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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[ Denjirou Takasaka... Yoimiya files said name in the back of her head. That's definitely an Inazuma name if she's ever heard one. A blessing that he's a local since it will be easier to keep him in her sights just in case it doesn't work out tonight. But... hm, maybe it's her imagination or her goldfish attention span kicking in but she swears Shinbou's intel didn't mention him hailing from Inazuma.

Oh well, whatever gut feeling she has probably isn't important. She's having fun, he seems to be interested in her, so as far as she's concerned, this is all going according to plan. ]

Really?! I never knew that you must be a big fan of hers to notice. [ Like a curious cat, Yoimiya quickly whips her head around, laser-focused on the screen behind the star of the night club. ] I gotta see this!

[ Her eyes flicker between the beautiful DJ and the screen as the oblivious girl hums along to the tune. True to his word, a neon yellow leopard flashes across the screen and runs to the beat of the music. ]

Wow! How cool...! Xilonen's creativity is truly out of this world.

[Somehow, he figured she'd be easy to get her to look away, always the fatal mistake that people make in situations like this. Like a practiced thief, Denjirou quickly grabs something out of his pocket, slips it right into Yoimiya's drink, and makes the container disappear before she even has the chance to turn around and catch him in the act.

He then looks up to watch the rest of the show as the song ends, only sad that he missed out on some of it himself. But the reward will be worth missing it. Meanwhile, Denjirou's deception doesn't go unnoticed from someone else, who's cautiously approaching the couple, who's pretty sure he just witnessed a sleazy asshole just pull something on a young, oblivious girl who wants to have a good time.]

Have you seen one of her shows before? They're incredible shows- even better when you're tipsy on the dance floor. Here, how about we make a toast to a great night? Let's finish these and go out and have a good time.

[He lifts his own drink to toast Yoimiya, and will then down it all in one go, feeling victorious.]

[ By the time Yoimiya whips her head back when the song ends, she's completely unaware of Denjirou's nefarious sleight of hand. It doesn't even occur to her that a drug has been slipped inside of her drink, she's having too much of a good time to notice. She lifts her glass towards the man without a second thought, excited to dance the night away and act on her own devious schemes once the party is over. ]

Oh, it will be an honor to drink to that! This is actually my first time seeing one of Xilonen's shows in person, so this is totally a cause worth celebrating.

[ This night is most definitely worthy of a toast! She finally gets to see the famous Xilonen and get her much-needed food source? Ironically and unbeknownst to Denjirou, she also has her own reasons to feel victorious about this encounter. ]

Cheers!

[ She brings the glass to her lips, and gets ready to drink it, completely oblivious to the man approaching them. ]

[The man's eyes open wider as he watches Yoimiya bring the glass up to her lips, knowing that in about ten to fifteen minutes time, he'll be taking Yoimiya out of this club to somewhere else where he can have his way with her for as long as he wants. There should be enough in there to incapacitate her for hours, and he'll be more than happy to take advantage of it.

Unfortunately for him, a hand reaches out out of nowhere, gripping around Yoimiya's glass and subsequently her hand as well, strong and unwilling to let her tip it upwards to drink.]

Miss, I don't think you'll want to take a sip of that. That's a one-way street you don't want to go down, since he drugged your drink when you weren't looking.

[The burning gaze of his blue eyes get turned towards Denjirou, with every nerve in his body begging for permission to slug him across the face. His anger is worn plainly, and the full force of it is directed right at this sleazebag.]

I'll give you two seconds to make yourself scarce before I personally dislocate every joint in your hand. That was a pretty slick trick you pulled just now- except I saw you do it.

[The growl in his voice is deep and dangerous, and Denjirou seems to realize that. Pissed that he got caught and knowing that a fight here isn't worth it, he quickly stands up and starts to walk away.]

Fuck you, buddy. Fine, I'll go. Go fuck yourself.

[ Before even a sip of the liquid hits her lips, she's stopped by a stranger's hand reaching over to grab her wrists. Her gaze flickers over to a set of piercing blue eyes that she swears could burn a hole into Denjirou's skull if he was allowed. There's a bit of a delay in her response as she attempts to process the whole situation, her stare swapping back and forth between the two men.

A drug in her drink...

Yoimiya glances down at her liquid, and it finally clicks, the reason why he told her about Xilonen's special graphic was to distract her. She quickly puts down her drink in disgust, feeling sick that she found this guy attractive even for a short second. Sure, the narcotic wouldn't have affected her for reasons but what if it did? Ugh, she doesn't even want to think about the horrific outcome. Anger settles on her features, and if looks could kill, her glare could make this guy drop dead while her savior dislocates every joint of this vile man's fingers. ]

Thanks for telling me your name, stupid! You better enjoy the last of your freedom while you can, the police will be on your gross self in no time.

[ And of course Yoimiya makes sure to say it LOUDLY, for everyone in the club to hear. She can only hope that no women will ever fall victim to this sleazebag. Too bad she isn't the type of gal to give him the middle finger, because he deserves that and so much more. Feeling her anger somewhat dissipating, Yoimiya sighs and turns her attention to the kindhearted samaritan. ]

Oh my gosh, I seriously cannot thank you enough for saving me. Ugh... how could I be so stupid? I should have realized something was up.

[The guy doesn't even bother to give either of them the time of day anymore, walking away quickly as Yoimiya yells at him for everyone to hear over the pounding of Xilonen's music. If he weren't so mad, Yoimiya's savior would find that amusing, but people like that guy really get his blood burning. He trains his glare on the guy until he disappears into the crowd before sighing, turning his attention to Yoimiya, trying to settle himself and let it go so he can give her the attention she may need after almost getting had by that guy.]

Haha, there's really no need to thank me. It's not as if every single guy in a bar is trying to drug their date. But, it is always good to keep an eye on your drink.

[Not that he thinks she'll make that mistake again anytime soon.]

Will you be alright? Almost getting drugged is a pretty upsetting situation.

[He wouldn't blame her if she wanted to get out of here right now, despite the fact that getting in here must of cost plenty of money. Xilonen's a hot ticket right now, but who could blame anyone for just wanting to go home after something like that?]

[ Definitely going to take his advice to heart. Even though it's not possible for her to get affected by the drug, the last thing she needs is a creep to get suspicious of her. Fewer eyes on her actions, the better. And speaking of eyes... her savior's blue eyes are striking, pulling her in like she's plunging into the deepest ocean. She's able to catch a brief glimpse of his hair color underneath the neon lights and she's fairly certain it's ginger.

He looks an awful lot like that guy from Shinobu's intel. Even more so than the sleazebag.

There's a pause on her end as Yoimiya stares off, studying his features and matching them to the guy in the photo. All that's left is to find that peculiar highlight in his hair to confirm this really is the guy. But before she makes herself look like a weirdo staring at him, she's snapped back to reality by his question. ]

Oh! Sorry if it seemed like I was spacing out. I guess this whole ordeal got to me more than I'd like to admit.

[ A little bit of a half-truth and a half-lie. ]

I... don't really know. I'd hate to leave since I spent a fortune to see Xilonen and there's no telling when I'd get a chance to watch another one of her performances. But, it's kind of terrifying to think about other creeps potentially lurking around the corner.

[During that moment when he's waiting for her to respond, he notices she seems to be pretty preoccupied with staring at him. Not the first time he's had someone appreciate his features for a little longer than what might be socially acceptable, but he knows he's cute. Too bad he's never taken advantage of that fact in his romantic life. So he doesn't totally buy her excuse, but it's okay.

It gave him a reason and the time to appreciate how pretty she is, too. She has dazzling golden eyes that capture him almost immediately, so maybe for the short amount of time he thinks he'll spend with her tonight, he can enjoy her company till they part and never see each other again.]

I get that. But what makes you so sure I'm not a creep, too?

[He says half-jokingly, half-serious. He's not a creep, but he's already picked up on what she's trying to lay down here. She wants to stay and would like it if someone stayed with her, and he's pretty sure she wouldn't mind if that someone was him.]

[ She might have made her intentions a little too obvious and it surprises her to see him teasing her. Most guys would immediately jump to play bodyguard.

He's already interesting for sure. ]

Now hold on! When did I say I wasn't suspicious of you?

[ In her heart, she knows he isn't a creep, he wouldn't have made that valiant save otherwise. But if there's one thing she knows about charming guys, it's playing a little hard to get usually drives them wild. And since he's willing to play the coy game, Yoimiya is happy to bite back. ]

You might have saved me but who's to say you aren't a creep yourself? For all I know, you could be feigning the role of a good samaritan.

[Look at her, trying to act like she had her guard up the whole time. It makes him laugh, now sliding into the empty seat that the previous creep had occupied, letting his elbow rest on the bar while he tilts his head to rest in that hand.]

Oh? So now you realize that it's possible you're walking out of one trap right into another? Well, at least you didn't realize too late.

[To that, he's going to order drinks now- ones that aren't drugged- but he'll ask Yoimiya what she'd like first.]

What will you have? It's on me. Allow me to make up for the previous scoundrel's actions.

[ Get a load of this guy acting like he could potentially be another creep. It takes every ounce of willpower out of her to bite back a giggle at his "warning" ]

Hmm, you just got done saying that it's possible I'm walking right into another trap and now you want to buy me a drink?

[ She rests her chin in the palm of her hand, pretending as though she's sizing him up to gauge his true colors. ]

Sounds a little suspicious.

Suit yourself.

[He smiles at her, looks to the bartender and orders exactly one drink- for him. It's something hard, a vodka that isn't normally from Inazuma, and he sits back in his chair.]

I'll have to congratulate you for not being duped so easily. I guess I'll have no way of drugging your drink myself now~

[He looks so smug with himself, but he's watching her to see how she reacts.]

[ Yoimiya outwardly scoffs at his smug demeanor, giving him the biggest eye roll anyone in Teyvat has ever sene. Rescinding his offer is no chip off her shoulders, she has no problem buying her own drink. And she does so by ordering something a bit more on the lighter side— strawberry flavored sake. ]

Sounds great to me! You know how the saying goes? Better to be safe than sorry.

[ She shrugs, looking completely unbothered by his attitude. ]

[He snorts, amused with how easily she just rolled that off her shoulder. He can already tell she's a fun one, and he appreciate that.]

You know, I haven't caught your name quite yet. Ajax.

[Though, instead of offering a hand in greeting, he takes a sip from his drink when it comes, enjoying the burn of it against his throat.]

Naganohara Yoimiya.

[ She says with an amused smile tugging at the corners of her lips. He's quite the intriguing one, she's so used to getting Itto's goat that it's rare for her to see a guy actually fighting back tit for tat. Once the bartender returns with her drink, she gives him a small toast, raising her glass in his direction before downing it. ]

It's nice to meet ya, Ajax. Guess now I can put a name to my savior. I take it you're not from 'round these parts?

No, [he responds, taking another sip from his glass,] I'm actually a long way from home, here for work. I moved here not too long ago, so I'm still getting used to my surroundings. It's been pretty enjoyable so far...Inazuma is a beautiful country.

[He looks up for a moment to the stage, watching Xilonen spin another track for a moment before returning to his glass.]

I'm guessing you are from here? With a name like that, I'd be surprised if you told me you were from anywhere else.

[ With a name like that, she's not surprised to hear he's not from Inazuma. She's got a few guess about his origins but for now, she'll let him slowly introduce himself instead of coming across as a nosey nancy. ]

You're quite astute. [ She says with a light giggle ] YUP! I'm home grown, born and raised in Inazuma. I've lived here long enough to recall when it was rare for tourists to visit us. And now, it's nice to see people from all over Teyvat coming to our humble island to live here.

[ She takes another sip of her drink, sighing in delight at the sweet flavor. ]

What kind of work do you do?

Me? Nothing all that special. I was just assigned here for the foreseeable future. Relations between Inazuma and Snezhnaya have gotten a lot better in recent years, and so I'm helping with the construction of the Snezhnayan embassy here in Inazuma. The jobsite is actually pretty close to this place. I'm sure you've seen it?

[It'll tell him how much she's not a fan of Snezhnaya, and how well this conversation is going to go. Snezhnaya, and the Fatui, are not all that welcome here. Their espionage and meddling are well known throughout the continent.]

[ Oh, he's from Snezhnaya. It's always a surprise to see tourists making a home for themselves but it's even more starling when its someone from the land of frost and snow. ]

I see, I do recall passing by the site on my way here. Looks like construction is going well.

[ A embassy, huh? She's been wondering what all the hooplah on that building site was about, turns out it's for a good cause. ]

I know other Inazumans might disagree with my take but I think it's wonderful we're trying to build a relationship with Snezhnaya. It truly would benefit both countries if we worked together.

[Color him a little surprised, an emotion he doesn't hide on his face, visible even in the dim light. He takes another drink, before setting down his glass.]

I wouldn't of pegged you for a political person. Most people aren't interested in politics, they just go with whatever the general sentiment is. Sounds like you might have your own thoughts about the matter?

[That's good, it's a bit hard to find locals who don't immediately resent him for being from Snezhnaya. It's not like he had anything to do with how his country acted in the region.]

Eh, I wouldn't call myself a deep, political person. Just someone who wishes to see everyone get along.

[ Simpleminded but thats her true thoughts on the matter. Throughout her long life, she's seen way too many fights and blood shed.]

It'd help make Teyvat a more wonderful world to live in, no?

It would.

[It's rare to find someone as open-minded as her, and it gives him hope that maybe the transition here won't be so bad. He's used to being left alone and not trusted anyway...it can really only get better from here, right?]

It's rare to find someone who thinks like that. But enough about such heavy topics...since I'm still learning my way around Inazuma, tell me; what do you like to do around here for fun? Besides coming to EDM shows and nearly getting drugged, of course.

[He laughs lightly, trying to make light of what could have been a bad situation that's suddenly turned into a much better one. Yoimiya...she seems nice, and he wouldn't mind getting to know her a bit better.]

[ His answer is simple, yet gives her hope that maybe one day, the world around them will change for the better. Ajax is not only interesting, but also quite charming and nice. ]

If you're looking for the best spot in all of Inazuma, it's definitely Amakane Island! That's the place to go if you want to enjoy a festival. And let me tell you, they know how to have fun.

[ She could go on and on about best island. ]

And of course, I can't forget about the beaches. All of them are stunning and have some of the best fishing spots in all of Inazuma.

[He's heard of that island before. He hasn't had the chance to visit, but now that she's mentioned it, it's getting filed in the back of his brain for later. Festivals happen relatively often over there if he remembers correctly.]

Fishing, you say? We don't have beaches quite like yours back in Snezhnaya...I'll have to hit them up sometime. Did you mention that because you too, enjoy fishing? Or is it just the fun of being on the beach?

[Not judging of course, but he'd go fishing with her if she likes to...]

A little bit of both! Nothing beats having fun under the sun with a beautiful ocean beckoning you to step in. I do enjoy fishing too! I'm far from the best but it feels quite satisfying to reel in a fish that keeps dodging you.

[ Is she talking about actual fishing or finding targets? Yes.

She did catch that 'too' and just from that, she can tell that fishing is one of his hobbies. ]

From the sounds of it, I take it you must be an avid fisherman?

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not me just making up plot points on the fly loool

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