[Tartaglia never knew before how exciting it was to have a loved one join him in his greatest passion willingly like this, both happy and hungry for the battle ahead. If it weren't for his glove, his hand would be hot from how strongly his blood is pumping in anticipation. Spotting their first adversary makes his excitement grow, squeezing her hand as it comes into view from within one of the reefs, glad that it's willing to fight them. Her words get him to grin, his whole mind and body geared and ready for battle. Childe's all too happy to exchange fighting talk, but as she taunts them, Yoimiya's got her own idea to taunt the monster as she loops her arms around his neck and pulls him in.
He's a little surprised at the action, but a dark thought pops into his head, telling him how great it is as his lips open to let her tongue pull him in deeper into the kiss, knowing that it would only serve to disrespect the siren and enrage it, and that he can share such an intimate moment in this dangerous situation. It's a dumb, risky move, probably one he wouldn't of even dared to do if he were in his right mind, though he gets it. It's a massive fuck you to the sirens for Yoimiya, to show her claim on the man they tried to take away from her. But now, in the throes of this twisted love that's gripped his thoughts and actions, he feeds into it, amused knowing that this monster was going to lose her mind over it, and he's right.
He too, expertly separates from her as they finish their kiss, dodging the ice with ease and giving the siren an amused, deadly look. Electricity dances around him, skipping past the power of his vision to use the Harbinger power granted to him by the Tsaritsa, banking that he can use it to help counter their mind control powers a little better than having no protection at all. An electro bow forms in his hands, aiming dead on at their target as she screeches in annoyance and charges towards them, drawing it backward as his clothing changes from grey to black, his mask forming over his face.]
One shot, one kill, Yoimiya.
[His laugh is devoid of any mercy, only the thrill of slaying one of these beasts is left in his voice. He times the release of his bow with her own, so that their strikes will hit together to ensure that this monster never sees the light of day again, nor ever has the chance to lure in someone else with its awful power.]
[ Even after breaking to dodge, the perilous kiss they shared was so incredible, so wonderful that it left a delightful aftertaste on her lips. She'll have to thank him later, Ajax is such a champ for going along with her crazy taunt, not only was the risk well worth the reward, she got to piss off a monster that nearly tore them apart, making the kiss extra delicious. Myriads of dark thoughts sprout from the seeds of corruption, all of them telling her to stake her claim not just to the sirens, but to the whole world as well.
Yes, she'll have to do just that. Yoimiya will make it so that no one will dare to think about taking him away from her.
Terrible shrieks hits a crescendo laced with anger, the siren's enraged voice as she lunges at them is like music to her ears, Yoimiya feeling satisfied down to her bones to inflict the same level of scorn she felt. The monster's features contorted with fury is positively delightful but not more wonderful than the breathtaking sight of her strong, handsome knight using his devastating electro powers to end this miserable creature's existence. ]
One shot is all we need.
[ Right alongside him, she pulls back on the strings of her bow, releasing an arrow in perfect harmony with his as they both puncture the siren's chest. Instantly, the electro-infused arrow uses the water to its advantage, buzzing around to fry her from within, and soon after, the pyro arrow ignites from the force of the electrical surge, melding together into an overload of elemental energy that also serves as their accumulation of love, their shared bloodlust for revenge. Yoimiya pays no mind to the blood-curdling screams as the monster's life is zapped away from her. Good. All of these creatures must be exterminated. Without a care in the world, she joins in on his wicked laughter, slipping out a chorus of giggle lacking any sort of remorse while watching the horrifying scene of its corpse falling into the depths of the ocean. ]
Hehe, Ajax my love... we did it. It felt so incredible to finally blow off some steam. But I gotta say, she was quite the weakling, wasn't she?
[ Already craving his warmth, she swims back to reward him with a sweet kiss. Their teamwork in sync, the Harbinger's powers incredible, Ajax himself being perfect... extracting retribution with her beloved has to be one of the greatest feelings in the word. ]
[There's nothing quite like the satisfaction of slaying one's foes, but he finds the siren in question a little bit of a disappointment. Yeah, it's not surprising to him that they really did take her out with one shot, and he expected it, but it's still a let down. Not that it'll bother him all that much, quickly moving on from that and letting himself savor the victory that he gets to share with his beloved Yoimiya, pulling her in as she swims back towards him to hold her close as they share in another loving kiss.
Pulling his mask off to the side of his head, he looks down at her with pride at their teamwork, reveling in the fact that they both seems to of found a common ground when it comes to battle. He should find it strange that her laughter has taken on an unhinged, bloodthirsty quality. That her attitude has changed drastically towards fighting. But the corruption rooted deep in his thoughts soothes those concerns, brushing against his mind, urging him to cherish it and appreciate it. And he does, cupping her cheek to stare downward, with all of his twisted love at the forefront of his gaze.]
Yeah, but perhaps we'll find a few more that might give us a real challenge. That'll be a fight worth telling stories about. Hopefully they don't disappoint us like this one has. I must say though Yoimiya, I'm surprised that you're enjoying this as much as you are. Have you finally come around to see things my way?
[That's clearly what it is, a simple change of perspective, nothing to worry about. It's normal.
[ The soft press of his hand draws out a cute mewl, bloodythirst and savagery still course through her veins but in the moment, she's like an affectionate kitten, cutely nuzzling her face into his palm. She lifts her gaze to meet with his ocean blue orbs, her fingers curl over his hand, tenderness still seeping out even with the abyssal influence spreading through every crevice of her heart and mind. She sighs into his skin, still reeling from the high of killing that siren in perfect symphony with her beloved Ajax.
Her golden eyes still shine as bright as the fireworks she crafts but behind her adoring stare is a maddening love swirling in the depths of her irises. ]
Yes, I think I've seen the light now. [ The irony of this statement— ] I'm starting to understand why you hold the thrill of battle in such high regard.
[ Although not on the same level of interest as the Harbinger, she's never had a problem with fighting, finding it to be quite fun depending on the occasion but now with their bond at the forefront of her desires, his influence has amplified her wants tenfold. If Ajax is happy, she's happy. It still has even occurred to Yoimiya that such awful thoughts have formed within the confines of her her emotions because it truly does not matter.
Only Ajax matters. ]
Maybe I was a bit too harsh on you last night. I'm sorry, Ajax. I think.... I understand now.
[Seeing her so happy is a blessing all unto itself, and it's amazing to him how she can look so cute amidst the carnage that they'd just wrought on their enemy. It makes his heart flutter and his chest buzz, and his expression softens as she answers. Life really is a beautiful thing, and he holds her in his arms as he looks down at her apologetically.]
No, I don't think you were. I've had a bit of time to sleep on it too, and if I really wanted a fight, I should have defended you while doing it. It was terrible and irresponsible of me. I'm still sorry for it- and I'm very grateful you forgave me. I won't let it happen again.
[The kiss he places to her cheek is soft, his caring gesture indicative of his appreciation for the patience and forgiveness she's shown him for messing up.]
I also can't express how happy I am that you've embraced how fun battle can really be. I want to share as much of it as I can with you, Yoimiya. Today will be the start of many conflicts to come, and it's my wish that you will grow into a truly formidable warrior. I'll help you every step of the way.
[ In a moment of clarity, Tartaglia's heartfelt apology snaps her out of her crazed reverie. Dazed and confused, Yoimiya's head feels like it's enveloped in a dark haze, and for a few passing seconds, she's a little out of it. She's silent while listening to him, needing a minute to gather her muddled thoughts together. Mindlessly, she's puzzled by his apology when as far as she's concerned, he already said sorry and has long since been forgiven.
But as he tenderly holds her in his arms, any lingering confusion vanishes into thin air, her eyes once savage and raving slowly flicker back to their usual brightness. In this peaceful moment underwater, it feels so incredibly wonderful to be in his arms. She melts into his hold, appreciating the apology, especially since this one is coming straight from the heart. ]
Ajax...
[ His name slips out of her lips with a loving sigh. The sweet press of his lips to her cheek fills her with a fuzzy warmth, her heart feeling so full of his love. ]
Thank you. You didn't have to apologize again but from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you so much. I... [ Goodness, has she always been this gung-ho about fighting? What's going on? For the time being, she tries to shake out the voice of reason in her head. ] I can't quite put into words how happy I am for the opportunity to fight alongside you. I promise to do everything in my power to get stronger so we can take on even greater challenges and with you by my side, I have no doubt I'll reach my goals.
[ Little does she know, the greatest challenge is the abyssal seed sprouting in her heart. ]
[Tender moments like these are ones he'd never thought he'd be afforded to have outside of ones between himself and his family. Having her warmth against him is one of the most wonderful feelings in the world, and his hand comes up to stroke her hair as they float among the coral reefs in this fantastical undersea landscape. She's so sweet, so cute, and he feels lucky to have her in his arms.]
You make me so unbelievably proud, Yoimiya. This world is for those who seek to become strong, and your resolve will lead you to reach every goal you set for yourself. Glory shall be yours, and I'm honored that I get to accompany you on that journey. You're the most beautiful, resolute, fearless woman I know.
[With one last deep, loving kiss that he places to her lips, leaning in so he can capture her for a few long moments, he then readies himself for the rest of their journey ahead.]
Come, let's destroy those who have wronged us. Our job isn't finished here, and I'll relish in the slaughter. I've got a feeling that there will be a lot more of them to deal with, so I'm counting on you to have my back.
[ You're the most beautiful, resolute, fearless woman I know.
Truly the sweetest, most heartfelt compliment she's ever received. Earning the love of someone as magnificent as Ajax is a blessing that she vows to cherish for the rest of her life. And as she relishes in the tender warmth of his lips slotting with hers, Yoimiya can't imagine a future with anyone else other than her beloved Ajax. It's with that in mind, she vows to fight for their happiness, till death do them part. ]
And you are the most handsome, dedicated, strongest man with boundless talent.
[ Her mind is a confused mess riddled with dark thoughts and logic fighting with one another the fact that she loves Ajax remains the same. No matter the state she's in, Yoimiya can't resist stroking his ego giving him the wonderful compliment he deserves. ]
Yes, let's. There are still too many of those creatures around for my liking. I'll be there to support you all the way as we get our revenge. After the horrible ordeal they put you through, you deserve the opportunity to spill their blood.
[ Hand-in-hand, it's time to move on but doesn't look like they have to go far to find their next victim. From out of the woodwork, a few more sirens soon make their appearance, no doubt news of their comrade's death finally reached their ears. Gripping their tridents and baring their fangs, they're armed and ready to exact revenge for one of their fallen. In the face of danger, Yoimiya simply giggles. They might be outnumbered but with the power of their love and teamwork, she isn't scared in the slightest. ]
Perfect, we didn't have to go out of our way to search for them. Thanks for coming to us.
[Happily accepting her compliment, he turns his attention now towards their enemies that surely lie ahead, waiting for someone to enter this area for them to spring themselves upon them. Using techniques and skills that sully the honor of a warrior, like the mind control he was subjected to all those months ago, it's shameful and he'll happily take them all out one by one with Yoimiya joining him in his quest. With her blessing, he'll ensure they all perish, swimming alongside her, ready to take on every enemy in their path.
He's glad that they don't have to wait long. The appearance of more sirens only serves to get his blood pumping, letting go of Yoimiya's hand as his mask returns to its position on his face. As his girlfriend giggles at the sight of all the danger, he smirks wickedly.]
Hahaha...looks like we've made them upset. Your comrade didn't last very long, did they?
[He taunts the sirens, and one in particular seems to take offense to that more than the others. She returns his terrible grin with one of her own, eyes wild.
We may have lost her, but why don't we just take you in her place?
A melody begins to reverberate through the water as the single siren begins to sing, and it quickly fills his ears and starts to encroach on his mind- but this time he's ready, electro sparking out from him as he resists the magic. He'd come prepared this time, and though it takes effort on his part, he seems unaffected.]
That trick won't work twice, witch. You'll need to do better than that-
[The other sirens seem to catch on though, and much like last time, one of them realizes that Yoimiya is a threat, sending a rush of water at her to try to separate her from Childe. The moment it happens, the other two begin to sing along with their companion, a haunting harmony that fills the entire area. It's now that he realizes that their power can compound and build off of each other...not good.
His body writhes from the assault on his mind, his hand coming up to his face as he tries to resist. Tartaglia has to put his full focus on keeping their will out of his head, the struggle visible in how his body seems to curl in on itself as he fights it. Distressed noises bubble up from him, electricity arcing out from him in every which way as he centers his own power to keep their song from swaying his mind. It's dangerous to approach him as that power builds and builds, his scream agonized and in distress as he slowly loses the battle, but he's already done the work for the sirens- if Yoimiya gets close to him, she might get zapped badly with how much power radiates out from him as he fights.
Long, excruciating moments later, the electro energy around him settles, his body going limp and his head hanging as the three siren's song grip his mind.
Come here, come to us~
They sing, their hands outstretched to him, and he answers, his eyes glossed over from the sheer amount of control and magic being used on his mind. Tartaglia swims over to them, and they pull him close, eyeing up their prize like hungry wolves. Giggling, all three of them look up at Yoimiya, one terrible brain cell all coming up with the same idea as the one that they'd killed back at the beach months ago-
Kill her, little slave, and come with us and serve us until you die.]
Yes, [he mutters, completely subservient,] anything you wish.
[Tartaglia turns to face Yoimiya, his blades out with the sirens continuing to giggle like schoolgirls, their hands brushing his arms just to get Yoimiya's goat.
He'll kill you and we'll do with him as we please. This is our revenge for when the two of you killed our sisters. Now die!
As quick as lightning, the Harbinger swims forward, his blades coming up at Yoimiya with the intent to kill as the siren's song fills his mind. Not even the bud of corruption that's blossomed inside of him is powerful enough to fend their magic off.]
[ Here they come, like lambs to the slaughter, an outcome that Yoimiya couldn't be any more pleased about. Drawing out her bow that's aimed and ready at them, a ferocious smirk curves tugs at the corners of her lips. She's absolutely shameless in her thirst for revenge, while manically giggling alongside his taunt, taking out that one weakling is simply not enough, and with Tartaglia by her side, she's confident they'll be able to fight a whole army of them.
Soon enough, the sirens are quick to make their move, strategically separating the pair from one another. Just as she's getting ready to aim her bow, a blockade of water comes in between them, a horrible memory that Yoimiya wishes she didn't have to remember. Just like last time, she feels utterly helpless behind the wall as Ajax fights the terrible trio on his own. Suddenly, she hears their haunting voices singing a dreadful song that played in her nightmares. Frantically, she's doing everything she can to bust out, knowing full well those sirens are going to attempt the same strategy their sister-in-arms did several months ago. Just thinking about what's happening to him stings, feeling like a wound in her heart has opened up.
Once again, they're trying to steal her precious Ajax away from her.
Those dreadful, awful, terrible creatures that shouldn't even exist are aiming to steal her man.
Just the thought of it makes her blood boil, the abyssal seed of corruption blooms into a terrifying flower within her heart. She can't let them take him away from her. Not now. Not ever. No. No. Nonononono— ]
Ajax! Please fight it! Don't listen to their song. Please... please...
[ Her voice panicky voice trembles as she calls out to him, practically sobbing as she relives the horrible chain of events once again. Desperation kicks in and finally, she emerges from the tidal wave blocking the two of them. Although, it might be more accurate to say that the sirens willingly allowed her to escape at that point, their sadistic nature desiring to see this little human cretin destroyed by their new slave.
There's a part of her that still has hope, a little bit of faith that her boyfriend was able to fight against the grip the melody has on him but as Yoimiya makes brief eye contact with Tartaglia, it's already too late. Like last time at the beach, he's already long gone, his mind having been taken over. Again, she's forced to relieve the trauma that ignited the flames of jealousy within her heart, the moment that started it all and led her down this dark path. Even now, she knows those monsters are trying to get a rise out of her by touching him with their filthy hands... and it's working. A raging tempest of emotions combined with the dark powers lying in wake flare up and bit by bit, she's reaching her breaking point.
Without a moment to spare, she holds up her bow to shield herself from the Harbinger's oncoming attack. His electro-infused blades make a terrifying clang against her metallic bow. But with the water working as a conduct, she's unable to dodge his electro energy that zaps her upon impact. It's all she can do to even keep a steady hold of her bow, letting out agonizing screams of pain as electricity swirls and shocks her writhing body. For the first time, she experiences what it's like to be on the receiving end of the might of the Harbinger's delusion powers.
And of course, the sirens are ecstatic to see her in pain, wickedly laughing while watching this entertaining show. They could step in and help their new slave but what fun would that be? It's much more satisfying to see him kill his lover.
Keep up the good work, slave! She's weak and pathetic without you. Destroy her and come be with us forever. ]
Ajax...! You gotta fight it. It's me... agh... Y-Yoimiya!
[ It hurts. Her body numb and barely able to move from the electro charge, her heart broken as she's forced to endure one of the most painful memory of her life. Everything hurts. A thought flits across her mind, maybe it's better if she just dies here. Pershing at the hands of Ajax doesn't sound so bad. But if that happens, then that means those sirens will have him in their clutches forever.
…
No. She can't let that happen. Ajax belongs to her and her alone. No one else is allowed to put their grubby little hands on him. No humans, no creatures, otherworldly beings, no gods, and certainly not any sirens.
Awful, possessive thoughts flood through her head, springing forth the corruption that's already rooted deep, they blossom into a feeling that causes her to finally snap. Slowly, she lifts her head up to meet his stare, her distressed expression now replaced with a raging, maddening fire that burns behind her eyes of gold. It's okay, this is fine. If Ajax isn't going to listen, she'll be happy to bring him back to reality on her own. Having come to terms with this, her cute, maniacal giggles resonate through the water, her laughter is so sickeningly sweet that the sirens themselves can't help but shudder at her sudden change in personality. Bloodlust at an all-time high and pumping through her veins, Yoimiya grits her teeth, fighting through the pain to gather up all her strength to haphazardly aim a pyro arrow encased in a bubble at him already loaded into her bow. ]
Edited (me noticing mistakes hours later and rewording things... story of my life) 2023-12-04 04:18 (UTC)
[The fog that clouds his mind is so thick that he can't seem to find his way out of it, and the soothing melody that plants suggestions into his mind removes any motivation he had to try to clear it. He dances to a new tune, obeying every whim that his new masters have for him, and right now the order is clear:
Kill her, kill her, kill her.
He gets a sick satisfaction out of hearing her scream in pain, letting out a low, guttural laugh as his opponent struggles against him. The song that filters in enhances the bloodlust he already harbors in his heart, blocking out the fact that the person he's hurting the most is the one he loves more than anyone else in this world, a fact that will later upset him and motivate him further to become even more strong in case of this happening again. Had he been in his right mind, the way that Yoimiya's whole demeanor suddenly changes would have distressed him, but now he only enjoys how she seems to be rising to the challenge.]
Yoimiya...
[He mutters her name, recognition in his voice, yet no mercy comes from him. The point-blank shot that comes right at him as electricity sparks and arcs everywhere through the water from his blades is unexpected, yet somehow, somewhere in his mind, he feels like he should have seen it coming. She's about to blow them both up, and he has to give it to her, it's a daring move. His addled mind doesn't allow him to realize that she would go for that, so much so that when she fires it off, he's not able to get out of the way completely as he pushes off of her. The arrow, instead of going right through his chest, hits his blades to cause an overload explosion, sending him flying off of her. The impact hits him hard in the chest, gritting his teeth as distance is put between them.
Ajax, you're letting her take advantage of you, kill her swiftly! Stop messing around!
One of the sirens seems unhappy that Yoimiya was able to defend herself, hissing the command, words dripping with venom. But even though he remains under their power, their song keeping him in their grip, he's happy that she's put up a fight and didn't die immediately. The grin under his mask shows it, and his laughter sounds crazed and joyous. This is what battle should be, what it's all about.]
Oh, I will, my masters. But I'm going to have a bit of fun. Being able to cross blades with strong opponents is what I live for.
[His defiance is the shred of himself that they weren't able to take away with their magic, the proof that he's still in there despite having his mind taken. Twirling his blades once, he slams them together to form his glaive, spinning it expertly through the water as he sizes his girlfriend up, now addressing her instead.]
Show me all you've got. Don't you dare hold back on me.
[ Likewise, the overload explosion also sends her flying, providing ample space for her to prepare a nasty counterattack. In the throes of her crazed mind, Yoimiya doesn't even realize that the vaporizing arrow could have been a double-edged sword capable of blowing them both up. Either way, the Harbinger will be fine, she's at least self-aware enough to know he's taken worse blows than this.
If there's one thing she can take away from this harrowing ordeal, it's the knowledge that her boyfriend is having the time of his life. His resistance shines through even under the control of the siren's magic, there's still traces of that man who seeks the thrill of battle above all else. A terrifying grin spreads across her features as she delights in his small act of defiance towards those water witches, proud of him even under such dire circumstances. Ahhh, the sounds of his joyous laughter are like music to her ears, even with his glaive drawn against her, he's still so handsome and immaculate. Her perfect, beloved Ajax is taking her seriously and fighting back with all his might... truly an honor.
The shimmering purple bow reflecting the thunder-clad nation of Inazuma points in his direction. If it's a fierce fight her beloved wants, she's more than happy to grant his desires. ]
Of course. I wouldn't dream of holding back against my beloved Ajax.
[ In tune with his voice, a rancorous laughter spills out of her lips, excitement and euphoria building up in the pits of her stomach at the thought of making Ajax proud of her by fighting back with all her strength. Tugging on the strings of her bow, Yoimiya charges up the primary kindling arrow as two more encased in a bubble take shape behind her. Behind her abyssal clouded eyes is a dancing flame eager to strike with a smirk so feral, she releases the vaporize arrows encased in bubbles straight at him. He might be able to dodge or block the main arrow heading his way but the two mini arrows will hone in on him, following him until they strike their target. No matter the situation, Ajax is always so wonderful, it will be a joy to see how he pulls out of this mess. ]
Hahahaha...! Don't worry, Ajax~ I'll save you and pull you out of their awful spell. You'll be all mine soon....
[ On top of their slave already showing acts of defiance, the sirens are already vexed this has gone on way longer than it should have. One of them shouts in frustration in an attempt to reel Tartaglia back into their grips.
Quit playing around and just kill that little wench already, Ajax! ]
[There's a smug grin worn on his expression at Yoimiya calling him her beloved Ajax. He hasn't forgotten who Yoimiya is and what relationship he has with her, as their interactions bring more and more of her to the forefront of his mind. But the song keeps him locked under the siren's will, pushing his thirst for blood forward over the love he has for Yoimiya in his heart. It's like he knows she's his girlfriend, but that fact doesn't matter, and as of now he doesn't feel that same rush of joy and lightheadedness of being in love. It's replaced with the need to kill, the orders from the monsters that control him.
But as a warrior, he respects that she's stood up to him, that fact remains unchanged- and now he's going to make her work for her life. Her laughter, the fact that it seems that she's enjoying this as much as he is is something that he notices right away, happy that someone else loves the battle as much as he does. Such a rare quality in a person, and he finds it a shame he'll have to snuff it out.
Even if the two of them have a relationship, the fact that she's putting their battle above that is wildly intriguing to him, as her arrows fly straight towards him. The first and main arrow is easily struck away by the flick of his wrist as his glaive comes up as he moves, with the homing arrows veering and circling back to come at his back. He knows of this, having expected it, and quickly slices them in an arc with the glaive as he moves forward towards his opponent. Tricky, but not bad, he thinks, closing the distance between them as he calls back to his current masters.]
Who are you to make demands of a Harbinger? I may be your obedient slave, but I'll still kill her in a way that I see fit.
[In comes another swing, a one-handed arc downward at Yoimiya directly as he laughs with an unbridled bloodthirst. His attacks come one after another, eyes wild with the love of the fight.]
You'll save me, huh? For as long as their song echoes in my ears, I will serve them. Is your strength enough to save me? If you want to lay your claim, then I suggest you reach out and seize what's rightfully yours. Or else I'll gladly cut you down right here, right now, and hand the glory of the slaughter over to my siren masters, hahaha...
[He clearly challenges her, knowing full well that Yoimiya would get riled up, wanting to push her and get the best fight out of her he possibly can. His hope is that she'll impress him, leave him satisfied- before he kills her.]
[ Splendid! As expected of her powerful Ajax. Blood pumps through her veins as Yoimiya's eyes wickedly sparkle at his skillful attack pattern. One right after the other, he bats away her first arrow like it was nothing, only to turn around and cut down her homing arrows in a magnificent display. Ajax truly is the strongest man she's ever met, perfect in every sense.
Using her bow, she shields herself from his one-handed swing, catching his electro glaive just in the knick of time. With each downward assault, Yoimiya is driven back by the sheer magnitude of his strength. Tartaglia has always been a great deal stronger than her but he's especially tough to deal with as he harnesses the power of his Delusion. She's barely able to meet him blow for blow, the only thing preventing her untimely demise is the glistening bow taking the brunt of his attacks. Even with the makeshift shield, she can feel sparks of electricity surge out with each strike, a stray jolt grazes the side of her face, leaving a small cut on her cheek.
A small stream of blood spills out from the cut but even with the wound, Yoimiya doesn't seem bothered in the slightest. Disturbingly, she simply flashes him a sweet smile while listening to his verbal assault. He's just trying to get a rise of her, she knows this. There's even a small fragment of her heart that breaks upon the oath he swears to his new masters. Normally, she'd be riled up in a blind fury. But there's something about the abyssal powers swirling around inside provides her a strange sense of comfort, a dark voice in her head telling her to focus on taking back what belongs to her.
And she dutifully listens. At first, she doesn't say anything in response to his challenge. But soon enough, a chorus of iniquitous giggles pour out from her lips. ]
Hahahaha.... oh Ajax. Poor sweet Ajax. It's so pitiful to see you in this condition, acting like a mindless attack dog for your pathetic masters when you are leagues above those witches. My heart breaks to see not a shred of pride left in you. But that's okay, I know it's not your fault. For the time being, they just temporarily took you away from me. Yes... they are the ones to blame, hehe. If it wasn't for them, your strong arms would be wrapped around me in a loving embrace...
[ Despite being under intense pressure, she still can't help but admire him. While one hand grips the middle of her bow, the other slips out towards his arm, in a deliberate fashion, she slowly drags the tips of her fingers across those wonderful, muscular biceps she misses so much. While he's occupied with striking her down, Yoimiya uses their close distance to her advantage. In one swoop, she brings up her leg to knee Tartaglia right into his stomach. With that done, she tightens the gap between them even further, her hot breath tickles the shell of his ear as she whispers these words to him: ]
[One last swing of his glaive comes down, pressing against her bow to try to make her break, to crush her under his strength. But all that happens is that she gives him that sweet smile, and giggles at him with such nefariousness that it almost disturbs him.
Almost.
Some of that abyssal corruption rears its head, getting his grin to widen as she taunts him. His lovely Yoimiya, not settling for the new reality the sirens have set in place for them. Something rumbles deep inside of him, telling him something that he'd seemed to of forgotten- that Yoimiya is his. Yes, even though he may belong to his new siren masters, Yoimiya has always been his. He chuckles quietly at her words, her praise settling into his chest, her taunts amusing him as she continues to believe that he was hers and hers alone. The wickedness of her statements draws a sharp breath from him when coupled with the tender touch of her fingertips on his arm, and even though their weapons are locked against one another, she has the audacity to close the gap between them as that knee comes up and hits him hard in the stomach.
It gets him to bend, to let her lean in close as her lips hover inches from his ear. He draws a short, sharp breath in at the sound of her higher soprano timbre echoes in his ear, humming with amusement. What a lady...defiant to the very end. Not once has she faltered since their fight started, and his face turns just so to speak his own words into her ear:]
So possessive. If my devotion and admiration for the three behind me were any less, I might of succumbed to such a will. But as it stands, I'll die for them if they so wish. Words mean nothing without the strength to back them up, so you'll have to try a little harder than that. I invite you to give it your best shot, haha.
[But even in that statement, it's a clear admission to how attractive and alluring Yoimiya is to him, even through the powerful magic that wraps around his every thought. She might even stand a chance, he thinks, locked into place still as his muscles flex as he pushes down on her bow with a renewed strength. But it would be a lie to say he isn't horribly interested to see what she does next, and it would be a shame to try to end it all now. So he'll give her a chance, play with her a little bit and see what her mettle has really become in this crucial moment.]
[ The gust of his breath against her ear sends a tingling jolt down her spine even more electrifying than the power of his Delusion. There's something about his unwillingness to relinquish control her corrupt mind finds so alluring, setting the dark flames in her heart ablaze that makes her deadset on taking back what belonged to her... at all costs. She's enraptured by his sultry baritone voice thrumming words of defiance, drawing out a sound in between a gasp and a groan from her throat. Gods, he's such an incredible man, his warrior instincts inciting him to fight back is so terribly attractive.
She takes his challenge in stride, relishing in his savagery being directed at her. Because in the end, bringing him back to her will be all the more delightful. Now that he's bent over and within reach, Yoimiya tips her head to have her lips just barely his as she murmurs an affirmative hum in the tight, warm space between them. ]
Oh, I'll make sure to do my worst. After all, my beloved deserves nothing but a most glorious, thrilling fight. And I'll be the one to give that to you.
[ Her fingers brush against his arm one last time before going back to clutch her bow with both hands. Tartaglia's brawn is truly awe-inspiring, with the force of his glaive, he's plunging down hard and it's taking all of her strength just to prevent the blade from striking her down. Normally, there's no way a simple girl like herself should be able to hold her own against a Harbinger but with a rush of adrenaline surging through her and the depthless powers of the abyss coursing through her veins, she's able to hold her ground, pushing back with all of her might. Bit by bit, she lifts the bow, inching it towards his face with a depraved plan in mind. ]
But if you don't mind, let me give you a taste of what you're missing. A pleasure those awful sirens would never be able to give to you...
[ In one fluid motion, she pushes the upper limb of the bow at his face, knocking the scarlet mask right off. Perfect, got him right where she wants him. Even with her life on the line, it doesn't stop her from closing the gap by capturing his lips for a sinful, open-mouth kiss while they clash weapons. While still clutching her beloved bow, she hoists it in an upward arc to drive him back, all the while nipping his bottom lip with a slight brush of her teeth, her way of issuing a silent challenge to see whose tongue gets to claim the other's mouth. ]
[His eyes follow the movement of her head even as he presses down further, trying to slice her bow in half in their struggle, but it's so tantalizing how she holds her lips so close to his. Even in this fight, she's trying to draw him into her, as if she has the power to overwhelm him and push the siren's control out of his mind. He'll have to give her credit, it's pretty bold of her to be so forward knowing that his blade could pierce her chest at any second. He'll have to play her at her own game, because it's proving to make this so much more interesting and fun for him, wanting her to give him what she's promising- a fight that he'll remember in the months and years to come.
So he hopes that she finds a way out of this situation he's put her in, where her body is forced to use all of its strength to keep him from ending her existence right here. His eyebrows raise as his glaive is pushed back by mere inches, intrigue covering his expression.
A taste of what, he wonders?
The answer comes swiftly, and his mask goes flying off of his face and floats a short distance away in the water. The sirens, who had been getting more and more agitated by the second, watching their slave do whatever he wants in how he was going to execute their will, screech when they see exactly what Yoimiya's plan was here. One moment, Yoimiya is about to be cleaved in two, the next, Tartaglia feels himself get pushed backwards as his arms go upwards above his head, moving through the water until his back hits a coral reef. It's a whirlwind of emotions that flows through him as his lips connect forcefully with her own, that sharp pain exciting him as her tongue tussles with his as he kisses her back with a fervor that even he was unaware lay within him.
The electro glaive dissipates into nothingness, giving his hands and arms the freedom he seeks, letting one slip into her hair as the other wraps around her waist as he fights now with his tongue instead of his weapon. What a devious, creative trick she's pulled on him, moaning loudly as the two violently kiss each other in some sort of battle of the wills to see who'd succumb to who, and neither of them want to give up the fight. He has no idea what's happening to him, with every flick of her tongue in his mouth, moving arduously against his own, he doesn't know if he's under the control of Yoimiya or the monsters behind them. It drives the sirens mad with rage, to see this fight turn from one to the death to this couple's perverted and lewd makeout session with each other, right in front of their faces.
Ajax!!!!!!!! One screams, but he's too busy pulling Yoimiya into this kiss further and further to bother to address her. He's only received the order to kill her, but when and how is up to him as far as he's concerned. Right now, this reinforces that Yoimiya truly does belong to him and no one else, no one can touch her, look at her, even think about her if he doesn't want them to. She's his, all his, darkened feelings of possessiveness bubbling up and taking hold of his already twisted, addled mind.
Kill her, kill her now! What are you doing????]
Hahaha...
[He laughs, tone low and filled with insanity, giving Yoimiya's lips one last pass before he finally answers.]
I'm getting to it. Now...
[As quickly as his hands had wrapped around Yoimiya's body, the one in her hair comes down to form a small electro blade that he presses against her throat.]
Kissing me last time worked like a charm, but did you really think such a move would work twice? It was bold, I'll give you that, but now I think I'll kill you just for myself. They'll never let me have you alive, and if I can't have you, then no one can. You've won one battle, I feel as if I've fallen deeply in love with you all over again, smitten by your unending beauty, but you haven't won the war.
[The look in his eyes is crazed, like his mind is being invaded by both a terrible dark force that craves for her and the charm magic of the evil monsters that still have a grip on his mind.]
Hold still, so I can remember you exactly as you are now, extravagant and beautiful, as radiant as the very sun that gives us life. Have anything to say before I slay you here?
[ There's no doubt that dropping her defenses to engage in a lewd makeout session is truly and utterly insane. It would be so easy for him to take advantage of her twisted possessiveness for him. In one fell swoop, he could easily plunge that glaive right into her chest to fulfill his master's orders. But as they kiss so fully, while fighting for dominance with their tongues, Yoimiya is so happy she initiated this. If she were to die by his hands, this kiss is the perfect send-off, she lets him know with every needy, filthy moan that spills out of her lips. Should he kill her, she would have no regrets about going out in the throes of their sick, twisted passion for one another.
In an even more dangerous stunt, she lets go of her bow, allowing it to float off in a bubble within grabbing reach while her eager hands roam all over his chest and abs. Since he's without a weapon, it's only fair she parts with hers, only needing her tongue to engage in this particular warfare. She's beside herself with a crazed joy as he brings his strong arms around her waist, happy to be held in his arms once again even just for a short moment. Oh, how good the heat of his lips feel as she kisses him so thoroughly with intense fervor, sliding her tongue in deep to enjoy every crevice of his delicious mouth. He's putting up such a good fight, refusing to succumb to her with every pass of his tongue that stokes a greedy heat building within her.
Although not as delectable as Ajax's lips, the siren's growing rage at the situation is still quite delightful. One of them screams and it just entices Yoimiya to kiss him even more deeply, purposely amping up the wet sounds of their mouths clashing to tick them off even further. She happily relishes in their anger, inwardly laughing at her beloved not bothering to address them in favor of their battle of tongues. He's mind-controlled but still shows signs of being his usual, rebellious self, a feat she couldn't be any prouder of. For that, she rewards him by shamelessly pressing her body up against him while circling a finger around his chest.
Unbeknownst to him, that little sneaky finger is working its magic on him. A tiny light shines at the tip of her finger, secretly embedding an all too familiar goldfish mark on his chest.
Once they draw away from each other, euphoria courses through her system, feeling as though she's on cloud nine even as he's holding a blade against her throat. She looks up at him, chest visibly heaving up and down while panting, her glossy eyes clouded with both pleasure and love. He's finally preparing to kill her but his crazed declaration of love is so satisfying to listen to, filling her heart with so much love to the point of bursting. With a look that's equally just as crazed, she lovingly stares at him, as if she's fully embracing death. It's an honor to be all his, to die by his hand as he stakes his eternal claim on her. After all, she belongs to Ajax. She's Ajax's alone. Her body was meant to only be enjoyed by Ajax.
Maybe on any other day, she might have let him finish the deed, to prove her stalwart devotion to him. But as it stands, she can't let those awful sirens win. ]
Mm... I love you so much, Ajax. I couldn't be any happier to hear you've fallen in love with me all over again. That's so kind of you to let me say a few final words before I go. So if you don't mind me saying this...
[ Soft and gentle, her hand comes up to cup the side of his face, tenderly brushing his cheek with her thumb. Slowly, she moves her hand downwards, dragging her finger from his jawline to his neck before stopping dead center at his chest. ]
Three... two... one. Boom.
[ Right on cue, the heat that's been building up in goldfish mark blows up into a vaporizing explosion of pyro. It's an insane, crazy stunt that also put her in harm's way but it's also the Naganohara Yoimiya way of dealing way things, ending things off in a dazzling display is her speciality. She just barely manages to grab her bow, caught up in the blast that sends her flying out to the water a good distance away from him. The sirens watch in horror and anger, any hope that she might have died from the explosion is quickly ruled out by the sounds of her maniacal laughter echoing through the waters. ]
Hahahaha! Oh Ajax, how terrible of you to let your guard down. I hope I didn't harm that perfect, handsome face of yours but it had to be done. And now... you'll see what happens when you underestimate me.
[ Bow drawn and aimed at him once more, this time, she doesn't let up. A sparkling ring takes shape around her as tugs on the strings, releasing a rapid fire of blazing arrows heading right for him. Totally not on purpose or anything, a stray arrow loops around, veering towards one of the unsuspecting sirens, puncturing her in the back and exploding on impact. As she screams in pain, the other two quickly swim away to avoid being caught in the blast. All they can do is witness the horrifying scene of their sister-in-arms burning up from within as the explosion takes her out. What remains of her body slowly falls down into the depths below.
AJAX YOU USELESS SLAVE! Because of you, we lost one of our comrades. DO SOMETHING! Hurry up and kill her! ]
[He could let himself get addicted to the loyal, heated, insane look of love Yoimiya gives him as he threatens her life. For as willing as he is right now to end her, she looks just as willing to let him do it, utterly devoted to him and no one else. This is exactly what he wants, what he deserves, to have a woman so faithful to him that she'd let him kill her just so no other soul could possibly fathom having a chance with her. She's truly perfect, and it's in this moment that he falls to the darkest reaches of his own depravity, as if the power of the siren's control is mixing with the dark abyssal corruption that's been made worse by their connection, and there's nothing he can do to stop it.
He's not even trying to stop it.
But in this moment, he's let his guard down too. He doesn't think that Yoimiya will try to kill him, it doesn't appear as if she's interested in that, so every brush and touch she makes to his body isn't checked or hampered as she cradles his face and traces her finger down to the mark she's left on his chest. Even now, she's managed to cut through the layers of control to get him to stop and admire her, through the madness that grips him so fully. Which is why when she begins to countdown, his eyes don't widen with realization until she says boom.
The explosion sends him hurtling into the coral reef with a terrible force, his body ripping through and breaking portions of it off until he finally settles somewhere inside of it. Dust floats off in every direction along with portions of the reef, and all he can hear is the sound of her laughing. She'd fooled him, right out in the open like that, putting herself at a major risk just to get that shot in at him. He'd be mad, but she hadn't made it a secret whatsoever in her movements, falling for it fair and square. Lying there, he has to admit to himself that he really shouldn't of underestimated her, eyes closed as he replays the entire thing back in his mind. What a devil, it's no wonder he finds her so alluring, why she's the one who belongs to him.]
Hahahaha...not bad.
[Picking himself up from the wreckage, he gets a glimpse of the arrow she's loosed flying straight towards him, laughing himself as he charges forward. Tartaglia spots the one that veers off, but makes no move to stop it- he's not being asked to protect them, and from the screeching they're doing, it's pretty clear to him that the main directive is to kill Yoimiya. The subsequent explosion doesn't surprise him a bit, glancing over and watches her die terribly to the homing arrow that hits her. But she died because she was weak, and that's not his problem.]
Looks like I'm going to have to take this a little more seriously. Killing one of my masters makes you even more of a danger. Their patience has run out, and unfortunately for you, that means so has mine.
[His electro blades snap into his hands from nowhere, approaching her as he readies his attack.]
You've fought well, but you still weren't able to shake me from under their spell. So goodbye, my love, please rest knowing you died honorably in combat.
[And on that note, he leaps at her, his blades aimed straight for her neck and chest, going for the kill this time.]
[ Out he emerges from the carnage, still perfect and handsome as ever. Any normal person might have gotten incapacitated or even fatally injured from that fierce explosion but not her incredible Ajax, she knew the love of her life would make it out unscathed. Smiling in the face of danger, a delightful sigh passes out of her mouth as he comes charging at her with his electrifying blades. He's heading straight for her, armed to kill and make her all his for eternity. Just thinking about it sends a pleasurable shiver down her spine. Her mind has been so rotted by the dark abyssal powers, she doesn't even consider her death by his hands to be a bad thing. More than anything, she's overjoyed he loves her so much that he's not willing to share her with anyone.
But he's not the only one whose patience has run out. Every second he spends devoting his servitude to those sirens makes her sick. He belongs to her, no one else, and she's still determined to get him back at all costs. As she's contemplating her next counterattack, a pleasant, calming voice rings inside of her head.
The time has come. Draw your weapon and save your beloved.
Ah, yes. She knows what to do now, it's time to bring out their shared powers that have been lying dormant inside of him. ]
Sorry, my love, I need you to take a nap for a short moment. But don't worry, while you get some well-deserved rest... I'll make sure to destroy those who wronged us. I'll get revenge on our behalf, hehehehe.
[ In a confident display, she brazenly ditches her bow, choosing to stand proudly in her spot as he inches closer and closer to her. Just as she feels the sharp end of his blade mere centimeters away from her throat, Yoimiya is within reach to place the palm of her hand on his chest to draw out their bond weapon inside of him. Unlike before, the once colorless gray gemstone is now lit up, shimmering with shades of purple and black and tiny, speckled stars floating about as if the little jewel holds a piece of the galaxy itself. But before he's knocked out cold, she leans in close to his face, pressing their foreheads together. ]
Please sleep well, my sweet Ajax. Dream of glorious conquests and the love we have for one another.
[ And with those sweet words, she slots their lips together for a gentle, good night kiss. In one fluid motion, she pulls the rest of the sword out while breaking the kiss so he can finally rest and be free of the siren's mind control. It truly is stunning, the most marvelous sword she's ever come across. Yoimiya is in awe as she inspects it from all angles, the diamond-like blade is an ombre of deep purples and blues, while the hilt of the sword is painted with more delicate shades of white and blue connecting to the blade itself with sharp, winged edges resembling Tartaglia's Polar Star. ]
Oh, how splendid. It's beautiful... a perfect representation of our bond.
[Tartaglia watches as she ditches her bow, to stand ready and waiting for him, ignoring her words as they mean nothing now. Whatever nap or rest she's talking about doesn't exist until after she's dead, when he can follow his new siren masters down to the depths of their kingdom to serve them for as long as he draws breath. No revenge would come, as his blade is about to decapitate her and end the fight.
But just as he's about to connect, the electricity making the water around them buzz and thrum with power, he finds himself suddenly stopping. The hand on his chest sends a warmth through him that he hasn't felt for some time, flooding all his senses and dazing him as he hangs in the water in front of her. Ajax's expression changes in accordance to what the power of their bond does in sequence.
First, it's confusion, not understanding why he's suddenly halted his assault. Second, as that heat fills his body from the power that's beginning to coalesce at the point where her hand lies, there's understanding as his mind suddenly begins to regain clarity. No longer does he feel the need to be some lackey to those monsters, but instead his head feels full of thoughts of his trust and love of Yoimiya. Comfort washes over him in waves, calming and sure, his body relaxing as he begins to fall into that same trance he'd been put in once before when she'd tried to extract the sword from his chest. She tells him to sleep well, as his eyes lid heavily, a drunken smile on his face as she captures his lips in a sweet embrace.
The last thing he remembers before she breaks their kiss to draw her sword and free his mind is how lovely her essence inside of him feels, how warm and strong their bond is, and how he knows he can rest even amidst the danger of the remaining two monsters. Tartaglia's body hangs limp in the water as he passes out from the sheer amount of power that surges through him, expelling the magic wrapped around his mind, mouth agape as he falls into a deep trance for the next few moments.
When his eyes open, all he'll see is Yoimiya's revenge, of her wreaking havoc and leaving carnage in her wake. Those sirens really never stood a chance against her, for what they'd done.]
[ Now that she can feel at ease with her beloved getting some much-needed rest, Yoimiya turns her attention to the remaining sirens, deviously smiling at them like she's found her prey. The pair are visibly frightened by the scent of danger emanating from her, not only did this girl manage to knock out their slave, she also procured a terrifying new weapon aimed right at them.
We need to retreat and call for backup! You saw what she did to our sister.
Nonsense! We made the mistake of turning her lover into our slave. He would have been able to kill her if he wasn't such a weakling for her. We need to team up, it's the only way to finish her off for good.
YOU FOOL! ARE YOU TRYING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED?!
Blinded by rage, the reckless siren takes her trident and charges straight for the pesky human. With her new weapon in hand, Yoimiya narrowly dodges the thunder beam, plunging the blade downwards directly at her target. Without a moment to spare, the monster is barely able to prop up her staff, using all of her strength to shield herself from the blonde who is hellbent on slicing her weapon clean in half. The powers of the abyssal sword along with her tainted mind are perfectly in sync and with one final swing, she conjures up the dark powers from within, cutting through the trident and her opponent. Brutally and without any remorse, the siren is nearly split into two, left with a large gash oozing out a purple residue patterned with stars as her corpse lifelessly falls into the dark sea below. Two done, one to go. ]
Should have listened to your companion's advice. But, I do applaud her for standing up to me like a true warrior... [ Slowly, she turns her head in the direction of the remaining siren with a crazed look painting her features. ] unlike you.
[ Y-you... you monster!
This one values her life, swimming away as fast as possible in a desperate bid to get away from this psycho. ]
Oh? You want to play hide-and-seek? Hahaha, I should warn you I'm an expert at this game. But I'll give you a headstart. But just be careful to not utter any noises okay~? [ Wickedly giggling in almost childlike glee, she turns her back to the fleeing monster to act as the "seeker". ] Ten... nine... eight...
[ Bloodthirst at an all-time high, Yoimiya is clearly playing around with her enemy, wanting to make this creature suffer in the final moments of her pathetic life. She carefully runs two fingers across the shimmering fuller of the sword, conjuring up a mini galaxy-colored goldfish and narwhal. On her command, the two familiars hone in and quickly follow the fleeing siren, and as soon as they're within range, they charge at her, erupting onto her body in a magnificent explosion that paints the sea with black, blue, and purple stars. But even with her blood-curdling screams, her opponent is still alive, Yoimiya made sure that little blast wouldn't kill her. ]
One. Found ya~ What did I tell you? Shouldn't have made a peep. Hahahaha...!
[ Yoimiya swims over to the siren who is unable to move due to her injuries, humming a haunting tune that strikes pure terror in the monster's heart as she inches closer and closer. ]
This is your punishment for not only trying to take my beloved Ajax away but also calling him useless.
[ Such an awful, evil creature only deserves death. All of her hard work, all of her training with Tartaglia has come to fruition in this blissful moment of revenge. Laughing maniacally, she brings the blade down in a two-handed swing, piercing this vile thing's heart and ending its miserable existence. As if she's taking out garbage, Yoimiya callously frees their precious bond weapon from the siren's chest, satisfied while watching yet another corpse sink to the bottom of the ocean.
Finally, they're all dead. Good. An outcome that Yoimiya couldn't be happier with. If any more of them come back, she will gladly dish out even more punishment. ]
[As he comes to, the first thing he notices is how much his body hurts. Like he'd been thrown through something of sorts, or like a bomb went off on him and he'd been able to survive it. His muscles ache and his head kind of hurts, as he moves himself and begins to stretch his limbs. There's also the faint lingering of a warm tingle on his lips, one that reminds him of cold nights when he's kissed Yoimiya to sleep. From within him, a different kind of warmth still keeps him warm, acting almost as a lullaby to keep him from fully regaining consciousness, soothing his weary mind as if she were all around him to comfort him. Still, he manages to open his eyes, vision blurry but focusing as the sounds of battle reach his ears.
It all comes back to him once he sees the sight in front of him, of the battle he'd been missing while he was asleep. A trail of blood spirals downward from where the siren had met its end to Yoimiya's blade, a strange purple ooze diluting in the water around it with no sign of the body. The faint sound of Yoimiya counting down reaches him, her fingers trailing across the surface of a blade that he's never seen before in his entire life, eyes snapping open fully to watch her conjure two abyssal familiars from it that chase down a siren and explode on it in a dazzling sight of color that takes him right back to his teenage years in that dark, lightless place. His breath catches in his throat at the sight, before his gaze falls onto the back of his girlfriend who laughs at her opponent, brandishing her sword at it as she declares this last action as punishment.
The maniacal laughter rings in his ears as she kills it mercilessly, blinking a few times in disbelief. Is this really his Yoimiya? He doesn't remember her being so exceptionally merciless, so utterly enthralled by cutting down her enemies. But that seeded corruption tells him that this is incredible, a wonderful development to really see her in action after her pledges to him the night before. Plus, it looks like she's been able to extract the sword from him, something she wasn't able to do before. He feels as if he's watching her grow before his very eyes, becoming a formidable warrior that he'd always wished for her to be. It's a gorgeous sight to see her swing it down and defeat her enemy, his heart beating hard in his chest with admiration as the siren dies horribly while Yoimiya reclaims her weapon and it sinks down to the bottom of the ocean. He swims over, albeit slowly, his eyes shining with pride at her work.]
Yoimiya. I knew I could trust you to have my back.
[She'd freed him, and he knows now that the pact made back at the guild when she drew that sword from the stone was the right decision to make. Joining her, he slips his arms around her as he presses his weight against her in the water, slotting his lips with hers in a deep, appreciative kiss. That twisted love hasn't subsided, in fact it's only grown deeper and darker for her. She's his, only his, and vice versa. This is a testament to it, this dangerous encounter that they almost lost each other to, and yet...he couldn't be happier for it.
When he breaks from her, his hand comes up to trail along her cheek, infatuation and obsession swirling in his eyes as he looks over his newly-minted warrior-girlfriend.]
You've become so strong, I can't believe you actually managed to beat me.
[ Yoimiya could be completely far gone in the trenches of the abyssal influence and the sounds of Ajax's wonderful voice will always pull her back to reality. The effect he has on her is immeasurable, she's overjoyed to see him, a flood of happiness spills into every last crevice of her heart. He's back, the love of her life is back in her arms right where he belongs. Truly, from the bottom of her heart, she never once doubted him even when their battle reached a dire state. Yoimiya's faith in him will always remain stalwart, even if a bit of tough love is required, she will always be assured he'll return to his sweet, loving self once more.
The warmth of his strong arms lulls her into a demeanor shift, unlike the girl who just mercilessly slaughtered three sirens, she melts into his hold, like putty in his hands. She duly kisses him back, fully, as if she needs their connection like air to breathe. His mouth is warm, delightful and oh does it feel so incredible to lock lips with him so tenderly. Bloodlust and an urge to kill more of those awful monsters still courses through her veins but in this blissful moment, she's a maiden in love with a heart that flutters and beats so profoundly for her one and only, Ajax. ]
Hehe. Better watch out or I might end up conquering this world before you even get a chance to.
[ She says jokingly with a soft giggle, her voice back to her sweet chirpiness instead of the wicked, maniacal cackling she did mere moments ago. If it wasn't for the aftereffects of the bond weapon knocking him out cold, Yoimiya isn't so sure she would have been able to defeat him otherwise. Had their battle waged on, there's no doubt in her mind she would have been the corpse falling into the bottomless depths of the ocean. Thinking about such a fate fuels her dark desire to grow strong enough to stand beside him so they can truly have an all-out battle one day.
But first thing's first: his condition. Ajax might be a fearsome Harbinger but he still took a barrage of several arrows and an explosion to his chest. He'll be fine, Yoimiya knows this but she still can't help but check on him. As they break from the kiss, she tenderly places her hand on the side of his face, brushing his cheek with her fingers. ]
[Her lighthearted challenge gets him to grin, relishing the idea of Yoimiya actually gaining the strength to beat him to his own goal. Deep down, he'd really enjoy that if she did, and enjoy the thrill of fighting alongside her while they both defeat each challenge this world presents to them. Because eventually, that is what will happen, they've already said their vows to each other on the matter, and there's nothing he's looking forward to more than having the satisfaction of standing atop the world with her by his side.
Nuzzling his head into her hand, he enjoys the touch before answering her question, closing his eyes momentarily as her fingers make his skin tingle with warmth.]
I'm alright, just a little sore is all. That was quite the stunt you pulled off there, seducing me through their control and planting a sigil on me like that. But that explosion hit us both...are you alright?
[His eyes reflect a deep concern for her, as her safety means more to him than anything right now. It was her own power, so surely she has her own resistances to it, but it was still an explosion either way. That and his blade had come so close to killing her so many times, from the way he fought against her without holding back...he could have easily injured her in the process and the adrenaline of the fight kept her from noticing. He looks apologetic in his asking, as if there was any real way to say sorry for what had happened.]
Edited (i added stuff on the end nps) 2023-12-09 03:27 (UTC)
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He's a little surprised at the action, but a dark thought pops into his head, telling him how great it is as his lips open to let her tongue pull him in deeper into the kiss, knowing that it would only serve to disrespect the siren and enrage it, and that he can share such an intimate moment in this dangerous situation. It's a dumb, risky move, probably one he wouldn't of even dared to do if he were in his right mind, though he gets it. It's a massive fuck you to the sirens for Yoimiya, to show her claim on the man they tried to take away from her. But now, in the throes of this twisted love that's gripped his thoughts and actions, he feeds into it, amused knowing that this monster was going to lose her mind over it, and he's right.
He too, expertly separates from her as they finish their kiss, dodging the ice with ease and giving the siren an amused, deadly look. Electricity dances around him, skipping past the power of his vision to use the Harbinger power granted to him by the Tsaritsa, banking that he can use it to help counter their mind control powers a little better than having no protection at all. An electro bow forms in his hands, aiming dead on at their target as she screeches in annoyance and charges towards them, drawing it backward as his clothing changes from grey to black, his mask forming over his face.]
One shot, one kill, Yoimiya.
[His laugh is devoid of any mercy, only the thrill of slaying one of these beasts is left in his voice. He times the release of his bow with her own, so that their strikes will hit together to ensure that this monster never sees the light of day again, nor ever has the chance to lure in someone else with its awful power.]
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Yes, she'll have to do just that. Yoimiya will make it so that no one will dare to think about taking him away from her.
Terrible shrieks hits a crescendo laced with anger, the siren's enraged voice as she lunges at them is like music to her ears, Yoimiya feeling satisfied down to her bones to inflict the same level of scorn she felt. The monster's features contorted with fury is positively delightful but not more wonderful than the breathtaking sight of her strong, handsome knight using his devastating electro powers to end this miserable creature's existence. ]
One shot is all we need.
[ Right alongside him, she pulls back on the strings of her bow, releasing an arrow in perfect harmony with his as they both puncture the siren's chest. Instantly, the electro-infused arrow uses the water to its advantage, buzzing around to fry her from within, and soon after, the pyro arrow ignites from the force of the electrical surge, melding together into an overload of elemental energy that also serves as their accumulation of love, their shared bloodlust for revenge. Yoimiya pays no mind to the blood-curdling screams as the monster's life is zapped away from her. Good. All of these creatures must be exterminated. Without a care in the world, she joins in on his wicked laughter, slipping out a chorus of giggle lacking any sort of remorse while watching the horrifying scene of its corpse falling into the depths of the ocean. ]
Hehe, Ajax my love... we did it. It felt so incredible to finally blow off some steam. But I gotta say, she was quite the weakling, wasn't she?
[ Already craving his warmth, she swims back to reward him with a sweet kiss. Their teamwork in sync, the Harbinger's powers incredible, Ajax himself being perfect... extracting retribution with her beloved has to be one of the greatest feelings in the word. ]
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Pulling his mask off to the side of his head, he looks down at her with pride at their teamwork, reveling in the fact that they both seems to of found a common ground when it comes to battle. He should find it strange that her laughter has taken on an unhinged, bloodthirsty quality. That her attitude has changed drastically towards fighting. But the corruption rooted deep in his thoughts soothes those concerns, brushing against his mind, urging him to cherish it and appreciate it. And he does, cupping her cheek to stare downward, with all of his twisted love at the forefront of his gaze.]
Yeah, but perhaps we'll find a few more that might give us a real challenge. That'll be a fight worth telling stories about. Hopefully they don't disappoint us like this one has. I must say though Yoimiya, I'm surprised that you're enjoying this as much as you are. Have you finally come around to see things my way?
[That's clearly what it is, a simple change of perspective, nothing to worry about. It's normal.
Perfectly, and wonderfully normal.]
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Her golden eyes still shine as bright as the fireworks she crafts but behind her adoring stare is a maddening love swirling in the depths of her irises. ]
Yes, I think I've seen the light now. [ The irony of this statement— ] I'm starting to understand why you hold the thrill of battle in such high regard.
[ Although not on the same level of interest as the Harbinger, she's never had a problem with fighting, finding it to be quite fun depending on the occasion but now with their bond at the forefront of her desires, his influence has amplified her wants tenfold. If Ajax is happy, she's happy. It still has even occurred to Yoimiya that such awful thoughts have formed within the confines of her her emotions because it truly does not matter.
Only Ajax matters. ]
Maybe I was a bit too harsh on you last night. I'm sorry, Ajax. I think.... I understand now.
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No, I don't think you were. I've had a bit of time to sleep on it too, and if I really wanted a fight, I should have defended you while doing it. It was terrible and irresponsible of me. I'm still sorry for it- and I'm very grateful you forgave me. I won't let it happen again.
[The kiss he places to her cheek is soft, his caring gesture indicative of his appreciation for the patience and forgiveness she's shown him for messing up.]
I also can't express how happy I am that you've embraced how fun battle can really be. I want to share as much of it as I can with you, Yoimiya. Today will be the start of many conflicts to come, and it's my wish that you will grow into a truly formidable warrior. I'll help you every step of the way.
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But as he tenderly holds her in his arms, any lingering confusion vanishes into thin air, her eyes once savage and raving slowly flicker back to their usual brightness. In this peaceful moment underwater, it feels so incredibly wonderful to be in his arms. She melts into his hold, appreciating the apology, especially since this one is coming straight from the heart. ]
Ajax...
[ His name slips out of her lips with a loving sigh. The sweet press of his lips to her cheek fills her with a fuzzy warmth, her heart feeling so full of his love. ]
Thank you. You didn't have to apologize again but from the bottom of my heart, I appreciate you so much. I... [ Goodness, has she always been this gung-ho about fighting? What's going on? For the time being, she tries to shake out the voice of reason in her head. ] I can't quite put into words how happy I am for the opportunity to fight alongside you. I promise to do everything in my power to get stronger so we can take on even greater challenges and with you by my side, I have no doubt I'll reach my goals.
[ Little does she know, the greatest challenge is the abyssal seed sprouting in her heart. ]
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You make me so unbelievably proud, Yoimiya. This world is for those who seek to become strong, and your resolve will lead you to reach every goal you set for yourself. Glory shall be yours, and I'm honored that I get to accompany you on that journey. You're the most beautiful, resolute, fearless woman I know.
[With one last deep, loving kiss that he places to her lips, leaning in so he can capture her for a few long moments, he then readies himself for the rest of their journey ahead.]
Come, let's destroy those who have wronged us. Our job isn't finished here, and I'll relish in the slaughter. I've got a feeling that there will be a lot more of them to deal with, so I'm counting on you to have my back.
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Truly the sweetest, most heartfelt compliment she's ever received. Earning the love of someone as magnificent as Ajax is a blessing that she vows to cherish for the rest of her life. And as she relishes in the tender warmth of his lips slotting with hers, Yoimiya can't imagine a future with anyone else other than her beloved Ajax. It's with that in mind, she vows to fight for their happiness, till death do them part. ]
And you are the most handsome, dedicated, strongest man with boundless talent.
[ Her mind is a confused mess riddled with dark thoughts and logic fighting with one another the fact that she loves Ajax remains the same. No matter the state she's in, Yoimiya can't resist
stroking his egogiving him the wonderful compliment he deserves. ]Yes, let's. There are still too many of those creatures around for my liking. I'll be there to support you all the way as we get our revenge. After the horrible ordeal they put you through, you deserve the opportunity to spill their blood.
[ Hand-in-hand, it's time to move on but doesn't look like they have to go far to find their next victim. From out of the woodwork, a few more sirens soon make their appearance, no doubt news of their comrade's death finally reached their ears. Gripping their tridents and baring their fangs, they're armed and ready to exact revenge for one of their fallen. In the face of danger, Yoimiya simply giggles. They might be outnumbered but with the power of their love and teamwork, she isn't scared in the slightest. ]
Perfect, we didn't have to go out of our way to search for them. Thanks for coming to us.
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He's glad that they don't have to wait long. The appearance of more sirens only serves to get his blood pumping, letting go of Yoimiya's hand as his mask returns to its position on his face. As his girlfriend giggles at the sight of all the danger, he smirks wickedly.]
Hahaha...looks like we've made them upset. Your comrade didn't last very long, did they?
[He taunts the sirens, and one in particular seems to take offense to that more than the others. She returns his terrible grin with one of her own, eyes wild.
We may have lost her, but why don't we just take you in her place?
A melody begins to reverberate through the water as the single siren begins to sing, and it quickly fills his ears and starts to encroach on his mind- but this time he's ready, electro sparking out from him as he resists the magic. He'd come prepared this time, and though it takes effort on his part, he seems unaffected.]
That trick won't work twice, witch. You'll need to do better than that-
[The other sirens seem to catch on though, and much like last time, one of them realizes that Yoimiya is a threat, sending a rush of water at her to try to separate her from Childe. The moment it happens, the other two begin to sing along with their companion, a haunting harmony that fills the entire area. It's now that he realizes that their power can compound and build off of each other...not good.
His body writhes from the assault on his mind, his hand coming up to his face as he tries to resist. Tartaglia has to put his full focus on keeping their will out of his head, the struggle visible in how his body seems to curl in on itself as he fights it. Distressed noises bubble up from him, electricity arcing out from him in every which way as he centers his own power to keep their song from swaying his mind. It's dangerous to approach him as that power builds and builds, his scream agonized and in distress as he slowly loses the battle, but he's already done the work for the sirens- if Yoimiya gets close to him, she might get zapped badly with how much power radiates out from him as he fights.
Long, excruciating moments later, the electro energy around him settles, his body going limp and his head hanging as the three siren's song grip his mind.
Come here, come to us~
They sing, their hands outstretched to him, and he answers, his eyes glossed over from the sheer amount of control and magic being used on his mind. Tartaglia swims over to them, and they pull him close, eyeing up their prize like hungry wolves. Giggling, all three of them look up at Yoimiya, one terrible brain cell all coming up with the same idea as the one that they'd killed back at the beach months ago-
Kill her, little slave, and come with us and serve us until you die.]
Yes, [he mutters, completely subservient,] anything you wish.
[Tartaglia turns to face Yoimiya, his blades out with the sirens continuing to giggle like schoolgirls, their hands brushing his arms just to get Yoimiya's goat.
He'll kill you and we'll do with him as we please. This is our revenge for when the two of you killed our sisters. Now die!
As quick as lightning, the Harbinger swims forward, his blades coming up at Yoimiya with the intent to kill as the siren's song fills his mind. Not even the bud of corruption that's blossomed inside of him is powerful enough to fend their magic off.]
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Soon enough, the sirens are quick to make their move, strategically separating the pair from one another. Just as she's getting ready to aim her bow, a blockade of water comes in between them, a horrible memory that Yoimiya wishes she didn't have to remember. Just like last time, she feels utterly helpless behind the wall as Ajax fights the terrible trio on his own. Suddenly, she hears their haunting voices singing a dreadful song that played in her nightmares. Frantically, she's doing everything she can to bust out, knowing full well those sirens are going to attempt the same strategy their sister-in-arms did several months ago. Just thinking about what's happening to him stings, feeling like a wound in her heart has opened up.
Once again, they're trying to steal her precious Ajax away from her.
Those dreadful, awful, terrible creatures that shouldn't even exist are aiming to steal her man.
Just the thought of it makes her blood boil, the abyssal seed of corruption blooms into a terrifying flower within her heart. She can't let them take him away from her. Not now. Not ever. No. No. Nonononono— ]
Ajax! Please fight it! Don't listen to their song. Please... please...
[ Her voice panicky voice trembles as she calls out to him, practically sobbing as she relives the horrible chain of events once again. Desperation kicks in and finally, she emerges from the tidal wave blocking the two of them. Although, it might be more accurate to say that the sirens willingly allowed her to escape at that point, their sadistic nature desiring to see this little human cretin destroyed by their new slave.
There's a part of her that still has hope, a little bit of faith that her boyfriend was able to fight against the grip the melody has on him but as Yoimiya makes brief eye contact with Tartaglia, it's already too late. Like last time at the beach, he's already long gone, his mind having been taken over. Again, she's forced to relieve the trauma that ignited the flames of jealousy within her heart, the moment that started it all and led her down this dark path. Even now, she knows those monsters are trying to get a rise out of her by touching him with their filthy hands... and it's working. A raging tempest of emotions combined with the dark powers lying in wake flare up and bit by bit, she's reaching her breaking point.
Without a moment to spare, she holds up her bow to shield herself from the Harbinger's oncoming attack. His electro-infused blades make a terrifying clang against her metallic bow. But with the water working as a conduct, she's unable to dodge his electro energy that zaps her upon impact. It's all she can do to even keep a steady hold of her bow, letting out agonizing screams of pain as electricity swirls and shocks her writhing body. For the first time, she experiences what it's like to be on the receiving end of the might of the Harbinger's delusion powers.
And of course, the sirens are ecstatic to see her in pain, wickedly laughing while watching this entertaining show. They could step in and help their new slave but what fun would that be? It's much more satisfying to see him kill his lover.
Keep up the good work, slave! She's weak and pathetic without you. Destroy her and come be with us forever. ]
Ajax...! You gotta fight it. It's me... agh... Y-Yoimiya!
[ It hurts. Her body numb and barely able to move from the electro charge, her heart broken as she's forced to endure one of the most painful memory of her life. Everything hurts. A thought flits across her mind, maybe it's better if she just dies here. Pershing at the hands of Ajax doesn't sound so bad. But if that happens, then that means those sirens will have him in their clutches forever.
…
No. She can't let that happen. Ajax belongs to her and her alone. No one else is allowed to put their grubby little hands on him. No humans, no creatures, otherworldly beings, no gods, and certainly not any sirens.
Awful, possessive thoughts flood through her head, springing forth the corruption that's already rooted deep, they blossom into a feeling that causes her to finally snap. Slowly, she lifts her head up to meet his stare, her distressed expression now replaced with a raging, maddening fire that burns behind her eyes of gold. It's okay, this is fine. If Ajax isn't going to listen, she'll be happy to bring him back to reality on her own. Having come to terms with this, her cute, maniacal giggles resonate through the water, her laughter is so sickeningly sweet that the sirens themselves can't help but shudder at her sudden change in personality. Bloodlust at an all-time high and pumping through her veins, Yoimiya grits her teeth, fighting through the pain to gather up all her strength to haphazardly aim a pyro arrow encased in a bubble at him already loaded into her bow. ]
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Kill her, kill her, kill her.
He gets a sick satisfaction out of hearing her scream in pain, letting out a low, guttural laugh as his opponent struggles against him. The song that filters in enhances the bloodlust he already harbors in his heart, blocking out the fact that the person he's hurting the most is the one he loves more than anyone else in this world, a fact that will later upset him and motivate him further to become even more strong in case of this happening again. Had he been in his right mind, the way that Yoimiya's whole demeanor suddenly changes would have distressed him, but now he only enjoys how she seems to be rising to the challenge.]
Yoimiya...
[He mutters her name, recognition in his voice, yet no mercy comes from him. The point-blank shot that comes right at him as electricity sparks and arcs everywhere through the water from his blades is unexpected, yet somehow, somewhere in his mind, he feels like he should have seen it coming. She's about to blow them both up, and he has to give it to her, it's a daring move. His addled mind doesn't allow him to realize that she would go for that, so much so that when she fires it off, he's not able to get out of the way completely as he pushes off of her. The arrow, instead of going right through his chest, hits his blades to cause an overload explosion, sending him flying off of her. The impact hits him hard in the chest, gritting his teeth as distance is put between them.
Ajax, you're letting her take advantage of you, kill her swiftly! Stop messing around!
One of the sirens seems unhappy that Yoimiya was able to defend herself, hissing the command, words dripping with venom. But even though he remains under their power, their song keeping him in their grip, he's happy that she's put up a fight and didn't die immediately. The grin under his mask shows it, and his laughter sounds crazed and joyous. This is what battle should be, what it's all about.]
Oh, I will, my masters. But I'm going to have a bit of fun. Being able to cross blades with strong opponents is what I live for.
[His defiance is the shred of himself that they weren't able to take away with their magic, the proof that he's still in there despite having his mind taken. Twirling his blades once, he slams them together to form his glaive, spinning it expertly through the water as he sizes his girlfriend up, now addressing her instead.]
Show me all you've got. Don't you dare hold back on me.
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If there's one thing she can take away from this harrowing ordeal, it's the knowledge that her boyfriend is having the time of his life. His resistance shines through even under the control of the siren's magic, there's still traces of that man who seeks the thrill of battle above all else. A terrifying grin spreads across her features as she delights in his small act of defiance towards those water witches, proud of him even under such dire circumstances. Ahhh, the sounds of his joyous laughter are like music to her ears, even with his glaive drawn against her, he's still so handsome and immaculate. Her perfect, beloved Ajax is taking her seriously and fighting back with all his might... truly an honor.
The shimmering purple bow reflecting the thunder-clad nation of Inazuma points in his direction. If it's a fierce fight her beloved wants, she's more than happy to grant his desires. ]
Of course. I wouldn't dream of holding back against my beloved Ajax.
[ In tune with his voice, a rancorous laughter spills out of her lips, excitement and euphoria building up in the pits of her stomach at the thought of making Ajax proud of her by fighting back with all her strength. Tugging on the strings of her bow, Yoimiya charges up the primary kindling arrow as two more encased in a bubble take shape behind her. Behind her abyssal clouded eyes is a dancing flame eager to strike with a smirk so feral, she releases the vaporize arrows encased in bubbles straight at him. He might be able to dodge or block the main arrow heading his way but the two mini arrows will hone in on him, following him until they strike their target. No matter the situation, Ajax is always so wonderful, it will be a joy to see how he pulls out of this mess. ]
Hahahaha...! Don't worry, Ajax~ I'll save you and pull you out of their awful spell. You'll be all mine soon....
[ On top of their slave already showing acts of defiance, the sirens are already vexed this has gone on way longer than it should have. One of them shouts in frustration in an attempt to reel Tartaglia back into their grips.
Quit playing around and just kill that little wench already, Ajax! ]
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But as a warrior, he respects that she's stood up to him, that fact remains unchanged- and now he's going to make her work for her life. Her laughter, the fact that it seems that she's enjoying this as much as he is is something that he notices right away, happy that someone else loves the battle as much as he does. Such a rare quality in a person, and he finds it a shame he'll have to snuff it out.
Even if the two of them have a relationship, the fact that she's putting their battle above that is wildly intriguing to him, as her arrows fly straight towards him. The first and main arrow is easily struck away by the flick of his wrist as his glaive comes up as he moves, with the homing arrows veering and circling back to come at his back. He knows of this, having expected it, and quickly slices them in an arc with the glaive as he moves forward towards his opponent. Tricky, but not bad, he thinks, closing the distance between them as he calls back to his current masters.]
Who are you to make demands of a Harbinger? I may be your obedient slave, but I'll still kill her in a way that I see fit.
[In comes another swing, a one-handed arc downward at Yoimiya directly as he laughs with an unbridled bloodthirst. His attacks come one after another, eyes wild with the love of the fight.]
You'll save me, huh? For as long as their song echoes in my ears, I will serve them. Is your strength enough to save me? If you want to lay your claim, then I suggest you reach out and seize what's rightfully yours. Or else I'll gladly cut you down right here, right now, and hand the glory of the slaughter over to my siren masters, hahaha...
[He clearly challenges her, knowing full well that Yoimiya would get riled up, wanting to push her and get the best fight out of her he possibly can. His hope is that she'll impress him, leave him satisfied- before he kills her.]
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Using her bow, she shields herself from his one-handed swing, catching his electro glaive just in the knick of time. With each downward assault, Yoimiya is driven back by the sheer magnitude of his strength. Tartaglia has always been a great deal stronger than her but he's especially tough to deal with as he harnesses the power of his Delusion. She's barely able to meet him blow for blow, the only thing preventing her untimely demise is the glistening bow taking the brunt of his attacks. Even with the makeshift shield, she can feel sparks of electricity surge out with each strike, a stray jolt grazes the side of her face, leaving a small cut on her cheek.
A small stream of blood spills out from the cut but even with the wound, Yoimiya doesn't seem bothered in the slightest. Disturbingly, she simply flashes him a sweet smile while listening to his verbal assault. He's just trying to get a rise of her, she knows this. There's even a small fragment of her heart that breaks upon the oath he swears to his new masters. Normally, she'd be riled up in a blind fury. But there's something about the abyssal powers swirling around inside provides her a strange sense of comfort, a dark voice in her head telling her to focus on taking back what belongs to her.
And she dutifully listens. At first, she doesn't say anything in response to his challenge. But soon enough, a chorus of iniquitous giggles pour out from her lips. ]
Hahahaha.... oh Ajax. Poor sweet Ajax. It's so pitiful to see you in this condition, acting like a mindless attack dog for your pathetic masters when you are leagues above those witches. My heart breaks to see not a shred of pride left in you. But that's okay, I know it's not your fault. For the time being, they just temporarily took you away from me. Yes... they are the ones to blame, hehe. If it wasn't for them, your strong arms would be wrapped around me in a loving embrace...
[ Despite being under intense pressure, she still can't help but admire him. While one hand grips the middle of her bow, the other slips out towards his arm, in a deliberate fashion, she slowly drags the tips of her fingers across those wonderful, muscular biceps she misses so much. While he's occupied with striking her down, Yoimiya uses their close distance to her advantage. In one swoop, she brings up her leg to knee Tartaglia right into his stomach. With that done, she tightens the gap between them even further, her hot breath tickles the shell of his ear as she whispers these words to him: ]
You will come back to me, I'll make sure of that.
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Almost.
Some of that abyssal corruption rears its head, getting his grin to widen as she taunts him. His lovely Yoimiya, not settling for the new reality the sirens have set in place for them. Something rumbles deep inside of him, telling him something that he'd seemed to of forgotten- that Yoimiya is his. Yes, even though he may belong to his new siren masters, Yoimiya has always been his. He chuckles quietly at her words, her praise settling into his chest, her taunts amusing him as she continues to believe that he was hers and hers alone. The wickedness of her statements draws a sharp breath from him when coupled with the tender touch of her fingertips on his arm, and even though their weapons are locked against one another, she has the audacity to close the gap between them as that knee comes up and hits him hard in the stomach.
It gets him to bend, to let her lean in close as her lips hover inches from his ear. He draws a short, sharp breath in at the sound of her higher soprano timbre echoes in his ear, humming with amusement. What a lady...defiant to the very end. Not once has she faltered since their fight started, and his face turns just so to speak his own words into her ear:]
So possessive. If my devotion and admiration for the three behind me were any less, I might of succumbed to such a will. But as it stands, I'll die for them if they so wish. Words mean nothing without the strength to back them up, so you'll have to try a little harder than that. I invite you to give it your best shot, haha.
[But even in that statement, it's a clear admission to how attractive and alluring Yoimiya is to him, even through the powerful magic that wraps around his every thought. She might even stand a chance, he thinks, locked into place still as his muscles flex as he pushes down on her bow with a renewed strength. But it would be a lie to say he isn't horribly interested to see what she does next, and it would be a shame to try to end it all now. So he'll give her a chance, play with her a little bit and see what her mettle has really become in this crucial moment.]
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She takes his challenge in stride, relishing in his savagery being directed at her. Because in the end, bringing him back to her will be all the more delightful. Now that he's bent over and within reach, Yoimiya tips her head to have her lips just barely his as she murmurs an affirmative hum in the tight, warm space between them. ]
Oh, I'll make sure to do my worst. After all, my beloved deserves nothing but a most glorious, thrilling fight. And I'll be the one to give that to you.
[ Her fingers brush against his arm one last time before going back to clutch her bow with both hands. Tartaglia's brawn is truly awe-inspiring, with the force of his glaive, he's plunging down hard and it's taking all of her strength just to prevent the blade from striking her down. Normally, there's no way a simple girl like herself should be able to hold her own against a Harbinger but with a rush of adrenaline surging through her and the depthless powers of the abyss coursing through her veins, she's able to hold her ground, pushing back with all of her might. Bit by bit, she lifts the bow, inching it towards his face with a depraved plan in mind. ]
But if you don't mind, let me give you a taste of what you're missing. A pleasure those awful sirens would never be able to give to you...
[ In one fluid motion, she pushes the upper limb of the bow at his face, knocking the scarlet mask right off. Perfect, got him right where she wants him. Even with her life on the line, it doesn't stop her from closing the gap by capturing his lips for a sinful, open-mouth kiss while they clash weapons. While still clutching her beloved bow, she hoists it in an upward arc to drive him back, all the while nipping his bottom lip with a slight brush of her teeth, her way of issuing a silent challenge to see whose tongue gets to claim the other's mouth. ]
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So he hopes that she finds a way out of this situation he's put her in, where her body is forced to use all of its strength to keep him from ending her existence right here. His eyebrows raise as his glaive is pushed back by mere inches, intrigue covering his expression.
A taste of what, he wonders?
The answer comes swiftly, and his mask goes flying off of his face and floats a short distance away in the water. The sirens, who had been getting more and more agitated by the second, watching their slave do whatever he wants in how he was going to execute their will, screech when they see exactly what Yoimiya's plan was here. One moment, Yoimiya is about to be cleaved in two, the next, Tartaglia feels himself get pushed backwards as his arms go upwards above his head, moving through the water until his back hits a coral reef. It's a whirlwind of emotions that flows through him as his lips connect forcefully with her own, that sharp pain exciting him as her tongue tussles with his as he kisses her back with a fervor that even he was unaware lay within him.
The electro glaive dissipates into nothingness, giving his hands and arms the freedom he seeks, letting one slip into her hair as the other wraps around her waist as he fights now with his tongue instead of his weapon. What a devious, creative trick she's pulled on him, moaning loudly as the two violently kiss each other in some sort of battle of the wills to see who'd succumb to who, and neither of them want to give up the fight. He has no idea what's happening to him, with every flick of her tongue in his mouth, moving arduously against his own, he doesn't know if he's under the control of Yoimiya or the monsters behind them. It drives the sirens mad with rage, to see this fight turn from one to the death to this couple's perverted and lewd makeout session with each other, right in front of their faces.
Ajax!!!!!!!! One screams, but he's too busy pulling Yoimiya into this kiss further and further to bother to address her. He's only received the order to kill her, but when and how is up to him as far as he's concerned. Right now, this reinforces that Yoimiya truly does belong to him and no one else, no one can touch her, look at her, even think about her if he doesn't want them to. She's his, all his, darkened feelings of possessiveness bubbling up and taking hold of his already twisted, addled mind.
Kill her, kill her now! What are you doing????]
Hahaha...
[He laughs, tone low and filled with insanity, giving Yoimiya's lips one last pass before he finally answers.]
I'm getting to it. Now...
[As quickly as his hands had wrapped around Yoimiya's body, the one in her hair comes down to form a small electro blade that he presses against her throat.]
Kissing me last time worked like a charm, but did you really think such a move would work twice? It was bold, I'll give you that, but now I think I'll kill you just for myself. They'll never let me have you alive, and if I can't have you, then no one can. You've won one battle, I feel as if I've fallen deeply in love with you all over again, smitten by your unending beauty, but you haven't won the war.
[The look in his eyes is crazed, like his mind is being invaded by both a terrible dark force that craves for her and the charm magic of the evil monsters that still have a grip on his mind.]
Hold still, so I can remember you exactly as you are now, extravagant and beautiful, as radiant as the very sun that gives us life. Have anything to say before I slay you here?
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In an even more dangerous stunt, she lets go of her bow, allowing it to float off in a bubble within grabbing reach while her eager hands roam all over his chest and abs. Since he's without a weapon, it's only fair she parts with hers, only needing her tongue to engage in this particular warfare. She's beside herself with a crazed joy as he brings his strong arms around her waist, happy to be held in his arms once again even just for a short moment. Oh, how good the heat of his lips feel as she kisses him so thoroughly with intense fervor, sliding her tongue in deep to enjoy every crevice of his delicious mouth. He's putting up such a good fight, refusing to succumb to her with every pass of his tongue that stokes a greedy heat building within her.
Although not as delectable as Ajax's lips, the siren's growing rage at the situation is still quite delightful. One of them screams and it just entices Yoimiya to kiss him even more deeply, purposely amping up the wet sounds of their mouths clashing to tick them off even further. She happily relishes in their anger, inwardly laughing at her beloved not bothering to address them in favor of their battle of tongues. He's mind-controlled but still shows signs of being his usual, rebellious self, a feat she couldn't be any prouder of. For that, she rewards him by shamelessly pressing her body up against him while circling a finger around his chest.
Unbeknownst to him, that little sneaky finger is working its magic on him. A tiny light shines at the tip of her finger, secretly embedding an all too familiar goldfish mark on his chest.
Once they draw away from each other, euphoria courses through her system, feeling as though she's on cloud nine even as he's holding a blade against her throat. She looks up at him, chest visibly heaving up and down while panting, her glossy eyes clouded with both pleasure and love. He's finally preparing to kill her but his crazed declaration of love is so satisfying to listen to, filling her heart with so much love to the point of bursting. With a look that's equally just as crazed, she lovingly stares at him, as if she's fully embracing death. It's an honor to be all his, to die by his hand as he stakes his eternal claim on her. After all, she belongs to Ajax. She's Ajax's alone. Her body was meant to only be enjoyed by Ajax.
Maybe on any other day, she might have let him finish the deed, to prove her stalwart devotion to him. But as it stands, she can't let those awful sirens win. ]
Mm... I love you so much, Ajax. I couldn't be any happier to hear you've fallen in love with me all over again. That's so kind of you to let me say a few final words before I go. So if you don't mind me saying this...
[ Soft and gentle, her hand comes up to cup the side of his face, tenderly brushing his cheek with her thumb. Slowly, she moves her hand downwards, dragging her finger from his jawline to his neck before stopping dead center at his chest. ]
Three... two... one. Boom.
[ Right on cue, the heat that's been building up in goldfish mark blows up into a vaporizing explosion of pyro. It's an insane, crazy stunt that also put her in harm's way but it's also the Naganohara Yoimiya way of dealing way things, ending things off in a dazzling display is her speciality. She just barely manages to grab her bow, caught up in the blast that sends her flying out to the water a good distance away from him. The sirens watch in horror and anger, any hope that she might have died from the explosion is quickly ruled out by the sounds of her maniacal laughter echoing through the waters. ]
Hahahaha! Oh Ajax, how terrible of you to let your guard down. I hope I didn't harm that perfect, handsome face of yours but it had to be done. And now... you'll see what happens when you underestimate me.
[ Bow drawn and aimed at him once more, this time, she doesn't let up. A sparkling ring takes shape around her as tugs on the strings, releasing a rapid fire of blazing arrows heading right for him. Totally not on purpose or anything, a stray arrow loops around, veering towards one of the unsuspecting sirens, puncturing her in the back and exploding on impact. As she screams in pain, the other two quickly swim away to avoid being caught in the blast. All they can do is witness the horrifying scene of their sister-in-arms burning up from within as the explosion takes her out. What remains of her body slowly falls down into the depths below.
AJAX YOU USELESS SLAVE! Because of you, we lost one of our comrades. DO SOMETHING! Hurry up and kill her! ]
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He's not even trying to stop it.
But in this moment, he's let his guard down too. He doesn't think that Yoimiya will try to kill him, it doesn't appear as if she's interested in that, so every brush and touch she makes to his body isn't checked or hampered as she cradles his face and traces her finger down to the mark she's left on his chest. Even now, she's managed to cut through the layers of control to get him to stop and admire her, through the madness that grips him so fully. Which is why when she begins to countdown, his eyes don't widen with realization until she says boom.
The explosion sends him hurtling into the coral reef with a terrible force, his body ripping through and breaking portions of it off until he finally settles somewhere inside of it. Dust floats off in every direction along with portions of the reef, and all he can hear is the sound of her laughing. She'd fooled him, right out in the open like that, putting herself at a major risk just to get that shot in at him. He'd be mad, but she hadn't made it a secret whatsoever in her movements, falling for it fair and square. Lying there, he has to admit to himself that he really shouldn't of underestimated her, eyes closed as he replays the entire thing back in his mind. What a devil, it's no wonder he finds her so alluring, why she's the one who belongs to him.]
Hahahaha...not bad.
[Picking himself up from the wreckage, he gets a glimpse of the arrow she's loosed flying straight towards him, laughing himself as he charges forward. Tartaglia spots the one that veers off, but makes no move to stop it- he's not being asked to protect them, and from the screeching they're doing, it's pretty clear to him that the main directive is to kill Yoimiya. The subsequent explosion doesn't surprise him a bit, glancing over and watches her die terribly to the homing arrow that hits her. But she died because she was weak, and that's not his problem.]
Looks like I'm going to have to take this a little more seriously. Killing one of my masters makes you even more of a danger. Their patience has run out, and unfortunately for you, that means so has mine.
[His electro blades snap into his hands from nowhere, approaching her as he readies his attack.]
You've fought well, but you still weren't able to shake me from under their spell. So goodbye, my love, please rest knowing you died honorably in combat.
[And on that note, he leaps at her, his blades aimed straight for her neck and chest, going for the kill this time.]
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But he's not the only one whose patience has run out. Every second he spends devoting his servitude to those sirens makes her sick. He belongs to her, no one else, and she's still determined to get him back at all costs. As she's contemplating her next counterattack, a pleasant, calming voice rings inside of her head.
The time has come. Draw your weapon and save your beloved.
Ah, yes. She knows what to do now, it's time to bring out their shared powers that have been lying dormant inside of him. ]
Sorry, my love, I need you to take a nap for a short moment. But don't worry, while you get some well-deserved rest... I'll make sure to destroy those who wronged us. I'll get revenge on our behalf, hehehehe.
[ In a confident display, she brazenly ditches her bow, choosing to stand proudly in her spot as he inches closer and closer to her. Just as she feels the sharp end of his blade mere centimeters away from her throat, Yoimiya is within reach to place the palm of her hand on his chest to draw out their bond weapon inside of him. Unlike before, the once colorless gray gemstone is now lit up, shimmering with shades of purple and black and tiny, speckled stars floating about as if the little jewel holds a piece of the galaxy itself. But before he's knocked out cold, she leans in close to his face, pressing their foreheads together. ]
Please sleep well, my sweet Ajax. Dream of glorious conquests and the love we have for one another.
[ And with those sweet words, she slots their lips together for a gentle, good night kiss. In one fluid motion, she pulls the rest of the sword out while breaking the kiss so he can finally rest and be free of the siren's mind control. It truly is stunning, the most marvelous sword she's ever come across. Yoimiya is in awe as she inspects it from all angles, the diamond-like blade is an ombre of deep purples and blues, while the hilt of the sword is painted with more delicate shades of white and blue connecting to the blade itself with sharp, winged edges resembling Tartaglia's Polar Star. ]
Oh, how splendid. It's beautiful... a perfect representation of our bond.
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But just as he's about to connect, the electricity making the water around them buzz and thrum with power, he finds himself suddenly stopping. The hand on his chest sends a warmth through him that he hasn't felt for some time, flooding all his senses and dazing him as he hangs in the water in front of her. Ajax's expression changes in accordance to what the power of their bond does in sequence.
First, it's confusion, not understanding why he's suddenly halted his assault. Second, as that heat fills his body from the power that's beginning to coalesce at the point where her hand lies, there's understanding as his mind suddenly begins to regain clarity. No longer does he feel the need to be some lackey to those monsters, but instead his head feels full of thoughts of his trust and love of Yoimiya. Comfort washes over him in waves, calming and sure, his body relaxing as he begins to fall into that same trance he'd been put in once before when she'd tried to extract the sword from his chest. She tells him to sleep well, as his eyes lid heavily, a drunken smile on his face as she captures his lips in a sweet embrace.
The last thing he remembers before she breaks their kiss to draw her sword and free his mind is how lovely her essence inside of him feels, how warm and strong their bond is, and how he knows he can rest even amidst the danger of the remaining two monsters. Tartaglia's body hangs limp in the water as he passes out from the sheer amount of power that surges through him, expelling the magic wrapped around his mind, mouth agape as he falls into a deep trance for the next few moments.
When his eyes open, all he'll see is Yoimiya's revenge, of her wreaking havoc and leaving carnage in her wake. Those sirens really never stood a chance against her, for what they'd done.]
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We need to retreat and call for backup! You saw what she did to our sister.
Nonsense! We made the mistake of turning her lover into our slave. He would have been able to kill her if he wasn't such a weakling for her. We need to team up, it's the only way to finish her off for good.
YOU FOOL! ARE YOU TRYING TO GET YOURSELF KILLED?!
Blinded by rage, the reckless siren takes her trident and charges straight for the pesky human. With her new weapon in hand, Yoimiya narrowly dodges the thunder beam, plunging the blade downwards directly at her target. Without a moment to spare, the monster is barely able to prop up her staff, using all of her strength to shield herself from the blonde who is hellbent on slicing her weapon clean in half. The powers of the abyssal sword along with her tainted mind are perfectly in sync and with one final swing, she conjures up the dark powers from within, cutting through the trident and her opponent. Brutally and without any remorse, the siren is nearly split into two, left with a large gash oozing out a purple residue patterned with stars as her corpse lifelessly falls into the dark sea below. Two done, one to go. ]
Should have listened to your companion's advice. But, I do applaud her for standing up to me like a true warrior... [ Slowly, she turns her head in the direction of the remaining siren with a crazed look painting her features. ] unlike you.
[ Y-you... you monster!
This one values her life, swimming away as fast as possible in a desperate bid to get away from this psycho. ]
Oh? You want to play hide-and-seek? Hahaha, I should warn you I'm an expert at this game. But I'll give you a headstart. But just be careful to not utter any noises okay~? [ Wickedly giggling in almost childlike glee, she turns her back to the fleeing monster to act as the "seeker". ] Ten... nine... eight...
[ Bloodthirst at an all-time high, Yoimiya is clearly playing around with her enemy, wanting to make this creature suffer in the final moments of her pathetic life. She carefully runs two fingers across the shimmering fuller of the sword, conjuring up a mini galaxy-colored goldfish and narwhal. On her command, the two familiars hone in and quickly follow the fleeing siren, and as soon as they're within range, they charge at her, erupting onto her body in a magnificent explosion that paints the sea with black, blue, and purple stars. But even with her blood-curdling screams, her opponent is still alive, Yoimiya made sure that little blast wouldn't kill her. ]
One. Found ya~ What did I tell you? Shouldn't have made a peep. Hahahaha...!
[ Yoimiya swims over to the siren who is unable to move due to her injuries, humming a haunting tune that strikes pure terror in the monster's heart as she inches closer and closer. ]
This is your punishment for not only trying to take my beloved Ajax away but also calling him useless.
[ Such an awful, evil creature only deserves death. All of her hard work, all of her training with Tartaglia has come to fruition in this blissful moment of revenge. Laughing maniacally, she brings the blade down in a two-handed swing, piercing this vile thing's heart and ending its miserable existence. As if she's taking out garbage, Yoimiya callously frees their precious bond weapon from the siren's chest, satisfied while watching yet another corpse sink to the bottom of the ocean.
Finally, they're all dead. Good. An outcome that Yoimiya couldn't be happier with. If any more of them come back, she will gladly dish out even more punishment. ]
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[As he comes to, the first thing he notices is how much his body hurts. Like he'd been thrown through something of sorts, or like a bomb went off on him and he'd been able to survive it. His muscles ache and his head kind of hurts, as he moves himself and begins to stretch his limbs. There's also the faint lingering of a warm tingle on his lips, one that reminds him of cold nights when he's kissed Yoimiya to sleep. From within him, a different kind of warmth still keeps him warm, acting almost as a lullaby to keep him from fully regaining consciousness, soothing his weary mind as if she were all around him to comfort him. Still, he manages to open his eyes, vision blurry but focusing as the sounds of battle reach his ears.
It all comes back to him once he sees the sight in front of him, of the battle he'd been missing while he was asleep. A trail of blood spirals downward from where the siren had met its end to Yoimiya's blade, a strange purple ooze diluting in the water around it with no sign of the body. The faint sound of Yoimiya counting down reaches him, her fingers trailing across the surface of a blade that he's never seen before in his entire life, eyes snapping open fully to watch her conjure two abyssal familiars from it that chase down a siren and explode on it in a dazzling sight of color that takes him right back to his teenage years in that dark, lightless place. His breath catches in his throat at the sight, before his gaze falls onto the back of his girlfriend who laughs at her opponent, brandishing her sword at it as she declares this last action as punishment.
The maniacal laughter rings in his ears as she kills it mercilessly, blinking a few times in disbelief. Is this really his Yoimiya? He doesn't remember her being so exceptionally merciless, so utterly enthralled by cutting down her enemies. But that seeded corruption tells him that this is incredible, a wonderful development to really see her in action after her pledges to him the night before. Plus, it looks like she's been able to extract the sword from him, something she wasn't able to do before. He feels as if he's watching her grow before his very eyes, becoming a formidable warrior that he'd always wished for her to be. It's a gorgeous sight to see her swing it down and defeat her enemy, his heart beating hard in his chest with admiration as the siren dies horribly while Yoimiya reclaims her weapon and it sinks down to the bottom of the ocean. He swims over, albeit slowly, his eyes shining with pride at her work.]
Yoimiya. I knew I could trust you to have my back.
[She'd freed him, and he knows now that the pact made back at the guild when she drew that sword from the stone was the right decision to make. Joining her, he slips his arms around her as he presses his weight against her in the water, slotting his lips with hers in a deep, appreciative kiss. That twisted love hasn't subsided, in fact it's only grown deeper and darker for her. She's his, only his, and vice versa. This is a testament to it, this dangerous encounter that they almost lost each other to, and yet...he couldn't be happier for it.
When he breaks from her, his hand comes up to trail along her cheek, infatuation and obsession swirling in his eyes as he looks over his newly-minted warrior-girlfriend.]
You've become so strong, I can't believe you actually managed to beat me.
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The warmth of his strong arms lulls her into a demeanor shift, unlike the girl who just mercilessly slaughtered three sirens, she melts into his hold, like putty in his hands. She duly kisses him back, fully, as if she needs their connection like air to breathe. His mouth is warm, delightful and oh does it feel so incredible to lock lips with him so tenderly. Bloodlust and an urge to kill more of those awful monsters still courses through her veins but in this blissful moment, she's a maiden in love with a heart that flutters and beats so profoundly for her one and only, Ajax. ]
Hehe. Better watch out or I might end up conquering this world before you even get a chance to.
[ She says jokingly with a soft giggle, her voice back to her sweet chirpiness instead of the wicked, maniacal cackling she did mere moments ago. If it wasn't for the aftereffects of the bond weapon knocking him out cold, Yoimiya isn't so sure she would have been able to defeat him otherwise. Had their battle waged on, there's no doubt in her mind she would have been the corpse falling into the bottomless depths of the ocean. Thinking about such a fate fuels her dark desire to grow strong enough to stand beside him so they can truly have an all-out battle one day.
But first thing's first: his condition. Ajax might be a fearsome Harbinger but he still took a barrage of several arrows and an explosion to his chest. He'll be fine, Yoimiya knows this but she still can't help but check on him. As they break from the kiss, she tenderly places her hand on the side of his face, brushing his cheek with her fingers. ]
How are you feeling?
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Nuzzling his head into her hand, he enjoys the touch before answering her question, closing his eyes momentarily as her fingers make his skin tingle with warmth.]
I'm alright, just a little sore is all. That was quite the stunt you pulled off there, seducing me through their control and planting a sigil on me like that. But that explosion hit us both...are you alright?
[His eyes reflect a deep concern for her, as her safety means more to him than anything right now. It was her own power, so surely she has her own resistances to it, but it was still an explosion either way. That and his blade had come so close to killing her so many times, from the way he fought against her without holding back...he could have easily injured her in the process and the adrenaline of the fight kept her from noticing. He looks apologetic in his asking, as if there was any real way to say sorry for what had happened.]
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