insurmountable | The Bet

The Bet

Yo, Yoimiya!

[The booming voice of Arataki Itto resonates throughout the small apartment they share in downtown Inazuma, a loft that came relatively cheap for its location in the city. The buzzing of cars and people passing by the third story window could be heard all throughout the place, walls thin as a sheet of paper. But with it all comes the excitement of the city, and for these two, a plethora of food to gorge themselves on whenever it came time to feed. Inazuma in this day and age has everything to choose from, and food filtered in from all over the world.

It was a perfect set up for them both.

But for now, Itto sits at their small kitchen bar, eating his dino-shaped chicken nuggets that he'd microwaved from out of the freezer. On the plate is some barbeque sauce to dip them in, and he of course is trying to talk to her with his mouth full.]

Ain't it about time we go out and do some grocery shopping? MAN my stomach has been rumbling for the past week or so.

[In goes another dino nuggie, eating them up like they're water.]

If I don't get some food in me soon, I'm gunna shrivel up and wither away! Hey, you think I could talk Shinobu into...I MEAN, ahem, do you think she'd do us a solid and find us a sweet spot to pick up from?

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[ For all her earlier confidence, Yoimiya was still worried he might not be comfortable kissing someone within an hour of meeting them but any second thoughts she might have had vanished the moment she felt his lips connect with hers. It's their first time but she's so utterly taken by his taste, each and every languid stroke sets her to her skin, he might be a virgin but he's an absolute pro at kissing. She feels like she's being sent to the heavenly peak as they share this kiss underneath the moonlight.

It was so magical that the thought of cranking up the heat didn't even cross her mind. And when he breaks, he's left her breathless. Her smile is laced with satisfaction as she brings both of her hands to cup his face, her thumbs skimming across his cheeks.

Oh, she could get used to this all the time. ]

I could say the same. The evening started pretty rough but I'm grateful I ran into you. Handsome, fun, charming personality... you're a real treat to be around.

[ He's also a treat in other ways if you catch my drift. ]

Does that mean... you want to see me more?

[Ajax's body shudders involuntarily once Yoimiya cups his face with both hands now- her hands are so cold to the touch. One hand was okay but both almost feel like ice. But he doesn't let that show on his face, still admiring her from his position underneath her. Now, when he thinks about it, her lips were cold too...but it's not like she's the only person in the world who's cold to the touch.

It doesn't detract from how pretty she is. He feels like he could stare at her all night, get lost in her eyes, do whatever she wants.]

I'd love to see you more. Honestly, I thought even before we left the club that you'd be done with me and was just humoring me from that point onward.

[The fact that Yoimiya is the one that seems a little interested in seeing him more is a plus. It's unexpected, but appreciated and welcome.]

[ Hmm... it's hard to get a read on this guy. She can't tell if he's the most confident man in the world or if he's masking some deep-seeded insecurities. Somehow, she gets the feeling he's been through his fair share of dating woes.

But she's confident in playing sweet innocent guys like him. All she has to do is act understanding and say what he wants to hear. ]

Of course not. Don't sell yourself short, Ajax. You're way more interesting than that. You had my full attention the moment you stepped in and saved from that creep.

[ But although she has her own motives, that part isn't a lie. He stepped in and saved a girl he didn't even know, that part alone makes him intriguing. So much so, she's willing to let this drag on even if it means she doesn't score tonight. Ajax is worth it for that alone. ]

I should have said this earlier but I'm sorry if I came on too strong at the club. You're a really, really handsome guy, and I got caught up in the moment after we danced.

Edited (do you ever just choose the wrong icon and not notice? that's me that's what i did) 2024-12-22 05:38 (UTC)

[Hearing her say that makes his heart flutter, surprising even him. In all the time he's gone on dates or started to get to know a woman, he hasn't let himself get vulnerable like that so early on- if at all- knowing that a lot of people in this world don't have his best interests in mind. And a lot of times he's right, for some reason he just attracts women that want to use him for one reason or another. But she seemed so genuine in her response, his heart couldn't help but resonate with it.]

It's alright. It was a bit of a heated moment, in a good way- it seems it's really easy to get caught up in the moment with you. I'm really not that kind of guy, though. I hope you understand.

[He looks up at her, confident in his boundaries, but there's still a bit of an apology there.]

I hope I hadn't led you on, and I'm sorry if I did. I just...I'd like to get to know a person first. Kissing isn't such a grand thing to me, but I'm not interested in a one-night stand. But you've really caught my interest, so I'm hoping that we can see each other for a bit and see where this road takes us.

[ Interesting. Ajax is so different from most guys. If he was like those typical horndogs, she probably would have been in his bed right now, having sex like her life depended on it. Yoimiya suspected as much but he confirms it, he's not the type of guy that wants to fuck and run. Looks like she won't be getting any action tonight but that's fine, Ajax is a treasure worth getting to know. ]

There's no need for you to apologize, silly. Please don't feel bad about establishing your boundaries. You didn't lead me on and if anything, I'm over the moon you're still interested in me after I came onto you on the dance floor.

[ Smiling, Yoimiya places a quick kiss on his lips before stepping out of his lap to stand up. Once she's done folding down the creases of her dress, she offers her small, delicate hand for him to take. ]

You're a rare gem. It's nice to see a guy looking for something more meaningful instead of a one-night stand. So... why don't we start by getting to know each other better, first. There's a whole beach waiting for us, we can chat while admiring the ocean waves beneath this beautiful moonlight.

[That's a relief. She really was someone he really could see himself having a lot of fun with, and even he can admit to himself that he had really gotten caught up with her while they were dancing in the club. The little kiss is nice, and he savors it before he takes her hand and pulls himself up off of the ground. The grass stain is evident on the back of his shirt now, but he doesn't seem to care to even check if he'd ruined it. His attention is on Yoimiya.]

Yeah, I think that's a great idea. I haven't gotten to share the opportunity to admire Inazuma under the moon. Let's go.

[He smiles, offering his hand now to her to hold. It feels...right, and appropriate, even if they'd just met each other. They've already kissed...what's handholding to that?]

So, c'mon. Tell me a little about yourself. What does Yoimiya like to do when she's not picking up an unsuspecting Snezhnayan guy in the club?

[He sends her a wink- as if he wasn't the one that butted into her life, lol.]

[ Her whole world feels like it's brightened up when he takes her hand. She twines their fingers together, walking hand-in-hand to the beach illuminated underneath the moonlight. Although she's seen this scene many times, it never gets old. ]

Oooh, fun question! Hmmm, I have many hobbies, but picking up unsuspecting Snezhnayan men is my favorite.

[ She says with a cute wink thrown his way. Is she joking? Kind of. Sort of. A little bit. Well, it's not a complete jest. Picking up Ajax is definitely up there as one of the best things she's done. ]

But if I'm being serious, I work at a daycare. I've always had a strong desire to help kids in all walks of life, and being a part of a child's growth brings me joy like no other. Besides that, I also enjoy watching fireworks, baking, fishing at the beach, and, of course, taking care of my pet goldfish.

[ No matter where you go, Hanabi will always be there for you in every universe. Watching. Waiting. Judging. There's no escape from Hanabi. ]

[Ajax only smirks at her joke- the wink is cute and he has to admire how persistent Yoimiya is in hitting on him lol. He can tell it was a "joke". This girl...]

Haha, you seem to have your hands full by the sounds of it.

[She enjoys working with kids- that means a lot to him, even though he hasn't said it yet. That tells him a lot about her already, and that was absolutely delightful to hear. That means that she'd probably get along with his siblings. She even has a pet, though it's a fish. They're pretty easy to take care of.]

I'll have to accompany you one day fishing. But, [he says while holding a finger up to his lips,] don't tell your goldfish, I'm sure it wouldn't approve.

[ The finger to his lips draws out a chirpy giggle from her. He's proving himself to not only be charming but entertaining as well, she finds it cute that he's going out of his way to not hurt her beloved pet's feelings. ~~UNLIKE THE OTHER PSL~~ What an endearing fella... she cracks a big smile at him, giving him a gentle squeeze on the hand. ]

Hehehe, I promise to keep it between the two of us. Hanabi is kind of a tough nut to crack, though. It takes a lot to impress her. So... you might be in for a hard time if you're trying to gain her approval.

[ Why is Hanabi like this in every universe? But regardless. ]

What about you? Aside from fishing, what hobbies does the mystery man from Snezhnaya like to do?

[~~R00D~~

He smiles back, thinking it's pretty cute of her to keep the joke about Hanabi going ~~is it a joke to her though, is it~~ but it's really cute that she loves her fish. Guess he'll find out how hard it'll be to impress her, according to Yoimiya's standards.]

Me? Well...I suppose I enjoy a bit of cooking. It's a fun challenge to me to be able to learn and perfect multiple dishes. And, I rather enjoy movies. But, the thing I love the most is martial arts and weapons training. There's nothing quite like the physical feel of battle, haha.

[He smirks with all the confidence of someone who knows they're good at what they do, and he's proud of it.]

[ ~~R00D HANABI IS NEVER A JOKE—~~

Yoimiya's eyes light up with intrigue as she listens to him list out his hobbies. She never would have pegged him to be a chef and that makes him even more interesting. Despite that she has... peculiar taste in foods, she'd love to try his cooking. But the most interesting of them all is his love for martial arts and weapons, that's the most unique hobby she's ever heard anyone tell her. ]

Martial arts and weapons, huh? That's the first I've heard of it. You don't hear people say they enjoy fighting as their hobby every day.

[ How interesting! And now that she thinks about it, Ajax looked like he was about ready to deck that creep's lights out. ]

What kinda weapons are you into?

Which ones aren't I into?

[He laughs as if it was silly to think that he'd be picky about it.]

You name it, I've likely mastered it. Admittedly, there's a few I'm still working on, but it won't be long until I've got those down, too.

[His eyes practically sparkle as he's talking about it. There's three subjects he could go on and on about, and this is one of them.]

I've amassed quite the collection of weapons as well, but I didn't bring them with me to Inazuma. Only a few practice weapons came with me, but I've been eyeing some of those authentic Inazuman swords for quite a while since I've arrived.

[ Yoimiya momentarily shoots him an incredulous look. Discussing weapons as a way to get to know someone isn't exactly a normal thing, he's the silly one for being such a weapons freak in the first place. That aside, she's pretty impressed to hear that he's mastered basically every weapon in the book. That takes time and energy most people don't have.

Not to mention, she can't help but notice the sparkle in his eyes as he discusses his unusual hobby. That's the face of a man who is really, really into weapons. ]

If swordplay happens to be on your resume I'm sure you'll be able to master the katana in no time! I don't know much about western swords but I do hear it's quite different from how samurai use their blades. But I have to ask...

[ This has been on her mind since the topic came up. ]

Are you some kind of hitman? I promise I won't tell anyone.

Edited (writing is my arch nemesis) 2024-12-28 21:49 (UTC)

[He's happy she has faith in him! He won't let her down, he'll master the katana too in time. He'll put that on the list of things to make sure to do while he's here in Inazuma. He should be here long enough to get a teacher, and learn how to use one...

...oh.

That question cuts through his thoughts for a second, and he looks at her with a surprised look, before he starts laughing.]

What? Oh, oh no, don't worry, all of my official duties reside all within the scope of my government job. I'm not a hitman, but I guess I gave you that idea, didn't I?

[He can see it. Talking about weapons and such, admitting to being from Snezhnaya, the shadiest government in the world...yeah. Makes sense.]

Sorry. I'm just an enthusiast who likes to perfect his craft. Getting to cross blades with others is fun to me, but I'm not in the business of killing anyone, haha.

[ Oh, oh no, don't worry, all of my official duties reside all within the scope of my government job. I'm just an enthusiast who likes to perfect his craft. Getting to cross blades with others is fun to me— HMMMMMMMMMM sounds like something a HITMAN would say. 🕵️ Yoimiya narrows her eyes at him, shooting a skeptical expression that almost looks like she doesn't fully believe him. ]

Well, alright. I was going to offer my assistance if you needed help moving bodies. Since you saved my skin, it's only fair I scratch your back in return.

[ She's just kidding, of course. His love for weapons might be a little shady but he seems like a genuine guy. ]

If you don't mind me asking, what got you into the hobby? It's kind of unusual to meet someone so enthusiastic about weapons in this day and age. But I think it's a pretty interesting hobby, nonetheless! You certainly look like you know how to defend yourself.

[She's giving him the side-eye! She doesn't believe him fully, but he's telling the truth! Ajax supposes that it's not so farfetched to think that she might think he's not being completely honest...like okay, maybe it is a little weird to be this into weapons and fighting but he just really likes it...he swears...]

Hahahaha...

[A hand goes up behind his head. The joke is appreciated, though.]

Well, some of it came out of necessity, and I just found I liked it after that. Snezhnaya can be a hard place sometimes, so learning to defend oneself is a pretty good idea. But the more I learned, the more I became enamored with combat itself. And, after a while, they let me start touching weapons. Soon after, I wanted to learn them all.

[Hoping that's a good enough explanation for her, so she doesn't think he's a hitman...!]

[ And, after a while, they let me start touching weapons. Soon after, I wanted to learn them all.

............ DOT DOT FUCKING DOT. If it were possible, Yoimiya's brow would be above her head with the amount of side-eye she's giving him. This guy is becoming shadier by the minute. ]

Don't worry, your secret is safe with me.

[ There's a pause on her end before she erupts into a small fit of giggles. ]

Hehe, just kidding. Snezhnaya seems like a difficult place to live. Between the cold, the blizzards, and everything else I'm impressed by the resilience of the people who live over there. It's no wonder why you felt the need to take up arms to defend yourself.

[That short pause before she starts giggling makes him think for a second that she's still super sus of him. And maybe she still is even after the giggles! He sighs with a fond exasperation at her, not knowing what else he could say in the moment to convince her otherwise. He's really not a hitman!!!!!]

It certainly presents its own challenges. But enough about that, for now.

[He'll talk her ear off about Snezhnaya if she lets him and that's not a good way to get to know a girl, so he dismisses the subject now for fear of talking way too much about himself.]

Tell me, what was the funniest thing that's happened to you at the daycare? Children are such innocent souls to be around...I'm sure you have your fair share of stories.

[ She has a lot of questions about Snezhnaya and could honestly listen to him all day but since he's changed the subject, she's happy to move along. Especially if it involves kids. And oh boy, does she love talking about children. His question causes her whole face to brighten up like a summer's day. ]

Oh goodness, where do I even begin? Here recently, I was getting everything ready for naptime but I could none of the kids were having it. I stepped out for just a brief moment to grab a toy left behind in the hallway and when I came back they had already constructed a massive pillow fort in an act of rebellion. Hahaha, all of them just wanted to keep playing. And if you asked me, I'm pretty sure one of those kids purposely left that toy as a trap.

[ The memory alone is enough for her to bust out into another giggling fit. Children are precious gems, a treasure to this world. ]

It was so cute! The first time I'd seen a group of kids all mutually agree on something.

[There it is. The second Yoimiya's face lights up like a Christmas tree, he knows he's really hit something she truly loves. When she said she wanted to be part of a child's growth, she wasn't kidding. He listens intently, imagining the whole scene before his very eyes, with a rebel force of kids who did not want to nap.

It wouldn't be out of the realm of reality to think that they set her up either...to which he has to laugh.]

Wow. To think that such small children were capable of coming together and making an alliance against their babysitter like that...impressive indeed. I hate to see the day my little siblings band together and use the same techniques on me...

[A terror trio of Anthon, Tonia, and Teucer...his nightmare loool]

Right? I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Really goes to show you that kids are smarter than adults give them credit for.

[ As silly as their little stunt was, she'll never forget those precious children. Yoimiya's face softens as soon as he mentions his siblings. Come to think of it, he does give off the older brother vibes. From his reaction about her job, she had a feeling they share the same passion for helping children and his siblings might be the reason. ]

What are your siblings like? If they are creative like the kids I monitor, you better watch out! They might try an act of rebellion on you one day.

Haha, I'd like to think I may be spared from such an action. They're good kids, and I'm very proud of all of them. Out of the three younger siblings I have, Tonia is the oldest, and she's certainly the most assertive one of the bunch, to keep her brothers in line. Anton is a bit...nerdy, I suppose, and Teucer is still growing. He's about seven, so he's got a ways to go yet.

[He shoots her a smile, one that reflects how fond he is of his family. They mean the whole world to him, and he'd do anything for them.]

Maybe, depending on how things go from here, you can meet them one day.

[He has a feeling she'd get along with them just fine, and they'd love her. It doesn't take a whole lot for his little sibs to really like someone, but Ajax does have a tendency to wax poetic about people he likes.]

[ Precious. That singular word is all she can think about as she listens to him gush about his younger siblings. Just from that snippet, she can tell all of them are vivacious in their own way. She can already picture the scene in her head, his three siblings dragging their doting older brother everywhere while they all have a great time. But the most heartwarming part of listening to him is seeing the smile spread across his face as he talks about them. She can tell that's the face of a man who would go to the end of the world for his family.

And Yoimiya can't deny she finds that terribly attractive. Family men are her type to a T. ]

Oh, yes, please! I'd love to meet them one day. Have they visited you in Inazuma yet? If not, feel free to hit me up and I'll be happy to show them the best places to visit.

[ Even if the situationship doesn't work out between them, Yoimiya still wants to meet his darling siblings. She believes him when he says they're good kids. ]

We can go to Amakane Island and take part in one of their many festivals. Oooh, do they like fireworks? I could try to make something personalized for them and, and...

[ She loves kids so darn much to the point of getting overly excited. Oops, even she realizes she needs to slow her roll. ]

Sorry, sorry. Got a little overly excited.

[Yoimiya's enthusiasm is definitely one that can't be rivaled. She starts speaking so fast with all the ideas she's got for his siblings to come visit Inazuma that he almost feels like he should stop her before she gets too carried away. Thankfully, she manages to stop herself on her own before he has to intervene, his eyes brightening at her joyous outburst.]

Hahahaha, it's quite alright- that's the kind of energy you need to take care of small children. We can talk more about it when and if the time comes. Everything sounds wonderful, and I'm sure they'd love it.

[And as they walk along the beach, he notices they're finally reaching the end. There's an exit back up into downtown proper, and Ajax realizes that it's starting to get late. They'd been partying and spending enough time with each other that he completely lost track of the time.]

May I walk you home? I'd feel bad if you were to find yourself out here alone at such a late time of the night. And, you can tell me if you ever go surfing here. This beach must be a perfect place for it.

[ Yoimiya inwardly sighs in relief, thankful that Ajax is so patient. He had every right to cut her off right then and there but he still listened to her excitable ramblings and for that, she's grateful. It'd be best to take time to get to know each other before meeting his siblings but until then, she will happily await the day she gets to meet those bouncing bundles of joy. She might even have a whole list of activities for them to do by then.

But for now, she's happy to call it a night and show him the way to her apartment. She laces their fingers together and starts leading him to the exit. ]

Of course! You're such a gentleman, it's rare to see a guy exude chivalry.

[ Ajax truly is a rare breed, one that she finds herself intrigued with the more time they spend together. ]

You're right, the beach is perfect for surfing. You'll be able to catch some of the biggest waves here. And since you like fishing, I think you'll also enjoy ocean fishing. You can catch all sorts of beasts here like sharks!

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