#//will you stay awhile? / i fear when dawn arrives you'll be gone; (RATIO | AVENTURINE [apocryphis])

[everlastiingiimmortals]

@apocryphis asked: "and then, this snivelling weasel had the nerve to look me in the eyes, and swear that he had never planned anything but to help me in my plans - mr aventurine, it was all a ploy, i only ever wanted for you to win, yadda yadda yadda. 'mister aventurine', can you believe it - changed his tune real fast too when he realised i had no plan on wasting my time on him." on and on and on aventurine goes, recounting in animated manner and with far too many details his recent adventures in penacony to a certainly most unfortunate ratio who had had the misfortune of accepting his dinner invitation. from the dinner table, they had moved to the couch, where aventurine (no doubt under the influence of a couple of glasses of wine, nothing too excessive, but certainly enough to loosen him up) has let his legs claim ratio's lap, another glass still in his hand. "anyway. other than skott's nonsense, all in all, it was a rather fun experience. and don't worry, i didn't put myself in too much danger this time - and, i had this whole servant to protect me, even if he had a bit of an attitude problem." talk about the pot calling the kettle black. aventurine rolls his eyes; and finally brings his tale to an end, a smile settling on his lips as he takes in the much more welcoming sight of the man before him. "you were sorely missed, you know. it's just not the same without you around."

Veritas prides himself on being someone rather unfazed by the myriad oddities that the universe has to offer: phenomena with mere hundredths of a single percentile chance to occur, phase-changing, any and all Path-borne miracles or lack thereof that could cause tidal waves in the lives of tiny men such as themselves — Aventurine himself is a perfect example of such, in fact. He prides himself on this (keep one's standards high yet one's expectations low, he'd learned early on), and yet listening to Aventurine regale him with his latest Penaconian adventure, the good doctor cannot help but feel...

...Completely and utterly lost.

Magecraft? Otherworldly — no, perhaps even from an entire parallel universe — spirits? While there were plenty means of harnessing the memories of the dead throughout the cosmos, in no small part thanks to the Remembrance, how had that even happened to begin with? From where had the Grail drawn the material?

Despite all his questions, Aventurine is not such a poor orator that Veritas cannot put the pieces together. He'd heard, only briefly, some details on the odd curio from Screwllum after it'd been disabled, but the new context from his partner allows everything to steadily click into place.

"What foolish, greedy folly," he hums in agreement. A small part of him suddenly sympathizes with the Trailblazer's apparent penchant for bullying Schneider's underling. For a moment, he almost entertains an itch to return to Penacony himself, if only to take that Grail into his own hands and analyze its properties for his own archives — but instead he contents himself with idly tracing a pattern into Aventurine's knee, settled over his own thigh.

"From what you've said, it seems that director you adore got the shortest stick in the end. A pity," Veritas says, not sounding very pitying at all, "but I'm happy that you enjoyed yourself this time." He taps Aventurine's forehead lightly. "Even if you did ultimately put yourself in 'not too much' harm's way." He's long since accepted that 'fun' and 'danger' often go hand in hand with Aventurine, and... well. Frankly speaking, this is leagues above him getting cast into the shadow of Nihility. Aventurine is animated, attentive, and most importantly he is comfortable, hale and whole and thriving in their shared company. Veritas cannot help the smile tugging at the corners of his own mouth in turn, taking Aventurine's free hand and raising it to his lips in a soft kiss.

"I missed you too," he murmurs, "and I would have liked to experience this adventure with you. Still, let's hope that old Pepeshi doesn't cause any more trouble for you and Miss Robin, hm?"

[everlastiingiimmortals]

aventurine: ratio is a 10, but he would be an 11 if he let me treat him to a fancy dinner in a privatised restaurant for peace and quiet ~

they're a 10, but... closed. | @apocryphis

"Only an eleven for all of that?" Ratio teases, reaching out to tuck a stray lock of hair behind Aventurine's ear. "Raise that rating to a twelve for putting up with all your nonsense, and I'll accept."

[everlastiingiimmortals]

We'll take both, Aventurine says, entirely expected and yet bewildering all the same. He'd not hesitated whatsoever -- but for once, Ratio does not make a move to protest, only sighing with muted, fond, exasperation. Aventurine's hold on his arm is light and relaxed, any uncertainties shed in the lively, little coastal town Ratio holds so dear to his heart. He seems -- and more importantly acts -- more relaxed than Ratio has seen in weeks.

It's a good look on him.

Ratio pats Aventurine's hand once in response to the lilt in his voice, meeting the cat's-eye curl of his shaded smile with a raised eyebrow. "Five points," he praises, shouldering the bag with their tapestries and leading Aventurine away from the stall, "they depict myths of this world. The first follows a king and his crew on their sea-faring journey home, after they emerge victorious in a war on distant shores. Along the way, they incur the wrath of the sea god, and consequently suffer endless trials and punishments. This particular scene is one of those trials, where the crew must sail between two obstacles: a man-eating sea monster, and the lethal whirlpools of her neighbor.

"The second depicts the story of a bull-headed monster called the Minotaur. It had been born to the queen of Crete and a bull intended to be a sacrifice to the sea god -- yes, the very same one -- as punishment towards the king, Minos, because he wanted to keep the bull for himself due to its snow-white pelt. Due to its monstrous nature, however, the Minotaur was eventually locked away in a labyrinth constructed by a legendary craftsman as per the king's command, and fed with a sacrifice of seven men and seven women from another city-state every nine years as retribution for the death of the king's son at their hands. A prince of that city-state vowed to slay the beast upon the approach of the third sacrifice, declaring he would rather die than rule a kingdom that sent its children to be devoured. He ultimately succeeded, with the aid of King Minos' very own daughter."

Ratio pauses, glancing back down at Aventurine with a vague note of sheepishness in his expression. "Rather dark stories, I know. This world loves its tragedies and the punishment of hubris.

"As for how I know this much, I am leaving that to you to figure out. You know I do not simply reward good behavior. You're clever enough to come to the correct conclusion on your own." The curve of his lips curls upwards in a small smile, expectant and no doubt anticipating Aventurine's answer. "Go on, take your best shot."

There is a pleasant air to the busy-ness of the market. Where Penacony's crowd had been suffocating with their bright colours, the air thick with SoulGlad and void ambitions and anything the senses could conjure in excess with no other goal than to numb the mind of the dreamer, this market's bustling crowd feels curiously vivifying. The fresh air of the nearby sea, the softer, pastel colours of the white stone, colourful stalls, the fabrics means to be easy on the eye rather than a strain on it, the delicate smell of ivy twining around stone pillars and of freshly cut wood... where Penacony had been the brutal frenzy of too long an agony, this humble market is gently alive. Taken in by the sights around him, Aventurine remains silent at first, listening to his companion, looking at everything his eyes are allowed to rest on, hand still lightly hooked to the crook of the other's elbow.

It is only after a little while that he begins to notice a few curious glances cast their way; and when he does, he also realises the people looking at them really are looking at him, specifically, at his face, specifically, at his eyes, since he meets their gazes head on as soon as he notices. Oh dear. People noticing his eyes usually never spells anything good, but this time, curiously enough? The culprits, upon realising they got caught red-handed, don't avert their gazes and mutter away - they blink and smile apologetically, as if to ask for forgiveness for their curiosity. Ah, I see, Aventurine thinks to himself. They don't know what they're looking at. They know it is unusual - intriguing, pretty, beautiful, even, perhaps - but they know not its significance; and, for once, ignorance stands opposite to prejudice. They see something unusual, a curiosity; and think nothing of it and welcome it in their home. Truly, he thinks, amused, people after Ratio's heart, no doubt. No wonder he likes the place. Aventurine pushes his sunglasses back on his nose - just in case. His grip on Ratio's arm, if it had briefly stiffened, is now as loose and comfortable as if nothing had happened.

Lazily, like a branch floating upon tranquil water currents, Aventurine lets Ratio carry him to a stall and through quite a fascinating lecture on local textiles and craftsmanship. Behind the sunglasses, Aventurine observes, attentive, takes note of the intricate patterns and colours and embroideries with an appreciative expression he does not attempt to hold back. "Hmm ~ you know it does, Doc. You wouldn't have taken me here if you had thought for one moment I would fail to appreciate this handiwork. Ah, may we seen this one too, please - " The merchant obliges his request, revealing another intricate tapestry, purple and gold, a sinuous maze stitched onto with with a figure drawn in the center - a monster of some sort, perhaps a guardian of some labyrinth... no doubt a story the nuances of which escape him. No matter. It is a work of beauty - dark and haunting and yet enticing as all mysteries should be. "We'll take both." Aventurine is not a man of hesitation - especially not where credits are concerned. "And you..." He teases at Ratio, eyes rising to meet his while the merchant carefully wraps up their new acquisitions. "Can tell me the stories those embroideries are meant to represent while we walk. I am correct in assuming they are not just generic motifs, am I not?"

He would know. The Avgins used to tell similar such stories through jewelry and clothing too. "And, I must ask, since you are leaving me hanging... are you ever going to tell me how you know so much about this world, or is that a secret I need to earn by being on my best behaviour? I'm not doing too bad so far, am I?"