QUICK NO ONE'S LOOKING
(See readmore for thoughts, cope, bonus, etc.)
Anyone else up thinking about Ratio's big, strong, secure arms and how warm and all-consuming they could be in a hug or embrace. :/ Anyway
I just wanted to draw them being cute and seizing a sliver of a moment where they could have some PDA silly time without actually having any eyes on them. They're public figures and working adults with very clear boundaries between public persona and private life (to varying degrees of "in a sad way"), so while it may be in Aventurine's nature to constantly blur lines for various agendas and self-preservation (read: play "the flirt" without an aligned goal), I believe that in an actual relationship they'd be fairly private.
It's kind of fun to break your own rules, though! Ratio would be more upset about the consequences, though. He's a little bit of a hypocrite, which is devastating for someone of such discipline, but nobody's perfect.
I'm of the mentality of, "If you're tired of working on it, then just post it!", so here are some fun peripherals that I didn't feel like adding:
Some staff in the background sweeping up to evoke a blended sense of fragile privacy and liminal time.
A laptop on the aquarium/bar/counter because there's something fascinating about seeing people on their work laptops in public.
The rest of their clothes (casual friday)
778 notes
·
View notes
C seeing an academic rival flirting with MC and getting into an argument with MC after class jsjjhjjj
C’s eyes narrowed as they watched the scene unfold across the lecture hall. they were supposed to be focusing on the professor’s lecture on macroeconomic theory, but their attention was locked onto the sight of their chess rival from vanderbilt hall—riley calloway, of all people—leaning over your desk with that infuriatingly charming smile. the way they tilted their head slightly, the way you laughed at whatever they’d just said—it grated on C in a way they didn’t want to focus on too deeply.
when riley brushed their hand against yours, a flash of something hot and unpleasant surged in C’s chest. they clenched their fist around their pen, almost snapping it in half. the rest of the lecture passed in a blur of irritation, every whispered exchange between you and riley fueling the fire of their annoyance.
by the time class ended, C was practically vibrating with tension. they watched as you gathered your things, riley still lingering near the doorway of the lecture hall, clearly not in any hurry to leave. C shoved their notebook into their bag, barely waiting for the room to empty out before storming over to where you sat.
“you seem to be getting pretty cozy with calloway,” C said, the words sharp and accusing as they loomed over you.
you looked up at them, surprise flickering across your face before it morphed into something defensive. “what’s it to you?”
“what’s it to me?” C repeated, incredulous. “they’re a vanderbilt resident and our competition. you know that as well as i do. you’re giving them an advantage by—” they waved a hand vaguely in riley’s direction, as if the very sight of the redhead was offensive. “—by whatever it is you’re doing.”
you blinked, thrown off by the accusation laced in their tone. “we were just talking.”
“talking?” C echoed you, their voice laced with disdain. they shot a withering glance at riley, who, sensing the tension, had the good sense to step away from the doorway, though not without a smug smirk directed at C. “it looked like more than just talking.”
“so what if it was?” you shot back, your voice rising. “why do you care anyway, lacroix?”
C’s mouth opened and closed, caught off guard by your question. “i—” they faltered, the words they wanted to say tangled up with the ones they should say. “that’s not the point. the point is, you’re better than that. we’re not supposed to be fraternizing with our hall’s rivals.”
your lips pressed into a thin line, the defensive edge in your voice sharpening. “what gives you the right to decide that? just because we’re from the same hall doesn’t mean you get to dictate who i talk to. maybe i’m tired of seeing everyone as competition. not everything has to be a fucking game, lacroix.”
“but it is a game,” C shot back, their words laced with the kind of bitterness that comes from a life spent in a constant race to win. “and you’re playing right into their hands.”
“and you think you know what’s best for me?” you challenged, an eyebrow lifting up defiantly. “because from where i’m standing, it sounds more like jealousy than concern.”
the accusation hung in the air between you, heavy and charged. C stiffened, their chalcodeny green gaze locking with yours. “jealousy? you think i’m jealous of that peasant?”
you stand up, refusing to back down. “aren’t you, lacroix?”
C’s jaw tightened, their thoughts racing. the truth was, they didn’t have a name to put on what they felt. all they knew was that the sight of you and riley together had twisted something inside them, something ugly and filled with rage.
a heavy silence fell between you, the kind that made the very air feel oppressive. the dim afternoon light filtered in through the tall windows, casting the room in shades of gray, the shadows on C’s face making their expression even more severe and conflicted.
“you think you know everything, don’t you?” you finally said, your voice quieter now, almost tired. “but you don’t. you don’t know anything about what i want. you don’t even know me. you never tried to.”
C’s eyes darkened, their anger momentarily faltering, replaced by something almost vulnerable, almost desperate.
“i did. more than you’d ever know,” they said, but the words were softer, as if they were unsure of them.
you blinked in shock, mouth opening to utter a question following their admission before closing them again.
“why do you care so much, C?” you asked quietly, deciding on not poking their previous statement. “and please be honest this time.”
“because…” they hesitated, searching for the right words. “because i don’t want to see you get hurt. and i don’t want them, or anyone, to have any part of you that i haven’t earned.”
the vulnerability in C’s voice took you by surprise, the sincerity in them almost gut-wrenching. the rivalry, the hate, the constant push and pull—it was all still there, but beneath it, something new was wrapping its roots. something that neither of you were ready to confront yet.
without another word, C turned and walked away, the echo of their footsteps the only sound in the now-empty lecture hall. but as they left, the weight of your gaze lingered on their back, and you couldn’t help but realise that this might’ve been the first time—as far as you know—they’d gazed at you with as much tenderness as their pale green eyes were capable of.
151 notes
·
View notes