--Statuesque--

[takesitall]

[Once again, Aventurine--Kakavasha, but in public he goes by Aventurine to keep his allure--has been dolled up and brought out to be shown off and fawned over at one of his aunt's galas. He and his sister are lucky, their aunt was able to locate them and get them out of a bad situation with the death of their parents, but...well. Parisa knows damn well that her brother is just being used as a status grab, what with his general beauty and intelligence and general good luck. But they can't do anything about it. They haven't got the money to get away from their aunt.

So Aventurine is dolled up and brought out to the gala, sitting more or less by himself in the garden. Like a statue.]

Comments

[takesitall]

Or at least a quiet one. [He sighs.] The women are the worst. I don't even like women.

[ignoranceisblight]

That makes the both of us. At least I can get away with scaring them off when they bother me.

[He shifts so Aventurine can lean against him.]

[takesitall]

[And he does with a sigh.]

If I did that, Auntie would have words. And so would Sis, but only because she doesn't want me to get in trouble.

[ignoranceisblight]

[He sighs softly, reaching up to smooth Aventurine's hair.]

I wish I could help the two of you get away from your aunt.

[takesitall]

It's a money issue. She took us in out of familial obligations and wants one of us to repay her for our education, at least.

[ignoranceisblight]

[He pauses.]

I could... help with that, if you want.

[The Ratios are loaded and his parents sure as hell wouldn't miss a bit of it for something like this. They might argue it as the better thing to do, even.]

[takesitall]

How?

[It's Ratio, so Aventurine doubts he's going to offer to marry him and so he'll hear him out.]

[ignoranceisblight]

My family wouldn't miss the money to pay for the education.

[But would the aunt get suspicious if Ratio just passed the money along to Aventurine...? That seems likely...]

[takesitall]

I'd need to...do something for you, though, to make sure my aunt didn't get suspicious or start rumors.

[ignoranceisblight]

[He grimaces.]

... Do you have any ideas?

[takesitall]

Hmm...well, she doesn't allow me to work so I can't offer that. I could introduce you to my sister and we say that she did the work, whatever it'd be, but then we'd have to get into fair market prices and all that...

[This leaves basically "marriage", but he doesn't want to suggest that. Not to his only friend.]

[ignoranceisblight]

That'd also involve me having to come up with something sufficiently convincing.

[takesitall]

And I love Sis, but there's only so much of her weaving you could want, since she doesn't do tapestries.

[Dammit. He sighs.]

Maybe a marriage offer...?

[ignoranceisblight]

... I wouldn't mind, if you'd be okay with it. It'd also mean you wouldn't have to deal with those idiots anymore.

[takesitall]

...I wouldn't mind either. Honestly, you might be the only person I've ever met I wouldn't mind being married to, even if it's just platonically. You're much more tolerable than most people, and I actually feel I can trust you with Sis.

[ignoranceisblight]

[He smiles a little.]

I'm flattered you trust me so much. Then... let's do this.

[takesitall]

Then...may I hug you? Just to start the talk before we go to my aunt. I want to see her squirm a little.

[ignoranceisblight]

Yes, absolutely.

[He chuckles a bit, shifting so Aventurine can hug him.]

[takesitall]

[And he does, smiling a little.]

Sis will be happy to meet you. Apparently I've been much more lively since meeting you.

[ignoranceisblight]

[He nods.]

There is a marked difference between them and now. [As he returns the hug.] I have to admit, I've been eager to meet her as well.

[takesitall]

If she offers to tell any stories, turn her down. They're lies.

[ignoranceisblight]

Oh? [And that just gets a mischievous smile.]

[takesitall]

[Oh no.]

All of them. Even the ones about her!

[ignoranceisblight]

All of them? Really?

[Heh.]

Perhaps you should preempt her on some of those stories then.

[takesitall]

...the ones about me trying to get a cat to befriend me are true. I like cats.