--Galatea--

[takesitall]

[Aventurine watches as the movers bring his new statue into his garden. He recently bought a new house with a garden and it seemed a shame to keep it empty like it was. He'll figure out if he wants a statue or not later, but this one was decently priced for the quality and he is never going to say no to art of a pretty man where he can see it.

As the statue is placed down, Aventurine notices an odd device stuck on the back.]

Take that off, what the hell.

Comments

[ignoranceisblight]

I... have never attempted meditation or the like. I mostly occupied myself overnight before getting that device attached to me by finding things to do quietly.

[takesitall]

Well, what did you do?

[ignoranceisblight]

Housework that I could do quietly, mostly. Read, otherwise.

[takesitall]

Well, that's. Something. You don't have to do anything you don't want to do while you're here, for however long that is.

[ignoranceisblight]

... Alright, thank you.

[takesitall]

Here, I'll show you the house. You two movers, I'll pay extra if you gather up everything you guys have on the bastard who had Veritas.

[ignoranceisblight]

Oh, consider it done.

Yeah, that bastard needs to go down! You worry about getting Mr. Veritas settled in, Mr. Aventurine, leave the rest to us!

[Veritas is a little surprised at the movers' eagerness, but he turns his attention back to Aventurine.]

Lead on, then.

[takesitall]

[Aventurine nods at the movers and leads Veritas into the house. It's a nice thing, a bit fancy for a single guy but with plenty of space for two or more people.]

The bedrooms are upstairs, and I know you don't sleep but I'll make one into a room for you to do...whatever you want in it, I guess.

[ignoranceisblight]

[He nods.]

Thank you. I'll... figure out something to do, I suppose.

[takesitall]

There's always television or the internet, if all else fails. Or if you want to try something new, just tell me and I'll get what I can together for it.

[ignoranceisblight]

[Veritas tilts his head a little, surprised, but nods.]

Alright. I will... let you know. Perhaps I will find something I'd like to try.

[takesitall]

[Over the next month or so, Aventurine does what he can to help Veritas learn to be a person in whatever way that is for him. In return, the living statue starts to open up and pick up a few new hobbies. It's slow, but Aventurine finds he enjoys his odd new housemate.

One day, about a month after everything started, Aventurine walks in with a very fancy letter.]

So. Do you want to watch the bastard who sculpted you eat shit live and in person, or later on video?

[ignoranceisblight]

[Veritas, who'd been cleaning up the living room while Aventurine was out, pauses in what he was doing.]

I think I'd like to watch it happen in person.

[Oh wow, no hesitation there huh.]

[takesitall]

Tomorrow, then. We are going to watch his entire life burn down around his ears and when it's over I am getting the fanciest wine, having a glass in your honor, and we are celebrating as best we can.

[ignoranceisblight]

I'm looking forward to it. A shame I won't be able to partake in that wine myself, but it is what it is.

[He thinks for a moment.]

Perhaps... a walk in the park, sometime when there aren't a lot of people around. I know it's a simple request, perhaps disproportionately so, but... it was something that would've been denied to me even before that wretched device he'd fitted me with.

[takesitall]

Nighttime? We can find a spot in the park and stargaze, if you want.

[ignoranceisblight]

[Veritas visibly perks up a little at that and he nods.]

I think I would enjoy that a lot.

[takesitall]

It'll be fun. We can even get a telescope if you don't mind it being cheap.

[ignoranceisblight]

I wouldn't mind at all. It... does sound fun.

[takesitall]

[The following evening sees Aventurine with a bottle of wine (and something so he doesn't drink it on an empty stomach), Veritas with a telescope, and a good mood as they walk through the park to find a place to stargaze.]

--and you got all of his assets. Even I didn't expect that one.

[ignoranceisblight]

I'm not sure what I'll do with all of it, but I have to admit, this makes it all the more satisfying. And it was already immensely satisfying. Especially the look on his face when he saw that I was there.

[The insults that the sculptor had thrown out at him after that still stung, but it just made the man look worse, which soothed over the worst of it.]

[takesitall]

He's lucky the judge was there to keep me from clawing his face off. Dick.

[ignoranceisblight]

[Veritas reaches over and carefully pats Aventurine's back.]

I appreciate your willingness to defend my honor. I think he was legitimately scared you might do worse than simply clawing his face off had it not been for the judge's presence.

[He actually sounds amused as he notes that. There's another feeling about that whole matter, and specifically about Aventurine's part in that, that he... knows is there, but he can't quite put a name to.]

[takesitall]

Oh, I've already done worse. But I could have topped it off with a kick to the groin, I guess.

[Aventurine is a high ranking official in the biggest company in the world. He doesn't flaunt it, but he can ruin someone's life so very easily. And he has!]

[ignoranceisblight]

Oh, I simply meant he seemed like he feared you might have severely maimed or killed him right there.