajax Volkov. This is why she was brought into this world, to please him, and give him all the children he's ever wanted. And Yoimiya couldn't be anymore happier with this arrangement. ]

Oh, yes. Yes, my wonderful king. Please use me as your personal depository. I swear, I will treasure the seed that you plant within me and use it to make a child we'll both be proud of.

[ Like an unrestrained animal in heat, Yoimiya waits with eager, bated breath as he places the palm of his hand on top of her womb. Soon, it will be filled with his thick essence that will be the key to forming a spark of life inside of her belly. She can't wait and it's not long until those needs are fulfilled by her silky folds getting stretched around that incredible cock she's already hopelessly addicted to. He fills her up all the way to the hilt and there's not a single ounce of shame within her as she cries a symphony of his name, happy and satisfied that both of their needs have finally been fulfilled. It was a short walk from the previous location they were having sex at but it was still an agonizing wait. Her pussy responds fluidly to every rock of his hips, squeezing down on his girth as a show of her unyielding devotion, to let him know that she's the only woman who will provide him with euphoric bliss. She buries her face into his shoulder, locking her legs around his waist to open her womb for him just as he commands. ]

Oh, gods. Ajax, yes! Yes, my king just like that...! It's so good... ngh too good! Your cock is the best...! Ajax, Ajax, Ajax... ooh, Ajax. My life is yours, I swear I will follow you to the ends of the world as your faithful and loving queen. Ah, ah, ah, AH, AJAX—!

[ Little does the couple know that the sounds of their sinful lovemaking stir something beneath the water. A pool of bubbles floats on top of the water, popping, and waiting for the perfect chance to strike. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Those filthy words she utters will always serve to drive him forward and want to make an absolute mess of her, moaning with delight with her hands in his hair, rocking his hips in and out with a vigor that sends waves upon waves of pleasure crashing through his body and purging his mind of all thoughts save for the lovely feel of Yoimiya and her perfect, divine body. When he opens his eyes, all he sees is her radiant glow, perfectly shaped breasts bouncing up and down with the rhythm of their love, the curve of her hips and the legs wrapped around his middle tantalizing and beckoning him to sink deep inside to spread his seed and plant their legacy within her. Yoimiya's devotion to him is like a drug, intoxicating him and making every move, every cry more and more depraved as he pumps himself in and out of her.]

Yoimiya!!! Yes, YES, my filthy, wonderful-!

[He's cut off at the feel of something wrapping around his ankle, pulling him backward and completely out of Yoimiya, and dragging him away and underwater. One moment he's there, the next, he's gone.

The sensation of it is unlike anything he's ever felt- one second, he's drowning under Yoimiya's cries, the next he's drowning because water has entered his lungs from the surprise and he's in the lake itself. Shock fills him at first, not understanding how he went from fucking Yoimiya to suffocating underwater. Ajax thrashes about, trying to get it to let go as he sinks down deeper, arms trying to swim upwards and one leg trying to hit the grip of the monster trying to kill him. But it's no use, he can't really do any damage to it like this, so he goes for his next option- bending over and biting the thing as hard as he can. Logic comes back to him in enough time to sink his teeth right into its appendage- and some kind of awful roar echoes out from it as it lets go, allowing Ajax to swim upward.

He'll be thankful for being a good swimmer, and a fast one at that- enough to finally pop up from underneath the surface of the lake and launch himself onto the shore. He gasps for air, clamoring away from the water, as the monster shoots up from the lake itself to float in midair- a multi-veined monster with armor covering its shoulders and head like a veil, staring down at them with fury.]

Yoimiya! RUN!

[Everything is telling him it's a good idea to retreat here, with no clothes and caught completely off guard. But the monster has other plans for them, as if it understood what Ajax said- and quickly flies in front of both of them to block the entrance. Swimming to the other side will take too much time, and leave them vulnerable, and it knows that it's effectively blocked their only exit.]

[niwabi]

[ To the gods above, Yoimiya prays that this sinful moment between them never ends, she hopes that they'll be given many opportunities to indulge in each other's bodies for eternity. This is right where she wants to be, underneath him as he drives that incredible cock into her over and over again. Every thrust of his hips plunges her mind into the pits of depravity, erasing her thoughts of everything and everyone except for Ajax. Their cries reverberate across the cave's walls in a lascivious symphony, his moans, and chants like music to her ears that she wishes to drown in. Thrills of lighting surge across her body as he sinks all the way to the hilt, she can feel her next orgasm approaching, her body responds by squeezing down on him even tighter, beckoning him to spill everything he has so they can create a beautiful child with their essence.

Amid their pleasure, Yoimiya doesn't realize they're being watched by a horrifying creature lurking beneath the water's surface. It's not until she feels him pulling out of her completely that the severity of the situation dawns on her, her legs are no longer wrapped around his waist, and there's nothing but empty space above her. Confused and missing his cock, she flutters her lashes open to see what's going on, only to find her love missing. In the blink of an eye, Ajax was on top of her body, fucking her and then the next, he was gone.

The last thing she recalls hearing was a violent splash. Groaning, she slowly sits back up to peer at the water's edge, she sees sharp ripples spreading out in a circle with bubbles floating up to the top. That's definitely not normal, something has to be down there. Upon closer inspection, Yoimiya soon becomes horrified by her next discovery.

It's Ajax... dragged underwater clearly fighting something attempting to drown him. What was supposed to be a mindblowing sex session to get her pregnant has now turned into yet another moment of terror for them. ]

AJAX?!

[ Yoimiya screams his name in terror, preparing to dive into the water to save him but thankfully, Ajax proves to be both a fast swimmer and a quick thinker. She covers her ears at the terrible roar spilling out from the lake, she doesn't know what happened but he must have done something to show that monster what for. She's overjoyed to see him and wastes no time grabbing his arm to help him up. But unfortunately, that moment of joy gets cut short by the creature emerging from the lake, its appearance is.

All of her fear from that night at the police station comes back tenfold. It's not the same monster but its appearance is just as horrifying as the aberration that took over the cop's body. Hard to believe that there are even more otherworldly beings roaming about but neither one of them has time to think, what they need to do is run. They're caught between a rock and a hard place, naked and without anything to defend themselves. With not many options, Yoimiya reaches for her backpack near her foot, chucking it directly at the creature's head. ]

Get AWAY from us!

[ The one thing the feisty blonde has going for her is her aim, managing to score a direct hit. Her strike didn't do hardly any damage but it was enough to momentarily knock some of the wind out of it... but ultimately making it more angry. It makes another terrible screech, swooping down to grab Yoimiya and make her pay. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[With her help, Ajax is on his feet and terrified out of his mind, but at the same time he feels something within him coil and set, ready to take on this unwelcome guest that just tried to drag him underwater to his death. It's fast too, as it blocks their way out, looming over them menacingly. This can't be happening again, not so soon. He was sure that they'd gone somewhere that wouldn't be easily found, and he's not even sure if it was already here or if they were followed. But these are thoughts he can't spend any more time on, now that they're faced with what might be certain death if they don't figure out how to deal with this monster. With Yoimiya's powers being as weak as they were and the fact that he can't use his at all makes the situation even worse.

Plus, he's not ready to face that thing within him. It looms over his own soul, skittering in his veins and begging for release. There's no good way out of this, and he's frantically trying to think of a way to fight it when Yoimiya does the most unexpected, yet expected thing she can do.

Picks her backpack up, and unceremoniously throws it right at their opponent while screaming at it.

Ajax instinctively grabs her immediately, just in the nick of time to pull her out of the aim of the monster, rushing past them both in a blur that sends a jolt of fear through his system. It's so fast. The thing turns and repositions itself for another run, screeching as it comes at them both. Ajax is left again, to do nothing other than dodge, launching them both backward and landing squarely on his back.]

Ngh-!!!

[Her weight on him and hitting the ground naked don't do him any favors, groaning from the effort and the impact. But he knows he can't keep this up forever, gritting his teeth and letting go of Yoimiya for the moment.]

Yoimiya! You have to try to summon that bow again-!

[niwabi]

[ Thank the heavens above for Ajax. Yoimiya sees the creature coming for her but it's too late for her to move out of the way. Only within a hair's breadth of the monster's grip, she can feel the color draining from her face just before Ajax suddenly pulls her to the side. That thing is so fast it's unfair, all she can see is a blur surging past them. If it got ahold of her... gods, she does not wish to think about what might have happened.

Of course, it keeps coming back for them. Yoimiya lands on top of his naked body with a thud, moaning and rubbing her head from having the wind knocked out of her. But he's right, if they want a fighting chance at survival, she sorely needs to conjure up that mysterious purple bow she used against that terrible monster at the police station. They can't rely on the unstable state of Ajax's powers, not when she remembers that look of fear in his eyes back at her apartment, if there truly is a dark presence lurking inside of him, she's not about to force him to face it. Running purely on adrenaline, she quickly gets up, putting some distance between her and Ajax to throw this thing off its game. ]

I'll try! Please, please, please work. Come on... I need you. Eeek—!

[ Sensing that the blonde is trying to fight, the monster goes after her first, letting out a horrible screech as it extends its appendage to grab and drown her in the lake. By the skin of her teeth, she just barely manages to dodge, hitting the ground with her naked body. She's definitely going to feel that in the morning but there's no time to ponder on her horrible decisions, they need to fight. Yoimiya focuses all her efforts on harnessing the powers that lay deep inside of her. The mark on her chest glows in a soft blue but try as she might, the bow never manifests in her hands. ]

A-Ajax... I don't know what's wrong. I swear, I'm trying so hard to summon that bow but it's just not working.

[monoceroscaeli]

[As soon as Yoimiya is off of him, he quickly picks himself up off the ground and uses this small moment of respite to try to recover as much as he can. This situation keeps going from bad to worse, now too far away from Yoimiya to be able to keep her from getting snatched up by this monster. He's thankful she's able to avoid it on her own, and he can see her trying with all her might to try to summon that bow. He'd hoped that maybe in this moment of need, it would manifest for her, but it doesn't seem like whatever criteria was met in the police station is being met now.

Bad. This is very, very bad.

And almost as if it could sense it, a gleeful screech resonates out from the monster, diving once again for Yoimiya. Ajax's eyes widen, knowing that there was no avoiding this one, and he does the only thing he can do- throws himself directly in the path of the swooping abomination to grab a hold of it, launching both of their bodies directly into the dirt of the shoreline in the cave and begins to wrestle with it.

A dark, ominous aura seems to exude from the monster, and he can feel how it tries to reach out and corrupt anything it can sink into, but he also feels how strange and gelatinous its body actually is. As the two tussle on the ground, the monster roaring with anger now that it's been grounded, he realizes that it has no ability to really fight if it's not in the air or in the water. It renews his vigor, using all of his strength to keep it pinned on the ground, hoping it would bide Yoimiya some time.]

Keep trying-!

[He yells from the ground, muscles burning from the pure effort of trying to keep it from breaking free. A low grumble, a rumbling that comes out of the monster catches him off-guard, and Ajax sees part of his body sinking into that gelatinous mold, his chest going inside of its body.

Then, his hand begins to as well, and he loses any grip he had on its arm. Ajax gasps, realizing all too late that there was no way he'd be able to keep it on the ground- he's going to become a part of it soon if something isn't done.]

[niwabi]

[ Fear, panic, terror, no matter how high her emotions run, nothing seems to be working. She keeps trying, over and over again, only to be met with nothing in her hands. What's going on...? This is the worst time for her newfound powers to suddenly stop working. This is the same level of fear she felt back at the police station, so why isn't it working? Each and every attempt yields her nothing, causing her heart to sink into the pits of her stomach.

Just when this situation couldn't get any worse, it does. The monster lunges at her once more but she's been so focused on summoning the bow that it's too late for her to move. The color from Yoimiya's face drains as she helplessly locks stares with the abomination that's about to kill her. But just when she thought all hope was lost, Ajax continues to prove that he truly is her knight in shining armor. Her eyes grow wide with shock as she watches him throw himself in between them to protect her. Before she even realizes what's going on, he's already on the ground wrestling with the monster, giving her the encouragement to keep trying to summon the bow.

His words light a fire in her heart, she can't throw in the towel when both of their lives are at stake. Her king is counting on her and as his queen, she needs to step up. But like always, the situation goes from bad to worse, horrified to see Ajax engulfed by the creature's semiliquid body. More of him sinks into that disgusting monster, to where his arm is no longer visible. It's then, something within her snaps like a raging tide. She can't bear to lose the man she's sworn to start a family with. Life without him would be dull, meaningless, and not worth living for. ]

No! Stop! Let go of him! Don't you dare lay a finger on him...! Ajax?! Ajax! AJAX—!

[ As Yoimiya screams her heart out, the mark on her chest lights up in a blue hue as vibrant as Fontaine's waters. A small, dazzling fireball with an array of colors emerges from her voice to burn the creature. The monster lets out a horrifying, bloodcurdling screech as the flames burn its back, leaving a scorching mark shaped like a goldfish. As soon as the flame dies, the monster looks over at the pest who dared to challenge it, only to be met with the sight of Yoimiya aiming her bow right at it. ]

If you touch even a strand of my king's hair. I will make you pay.

[ She doesn't give the monster a second to react, quickly releasing a pyro-infused arrow directly at the burn mark. Once again, the abomination is met with an onslaught of explosive fire ripping it apart but the flames won't hurt Ajax. By the powers invested in her as his matriarch, she hereby declares that her powers will never harm him, it's her royal ordinance. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[The last thing he expected from this encounter was the fear of being absorbed into the very thing that attacked them- maybe that was its plan the whole time when it had grabbed him and dragged him underwater. Separate the two of them, absorb one and then go for the other.

He stares in horror as more of his body sinks further in, losing sight of his legs and now in danger of having his head go in, when he hears the frenzied scream of Yoimiya behind him. Suddenly, he sees fire explode behind the monster, burning it and causing it to screech in pain. It doesn't loosen him out of the monster any more, but the thrashing about its doing isn't making it worse, like it was trying to pull away. Heat rushes past him from the fire, warming him from the cold water still dripping from his body, and he smiles- Yoimiya's been able to tap into her power, and now this thing's gunna get it.

He says nothing, save for the low, satisfied chuckle when the arrow slams into the monster's back and sets it ablaze. Fire sears and explodes all around it and Ajax, but he doesn't feel the pain from it- another neat little nuance. It doesn't appear like he can be hurt from her power...which will make them an even more dangerous duo.

The monster writhes as parts of it dissolve into nothingness, and Ajax starts to pull himself out of it where its body has been burned away, clearing the way for Yoimiya to take it out completely with her bow. He turns his head just so to catch a glimpse of her wielding it once again, and the sight of it takes his breath away. Dangerous, beautiful, staring down the danger here with no hesitation while she declares her intent. Calling him king. Yoimiya, a fun, energetic girl from Inazuma is really showing that she's a warrior above all things, and it warms his heart and sets his soul ablaze for her.

She's an excellent queen, and he couldn't be more proud.

Finally freeing himself, he rolls out of the way for her to do her worst to it without having to worry about anything harming him, leaving the wounded abomination to Yoimiya's mercy- or lack thereof.]

[niwabi]

[ Even in the midst of decreeing her royal order, she's relieved to see Ajax free himself from that monster's clutches. Just thinking about that vile, nasty thing consuming her king fuels the fire in her vengeance-seeking heart. Such a lowly creature doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as her patriarch. Like the fire igniting off her arrows, Yoimiya is burning with determination to make it pay for its transgressions against Ajax. She stays true to her word, not holding back as she fires a continuous barrage of arrows that explode like a firework on the monster's body upon impact. It's clear that the power of their bond has amplified her strength, these arrows pack a lot more punch than the one back at the police station.

All the monster can do is twist and turn on the ground, contorting its liquid body in ways no human can ever do. As explosive as her raging fire is, it's still not enough to completely burn the hideous monster to a crisp. Her arrows have left burn marks and holes in its gelatinous body but due to living underwater for so long, it still has some level of resistance keeping it from dying. Yoimiya's fire attack is still missing something to fully send it to hell. Since the woman seems to be the more dangerous of the duo, the abomination forgoes Ajax to set its sights on her. If it can absorb her its body can be put back together. Using the last of its strength, the creature lets out a spine-chilling shriek and lunges forth at Yoimiya with what remains of its burned arms.

Yoimiya sees it coming for her but even in the face of certain doom, she isn't scared. In fact, this is right where she wants the creature. As it charges at her like a wild beast, she focuses on making this shot so explosive that it will disintegrate into nothing. She takes a deep breath, unperturbed by the monster's cries as she concentrates on putting all her firepower into this final shot. There's no reason for her to be scared because she has Ajax.

And she knows he's not about to let even a lowly insect harm his queen. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Just as he expected, Yoimiya's wrath begins to rain down onto the beast, tearing into it and burning away more and more parts of its body. The fire from the explosions leave a shine in Ajax's eyes, watching on for a moment with glee to see her mete out punishment to this abomination that tried to take their lives. He doesn't know what she did or how she managed to tap into that fire-infused bow she wields, but he's all the more happier for it. The pride he feels for her is elevated, regal in nature even, as his lovely q̵͎̘͔̽͊͘u̸̪̦̓̕͜͠e̴͔̞̠͛͊͆ë̵̙̪́͌̓n̴̢̞̙͐͋̀ continues her barrage.

But he can see it's not enough. Due to the nature of the beast, it has a way to mitigate the full power of her attacks. Giving up on him, it returns its full attention towards Yoimiya, and he can see it intends to capture her and absorb her instead, believing her to be the biggest threat in the room.

It's a little insulting to him.

That dark, insatiable hunger rises from within him, brushing against his mind and filling him with a vile corruption that makes his body begin to take on a sickly, abyssal aura. It whispers to him, offers its services, and pumps power into his veins. She may be an all-powerful queen, but he is the k̵̦͇̙̀̓͝i̴̠̙̺͊͘ń̸̫͇̘̓̀g̵͙͙͋̽͘ and no one should ever forget that. Ajax feels that creature inside of him start to crawl to the surface, eyes flicking up at the monster that throws itself at her, watching her notch that final arrow as the two clash. He wasn't ready to confront this thing, wanting to keep it pushed down until he had time to mull it over and think of the consequences versus the benefits of harnessing it.

But Yoimiya needs him, and she needs him now.

One moment Ajax is standing there, the next minute he's flying through the air at a speed he didn't even think was possible, his arm reaching and plunging through the monstrosity through to the other side. He catches it in midair flying right at Yoimiya, getting too close for comfort- and the armored, clawed hand he'd displayed in the police station now grips into his monster, keeping it from touching Yoimiya. A corrupted, poisonous fog seeps out from the hole his arm has created, hissing out from the sides of his armored arm, the smell cloying and intoxicating for anyone to breathe in. It envelops the monster, just as Yoimiya's shot will go off.

He knows he can't be harmed by her attack, so he stands there to let her shoot that final arrow right into its chest; no one messes with the king and queen.]

[niwabi]

[ Like a crack of lighting, Ajax is there and then he's gone the next. From behind her bow, she's just barely able to make out a blur rushing at high speed right at the monster. Ajax was just on the ground not even a minute ago and now, he's donned that same armored arm he wore back at the police station, using it to stop that foul beast in its tracks before it can even reach her. She knew it, she just knew her majestic king would come in to assist her. And boy does he know how to pull off an incredible assist. Her chest wells up with pride as the abomination screeches in pain from his ironclad grip, happy to see him exacting a good ol' dose of vengeance against that fiend that tried to absorb him.

As if this miserable cretin's day can't get any worse, Yoimiya sees a dark cloud of toxic gas engulfing the creature. Just a quick glance is enough to tell her not to go near that fog, she's not sure what's happening behind the smoke but she's sure the monster is suffering in its final moments. She's so proud of him, he's already amplified his powers in such a short amount of time. She couldn't have asked for a better king to follow and now, she's even more convinced there's not a single soul who can light a fire in her heart the way he can.

Since her lovely king has created the perfect distraction, she's not about to let him down. She sucks in a sharp breath and without further delay, releases the arrow infused with the fires of her vengeance. Bullseye! Even through the thick fog, the arrow finds its intended target, hitting it square in what remains of its chest. As soon as the arrow is lodged into its sternum, the combination of Ajax's dark fog and her fire causes it to viciously explode. Unlike her usual bright orange flames, the monster is consumed in a pitch-black fire that burns it from the inside, growing inside its chest until its jelly-like skin starts to melt off from its face and eventually, the whole body. There's not much the monster can do, all it's able to do is screech in utter agony as it slowly burns away in what has to be one of the most gruesome ways to die. Even its voice fades as its life is consumed by the fire.

But as far as Yoimiya's concerned, this is what that pitiful creature deserves for interrupting them during their precious babymaking session. ]

Heh, that's what you get for messing with us.

[monoceroscaeli]

[The arrow slams right into the chest of the creature he's holding on his arm, an explosion lights up the cave, but what's left is a black fire that consumes and incinerates their target from the inside out. He doesn't feel a thing however, gleefully watching it burn and writhe around his arm as it screams and screeches in agony. Once it seems like there's no hope for it, Ajax jerks his arm in a throwing motion to launch it off of him so it can burn to death on the ground, the black fire raging around it until even the hideous screeches can no longer be heard. He looks down at it, arrogance and disgust written on his features, and a sick satisfaction of having killed their opponent fills his system. The monster inside of him chitters with glee, and Ajax stands there with his left arm still bearing the armor he'd donned in the police station.

He doesn't say a word, eyes closed as his hand closes and grips into a fist, the claws almost too long to allow him to do so. Yoimiya may not be able to see it, but there's a battle occurring right inside of his head, fighting with the abomination that coaxes and urges him to let himself go. Become the king he was meant to be, and let it unveil itself from the depths of his soul.

Let go, accept who you really are...]

Ngghghhh...

[The abyssal aura around him doesn't fade, and his shoulders rise and fall heavily with each breath. The fight he's engaged in becomes more and more evident, but as time passes, the aura begins to dissipate. Eventually, the armor fades from his arm as well, and Ajax breathes out a heavy sigh, his body sweating profusely as he slowly turns back towards Yoimiya, knowing she was probably worried about him.]

Hey...sorry if I scared you just now, but I'm fine, now. Are you alright?

[First things first- make sure she's okay before they do anything else, or talk about anything else.]

[niwabi]

[ That abomination can stay dead as far as she's concerned, her top priority is checking on Ajax. Having fulfilled its duty, the bow dissipates into the air as Yoimiya runs past the monster's smoldering corpse to shower her partner-in-crime with praise. Their teamwork was incredible and he deserves to know that! She's also got questions, what exactly was that dark fog he summoned? If those explosive arrows are newly obtained powers on her end, makes sense that he acquired a new skill too. But more importantly, she needs to see how he's doing. As proud as she is, it's still worrying that he had to tap into that mysterious power that frightened him to his core.

As she's getting ready to greet him, Yoimiya stops dead in her tracks when she sees that dark abyssal aura still swirling around him. And to make matters more concerning, she can tell he's heavily breathing. It's evident that he's going through something. Overcome with worry, she slowly approaches him, reaching out her hand to touch him and just as her fingers ghost his arms, Ajax seems to pull himself out of that strange trance. ]

There's no need for you to apologize, silly. I'm just happy to see you're fine.

[ With a reassuring smile, she tenderly places her hand on top of his biceps. ]

Aside from a few cuts from throwing myself to the ground. [ Naked at that. ] I'm fine! What about you? You're sweating an awful lot.

[ Just one touch is enough to tell her that he's been sweating buckets. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Even that tiny touch to his arm is appreciated. It's human, warm, and welcoming, grounding him back in reality after the temptation of what crawls inside of his soul tried to get him to release it. He has no idea how that battle manifested outwardly, but by the way she's reacting, it must of been a sight but not something she thought he couldn't conquer. It warms him to know that she has enough faith in him not to freak out right now. Anyone else would be.

His hand comes up to place itself on top of hers, grateful for the support and happy to see that she's alright. Ajax's expression softens, doing his best to seem as okay as he possibly can, but the truth was far from that fact.]

Yes, well...

[Now he looks down at the ground, thinking on how to explain it. The last thing he wants to do is worry her needlessly, but he does need to be honest with her at the same time. After all, everything they're going through is still a big mystery, and anything that could tell them what's happening to them is information they need.]

...let's say this experience has really given me food for thought.

[Anxiety gnaws at him beneath the surface. Food for thought was a way to put it, but what had just happened, the feeling of that slinking evil flowing right in his own bloodstream puts him on edge. It had a grip on him, whispering promises and words of affirmation of something more, and when he dares to think about it his body trembles involuntarily.]

That, and while I was underwater, I saw something down there. Maybe that treasure isn't such a myth after all.

[niwabi]

[ Food for thought certainly is one way of putting it. Yoimiya stays quiet as she soaks in the warmth of his hand on top of hers. His touch still has that comforting sense to it, that hasn't changed. They might have bested that monster but she can't shake the feeling that he was going through an even more painstaking battle than what they just went through... a battle inside his mind. Fear and concern well up inside her as she thinks back on that toxic fog he used and that abyssal aura surrounding him. To call both those instances ominous would be an understatement, it worries her to think about Ajax harnessing evil powers that could potentially harm him.

Even with these conflicting emotions that she doesn't even know if she's in control of, there's no denying that she'd be a complete wreck if misfortune befalls him. Ajax does not deserve a horrific fate.

Looking up at him, she's greeted with a soft smile trying to convey that he's okay but that's clearly not the case, not when she feels his body trembling beneath her fingertips. Whatever happened must have seriously spooked him, her heart sinks at the thought of him in distress and suffering all on his own. ]

Oh, really? Well, if you're interested, why don't we go look? Maybe that monster was actually guarding an important relic.

[ But there's something else far more important to her than treasure; Ajax's peace of mind. She spreads her fingers, interlocking them together as her thumb gently brushes the side of his hand. It's not much but she hopes that tender warmth gives him at least some semblance of comfort, Yoimiya won't force him to talk about what's going on if he's not ready, but she wants to convey her thoughts and feelings through this touch... that she will always be here for him. ]

... Talk to me about what's on your mind whenever you're ready, okay? After all, we're partners in crime in this hot mess.

[monoceroscaeli]

[Ajax's eyes shoot down to look at her fingers interlocking with his, letting his own slowly meet hers and pressing his palm into her own. He doesn't answer her right away, taking the opportunity to take comfort in her presence, knowing that he doesn't have to deal with this alone. Steadying his breathing, Ajax manages to get himself to stop trembling and calm himself. There's nothing he can do at the moment about what lies inside of him, but what he can do is distract himself and rely on Yoimiya to help him deal with his new reality.

Nodding at her, he appreciates the offer. After having some time to think about it, he'll talk to her about it later. It's too raw and too terrifying to go into details now.]

It wasn't too far down. I think I can swim down easily enough and grab it.

[Squeezing her hand once, he lets go to direct his attention back at the pool. It's not as deep as it looks, and without hesitation Ajax dives headfirst in, disappearing beneath the surface. Despite living in Snezhnaya, he's found that he's good at swimming, and Yoimiya doesn't need to wait long before the ginger reappears from the small lake with a small, dark box. Swimming back to shore, he steps up out of the water with it, turning it over in his hands after wiping water from his eyes.

The box itself has a shimmer to it, and he's not sure what it's made out of. What's most notable is that in his hands, an inscription in symbols he doesn't recognize glows where he assumes might be the lid. He brings it to Yoimiya, showing her.]

It wasn't glowing when I went down. What do you think?

[He hands it to her so she can take a look for herself, but the moment she takes it, the glowing stops...]

[niwabi]

[ As Ajax descends into the water, Yoimiya waits with bated breath for his return. After that horrifying encounter with the monster, she can't help but be worried at the possibility of another one lurking in the watery depths. Thankfully, it's fairly shallow, giving her ample view of Ajax diving deeper. No monsters in sight! And for someone who has lived his whole life in the frosty lands of Snezhnaya with no beaches, the man is an excellent swimmer. Just as quickly as he dove in, Ajax swims back up to the surface safe and sound. With a sigh of relief, she walks over to give him a towel she brought from home.

It might be a small box but it's still an incredible find! Yoimiya's eyes shimmer with curious intrigue as she leans down to study the tiny chest. The first thing that immediately catches her attention are those mysterious glowing symbols, the inscription doesn't look like any known language in Teyvat. ]

Wow... I can't believe we actually stumbled across treasure. This is so exciting! Makes me wonder if the monster attacked us because it was guarding something important.

[ Once she takes the box, the glowing immediately ceases. Puzzled, Yoimiya inspects the box from all angles but it never shines the way it did in Ajax's hands. ]

Huh, it stopped. Hmm... Ajax, do you mind holding it again?

[ Yoimiya isn't sure if her theory is correct but it doesn't hurt to try. She hands it back to him, interested to know if her hypothesis is right on the mora. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[Trading the box for the towel, he begins to dry himself off, the chill of the air hitting him now that the adrenaline is starting to wear off. It's hard not to notice how the box no longer reacts now that it's in Yoimiya's hands, and he already has a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach about it. His thoughts immediately go in the same direction as hers- that the box is specifically reacting to his touch, and he can already guess why.

Ajax quickly dries off his hair, handing her back the towel and taking the box from her. The inscription glows once again, and his face scrunches up at it. He doesn't know why, but he doesn't like the implications of this- nor how the box resonates within him, somewhere.]

Perhaps it was guarding this. Guarding it specifically from me.

[That's his best guess, anyway. It would explain why it attacked him first and tried to drag him under and what he assumes was its goal to absorb him into its body.]

But I don't really see anywhere to open it. [He turns it over in his hands again, and again and again. It's like a solid cube that won't open...]

I don't get it. Perhaps this is a treasure that doesn't open. But a cube with only an illuminated message of sorts doesn't really do either of us any good. Argh...

[He sighs with frustration, looking at Yoimiya before looking back at the cube in his hands. He doesn't look like he has any idea what to do with it.]

[niwabi]

[ Just like she predicted, the glow comes back in full force once back in Ajax's hands. The matter of why the monster suddenly attacked them seems to be settled, it had to have been guarding this box specifically from him. But when one mystery is solved, ten more seem to crop out of the ground. That's how their life has been from the moment they obtained these strange marks, one mystery right after the other.

And now there are at least two dilemmas they are facing. Why is the box resonating with Ajax specifically and what is inside of it? Yoimiya watches him turn the cube in all directions, puzzled that it practically looks like a solid cube with no way of opening it. ]

I'm stumped too. Really strange that there isn't even a lock on it. Surely there should be some way to open so we can see what's inside...

[ An idea does cross her mind, but it involves Ajax tapping into his powers. After watching the poor guy trembling, there was no way she was about to ask him something that could potentially bring his trauma back in full force. His comfort is more important than some silly cube. ]

Hmm... I wish I had an idea but I'm totally lost. The only thing I can think to do is take the box with us and try to figure out the language inscribed on it.

[monoceroscaeli]

[He stares at it for only a few more moments until he resigns to go with Yoimiya's idea. She's right, they really should just take it with and get it looked at, but by who? He has some connections, but they're not that extensive- only as far as his job and a few others. Frowning, he tosses it in the air and catches is a few times, before walking over to his bag and depositing it inside.]

Let's make that a priority when we get back. I'm not sure who to turn to, but there's always leads on the internet somewhere.

[With that out of the way for the moment, all that leaves is the fact that they're still naked, and they haven't done either of the things they came to this cave to do. Being pulled out of a wild sex session cleared his mind a little, and he remembers they came here to train, not have sex. He looks at Yoimiya and sighs, his eyebrows relaxing as he shoots her a reassuring smile. He's okay right now.]

Guess we lost control again. Though, I'm not feeling particularly in the mood for sex anymore after what just happened, so I suppose everything comes with a silver lining. We might of been here for an awfully long time otherwise...

[Ajax laughs again, trying to see the bright side in it rather than linger on the terrifying experience they just had...though he'll have to address what he went through with her if they were to understand their situation more. He can't run from it forever.]

...but it's good to know we've found somewhere that we can train inside of that has good cover. And this cave can handle the pressure of our power.

[niwabi]

[ Nodding her head, Yoimiya makes a mental note to do some extensive research on the symbols inscribed on that cube when they return to the city. She's not sure who to turn to for advice, the first thing that comes to her mind is paying Fontaine's Library a visit. If she had to guess, the mysterious language probably has some connections to Fontaine if this object truly is the treasure from the legend but she can't say with absolute certainty.

One thing's for certain, they have a lot on their plate right now. Strange marks, controlling their powers, monsters coming after them, the terrors of the Nizhnii company, and now this bizarre box. There's no end to this bizarre roller coaster that she and Ajax have found themselves on. But as much as she wants answers, what they need to do is refocus their efforts on training.

... Especially since they got so horribly sidetracked with sex. 💦💦💦 Oops, they did get a little a lot carried away. Maybe the monster's rude interruption was a blessing in disguise, she has no doubt they'd still be fucking. ]

Hahaha, yeah! There's always a positive to everything. We can make this our training spot. It's secluded and can handle our powers, I believe we found the perfect spot.

[ Yoimiya laughs along with him, trying not to think back on all the filth she spewed out of her lips. It really is like she becomes a whole different person when she's having sex with Ajax. But there is always a blue sky in every situation. Thanks to them being so horny, they were able to locate a wonderful place to train. ]

And we completely trounced that monster with our powers! It's a pretty nice confidence boost to know we can take on a monster with that kind of strength. [ As excited as she is, something has been on her mind ever since they defeated that creature. ] But... it's kinda weird. We haven't done any training and the two of us have already improved. The most shocking of it all is that we even gained a few new tricks...?

[ She doesn't recall her arrows having that much of an explosion and she definitely does not remember Ajax conjuring up a fog. ]

[monoceroscaeli]

[He knew she'd pick up what he was laying down. He wasn't sure if he was ready to confront all the filthy and terrible things he says to her when they're in the heat of it, and on top of it he starts having those strange, haughty thoughts about being royalty when they do so. He's from humble beginnings, so he knows that's all on that mark on their chests...though it scares him to think that maybe something possesses both him and Yoimiya when they fall to their breeding urges.

So glad that for now, they'll put the whole sex thing behind them, and they can focus on the important part: their powers.]

Yeah, I was thinking along those same lines. First, you and I have sex at my apartment and a star lights up on our chests. Then, our attraction towards each other only gets more intense...and all we've done to this point is have sex. I've also been able to tap into that dark armor, though it seems there may be a price to it...

[Ain't no way...he cannot be seriously thinking this right now. He looks at Yoimiya, apologetic in all ways, and finally says:]

...you don't think that we've become stronger and more in touch with our power because of sex, do you?

[Haha he doesn't like thatttttt]

[niwabi]

[ Growing more powerful because of sex... the notion is so ridiculous and something you'd find straight out of a young adult novel. Yoimiya brings a hand to her forehead to try and wrap her mind around this bizarre situation. As much as neither one of them probably wants to admit the truth, there are too many coincidences that add up and make perfect sense. When Ajax lays it out, she seriously cannot deny the fact that they've grown considerably stronger since they started having sex.

This is so beyond insane and the worst part of all? She hates that it lines up perfectly. All this thinking is making her brain hurt. She sighs, looking up at Ajax with an apologetic expression of her own, she's sorry that this situation has gone from horrific to downright strange and still horrific. ]

... It's insane to think about but that thought also crossed my mind. No matter how hard I try to come up with another solution, that's the answer that makes the most sense at the moment.

[ There's also the matter of referring to each other as King and Queen. What was all that about? ]

I'm still trying to comprehend what's going on. It's... like we become completely different people when we start having sex. Do you think that's another reason we're losing control of our urges? Because we want to grow stronger?

[monoceroscaeli]

[He doesn't even want to believe his own conclusion. He doesn't think they need to settle on that answer right away, but it does seem awfully suspicious to him that all of a sudden, having more and more sex and falling to their strange, magically-induced desires coincide with a greater ease to access their power and with a bit more oomph to them. Ajax hates that he even said it out loud, but now that's what he's going to think about going forward and every time they do have sex- a fate he realizes they probably aren't going to be able to escape given how easily they lost control of themselves already- but he still doesn't know what it all means, in the end.

Why does this power want them to mate, why do they both feel this strange sensation of belonging to a higher station when they do so.]

I don't have any particular urges to grow stronger outside of my own, personal ambitions, which I had before we ever met. But I can't deny, it's like something comes over me when I begin to give in and entertain those urges and desires. I know there's something living inside of me, and I could explain my actions away to that. But what about you?

[Yoimiya hasn't had this issue, not like he has. And now he's wondering if maybe there's some kind of monster also living inside of her, too.]

Have you sensed a presence inside of you? Something that offers you power, or tries to influence your mind?

[niwabi]

[ There's a lengthy pause on her end as she processes his question. Now that she thinks about it, Ajax can write off his strange desires as a result of that strange presence lurking inside of him. But... what about her? The look on her face shifts from confusion to concern the more she ponders this line of thought. Sure, she could handwave her strange behavior as the mark's doing but is that truly the answer? ]

I...

[ Like something out of a horror movie, the realization hits her like a truck. If the monster inside of Ajax is at the helm of his emotions, then what exactly is going on with her? Why is she acting like this? What excuse does she have? ]

I don't believe so. It's... well... I don't really know how to explain this but I do recall hearing a voice speaking to me whenever we have sex.

[ It's then, another horrible revelation smacks her right in the face. Yoimiya doesn't say anything for a solid minute, needing a minute to come to terms with the severity of this situation. She takes a deep breath before finally, staring into his deep blue eyes. ]

But, it's not some monster or anything like that. It's... my own voice.