[It's attention, but it's not enough. Ajax has become something more than Forneus, but he is still accustomed to being treated with awe, and no small amount of fear. Seas are treacherous and unpredictable, after all. Forneus himself is, he suspects, partially made of the spirits of those lost beneath the waves. Is it any wonder, then, that he's fascinated by those who react differently? That he's just a little bit obsessed with the one person who looks at him like he's a particularly annoying leak in a dam wall?
It's not enough, but it's a start. If Morax is talking to him, then Ajax isn't interrupting anything that important. He grins, bouncing back and forth from his watery leg to the flesh one and back again.]
If I'm gentle, then you say my attempts are "lacking." If I use force, you scold me for destroying the countryside. Admit it, you're just impossible to satisfy.
[ when morax finally opens his eyes again, his gaze sets on the great cavern of jueyun karst ahead of them. from his vantage, there's always a faint spray of water from the falls along the cliffs. ajax knew where to find him because this is one of the places he frequents. because it's refreshing, of course.
he can see ajax's little dance from the corner of his eye. morax presses his lips together. thankfully it looks like his jaw setting. they are literallyjust this. ]
I would be satisfied if you'd cease these provocations altogether, particularly those that endanger what I've sworn to preserve.
[ ajax is a force of nature, rightfully feared and respected by many. it's only morax's indomitable elemental strength and millennia-old wisdom that makes them unevenly matched. he knows that. ]
[STOP THAT GIF IS SO CUTE AND ALSO EXACTLY WHAT'S HAPPENING
Especially because it's easy to talk and attack at the same time, so Ajax does just that. The shards of water launch at Morax's shield, glimmering explosions seeking to cause even the tiniest crack in Morax's shield. It's unlikely that they actually will, Ajax knows, but he's not really counting on them for that; rather, he'll either wheedle Morax into lowering his shield and fighting him like he wants, or he'll overwhelm his attention until Morax is distracted and drops his shield. Either one is fine with him--patience is an easy thing when you measure the time in centuries.]
Barbatos says that if you actually wanted me to leave you alone, you would've kicked me out by now.
[Technically Barbatos said "If he wanted us to go away," but close enough.]
[ he inclines his head and furrows his brow. around him, the tiny blades strike the shield like shards of ice against a stone floor, bursting on impact.
the shield won't last forever. morax had formed this pretty hastily and without too much effort it'll shatter into gold flecks not too long from now. when it does, he'll be prepared. ]
A fact which you often take for granted.
[ and he should tbh. because morax is definitely never kicking him out.
he tilts his head and looks sidelong at ajax, his gaze narrow and scrutinizing, set upon that sunny smirk. the harpoon shines in his hand, transparent blue just like his leg. through it, morax can see the wobbly image of the cliff behind ajax. ]
You have other adversaries that would indulge you, yet you continue to press your luck despite my warnings.
[ the shield around him pulses yellow in quick succession. time is almost up already, or it's poor durability is already giving up. he doesn't look concerned. ]
[It's only a sidelong look, but it clearly pleases Ajax anyway; his eyes, already glowing that unnatural, Archon-bright blue, light up in delight at the attention. He shifts the harpoon to his other hand, slowly starting to circle around Morax as he watches for his opening. At his back, arrows made of seawater begin to form.]
But I don't want to bother them! I'm here for you.
[An easy admittance, even though he really shouldn't just straight-up say he's purposely bothering Morax??? Wow... someone knows he's spoiled...]
[ it always happens whenever morax deigns to look at ajax while he's prowling around for a battle. he knows that if morax finally meets his eye, there's a better chance of him acquiescing to what he's after. if ajax's bloodthirstiness wasn't so apparent, that exhilarated look would almost be endearing.
(read: cute. and it already is.)
morax keeps his gaze until ajax is out of view. he doesn't turn his head to follow him as he circles; he just looks forward again, unseeing, focusing on the earth around him. however quiet, ajax's steps ripple into the earth, through the grass and dirt pressed under his soles. morax feels all of it. ]
I see. So bothering me is acceptable, and bothering others is not.
[ he lifts his chin and unfolds his arms. ]
You still have much to learn about the concept of fairness. I shall graciously educate you.
[ the shield suddenly snaps and disappears in shards of golden light. before the watery blades can reach him, morax darts away towards ajax behind him.
eyes glowing, morax strikes his arm out in front of him, palm facing forward. vortex vanquisher appears in a flash of light beside his hand, and it shoots out towards ajax's heart with a silvery rasp. ]
[Can't believe Morax is eternally a sucker for bloodthirsty puppies. Ajax probably has a field day whenever he and Azhdaha get to run wild in the countryside.
But, ah, there--in the split second after Morax's shield vanishes, Ajax is lunging forward, seizing the opportunity. His harpoon meets Vortex Vanquisher with a brilliant crash; Morax is too strong for him to block completely, but it's enough to redirect it into a glancing blow, one that catches his shoulder, drawing blood. Ajax laughs as he spins around, darting back in to attack in earnest now that Morax has decided to engage him.]
I didn't say that! [Oh?] I just said I didn't want bother them. [Oh]
[ listen he has a type... it just took him way too long to realize it.
morax is unmoved, watching as his polearm slices through skin and spatters brilliant, blue blood onto the edge of the blade. ajax whirls and morax turns to meet him, folding one arm behind his back as he parries the attack with the back end of his spear. his expression never falters, his golden eyes burning beneath the shadow of his hood, which flares from the force of his movements. ]
Yes. You wanted instead to bother me.
[ the next few attacks end with morax (irritatingly) blocking rather than retaliating, cutting off each thrust and swipe before it can flourish.
at one point, his brows lift as the harpoon very nearly strikes the side of his waist.
that's all ajax gets before his attack is thrown off, with force enough to stagger him back. morax finally strikes across, up, down, and kicks the butt end of Vortex Vanquisher into a golden whirl in the air, the polearm barely visible in its velocity.
under his expression, beneath the crust and mantles that make him, the core of morax's chest pulses with feeling. it always briefly comes to life each time he hears that laughter, like a single beat of a heron's wings, beautiful yet incomplete (and, analogy aside, a little addicting). ]
Exactly! [DON'T SAY IT SO CONFIDENTLY.] It wouldn't be fair to bother them when I wanted to bother you. [THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
But, ah--this. This is what he'd hoped for. He sinks into the rhythm of battle, savoring the clash of solid, earthy power against his own fluidity. His eyes glow with excitement, and he doesn't slow down at all even as bright blue stains his clothing.
Ajax has always enjoyed experimenting (playing) with new weapons, especially the ones created by humans. Morax, on the other hand--though he is just as talented with weaponry--clearly wields Vortex Vanquisher as if it's an extension of himself. He kicks too quickly for Ajax to dodge; instead, Ajax leans back and lifts his watery arm, allowing the spear to slice through it, severing his wrist. Goodbye hand.
It's only temporary, though. Tendrils of water begin to form almost immediately, rebuilding his lost limb as he strikes out with the other. If it hurts (it does), he doesn't show it, aiming to disrupt Morax's footing instead.
[ goodbye hand #492. imorax has severed ajax's liquid limbs before. he's seen how quickly those limbs reform, how the hydro braids itself back into its length and appendages. it's easy to mistake this as easy and painless—hydro doesn't have nerves or blood or bones to break—but morax's memory is endless and accurate. he's sprayed enough saltwater to see pain flash across ajax's face when morax cuts too close to his flesh. it's extremely rare when he shows it, and it can only be understood by someone who's seen what pain looks like across a god's face.
morax remembers this when this latest hand spatters into glittering blue specks. ajax plays it off, teasing and trying to disarm him, and irritation tightens in morax's chest. in the early throes of their companionship, he had no trouble with slicing and carving the god of waves into pieces. now, incomprehensible as it was, it gets harder to endure the sight of it with each passing day.
he releases all restraint. his eyes glow a deep orange-gold, and suddenly he reaches out and pulls his fist in towards his chest. a torrent of rocks flies in and bullet against the back of ajax's legs until they buckle. as ajax falls, morax spins a perfect, painful kick right against his cheekbone and forces him to the floor with the butt of his polearm.
there, morax drops his knee heavily beside ajax's chest. he grasps ajax's chin in his hand and yanks it upward to face him. rocks fall and shackle his wrists against the floor, and in a flash, vortex vanquisher is pointing at the ball of his throat, close enough to draw a pearl of blue blood from ajax's skin.
morax's golden eyes bore into his. his expression is undaunted and imposing—the look of an unforgiving deity to its errant subject. he isn't even panting for breath. ]
That's enough.
Edited (making it so he's not crushing him w his knee) 2023-02-12 15:39 (UTC)
[It's difficult to catch Ajax off-guard when he's this engaged--all of his attention, perhaps more than he should really spare, fixed on the twist of Morax's hips as he strikes out, the shifting of his footing, the piercing glow of his eyes. But he's not expecting the sudden increase in intensity, especially not when he's partially focused on reforming his hand. Suddenly, Morax's every effort is meant to take him down, and Ajax can't fight that off.
He falls, but before he can even register the breath being knocked out of his body, Morax is there. His grip on Ajax's chin is tight and unyielding, and Ajax can feel the tip of Vortex Vanquisher against his skin, cutting into him with every quick, shallow breath he takes.
Ajax is, dimly, aware of his lips parting for a sound that never comes out, of his heart beating rabbit-fast inside him. A funny thing, that, given that this body is not truly human. He can't bring himself to think about it overmuch, though, not when he can't look away from Morax's eyes.
He holds very still, the two of them caught in a breathless limbo. His face, oddly, feels warm.]
...I yield. [Finally, when he can find his voice again. His weapons vanish with a splash of sparkling seawater, as if to prove the truth of his words.]
[ morax never wanted abject worship. the god of contracts provided care and protection and strategy, and never for any grand rewards or glorification. he didn't ask for the prostrating of subjects at altars, the statues and golden icons, gifts of fruit and wine meant only for him. his people continued with their adulation despite his distaste and disagreement, and eventually he gave up on the endeavor to change their minds, neither addressing nor discouraging it unless explicitly asked.
morax fails those ideals during these silent inbetweens. his battles with ajax almost always end this way, with him suspending ajax's life from a spider's thread and, just for a moment, ajax willfully at his mercy. in his periphery, morax sees the perfect oval of ajax's mouth, the blood dotted on the edge of his lip, the shine of his tongue and teeth in the darkness inside. but morax's focus is on the fathomless blue of his eyes, the blown pupils black as obsidian, the way ajax looks at him like he can see nothing else.
familiar impulses slip into his thoughts like smoke. for thousands of years, morax was distantly aware of the hedonistic customs and exchanges between human beings. until the god of waves arrived, morax never thought of engaging in them himself. now, he briefly imagines testing the softness of ajax's mouth with the tip of his thumb, running his fingers over the warm flush on his cheeks, turning his head and closing ajax's lips with—
he awakens again when ajax's weapons burst into saltwater over the grass. there's no evidence of his previous thoughts except for the slight softening of his gaze, his eyes more narrowed and relaxed. he's pleased by the reaction, and he makes no attempt to hide it. his hold on ajax's jaw hasn't faltered, and vortex vanquisher still holds fast against the bobbing of ajax's throat. ]
Shall I take your word for it, Ajax?
[ because morax knows him well by now. (is there anyone else in the world that knows ajax as well as he does?) if ajax wasn't focused on reshaping his severed hand, he might have slipped it through his shackle and thrown them back into combat. ]
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no subject
It's not enough, but it's a start. If Morax is talking to him, then Ajax isn't interrupting anything that important. He grins, bouncing back and forth from his watery leg to the flesh one and back again.]
If I'm gentle, then you say my attempts are "lacking." If I use force, you scold me for destroying the countryside. Admit it, you're just impossible to satisfy.
his water leggy 🥺💞
he can see ajax's little dance from the corner of his eye. morax presses his lips together. thankfully it looks like his jaw setting. they are literally just this. ]
I would be satisfied if you'd cease these provocations altogether, particularly those that endanger what I've sworn to preserve.
[ ajax is a force of nature, rightfully feared and respected by many. it's only morax's indomitable elemental strength and millennia-old wisdom that makes them unevenly matched. he knows that. ]
I had to do it!!!
Especially because it's easy to talk and attack at the same time, so Ajax does just that. The shards of water launch at Morax's shield, glimmering explosions seeking to cause even the tiniest crack in Morax's shield. It's unlikely that they actually will, Ajax knows, but he's not really counting on them for that; rather, he'll either wheedle Morax into lowering his shield and fighting him like he wants, or he'll overwhelm his attention until Morax is distracted and drops his shield. Either one is fine with him--patience is an easy thing when you measure the time in centuries.]
Barbatos says that if you actually wanted me to leave you alone, you would've kicked me out by now.
[Technically Barbatos said "If he wanted us to go away," but close enough.]
no subject
the shield won't last forever. morax had formed this pretty hastily and without too much effort it'll shatter into gold flecks not too long from now. when it does, he'll be prepared. ]
A fact which you often take for granted.
[ and he should tbh. because morax is definitely never kicking him out.
he tilts his head and looks sidelong at ajax, his gaze narrow and scrutinizing, set upon that sunny smirk. the harpoon shines in his hand, transparent blue just like his leg. through it, morax can see the wobbly image of the cliff behind ajax. ]
You have other adversaries that would indulge you, yet you continue to press your luck despite my warnings.
[ the shield around him pulses yellow in quick succession. time is almost up already, or it's poor durability is already giving up. he doesn't look concerned. ]
no subject
But I don't want to bother them! I'm here for you.
[An easy admittance, even though he really shouldn't just straight-up say he's purposely bothering Morax??? Wow... someone knows he's spoiled...]
no subject
(read: cute. and it already is.)
morax keeps his gaze until ajax is out of view. he doesn't turn his head to follow him as he circles; he just looks forward again, unseeing, focusing on the earth around him. however quiet, ajax's steps ripple into the earth, through the grass and dirt pressed under his soles. morax feels all of it. ]
I see. So bothering me is acceptable, and bothering others is not.
[ he lifts his chin and unfolds his arms. ]
You still have much to learn about the concept of fairness. I shall graciously educate you.
[ the shield suddenly snaps and disappears in shards of golden light. before the watery blades can reach him, morax darts away towards ajax behind him.
eyes glowing, morax strikes his arm out in front of him, palm facing forward. vortex vanquisher appears in a flash of light beside his hand, and it shoots out towards ajax's heart with a silvery rasp. ]
no subject
But, ah, there--in the split second after Morax's shield vanishes, Ajax is lunging forward, seizing the opportunity. His harpoon meets Vortex Vanquisher with a brilliant crash; Morax is too strong for him to block completely, but it's enough to redirect it into a glancing blow, one that catches his shoulder, drawing blood. Ajax laughs as he spins around, darting back in to attack in earnest now that Morax has decided to engage him.]
I didn't say that! [Oh?] I just said I didn't want bother them. [Oh]
no subject
morax is unmoved, watching as his polearm slices through skin and spatters brilliant, blue blood onto the edge of the blade. ajax whirls and morax turns to meet him, folding one arm behind his back as he parries the attack with the back end of his spear. his expression never falters, his golden eyes burning beneath the shadow of his hood, which flares from the force of his movements. ]
Yes. You wanted instead to bother me.
[ the next few attacks end with morax (irritatingly) blocking rather than retaliating, cutting off each thrust and swipe before it can flourish.
at one point, his brows lift as the harpoon very nearly strikes the side of his waist.
that's all ajax gets before his attack is thrown off, with force enough to stagger him back. morax finally strikes across, up, down, and kicks the butt end of Vortex Vanquisher into a golden whirl in the air, the polearm barely visible in its velocity.
under his expression, beneath the crust and mantles that make him, the core of morax's chest pulses with feeling. it always briefly comes to life each time he hears that laughter, like a single beat of a heron's wings, beautiful yet incomplete (and, analogy aside, a little addicting). ]
no subject
Exactly! [DON'T SAY IT SO CONFIDENTLY.] It wouldn't be fair to bother them when I wanted to bother you. [THAT'S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
But, ah--this. This is what he'd hoped for. He sinks into the rhythm of battle, savoring the clash of solid, earthy power against his own fluidity. His eyes glow with excitement, and he doesn't slow down at all even as bright blue stains his clothing.
Ajax has always enjoyed experimenting (playing) with new weapons, especially the ones created by humans. Morax, on the other hand--though he is just as talented with weaponry--clearly wields Vortex Vanquisher as if it's an extension of himself. He kicks too quickly for Ajax to dodge; instead, Ajax leans back and lifts his watery arm, allowing the spear to slice through it, severing his wrist. Goodbye hand.
It's only temporary, though. Tendrils of water begin to form almost immediately, rebuilding his lost limb as he strikes out with the other. If it hurts (it does), he doesn't show it, aiming to disrupt Morax's footing instead.
Teasingly--]
Finally learning how to loosen up?
no subject
morax remembers this when this latest hand spatters into glittering blue specks. ajax plays it off, teasing and trying to disarm him, and irritation tightens in morax's chest. in the early throes of their companionship, he had no trouble with slicing and carving the god of waves into pieces. now, incomprehensible as it was, it gets harder to endure the sight of it with each passing day.
he releases all restraint. his eyes glow a deep orange-gold, and suddenly he reaches out and pulls his fist in towards his chest. a torrent of rocks flies in and bullet against the back of ajax's legs until they buckle. as ajax falls, morax spins a perfect, painful kick right against his cheekbone and forces him to the floor with the butt of his polearm.
there, morax drops his knee heavily beside ajax's chest. he grasps ajax's chin in his hand and yanks it upward to face him. rocks fall and shackle his wrists against the floor, and in a flash, vortex vanquisher is pointing at the ball of his throat, close enough to draw a pearl of blue blood from ajax's skin.
morax's golden eyes bore into his. his expression is undaunted and imposing—the look of an unforgiving deity to its errant subject. he isn't even panting for breath. ]
That's enough.
no subject
He falls, but before he can even register the breath being knocked out of his body, Morax is there. His grip on Ajax's chin is tight and unyielding, and Ajax can feel the tip of Vortex Vanquisher against his skin, cutting into him with every quick, shallow breath he takes.
Ajax is, dimly, aware of his lips parting for a sound that never comes out, of his heart beating rabbit-fast inside him. A funny thing, that, given that this body is not truly human. He can't bring himself to think about it overmuch, though, not when he can't look away from Morax's eyes.
He holds very still, the two of them caught in a breathless limbo. His face, oddly, feels warm.]
...I yield. [Finally, when he can find his voice again. His weapons vanish with a splash of sparkling seawater, as if to prove the truth of his words.]
no subject
morax fails those ideals during these silent inbetweens. his battles with ajax almost always end this way, with him suspending ajax's life from a spider's thread and, just for a moment, ajax willfully at his mercy. in his periphery, morax sees the perfect oval of ajax's mouth, the blood dotted on the edge of his lip, the shine of his tongue and teeth in the darkness inside. but morax's focus is on the fathomless blue of his eyes, the blown pupils black as obsidian, the way ajax looks at him like he can see nothing else.
familiar impulses slip into his thoughts like smoke. for thousands of years, morax was distantly aware of the hedonistic customs and exchanges between human beings. until the god of waves arrived, morax never thought of engaging in them himself. now, he briefly imagines testing the softness of ajax's mouth with the tip of his thumb, running his fingers over the warm flush on his cheeks, turning his head and closing ajax's lips with—
he awakens again when ajax's weapons burst into saltwater over the grass. there's no evidence of his previous thoughts except for the slight softening of his gaze, his eyes more narrowed and relaxed. he's pleased by the reaction, and he makes no attempt to hide it. his hold on ajax's jaw hasn't faltered, and vortex vanquisher still holds fast against the bobbing of ajax's throat. ]
Shall I take your word for it, Ajax?
[ because morax knows him well by now. (is there anyone else in the world that knows ajax as well as he does?) if ajax wasn't focused on reshaping his severed hand, he might have slipped it through his shackle and thrown them back into combat. ]