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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[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?

[Well, isn't this nice? It's not like fishing is an uncommon hobby for people, but it is nice that she likes it too. He laughs as he finishes off his first drink, pushing the glass away so he can turn towards her fully.]

Haha, I wouldn't say avid, but I do a bit of fishing here and there. I've fished all my life, so it's a nice little getaway every now and again. Not quite like those outrageous fellows who can't wait to get out on the lake or to the shore the moment they have any free time.

[Amusement lines his tone. He's never understood the obsession with fishing like that. His obsession lies elsewhere...]

...Do you want to go dancing for a bit? Xilonen's set won't be on forever, and this will be a rare opportunity indeed to get to party to it for a bit.

[ His admission draws a giggle out of her, finding it funny how he refers to the more avid fishermen as outrageous. She never would have guessed that there's a group of fishermen who find the more enthusiastic ones to be too crazy even for their kind. Now she's imagining them having mini spats with each other, finger-pointing and calling the other ridiculous...

But before she can inquire about his run-ins with crazy fishermen, he catches her off guard with his offer to dance. She looks momentarily surprised for a few moments before a soft smile tugs at her cheeks. ]

Oh? You want to go dancing with me? Even after I deemed you "suspicious"?

[ She asks with a cheeky grin. But despite her tease, she finds him to be anything but suspicious. He literally saved her, and that's enough in her book. ]

Well, you can always say no.

[He grins back at her, still enjoying this tit for tat they're having with each other. Yoimiya seems like a really fun person, and he can see himself getting along with her really well. Ajax stands, offering a hand to her to take if she wants, so he can lead her out to the floor.]

But I can show you some interesting ways to dance to this kind of music. Let's just say I'm not too shabby at it.

[ She sticks her tongue out at him, clearly enjoying their little spat. His charisma is off the chart, pulling her in and making her more interested i
this dashing young man. ]

Ooh do I get to see a Snezhnayan dance in person?

[ She smiles and takes his hand, ready to head out to the dance floor. Since she came out here, might as well indulge in a fun. Besides, this will give her a chance to look for that peculiar highlight. ]

We can call this the first ever peace treaty between Snezhnaya and Inazuma.

[Now with Yoimiya in tow, Ajax is heading right to the center of the dance floor where there's a few people dancing and a whole bunch of other people watching. He stops at the edge of the crowd, watching on as someone else dances to one of Xilonen's more hard and dirty songs.

Naturally, he has to yell a bit louder just so she can hear him, being so close to the giant speakers banging out the music.]

The first ever, huh?! Hahaha, why don't we call it more of an extension to the currently existing one!

[He's already got an idea of what kind of dance he wants to do, leaning his head down towards her ear so he doesn't need to yell as loud.]

You know how to dance to this kind of music?

[ An extension, huh? Referring to their dance as the "first ever" peace treaty was a silly little joke on her part but she can appreciate they're forging an even more rock-solid "alliance" between Snezhnaya and Inazuma. The smile on her face is full of life and beaming from amusement as he's forced to yell over the blaring music, it's so loud that it's hard to think but this is right where she wants to be, in the center of all the action.

Thankfully, he's the smart one between the two of them as he makes the wise decision of leaning down to her ear. She would have just continued yelling at the top of her lungs, so this is for the best. ]

Of course! This ain't my first rodeo, this kind of environment is right up my alley. The livelier the better as I always say.

[ But before she demonstrates, there's something that's been on her mind ever since Ajax stepped in to help her. ]

Before we start, are you here with anyone? I'd feel mighty bad if I took time away from any friends.

[He seems to perk up quite a bit, looking forward to seeing how Yoimiya dances to EDM- there's so many different ways and styles, and he's excited now. He's got a feeling that they were going to get along just fine, as someone who also likes to be up in the middle of it all. He keeps his head down so she can still talk to him without having to yell herself hoarse, to which he scratches the back of his neck at her question.]

Well, no. I came here by myself, so you're not stealing me away from anyone, really.

[But the look in his eyes says he's glad that he ended up finding her here, clearly having a good time since he got to threaten that guy from the bar. The only thing that could of made this night better is if he got to really start a fight and see if that piece of shit had any skills before he beat him half to death.]

I'm pretty free all night.

[He ends it with a wink- if she wants to have a good time, he's absolutely along for the ride.]

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not me just making up plot points on the fly loool

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