insurmountable | i wish that i could run // back into your arms

Current Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGO7wtkHIw

Entry tags:

i wish that i could run // back into your arms

[Ajax shoots a balled up, crumpled piece of paper into the basket next to him as he waits for the appointed time.

It's a bit below his station to do so, but on occasion, the CEO of Nizhnii Corp likes to surprise people and pop into interviews or other people's offices. He gets restless in his own office, not always enjoying having to deal with the board of directors or investors. There were many that say he doesn't really fit his position, that his demeanor wasn't good for being the CEO of a company. Diplomacy was never his strong suit, but despite that the company still managed to flourish. Happy employees always made for better work- and though Ajax himself was a ruthless businessman, he still treated all his subordinates like they were family.

And that's how Nizhnii ended up with such a good reputation, and how he finds it so easy to find good applicants.

Today was no exception, and Ajax plans on making a surprise appearance for this part-timer who's hoping to land a job here. Adjusting his cufflinks on his suit as he walks down the hallway, he makes his way towards the conference room where they generally conduct interviews- and he tells HR that he'd like a little time with the potential hire first. She's already gone through their first interview, and passed it with flying colors, so now he's interested to see who exactly it is who's gotten the interest of their hiring managers. He's timed it so she should be waiting in the conference room already, provided she wasn't late- but he's sure that he wouldn't have to worry about that.

The first thing he does is pop his head in, smiling warmly at the girl waiting patiently for someone to come in to start the interview, before coming in and walking up to her.]

Good morning! Sorry to keep you waiting. I had a small matter to attend to before I was able to come down. I'm Ajax Volkov, it's a pleasure.

[He offers a hand for her to shake, before he'll politely take a seat across from her at the table.]

HR will be with us shortly, but I thought I'd take some time to get to know you a little better before we start asking the stuffy, boring questions of the interview. I hope that's alright.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( Lumine silently chuckles, thinking she got away, especially when the footsteps stop chasing after her. Looking around for anyone who snuck into the team's base, heart pounding in thrill and exhilarating fun. Gold eyes scanning with quickness for any tint of blue, as well as for Ajax's location. Unsure if he went another way or not.

The moment she feels eyes on her she whips around with a smirk, gun raised and ready to shoot until she's halted in shock. Golden eyes widen, a gasp escaping her, taking a look around the 'arena' that was gone and now they were outside. She's been here before, whipping around in shock, taking it all in. And her eyes instantly land on the only other person there and she's flabbergasted. There was Ajax, dressed just like the guy she fought in the gold palace in her dream!!

Tartaglia?

It's what she wants to call him as she looks down and sees she's not in her own outfit, but the dress as well as the scarf he'd gifted her their first night. A sword in her hand instead of her laser gun. Unsure why she answers so calmly and clearly, as though this was normal when it isn't! )

You said you wanted a fight with a challenge!

( Lumine blinks and the next thing she knows it's dark and their back in the arena, looking down at her outfit to see she was in her own clothes again. Breath caught in her throat, surprise and shock filling her entire being. Just what was that? Lips part as though to say something, anything, but she's absolutely flabbergasted she can't even bring her arm up to shoot his vest. )

W-what...

[The temperature goes back to normal once the vision ends, no longer sweltering in the humidity of a rainforest but back to the air conditioned arena with glowing lights and man-made fog coming out of small hoses in the walls from time to time. He feels the weight of the vest on himself once more, and the laser gun in his hand, but all he can do is stare at Lumine in disbelief. He can't make heads or tails of what she shouted at him given the shock of it all, and now she looks as shocked as he feels.

Ajax looks down to the laser gun, suddenly remembering what they were doing and quickly shoots her with hit, as if the mere action would snap him out of this strange reverie he's found himself in to bring him back to reality. But it really doesn't work, because what he saw felt so real, and he finally has an answer to the girl he saw in his previous vision with a white dress on.]

Ah....

[He doesn't know what to say, and finds himself wondering now...will it happen again?]

Lumine...did you see what I just saw?

( Stare... That's all she can do, was stare at him, as though keeping her eyes on him would trigger whatever happened again. The vest felt heavy on her shoulders, her arms barely able to lift the laser gun as though it weighed a ton. Why? She saw him in that 'enemies' clothing... So, why does their deja vu at the wedding feel like they were long lost lovers or something?

The noise of getting shot, her red fading, as she rapidly blinks to try and pull herself together. Her heart pounding as she looked up at him with confusion, glad that he saw it too, though it isn't too reassuring. If it hadn't happened before, then she'd think they were crazy. )

We were in a forest! You were dressed like the water guy in my dream I told you about...

( She composes herself, shaking her head as she lets the biggest breath escape pink lips. Why couldn't these things be more direct and not so sporadic? )

But... the weather and temperature felt just like a rainforest...

[The look on her face tells him everything. She doesn't even care that he's shot her, so he drops the gun and lets it hang by the strap it's attached to on the vest, walking over to her so they can have a conversation without eavesdroppers hearing them shout over loud EDM music. Lumine looks just as shaken as he feels, and absolutely nothing makes sense.]

I felt like I was there too. Though it's clear we really never left the building here.

[So what was that? He wishes he knew...this shouldn't be happening, it shouldn't even be possible. That's a hell of a strong shared hallucination between the two of them. And who ever heard of a legitimate shared hallucination?]

Though, I find it interesting that you saw me dressed as your villain you've fought against in your dreams...don't tell me you really think of me that way.

[Said with a small wink and a smile, trying to at least lighten the mood just a little bit so they can start to think a little clearer.]

( With him moving closer, they can not strain their ears over the loud music. Huffs of confusion as she shook her head in an answer, looking up at him with confusion. )

When I said we might have more visions as we spend time together, I didn't think that was how it would happen.

( She'd have to see if Aether had anything like this happen to him. Because how on Earth was this possible? Though his mood lightener did let her chuckle in amusement that he feigned worry that she saw him as a villain. His composure over this happening helped calm her nerves down. )

It makes sense, I did not like or respected you when we first met, after all. But we're on friendlier terms now.

( And in payback, she shoots his vest back in return to his shot earlier that helped her get out of her surprise. )

[He couldn't of imagined this is how their visions would happen either. While he's glad for the insight they bring, this is definitely the weirdest time for them. He's about to give her some kind of cheeky response back for that comment though, when she shoots him in retaliation. He lets out a little gasp at being taken by surprise, looking down at his now powered down vest before looking back up at her with a smirk.]

Shooting me isn't indicative friendlier terms, I'll have you know.

[It was very cute though, in his eyes. Taking advantage of him when his guard was down was a good move, and it only makes his heart beat a little harder for her.]

But maybe if we play this game a bit more, we can get that vision to come back. I don't know how it triggered, but if we can get it again, maybe we can glean something new from it. Want to have a little bit of fun, but right here in the base? We aren't allowed to leave this little room, and can only use the small amount of walls and cover provided inside of it. What do you say?

I like to think otherwise, its friendlier terms only for us.

( The gasp was cute as well as him looking both at his vest and back to her with a pleasing smile on her face. Though she's initially confused to this new 'game' in a game he's making up. Standing straighter understanding the new 1v1, if just playing this game caused that huge of a vision, continuing to play against each other should work again. )

Okay, I agree, at least now we won't get taken by surprise again.

( She's mentally prepared for it, making sure she doesn't get shocked by the switch up. It was still jarring, but they have to figure out what these visions mean. Taking a few steps back and away from him, readying her gun in her arms. )

And hopefully we'll be able to maintain it longer because it's no surprise anymore.

[Who would've thought this cute date of theirs would lead to something more? He's not complaining, in fact his curiosity is at its peak wondering if they could conjure the vision again so they can make more sense of everything. He readies his own gun, grinning at her as he walks away to find a portion of this room that has a small little cover wall that he can crouch behind.]

Get ready. Let's take this seriously, and see if it helps to bring that vision back.

[He disappears as he crouches down, and their battle begins. Ajax quickly moves across the back of the wall, not daring to pop his head up over it so he can sneakily move to a different position to his left, hoping Lumine doesn't realize that he never intended in staying in the same spot she saw him disappear in. He only pokes his head around the corner of the wall to see where she's gone, still low to the ground but cautious.]

( A firm nod in agreement to his assessment, both of them mentally prepared now for the strange event. Gun at the ready, she watches him closely with a challenging smirk on her face. She was definitely ready, quickly scanning the small enclosure of her team's base. )

I'm ready to take this seriously. I'll even make sure my team wins while we're at it too.

( Lumine quickly runs off to hide behind her own wall, remembering where he dove behind. Feeling like she needs to be quick before he changed spots, she takes a long look around. Once she's sure she's in the clear, she hurries over to where he initially hid, gun at the ready before it revealed empty. Quickly hiding in that same spot now that she had no idea where he was. Kneeling on the ground, she takes a small peak around the corner for him. )

Where'd you go...?

[Not seeing her from his initial peek around the corner, he quietly moves again, coming around full circle before he wonders to himself if she went to check his old position. Changing direction, he circles back around again to find that she's got his back to him, checking around the corner herself to see if she can get a glimpse of him. Grinning, Ajax quietly creeps up on her before saying:]

Right here.

[And shoots her vest once, causing it to power down- but triggers something else.

Their world shifts once again to the same rainforest, with bushes now replacing the cover walls and wooden twined paths replacing the ramps that littered the arena. Humidity hits Ajax in the face once again, but this time he's ready for it, and prepared for the scene he sees in front of him. The bow is in his hands, but he's clearly not actually fired it due to the lack of a wound in Lumine's back- all he sees is a beautiful blonde woman in a white dress with blue accents crouched down who was peeking around a bush a second ago.

He breathes out a sigh of amazement, at both the fact that this strange illusion is happening again, and at the natural beauty of Lumine in front of him. It seems natural for her to be dressed this way, and that same sense of familiarity surrounds the both of them. As if he's been here before, shared this experience more than once with her.]

Lumine?

[He says as he offers a gloved hand, black with a strange horned crystal on the back.]

Let's play along, see if we can prolong this. Let me help you stand.

( By the time she hears him behind her, it's already too late, whipping around only to hear her vest power down. An annoyed pout turned to absolute amazement, watching their environment return back to the same rainforest. Looking down at her dress, memorizing it and looking down to see the scarf around her again.

Parts of her outfit glowing green, taken out of her amazement, she looks up at him, then his hand. Her own, she notices are fingerless except for her thumb, instantly reaching for his own, before getting up to her feet. Sword in held firm in her other hand. )

Thanks. I'm quite alright with playing along to whatever this memory is.

( Absolutely strange, the grass under her hand earlier felt so real as though she remembers exactly how it felt. Soon a vague memory came back with taking in his appearance, strong with authority; the memory causing a chuckle to escape. )

Looks like you won't be able to fight yourself now, huh?

( But they had their weapons out for a reason, were they fighting an enemy? She takes a quick look around. Nothing. Were they fighting against each other? )

Since it triggered during this laser tag match, do you think we're fighting each other?

[It's hard not to stare at her, positive that his eyes are dilated just so he can take all of her in. The pretty flowers in her hair, the scarf he'd given her around her neck, the otherworldly dress that's gorgeous as well as functional to match. He'd find it hard to believe they were fighting each other if it weren't for the weapons in their hands.]

Maybe. It could be we might of been fighting each other, since you still believe I'm the villain from your dreams. [Que him looking fake hurt over this, lol] ...Or perhaps we were fighting together. Playing along with whatever is going on here is fine, but to be honest, I'm not entirely sure if I'm comfortable firing a real arrow at you. That is, if I had any.

[How's he supposed to use a bow with no ammo? He doesn't see a quiver on him, he's got nothing strapped to his back, just this strange grey uniform with white, red, and black accents to it. Never mind the blue glowing jewel on his belt. Ajax sort of makes a show of looking over his body for something, anything at all, eventually shrugging as he looks back at her.]

( His stare causing a rosy hue to fill her cheeks, a smile appearing on her face as she also takes in his appearance. The one thing she notices is his eyes, they looked a lot less shiny, almost like they can turn into a terrifying storm. She can't help but laugh at his feign hurt at being the villain in her dreams. A shake of her head in pure amusement. )

No, I was worried about you in the dream when you were unconscious and got thrown into a portal.

( So they couldn't still be enemies, otherwise why'd she be worried about him. Besides, if they were she'd be rooting for his downfall. ) Or maybe we were training? Or what you call 'syncing' moves? ( She pokes fun at his idea of syncing last night, which just turned into passionate sex, with a shake of her head and smirk. But she also takes a look around the area, trying to come up with what scenario this is. She's not had a dream about the rainforest. )

[The way she puts it is so embarrassing. Getting thrown in a portal, unconscious while it happened...what on earth could of given her subconscious to put him in a position like that? Maybe they'll never know. He is a little flattered that she was worried about him though. It's pretty cute.]

Hey now...

[He pouts a little bit at the tease, feeling a little accused of something really inappropriate for a time like this!]

I would never try that in what might be a dangerous area like this. I'd clear out the danger first, and then we could proceed to work on our moves. You up for exploring the area a little bit to see if there's anything to worry about? Then I could see your skills with a sword.

[Ajax eyes the sword in her hand, really wanting to see if she can use it as well as he hopes and thinks she can based off of what she told him from before. Then maybe he can spar with her later...!]

( Lumine chuckles in amusement that she'd gotten him, the small pout quite amusing and adorable, glad her tease worked. Taking another look around, the trees were impressively tall and she can see a whole bunch of flora around. So distinct and foreign. )

Hm? ( Feeling bad for almost tuning him out, she gives a distracted nod. ) Yeah, yeah, definitely. I agree, let's look around for a bit.

( And she hurries off to a large patch of flowers that she's never seen before. Of course she's keeping an eye out for anything dangerous, but she has to check out the flora. ) Wow... ( She still keeps her sword at her side, ready to defend herself, but touching all of the beautiful, colorful flowers. )

These would look so beautiful in my garden... ( Murmurs to herself. )

[He's not sure if she was really listening to him. Ajax's eyes follow where Lumine's had gone, seeing all the wild flowers of the rainforest. In fact, there's a lot of plant-life here he doesn't recognize, and those flowers are just the start.

He walks over behind her, letting her bask in the beauty of the flora around them. Why doesn't it surprise him that she'd beeline right over here...]

They are beautiful, aren't they?

[Even if he didn't hear her, he can tell she wants to take them home with her.]

Not as pretty as the flowers in your hair, though.

[In his opinion.]

Edited (of course i'd mess up my html) 2025-04-07 21:27 (UTC)

( She almost forgets this is all some vision and she wouldn't be able to get these flowers home to extract the seeds to grow more. A small pout appears on her face, wanting to take these flora home, but perhaps she'll have to find them in her old books. )

I wish I can extract seeds to take home...

( However, she blinks in surprise by his words. ) There are flowers in my hair?

( Reaching up to gently and carefully touch it, there really are flowers there. Picking her sword up to look at her reflection, though distorted, there they are. ) I guess even dream me loves flowers too. ( Looking around to continue making sure there was no imminent danger around, before plucking up a Sumeru Rose and bringing it up to Ajax. )

This one smells lovely and goes with your eyes.

[He laughs, he supposes she wouldn't notice right away. It's not like she had flowers in her hair when they arrived at the laser tag place, so there wouldn't of been a reason to assume. Ajax waits patiently for her to explore her new hair accessory for herself, noting how nice they look on her and mentally makes a note of this for later.

His hand extends out to take the rose from her. The vibrant purple of the flower coupled with the fragrant smell makes for a nice flower indeed, and his eyes soften for a moment at the gift and compliment.]

Does it now? I guess I've never thought about it myself, [he says, touched by how she's matching something so beautiful to his eyes. It's really romantic, and makes his heart skip a beat or three.]

Perhaps I should wear it like you do.

[He says as he tucks the rose behind his ear, opposite the side where his mask sits.]

How's that? Still not as pretty as yours, but I think it can try to contend at least a little.

I should embrace the florist in me and just wear flowers in my hair all the time from now on.

( She watches him take the flower with a cute tilt to her head, taking quick glances between the rose and his eyes, before a nod was given. ) Yes, it compliments you well. ( Happy to see he liked it and seemed touched by the gift she wishes he can take out of this vision. Watching him put it behind his ear, she lightly laughs with a nod of her head. Now the flower was closer to his eyes and looked even more lovely. )

I think it looks great! It helps pop out your hair and eyes very much. Wear more purple in your outfits and you might just be breaking hearts everywhere you go.

( Reaching up to fix it just a bit so his hair isn't flattened too much by the flower, before giving a good nod. )

[Ajax closes his eyes as she adjusts his hair, opening them back up to what is now a picture perfect scene of him with a stunning purple rose in his hair against his ginger hair and blue eyes. He can't imagine it's great against the drab grey uniform he has on in his vision they're having, so he makes a note to add a little purple into his wardrobe as per Lumine's suggestion.]

With any luck, they'll understand that I'm a taken man.

[He can't hold it back any longer- Ajax lets his arm snake around Lumine's middle, bringing her in and leaning down to turn his head just so, planting a kiss to her lips as his eyes close to savor her taste and the feel of her mouth moving against his. She's too beautiful like this, and he doesn't know why, but just the image of her with those flowers in her hair, the white dress marking her as the woman he'd only seen glimpses of in his blurred visions along with that sword in her hand makes it feel like she's just the perfect girl.

But as his eyes open, the rainforest around them is gone, and he's kissing Lumine in the middle of the enemy base back in the laser tag grounds. The EDM comes roaring back into his ears, but his heart is full, with the memory of their meeting inside of that vision fresh in his head.]

We're back...

[Ajax looks around, confused as to why they've returned. Maybe they didn't follow the script or something, so it kicked them back here.]

Those poor, poor admirers were too late, then.

( The teasing smirk turning to a bashful smile at his proclamation to being a taken man. She was ready to continue exploring before she's swept into his embrace, quick thinking holding her sword away so to not accidentally pierce him. The kiss made her heart swoon, to bring her free hand to wrap around his neck, returning the kiss. The setting and atmosphere seemed to make right for a kiss. To think this dream version of him is someone she cared so much about, despite almost fighting to the death.

However, her disappointment came soon, EDM music is blasting back into this once peaceful space and they were back in the dark with nothing but the LEDs as light. Pressing her lips together in thought to why the vision stopped and brought them back here. His flower gone as well, reaching up to feel none in her hair and she feels empty without them for some reason. )

Perhaps we weren't supposed to be kissing in that moment?

( She has to take a moments step back as she has to remind herself and him, there are kids playing in this round. They don't need to see them kissing, but she quickly gives him a kiss to his cheek to make up for splitting up. )

[It's a little sad that they're back in reality, he was enjoying himself in the imaginary rainforest, and really wanted to explore after he got his kiss in. It's also too bad the flowers didn't come with either- he really liked how she looked with those white and blue flowers, they matched her dress. And, he's lost her gift to him, forever taken by a vision of somewhere that he still doesn't recognize.

But it was humid and hot, in a rainforest. That's a clue, and he's going to tuck that information away in his head for now. They can talk about it later, once they're done doing some fun laser tag. Ajax smiles at the little kiss to the cheek he gets, before making sure his gun is securely in his hands once again. They are still competing with each other, but to say that he's a little distracted now is an understatement.]

Perhaps not. We did have weapons out, so I'd say we were probably supposed to follow doing something with them. But, when I think about it, that wouldn't be a good idea, now would it?

[Because what they don't know is how they act while they're inside of the imaginary world- are they just standing here in reality like zoned out statues, or are they also moving like they're sleepwalking?]

We could be a danger to others if they happen to walk in on us sleepwalking through that vision. Maybe it's best, for now, not to try and activate it. Besides, I think we got quite a bit of information.

( Truly she felt a lot emptier now that she was back and didn't feel the distinct weight of the flowers on her hair. Those beautiful flowers that she has never seen in any books or where to find them. Plus she might have to start wearing white dresses a lot more now, not realizing how much she liked it on herself.

Lumine gives a nod to his assessment if they had been discovered and injuring someone who got too close. But she can't help the chuckle, pointing her laser gun to his vest and shooting. She doesn't know the point system or where to look for it, but to get a good shot at him was worth it. )

I couldn't help myself, no mercy. Also a danger to ourselves considering this place has a lot more obstacles here to get hurt with.

( She'll have to find a good purple flower in her personal garden to give him to match his eyes. )

I think we made quite a breakthrough already.

[PEW, and his vest and gun power down when Lumine shoots him for another point to her team. He'd frown, but at this point he's much more interested in the shared vision they had rather than worrying about points, though his competitive side isn't going to let him forget about it. He'll take this loss this time, but he'll best her in their next competition, he swears it.

Though, he's sure enough time has passed at this point that the game will probably end soon, and before he knows it the music dies and an announcer asks all players to walk back to the rules area. He won't get the chance to make up any more points, but now he and Lumine will be able to take a little time to themselves before they either leave or go another round.]

Yeah...let's head back for now and we can talk about it a bit more. I've already got an idea...but it's a little impromptu. I hope you'll be alright with rolling with it.

[But he'll hold it for now until they have the chance to talk alone. And, when they do exit the arena, the scores clearly show that Lumine's team won and she got more scores than Ajax did! He'll just huff at that...]

( Lumine couldn't help the amused smile to pull at her lips, lids even close with amusement. Her laser gun hung at her side as she presses her fists into her hips in triumph. Looking up at the ceiling at hearing the announcer ask everyone to leave. Pleasant surprise fills her at his mentioning of an idea, a tilt of her head at his ability to just come up with impromptu ideas. )

Well, I had a lot of fun here myself, so I'm down to do something a bit impromptu.

( Removing their gear, she follows him to see a scoreboard and she quickly searches for her own name and his. Big, pleased smiles on her face as she sees she did very well for her first time. She did warn him she catches onto things quite easily.

Turning to him to be even more pleased at the huff on his face, to beat him in something he bragged about. Taking his hand to walk him out so the next group can play their session, smirking up at him. )

Maybe your brother should give you some tips for this game. ( Teasing smile on her face. ) Now what's this impromptu idea you have, hm?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject